Taking the Plunge...

I am sorry for my absence from the blog again. Sometimes I just feel like I have nothing to write about, but I enjoy updates from everyone else, so I figured I should post an update on myself. School ends this week. So come Friday I will officially be done teaching Math. I am so excited to begin teaching Geography next Fall!! I will be starting full time at R&L though once school is out, so I will still be working the same hours, I will just have a much better commute. Last weekend I went to a Regional Young Single Adult Activity. We went to Camp Williams which is about at the "Point of the Mountain" for those of you who know Utah. If you don't, then it is south of Salt Lake City. Anyway, while there I got to shoot military guns that have been rigged to only shoot air, but that feel like real guns. We shot at a screen, and lets just say I don't have very good aim. I also jumped off a 34 foot tall tower. It is a tower that they use to train paratroopers. They told us that 34 feet is the point where your brain tells you to not jump. Any higher or any lower and people have an easier time jumping, but for some reason at 34 feet, your brain shuts down and tells you not to jump. You are attached to a bungee cord thing that simulates what it feels like have a parachute open up. I wasn't going to do it, but with some heavy convincing from my friend Kim and my Branch President and his wife, I decided to just do it. I knew that I wouldn't die, and also that it would make a good story. I had a friend video tape me so that I could prove that I actually did it. It was very empowering to be able to conquer a fear. I was absolutely terrified on the top of that tower, and thought that I was going to hyperventilate, but I took the plunge and it was AWESOME!!!

I GOT A JOB!!!!

After way too long of a wait, I got a job!!! Next fall I will be working for the Davis School District at Syracuse Jr. High, home of the Seahawks (I'm excited about the mascot too). It will be fabulous. If I drive, my commute will be 2 minutes, and if I walk it will be about 10 minutes. I'll be teaching 9th grade Geography and possibly a couple of classes of 7th Grade Utah studies. I've never taught or taken Utah History, but I took Church History in Institute and that is basically the same thing right? I am so thrilled to finally have something solid and settled in my life. I have been in such limbo as I've tried to figure out where I needed to be going and what direction I needed to head. Thank you to everyone who supported, believed in, and prayed for me. This job has just worked out so well. Now I can really say that I am a teacher!

Update on Me

I check everyone's blog about once a day, and am always a little disappointed when they are not updated. I then realized that it has been a little while since I've updated mine, so I thought that I would. I am still teaching at LifeLine. I like it a lot, but would really like to be able to get a full time position teaching History in the Fall. I did have an interview at Syracuse Jr. High, but I haven't heard back on it yet. I am also working at R&L Vinyl fence. I enjoy working there, but am very busy and never get home on time anymore. Like if good though. I am going to New York in June with some friends. I am very excited. It is my first time there, and we are going to two Broadway shows. We are seeing "The Little Mermaid", which just came out, and "Mary Poppins". I am most excited for "Mary Poppins", they will actually dance on the ceiling from what I understand. I'm also excited to run through Central Park sing "How do You Know He Loves You?". For those of you who are unfamiliar with this song, you need to watch "Enchanted".

Speed Test

73 words

Speedtest

Okay, Sarah impressed me. I had to take the test about 10 times before I got this speed, and I don't have fake nails like she does. I will concede defeat... for now...

A Return to the Holidays

It is time to return to the Holidays. I forget how fun it is to have something to celebrate everyday. Today is another day with a lot of different things to celebrate. Today is "Listening Day". It is amazing how many problems in the world would be solved if people would just listen to those around them. How often do we watch a person move their mouth without ever caring to engage those things on the sides of our heads that allow us to hear and listen. I encourage all of you to take the time today to listen to those around you and not just watch their mouths move. Another holiday to celebrate today is the birthday of Dry Milk. So go get some powder, mix in some water, add some ice, and enjoy a nice cold glass of milk. Or if you are feeling adventurous, maybe try just eating the powder. I don't think I will be celebrating this holiday. I don't like milk to begin with, and powder milk is worse. Today is also "Astronaut's Day". On this day in 1959, the first 7 U.S. astronauts were selected. Perhaps to celebrate you can spend some time looking at the stars. If you are living in a place that will have clear enough skies to do this, perhaps you can look at some stars for me too! It is also "Name Yourself Day". If you have been disappointed in the name your parents gave you at birth, today is the day to change it. Go down to the courthouse and have your name changed. Personally, I like my name well enough. I mean, I don't know what other name I would prefer to have, so I think that I will keep my name what it is. But if there's anyone out there who's thought about changing their name, I am curious as to what they want to change it to.
Finally, it is "Winston Churchill Day". I think that this is a fabulous day to celebrate. Winston Churchill was a great man who deserves to be remembered, not just one day a year, but always. For my nieces and nephews who read this blog and others who might not know who Winston Churchill, he was the Prime Minister (the British version of the President) in Great Britain during World War II. In his first speech as Prime Minister he said, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." Another inspiring quote from Churchill is, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Another quote that made me chuckle is, "A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen." For more fun quotes from Churchill go to http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/winston_churchill.html. Needless to say Winston Churchill was a great man, probably one of the top 10 on my list of historical political leaders I would like to meet. I hope that you all have a wonderful day celebrating and remembering!

Austen Quiz

You are Anne Elliot of Persuasion! Let's face it; you're easily persuaded, particularly when friends and relatives try to use "the Elliot way" against you. But this doesn't mean that you don't have conviction. Actually, your sense of duty is overwhelming. And though you won't stick your neck out too often, you have learned to speak up when it counts. To boot, you know how to handle sticky situations. You love deeply and constantly.

Take the Quiz here!

I usually take these types of quizzes on Facebook, but this was fun to be able to take it and post it on the blog. I love Anne Elliot! She is one of my favorites!

Spring Weather

Finally, Utah got some normal Spring weather. It rained and hailed all morning off and on. Now, the sun is out, the sky is blue with white fluffy clouds, and looking outside makes me happy that it is Spring. This sure beats the snow we had last week! I hope you all enjoyed Conference. I loved it! It was so neat to sustain a new Prophet. I'm sad that I didn't get to see him wiggle his ears during the Priesthood session. Hopefully they will post video links online so that the women will be able to see it!