Loved!

I had to blog this before I call it a night. I love it too much to want to forget it!

Thankful Thursday...

I've decided I need to start something new and add a post every Thursday. I have several friends who do "throwback Thursday", which is fun. Today was just one of those days where I felt so much gratitude for my life. Here's to 'Thankful Thursdays'.

Tonight it was my turn to volunteer at a community night held at my school. It was fun to have all of the kids and their parents come for a free night of science experiments and food. I teach within a community that is at and below the poverty level. The people are real, hard working, considerate, endearing, and proud of the things they have. I often get rocks, small used toys, bouquets of dandelions, and leftover apples from lunch as gifts from my students. They are genuinely excited to give me anything they have, and I accept it all with enthusiasm, excitement, and hugs.

Tonight as I was wandering around the activity watching the kids it made me think of the opportunities that these kids most likely will not have in their lives. I hope they all fight to graduate from high school. I hope advantages will come along for them that help them along their way. I hope they will find a way to attend college. I hope they will be able to find good employment and be able to support a family. I hope their lives are easier than the lives of their parents. A lot of the parents in the community work 2, 3, 4 minimum wage jobs, barely scraping by. They have no advantages, aren't cut any breaks, and go without necessities. Life isn't fair. Most of us are a product of our environment. Sometimes we can rise above it.

I am beyond thankful for the advantages that I have had throughout my life, and continue to have. There are many! I am thankful for the parents who raised me and provided not only advantages but countless opportunities for me to succeed. I am thankful that I have an education and a career in which I can be involved in the lives of these kids who need extra encouragement and love. They are just as capable as any other child in this world!

Sometimes I just need to remind myself that even though I wonder what in the world I'm doing with my life, I sure am thankful for where I'm at. I'm one lucky girl.

Friendship Blessing Mix...

I don't remember if I posted this last Thanksgiving or not. I tried to look through past posts but didn't see it. I made these for Ken's home teaching families last year. If I get on the ball, I could make them for his families this year. I had a student give me a little "friendship mix". It was cute but I wanted to make it cuter. I put together a label and a poem.

I mixed up the ingredients.

I filled a gallon size Ziploc bag with the mix. I put the bagged mix in the boxes so the boxes wouldn't get grease spots on them from the Bugles.

I put the labels on the front of these cute boxes.

Added a bow.

Finally, I tied the poem on with some jute.

I'm not trying to pat myself on the back but they were super cute and really easy.

It's not too late to make a friendship mix!

Turn on your color printer, leave me a comment, and I'll happily send you a PDF of the label and poem.

The other white meat...

We've been having the missionaries over at least once a week. They're having a hard time getting their meal calendars filled each week. I've told them countless times that if they don't have a meal that they have to let us know. I texted them yesterday afternoon to see if they had a Sunday dinner and they didn't. 

I went to the store yesterday with the intention of buying a beef roast for Sunday dinner. I was horrified to find that it was $7.99 a pound! When did that happen?! For a medium sized roast it was just under $30.00. Sorry but I wasn't paying that much.

I noticed that the grocery store ad had pork tenderloin on sale for $1.19 per pound. I despise pork. Don't know why, I just always have. Without knowing how to cook it, I picked up a giant roast for about $8.00. 

Against the advice of my older brother, I cooked it in the crock pot. I added chicken broth, garlic, dry onion soup mix, and pepper. That's it. I flipped it after 4 hours, added another packet of the dry soup mix, and let it go about another 3 hours.

Oh. 

My.

Gosh.

I LOVED IT!!

I'll be buying more at the store to freeze. Easy, delicious, and a great price!

Here's our two sister missionaries. We love them!

Here's what was left of the cooked pork after we had all had seconds.

This was my plate. The roast fell apart. I made gravy from the drippings (I added a few tablespoons of butter to the drippings) and could have drank it all up out of the pan with a straw!

I may be pushing 40 years old, but I think I may like pork.

Well, at least MY version of pork. Yummy!!

Saturday with the Sisters...

We invited the Sister Missionaries over for the two Saturday sessions of General Conference. Normally they would go to the chapel to watch it. We had them over for dinner last week and asked what they're plans were. They told us that they didn't have plans so we invited them over for a conference breakfast, junk food, and dinner.

Here are the Sisters that are currently serving in our ward. Sister Chantry (left) and Sister Inoke (right)

Conference started and they got comfy!

Of course, they took great notes on all of the speakers.

And naturally, Tank made himself at home...

with both of them.

For breakfast, we made them our favorite cinnamon iced French toast,

hash brown, egg, and bacon breakfast casserole,

and bacon.

We also had lots of different soda's, chips, and cookies.

