Cultural Diorama (Multi-Cultural Education)

Religion, Family, Heritage, Frugality: My Cultural Identity

1. Collage in my living room

 These four artifacts I lumped into one. They all go together and represent the same aspect of my cultural identity: family and religion. The top right is a picture of the Twin Falls Temple where I married my husband. The next is our marriage certificate. The bottom left is a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and next to it is a picture from my wedding. My religion is fundamental to who I am and I would not even know how to define myself if it this aspect of my identity were taken from me. Because of my religion, I know and understand the importance of family and am so grateful that my religion allows me to be with mine forever.

2. An Authentic Ecuadorian Throw

This throw was given to me by my mother and hangs on my bedroom wall. It is a constant reminder of where I come from. Though in my opinion, I have been fully "Americanized", this part of my ethnicity plays a huge part in my cultural identity. It has effected my decision to study and learn the language of my mother so that I can better communicate with members of my family to everyday decisions like what I eat on a regular basis. When cooking, I use a lot of ethnic spices and seasonings and foods that are common to Ecuador because that is what my mother used and that is how I was taught to cook.This is how it has been since I was a child, and even though I have moved away from my parents, these little parts of my daily life have remained with me.  

3. Piggy Bank

I chose to include this artifact as representative of my cultural identity because it reflects mentalities regarding money that I was taught and that I continue to maintain and it is also representative of my socio-economic culture. Growing up, my family never went without essentials, but there were times when our parents had to tell us no when we asked for something. My parents talked to us openly about their finances when we got older and they told us that because of decisions they had made earlier on, they had accumulated debt that now needed to be paid back. They heeded us to always be careful with our future financial decisions. I took this to heart and now strive to be wise with my money. I do not have a lot to spare at this time of my life and I don't know that I ever will, but because my husband and I make a huge effort to avoid unnecessary spending and save for emergencies and big purchases, I don't think that will ever matter. 

I Love to See the Temple

The Provo Temple is not my favorite temple in outside appearance. Brent actually compares it to a birthday cupcake with a candle on top, which in my opinion, isn't that far off :). But the spirit here is no different. Just walking around the grounds, the same sweet and celestial spirit common to all temples is felt just as strongly.

This is where Brent and I spent 4 hours of our evening this past Tuesday. Yes, 4 hours. We arrived at 6:50 PM hoping to attend the 7:20 PM session and walked out of there at 11:00 PM.

Even though it was a long wait, we were happy to be there. It was the first evening the temple had opened after a scheduled 2-3 week maintenance closure. After some of our experiences at BYS, we had both made the decision to follow the example of some of the incredible youth in the Boise Area and make the temple a priority by attending frequently and regularly. So, Tuesday was our first chance to get there and we were excited to follow through on our goal! (Not to mention, we had heard through the grapevine that there was a new video and we couldn't wait to see it.)

It took about 35-40 minutes to get into the chapel because there was such a high volume of people. We sat in the chapel for about an hour. A member of the temple presidency spoke to us while we were waiting and informed us that the Provo Temple had not seen numbers quite like this in a very long time but that they were committed to serving us and stay as long as needed to ensure that we all could make it to a session. He estimated that the temple had about 1000 patrons since 4 PM that day!! 

I learned a lot while at the temple and even though I was there quite a bit longer than I expected to be, I am so grateful that we got to go--the new video was well worth the wait! It was a great start to the goals Brent and I have set for ourselves and I am excited to keep going back and to keep learning. I love the temple! :)

Boise Youth Spectacular!!

Brent and I had the blessing of being counselors again for this year's Boise Youth Spectacular and although it was exhausting, it was absolutely incredible. We got to work with 32 youth from the Boise area and were able to grow and learn with them throughout the week. We heard from many speakers and presenters and were taught so much. It really is unbelievable how close you can become to someone in just 48 hours. We spent a little under two days with our groups but because we shared so much together, I feel like I have know them for much longer.

