Education

So I was looking for thoughts for my Drama class and I ran into some great quotes that make me smile:

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" ~Albert Einstein

"I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message." ~Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement" ~Anatole France

"Many things can wait. Children cannot. Today their bones are being formed, their blood is being made, their senses are being developed. To them we cannot say, 'tomorrow.' Their name is today." ~Gabriela Mistral (Chilean teacher 1899-1957)

"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." ~Anonymous

"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." ~Albert Einstein

Quotes like these remind me of why I am so excited to go into education.

I can only imagine

I dropped off Adam at school on Monday morning and as I was on the way to school myself was when I heard the news about President Hinckley. It's a weird sensation, to be so sad yet so happy at the same time. He was my prophet. It was through his leadership that I came to grow up and gain my testimony of a latter-day prophet. I will miss seeing his sweet face and hearing his infamous humor. At the same time I am so happy for him to be able to have that sweet reunion with his wife. He has missed her so.

Anyway, I was a little early for school, so as I was parking the DJ dedicated this song to Gordon B. Hinckley and I was able to have a moment to just sit and listen to the song and really take in what this mean. I already loved the song, but hearing it in context and really being able to listen to the words really touched me and still brings tears to my eyes. I encourage you to look it up and listen to it for yourself, but in the meantime here are the lyrics:

"I can only imagine" ~Mercy Me

I can only imagine what it will be like

When I walk by your side

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

When your face is before me

I can only imagine I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus, Or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in your presence, Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing Halelluja, Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes

And I find myself standing in the Son

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory, What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus, Or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in your presence, Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing Halelluja, Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine

I can only imagine, yeah, yeah, yeah

Surrounded by your glory, What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus, Or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in your presence, Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing Halelluja, Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine, yeah I can only imagine, yeah, yeah

I can only imagine, Yeah I can only imagine I can only imagine,

Ohh yeah I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

Again

So who knew somebody couldl change jobs so many times in a year? Well, I have waited long enough to start a new one, so... as of Monday, I am officially a Happy Sumo employee. I am actually really excited to work in a new, different kind of restaurant that I love. I have gone from Perkins (need I say more)-fine dining-fish house-Inn on the Creek-BBQ-almost a pizza place (I moved so never started)-fine dining steak house- to now: Sushi. Unfortunately, I don't turn 21 for a few weeks so I am hired as a host for now and if I don't switch to a server in the next month then the job search will continue!

So I got some great advice today: Don't focus of the past or the future. Focus on the now. It is called the present because it is a gift. The question is: What are we going to do with it?

There is music everywhere... you just have to listen for it!

So Adam and I finally made it to see August Rush at the dollar theatre tonight. I have been wanting to take Adam to this movie for probably a year now, ever since we saw a preview for it, and we were thrilled when it finally came to the dollar theatre! I am pretty sure it is now pretty high up there on the list of our favorite movies. If you haven't seen it, you need to. It is beautiful.

So, while watching this wonderful movie, the most amazing thing happened to me: I fell in love with my husband all over again. Now I know this sounds lame, but it was truly an amazing moment for me. Watching him watch that movie made me realize how great it is that he is so passionate about music. I mean, of all things he could choose to go to school for 7 years for, he is choosing to do something that he is so passionate about, because he knows that his passion could change someone else's life like it did his.

Since I have been home and working on homework I have seriously been contemplating this: Am I that passionate about anything in my life? I don't know. There are a lot of things I love about life, but I'm not sure I have that kind of passion. So that is my goal for this week. I hope to pinpoint something in my life that I am that passionate about. I hope that someday, someone will come upon me and think, "Wow, she is doing what she really loves."

I love my dog...

So this morning, at about 4:30 to be exact, Lole had caught my attention as she crawled up my side of the bed. Now let me preface this by mentioning that lately she has been really good about sleeping in her 'bed,' which is a blanket on the floor in our room. So ANYWAY, I noticed her crawling up so I reached my hand over to give her a friendly pet on the forehead as I fell back asleep. NOW, as I laid my hand down, I was startled to not find her soft little head, but a PILE OF THROW UP. Thats right. Lole crawled up and vomited about 6 inches from my pillow. So naturally, I started screaming for Adam to wake up and get me some paper towels, we changed the sheets, and were way too awake for 4:30 in the morning. So in conclusion, along with Katchie's poodle, Scoot, there is a free Boggle today. Just kidding... I still love her... But I am still feeling just a little quesy.

