So, yesterday I went to Provo. I know that doesn't seem like the most likely place for me to head on a Thursday morning. But, two of my really good friends live down there. And one of them I haven't seen forever. So, to Provo I went. I left at 10:15 forgetting that rush hour was over and I would make it in good time. I didn't need to be there until 12. I got to Provo around 11:30. I know my friend wouldn't have minded me being there a few minutes early, but she was working from her home and didn't need me there bugging and looking for entertainment. So, I waited patiently at Barnes and Noble, just thinking I wanted to buy somethings. I found a book on the Ancient Civilizations that I think would have been nice to have in my classroom, and Praxis study book. Then I decided, no. So I headed to my friend's apartment on the south side of campus. It was nice to see her and catch up on all the things that were going on. I kind of miss that friendship and I decided I need to call her once a week from now until forever, just to let her know I am thinking about her and I care about her. We went out to lunch and just talked. It nice to do that with someone who has known the best and worst parts of me, from Jr. High to College.
My other friend lives in the Italian House. I have to say my mind is still going in circles from that experience. For two hours it was almost straight Italian. This morning I woke up saying phrases that made absolutely no sense to me. I don't know if it was Italian but it very well could have been. I couldn't really talk to everyone there, well, I guess I could have in English, only to be answered in Italian. And actually I think they would have answered in English, but I was a little shy to even try. It is okay. The whole experience in the house is practice for them. So, I won't worry about it. Dinner was amazing though. I felt very spoiled.
As I was sitting around thinking, because I got a lot of time to think, I thought about how much I missed out. I spent so much time worried about getting through the program, and where I would get a job, that I think I missed a lot of social experiences. I decided I would make the most out of what I get around here. It isn't much but someday it will be gone forever.
My favorite part of the night was charging my credit card for two tickets to see John Mayer on July 21, with my Italian speaking friend. That is all I really want to do in the next two weeks, and now I am going. Hooray! I am so excited. It gives me something positive to look forward to.
I have to be back in school in a month. It is going too fast. I haven't enjoyed my summer like I should have. And now I am starting to think about things I can do for school. Oh, well, I have a month. I should just enjoy and not think.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Something Postive
Okay, so I was just going to complain about the fact I am bored. But, I have already done that and I decided I needed to share eleven positive things from the week. So, in Letterman style (moving from 11-1). Here it goes:
11. I saw 3 of my former students today. Two didn't see me, but one did. It was nice to touch on those memories and relationships again.
10. I got to have dinner with my friend Rachel before she goes on all her little trips the next two weeks.
9. I am getting a new calling at church. I can't say what it is, even though I know what the calling is, it isn't official. I am just excited to not be Ward Choir director anymore, and up for a new challenge. I'll let you know on Sunday.
8. I got past season 2 of Gilmore Girls, and I am now enjoying season 3 at a much slower pace.
7. I felt skinny today.
6. I got to go swimming with some of my friends in my ward, in a warm pool. However, I was almost thrown in by a member of the bishopric when I walked into the backyard. But, It made me laugh. 5. I laughed hard.
4. I shared pictures of my trip on Facebook. Still trying to figure out how I am going to do it here. I promise I'll find a way. I am thinking slide show I will warn you there are 200 pictures I want to show off.
3. I found out the stickers that I love to use for scrapbooking and other various projects aren't discontinued, the ones I want are just not being ordered by the stores. I also have a contact for the company so I can write and see if they can help me out.
2. I got to talk to my best friend. I haven't talked to her in FOREVER. I decided I am going to go and see her on Thursday. I am very, very, excited.
1. I am happy. Even though I am bored, I am happy and that is all that matters in my life.
11. I saw 3 of my former students today. Two didn't see me, but one did. It was nice to touch on those memories and relationships again.
10. I got to have dinner with my friend Rachel before she goes on all her little trips the next two weeks.
9. I am getting a new calling at church. I can't say what it is, even though I know what the calling is, it isn't official. I am just excited to not be Ward Choir director anymore, and up for a new challenge. I'll let you know on Sunday.
