Lake Powell

Vernal is pretty great.  Everything is still going pretty well.  I'm trying to do as many fun things as I can before I really have to start getting ready for the school year.  Last week I went with the ward down to Lake Powell for most of the week to hang out and go boating for a few days.  It was so great!  I met so many new people and we all had such a great time.  I got to practice my knee boarding skills, still can't do a spin but it's getting closer lol.  I also got to try wake boarding...I"ll definitely have to keep practicing that for a while but I at least stood up twice on the board so I'm slowly making progress.  We spent 3 days at the lake, 2 of them just playing on the boats and chillin'.  The last day we drove about 50 miles up the lake from Wahweap Marina to go to Hole in the Rock and see Rainbow Bridge.  That day was by far my favorite!  There were 102 people total from the ward and 8 boats so it was just great!  We had some boat problems on the way up there but we finally made it.

Here is just part of our boat caravan.  It was so cool to see a huge group traveling together and they were all our ward. 

Here are just a few once we got to Hole in the Rock.  It was such an amazing place.  We all climbed to the top and a guy in the ward gave a short talk at the top and told the story of the pioneers that went through there.  The spirit was so strong the whole time.  It was amazing.  I"m so glad I had to opportunity to be there.  The story of the pioneers is amazing.  Each time I hear a story of them my love and respect grows for them so much.  They had such amazing faith to do all they did.

 This is the view from the top where they started...

Some of the tracks you can still see carved into the rocks

 From the top looking down...so incredible!

We also went to see Rainbow Bridge Arch which I believe is only accessible by water so that was pretty awesome.  It reminded me a lot of Corona Arch in Moab.  The whole time at the lake was amazing.  I felt like I was home again in the extreme heat and with the red rocks and desert scenery.  I hate to admit it but I do miss Moab a little bit.

It was a long and exhausting trip but totally worth it!  By the time we got back to camp it was way later than we had expected and I had to drive home for a training meeting the next morning.  I was planning on getting back home around 12 or 1 a.m.  . . . we didn't even leave the lake till 8:45. . . so after a terribly long drive we got to Vernal at 6 a.m. prettymuch just in time to get ready for the day and head out.  I may have missed some of the presentations throughout that training  :)  Next weekend. . . .Kiss Me Dirty Relay. . .so stoked!!!

Young Single Adults

What a crazy week!  Lots of stuff is going on for me it seems.  I've finally finished moving and have most of my things unpacked in my new house.  So far I love it!!!  I live in a cute little house with 3 other teachers.  I've only met one so far and she is great.  I think we will have a great year together.  Yesterday I attended the singles ward and it's great!  MUCH larger than the branch in Moab and everyone is super friendly and welcoming.  We had a great FHE tonight, we pulled weeds at the community garden and had pizza and I got to meet some new people and had a really great time.  Next week the ward is taking a trip to Lake Powell to go camping and boating. . . it's going to be awesome!  I can't wait to go get some sun and meet more great people!

Summer 2012

It's been a long while since I've posed anything but it's been a pretty busy year.  I finished my first year of teaching and I feel like it was a success...definitely a learning experience, but a good one.  This summer I spent in Cedar City again working at the golf course and just taking it easy.  What a great place that is!  I will miss it.  Here are a few pictures from the summer...

My favorite roommates wedding...

 

 Hiking in Bryce Canyon with Hailey

And of Course working at good ol' Cedar Ridge...this is the sweet ride I've gotten to drive for the past 5 summers....

A dead squirrel that was staged on the cart path by some of the maintenance workers....I won't mention any names.  8 hours out in the sun can make you do some weird things...

 My favorite fairway to mow  #10

And last but not least I bought a new car and I love it!  I can't wait to take it on a road trip!

The next big event coming up will be in a few weeks, Natalie and I are going to participate in "Kiss Me Dirty".  Sounds pretty interesting right???  Get your mind out of the gutter...it's a women's only 3k mud run/obstacle course.  We are so excited!  Hopefully we will have some great pictures to post afterwards.  :)

 

That's prettymuch the latest :)

Just keep Pushing. . .

What a crazy/busy time it's been since my last update. Just a few of the main events that have happened between then and now. . . Completed my student teaching/last semester of college, applied for jobs, Graduated college, applied for more jobs, went to Hawaii for a week with my mom, applied for and interviewed for jobs, started working back at good ol' Cedar Ridge for the summer, applied and interviewed for more jobs, got a new calling in my ward. . .Relief Society Pres., and continued applying and interviewing for a teaching job. After applying for a job or two. . . now I can say I got one! :) VERY unexpectedly I was selected for an interview and offered a job to teach full day Kindergarten at my old elementary school. . .Helen M. Knight in my hometown of MOAB!!!!! and. . .I accepted their offer. They just built a new school so I will be in a brand new building, I'm so stoked!!! So in the next few weeks I will be scrambling to get my classroom set up and ready to go for the year and be moving back home. I never thought this great opportunity would come, but it has so I'll take it. In preparing my Relief Society lesson for today I shared a short story I heard at a fireside that I loved and feel applies to my life quite well so I wanted to share it. . .

