Every car you chase

I thought this was pretty cool. It's a combination between a Sting song and a Snow Patrol song.

I'm Alive!!!

Yes folks, I am actually alive. Most of you have already heard all my big news already, but I'll review anyway.

First, we are moving to Salt Lake. We've purchased a house in the Holladay area and we are very excited about it. It's about 3,000 square feet, is professionally landscaped, and has a spot for a hottub. It's three bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs. There is a mother-in-law apartment downstairs, so if anyone wants to come live with us we're renting it out cheap. It also has one of the coolest playhouses ever. There's electricity in it and an automatic fan! I'll try to post pictures soon.

The reason we are moving to Salt Lake is that Cameron found a fantastic job. He will be working for the consulting firm Summit Valley Engineering in Bountiful. He's been very happy working at Barrick, but consulting is what he wanted to do eventually and it's back in Salt Lake so we'll be near family.

The reason I haven't been blogging is that I have been student teaching/full-time teaching. It has been very hectic and I am definitely glad to be finished. It was a very valuable learning experience, but it was very stressful. The good news is I passed all my classes and now all I have to do is take care of paperwork. Fortunately, I have been hired at Hunter High School in Salt Lake already, so I don't have to substitute to make money next semester! I'm very excited, but a little bit nervous because it is block scheduling and I've never done a lesson plan for block scheduling.

Currently, we are getting ready to move all of our junk. Cam's family (and Ryan, a friend) came out last night and helped us pack the U-Haul (thanks guys!) and will be driving it back to Salt Lake today. I just have to say that I hate moving! This may be are house for the rest of our lives just so I don't have to pack again! Packing at first seems easy, but then you have all these odds and ends left over that you don't know what to do with.

Merry Christmas every one and you'll be hearing a lot more from me now!

Vacation, Job, and Construction

Well, it's been awhile and after this it might be even longer, but I have a ton of news. A couple weeks ago I went on vacation and visited Dad. We went hiking, saw lots of movies, went on the best river trip ever, and had a yard sale. The river trip was just me, Dad, and Dan Christiansen so it was very, very relaxed. We took a pack cat, which was a pretty fun little boat. And, the set-up and take-down time was the shortest I've ever had on a river trip. The yard sale was fun, and I ended up being the cashier. All in all, a great vacation.

While I was on vacation, I got a call from the school district. I was supposed to student teach this fall, but they were having trouble finding a "highly qualified" (No Child Left Behind Terminology) teacher, so they offered me a job!! I'm very excited, but kind of nervous. I've been going through training, but school starts Monday (Aug. 20), and I'm just worried about getting everything set up and prepared on such short notice. Needless to say, I will be really busy, so probably will be posting even less than normal. (I know you didn't think it was possible that I could post even less!) I did get some pretty good classes though. Two periods of Trig, two of geometry, and two of Applied math II. Like I said, I'm very excited and I hope I can get it all pulled together. On the teaching note, good luck Aunty Ann! (She's switching from part-time to full-time teaching.)

Last, but not least, we've been doing a little remodeling. Of course we decided to remodel before I got the job offer, so now I'm just twice as busy than I would have been! We repainted and we put in hardwood floors in the front room and hallway. Cameron's dad (Ray), brother (Curtis), sister (Calli), and best friend (Chris - nicest guy ever!) came and helped us knock it out in two days!!! I'm not lying, it took two days total! We do have a few little things to finish up, like molding and transitions between types of flooring (reducer strips), but we were so grateful that we could get so much done so fast. Thanks to everyone who helped!!! I'll put pictures up eventually.

Well, that's life right now. Kind of crazy and busy, so wish me luck in my new job!!!!

Harry Potter Fiasco

I think I have been cursed by Lord Voldemort. I still do not have my copy of Harry Potter. I've had it on order since May! First, they shipped it UPS, and UPS does not deliver on Saturdays. Then, it was supposed to be delivered yesterday, but I think they delivered it to the wrong house. I tracked it and it says it was delivered, but it was signed for by some one named Vega. Amazon has been great and has already refunded my money and is now sending a replacement copy, but I would have still rather paid for my book and gotten to read it on Saturday than get a free copy and have to wait!

