I hope you have one, too

After unintentionally hurting my feelings, a friend cycled to my house to sort things out.  Meeting him outside, he said he had something for me.  He gave me a penny he had found on the road.  I asked him if he had found it heads up.  He said he found it just as it is.  I looked at it and found it to be tails up and immediately tossed it not wanting to be cursed with bad luck.  (When did this dramatic flair enter my life?)

He sweetly and kindly continued with the explanation.  He said the penny represented how he was approaching me, head down, in shame and sadness that he had caused me hurt.

I immediately began looking for the penny, but it was too dark.

He told me that when I found it, he wanted me to tape it to the fridge heads down so that every time I saw it, I would know that he will do his very best to never again cause me any pain.

Textual Transmission Excerpt

    Katie: It was one of the most sincere gestures I've been offered, and I threw it on the ground.

    Friend: But that was just because it wasn't Lincoln side up, and we all know how you feel about him.

I wish all the world had a friend like this one.

Memorial Day Memories

It was on this day back in two thousand and nine that I experienced Tooele for the first time.

After accepting the position at Excelsior Academy, my next step was to secure a place to live. I searched the internet from top to bottom and was only finding houses for rent. I didn't want to fork out that much money for just little ol' me.

I knew the only way to find a place in the area was to network.

I had already contacted a few people on facebook. (I sent a message to a girl who had hosted a News Year's Eve party. She had to be cool. It turns out that she also happened to be the Relief Society President of the Singles Ward in Tooele.) But the sense of urgency wasn't there. They were all willing to keep me informed about what they heard, but were they really listening out? I knew if they met me, they'd be more proactive in helping me in my search.

I made a trip up to Tooele on Memorial Day 2009. (I was already almost in the area for the weekend anyway.)

Megan, the Relief Society President I mentioned earlier in parenthesis, offered to show me around and help me locate some places and introduce me to people. I called her on my drive to Tooele and she mentioned that she was headed to a barbeque and that I was more than welcome to come with her there.

We agreed to meet at a central location. The local Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart should've been easy to find. And most people would've found it immediately. I figured it was on Main Street, but no matter how many times I drove up and down that road I couldn't find it. I sent a text Google's way and got the address. Even with the address, I knew where it should be, but I still didn't see it when I drove past. I was too distracted by taking in the sights I guess. I finally saw it tucked away behind a front row of shops and restaurants.

I was early for the designated meeting time. Of course. I was nervous, and I had nothing else to do. And I feared getting lost. I waited for what seemed like forever before Megan showed up.

She still had brownies in the oven at home, so we got in her car and went back to her place. I met her mother. So far, my impression of the town was very positive.

We headed to the barbeque. I met a handful of girls who would be in my ward. None of them were helpful in suggesting places I might be able to live. Turns out, they weren't being rude; there just aren't places to rent in Tooele.

After the barbeque, we headed up the street to a local park to play volleyball and kickball. As much fun as I was having, I didn't want too much time to pass because I was determined to find a place to live that day.

I met many of those who would become my closest friends that day. I like to reminisce with a few of them about that day.

I texted one friend today to remind him of our first meeting. "It was on this day in 2009 that I first met you. And it was because you didn't remember meeting me that you later labeled me a stalker." Hahahaha. Good times.

Casey, my sister, and I drove the back way to Tooele, which was the way I took one year ago. We arrived at the same park where I played kickball on that fateful day. After an hour of Ultimate Frisbee, I returned home to the apartment I secured on this day last year.

Ah, the memories.

Help make a miracle happen

It all started when I was elected vice president of my elementary education cohort. I was more than willing to take on the role, although I was a little uncertain about working with the girl who had been elected as president.

We had our first presidency meeting and my concerns were validated. She wanted to support the members of our cohort by recognizing individuals with weekly spotlights and awards.
I didn't. That was too much work for what I imagined we'd get in return.

I wanted to keep things simple. I accepted the nomination thinking our role was mainly to act as liaison between students and faculty meaning that I would have the chance to debate an item or two. She accepted the nomination thinking that she would have a chance to love and care for each individual on a deeper level.

Don't get me wrong, I've got a lot of love for a lot of people, but I'm also a no-nonsense kind of girl. I don't like frivolity. I would rather spend my time concentrating on my school work or talking to my classmates than filling out award slips and making cute things to give away.

Without having to talk it out, we compromised. She cut back on the "things" we were going to do and I supported her in the "things" we kept.

We spent a lot of time together in those first few weeks. She called weekly meetings. Although a little annoyed, I am quite an obedient person. I attended my meetings and bit my tongue and her wild suggestions.

I don't know exactly when things changed. All I know is that this forced relationship blossomed into one of the most beautiful friendships I have ever experienced.

Jodilyn and I are closer than I normally allow myself to get to someone. She knows my deepest darkest fears (I rarely let anyone know that because I more comfortable working the confident/strong persona...I don't want anyone to think I'm insecure or incapable in any way). I can confide in her and I trust her judgment and value her advice. She shares with me her frustrations. I tell her when she's being ridiculous and that she should let it go. She tells me when to feel more rather than trying to push the experience away.

We also laugh a lot together.

When Jodilyn welcomed me in, I became a part of her family. I was a regular in her home and at her family functions.

Jodilyn has two sets of children: her own and her husband's. Although with as much love as she has, you would never know the difference. I was invited to attend birthday parties of her children. When she and her husband were sealed in the Temple, I volunteered to babysit the grandkids so that everyone else could attend. It was then that I first met her husband's children: Andrea, Toby, and Brynn and their families. My admiration for them was immediate. I've been fortunate to have subsequent interactions with them both in St. George as well as in their homes in Utah County.

