It's funny here... It seems that one day, the leaves finally decided to fall off the trees, & the next the blossoms started to show.  With those blossoms, & the crops that grow all around & in town, my allergies came in full force!  I'm finally off claratin the past couple days & not feeling like I'm dying, but I think I might appreciate taking it still.  I'm having trouble appreciating the beautiful weather though, because I see how cold it "SHOULD" be... in places that have winter.  & then I remember how hot it was when I moved here, the $200+ monthly electric bills of summertime, & the fact that I'm going to be here for another summer... & I'm not enjoying the BEAUTIFUL 65-80* weather we've been having RIGHT NOW!

I didn't open up this post to talk about the weather, though I don't know that I had a specific purpose...  I'm just having trouble focusing on ANYTHING in particular, because I have so much that I SHOULD be planning/prepping/thinking about/DOING.  Tonight's plans include a big stack of grading & planning, hopefully a little prep for my formal observation tomorrow, & hopefully a little cuddle time with my Love.  I don't know what's for dinner, I haven't seen my poor dog in a month, & we desperately need to delve deeper into finding a place to live for April-September! 

Okay, well... This is a random, rambling post.  I need to go home.  I need to get back to grading & planning.  I need to decide the next specific steps to move toward a perfect wedding! (haha!)  First, I need to get up from my desk, clean off my board (as well as the silly things will), gather my things, go pee, & head to the store so I can get some essentials & get home & move on to some of the other things.  WHEW! 

Sorry for such a silly post, but, eh... This is a Day In The Life!

:)

Our Story - Bedtime Story Style

So, after not posting for so long, here I am, ready to post again.  Jonathan & I have had fun telling each other bedtime stories, & a LOT of them go a little something like this....


Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Princess who moved away from home.  She felt lost & alone, & a little scared, but only on the inside, because she was trying to have a great new adventure!  Then, on her travels she met a Warrior.  Now, this new land she called home was HOT, very very hot.  But the Warrior was hotter than even the hottest day.  He was strong & brave, & very happy to meet the new Princess.  And she was happy to meet him too.  The Princess was admittedly hesitant, having dealt with some major spells of heartache & several 'idiots in tin foil' in the previous year.  But she decided to give this Warrior a chance... or two.  As she kept getting to know him she began to fall in love with him, because he knew he loved her a long time before he told her so.  The Warrior fell more quickly & easily than the Princess, but he was patient with her.  She went away on a voyage to far away lands that she loved, & while she was gone, she began to understand the tender feelings in her heart for this brave Warrior who was already in love with her, (even knowing the good & the more difficult things about her).  When she returned from her voyage, she told him that she loved him too.  And when she did, he was so happy, that this brave Warrior's smile shone like the smile of a little boy on Christmas morning!  :)


He always knew what he would do next.  So late one night, he got down on one knee, told the Princess of his love for her & how it would last forever, and asked the beautiful Princess to be his Queen.  The Princess knew what the Warrior was thinking before he asked that big question, but she was still a little slower, dissappointing him that night, & requiring his patience again as she made him wait.  So while he waited, the Warrior prepared all his armor, as spiffy & shiny as could be, & took the Princess to a special warrior ceremony.  He took the Princess to a ball!  The Princess was so excited!  But... they didn't dance at the ball.  Good thing for the Warrior that the Princess was satisfied with dancing in her cottage, instead of at the ball.  In fact, it made her smile.


Then they went to a big, white castle.  They planned this voyage with the Warrior's visiting parents, & with a handmaiden or two.  The voyage was for all of them, but the Princess went with a special quest.  She looked forward to their visit to the great white castle, & decided that there she was going to answer that warrior's proposal, even though she wasn't yet SURE of the answer, like she hoped to be.  As they traveled upon the Warrior's white stallion to the glorious castle, the Princess kept seeking the guidance of her kind, wise Father.  Even as they arrived, the princess was seeking the answer.  


