Elder and Sister Leonard entered the MTC

My parents entered the MTC on May 30. They are going to serve for 2 years in Frankfurt, Germany as welfare specialist for Eastern Europe. Essentially, they will be assisting couple missionaries in these countries that are working on humanitarian projects. I am excited that they get to go back to Germany. My dad served his mission there and we lived there twice while I was growing up. I am really proud of them and grateful for the example that they have set in my life.

This picture was taken shortly after Elder and Sister Leonard were set apart. I had the charge of making sure they kept mission rules till they flew to Utah. It was tough but they are both entering the MTC worthy.

Ivana P. says goodbye

My last day at UDSS was May 25. Working there has been the highlight of my masters experience. Not only was it a HUGE financial blessing (I have no school debt) I really loved the people I worked with. I also enjoyed working with students in a different capacity than teaching.

Well, on Wednesday when I entered my office, Amanda had made me this beautiful "windchime". It is made with CDs we use for text in alternative format for students, a UDSS stress ball, my name in braille, and 2 dried out clementines which previously lived in Amanda's office; I was always making comments about them.

In the beginning of May I added a fake student, named Ivana P., to our test schedule. It took about a week for anyone to notice. First it was the office assistant who could not find where Professor Depends office was. So, she asked Barbara, the office associate, and she was just as puzzled. So, Babara went and asked my boss, Chris, about it. Chris looked at it and then said "I think this is Holly's doing." As a going away present my co-workers got me a special Cowboy's Football Jersey. I am #11 because of 2011. And my game day name is...Ivana P.

Here are the great people that I work with. Front Row: Barbara and Casey. Back Row: Chris, Denise, Amanda (the talented windchime maker) and Ivana P.

Installing Spring

For the last 9 months I have been working on a project for work that requires me to walk all over campus. Yesterday I was finishing up the project by walking over to the Football Stadium which is about 9 blocks away. The sun was out and I was thinking of posting on my Facebook that I was actually wearing a short sleeve shirt and I was warm! Well, after about an hour as I finishing up it started sprinkling and by the time I got back to the office I was freezing. My coworker sent the following email to me and after my experience I thought it was so appropriate and her timing could not have been better.

INSTALLING SPRING...

███████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 44% DONE.

Install delayed....please wait.

Installation failed. Please try again.

404 error: Season not found.

Season "Spring" cannot be located.

The season you are looking for might have been removed, had its name
changed, or is temporarily unavailable in Wyoming.

Please try again.

Here lies Pine Cone

I was walking to work one day and saw this pine cone outline next to the building I work in. Not sure who put it there or why. Perhaps the police ran out of chalk at a murder scene.

HollyA. Leonard, MS

Well, I finally got my masters. On Saturday, May 7, I graduated with a Masters of Science in Counseling from the University of Wyoming. I wasn't going to walk but I am glad I decided to. It was fun to be with my classmates one last time.

Here I am at the beginning of the ceremony.

The hooding ceremony

I was hooded by my committee chair, Michael Morgan who is standing just behind me. I am not sure who the woman is that I am shaking hands with.

Here is another view of my hood. I am shaking hands with the College of Education Dean.

All of my cohort walked except for 4. It was fun to have almost everyone there. L to R: Rob, Guili, Holly, Leanne, Amanda, Erin, Keri, Stacy, Dustin, Sara, Jamie, and Annie is kneeling.

Erin and me after the ceremony.

When I graduated from high school we were told that we absolutely were not allowed to throw our caps. Then at BYU I didn't get to throw my cap. So, I decided that for my masters I was going to do it no matter what. So, I got Keri, Dustin, and Guili to join me.

The Faculty and me. L to R: Mary Alice Bruce, Kara Holt, Kent Becker, Deborah McGriff, Michael Morgan (my committee chair), and Jane Warren. Of the faculty I know Jane the best. She really took an interest in our cohort and is a fantastic professor.

So, now that I have my masters what am I going to do? Good Question!

Move over Arnold Schwarzenegger

My sister, Heidi, and her family were here for my graduation last weekend. Adam and Matt have spent this year pumping iron and boy has it paid off.

You think this muscle is huge, you should see my other bicep.

Eat your spinach kids!

