Pumpkins

I needed pumpkins for an intervention I wanted to do at work. When asking around I got the suggestion to call some of the local pumpkin patches in the Ogden area. I googled pumpkin patches in Ogden and I ended up calling/texting one called Merryweather Farm Pumpkin Patch. I told them that I was a recreation therapist and I was looking for about 12 pumpkins. They said they had some and I could come pick them and take them home. They were even nice enough to give the pumpkins I found to me free.

https://merryweathersfarm.com/pumpkins-pumpkins-pumpkins/

The address was for South Weber and as I was driving there I passed what I thought looked like Jan and Brent Petersen's house. But I wasn't sure. I got to the patch and I parked my car and walked over to the pumpkin patch. As I approached the entrance I thought I recognized the ladies at the table. Then I saw a a sign that said it was the Petersen Farm. I looked at the 2 women and asked, "So are you Petersen's? Like Jan and Brent Petersen's?" They answered saying they were. It was at that moment we all recognized each other and realized we all had indeed met. They are the daughters of Jan and Brent Petersen.

What a small world. It was fun to catch up with them. Thanks Merryweather Farms and Petersen's!

Ogden Regional Medical Center

Around July 24 (I'm not sure if it was actually on this day or another) I applied for a job at Ogden Regional Medical Center as a Full-Time Recreation Therapist. During that week I had also applied to several other Recreational Therapy Jobs.

There were several pre-screening online paperwork to fill out. That took my a little while to finish. After that it was just the waiting game to see who would contact me for an interview. One place sent me an email a day or two later stating I did not meet all of their qualifications. I heard back from two other places, Intermountain Healthcare for a PRN position in Murray and a full time position at Ogden Regional Medical Center. I agreed to an interview for both jobs.

July 31 I had my interview with Intermountain Healthcare. I felt the interview went well. The population would be with teens. That night I drove up to Dad and John's to spend the night so I wouldn't have to worry about driving in traffic to get to Ogden Regional on time.

Aug. 1 was my interview with Ogden Regional. Talk about a long interview. I think I was there for    1 1/2 - 2 hours. I had my first interview with Jen and Justin, supervisors of the ACT (Alcohol, Chemical Treatment) and the BHU (Behavioral Health Unit). After my interview with them I had a second interview with some of the other staff: Dave, a nurse, Tracy, a rec therapist, Jessica, a social worker, Andi, works in admissions, and I feel like there was someone else I can't remember. (Really I only remember their names because I am late in posting this and I've been there for about 2 months now.) I felt the interview had gone well, not that I had gotten the job well, but it was an interview I could be proud of.

Aug. 2 I was at work at the laundry mat when I got a call offering me the job. I was very surprised! I wish I could record how I answered the offer. The recruiter offered me the job and I answered with, "Really?!" with my voice going up on the end of the word. I asked if I could have time to think and talk with my parents about the offer. I had until Monday to decide.

I called and talked with Mandy and Mom. That weekend I stayed with Aunt Mary and Uncle Boyd because Meg and I went to the Emery County Concert and I had a feeling  I was going to be too tired to drive home. I discussed it with them as well. When Aug. 5 rolled around I accepted the  job offer, which was full time with full benefits. On Aug. 26 was my first day of the job, which was just the hospital training. The next day I started my real training.

Now fast forward a few months and my job is going well. I work primarily on the BHU side, running 3 groups a day: movement, rec therapy, and wellness. I'm still working on coming up with interventions that work the best with my clients, especially since many of the ones I learned I cannot use with this clientele due to ligature risks.

You might be asking why was I so surprised to get the job, and I honestly didn't think I would get it. Then you might ask, "Why did you apply for it?" My answer to that is there was not harm in me  applying for the job. The worst thing they could tell me was I was not selected for the job. I really thought I would need to start out with a PRN job and work my way to a part-time and then to a full-time, especially since I am so new to the field. I don't have any "real" job experience, just my internship and volunteer hours. Due to that belief, I was not expecting the job offer. I am grateful for this opportunity to grow and develop my talents as a recreation therapist. Heavenly Father must have wanted me to come to Ogden since this was also the only job to pan out with a job offer.

Also for a fun shout-out to myself we have what are called Starfish awards. Our peers nominate us for going the extra mile (or at least that is how I am understanding it). I was nominated and recognized for my work of picking up shifts while we have been down a rec therapist and for my help during BERT Calls, which are when we have to call security to the unit because a client is becoming a harm to themselves and others. I usually take the other patients to another room and play a game with them or if we cannot go into another room I just check in with the clients to see how they are doing. They recognized me at a staff meeting (although I wasn't there for it because I didn't know about the meeting) and they gave me a $25 Amazon Gift Card. I also received a compliment from one of my clients saying that I am nice and easy to talk to. Maybe I'm doing better than I think I am.