As they went into the castle to be instructed by the kind, wise Father, & the Princess was indeed taught!  First as they entered, one of the guards spoke to the Warrior of great blessings and answers to be found in the Father's castle that day.  Next, a kind guide in the castle spoke to the Princess & the Warrior of how he could see their sweet love, & how great it was for them to be visiting the kind Father that day with the Warrior's parents.  The Princess hear those words deep inside her heart, as his words stirred her tender feelings, & the Warrior held her hand.  The same guard also spoke with the Warrior's parents later, before the instructions were recieved, & the Princess again overheard, feeling sweet & tender feelings repeated as the guide spoke to the parents.  As they were instructed, the kind, wise Father spoke to the heart of the Princess.  Her emotions overflowed, & her tears made the Warrior worry.  But the tears weren't sad tears.  Not at all!  They came from being reminded of the kind Father's infinite & individual love, & from words that seemed to be spoken just for the Princess in response to her quest, by guides & helpers who didn't even know there WAS a quest.  


As the Warrior was waiting for the Princess in the Grand Hall (& worrying about her tears & what her answer might be), he talked with his parents, & the Princess tried to dry her tears so she could go talk with her Knight in shining, white armor.  When at last the Warrior & the Princess were reunited, they embraced, & sat together.  As the Princess laid her head on the Warrior's shoulder, she calmed down, & turned to whisper in his ear, one word. A simple word that would effect forever.  "YES."  She started crying again, & the Warrior wanted to shout for joy right then & there, but instead he just kissed the Princess & hugged her tighter.  


The Princess had a hard time containing her emotions, & at this point was worried she'd pass out from lack of nourishment... which brought her emotions that much closer to the surface.  The Princess & the Warrior told the Warrior's parents & they all embraced, then the parents left- the Warrior's Father strutting proudly from the room.  He was so pleased that everyone could see it.  As soon as they left the castle, they began to spread the word of their upcoming marriage!  Some of the carrier pidgeons though, weren't very fast, or effective, & some of the royal court became offended at their slow announcements.  Still they continued to tell their courts & handmaidens & neighbors, & friends!

But that, my friends, is just the BEGINNING.  ;o)

101 Things I Can Count On...

I've been working on this post for a long while, & it's been fun to think of new things to add!

101. Life is BeAutiful. (Even if it may not always seem that way-It is a Beautiful Disaster!)

100. The love of family.
99. I can do & be better. 98. I've been blessed with wonderful friends.

97. My puppy wanting to give (me) kisses.

96. You can't live life afraid.

95. Change is CONSTANT.

94. Reading old journals can bring back all the same emotions.

93. My friends being simply AMAZING!

92. People come for food.

91. Wanting to learn MORE.

90. Taking kids to a park is fun!

89. Falling in love is always a little bit scary.

88. Wanting to be a Mama.

87. Studying God's word brings answers & peace.

86. Kids saying the most wonderful things!

85. Learning more about myself.

84. When I pray, He hears me.

83. Always already Knowing at least part of the why when life feels CRazY.

82. Sunsets make me happy.

81. Seth & Croix make me SMILE.

80. Being "bold" can be uber scary.

79. Finding a new song that I LOVE.

78. Listening to old favorite songs brings those memories back.

77. Being an Auntie is one of life's great treasures.

76. Tomorrow will come.

75. I am awkward.

74. A good book reels me in.

73. Having "Besties" who I can talk to about anything.

72. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

71. The Temple bringing joy.

70. Wanting to eat that piece of Chocolate.

69. Loving some hot chocolate in a mug.

68. Enjoying cuddling.

67. Things will be funnier when I'm tired.

66. There will be more laundry to wash, fold, & put away.

65. Music speaks to my soul.

64. Loving to sing.

63. My hammock making me happy.

62. Catching a gorgeous sunrise is worth getting up that much earlier.

61. Occasionally finding that competitive streak in me.

60. Cheese is yummy.

59. Hours can be wasted online, if I'm not careful.

58. Addictinggames.com can actually be addicting, given the opportunity.

57. Reading other people's blogs helps me keep up with their lives.

56. If something's scary, it might not be if I try again.

55. Sometimes what I want & what I need are not the same thing.

54. Lindt Milk Chocolate with White Cream is the best chocolate I've ever had.

53. Prescott holds amazing Christmas traditions.

52. Christmas will feel more like Christmas if I go to the Courthouse Lighting & the Walk Through Bethlehem.

51. Family brings happiness.

50. Family relationships can be tricky.

49. Tastes change.

48. A picture can be worth a thousand words.

47. Painted toe nails make me feel girly.

46. A hug can make it all better, at least for a moment.

45. Sometimes I just need to cry.

44. Some things, & some people, may never change.

43. Feeling inadequate.

42. Needing to change for the better.

41. "I can do hard things." (Even if I don't always believe it in the moment...)

