Another "draft"...apparently this was from #redbrickchristmas

"Your grammar is a reflection of your image. Good or bad, you have made an impression. And like all impressions, you are in total control." Jeffrey Gitomer

Here is draft #1 that I found in my list of posts...I am going to post this, exactly as it was left. ...mostly because I don't remember the rest of what I planned to post.
You're welcome.

I guess I made a good impression, because I had this conversation a few times:

"Um..Devery? So, you are funny."

"Thanks :)"

"No, really, like, you really are funny!"

"Thanks?"

"I really didn't know at all, but you are actually funny!"

...At that point I really didn't know what that meant, or how to take it, so I probably just kept painting my masterpiece

"Of course I have a secret identity! Can you see me in this at the, at the supermarket?" -- Helen, The Incredibles

Ok. No guarantees...but I am going to try to come back. Not because I have anything to say that is really worth hearing...and not because there is even anyone out there "hearing"...but because I think it is good. There hasn't been a lot of changes since my mission--I took a little 5 month jaunt...in reverse it has seemed. Alright, maybe that was too dramatic. I wasn't going in reverse  per se, but definitely staying in one spot. As soon as my return from the exotic land of Kansas...let the changes begin! (Which apparently includes going back 5 years to blog writing??)
Naw. Like I said, this isn't really for anyone to read. I mean, obviously, it is ok if people read it-because I am posting it online. It is to document the new post-mission phase! Not the stuck-in-one-place phase, but the starting over-trying new things-becoming a new person (she says...in the least cheesy way possible).
To begin (re-begin?):

Yes. Yes. My opinion of this one?  Still to come. I think that I thought about it a lot more than Pixar originally intended. For a great majority of the movie, I was figuring out how I could use it in speech therapy sessions with children with autism-to help them manage their feelings better. Now, that would be all well and good...if I still worked at the school. I don't. So...unless I suddenly start helping these cute ladies and gentlemen of Orem Rehab with their social skills...I can't really apply much of it... Some day :)

PS: Oh, and part of this "new/old beginning" is to post all of the "blog drafts" I have saved on here...ha.

MMM

So, I thought I would take this chance to welcome everyone back! (And when I say "everyone", I mean the 2 people who read this...if there are even 2 people anymore). 

It would be really hard to sum up 18 months adequately in a blog post...so I will just say this:

I love my Savior Jesus Christ, more than anything in the whole world. I am so grateful that I had the chance to spend 18 months focusing all my time and energy helping other to come to the knowledge of Him. I know my life will never be the same again, and I am so glad-but it wasn't for me. I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father trusted me enough to let me help over the past few months-let me help Him to spread the joy that only comes through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to His children living in Minnesota. (At least the Hispanic ones!!)

Happy Birthday!

The return of....

Well, my journal has heard this line a million times before: It has been SO LONG since I have written! I am actually quite embarrassed...
Not that my life warrants regular blog, or even a weekly blog...but I should  be able to come up with something to say at least once per month  right??
My normal next action would be to, as a result of my guilt, post a ton of catch-up pictures to make myself feel better...but I am going to refrain. I will only post the most important ones. Basically, we are going to pretend that more than a month has passed, and I will just report the BIG NEWS.
Drum roll please......
I finally got NEW SHOES!! These ones, from Target!

I know what you are thinking, "Wow, I can definitely see why you waited months to tell us this! This is a big deal!" If that is what you were thinking, you would be right! It IS a big deal. I am loving having one pair of shoes that is at least semi-in-style for the year 2013. 

Was that not the news you were expecting? 

Fine. You are right. I do have one more bit of news. I will leave it to you to decide if it is as exciting as my shoe news. On the day in question (in story?), this is a text I received around 1:30. 

Uh huh. It was a big letter, with a familiar logo...

 Whaaaat? It was addressed to WHO??

...and signed by WHO???

So unless you are my facebook friend (which I am pretty sure that the two people who read this blog ARE my facebook friends), this is a total surprise, but just in case, I have been called to the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission, speaking Spanish! I leave for the Provo MTC on July 10. The best way that I feel like I can describe what it feels like is: Whaaaaaaaat?!? Now of course, when we read between the lines of that "Whaaaaaat?!?" you see, "Yes!" "Are you crazy?" "I can't wait!" "Aren't you old?" "Perfect" "...are you crazy?!"

I am so so so very excited though! I know this is the exact right thing for me to be doing/preparing to do right now. I know it as much as I have ever known anything in the world!

My principal gave me these at school the next day, it was so sweet! 

So, there we go! It is out, and it is official! I still have a ton to do before then, but I am going to love every minute of it!

‎"This is our one and only chance at mortal life - here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for what illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey - now." -- President Monson