"No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted"-Aesop
I try to live my life by this quote. I never really realized how much of a difference it made until this week. 
Recently I have had some money-is-too-tight issues. It was weighing on me and one day I walked into class and the teacher(campus manager) noticed and pulled me into her office. I told her the issue and she offered me a job. So, right now I am working an extra day in the clinic, teaching a lab and tutoring. That little act of kindness completely changed my situation. 
This week 2 classmates (married couple)who just moved here from Tahoe, and living off of money from her relatives will until they get jobs. However, the trustee is her mother and she is misusing the money, so she won't give them the money they deserve. They have a grand total of $12 between the two of them and were running out of food... I gathered up  food in my pantry that I won't use and bought some food for them when I went grocery shopping for the week. Sales, store brans and buy one get one deals didn't put too much o a strain on my budget. 
As they drove into the school parking lot I waved them down and told them that they touched me yesterday because I had just recently been in the "I'm poor- what am I going to do next" stage and I gathered up and bought them food and hopefully that would help them. They were so grateful that I did this and that they have been praying for help. However, because of the stress they got into a fight this morning about money and how they were going to eat that week. The girl started crying and said: " Thank you! We have nothing to fight about anymore!" She also said that she "...felt like it was Christmas!"
It felt so good to help them and know that I was presented with the opportunity to help and I was able to make their lives a little easier in this rough time. 
I felt it was necessary to act because I was just in that situation and if the school hadn't helped me I don't know what I would do. So, I felt the need to help that little bit, since I could help. :)        

What I have Learned in Massage School

As I reach my midpoint of my program... I would like to share some things that I have learned outside of the " techniques and modalities"

1. It is always important to have clean hands AND feet.
2. Always act like someone is watching you
3. You cant always choose who you work with or help.
4. Always BE a safe space for people, you don't know what they have been through.
5. Your intention speaks louder than your action.
6. Keep antibacterial handy at all times.
7. You can never have too many pillowcases.
8.  Emotions and posture are closely linked.
9. If you associate food (potlucks) with tests... the tests aren't so bad!
10. You can make a money by stepping on people.
11. People will complain about ANYTHING!
12. Healthy, nurturing touch is a profound gift.
13 Stay grounded... the snoring isn't going to stop. lol
14. Blink and your going to miss it... be in the moment
15. Embrace your tiger (challenges)
16. Keep your cup empty! ( always be ready to take in new info)
17. Same, same but different
18. Trust the process!
19. Always speak the truth with compassion
20. When all else fails... WHOOSH!

Jacob 3:1-2 my scriptural strength

 1But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions ,and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

 2O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

Affirmations

Something that I have noticed since I have joined the church are the whispered and profound affirmations everyday in my life. These little events, thoughts, actions and passing glances of where I am in my life and where I am supposed to be headed. This is a HUGE blessing because before.... I would stress myself out thinking about the options and wondering who I was supposed to be. Now- I dont worry about who I am SUPPOSED to be but the person I am. The past has an effect on how you see the world and your decision making, but it doesn't DEFINE you.  I have found that I follow my heart and whispering of the spirit way more than I used to. For this, I am so thankful!

Example of these affirmations:

We all know that a few weeks ago Mike added a profound piece of jewelry to my collection ;)
I love him so much and I honestly cant explain every reason why but I know I am supposed to be with him and he constantly affirms our relationship, our love and the path we are on. The biggest example was the Sunday after we got engaged. we went to tell my parents and there was a huge amount of tension, words were exchanged but Mike supported me, and refused to leave my side. It was a trying time for us and it made us so much stronger than I could have imagined.... AND WE ARENT EVEN MARRIED YET! I cant wait to see what life has in store for us!

School/ Work:
I am in a very cool program at the National Holistic Institute. I will be graduating in September with a degree in Massage Therapy and Health Education. I love this work. I have been told by my teachers, classmates and professional athletes ( I actually had a job offer to work on pro triathletes if I were to move to LA) that I am very talented. I only started to realize that I am good at this work... mostly because so many people have told me but also the honor that I was asked to be one of two Tutors in our new Tutor program. The other girl that they selected is about to graduate and I have barely reached the midpoint. I am helping my first tutoree in material that I learned in college but have not officially been taught in the program at my school. The faith that my teachers and campus manager have in me has boosted the faith I have in myself. It is an honor to be in the program and to help others succeed. :)

In short... I love the whisperings and cues of the Spirit that affirm that I am where I need to be and on the right path :D

now if something can be done about my throat... jk

A Night to Remember

Well... do I have some news for you......