After the last session ended, Ken went and got pizza for dinner.

 Yummy!

We were able to spend all day with the Sisters. I think we wore them out. I love having full time missionaries in our ward. I feel this constant reminder to check on the Sisters. I think it's because I had people that constantly checked on me when I was serving my mission. I always want to know that they're okay, that they have enough groceries and nightly dinner appointments. I was glad that they could come and spend the day with us. I hope they got full both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We love the missionaries!!

On my mind...

I'm trying to keep this on my mind.

I'm completely overwhelmed.

I know it will get better.

Change is rough!

I got a job!!!

We're moving in about a week and a half. I'm still in denial. Other than my classroom, I've yet to pack anything. I feel like I am still sorting through the emotions in my head. I'm having a hard time facing it. The biggest fear I have of moving is change. Everything changes. I hate change. I don't adapt well. I have always lived close to my family and I see them often. Not going to happen in Texas. I felt like by chasing Ken's education, my career that I worked hard for would potentially be put on the back burner because teaching in Texas wasn't looking like it was going to pan out.

• Teaching certifications are only good in the state they are issued in. Utah license + Texas school = no way you're getting a job. It took some time, tears, and frustration but I was able to get a one year provisional teaching license in Texas. This means I can teach for one year as long as I am working on becoming fully certified there. I have to retake some dreadful tests once I'm there but I do have a year to pass them. I may need a year too!

•  Applying for jobs in Texas while living and working in Utah is NOT convenient! Thank heavens for the internet! I checked daily and applied for all K-3 jobs that were within a 30 mile radius of where we'll be living - that's a lot of schools. I had over 85 applications in (complete with resumes and personal emails to each principal) but it's hard to want to interview someone who lives 20 hours away.

But this week I got a job!

Not just ANY job, but a job that I'm really excited about. I love the principal and teachers that I interviewed with. I can tell it's going to be a good place to work!

I will be teaching

at a school in Fort Worth!

In a nutshell, here's how it happened...

• On Tuesday of this week, I saw the position online and applied for it.I sent an email to the principal introducing myself and let her know I was interested. (I've done this 80+ times remember) She responded via email that afternoon and set up a phone interview for Thursday.
• She called on Thursday and we interviewed for about an hour. Other teachers were in the room and I was on speaker phone. We all talked our way through it.
• I felt like the interview went well and that I was as personable and honest as I could be.
• She told me that we'd have a second interview next week as she was still interviewing other candidates for the position. (Pretty standard) I was a-okay with it but wasn't getting my hopes up because it was a phone interview. Not being face to face is hard.
• The next morning I woke up to an email from the principal letting me know that the interviewing panel was very impressed and she had spoken with my former principal, checked my references and was officially offering me the job!!
• HOLY COW!
• About an hour later, the Human Resources department called and scheduled for me to have an interview with the district and sign paperwork on August 5th.

I am still in awe of having spent so much time on a ton of applications that this one happened so quickly and fell into place. From applied to hired was less than 4 days. I am having faith that this is the school where I need to be. There are people there that will greatly influence my life and if I am lucky, I too can have an influence on theirs.

I believe the Lord has had a hand in my life (always) and that although this move is testing my emotional strength, He will not let me down. I was so worried that all of MY hard work of my own college education was going to be spent working at some mundane job so that Ken could pursue his doctorate. I wanted to teach. I REALLY wanted to teach. But up until this week it wasn't looking too promising.

I am amazed at how many people have since said that they put my name on the temple roll, they were praying for me and Ken, etc. One of my friends even told me that she knelt in prayer right at 11:00 a.m. on the day and time of my interview. I am thankful that there are people who are pulling me through.

Third grade will be a big change from first grade. I have loved first grade. But I am also looking forward (okay, I am a little nervous) to teaching a higher grade.

Yippee! I have a job!!

Last Sunday at the MTC...

Sunday was our last day at the Missionary Training Center. Ken has been a volunteer organist there for about two and half years. We've spent Sunday evenings and holidays there together. I'd say it was good for our marriage. A lot of what they talked about applied to us as well. We are a little sad to say goodbye. I took a few pictures to remember our experience.

The beautiful mountains of Provo! Mountains are definitely something I will miss in Texas.

Here's our building... 19M.

Most Sunday's when we get there the MTC choir is still having rehearsal. They sound amazing!

Here come the missionaries! They pack into the auditorium and they broadcast it to overflow rooms and the new west campus.

Ken's spot.

We've had the opportunity to work with my mom's cousin Judy. (Judy's mom and my grandma are sisters) Judy is one of the music leaders that volunteers as well. It's been fun to see her.

