So, on Saturday it felt like I was living in a dream. I met one of my favorite musicians. Gavin Degraw! I totally freaked out I won't lie. I barely had words for this man, because I was in such shock. I've followed his career since the moment I heard him on the radio more than 5 years ago. So, to get this chance was once in a lifetime. I even took some pictures, I have one on my camera with the two of us. I also have a bunch that I took during the concert where I was standing just underneath his microphone, it was CRAZY! Here is a few pictures of the WONDERFUL meeting.









I look at it this way, it's not every day that you get to meet one of your favorite musicians. I kinda freaked more than I thought I would. I've met my fair share of celebrities, but he....was by far the most amazing! He was so nice, we told jokes and he talked about his brother who does voice overs for A&E. I was completely enthralled with everything he had to say.

So, as if that wasn't the most amazing thing ever, I was told by my Bishop yesterday that I have 10 weeks and I'll be given the go ahead to get my endowments taken out. I have to attend the Temple Prep class at church, so it will be a couple weeks until it starts. However, once I'm done with the class I'll get to take out my endowments. I'm totally freaking out! I'm so excited! This is the best news I could ever ask for, I've been trying really hard to magnify my calling, to attend church, and pay my tithing. I've been doing what I can to do what's right, and I feel that the Lord see's that and is offering me blessings in return. Yeah the hard stuff already happened to keep me on the straight and narrow. It can't always be sunshine and roses, so I'm just really happy right now. I feel so priveledged to be a member of the church. I love my Father in Heaven so much, and love my family and friends with all my heart. Just thought I would share that with all of you..

Love you all!

Brooke

This weekend was really nice, I was so tired Friday night. However, I couldn't sleep. I didn't fall asleep until 3am and I had woken up the morning before at 5am. So, needless to say I has almost been awake a full 24 hours. So, the next morning I didn't really wake up until 2pm...SO Awful! I hate waking up later in the day, I never feel good when I do. Anyways, so I just felt like crap all day Saturday. Oh well, cause the rest of the weekend went rather well.

Sunday was the day of my talk, and I woke up early to prepare. I really wanted to do well, it's been 14 years since I last gave a talk in church. I was SO nervous. Then as they finished with the sacrament, and the 2nd counselor got up to introduce all those that would be speaking and singing. I realized that I was going to be, the first person to give a talk...I had 10 minutes, and the sad thing is...I TIMED my talk so I knew it would be at least that long. It was interesting how the words flowed from me. My talk was on opening our hearts to the spirit, and I really felt that I had. I don't think I could have given that talk with out the lords help, and it was great because I wasn't nervous when I was up there talking. Afterwards, the members of the ward came up to me and told me they thought mine was the best one. I didn't think so, but I'm very judgemental of myself.

Despite everything yesterday was a really good day. I hung out with my room mates family again. I couldn't play volleyball, but that's not a big deal. It was nice to watch, cause everyone was having fun. My friend Wendy came with us, and we had so much fun! It was a crazy day, but fun.

I'm excited for Saturday....I'm GOING to the GAVIN DEGRAW Concert! I am so stoked...I LOVE HIM. If I new how to add his music to my page I so would, cause he's my favorite musician of all time. LOVE the guy! If you haven't heard his music, you really should..it's good stuff.

Okay, so I've had quite a few people ask me how my date went on Saturday. Since this was our 2nd date...I think everyone had high hopes. It's funny, because being around this guy he is PAINFULLY shy. Which is fine, but it makes me feel awkward when I'm around him. When I talk to him on the phone, he's really cool and confident which is great...Well, we went to the State Fair the shows we saw were a lot of fun. However, I just felt so uncomfortable the Entire time because he was so awkward. He's such a nice guy though...grr so frustrating. Anyways, Here is a picture that I took. He didn't know what he was really posing for, he just sat behind the board and didn't realize just how funny it looked. I was trying to be funny, but he didn't think it was so funny.



After that, we walked around, and came up on this really awesome Tiger show. It was amazing! They were so calm and cool, and playful with their trainers. It was awesome, this is one of the tigers I took a picture of with crummy cell phone.



Anyways, so, I think I'm gonna just be friends with this guy. I think it's the right thing to do since in my presence he acts so awkward, and I feel SO uncomfortable. I think even when he asks me out again, which I know he will because he keeps calling me that I'll just tell him that we should really just hang out as friends.

