Katelyn Divis Fundraiser

I wish I would have thought of posting this a few days ago.  I'm sure by the time many of you read this, it will be past the fundraising date. I wanted to post this anyway, just in case you have any other fundraising ideas that can help this adorable 6 year old get to China.

Jamie, who is Katelyn's mom, and I went to middle school together.  Jamie and I had the same English class and had a crush on the same boy so most of our conversations were about him. After middle school we both went to different high schools, but I would occasionally see her since we are both LDS.  After high school, I lost contact with Jamie and didn't see her for probably close to 8 years.  

Right after my dad got called to be Bishop in the HB Ward, which was about 3 years ago,  I got a call from him asking if I knew a girl named Jamie Schutz. I told my dad I went to middle school with her and then asked how in the world that name came up and how he knew her. Next thing you know, I'm on the phone with Jamie having at least a 20 min conversation. Ever since then Jamie and I have become a lot closer. She came up to Utah and spent a weekend with me, she's come to Lake Arrowhead with me, and every once in a while we have girls nights together.  I wish I saw her more, but she is now a busy mom with 2 adorable girls. 

Katelyn, who is Jamie's oldest, was born with a rare disease that has made her visually impaired since birth.  Katelyn was accepted to have some stem cell treatment done in China to try to help with her vision.  This will be her second round of treatment, which is very expensive!  Please read below what Justin and Jamie sent out a few weeks ago.

Katelyn Divis

Katelyn's first treatment in China

We wanted to take this opportunity to introduce our daughter and ourselves to you. Our daughter, Katelyn, is six years old and has just this year embarked on the exciting adventure we call Frist grade.  She often awakes in the early hours of the morning too excited to sleep as she thinks of the new friends and opportunities that wait for her at school that day.

Katelyn’s day is in many ways different than yours or mine might be.  Kate is visually impaired, and has been so since birth. Diagnosed with a rare condition known as Septo Optic Dysplasia, Katelyn’s optic nerves as well as pituitary gland never fully developed.  Despite the challenges life has presented Katelyn, she has learned and achieved much in her short five years here on earth. Kate reads and writes Braille well above her age expectation, has run in a marathon, is a member of a local children’s choir, has performed in her first piano recital, and yes…has already received the honor of being sent to the principal’s office after a physical altercation ensuing an argument over the reality of Disney princesses. Her many gifts (and loveable quirks) aside, she is a typical little girl who loves McDonalds, Disneyland and being with friends and family.

As her parents we have been praying for Katelyn from the moment she entered our lives.  In our prayers we have asked that Katelyn’s mind be quickened and expanded to allow her to learn anything good she wishes to be a part of her life, we have prayed that those around Katelyn would understand her goodness and humor and desire her friendship.  Our prayers have always been answered, and often in greater ways than we have expected.

As you might expect, another prayer in our hearts has been that one day, a way for Katelyn to gain sight would be found.  Recently, while doing further research into Septo Optic Dysplasia we were led to a report detailing the work of a group of American doctors in Qingdao, China. This group of doctors has been using umbilical cord stem cells to treat ten different diagnoses, one of which is Septo Optic Dysplasia. Over a period of five to six weeks the patients receive treatments that have yielded sight to substantially improved vision for those being treated with Katelyn’s same diagnosis.  We believe that the seemingly random clicks on the internet late one evening that led us to find this needle in a haystack of information was not chance.  We can’t help but think this could be at least in part an answer to our prayer for Katelyn’s healing. We immediately called the American team in Qingdao and submitted Katelyn’s medical records for review in hopes that she would be accepted to receive treatment there. After review by the specialists involved, Katelyn has been accepted to receive treatment.

The cost to undergo the treatments for Septo Optic Dysplasia is $80,000.  Like many of you, our financial reserves do not come close to covering such a fee.  We are determined to do our part to allow our daughter to have the chance of improved vision, and are currently seeking every possible avenue to make this a reality.  It is with humility that we ask for your help in raising the funds necessary to allow Katelyn this opportunity.  Your donations as well as ideas for patronage of additional fundraising activities is greatly needed.

Brooklyn Elisabeth Ward

My brother has another little girl that will have him wrapped around her little finger in no time. 

Brooklyn was born on Sept 19 which is one day before her big sister, Rylee, turned 2. Brooklyn is now home and is doing great.  The poor girl has a broken nose, but as soon as that heals, she'll be doing even better. 

