Gratitude

Words cannot express the gratitude I have right now.  I have felt such an outpouring of love from so many family and friends that I don't think I can say thank you enough.  

The kind words, prayers, and love coming my way is something that I recognize each and every day. To my husband, Scott, who has been there for me every step of the way through recovery, Thank you! To those of you that have brought over meals for us, Thank you! Those of you reaching out to me and seeing how I'm doing, Thank you! Those of you offering your help, Thank you! To those of you keeping me company, Thank you!

This past week has been a big change for me from my everyday routines.  For the past three years now, I have been waking up early, getting ready, packing a lunch, and heading out the door to go teach for the day.  This week has been nothing like that.  I have not been to work all week and I seriously feel lost.  Sometimes you forget how wonderful your job is until you have it "taken away" from you.  I miss teaching, my students, my co-workers, my life as a teacher.  

I am so grateful for the life I have.  Although there are trials in life, that doesn't mean I still can't be grateful.  I am grateful for the trials that come into my life, because I know that they make me stronger.  There is purpose to our lives, and we are blessed with a great way of learning through our trials.  

To go through the trial of having surgery and losing a part of my body, it has been difficult.  To think that the future of me and Scott starting a family may be even more difficult now, it's hard to accept.  However, I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me.  If Scott and I are to have a family, there will be a way. 

I am grateful to have the knowledge that I have.  I am grateful to have loving family and friends to support me and help me along this adventure, we call life.  I am so grateful to have the life I have and to be healthy and strong.  

How do you Recover?

In some ways I am having a hard time "taking it easy" through this recovery, because I am not used to having this much time to do "things".  I am usually running here and there getting things ready for my class day after day, and I love doing that! However, I am not having a hard time "taking it easy" because I seriously can't move.  I have the hardest time getting up and moving around, but when I'm just sitting or laying on the couch, I'm feeling pretty good.

Rather than get more planned for the rest of the school year, I'm trying to really take it easy and not worry to much about school.  I will admit though, that I have spent time doing some planning, I won't do too much more, I promise!

So here are a few things that I've been doing to recover...

1. Catch up on some good shows.  I'm a sucker for drama and have almost enjoyed watching Bachelor in Paradise more that I thought.  It is just too funny to see everything that happens and how people react to dumb stuff.  Then, there are always some good finds on Netflix, right when you need a new or movie to fill some free time.

2. Update the Blog.  I am always trying new things and making the blog look a little cuter.  There are just so many options that I can't help but try new things when I have the time.

3. Pinterest.  It's not very often that I can spend a good chunk of time exploring Pinterest.  It can be a dangerous place though...I have so many fun ideas of little crafts I want to do, but now I have to go get the things I need to get the crafts in the works.  I also love all of the quotes and fun illustrations I've been finding too.

 

4. Read.  I have been finding some good books, and wouldn't you know, most of them are children's chapter books.  I am always trying to find more books for my students to read that would interest them.  So, what better way to find books that read them for yourself.

5. Sleep.  This one doesn't need any explanation...sleep is a MUST!

6. Doodle.  I heard about Adult Coloring Books and was so excited!  When I was in college, some of my roommates and I would find Children's Coloring Books and de-stress from classes with a little coloring session.  The Adult coloring books look amazing and I am so excited to be getting mine in the mail within the next few days...

Well, y'all that's what I'm doing to recover now a days.  If you have any suggestions of what helps you recover, send a little love my way and share your ideas.  

Have a great day!

I Can Do All Things...

The last 48 hours have been quite a trial for me.

Before school even got out on Friday at 1:25 PM I was feeling so sick to my stomach. I couldn't even finish the day with my class and had someone come in to finish the last few things of the day with my class. 

By 1:40 PM I was on my way home, praying that I would make it home safely without starting to feel extremely sick again. I made it home and immediately got into bed, but could not get comfortable in any position at all. The pain continued to get worse and worse, so Scott came home from work to help out and get me through what I thought would hopefully go away. 

Nothing was helping at this point. I called my OB to see if this was a reaction from taking my third cycle of Clomid. The doctor did not seem too concerned and he said it was a just a reaction and that the pain would eventually subside. I couldn't believe that's all he said with the extreme pain that I was in. So we waited and waited. I tried to fall asleep and by 3 AM I  couldn't handle the pain any more.  We grabbed our things and headed to the Emergency Room...the last place I wanted to be. However, I was so ready for the pain to go away. 

