Teton Dam and Life in general

This last few weeks have been a roller coaster, but it has left me being grateful for all that I have. I ended up having the opportunity to run in the Teton Dam 5k. I really wanted to run on our relay team, but I was glad that I still ended up getting the opportunity to do it. I have had really bad shin splints the last few weeks, so I was kind of nervous to run up millhollow road and then up to the temple. I ran and ended up getting 2nd place in my age division. I had so much fun and love all of the excitement of a race. It is so fun to see all of the people cheering each other on. Running is my own personal outlet. I do it to get away from school and stress in general. I am so grateful that the doctors figured out what was wrong a year ago, so I could start running again. It has been a blessing. I have just been running in 5K and 10K races through the year, but I have finally decided to be brave and run in a half marathon in August. I am excited and nervous!

Last week, my Uncle Burke got sick and was put in the hospital again. He has been battling Myeloma for the last 2 years. I got the feeling that I needed to go and visit him on Friday, so I went up with my mom to see him. When we were there, he was doing okay, joking around and being more concerned about everyone else's health problems instead of his own. He kept telling me that I needed to make sure they kept my thyroid under control. After I left I wanted to cry. Here he is sitting in a bed fighting off some life threatening disease and he is worried about something that could be fixed with a pill. After we left, I went home and got ready for the race the next day. After my race on Saturday, I kept getting the feeling that I needed to go up to the hospital again. I was tired, and didnt want to go anywhere because I had homework, but the feeling would not leave. I finally decided at about 7:30 to put my stuff away and go visit him again. As Destry and I got to the hospital, he started to go downhill really fast. It was so hard to see him get so sick, but I was so grateful that I was there to see him. After about 2 hours they had him on a ventilator. He ended up passing away on Sunday afternoon. I loved Uncle Burke so much. He might have seemed rough on the outside, but he was such a softy on the inside. I will always miss him pulling me on his lap, hugging me and telling me that I needed to eat more (he weighed a whole 110 pounds) or that I needed to smile more. I will miss water skiing with him, and the time that he chased me through the house with a garden hose while aunt ginny was yelling! He was one of the kindest men I knew, and was like a second dad to me. I will miss him, but I know he is in a better place. This whole experience once again reminded me how unpredictable life is. It is is important to remember and take the time for the ones that you love, because you never know how long you get to have them around. This is something that has hit me pretty hard, because of being so burried in school work lately. I think I need to just learn to put the books away once in awhile and enjoy the smaller things. I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families that we have, and that death does not have to be the end. I am grateful for Destry and knowing that we get to be together after we die.

As for school and work, Destry and I are both just chugging along. I am excited that I just registered for my last official semester of classes in the fall and then its off to student teaching. I am currently waiting to find out where I have been placed for student teaching...it had better not be Vegas! I am so tired of studying inside (on nice days) instead of being outside playing. Im having a "do whatever in the heck I want to" day on July 24th and nobody can stop me! I am so grateful for Destry and the help that he gives me with different stuff when Im busy. I appreciate the fact that he comes to my races and supports me. ( I dont think hes excited about the half marathon...haha)

Well hopefully it wont be another 3 months before I actually post a blog again! Sorry! Things will be better when Im not as busy with school. As for now, I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer!

.....

Ha. I just have to get on this morning, because I havent posted anything in a REALLY long time. Sorry! One day I will be good at blogging. Not much has changed, just putting a long in school and trying to stay caught up. I have less than a year left. I just cant wait for my summer break in july. I was excited to find out this morning that I got first place in my age division for a race that I ran! It was my first 10K of the season, so it feels pretty good!

A minute to de-stress!

I should be studying for my state tests that I have tonight and Wednesday, but I think I need to get away from my notes for a minute so I dont go insane! This last week has been a busy, fun, yet stressful one!

I started out helping my little sister by being a back stage mom for her Junior Miss program this week. I was so proud of her and the progress that she has made in the last couple of weeks! She did amazing! I am sorry that you will have to listen to me on my soap box for a minute, but I just think this is an amazing program. I remember when I first decided to do Junior Miss, I was really hesitant, and did not want to be a "beauty pageant contestant"...I learned that it was about a lot more than being the prettiest! When I did it, I ended up learning a lot about myself as a person, and being able to build a lot of very strong relationships with girls my age. Junior Miss teaches girls about how to act, but it also helps them develop a stronger sense of self esteem and it teaches them responsibility. Good Job Ali! I am so proud of the hard work and effort you put in to the program!

