Tuesday, March 23, 2010

10 Things Every American Should Know About Health Care Reform

1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treatedregardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Picture Diary

Last week was Spring Break.
I have done a lot of homework.
I don't have long for this post.
I know, I know, I'm slacking on my 'You mean a lot to me Monday' posts.
BUT only 4 weeks left of school, I should probably concentrate, a little eh?
So here is a picture diary of my last few days. :)

I still love him, that's for sure.
My dad has been tiling the basement. He's so creative.
We have been working on this room too! I can't wait until it's finished!
My room mate gave Jerry a fish for his birthday! We named him Omar. He is not from America. :) I am way more excited about him than Jerry.
Stanley has been overloaded with homework lately. ;)
Wait. Maybe that was uhm, me!
Penny bought me these daffodils. :) I love them!
I asked Jerry would love me if I looked like this? He said,"I would have never given you the chance." Feel the love?
Jerry and I celebrated St. Patrick's day with some friends. :)
Giant Drake decided he loved me.
I decided to give Stanley a bath. He looks pathetic doesn't he?
I bribed him with wet cat food. Poor guy.
Jerry decided to ride and uhm....well break, this horse the other day.
The mountains were so beautiful as I drove to Jordan's house for her bridal shower. :)
Stanley and B show a little brotherly love once in a while.
I decorated my mom's grave for Spring. I loved spending time alone with her. :)
Jerry turned 21!!
And......Maddie took a liking to Jerry.
Happy Monday!

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


May Good Luck Be Your Friend In What Ever You Do

And May Trouble Always Be A Stranger To You!

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring Fever!

Is it just me...or does everyone have Spring Fever right about now?

I know that these last couple of nice days are just a tease. It's possible that it could snow at any minute. ay.ay.ay.

But I'm ready to go to Bear Lake, wear a sun dress and eat otter pops while watching Kobie play baseball.


I want to go out on the boat, go camping and swim in an outdoor pool.

I want to drive to the beach in my jeep with the roof off. I want to have water balloon fight and eat juicy watermelon.


I want to be one semester closer to graduating.

I want to walk out in the grass bare foot and plant a garden.

I want to see my family, have a picnic, and finally meet my new little niece, Kimber!


I want to go for walks in the park and ride a tube down the river.

I want to sit on the roof and watch fireworks go off.

I just can't wait for Winter to turn to Spring, and Spring to Summer.

What about you? Would you prefer a little more snow? Or a lot more sun?!

What are you anxious for this summer?

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Thursday, March 11, 2010

Truly Blessed!


Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the 'life sucks, everyone's out to get me, nothing ever goes right' kind of mood. But I have found that the more positive I am, the easier it is to see the bright side of things. The easier it is the see the good out of every bad situation. The easier it is help others stay positive as well.
Life isn't all about finding WHAT in life makes you happy. It's about finding out HOW to make your self happy. I know the people in life that make me happy. I know what things in life make me happy. But I also know how to make myself happy, and in return others are happy around me.
Have you ever been out with a group of friend,and there is that one person that just hates everything that is going on and it ruins it for everyone? I hate that!
Have you ever noticed that the happiest, most positive people in life are the ones with the most challenges? There are always stories on the news about disabled people achieving miraculous tasks. The other day there was a girl on the news that climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with a prosthetic limb. HELLO? I can't even do that with my two perfectly good real legs? I mean, I'm sure I could with, a little inspiration, a little training and a lot of faith. But, man, what an amazing person she is. I use to work at the Learning Lab at my high school, and those kids were my best friend. They always had a smile on their face and something kind to tell me. I could be having the worst day, and a horrible hair day, get a F on a test, and they were still there to tell me that I was there best friend, or that my hair looked good, or that they loved me. They are just truly special.
So why is it?
Let me tell you one of my ideas?
I think that just maybe God gave them a little extra inside. He made them perfect on the inside, even if they aren't on the outside. Maybe their brain can't do math, but they can love, and love unconditionally. Or maybe it is that they have experienced so many hardships that everyday life is truly a blessing.
I feel that I am not even getting anywhere with this.
But my point is, our day to day life is....well, not tough. It's a blessing from God, that we are here everyday. Why would we waste a day to complain, or to hate life. Why would we waste friendships on grudges. Because honestly, eventually our time is going to run out. Shouldn't we spend our time being as happy as possible? Shouldn't we smile at strangers in hopes of making new friends? Shouldn't we look past our own challenges and focus on our abilities?

