Spring Break

This past week I have been in Utah. Can I just tell you... I love being up here!!!! I love the feeling of being around the mountains, and in the “mountain air”. It’s shocking how different the air is here than in Portland.

I’ve just kind of chilled out while I’ve been here. Spent a lot of time with my friends, visited with my former roommates, went shopping, movies, reading, BBQ’s, 4-wheeling, and riding on a motorcycle.

The drive down here took forever, but I slept a lot, and saw some gorgeous scenery and I’d never seen before. We left about 2 hours before sun-up last Saturday... and saw the most beautiful sunrise through the gorge canyons... reflecting on the Columbia river. It was stunning!!!

When we got into Highland, the weather was warm, and comfortable. That lasted a few days... and then it snowed for a few days, and then warmed up again.. and today was really nice. U-Dad even took me out between conference sessions today on the back of his motorcycle. We went out toward Utah Lake.. then up toward Linden... back around into PG, and along the Timp mountains.... and out from the canyon. It was so fun! I miss being up there. I’m beginning to look at the possibility of moving up there to teach when the time comes... but we’ll just have to see when the time comes.

Turning 30...

I have so many thoughts about turning 30. Since I (obviously) knew it was coming... I’ve looked at what this “new decade” can offer.

First, let me clear one thing up... I DO NOT consider 30 being “old”. The majority of my friends are in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. If I start thinking that 30 is old, then I’m going to get my butt kicked. With this fact, I’m never allowed to think that any age I am is old! So enough of the ‘O” word! Now that I’ve got that out of the way.... let me share what I’ve been thinking a lot about.

I think of turning 30 as a fresh slate. During my 20’s, I made some really stupid choices, and just kinda “went along” with things. I let life just kind of... happen. Don’t get me wrong, some really good things happened during my 20’s.... but I feel like I didn’t make conscious decisions that led to those things. I kind of feel like i was “reactive”... and now I’m determined to be “proactive”. I am going into my 4th decade of life with a very goal oriented mindset. I have things that I am shooting for... and things that I will not settle for less than.

One of the things that I think about are moving around. Yes, I’m glad I moved around... but I didn’t really go with goals in mind. I moved to Utah to get out of Antioch, and for a change. I moved to LA to go to school, but hadn’t made those goals strong enough to push me into accomplishing them. I moved to Oregon... because of lack of alternatives. Looking back now, I realize that I wouldn’t give up any of those moves for anything. Each move taught me something valuable about myself, and about life. In Utah, I learned to live away from Antioch... and discovered that I would survive. I also learned to rely on myself to get what I wanted. If I wanted something, I needed to figure out how to get it (minus the car), or I had to learn how to ask for help if it’s not something I could do alone. In Los Angeles, I discovered what it was like to live around people who don’t have the same values as I do. I also learned that my personal testimony was not as strong as I thought it was... and that I was very susceptible to temptation when I am away from my support network. Since I’ve been in Oregon I have learned so many things about myself. I have learned that I need to continually work on my testimony or it can dissolve rapidly. I have learned that I can create a life away from my support system and that I can succeed on my own merit and not because of who I know. I wouldn’t give up any of my experiences for anything... but I have definitely learned things, and from mistakes that I have no intention of reliving.

My other big thoughts have been connected with being in school. I graduated from high school 12 years ago. In addition to working as a Program Director in a gym, being a full time nanny (3 times), processing mortgage payments, scheduling/accounting for a youth Tennis camp, and being a health care aide... I have endured about 11 years (on and off) of college... and I’M STILL AT IT! Not only am I still at it... but I’m determined to see it to completion. You realize... that if you include preschool, I have been in a classroom for almost 28 years... AND... I’m in school to be a teacher no less. And... I’m not bitter. In fact, I love it. I love the challenge that being in school presents, and I love the constant learning. I love figuring new things out, and learning the answers to new questions. I enjoy seeing things from a different perspective and hearing about the other perspectives out there... and learning that there’s not just one “correct” view.

As for turning 30... there’s only one thing that I can say about it....


The view from up here is FANTASTIC!!!

Spring Break!!

I had TOTALLY planned on not doing anything but relaxing around the apartment for Spring Break... and enjoying it!

