Day 4- The people who made me who I am today.

Day 4-Your parents

I have given myself 20 minutes to write this blog. HA We'll see if I can make it. Ready......GO!

These Are my parents. They are wonderful. 'Nuff said.

There have been many time through out my life that I have thought, "MAN! how did I get so lucky to have the parents that I have!" They are stable, happy, loving, compassionate people that are not easily manipulated. (Trust me! I've tried) I know that they love me and they have been the best teachers anyone can ask for.


Introducing: Mi Madre 

She has the greatest sense of humor! When we were little and were being ornery she could could always get us to laugh just by making us look at her! ;) She is a beautiful woman and I don't know why it always worked but we would be grumpy with our heads down and she would say "Don't you look at me! Just don't do it! Don't look at me!" and we would turn our heads to look at her only to start laughing! It worked every time!

She is my biggest cheer leader! Whenever I do anything that scares me or challenges me, like try out for a play, run for student government, or go to grad school she is always there cheering me on. Seriously people sometimes she will literally do a cheer. I can always hear my mom in my head saying, "You can do it!" "You are tough! You are strong!" or one of my favorites she used to say often "You are woman! Hear you Roar!"

Like I said in past posts she taught me to have an imagination! She had the best imagination of anyone I knew when i was a kid and always encouraged us to use ours. When it would start to rain and the mothers called their kids inside she was the mother pushing us out the door to go run in the puddles. She would take us on the greatest adventures.

I've always had people tell me Deborah you are always so happy all the time. You always look on the bright side. Well, my mommy taught me how to do that.


Esta es Mi Padre:

He is probably the best father a girl could ask for. He has always worked hard to provide for his family and he does a pretty darn good job at it! I have always know that he loves me. He really does think I am the greatest.  

I love that my daddy tries to fix everything he can to save money. He is actually pretty good at it to! There are so many things that he can fix and that he knows. He is so so smart.

My daddy is a very strong man! He is determined. Last year he decided to lose weight and he lost 91 pounds! I am proud of him! A few weeks ago he was having a conversation with a family friend about his childhood. He grew up in a broken home in Las Vegas. It could be described as a rough background. Other people who grew up in similar situations have gotten involved in drugs, divorced, or turned to unproductive means to cope. Not my dad. He made choices to break the cycle and do much better. As I listened to him talk to our friends about his decision to have a successful marriage despite his parent's example I was over come with how lucky I am. I have one strong daddy.

He is a very compassionate man. He will help just about anyone and do almost anything. Both of my parents have taught me to serve others because we love them. They are the greatest examples. This guy has taught me that I need to continually strive to be the best me I can be. Although I fall short many times of that goal not only is he there to pick me up but he continues to encourage me to keep trying.

Tears are coming to my eyes at the moment because I am reminded about how my parents have seen me at my worst. They know my imperfections and all of my weaknesses and they still adore me just the same. What a blessing it is that when you are at your lowest lows to be able to go home and have two parents who will hold you up and love you even more. I am one very lucky girl!

 

Day 3 perfect first date? Is there such a thing?

I decided that today I would write my blog earlier so I was not up past midnight trying to get a post written for this darn challenge. I also have decided to start writing on a blog I made years ago about adoption. So now that I have two blogs I have to be even more efficient with my blogging time and actually get something done.

Today is Day 3: Your idea of a perfect first date

Well, we all know now that I have a bit of experience on first dates. When I was 16 years old my best friend and I decided that we would go out on 100 first dates before we got married. She didn't make it, but I DID!

-A perfect first date should be planned yet simple. An activity like dinner and a game is perfect.

70's themed group date

-I actually enjoy first dates that are double dates more then single ones. It gives more of an outlet if the conversation dies. Plus bringing a wing woman/man relieves so much more of the awkwardness of first dates and eliminates lots of the games people play to make up for said awkwardness.

-A first date should be short. Maximum three hours.

-A perfect first date happens when the guy has a sense of humor and can just go with the flow.