Praxis

Well, I got my test scores back for the Praxis II, and.... I passed! With flying colors I might add. I had to take a content test (math skills) and pedagogy test (teaching skills) and on both of them I got a recognition for excellence certificate because I was in the top 15%. I actually did better on the pedagogy than on the math, which took me by surprise. I just thought I was making a bunch of stuff up on the pedagogy one, but I guess it must have sounded ok. Any way, this is very exciting and is one less thing I have to worry about as I go into student teaching.

Sicko

The debate on free healthcare is being stirred up by Michael Moore's movie, Sicko. I've had a few discussions with Dad on changing the health care system in the U.S., but I'm not quite convinced that free healthcare is the answer. To me it is similar to the public school system. So many great teachers quit teaching because they can find better paying jobs. Then schools are forced to find mediocre half-trained teachers or pack kids into classes like a can of sardines because there are not enough teachers. Do we really want similar situations to happen with our health care system? Anyway, I was just wondering what everyone else's opinion was on this subject.

News

Well, we have a ton of news in this neck of the woods.

First, Cameron got another promotion! He's doing such a good job at work and is moving up so quickly. He has been transferred to the Roaster as a Senior Metallurgist. This means they skipped him past Met II and Met III. He also received a raise and he's on straight days now! No more night shifts!!! That's the most exciting part for me. He's loving his new position and is already solving problems over there.

Second, I got straight A's this semseter! Woohoo! I haven't done that for a long time. I've also received my student teaching internship assignment. I'll be with Jeff Sarbacker at Elko High School. And get this - I'll be teaching Calculus and Precalculus!!! There will also be two periods of Algebra I, but overall I got a great assignment! Calculus is one of my favorite subjects, so I'm very excited.

Third, we got a new stove. The heating element in our old one overheated and melted itself. I was trying to cook bread when I noticed that the heating element was glowing red hot and sparking. Needless to say, it was ruined. We now have a stove with a ceramic top, instead of coils. I'll post pictures soon.

Finally, we had a fun visit from Cameron's family this last weekend. They helped us fix our sprinkler system and helped install our new stove. (Thanks guys!) We also did some barbequing up Lamoille Canyon. I'll also post some pictures of Lamoille soon, because it is one of the most beautiful canyons I've ever seen. I also discovered that the Ghirardelli chocolate squares are perfect for s'mores. They're just the right size and you can choose from different kinds. I used a milk chocolate one filled with caramel and its was the best s'more I've ever had.

Well, I think that's all for now!

The Mormons

I was just wondering if any one watched the documentary on the mormons on PBS. I only have seen bits and pieces so far and there's going to be another segment tonight, but I was just wondering what people thought about it.

Six Unique Things About Me

I decided to join the crowd of those posting six unique things about themselves, so here goes:

1. I'm still afraid of the dark. I sleep with a flashlight when Cameron is working night shifts. And, I always have a lamp by my bed so that I can turn on a light quickly if I need it. It's sad, but true.

2. I was painfully shy as a kid and am still very shy. My third grade year we moved to Newport News, VA. The elementary school tested me to be in the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program, but I was so shy that when I was tested I was so worried about making any mistakes that I did my subtraction wrong on purpose because I was convinced they would not do subtraction the same way in Virginia as they did Utah. Needless to say, I did not make it into the TAG program that year.

3. I have a scar on my tongue. This is also due to shyness. When we lived in Virginia I had to have a palatal expander which went in the roof of my mouth. The metal prongs on it were so thin that every time I swallowed it cut into my tongue just the tiniest bit. Eventually the prongs cut deep enough that my tongue was hitting the roof of my mouth, and so my tongue healed that way. I remember being too shy to tell mom about it, or if I did tell her I don't remember. Here's a picture. If you can't tell, I can literally pull the scar open on my tongue. Not very fun at the time, but it's fun to gross people out now.

