Dislike & Love

As I totally stole this idea, I feel the need to give proper credit to Lindsay
who made such a list most recently on Monday.

She's great.

So THANKS Linds!

Anywho. Some of my thoughts on the past couple days . . .

Things I dislike:

~Chapped lips
~My mic still being broken
~Having extra things happening at school, making me feel rushed
~Cold feet
~Swallowing 9 pills in one . . . standing . . . (a bunch of vitamins/herbs plus allergy and decongestant pills plus ibuprofun for the headache)
~Feeling lonely


Things I love:

~Chocolate
~Perfect days for driving home with my sunroof open
~Chapstick
~The loving hearts of children
~Wearing green
~That wearing green makes the red in my hair stand out
~Thunderstorms
~Institute
~My little brother giving me hugs
~New shoes
~My pillow-top queen bed
~Gospel discussions with my dad
~Looking for and finding the tender mercies in my life
~Chatting with my mom
~My friends
~Laughing so hard that it hurts

~LIFE~

*Live*Laugh*Love*

Running through the last few months . . . .

OK

I'm lame.
I have updated my blog for almost 3 months.

3 MONTHS!!!

Do you realize what has transpired during this time?

***ALOT***

So here I am, and I'll do a quick swing through of life and maybe I'll be a little better at staying up-to-date :)


So let's start with the most important:



Isn't he an adorable boy? He is.
My first nephew -- Matthew Callan Turner (Callan)

Born August 4, 2009 -- 6lbs 4oz and 20in long.

I can't wait to get him in my hands! (they're in Seattle)


And there is also:


Jaden Bradley Cutler
My surrogate nephew! Another precious soul :)
(His mom is Camille - my "sister" who has been my best friend since Kindergarten - so I'm claiming him too!)

Born October 2, 2009 -- 8lbs 5oz and 20in long.

Again -- far away in Indiana. :(

I love babies! :)


So, what have I been doing other than getting excited about my sister-in-law and best friend bringing these beautiful little boys into the world?

Well, I bought this:

And I love it!
Silver 2009 Mazda3 Hatchback

It had 16 miles on it when I bought it.

Now it has almost 3000.
That's what happens when you drive about 50 miles a day!

Why am I driving 50 miles a day?

Because I work here:



Where I teach First Grade.

20 miles there + 20 miles back + other errands = approx. 50 miles/day

I had 28 students, but my . . . challenging . . . student is gone for the time being.
27 6/7 year olds are plenty though!

I love them.

They are exhausting, but I love them!

On Wednesday we went on a field trip to Wheelers Farm.

It was POURING rain.

We were SOAKED!

So we went back to the school early,
ate lunch in our classroom,
played musical chairs for a birthday game,
and watched:




Day well spent! :)

And now, I'm listening to conference (you can watch it here)and enjoying my long weekend.

Life is good :)

Bishop Turner

We got a new Stake Presidency about a month ago. I predicted correctly that my incredible institute teacher would be the new Stake President (I miss him in class!). What I didn't predict is that now-President Blair Morris would be taking our own Bishop Reed Merkley as a counselor.

But as soon as we knew that, I was pretty sure who the bishop would be!

I was right :)

Yesterday (July 12th), my Dad was set apart as the new Bishop in the Park Meadows Ward in the Centerville, UT Stake of Zion.

Love you, Daddy!

It's all about the kids!

Back on the 3rd I was unaware of having work off until I was already up and ready for the day (and wondering why on earth Mitch was still in his PJs). So I "randomly" decided to fill out the online application for Granite School District with all my spare time.

I was definitely inspired.

Most of the applications that I've filled out have asked about grade preferences, etc., but this one didn't. Those of you with whom I've discussed my teaching career know that I was quite opinionated when it came to the grade(s) I wanted to teach:

I'm an upper-grade teacher.

5th would be the ideal position.

I don't even KNOW how to PROCESS information at a beginning level.

Good thing Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself :)

So I submitted the application and didn't really think much of it until I received a call from a principal Monday morning -- she wanted to interview me the next day for a 1st grade position at her school.

My thoughts: First grade? No. But interview practice is always good!

So Tuesday I drove 23 minutes to Rolling Meadows Elementary School in West Valley City. I was the first interview of the day and Mrs. Kayla MacKay would be interviewing all week. She was an absolute sweetheart! One of the 1st grade teachers (Cherrie) was also in the room for the interview and she, too, was one of the sweetest ladies. I didn't even know them and they made me feel loved and welcomed as though they'd known me for years. I left the interview loving them.

Suddenly all thoughts went to 1st grade.
Classroom themes -- lesson ideas -- just how cute those kids are!

