Congrats to my sister, Karen! She is going on a mission for the LDS church and just received her mission call. She will be going to the Washington, D.C. North mission, which includes the temple visitor center. She is really excited to leave, on March 5th.

GO SEE THIS!!!

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I went to my yoga class, two days before Christmas. As we were headed into the last few minutes of class and into meditation mode, the instructor read this quote. I love it and wanted to share it!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

PS I am just starting his autobiography and am SOOOO excited about it! This man is incredibly inspiring and over the past year or two, as I have learned more about him, as become a hero of mine!

I miss Romania. A lot. This past week marks the 20th anniversary of the revolution that brought down communism in Romania, so it has been in the news, which has mad me miss it even more! Romania, over the years, has kinda become my home away from home. I love it there and miss living there. I always keep my eyes open for public health jobs there so I can go back for awhile. I have so many dear friends there that I miss so much too. Anyway, I am happy to see how much the country has prospered over the years, but especially looking at some of the video clips...to see how far the country has come!

This clip is of the Presidential Palace. It's quite interesting...was never finished. I have toured it a few times...still blows my mind!!



This is graphic, fyi. Good story documentation of the revolution, fall of communism, and execution of the Ceausescu's.



I love seeing stories like this. This actually brought a bit of a tear to my eye when she tells how she survives in the orphanage. My orphan babies that I worked with in Romania did the same thing - it's called Reactive Attachment Disorder. I miss my babies :( I again, am happy to see that the orphanages have improved drastically over the years, but think it's SO sad that it is still socially acceptable to abandon babies...

Crăciun Fericit, Joyeux Noël, 聖誕快樂, Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus, Среќен Божиќ, Wesołych Świąt, С Рождеством, Срећан Божић, Feliz Navidad, عيد ميلاد مجيد, З Різдвом, Selamat Hari Krismas, Il-Milied it-Tajjeb...MERRY CHRISTMAS and
HAPPY 2010!!!

Nutcracker

My beautiful baby sister, Jessica, was in the NuTcRaCkEr again this year with Clytie Adam's Ballet School. The whole family (minus Jackson) went a few weeks ago to watch her. She was snow in it this year and danced ever-so-beautifully! I had never really seen her dance on toe before since I missed the last recital or two, but she look beautiful!!

My beautiful sisters

My whole family (minus my nephew)

Miss Snowflake herself!

ALL NEW!

HIV/AIDS prevention services, surveillance, treatment and care; tuberculosis control/refugee health services; hepatitis C control and sexually transmitted disease control and elimination. Yup, this is what my NEW JOB entails! As of tomorrow, I will be with Bureau of Epidemiology at the Utah Department of Health. Although it isn't Washington, D.C. or NYC, like I had been hoping for, it is still a job, using my degree. So for now, this is what I'll be doing! I'm going to stick around the hospital as well a bit longer (I know, y'all are thinking, "SHERRIE!!! Quit already! Escape while you can!). I have really enjoyed the people I work with there though and need the extra cash right now, so I'm keeping my Sundays at least for a couple months.

I have also recently acquired a new HAIR COLOR - I have left my blonde forces and joined the Brunette crews! It's fun, not going to lie! Definitely miss the blonde, but for now, very happy with the brunette!

RoAd TrIpPiN' iT!

A few weeks ago, my cousin Paul and I set out on our long road trip across the country. Paul recently moved to DC, so I decided to drive out there with him and do some job networking while I was out there. We had such a great time, despite one speeding ticket, hitting a kitty-cat ("why kitty, why!?!"), and a few other minor incidences. We spent a day and a half in Kentucky, staying with my aunt and uncle (Paul's family), who I rarely get to see. That was a lot of fun.

We crossed through Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky...up through West Virginia, into Maryland and dropped into Arlington, Virginia, where Paul is now living. It was all an adventure. We were lucky to have good weather too! Wyoming, we were grateful not to have any troubles with (Paul has a history with WY), Nebraska - my infamous speeding ticket from the nicest cop I've ever met and listened to the Counting Crows' song, "Omaha" about 10 times as we approached Omaha. Missouri was exciting to me to see the grand arch in St Louis and cross the Mississippi River - I think I want to go back and make a visit to St Louis! As for Illinois - not much to see, it was dark and we barely hit the bottom part of the state. Kentucky was difficult for Paul to make his way to - he was driving at the moment, took one look at the sign that said "Louiville" and said, "We're going to Louiville so I should probably follow that sign, but the blue dot on my GPS (that didn't always update if we weren't in a 3G network zone) doesn't say to go that way." So what did he do? Sure didn't follow the sign like he should have! We had to turn around and go back to the sign...note to self, if you are going to Louiville, you should follow the sign to Louiville and not trust the little blue dot! After our short stay just outside of Louiville at Sterling and Carol's house, we took the back country roads through Kentucky, where yes, we listened to Bluegrass music (hello, why wouldn't you listen to bluegrass music, in bluegrass country!)...I couldn't believe how magical it was though!! The farm houses and open land - loved it!! We hit West Virginia and immediately turned on John Denver's "Country Roads". West Virginia, country mama is right! It was beautiful! The colors were magnificent - and that was even at the end of the autumn color changing! The rest the trip was history after that...we made our way into the DC area much quicker than we had anticipated!


