When did Grad School become a memory?

I've had a lot of extra time recently since I finished both of my externships in Ogden. You'd think it would be fun to have all this "extra" time, but after two years of non-stop craziness, I have a hard time keeping my sanity. I've done a lot of job searching lately. Ive been applying pretty much all over the west and a couple places back east. Ive tried doing some soul searching too...that's much harder. I don't know what I want!!! Well I do, I just don't know how to get it...or where to go. :)


Since I've had free time, I was able to pick my sister up from the airport and drive her to BYU-Idaho :) We made a day of it. My mom rented us a rental car (my car wont make long distances). The car was SUPER nice. It basically had every new gadget you can think of. We were spoiled :) After I helped Samantha unpack and buy her groceries, we went out for lunch at Costa Vida.

Its hard when most of my friends work during the day, but Katherine had a few Fridays off so she and I went on a couple of hikes.
Our first Hike was to Bell Canyon. We got lost a time or two and ended up hiking further than we were supposed to. We went so high that we started walking in snow a couple feet deep. My shoes aren't hiking shoes so I was slipping all over the place! After we found a random hiker, he directed us back down the mountain to the waterfall that we were looking for. :) There was NO snow at the waterfall. Haha

Bell Canyon Reservoir (no filter)

When we started walking in the snow. It only got worse from here...

 I think this was an accidental picture. But I think it looks cool because it shows you how steep the ground was.

At the Waterfall

Our second hike was to "The Living Room". This was a shorter hike that is just behind our speech building on campus. At the top, people have built furniture out of the shale rock and you can sit back and enjoy the view.  We hiked this two days after it snowed. The snow had mostly melted but it made the trail SUPER muddy. At one or two points we had to hold onto brush on the side of the trail to keep from sliding down hill. It made the hike a bit intense. But we laughed through it!

After the hike, we went to "This Is The Place" park and walked around. It's set up like Nauvoo or any other old time city that has people dressed in pioneer clothes. We bought these homemade doughnuts and snacked on them while we walked around the park. We didn't realize it cost money until we noticed a few people wearing wrist bands. We asked a local worker if it cost money to walk through the park and go inside the buildings and she looked at us like we were crazy. Once we realized we were supposed to pay to look at the rest of the buildings we left. We are poor college students. We don't have time/money for that :)

 Sitting back and enjoying the view.

The beginning of the trail...doesn't look so bad down here.

Mary and Colton also came to Utah to go on a hike. We planned on hiking to Secret Lake but the trail was closed because there was too much snow. Which was funny because this was BEFORE it snowed in Utah. That just shows you how high in the mountains we are at the moment. We ended up driving back down the mountain and we hiked Ensign Peak instead..

At the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon (where the secret lake trail begins)

 

See...NO SNOW! At the top of Ensign Peak.

Now before you think that I hike all the time, therefore I'm an expert. Just know that that isn't the case. I'm actually a SUPER slow hiker. I like to go at my own pace and enjoy the nature around me. My breathing gets really heavy in higher altitudes so I take quite a few breaks. But I love it! The view is always worth it!

I also went to Provo a week or two later for Colton's Graduation. After the graduation, we celebrated with Colton's family and I got to play with his mother's puppy!

A few Sundays ago, there was a CES fireside featuring Lynn G. Robbins of the seventy. It was broadcast on temple square. My roommate and I sat in the very front! The Logan Institute Choir sang. And they were amazing. Like always. :)

Speaking of graduating...I GRADUATED!!! On Friday May 8, I received my Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. My parents, sisters, nieces (Grace and Noelle) and my nephew Carson came to visit for the graduation. They were only here for two days but I loved having them here!

 Mary and Colton joined us on Thursday. I loved being surrounded by family.

Families are Forever!

My dad and I picking up our pizza at THE PIE :) I had to make sure they got the "Salt Lake" experience.

Grace and I bright and early at 5 am. Sam and I spent the night with  the family at the hotel so I could help drive them to the airport the next morning.

 Noelle and I matched during our hike of Ensign Peak

My dad with Carson and Gracie

 I got some pretty nice graduation gifts from my parents and siblings. I hadn't expected anything so that was super nice. My favorite gift was this quilt that my sister Katrina made for me!!! She said she picked each fabric thinking of me and I love it. Roses, Book, and Pearls...my kind of quilt!

