TRIBUTE

This is a tribute to my friend Connie. She passed away on Friday the 15th.
Connie and I worked together at the St George Surgical Center and she basically ran the front desk. She did everything from check in patients, to answer phones, call patients prior to surgery, answered questions and solved a lot of problems.

In December about a week before Christmas she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She then had chemo and radiation, and then in March she came to Huntsman Cancer Institute and had a "Whipple" done. It is a surgical procedure where they take majority of the pancreas, half of the stomach, and bypass the small intestine and re-route the major arteries and veins of the liver. It is about an 8 hour procedure. Hers was only about 5 hours and they were able to get all of the cancer and she recovered very quickley. I had the oppurtunity to visit her while she was here in Salt Lake in the hospital, and what a blessing it was to be in service to her, and get to know her better.
She then underwent more chemo and her body became weaker and weaker, and on Tuesday she went into cardiac arrest and was without oxygen for about 40 minutes, they were able to revive her but she had no brain function so Friday morning her family chose to take her off life support.

Now I get to add my part of the story. I had no clue as to what went on tuesday, and I obviously don't work with her anymore since she is in St George and I am in Salt Lake. This last weekend thursday thru saturday I had the oppurtunity to staff a Womans Training - "Goddess Retreat," Thursday night I noticed that one of the woman in the training reminded me a lot like Connie, and as this woman danced across the room I had an out of body experience and I was dancing with Connie it only lasted a few seconds and then I came back. Well later that night after the training had ended for the night I went to my car and had a message on my phone from Connie's sister. And the message was that Connie went into cardiac arrest and that the family had made the decision to take her off life support friday morning and she felt that Connie would want me to know all of this and that was why she was calling. I had my moment of tears and then went back into the training to finish cleaning up. On my way home I was telling my friend Kristie about the experience I had had that night and about the phone call, and she said, "well Michelle do not realize what you just experienced," and I said, "well there is no accident that I felt her presance and danced with her," and Kristie said, "by dancing with her that was her way of telling you goodbye." Which I felt was so true. Well the rest of the weekend I felt her presence constantly and feel she was having her own Goddess Retreat.
I feel so blessed and in deep gratitude for her and her friendship and the memories that we shared...
Thank You Connie... I love You and will Miss You Dearly..

Going Back to School..

So moving to Salt Lake has opened up a lot of possibilities for me and one is I get to go back to school. I am so excited, I havn't been this excited about school in a long time. I was talking to a friend I work with who is a nurse and she asked me if I ever thought of becoming a nurse. I told her that has been my dream for a long time I just have never made it happen. Also I might add I wasn't sure I wanted to go back to school. Then we started talking and the more we talked the more excited I was getting. So I said to her that I would put that possibility out there to the universe and whatever happens, happens and that I am open to infinite possibilites. Well a couple of days later I got a call from Westminster College, and they asked to meet with me, and talked about the possibilites of me going to school. I had my records transferred and then applied for Financial Aid and just told myself if it is meant to be it will happen and I just get to trust the process. Well a few weeks later my financial aid came through and so far everything has been working out perfectly.

The most beautiful lesson I have learned in all of this is when I trust myself and the space I am in and do not allow fear to take over the answers are so clear and everything works out so perfectly, and I just know it is meant to be.

Road Bike

So a few weeks ago I bought this road bike. A friend introduced me to it and I love it. I enjoy going to the spin classes at the gym so I thought what the heck I will give it a try. I love riding and feeling the wind in my face and just so free. And it is definetly a lot funner than the GYM :) I went riding earlier tonight and I rode so far and was having such a great time I didn't even realize how far I had ridden. It is such a fun way to exercise and I love it.
I encourage anyone interested to get one you will love it...

Errins Birthday

So this last weekend was my sister Errin's birthday. I wanted to surprise her and do something spectacular since she gave me the ultimate gift. So I got tickects to Phantom of the Opera in Vegas. It was the best weekend ever. She was surprised and so excited. I was able to talk my mom and sisters into getting tickets too so we were all able to go and have a girls weekend out. The Show was amazing and the cast did a phenomonal job. The sets were amazing and they made it look so REAL, the casts' voices were incredible too. Oh and we were sitting on the 3rd row. Thats the sweetest part. It truly was Awesome and I reccommend everyone to expereince it if you havn't already, I would go again in a heart beat.



Happy Birthday ERRIN... I LOVE YOU


Just the GIRLS.

Kyla and Michael picked this purse out for Errin
when we were in Park City.


