Journals

Today I took a little time and looked through my journal of the past almost 2 years.  This journal starts when I moved to Utah, January 09.  It was interesting and I am thankful for journals and for best friends who bug you to write in them. (Thanks Miranda! You're my best friend ever!) I have not been the best at keeping one but I try to write somewhat regularly even if that means once every 3 or 4 or 6 months and update the important events.  I have not done too bad while being in Utah which was fun to look back on.  There were quite a few events that I had forgotten about and I started laughing as I remembered those situations.  I know that in general people say that journals are for your descendants so they can learn about your life etc.  I however think that my journal is of the most use to me.  If my kids kids eventually find something of use in them then that’s great (I can’t really imagine they would) but I have learned from my own writing.  It’s not like I had some huge experience by reading/skimming over my journal but I was reminded of good times and some not so good times.  I guess looking back helps me realize that I have grown, it highlights some really good times as it brings back memories with specific details mentioned, and also helps me realize that hard times come and go.  The key there is that they go.  They do not last forever and I am thankful for them in the end.  I’ve been blessed with many different experiences in my life as well as many wonderful people.

I haven't written anything for a while and somehow I'm at a loss.  I have so many things on my mind but nothing is coming out.   I do have to say that time does baffle me.  I was thinking back to just a year ago and oh how the time flies. Many differences in my life in one year let alone when I think back farther.  It sure makes me feel thankful for the good constants in my life (one of which being change, many good changes).

Observation Day!

Today I had my first formal observation by my University Supervisor. I made sure I had everything ready and re-read the rubric for it last night just to make sure I was remembering all of the parts. I’ve got it. This morning I’m up and going but somehow I didn’t have as much time as I thought I should and I hurried out the door in order to not be late. As I was driving I thought to myself, I’ll make it close enough to on time at least and I’m all ready for my lesson. I was off of the freeway and a couple minutes away from the school when I realized, I FORGOT MY SHOES!!!

Ok, now that may sound bad and you may think to yourself, how can she forget her shoes?! It’s actually quite simple. I did have shoes on. I wear flip flops around the house all the time so I had something on my feet but not my shoes for teaching. For those of you who do not know, flip flops are NOT ok for teachers. We were told quite a few times that they are not professional so don’t wear them. As it is, today was pajama day at school and I specifically dressed in nice professional clothes anyway just because of my observation and then I forget appropriate shoes! Oh man, how annoying. Let’s just take away some points before the lesson even starts! My Cooperating teacher told me that she’d let me go home to get my shoes but I didn’t. How unprofessional would that have been! I just stayed there and decided I couldn’t worry about it. Well, my observation came and it went really well. I told her about my shoes and she said that she understood. She actually told me that she understood why I dressed nice but that she would be ok with the pajamas since the entire school was doing it as long as I let her know. So, she understood about that little thing and I did well on my lesson so I’m happy. It has been a long day and now that I’m home tonight, I will relax a little before going to bed. I have my lessons all ready for tomorrow. I add music to my lessons so that'll be good. Fun stuff! I love student teaching!
My class is great!!!  Random comment, one of my students fell asleep so many times today!  He slept in the rubber at recess; fell asleep at the table multiple times at the table and sitting in circle.  At one point he completely fell out of his chair because he was asleep!  Man he was tired. It was cute but oh so sad.  The other kids would keep going over to him at recess or during class to check on him.  One student informed me (during recess) that he's breathing so I didn't need to worry.  I just love them!  Every day is a new day with them which I love.

President comes to Utah

 < Sis Engbjerg       Mary Clinger >

Last night I was able to go to the airport to see President and Sister Engbjerg when they arrived in Utah.  It was so fun!  I had my camera but didn't take many pictures.  President got a picture of all of us so I'll have to get that from him.  It sure felt like a mini mission reunion just a week before the real reunion.  It was really fun seeing some old friends.  Good time for sure, the reunion is going to be a blast next weekend!  Our mission does like to party.  It was really fun to see President and Sister Engbjerg, it's been 2 years now.  It was just typical of them, they travel 20 hours to get here and what did they bring with them? Fresh pastries from Denmark for all of us who were at the airport.  Of course they come with stuff for us, they are over the top. It was fun, on the way home the car I was in stopped to eat which was fun.  It was great to see some people and hear about their lives.  So much has happened since the mission. Great mission family!