I am not only ripped, I am also a pirate...RRRRRR

Cohort Party

Last Saturday, April 30th, was our last day of class. We had internship class from 8 to 5:30 and then we went over to Stacy's house and had one final party. It was a lot of fun and I am grateful for the cohort that I was in. We got along with each other pretty well and I feel that we will genuinely miss each other after spending so much time together. Our classes were once a week for 3 hours so got to know each other pretty well. Our program was not academically rigorous but we were very busy. We saw clients, had to write case notes, worked together on many class presentations, papers, etc. We also supported each other when issues arose with faculty members. So, it was fun to get together one last time.

This is most of our cohort. There are 5 missing.

In our Cohort we had 5 guys (2 were not there). L to R: Jeff, Guili, and Dustin

L to R: Leanne, Erin, Dustin, and Annie

This is my good friend Jamie. Our first year we took a Research Class and it was from 6 to 8:30 at night. Jamie would cook soup in her crock-pot and after class we would go and enjoy. So, Wednesday became our soup night.

This is Stacy who hosted most of our cohort parties. She is one of the most open people I know. I enjoyed going to her house because she is warm and accepting.

L to R: Katie and Leanne. Katie is expecting a baby in November.

L to R: Stacy, Amanda, Katie and Jamie C.

My friend Keri had put a wet dog toy in Jeff's hood but he did not realize it for like 30 minutes. So, to try and get him to notice I told him we should take a picture with our hoods up. He still didn't notice till Jamie C. pressed her hand down on the toy and hood. Once he realized it I took off running.

L to R: Keri, Leanne, and Annie

L to R: Stacy, Jamie C. and Jamie D.

Good Friends

Well, as my time in Laramie is coming to a close, I am having to say goodbye to some really good friends. On Wednesday night I went out to dinner with some friends from my old ward in Laramie. I am sitting next to Kim who is so friendly and so willing to serve. She made some blankets for my niece and nephew with no expectation of anything in return. Then there is Tamia who was my secretary for RS. She is AMAZING; she kept us so organize and went beyond the extra mile. I was her visiting teacher when I was new in the ward. I had a feeling that I was going to be called to be the RS president and I knew instantly that Tamia was to be part of the presidency. And then there is Mary who was my first counselor. She is also always willing to help others. A lot of times I had to delegate things to her because I was at work or school and she would never complain. She also was a good sport when Tamia and I would play pranks on her (See Closet BYU Fan) Another friend, Kristin, was there but she had to leave before we took the picture. Kristin was my second counselor and is probably one of the funniest people I know. I love listening to her tells stories; she has a great sense of humor. She also is constantly serving people in the ward. These really are amazing women that I will miss greatly.

My birthday cake...no birthday pie....no Birthday Fruit Pizza

For my addictions class we had to give up something for the semester. I gave up sweets of any kind. So, when my birthday rolled around I told Susan not to make me a cake or anything. I was not expecting anything but she managed to come up with something that was not a sweet. So, here is my Fruit Pizza birthday cake.

Lava Hot Springs

The first week of April I went to Logan, Utah to hang out with Nikki and Sandra. We went up into Idaho to Lava Hot Springs for a night. I was really surprised at the nice facilities they had. After enjoying the hot springs we went to dinner at Fat Jacks. And yes, I felt fat after eating there. Since there is NOTHING to do in the town in the evening we played monopoly and watched way too many episodes of the Golden Girls. Then the next morning we had a Idaho breakfast at the Chuckwagon and then headed back to Logan. Since I was going to be in Idaho, I had mentioned that it would be cool to buy some real Idaho potatoes for my coworkers. We did not see any potato stands in Idaho but there was one north of Logan. So, thankfully Sandra was insistent that I get some potatoes and we stopped at a stand. There was no one there but a trailer with the door open had 3 sacks of potatoes in it. There was a drop box for money and a high security surveillance camera which we made funny faces for. So, we paid our money and Sandra picked up our 50lb bag of potatoes. And they were very delicious potatoes. I just finished my last two today.

Lava Hot Springs

Nikki, Holly, and Sandra in the second to the hottest pool.

Nothing like a greasy burger and fries after relaxing in a hot springs.

Sandra riding the Lava Hot Springs bull for 8 seconds. There was no sign but I am pretty sure she should not be on that bull.

My hearty Idaho breakfast. No, I did not finish it all.

These potatoes were straight from the ground. It took me a good 3 minutes or so to clean off all the dirt. I don't know if I will ever be able to eat store bought potatoes again.