On to other news...in our Stake Conference on Sunday M. Russell Ballard gave a talk about opening our hearts. Uhm...yeah that's the topic of my talk this coming Sunday. I figure, there really must be an important purpose for me to give this talk if members of my ward are going to hear it 3 times this year..haha...it's actually okay, I took awesome notes and will use them in my talk. I'd love to have family there, I've asked my Sister DeEtte to go, but she has the kids that weekend so I'm not sure if she can make it. My parents probably won't be able to cause my Dad works, and I doubt my other brothers can make it. My friend Leslie and her husband will be there, and my room mates mother will be there. I'm really looking forward to it, and especially since it's been 14 years since my last talk. I hope I do it justice.

Physical therapy for my knee is going REALLY well, after only 4 weeks I'm able to bend my leg to a 117 degree angle. It's getting there, and I just have a little way to go...I'm so excited! I actually find myself enjoying physical therapy. I used to think they were set out to torture me, but I see now that it's for my own benefit.

Anyways, so that's it from me this week. I'll let you know how the talk went.

So, This week and last week seem to have gone by in a blur. I made so many decisions that could be considered life altering. I chose not to be a trainer at work anymore. I think the decision was mostly based off of my values, and that I respect myself enough not work in a department that finds it easy to ignore and disrespect others. While they may or may not deny the allegations of Discrimation, it was infact a huge reason why I chose to leave the department. I still work for Overstock, but currently work with our partners. I don't see it as a step down, because as Stormy sees things, we're all equal in the company. "It is what it is" I say.

Anyways, I found out on Sunday that my actual calling in church is Activities committee, but...here's the kicker. It's the stake activities committee, and we are a part of 9 different stakes. Which all of this is just SO crazy. I have my first meeting tonight...I'm a bit nervous, it just seems like a huge calling for little ol' me to have. It will be good though.

Then, on Tuesday I found out I get to give a talk in church on September 21st. My talk will be on "Opening Our Hearts" which is a talk that Gerald N. Lund gave in General Conference in April. So, I have about a week and half to prepare this talk, and I'm praying the lord will get me through. I knew it would happen, just wasn't prepared for it to happen so soon. Oh well, it's all good.

Also, I have a second date with that guy this weekend. I sort of already told him that I'm starting to like him, but that I wasn't sure what to do about it. Do you know what his exact response was? "Well, how about this, what are your plans for This saturday". Yeah we're going to the State Fair, and I'm looking forward to it. I'll be hanging out with him tonight at our Stake Volleyball game. We'll see how that goes.

So, that's it from me...I can't think of any other news...Life is what it is...we have more important things to focus on in our lives to worry about things we cannot change. I'm gonna start adopting that in my life, and hopefully I won't stress out as much. We can all hope, right?

so, Today has been a very interesting day.

I had to use the ladies room this morning here at work. I work on the second floor, and have to go a ways to get to use the facilities. Anyways, I get out there and there was a gentleman cleaning the ladies room. So, I couldn't go in. So I decided to take the huge staircase down to the first floor. Since I'm not fully functioning yet, it took me about 10 minutes to get down there. By the time I got down there, the guy from the 2nd floor had made his way down to the 1st floor and was cleaning the ladies room there. so, rather then take the stairs back up, I just took the Elevator, why couldn't I have done that in the first place! GRRR





In other news, the rest of my weekend was awesome. On Saturday I hung out with my sister and my Mom, that was a lot of fun. We went to Michael's, Dee pushed mom in a wheel chair, and I got to push the cart. I got support and so did Mom. Anyone that says you can't take disabled people shopping never went shopping with us. (uhm, Mom you aren't disabled). The craft we were going to do couldn't be done until Monday. However, I had plans for Monday and didn't get to make mine. Luckily I have a very nice brother in law who is comfortable in his manliness and he did my craft for me. So, to my Brother in Law Chad, thanks for helping Bro!

The rest of the weekend was fun and relaxing, I went to Orem and hung out with my room mates family. We stayed the night Sunday night, and I got to sleep in the coolest room with the most comfortable bed in the world. Just going there feels like I'm on vacation at a resort...I get to play Pinochle, (3 handed and 4 handed). They always have tons of food, and play tons of games. They even play TONS of Volleyball which is my favorite sport. I'm so jealous of them, because they have this awesome Volleyball set up in the back yard. They have a beautiful Deck, and the weekend was perfect even despite the rain.

This weekend I have a date with a guy in my ward. I was supposed to go out with him last Friday, but I was seriously not doing so well. I'm glad I'm doing better, and I'm excited I'm doubling with my room mate so I won't feel so awkward. YAY!

so, that's it for me for now. I'll probably have more to add later down the road. Love you all!

Brooke