The first session went great! Of course, there were a few hiccups, but luckily, I learned from Johnny Covey that dwelling on things that go wrong and obsessing about them is not something that comes from God. He taught us that we need to be in our heart, where we are free and comfortable and to get out of our heads, the place we dwell on bad things or feel awkward or uncomfortable and worry about what people think of us. It quickly became a catch phrase at the spectacular: Get out of your head and into your heart!! This helped me enjoy the experience so much more and helped me realize that all negativity comes from Satan. Just like our bodies react to vial or poisonous substances (i.e. food poisoning) and get it out of our systems, we need to get vial and poisonous thoughts out of our minds. Until we get it out (by expressing it and then refusing to dwell on it) we will feel awful. I always have the choice to be react in my heart and or in my head. To me, this concept was so simple but so profound. It literally changed the way I think about life and my reactions and attitudes, the way I view myself as a child of God and so much more.

Anyway, the first session we worked with 17 year olds all of whom were entering into their senior year. The first night, I was worried that there might be some obstacles to how well the group bonded, but they took each other in and I have no doubt the eternal relationships were formed. We felt like family and it was so cool! All of them were such an example to me! 

Here is the video for the first session. Our group is shown starting at 0:31s - 0:36s!! :)

Watching this video gives me chills. I love it so much and I know that Heavenly Father loves all of these youth so much, more than we can comprehend. 

The second session was different but still wonderful. All of the speakers were the same, but for the first time we were given a group of 14 year olds! We had a lot of fun with them throughout the event and when we asked who was coming back next year, all of them raised their hands. I love them all so much!! :)

Woot! Yellow 9!! (Don't mind that the sun is shining directly on my face)

One of the coolest experiences for me personally happened the second night of the second session. We were waiting for the Alex Boye concert to start and kids were dancing and singing along with the songs playing on the speakers. They were running up to one of the three stages that were set up and just having a ball. It was so fun to watch. I was sitting on the edge of one of the stages, swaying as I sat there and just looked over and saw these youth. I was totally overwhelmed by the love I felt for them and I knew that these feelings came from Heavenly Father. He loves them so much. Not only did I feel this immense love for them, I also felt as if I were sharing in Heavenly Father's joy in that moment. He was watching the same thing I was and I could feel how happy he was because he loves them. These kids were totally in their hearts during that moment. They knew their self worth and who they are and as their Father, he shared that joy with them. It was surreal. 

BYS is filled with moments like this. In my mind, all BYS is, is a compilation of these experiences occurring in different people in different ways.  I love it and am so grateful for the impact that this program has had in my life. Brother Spjute is an incredible man and I love him for putting this program together. I will be a part of this program for as long as I am able to!! The Church is true and I love it. I am so grateful for my Savior and all that he has done for me. 

GO YELLOW 9!!

My Summer Bucket List UPDATE:)

Okay. SO here is the summer bucket list from my post a few months ago.

1. Finish Online Classes (this is probably the most boring thing on my list...but it has to be done)
2. Run a half marathon! (June 8th, 2013!!)
3. Get in shape (i.e. run a half marathon)
4. Go jet skiing
5. Get tan
6. Go to Seven Peaks at least 2X a week
7. Read 6 (non-text) books. Like real, actual books
8. Read the New Testament for personal study
9. Hike the Y three times
10. Hike Mount Timpanogos during the day
11. Hike Mount Timpanogos at night!!
12. Write a blog
13. Plant a flower garden
14. Plant a vegetable garden
15. Go to the zoo
16. Go camping and make smores!
17. Have lots of BBQs
18. Dye my hair (ombre perhaps?)
19. Go to Lagoon
20. Go on a road trip (or two...to Boise of course) 
21. Kiss in the rain
22. Run in the rain
23. Find someone to serve everyday
24. Learn something new
25. Be money smart
26. Have a water fight
27. Go to Stadium of Fire and watch Kelly Clarkson and Carly Rae Jepsen LIVE 

And now for an update...

