American Cancer Society Relay for Life

Calling all you fellow bloggers!! :)

I'm participating in the ASU sector of Relay for Life this April 24th-25th (in 28 days to be exact :)). Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature activity. Each year it has about 3.5 million participants in a variety of locations walking or running for 12-hours to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer as well as to fight back and contribute to finding a cure. I have lost friends and loved ones to this disease. I also work along side people who are currently fighting cancer in addition to people who are cancer survivors who are living with the effects that this disease sometimes brings. I'm really excited to finally have an opportunity to contribute to this fight because I want to see a cure in my lifetime. If you would like to learn more about Relay for Life, visit http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/whatisrelay.

If you would like to donate to the cause, even the smallest amount helps, you can visit my Relay for Life homepage at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09GW?px=8780197&pg=personal&fr_id=14861. Click "Donate" at the top of the page. You can also visit my Facebook profile page where you will find a "Relay for Life" box on the left hand side. Click "support me" to bring up the link to the American Cancer Society secure donation page.

I would like you thank you all in advance for your donations. There truly is strength in numbers. This is just one event that proves it. Love you all!

This one's for you Lauri...

So last Sunday Lauri had us all over for a wonderful dinner and during our chatting time, blogging came up and I got a little chastisement...okay we'll call it an encouragement...to blog more often. So this one's for you Lauri!! :)

A lot has happened since my last post. The semester is halfway over, yet i still have at least 2 exams in each of my classes left. I love how they seem to cram more in the end that at the beginning. My first round of tests turned out pretty well seeing as I had to take 4 in 3 days! Holy smokes that was terrible. But it stretched me and I came out on top. I feel like I can handle more and more with each semester.

Last week was spring break. As such, I decided to make a fun spring purse/ bag...whatever you want to call it. I'm happy with the way it turned out. :) I also got to workout with a good friend of mine that I haven't seen in at least a year! That was a lot of fun!





The beginning of spring break also brought miss Dawnee Ray Godfrey down from Utah for her younger sister's wedding and reception. I loved seeing her for a little while! I wish she lived closer :(



























After the reception, Brooke had a velcro wall at her house. How could we pass up that opportunity?? As such, Trev and I headed over and had some fun!














As if this post is not jumbled enough with random happenings in attempt to cover all that i've missed (ha! like that's even possible), here's another fun time... Trevor and I went hiking up Camelback yesterday after work and school. We had a blast! It felt so so good to get out and do something active ...and the company wasn't half bad either ;) We were just taking goofy pictures so here they are...

The Ultimate Bonfire

Life is so so good! School started and i'm loving my schedule and classes. I verified that I chose the right major because those end up being my most challenging yet my most favorite courses each semester. The other classes kinda of bore me and put me to sleep occasionally but finance keeps me on my toes and my brain thinking. I love it. I've got back into the habit of going to gym twice a week again. I feel so much better and more energized when i'm active. I also got offered a TA position with my past accouting professor this semester but turned it down because she wanted me to do grading for 5 hours a week! Not happening if i don't get to work with students. So sorry Charlie. I can think of many other ways i'd like to spend 5 hours if I could find that time. Anyways, onto a more exciting item of business...

So Trevor's brother-in-law started "Come Get My Tree" this past holiday season. Two weekends ago, in order to get rid of this massive amount of trees they collected...we burned them. About 100 trees!! Trev and i stood way back because it was so huge and hot. Here's a picture after it had died down just a little. We had a blast! It was awesome!! A little while later we made "sobee bombs" and put them in the fire. It was amazing! I took some video of it but i need to edit it a bit before I attempt to post it. Hold tight...soon you can all enjoy the excitment! Stay tuned... :)

Happy New Years

Happy 2009 everyone! I can't believe it...at this point it's getting more weird to say I graduated in 2006 when people ask. Time flies when you're having fun I guess. Christmas and New Years was excellent. I've enjoyed a break from school and fun times with family and friends. I had many friends home from school and was so fun to see them all!...

We celebrated Brooke's 21st Birthday!

Had lunch with some amazing EFY counselors that I haven't seen since...EFY? lol

Brought in the New Year with some sweet dancing and go-cart racing...but this is the only picture i have from that night :(

Laughed hard with some of my favorite girlies!

Went snowboarding for my 3rd time :) Thank you Trevor and Tony for helping me with my toe-side!...i've almost got it!

Had dinner with Mr. Russ Wright before he left back to the military.














...And went to a bunch of wedding receptions and dinners and such. I even caught a bouquet!













I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season! Let's carry that wonderful spirit throughout this year!

ANOTHER ASHLEY CHAPMAN????

One more thing! There is another Ashley Chapman in the Mesa area and people keep thinking i'm her. First Nate's friends at the derby, then a random group at the tutoring center, and today, a girl I met at a bridal shower. I'd really like to meet her. The girl, Rebecca, at the shower today told me I even kinda look like her...or she looks like me. Either way, it's weird. She better be as cool as me ;)

Institute Christmas Formal

1. This week has been crazy busy with school, yet i'm still grateful for it. I'm also grateful for a scholarship that pays for it. When i was complaining about how discouraged i was with school a couple weeks ago, Laurie reminded me, "at least you don't have to pay for it too!" True that.

2. I'm grateful for my job as a tutor. I get to work with students (some hilarious to work with, others creepy, some smart, and some... you get the point) It's been nice being reminded of all the classes i've already taken. I feel like i'm actually retaining my education now! lol I'm also grateful that i'm allowed to do my own homework when times are slow :)

3. I love the Christmas season! The smell, the decorations, but most of all, the spirit that it brings to my life. It reminds me that being charitable is fastest way to become Christlike. :)

4. DANCING! What else needs to be said. I love it! I went to ASU Institute's Christmas Formal last night with one of my good friends and had a blast. It was so enjoyable going with someone who actually knew how to swing and ballroom dance too! ...Not to mention getting to head up a couple EFY line dances. Absolutely A-Mazing! I hadn't been dancing probably since EFY but I caught the bug again!

PS- yes my hair is big...didn't realize it. haha but it calmed down as the night went on. :)

5. ONE more week of school! 'nough said!

6. TwIlIgHt! I had a girls night last weekend and saw it...without reading the book. I know...shame on me. but i really liked it! It took me a little while to like Edward but by the end...i was hooked!

Gratitude

Hi friends! I have a few extra minutes between classes today so i thought i'd post on something i've been thinking about lately. As this Thanksgiving season is here, many of the conference talks i've been reading seem to somehow mention gratitude. By expressing gratitude we recognize that everything we have, everything we have accomplished, and everything we are comes from our Heavenly Father through our Savior Jesus Christ. Gratitude and thanksgiving must be expressed always in order to keep a Christ-centered life. My goal is to post once a week until at least the end of the year about things that happened in that past week that i was greatful for. When I think of all my blessings, i can't help but be optimistic.

1. I'm grateful that there's only about two weeks of school left. I can conquer this!

2. I'm grateful that i've been apart of a wonderful single's ward with an amazing Bishop who listens to the spirit. What an example he and his wife have been to me. We're splitting on Sunday (and i'm guessing i'll be in the new ward with new bishop) but i'm excited! I'm grateful for a STRONG young adult program in the church.

3. I'm grateful for the many growing opportunities that are brought about through the gospel. I love my calling as gospel doctrine teacher...it's helped me realize what i'm good at.

4. I'm grateful for a strong family with whom i get to be with for eternity.

5. I'm grateful for crazy weird blind dates...they make for good stories and make me appreciate the good ones ;)

...i'm only half grateful it's time for class. lol jk Everyone have a fabulous week!