Beau, Ashley and Me
So this last weekend was my sister Errin's birthday. I wanted to surprise her and do something spectacular since she gave me the ultimate gift. So I got tickects to Phantom of the Opera in Vegas. It was the best weekend ever. She was surprised and so excited. I was able to talk my mom and sisters into getting tickets too so we were all able to go and have a girls weekend out. The Show was amazing and the cast did a phenomonal job. The sets were amazing and they made it look so REAL, the casts' voices were incredible too. Oh and we were sitting on the 3rd row. Thats the sweetest part. It truly was Awesome and I reccommend everyone to expereince it if you havn't already, I would go again in a heart beat.

Joe's Valley

The weekend before the 4th. I went camping in Joes Valley with a group of work friends. I had the best time ever. Joes Valley is located in the Manti-La Sal National forrest, it is near Price Utah. We all were able to get off work early Friday June 27th and we drove about 2 hours to Joes Valley. We set up camp and the funny thing is, is I totally signed up and paid my money like 3 weeks in advanced and I was so excited to go, and then a week before we were to leave I realized I didn't own any camping gear. OOPS :( but I was able to borrow a tent and sleeping bag and all that gear from my uncle.. Thanks Brian. So after camp was set up we all went down and picked up our 4 wheelers. (I forgot to mention it is a camping and 4 wheeling trip). That night we roasted marshmellows, and hot dogs and Cathy one of the surgical techs who came made some really yummy baked beans. It was so much fun just hanging out by the fire and telling stories and talking. I had such a great time getting to know everyone better. We went to bed and woke up Saturday had breakfast and then went on a 3 hour 4 wheeling ride all across the mountains. It was so much fun and the National Forest is so beautiful. I would of never known Utah had such great luscious green mountains.
So on the ride there was a dead cow on the side of the path. And it had already started the deterioration process. This might be gross but I thought it was sweet to see, so I snapped a picture. I think its great to see its bones and joints and vertebrae. Something I see everyday in surgery but not everyone does so ENJOY.. :)



All over the forest are these lakes. They are so beautiful.


This I took 4 wheeling. This is on top of the mountain overlooking another mountain to the side.


Heres the Cow. If you can zoom in it actually is pretty amazing
Here you cann see his ribs and leg bones.

This I took 4 wheeling on the other side of the mountain.

Park City

My brother Michael and my sister Kyla flew up to Salt Lake the weekend of the 4th of July to spend some time with me. We had such a great time.. Friday night we drove to Kaysville which is north of Salt Lake and had a barbaque and lit fireworks with the Wall family. It was so fun, then Saturday we woke up and drove to Park City for the day. It was so beautiful and we went to the Resort and rode the Alpine slide and Coaster. So what you do is ride the lift up to the top of the mountain and then get these sleds with wheels and ride them down the mountain on a cement track.. It was so much fun. The Alpine coaster is an actual roller coaster through the mountain. The track is built low to the ground and through the trees and around the mountain. By far a lot funner and faster than the slide but they are both great. I encourage those who have not experienced this to take a trip and try it out. It is a lot of fun.

Its TIME....

Alright, it has been a while since I have last written and it is so time to share... I finally got a camera cord... So Kelli Ann this is for YOU..... Here is a couple of pictures of my cousins wedding album and the present I gave them at there shower.. It is laundry detergent with a metal scooper, and I made the letters that went on the glass bowl. They both turned out way cute..







On the 7th of May I had the oppurtunity to staff a training. It is called Quest and it is the first training at the Impact training center. It was the most beautiful experience ever. There was 146 trainees that walked into the training room wednesday to take on there lives, they were incredible and by saturday night they were all glowing and so happy and full of life. For me it was amazing to be apart of their change and to see them grow and remember who they are and why they are here.

My family came to Salt Lake on Friday and I was able to spend some time with them. Errin made me a book for my Birthday, and I have to say, this birthday was the BEST EVER... The book she made is priceless, she had each of my family members write me a letter, and then she took pictures of me all through my childhood and posted them on the pages. It is so perfect and I love reading and re reading it over and over. Thanks Errin I love you You are the GREATEST sister Ever....

For my birthday my family went shopping for me while I was away on Saturday and they literally stocked my cupboards and fridge with so much food. I have to admit I didn't have much the cupboards were bare, but I now have food to last for months and not only did they buy food, they bought toilet paper, laundry detergent, toothpaste, soap, dish rags and towels, and stuff to cook with... I love my family they are the GREATEST... Thank YOU...