I'M GETTING MARRIED TO LEE!!!

 So, it happened!  Lee proposed and of course I said YES!!!  Here's the story for anyone and everyone.
After school on Friday the 19th I headed over to Lee's house.  We decided to go out to eat before leaving for our little road trip so we headed to El Torito then on the road headed for Santa Cruz.  It was a fun drive with him as the sun was setting.  When we got there, Lee found a great parking spot and we headed toward the boardwalk.  After buying some tickets we went on a couple rides.  Of course the Big Dipper then a ride similar to Drop Zone. There were tons of people there because it was a Friday night and there was a live band.  Well, Lee and I love the beach and decided to go walk down to the water. We had to walk in the water of course so we rolled up our jeans and left our shoes to go walking along the shore.  It was just perfect,

walking and talking with the waves hitting us (sometimes higher than we expected).  After a while, when we were a ways down the beach away from other people is when it happened.  Lee told me that he loves me, that he is happy when he is with me, and that he wants it to last forever.  With that, he said that he had a question for me.  Lee got down on one knee (in the water, with waves hitting him) and pulled out the most beautiful ring.  I told him he better not drop it in the water, haha.  He asked me if I'd marry him and I did not hesitate to say yes. I am so extremely happy and excited!  Words can't do it justice.  I love Lee and cannot wait for our lives to continue together.

Adventures on the Delta

Every day I teach my students that I expect them to try new things.  Well, I was given the opportunity to practice what I preach.  Lee invited me out on the boat with his Dad, Brian, and Kim and of course I went. The guys were all taking turns skiing and then they asked me if I was going to.  (more like told me I was) Well, I've never been skiing before and I was a little nervous. I didn't think I'd be able to get up and I thought that it could very possibly be embarrassing.  I decided to try it and just have fun.  After some instructions I went for it.  I didn't get up the first time but I was surprised how fast I did get up!  I was very wobbly and didn't stay up for too long but I enjoyed it. We went out again a week later and I was able to get up and stay up longer which was a lot of fun!  Even when I was not out skiing, I was having a blast with Lee and the others.  It is just fun being on the boat and hanging out.  This past Monday we went out again but this time we had this nice tube.  Is it called a tube?  There wasn't a whole in the middle.

Lee and I rode on it together for the first couple times.  I loved riding with him!  We have video of us riding a couple times and wiping out hard both times.  I personally think the injuries were worth it. I don't know if I kneed Lee in the face or if he tried to bite me.  Either way, we both were feeling it but I'm afraid Lee got the worst end of the deal.  While watching the videos of us, I was really wishing you could hear our commentary.  I know it would have

been hilarious to listen to while watching.  

While riding alone, I was able to catch some air which was crazy.  I was tossed all around on that thing, holding on for my life.  I could not stop laughing the entire time, even as I was face planting into the raft. The fun and adventures never end here in California with Lee!  I have a permanent smile on my face.  Man I would be bored without him!  I don't
know what I would do with my free time.  

THANKS LEE!! YOU'RE THE BEST!!

The end of Summer

Well, this summer in California has been great. I have enjoyed lots of fun times with the people I love. If I tried to sit here and write about all of my favorite moments this summer, I'd be here for hours. :)  Let's just say, it has been unforgettable. 
After many interviews and a few job offers, I now have a job.  I will be teaching a K-3 class of students who all have Autism.  I'll be working at a school only 30 minutes away from home so I will start the school year by commuting.  This past week, I have spent a majority of my free time in my new classroom cleaning and organizing things.  Boy this is a big undertaking and quite stressful. School starts this Monday and I am very nervous for this school year to begin but I know that after time, I'll get into a new routine.  Once I get a feel for my new school and students, it'll be great. I am excited for this adventure to begin.

Home in California!

What a crazy past month! I don’t even know where to begin! The end of school was great but very sad too. It was hard saying goodbye to the teachers and aides I worked with all this last year. I was not expecting to feel as emotional about it as I did. I guess I was so excited about the future that I had not thought too much about what/who I was leaving behind. I absolutely loved my year at Foothill with such amazing people around me. Those amazing people were the best support system I ever could have asked for but they were more than that. They were my friends and I love them. It was also sad to leave Utah knowing that I will not get to see my family there as often. I cherished my time with them, especially Steve and company.