Also, Ive been sick the past couple days so it has kept me nice and cozy :)

After my "Ohio Family" left, Samantha and I drove up to Logan for my friend Julie's Wedding Reception. The weekend before I was able to make it to her bridal shower. I feel so blessed to have known her. Who would have thought that 6 months ago we were both single and headed on our road trip to Nauvoo? Crazy how fast Love happens. :)

The bride and I

Liz, Me, Julie, and Julie's Man (Monte)

Here are a few pictures of my Graduate School Experience! :) Memorabilia of sorts...

A sign hanging up in the Clinic :)

Outside our speech clinic in the fall. The leaves were so pretty!

Selfies taken in the clinic while I avoided studying/writing SOAP notes :)

Kassi and Katherine. My study buddies since the very first semester.

I met Katherine the very first day of class. She and I were both late to our very first class. We sat in the back together. (The one and ONLY time I sat in the back of the class)

I met Kassi a few days later when she put together a study group that would be meeting on Labor Day.(You start out pretty dedicated at the beginning)

Best Study Buddie ever since!

Studying at Kassi's cute home

Last July, Katherine and I went to the Pioneer Day Parade

The University of Utah...That's our school!

Kassi, Kitara, and Katherine at our department banquet last year

 

Story of my life.

The therapy team threw me a going away party my last day of the externship at the Rehab site :)

Studying, studying, studying

Graduation Pictures

 Me waiting to walk into the Huntsman Center with my classmates. We were all so jittery and excited.

 My hood and my diploma. I did it!

My parents have been the BEST support throughout my time in Graduate school. I couldn't have done it without them. 

Some of my friends in the program. Once classmates, now colleagues. :) We are all officially Speech Language Pathologists!

6 Months Later...

I cent believe it's been over 6 MONTHS since I last posted... time flies!

I continue to keep busy with grad school. I have had so many different clients, patients, and students and I have had experience with so many diagnosis. I am truly learning SO much and at the same time I keep wondering if I will ever feel like a "true professional". There is still so much to learn, to know, to experience!

But school hasn't taken over my life. I still make time for fun.

A few activities I've done in the past six months include: a moonlight ski-lift at Sundance, went to the Pumpkin Walk in Logan,went to another Harry Potter party where I successfully geeked out (again), concerts on Temple Square, went to Cinderella the Musical, ate Lunch at the top of the Joseph Smith Building, visited the Capitol building, and much more that I cant think of at the moment (that's what happens when I wait 6 months to write a blog post).

The view for the Garden Restaurant at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

I make practically monthly (sometimes more) visits to Provo to see Mary and Colton. No matter what we do (Temple trips, Movies, Dinner), I always have a great time.

 

I always take the train to Provo because...I can. I love the view and sitting on the second level. Plus it allows me to study or  daydream while listening to music. A luxury that I cant do while driving.

FHE Corn maze. We have pretty fun activities in my ward. Last week we played human hungry hippos. I didn't take any pictures...but I'm not likely to forget it. It was such a creative activity.

The pumpkin walk in Logan way back in October. I had always wanted to go. They make scenes out of pumpkins. It was really neat.

My "new" (I say "new" because I moved out of Turnberry in October and I now live in a house with 4 other girls in the same ward. AND I LOVE IT!)  roommates and I went to see the Cinderella musical at Olympus High school and I was blown away. This school took acting to a whole new level. The set, the voices, the acting was phenomenal! Plus they had cupcakes!

My new roommates and I at temple square in December to see the lights.

Moonlight Ski Lift at Sundance with some friends in my ward.

Last October General Conference with Samantha. I was excited to go with her for her first time.

HARRY POTTER!!!!

My ward had a "date night" and my friend Devin drove down from Logan to be my date. He's pretty great! The date night was actually really well put together. One of the activities was splatter paint so that's why we are holding up pictures :)

 I went on another date recently where we walked around the Capitol Building and I just had to take a picture of how gorgeous the trees looked. And then there was that sunset!

Ive also been lucky enough to have a couple different roommate reunions with roommates from BYU-I. I am still so grateful for the many happy years I had in Rexburg. I met so many wonderful people that continue to bless my life.

 Ive also had a few roommate reunions with my roommates Kelsey and Emily. They were my roommates my very last semester at BYUI and we all live in Utah. I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture with them. I sure do love those girls.

