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Showing posts from August, 2009

Teaching and Cars and Callings, Oh My!

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Well, where do I even start? It’s been a while. And the funny thing is that I haven’t been avoiding or putting off blogging. I just haven’t had the time to do it. Teaching started on August 19th. I had a lovely panic attack on August 17th over everything I was anticipating that I needed to do. I have a habit of doing this--bringing stress onto myself and having a short-lived freak out. This brief amount of time in which I freak out usually starts some sort of infection in my body. From the inside out, I make myself sick. It’s funny how my body responds to my feelings. It’s actually really not funny. Because I could feel myself getting sick on Monday. So I called my grandpa for a priesthood blessing for my stress and oncoming sickness. It was wonderful and moving. I felt much better after that, emotionally. Physically though, I plummeted. Tuesday was a prep day, full of meetings and teacher improvement stuff. I felt the sickness coming. So the 19th was the first day for 7th graders, and

My Daddy and Me

I wrote a post before about how I remember going fishing early in the morning with my dad. These memories are precious to me, and I've got some more to share. I find that we are building memories all the time. Some of them can be captured with pictures, and some can't, just because they're too special for anyone to be thinking about cameras anyway. My dad and I talk on the phone every other day or so. We talk about nothing or everything--religion, the end of the world, my car problems, the weather, conspiracy theories, animal cruelty, my personal emotional struggles--whatever you can think of, we probably talk about it. Sometimes the conversations are really heavy and tiring. Other times they're inspiring and hope-giving. Needless to say, we're a pretty close pair. This last time that I went to California, I stayed a couple days longer than I had originally planned. Mom left on Monday for Utah, so it was just me, Dad, and Jake at home. On Monday, my dad wanted to g

Bookends

Time it was and what a time it was it was, A time of innocence a time of confidences. Long ago it must be, I have a photograph Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you

My Classroom

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The famous rainbow wall. Brianne says each of the 6 Traits of Writing should go on these. 6 Traits for the win. Awkward little wall with bulletin board. Suggestions for content? Rear white board with bulletin boards. Brianne says use this as the rear wall (which is how it's set up anyway), and use the white board to list "what's coming up." Good idea. Any other suggestions? Cupboard space, anyone? Front of the room, complete with tardy policy poster. I got my keys, and the code to disarm the security system. WHOA! I'm reaching my official teacher status now.

A Quick Trip Home

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I was able to go home for a few days, and then a couple extra days more because I didn't want to come home. This was one of my favorite trips home. I went because I needed to spend some time with people who love me, and who I love. I needed to do nothing in order to motivate myself to do something. I needed to relax. And I needed to regain my composure and focus. All in all? A success. Here are some pictures. I really didn't do much, so here they are. On the way to the beach. :) A quick photo shoot with Jake, in Jason's room, if you couldn't tell. I went to a koi place with my dad and captured some good shots of wildlife. I'm a photographer now. ;) Find the butterfly. A brief story... My folks have a Maltipoo dog. He is cute and snuggly and playful. But he is not all that bright. Case in point, when you knock on a door, inside the house, right in front of his face, he barks in offense. He is ready to attack at the sound of a knock. He also likes to be covered under