Graduation

Today is commencement for school. Obviously I'm not attending but I can't believe I'm done. It doesn't seem real at all. I am hoping that when I get my diploma in the mail it'll feel more real. I have to keep reminding myself - you don't have to go back to school EVER, unless you want to.

I almost feel like I have to split my diploma between me and my family. If it wasn't for their support, help and love, I would of quit a long time ago!

So here's to finally GRADUATING and pushy mothers that don't stop pushin till your done!

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday was me and Scott's three year anniversary. i can't believe that its been three years since we got married. We celebrated a few weeks ago right before left Salt Lake. Scott took me to the Roof, which was amazing. When I got to Minnesota, there was a surprise waiting for me as well. He had bought an image of the Salt Lake Temple that I have been eying for the last year! I was so excited!

I am very grateful for my marriage to Scott and the fulfillment it brings to my life. I have always loved this quote and it has always reminds me the important things in life.


“Let us not live a life … that would bring regret. … It is not going to matter very much how much money you made, what kind of a house you lived in, what kind of a car you drove, the size of your bank account—any of those things. What is going to matter is that dear woman who has walked with you side by side as your companion through all of the years of life and those children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their faithfulness and their looking to you … with respect and love and deference and kindness.” President Gordon B Hinckley.

fabric, yards, and needles

Scott got me a sewing machine for Christmas. Today is the day that I'm actually going to pull it out and attempt to thread it and use it - to make curtains.

The first time I used a sewing machine was when I was in High School. I had to do a project for Young Womens but after 30 minutes of trying to hem some fabric, my Mom took over - The fear was in her eyes- having the same sewing machine for years, she wasn't about to let it be destroyed by her teenage daughter. Since then I have attempted to use a sewing machine, but it normally ended up with the owner of the sewing machine taking over for me.

So this day may the blessings of the sew masters fall upon me and that the sewing machine will make it through this day.

We made it

I was supposed to fly out to Minnesota this last Tuesday but a week and a half ago I really wasn't doing very well and decided to come out a week early. It was a last minute decision and so I didn't have a lot of time to say my good byes to all my wonderful friends in Utah, I'm sorry!
I think that's what I'm going to miss most about Utah, our friends and family. But not so much the inversion or the brown landscape.

After two flights that felt like forever, we made it and me and Benson have been here just over a week. I still can't believe we're living in Minnesota now. I'll miss Utah, but we feel this is where we should be so we're going forward with it.

I've never been to this state before but so far, I've really enjoyed it. We live close to the twin cities and so of course that means we are SUPER close to MALL OF AMERICA!

Scott took me this first weekend I was here and it was a little overwheleming even for me. It has a theme park in the middle and every store you could think of....even MAC and yes, H&M (I just found out there is an H&M less than three miles from here, my heart is full of joy). over 4 million people a year come to Mall of America to visit - if you decide to be one of them, you should come stay with us!

this is the theme park area...so fun!

Bittersweet

I am officially done with student teaching! Yesterday was my last day teaching!! People keep asking me what I'm going to do now and if I'll miss teaching.

I am planning on turning in my senior portfolio along with my student teaching analysis and then sometime in June I'll receive my diploma! I can't wait! I'm so excited to get everything turned in and get my degree! It seems like I've been trying to get this thing my whole life - that's what happens when it takes 10 years though, i guess.

I don't plan on teaching or working for a few years. I'm very excited and feel very blessed to be able to be back home with Benson. I am going to miss teaching in a bittersweet kind of way. My Student Teaching experience was extremely hard, stressful but very satisfying and I learned so much more than I ever thought I would.

the last couple months have been full of drama and interesting events while teaching. Here are just a few (ok, so more than just a few) :

- Being asked the following questions in this order: "Are you married?", "Are you happily married?" "Is your husband good looking?"

- Having a cat fight in the middle of class

- Being yelled/sworn at by a student

- Having not one, or two but three students be suspended for either beating people up, getting caught with drugs or packin' heat.

- Having a student sing to me the song "Lean on Me" after class so he'd know what a great singer he was (so awkward!)

- Being told by a student that F.E.M.A. stands for Find Every Mexican Available

- Being told by a student that the Punic Wars were mini wars

- Having a student tell her story of how her parents escaped from Burma, then to Thailand and then to the U.S. because they wanted to experience freedom. She told how her uncle was killed because he refused to join the Army and everyone in her home country is forced to be Buddhist, join the military and restrictions of internet, phone and conversation were strictly enforced. She said that she was so grateful for the chance that she has to be here because of the freedoms this country offers.

- Seeing the light go out of a 14 year old boys eyes after finding out his mother committed suicide.

- Watching several students having to deal with the pressure from gangs, peers and parents.

- Finding confidence in the future of America in 18 year old seniors who have goals, and are dedicated, honest and hopeful for their future.

It was definitely bittersweet.