When I think of the perfect first date there are a few that I have been on that come to mind. The first one was with Rob. Well actually I was technically on the date with his cousin Zeb, I had brought Liz with me and he had brought Rob but through out the night we kinda switched dates. It was a very simple date. We met at Lee Davis High School and went into Richmond. We ate at Bottoms up Pizza and walked along the canal walk and just talked. The guys showed off a little bit by jumping and climbing all over the canal and it was fun to watch. Both Liz and I went home that night and decided it was the most enjoyable date we had ever been on.

The next date I think of was my first date with Cameron. It was also a double date. He brought his roommate and I brought Catherine. They picked us up at our apartment and we went to a show on campus. I can't remember the name of it but it was a Chinese drum group and it was fabulous! Normally I would not suggest going to things that do not allow for conversation on first dates but this one was worth it and really helped us learn a lot about the guys we were with. We were sitting near the stage and for the closing song Catherine, Cam's roommate, and I all ran up on stage and started dancing with the dancers and the drum group. Cam of course stayed behind in his seat. It was so much fun and very telling of everyone's personalities. After the show we went to Jamba Juice and all talked and laughed. It was great!

The third one was a single BLIND date with Brad. Basically he picked me up at my sister's apartment and we played pool and then went to eat at Denny's. It was very simple but we had a great time!

All three of those perfect first dates resulted in relationships to follow. What makes the date is not the activity but it is the conversation and the person you are on the date with. Less is more people! I am telling you, less is more.

Day 2

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

       The meaning behind my blog name is very simple. I have a fantastic mother! She has the greatest ability to put a positive spin on things and make life sound wonderful. I have to write about my parents in a later post so I'll save some material for then, but growing up in her house was magical and full of imagination! She could imitate almost any voice and so every story that was told and every book that was read was like stepping into the world of make believe and being right there with all of the characters. One thing that I gained from my mother is a positive out look on life. She always said, "You can laugh or cry about it Deborah. I chose to laugh!" Although there are times I feel like my life is over whelmed with trials and thing that stress me out I still walk down the street, close my eyes while taking a deep breath of the clean fresh air, and know life is wonderful! I do that because my mother taught me how.

       For as long as I can remember anytime we missed a call at home that caller would hear my mother's fairy tale voice on the answering machine saying, "Welcome to the Wonderful World of Allred's. Please leave a message after the beep." People LOVED it! And really we did live in the Wonderful World of Allreds. So when I was trying to think of a name for my blog it made sense that since it was about me and my day to day life it should be called the Wonderful World of Deborah. It reminds me of my mother and her positive perspective. It reminds me of happy childhood memories. And it reminds me that life is wonderful!

The End.

Day 1

Day 1: Introduce yourself, share recent picture, and 15 interesting facts

I am Deborah Diane Allred......I always get stuck there. I am from the east coast and I love saying that! When I originally moved from sunny California I thought I'd always claim the golden state as my home but oh how times have changed. I am starting Grad school in a few days and as I have told everyone I am excited but my biggest worry is: where in the world am I going to get the money to pay for it? Luckily life always works out and I've decided to pull a Scarlet and worry about that tomorrow.

My Recent picture......

This was taken in December right before graduation (I am sick of using graduation pictures for everything). I had one of the worst days at my internship on this day (I don't know if you can tell but I had cried all my make up off). The social work program is big on centering yourself (doing something you like to do) so you can stay sane and not burn out. I decided I needed a break from the shenanigans at the office. So I ran home and wore my hula out fit around my apartment for about an hour and then went back. There. Centered!

15 facts: Oh I am sorry.....15 INTERESTING facts:

1. I hate being called Debbie. (if you call me Debbie we will stop being friends)
2. I have been on 100 first dates
3. I have not read any of the twilight series and I never will
4. One day I want to sell everything I have and backpack through the world (or at least Europe).
5. I struggle with meeting new people and I don't like big groups. (I promise it's true)
6. I find it amusing to say things that will shock people or make them just a tad bit uncomfortable
7. I often have to restrain myself when some one I love is in need. (I go into take over mode and want to fix the problem)
8. I have been skinny dipping
9. My parents are two of my best friends
10. I have been the best man and attended a bachelor party. Yes, I said Bachelor party. And NO! I was not the entertainment.
11. I do not enjoy peanut butter.
12. I am very picky about my bottled water. (Arrowhead is my fave!)
13. I don't like playing sports that have any type of flying balls (it stems from childhood trauma)
14. I don't really have many favorites of things like food and color. I just don't like absolute statements.
15. I am better at driving a car backward then I am at driving it forward

