GAP Model?!

Doesn't he look HOT???!!!!! Well, in my eyes he could be a sexy GAP Model!! :) :) :) But! I have someone else in mind!... :)

After trying to convince me for a year, Josh can finally mark his calendar!! I attended my first Ayuda Clinic with him... yeay!! :) If I only knew what I'd been missing... my face would've been to every clinic, and in a heartbeat!! It was something else to watch the students setup, organize and work together!.... = teamwork, right?! They did awesome!

I was not only excited to finally take some pictures of Josh "in action", but to see, experience and meet people he associates and works with. In some ways this reminded me of my 2 week "Survivor" Humanitarian Expedition in Peru as well. How humbling when children are at your mercy with full trust in your knowledge, help, capabilities and love!!!

Ayuda Clinic
The setup of dental chairs and tools

The pit

Just a small portion of materials needed for students working on their patient(s).

Diagnosis & Screening
(Mike Christensen, Spanish Fork, Utah & Jed Huss Orange, California Class of 2011)

Radiology
Kaulana "Big K" Seto, Hawaii & Jon Harmon, Oregon Class of 2011
Kyle Christensen Class of 2012, Lindon, Utah

OHI & Fluoride Tx

Courtesy of USC Dental Hygiene

Anesthesia

I was proud of these little girls! (above & below pics) :) The poor thing (above) had crocodile tears rolling down her face as they gave her some anesthesia for a few teeth. She was stiff as a board with her palms and fingers stretching out for someone to save her. Out of instinct I wanted so badly to sit down and hold her hand... Oh, it just killed me!! The gorgeous lil Tanya (below) starting crying right as she stepped in the building! That's exactly what I would've done! LOL!!... We both must feel the same way about dentists!.... DON'T LIKE NEEDLES and DRILLS!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

But!... I didn't want to get in the way since they were trying to push through about 100 children.

I took quite a load of pics of the lil beauty herself. In a sense, I think it calmed her down a little bit. She was so dang cute!... I just fell in love with her! Every time I would sneak by and see how the two students were doing on her, she would lift her little hand and wave to me. :) :) So, here is her GORGEOUS smile after getting some professional work done!... Time to go get signed up as our newest GAP Model! :)

There was so much more excitement to this day, such as; I am now in charge of getting copies of my photos to the Ayuda Clinic, Doctor's in charge and School District!!!! But!... the most important part was seeing my Sweetie Pea work at his best in teaching other students as well as taking fantastic care of these children in need of a Pretty Smile!!! .... seeing that put the Biggest Smile on my face!!!!! I'm so Proud of you Love!!!!!!!!! :);)

Thought of the day:

"Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."~MT

Getty tHiS... Getty tHaT!

If you haven't been to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, you have to visit just to experience it once in your lifetime! I'm not much of a history buff or even artist expert, but it was pretty amazing to see art work from the 1500's to the present. This included paintings, tapestry, furniture, china, sculptings, photographs, etc.
This painting (Jacques-Louis David: Empire to Exile) was one of my favorites! I didn't even read much about it... whoops! :) ;) But, I love the closeness between the two "sisters or friends" reading a love letter or note. :) :)
(and if you're asking yourself?... yeah, I took these pictures!) :)





This IS my absolute FAVORITE painting!!! It's simple, innocent, sweet!... just precious, really! I'd give a million for it! Don't tell Josh!... I might just come home with it one of these days!!!! Hee, hee! :) :) ;)





This is Brittany's future bed and she's definitely doing the "all pink" theme too! She'll laugh at me, but I loved the style and colors! Ok!... maybe not so much pink! But, I am very into the victorian look! (like the couch the women are sitting on in the pic above!)... very pretty!! Well, doesn't surprise me that "her majesty" had a FULL bedroom of pink though! She could have whatever the heck she wanted back then!!!! :) :) :)

This pic is not only for me, because I thought it was very interesting!.... but for Chad too! :)
And Katie... you wouldn't hold still in your pic by your "dream bed". :) So, here is one for you. :) Josh said I am giving him a nice crusty! Hee, hee!

Here is the lil beauty herself!... Paige E. :) I would rather take pictures of her all day! Those dimples and blue eyes just win me over!!! :)

"Natie & Kate" ;) :) We just love you guys! :) You two are the "perfect" couple! I can't tell you enough how thrilled I am that you decided on USC and Cali! We're lovin the get-togethers, laughs, and we can't forget... Nate's crazy high pitch humming!! Kills me every time I look at him! :) You're TOO much FUN!!!! We look forward to more food, new adventures and laughing so hard it hurts! (I caught ya in the gardens, givin each other the looks of Love!) ;)
My lil Sweetie pea overlooking some of the beautiful red & orange fall leaves. Yes!... we do have fall here but with warm sunshine and it doesn't get below mid 50's in the evenings. This was actually the first time I'd seen some fall leaves!!! Oh, it makes me homesick!! And, yep!... here is cheesy me standing in front of a garden full of "bird of paradise" flowers. The gardens here are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
I am not kidding you.... the sunset was actually this red!!! I Love the photo but in reality it breaks my heart. The coloring of the sky is from all of the fires burning here in Cali. Many families have lost their homes from the crazy winds stirring up wild fires (this is taken from a balcony overlooking the gardens and LA city at the Getty.)

