Sundays are my favorites

I'm moving, which means changing wards.  Tears.  I hadn't really decided when, but I was just gonna fly under the radar and surprise everyone with the news that I wasn't coming back, except to visit of course.  I'm not one for big good-byes.

Last night, the Zonies called and asked if I would give a ride to an investigator, which locked me into going to the branch.  No problem there, I like the branch.  :)  The missionaries asked if I was leaving, and couldn't believe it. Haha.  But most of all, when I told Brother Bell he was surprised.  I thought my surprise had worked, and I would be out, but I was told I HAD to speak one last time and say good-bye.  Let's remember that none of the others who transfered their records were asked to speak.  But for some reason I was.  Maybe because I told Brother Bell instead of Pres. On.  Who knows.  But I am excited.  I get to share my experience in the branch and my growing up with them and also my experiences with the priesthood.

The priesthood has blessed me so much, especially over the last few months.  Just being in the presence of priesthood holders has been an uplifting experience, and I can't wait to share it with everyone. :)

Ears ringing. Sore neck. Tired. Totally worth it,

Let's start with Monday.  Monday, I started the dreaded SUMMER SCHOOL.

I had class from 9-12, came home, got things together, read a little, work from 3-6.  Went straight to campus for class from 7-9:40.  Long flippin day.  I fell asleep at 10:30 in order to be fueled at 6:30 am for another day!  Class, interview for another job, work, then home to get dressed and eat quickly and go to the Saving Abel concert with Amber, Heather, and Cory.  I appreciate the music that was played, I appreciate the art form and all the hard work that goes into it, however, the best part of the concert was definitely the people I went with and having fun with them.  I enjoyed myself perhaps a little too much, head banging, bouncing around, having drinks spilled on me... (some people need to chill out... and not bring their drinks into the crowd.  I don't understand that, I honestly don't think drinks should be allowed in the crowd, with the exception of bottled water, maybe.)  and I stayed up too late.  I fell asleep sometime around 1, up at 6:30 again!

I just barely made it throuh my first class, came home and crashed.  I set my alarm for 1:45, giving myself 45 minutes to get up change eat whatever before leaving for work.  Only when Evan called me at 2:45 did I realize I had set it for AM and not PM.  I ran out the door and was only ten minutes late. HAHA!  And then of course my evening course.  

My evening course is taught by Jon Bergnier, the meteorologist  for WRIC.  It's like getting a weather report every class period! Lol.  He is high energy though, so it makes it a little easier to get through to 9:30 pm.  I can't say I will miss it though when it is over. In a seven more weeks.

Well, that has been my week so far.  

Happy Mother's Day!

I would like to take this time to say- I love my mom.  I am so grateful to her and all of the things she has taught me.  Yes, there have been times when I've been frustrated by her, angered, whatever, but overall, my mom has taught me the importance of being strong, and being your own person.  She is the one that showed me if you fight for it, you can accomplish goals.

So, THREE CHEERS FO MOM!

I don't know why it was sideways... :(

For teaching me how to laugh, love and learn
I love you!

Annnnnd SCENE!

Today was my last official final. For Spring semester that is. All of my finals were take-homes... even the ones that weren't take home were like take-homes. Ok, here is what I mean.

Let's start by remembering I dropped Spanish Literature after getting sick and falling so far behind I couldn't catch up. Mostly because my teacher spoke at a speed my ears couldn't quite process. It all sounded like rolling rrrrr's and "th th th" (spanish from spain, much different than any of my other teachers).

Ok, class 1! Advanced spanish grammar and writing II: WI
Don't let the title fool you. It wasn't that hard. Sure, it's a 300 level course, but honestly, I think I unlearned more than I learned.
The final- Our last essay, to be written in class. Argumentative. SWEET! Pick a side, and support it. Thank you AP english/literature and Jackie for giving me all those timed essays. No prob. Even if it is in spanish. I got this yo! Wait, bonus! We must come to class with a PREPARED outline. And we can use dictionaries and our book. Ok, so, pretty much I write the shell of my paper and then copy it and beef it up in class? Ok. DONE

Class 2! Content of elementary science. WI
Uhhhh... yeah. So, you know how you have to take a biology class, a physics/chem class, and an earth science class? Ok, this one takes allllll of that, dumbs it down, and tells you it all over again! My final? the fifth online quiz, and revising a lesson plan. Yes. REVISING. Take an activity sheet (already done), pick something to change and say why. DONE!

Class 3! Integrating the Arts in Curriculum
HA! I got this DOOWWWWNNN! I mean, did I not go to a school for seven years that emphasized EXACTLY that every day? I was beyond prepared for this. The class consisted of short lectures, and 'learning centers.' Things like painting, sculpting, drama, etc and writing how to use it in curriculum. The final? A fifteen question take home. No books, only use 2h 40m. Honor code! So, you could cheat, but if found out, you would be in big trouble. Still, all questions were open ended and mostly opinion. DONE!

CLass 4! Children's Literature
BY FAR my favorite class. Ever. Easy class, and she didn't try to lie and say it wasn't. But also emphasized that easy did not equal meaningless. Class consisted of talking about books and different ways to use them in curriculum and such. The final? A seven question take home. Mostly opinion. All easy and straightforward. Also, read a book (Mine was Sarny. Go read it, but first read Nightjohn) and share a little to the class and make a response. our response? Bagels, fruit cocktail, and jam. Yup. DONE!

I learned a lot in that class. I wish she taught all my classes :( lol.

So, for all of you who envy education majors- sorry yo! It may seem easy now, but remember how little we get paid. And how much work goes into being a GOOD teacher. This week is teacher appreciation week. If you can think of one teacher that made a positive impact, try to let them know. They will surely appreciate it.

I'm addicted to my blog

Sunday night, I went to a CES broadcast and Elder Bednar talked about spending too much time on the internet... not cultivating actual, physical, real relationships. Starting a blog may have not been a good idea for me.

Sweet Music

I formed an instant bond to the powerful voice of Etta James years ago when I was introduced to her by my then roommate, current hetero-life mate Cassie Mae.
Only last week did I finally buy a CD.

And my goodness, if she doesn't speak right to my heart. It's like, a soundtrack for life. Ahhh.

Cheesy, I know. But for real. I feel it. Especially after certain events that recently went down. I feel like she is sending me messages from the past, telling me to just go for it. If you don't put yourself out there, you won't get hurt, but you won't succeed either.

"I don't want nobody
If i can't have you
oh i can't love nobody
unless i'm loving you

The way you hug me
The way you squeeze me
The way you kiss me
ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya
if i can't have you

i can't talk to nobody
unless i'm talking to you
i don't wanna hold nobody
unless i'm holding you

The way you hug me
The way you squeeze me
The way you kiss me
ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya
if I can't have you

i can't be kissing nobody
unless i'm kissing you
i just don't i just don't i just don't want to be bothered with nobody
unless i'm bothered with you

The way you hug me
The way you squeeze me
The way you kiss me
ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya
if I can't have you"