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Category: Documenting

Organizing Your Photos On Your Phone

Posted on December 30, 2022December 30, 2022Categories Documenting

As a single mom with young kids, my life changed, and having the time to scrapbook wasn’t available. As my girls are getting older, … More Organizing Your Photos On Your Phone »

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Today I was going through my Facebook timeline whe Today I was going through my Facebook timeline when my heart stopped.

I read a post sharing the loss of my friend’s son.

Loosing a child is hard, but in this case the grief was compounded because Peter died as a result of suicide.

17 years old.  Talented. Intelligent. Funny. Admired. Loved.

The thing is he didn’t recognize it.

That’s the pain of mental health struggles.

It distorts reality. It lies to you and makes it hard to recognize and find joy.

I have been that person.

I was sixteen the first time I attempted suicide.

I am lucky and blessed to be here today.

I am grateful.

Yet I know the pain felt that leads someone to make a decision such as this.

I know that some of you reading this have considered it or even attempted suicide before. 

My plea is to those who are out there and feel alone or are struggling to find the strength to ask someone for help.

Tell someone how you are feeling.

It can be a parent, a sibling, a friend, a teacher, a coworker, or you can reach out to @988lifeline . 

I am here if you need me. 

Day or night.

You matter.

You are valuable.

You are needed.

Peter’s mother has a request,

“I ask that you honor Peter's life through kindness, compassion, and connection to others. And hug your loved ones tighter.”

May each of us find a way to honor Peter.

Sending my love to his family and all who loved him. There are no words to help but we are praying for you.

And if you are able to help even a little bit, please visit the link in my bio to a gofundme set up in Peter’s honor to help his family during this difficult time.

God bless.

#youmatter #youmattertohim #suicideprevention #teensuicide #suicide #depression #mentalhealth #peterchapmanmemorial #peterchapman #honorpeter #remember #love #hugalittletighter
Home sweet home! After a wonderful week of warmth Home sweet home!

After a wonderful week of warmth we are officially back to the land of cold and snow. And it feels great!

We ended our time in Hawai’i with a delicious breakfast at Eggs and Things. Our waiter Bryson recognized us from a few days ago and very kindly gifted Caroline a box of Pokémon cards. She was elated! 

Next, we went to the beach to take a few pictures of our family. I will always be amazed by the beauty of the ocean. It is definitely the thing I will miss the most.

We checked out of the hotel and then headed to the Zoo. My girls loved seeing animals we don’t have at our local zoo … such as warthogs, lemurs, African wild dogs, a kimono dragon, hippos, and more. This was cool because both of my girls are huge animal lovers and had so many questions and were so excited!

Then on to the airport to start the trek home. My girls (and I) are grateful for iPads for the airport waits.

We picked up our puppies and now I’m trying to get warm wrapped up in my @minkycouturelayton blanket!

#hawaii #familyvacation #hawaii #hawaiivacation #oahu #honoluluzoo  #beach #ocean #happyplace
I now know a whole lot about pineapples! Day Six I now know a whole lot about pineapples!

Day Six found us at the North Shore. We took a tour of the @doleplantation Farm and Packaging Plant and learned about how pineapples are planted, grow, and are harvested. Then we saw how they are sorted, packaged, and prepared to be sold.

We also went to a coffee farm that was quiet and peaceful.

The soap factory smelled amazing and had every kind of rubber ducky imaginable.

I was excited to go to the @northshoremacadamia , because I love cinnamon roasted macadamia nuts!

We had lunch in Haleʻiwa and tried the infamous shaved ice at @matsumotoshaveice It was super yummy!

We went to the Haleʻiwa Beach Park in hopes of seeing sea turtles. No turtles but lots of beautiful waves.

We ended the day with one more trip  to the beach for a swim.

#oahu #hawaii #hawaiifamilyvacation  #familyvacation #northshore #pineapple #macadamianuts #beach #haleiwa
Hula! This morning we took a hula lesson at our h Hula!

This morning we took a hula lesson at our hotel. It was so fun to watch my girls try something new. I was impressed at how they took to it.

Then we went to Pearl Harbor. I have been to Pearl Harbor before but recently I learned that my paternal grandfather was there on December 7, 1941. He survived but was injured. Knowing that had my thoughts turned to what it must have been like for him. Thinking about all he experienced and saw.