We don't look bored at all, do we?!



Pop Rocks=ENTERTAINMENT!


I feel so at home in DC. I really, really miss it, ya know? It honestly soothed my soul!! I have to make my way back out there! I continue to job hunt in that area. I really miss my friends and the wonderful people I worked with at PAHO. Hopefully within the year, I'll be out there!!
I stayed for an additional four days in DC before flying home. I spent loads of time with friends and with Paul and helping him settle in. I was able to meet up with my PAHO peeps and do lunch a few times, as well as hit up the infamous Cafe Citron for some Latin dancing, which made me the happiest person! I can't get enough of everyone out there and DC in general!
I was also able to see Lisa and the few girls from 204 that are still living out there, which was a lot of fun. And above all...the food - I ate lots and lots of yummy food! Of course. It's the best part about DC! Went and got some Lebanese with my old roommate, Mary and spent one night at her place. And the other given, spent some time at my favorite Smithsonian museum - the Natural History Museum. Good times!!




Yes, those are my feet - gross, I know! My feet hurt from dancing in stilettos all night!

HaLLoWeeN

One of the doctors I used to work with, who is a good friend, threw a big Halloween party the week before Halloween this year. He and his wife, Jill, throw the best parties!! So, needless to say, we had a really great time! It was fun to see all the costumes, but also to see a lot of people that I used to work with at LDS Hospital that have spread out between a few hospitals in the valley.

My rockin' Carmen Miranda, aka Chiquita Banana costume

Sherrie, Stephanie (Adams Family, maybe?), and April (Miss Flinstone herself)

Kenz and Shannon

Craiger and Connie



Doesn't get much better than a caveman, Richard Simmons, and a dirty she-man nurse dancing around!

The 20's hottie Miss Sammie, Eileen - costume of the night - the "old doctor" and Chaquita Banana

Walk like an Egyptian - Lorraine made her costume!


Brad said this was his clan that benefitted from the Richard Simmons program

Halloween night at HarryO's in Park City

Me and the girls...and Kenz and her hubs, aka Brett Michaels

I ♥ family

I know what you are all thinking - it's about freaking time Sherrie starts updating the blog (keep scrolling too...have posted stuff previous to this posting)!! I have been very busy and have lots to update with...so hopefully today and over the next few days there will be loads and loads of new posts! These pictures have been continually stacking up to be posted (yes, for the last 5 months or so), so I am going to finally post them!

This was one of the weekend I came home to visit from DC - graduation weekend last May

Like nephew, like aunt!


Jessica's ballet recital this past summer


Janell and Chris' Wedding this past summer. Janell may be one of six cousins my age, but I'm lucky to get a long with all my cousins really well, especially those of us that are the same age. The three girls, me, Julie, and Janell have stayed especially close. We frequently get together and are the best of friends, which I am so grateful for!! Janell and I have become even closer the past few years through different similar life experiences - dating being one of them! We have both been through our ups and downs, but so happy she and Chris finally tied the knot! I really enjoy having Chris around (especially since he allows me to frequently kidnap his wife), even if he is annoying when BYU beats my team at football. I'll let Janell keep him :)










We meant to get pedicures or AT LEAST repaint our toes before the wedding...looks like we had time, eh!?! haha


Grandma's Birthday dinner


Happy birthday to my big brother. I sure do love him! Wish I could see more of him and Heather and my cute little nephew!! So fun to be with them though when I do get to see them.




I have a baby Hitler nephew and the nerdiest sister...she says she learns it from me!


I was at Janell's a couple weeks ago and stole a bunch of pictures from her from over the years...so here are a few old school pictures that I loved!

Julia's wedding back in 2004

Me and Janell at the Tim McGraw concert


Shopping in Park City, UT and Holi Krishna


The Family Christmas Party 2008 with Janell and Paul