From Classroom to Cosmos: Maya's Journey in Science

In a charming town, there lived a young girl named Maya. She had an insatiable curiosity and a passion for learning. Every morning, she eagerly headed to her school, where she was drawn to one subject above all—science.

In her science class, Maya's eyes sparkled with excitement as her teacher delved into fascinating topics like the wonders of the universe, the mysteries of the human body, and the marvels of nature. From atoms to galaxies, every concept left her mesmerized and hungry for more knowledge.

Maya was always the first to raise her hand with eager questions, and her enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring her classmates to join her in their shared quest for understanding. Together, they formed a tight-knit group of young scientists, exploring and discovering the world around them.

During one memorable project, Maya and her friends decided to create a mini solar system model. With colorful paper and paint, they carefully crafted the planets, making sure each one accurately represented its unique features. They strung them up in their classroom, and the sight of their creation filled them with pride and wonder.

As the years passed, Maya's passion for science continued to flourish. She spent countless hours reading scientific articles, watching documentaries, and conducting experiments in her home lab. Her parents, seeing her dedication, fully supported her inquisitive nature and nurtured her thirst for knowledge.

One day, a renowned scientist visited Maya's school to give a talk about space exploration. Listening to the scientist's experiences and discoveries ignited a fire within Maya. She dreamt of exploring distant galaxies, walking on alien planets, and uncovering the secrets of the cosmos.

With determination in her heart, Maya set her sights on becoming an astronaut. She immersed herself in physics and mathematics, excelling in her studies with the goal of reaching the stars. Her science teacher, impressed by Maya's dedication, encouraged her every step of the way, serving as both mentor and cheerleader.

In her final year of high school, Maya applied to prestigious universities to pursue a degree in astrophysics. Her hard work paid off when she received an acceptance letter from her dream university. Overwhelmed with joy, she hugged her parents tightly, knowing that her dreams were within reach.

As Maya embarked on her university journey, her love for science grew even stronger. She met like-minded individuals who shared her passion, forming lifelong friendships that supported and challenged her to reach her full potential. With every lecture, lab experiment, and research project, Maya felt a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Years later, Maya stood tall in her graduation gown, surrounded by her proud family and friends. She had not only earned her astrophysics degree but had also been accepted into a prestigious space agency's astronaut training program.

Maya's determination, love for science, and unyielding curiosity had taken her from the schoolgirl who eagerly learned about science to a young woman on the cusp of realizing her dream—to venture beyond Earth's atmosphere and explore the wonders of the cosmos, all fueled by the knowledge and passion she had cultivated since her early school days.

Finding Sanctuary: A Daughter's Escape and a Village's Unity

In a quaint countryside village, there lived a young girl named Emily. She was a spirited soul with a wild imagination, but her family was anything but ordinary. Emily had a loving mother and father who cherished her with all their hearts. However, her older brother, Daniel, had a dark and abusive nature that brought turmoil to their home.

One day, after enduring yet another outburst from Daniel, Emily could bear it no longer. Filled with fear and desperation, she made a heart-wrenching decision to run away from home. She knew that staying there any longer would only bring more pain and suffering.

In the pale moonlight, she quietly slipped out of her bedroom window, leaving behind a letter for her parents, explaining her choice and apologizing for causing them grief. Tears streamed down her face as she tiptoed through the sleeping village, feeling torn between love for her parents and the need to escape her brother's wrath.

Back at home, her parents awoke to the chilling discovery of Emily's absence. Panic seized their hearts as they read her letter. Determined to find their beloved daughter, they set out on a frantic search through the night, calling her name into the darkness.

As the hours passed, they sought help from the villagers, spreading the news about Emily's disappearance. Meanwhile, they couldn't help but worry about Daniel, knowing his volatile temper and the danger he posed to Emily.

In the quiet corners of the village, rumors of Emily's escape and Daniel's search began to circulate. The community rallied together, determined to protect the young girl from harm. Everyone knew they had to find Emily before her brother did.

Deep into the night, as her parents tirelessly searched, Emily found herself lost in the nearby forest, shivering with fear and regret. The dark woods seemed to mirror her turmoil, but in her heart, she held on to the glimmer of hope that her parents would find her soon.

Unknown to Emily, her father's instincts led him into the very forest where she had sought refuge. He refused to let fear deter him from finding his daughter. With each step, he called out her name, his voice breaking with emotion.

Finally, fate brought them together. Emily's tear-streaked face lit up as she saw her father emerging from the shadows. In an instant, she ran into his open arms, seeking the comfort and safety she had longed for. He held her tight, promising that she would never have to fear her brother again.

Back in the village, word reached Daniel that his sister had been found. Fearful of the united front the villagers had formed against him, he realized that his abusive ways would no longer be tolerated. Confronted by the community's strength and determination to protect Emily, he chose to leave the village and seek help for his own demons.