8. I got past season 2 of Gilmore Girls, and I am now enjoying season 3 at a much slower pace.
7. I felt skinny today.
6. I got to go swimming with some of my friends in my ward, in a warm pool. However, I was almost thrown in by a member of the bishopric when I walked into the backyard. But, It made me laugh. 5. I laughed hard.
4. I shared pictures of my trip on Facebook. Still trying to figure out how I am going to do it here. I promise I'll find a way. I am thinking slide show I will warn you there are 200 pictures I want to show off.
3. I found out the stickers that I love to use for scrapbooking and other various projects aren't discontinued, the ones I want are just not being ordered by the stores. I also have a contact for the company so I can write and see if they can help me out.
2. I got to talk to my best friend. I haven't talked to her in FOREVER. I decided I am going to go and see her on Thursday. I am very, very, excited.
1. I am happy. Even though I am bored, I am happy and that is all that matters in my life.
Friday, July 4, 2008
One thing that really bugs me
The fact that when you feel the opposite of what everyone else feels on a subject they think you are crazy. I am sure I do the exact same thing, but particularly tonight it is bugging me. I chose out of my own free will to stay home and watch Gilmore Girls, while my roommate and some of our friends from the ward went to see fireworks. Honestly, I wasn't in a social mood for one, and the other I don't have a need to see fireworks every year. My roommate just came home from the fireworks and told me I missed out, because it was a half an hour straight of fireworks. If I LOVED fireworks and there was an other reason to why I stayed home, like work or something like that, I think I would feel bad. As I said I didn't care, she just looked at me like I was crazy. And maybe I am, but my favorite part of the 4th is the sitting around with the family, after the parade talking and playing. This 4th was especially great because my sister from Idaho was there with her 7 kids. I hadn't seen them since Christmas. Once the city parade was over we just hung out at my mom's and talked. Played games, made lunch and ate. To me that is the 4th. Fireworks are nice but the best part of all is being with the family and enjoying the freedoms we have to be in a family, and to have a day off. I don't get that everyday. While here in Utah celebrations will last all the way through to Aug. I will get another chance to see fireworks in the next few weeks. I won't ever have the chance to be with my family like that again. (That isn't because there is going to be a big change, it is because my family will change.)
Favorite quote from the family time today. I have to share. We were talking about having a reunion next year during the summer up around the Tetons. While we were talking about dates, I said something like, "What if I am getting married?" To which a few replies came, "Are you telling us something?" "Well, you'll bring your husband or fiance with you." The best of all, "We'll have a BIG celebration just for you. And we'll call it a wedding." I absolutely love my family. They make me the happiest every time I see them. Fireworks or no fireworks.
Favorite quote from the family time today. I have to share. We were talking about having a reunion next year during the summer up around the Tetons. While we were talking about dates, I said something like, "What if I am getting married?" To which a few replies came, "Are you telling us something?" "Well, you'll bring your husband or fiance with you." The best of all, "We'll have a BIG celebration just for you. And we'll call it a wedding." I absolutely love my family. They make me the happiest every time I see them. Fireworks or no fireworks.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Air Conditioner
Our air conditioner was fixed this afternoon. My room is going to be bearable tonight. YEA! Other than that life isn't too exciting right now. The problem with getting things over that you wanted to do, is that they are over and you can't look forward to them again.
Oh well, I get to go to Logan tomorrow and spend the afternoon with my sister then go to the temple and see my cousin and his wife be sealed. Then the next day is the 4th of July and hopefully I'll get to see my family for awhile. Then it is back to typical everyday life.
I promise pictures will be coming soon. I was trying to put some on facebook and I got to 60 and I wasn't even half way done. I don't think the world needs to see more than that on here. So, I will narrow it down to a few. I just need to decide which ones the world will not be able to live without.
I felt these two were appropriate for the 4th. These were taken at Ft. McHenry. This is a replica of the flag that was flown at the end of the Battle of Baltimore. This flag is 30ft. x 42 ft. and has 15 stars and 15 stripes. There were 18 states in the Union at the time however, the flag didn't have as strong of a meaning for them at that time as it does for us now. However, because of a flag flying over the fort we get our National Anthem. It was incredible for me to hear the story and to help raise that flag. I am so grateful to be part of the wonderful country we are in.