30 day blogging challege

I have felt for the last well at least 6 months that I have nothing to blog about. My life is full of things that keep me so busy but not anything that is ultra note worthy. However, people keep asking me to update my blog and I think this might help me find something to say. It may not be what they were wanting (to regularly know what is going on in my life) but it is what they were asking for (regular posts). I may post an extra post here and there to let you in on the wonderful happenings of day to day life in the wonderful world of Deborah. Until then I am taking the Challenge and it starts now!

(Here's the list so I don't forget what I am supposed to write about)
Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your idea of a perfect first date
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Your dream wedding
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Something you can't leave the house with out
Day 16-A picture of you from last year and how you've changed since then
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Your love life
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-A photo of something that means a lot to you
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture of you today and 3 good things that have happened to you today

Happy New Year! Thank Goodness!

I rang in this new year pretty quietly which is how I hope the year will continue to be. After last year I am drained. It was hard. And that's it. It was emotional and challenging and one thing right after another. Wow! As I sit here and think about it the thought comes to mind that I really shouldn't dwell on the past. Plus no one wants to read a downer post. So I will spare you an explanation of the trials and struggles last year brought. Instead I bring to you the top 10 things of 2010.

1. I saw my family and visited Maryland A TON!
2. I made two new Best friends! (Brittany Goodwin and Amanda Ondricek)
3. My first nephew was announced
4. I was accepted to grad school
5. I served a group of 30 fantastic women
6. I spoke at the FSA conference (so fun)
7. I attended the weddings of one of my best friends and a girl who's practically my sister
8. I got a pretty decent tax return!
9. I reconnected with a good friend
10. I received constant tender mercies from the Lord
11. I got to room with Devri Pope, Sarah Jimmy, And Tressa Lee
12. I lived to see my 25th birthday!
13. I found a profession that is a passion and calling. It fits me perfectly!

And the top thing that happened in 2010.....

14. I graduated college!!!

I know that's more then ten things but hey, I was on a roll.  
I sure am glad to be home. Here are 10 things to look forward to in 2011:

1. I will start Grad School
2. My sweet little nephew will be born
3. I will turn 26 years old!
4. I will find my first post college job (even f it is at Mc Donalds)
5. More Tender mercies from the Lord
6. I get to watch my bestie Amanda's baby Stuart grow
7. Brittany enters the MTC
8. Family time!
9. um.....
10. New adventures!

Ha Ok I struggled coming up with 10 things to look forward to but really I left 9 blank for you to fill in. Feel free to make suggestions. Any one?

I did it! I graduated!

Well, I made it. I got 4 little green check marks and a diploma! (Actually I haven't gotten a diploma yet. Just the cover)

Requirements Summary
Course Title	Status
BACHELOR UNIVERSITY REQS	Met
BACHELOR UPPER DIV REQ	Met
500 SOCIAL WORK	Met
BACHELOR RELIGION REQS	Met

People keep asking me how it feels to be a graduate. They all seem disappointed when I say, "no different then before." Maybe I should start humoring them and saying "IT FEELS GREAT!" Maybe it is be because I know school starts again for me in two weeks that it feels the same but I am excited to be done!

It was so nice to have my family come to my graduation. Because I know most of you just look at the pictures rather then read through the actual blog I'll just get to it and post the pictures already.

Actually getting my diploma

My favorite coworker Jeremy (AKA, The tank)

What a beautiful Roommate I have!

My two best Social working Friends! I could not have made it without these women!

On our way to party!

DFK and Me! 

Love Brad and his sweet mom! 

Eldon and me

My mother is the BEST!

BYU-Idaho was such a wonderful experience! I have grown and been blessed so much during my time there. I will cherish all of the people I met and the memories I made forever!