Friday morning (July 10th) -- just one week after submitting my application -- I was offered the job. I was feeling so good about it, but it took me by such surprise that I asked Kayla if I could have the weekend to think about it. As soon as I got off the phone, I ran into my dad's office and had a heart-to-heart. He made me recognize how much trust and confidence Kayla was putting in me -- a first year teacher -- to offer me a position teaching first grade. Wow! She picked ME. Not someone with a lot of experience.

ME

So I prayed. I still felt good about it. I called Kayla back and I accepted the job. I didn't need the weekend.

She was thrilled!

She told me that right after she had spoken with me she called Jenny (the third teacher) and Cherrie to tell them that I wanted to think about it. Cherrie is such a sweetheart! Kayla told me that Cherrie mentioned that maybe I just needed some time to pray about it . . . and that she would think of me when she went to the temple later that day. Kayla expressed to me her desire that I would realize I wanted them as much as they wanted me. She immediately called the other two teachers back.

I am so blessed to not only have found a job, but to have the opportunity to work with such wonderful women!

Yep. Heavenly Father's plan is a whole lot better than my own. :)

N'Abandonne Pas

N'Abandonne Pas

N'abandonne pas lorsque la marée est à son plus bas,
Car bientôt elle changera.
N'abandonne pas en cas de doutes ou de questions,
Car peut-être que tu apprendras quelques chose.

N'abandonne pas lorsque la nuit est à son plus noir,
Car l'aube ne saurais tarder.
N'abandonne pas lorsque tu as courru le plus loin possible,
La course est presque gagnée.

N'abandonne pas lorsque la côte est à son plus abrupte,
Car ton objectif est presque atteint.
N'abandonne pas, car tu ne connaîtras pas l'échec,
Sauf si tu n'essaies pas.

Jill Wolf

Almost 2 years ago I decided it was time for me to improve my journal-writing habits, so I went looking for a journal that would make me want to write. For those of you who didn't know this -- I have a slight obsession for all things French. I found a journal on the clearance shelf in the BYU bookstore with the short story/poem Footprints on it in French -- it was too perfect, so I bought it. And I filled it quite quickly. When it was nearly full, I went looking for another journal, so I'd already have one to continue writing in when the first was full. I again found it on the clearance shelf at the bookstore and again it caught my eye because of the French writing on the front. The poem above is what that writing contained.

I read through the poem again tonight and realized how much I love this poem and so, I'm sharing it with you. I couldn't find a real English translation of it online, but I'll translate it for you:

Don't Give Up

Don't give up when the tide is at it's lowest;
for soon it will change;
Don't give up when there are doubts and questions;
for you may be something to learn.

Don't give up when the night is at it's darkest,
for dawn will never come late;
Don't give up when you think you've run your furthest,
the race is almost won.

Don't give up when the coast is the roughest,
for you have almost reached you goal;
Don't give up, for you will never know failure
unless you never try.

**EDIT** I found an English version. It's not an exact translation, but the same idea . . . and it rhymes :)
Don't quit when the tide is lowest,
For it's just about to turn;
Don't quit over doubts and questions,
For there's something you may learn.
Don't quit when the night is darkest,
For it's just a while 'til dawn;
Don't quit when you've run the farthest,
For the race is almost won.
Don't quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost nigh;
Don't quit, for you're not a failure
Until you fail to try.

There are times that I feel like I just want to give up on some things, but I know that I'm here and I'm in the middle of it. If I stop trying -- I will fail -- but as long as I keep pushing forward, I will be able to continue on. My Savior is there for me -- carrying me in the darkest times and leading me in all that I do. All I have to do is trust in Him and do my best. I WILL SUCCEED!!!

*Here's the French translation of the Footprints story . . .*
(Photo taken by me in southern France -- 2007)

Empreintes
Un homme, un soir, eut un rêve. Il rêva qu’il marchait au bord de la mer avec le Seigneur.

Sur le fond du ciel se déroulaient des scènes. Dans chaque scène, il remarquait deux traces parallèles de pas dans le sable. L’une, la sienne, l’autre selle du Seigneur.

Quand la dernière scène de sa vie s’alluma, il se retourna pour revoir les traces de pas sur la grève. Ici et la, sur la route de sa vie, il n’y avait qu’une seule trace de pas. Et ces moments de marche solitaire correspondaient aux heures les plus tristes et les plus déprimantes de sa vie.

Intrigué, il interrogea son compagnon. “Seigneur, quand j’ai décidé de te suivre, tu avais dit que tu marcherais tout le chemin avec moi! Et je vois qu’aux pires périodes de mon existence, il n’y a qu’une seule trace se pas; m’aurais-tu donc abandonné quand justement j’avais le plus besoin de toi?”

