Chili Cook Offs and Lots of Laughter

23 October - 5 November 2023

Monday night we had a chili cook off and it was a really fun activity! We had a good turnout and some pretty delicious chili. I made some chocolate chip pumpkin cookies that were a hit. The best part of this week was I got to take off from work and clients Wednesday - Friday for a AAMFT conference training I signed up for. I got to choose between different presentations to virtually attend, and I heard some things I really needed at the time, especially regarding burnout, imposter syndrome, and motivation. I've been in a pretty low spot with having energy and motivation and capacity to keep doing all the things I need to do. I've felt myself coming down sick a bit and feeling super down. It was a blessing to have a bit of a break and to be reminded and recentered. The following week, I briefly dropped by a combined FHE activity that was also a chili cook off, but it was not as well done as our ward one. I did stay for a bit and chat with friends, but then went home. I've been watching lots of K-dramas (probably spending way too much of my downtime watching them, but I don't feel super guilty about it because I count it as part of my studies of learning Korean! Which, during ads/commercials, I pull up DuoLingo and practice new words and phrases... most of which are actually completely useless, as pictured below). I will honestly say learning Korean kinda started on a whim, but it has become a huge part of my motivation. I think because a lot of the progress I make in life is so hard to measure or see, it's so intangible. With Korean, I can concretely see myself making progress, and it is very exciting and rewarding! And, the more I learn about the language and the people, the more I fall in love with it. I recently started listening to President Nelson's new book out, "The Heart of the Matter," and he talks about how learning lots of different languages has brought him greater love and understanding for God's children, and I totally feel that way with learning Korean. He went on to study 17 different languages, and though I'm sure his proficiency in each one varies greatly, it's amazing that he puts in the time and effort to learn the basics, and I'd absolutely love to do that too! I would love to continue to learn various languages so I can work in the Lord's world wide church and be able to visit different people and talk to them in their own language. It is so humbling and awe-inspiring to learn about these people's cultures like that. 

The Saturday before Halloween was our family ward's Halloween party, and they also had a chili cook off! I cam straight from finishing a workshop with a couple, so I stopped by a thai food place and got it to go so I could eat it there with my family (I wasn't sure I'd be able to eat anything there). It was delicious! Plus, I wanted to carry on my obsession with Thai food. Lol, maybe that's the next language I learn ;). Gracelyn was adorable. Briesa and Aaron were Velma and Shaggy, then Gracelyn was in a Scooby Doo costume. She is getting so big! She is going to be walking very very soon. On Halloween night, I went to a party with some friends, and I dressed up as Minnie Mouse. I looked super cute, if I do say so myself :). There was a photobooth there, food, and yard games. It was an enjoyable evening, and I got to talk to some new people and strengthen friendships. I also felt like that week, I got a better handle on therapy sessions. My workshop on Saturday went SO good. I've felt more confident and assured in my sessions with clients, like I kinda actually know what I'm doing and that it's helpful. It's been helpful to realize that my profession is not unique. Many other people struggle with imposter syndrome, might not be the right fit for a client, and may struggle to know what to do. There's always so much we are expected to know, but it's okay to not be an expert right away, and to just have a game plan and goal to be continuously learning with clients and expanding skills and knowledge. What you have right now is enough, and you are continuously improving, and that's the whole purpose and point. I had to spend lots of money to get my oil changed this week, and I got a new air filter! My old one had leaves in it!! Haha. On the first Saturday in November, I went with my parents and Val to the old Ghost Town to tour it, and then we got to go on the zip line! It was such a serene moment, zipping along through the air with a gentle breeze and the pretty mountain scenery right before your eyes. It was short, but still good and fun. I attended a meeting on Sunday to begin planning for our New Year's Eve dance, and I hope it turns out super fun! I'm worried that it'll be ruined for me since I'm on the planning side of things and may even have to help out at something all night, so I won't get to just enjoy it. Or even if I'm able to go without any duties, I'll be ready for it to be over since I put so much time and energy into making it happen (kinda like what happened with Castles and Coasters, lol). But I'll try to keep my strength and energy and optimism. Oh, and the most exciting news is that I finally FINALLY discovered my niche for YouTube. I've been wandering around for the last couple of months, not really knowing what theme or topics to do, trying to scrounge together videos to be consistent, but starting to dread it and feel disheartened by the decline in views, likes, and subscribers. But I attended our work meeting this past Friday and one of the therapists walked us through activities we can do with our child and teen clients, and it sparked the idea to start making videos on activities/worksheets that parents can do with their children or that teens can do on their own. I'll have the activity and explain the purpose of it and how to do it, or I'll make videos that have the viewers follow along and do it while watching so that parents or teachers can show those videos to their kids/students to do art therapy or CBT activities. I think this will draw in an audience of parents, young adults, teachers, and even other therapists who are looking for ideas to do with their kids or clients. Plus, it kind of reminds me of the object lesson vibe I had going with my Missionary Approach YouTube channel!

Much love,

Emily Burnham

Sunday evening "snuggle buggle" pic.

Cassidy and Grant Duclos' wedding reception photo booth:

Valerie told us all to hide behind something. Mom did not get the memo... You can kind of see dad behind that middle bush, then me behind the barrel, and Val popping out of a bush on the right side. Mom is doing some sort of sneaky ninja walk, so... we'll count it.

Be honest, y'all. When would I ever need to say this? Ants don't have newspapers! And foxes don't have cucumbers! It seriously has me learning weird things... lol.

I've been planning making healthy meals! And they have been very delicious!

Even mom was super proud of herself for eating the Salmon!

Scooby with her scooby snacks! ;)

Okay, so I bought these headbands and ordered some Korean facial products, so now it's a joke with my family that I'm turning Korean. But look how smooth my face is after a week of doing a skin-care routine!

My sweet friend Abbie sent me a postcard from where she's doing her internship in Washington, and it came on a day I really needed a boost. So sweet!!!