Remember how the Lord works in mysterious ways? I don't always understand. I don't always like it, but I can't deny that I see that He provides opportunities, easy and hard, that help me learn and grow.
I found out this morning that there is probably not a position for me next school year. I don't have a reading endorsement and technically should have one for what I'm doing now, and the job I wanted to apply for will go to someone with more seniority than me. It may not seem fair, but I am thankful that I felt really calm today. I'm not worried, I'm not scared, I'm not mad or frustrated. I am intrigued. I know that there is something else that Heavenly Father will send my way, it is just up to me to seek it out and work for it. I won't lie, I'm not looking forward to the interviewing process, but I know that my needs will be met and everything will be ok. I'll keep you posted, because I know you all will be sitting on the edges of your seats.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
So. Big gulps, eh?
Well, here I sit waiting for parents to come conference with their student's teacher, but I am in a portable and it is currently pouring. . .I wonder how many will venture out of the school to come hang out? We'll keep a tally.
In the meantime, I thought I'd throw on a little update since I am overwhelmed by the next lessons I need to plan and want to put it off for as long as I can. It's true, Tracie. Procrastination never ends.
I posted my latest personal goal just below this one, about the Bear Lake Classic triathlon that I'll be doing in August. I was super excited when I posted that, now I'm a little less excited. More nervous. I know I have the whole summer to train, it's just getting the motivation to get myself ready to train. It's a process. But I told you guys so now if I flake out I'll feel lame. Thus the post.
But things have been pretty busy, or steady lately. The work on my basement is slow but sure and I am so grateful that Dad and Alan and Erik are so willing to help me out. It's good to spend time with them and I learn a lot, too! [editor's note: I have now had three students in 22 minutes.] They even let me hammer in some nails and throw down some screws in the drywall. It's good times. My most important job is to keep the workers supplied in Dew and DDP (diet dr. pepper). The rest of my house is really coming along too. I bought a big plant but I fear I'm slowly killing it. I can't tell. I'll keep you posted on that. I now have a kitchen table (thanks so much Jenn and to Allen and Bella for bringing it over!) and three chairs ($5 each at the D.I.) and most of the pictures up on the wall. The housewarming party is coming, so I'll let you know when I know when it is.
School is really good. I can't believe that there are only three and a half weeks left in the third term. . . . the year has really flown by. I really enjoy my students, they make me laugh and I know I make them laugh, even if it is just in their hearts because they are too cool to show me how hilarious I am. I am getting ready to teach them how to participate in literature circles, which is what I'm putting off getting ready for, and they'll be reading a novel in the next few weeks. Something really great. Maybe I'll break out the R.L. Stein. [Update: one hour and 13 minutes in. . .. 12 students! This is great!] I wish that the paperback of "The Hunger Games" was out already, I would love my students to read that!
I love my ward. It is a family ward and I feel very comfortable there. I sit with my cousin Alex and her family at church, which is so nice of them to let me invade, and I truly feel it is where I am supposed to be. Brandon, Alex's husband, asked me to sub in sunday school a few weeks ago, and I loved that. I really love to teach. Well, duh, it's what I do, but teaching gospel doctrine is really cool. I always learn so much. I was also asked to teach in Relief society the week after that, and it went really well. And now I have an appointment with a member of the bishopric tonight so we'll see what happens there.
The family is great. Brayden just turned 6 last week. I can't believe it, he is so big! He cracks me up. I love to play with him and tickle him and snuggle with him, it's so precious. I love to ask him ridiculous questions and he gives me this face, like, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! I really love it. I guess he and Toria have been pouting a lot lately, because they have a new rule that if you do the "crap face" which is the pouting-lips-out-face they get a spankin'. We asked him to show us what the face was on Sunday and he would only show us after Alan said that he could do it this one time without getting in trouble. So funny. And Audrey, gosh. She has such a huge personality! She is by far the most stubborn of their kids and if she doesn't want to do it, good luck. I won't lie, though, I've got a special talent of getting her to eat her food. It's magic. Ellie? She's a doll. She hasn't been smiling for me as much lately, so maybe before she was just super gassy? She so mellow and pretty. I just love them all. I love to spend time with them and talk to them on the phone.