FINALS...in my book, that word is a cuss word. I tend to get myself too worked up about them, but my grades are so improtant to me! This semester has been a little more stresseful because I have to take 2 state literacy tests the week of finals. I am hoping that my efforts in class will show through in my grades!

Along with finals, we decided to go to conference this year with David and Heather to celebrate Destry's birthday. I was worried that I wouldnt be able to go because of finals, but I decided that i needed to take this opportunity. I am really glad that I did, because I learned so much from conference! A BIG thanks to Nichole and Brad for letting us stay at her house for the night! It was fun to be able to see you guys! On Saturday, we went to the gateway and met up with Rozalyn and Mitch with David and Heather. We then went to the old spaghetti factory to eat. We had so much fun laughing and talking. The people probably thought we were crazy, or felt bad for my special needs husband...the pictures explain it all. After we had dinner, we went back to Nichole's, and it was back to studying for my test on monday :( I was happy to get it done on Saturday so that I could visit and have a relaxing Sunday.

Last but not least ...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DESTRY!!! I love you and I hope that Sunday was fun.
I will have to post the pictures when I get them developed sometime this week...my camera is broken!

V-Day in Alpine!

I am so sorry that this blog looks so bad, but the computer is not getting along with me very well right now! We had a fun valetines day yesterday! We woke up yesterday morning and did not know what in the world we were going to do. Destry decided that we should go on a ride somewhere, and since I had never been to Alpine Wy. before, we decided that would be where we would ride to. We drove up and looked at all of the Elk, and then went down to Swan Valley and got a square ice cream cone. We then spent part of the night in Idaho Falls shopping and visited Brittany, Garrett and the Boys. It was really fun and I loved being able to spend the day with my valentine! I look back over the few years that we dated, and i can honestly say that I love him more now than I ever thought I could. Every day is an adventure, and I enjoy all of the crazy things Destry does to keep me laughing. Being married in the temple is such a blessing, and I enjoy every minute I get to spend with him. I hope that he feels the same way about his onery wife ;) I love you sweetheart, and Im glad that I had a fun time with you!

Things that bug me

I got tagged by Brittany and I actually have a spare second away from homework so here it goes....

1. Chewing noises!!!I hate chewing noises! I dont know why, but they just bug me...period.

2. When people are rude to waiters...honestly its not always their fault someting isnt going right, so dont automatically put the blame on them.

3. Feet have to be one of the sickest things on this planet....especially hairy man feet. Yuck!

4. The noise that utensils make when they are scraping against the plate or someones teeth!

5. At school when you ask someone a question that you honestly dont know the answer to and they treat you like youre an idiot....isnt there supposed to be no such thing as a dumb question?

6. People who make fun of or say bad things about people with disabilities. It gets me pretty ticked off.

7. People who touch you, hug you, are all over you that dont even know you! Honestly, its okay to get a hug from someone you know, but when its someone that you arent close too its weird and akward.

8. Judgemental people.

9. Gossip is a pet peave of mine. Theres no point in it, it always comes back to bite you in the butt whether or not you are the one who started the rumor. I tend to stay away from people who like to talk about others a lot.

Okay, I guess now that you all know my annoyances, let's hear some of yours.....
I tag....

1. Roz
2. Shawnee
3. Chari
4. Beth W.
5. Connie

Meet Marley

Hey it's just us. We are just writing to know that we got a new addition to our home. Our yellow lab Bailey never came home so we decided we would get a new puppy. We named it Marley like the new movie thats out. We were lucky enough that the people we got Bailey from, had another batch of puppies so its like having the same dog, just younger. Hope everybody had a good Christmas. We sure did. Were both thankful for both of our families and all the love and support that they give us and for everybody else in our lifes. Have a great Holiday season. Love the Orrs.

Tagged!

Im a little late in noticing i got tagged because of school....so i figured i could just do it anyways since Im bored!

1. I am scared of fish! Random fact, but i have never enjoyed being around them! They are so gross!

2. I hate being late to anything! I always have to leave the house extra early to make sure I can get there at least 5 minutes early.

3. I don't like chewing noises. I have a hard time eating with other people because the sounds bother me!

4. I am anal about money. I cant stand not balancing the check book. My friends think its funny that I write EVERYTHING down....even if its 25 cents.

5. When i go running i have to have my shoelaces tied a certain way or it will drive me nuts the whole time.

6. The sound of someone scraping their teeth against their utinsels or scraping them against their plate is like nails on a chalk board to me! There are certain noises that im not so great at handling!


Okay...now that you all think im weird its time for you to name 6 random quirks about yourself~ Have fun!

I choose to tag:
1. Shawnee
2. Brittany
3. Chari
4. Connie
5. Tiffany