Congratulations Steve and Anna!  I cannot wait to meet this cute little girl. Its killing me that I'm so far away!

Lake Arrowhead

As many of you know, I LOVE Lake Arrowhead! I have been going up to the Lake since I was born and have spent most of my summers there all growing up.  I have made amazing memories there that will never be forgotten!

This past trip was my list trip of the summer.  Why can't summer be longer?  On our weekend up there I decided that if my family were to ever give up the house in Lake Arrowhead, I would save and do all that I could to find another place up there.  I also had the thought that if I were to get engaged one day on the island overlooking the whole lake, it would make me one happy woman!

This was the first time I've ever been to the Lake and haven't been able to wake board.  As much as it killed me, I had such fun time just hanging out, pulling other people wake boarding, laying out, going to the village, swimming to the island and just doing nothing.  The weekend was exactly what I needed!

Favorite YW Activities

Being a Young Women's advisor is one of the most fun and rewarding callings I've ever had.  The more and more I get to know the girls the more and more I just love and adore them.  Tonight we were talking about what we could do for our weekly Wednesday activities.  We came up with a list of some good ideas, but are always looking for more.  If you were ever in YW or you were a leader in YW, what were your favorite activities?  Also, what were your favorite service activities?  We're looking to plan the next 6 months and need as many ideas as possible.

PCOS

I was diagnosed with PCOS about a year ago.  Since then I feel like its one thing after another.  Weight gain, the possibility of infertility, acne, headaches, high blood pressure, lots of pain, a possible heart attack (which I'm still convinced it was nothing, but who knows), and again, lots of pain.

In February I had finally started getting comfortable with myself, which is huge for me.  I've never really been comfortable in my body, but it was something that I was working on.  Not too long after I'm finally becoming comfortable with myself, my blood pressure went up and then weeks later I'm in the hospital for what they were thinking was a heart attack.  Due to high BP and a possible heart attack, I was not able to work out until I saw a cardiologist and had all my tests come back ok. Due to not working out I gained a TON of weight and now I'm back to square one. I'm so uncomfortable in my body again, its crazy! I almost didn't go vacation and almost didn't meet up with people from the cruise due to being embarrassed about myself.

Due to feeling uncomfortable and sometimes even being a little depressed about it all, I started reading blogs, websites about PCOS, and diets for PCOS.  As I was reading some blogs, I came a blog that said this "I'm pissed off at the world. I'm angry that I keep gaining weight, my face is broken out like a teenager, the hair on top of my head is thinning, and my already embarrassing facial hair is getting worse (because of PCOS). I feel like PCOS has taken over my entire identity. I don't recognize my body anymore. I'm self-conscious and it's hurting my marriage." I have always known there are people going through diseases and trials that are much bigger than mine and I need to be thankful for my little trials.  This blog made me realize it all that much more and to be grateful that as much pain as I'm in and how I sometimes struggle, its not affecting me like it is others. 

I'm determined to beat this syndrome and not give up.  I've signed up for a couple races in the next few months, started CrossFit and will probably start doing Insanity in the mornings. Lets hope I'm able to drop some weight in the next few months.  Unfortunately a big side effect of PCOS is weight gain and holding weight.  I'm determined to beat this!! I hoping that if I lose this weight, my pain won't be as bad, my chances of infertility go down and I wont have any blood pressure issues anymore.  Lets cross our fingers!!

Spiritual High

This week has been such a Spiritual high for me and I've loved it! Ever since last Sunday its been studying, planning and writing my lesson that I taught today.  I never knew how much I personally would get out of the actual writing of the lesson. Thank you all for the prayers and kind words of encouragement.  They helped more than you'd ever imagine.  The lesson went well, but I'm so glad it's over.  Now I've got a few weeks and then it's time to start planning the next lesson.

On Friday I left for Las Vegas to attend the sealing of Sarah Henderson to her husband Erik in the Las Vegas Temple. I've known Sarah since she was a baby and haven't seen her in a few years.  I loved that I was able to be there at the sealing, feel the spirit, and see what a beautiful young woman she has become. 

Tonight there was a fireside for all women who had been through the Temple.  I cannot even begin to explain how amazing the fireside was.  It was probably one of the best firesides I've ever been to. Thank you to my Bishop and everyone else who spoke.  It was a great night.

 

I don't think I've had  such a spiritual high in a long time.  I'm so grateful for the week that I've had and all that I've learned. 