4. I have very vivid dreams/daydreams. It's hard to describe, but let's just say that I've made myself start to cry just by imagining some one I love died. Or, I've been angry at people because of a dream or daydream I've had. I have to remind myself that it didn't really happen.

5. I am a freakin' awesome sightreader. I can pick up most songs and it sounds like I've already put in massive amounts of hours into practicing them. It's how I've made it through many piano or organ lessons. If I don't have time to practice, the teacher can't usually tell.

6. I cannot put a book down that I like. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it's very, very, very hard for me to do. I usually have to plan when I will read a book so that I make sure that I don't have anything important to do because I will pick it up and not stop until I am completely finished. I just get so hooked that I have to know what happens. I put off going to bed or doing my homework or even eating until I absolutely have to just so I can know what happens next.

Well, there you have it.

Surprise!

Well, I had a wonderful surprise last Tuesday. Dad and Nancy dropped by! They were on their way to California to go to the NCAA tournaments. Well, Dad was. Nancy wanted to visit Jessica. I only got to see them for a little bit, but it was a lot of fun.

Right now we're doing good, but we're both stressed. I'm keeping up with school, but it's still just so stressful. There's always something to do. But, next week is spring break and I can not wait!!!! On a positive note, I was officially accepted to student teach, so that's one less worry. Cam's stressed because of his work schedule. It was never fun, but doing it over and over again just wears a person down. It cycles every four weeks and goes like this: Four night shifts, then three days off. Three day shifts, then one day off. Three night shifts, then three days off. Four day shifts, then seven days off. Repeat. His body just never really adjusts. We know he will not have to do it forever, but hopefully the end will come sooner rather than later.

Well, I've been doing everything possible to avoid this, but I've got to get back to work. It's already 11 p.m. and I have a paper due tomorrow! Good night!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Well, my birthday was not all that exciting, but it was great to have so many birthday calls and cards. Thanks everyone! Cameron had to work, so we just had a nice evening at home. Eventually I'll make him take me out to dinner. How's it feel to be 24? Not a whole lot different. And to every one else who has a February birthday, you rock! February is awesome!

Things I love vs. Things I hate

Things I love:

I loved having Dad come visit! He came about two weeks ago for work. We went to dinner a couple of times (which I also love) and we went to a show for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. It was a live radio show, kind of like a Prarie Home Companion. It was actually pretty funny. We had a ton of fun and love when Dad comes to visit! We're hoping he'll come out during the summer to do some backpacking up Lamoille Canyon and also that we can go do some rafting trips with him.

I also love JC Penney. Every time I go to JC Penny there are cute clothes and the total is always cheaper than I expect. It baffles me because I'm pretty good at math, yet I always overestimate. Luckily, there is one in Elko!

I love playing the claw game. You know, the one where you use the little metal claw to try to pick up a stuffed animal. Love might be the wrong word...addicted fits a little better. I play almost every time I go grocery shopping. And, I won last time! There's nothing like the rush of winning...

I love not going to Salt Lake so often. Now don't get me wrong, I love the end result of going to Salt Lake (visiting with family/friends), but the travel can kill you. No matter how fun your weekend is, when you start traveling too often it just feels like you lost your weekend. We went at least once a month last year, sometimes more! We're down to going every month and a half for now and we are a lot less stressed out. And if any one misses us (hint, hint), you should come visit!

You know, I had a whole post in my head of things I love vs. things I hate, but I had so much fun going on about the things I love that I can't remember the things I hate! Go figure.

