Christmas Letter 2007

Christmas Letter 2007

To my dear Family and Friends,

I haven’t really known what to write for this year’s Christmas email. My life has been so blessed with wonderful family, friendships and acquaintances. This year taught me to cherish what I have and live life to the fullest.

I have to say it doesn’t really feel like 2007 happened at times. There have been glorious ups and tragic downs. But through it all I have been blessed to recognize my blessings and am so grateful to those people who have always been there. I wanted you all to know that I am grateful to know each of you and let you know that I think of you often.

The top ten things that 2007 has taught me:

10.“Not your gall bladder huh? Let’s have you eat a really fatty meal and see what happens…”

You really don’t need a gall bladder to survive. Get rid of it, it’s MUCH better than the pain of keeping it

9.“Welcome to my empty apartment!”

Having an empty apartment isn’t so bad when you have great friends next door and close by looking out for you. It’s also not so bad when you figure out that an air mattress is MUCH better than a makeshift bed of pillows or the hard floor. (thanks friends and family that donated to the cause of helping me stay comfortable those last couple weeks!)

8.“You want me to what?!”

Singing a solo in Church is still scary

7.“Sweet Child O’ Mine!”/ “Leo you hit EVERY kid square, you better get a second car”

Guitar Hero and Life parties really are the answer to stressful situations

6.“Understatement of the year”

Sometimes the greatest blessings come when you take your biggest leaps.

5.“In cards and flowers on your window/ Your friends all plead for you to stay/ Sometimes beginnings aren’t so simple/ Sometimes goodbye’s the only way. – Linkin Park ‘Shadow of a Day’”

No matter where you go or for how long, goodbyes are still hard

4.“This is why we do this” (Sister Johnson)

Getting up at 4:30am to work at the Jordan River Temple every Saturday was the best thing I could have ever done. That experience taught me more about life, progression, and the love of an Eternal Father. I miss my sweet ladies at the temple. You were all such incredible examples to me!

3.“Words can’t really express how I feel”

Families are FOREVER. I witnessed four incredible Sealings this last year which were four of the greatest experiences of my life. I also lost two close friends to cancer within two weeks of each other. Their families are such witnesses of strength and faith for me. The world has lost two great individuals, but their memories and testimonies will forever teach me what life is all about. I love you all!

2.“Collapsing from pain on HR’s floor at work and being wheeled out to the car for the ER in an office chair is soooo embarrassing!!!!!”

Two surgeries in one year really isn’t so bad when you’ve got Mom around as well as good family and friends.

1.“Why can’t we do anything simply in this family? How come it’s always got to be dramatic? We can’t just get sick, we have to have surgery. We can’t just move home, it has to burn down.”

When you finally decide to move home, don’t do it during fire season. And especially don’t move all your stuff a month in advance. All my stuff was moved the first weekend in October into the garage and various rooms in my parent’s home. The last week of October my parent’s home was taken in the Slide Fire…we are okay and grateful to Grandma who has openly welcomed us into her home!

As with every coming year I learn something new about myself or come away from it with a little better understanding of how it works. My last year in Utah was definitely a memorable one. And I’m grateful that I have something to build upon with my new beginning in CA.

For those of you that are wondering, I am currently working as the Wildfire Outreach Program Manager for Rim Family Services. I help direct Outreach Crisis Counselors, hired by FEMA, to the areas of devastation and worry on the mountain. Through the program we work to reach every individual affected by the national disaster and hopefully return the community back to a sense of normality. It’s very rewarding work and I have an incredible team of employees. We have a blast together! Every day is an adventure with individuals we meet.

As I look toward the future I’m hoping to eventually end up in the San Diego area working as well as going to school for my PhD. We’ll see what Heavenly Father has planned for me. I trust that He knows what’s best as long as I’m moving forward. My family and I are just fine and moving forward as well. It’s been so good to be so close. I know that moving was the right decision. That is witnessed to me daily. This is where I need to be. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t miss my dear friends and family in Utah and scattered throughout the USA and the world as well. I hope that this letter finds you all happy, well, and enjoying good company this Holiday Season!

All my love and prayers!

Michelle (Shell-a-bell, Shell, Mish, Meesh, Meech Meech, Scully, Super Mish, etc.)

California Wildfire Slide Fire

Hello All:



I know that many of you are watching the news and seeing what is going on in my beautiful mountain range. Yes, what you are seeing is real. Running Springs is on fire, and yes that is my home town. I have greatly appreciated all the phone calls and texts throughout the day today. I wish I could have spoken to all of you today to let you know what exactly has been happening. I also know that many of you have loved ones from the area as well as loved ones fighting the fires. I cannot express enough how grateful we are for the courageous firefighters that haven't slept as they struggle to save Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead from these horrible fires. Not to mention the other fires stretching from the Mexico border to Santa Barbara. It's a horrific sight.