Livin La Vida Loca

Provo, UT... Las Vegas, NV... Minneapolis, MN... Layton, UT... Springville, UT...

Needless to say, this has been one crazy year of marriage for the two of us. As I have been moving this week, I feel like I have moved abou a zillion times this year! You can only pack up all your clothes and empty out your kitchen cupboards so many times before it makes you crazy! Well, I think we are about to that point. This week we have made our move to Springville to finish up at least the next two years of school. Adam (who makes quite a handsome handyman ;) just put up the curtains in our new apartment and hopefully, little by little, it will start to feel like home. Because, lets face it... I am not moving again for a while.

The job hunt has begun, but nothing yet. It is crazy to go from working 6-8 shifts a week to no work. It makes me feel like a bum! With all the tuition and books and moving, our accounts are being drained quickly! Adam got offered a job being the apartment manager for our complex, which will be an adventure! He hasn't decided for sure yet, but I think it will be great for him.

Lole is still going through heat. Going to Katchie and Jeff's is usually an adventure with Lole and those boys, but let me tell you, it is really funny to watch their interactions this week. Poor Troy can't stop humping and will walk away humping the air and Scoot will just sit there and whine because Lole's diaper is keeping him from doing his business. It is QUITE entertaining :) Maybe chastity belts are something we will actually invest in for our future children! Adam is going to invent one for his daughters; he is already working on the sketches haha!

So I have to record myself singing for my music class. I am SUPER upset about it. I don't sing. I haven't been a singer since I thought I could sing when I was like 9. I am really taking issue with this. I'll keep you posted.

I better get going to my piles of homework! Goodnight!

Books

UGH! So yesterday was the start of a new semester of school. Now, I was super stoked because now I am into my major and taking classes that are applicable and that I will (hopefully) enjoy... BUT... I don't understand how they can charge so darn much for textbooks! I am taking 6 classes and I am going to pay $500+ on textbooks this semester. I am super upset about it. It is giving me a headache.

On a lighter note, these are the classes I am taking:

Rhythm and Dance for ElEd

Teaching PE for ElEd

Math for ElEd

Music for ElEd

2 Art classes for ElEd

This semester is going to be a lot of work, but I am excited about it!

We are moving into our new apt this week in Springville and hopefully I will have a job by the end of the week.

Needless to say, this week has been a little stressful and I am definitely feeling under the weather today. 2 classes down, 4 to go! Wish me luck!

2008

So Adam and I were sitting here reading everyone's blogs and their new years resolutions and things have been so crazy this last week, we actually forgot to make new years resolutions!! I can't believe it! So here goes...

I am having a hard time making a list... there are so many changes I hope for this coming year: (So I will just dive right in)

• Get back to the gym: Working out makes me so happy! Just after a good kickboxing work out is one of the greatest feelings and I hope I can get back to doing that for my health and happiness :) (Unless it makes me gain all that weight back... just teasing guys! ;)
• Read: Reading is such a good escape from reality and it seems like I forget about it sometimes! I hope to read at least 12 books this year! (And text books don't count)
• Don't sweat the small stuff: Sometimes I let myself get so worked up about the little things in life. I'm not going to let someone's inappropriate comments get to me because I know in the end that I am happy I have the life that I have. The are a lot of people I wouldn't trade lives with for anything. I have truly been blessed.
• Stay in touch: It's crazy how you can go a whole month and realize you haven't talked to some of the people that are so important to you! I don't want to let that happen this year!
• Keep my sink empty: OK, I know it is already the 5th, BUT I am starting this one ASAP! Keeping all the dishes clean without a dishwasher is no small feat in our house!
• Say "I Love You": People in my life need to know I love them and I don't think I remind them of it often enough!
• Keep a Journal: (Blogging doesn't count) I think it is important to be able to look back on your life and see where you have been, compare it to where you are now, and realize where you want to be. I want to be able to look back on my blessing and my struggles and reflect on them someday!

WOAH!! I guess I should stop thinking about it or I could be up all night and lets face it, no one wants to read that much :) Most importantly, I just want to make myself a better person this year. I want to be able to look back this December and think, "Wow, I have really come a long way in 2008. I have really changed for the better."

Hopefully my rambling doesn't bore anyone! Happy New Year! May this year be better than the last!