Happy Anniversary

Today is our third year anniversary. It is crazy to think that we have been together for so long. It's been 5 years including the dating years. I am so grateful for such a wonderful husband and the hard work that he does everyday to provide for our family. I could never really begin to tell him how much I appreciate him. I know I should do it much more often. I love him so much and appreciate the opportunity we have had this last month to be sealed for all time and eternity. I love you Brick. Happy Anniversary!

Locks of Love Donation

Yesterday I helped out at a Locks of Love Donation at Highland Junior High. And I got in the news! I am in the video and I am in the background in the picture in the story. Here is a link to the video and the story.

Video Link: VIDEO: Locks of Love event

Highland Junior High School students Jenna Hall, 14, right, and Jon Martin, 14, have their hair cut after both agreed to donate 10 inches of their hair to Locks of Love. May 1, 2009 in Mesa.

Tim Hacker, Tribune

Eighth-grader Veronica Contreras smiled as a stylist cut off 12 inches of her long, black hair Friday in a hallway of Highland Junior High School. It was her first real haircut, other than cutting off split ends, and her parents were nearby taking photos of the event.

"I needed a haircut and thought a lot of people would need it, so I decided to donate it to Locks of Love," said Veronica, 13, whose hair still fell down to the middle of her back after the cut.

Veronica was one of 20 Gilbert Unified School District students and a teacher who spent the morning at their southeast Mesa school getting free haircuts for a good cause. Two male students were among the hair donors.

The hallway was turned into a makeshift hair salon as two volunteer stylists spent more than two hours cutting hair. The hair will be used to make hairpieces for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Seventh-grade student body president Natalee Lauro spent the year organizing the event with her good friend and seventh-grade "assistant," Heather McKendrick. Heather donated seven inches of her long, blonde hair.

Natalee is a brain cancer survivor, and although she didn't know about the Locks of Love organization until her hair started growing back, it's an organization she believes in.

A similar event was also held in March at Superstition Springs Elementary School in her honor.

"This organization is close to my heart," said Natalee, who wore a "cancer sucks" T-shirt. "I promised myself I would contribute. I've met a lot of people who have donated, and they've always come back with a big smile. It's something I've always wanted to be a part of."

Natalee was in second grade at Superstition Springs Elementary when doctors discovered aggressive, malignant brain tumors, or medulla blastoma. A fall during basketball jarred the biggest tumor and caused it to grow, which brought on the symptoms.

After enduring "really bad" headaches, Natalee had her first surgery on Christmas Eve 2003 to remove some of the tumor. After another surgery and aggressive rounds of chemotherapy, Natalee said she is cancer free. Doctors told her they won't say if she's in remission until she's 17 years old.

"But I don't think it's coming back," said Natalee, who is still trying to overcome balance problems after the brain surgeries.

Volunteer hairstylist Denice Cavanagh said she was more than happy to volunteer her hair-cutting skills. She has known Natalee since second grade when her daughter, Montana, was in the same class.

"I've been her biggest cheerleader," said Cavanagh, whose husband, Tim, grew out his hair so Natalee could cut it and donate it. "We hope we can do something to help other children be as strong as she's been. To have all these kids here means so much."

The other volunteer hairstylist, Gilbert High graduate Sara Randall, said she has given at least 30 free cuts to her clients donating their hair to Locks of Love. She owns a hair studio under her name in Gilbert.

"It's great to help those people feel good about themselves," Randall said. "It's also a great way to give back to the community."

Kristin Alexander-Lillard is the lone Highland Junior High teacher who donated 10 inches of hair Friday. She was Natalee's second-grade physical education teacher and said she has a special connection with Natalee.

"She's just the sweetest little thing, and she wants to do anything she can for everybody else," said Alexander-Lillard, who was donating for the second time.

"It's such a great cause," she said. "When you're ready for a change, why not give it to Locks of Love?"

Locks of Love is a public nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Many hairstylists will give free haircuts to people donating to Locks of Love. For information, visit www.locksoflove.org or talk with a hairstylist.

Related

VIDEO: Locks of Love event

Need to Post Pics

Okay...so I know I am still long overdue in posting our pictures from Nauvoo. I promise it will be soon. I just hate uploading pics on here. It takes way too long. Anyways, I still wanted to write a little blurb anyhow.

We just wanted to let all of you close friends and family how grateful we are to have you in our lives. We our so grateful for all of the prayers and fasting that you have done to help us through this changing and trying part of our lives. We are thankful for the prayers, the fasting, the letters, and even the financial help that you have given us over the past couple months. We have been so blessed the past month to have been sealed in the temple and I feel as though that is what has really blessed us and given us the strength to move on with our endeavors. Thank you all for supporting us in our upcoming "trial" and for all the love and friendship you give us. We love you all so very much!

Furniture for Sale

So we have some furniture and other items for sale if anyone is interested. We are selling a bunch of stuff to get out from under our debt and to start an actual savings account..woohoo! If any of you are interested here are some of the links:

King Bedroom Set (4 piece) - http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/1099528870.html
Dining Room Table Set - http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/1099539831.html
Home Theatre Projector/Movie Screen/In-ceiling Speakers - http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/ele/1100166606.html

We did have some great TVs and a queen mattress for sale too but they went super quick. Goodbye to our nice big plasma televisions. We now have an mini 8" television which is the one we watch. I know...sad...but I would rather have savings than a couple of nice tvs. It's actually been really nice without them. I don't waste as much time watching television so I have the extra time to clean the house and read and whatnot. I think we were watching too much of it anyways.

For Time and All Eternity

Brick and I took out our endownments and were sealed yesterday in the Mesa Arizona Temple. It was a wonderful and exciting day for us. We had waited a long time for this occasion. It was also my birthday, so it was the best gift I could ask for. Thank you to all our friends and family that came to support us. We love you all.

Just a reminder....

Just a reminder to all you G-towners. It's election day tomorrow!!! Don't forget to vote for John Lewis for mayor....

Update!

A lot has happened in the Randall family this last month or two. Sorry I haven't posted sooner. First off, my sister Jenna had her beautiful baby Josslyn on Valentine's Day. She was quite the valentines baby weighing 7 lbs 7 oz (7+7=14) and was born at 1:58 am (1+5+8=14) on the morning of the 14th. She is sooo beautiful and looks just like both of Jenna's older kids.

Secondly, I got a part time job. I am working as an examiner for the State Board of Cosmetology. I help grade beauty school graduates on their practical exams, to see if they can get their licenses. It's just on Mondays, so it's a nice extra income without having to take too much time away from my clients. So far I enjoy it. There are a lot of nice girls that I work with, though it is a little strange to be on the opposite side of the test.

Thirdly, Brick was ordained an elder on Sunday. It was a wonderful experience and my dad gave him a wonderful blessing and ordination. We won't tell you that Brick forgot to hug his wife after the fact. :-) Now that that is taken care of, we are hoping to be sealed by the end of the month. It all depends on how fast the recommend process takes. We are really hoping to before April cause we are planning a trip to Nauvoo to visit his grandparents, and would love to be able to do a session in the Nauvoo Temple.

I also got a new calling in our new ward this last week. I was called to be the beehive advisor. I was so excited to accept this calling. I have always wanted to get back into Young Womens after they kicked me out at 18! I guess I never have wanted to grow up. It is a little nerve wrecking cause I have to teach the lesson every Sunday, but all the girls are so sweet to me it hasn't been that bad. I am especially excited to go to girls camp with them this year. I am, however, a little disappointed that we have to sleep in tents instead of staying in cabins at Camp LoMia.

So that is a little recap for the past month. It really needs to be a resolution for me to post more often!