Lately...

Lately life has been GREAT! It is the summer time and I am having a most fantabulous time with family and friends.

For starters, I can walk and I moved! Yup! I went from the west side of the valley to the east side. Don't judge me, people. And my roommates and I get along great! We have a blast in our townhouse.

I am also taking math classes from USU. I know! Crazy, right?! But next year, and from now on, every year, I will be teaching English and Math. Yowzzaa! That's quite a combination. But I am so excited for this. I was originally declared as a Math Ed major in college, but then switched to English. English has brought me a lot of joy, but I have also missed math. Again, crazy, right?! Who misses math??? I do. :) So this will definitely be an adventure...

I also had the amazing opportunity on June 20th to go through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. My parents came to town and it was a wonderful experience! It is always so exciting to learn new things and to be able to draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for temples and the knowledge that families can be together forever.

I am starting to write a book! So fun! It's a dating book geared toward LDS girls/young women/singles/ whatever, and it's about the different lessons I have learned while dating and how they can apply these lessons. Kind of a "what I've learned and different tips and tricks to keep in mind while dating" book, also mixed in a lot with the gospel. I am so excited for this book! I have already started writing it, and I've gotten pretty far. It's cool because I feel really inspired and I just think it's a cool project! Hopefully you'll be able to see it while your perusing through Deseret Book in a a year or two...

I miss my students. Again, crazy. Do you see a pattern forming here? But I really do! Those kids brought so much laughter and joy and sometimes frustration to my life, but I love teaching and I love my school and my job! It's sad to not have to wake up for something every morning. Except your just waking up for you and cleaning the house and groceries and laundry and.....OK, so I guess I have things to wake up for. But they are not NEARLY as fun as teaching. ;)

Life has just been REALLY good. I have a great feeling that this is going to be an awesome year, despite the fact that I started it with a broken foot. I've just realized so many things lately about myself and life and the gospel. I truly believe there are reasons as to why I broke my foot. Yes, on the outside it sounds like a freak accident and it kind of was, but I don't think it was so much an accident as it was an avenue for me to continue to learn things and to humble myself. And yes, I've been dealing with personal trials lately and struggles and difficulties, but I am trying so hard to see them as more avenues to learning new things and bettering myself. Having this positive attitude has had a huge impact on my life. And most of the time, it is while you are living life that the most amazing things happen. :)

One of These Days

One of These Days...

-I'm going to know what that random sound is every night coming from upstairs at around 11:30.

-I will be walking again. YES!

-I will be able to play a song on my guitar without having to look and make sure I'm playing the correct chords.

-I will go to Egypt and Greece. Not in the same trip, mind you.

-I'll be able to go to England and see where my grandparents grew up.

-I will be able to join my friends in the "Married with Baby" ranks.

-I will run a 5K (Baby steps, people).

- I will own some kind of crossover vehicle.

-I will finish that quilt I started...

-I will be able to play my violin like I did in high school.

-I will find the perfect scare tactic for my eighth graders, because they've scared me so many times, it's my turn. :)

-I will be better at photography.

-I will not only just see the temple, but go inside.

-I will meet some famous person and have an awesome conversation with them lasting longer than five minutes.

-I will understand and be grateful for the trials placed in front of me.

-I will not be afraid of any and all dogs.

-I will read every book on my "to read" list on Goodreads.

-I will write a book or short story that could appear on someone's "to read" list on Goodreads.

-I will find something better to blog about. :)

Until next time!

Healing

The foot is definitely healing! This is a blessing! I should be walking on April 9th. I will let you know if that happens. So far the doctor says I've been healing great, and things look good. This is excellent! Life is good.

I'm tired of the scooter though. It's appeal wore off after a month or so. A friend of mine from work said, "It's like it's a part of you now. It's just a part of your life, and you've come to accept it." And it's true. Honestly, other than the fact that it can be a pain in the butt sometimes, I don't think about it much anymore. It has become a part of daily life. So everyday, it's life. For the past three months. I still, however, very much look forward to walking. :)

I am also healing in other ways. Mainly emotionally. The past six months have been very emotionally draining from my personal life to church life to school life to home to health life to everything! It has just literally worn me out. But I can definitely see how I'm healing. Other than the foot, I am back to my normal self, still kickin', and still hangin' in there. It's amazing to look back on myself a year ago, and see how far I've come and the things I have accomplished and experienced!

As a part of this healing, I am also moving! Don't worry, I'm still going to live in Utah. But I am moving to the other side of the valley to a townhouse with two of my friends. Since January, I have felt that it is time to move and fully move on from things, and I feel more than ready for that! I am so glad we found this place! It is amazing! As soon as I move in, I'll post pictures. But I feel like it's a good chapter break. One chapter closes, and another one opens up to me. I'm nervous, but excited to read this one. It will be REALLY different, but I look forward to it. :)

Let the healing continue.

It's All About Attitude

Trying to make the best out of everything. :)

You Have to Laugh About It

Holy cow, has life been crazy or what? But a good kind of crazy. Christmas at home was wonderful and was exactly what I needed. I felt rejuvenated coming home to Utah and was actually pretty glad to come back and continue on with life and a new year.