Well, I think that about sums it up. I am super excited for Spring. It's amazing how much my mood is dependent on the weather. Since it has been so beautiful lately, when the kids are done with their assignment, I will sometimes let them go outside and play basketball, soccer, or football. I love that about being in the portable. I just wish we had a closer bathroom. I just know they'd tip it over if I had a port-a-potty, though. Gross.
Ok. One more thing. I am so glad that Sandra Bullock won for Best Actress. I think she did such a phenomenal job in "The Blind Side" and am so impressed with her humor and down-to-earth-ness. I think she and I should be friends. And have you ever heard Gabourey Sidabey (sp) in an interview? She's fantastic. So hilarious and real. I'm so glad she's getting these opportunities, I hope she keeps going.
Really. One more. It's now been two hours and thirteen minutes. I've been pretty busy, steady for at least the last half hour. I love meeting the parents of my students, especially the ones who "struggle". I love the fear in their eyes when they sit down and silently beg me to say nice things. It's so great. Maybe teaching really is a power trip. And then, I love the little smiles they get when I say they are great and how much I enjoy having them in my class and all they need to do is. . . . and then they owe me one. Remember that one time that I told your mom how good you are? And I'm not lying to their parents. I do genuinely enjoy my students. Some of them just don't know when and where the jokes are appropriate. So when I surprise them like that, most of them come back the next day and are just a little bit better.
I'm a lucky girl. If I could just drag my lazy butt out of bed in the morning to go to the gym. . .
In the meantime, I thought I'd throw on a little update since I am overwhelmed by the next lessons I need to plan and want to put it off for as long as I can. It's true, Tracie. Procrastination never ends.
I posted my latest personal goal just below this one, about the Bear Lake Classic triathlon that I'll be doing in August. I was super excited when I posted that, now I'm a little less excited. More nervous. I know I have the whole summer to train, it's just getting the motivation to get myself ready to train. It's a process. But I told you guys so now if I flake out I'll feel lame. Thus the post.
But things have been pretty busy, or steady lately. The work on my basement is slow but sure and I am so grateful that Dad and Alan and Erik are so willing to help me out. It's good to spend time with them and I learn a lot, too! [editor's note: I have now had three students in 22 minutes.] They even let me hammer in some nails and throw down some screws in the drywall. It's good times. My most important job is to keep the workers supplied in Dew and DDP (diet dr. pepper). The rest of my house is really coming along too. I bought a big plant but I fear I'm slowly killing it. I can't tell. I'll keep you posted on that. I now have a kitchen table (thanks so much Jenn and to Allen and Bella for bringing it over!) and three chairs ($5 each at the D.I.) and most of the pictures up on the wall. The housewarming party is coming, so I'll let you know when I know when it is.
School is really good. I can't believe that there are only three and a half weeks left in the third term. . . . the year has really flown by. I really enjoy my students, they make me laugh and I know I make them laugh, even if it is just in their hearts because they are too cool to show me how hilarious I am. I am getting ready to teach them how to participate in literature circles, which is what I'm putting off getting ready for, and they'll be reading a novel in the next few weeks. Something really great. Maybe I'll break out the R.L. Stein. [Update: one hour and 13 minutes in. . .. 12 students! This is great!] I wish that the paperback of "The Hunger Games" was out already, I would love my students to read that!
I love my ward. It is a family ward and I feel very comfortable there. I sit with my cousin Alex and her family at church, which is so nice of them to let me invade, and I truly feel it is where I am supposed to be. Brandon, Alex's husband, asked me to sub in sunday school a few weeks ago, and I loved that. I really love to teach. Well, duh, it's what I do, but teaching gospel doctrine is really cool. I always learn so much. I was also asked to teach in Relief society the week after that, and it went really well. And now I have an appointment with a member of the bishopric tonight so we'll see what happens there.