In the wake of this ordeal, the village came together to support Emily and her family, fostering an environment of love, understanding, and healing. The scars of the past would take time to mend, but the newfound sense of unity and compassion served as a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

From that day onward, Emily's loving home became a sanctuary of safety and love, where she blossomed into a resilient young woman, forever grateful for the strength and love of her parents and the caring community that surrounded her.

Dreams Entwined: A Love Beyond Comas

In a bustling city, there lived a young girl named Amelia. She was known for her vibrant spirit and love for exploration. One fateful day, while wandering through a park, Amelia suddenly found herself in the midst of a mysterious mist that seemed to envelop everything around her.

As she tried to find her way out of the haze, Amelia became disoriented and lost. The world around her blurred, and her sense of time seemed to vanish. Unbeknownst to her, she had slipped into a deep coma after a sudden accident, and her consciousness was now trapped within her own mind.

In this surreal state, Amelia's mind conjured a world of its own—a parallel reality where she wandered through the dream-like landscape, searching for an escape. Amidst the fog, she discovered another person in a similar comatose state—Ethan, a young man with a warm smile and a gentle demeanor.

As they encountered each other in this dreamlike realm, an inexplicable connection blossomed between Amelia and Ethan. Despite their unconscious state, they could communicate through a unique form of telepathy. They explored this surreal world together, seeking comfort and solace in each other's presence.

With time, their bond grew stronger, and they discovered that they could create beautiful landscapes within their shared dream. They painted vivid sceneries, danced beneath imaginary stars, and shared laughter as they embarked on incredible adventures.

As Amelia and Ethan's love for each other deepened, so did their longing to escape the coma and return to the waking world. But the mist seemed to keep them trapped, preventing any exit. Yet, their love and companionship provided them with the strength to persevere, even in their unconscious state.

Unbeknownst to Amelia and Ethan, in the real world, their families and friends never gave up hope. They visited them every day, sharing stories and memories, hoping that their voices would reach their slumbering minds.

One day, while Amelia's mother sat by her side, softly speaking words of love and encouragement, something miraculous happened. Amelia felt a faint whisper in the depths of her dream world—a familiar voice calling her back. It was her mother's love that pierced through the mist, reaching the core of Amelia's heart.

With newfound determination, Amelia held Ethan's hand in their dream realm and conveyed her will to wake up. Surprisingly, Ethan smiled, understanding that they could find the strength together. They embraced in their dream, promising each other to meet again once they were both awake.

In the real world, Amelia's eyes flickered, and her mother gasped with tears of joy as she saw her daughter's response. The doctors rushed in, witnessing the miraculous turn of events. And as Amelia opened her eyes, her consciousness returned to the waking world, where her loved ones welcomed her back with overwhelming joy.

Though Amelia was back in reality, she couldn't forget the love she had found in the dream world—the bond she shared with Ethan. Over time, she discovered that Ethan, too, had awakened from his coma, and they found each other once again in the realm of the conscious.

Amelia and Ethan's extraordinary love story became a testament to the power of human connection, transcending even the boundaries between dreams and reality. Their love endured, inspiring others to cherish the bonds they shared, no matter how surreal or unexpected they might be.

Lily and the Enchanted Forest Companion.

Once upon a time, in a quaint village nestled at the edge of a mystical forest, there lived a young girl named Lily. She was known for her adventurous spirit and her insatiable curiosity about the enchanted woods that stretched beyond her home.

One sunny morning, as a gentle breeze whispered through the trees, Lily decided it was time to explore the forest. With a heart full of excitement, she donned her trusty pair of worn-out sneakers and set off on her adventure. The forest's emerald canopy overhead filled her with wonder and awe.

As she ventured deeper into the forest, the sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow on the forest floor. The sound of rustling leaves and chirping birds provided a harmonious symphony as Lily's feet danced along the winding paths.

Suddenly, she heard a faint cry for help. Following the sound, Lily stumbled upon a trapped and frightened creature—a beautiful, injured bird with shimmering blue feathers. Without hesitation, she carefully picked up the bird and cradled it in her hands. With gentle kindness, she soothed the bird and examined its injured wing.

Determined to help her newfound feathered friend, Lily decided to find a safe place where the bird could rest and heal. Guided by her instincts, she ran through the forest with unwavering determination, the canopy of trees flying by like a blur.

The forest seemed to conspire in her favor, guiding her to a secluded glade where a gentle stream flowed nearby. With great care, Lily fashioned a cozy nest for the bird using soft leaves and twigs. She fetched water from the stream and fed the bird with berries she had gathered along the way.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, the bird began to show signs of recovery, thanks to Lily's tender care. Grateful, the bird chirped happily, and it seemed to convey its gratitude to the young girl.