Coming home was exciting and something I have looked forward to for a while. Being home this summer has been amazing and very eventful. I have loved every minute of it and cannot believe how quickly it is going. I've been able to be part of the dance festival, spend lots of time with my family here, and of course lots of fun adventures with Lee.

While being back in Cali, I've started the search for a job which has been interesting. I've applied to about 13 different places and continue to look every day to see if new jobs are posted online.  I've gone to an observation and had an interview today. I also have 2 more interviews next week which will be good.  Things are starting to happen as summer ends and we approach a new school year. I am very excited to see how things go the next couple months. Such an exciting time in the life of Cami Hansen.

Memorial Day Weekend!

First of all I just have to say that in 5 days I'll be driving to California and I'm excited!!!  Ready or not, here I come!!!

This weekend was really fun.  It was not the typical Memorial day weekend I'm used to but I enjoyed it.  I went to Steve's house Friday night and spent the entire weekend with him and his family.  Fun stuff!  I really enjoy spending time with them.  We had lots of fun relaxing, watching the 6 hour (in 2 days) Pride and Prejudice, playing in the snow, having a fire and roasting hot dogs, and staying up late talking.  I really enjoy my nieces and nephews and am thankful that I've been able to spend so much time with them recently.  Weekends like these are the main things I will miss about living in Utah.  Yes I will miss my kids at school, but my family is my long term connection I will be without. 

Countdown

Well, my counting down the days began a while ago but I just have to say that in 18 days I'll be on my way to California.  Happy day!  I will miss friends and family in Utah but I am very excited for the fun times ahead in Cali.  So much to look forward to!

Sleep

Well, I don't have anything fun or interesting to say.  I have just been thinking about sleep today.  I love when I get some really good sleep.  Recently I haven't slept a lot or not deep sleep. I feel more rested even if I don't get a lot of sleep but it's good than when I get more light sleep.  Last night was one of those nights where I didn't get a lot of sleep but it was a peaceful relaxing night and I woke up ready for the day.

I also love Saturdays.  Without working on the weekends I am able to get things done and relax too!  Today I did just that.  I was up, got laundry and cleaning done, went to the gym, showered and shopped, sat in the sun/storm (crazy weather) and read for quite a while, then I wrote in my journal and relaxed all evening!  Gotta love it!

Spring Break!

How do I begin describing my Spring Break? There are so many things to say and a lot of words which would describe it perfectly but sometimes words just don't do it justice.  I'll try to use pictures to help.

I just love nature and this picture is to show
the beauty I constantly see in California. It is a place full of life and adventure.

The picture of feet may seem odd but I like it.  Lee and I enjoyed walking along the beach with our feet in the freezing water. I guess to me this picture is my love of not being alone. All while home I was with amazing people. Some of my very favorite people ever and I loved it!

I sure did a lot of smiling and laughing while at home.  The picture to the left is just me, happy! Happiness and fun times for sure represented with this picture!

The beach is one of my favorite places. Talk about relaxed!  The word I think of with this picture is just PERFECT!  I took this picture at the end of the perfect day which was the end of the perfect Spring Break!

March turns into ...... APRIL!

I wrote on here as March started and let's review the past month.  It FLEW past really fast.  I loved setting up my own classroom even though I didn't know what I was doing and I didn't have anything. The other teachers were great and let me borrow some stuff.  I hired another aide which I'm very happy about.  She is great.  I have 2 of the best aides ever.  I'm very spoiled where I am right now.  Between the people I work with and the 6 kids I get to have in my class, it's amazing!  (that's just a beginning because it's school only)  It's really funny when we get the two classes together which were originally one class.  It seems like chaos with all 13 together and I wonder how we did it all the time with that many considering all of the behavior problems.  I guess it just makes me feel thankful for what I have now.

Well, March was a great month but I really am happy to see April! 
April brings Spring and Spring Break!!!!  Both of these I am REALLY looking forward to but let's be honest Spring Break mostly.  I've been looking forward to spring break for a couple months now.  It'll be great to see Lee! and my family of course, and Lee.  :)  I know it will be sad when it's over and I don't know of anything exciting happening at the end of April to help that. The excitement ends on the 16th when I wake up and realize I have to fly back to Utah.  I guess at that point I'll just start looking forward to June. As for now.......YAY APRIL!!!!