Oh well, I get to go to Logan tomorrow and spend the afternoon with my sister then go to the temple and see my cousin and his wife be sealed. Then the next day is the 4th of July and hopefully I'll get to see my family for awhile. Then it is back to typical everyday life.
I promise pictures will be coming soon. I was trying to put some on facebook and I got to 60 and I wasn't even half way done. I don't think the world needs to see more than that on here. So, I will narrow it down to a few. I just need to decide which ones the world will not be able to live without.
I felt these two were appropriate for the 4th. These were taken at Ft. McHenry. This is a replica of the flag that was flown at the end of the Battle of Baltimore. This flag is 30ft. x 42 ft. and has 15 stars and 15 stripes. There were 18 states in the Union at the time however, the flag didn't have as strong of a meaning for them at that time as it does for us now. However, because of a flag flying over the fort we get our National Anthem. It was incredible for me to hear the story and to help raise that flag. I am so grateful to be part of the wonderful country we are in.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
I'm Back
There are mixed feelings about being home from this long vacation. It was nice to sleep in my own bed, have more than 10 options for clothes (actually since today was Sunday I had more than two options). Not being stuck on the bus for hours at a time. But there are things I am going to miss. The people I met, the places I've seen, and the feelings I felt. There is no way to try to describe the trip to you all. This trip was just so much more than the sites I saw. It was all the feelings I had and all the people I met.
My favorite non-church site. . . I think it would be. . . Boston, Washington D.C., or Ft. McHenry in Baltimore. I can't pick just one, they all have such an amazing rich history. So much more than I would ever imagine. If you didn't know Ft. McHenry in Baltimore is where The Star Spangled Banner was written during the War of 1812.
My favorite church site was The Sacred Grove. There isn't much to it, but I personally had an incredible experience there. But everything else was absolutely amazing to. Just so many feelings so hard to explain.
Here is a quick overview of where I went. We started in Salt Lake City, on Tuesday, drove down close to Moab, and took the 70 all the way through Colorado and Kansas. That part of Colorado is so pretty, I want to go back someday and take tons of pictures. Then we got into Liberty Missouri around 4 on Wednesday and went to the jail. Then Independence, Richmond, and Far West on Thursday and Adam-ondi-Ahman to Nauvoo on Friday. Stayed in Nauvoo two nights went to the temple and Carthege Jail on Saturday. There is a funny story about a frog here, I was talking on the phone waiting for ice cream when I noticed a frog in the parking lot. I kicked it a bit to see if it was dead or alive, and it didn't move. So I left it. After about ten minutes I had a couple of the girls I was over come and check it out. I told them it was dead and they asked how I knew and I told them I had kicked it. So, I kicked it again, and it jumped about 5 feet away. Yes, there was a lot of screaming. When something is supposed to be dead you expect it to stay dead, and this frog did not stay dead. After we got over our initial shock it became something for us to play with for awhile. Sunday we had sacrament and drove all the way to Ohio, then Monday we drove to Pennsylvania where we had dinner with an Amish family, the Kings. We went to D.C. Tuesday and went to the temple there, spent the night and then we spent Wednesday at the sites in D.C. This is where my good friend Alisha got her appendix taken out, and Chris broke his leg. A total of 27 hours in the hospital. Thursday New York, not my favorite place to be, too busy, too many people. Friday Boston, I loved Boston. I want to go back and just take in so much more than I was able to. Then to Sharon, Vermont (Joseph Smith was born there). It was so weird to tell people where we had been and to say we were just in Boston. And now we were on the border of New Hampshire and Vermont. Saturday we went to Harmony Penn. and did some stuff there and back to Palmyra, New York for Sunday. We had church in Fayette which is where the church was organized. One of the other chaperons mentioned how lucky we were to have the sacrament just steps away from where the first sacrament was given. Monday and Tuesday we went to Kirtland. I loved Kirtland, just such a great feeling there. Then we headed home on Wednesday. We stopped in Kanesville, where Brigham Young was sustained president, and in Winter Quarters. Then we traveled across Nebraska (Thursday) and Wyoming (Friday) stopping at Martin's Cove. Saturday we came home.