“Je t’aime, mon très cher enfant, je t’aime st jamais je ne te laisserais. Une seule trace de pas, oui aux temps les plus difficiles de tes épreuves et de tes souffrances, mais c’est alors que je to portais.”

~Auteur inconnu

It's ok that my life isn't exactly where I thought it would be at this point -- it doesn't mean that my path will be any less fulfilling. In fact, it will probably be more fulfilling than if it went exactly the way I had it planned out in my mind. Heavenly Father really does know best.

Trust.Love.Learn.Live

A97CB6F9-F04F-87AC-3607-887F31F22485

1.02.28

*sigh . . . *

I haven't slept in my own bed for 3 WEEKS!

Seriously, people -- isn't that sad?
I got home from Europe last Tuesday and still haven't slept in my own bed.

It's pitiful.

One of the GREATEST things about getting home from any trip is getting to sleep in your OWN BED.

No wondering. No worrying.

Just your OWN bed in your OWN room.
Complete. Utter. Bliss.

Before heading to Europe, I even put clean sheets on my bed so that when I came home I would have that added luxury.
(Girls, can we all agree that one of the most wonderful simple pleasures in life is getting into a bed with clean sheets and freshly shaven legs? Mmm . . . )

So then what happened?

RAIN

And what came of the rain?

FLOODING

And of COURSE it flooded my room.

But TONIGHT is the night. After sleeping the night in 7 countries and on 11 different surfaces, I'm finally on my way to my OWN bed!


Here's a list of where I've slept since last sleeping in my own bed:
June 7 -- Last time I slept in my own bed
June 9-10 -- NH Hotel in South Kensington, London, England
June 11-12 -- NH Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands
June 13 -- Apartment in Fussen, Germany
June 14-15 -- Marriott Renaissance in Munich, Germany
June 16 -- Apartment in Bad Mitterndorf, Austria
June 17 -- Hotel in Modling, Austria
June 18-20 -- Apartment in Paris, France
June 21-22 -- NH Hotel in Brussels, Belgium
June 23 -- Living Room couch
June 24-26 -- Alex's bed
June 27-28 -- Family Room couch
June 29, 2009 -- Clean sheets (check), shaved legs (check), own bed (check) . . .
BLISS!

Brownie is the royal dog of Belgium . . . and other things I learned in Europe

So while I was being a good girl in Europe and writing in my journal daily I started jotting down a list of funny little things I learned while I was there. For the most part, these are just random observations, but a few have stories behind them (ask what they are and I might tell you ;) ). I might add more to list later, but here's what I have for now. Enjoy!

• Tube strikes in London are a lot harder to work around and deal with than Metro strikes in Paris.
  
  
• The Netherlands are full of LARGE women. And by large, I mean tall.
  
  
• When the light turns green in Geneva you should already be moving. You will be honked at.
  
  
• You can't buy postcards -- or anything but McDonalds -- at night in Lichtenstein.
  
  
• McDonalds restaurants are EVERYWHERE! They are officially taking over the world.
  
  
• Utah's grid system ROCKS!
  
  
• Germans eat a TON of food!
  
  
• I can read every plaque and look at every item in a Museum before Mitch finishes a single room.
  
  
• Munich thunderstorms are awesome -- even though they are missing the thunder echoing through the canyons that we have in Utah and the torrents of rain we had in Thailand.
  
  
• Anne Frank's birthday is June 12. She would have been 80.
  
  
• Hallstatt really is a great resting point between Salzburg and Vienna.
  
  
• Good tomato soup is heavenly :).
  
  
• Peter and Monique Bearts are awesome.
  
  
• I ♥ Bad Mitterndorf.
  
  
• Despite all the pictures, Mozart Balls are NOT green inside!
  
  
• BILLA grocery stores have great sandwiches.
  
  
• The countryside between Salzburg and Vienna is made for sledding.
  
  
• I remember French better than I though I did.
  
  
• I still know my way around the Metro.
  
  
• I still prefer the Metro to the Tube!
  
  
• Living in Paris for 3 months supposedly means that I know everything about Paris/France -- from the population size to the name and use of EVERY building!
  
  
• When my mind starts shutting down, I can't decipher between French and English.
  
  
• They tell you that admission to the gardens at the Palace of Versailles are free -- what they don't tell you is that from April 1 - Oct 31 admission is 8 Euros/per person on Sundays.
  
  
• I found a really really good incentive to stay in shape.
  
  
• I'm "addicted" to the gym.
  
  
• If they reprint your boarding passes at the gate, prepare yourself for trouble.
  
  
• My dad has the best truths for "2 Truths and a Lie" EVER.
  
  
• My family is full of loud sleepers. Luckily, I'm not one of them.
  
  
• I've got a whole new list of reasons to get married!