Oh yeah... I forgot!!!

I can't believe I totally forgot to tell you guys how I did on the CBEST.

I got the results back, and it's hard to tell how well I did on it.. but I did pass! The way they score the tests is a little weird.. Scores anywhere in the 20-80 range are considered passing... but I know this isn't based on any percentage or anything. A passing total of all three sections is 123... and each score has to be at least 37.. see, weird criteria... but here's the details of mine.

My scores were:
Reading - 51
Math - 66
Writing - 47
For a total of: 164

ONE DOWN... ONE TO GO.... STAY TUNED!!!

New Calling

Compassionate Service Committee!

Yep.. After floating under the radar for over a year, I have been "found". :-) I've been put on the Compassionate Service committee to work specifically with the special projects that come up throughout the year: DI Service Drive, Christmas Giving Tree, Humanitarian Service projects, and anything else that comes up throughout the year.

I have to admit...I'm really nervous about this calling. I've never served in Relief Society (other than Homemaking committee). I served for years in Young Women, several years in Primary, Activities Committee, Sports Programs, AND none of those have ever concerned me this bad. I can plan activities in my sleep... and I can work with youth/children without even thinking... but this one is the challenge. All prayers, and positive thoughts encouraged and welcomed!!!!

There's only one thing worse...

There's only one thing worse than being sick! And that is being sick and having to function. I hate having a headache and needing to read 2-4 chapters of REALLY boring homework; it's nearly impossible to focus when the words float around the page. It sucks!! I really should get to the doctor and see if they know why my headaches are getting worse even with me taking MSG and caffeine out of my diet. Any and all suggestions are welcome! Headaches are the WORST!!!!!!!!!!

Yep.. it's Halloween!!!!!

Is it seriously the end of October already??? I just got home from my wards Halloween Party. I love seeing all the adults dress up along with their kids... and even those whose kids weren't there. I'm always amazed by the creativity that I see at these kinds of parties. There was Ron (from Harry Potter), a biker dude, lots of spidermen, lots of pirates, and some gypsies... but there were some that were very unique: family of paleontologists, giant hot pink dice, Pippy Longstocking, 2 nuns (at an LDS ward party)... and 2 Sister Missionaries. Ok, those last two weren't that unique.. they really were the 3 Sister Missionaries for our ward... but I had to include them too. :-)

I even carved a pumpkin. There's nothing like the smell of pumpkin guts to get you in the spirit for Fall. I have to say... I did a great job too. My greatness has nothing to do with how "great" the pumpkin was... but purely based on the fact that I carved the ENTIRE pumpkin without physically touching any of the guts or having to put my hand inside the pumpkin. How amazing am I?!?!?!?!

I gotta give kudos to my sisters M&M (aka.. A & A) for this next bit. This time of year (rain, falling leaves, carving pumpkins, etc) tends to make me nostalgic... and it lasts from now till New Years. From now till November 1st, it's all about Halloween movies!!! There are so many that remind me of being a kid (thanks to M&M for reminding me of them), and there are lots that I have liked as I've gotten older. Hope these pictures bring back some memories! Click on the picture for a better view.

It's started... and it'll never end!!!

There are several things that I have learned for sure about living in Oregon.

#1. Every class I take will have some element about "alternative lifestyles".

#2. I will see at least 4 "Keep Portland Weird" bumper stickers on any given day.

#3. I will see at least one man wearing a dress each week.

#4. On July 19th kicks off our "oh-so-mild" 2 month summer.

#5. I will forever be worried that I don't have an umbrella within my immediate reach at all times!

AND LAST BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY....

#6. When it starts raining in October, it won't stop for any extended period of time until July 18th!!!

I do have to admit that there is ONLY one good thing about the rain... I love the sound of rain!!!!


LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!! (sarcasm intended)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Hi Mom... I miss you.
I'm doing really good. I'm going to graduate soon. I'll be the first in our family (I think on both sides) to not only go to college, but to also graduate. I wish you were here to watch me. Can you believe I'm going to get my Masters too? Who'd have thought?!?!? I hope I make you proud! I'm finally going to finish all this stuff I've been working on for so long. I know you'd love coming up here to visit. I know you'd love the shops, the Farmers Market, the trees, Multonomah Falls, and of course... Seaside (cause it's just like Santa Cruz). I know you'd love my apartment and how "cozy" I've made sure it feels! Lots of cushy chairs/couches, candles, soft colors... very comfy! Sorry I don't get home as often as I'd like. I'm sorry I don't talk to the girls or dad as often as I'm sure you'd want. I do make sure I get home as often as I can though. I worked really hard at being able to go back to the temple. I know you were with me when I did your work, and have gone with me everytime I've gone back. I know you and Umemay were there when Susanne and I did both of your work. I hope you're proud of the work I'm doing on behalf of your side of the family. I'm going to keep doing it... so you can all be together up there; you need the chance to get to know each other!!!

Thank you for all the memories from Santa Cruz. There wasn't a single place on the boardwalk that I didn't think of you when we went there. I couldn't stop thinking of you on that new ride too... cause it was JUST like the JetStarr! I took Alex on the Loggers Revenge... just the 2 of us in the log, and it was late at night. I wanted to tell him about everything that you used to do with us there! I also took him on the Cave Train... it was a little different than the cars, but it still had all the cave people that were there when you used to take us. I got a bag of assorted Salt Water Taffy. I was so bummed that I didn't see it being pulled... but now I have a whole bag of the "best salt water taffy" there is! I still freaked out on that stupid Pirate Ship.. but had to put on a brave face for Alex. I couldn't do the RoundUp though. I know that was our favorite ride.. but my stomach just can't take it anymore! I thought of you watching Ashley and Alex on it though! I did go on the Rock-O-Plane though... I know! I'm so lucky that Alex wouldn't let it rock... or spin! And, no surprise, we didn't go on the SkyGlider. I was willing, for Alex, but we were too late. I did find the Cavemen though! And, of course... we did several rounds on the Giant Dipper, including one late at night. I even put my hands up like you always told me to.... but they didn't stay up for long. :-)


You're in my thoughts all the time! Not a day goes by that something doesn't mind me of you... of something you used to say, watch on TV, eat/drink, do, or of things that you and I shared.