Filled with joy, Lily knew that she had made a true friend in the forest that day. From that moment on, she visited the bird regularly, and together, they explored the wonders of the woods. Lily learned the secrets of the forest, and the bird became her loyal companion, guiding her through the ancient trees and mysterious trails.

Word of Lily's friendship with the magical bird spread throughout the village, and she became known as the "Guardian of the Forest." People from far and wide came to seek her guidance and hear tales of her adventures.

And so, the young girl and her feathered friend continued to explore the forest, forging a bond that could never be broken. As the seasons changed, the forest embraced their friendship, and the tale of the girl running in the woods with her magical companion became a legend cherished by generations to come.

Our family now

So we are getting ready to move away from Salt Lake City to Sugar House. When we moved downtown it worked for us at the time. It was close to KUTV 2 and I could walk to work. Claire could quickly get to work with the car, we had a great babysitter that Graysen loved, and  the area was OK. Now that we have two kids we find ourselves driving out of the city for parks and recreation. All of our friends live outside the city, and we don't really like being downtown anymore.
We have had fun with the malls downtown. City Creek has the dinosaur park that Graysen loves to run around in. The Gateway has the water fountain that is pretty cool to watch him get soaked in.
Other than all that, we are wanting to be closer to friends and family. More friends than anything. Mike and Lisa Derricott are awesome and who wouldn't want to be closer to them  ;-)

We are moving Saturday,  July 28th. We are excited for the move. The new place is going to be awesome. It's in a four-plex with a lot better floor plan and it's a lot bigger too. Have I mentioned that were excited?!

Here are some updated pictures of the family. We haven't updated our blog in years!

 Graysen loves to have any kind of toy that has to do with a ball. We watched a soccer game on T.V. and he wanted to kick a ball after that. So, we got him a soccer ball. He's learning to not run with it in his hands. He'll get it.
He loves Baseball. When we're watching 'Talkin' Sports' on the news he grabs his little glove and ball and wants to play. He sometimes puts a hat on so he can look like a ball player. He's only two and already wants to play ball. I love it!

For awhile Graysen would take his basketball and throw it at what most closely resembled a hoop. It's really the lamp in our front room. So, for his birthday Grandma and Grandpa got him a hoop. He loves it. When he dunks it he says. "Made it!" and when he misses he says. "Miss!" 

We sometimes shoot the ball and when we make it he screams, "Made it!" and then when we miss he giggles, "Miss."

Collin came into the world very quickly. We made it to the Hospital at 8:50 and Collin came at 9:26

Collin came so quickly that Claire was unable to get any drugs for the birth. Claire did such a good job and Collin came so quick that she didn't have to push for very long. 

It's funny how Collin came into the world was completely different than how Graysen came into the world. With Graysen we set an appointment and we induced him. With Collin, Claire started feeling extreme pain that we figured we should start timing her. 

Collin is here and we love him very much.  

Graysen loves to help Collin with all sorts of stuff. Like helping him swing. He pushes the little swing so hard. One of these days Collin is going to fly right out. Of course that drives his mom and dad crazy. Collin is getting bigger and bigger everyday. He's becoming such a smiley little boy. Despite the rough love Graysen shows to Collin, we can tell that Collin already admires his big brother.

Graysen loves to play at the water feature in the middle of Liberty Park. It's fun to watch him sit in the water. He really does have a lot of fun. (Mom loves it because it's free!)

Well until our next post, have a good day.

Graysen Paul

OK, its been a really long time since we've updated our blog. For example, we have a little boy now and he's almost nine months old. He's a little joy that we absolutely love. His name is Graysen (For anyone who didn't know that). He's starting to crawl a little. We have hardwood floors all over the house. So, getting traction is a little bit of a struggle for him. but, I think he'll get it eventually. He also likes to sit up in bed and scream. He likes to do this mainly at nap time. He sleeps good in the morning but once the afternoon nap comes around, he's in full protest mode. It usually takes me three times of trying to put him down. He's tired, I know that. He rubs his little eyes, and lets me know how tired he is. But once he sees that crib he starts to fuss. Sometimes he'll go right down, depending on how tired he is, but most of the time it's a fight.

Claire and I are doing great. Baby Graysen is doing awesome as well. He keeps us on our toes and makes sure we are being good parents. That reminds me, we are going to need some baby gates here really soon. Along with moving more, he's found the stairs that lead down to my brother David's area. He thinks it's absolutely fascinating that the floor moves down to another area he's never been to before. He's only scared me once, thankfully!

  He is so cute. This is one of his moments when he looks outside the front window and likes to play with his maracas. Well, he mainly sucks on them and bangs them on the ground. But you get the idea.