• Well I can definitely cross some of these things off. I am going to go ahead and cross off #1. (I ordered my final exam for my last class today and will take it next week so its basically over)
• #2 is COMPLETE. And that one felt so great. 
• #3-- Brent and I have been running and walking together most nights. I want to start doing so weights here pretty soon. And also, as of last week, I have started cutting my meals in half because I am 100% guilty of overeating. Basically, I get a normal plate of food and then cut it in half and only eat the first half. Then, if I am still hungry, I go and get the other half. The crazy thing is that I have never still been hungry after only eating half. Crazy, right?? I feel like cutting down on eating is going to do wonders for losing the few pounds of stomach flab. Flat stomach, here I come! :)
• #4-- Okay, when I wrote this, I had NO IDEA how expensive jet skiing is. Basically its like $150 for one jet ski for just a few hours..so I hope that this ends up happening but it might..we'll have to see. I will be accepting donations in case every one is wondering.
• #5 -- This is also still a work in progress. I have small tan lines and mark my words, they WILL become more visible by the end of summer
• #6-- okay...Working full time reallly inhibits accomplishing the goal of going to Seven Peaks 2X a week. But, I have gone about 5 times this summer. And plan on going a lot more especially now that my online classes are pretty much done.
• #7-- I am almost done with my first book! The Great Gatsby. Again, now that my online classes are almost done, I will have a lot more time to get some more books read.
• #8--I am in the Book of Mark right now and know that I have got to keep truckin' on with this checklist item if I am going to finish.
• #9-- Brent and I have hiked the Y one time and I am probably going to hike it again later this week. We even might hike up to the top of Y mountain. 
• #10--We almost did this on the 4th of July, but I freaked out last minute and got scared of being attacked by a bear...(haha I know, silly) and decided I wanted to go with a larger group instead of just the two of us. So before we hike Mt. Timp, we are going to put a bigger group together. Maybe over labor day weekend?
• #11 -- Again, I'm a wimp. But this is still a goal of mine this summer
• #12 -- I write a post about once a week or so. I think that means I can cross this one off. :)
• #13-- I have also planted a flower garden! :) They almost kind of died a few weeks ago, but I have since revived them and they are growing again.
• #14--We have pulled off FOUR zucchinis from the garden! And there are TONS and TONS of green tomatoes on the plants also. YAY!
• #15 -- Sadly, we have not gone to the zoo yet. Maybe we'll do that this weekend :)
• #16 -- This one is only half crossed off. We made delicious yummy smores but no camping yet. 
• #17 -- We have used the grill SO much and had yummy hamburgers, steaks and chicken. I love BBQing. 
• #18-- haven't dyed my hair yet, mostly because I can't decide on what color. BUT I have decided that I hate how short my hair is. I want it to be long and I will NEVER cut my hair again. (I cut it back in October and I feel like it is taking forever to grow back)
• #19 -- Go to Lagoon. This one is going to happen probably toward the end of summer.
• #20 -- Check! We have made it to Boise once already this summer and are going up again later this month! 
• #21-- Check :)
• #22 -- Check! :)
• #23 -- This one has been a challenge and also a huge blessing. Brent has helped me realize that even the things I used to perceive as mundane and not really an act of service in reality are service-- like cooking dinner, taking on the responsibilities of cleaning the house while Brent has been really busy with school. He expressed to me how he has viewed these as services to him. I have also been looking for opportunities in my ward. For instant, a lot of people are moving and having babies. Last Saturday, I went to help a sister who is 8 month pregnant clean her house. It was really cool and I made a new friend:)
• #24 -- I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL! I guess I should say I am learning. I joined an intramural team and we have had two games already. The first game, I was completely clueless. The second game, we did a lot better! And we have a game this Friday. We have not won a game yet, but we will...or at least we will score a touch down. :) Check!
• #25 -- I have been so proud of our money decisions this summer. Even though we are making a lot more money than normal because we are both working full time now, we are not going crazy and are sticking to our normal budgets. Go us!
• #26-- Oh my goodness! I forgot that this one was on my bucket list. I am definitely going to buy some water balloons or something. Brent won't even see it coming. 
• #27 -- Okay, this one is kind of sad. Tickets were so expensive so we didn't end up going. But that's okay. Our 4th was still really good :)

So I haven't done everything, but there is still plenty of time. I will do another update at the end of the month. Summer is the best. 

Thirteen point one

I am officially a half-marathoner!! :) On Saturday, I crossed the finish line of the Utah Valley Half Marathon with a time of 2:03:53. Going in, I felt unprepared. I knew that my training was not what it should have been and I honestly thought that I was going to finish with a time 2:15:00-2:45:00. I really had no idea what to expect. I hadn't really done any speed training and the most that I had run was 8 miles. But I loved the feeling of being back in a race. And I just ran and ran...and ran. And 13 miles later, I did it! It was hard but it was one of the best feelings in the world. 