That is pretty much my trip without the pictures. I took over 400 and I don't think you'll want to see them all, I will sort through and pick some of the best ones and post them with more about what we did at each site.
My favorite non-church site. . . I think it would be. . . Boston, Washington D.C., or Ft. McHenry in Baltimore. I can't pick just one, they all have such an amazing rich history. So much more than I would ever imagine. If you didn't know Ft. McHenry in Baltimore is where The Star Spangled Banner was written during the War of 1812.
My favorite church site was The Sacred Grove. There isn't much to it, but I personally had an incredible experience there. But everything else was absolutely amazing to. Just so many feelings so hard to explain.
Here is a quick overview of where I went. We started in Salt Lake City, on Tuesday, drove down close to Moab, and took the 70 all the way through Colorado and Kansas. That part of Colorado is so pretty, I want to go back someday and take tons of pictures. Then we got into Liberty Missouri around 4 on Wednesday and went to the jail. Then Independence, Richmond, and Far West on Thursday and Adam-ondi-Ahman to Nauvoo on Friday. Stayed in Nauvoo two nights went to the temple and Carthege Jail on Saturday. There is a funny story about a frog here, I was talking on the phone waiting for ice cream when I noticed a frog in the parking lot. I kicked it a bit to see if it was dead or alive, and it didn't move. So I left it. After about ten minutes I had a couple of the girls I was over come and check it out. I told them it was dead and they asked how I knew and I told them I had kicked it. So, I kicked it again, and it jumped about 5 feet away. Yes, there was a lot of screaming. When something is supposed to be dead you expect it to stay dead, and this frog did not stay dead. After we got over our initial shock it became something for us to play with for awhile. Sunday we had sacrament and drove all the way to Ohio, then Monday we drove to Pennsylvania where we had dinner with an Amish family, the Kings. We went to D.C. Tuesday and went to the temple there, spent the night and then we spent Wednesday at the sites in D.C. This is where my good friend Alisha got her appendix taken out, and Chris broke his leg. A total of 27 hours in the hospital. Thursday New York, not my favorite place to be, too busy, too many people. Friday Boston, I loved Boston. I want to go back and just take in so much more than I was able to. Then to Sharon, Vermont (Joseph Smith was born there). It was so weird to tell people where we had been and to say we were just in Boston. And now we were on the border of New Hampshire and Vermont. Saturday we went to Harmony Penn. and did some stuff there and back to Palmyra, New York for Sunday. We had church in Fayette which is where the church was organized. One of the other chaperons mentioned how lucky we were to have the sacrament just steps away from where the first sacrament was given. Monday and Tuesday we went to Kirtland. I loved Kirtland, just such a great feeling there. Then we headed home on Wednesday. We stopped in Kanesville, where Brigham Young was sustained president, and in Winter Quarters. Then we traveled across Nebraska (Thursday) and Wyoming (Friday) stopping at Martin's Cove. Saturday we came home.
That is pretty much my trip without the pictures. I took over 400 and I don't think you'll want to see them all, I will sort through and pick some of the best ones and post them with more about what we did at each site.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Preview of My Trip
Okay, so I was just thinking I have written about this trip I am going on, but I haven't really given any details. I know a lot of you are wondering what I am doing this summer to fill my time. Well, this trip really encompasses a lot of my summer so let me tell you about it.
I am traveling, on bus, from Salt Lake City to Vermont and back, with a group of about 50 teenagers.