Having this little boy in our lives has been a major blessing. Claire and I often wonder what we ever did without him in our lives. We are so much happier with this little man in our family. He makes us laugh and cry. When he doesn't sleep, or wakes up at three in the morning crying we wonder if he's sick or something worse is happening with him. We love Graysen Paul so much.
We are truly blessed to have him in our family. He's teaching me to be a good father. After leaving his Heavenly Father I'm sure Graysen has high expectations for his Earthly Father. I hope I'm up for the task.

 

up date

Claire is doing awesome. She is totally pregnant and doing awesome. We are expecting our boy on May 14th. We also want to throw out a Hi five to Sami and Ben for the birth of their Baby boy James. He is so cute.

My Claire bear's tummy is getting bigger. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. We’ll try and get other pictures up of Claire’s progress.

Claire and I got a pack and play from Burlington Coat Factory. It’s a Chicco and it’s actually pretty cool. It does so much. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are familiar with these things. But, me, I'm totally new to all this. This pack and play can change into like six different things. It's like a transformer but without the automatic transformation. The whole thing is manual but really easy to put up. Well, at least Claire set it up.

I'm sure there are so many more stories I could tell ya but I think I'll stop here. Have a great day...

Halloween 2011

So we've had such a good Halloween. October has been very fun. We've celebrated my mother and brother's Birthday's. We've been to a couple of Halloween parties. And we've seen a live picture of our baby.

This is the carving that I (Aaron) did.

Here are all our pumpkins. From left to right: Claire's, Aaron's, Lisa's, and Mike's. Lisa hadn't quite finished hers yet.

Claire cleaning after carving pumpkins.

 Claire and I went to Steve Armstrong's party as old people. Claire made Monster Toes for the party. They were so good, and they were a big hit. It was good to just bring an empty plate home.

This is my Brother (David) and my Mom's party. Crazy looking family. We have a good time everytime.

Outdoor Adventures!

Oh how we love summer!!! There is nothing better than enjoying the great outdoors. We live rather close to several canyons in the valley and we have been taking advantage of it. On one of our Sunday evening trips we came across several bees that were either sleeping or not alive in some flowers. All I know is that there were only occasional twitches of their butts.

We hiked Bell Canyon with some friends. I discovered how out of shape I really am on that little hike.

On the Fourth of July we went on another hike to Donut Falls. I think the donut has collaped or partially collapsed but there was so much water you couldn't see it anyways.

We also made a trip to Temple Square and took a look at the progress on some of the downtown City Creek construction.

These are just a few of our outdoor adventures. We are hoping for many more!

Girls Camp

Last week Aaron and I had the wonderful opportunity to go to girls camp. I spent quite a bit of time before then preparing for it. There is a lot to do planning for camp. Thankfully I had some wonderful people working with me who made everything possible.

Some pre-camp prepping:

 

Setting up our tent for the first time before we go.

Hmm... How do we go about doing this?

The cute little lanterns we had the girls make. I think they turned out really good. There are all different size stars around the rest of the lantern.

We went to Zions National Park where I had never been before. It was absolutely gorgeous! I love the red colored rocks.

We arrived at camp a little later than everyone else because I had to work. When we arrived everyone was on a hike, luckily, because we had a fun time trying to fill our air mattress. Lets just say we had to turn the car around several times to get an outlet that worked. I was glad no one was around to see our little plight.

We hiked Keyhole slot canyon with the girls. It took us a lot longer to get through than planned. It was well worth it though. I think if the girls and even some of the leaders really knew what it was going to be like they would not have gone. There was some hiking, some repelling, and some absolutely freezing water!

Entering the first part of the canyon

The end of the first part of the canyon

This is one of the repels

The sandstone rock was absolutely beautiful! We were so amazed how the rock had been carved out by water and wind to form these gorgeous canyons.

Getting to the end was so wonderful. Standing in the warm sun never felt better!

Here's the group (minus Aaron, who is taking the picture, and two bishopric members and three girls who came down the following day)! We didn't plan the tallest to shortest pose. The Bishop does throw it off a little at the end there.

The only injury during camp, besides the scrapes and bruises everyone received, was Aaron's sprained ankle. The last day of camp wasn't as fun for him because of it. We had a service project on Wednesday morning. We pulled weeds at some of the campsites to clean up the areas and reduce the risk of fires. It was really hot that day. We went on another short hike in an area that was a lot cooler to weeping rock. It was easy and enjoyable. Aaron didn't get to go. Sad :(

Our camp site

All the girls

At weeping rock

I think camp turned out to be a success. No one died, everyone came back in one piece, and I think we all learned something. I know I sure learned a lot. I never appreciated how much work went into preparing for girls camp or any large activity when I was younger. It takes a lot of time and effort. I am so appreciative of the other leaders who helped. The young women were so much fun to be around. They can provide a really good laugh.