40. The urge to "straighten" that desert.

39. Being stronger than I thought I was.

38. Finding joy in the journey.

37. The continual realization that I am a "work in progress".

36. RandomNesS can be so fun & exciting! & it makes me happy!

35. It can be surprising who your best friends are.

34. The people who pass through my life touch me & leave an impression, whether they're there for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

33. God's hand is in my life.

32. Moving is a lot of work.

31. After night comes day, always a new day full of promise.

30. Flowers can brighten up a room, or a difficult day/week.

29. Someone LOVES me.

28. Life will be full of the unexpected.

27. People are beautiful, no matter their "body type" or the color of their skin.

26. Beauty lies in who a person is, & not in what they look like.

25. "I need more chocolate in my life."

24. Time is one of life's very best gifts.

23. Wanting to hike/run/etc, even though I'll probably end up wodering (again) WHY I love it!

22. Time goes so quickly.... When it's running out.

21. Sometimes when a day feels like a week, weeks race by like days.

20. Finding friends in random/unexpected places.

19. Wondering where that bruise came from.

18. Trenton helping me out without complaining.

17. Finding miracles every single time I look for them.

16. Wanting to buy new shoes, but having a heck of a time finding shoes I like.

15. My phone will eventually give up on me.

14. Laughter is the best medicine. I love to laugh!

13. Fighting the shy in myself when I'm in new situations.

12. Being able to get by just fine without TV.

11. Drinking ice water in restaurants with ceiling fans = goosbumps.

10. Recognizing all the beauty in the world if I stop to look around.

9. Going to church each Sunday helps me face the coming week.

8. Distractions. (They don't have to be evil to be effective.)

7. Never getting enough sleep.

6. Wanting to capture the moment, to keep it forever.

5.Learning, growing, slipping, repeat.

4. Being me, & knowing that I am good enough because I'm doing the best I can.

3. I am a daughter of God, & have within me all the potential which that implies.

2. Jesus Christ is my Savior, He loves me, & will always welcome me with open arms.

1. God is my Father, & Loves Me more infinitely than I can understand.

General Conference!

Well, I'm almost a month & 1/2 late posting this now, but....

Better late then never, right??

We got a group together, & took a trip to Utah for General Conference. It was a good trip, lots of fun....

We stayed Thursday night in Henderson, then got up & drove the rest of the way from there.

We took turns driving, except for when Jared had his truck to drive back to AZ, then he drove it the whole time, & my car still had drivers taking turns. :)

She said if I put this on Facebook she'd kill me... THIS is totally NOT facebook. ;)

Chelsea, My Dear Little Sis... I LOVE You with All My Butt!! (Because it's bigger than my heart) & don't you forget it. Also, I LOVE this picture!

This is Jared at our pit stop before we left Utah. & the mountains behind him. Simply stunning.

My amazing roommate! Ashley is Absolutely Fabulous! :)

The best part of the weekend though, had to be listening to the words of the Prophet & Apostles of Christ. We could have done this in Arizona, or nearly anywhere we might have been throughout the world, but given the opportunity, we went to participate in one of the sessions in person. What a wonderful experience! They spoke of building a foundation in Christ & strengthening families.

Other themes I heard repeatedly were letting Christ change us & our lives, understanding & receiving personal revelation, scripture study & prayer, repentance, teaching in the home & strengthening the home, the worth of women & power of mothers, & hope in Christ through His Atonement.

The gospel of Jesus Christ was taught through word & song, & most especially through the gentle promptings of the Spirit of the Lord.

There were so many good things said. These are some of my favorite quotes (some I heard repeatedly), & favorite things I heard through the whisperings of the Spirit.

The gospel changes lives.

It has never been easy to follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. It still is not. "But we are who we are and we know what we know."

~Boyd K. Packer

Hope does not depend upon circumstance, but on faith.

~Wilford W. Anderson

"We should learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be." ~Henry B. Eyring

"Temptation is more subtle and more brazen than it ever has been."

~L. Tom Perry

The scriptures are revelation and will bring more revelation. Study and ponder them.