Oh, and I have one of the best families in the world. My mom, dad, two sisters, two brothers, and both grandmas hit the road and drove to Provo and joined my husband in supporting me in the race. They all woke up super early (don't even get me started on how early I had to be ready to go. I caught a bus at 4:30 to take me to the starting line for a race that started at 6 AM!) and drove up and down University Avenue screaming and yelling out the windows of their car, holding signs and just being awesome! It made me so happy every time I saw them. They honestly got me through the race. 

The experience was so rewarding. And it was difficult. But really, the difficulty is what made it the experience that it was. For a little over two hours, I pushed my body and mind to the limit. I had to keep telling myself that I could do it, that I just needed to keep breathing and press through it, that I was capable. I started out the race with a 2:10:00 pacer. It was such a boost when I came to the top of a hill around mile 8 and I saw the 2:05:00 pacer in the distance. Determination took over and I was set on catching them and even passing them if I could. And so I just kept running and within the next mile or 2, I caught them! I think the sense of accomplishment that came from this feat within the face helped me tackle the hardest part: miles 11, 12 and 13. 

My body was hurting and I really wanted to stop around mile 10. But mentally, I wouldn't let myself. I was not going to come all this way just to give up and walk 3 miles to the end. I wanted to make it all the way to the end. And I did. I didn't stop once. I was running a few feet ahead of a 2:05 pacer around this time and his help and support pushed me to the end. The pacer's name was Steve and he helped more than just me get to the finish line. He kept yelling things out like "Pain is temporary. Pride is forever."  He kept encouraging us to keep it going, not to let our bodies win and to keep thinking positively. His encouragement was what I needed. 

So, now that it is said and done, I am pretty sure that I am hooked. I loved the feeling that came from pushing my limits and crossing the finish line and I am already looking for another race to run. Among the thousands of runners that participated this weekend, I heard a few runners talking about running a marathon. They said something to the extent of: "To run a marathon is to overcome adversity. If you can get your body to complete something so strenuous and overwhelmingly difficult as 26.2 miles straight, you can do anything." What a cool perspective. Before this race, I had no desire to run a full marathon. But after seeing that I am capable of a half, I have set my goals just a little higher. I will overcome a marathon. Even if it is just one, I will do it. 

21 Candles

This is my very first post as a 21-year-old!  My birthday was on Sunday and Brent and I spent a very relaxing day at home celebrating. My husband started out the day making me some delicious breakfast in bed: French toast, sausage links and chocolate milk. :)  After Church, we got dinner ready, took a nap and watched some movies together. Brent baked me a cake and we spent the rest of the evening eating and hanging out together. It was a really lovely day. Maybe it sounds boring to some, but honestly it was just what I wanted. I don't drink, so 21 isn't really isn't all that exciting or different than 20. And plus, most of my friends move away during the summer anyway. But I was just fine to spend the day being pampered by Brent :) 

On Monday, we went to Tucanos for dinner! As good as that food is, I can't help but hate myself when I leave for stuffing my face to levels that I did not know were possible. Haha Brent and I got home and were in a comatose state for an hour after. But, Tucanos is delicious. It's the price you have to pay for food the good I guess. 

The Sunflower State

This weekend has been so much fun! Brent and I flew in to the Kansas City Airport on Thursday morning and have spent the last few days with Brent's family. My cute little sister-in-law Kathryn was baptized this weekend. I was able to play the piano for the program and Brent actually confirmed her. She is so precious. :) Brent's family is so great. We've spent every other day with his mom and then spent the other time at GP Joe's house out in the country with his dad. They took us out to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate Kathryn, Siobhan and my birthday and it really was a good time. 


I love all of my wonderful family. The time we were able to spend with them this weekend was so great and I am so excited to see the other half of my family in two weeks! 

"The Love 

of a 

Family is 

Life's Greatest Blessing"

 (The birthday girls)

(Quinton, Kathryn and Dalton)