We got checked in and had tests started immediately. After blood tests and ultrasounds, the OB on call came in and said that my left ovary was about 8 cm, about the size of a tennis ball, and was torsed. Well, that explained the pain! 

They prepped me for surgery and off I went. The next thing I knew I was out of surgery and not feeling the pain anymore. 

Turns out that my ovary had completely died. It had become so enlarged and twisted that there was no blood flow for about 12 hours causing the ovary to die. They OB that did my surgery removed my left ovary, which ended up being 10 cm. 

So, after all of this, I can say that I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without Christ. He is my strength. I know that he has suffered more than I have and I can lean on him no matter what. 

I can do all things through Christ, and as you put your trust and faith in him, you can also do all things through Christ. 

Inspiration Sunday

Sundays are special days.  Sundays are the day of worship.  They are the day of rest.  A day to reflect on your relationship with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  A day to strengthen your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A day to share your testimony with others.

Scott and I had the opportunity to speak in church today.  We are loving those that attend our ward, the group of members that attend church with us, and have felt so welcomed already.  While preparing my talk the past few days, I have felt that I should share inspirational thoughts more often.  As I studied and searched what I would be speaking about, I found so many wonderful quotes and messages to share.  Finding all of those quotes and messages gave me so much joy and made each day even better for me.  I have given myself the challenge to fine a new quote or message to share with you.  So, from here on out, I hope to bring joy to your life and make your day better with the messages that I share.

I hope that you all had an uplifting Sunday and are ready for a new week.

Have a great week!

Family Shenanigans

The past few weeks have been full of adventure with Mom, Dad, and Olivia coming out basically every other week.  Olivia had the opportunity to attend two volleyball camps here in Utah, so that brought us all together a few times.

Their first trip out, we were able to take Mom up through the American Fork Canyon and go on a little hike up past Silver Lake.  It was so beautiful and fun to get to spend time together with the girls...we sure missed Olivia, but she was working hard and having fun playing volleyball every day.

Since Mom and Olivia were driving home, I decided to catch a ride and make a quick trip out to Cali. It was fun seeing family and friends out there.  

I got to meet the newest addition to the Gowdy family too! Eli was born a few weeks before I went out, and I was lucky enough to go and spend time with him and his family.  It's fun to see all of his older sisters taking care of him and helping out there Mom and Dad, Ryan & Aly.  

Soon after that trip, the whole family got together for a trip up to Park City.  We had so much fun spending time together...and of course there were lots of laughs and memories made.  

My family means the WORLD to me.  I am so grateful for them and the special bond we have with one another.  We have been through good times and bad times, but all of those times are what bring us closer and make us a stronger family.  I long for the day when Scott and I can begin a family of our own, but as of now, Heavenly Father has a different plan for us.  We may have hopes and dreams of what we plan on achieving in our lives, the don't happen when we would like.  

Always remember that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and everyone of us.  His plan is far greater than our plan.  There is purpose to our lives.  We are here to live, learn, and gain experience.  Be grateful for the struggles in your life, they make you stronger.  Be even more grateful for the joys in your life.    Love your life and live it to the fullest each and every day!

Home again, home again...

I was lucky enough to catch a ride back to Sacramento with my mom and sisters last week to spend time with the family.  We made the trek out on Friday as some of us slept, listened to audiobooks, or did a little karaoke singing. It was a bit long, but I shouldn't complain. Every time we drive to or from Utah to Sacramento I think of the pioneers and what they did. And I'm grateful I didn't have to travel the way they did...our 10 hours of driving would've been 10+ days of walking through desert and mountains.

So just to do a little catch up of what happened with the time I spent with the family before and after the trip to Cali, here are a few snaps of what went on...

While Mom was in town we took a little time to go to the beautiful Mt. Timpanogos Temple.  

I spy with my little eye...Olivia!

Through the Salt Flats, there is some beauty to find too.

Dad prepared this fancy fruit platter for when we got home.  He was so proud.  

If you want a good read or listen, this is it!