Yes, I am crazy, but I have dreamed about this kind of trip for most of my life. Well, actually this trip came after Australia but it is more cost effective right now. For those of you who don't understand what the appeal to go that far on bus is, let me tell you about a few of my stops. Nauvoo Illinois, Jackson County Missouri, Kirtland Ohio, Boston, New York, Washington D.C. Palmyra New York, Rocky Ridge, and Salt Lake City. For me this is a trip of a life time. For three weeks I will be learning more about U.S. History, but more importantly, Church History. I also get to go with one of my best friends. Some of you may know that I have done EFY for three summers and I decided this summer not to do it mostly because of this trip. The biggest reason is four girls in one hotel room that I will be chaperoning. I get to do devotionals and all that fun stuff with them, but I get to be with them for three weeks. So, from June 10-28 I will be on this fabulous trip.
When I talk about this trip I tend to get so excited. I have spent a lot of time already on the trip. (Some people think I am crazy for doing all this work just to go on a trip but it is worth it.) I have spent about 14 Saturdays with Alisha studying about where we are going, reading stories, and histories about the early people of the church, different U.S. History information, and pioneers. We just spent about three hours today getting thoughts ready for our nightly devotionals. Also, I need to get another devotional ready for the whole group, and I am going to bake my world famous Candy Bar Cookies. It has been work, but just like anything else in your life, if you don't work for it, you don't appreciate it as much. Then there are a few more sacrifices for this trip I am going to make. First is music, our tour director has asked that we only listen to "church music" while we are out there, then he explained that is anything Deseret Book would sell. So, at least I can have Josh Groban out there, and Colors. But, I have over 1500 songs on my iPod and I am going to delete them all, just so I won't be tempted to listen to The Fray or John Mayer. Music is a huge thing in my life, a lot of you know, but I am willing to do whatever I need to have the best experience possible. The next one is Novels. Yes, I have to try to survive three weeks without a book. I almost find that impossible. I am going to compromise and take some church books, Lectures on Faith, Jesus the Christ Just so I have something to read, or I will go crazy especially when we are on the bus and I am not learning stuff or sleeping. But, I really want to have the best trip possible so I am willing to do whatever I can to invite the spirit. Now that I have those thoughts off of my mind. I will leave this blog until I return on the 28th. I hope these next three weeks everyone has a great time. I will post pictures when I get back.
I am traveling, on bus, from Salt Lake City to Vermont and back, with a group of about 50 teenagers.
Yes, I am crazy, but I have dreamed about this kind of trip for most of my life. Well, actually this trip came after Australia but it is more cost effective right now. For those of you who don't understand what the appeal to go that far on bus is, let me tell you about a few of my stops. Nauvoo Illinois, Jackson County Missouri, Kirtland Ohio, Boston, New York, Washington D.C. Palmyra New York, Rocky Ridge, and Salt Lake City. For me this is a trip of a life time. For three weeks I will be learning more about U.S. History, but more importantly, Church History. I also get to go with one of my best friends. Some of you may know that I have done EFY for three summers and I decided this summer not to do it mostly because of this trip. The biggest reason is four girls in one hotel room that I will be chaperoning. I get to do devotionals and all that fun stuff with them, but I get to be with them for three weeks. So, from June 10-28 I will be on this fabulous trip.
When I talk about this trip I tend to get so excited. I have spent a lot of time already on the trip. (Some people think I am crazy for doing all this work just to go on a trip but it is worth it.) I have spent about 14 Saturdays with Alisha studying about where we are going, reading stories, and histories about the early people of the church, different U.S. History information, and pioneers. We just spent about three hours today getting thoughts ready for our nightly devotionals. Also, I need to get another devotional ready for the whole group, and I am going to bake my world famous Candy Bar Cookies. It has been work, but just like anything else in your life, if you don't work for it, you don't appreciate it as much. Then there are a few more sacrifices for this trip I am going to make. First is music, our tour director has asked that we only listen to "church music" while we are out there, then he explained that is anything Deseret Book would sell. So, at least I can have Josh Groban out there, and Colors. But, I have over 1500 songs on my iPod and I am going to delete them all, just so I won't be tempted to listen to The Fray or John Mayer. Music is a huge thing in my life, a lot of you know, but I am willing to do whatever I need to have the best experience possible. The next one is Novels. Yes, I have to try to survive three weeks without a book. I almost find that impossible. I am going to compromise and take some church books, Lectures on Faith, Jesus the Christ Just so I have something to read, or I will go crazy especially when we are on the bus and I am not learning stuff or sleeping. But, I really want to have the best trip possible so I am willing to do whatever I can to invite the spirit. Now that I have those thoughts off of my mind. I will leave this blog until I return on the 28th. I hope these next three weeks everyone has a great time. I will post pictures when I get back.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime?