~D. Todd Christofferson

Sometimes we believe that "there must be an easier way." ... "The safety of the church lies in the members keeping the commandments."

~Bruce A. Carleson

Testimony brings responsibility and accountability.

~David A. Bednar

Repeatedly: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only..." James 1:22

A journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step. Watch your step!

~Jeffrey R. Holland

"[I will] give place no more for the enemy of my soul." 2 Nephi 4: 28

Joy and pain are both essential. "...my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain..." (see Alma 36:19-20)

"Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually."

"Hold on thy way. Giving up is not an option..."

~Donald Hallstrom

Build a firm foundation in Christ.

~Cheryl C. Lant

Christ overcame the sins of mankind & the horrors that Satan could inflict.

I can show my love for God by serving Him (& others) and Keeping His Commandments. ~Quentin L. Cook

"The saddest words of tongue & pen, are those that say 'what might have been'."

A distraction doesn't have to be evil to be effective.

"There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood..." ~James E. Faust

"The love of a mother comes closer to the love of God than any other kind of love."

~Robert D. Hales

Don't apply worldly judgement to a spiritual decision.

Study "For the Strength of Youth".

Repeatedly: Be quiet, peaceful, still & reverent.

A spiritual symphony of revelation...

"...Be not afraid, only believe." Mark 5:36

"Two men can do anything, as long as one is the Lord."

"The Lord must be our foundation, or we will flounder."

~James B. Martino

"We are all here because we love the Lord, and want to serve Him."

~Thomas S. Monson

"Our message to the world is that He lives..." ~Gordon B. Hinkley

I add my testimony to those that I've shared. I know Christ lives. The fullness of His gospel has been restored to the earth by a modern day prophet, & is still led today by living Prophets & Apostles. This knowledge changes my life every time I let it! :)

To read or listen to these messages, click here.

A little bit of writing...

4-11-10

To be the cause of Your pain

brings me to my knees.

Searching for the love & peace

You freely give to me

If I can give it all to Thee,

turn from my old ways,

I will be forgiven

& be pure & whole again.

How could I forget,

What it is to turn to Thee?

While I still know within my heart,

Only You can set me free.

You suffered for my sorrows,

for my heartaches, pains & sins,

So I don't have to wonder

in my heart "What might have been?"

Hurting for the pain I've caused,

hurting for lost love.

Struggling to let myself be changed,

- my heart, my life, my soul.

Certain I am broken,

on my own I lack so much.

Yet I know the power to make me whole,

lies within the Master's touch.

Photoshop Application Assignment 3

This is my favorite of our assignments...

It's just a few of the pieces of me...

Things About Me

I keep thinking people will get sick of reading about me, but then I remember this is my blog, and that's probably what you're coming for! So, here goes.

10 years ago I:

1. Took my first College Classes. (I'm taking a class the same Community College again now! haha!)

2. Started appreciating my family as friends more than I ever had.

3. Could only remember moving a couple of times!

4. Didn't know I would love to travel, because I never had!

5. Still didn't really like Spanish.

5 things on today's to-do list:

1. Get Dressed.

2. Clean my Car & Visit the Library!

3. Make the Pizza Sauce
4. Sit in my Hammock & Update my Blogs!

5. Go to dinner with Jared. :)

5 Snacks I enjoy:

1. Nachos

2. Ice-cream

3. Quesadillas

4. Chocolate

5. Fruit

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Give

2. Help my family

3. Define my Dream House into Reality

4. Invest

5. Get more education

5 Places I have been:

1. Puerto Penaso, Cuernavaca, D.F, Vera Cruz, etc. Mexico
2. Philadelphia area Pennsylvania
3. Delaware
4. Telluride, CO
5. Spring Mountains, NV

5 Jobs I have had:

1. Telemarketer
2. Wal-mart Cashier
3. RA at John Hopkins' CTY Camp

4. Preschool Teacher
5. Kinder, then First Teacher

People I tag: Anyone who wants to! Unless you already did this.

My New Toy!

For a while now I've been thinking about buying myself a nice camera. When I found that I had the funds, I also suddenly found a sweet deal on this. My New Nikon D5000! It came as a camera kit with both the 18-55VR & 55-200VR lenses. I LOVE it!