Mary's Birthday

On Oct. 11 I was able to go home for the weekend to celebrate Mary's Birthday. We decided to do it the weekend following her birthday because it is when all of us could be home to celebrate it.

Friday evening we went to Glena Winkler and Lynn Sorensen's wedding reception. It was a nice reception and they had a lot of people come to support them. Something I thought was cool that they had is a Children's Corner. It was a play area with coloring, marbles, fences, blocks, etc. for children to play with during the reception. I think we might see more of those now. Congrats Lynn and Glena!

Saturday we celebrated Mary's birthday. We had pumpkin soap in a Withes Brew Caldron, open grilled cheese sandwiches that had pumpkin and ghost shaped cheese,  green jello formed like a brain, green beans, and monster juice. We ate Mary's cake on Sunday, which is a Unicorn Cake.

Mary opened lots of presents. She was so funny. She would ask for her picture to be taken while she was opening her presents and then when she was eating her cake. It was pretty funny.

Monday Mary and I went to go see the new Adam's Family movie. I thought it was cute and Mary giggled through the whole thing. I'd say it was a successful trip to the movies.

Happy Birthday Miss Mary!

Miss Saigon

On Oct. 18 Carol and I had the opportunity to attend Miss Saigon at the Eccle's Theatre in Salt Lake. It was impressed with the actors and actresses ability of singing, dancing, and acting. The effects were amazing too. Thanks Dad and John for the tickets.

Set during the Vietnam War, Miss Saigon begins in 1975 when the conflicting cultures and ideologies of the world seemed to meet violently in one city: Saigon. It’s an epic and tragic story of a young couple in love, caught in a world at war.

Miss Saigon tells the story of Chris, an American male GI, who falls in love with Kim, a young Vietnamese orphan who works as a bar-girl and prostitute. When the city falls, the lovers are separated and Chris eventually returns to the U.S. Years later, Chris returns to Bangkok with his American wife, Ellen. In Vietnam, when Kim and Chris were together, they conceived a son, Tam, who is “bui-doi” (pronounced bwee DOY; English translation is ‘dust of life’). Bui-doi were Ameriasian children (one American and one Asian parent) who were often shunned and left behind after the Vietnam War. Kim raised their son on her own and when reunited years later, Kim and Chris must decide what the future holds for all of them.

Gordons

On Oct. 10 I got a text from Rachel Gordon Horan saying she was at her parent's house and I should come and visit. Of course I jumped at the chance to go catch up. It was a fun visit. Thanks Rachel for texting me!

Kenneth Baily

On Sept. 18 I got a phone call to watch Kindsey (Kelsey's daughter) because she went into labor. Kindsey was good for me and she reminds me of the joys we have has children. Sliding down a slide made her so happy. It's the simple things we need to remember that bring us joy.

Kenneth Jay Baily made his way into the world on Sept. 19 at 4:51 am at 8 lbs 8 oz. I didn't get to see him until today, Oct. 8th. Mom and baby are doing well.

Uncle Calvin

Calvin Emil Neilsen died peacefully on September 20, 2019 at the Laurel Groves care facility in Nephi, Utah at the age of 95. Calvin was born August 11, 1924 north of Mona on the family farm that his grandfather homesteaded in 1860. He was the sixth of nine children born to John Strong and Hazel Vest Neilsen, and the last surviving sibling. When Calvin was 2 years old his family moved into Mona to a yellow brick home on Main Street where he lived his entire life in the shadow of his beloved Mt. Nebo.

Calvin served in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II. Afterwards he attended BYU where he met and married Sarah Colton on June 6, 1950 in the Salt Lake Temple. She was the love of his life for 69 years. He graduated with honors in 1951 and they made their home in Mona.

Calvin became a school teacher, working first in the Mona Elementary School then at Juab High where he helped thousands of students in his 31 years of service. He was active in his church, serving in ward, stake, and regional positions, and he loved his service in the Manti Temple. He also served in the community as Mona Precinct Chair, worked hard to develop irrigation systems, and enjoyed helping kids in 4-H. He loved people and went about quietly trying to improve his community. He was a very good husband and father. He did everything with diligence and accuracy. We will miss him!

He is survived by his wife Sarah, and 7 of their 8 children, Chris (Suzanne) of Mona, Helen (Darren) DuRall of West Valley City, John (Kelly) of Medford, Oregon, Mary (Carl) Furner of Mapleton, Marlaine (deceased at age 5), Amy of Mona, Paul (Jill) of Draper, and Emily (Shawn) Tripp of Taylorsville. Calvin and Sarah have 34 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.

There will be a viewing on Friday, Sept. 27th from 6-8 pm at the Anderson Funeral Home in Nephi, and from 9:30-10:30 am on Saturday, Sept. 28th prior to an 11 am funeral at the Mona 1st Ward building.

Scenes from the Funeral