A Busy Week!

Media in the contemporary classroom: Read 30 pages, looks at 2 websites, blog about it, and work on your picture project

D&C: Read 4 chapters, read the corresponding manual readings, read 2 articles, and take the online quiz

Adolescent literature: Read 3 articles, start reading one of the 30 books you have to read this semester, and sketch and layout of the house you grew-up in

Teaching Writing: Write a follow-up to the assignment we did in class, write a reflection on the whole assignment, and read a article so dense Einstein couldn't understand it

American Literature: Read 45 boring pages about early American explorers

All classes: Review the syllabus online and come to class with questions

Work: 20 hours a week

All of that, and it's only the first week. Why did I think this semester was going to be easier than the last?

Christmas Break

This year, I had one of the best Christmas breaks I've ever had! There are so many reasons why, but here are just a few...

The Candy Bomber at the Mo-Tab Christmas Concert. This was one of the best parts of the program!

To start it off, I went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert with Sarah, Amelia, and Emily on Friday, the 14th! We got to hear Alfie Boe sing "Bring Him Home", which he sang in the 25th aneversary of Le Miserables and then we all started crying when they had Tom Brokaw tell the story of the Candy Bomber. Thanks so much for the tickets, Sarah!

I got to hear missionary farewells for Jordan Morgan, Devon Shaw, and Jordan Stowell. They are all going to be amazing missionaries!

Jessica got her wisdom teeth pulled out.

I went shopping with my mom, Emily, and Jessica.

I started and actually finished reading Enders Game--the first fun book I've read in over a whole YEAR!

Lauren and I!

I got to go to lunch with Lauren Powell, Michael Lee, and Holly Engh! It was so good to see old friends and to catch up!

Louisa came over to hang out and be goofy with us and we got to just talk about life and have fun.

My family had fun with other families: the Hardy's house the Sunday before Christmas; Doctor Who Christmas special, games, and The Amazing Spider-Man; partying with the Nuffers and Longs on New Years Eve--all awesome people and all awesome times.

Paige and Stephanie came over to my house that late Sunday night and we talked and watched The Nativity Story.

I had a super-duper fun Christmas Eve!!! We played games, ate delicious food, got new games to play together, read the Christmas story, watched some awesome Christmas Mormon Messages, and watched It's a Wonderful Life (one of my favoritest movies ever!) 

Christmas morning (after about 4 hours of sleep) we went upstairs at 6am and got Santa presents! I was lucky enough to get some much needed pants and shoes, and was also surprised with a Cricut cutting machine! For sister presents, Emily gave me an awesome bag and an even awesomer Dr. Suess calendar and an ever awesomest wocket in the purses pocket. We spent the rest of the day eating more yummy food, playing more fun games, and watching movies. I loved being able to just take the day slow, spending time with my favorite people in the whole world!

As part of our family Christmas present, we got tickets to go see the movie Les Miserables on the 26th! It was so amazing and I'm so grateful that we were able to go!

I went to Stephanie's bridal shower, where I got to visit with lots of friends and eat yummy food.

My family watched all three Lord of the Rings movies, extended editions. Some of the best movies ever with the best people in the world!

My Aunt Janet gave us money to go see a movie for Christmas, so we were able to go and see The Hobbit!

More than anything I did, though, it was just good to be able to be with the people I love and care about. Any time spent with Dad, Mom, Emily, Jessica, Abby, and Kate is time that I will remember. I love you guys!

Reading the Standard Works in a Year

About a month ago in Sunday School, we were talking about the importance of knowing the Bible because we're Christian and knowing it helps us relate to Christians of different denominations better. By the end of class, I thought to myself, I've never read the Bible all the way through. I think I want to. I did the math. If I wanted to read it in a year, it would only be about 5 pages a day. I could do that. And then I walked to Relief Society.

Serene gave the lesson that day. Somehow, we started talking about scripture reading. Serene mentioned that when she was in 8th grade, she read the entire standard works with her dad. I did the math again. If I added The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price to the reading schedule; it would only be an additional 2 pages a day--a total of 6.5 pages a day. I could do that. 

And so I am. 6.5 pages of scripture a day! I'm lucky enough to have my sisters Abby and Emily joining me in the project as well! I know that it will be hard at times, but it will be so worth it. Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price--here we come!

Small and Simple Thing #7: Jeans

Today I'm grateful for jeans.
For legs to wear them on.
For materials to make them with.
For machines to crafts them.
For employees who make those machines work.
For inventors who created those machines.
For stores to sell them.
For construction workers who built those stores.
For cashiers, custodians, and floor personal who work at those stores.
For truck drivers and pilots who deliver them to the store.
For moms who go to the store to buy them.
For cars to drive moms there.
For dads who go to work to provide the money to pay for them.
So many people put forth effort so that I can wear a pair of Levi jeans.
Today I'm grateful for them.