Every morning I listen to Young and the Restless while I get ready for class. Jack is still cute, Victor still has that awesome accent, Katherine and Jill are mother and daughter (I know... can you believe it). Not many of the original people are still on there... but the same Nikki is divorcing the same Victor.. AGAIN!

I can't walk anywhere on campus without seeing someone drinking Pepsi... seriously, it's weird... it's like Starbucks up here.. EVERYWHERE!

Since I've moved and had to "re-learn" how to use a real kitchen... I'm constantly looking through the old "Betty Crocker" cookbook to answer stupid questions!

I watch Marie Osmond every week on Dancing with the Stars. You were the only one who understood my Osmond thing... Thank you for allowing me that one oddity! :-) Remember watching "Joseph...Technicolor Dreamcoat" on stage in SF? Thank you for standing out back with me while I waited to meet the "2nd G".

My late night snack is Rice Krispies with bananas!!! Serious flashback!!!

I love you so much! You're always in my thoughts! Thank you for visiting me in my dreams! I know you're right there with me!
Love you always,
Jemfur (Gee-Em-Fur)

CBEST/ORELA --- Cross your fingers!

Well... it's all done! Talk about a long day!!!

I fell asleep at 4am, woke up 6am, flooded the bathroom at 7am, Colleen picked me up at 7:10am, and I ate breakfast in the backseat of her car on the way there.... See what I mean!!!!!!

We got to UP at 7:30, and I went inside, checked in, and handed over my cell phone (yep, we had to "check" them in and leave them downstairs). At 8:00, the doors opened to our testing room (there were 20 testing rooms, 25 people per room). We sat down, checked in with the Proctor, got fingerprint ID'ed... and weren't allowed to leave the room from that moment until ALL directions were given. We were only allowed to have our ID, pencils, eraser, test booklet and answer booklet out (not bad if the desk had been bigger than 7"x7"). The first test I had was the CBEST (the easier of the two, per the practice tests). We got started at 9:00 and I was done by around 11:30. Piece of cake, although I'm not saying that on the record until I get the results back. The CBEST, as I said before, is general knowledge one would learn in K-12... but it's more broad and basic math, reading and writing. Pretty simple!

I spent the next hour and half in the student union eating lunch (and staying warm). All I can say is holy crap!!! UP is a private Catholic University. I'm thinking that is what it must be like at BYU... nice, neat, clean, new, landscaped, upgraded, etc... NOTHING LIKE PSU!!! I mean come on... Flat Screen TV in the cafeteria... we don't even have a TV in ours. Couches and lounge chairs in the lounge... we have the floor, and some hard benches... AND they have a fireplace in their student store... Now come on??? Seriously?!?!

Ok, back to the tests. At 1:00, we checked in for the ORELA. Same rules applied, but had a much more laid back Proctor (AKA: she actually smiled). Also, I was in a different room, with MUCH larger desks (tables to be more accurate). We got started at 2, and had till 6. So, how did I do? Let's just put it this way... if I pass this on the first try, it'll be an act of divine intervention! This was also knowledge aquired in K-12... but it's MUCH more specific. Instead of broad knowledge in reading/writing, the ORELA includes chemistry, astronomy, physical science, geometry, shakespeare, poetry, writing styles, art, music, PE, health, American/European/World/State history, government, economics... you name it... it was there!!! It was practically impossible to study for a test like this. It's just too much information and just too broad of subject matter. I'm using this first try as a practice test. Now I know I need to brush up on government, systems in the body, Civil War, Oregon State Geography, writing styles, and scientific theories. Crazy, huh!!!! The one plus is that the ORELA is split into 2 subtests: Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Art AND Math, Science, PE, Health. If I pass one subtest, and not the other... I only have to retake the one that I didn't pass. So... that leaves me a little hope out!!!!

So, results on the CBEST come back on October 22nd.... and the ORELA comes back on November 1st. If I don't pass either/both of them, then I have one more time to retake them in order to get the results back in time for my graduate school application due date. I'm hoping I at least pass one... if not both this first time, because if I don't, the pressure will really be on for the next time (and the timing couldn't be worse... the retake is immediately before finals week). Oh well... maybe I'll do better than I think I did!

Keep those fingers crossed, and keep me in your prayers... I REALLY need them!!!

CBEST/ORELA -- Prayers Please!

As most of you know I'll be graduating from Portland State in June. What some of you don't know is that I'm going on to graduate school to get my Masters in Education. As part of the application process, I have to take two exams and having passing scores to submit with my packet.

So, tomorrow I'm scheduled for 8 hours of exams (2 four hour exams) testing all the general knowledge that students learn in K-12. It's amazing how much of this stuff just leaves your brain when you don't use it for a while. I know I knew it then.... but having to re-learn it all over again (and then to teach it) is completely different. One of these tests (CBEST) is written with California State information in mind, and focuses on on the main subjects... but it's written at a 8th/9th grade level.. so I'm not too concerned about it. The other one (ORELA) is written with Oregon State information in mind, still focuses on the main subjects (adding PE, art and music)... but it's written at college level... so it's more like the SAT's all over again.

Wish me luck.... and ALL prayers are encouraged!!!

I'll let you all know how it goes.