As for me and my family, we are safe. My family evacuated with what they could yesterday morning and have been in Desert Hot Springs trying to get any news that they could about home. My father is braving the fire with his crew from Arrowbear in Running Springs and has been watching everything going on for the last few days and hours calling the family in the desert with updates. About 3:50pm this afternoon ( Utah time) I read on www.rimoftheworld.net (a fabulous site) that spot fires were on Nob Hill and a couple structures were burning on Willow and Poplar Drive (my parent's home streets). I found out from my dad about a half hour later that it was from two structures three homes down from my house. I left work and went to my cousin's house in Sandy. Not really knowing whether or not the house was still standing.



About 7:15ish this evening I got a phone call from my mom (followed by my dad) saying that half our home was destroyed by fire. It went up through the garage (where all my newly moved stuff from Utah was...) up into my parent's bedroom bathroom and up into the attic and trying to go across the rest of the house. They were able to put it out. Now the fear is that the roof will collapse (from the water damage) or a remaining spark will flare up again, but we will have to wait and see what happens. My dad was actually able to walk into the house and look at the damage, pretty incredible.



As of this point my brother's homes and my grandmothers are okay. We aren't sure what tomorrow and the spotfires/winds will bring us. But everyone is in pretty good spirits. I thank my Heavenly Father for humor. It has helped my family in oh so many ways. My heart and prayers go out to many of you that are wondering what is going on with your homes. I know that many many good friends have suffered great losses. I cannot express in full my feelings and support for all of you and your families through this time. Thank you as well for all of your prayers. They have been answered in so many ways, even with suffering the loss.



A question I'm sure many of you are still asking, yes I am still moving to CA. I'm planning on leaving next Thursday as planned. Most of the major roads into CA are currently closed and I'm hoping that by then I will be able to make it back safely. I really need to be with my family. I now, more than ever, know that this is what I should be doing. Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers. They have been felt and answered, I am continually praying for you as well.



Love,

Michelle

New Beginnings

Isn't it amazing that songs can speak so much?! I just discovered a new song that just speaks loads for what I'm thinking and feeling currently.

"Shadow of a Day" - Linkin Park
"In cards and flowers on your window,
Your friends all plead for you to stay,
Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple,
Sometimes goodbye's the only way,
And the sun will set for you,
The sun will set for you,
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you."

I did in fact receive the most beautiful flowers I have ever received this last week from an admirer on the production floor at work (once he heard that I was leaving for California). Thank you Joe, they were beautiful. But I've been really humbled by the experiences I've had with friends, family, etc. I've cried, laughed, reminised, etc. And it's been wonderful. I still can't believe that nine years have passed since I moved to Utah. Yes Madi, you were right, "my pink suitcase can come out first!" and Mel, you were even more right when you said, "that pink suitcase is packed and already in CA waiting for you to follow!" So true! I'm going to miss everyone that I've met in Utah. My life has been incredibly blessed with such good people in my life. I have learned a lot about myself and how to react to the world around me here both professionally, personally, and spiritually. For that reason I will forever be in debt. I know that I will miss everyone terribly. but I WILL see you again, if not in this life, in the next. Like it says in the song, "Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple, Sometimes goodbye's the only way." This is one of those cases. I love you all!

I'm so excited to be moving back to California, "right back where I started from"! I can't even express how grateful I am for such an incredible family what was willing to come (on their vacation) and drive my Uhaul with all my stuff in it back to California (without me) and unload it into the various homes. (I'm hoping that I'll remember where all my stuff is, so that when I'm settled somewhere else I'll be able to get it all back, heh. But that's a story for another time...)

Anyways, so the Michelle "Cindiana Jones" Saga continues with the new adventures of sleeping on the floor and having no furniture. I don't know if any of my readers have experienced this before but I have come up with the following list of facts so as to make this sort of move easier should you ever need to experience it:

1. Two foam mattresses are not better than one. They tend to sink in the middle.

2. Pillows (I don't care how many you have) will never work as a substitute for a bed or foam mattress.

3. Air mattresses are wonderful, but make sure that it is fully inflated or you will experience what is stated in number 1 all over again.

4. Eating yourself out of house and home should not require you to eat a full box of pasta in two days...no pasta should last that long...space it out and use different sauces.

5. Corn tortillas are good fried, but do not react the same way that flour tortillas would, therefore, plan ahead.

6. Bare walls make for great "going away parties" you can project a movie on the wall.

7. No furniture allows for more people to gather together for a party and also allows for less stress of the hostess as there is nothing left to break in the room.

