So much to be thankful for

Last year I got Josh Groban's new Christmas Album and it is amazing, there is a wonderful song that makes you think, and yes we all have so much to be thankful for.

For as long as I can remember, my mother has taken care of children in our home. We have formed amazing bonds with some of the children. Sadly for some of them they don't come from the most stable of situations, and we create some sense of stability in their lives. Last night we were informed that one of the children we used to watch a long time ago was killed in a car accident over the weekend. It is a really sad situation because his father didn't want anything to do with him and his mother was left to raise him on her own. She tried her hardest, but it was still really hard for him to fit in and get over the problems he had. He at times would cause major frustrations, but we had to just keep going and make him feel welcomed and accepted. He finally had found a place were he found his nitch, and was on his way home from playing with I think his jazz band when the accident happened.

When things like this happen I am reminded of how fragile life is. My mother is amazing and has done so much for so many. She does so much for others, and often time gets taken advantage of by others, yet she just keeps on going. I love her so much and am so thankful she is mine. Christmas is always crazy with all her many projects, but I don't think I would have it any other way.

Christmas is going to be different this year. The Ridings always have a Christmas Eve Dinner, Program and Party. We eat, do the nativity, family talent and eat dessert. This year my grandpa is in a rehab center because he broke his leg 6 weeks ago and isn't strong enough to come home yet, so christmas eve is going to be different. We are just going to gather at the rehab center for about an hour, not the 4 or 5 we normally do. I hope it will be ok, but it will be, and we will all still be together. We are very thankful for his progress so far and can't wait till he comes home.

Another thing I am thankful for are my nieces. Cali is adorable and I love to play with her. She has so much energy. Little Abby is doing great and keeps improving. They are hoping to take her off C-pap on Christmas, and just be on high flow oxygen. It is amazing how much she is growing and the progress she is making.

Merry Christmas!

Orlando here I come!

I was offered today the internship of my dreams. I am moving to florida in January to help run music festivals at Disney World. Is that not the perfect job for me? I'm so excited. I leave in less than a month, but not sure yet, since it's about a 3 day drive from az(ewwwwwwwww). Tiffany and I will probably making the drive together because she is extending her college program and going to be working photopass, which is a perfect job for her!



I think one of the things I am most excited about is that Craig Jessop is going to be one of the adjudicators for one of the festivals. How awesome is that?

Orlando Adventures

We had an awesome time in Orlando, we did a lot and got some VIP treatment along the way!

The Best free thing we got, (there were many with our great perks which we have) was going and seeing the ICE show at the Gaylord Palms resort. They are building one here in mesa, so my dad talked it up with the manager and got us free tickets. We got the star treatment. It was the first time I had ever used valet parking.


This is the coolest thing! Literally, they carve awesome sculptures from 2 million pounds of ice and keep it at 9 degrees. They give you a parka to wear inside.

They had a nativity scene made out of Ice, there is an angel that weighs 2 tons.

If you can't tell we were freezing by the time we left. We didn't think about taking gloves with us. Jill almost lost her camera when we returned our parkas, but we found it. On black friday they had a polar bear club event where people could go run through it in their swimsuits. I wonder how many people went?




Afterwards you get a free cup of hot chocolate to help you warm up again! They even had some light shows to watch. I can't wait until they build the one here and we can have the ice exhibit. We walked around the resort a little to see all the cool things it has, which there are many. After we had seen everything my dad wanted to show us we walked back to the front of the resort to fetch our car. We took our valet ticket and handed it to the lady at the window. Our keys were in a special spot, and then we looked up at saw our mini van parked out front the resort with a BMW, Lexus, Cadillac and other fancy cars. I wish I would have taken a picture of that, our car parked with all the nice ones infront of a fancy hotel. It might have made us look more white trash if I did!


Tiffany and Jill flying with dumbo

Tiffany and I posing with the "sand sculptures" of Goofy and Donald

Tiffany and Jill at Winter Summerland Mini Golf





I have been home from Orlando for a while now, but have been too busy to post, because when I got home, I went straight to rehearsals for our musical revue at school, which was last tuesday. It was an amazing show, and made a 3-day week really really long. I will post more later, it is not bedtime!