The Man, The Myth, The Legend

A man who needs no introduction..... Jerry Sloan

 

My dream finally came true of meeting this great coach! After going to so many Jazz games over the past seven years, I sat four rows up from Jerry and with a little prodding from my friend of getting over my anxiety of talking to him, I approached him. He was super cool about me approaching him, shaking his hand and asking for a picture. During half time, he had about 8 different people come up and talk to him, asking for pictures. He must get this at every game but never seemed annoyed. PS - look at how big his hands are compared to mine. Baby hands vs giant hands.

Here are some awesome facts about this great man:

5th coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 wins with one club

Coached one team longer than any other NBA coach

Coached the Jazz to 15 consecutive playoff appearances (1989 - 2003)

Fourth overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets

Named in the NBA All-Defensive Team four time (NBA All-Star games)

 

Triggering Memories

So earlier today while at McDonald's Redbox, I got a whiff of McDonalds food and sewage combined. I was drawn back to walking down the Vegas strip on a warm summer day. It made me start thinking of all the memories I made there with various friends... so for your viewing pleasure, here is just a few pics of my Vegas adventures. Enjoy!

June 2011 - Kaleigh, Michelle and me at Serendipity3

April 2005 - Shelly and me bein' crazy in our hotel room

Attack of the Casear lions - October 2005

April 2007 - Touching a sting ray at the Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay

I forgot one of the major rules in Vegas: don't touch the outside escaltor handrails. Sick - April 2007

April 2008 - He was being escorted out by security - Leah, Emily and me

How we roll - June 2006 - Sheri, Natalie, Amy and me

Squeezed in with Hef - Madam Tussad's Wax Museum - June 2006

Megan, Sheri, me, Natalie and Amy

One of the best ways to pass the afternoon - March 2008 - me, Ashley and Emily

Me and Ashley - March 2008

View from the Bellagio Fountain - September 2006 - me, Crystal, Bekah

Famous Vegas sign - September 2006 - Bekah and me

CeeLo Green concert tickets I won - October 2012 - me and Kaleigh

13 *NEW* Things for 2013

Clever, huh?

Instead of the standard goals of eating better, exercising more, being nicer to people, I decided to take a new spin on this years goals. I had so much fun checking off items for my "27 things for my 27th year" list, that I thought I would try out 13 things I have never done before for this year. Hopefully it will make my life a little bit more adventurous and awesome!

In no particular order:

Run a 5k

This was on my 27 list and I never accomplished it. I don't find running enjoyable. But my mom approached me about doing one with her and I agreed!

Take an aerial yoga class

Yoga in a hammock. Exercise can't get much cooler than that!

Go somewhere internationally that I've never been before

Because I have the travel bug (all the time)

Read a classic book of my own free will

Whenever I've read classic books, it's been because of school. And the only one I can recall is To Kill A Mockingbird, so that's off the list. I was thinking about this one:

Take a pottery class

Half of my projects in my ceramics class my senior year of high school were either a) stolen or b) my sister's work she had done 5 years prior because I couldn't finish my own projects on time (it's widely joked about in my family because my brother did the same thing).... Here is my chance to prove I have some creative ability.

Hike Angels Landing

Scary? Yes. Will I pee my pants? There is a chance. Beautiful? Absolutely. I saw a blog post about a pregnant lady who did it. If she can do it, so can I!

Take a TRX class

TRX is exercising with some straps. Looks cool.


Crochet a scarf
Not the kind that your grandma or great aunt would make. A cool, modern one.

Zipline down Fremont Street (Las Vegas) or in Park City

(Or maybe both!)

Ever since my zipline adventure in Belize, I'd love to do this locally!

Cook a new recipe every month

We know I don't cook often. Cereal and yogurt suite me just fine. But I feel that I should expand my culinary skills.

Study Preach My Gospel

Expanding my gospel knowledge and understanding is always a good thing!

Jump from a rope swing into a lake

Three words: Mona rope swing

(google it if you don't understand)

 While contemplating what my 13th *new* goal should be.... a friend text me and invited me to try something I never had - pole dancing for fitness. I participated in this tonight and let me say  - I have a new found respect for the pole. It's hard work and it requires a lot of upper-body strength! Our instructor was AWESOME and is in the picture below. It was so much fun!

Pole Expressions - Sandy, UT

I heard about a tragedy at work today that gave me a flashback of a tragedy 17 years ago today.

