Thursday, December 31, 2009

simple pleasures


there is something about this picture that just makes me happy. i love the colors, the kids, their clothes, the fact they all have cameras. blogging has opened my world..let me tell you. im loving all the different creative ideas i am finding out there. there are some amazingly creative and funny people. last night as I was making my plans for today, i was feeling rather ambitious and focused. which is all good and dandy except i woke up not in the mood to do the musts but wanted to rather do the cans. So instead I layed in bed a little longer, talked to my dear friend tawna on the phone, took extra time to get ready, changed twice to find just the right outfit, and worked on my blog while listening to endless brian white country station on pandora. simple pleasures i suppose, which only means so much for the checklist...

today is new years eve. its hard to believe the year is over and we will be starting into the year 2010. im hoping that this year will be my year. that i can look back and say that this new up coming year was the best year.

at the beginning of each year my class writes goodbye summer and hello second grade poems. i think i ought to do the same, as a tribute to the old year and a welcome to the new ... (adapting it a little of course)

Goodbye 2009
goodbye...
26th birthday
fourth year teaching
room in the trees at victoria place

adios...
manada
philly
tiff being single

So long...
car and loan payment
question marks
gre test

farewell...
shawnski
bishop, sis stokes, VP ward
tawna ... ohio is so far away :(

goodbye 2009, i will miss you so!



Hello 2010
hello..
new year's resolutions
talking to amanda on speaker phone
canon rebel

hi...
Ingrid Michealson CD (i already love you)
sweet second grade class
mark's mission call

hola...
vintage craze
more periods, less question marks
summer adventure...

bonjour...
my 27th birthday
millrace #8
new attitude

hello 2010, will you be a kind friend?

Wednesday, December 30, 2009


To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Once again in two thousand ten..


looking forward to a new year and the chance to a fresh start. today i purchased a camera (part of my new years resolutions) and messed with picasa by editing some old photos. i am really excited to get into it. i'm on my way to reaching my goals for the year hooray!

what i hope to DO in 2010...
1. buy a camera and take a photography class at UVU...class starts jan 28
2. start a blog....check
3. go through the temple (and really this time)
4. renew my 24 Hour Fitness membership, GO regularly, and participate in Sprint Triatholon (depending on how my swimming improves) if not, then a 5K or 10K. most likely a 10 K in early summer.
5. move away and do something else for the summer. i would love to go to ca and be with lindsy or maybe dc like i planned a few months ago or az.
6. scripture study rountine like i did in college...30 minutes everyday, take notes, and listen to the spirit.

What I hope to BE in 2010...
a more open, selfless, and forgiving person. i want to be the best me. i want to be what sis nadauld describes.

"The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."
— Margaret Nadauld

Saturday, December 26, 2009

introspection

the last day of school i received a tender gift from ethan's (one my students) parents. inside the present was a picture of their family and a copy of their family christmas letter. this mother is simply amazing. she is just beautiful, mother of 3 wonderful kids, and so very sweet and kind. her oldest daughter is severely autistic, then ethan who is autistic but high functioning, and a adorable little girl in kindergarten. ethan always gets so excited when he sees her in the hallway and at assemblies and tries to say hi. in the letter she gave me, she had written a letter to herself giving advice as if she had known what would happen in the year 2009 to help prepare herself for the difficulties that lay ahead. i was very touched by her strength, her tenderness, and her openness. i decided wanted to do the same. here goes nothing...

dear emily,
I wish I could say that this year is the year all your dreams will come true. It is going to be another tough year. It is going to be another year that will stretch you in ways you didn't think possible. It will test you and teach you. Remember Emily, don't give up. There will be many days you will feel like it, but know that you can and you will make it. And more importantly, you will learn more about who you and the goodness you still have to make this world a better place despite your set backs and disappointments.

there are lessons you will learn emily. there are things you will learn you didn't even know you needed to learn. the change you have been wanting will start to happen. pay careful attention to the lessons you will learn through these challenging times.

lesson #1 Persist. Yes, you know this. You know how to endure. But remember when you are RS president in January and you are feeling as lost as ever as to what you are suppose to be doing in your life, remember to persist. good things will come from it. you will see bishop brown and sis brown go but seeing their constant goodness and example will bless your life. you will also feel the love of the stake president and his counselor and see them leave too. you will hear a talk from sis wilkey (pres. wife) that will be exactly what you need to hear. then bishop stokes and sis stokes will move in. their example, their love story, their goodness will be a wonderful blessing. you will love bishop stokes genuine concern and love for you. he will lift your burdens but somehow make you feel like you are helping him. remember to persist at your calling and at work and although you haven't learned yet about creating the joy because you are still searching for it, that day you are about to throw your towel in and take a red eye flight to can coon forever, persist. you will love your counselors. martha will be a blessing to you then and later. you will love the sisters. a mixture of emotions will come with the stress and responsibilities. write down what you learn and remember that nothing is permanent. you will miss tiff and will miss amanda and feel like slowly you are being left alone but shawn will be there for you. even though you don't know if its right, persist.

lesson #2 there is joy in the joy of others. this is going to be a tough one for you emily. you will see others you love get things you have always dreamed of having. it will be hard because these are the things that you feel very deeply about and its been very difficult for you to understand. the joy and hope of others will remind you of the hope that still exists. the faith and courage of your sister and friends will awaken the belief and possibilities of your dreams. dare to dream.

lesson #3 trust yourself. you will be searching for an confirmation to a troubling question. you will not understand because you will not receive an answer. you will feel very alone and forsaken. but when you wake up one morning with the idea to move to millrace and its the first thing that has made sense for a while, move forward with it. and when you get on your knees and pray and get an answer, you will remember what it feels like to have no doubt. when you decide to take the gre class and pray and receive the same confirming answer, remember that he will answer your prayers. trust that you can receive answers and you can know. follow it and you will be even more certain it is right.

...

Friday, December 25, 2009

California Christmas



merry christmas! left utah on wednesday with amanda in my trusty honda to spend time with the fam in california. it was 70 degrees at grannie rosie's house which was a pleasant change from the wintery weather in provo. being with my siblings and spending time with the fam is nice. there are some nostolgic feelings that come with the season and being back in California. i find myself thinking more about my childhood and random memories of growing up, and of experiences Ive had since leaving the place i call home. i was remembering a time in 6th grade at the Academy, walking down the sloppy sidewalk under the overhang covering to the open grass playground and thinking that one day I would be in college. thinking about future hopes and possibilities brought an excitement. as if somehow i could predict the future and anticipate it. now life has moved. college did come and go, somewhat in a blur. now ive been teaching four and a half years...also a blur. i wonder what that little girl would have thought about the person i have become. i still feel like that little girl in someways. the same little girl trying to anticipate the future and hold on to something concrete and certain.

thankfully some things dont change, as least as long as I can remember. i think that is why I have always loved traditions. like matching christmas pjs, the picture on the stairs before opening presents, acting out the nativity scene at grannies, sharing our "talents." Christmas is a good time.



wishing you all a wonderful christmas day!