(insert loud organ music here)

We've heard many, many, many talks from Richard I. Heaton. He's a great speaker and is usually there the same Sunday we were.

Brother Angus!! We have loved working with this man!! No one messes with Brother Angus and the missionaries know it!

No "mission" is complete without an official photograph with the mission president and his wife. Here we are with President and Sister Nally, the current MTC president and his wife. They are AMAZING people! Note to self... that purple and white shirt you're wearing looks worse than you initially thought AND don't stand next to tiny people while being photographed. 'Nuff said.

Since Ken never served a full time mission of his own, he never had a chance to get an iconic missionary world map photo. Well, here he is! He's pointing to the state of Utah...

and Texas.

As a fun side photo, here is a picture of me by the map 17 1/2 years ago when I was in the MTC as a full time missionary. I am pointing to the wonderful state of Florida where I served.

And here I am with my MTC companion, Sister Kersey, who also served in my mission in Florida - we never served together there, however.

On the wall Ken and I found an old picture of a former MTC mission president and his wife. This man (George Durrant) is the one who sealed Ken and I on our wedding day. It was fun for us to see!

We're both grateful for the chance we had to be at the MTC. President Nally was so gracious. He told Ken that when we're in town to email and let him know and they could fit Ken in to play in the meeting. We've had some neat experiences and met some great people there!! We are truly blessed!

Is this as hard for everyone else as it is for me? Getting ready to move is rough!

Primary Teacher Thank You's...

I was sooooo glad to get my kitchen back on Sunday. I spent last week making 30 thank you's for our primary teachers. As part of sharing time, the presidency took a few minutes to thank all of our primary teachers and talk about ways the kids can thank them as well. I was really proud of what the kids came up with. Their ideas were bring reverent during class, not shouting out comments and sitting quietly. Being a school teacher, I LOVED those answers!

This was the "mess" I had on my table. 30 M&M jars.

They each looked like this. They had 3 packages of M&M's in them and a quote.

I hope everyone felt a little appreciated. Sometimes it's just nice to do something out of the blue to say thanks.

Hatching Butterflies...

We hatched butterflies in my classroom a few weeks ago. I didn't take any pictures of the caterpillars, dang it! Oh well. I came in one morning about a week after the caterpillars had formed chrysalises and found that 2 of the 5 chrysalises had hatched. We had 2 butterflies and the kids were thrilled!

Within a few minutes of school starting, we had another butterfly hatch. We missed the entire thing! One minute we had 2 butterflies and the next thing we knew there were 3! My class was really upset that they were in the room and saw nothing. We watched our butterflies and chrysalises more closely that morning.

They love oranges and flowers sprinkled with sugar water.

See that nasty liquid that looks like blood? It's not blood. It's just color that the butterfly excretes after it hatches. It was grossing the kids out.

It was grossing me out a little since I was the one that had to clean it up.

We had one little chrysalis that had fallen. We hoped he was going to make it.

My class was so worried we would miss the next butterfly hatch. I put the ELMO camera inside the butterfly habitat so I could enlarge it. That way we could leave the camera on all day and keep an eye on everything.

We watched for a few minutes. The chrysalis wiggled but not much else happened.

Great view thanks to the ELMO!

Finally the next day, we were in the middle of class and the final hanging chrysalis started to move a lot. My kids were speechless. This picture says it all. I was THRILLED they got to see the butterfly emerge, and so were they!

Here it goes...

It was all over in less than 10 seconds. Our wet and crumpled little butterfly had made it!

And then he dripped his color too. Ewwww...

All 5 butterflies hatched and we kept them in our classroom for a few days. We decided they needed to be set free so we all ventured outside for the bon voyage.

One last bite of an orange.

I had a butterfly that would not get off of my clothes!

I reached down and put it on my finger,

and off he flew!

Such a fun activity!

I have been thinking so much about our caterpillars and butterflies. I cannot fathom how the tiny caterpillar doubles in size each day, knows to hang upside down and make a chrysalis, somehow transform into a completely different creature and then know what to do after it hatches. It's truly astonishing! It made me think about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the atonement along with the power of repentance. If God made it so a simple "bug" can become something beautiful with time and effort, imagine what we can do as His children. No one ever looks at butterflies and sees a furry and dark caterpillar. Once the change has taken place, all anyone sees is a brightly colored butterfly. Before its change, the caterpillar is only able to walk where its tiny little feet take it. Once it has gone through the process of change, that butterfly can fly anywhere freely.

I think our lives are a lot like that. We're all in different caterpillar stages. Everyone has something they're working through to become something better. I don't know... the whole caterpillar/butterfly thing blows my mind! If a "bug" can do THAT, than what can I do? Or maybe the question is, what can't I do. Something to think about.