I love taking pictures, & would love to actually become GOOD at it! So, of course I need to practice! ;o)

"What to do with all the pictures I'm taking as I practice?", you ask.... Well, I'm glad to announce a New Blog! foto-mia.blogspot.com

You can find the best-of-the-best/my favorites & fun pictures there! Some will have thoughts/quotes/songs along with, but others not. I'm hoping I can keep it updated often!

Enjoy my new FOTO Blog! And feel free to leave comments. :D

June 26

Today is a special day! I am celebrating my wonderful boyfriend's birthday! I am so glad for that day that he came into the world, & for the unexpected ways he has changed my life. Today also marks 2 1/2 years since we started dating, & I can't imagine my life without Mac in it! Life certainly hasn't gone the way I thought it would go, but it's been better than I could have imagined. Even though you're not reading this today, I love you Sweetheart and Happy Birthday!

Blah, Blah, Blog

Nothing I've posted recently has been very important, or much of an update. So... Little as it may be, here's an update.

I've been taking 3 college classes. One was in person through Yavapai College, & (YAY!), it's done! The other two are online, & are prooving to be a struggle, since I have to work with a child for tutoring sessions. The best time so far seems to be pulling her during specials to work with her, since her mom isn't being entirely helpful.

At this point I am still VERY unsure of my job for next school year. I'm still trying to be hopeful that I will be employed, but I'm also putting out applications, & even had a job interview today. It went pretty well, but I think they don't want me, because I need to be in a high-poverty school in Arizona, & will take a position in that kind of situation before I would stay with the preschool. They sounded like they might hire me for a sub, but I doubt I'd have much work that way.

Every single one of my kids hit (or well exceeded) their end of the year Benchmark goals for their testing! We're having a party tomorrow with pizza & ice-cream to celebrate! Our entire Kinder grade level is at 99% benchmarked kid-o's, with only one left to be tested! That's better than ... pretty much EVER! :D

School is coming to an end- only 15 more days of school! In the meantime, we've got our pizza/ice-cream party, more "Flat Stanley's" coming back, a tie-dye shirt project, swiming day, report cards, learning-learning-learning & Celebrating, before Kindergarten Graduation on June 4th. That's also the day I'm supposed to have my classroom empty. :( It will be a terribly sad day. My kids have grown up so much, & are really, pretty much Amazing!

Right after school ends, I'll be heading up to Flagstaff! Friday June 5 is Laurie's HS Graduation! (Congrats to Laurie!!) I'm excited to see Dutton's, since it's been FAR too long since I've been able to spend some time with that great family!

And in Flagstaff on the 6th I'm taking the Early Childhood AEPA... WISH ME LUCK! I'm a little bit terrified of all the technical things I may or may not know/remember! :P I think I need to figure out some way to study before I have to take that test!

Seth is adorable, though I don't get to see him much lately. He doesn't talk a lot, but he knows a few signs- (most especially please, & food... "food please"), & is very effective at communicating what he wants, where he wants you to come, & yes & no. If you want to see him nod "yes"... just ask him if he's hungry (especially after he's been with his mom.) Or, when his diaper's wet, ask if he needs a new diaper. He'll tell you. :D He's just about ready for potty training... or, really I guess I'd say he seems ready NOW, but I'm not sure his daddy's quite ready. ;)

Bear is loving having 2 other dogs to play with. He also loves raiding their food bowls & has gained back all the weight he lost & then some. If anyone has suggestions on putting a big, fat, black lab on a diet, please share! Last night I (FINALLY) bought him a nice, BIG, new bed from costco. No pics yet, but maybe if I can get him to lay on it & pose, I'll get one up here.

Well, for now, that's a little update. Hope you enjoyed it!

Things I have/not done

Things I have done... Just copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done and make sure to put your score at the end.
I'm also going to italicize the ones I WANT to do!
This makes me think about what I would like to do in life, & what doesn't sound so interesting.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Learned a new instrument
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a(n) total eclipse (I don't know about a total eclipse, but I think so)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - I'm not sure if Spanish counts for "taught yourself, but Smorgan does!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - at home
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Gone without food or water for 24 hours or longer
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - only if Arizona Jones counts. Kate?
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Stayed up for 24 hours with NO sleep at all
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Changed a lightbulb
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Mowed the lawn
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Just 37!

