10 October 2013

Anti-Bullying Fair - End Bullying Now


What did you do last weekend? I spent last Saturday at the Midvale City Park for the Anti-Bullying Fair organized by the Dolls & Gents! This was the first of what they hope to be an annual event! Might I add that it is my hope that we can eventually not need such events!

There were many booths, most of them were focused on some applicable topic to support the theme of Anti-Bullying! For example, End Bullying Now (more info below),
Suicide Prevention, Be a Buddy Foundation,
another booth was a group that partners such organizations together with schools, No Story Left Untold yet another booth was a girl scout project to raise money to buy the FOR curriculum for Brockbank Junior High School. FOR = Friends of Rachel, who was the first one killed in the Columbine incident so long ago! There were also booths that sold products like Inside and Out Cosmetics,
crocheted items, Retro Betty Vintage Boutique, wood art, Pampered Chef, Marykay, spray paint art, Tyler Lamph, photography, food and more. There were activities and fun entertainment for the kids, like clowns and superheros and hula hoops and more. Also, the kids from the Midvale Boys & Girls Club presented a talent show with some cute acts!
HEY! I thought this was an ANTI-Bullying Fair!!!
A little chastising followed by teaching about End Bullying Now...
yes, the Jester signed the pledge to End Bullying Now!
One of my favorite booths was actually by an Olympian, I love the Olympics! One of the reasons this booth caught my attention was because Jeremy Holm is a bobsledder, which happens to be my favorite and he had a bobsled there! I spoke with him for some time and he works with The Athlete Outreach Project. He was at this event to talk about anti-bullying and suicide prevention as he lost his best friend to suicide in junior high due to bullying!
Jeremy C Holm, Bobsledder, Author, Motivational Speaker
Admittedly, my favorite booth was the one I had for End Bullying Now! I was honored to have this opportunity to bring this specific campaign to Utah. First, I thank my mom for coming to help man the booth!
I was first exposed to End Bullying Now on a recent trip to Las Vegas for a conference. There will many other blog posts for this conference! Today, I want to talk more about the End Bullying Now Campaign! You can go here to find out more about why End Bullying Now was started by NAAFA! It was wonderful to speak about this topic with so many people. One lady that I had the priveledge to talk with works for Woodrow Wilson Elementary and works with training to be Safe at School, Anti-Bullying Training! It is my goal to bring more events and awareness of this specific campaign to Utah! I would love to see more events like this one in California!

I don't have a number of how many people attended this event, but I do know that they came from all over the Wasatch Front, not just Midvale! We did have 127 pledge cards signed by those in attendance. It was way awesome to watch as some of the parents got on their knees and read the list of things the kids would be pledging to do and made sure they understood each and every one of them. In the end we had the Dolls & Gents gather for a group picture with their End Bullying Now Pledge Cards!
Dolls & Gents pledge to End Bullying Now
It comes down to these questions...were you bullied? are you being bullied? OR were you the bully? are you the bully? I was definitely bullied and sadly, even as an adult, still experience being bullied! That was one thing talked about by several people that it doesn't matter your age, bullies exist! How sad is that? Are you ready to pledge to End Bullying Now? Contact me, leave a message, etc for more information on presentations and possible events! So, anyway...I'm passionate about this effort and that is what it is to me...watsit2u?

06 October 2013

Power of Prayer

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsJust wanted to take a short moment to talk about the power of prayer. I know we just finished up with a wonderful General Conference and I will talk about all of that on this blog, too! Here is my post regarding the LDS General Relief Society Meeting 2013.

