2011 memories and 2012 hopefuls

2011 memories

Work, semester off, plane ticket, Arizona, new interest...?, first car rental, kisses?, new boyfirend...ish, doctor visits, lactose intolerant, 1^st nephew, friend visits, 1^st car, Valentine family costume party, BYU/UTAH basketball game...Utes lost :(, football Utes win:), Bad news...car broken, break-up, confrontation, baby shower, dislike (some) men, nephew hospitalized, dress up hippie style, potato bug hunts, no more miss nice girl, file suit, Family Sundays, Wyoming birthday, baby blessing, 24 years old, fixed car, dates...HA, summons undeliverable, new ward, 1^st birthday, familiar faces, new faces, still working, summer fun, home alone, house sitting, new crushes, firework shows, stress rising, back seizing, priesthood blessings, camping, new calling, new school, new semester, no free time, late nights, drawing, welding, no comfort zone, retreat going, no sleep, summons delivered, holiday family filled fun, classes passed, reconnected, court date, lost trial, unforgiving, lots of praying, death of a loved one, Family parties, lots of love, promotion, hot chocolate, and many blessings.

In short this was one extremely hard year for me. However, I learned a lot about myself, life, people and my relationship with my Savior. I don't know what is to come, so I will live day by day, and pray for strength to endure.

Now here are my 2012 list of hopefuls:

Good grades, real confidence, find a balance, century, ½ marathon, hablar en español, less stress, good muscles, show more gratitude, dance again, learn an instrument...piano, guitar???, travel, ocean swimming, be daring, more loving, new friends, no doctor visits, move out??, outgoing, go hiking, work hard, play hard, create art, taste new foods, conquer a fear,cry less, just breath, be spontaneous, play soccer more, daily scripture study, be less selfish, sleep under the stars, dance in the rain, celebrate b-day on actual day!, smile more, serve more, take a risk, pursue an interest, take pictures, laugh lots, open to romance, reconnect with lost friends, more family fun, weekly temple visits, count blessing.

I feel that is a good start! I'm ready to make 2012 my year, and with the help of loved ones, and the Lord I know that is a possibility!!

Da Car Finally...for now.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 I got up anxious as could be. I had waited for this day since March of this year...I was going to court. My dad and I drove down to the Lehi, Utah Justice Court @ 7:45am arriving there about 8:30am. We went in and waited until 9am where we (and others their for small claims court) were taken in to sit in front of a judge. We were sworn in; stating we would tell the whole truth, and nothing else. 9:15am and Mr. C.J. had yet to show up for our court date...

Before we get any farther let's do a quick 'reader's digest' recap... I bought a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid in February 2011. Days after buying this car I was told by a local mechanic that it wouldn't pass inspection, and it looked like the reason why wasn't visible due to a indicator light that was (in the mechanic's professional opinion) sabotaged. My first car and it wasn't turning out the way I imagined it. After many conversations with Mr. C.J. (the man who sold me the car) I decided to take legal action. It wasn't until November 2011 that we were able to finally get papers served and a court date for December 20, 2011.

Back to the day I went to court...I thought that Mr. C.J. Wasn't going to show up; which would have meant I would have automatically won, but that wasn't the case. He walked in around 9:30am. Once it was our turn to talk to the judge; we (being my dad, Mr. C.J., and myself) walked up to the front of the court room.

Mr. C.J. Not being there during the time when all of the rest of us were sworn in had to do so. He was “supposed to” tell the WHOLE truth...that I am sad to say didn't happen.

Not wanting to get into details, because it truly doesn't matter, the judge ruled against me. Meaning I lost the case I'd been dealing with since February.

The funny thing is that it really wasn't the verdict that upset me. What really upset me, and had me so unbelievably mad, and crying the whole way home, was the fact that this man lied in court after swearing that he would tell the WHOLE truth.

I'm aware of the fact that I'm not perfect, and I mess up sometimes. I know that there are others out there who don't even think twice when doing things I don't agree with or deem morally wrong. I also understand that not everyone has the same beliefs that I do, and I try hard to respect that. What gets me is when a man who claims to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all the in tells; gets up and swears to tell the truth then flat out lies!

I've never hated anyone in my life. I believe everyone deserves forgiveness and love. I also believe that holding a grudge is more detrimental to the one who is holding on and not letting go, then the to the one the grudge is being held against. With that being said I literally feel sick!! I am currently doing whatever I can to get rid of the feelings I have of hate.

Assuming anyone actually reads this, and assuming that those who do know me; then you know that it isn't in my nature to hate anyone, and that this battle has been a hard one for someone like myself who struggles immensely with confrontation. The last few years have been more down for me then up, and this particular situation has played a huge role into the struggles I've had this year.