Yes, I know. I have been asked millions of times since school got out (and before):
"What are you doing this summer?"
"How is your summer going?"
"You have the life, you get three months off and get paid."
Yea, it is kind of nice. But, I do a lot of work for 9 months of my time. I deserve to have the time off. However, I've been out of school for two weeks, and I am starting to go crazy. Here is the Top 10 List of how I spend my days:
10. Sleep in until 11 a.m. (my internal clock keeps waking me up around 6, maybe I should get up then.)
9. Shop, eat, shop, and watch movies. (This was really my day today.)
8. In 24 hours plan and take trip to Park City to. . . shop.
7. Waste $4.00 a gallon gas to get rid of boredom.
6. Play computer, check e-mail, check updates on blogs, and win Zuma.
5. Go to bed at midnight.
4. Talk on the phone use more minutes than I have in three months, put together.
3. Worry about school.
2. Dream about school.
1. Get ready for three week trip.
I know a lot of you are reading this and saying, "What does she have to complain about, that sounds wonderful to me?"
It is wonderful, for three days. Then it gets old. Just like anything else. You can only take so much of a good thing.
However, I need to remember this may be my only chance to enjoy a summer like this. I need to enjoy it and not worry about it and what is going to happen. I just need to stop looking ahead of myself and start enjoying the moments. Like this morning, I had left my window open last night. It started to rain, my room was cold, and I was loving it. I just laid in my warm bed, daydreaming, and happy. The other thing. My mom is taking care of my niece this week. My mom works from home and my niece will have to be very quiet so my mom can work. I offered to take my niece on Friday so my mom won't have to worry about it for two whole days. I couldn't do that if my situation were different. So, I have resolved, from now on I will be happy about the summer and what I am able to do.
I am not sure if I will write before my trip. If I do great, if I don't I will write when I get back. And I will post pictures for everyone to see.
"What are you doing this summer?"
"How is your summer going?"
"You have the life, you get three months off and get paid."
Yea, it is kind of nice. But, I do a lot of work for 9 months of my time. I deserve to have the time off. However, I've been out of school for two weeks, and I am starting to go crazy. Here is the Top 10 List of how I spend my days:
10. Sleep in until 11 a.m. (my internal clock keeps waking me up around 6, maybe I should get up then.)
9. Shop, eat, shop, and watch movies. (This was really my day today.)
8. In 24 hours plan and take trip to Park City to. . . shop.
7. Waste $4.00 a gallon gas to get rid of boredom.
6. Play computer, check e-mail, check updates on blogs, and win Zuma.
5. Go to bed at midnight.
4. Talk on the phone use more minutes than I have in three months, put together.
3. Worry about school.
2. Dream about school.
1. Get ready for three week trip.
I know a lot of you are reading this and saying, "What does she have to complain about, that sounds wonderful to me?"
It is wonderful, for three days. Then it gets old. Just like anything else. You can only take so much of a good thing.
However, I need to remember this may be my only chance to enjoy a summer like this. I need to enjoy it and not worry about it and what is going to happen. I just need to stop looking ahead of myself and start enjoying the moments. Like this morning, I had left my window open last night. It started to rain, my room was cold, and I was loving it. I just laid in my warm bed, daydreaming, and happy. The other thing. My mom is taking care of my niece this week. My mom works from home and my niece will have to be very quiet so my mom can work. I offered to take my niece on Friday so my mom won't have to worry about it for two whole days. I couldn't do that if my situation were different. So, I have resolved, from now on I will be happy about the summer and what I am able to do.
I am not sure if I will write before my trip. If I do great, if I don't I will write when I get back. And I will post pictures for everyone to see.
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