We went to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial and then toured the U.S.S. Missouri. Was a neat experience.

So much history.

#oahu #hawaii #familyvacation #hawaiivacation #hula #hulalesson #pearlharbor #ussarizona #ussarizonamemorial #ussmissouri #ussmissouribattleship
Yesterday our family explored Waikiki.​​​​ Yesterday our family explored Waikiki.​​​​​​​​
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We came across a little market of vendors selling art, jewelry, clothing, etc.​​​​​​​​
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I went to pay for a set of earrings and the woman looked at me and said,​​​​​​​​
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“You a happy lady.”​​​​​​​​
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I smiled and responded with, ​​​​​​​​
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“Thank you. I try to be.”​​​​​​​​
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Her commented has stayed with me.​​​​​​​​
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What does it mean to be happy?​​​​​​​​
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The thing is, I’m not always happy.​​​​​​​​
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I choose to try and see the good in life.​​​​​​​​
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I choose to smile.​​​​​​​​
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I choose to try and be kind.​​​​​​​​
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I’m glad that maybe those choices can be seen.​​​​​​​​
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I’ll continue trying to be a happy lady.​​​​​​​​
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#happy #choosetobehappy #choosetobekind #kindness #smile #happylady #lovinorange #choose
Today was a quieter day. No set plans. Walking a Today was a quieter day.

No set plans.

Walking around Waikiki.

Shopping, exploring, resting.

Found a yummy bakery.

Stumbled onto a brightly colored candy store.

Meet two other people from Utah. (A perk of wearing my @universityofutah shirt)

And then tonight was the Great Waikiki Festival.

Good food, music, vendors of all kinds, music, and lots of people.

And tonight a good night of rest …

Sometimes the quieter days are needed.

#hawaii #oahu #hawaiianvacation #alohaspirit #greatwakikifestival #rest #familyvacation #vacation
Dolphins, Seals, and Sharks! Oh my! Day three fou Dolphins, Seals, and Sharks! Oh my!

Day three found us at Sea Life Park for our dolphin encounter. Our dolphin was 13 year old Nalu which means “wave”. Caroline was over the moon at the experience. Elise was apprehensive at first but eventually had the courage to touch Nalu. Our trainer was amazing with them.

We then spent a few hours enjoying the park and watching the shows.

The evening found us at a luau. At the beginning they had interactive activities like lei making, drums, and more. The food was delicious and then there was a show sharing the histories of the different Polynesian islands and their dances.

I am really loving the aloha spirit here.

#hawaii #familyvacation #vacationtohawaii #aloha #oahu #familyvacation #dolphinencounter #dolphins #sealifepark #luau
Sun, Waves, Sand, and Dole Whip Our day started w Sun, Waves, Sand, and Dole Whip

Our day started with a ride on a glass bottom boat where we saw fish and sea turtles. 

I feel that there’s just something calming about the ocean. It truly is my happy place. The rhythm and sounds of the waves, the motion as the water moves, the smells, just everything speaks to me.

The evening we went to the beach since both of my girls have been talking about it since the plane landed in Hawaii. The beach didn’t disappoint.

My oldest and I are both huge lovers of the water so it was so fun to spend time just the two of us playing in the waves. The joy on her face spoke to my mama heart.

Younger sister loved playing in the sand and was a bit apprehensive about the ocean.

Overall it was a marvelous day which has me excited for more.

Aloha!

#hawaii #familyvacation #vacationtohawaii #internationalmarketplace #tiredmom #aloha #oahu #ocean #happyplace #rythms #familyvacation
Aloha from Hawaii! Last year my mom asked my girl Aloha from Hawaii!

Last year my mom asked my girls if they could go on vacation where would they want to go. My oldest excitedly said, “Hawaii”. I think she’d seen pics from a trip we took in the past.

My mom decided she wanted to make this happen so here we are!

Had a non-stop flight from Salt Lake to Honolulu. As we were starting to land the girls kept pointing out the beach, the palm trees, and were super excited to finally be here.

At the airport we received leis. The girls tried to make friends with a chicken while we waited for our shuttle to the hotel.

After checking into the hotel we went to the International Market for dinner.

My girls are ecstatic and are literally bouncing off the walls. Meanwhile mom is ready for a good long rest.

#hawaii #familyvacation #vacationtohawaii #internationalmarketplace #tiredmom #aloha
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