Monday, August 24, 2009

It's the end of the summer as we know it...

I love summer, and I'm sad to see it go (even though fall is my favorite season!)

This summer I found a new flower to add to my list of favorites. I think it's a Zinnia. I didn't grow very many, but next year there will be lots more of these huge, beautiful, vibrant guys!!!

Here's a picture from Girls Camp a few weeks ago. It was my 9th girls camp in 10 years! I spent most of my time in the kitchen as one of the cooks, which was fun, but I would've much rather been in the mountains with my girls!

It's the last day of camp... Can you tell?



Below is a picture from mutual last week. We had a water party as a reward for reading the Book of Mormon. We spent hours filling up baloons, and we popped them all in less than 20 minutes! Funny how that works.



I started school today. I'm taking 12 credits from ISU and 3 from CSI. I drive to Pocatello (about two hours from where I live) on Tuesdays and Thurdsays. I'm happy though, because I don't have to leave super duper early in the morning like I did last year (7:30 vs. 6) or get home really really late (4PM vs. 9PM) and I only go 2 times a week instead of 3! So, in perspective, it will actually be a good semester. :) I need to remind myself of that everytime I find myself cursing Pocatello... Because everywhere you need to go is uphill, there is NEVER any parking, it's always ten degrees colder, the streets don't make any sense, the sun is right in your eyes BOTH ways (driving east in the morning, west in the evening), the roads are bad, and the guy at the taco bell takes five minutes just to punch in your order at the cash register!... Like I said, I'm being optemistic. :)

Friday, August 21, 2009

RM

I'm having mixed feelings... I finished my part-time service missionary calling today. Does that make me a Return Missionary?
~
This year and a half has really gone by quickly! I have made so many new friends and learned so much about other cultures, other languages, and I've learned about teaching through a lot of trial and error. Heavenly Father has also helped me immensely in my calling. Sometimes I get really frustrated with English. So much of it doesn't make any sense to me, how can I explain it (using English) in a way that makes sense to someone that doesn't speak English as a native language? Classes always seemed to work out, and my students were so enthusiastic whether I only had one student there that day, or nine (like today). I also think Heavenly Father has given me this opportunity so that I could learn that I really do like teaching ESL!
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My Class!!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Announcement!

So... Big news!







I'm going to be an aunt! ;)







Exciting?... Totally!







...What? Were you expecting something else? ;)