                                                          we will get to that later ;)


ok, FINE... Ill do it now!


So... Mike told me a few days ago that we were going to have a date night on Friday and that he was going to go in early to work so he could get up here early ( I didn't have school or work so it worked out really well)

I was pretty excited, this was our second dinner date (we are a home-ly couple lol) and I love seeing him dressed up :) We went out to RendezVous Bistro and had a fabulous dinner and a yummy frozen crepe (ice cream, oreo, chocolate and caramel. sooooooooo gooooood)

After we went for a little stroll down town and the whole time Mike is looking around and texting his Dan... I ask him what's up and he says he is people watching and his brother was being a twirp and bugging him lol.

We finally sit down on a bench and cuddle because I am a girl and didn't bring a coat. He asks me if I want his coat and I said yes, so he gets up and makes me stand up so he can put the coat on me ( genius in retrospect) once the coat is on he gives me a super long kiss, backs up and goes on one knee. At this point I jump a foot back and turn a fresh tomato red :)

look! off in the distance... he is on one knee!

I was in such shock I don't remember exactly what he said, but "marry me" was somewhere in there and through my shocked laughter/ trying to catch my breath I somehow got a " YES!"out!  I see flashes and all I think is : "awwww he really does love me... he has someone taking pictures!!!" We had a few... um... "conversations" about this. :)

We kiss again and Dan and Jackie come out of the bushes and congratulate us and make us re-enact the proposal because they were too far away to get any good photos. ( I will post when I get them)

attack kissie!

Now the calling begins.....
1. First off, we call the Athey home and tell Mom and Dad :)
2. We decided to hold off and tell my parents in person on Sunday night. PLEASE HELP US KEEP IT HUSH-HUSH UNTIL THEN! AKA NO FACEBOOK POSTS! :)
3. Then I called my friend Justin (who is like a brother to me) and wake him up to tell him. :)
4. My roommate- best reaction ever! literally left her speechless... she needed a few minutes to process!
The rest we will tell Saturday and Sunday! Sorry, we didn't want to wake the kids. It was rather late.


We have set a date for October 15th, 2011 at the Oakland Temple. Reception is TBD

5 months 22 days... it can be done right?  :)

Katherine Athey... it has a good ring too it..... I wonder why ;) hehe

re-enactment 

so shocked I couldnt look at the camera!

                      I AM SO EXCITED!  WOOHOO!  :D

With every challenge there is a reward...

This weekend was a wild one. :)

I went down to Dublin to stay with my loving boyfriend and his family. ( I dont know why I wrote it that way.... I have only Athey followers ;)

On Saturday we went to the SFSU campus so we could look at the campus, program, and look at housing. It was one of those days where you step out of the hypothetical and dip your toes in to the " this is real" waters. Thankfully, we had positive answers to our questions and standing there looking at the housing... felt perfect. Its that feeling that you know everything will be alright and this is where you belong. There are plenty of obstacles in our way.. but I know that it will work out... the how is the mystery. It was a great moment to share with him :)

Later that day we went to play nerf gun wars at the Danville Stake center (AMAZING IDEA!) The event was great! Then Mike decided to Tango with one of the round table-barriers... and lost. I was about to shoot him with my little nerf gun and he walks past me holding his hand and I can see blood on his pants.. OH NO! I rush behind him and help him clean the wound ( and his other hand - probably the cutest moment of that sequence) and get him to the ER. Sitting with him in the ER was another " real moment" but this was more of a dive into the realism... this wasnt - and wont be his last rodeo in the ER. I cant explain what happened but for me it "sealed the deal" I love this man and after this weekend, I know with assurance we can get through anything. :)

Temple

I love the temple!

Every time I go into the temple I wonder: "How did I live my life before this?"
I love the calmness, the simple beauty, and works that are done in the temple.
Simply put: I feel at home and at ease in the temple.

I ( excuse the pun) religiously go every other Thursday, and am working on trying to go every week. I love taking the 3 hours- hour drive down, hour inside the temple and an hour drive home- to do a self check of my spiritual being.  It truly refreshes my spirit and that in turn, helps with my emotional, physical and mental states.  I also love seeing and talking to my favorite temple workers! ;)

I have noticed so many blessings coming from going to the temple regularly. I have also noticed that when things go wrong, I feel more prepared to deal with the issue.

I hope that I can start going every week. :)
yay!