However, with all of that I know that there is always happy times to be found and blessing to count. I know that this hate I have will go away as I stay close to my Lord and work with Him. I know that I'll move on and this will all just be another lesson learned, and filed away. Even if I decide to appeal, and try to get this man brought to justice in the end it all won't matter. The verdict won't change who I am as a person, what I believe and how I live my life. It won't run my life. I will forgive, and move on. For now though I will live day to day, prayer to prayer, and with faith in the Lord that all will turn out the “right” way. Which of course is HIS way!!

Well there you go. For now, and maybe forever the end to my car story.

Da Car update

The 4th of November 2011 Mr. C.J. (the man who sold me my car) was served! My court date is 20 December 2011!! Who would have ever thought that I, DanaAnne Burnham, would go to court, and not just that; that I would be excited about it. 

After 9 long months of fight this stupid battle; it is finally time to end the war!! I wasn't joking when I said, "NO MORE MISSES NICE GIRL!" Now all I can do is pray and hope that the judge will rule in my favor, or that Mr. C.J. will be a no show, and the verdict will automatically be in my favor. 

Tune in next time for... Da Car Finale!

Da Car 1.5

My baby has been fixed! It is so nice to be able to drive around in my own car. I wish all the drama it brought into my life though was over. They guy I bought the car from has moved for the summer to Alaska. Rumor has it he will be returning to Arizona in the fall, but I don't really know if that it is true. Tracking him down has been a joke, but I'm not giving up! I may not win every battle, but I am going to win this war!!

Until next time...

Da Car

With just a push of a button a new world was unlocked, and would be the beginning of one seriously unexpected ride.

I pushed the little round button which opened the door, I sit...excitement is an understatement. I turn the key, and I hear the smallest noise as the engine purrs to life. I maneuver the metal onto the road, and am instantly in...lust! She follows my every command with grace, and ease humming like the bird. The excitement builds and I'm hopelessly attached to a hunk of metal. It truly isn't anything of great consequence, but seems, to this poor college student, like a suit tailored to a well dressed man. A man made match if there ever was one...or, so the well played illusion seemed.

I'm getting ahead of myself. Let us rewind and go back to the begin, which of course is always the best place to start a tale.

The start of 2011 seemed like a promising year. I started the year off with a class load I was actually excited for, some answers to why I ended 2010 constantly sick to my stomach, a trip to Arizona to see a friend, who had the potential to be more, then at the end of January my beautiful nephew, Devlin, was born. This was going to be my year, or so I thought...then February came.

My classes weren't all I thought they were going to be, but then again that seems to be how things go. The trip I took to Arizona was great and showed promise to continue to be a great adventure. Amy, my sister, and her two kids, Olivia, and new born son, Devlin came to visit for two weeks. All was great in my little world.

My nephew was just the cutest thing ever, but he was looking a little jaundice. My sister decided to take him to the hospital. That was Friday February, 4^th. Not wanting to get into all the medical crap...Devlin was too jaundice for comfort sake. He was kept in the hospital until the following Tuesday. During all that I got to spend some time watching my niece, Olivia, while her parents spent time at the hospital with her new beloved baby brother.

Devlin under the lights at the hospital!

This is what happened when I got the grand opportunity to watch Liv while here parent's were with Devlin at the hospital! (Seriously Fun!!)

Devlin came home Tuesday February 8^th. He is still constantly apart of my prayers, because apparently his bilirubin levels (this is your jaundice level...more or less) got high enough that there could have been possible brain damage. Whether or not any damage was caused will become evident as he gets older. Strike one for 2011.

The very next day Mr. “Arizona” was in town visiting for a few days. It was a busy couple of days with my sister and her family still in town, and “Arizona” here visiting, on top of having school to deal with...lucky for me I was able to get that whole week off of work. (Thank heavens for those little blessings.) Well...even though my time in Arizona seemed promising... I learned a lot about me, who I want to be with, and following (what I call) my guardian angels in the time Mr. “Arizona” was here visiting. After Mr. “Arizona” went home and I had sometime to sort through my thoughts, and feelings which lead to me ending things between us...only the progression of this so far not great year will tell if I have lost a friend forever or not. 2011...strike 2.

I digress... back to the point of this story. While Mr. “Arizona” was in town I had arranged to go and see a car I had found on KSL. (You see I was in the market to buy my first car. Up until now I had been using one that my parent's owned.)