I was 11 years old. It was the morning of December 20. I woke up (I must of not had school this day) and walked out to the kitchen where I saw my mother crying on the telephone. This was usually not a good sign. I listened to the conversation for a bit and knew something was terribly wrong. I turned around, without thinking I was seen, and crawled back in bed. I waited for the bad news to come. My mother came into my bedroom with tears streaming down her face. She kneeled at my bedside and proceeded to tell me that last night, my best friends mother slipped on some ice, hit head first on the cement and was in a coma. Her brain was too swollen to do anything and they would be taking her off life support this morning. My best friends family was good friends with my family. I was heartbroken. For the first time in my life, I really felt I was experiencing a personal tragedy. The only other family accident I remember is my grandma having a major stroke and miraculously, she turned out to be just fine.

After my mother left my room, I kneeled down at the side of my bed and prayed as hard as I could for a miracle to happen and for my best friends mother to be ok. I bargained with the Lord. I pleaded and cried. Later that morning, during my piano lesson with my mom, my best friend called me from the hospital. She was sobbing. She called to tell me that she couldn't have a planned sleepover tonight because her mom just died. I was speechless. What could I possible say to my best friend to comfort her or express my sadness? I'm sure I mumbled out a few "I'm so sorry" statements and she told me she would talk to me later. I always knew Christmas would never be the same for her and her family.

Today I learned of a co-worker's father passing away yesterday in a similar accident. I would consider myself friends with this co-worker and my heart aches for him and his family and once again, I am left speechless, wanting to express sympathy but not sure of the best way. I'm sure Christmas will never be the same for him and his family.

With all of the recent tragedies across the nation, reach out to those you love and let them know how much you love and appreciate them. Forgive others. Accepts others forgiveness. Let go of grudges. This holiday season can be wonderful time of reflecting, loving and sharing. Love as Christ loved - without judgement and without hesitation. I love hearing from each of my siblings that they love me, whether it's a short "love you" at the end of phone conversation, when leaving each others company or the phrase at the end of an email, it means a lot to me.

I don't know how many people actually read my blog but for those who come across this post, I would like to wish you all a very merry holiday season - however you celebrate. May you feel God's love for you.

What am I grateful for?

Instead of annoying all my FB friends with a post every day for the month November, I thought I would show you in one blog what I am thankful for through pictures! 30 thanks for 30 days. Enjoy!

I am thankful for friends that take care of me and cheer me up when I am down

I am thankful for food to eat and the fact that, believe it or not, that I can prepare a meal.

I am thankful for wonderful women in my life who are wonderful examples

I am thankful for the memories I have of my grandparents and the wonderful

people they are

I am thankful for nieces and nephews who bring such joy into my life

I am thankful for a family that I can be myself with and that accepts me

no matter how silly I may be

I am thankful I am able to take vacations that show me the beauty of this earth

I am thankful for sushi. Yum.

I am thankful for sibilings who support me and love me

(disclaimer: I'm not only talking about the two pictured :) )

I am thankful that my state has a professional sports team I can cheer for

(I, however, am not grateful for Deron Williams)

I am thankful for loving animals who are always excited to see you

I am grateful for agency and that I have a choice over everything I do

(I made this for a class in college - it was my life mission statement)

I am grateful for an education

I am thankful for kind strangers who will lend a helping hand

I am thankful for new life and the new beginnings it symbolizes

I am thankful that my parents are happily married

I am thankful for my Savior and the ultimate sacrifice He made for me

I am thankful for the natural beauty Utah has to offer

I am thankful that I can 

a) support myself with a great job

b) I don't have to dumpster dive 

I am thankful for the opportunity to have lived in so many wonderful places

I am thankful for a patient mother who allowed me to plaster my walls with Rock posters

when I was in high school, knowing I'd grow out of that phase. Eventually.

I am grateful to have the college experience and live away from home

I am thankful for the wonderful advances in technology

(This one is kind of a stretch....)

I am thankful to know that I will always have a saftey net below me. That I will never fall far enough for my Heavenly Father to reach me.

I am thankful to live in a land of many, many freedoms

I am thankful for all of God's creatures and the chance I've had to interact with them

(even if they do scare me or give me the heebie jeebies)

(Another stretch.... bear with me)

I am thankful for a bed to sleep in at night and a roof over my head

(I'm on the top bunk)

I am grateful for a (seemingly) fair justice system.

I am thankful to know that dreams do come true