Christmas in July!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from my family to yours! My family and I celebrated "Christmas" with snowman ice cream bars. It was a fun night. However, my sister Megan wasn't feeling the festivities, so we started calling her Ms. Scrooge! But we still love her! Here's some pictures from the celebration! ;)

The picture proving what day it is! Hahaha.

My sister Macayla and I enjoying our snowmen ice cream bars!

Ms. Scrooge herself

Working is SOMETIMES fun to do.....

Well, it's summer, and that means working full time. It's not that bad though, I like my job. I work with a great group of people and we have a blast together everyday! Well last week, we were shifting books around on the floor trying to make more space when we ran into the most awful thing..... DUST BUNNIES EVERYWHERE! And they were HUGE! So, being the model employees that we are, we form "The Cleaning Patrol!!" 

We busted out the Swiffer Duster and the Swiffer Wet Jet and went to town dusting and scrubbing the shelves. We couldn't believe how gross it was! To the three of us, it appeared as if the dust had been collecting for 20 or more years (here's hoping it hadn't been!!) Those shelves were looking good by the time we were done with them.... a NOTICEABLE difference in the color and all the sticky and stained messes were removed! If the books could talk, they'd be singing our praises due to our mad cleaning skills!! :)

After cleaning maybe 7 shelves... Yes, they really were that disgusting!! 

No dust bunnies, dirt, grime or caked-on messes stand a chance against me and my Swifer wet! We are a dangerous force to be messed with.

In other news, the countdown to Disney continues! There are only 50 more days remaining before I embark on my Disney adventure!! And it's crazy, I still have so much to do! I'm discovering that time is disappearing and I have no clue where it has gone! But, I'm on top of the situation as I have started compiling a list of all the things I need to remember to take with me. I still feel like I'm missing important things on that list! Ahh!!!

Question for you all, if you were leaving home for 5 1/2 months, what kinds of things would you take? Your apartment has a bed, desk, locker, fridge and other small homey touches like dishes, pots and pans. Remember, whatever you take has to fit in your suitcase because you are flying down, or in a box that you family will mail after you get your address. Thanks for your help and suggestions!

First Day of Summer!

Classes are done. Finals have been taken. Project and papers have been turned in. Summer has officially started! So how did I spend my first day out of school yesterday?! I spent the day at the park with Michael. From there I went to a doctor appointment and then it was on to Wal*Mart where we wasted time before going to see Iron Man 2 (which was SO much better than the first one). Overall, it was a wonderful day...no worries, no stress, no strict schedule to keep. Just what I've been needing for the last few weeks. And to top off the evening, a severe thunder storm hit (that I got to drive home in). I love storms, they relax me as weird as that sounds! But anyways, here are a few pictures from our adventures in the park.

Relay for Life 2010

We each walked for different reasons, in remembrance of different people and with our own experiences to guide us. But together, we walked to have a say in the fight against cancer. With each step we took, it was a deceleration that one day, however near or far away that is, that one extremely joyous day, a cure will be found. That one day, we might live in a world where lives are not ruled and lost to this terrible disease.

We pounded the track through the cold, wind and heavy rain for 24 hours. And still, that is nothing compared to the fight people young and old are in to reclaim their lives from cancer. Our feet may be wet and tired and sore now, but we are helping to build a stronger, brighter and happier tomorrow for so many people.

I walked in remembrance of my Uncle Al. I walked to give support to a great organization. And I walked so I could be surrounded with individuals that are stronger mentally and emotionally than myself, so that one day I might be able to follow their example of strength and courage.

This was such a great experience and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to participate. I was touched deeply by the speakers, one from a cancer survivor who is only a few weeks older than myself and then from a care-taker who had lost her father and grandfather to cancer, and her little sister who is 15 is currently battling cancer. After they both spoke, the lights went out and the music was turned off, and together, everyone that was at the track at 11pm Saturday night walked a lap in silence to honor and remember those that have passed. As I walked, I read every name on the Luminaries.

On Every bag there is a name, for every name there was a person, and for every person there is a story that should never be forgotten.

For me, this event represented fighting for life, love and happiness. I pushed myself farther than I ever have before. When I wanted to quit and go home to where it was warm and dry, I pushed myself harder, knowing that whatever I was going through would never compare to the pain and suffering of those with cancer. I gave everything I had, and left all my doubts, fears, blood, sweat and tears on that track. I pushed past the pain and kept on walking, even if it meant at times I was barely moving forward.

I set goals for myself and I held myself accountable for them. And when I reached that goal, I knew I had the strength to make and complete another. And that's what I did! I told myself I wanted to walk at least 30 laps. I reached that goal by Saturday early afternoon. Then I decided I could walk 50 laps. I took my VICTORY LAP (lap 51) at 9:09am Sunday. That was a total of 12.75 miles, and when I saw how close I was to completing a half marathon (13.1 miles), I KNEW I had 2 more laps left in me. And I am proud to inform you that I completed my first half marathon at 10:19am Sunday. For my 53 laps, I ended up walking a total of 13.25 miles, a little more than a half marathon! I was near tears as the realization of what I had just completed overwhelmed me.

It was then that I knew with all certainty that I had done my part. It was then that I felt I could stop. It was then that I discovered what kind of individual I am striving to become. It was in those moments that I knew nothing in this world will ever slow me down or keep me from reaching my dreams and goals as long as I am willing to put forth the effort to fight for them. THAT is what I have taken from Relay for Life 2010. And I am already looking forward to next year's event!

And this Ladies and Gentlemen, was when I reached 13.25 miles!!! In other words, a HALF MARATHON!! :D

I would also like to publicly thank the 20 people who came out to walk with our team. They battled the cold, rain and wind when they could have stayed home. We would have understood, but we were so glad that they were dedicated to helping our cause. Also, I want to thank everyone who donated to the American Cancer Society under my name. Your support and faith in me means more than I can express to you in words. So thank you.