I have also had plenty of service opportunities. One thing I love about being single is that there seem to be more opportunities to serve. Ive volunteered at St. Vincent De Paul to feed the homeless a couple time, volunteered to clean the church building, and last week I volunteered to clean the Salt Lake Temple. And let me tell you, THAT was a whole new experience!

Speaking of new temple experiences, Ive been trying to attend as many temples as I can. Ive been to the Logan, Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Jordan River, St.George, Provo, Mt. Timpanogas, Rexburg,Ohio, Nauvoo, and Draper temples in the past 6 months. I still want to visit the Brigham City and the Oquirrh Mountain temple in the next month or so.

 (I didn't take these pictures. I got them from the Internet)

Lets see, I've also been on 3 road trips in the past 6 months. The first of which was my trip to Nauvoo for Thanksgiving. I went with Julie, Kim, and Heidi. I love Nauvoo. It is by FAR my favorite church history site. Julie's parents live in Nauvoo and they so graciously housed and fed us while we saw the sights. I got to attend the Nauvoo temple for the first time.

Favorite Quote of the Trip: "Drink up! The next stop is only 15 miles away!" -Julie
90 miles later...

The second road trip was to Moab. It was the PERFECT way for 4  single ladies to spend Valentines weekend :) The weather was great, the hiking refreshing, and the sights were incredible. Ive never heard such silence, or SO many STARS! And the rock formations were absolutely majestic!

Favorite Quote of the Trip: Liz talking about the East Coast " We have natural disasters and nonmembers...It's amazing!" 

Love these crazies! This pretty much sums up our trip

Ancient Hieroglyphs from the Native Americans

The third road trip I went on was a couple of weeks ago with my ward. My Bishop and a few others have Condos in St.George. They were so kind to allow us to stay the night so we could attend the St. George temple. I signed up to carpool with a few girls in the ward who I didn't know very well. I am so glad I did. All of us just clicked. I really feel like I made genuine friends and even though it was a short trip, I feel like Ive known these girls for years.

My new friends. (Top picture: Me, Anneli, Kelli, Kristi, and Ambie)

 Us girls stopped at this cookie shop in St. George because Kristi raved about how delicious they were. We were NOT disappointed! We even bought mini cookies to share with others :)

I ALSO went on a trip to OHIO for Christmas. I didn't drive, so technically it wasn't a road trip. But it was a trip nevertheless. And MUCH needed. It was so great being surrounded by family members. Unfortunately I got pretty sick on Christmas Eve, but my parents spoiled me by checking in on me, getting me water and buying me my favorite Popsicles. I gotta admit I'd much rather be sick at home, than in Utah where my parents cant take care of me :) Don't worry, I felt MUCH better on Christmas day. It was a Christmas Miracle! :)

 Reunited with my best Twin :)

Katrina made me a T-shirt quilt. SO many memories.

Reunion with Ohio Friends. Oh how times have changed.

Oh, also, during this time, one of my best friends, Sarah, got married!!!!! And I was lucky enough to go to her sealing in the Bountiful Temple. Isn't she a beautiful bride? I feel so blessed to have had that opportunity.

And More RECENTLY... I became an AUNT again :)

My Twin Sister Katrina gave birth to another beautiful baby girl. Noelle Olivia Gullion. I cant wait to meet her! My sister has the cutest children!

I am currently doing two externships (at the same time) in Ogden. One at an Elementary School and One at a Rehabilitation Center. It's a bit of a commute, and it results in LONG work days, but Ive been learning a GREAT deal. I only have two weeks left of my externships and then...I'm done. Seriously. I took my LAST exam two weeks ago. I  already took the National Praxis Exam (and passed. woohoo!), and now I just need to graduate and get a job. Is that crazy to anyone else? I mean, yes the past two years have been SO busy and stressful and long. But at the same time, it flew by! So now I'm just dealing with trying to figure out my future. I have NO idea where I will be in 6 months let alone 2 months from now. General Conference this weekend was perfect. It reminded me to not fear the future. I know that whatever happens, It will be part of HIS plan. And I will be happy...eventually. :)

So that was an incredibly BRIEF overview of the past 6 months. Hopefully I will be better at writing more. No promises. ;)