The family is great. Brayden just turned 6 last week. I can't believe it, he is so big! He cracks me up. I love to play with him and tickle him and snuggle with him, it's so precious. I love to ask him ridiculous questions and he gives me this face, like, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! I really love it. I guess he and Toria have been pouting a lot lately, because they have a new rule that if you do the "crap face" which is the pouting-lips-out-face they get a spankin'. We asked him to show us what the face was on Sunday and he would only show us after Alan said that he could do it this one time without getting in trouble. So funny. And Audrey, gosh. She has such a huge personality! She is by far the most stubborn of their kids and if she doesn't want to do it, good luck. I won't lie, though, I've got a special talent of getting her to eat her food. It's magic. Ellie? She's a doll. She hasn't been smiling for me as much lately, so maybe before she was just super gassy? She so mellow and pretty. I just love them all. I love to spend time with them and talk to them on the phone.
Well, I think that about sums it up. I am super excited for Spring. It's amazing how much my mood is dependent on the weather. Since it has been so beautiful lately, when the kids are done with their assignment, I will sometimes let them go outside and play basketball, soccer, or football. I love that about being in the portable. I just wish we had a closer bathroom. I just know they'd tip it over if I had a port-a-potty, though. Gross.
Ok. One more thing. I am so glad that Sandra Bullock won for Best Actress. I think she did such a phenomenal job in "The Blind Side" and am so impressed with her humor and down-to-earth-ness. I think she and I should be friends. And have you ever heard Gabourey Sidabey (sp) in an interview? She's fantastic. So hilarious and real. I'm so glad she's getting these opportunities, I hope she keeps going.
Really. One more. It's now been two hours and thirteen minutes. I've been pretty busy, steady for at least the last half hour. I love meeting the parents of my students, especially the ones who "struggle". I love the fear in their eyes when they sit down and silently beg me to say nice things. It's so great. Maybe teaching really is a power trip. And then, I love the little smiles they get when I say they are great and how much I enjoy having them in my class and all they need to do is. . . . and then they owe me one. Remember that one time that I told your mom how good you are? And I'm not lying to their parents. I do genuinely enjoy my students. Some of them just don't know when and where the jokes are appropriate. So when I surprise them like that, most of them come back the next day and are just a little bit better.
I'm a lucky girl. If I could just drag my lazy butt out of bed in the morning to go to the gym. . .
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Game is ON!
I did it. It's for real now. I will be participating in the Bear Lake Classic Sprint Triathlon on Saturday, August 7, 2010. Heck yes, I am! I was inspired by my friend Sarah who rocked her own tri last year. I'd invite her to do it again but she'll be birthing a child in the summer time and I've heard that's not very conducive to tri's. She amazes me, though. She made up her mind to do something and she did it.
I made a goal last summer that I was going to complete a tri by the time I turned 30, which is May 29th. I figure that I can give myself three months leeway. I'm really stoked. It is super helpful for me to have something to work towards, and I am really excited to cross this off my "bucket list". I will also be skydiving this summer.
If anyone wants to do it with me (Tracie will be doing the 1/2 marathon), you are welcome to! Motivation: $90. The feeling of accomplishment? Priceless.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Things I Love
So. Valentines day, huh? I know, it was five days ago, but I've been pretty slow lately. I had Monday and Tuesday off and it was super hard to go back to school on Wednesday, and I'm happy it's Friday! In honor of the past dia de amor, here are some things that I love. (Please note that this list is not in order of importance.)
*Movies. Laura, Erik, Kami and I went and saw "Valentine's Day" last Friday night. E and K snuck in Jimmy John's sandwiches for us, and boy howdy, are those awesome. So yummy. And the movie? Amazing. So funny. Not smile in my heart funny, but laugh out loud several times funny. Some of it was predictable, but there were some definite twists that were hilarious. On this note,
*Family=Friends. I love that I have such a great friendship with my family. I love to hang out with my sibs. My sisters (I don't even call them in-laws, I just have 4 sisters) are my best friends. My brothers are fantastic and so willing to help whenever. So far they've donated 3 saturdays to my basement finishing cause, and that's very nice of them. Many more to come, I'm sure.