Life with Rula

Well, I've quickly found that living in my Grandma's basement is full of fun and adventure (and some frustrations at times but those can be overlooked).  The latest adventure was today as she wanted me to help her pick peaches before they go bad.  This is not new, we've done this a few times and it does not sound like much of an adventure but let me assure you it was.  Today, we "needed" to get the peaches from the top of the tree.  They were beautiful and we couldn't let them go to waste.  Well, we took a ladder this time which seems ok so far.  As we approach I remember how uneven the ground is there.  The tree is on a slope and right where the ladder should be is quite slanted.  I set up the ladder and try to find a place for it to be so that I can climb up without dying.  No good.  Grandma convinces me to put it closer to the tree and hold the ladder so that she can climb up because she doesn’t think she can hold the ladder for me.  So I sat there and held the ladder for her while only 2 of the 4 legs of the ladder were touching the ground and she insisted on climbing to the top of the ladder.  I looked up and there is my 90 year old (next month) grandma leaning backward trying to get around some branches.  After watching her for a minute I decided I needed to just stare at the ground and hold on because she was making me too nervous.  I did end up getting hit on the head with a couple falling peaches but not too much damage (I don’t think :-).  My Grandma just cracks me up.  You wouldn’t know that she is turning 90 by the way she acts sometimes.  I’m so glad I’m living here with her right now.  It’s nice to spend time with her. 
I sure do love my Rula.

Friends

I am so thankful for good friends.  Over the years, friends tend to come and go.  As life progresses you move, go to college, work, possibly serve a mission, and many other things.  In each of those situations you meet many different people and make friends.  I am glad I've met so many people.  Sometimes I've become friends with people because we were put in a position to work together so we needed to get along and others have been natural.  I'm thankful for all of those friends I've had but I have realized how special some of those become.  In Anne of Green Gables, Anne talks a lot about "kindred spirits" or "bosom friends".  Those are the friendships that really stick and last beyond changes in life.  I have a few of those friends which I just love to death.  It doesn't matter how often you see that friend, he/she is always there.  Last night I worked with a friend who I have not seen in a long time.  I had so much fun talking to her and I realized that she is one of those friends for me. A friend who will always be there whether or not we see each other, we will keep in touch and be good friends.  I have a few other friends like this and as I think about it, they are such a good constant in a life that is constantly changing.  How nice to be in a new place with all new people but to still know that I can pick up a phone and have that friend to talk to. How lucky I am to have such friends.

Adjusting to life in American Fork

Well, life is interesting.  I'm enjoying living in American Fork.  It's a good change after Provo for sure.  I have survived my first week of student teaching.  It was a good week as I got to know the kids in my class and how the classroom is run.  I love the teacher I'm working with.  She and I get along really well and have a lot in common. Here's a picture of me just getting to school on the first day with my teacher badge (can't see my photo ID in this pic, it's all official).  Yes, I'm a nerd :)  I ended up teaching 2 days when my teacher was not there and the aides in the class asked me to.  Later I found out that was not what I should have been doing.  Oops!  It was a good experience as far as I'm concerned so I'm glad but now I know better.

Along with starting school, I've started going to my new ward which seems cool. I haven't really met many people or anything yet but I'll start going to activities soon which will help with that.  I'm loving not having to go to Provo much. I am only there once a week for a class which I think will be a great class.  It's crazy that my life as a student is coming to an end.  I finally have Internet access here which will be nice although it was not bad at all walking over to my Aunt Jill's house to bum off of her wireless.  It was actually nice not having it all the time and nice going over there and talking to Aunt Jill and Marie. 

I feel like there are many unknown aspects to my life right now but I'm ok with that.  I guess things will work out as the time goes.  It will be interesting to see results eventually.  Until then, I'll just keep living life here and having fun.