I have had experiences in the past where I have felt the power of prayers from others! In fact a couple of years ago, I was headed out on a trip to Arizona, I had been there a few times before and every time I go, I have really bad weather experiences. Yes, Arizona does not like me! Well, just before I was headed out for this trip, my visiting teachers came over and I was telling them about my bad experiences, but that we were about to take my nephews home to Arizona! They said they would pray for me! Of course, I've heard it before and have even said it before and followed through with said prayers...BUT...this time... Well, we took the boys home and as we were headed back up, there were a few times we could see storms brewing in the distance where we were headed or off to the side of where we were driving! I would say little prayers that we wouldn't have to go through what we were seeing and I can honestly say that I really felt the prayers of my visiting teachers, too! It was a very special feeling of comfort! For the first time, I made it through an entire Arizona trip with no major bad weather stories!

Fast forward to tonight when we had some specials friends visit at our home and we talked about many things including several things going on in our lives right now, one of which was a recent bad experience with a 4 hour position where incorrect assessments were made by the employer and led to there not being a job after all. Anyway, without going into much detail here, because it is beside the point, I just wanted to say that as the topic came up in the conversation, it was most touching when one of the visitors told us that their children were praying for the situation, everyday, in their prayers!

Now, I'm sure that most, if not all, of you know the wondrous power of prayer! I just wanted to write this short note about the gratitude that so many others in our lives are open to that Holy Ghost that prompted them to include us in their prayers! This came at a perfect time when I've been struggling with patience through our current trials which started a long time ago, the comfort such a little statement gave me...WOW!

I know that prayer can be a most powerful source of blessings for ourselves and for others. We must live righteously so we are open to the Holy Ghost and know what to pray for and open to the blessings that our loving Heavenly Father wishes to bestow upon us, yes, everyone! I just want to testify that our loving Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and he is there for us, ALWAYS! This is a little of what the power of prayer is to me...watsit2u?

04 October 2013

Anti-Bullying Fair - Midvale, Utah

Last July, I spent a week in Las Vegas, Nevada. There will be more posts on the reasons why, but one of the most awesome parts was becoming involved with the End Bullying Now Campaign! I will blog more specifically on that soon, as well...but for today, I want to tell you about an awesome event happening tomorrow at the Midvale City Park and IT IS FREE!
Did you know that October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month? Sad that such a thing is needed, but great that because it is, we have this opportunity to educate ourselves and others on the subject! This is the first Anti-Bullying Fair sponsored by Dolls and Gents! I am so excited about this FREE event and look forward to many more to come! Here are the basics you need to know:

  • This Saturday, from 12-5, at Midvale Park. 
  • Family Friendly Anti-Bully Fair
  • Childrens Activities
  • Talent Show by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Midvale kids
  • Mayor of Midvale as a guest speaker
  • Entertainment
  • Local Business Vendors

  • Did I mention that is FREE? But any and all support of the vendors and such is greatly appreciated! So, come hang out, have fun, buy some good eats and learn more about how you can help the effort! Oh, and yes, End Bullying Now will have a booth there, so please, come on by, say hi and sign your pledge to End Bullying Now! Please share your story...were you bullied? are you being bullied? OR were you the bully? are you the bully? I was definitely bullied and sadly, even as an adult, still experience being bullied! So, I'm passionate about this effort and that is what it is to me...watsit2u?

    01 October 2013

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    In July 2000, I attended a business conference in Las Vegas, there were over 12,000 people in attendance. There was a presentation of a check to the American Cancer Society. At the beginning of this presentation, the speaker had everyone stand that had cancer themselves. Then added those who knew someone with cancer and by the time it was all said and done, there were very few people not standing. One of these was a women in our group. She was so touched by this demonstration, she chose to quit smoking. I have no idea where this person is now, but her experience at that moment of being surrounded by standing people has never left me, in fact, I've shared it on my blog before! My point is, that most everyone knows someone who has cancer! So, to change directions, a little, what is the craziest thing you have ever done for someone? Especially someone who has cancer? Here is my story and blessing:

    I always joked around about shaving my head because I would get tired of dealing with longer hair, but was never serious about it, at all. Then in 2011, enter a great friend of mine chose to shave her head to honor her mom, who, at that time, was dying of cancer. You can read about that here! Unfortunately, her mom lost her battle a very short time afterward. When my friend made this choice, it was about time for me to do my donation to Locks of Love, again! I've done it every 2 years or so since about 1999ish. So, again, I very jokingly told my husband I was going to shave my head like our friend and, this time, he simply looked at me and said, OK! I was floored, so I quickly thought about it and chose to go ahead and get my head shaved! It really was an easy choice! So, on 25 Mar 2011, I got my head shaved!
     