8. Don't forget what you packed. You may own it, but it's not with you. Don't offer it to people. (I told a friend I had a picture for them....yeah, it's in CA already. I told another friend that I have the game of LIFE, yeah, it's in CA already. The list continues)

9. If you have a pet, keep it with you if you are going to live with no furniture. (Pepe my frog has been a life saver. I'm so glad I didn't send him with my family)

10. Thank those you love often. You never know when a change is going to happen. My family and friends have always been there for me. I love you all! I will miss those in UT. And I look forward to seeing those in CA!

Loves!
Super Mish

The Secret

Well, it has been a while since I have posted on said blog. Life has had it's ups and downs as of late with a little craziness mixed in. But I am enjoying it. I just finished this book called "the secret". I really enjoyed the principles taught in the book. But I do think that there should be a perspective given to it.

I, like I have said previously, am a religious person. Being such I believe that God wants His children to be happy. He wants us to accomplish what will make us happy. By focusing on the prize and Him first we can accomplish anything.

What happens isn't necessarily that we have the nicest car or the nicest house or even every monetary dream we could ever want...we start to align our goals with God and we are satisfied with what we have. We also discover what our potential is and what we can accomplish and we have a new drive to accomplish it.

Also, on a side note. I just joined goodreads.com. I suggest it for everyone as it is a really neat website to see what your friends are reading or have read...so join and let me know what to read! I don't have TV anymore so I need new stuff all the time. :)

La Musica

The power of music is the topic for this evening (starting anyway, I'm sure something else will come up). I've been thinking a lot about the tough times or the happy times in life and I've recognized that there are a lot of songs that I associate with those times. There is something about lyrics that can change me or affect me in a way that the spoken word or written word can't. And I got to thinking about the Soundtrack to my life I think the following songs would be on that list:

"Dig" - Incubus
"This is Me" - Faith Hill
"Self Portrait" - Stephanie Smith
"If I Am" - Nine Days
"Matroshka (the Ornament)" - Dredg
"City of Blinding Lights" - U2
"All I Want is You" - U2
"Far Away" - Nickelback
"Kill" - Jimmy Eat World
"Goodbye to You" - Michelle Branch
"Good Friend" - Nine Days
"I Will Remember You" - Sarah McLaughclan
"Chocolate" - Snow Patrol
"Breakaway" - Kelly Clarkson

I'm sure that there are others. But in reviewing these songs it's the lyrics like
"I don't know what you believe, or what you think of what you see, but this is a part of me, of what I do and who I am, all of my impurities are right here on my sleeve, this is me, yeah, this IS ME" that really affect me.

"I'm dealing with the changes of this complicated strangeness". I'm currently reading a book entitled "First Break All the Rules" for work. I wish that more people got to read it. It basically states what I have said before. But people are people and we shouldn't try to force them to change. They will change on their own if it is the right timing for them. Also that people come with their own perception of the world and talents to help them succeed in that world.

I have people at work describing frustrations with their situations, friends dealing with breakups, and just general everyday issues that people deal with. In some cases I'm directly involved in the situation, in others I'm a third party observer, but there is one thing that I have noticed between all the situations. Communication. There is some form of communication that has happened that was misinterpreted, misunderstood, or downright communicated well. What is the difference between good communication and bad? Perception. How the other person perceived the communication is key. That is in everyday communications as well as communications with the Divine.

As I have struggled with a decision, even an everyday decision, I've seen like it says in "chocolate", "On my knees I think clearer". And I've learned that no matter how small or insignificant we think our situation is to God we should still get on our knees. Through His help we can see the other perspective, we can feel what they are feeling and really know how to communicate better. I realize that there are individuals in this world that do not believe in a Higher Power or Being that created us all. But I cannot deny His existence. He has helped me through many experiences and tough times. Faith, Hope and Love changes people. "Blessings are not just for the ones who kneel, luckily."

Maybe mother's councel of "walking in someone else's shoes" wasn't half bad advice?

"The more you see the less you know, the less you find out as you go. I knew much more then, than I do now...I've seen you walk unafraid...Can you see the beauty inside of me?"

It's all about perception...

Integrity

I think I'll write a little about integrity tonight. We had the lesson today and it inspired me.

Gandhi once said (with some help from Keshavan Nair in A Higher Standard of Leadership, p 1) about integrity and leadership...

"Today, many people believe that it is not possible to be successful in the world of business and politics and still to maintain one's integrity - integrity not defined by absence of financial corruption, but by adherence to moral principle in all activities. Many have also come to believe that a major purpose of leadership is to aquire power and privilege. And many believe that practical political and business decisions would be less effective if serious consideration were given to moral issues.

The standard of leadership depends not only on the qualities and beliefs of our leaders but also on the expectations we have of them. As long as we believe that our leaders lack integrity, our expectations are likely to be mirrored in their conduct. Therefore, it is up to each of us to improve our own standard of leadership and thus raise our expectations of those who would lead us."

