Monthly Archives

February 2015

Alaska

Kindergarten Teacher

27 February 2015

IMG_3515I had the joyous privilege of substitute teaching in my niece’s kindergarten class for a week. It was so very very wonderful and made me really happy. Those kiddos are just so sweet and cute. There were times when I got a bit bothered with some, but I just love each of them! They gave me lots of hugs and we had a jolly time together. It was such a good good week.

IMG_3634IMG_3689And one of the best parts about being at Paul Banks Elementary, was that both of my nieces are there. So I’d get to seem them at recess and in the hall, and of course Katy was in my class the whole time. And after school they’d hang out in the classroom with me and help me clean things up (and they’d play on the smart board, which they loved). I love those darling nieces of mine, and the kindergarteners, and substitute teaching.

Here’s a picture of me and Edel Cradle sleeping on the floor after a lovely day of teaching and playing.

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Alaska

Genuine Gold

12 February 2015

Happy 60th Birthday BYU-Hawaii

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BYU-Hawaii was a perfect place for me to call home starting in 2007. I showed up as a happy 18 year old, and left as a happy 25 year old, with more wisdom, knowledge, and experience (not to say I am wise or experienced, though I’m working on it). I am so so grateful for my time at the blessed school in sacred Laie. So special and magical and wonderful. At it’s ground breaking services 60 years ago, President David O. McKay said:

“Those noble men and women, the world needs them. One man said the world needs men who cannot be bought or sold, men who will scorn to violate truth, genuine gold. That is what this school is going to produce…

You mark that word, and from this school, I’ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally.”

12 February 1955, Groundbreaking Services.

Excerpts from President David O. McKay’s Church College of Hawaii dedication

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Ua mau ke ea o ka aina e ka pono.

Roughly translated as: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

Alaska

fevereiro

5 February 2015

Sometimes it’s easier (and more legible) to type than handwrite, though I really do not want handwriting to become even more of a lost art. I haven’t been writing in my journal much lately, but I do take plenty of pictures to document thoughts and moments, and I’m grateful for that. I remember back in the days, before iPhones were very popular, I dreamed of having a device that was a phone, camera, and played music. And how wonderful it is to have that and more in my lovely iPhone! I do check it too often though. I need to disconnect more.

Anyway, lately I’ve been enjoying the white ground and cooler temperatures, especially when my home is nice and cozy with its new natural gas heat. (Someday we’ll have a dreamy wood stove). I’ve made some verrrry good batches of cookies lately, always with the intention to give them to the 6 or so other houses around us. Buuuut, they never last long enough to get to the neighbors. I eat lots and lots of them, and I give them to other peeps that come and go. Anyway, I love cookies. And Chris and I need to deliver to our neighbors. IMG_3060.JPG IMG_3001.JPG I’ve been substituting teaching more, which has been great. I enjoy each day that I sub and the kiddos are good. I’ve mostly been at the middle school lately and it takes me back to those good ol’ days. My mom also works in special ed at the middle school, and it is so nice being there when she is around, since she’s such a gem. Both of my parents are really great. I’m glad I can hang our with them here. IMG_3068.JPG  IMG_3092 I’ve been helping take care of stuff and animals for my sister while they’ve been in Hawaii. This included giving the chickens and cats and dog some L-O-V-E, collecting the chickens’ eggs, and cleaning up powder egg messes that the cats make…. it’s been good. And I’ll be so glad to see them when they get home tomorrow! Hopefully I won’t become bitterly jealous at their tans.

IMG_3086.JPG IMG_3117.JPG Oh! And I had dungeoness and king crab the other night. It was such a great gathering of good friends! But I’m not too in to crab… And oh! We had New Beginnings at church tonight with the Young Women and their parents. It was funny. I love the girls, and I’m really happy to be in YW.

Lower 48

My first trip to Wyoming

3 February 2015

Another note: scroll through this little gallery of photos. 

This adventure happened in May 2014. After I graduated last April, we stopped in California for a week to visit my sister and fam and grandparents and fam, then we spent time in Utah with Chris’s side of the family, and then we drove to Colorado to visit Chris’s sister, sister in law, and their precious little girl. I’d never met them before, nor had I ever gone on that drive from UT-CO and I really loved it all. Sometimes I forget about a lot of that trip though because we don’t have too many pictures of it. But I did come across these fotos and I was reminded of some of the wonderful goodness that occurred!

We were in Colorado for a few days, and it was so nice getting to know our family better, and to have sweet little baby Lucie around. She is so very loved. We went to the zoo, saw cool animals, ate yummy food, and I recall watching plenty of Shark Tank. :) I really enjoy staying with people and having people stay with us. It just so nice to get all that time together.

On our drive back to Utah, we took a different route and went though Wyoming. It was soooo windy. And then there was like a blizzard in Casper, WY. Funny and random and coooolio. The highlight of that journey was Martin’s Cove. The Gourleys, our Mormon pioneer ancestors through Chris’s mom, passed through Martin’s Cove. And actually, that statue/sculpture of the family pulling the handcart, is of the Gourleys! I want to learn more about our genealogy. The stories are inspiring and the people are real. Anyway, Chris went to Martin’s Cove and did parts of the same path as the pioneers when he went on his stake youth trek. I’m so so glad we got to go there, check out the visitors center, and gain appreciation for the pioneers and for the wondrous perfect gospel.

Also… we stopped at Independence Rock. Cool! Reminded me of my Oregon Trail days on the old apple computer. :)