Overview of Summer II

It's the second day of Fall, and I'm already missing Summer. I love Summer. I like other seasons too, but it's just not the same. Summer means freedom. In the Summer I get to be as irresponsible as I desire. Doing anything makes me feel accomplished. Here was Summer 2012: 

1. Got to know this kid a lot better. I'm so glad he's related to me. Having those kids in Cedar City is great. I shared lot of laughs and giggles with the girls, fell in love with Eli, and simply admired this kid. 

2. Chelsie got married! Now it's just Ana and me waving the flag of "singleness". 

3. Won the stake triathlon. What was that? Yes, we won. 

4. Went to Strawberry Days Rodeo with these really good-looking people.

Ate strawberries and cream with this really great-looking guy. 

5. Rode the Nebo Century. That is not a flattering angle for a picture- a boy took it. A girl would have kindly stood up or retaken it. That guy's name is Lance Anderson. He's pretty similar to Lance Armstrong except no doping. 

6. Spent a lot of time with this lady. (We have no clue who that kid is. He didn't belong with us.) 

7. Threw a really great 3rd of July party. 

8. Watched fireworks with these lovely ladies, danced in the street, and had a bbq with some of my favorite people (Hulmes and Ottesons) earlier in the day. 

9. Got stung in the face by a bee in Provo Canyon on my bike. Gross. 

10. Drove to California. 

11. Spent lots of time with this fool (love you)... 

in this beautiful place...

 doing lots of this...

and this...

12.  Spent lots of time on the beach. (Thanks for the free hotel Josh and Melo!) 

(Yes, I am wearing the same dress to the beach as I wore to a wedding earlier in the Summer. That's how I roll. That, and I think it shrunk.) 

13. Dated a boy. Kinda fell in love. Got my heart broken...and that's that. :) 

Overall, it was an amazing Summer! It was exactly what a summer should be. I'm sad to say good-bye, but I do like the Fall. I do. And I'm still after 8 years of Utah winters, trying to like them. Here's to next summer! 

Updates

 First off, I've been attempting to teach myself to play the ukulele. Attempting is the word you should focus on in that sentence. It's not really going very well. My roommates are so very patient though, and it has been kinda fun. 

Second of all, I have spent the last 8 years of my life trying to figure out what I want. To be honest, I have no clue. I've come to a few conclusions about what I want to be a part of my life, but I have no real ideas. So I'm riding bikes again...because that's what I do when I don't know what to do. (If you happen to have any suggestions, I'm more than willing to listen to them.) And speaking of biking....

Update #3: I've been mountain biking a few times in the last week and a half. I still haven't reached a conclusion if I like it or not, but I want to like it. I REALLY want to like it. I like the people. Biking people are some of the best I'm convinced. I went Tuesday, and everyone I met on the trail was friendly, helpful, and complimentary even when I didn't deserve a compliment. The great part about mountain biking is that I get to see things like this: 

The not so great part of mountain biking is that I have ugly bruises all over my legs which I'm not posting because they are unflattering pictures.

#4: I went biking with Tom's roommate the other day. He beat me. I'm blaming it on my legs previously being sore. However, he did say that I was the best rider he's ever ridden with. I will never get sick of hearing that. He also said I was the best company that he's been with on a ride too (so maybe he was just flirting. I hope not.) This is a picture that he took. How can riding through this not make you think the world is a very wonderful place?

Last of all, in case you don't know, life has been full of ups and downs lately (more so than the average emotional roller coaster that I live on). That being said, I've been reminded again that life isn't easy. It's actually really, really hard. I'm starting to understand why though. I'm understanding the quote about no trial ever being wasted. I've definitely learned to lean on the Lord again. It's been good for me. Really good for me. I don't like that it took all of this to get me to do that. I wish I would have just chosen to do it on my own, but nonetheless, I'm living life with focus and a purpose again. I'm still getting lost occasionally, and the trail gets bumpy, and I feel bruised fairly often (biking analogy), but I'm making it. It definitely hasn't been without help though. I have some amazing friends and family. There are some talks that have helped me like nothing else which I will share with you because I love you. 

"One Thing Needful" Becoming Women of Greater Faith in Christ- Ensign Oct. 1987- Patricia Holland

"But If Not..."

"Remember Lot's Wife"- Jeffrey R. Holland

"In Him All Things Hold Together"- Neal A. Maxwell

"Trust in the Lord"- Richard G. Scott 

"Continue in Patience"- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The Transforming Power of Faith and Character"- Richard G. Scott

I know there are a lot, but I've needed A LOT of help lately. :)

Happy Sunday!

Classroom Tour 2012

    My classroom is a little different this year. A lot of it is pretty similar, but I thought you might want to see it again anyway. I changed the word wall a little bit, and I like it way better this year. Christian chose the colors of paper I was using. He did a pretty good job, I think. He helped a ton! He organized my books. He put bulletin boards up. He cleaned. He even let me know when things were crooked and helped to take them down if they were. He has soooo much patience. 

 Back to school night was rough for me. Paula brought me flowers just to let me know she loved me and was thinking about me. She popped in a little through the night to see how I was doing. I am extremely lucky to have such good friends and to be able to work with her again. 

The year is going well so far! I have 3rd and 4th graders dropping by my room 8 billion times a day to give me hugs or see if I need help. Yesterday a mom of one of my students last year told me that her daughter had planned on being in my class for every recess. So glad my recess is different from 3rd grade's! I have almost 150 former students. That is crazy!