*Blessings. Last week could have been pretty dicey for my family. I got this text from my dad last wednesday: "Thanks to you all who mention me in your prayers I had two hundred pounds of wood knock me over and pin my legs and other than some bruises I'm ok I worked the rest of the day and came home. . ." I called him as soon as I got it, and like he said in the text, he was ok, but the idea was scary. He has some wicked bruises on his legs, and bruised tissue in his wrist, but nothing major. He likes to show me his deformed chapstick and money clip.
On Friday, my mom had surgery to hoist her falling bladder, throw it in a sling and tie it to her backbone. Which sounds completely normal, right? It was a laproscopy procedure so no major incisions, but she was under anesthesia, which if I've learned anything from ER and Grey's Anatomy, it's that no surgery is completely fool proof and doctors/nurses/hospital staff are often very promiscuous.
As I reflected on the could-have-beens and what-ifs, I feel very blessed to have such an amazing relationship with both of my parents. They are individually amazing people who have each taught me so much and who I genuinely look up to, but together I think they have done a really great job of raising their family. I don't want to brag, but I think we are pretty great. I know I've had my ups and downs with both of them, but I truly love them and appreciate all they do.
*Tracie. I know I already said that I like my siblings but I feel I need to give her a special shout out. (Lars, don't get mad. I love you just as much.) We were asked by our Bishop's wife to put together a musical number for the stake valentine's dinner. We immediately started thinking about all the performance possibilities from music to choreography to blingin' costumes. Weeks passed. We did nothing but think. Finally, the day of the dinner, we put pen to paper and came up with quite the little number. T put some great moves to the song but I quickly forgot most of them. It was a hit! I had a friend record it, but sadly, we only got the last half. I will post the video later, stay tuned. T and I always joke about having a reality tv show because we know how funny we really are. We think it would be a hit. Even when we aren't in front of people (where we really shine, just ask HHS seminary council) we still crack each other up. She was a really great neighbor and I miss living next door to her. Even though she would stay in my room and talk and talk and talk. . . . . . . . .
*My new mattress. It's pillow top and not an air-mattress. Oh, happiness.
That's all for today. I think.
*Movies. Laura, Erik, Kami and I went and saw "Valentine's Day" last Friday night. E and K snuck in Jimmy John's sandwiches for us, and boy howdy, are those awesome. So yummy. And the movie? Amazing. So funny. Not smile in my heart funny, but laugh out loud several times funny. Some of it was predictable, but there were some definite twists that were hilarious. On this note,
*Family=Friends. I love that I have such a great friendship with my family. I love to hang out with my sibs. My sisters (I don't even call them in-laws, I just have 4 sisters) are my best friends. My brothers are fantastic and so willing to help whenever. So far they've donated 3 saturdays to my basement finishing cause, and that's very nice of them. Many more to come, I'm sure.
*Blessings. Last week could have been pretty dicey for my family. I got this text from my dad last wednesday: "Thanks to you all who mention me in your prayers I had two hundred pounds of wood knock me over and pin my legs and other than some bruises I'm ok I worked the rest of the day and came home. . ." I called him as soon as I got it, and like he said in the text, he was ok, but the idea was scary. He has some wicked bruises on his legs, and bruised tissue in his wrist, but nothing major. He likes to show me his deformed chapstick and money clip.
On Friday, my mom had surgery to hoist her falling bladder, throw it in a sling and tie it to her backbone. Which sounds completely normal, right? It was a laproscopy procedure so no major incisions, but she was under anesthesia, which if I've learned anything from ER and Grey's Anatomy, it's that no surgery is completely fool proof and doctors/nurses/hospital staff are often very promiscuous.
As I reflected on the could-have-beens and what-ifs, I feel very blessed to have such an amazing relationship with both of my parents. They are individually amazing people who have each taught me so much and who I genuinely look up to, but together I think they have done a really great job of raising their family. I don't want to brag, but I think we are pretty great. I know I've had my ups and downs with both of them, but I truly love them and appreciate all they do.