Thursday, February 10, 2011 I took a small piece of metal stuck it in the ignition and turned. The silver 2004 Honda Civic-Hybrid, purred to life, I put her into reverse and well the rest is history. I fell for a hunk of metal. As I maneuvered her through traffic; going from first gear to second then to third and forth (yes, a manual transmission!!) I was in car heaven. The very next day I was signing the papers, and making that car mine. Impulsive...yes. Did I care...nope...well not at that moment...

Through out that weekend I took every member of my family for a ride in my car. My brothers loved that you could barely hear the car as it turned on. My sisters, like me, thought it was a cute car. It was great, and I was just excited to have a car I could call mine.

That following Monday I took the car to have the safety and emissions done. Pretty standard stuff right?! Well, I'm pulled aside and informed by a nice man that my car didn't pass. I am given a form with codes on it, and am told to get the car checked out by a mechanic. Well I do just that. I figure it wouldn't take too long for them to get back to me and let me know what was going on with my car. About 4pm that evening (4-5 hours after dropping the car off) I get a call from my trusted mechanic. There is some serious issues with this car, and it looks like it might cost a few thousand to fix! WHAT THE @*$%!! The repairs on the car were going to cost almost as much as the car was worth!! Not cool!! To say I freaked out would be an understatement! 2011 that is strike 3! (I've decided I shouldn't  play baseball when it comes to this year, or else I'm out of the game)
The next day just after my dad got home from work we went down and talked to my mechanic. He says there is a problem with the engine, and that the engine light (you know the little like that comes on when there is a problem with the engine) has been “SABOTAGED”. That is right the damage caused to that particular part of the car had to be done by someone, it wasn't just a wear and tear thing. I bet you can imagine my shock!!

I started what has become a long process of getting this situation rectified. I called the man who sold me the car. We will call him CJ. He said he was unaware that the car had issues, accused my mechanic of being ridiculous and just trying to get money out of me as well as indicated that I was just trying to get money out of him, and that I could have been the one who tampered with the car! Why the heck would I sabotage my own freakin car? Seriously do people do that?? Anyway, CJ did say he was willing to work with us to get things fixed. Well, (not wanting to get into much detail) after a few conversations that were just ways to prolong the issue (supposedly in hopes that I would just end up fixing it myself), and after lots of unanswered phone calls, texts and emails. I finally stopped trying to contact the 30 something year old “man”. Who couldn't keep his word...at all!!

NO MORE MISSES NICE GIRL!

I went to the court, filed for a small claims case, and received all the paper work needed. That is right, I'm suing the pants of the guy who sold me a car that had been purposefully tampered with! On top of that I'm also taking his friend who was showing the car to court as well. I sent off the summons March 16, 2011...

...To be continued...

One Year Older

Living in a world where money has become a necessity, war is a constant, and “hard times” seems to be the norm, leaves very little room for pure joy. Today, however, nothing could bring me down. For today 23 years ago I became a member of the human race. That is right April 13th signifies the celebration of my birth.

This time comes around year after year, and I always am left feeling just the same as I did before. Nothing dramatic ever happens, but at the same time the small smile making moments come to the foreground and presents themselves at my feet.

Birthdays that are filled with the little things are so much better then thousands of presents. The dry erase written note on the mirror letting me know my parents remembered this significant day even if they don’t get the chance to see me before I rush off to school. Texts/letters from friends near and far saying a simple Happy Birthday reminding me that I don’t walk alone in this world; even though at times it feels like it. The innocence of a child singing a very simple birthday song letting you know that true/pure love still exists. Siblings who sing in crazy tones never being on key, or dancing some funny dance; all to let you know they didn’t forget you, and never will!

I will go on and another year will slowly creep by with its ups and downs, and may not seem like it changes much, but I will grow, and learn and try to become a better person, so when I’m 24 I can look back and say being 23 was a great experience.

We live in a world of hardship, war, confusion and disaster, but I will hold my head up high for I am young, and should enjoy life to the fullest, day by day, year by year; birthday after birthday!

Thank-you all for making my birthday this year one of the best!

Howdy folks!
I haven't written on my own blog in awhile. I just wanted to give an update to whom ever looks at this thing if anybody, and thank my awesome sister Amy for trying to keep this up todate. I've been home for about 2 weeks. I've seen a few doctors and a super nice neighbor of mine who happens to be a Physical Therapist has come over and has been helping me. I'm doing a bit better, and continue to work hard at getting my health back to where it needs to be. I wanted to give a shout out to my family who has been nothing but loving a supportive. I've come to realize that we have trials so that we can learn and grow. I'm learning a lot and plan on learning even more when I return to Texas. That's right... I haven't finished yet, and I'll headed back one day. Well Haste Luego for now.