School began again and I love my students, so life was good. I turned 24 and don't feel a whole lot different. AND a week after my birthday...I broke my foot. For a single person, dang! My life is exciting! Last year, I kill my back. This year, I break my foot. Each year has got to start with something, right? :)

So I've just been hobbling around on crutches and an awesome knee scooter the hospital gave me for school. My students told me I needed to "pimp my ride," so I did! Picture below.

At first, I was kind of devastated in a sense. When the doctor told me my foot was broken, I looked at him and said, "Haha. No. It can't be. Nope. I'm a teacher. I have school! I have things to do...in life! No...." Then the doctor laughed and said, "No matter how many times you say no, it's still going to be broken!" I just couldn't believe it. I was stunned. I've never broken a bone before. And it didn't hurt too bad. I was expecting excruciating pain that never came.

So they gave me all the stuff I needed and I went home. Up until this point I had not cried. I think I shed one tear after the doctor said it was broken, but other than that...nothing. I was pretty proud of myself! And then I got home and got tucked into bed (Thanks, Dawn!) and THEN I cried. However, I knew that crying would not make the situation better. My foot won't heal any faster and I just needed to get over it. So I did!

I decided to have fun with this! I told my kids a bunch of "stories" of how I broke my foot, instead of the lame truth of me working out and breaking it, let them write creative stories of how I broke my foot (ideas listed below), and I poked fun at myself and let the kids poke fun, too. You have to laugh about it! You have to have fun and find the silver lining in the cloud. So I am. And it has made this frustrating situation, not so frustrating. Keeping a positive outlook really does work! I feel happier because of it.

Also, feel free to come visit me anytime! I do get bored sometimes, so PLEASE stop by! Just give me a heads up, and all will be well. :)

Picture of the knee scooter all "pimped out" as my kids say. ;)

My kids' ideas of how I broke my foot:

1. I was fighting an epic battle against ninja assassins and while destroying them, broke my foot. Then I was greeted by a handsome super model, got married, and had three kids. Nice.

2. I jumped off my porch pretending to be Batman. (Eventually, due to word of mouth, this one morphed into Super Man.)

3. I was dancing with my (non-existent) boyfriend and broke my foot because he spun me around to0 fast.

4. I was, again, with my (non-existent) boyfriend and we were ice skating. I was attempting to show off by doing a "fast, spinny, thingy" and broke my foot. I was quite embarrassed and then he proposed to make me feel better. And then this student quickly added, "But he was going to propose anyway! So it's not just a pity-proposal! I promise!" Oh, I love them. :)

5. I was fighting ANOTHER epic battle between the Dark Force (Star Wars) and the Wizarding World (Harry Potter) and became injured trying to restore peace to the galaxy while bringing down Voldemort. Sorry, Luke and Harry, I win!

Good times in 8th grade.... :)

I'm Still Alive, I Promise.

I need to blog more. I just don't have the time today. Will blog soon. :)

Goodbye 2011

So I know I wrote one of these last year, but I also wanted to/felt the need to write one for this year.

Dear 2011,

Wow, the things we have seen this year! The year started off with a huge blessing! I was blessed with a full-time teaching job in SLC, UT. Coming in as a ninth grade teacher half way through the school year was rough, but pretty amazing. I learned things from those kids I was not planning on learning. And I definitely learned more about myself. Not to mention, I officially got rehired for the following school year! Life is good. :)

The Church reorganized the way singles wards are done and I got called to be the RS president. Not an easy task, might I add...but a complete blessing as well. I have enjoyed my time in that calling and the many opportunities I've had to serve those around me. Again, I have learned a LOT about myself.

The summer was a crazy whirlwind! I coached swimming and had a blast. My parents flew out and I went on a California vacation to Yosemite and Monteray and San Francisco. It was wonderful! Many memories and good times. Unfortunately, like last year, I experienced some heartache. A type of heartache I never even dreamed I would have to experience. And I came out on top! It was the hardest thing I have done up to this point in my life, and even though I would never wish this kind of thing on my worst enemy, I wouldn't take it back either. I have learned more about myself, the beauty of trials and suffering, and the beauty of mercy in the past five months, than I have in my whole life. My testimony is stronger and I know that I am much stronger! I can honestly say I have walked away from this experience a better person. I have gained a sense of gratitude for the things we all go through in life. I have gained a sense of compassion for others and I have a very much stronger sense of self. I can accomplish and live through anything.

My students this year are hysterical. They are a huge joy in my life and I am thankful for them every day. They have just been a blast and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the school year will bring. :)

I am home for Christmas. Words cannot express how much this trip home has meant for me. I needed this. I needed to be home in the place where I grew up, being around friends and family who have always offered love and support, and I feel completely rejuvenated having been here. It has been so good to be home.

So, at the close of this year, I close another chapter in my life and begin to start a new one. I am so excited to see what 2012 has to offer me. I know it will be full of highs and lows, good times and bad, but in everything there can be joy and gratitude. I truly feel as if I can take on the world. And this year, I plan to.

Goodbye, 2011. Thank you for everything you have taught me.