I love the last line of that statement, it is up to US to expect better things of ourselves and in turn we will expect those things from our leaders. If we allow our leaders to act selfishly, what does that say of ourselves? Are we selfish? Are we demanding the things that we think we deserve?

I've heard many times that my generation is the greatest generation that has ever existed. But I have also heard that my generation and the up and coming generation is the generation of "entitlement". Did we not learn from the experiences of our forefathers? What they fought for in each of the wars of our nation and world? How quickly we forget where we came from and what our real purpose is.

What happened to kindness and an honest day's work? The older I get the more I understand that what we are fighting for in any war isn't necessarily oil, or belongings or religion...it's more fighting for moral values. Moral values that we know deep down to be important.

I am a woman of faith. Not everyone in the world holds my same values. But one thing that is understood beyond boundaries of God and belief in a higher power is the moral principle of LOVE. Love overcomes all barriers. Love gives us a purpose to live for. Love helps us understand the other side of a viewpoint. It defines who we are.

Actions do reflect leadership. What kind of leaders are we? How are we influencing the next generation? Do we stand for what we believe in? Or do we help them along the path of entitlement? In business are we honest with whom we do business with? Do we trust our coworkers and managers?

We still have a choice. We can choose our attitude. We can be honest in our dealings with our fellow men. We can put in that hard day's work. We can expect the best from each other. And we can expect the best of ourselves. A selfish person would be content looking into a mirror for eternity. I would rather be a person that looks through a window and see what beautiful things are beyond the glass.

Change is never easy. Changing character is a lifetime pursuit. Love changes hearts. As it says in the scriptures, "love casteth out all fear". What keeps us from change? Is it the height of the mountain before us that causes us to move aside and say, "oh man, I'm out of shape, there's no way I can make it up that hill."

I suggest: begin believing in yourself. Be the leader, mother, father, friend, spouse, employee, etc. that you would like others to be. "It is not easy to stay on the path; we all need assistance. It is important that we associate with colleagues who share our commitment to be on the path."(p 30) Find those people that support you, love you, and trust you. Believe in them. And whatever or whomever you believe in, be it God, Budda, etc. Believe that you can achieve. That you can change. And never give up the fight. Through your integrity people will have the strength to follow. Real achievement isn't medals, acknowledgements, awards, money, etc. Achievement is integrity. Having that strength to stand up for what you believe and being honest.

I challenge all of us to become better people. Through change and improvement we will achieve our greatest goals.

Mountain Biking Mishaps

Last week we had a team building experience up in Eden Utah. It was at Wolf Creek and was a complete blast! The first day five of us (I was the only girl) went mountain biking whilest the rest of the crew went golfing. I no longer golf thanks to an unpleasant dating experience (my date whacked me in the knee with a chipping wedge, I've never been the same since).

Anyways, it rocked. We went on this little trail about 4.5 miles long next to the lake. Complete with small switchbacks, hills, and downhills. A great trail for the beginner that I am....well, it was me, Robert (ERP Manager), Paul (Regional Sales Manager), Martin (RSM), and Mark (VP). Little did I know that Mark used to be in Motocross as a kid in the UK...and Martin is a pro biker in Florida. But they kept up with me pretty well. heh. More like I kept up with them the best I could.

Well, on the way back I'm behind Martin on the trail and I'm gaining speed down the hill so that I can make it up on the upcoming switchback....well as I come to the first hairpin turn I see a 2' long snake in my path...before I can go around (I'm heading up the hill mind you) I run directly over it screaming "SNAKE!!!!" and then promptly ride off the trail and end up sitting on a bushel of thistles. OUCH!!!!!!! now the rest of the group is behind me bunched up laughing and saying that none of them saw the snake. So for the rest of the two day retreat I was made fun of for hitting the "snake" that was really a "worm". Bah. I swear it was there! it was black and it looked menacing!!!

Anyways, the rest of the retreat was full of interesting games where we had to work as a team to solve problems. It was really good. My team was all the engineers, IT, and basically all the analytical people which meant we spent all our time planning how we were going to complete the task at hand. We ended up not winning because we didn't get to two of the events, but that's okay. We didn't really care too much.

Overall, it was a good event. And today at work I walked into my office and there was a waterbottle sitting on my desk with "#1 Champion Wolf Creek Mountain Biking - Womens Division" written on it in magic marker. How cool is that? Apparently one of the guys from the trip wanted to help me feel better about the snake that I saw. It totally made my day.

Anyways, I'm new at this whole blog thing...hopefully you enjoyed the entry! Loves! Mish

Well I have a blog now...

After much deliberation on what I should actually call said blog, I have chosen the title to a song. But as a friend states, "it describes you". So thank you Minus the Bear for writing "Fine + 2 Pts". I don't exactly know what I'm going to write up here...But maybe the inspiration will come...