*Tracie. I know I already said that I like my siblings but I feel I need to give her a special shout out. (Lars, don't get mad. I love you just as much.) We were asked by our Bishop's wife to put together a musical number for the stake valentine's dinner. We immediately started thinking about all the performance possibilities from music to choreography to blingin' costumes. Weeks passed. We did nothing but think. Finally, the day of the dinner, we put pen to paper and came up with quite the little number. T put some great moves to the song but I quickly forgot most of them. It was a hit! I had a friend record it, but sadly, we only got the last half. I will post the video later, stay tuned. T and I always joke about having a reality tv show because we know how funny we really are. We think it would be a hit. Even when we aren't in front of people (where we really shine, just ask HHS seminary council) we still crack each other up. She was a really great neighbor and I miss living next door to her. Even though she would stay in my room and talk and talk and talk. . . . . . . . .
*My new mattress. It's pillow top and not an air-mattress. Oh, happiness.
That's all for today. I think.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Know anyone who needs a good home?
I need a roommate. If you know anyone who is looking, please send them my way! Right now I'm trying to rent an upstairs room with a shared bathroom for $375, including utilities. It would be fun. Good times will be had by all. Thanks!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tell me about your future.
This was the assignment. To write one full page about what they want their life to be like when they grow up; what their job is, where they live, are they married? Kids? Cars? Vacations? Here are a few of my fave responses. First though, in my 4th period, I had a student come up and ask me what disease you get in the testicals. . .you know, the disease you get when you have a lot of sex. . . I said, like a sexually transmitted disease? he said, Yeah, the baddest one that kills people. He asked someone in spanish and apparently he was thinking of AIDS. oh man. That was funny. Apparently, he wants to cure HIV in his future. Which is a great goal.
"When I grow up a want to be a proffessional soccer play, because I get payed a lot over the year. I want to go to the univrsity of utah. And I want to have a parot. I like parots. I want a nice car and a nice house. to live in it. I dont like school I hate it I like macoron and chees I like monkyes. I want to eat at taco bell. and on vacason I want to go to mexico to go eat hotdog. I dont like lots of principals. And I like to eat food. I like to play cards."
"My wife is going to be hella hot she is always going to be preety Im always going to watch the fresh prince of Bell-Air. That show is so funny. And another show Im going to watch is thats 70 show. That show makes me pee my pants."
"Even I am gonna live free and will not die hard and it would be fun. . . "
"When I grow up a want to be a proffessional soccer play, because I get payed a lot over the year. I want to go to the univrsity of utah. And I want to have a parot. I like parots. I want a nice car and a nice house. to live in it. I dont like school I hate it I like macoron and chees I like monkyes. I want to eat at taco bell. and on vacason I want to go to mexico to go eat hotdog. I dont like lots of principals. And I like to eat food. I like to play cards."
"My wife is going to be hella hot she is always going to be preety Im always going to watch the fresh prince of Bell-Air. That show is so funny. And another show Im going to watch is thats 70 show. That show makes me pee my pants."
"Even I am gonna live free and will not die hard and it would be fun. . . "
"What I want to do well my job in the future is that I want to be a very famouse singer and also I want to be a very famouse artist that's why im trying so hard to do so good in school so that I can be very succssessful in life like you Mrs. Paul I can see that you were so succssusful in life and you stilla re I know that you accomplished things in life alot of things I want to be just like you very succesful and accomplish things." **I like this one. :)
"I want to live in forks and live in the mountins and that I can have a doter and husben and my doter name is going to be Renesme. . . .and if I have a sone maby the names can be Edward or Jacob."
"I'm going to the 'U of U' for college and try to get a degree to be a lawyer. But I hope the world is not going to end before I get to my future because I have a lot planned."
"My dream is when I'm 16 I want a boy friend who is a fine looking brother with a six pack."
"If I become a actor then I want to win a grammy for my acting skills."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I heart notes.
I used to be a big fan of passing notes. I remember folding them all special-like and keeping them in my back pocket because everyone knows that's where you put your notes. And your pink or purple hair pick. Radical.
Anyway. I love to take the notes that the students are writing and read them. I don't read them to the class, that's embarrassing. Sometimes I make up something different that the note can be about and say that out loud, because that is funny. Especially if it's a dumb note.
