Two Choices

What would you do?...you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the oys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance ans said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt...I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behing by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base ans Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and guve away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came ans Shay swung clumsily and missed. The Pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever fun that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay!'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet scraming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day,' said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ' the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.'

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home ans seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

We can all make a difference.

...Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices.

Doesn't Everyone Make Mistakes?..

In the 16 years that I have lived, I have realized even the most amazing people make mistakes. No one is perfect, although we tend to think everyone is. We always judge other people by all their flaws instead of looking at all the good things they do or have done.

Everyone does something they aren't proud of, but after its done and over with you can't take it back. Their is no point in looking at all the bad things someones done when you could see all the good they have done.

I can honestly say that i've made mistakes, but I've learned from them. Most everyone does, unless they are an idiot. But knowing that i'm not perfect makes it easier for me to know that no one is.

We all make mistakes. It's how we respond to our mistake that determinds our lives.

Serena!! My New Best Friend(:

Their is this new family in my ward (well not so new) and they have a bunch of little kids, but they have this daughter that is in 8th grade, her name is Serena. Ever since she moved in we have been the best of friends. Serena is a perfect kind of friend to have. She's always so much fun to be with! This one time, we were making cakes, and we just wanted to put both cake mixes into one bowl so we did. It ended up they were two different kinds of cakes (oops). One was some kind of butter cake and the other one was vanilla, but since we already mixed them together their was nothing we could do about it. As we were making the cake, we realised that we didn't have any frosting. So we decided to make our own. As we were making it, it seemed really thin to be frosting but didn't know what to do so we left it all thin and runny. Although our cakes were mixed, and our frosting was all runny I can honestly say it was pretty good. That was probably the most fun I have had making a cake! I love you Serena(:

More Paintings!!

These are just some other paintings I've done this year!
Hope you like them(:

My Art Work

This semester I have been in a painting class and I have been working on many things. First off we have to do a two week sketch every two weeks. I love to draw and I'm so glad she has us do that. Second I've been painting too. I've only done two paintings so far but right now I'm working on a painting of autumn trees. These are just some of the things I've done this semester!

This was my first two week sketch


second two week sketch

Third two week sketch

First painting of the semester

Second painting of the semester

Finishing Our Basement Bathroom

For the past two saturdays, Ryan and my Dad have been working hard on finishing our basement bathroom and laundry room. It looks so good so far even though there is still a lot to do. My family is so greatful for all the help Ryan has been! These are just some pictures i took while they were working.

Daxtons First Dance!!

This is Daxton and Maddie about to go to the Sweethearts dance together. This is Daxy's first dance that he has ever been to in high school. Don't they both look stuning?! This afternoon they went and played basketball for there day activity, and then when daxton came home he started getting ready for the dance. He got his clothes on and did his hair and I came into the bathroom and he said "does my hair look okay?" and "is my tie to short?" i love how he was asking me how he looks. And of course i told him he looked amazing. When she got to our house, she came in and daxton put the flowers on her wrist and her face just lite up. She is the cutest girl ever! Im so glad she asked dax to the Sweethearts dance!

Misty Dygert

Everyone is always saying they dont know what they have until its gone, but sometimes we do we just dont tell the person how much they mean to us so they end up leaving or feeling like you dont care about them. So I want to tell everyone how much my friend Misty means to me.

Misty,

Ever since we became friends I've been able to see the world differently. You always try to think positive about mostly everthing and i love it. It makes me think more positive. When we are hanging out together or just at school we always laugh and have a good time even though people look at us funny. You make me smile more then anyone else in the world. You help me with my school work, choosing outfits to buy, my hair and all of that related stuff. The one thing I absolutly love about you is i can come to you with anything, i can trust you and know you aren't going to make fun of me or judge me because you care about every stupid problem of mine. I can trust you and i hope you can trust me. Even though we have our share of fights i still love you as my best friend. No one will ever come between me and you because we are the kind of friends that will last an eternity. You keep me strong and i keep you strong. I care about you so much i cant even begin to describe it. I will be here for you no matter what.