Close call

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile, but we have been sick! Cam especially. They sent him home from work he was so sick! Now for my close call. I was in class the other day (there's only four of us), and one of the students mentioned that she couldn't believe we had to get our substitute license before we turned in our application for student teaching. (It's $155 to get a substitute's license). I was just sitting there thinking, "We have to apply for student teaching! Why didn't any one tell me this!?!?!?!?!?!" Luckily, the due date is Feb. 15, so I didn't miss it, but that 's cutting it pretty close! I was pretty frustrated that my advisor had forgotten to inform me of this matter. I guess alls well that ends well.

Truck

I almost forgot to post a picture of our truck. Cameron decided to have a six inch lift kit put on it. He loves it, but it sure is hard to get into. But it does look pretty sweet!

Goals

I really liked Todd's post on goals, so I decided to use the website he recommended to make some of my own. Nothing too big. I'd like to update my blog more, practice organ more, and cook dinner more. I'll probably add doing my homework once school starts. Like I said, nothing big, but it's a place to start.

As for news, I have received a new calling. I was released as Relief Society pianist and called as Relief Society teacher. Fairly ironic, especially if you read my reply to this post. I'm pretty nervous. And, I'm about half the age of everyone in there! I thought we were taught to respect our elders. They don't want to learn from a young whippersnapper like me!

We also had to take Cody in for another vet visit. That dog is starting to cost us a lot of money! He got a burr stuck in his ear. He's doing a lot better now, but he scratched his neck so much that tore his neck up. That's taking longer to heal than his ear!

Nothing too big going on here, but I just wanted to check in.

Cody and Cam

Cam and Cody playing together. Cody loves this! It looks like he's angry, but he's having the time of his life!

Christmas

Well, I haven't posted for awhile because we took a week long trip to Salt Lake. We had a great Christmas break visiting with family and friends. Cameron's brother came home from his mission, so that was very exciting. Also, we received some great presents. Cam got some movies, books, and belt buckles, a nice watch, and a miter saw. I got Final Fantasy XII, a memory card for my camera, some books and movies, and a Bosch mixer. I was so excited that I made some bread right when I got home. Having a Bosch makes it so much easier to make bread! We had a great Christmas and hope every one else did too!

Finals

I'm almost done with finals! They've been pretty darn stressful. So far I have to grades back and I did pretty well, but not as well as I would have liked. I'm definitely ready for a break from school though! That's our only interesting news for now!

Blessings

I had an experiences I wanted to share. It requires a tiny bit of setup first though.

A while back, Tammy introduced me to the book The Five Love Languages. Basically what I pulled from that book is that every one is an individual and if you really want to make a relationship work you need to figure out how the other person feels love. Well, one way that I really feel love is when a person takes care of little details for me. It makes me feel like they know me to the very last detail of myself.

Yesterday, I was not feeling to great. I'd been having trouble sleeping and I think I was getting a sinus infection. It was Sunday though, and I had to play in Relief Society and sacrament meeting. Relief Society is first and during the whole lesson I just really wanted to go home and sleep. I knew that I could make it through and play for sacrament, but I really didn't want to. So, at the end I finally got the courage to ask Sister Alger if she would cover for me in sacrament. Nothing special needed to happen for her to cover for me. I could have just loaned her my hymn book and everything would have been fine. But, she had brought her organ shoes and her hymn book and had thought to herself that morning, "I don't really need these. Why am I bringing them?" Like I said, that was not necessary, but it sure did help me feel like less of an idiot.

So, to bring it all together, that experience really helped me to feel like the Lord knows me as an individual. He knows my "love languages" and has been willing to show me individual love more than once this year. That experience didn't need to go that way, but it was just one small detail the Lord took care of to show that He loves little old me even if I am not perfect. And, if he loves me individually he most certainly loves all of you individually. Sometimes you just have to be able to recognize those experiences. And I guess it's not about blessings or lessons He can teach you, but just about Him showing that He loves you.

*Disclaimer: I am not a great writer at the best of times, but most especially not a great writer when I am talking about something emotional. So, I hope you get the point of my ramblings.

Testing

Testing, testing... Just checking to see if I can get my blog to work.