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing it with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Noticing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man’s weary mind. “You have been pushing against this rock for a long time, and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it.” Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These troubling thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. “Why kill myself over this?” I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough.

And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his thoughts to the Lord. “Lord” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, When I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”

“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is simple obedience and Faith in Him…

. . .I hope that I can continue pushing and working on the boulders in my life. Even during the times when I'm tired, worn out, and want to give up. I want to remember Heavenly Father has done and will continue to do the hardest part for us, and move our boulders. All we have to do is be patient and obedient to what he asks of us, and continue to push.

Winter Weather

So Saturday night Steve and I had planned on going to battle of the bands but he didn't get off work till late and then bands were finished playing by the time we got there so we just left. We may or may not have decided to leave also because it reeked of weed and there was probably a good chance of getting a bit of a contact high. :) We decided to go out and enjoy the winter weather while it was here and we went out to make a snowman. Unfortunately it was not snowball snow so that was out of the question, so when life gives you non-snowball snow. . . make a snow angel. Good idea? yes and no. Yes, because it's fun, but no because it is FREEZING COLD! It snowed a good 6 in. or more in Cedar so we did have a good snowball fight and made some great snow angels and then went to Maverik to get hot chocolate. Such a fun night! Here's just a few pictures. . .

The Ups and Downs of Life

So many of you reading this may think I write some personal things on here but it's because I use this as more of a journal than just a blog to keep friends and family updated on my life. The last few months have been somewhat trying. My life is not exactly where I thought it would end up. When I was young I always thought I would just grow up, go to college, and then get married. I never thought about what would happen after that. Well I grew up, went to college, almost finished with college, but still not married. My plan of 22 years is now not working out. Not that I'm necessarily complaining but like I said, not what I planned on. I've been really frustrated with trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do with my life now. Where do I go from here. Where is my "Mr. Right"? Now you may be thinking that since I've bought it up that I've had some divine inspiration on what to do and where he is, but unfortunately I still have yet to get that. But I have really tried to focus on me lately. Instead of being upset that life isn't going how I think I want it to I have tried to make the most of it and try to find the reasons why Heavenly Father has kept me here and in my present situation. Now it's still not always easy but has definitely been easier than being sad and stressed all the time. I have decided to just go on with my life and see where it leads me. I have started applying for jobs in lots of different areas; Lake Havasu Arizona, Rock Springs Wyoming, Las Vegas Nevada, and a few in the Salt Lake area. I also hope that once more openings are posed I will be able to apply for the Cedar City/St. George areas. I still have no idea where I really want to go but I am so excited to see where I end up. I don't know why I felt to write all this down but like I said this is more a journal for me than just a blog. Student teaching is still going great. I am in Kindergarten class that has 23 students in the morning and 18 in the afternoon. . . 33 total (some are all day kids). They are definitely a handful but always make me laugh! I'm really loving it and I'm so excited to have my own classroom hopefully soon! Also an update on the male situation. . . the cute cowboy I mentioned a month or so ago didn't really work out, but isn't there a saying that says something like when a door closes a window opens, or something like that. Morgan set me up on a blind date with a co-worker, and since it was even in the planning stages she insisted that we are perfect for each other and the only real problem is whose side she will sit on at our wedding. We set up a triple blind date and it went great! He is a awesome guy, so funny and genuine. We have gone out a few times since then and have some fun things planned for the long weekend so we will see how they turn out. I can only hope for the best!

The Latest

Well January was my birthday month and as expected it was basically the same as all the others. No big party but I did have my blind date with that cowboy. I think it went well but I'll be surprised if I get a second one. On the plus side, Mom left my number for our cute waiter at Chili's but I still haven't heard from him so we'll see about that one. . . My friend also left my number with another cute waiter at Red Robin in St. George but no news from him either, but it is what it is. I did go to California with my Mom and Natalie to visit some family. It was a long drive for a weekend but lots of fun and definitely worth it. We found out lots of information for genealogy work will keep us busy for a while. Those were basically the highlights of the last few weeks.

Student teaching is going great. My TWS. . . well it's coming along I guess, slowly. This week I finished my first placement which was in special ed. I'm happy to be done but I miss all the kids I worked with and I was actually pretty sad on my last day working with all of them. But now I'm in a Kindergarten room with 23 students in the morning and 18 in the afternoon. What a handful! They are very busy and hard to keep track of. I'll admit I was pretty worried to start from previous bad experiences in Kindergarten classes but I have been pleasantly surprised. There are still times when I feel like I'm going crazy but overall it's gone well. My first day I mostly observed and helped keep the kids still and quite but on the second day I was put to work. I took over "opening" on the rug, which is when we recite the ABC's, practice writing sentances, counting to 20, calendar, etc. Then in the afternoon my mentor teacher had to go to a meeting at the district office so I had to take over. She was planning on only being gone about an hour but I got the schedule for the whole day just in case. Thankfully I got it because she didn't get back until 10 min. before school got out so I was solo all afternoon. I think it went well and we didn't have any major problems but I wasn't expecting to take over for the whole class my 2nd day. They kids are so cute and do the funniest things it's hard to not laugh all the time. I'm excited to see how the rest of my time in the room will go.