Today while the students were finishing "Apollo 13", I confiscated an especially juicy one. Stupidly, I ripped it up and threw it away, but don't worry. I just spent the last twenty minutes taping it back together. This is the only kind of puzzle I like. It's especially challenging when it's double-sided. But I did it for you.
I will be changing the names to protect the guilty. A little info to help you understand: "George" is one of my favorite students; he is the mac-daddy of the school. One day we did a data graph (data was a vocab word) of all the girls he has dated. He was a great sport about it. He has recently been dating Mary, they even had a month anniversary earlier this month, but sadly, "Mary" moved across the valley. It was truly tragic. Crying all around in the lunch room. To make it worse, they were both in my 7th period and I loved to tease them. Anyway. "Sara" is also in my 7th period (along with 4 other girls he has dated) and I'm not going to lie, she drives me absolutely insane. Anyway. Enjoy.
So George wat do you lyke about Sara!
um she is cute has a big a[**] and her atitude you now how she is
wat do you lyke about Mary!?
why
cuz I wonna kno!
um alot of things
lyke!?
the way she talks to me her lips her atitude her face and her sweetnes and there is more things I just dont know right now
Oh thats nice! [smiley face and arrow pointing to turn over the page]
[other side]
yeah
Do you really wonna be with Sara!
I told you I like her if I loved her yeah but I do but I can wait
So you do wont 2 go out with Sara!
Yes I do
Then go out with her! [smiley face]
I do but yo tengo novia y si quiero mas alrato pero horita nose [but I have a girlfriend and if I want more later but right now I don't know]
You have Sara here your gurl idk were she is you see your gurl on week-ends [circled] & you see Sara every single day!
Yeah thats true pero [but] I am not just going to leave the girl
After the movie we had some down time where I went and called George the school pimp and congratulated him on his noble effort to not just ditch Mary. It was a nice little convo. Then we talked about the upcoming talent show and then I sang a bit of "Greatest Love of All". I won't lie, it was pretty amazing. This is why I like to be a teacher.
Anyway. I love to take the notes that the students are writing and read them. I don't read them to the class, that's embarrassing. Sometimes I make up something different that the note can be about and say that out loud, because that is funny. Especially if it's a dumb note.
Today while the students were finishing "Apollo 13", I confiscated an especially juicy one. Stupidly, I ripped it up and threw it away, but don't worry. I just spent the last twenty minutes taping it back together. This is the only kind of puzzle I like. It's especially challenging when it's double-sided. But I did it for you.
I will be changing the names to protect the guilty. A little info to help you understand: "George" is one of my favorite students; he is the mac-daddy of the school. One day we did a data graph (data was a vocab word) of all the girls he has dated. He was a great sport about it. He has recently been dating Mary, they even had a month anniversary earlier this month, but sadly, "Mary" moved across the valley. It was truly tragic. Crying all around in the lunch room. To make it worse, they were both in my 7th period and I loved to tease them. Anyway. "Sara" is also in my 7th period (along with 4 other girls he has dated) and I'm not going to lie, she drives me absolutely insane. Anyway. Enjoy.
So George wat do you lyke about Sara!
um she is cute has a big a[**] and her atitude you now how she is
wat do you lyke about Mary!?
why
cuz I wonna kno!
um alot of things
lyke!?
the way she talks to me her lips her atitude her face and her sweetnes and there is more things I just dont know right now
Oh thats nice! [smiley face and arrow pointing to turn over the page]
[other side]
yeah
Do you really wonna be with Sara!
I told you I like her if I loved her yeah but I do but I can wait
So you do wont 2 go out with Sara!
Yes I do
Then go out with her! [smiley face]
I do but yo tengo novia y si quiero mas alrato pero horita nose [but I have a girlfriend and if I want more later but right now I don't know]
You have Sara here your gurl idk were she is you see your gurl on week-ends [circled] & you see Sara every single day!
Yeah thats true pero [but] I am not just going to leave the girl
After the movie we had some down time where I went and called George the school pimp and congratulated him on his noble effort to not just ditch Mary. It was a nice little convo. Then we talked about the upcoming talent show and then I sang a bit of "Greatest Love of All". I won't lie, it was pretty amazing. This is why I like to be a teacher.
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