Lunch with Mr. Laurance

While I was home I lucky enough to meet up with Mr. Laurance at my old place of employment, A&W. We had a nice lunch and talked about fun adventures. I gave him an update on my past year and he gave me some great counsel. Thanks for all you have done for me and thanks for a great lunch!

Letter to Heaven

Dear Heaven,

Another sweet patient of mine has returned home. I believe in heaven and I know you are there. From the first moment I met you I knew you were a fighter with spirit. You and your parents have been all over the world trying everything they could to fight the cancer. During your journey, of which I only knew you for a small part, you lived your life to the fullest more than anyone else I have ever met. You traveled the world, you loved your pets, and experienced everything out there you possibly could. You taught me so much in cherishing every day and every moment. I am pretty sure you were the only one that could tell me that I was not playing Skylanders Giants enough and I needed to catch up. Thanks for all the tips and tricks and showing me exactly what I should be doing. You probably have the best "look" I have ever seen. I always thought it was funny as long as it wasn't me you were giving the "look" to. :) I am so happy to know you are free from your fragile cancer ridden body and you are free of a wheelchair and free of pain. Thank you for inspiring me to live my live with meaning and passion. See you some day soon!

Kendra

The newest Certified Child Life Specialist!

My whole college career I wanted to be a recreation therapist AND a child life specialist. I had great plans to get it all done quickly, efficiently, and in a top children's hospital. There were a few road bumps and the Lord had a little different pathway for me. (and for that I will be eternally grateful!) Passing my therapeutic recreation certification exam and after I came home from Vermont I had all summer to study for the child life certification exam that was in August. Well studying all summer didn't happen and I ended up bumping up my exam a week so I could go home. Now I have TWO days to study for this exam that I have been working for for the last 5 years. Fortunately I have had great professors and multiple great internships and I have very happy to say just shy of 5 years after starting my first semester of college I am now a Certified Child Life Specialist!

Kendra Clark CTRS, CCLS! :)

Things I love

The Lord blesses our lives with so many things and as the scriptures say Men are, that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25) So I decided to list, in no particular order, some of the things I love and am grateful for. In light of my 100th post here are a 100 things that bring me joy!

1. Sun rays
2. Windshield wipers in the rain
3.7 Eleven Slurpees
4. Strawberry Shortcake
5. baby spring leaves
6. serving others
7. learning
8. babies
9. the gospel
10. flowers
11. family
12. summer
13.smiles
14. beaches
15. sunrises
16. cuddling
17. sand
18. yoga
19. ocean
20. Hawaiian haystacks
21. being inspired
22. a good book
23. cancer kids
24. hearing other people talk about their passions
25. historic sights
26. recreational therapy
27. fireflies
28. sharing the gospel
29. harvest
30. gardening
31. baby animals
32. riding in a tractor
33. packages in the mail
34. kisses
35. working with my family
36. exploring new cities
37. serving in the church
38. floppy hats
39. New Year's resolutions
40. getting caught in rain storms
41. watching snow fall
42. cousins
43. hugs
44. going to action movies with my brother
45. jigsaw puzzles
46. cooking
47. skiing
48. family reunions
49. staying up all night talking
50. singing in the car
51. Christmas
52. rain storms
53. leaves changing in the fall
54. Pioneer Day
55. warm homemade bread
56. Olympics
57. watching lightening storms
58. BYU Y-serve office
59. Relief Society
60. the smell of rain
61. 4th of July
62. cold winter days
63. missionary work 
64. seat warmers
65. cross country drives
66. family history
67. the consistency of the church all around the world
68. child life
69. new adventures
70. heated blankets
71. Washington D.C.
72. NIH
73. warm boots
74. socks
75. family vacations
76. Outer Banks, NC
77. popsicles
78. severe weather storms
79. my nephew
80. peach kuchin
81. pinterest
82. wedding planning
83. classy unique shoes
84. humidity
85. new opportunities
86. summer weddings
87. iphones
88. sticky notes
89. hummus
90. traveling
91. comfy beds
92. lace
93. my sister
94. the temple
95. my brothers
96. exercising
97. little reminders of the Lord's love for us
98. missionaries
99. country sunsets
100. LOVE!

Happy Birthday America!

I cannot think of a better place to spend the 4th of July (Maybe except at Grandma's with a bunch of tired babies and little kids lighting off fireworks with their dads and having a front row view for Morgan's fireworks from Grandma's front yard. But until I can get back there this is a pretty good second place. Our festivities started the night before at the A Capitol 4th Concert dress rehearsal. 

It wasn't the best concert line up but it was still fun to be out there and celebrate our freedom! The morning of the 4th we had a nice big 4th of July breakfast!

 And of course, a great show of fireworks!

I am a lucky girl to be in such great company!

Happy 4th!

Tour Guides

Living in such a popular tourist area it is fun to have friends and family come visit and be a tour guide. I don't think I will ever get tired of visiting all the tourist attractions in the area. This last week family came to visit and we did a number of fun things:

Our first stop was Baltimore. We ate at the Cafe Hon and across the street they had a little shop that sold a Grape Nehi! This was particularly exciting to me because I spent a chunk of my childhood watching MASH and Radar drinks them and was excited to have my own Grape Nehi. 

 While taking a trip down memory lane, I loved seeing these purple dragon boat rides because when we were kids the only computer/video game we had was Roller Coaster Tycoon and this ride was on the game. My favorite response from my brother was "You better have gone on them if you were that close!"

 We went to an Orioles game. They didn't win but they made a great effort right at the end that made the game exciting!

 Our next trip was on the Philadelphia via Hershey and Gettysburg. The whole town of Hershey has street lights like this.

 There is also a ride you can go on that teaches you how chocolate is made.

 The singing cows are the ones that teach you about it.

 In Philadelphia we saw the liberty bell and Independence hall.

 One of our last adventures was an in depth tour of the U.S. Capitol. I've never toured the capitol so it was fun to experience something new!

 Overall, it was a great trip! Always busy taking it all in and having a lot of fun! We are always happy when people come to visit!

Kendra Clark, CTRS

It's official! I am now in the ranks of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists! I am so happy to have passed the exam in February and now able to use the credentials. I am so excited to officially sign my name: Kendra Clark, CTRS. :)