My New Church Calling

I was recently released from my calling as a Family Home Evening Co-Chair and was called to be a Relief Society teacher. If you know me at all, you know one of my worst fears is public speaking.  I do not do well when all eyes are on me!  Some people think that because I'm a pretty outgoing person means I'm comfortable with public speaking, but boy are they wrong!!

I was called by one of the members of my Bishopric who asked if I could meet with him that day.  Unfortunately I was out of town, so he said that they were going to release me that day and that they had another calling for me.  I got a little nervous for a couple reasons.  1. I have either been a FHE co-chair or activities committee co-chair for the past 3-4 years, which I'm comfortable with and I know how to do.  2.  I got a text message from one of the girls in the Relief Society presidency asking me to teach a lesson that Sunday, but again, I was out of town.  That next week I met with the Bishopric member who called me to be a teacher.  No joke, I tried with everything that I had in me not to cry, but I didn't succeed. He looked at me and said "I found your fear? How do you do with talks in Sacrament meeting?" I laughed at him and told him the last time I spoke I had about three anxiety attacks before and that's only speaking for 7 minutes.  I can only imagine how many anxiety attacks I'm going to have (already have had about 3 and I don't teach for another week) since I now have to fill about 40 minutes. That day I left our meeting with a smile, a fake smile, on my face telling Brother Kendrick that this calling was going to be great.  I think I was more trying to convince myself, not Brother Kendrick.

It is now a month later and my first lesson is next week.  As much as this calling scares me and as much as I've already cried because I'm so nervous, I'm so grateful for the lesson that I'm giving.  I've heard teachers say before that the lesson was more for them. Now that I am in their shoes I totally get it!  My lesson is on The Strengthening Power of Faith. One quote from my lesson that has really helped me and I truly believe is "If you have something that the Lord asks or expects you to do and you don't know how to proceed, do your best. Move in the direction that you ought to go; trust the Lord, give him a chance and he will never fail you."  That quote has really helped me tonight has I've gotten my lesson together.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow as a person and to try to overcome my fears, even though its really scary!!  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers next Sunday that I will be able to get through the lesson without having a nervous breakdown :) 

Let the Blogging Begin...Again

For the past two years I've been horrible at blogging!  When I lived in Utah I seemed to have a lot more go on in my life, I had a job where I was able to blog in my downtime, which I seemed to have downtime almost everyday, and I wasn't near my family so I blogged a lot.  Since moving back to California I've been near my family, I've had a job that keeps me so much busier than I've ever been, and my life doesn't involve an activity almost every night anymore. 

A few weeks ago I got an email from my dad with his journal entry.  He will sometimes, maybe even all the time, email his family his journal entries, print them and put them in a binder for his journal. In his entry he talked about how he used to be better at writing and how he needs to become better.  Since reading his entry its been on my mind that I need to be better about blogging since I use this as a journal.  I always say that I really don't have much going on and that I don't do much, but in all actuality, I have missed out documenting a lot of memories.

To start the new beginning of me being a better blogger, here are a few pictures to pretty much sum up my summer, which has been WAY too short.  Multiple Utah trips, two half marathons, a trip to Colorado to surprise my cousins, Vegas, jumping 855 feet of the Stratosphere, bungee jumping, camping, hiking, backpacking, Lake Arrowhead, Disneyland, concerts and spending as much time with my family as possible. I have loved every second of my summer and don't want it to come to an end. 

Eastern Caribbean Cruise

I was going to write something down about each day of the cruise and what we did, but since I'm so far behind, I'll just give a quick recap and share some of my favorite pictures.

 The cruise had to have been one of my favorite vacations I’ve ever taken.  It was fun, it was relaxing, and I was able to meet a lot of amazing people.  It actually was so much fun that I’m thinking about doing another one with some of the same people.  I didn’t publicize this, but I signed up for the cruise through a LDS singles cruise website. I wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed, but I wanted to go on the cruise with no pressure or expectations of meeting anyone. I think because I went with not one expectation I had so much more fun than if I would have gone with certain expectations. Not only was the cruise a ton of fun, we all left a few pounds heavier, having great experiences, meeting new people and making new friends, who I have since hung out with.

I personally have about 700 pictures from the cruise, but I will spare you and only post a few.  Below are pictures of us watching the Super Bowl, drinking out very yummy virgin drinks, trying new food like alligator and escargot, dancing, zip lining, watching shows, swimming with dolphins, tubing, hot tubing, etc.  Thanks to all who made this such a memorable trip!