I like Poetry on Occasion

I read a poem the other day and I really liked it.  I'm just going to post the first half of it on here because it's the part that I particularly liked.  I love how things can have different meanings for different people.  The second part of this poem has such a different meaning than what I take out of the first part.  It's great how that works.


Just the Same   By Diana Lynn Lacey

Sometimes -
God sends rain
Straight from the sky
To nourish the young flower
and it grows.

Sometimes -
God sends rain from the sky
To the mountaintops,
Then over hills and through valleys
Until it reaches the flower
and it grows, just the same.

Thoughts

I heard a great talk at church today and thought I'd share some things I really liked.  The topic was gratitude which of course I need to show more of.   Our High Councilman started talking about how in the church we hear that "Charity never faileth" and as a people we think than never failing would mean succeeding because that is the modern meaning for the words.  So with that in mind we could say Charity succeeds.  He then quoted a couple scriptures which put a different light on the word fail.  In each scripture fail meant run out.  So with that in mind if you put them together it means, Charity never runs out.  I like that a lot. 

He then went on to talk about how temporal things have limits.  You can enjoy one car and having 2 cars but you couldn't really enjoy 15 cars.  That's how it is with worldly things.  If you get too much, you can't/don't enjoy it.  Spiritual things, however, do not work that way.  You can never have too much love and you can never run out of love.

Also, Gratitude is something within.  It is a spiritual gift from God.  I haven't thought too much about it being a gift but it really is.  The world has a pessimistic tone in general and it is very easy to join the pessimism but to have a thankful heart and recognize it is really a gift.  To be able to look at life and love it for what it is and all of the wonderful experiences we are able to have while here really is a gift from God.  Life really is great and I have so much to be thankful for!!!!

St. Patrick's Day Potato

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!                                                                                                            Ok, I tried to put a picture on here but since I'm on a mac and don't know what I'm doing you can click the link below if you'd like to see it.  Usually I can figure out things on here but mac + blog = I don't know, confusing I guess.

 Potato Picture

 So, in the St. Patrick's Day package from Lee there were lots of fun/exciting things.  Amongst them was a St. Patrick's Day Potato.  I have never heard of such a thing and lets be honest, it looked gross.  As I kept looking through the box I quickly forgot about the potato, so much fun stuff!  Well today Lee asked me if I've ever had one before and proceeded to tell me that he wasn't so sure about them at first but he likes them.  I trust Lee so I just have to try it even if it looks nasty plus if he asks me tomorrow if I tried it I can't say no.  Then he’d know that I’m chicken!

I decided to try it tonight.  I got it out and stared at it for a few minutes, then I opened it and stared at it for a few minutes.  While staring at it I was trying to decide if I'm supposed to just pick it up at take a bite or if I should get a knife and cut it open.  I just don't know!! I chose to cut it, which I think was a good idea.  After cutting it I could see the inside and knew more of what to expect.  In the end I did eat it.  The first couple bites I didn’t know how I felt about it.  I was still skeptical but then I liked it.  Very different but it was good.  I liked the nuts in it.   THE END

It's March!

Well, I have felt like February was going by very slowly but now as I think about it, January and February went by very quickly.  Those were my first 2 months teaching alone as Melissa was on maternity leave and I loved it!  Now that she's back and we have gotten more new students, we're working on splitting our class in half.  That is my adventure for March; set up my classroom.  I don't know how time can seem like it's going so slow and yet pass so fast.  It's crazy.  I think that March is going to go quickly.  I feel like it will but maybe that's what I'm trying to convince myself.  I am so happy with how things have gone so far and I look forward to lots of good times ahead.
BRING ON MARCH!

Invictus

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.



This poem is by William Ernest Henley.  This is one of my Dad's favorite poems and I remember him reciting it for me when I was younger.  I just watched the movie for the first time since I saw it when it was in theatres.  I loved it then and I love it now!  Great movie and great poem!

Quote to Start the Year

I haven't done a quote of the week on here recently so I figure it's about time.  Today’s quote certainly applies to the last year for me.  My family has had a lot of trials and sudden things happen in the past year starting in January and spread all throughout the entire year.  We have been able to hang on and get through the deaths and illnesses and are sure ready to start a fresh new year.  This quote is by President Monson talking about missionary work but it is certainly applicable to life in general.  He said, “The Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.”  I love this, it is certainly true.