1999

10 Years Ago...

• It was 1999, a different century!


• I was a sophmore/junior at Prescott High School.


• Daily life consisted of PHS & Seminary, & getting closer to some of the biggest changes of my life.


• I was seeing a strength in my Mom that I hadn't seen before, a strength that has been an inspiration to me ever since.


• With the exception of one small memory, all of my "home" memories were of the same house I grew up in, until we moved... 3 times THIS year...


• My family became "Homeless" (McKinney-Vento Act style, but not living-on-the-streets style).


• For most of the year I wasn't old enough to date yet, but I was already falling in like with the first boy who liked with me back.


• I went on my first date.


• My aunt took me to Williams, & I got my driver's license, after I passed the parallel parking on my fourth try.


• This was probably when I was really learning how your family can be your best friends.


• Change was not my favorite thing. It still isn't, but a lot of changes during this time of my life helped me learn to appreciate CHANGE!
  
  
• I would've liked the idea of staying in P-town forever. I'm glad I didn't stick with that plan!
• This year held the first anniversary of losing my Aunt Misty. Ten more years have passed, & I still miss her.
  
  
• We were still kids, & all of us kids were still together. The years have taken us apart to distant places, but I will always love the good memories from those times that brought us together stronger than before.

Thanks to Jodi for this idea! :)

Tag! You're it!

THE RULES:
1. link the person who tagged you
2. post the rules
3. tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them


1. I was tagged by Alissa Dixon one of my best friends from High School.
2. See above
3. Quirks:

• I STILL sometimes bite my nails, but usually it's just one thumb nail at a time.


• Whenever I get the whim, I chop my hair off. Usually it turns out great ... Last time it was quite Litterally a CHOP!


• When I want my nephew to know that something is yucky, I say "ucky caca"... Aparently this happens a lot, Because even with his limited vocabulary, he says "caca". ha ha


• About half the time I still forget that my car speakers work again. (THANKS TRENTON!)


• I DON'T make a "budget", but I work really hard to know where my finances are.


• When I am writing a letter, or needing to send something in the mail, sometimes it takes me a VERY long time to get it sent, & I hate that!
• I LOVE Spanish!

4. I tag Jodi, Jenny, Terina, Mollie, Kate, & Crissy.

I did it!

Yay!! It's been over a month ago now, but I'm just now getting around to blogging about my GRADUATION!! On May 9, 2008, I graduated from NAU with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish!

Maybe there isn't a whole lot to blog about, but... I've got some FUN pictures! So... I'll show & tell a little bit.

This first, strange looking picture, is the view I had for all of graduation. The girl in front of me had bright, pink, feathers all around the top of her cap, and around her sleeves too. It was a little obnoxious if you ask me, but it made it easy to answer the text: "Where are you?" "Right behind the girl with the pink." ha ha... and we could see where we were on the giant TV screens, because of the pink.

And the on going text conversation with Mom during the ceremony. "Where Are You? Get up and Dance." "I'm right behind the girl with the pink feathers." "Good, maybe she'll want to dance with you." "ha ha" "No really, do it now or you'll miss your chance." ... Something like that anyway. It made me smile even more.

There was a big group of us from the Christensen Partnership. This is Barry, Devin, Ashley, Emily, me, & Andrea. There were a few more of us, but I haven't gotten a copy of the bigger pictures we took yet.

This is me with one of my Partnership Professors, Jeanne Dustman. She was a great support to me through the two semesters of death that preceded my Student Teaching.

Mom & I. We started celebrating all together when we got outside. Terina & Brent didn't get to stick around for the other celebrations, so this was the best we had with all of us.

This was a favorite, because Trenton was hiding, and Terina quickly ducked, & I snapped... & between our combined efforts I caught a really cute grin on Trenton, & a fun, cheesy grin on Terina. :o)

I really don't think I'm photogenic, but that it's better when I'm in pictures with other people, so... That makes this naturally a favorite, because ... it just is.

I've got more pictures of the parties... one in Flagstaff that day, and one in Chino Valley about a month after, but I'm REALLY tired for now, & I've got to get this posted & get some sleep. Tomorrow it's back to work!

I Did It!!!!

Graduated, that is.
Yay!