Then last Saturday my ward had a “getting to know you” dinner (people are divided out to different homes for dinner and to meet new people). I was in a group of 3 families, and there was only one family I didn’t know. They were a couple close to my age, and have 2 very cute kids. While we were getting to know each other, we got to talking about plans for Spring Break. I mentioned my relaxing home-stay... and this family said they were going to Utah. They asked if I’d be interested in driving with them to Utah for a week. I thought that maybe they were kidding... but they weren’t. While we were talking, we even realized that my Utah parents live around the corner from where this family are staying... What a small world!!!!

So... I’m coming back home everybody!!!! We’re driving all day on Saturday the 24th (14 hour drive) and heading back to Portland on the 31st. YAY!!!!

I’m also working on some photo projects (I can’t say too much cause my family reads this)... so I’m scanning a bunch of pictures so I can work on them in the car on the way there and back. I figure between the pictures, my music, and a couple of DVD’s.. I’ll be set! I’m so excited!!!!!!

Finals are OVER!!!!

After 10 (excruciatingly long) weeks, I am now done with yet another term. HALLELUJAH!

As for grades.... I’m almost positive I did really well in all my classes except Math... that one’s up for grabs still. I should find out by the end of the week... and I’ll be sure to let you all know.

Orientation Leader!

I applied this term to be an Orientation Leader starting in the summer term. What this would entail is learning about the services and departments on campus... and teaching incoming freshman/transfer students about the school.

I thought that it would be a great “resume” buffer, and would also give me some leadership experience that I would be invaluable when teaching. I’ve done a lot of teaching and public speaking around kids... but have rarely had the experience of doing it in front of adult students/parents and in groups. I’m looking forward to working with the other leaders, and also learning more about the things that are offered here in campus.

In Spring term, I have to go through a class of training, plus a weekend retreat (probably some leadership building thing). Then, the orientations themselves start up right after the 4th of July, and run 3x a week. I’m hoping I’ll be able to still take 12-14 credits during summer term. Maybe I’ll get lucky and get more online classes, or just classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. Cross your fingers.

What I’ll be doing, is taking students around campus during Orientation, conducting Peer Advising sessions to tell them about registration, financial aid, housing, clubs, graduation, and answering pretty much any question they’ll have. I’ll also be advising in a Major session. What that means is that, after lunch on Orientation days, students break up by their chosen major, and meet with an advisor in that major. During spring term training, I’ll be placed in a specific major that I’ll be responsible for learning everything about... and advising in that major’s session all summer long. I’m HOPING that I”ll end up in the Education/Social Science major since it’s my own, and I know all about it!!!

Winter Finals!

I’m in the middle of dead week... MAKE THE MADNESS STOP!!!!!!

I have one final tomorrow, 1 take home one over the weekend, and 1 on Monday. Tuesday I have a final reflection in my literature class... and then I’M DONE WITH THIS TERM!!!! WISH ME LUCK!!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Well, since I’m up writing a paper, I might as well wish myself a Happy Birthday!!! I can’t believe I’m 30. How did that happen?!?!?!? I have so many thoughts about turning 30. I can’t stop and think about them right now (this paper is due by tonight)... but I promise to write about it after finals. I think you would all really love to hear my new perspective on things (heck, you were all VERY instrumental in my choices)!!!


Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to my Dad
Happy Birthday Paul
Happy Birthday Brock
Happy Birthday Debbie

(these are all the people that I share a birthday with!)

Sum up of Winter Term

I just looked back at this past term... and I realized that I only posted like 4 times. That’s pathetic! So, instead of catching you up with all the detail junk, I’ll sum it up as best I can.

I ended up dropping the Library Studies class because it was SOOOOO boring, and I wasn’t learning anything in it... I just played online, so I figured that I could best use that time for something else. I survived the other 15 credits.

Math sucked... but considering I have to take the second level of it next term, I might as well suck it up.

I loved my Young Adult Literature class, which I’m sure comes as no surprise to any of you. I loved the books we read!!! Check out my book list page to find out what they were.

Music... was fun. It was more “fun” than educational. All I really came out of there with was how to incorporate music more into the classroom, so I guess that works.

Sociology... I LOVE online classes!!!! All I had to do was to read, take weekly quizzes, exams every 3 weeks, and a written paper... WHOOPTIE DOO!!!