No one cares if you're miserable, you might as well be happy.

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Monday, March 8, 2010

What a weekend!

Our weekend was so full, I am barely recovering.

When we got home on Friday, Stanley was so glad to see me. He cuddled with me the entire time I was there. I miss him so much, and I wish that I could sleep with him every night.


Stanley laying on me, while I was on the computer. He wanted all the attention.

On Friday night, Jerry, my dad, Penny and I went to eat dinner at The Legal Tender. It's so nice to spend time with my dad and Penny.

Saturday morning we woke up early to put Primer on our newly dry walled...walls. Make sense?

When we were finished primeing the walls, we left for Salt Lake. We had at the Rodizzo Grill. It was so delicious!

We then checked into our room at Little America, got a cab and went to 'The Rail.' Know where that is? No one does. It's back behind Trax, in a tiny little building.

Our view from our 10th floor room.

We waited an hour before the band arrived, due to bad weather in Colorado they had to take a plane and rent equipment.

The concert opened with Joey and Rory. They were on the show 'Can You Duet?' They sing the song 'Cheater, Cheater' know them? If not, check them out...they're really good.

Joey and Rory! (We weren't far from the stage, but we only had our phones to take pictures:( )
The Zac Brown Band then got on stage and sang every song I know...plus some. :) They were so good. One of the best concerts I've been to...except we had to Stand the entire time, and a gigantic man was standing in front of me. :)

After the concert, we tried to find a taxi to take us back to the hotel. Believe it or not, they were hard to find. This lady from VIP Transportation finally found us (they dropped us off there). We loaded in a giant van, with some rather drunk, quite hilarious people. They told us time and time again, "We have 5 kids. We got a babysitter tonight and we can't go home at 10:45!!" Ha.

We fell asleep fast that night when we got back to the room, and we slept clear until 10 the next morning. It was so so nice.

Sunday morning we ate Sunday Brunch. Went to Home Depot to pick our tile and paint for our basement....I'm pretty excited about it. :))

Jerry and I then met Brett and Tayler at Autorama, and we checked out all the cars.

A nice little bug! :)

We then drove back to Ogden and ate some pizza at The Pie.

It was such a fun, eventful weekend. I got to spend it with some of my favorite people in the world, and I couldn't ask to be any luckier.

I hope you had an equally lucky weekend....tell me about it. :)



P.S I dressed up my blog for St. Patty's Day. Like it? A lot of people have been asking me about where I get my backgrounds and banners lately. And I love doing them...the banners that is. If you would like me to make you one, just ask! <3

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Friday, March 5, 2010

Dorm Sweet Dorm

I decided to clean my apartment/dorm today, and I realized that I really am glad that I got to live on campus for these 2 years . I won't be living in the dorms next year because Jerry and I are going to get our own apartment. I started thinking about how I don't have any pictures of my dorm. I want some pictures so that some day when I'm old, telling my kids about my experience at college, I can show them some pictures. And I would just like to have some to have as a keep sake. A lot has happened as I have lived her. Lots of good things, and even a few bad things. All in all, this has been my home, and I have learned so much while I have been here.


And in case any of you have ever wondered, where I live I thought I would give you a little tour.


This is our kitchen. The door leads to the hallway that connects all of the apartments together. We don't have a lot of storage space, so Tiffany and I have our own little cupboards. Mine is on the right side. :)
This is our living room. I don't spend much time in there because I have my own TV in my room, and my bed is much more comfortable than the couch.
This is mine and Tyanne's bathroom. Pretty average eh?
This is my room! We all have the letters on our door with our names on them. I got them for my room mates and I the day we moved in.
This is my desk. Jerry usually sits here, and I sit on my bed. I made the bulletin board above my desk, and it has really come in handy. :)
This is my bed. It has a really great view of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. Above my bed it says, "Believe in the beauty of your dreams." This has a lot of meaning to me. :)
This is the view from my bed room window today. It's been snowy all day. The mountains are sure beautiful though huh?