Here are just a few significant paintings by Rembrant Van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet. I took a couple hundred photos, so here a few that I found interesting.

Ok and last but not least! Yeah, I still act like a kid most of the time!!! So when Brittany spots something amusing or entertaining and tells me to 'capture the moment'... I just can't help myself! So!... here is the famous "Detailed Crack" captured by artist 'Natalie Whiteley'! I mean... we are at an art museum, right?! :) ;) This is just for you Brittany! Love ya!!! :) ;) We had a great time! Thanks for sharing the day with us Ericksons and Proctors! :)

Thought of the day: "Everything in life changes you in some way. Even the smallest things. You realize, that you must accept things for what they are, and what they have made you become. If you do not accept these changes, you do not accept yourself. For through these changes brings new and greater things to you, making you wiser, as time progresses. To avoid these changes is a loss. You only live your life once. Do not waste a minute of it avoiding things. Let them come to you, and learn from them. There's always tomorrow."~ARG

EiGhT!!!!!!!!

Yep!........

15 years of knowing, growing and getting to know each other and Eight Wonderful Years of sweetness and eternal bliss! If only time stood still for just a moment! But really, it feels as though it was yesterday that you took my hand and we looked into each others eyes, promising to Love each other Forever... for Eternity! So... today is the perfect time to tell you what you mean to me. How I depend on you to Love me for who I am. How I feel Loved each time you smile or hold my hand and, when I need someone to listen, you're there and I know you'll understand me! So, today I celebrate my LOVE for you Sweets! I'm grateful that we have each other and the unique happiness that life only gives to just a few!! I Love you Babe-o-licious!!!.... haPpY aNNiVeRsaRY! :)

Two Souls,
Two Hearts,
Made as One by God.
Friends, Lovers,
Soul Mates,
Intertwined together for
the Journey.
Joined in Spirit
Growing in Depth
Honored by Heaven.

In one another…

Finding delight.
With one another…
Seeking the highest good.
For one another…
Laying down their lives.

Pure in Devotion,
Unmoved in Loyalty,
Bound by Trust,
Led by Hope,
Committed to Truth,
Wrapped in Grace,
Forever in Love!

Thought of the day:

"Two souls with but a single thought, Two hearts that beat as one." ~FH.

RaCe!...

RaNdoM tHouGhtS!
Yeah! It's a race... and my mind has won! All of these random thoughts have been running through my head like a hamster on his wheel drinking a Red Bull! LoL!... some of you may know exactly what I mean?! It's even difficult for me to sit still long enough to post this!!!
Well, first of all I want to say that I am so SoRRy to my family, friends and husband for being a rotten friend, sister, daughter and wife! I'm just feeling really... guilty! These feelings come from not being "active" in picking up my phone & calling, or getting out with friends and also taking care of those I LOvE so much! And... this is to my cute friend Brittany.....
What do ya think about that?! :) Sorry for being so gay! Hope we're still friends! Well!... I guess this implies to all of my loved ones!
Ok, another thought now! My anxiety, ADD and moodiness really got the best of me today! I actually fit in perfectly with my kids!... or maybe they didn't help! Anyhow, my intentions were to let them know how very grateful I am for their cute lil examples! Emma & Vincent both got baptized yesterday. It was a wonderful and lightening experience to be reminded of those covenants I made and also memories of "my" baptism day! I'm already looking forward to Zachary, Mia and Karna getting baptized! Yeay!!! :)

Well, with that being said... I better get back to my baking! I've got an enormous amount of Love that needs to be re-payed! And for those not near enough... I'll make it up some other fantastic way! :) Until then, just remember...... I LoVe YoU & can we still be friends???! Ya know!... just like these two quackers?! :) Hee, hee!
This one is especially for my sweet husband, who for some odd reason puts up with all of my dirty crap! You are mY BeSt fRieNd! And I LoVe YoU more than words can say!!!! Thank you Kim for making my day so much brighter and from so far away! And, Brittany!... I just LoVe your lil Smart-A! :)

Thank You to everyone for all of your love and friendship no matter how ugly my side gets!!! :) :) :)

Thought of the day:

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."~CJ

BIG "K"

hAppY biRtHdaY BIG "K"!!! And you are thirty...

WHAT???! :) Hee, hee!... We won't give it away! It was a nice pleasure to celebrate Kaulana (Josh's dental buddy) birthday with his HUGE family and MANY friends!! We enjoyed a Argentine BBQ, continuous humor and sarcasm, even more food, music & singing, tasty Hawaiian birthday cake! Oh, it was Heaven!! :) And! my favorite... Hawaiian Love! There is just something about the Hawaiian culture/people!... they are FULL of Love. Yep!... it's all about the Love, Family, food and music!
Of course I couldn't keep my eyes off of the kidlets as well as the empanadas!!! LOL!
Thank you for inviting us to your "surprise" birthday celebration!!! :)

Thought of the day:

"Every one's got it in him, if he'll only make up his mind and stick at it. None of us is born with a stop-valve on his powers or with a set limit to his capacities, There's no limit possible to the expansion of each one of us."~CS