Happy 7/11 Day! Couldn't pass up a free Slurpee!

Practicing how to make temples out of sugar cubes for the youth Amazing Race activity.  

Well, for now that's it.  

I'll be back soon with sneak peaks of my classroom.  Yes, I moved again, but it'll all be fine once everything is put together.  I'm hoping to get most of it finished tomorrow...we'll see if that really happens.  

Ali Tells All

I think we all find a time in our lives when we think and try to do much more than we can handle.  

That has been my life in a nut shell the past several months.  

So, what do I do?

I take a step back and give myself a break.  

This has been one of the best things for me.  My mind is clear, I have more ideas coming, I feel refreshed, and I finally feel like I can get a hold on my life now. 

Now, Ali tells All.  

Scott and I have enjoyed watching the Bachelorette this season.  All I have to say say is that we are so grateful we didn't have to go through something like that to find each other.  It's entertaining and sad all at the same time.  Entertaining, because then drama those men, or should I say boys, bring to the show is hilarious! The things that they all through emotionally makes me so sad...it has to be so rough to have such strong feelings for someone, then turn around and that someone has those strong feelings for someone else too.  Ugh...what a nightmare!  

About a month ago we moved...YaYY!!!!

We were both getting pretty tired of driving to far to get to and from work.  I had been looking for months for somewhere to move that would be a decent size and for a decent price.  I looked and looked and looked.  Then, we found a town home that we really liked and thought it would be perfect! Sadly, that didn't work out.  So, we looked and looked again.  Luckily, we found another place that was a little bigger and quite a bit cheaper too, BONUS!!!  I went and looked at it and immediately felt that is where we were supposed to be.  It took a little while, but we finally found out we got it and would be moving very soon after.  

I'll show more pictures as the house gets put together.  It has been a lot of work, so we're still working :)

We are now living in Lehi, and absolutely love it.  Scott is only 4 minutes away from work, and I'm only 20 now, and yes, that is is huge improvement...my drive is half of what it used to be. 

For the summer we have Scott's two younger brothers living with us.  It has been quite an adjustment for me, because the only boys that I have lived with are my dad and Scott.  Let's just say Scott quickly learned my habits of cleanliness and he has been so patient and learned to help out with my pet peeve of cleanliness.  Adding two more boys to the house was a bit shocking at first, but now I love having them there.  I don't know what we'll do without them.   We have our routines with each other and it'll be so sad without them.  Almost every day, we all get up and go to work, then we all come home at different time, but when we're all home we head over to the gym and spend time there working out.  Scott LOVES having his brothers to workout with.  They all love exercise and have seen a lot of progress through the program they are all doing together.  I go and get my workout in and have my "alone" time.  It is so fun and I can only imagine what everyone at the gym thinks when they see us all walk in and out together, if only they knew we were the famous "Gowdy Gang" haha. 

Enjoying a night of golfing together.

Work is going great for me and I am so happy to be able to stay in the same grade this next year!  It was sad saying good bye to my students, especially those that I had for the past two years.  They have been such a big part of my life, but now it's time to move on and get attached to a new group of students.  

On the side I have started a school blog that I should get up and running a few weeks after school starts.  I'm hoping to share my teaching ideas and different things that I use to supplement what my school provides for us to teach our students.  I have created things of my own, and found many other teacher bloggers that have helped me a lot of the past years.  

My students have been my kids for years now, through my schooling with the classes I have taken allowing me to gain experience in classrooms to better my teaching skills, to having classes of my own.  I have loved those kids and have so many memories with them, but I long for the day when I can have kids of my very own.  

For the last year Scott and I have dreamed of starting a family of our own, but due to some medical issues, that hasn't quite happened in the timing that we hoped.  I worked with one doctor, who ended up not being very helpful at all through this.  Earlier this year I switched over to another doctor, who is wonderful and has a lot of experience with patients that have the same condition as me.  He has been beyond helpful and we are really hoping that he is the one that will be able to help us live our dream of being parents.  

All I know is that our loving Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us.  It may not be our plan and we may not know or understand why, but He knows us better than we do.  I trust Him and know that everything happens for a reason.  

Well, my friends, I think that's a wrap for "Ali Tells All" this time around.  We love you all and hope you are doing well.