Thank you for everything you do for me. For listening to me when i need you, for staying up texting me when i couldnt sleep, for always sticking up for me, for always being there. You are one of those friends that i wont ever lose because no matter what happens you and I are always there to help eachother. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I dont know what i would do with out you. Thanks for being my bestest friend ever.

My "Second Family and Sisters"

Ever since my family and i moved to south weber, i have found the best of friends. The soderquist family (including there extended family) have been such great friends to my dad, brother and me. They always invite us to everything, no matter what it is (ps i love that). They are like my second family, which is absolutly amazing! I am so greatful for all they have done.




Another family in my ward (the Polls) have also been so nice. There daughter megan is 13 (i think) and we are the best of friends! We share clothes, jewelry, food, her room, and everything! We call us sisters because we practically are. Also her to little siblings hayley and lily are my "sisters" to. We play games, do eachothers hair and makeup, watch movies together, and tell all our secrets to eachother. I love all of them to death and i dont know what i would do without them and there smiling faces.

My Favorite two Girls in the World!!

As you may know megan is one of my best friends, but her little sisters are also my best friends to! They are so much fun to be around, expecially when all they want to do is run around. Hayley is six years old and is in first grade. Lily is three years old and goes to preschool a few times a week. I know it may seem strange to have such little girls being my best friends, but i cant help it. There so cute, always showing me what they did in school or a new trick they learned how to do. One of our favorite things to do is to take pictures with my camera or my phone and pretend to be models or "princesses". Without my little friends my life would be pretty dull. They bring excitement to life and i absolutly love it!

Mutual Fun! (:

okay so i dont post enough stuff on my blog so i have decided that i am going to take my camera with me everywhere so i can post more things and also have fun taking pictures. On tuesday at mutual, i found out one of my favorite leaders was moving and this would be her last week with us (her name is Cheri Bender) i couldnt believe it, her family and her are the best. i dont want them to move but what am i suppossed to do about it? but i guess i can look forward to a new leader. These are just some pictures i took at mutual

Cheri Bender and me

emily, rachel, fiorella, tena

Meggy and me

me being a dork in the bathroom

my bestest buddy and me!

Emily and Rachy!

Meggy-we are practically sisters

EFY 2009!!

Efy this year was so much fun!! I met a ton of new people and learned so many things! Im so excited for efy next year!! I'm hoping my dad will let me go to BYU provo this summer (hint hint) but we will just have to wait and see :) these are just a few of the pictures i took. There are about a million more :)

some funny guys at talent show!


Me and my girl!!



The boys :)

Daneno and misty!!!

Best girl friends in the world!

These boys were my absolute favorite!!

Lunch with Grandma!

I went to Javier's with Grandma today!
It was so much fun! I haven't hung out
with her in forever! I wish we could hang
out everyday! She is so happy and smilie
all the time and i love that!! She is the best
Grandma anyone could ask for! We are planning
on going swimmin and hanging out with the
cousins more this summer :) I cant wait!!

Park fun!

Megan, Lily, Nick, Keithy, and I went to the park the other day.
It was a blast! We played on the jungle gym and played soccer
and football! So much fun!!!

look at me swing!!

Im gonna get you nick!!!! ha ha ha

Watch out!!!!

isnt Lily such a cutie!

Great! Savannah took a pic of me!!! :)

Adorable Soderquist Boys!!

Look how cute these soderquist boys are!! They are so fun! I love them to death!!! They always make life more exciting at there house! Wish they were my little brothers!

My Best Friend Megan!

meggy and me taken random pictures cuz we were bored :)

Me and my best friend hung out today :) it was
a blast!!! we had so much fun!!! we absolutly love
hanging out with eachother :) i love her!!!!

it was our leaders birthday so me and jessica decided to make cupcakes for everyone at mutual. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VARI and JULIE!!!!

Okay this may look a bit retarded but it was so much fun! We got strawberries and salt and rubbed it all over our feet! it was so much fun (:

arent they sexy!!! we did facials for mutual so much fun!!!