Relay For Life

Dear Friends and Family,

On Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 , I will be helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and I’m hoping you will support me.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives people in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

In addition to helping people celebrate, remember, and fight back, Relay For Life also helps raise much-needed funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save lives from cancer and create more birthdays.

Please support me in my efforts by visiting my personal web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.

Every donation really does make a difference. I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but any amount you can give truly can help save lives.

You see, thanks to your support, the American Cancer Society can:

• Help people stay well by helping them take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable
• Help people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience
• Find cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it, and discover new ways to cure it
• Fight back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight

Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer … whatever your reasons, I hope you’ll choose to make a difference by making a donation online to support my efforts. I’m so grateful to have great people like you in my life who want to see an end to cancer in our lifetime. Together we can save lives.

Thank you, and I will keep you updated on my progress.

To learn more about Relay For Life, please visit our Relay For Life information page.

Here it is!!!

IT'S HERE! MY OFFICALL LETTER FROM DISNEY! I woke up Saturday morning to my mom bringing my letter to my room so:

1. 
   
   I would see it as soon as I woke up and
2. 
   
   It wouldn't get ruined somehow downstairs

I can't wait for August to get here! This all feels like a dream to me even though I know it's not! I can't stop jumping up and down, screaming and bubbling over with pure excitement!

Today while at church, I spent an hour talking to my friend Katie in the hall about the Disney College Program. She was giving me what I call the "Disney Download" about everything I could possibly experience! She was a cast member in January 2006, so she was able to answer a lot of the questions I had. She even brought some pictures to show me! Playing off her energy from remembering her time there and my energy of waiting to go, made it an awesome chat! It's great that I can talk to someone who has already gone through this so I know some of what to expect when I get down there. I feel like I am going into this less blind than others. Thank goodness for that! ;)

I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!

Less than 24 hours ago I found out that I was accepted to the Disney College Program as an intern at Walt Disney World in Florida. I was accepted to the Fall 2010 program which means that I will leave in August and come home in January 2011. I will be working in the Quick Food and Beverage Service areas and could be in any of the different resorts. I will find out exactly where and what I will be doing when I get there. I am so excited because I have been dreaming about this opportunity since I was a sophomore in high school!

The process of becoming an intern was a long one. Like I already mentioned, I have been planning this since high school 5 years ago!! I have always loved Disney and felt that it was somewhere that I wanted to be. My process really took off last semester when I wondered into a Disney College Presentation on campus. I was in awe sitting there and I had this overwhelming since that I was going to be one of the interns someday that were in the video they showed us. I learned a lot about what to expect from the program, what they offer in terms of pay, networking opportunities with Disney CEOs and ways in which the program will help me to grow and someday reach my career goals. I soaked up information like a sponge last semester and I left that program knowing this was something I NEEDED to do for me and no one else. And I decided right then that I wasn't going to let anything stand between me and that goal.

My actual Disney Journey began on March 2, 2010 when I attended my second Disney College program Presentation on campus. Once again, I knew this was where I needed to be. After the presentation I "raced" home to fill out my application knowing that positions were limited. There were three parts to the application that took me over an hour to complete. First, I had to decide which roles (or jobs) I would be interested in doing. Second, fill out the application form itself which had all your basic questions on it. And third, I had to complete an online interview. This was the part that had me the most worried. After attending the presentation, I knew that the questions would time-out after 20 - 50 seconds depending on the type of question being asked. I also knew that upon completing the online interview I would know right away if my application was terminated or if I moved on to the next phase, which was the phone interview. Needless to say, I moved on in the process!!

My phone interview was scheduled for March 5, 2010, at 9:30pm. I was so nervous, I had no idea what to expect! This may sound funny, but in order to get in the right mindset I decided it was best to dress professionally, as if we were meeting face-to-face. I even decided to wear a Mickey Mouse sticker I got at the presentation for luck! (Couldn't hurt, right? See picture!) This seemed to calm my nerves a little bit. I knew that I needed to be somewhere quiet so I decided to move my computer chair into my parents’ bathroom, I then closed that door and their bedroom door so the dogs could not get in and cause a distraction. Ten minutes before the interview I was sitting all dressed up in the bathroom, using the counter as my table. I had papers everywhere that included the printed out version of my application, questions to ask the interviewer and a notebook to write down notes or key points of interest as we were talking. I even had a bottle of water just in case I needed it! However the most important thing in front of me at that time was the sign I taped to the mirror saying "I am the one for the job!" When I started to get worried or lacking confidence it was to that sign I looked to reassure me that this was what I wanted to do and knew I was able to make happen. A typical interview is only suppose to last 20 - 25 minutes, mine however went for 45 minutes! The interviewer kept complimenting me on my communication skills, preparedness and well thought of questions. I hung up feeling as if I were on top of the world. I knew I would hear either way from Disney within 3 - 6 weeks.


However, after a few days the reality sunk in and I had to face the fact that I might not be accepted. And believe it or not, that was the mindset I was in yesterday afternoon when I saw the email in my inbox. To be honest, I panicked, it has only been a week and a half! I knew I shouldn't be hearing from them yet! I felt my world come crashing down around me as I started reading. BUT, that feeling soon sky-rocketed as I learned that I was chosen as a participant! I called my parents, my grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and friends to share the news. I put it on Facebook within minutes of finding out! The support I have gotten from everyone has been wonderful! I want to share this journey with you, too. So join me as I prepare to make my dreams and the dreams of many others come true. Come along as I embark on my own Disney Adventure!