    These pics were taken, in order, 25 Mar 2011....4 May 2011...3 Jul 2011...I show this to show the progression of hair growth. Everyone says my hairs grows fast, it sure doesn't feel like it!

    Ok, back to the story...Now, I have to say, I was sad to hear that my friend had some not so positive reactions from people she came across soon after she shaved her head. I found this to be very sad yet motivating, how dare anyone judge her or mistreat for such a choice! My husband and I talked about this and the morning I was to go get my head shaved, I confirmed with him that he really was ok with my choice. His response was just to say that it was ok, if I was ok with people staring at me. My response to that was that I'm fat, people stare at me ALL THE TIME! So, I guess, in a way, shaving my head, was more than just to support her, it was to tell the world, here I am, I dare you to mess with me! Ok, maybe not, but I am happy to report, most everyone was pleasant and concerned, even strangers, most everyone just wanted to be assured that I wasn't sick myself! Of course, most of them gasped first and I did have a few people, mostly those that know me well, just laugh, my brother included. He would laugh and shake his head, then rub my head, then laugh...over and over again...I snapped this pic while he was staring and laughing, wish I could have gotten some of the initial gasping looks, there were some great ones:
    One thing to keep in mind, I guess, for some, is the timing of when you choose to shave your head. I did so just before we had a cold snap in weather, so I was grateful that another friend had some years before made me this hat:
    Ok, warp two years and it is time to cut my hair again for Locks of Love and I have chosen to shave my head once again! This time it's a little different, I am not necessarily doing it to prove anything to the world. I am making this choice to honor all who have survived cancer and the many, many in my life at that very moment who were, and, some who still are, battling cancer! Most of these 20+ friends and family have breast cancer, and some are now done with treatment and some even in remission! Many are still in the fight for their lives!
    So, on 1 Apr 2013, I had my head shaved again...the pics below are from 1 Apr 2013, 21 Jun 2013, today, 01 Oct 2013...I'm told my hair grows fast, I'm still not convinced!
    So...again, the response from those in my life, many of which were not around for the experience two years ago, was that of concern. Then, when assured that I was not the one that was sick but that I was doing this to honor all my friends and family that were suffering, were very supportive! Here it is six months later and some still tell me what a wonderful thing they think I did...when, in reality, it was nothing! I have the choice, at any time, to shave my head or not, so many out there fighting this battle do not have that choice! (yes, some make the choice to shave before having no choice but to lose their hair...amazing people!) It is to all of these wonderfully strong souls that I dedicate my efforts and support!

    To all my friends and family out there fighting the battle and ugliness that is cancer, I think about you each and every day! I pray for you and I cheer your progress and successes! I mourn the setbacks, as well...but I honor you for your strength and example! Thank you and God bless each and every one you great ones! Thank you, Twizzz, for inspiring me in the first place! HUGS to you all....

    SIDENOTE:
    For anyone reading this post, if you should choose to have your hair cut for Locks of Love, go here for the rules, but the main one is that it must be at least 10 inches for the donation and just an FYI, Great Clips offers free hair cuts for those donating and they will even mail the hair in for you. Just go to the Locks of Love website to print and fill out the form to take with you for them, even if you are going to mail it in yourself. If your local Great Clips says they don't do that, they should, why wouldn't they want that good karma and such...but, if they refuse, find one that will do it and let corporate office know about the ones that won't, maybe they can 'encourage' them to get on board!