Well that's it. It's not much, but it has my home for the last 2 years. A lot of great memories have been made here. Like the time Jerry whaked my head on the wall. Or the time that Jerry and my roommates were doing heel clicks in our living room and the people below us complained and we got in trouble. :)

I hope you enjoyed the online tour! :)

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Thursday, March 4, 2010

I Have You in My Heart.

Thought of you today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and the day before that too. I think of you in silence,I often speak your name. All I have are memories and pictures in some frames. Your memory is a keepsake, which I'll never part, God has you in His keeping....I have you in my heart.


Never a day goes by that I don't think about my mom. I think about her when I do something wrong, that she had taught me not to do. I think about her when I do something I know would make her proud. I think about her when I think about my future. And of course I think about her when I think about my past.
There will never be a day of my life, that I won't think about my mom.

I took a nap the other day, and my mom was in my dream. This isn't unusual, she is almost always in my dreams. But this time, it was so real, it was like she never left. And in my dream my mom said to me, "I'm in your dreams, because I never want you to forget what I'm like. I don't want you to forget my smell, my sense of humor, and what it's like to be with me. And I don't want you to forget I love you." I have no doubt in my mind that my mom uses my dreams to talk to me and to be a part of my life. I know, some of you think I'm crazy. But I don't care, because I know she is in those dreams with me. It made me cry as soon as I woke up, because I do miss her so very much.

A few months after she had passed away, I had a dream, and in my dream she told me, "You can't be sad anymore. It's time to be happy."
I know that is what she wants. But sometimes, life is just tough.

I always think to myself, "I wish I could call my mom about this." And sometimes when I am really down, and no one can make it better, I close my eyes, and imagine her hugging me. I think about hugging her, squeezing her tight. And then I think about what she would say to me.

There are some days, that everything I see, everything I do, everything I hear reminds me of her. I see the beautiful trees, and I think about the times when I was little and she would explain to me how beautiful the trees were. I watch TV, and hear canned laughing, and think about how much she hated it. I can hear in my head saying, "Laddddyyyyy!" Because she would call me that and say it in the funniest voice. I think about the times that I didn't call her after every class and she would hurry and call me, because she was worried something would happen to me. She would call me at dusk to make sure I was back at my dorm, and she would call to ask if I made my bed.

To be quite truthful, it isn't fair that I had to lose my mom this early in my life. And it isn't fair that there are people out there that don't appreciate all their moms have done for them. It isn't fair, that the only opportunity I have to see my mom is in my dreams, and there are people out there that take their mom's for granted and don't ever see their moms. And it's days like today that I just want to be angry at someone, as if there is someone to blame.

But I have come to realize that everything happens for a reason, I know. Some days are harder than others, but I know that I will be okay, because I always have those dreams to see my mom, I always have those prayers to talk to my mom, and I always have the memories to know exactly what my mom would do in any situation.

I am incredibly thankful to God for all that he has given my in life. I am thankful for all those who help me through everything. I know that God has a plan, and that I will see my mom again some day in Heaven.
But for now,

I love you mom. I've missed you a lot today. I hope there is a kitty in Heaven for you to cuddle up with, and I hope you are watching a good drama filled Lifetime movie before you go to bed. I hope that Grandma Darlene is glad to have you by her side once again. Please watch over Dad, Jessica and I.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

I love you just the way you are!

I can't tell you how much he means to me. Or the butterflies I get in my stomach when we softly pulls my hands up to his lips and gently kisses it. Or when he randomly says, "Cole, I love you!" I love the way he does things for me, just because he knows I like it. He puts lotion on my back and gives me a little massage almost everynight. I couldn't possibly be any luckier.

I love this, long-legged, big footed, cave-man looking, air-guitar playin', ugly singin', incredibly sweet, boy!


I loved you yesterday, I love you still.
I always have. I always will.

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