At the end of October I had the amazing opportunity to accompany my dad to the Atlas convention. We had a blast!! It was in Palm Springs, California. We got there on a Sunday, checked into the amazing hotel, and the next day my dad began meetings. On the plane ride in I sat next to a lady with dementia. It was a great ride! Every time I moved to do a pressure release she would ask me if I needed help to stand up. Then I would tell her that I couldn't stand she she would ask me what happened!! We went through the story and the possibilities or lack of, I should say, walking again. It was interesting because every time she used different adjectives to describe how sorrowful she felt for me. We must have gone through the story at least 5 times!! haha I really enjoyed talking to her. We would look out the windows and she would ask if the clouds were mountains in the distance, or sometimes were they ice bergs. Over and over I would tell her they were clouds. But it never got old. Sometimes she would remember and tease me back about it. How amazing is the human mind! I never knew what to expect when we were talking. She and her husband were so sweet! And they were quick witted! One time I said to her husband after he said that they lived right by Palm Springs.
Me: "Oh that's great! I might just have to stop by for dinner!"
Man: pointing to his wife as he talks to her "Yeah, you do that, Hun give her our address so she can come by"
Me: "I like lobster"
Man: "Oh, I think we might be busy"
hahahahaha I loved it!!
What an awesome experience! I think every missionary just going out should sit with someone who has memory loss. You can get so much practice in and the other person never gets tired of talking about it because they feel like they are hearing it for the first time. She had this bag of old fries that she would forget what was in the bag. I am not kidding, almost 20 times she mentioned that she couldn't remember what was in the bag! I would remind her and sometimes she would pull one out and eat it. haha She kept saying she would take them home and cook them up for her husband. That was until he told her that were gross when they first bought them, he won't eat them again. She remembered that for a long time. It was super sweet! What a sweet couple. He also served on the USS Slater. How cool is that!! It was such a tender mercy to sit by them and the nice guy in the previous flight. It really eased my anxiety and was a great comfort.
We had reserved a car with hand controls so I could visit my friends in Los Angeles but when my dad went to drive the car, the controls wouldn't work. So I cancelled my plans from Monday and hung out at the hotel. Around noon they had a car available for us in Palm Springs so we went and got it. But before that I needed to order breakfast of course! haha I ordered room service...and $30 later I had an omelet, fruit, hashbrowns and cute little containers of jelly. I ate outside on the patio with a beautiful view of a pool and little stream that went around part of the hotel. As fun as that was, I just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money on breakfast again. haha
I got to spend time with my friend Christine from BYU-Hawaii! We went shopping at the outlets. It was so fun to see her...although I didn't get a single picture! We have been friends for a long time but I don't think we have talked for a few years. It didn't feel that way though, we just picked up right where we left off! Another day I drove up to Hesperia to see Sese and his family. I finally got to meet his boys, who were adorable! Bensyn, who is 4, sang me his favorite song, I love to see the Temple. It was great! It was great to talk with them and see what great parents Sese and Carrie are. They are a wonderful example of teaching their children. I felt honored to be able to spend time with them. I only wish I could have spent more time there. But hopefully I will be back!! :)
That night I came home and we had dinner with the Alexanders crew for my dads work. It was so fun having my uncle Mark there also! And the dessert was awesome!!
I got to work out at the gym with my friends and go to the gift shop as many times as I wanted!!! I love just looking around! The first day we got there it was so empty. I sat by the pool all alone for a while. It was so beautiful...until the duck in the water started cleaning itself in the pool. Kinda made me grateful I wasn't in the water! haha
The final day Pam, my dad and I went to a Date farm! It was very interesting and you could eat as many dates as you wanted! They had these bacon wrapped ones that were stuffed with jalapeno, cheese, a little meat and they were soooo good!
Then for the final night, everyone dresses in their best and we go to a nice dinner. They give out awards and then there is an entertainer. This year a guy played his guitar in ways I didn't know were possible. It was amazing!! Here is a picture of me and Hailee and Pam.
It was sad when we had to leave Palm Springs Saturday morning but I still had things to look forward to so it was ok :) I have things in storage in LA still, so we went and looked at all of it. I wanted to find my black shoes but we couldn't find them. That's ok though, it was fun to be able to see things I haven't seen in over 4 years!
That night we met up with my bff Sani and ate at our traditional restaurant in San Clemente. Then we walk up the hill and eat at Baskin Robbins. I miss doing that. And the food is always amazing!! Not to mention the company! :-)
We were supposed to fly out on Sunday but our flight was cancelled due to the storm Sandy which caused heavy rain and winds in Baltimore. We were all ready to leave so when our flight was cancelled we had to find something fun to do! We went down to the Mormon Battalion historical site. It is amazing!! They take you from room to room with elaborate decorations to make you feel like you were really part of the battalion. It is phenomenal. Here are a few pics
And then they let you pan for gold! It was so great!
After Sani woke up from his hibernation we met up with him and went to the Oceanside Pier! I love that place! Some guy caught a sting ray...that was interesting to see!
The next couple of days we played day by day because our flights kept getting cancelled! I was very happy though! I love California. I felt such peace while I was there. I have a lot of happy memories and peaceful memories there. I knew that while I was there, I was where I was supposed to! I had direction and a purpose! And some of my best friends live there! I had planned on spending time with my University of LaVerne friends on the first Monday I was there, but since they messed up on the hand controls I had to cancel. Because our flight was cancelled though I got to meet up with them. It was such a wonderful blessing!
And then there was one day left...and we took it!! We went to Disneyland! Or California Adventure!
Here is a link to see more pics on facebook. There are too many to post up here! haha
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151227902954036.489608.730414035&type=1&l=fd0e5b2064
We had a fabulous time!! I feel so blessed that I had the opportunity to go! The people that my dad work with at Atlas and Alexanders are absolutely amazing!! I am so impressed with the caliber of people that I met. I even had the chance to meet and become friends with the CEO of Atlas, and his wife, along with Donny Hill, who is owns Alexanders and is my dad's boss, and his wife. Everyone was so nice and inviting! What a choice experience! I wish I could go every year! It was also great to be able to spend time with my dad. When I was really sick in the hospital, my parents decided that they were going to take me with them to the convention. My mom sadly wasn't able to come at the last minute but I am so grateful that my parents had faith in me that I could recover from whatever it was that took me so far down in the hospital. I feel so blessed to be doing so well and so have healed as quickly as I have! This experience has reminded me of the things that I want in life and has helped motivate me to accomplish the goals that I once set but had to put on the back burner for a bit...but now...hello front burner!!! haha Let's get down to business. I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me and what I am supposed to be doing next. I am so grateful for my many friends all over the world who have helped get me this far and been there to support me, along with my amazing family! I am the luckiest!!!!!
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