Toby is a mother of four children. She is one of the most loving mothers I have ever been able to witness. She is self-sacrificing, a noble exemplar, a patient teacher, and a loving wife. She also has Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Toby was diagnosed with MS at 21. She was a new wife and a young mother. The diagnosis didn't stop her from living. As difficult as it may have been, she is true to her family, true to her faith, and true to her life. She now has four children, her oldest just graduated from kindergarten.

Her own diagnosis hasn't been the only medical trial she has been forced to endure. Two of her children have significant health issues, her son, Chandler, has had 16 surgeries in his short life.

She says on her blog, "I had given up on those dreams [of having a healthy future and growing old with my amazing husband] and I figured I would just make the most of what time I did have."

One of the ways in which she has attempted to make the most of the time she has is to research options for treatment. She placed herself on waiting lists for surgeons in other countries who were performing procedures that were alleviating major symptoms of MS. Of course, these waiting lists are very long and the cost for the procedures are thousands of dollars (plus travel expenses).

Just recently, she received word that a surgeon in Costa Rica would be able to fit her into his schedule for Liberation treatment on June 24.

This is exciting news!

Yet it does come with a financial burden that Toby's young and growing family is not quite prepared to bear. I'm sharing this, because they need our help. Toby's siblings have set up a paypal account (and a Wells Fargo account) to collect donations. Please donate if you can and link to her blog to help spread the word.

Toby already has made a beautiful impact on this world. I can imagine the marvelous things she'll be able to do with increased energy and time here on earth.

When my sister built a house in a new neighborhood, there was nothing but adventure around us. At the tail end of a party at her place, the remaining guests, myself included, went on a walk to discover what was past her neck of the woods. About a mile or so later, we reached the park designed specifically for her neighborhood. Little did we know that it would contain the most delightsome experience.

Riding "The Green Dinosaur" is now a St. George tradition. Any time I go home, especially when I bring friends home with me, we ride The Green Dinosaur.

This trip, The Green Dinosaur was so fierce, it immediately bucked my friend, Rachael, and I right off, hence the wood chips on my back.

With wind like this, I'd plant windmills, too

I don't mean to misrepresent Iowa with this photo.

Christine tells us all the time that Iowa is more than farming.

She grew up in the city.

I went on an extended weekend trip to Iowa with my friend (and coworker...that's how we met), Christine. She's from Cedar Rapids. Her friend, Carla, was getting married.

We took two days off work, and started driving Thursday night. She didn't think we'd drive straight through. She and her twin sister were both surprised when we got to a suburb of Des Moines in the earlier afternoon on Friday.

It is definitely spring in Iowa. Everything was in bloom. It was absolutely gorgeous! I would like to celebrate every spring from now on in Iowa.

Christine's sisters and friends were a delight to meet. I had a ton of fun at the wedding.

After the wedding, we headed to a karaoke bar at my suggestion. We sang a few songs. (Which means I have now karaoked in 6 United States.) While I was singing, a boy came over and asked Christine if I was single. She tried to lie and say no, but he could tell she was lying. She told him that I'd be going home to Utah the next day, so it probably wouldn't be worth his time.

I loved the windmills. I loved shopping at the country store in Amish country. The food was great. The people were sure nice. I'd go again.

Homeless

I've recently started volunteering at the Family File desk at the Salt Lake Temple which has led to an immersion in Family History.

When my mom propositioned going to Florida again for Christmas, I only agreed if I could get more information from my grandfather in Mississippi about his family. Many generations are assembled on both sides of my father's family and on my maternal grandmother's maternal side, but I didn't have much information about my maternal grandfather's family.

I had no idea the gold mine that was available to me. My grandfather took me to a small cemetery near his home where a few generations of his family was buried. I took 93 pictures of headstones. I spent the last couple days inputting information and linking my family together on new.familysearch.org. (I even input information for a family that isn't even related to me...at least that I haven't found yet...and provided the missing link needed to populate several generations. It was so exciting to serve someone I didn't even know!)

It has been a fascinating adventure.

However, as I listened to my grandfather, I realized that he had spent almost his entire life in the same area. He served in the army which took him out of Mississippi and he spent a little time in a couple towns near his hometown, but he had lived there his entire life. His parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents had also lived there their whole lives.

When I looked back at the family history that was already there for me on my father's side and my maternal grandmother's maternal side, these families were also born and raised in the same places their entire lives and for generations.

All of these families lived down South--Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina--which makes me wonder why I live in the West. I don't have any roots here.

Identifying this family history should make me feel more connected. Instead it has made me feel homeless. I don't know where my home is. I know where my parents live. I know where I graduated high school. I know where I started kindergarten. I know where I went to my first dance. I know where I learned to walk. All of these places are different. I don't know where to call home.

As the cheesey cliche goes, home is where the heart is. I believe that. Every place I've lived has been my home. Right now Tooele is my home. I have friends who treat me like family. I have people who care about me and treat me right. Tooele feels like home. However, I could easily leave after this school year in search of a new home.

That leaves me with the same feeling: homeless.

Three months in review

I can't even remember the last time I clicked on my Blogger bookmark. My last post was in mid-August. I miss blogging. I miss writing in my journal. So many things have happened, but I haven't taken the time to stop to record them. I'll have to refer back to my facebook status updates to try and remember the noteworthy things that have happened in my life recently to begin recording them. Until then, I'll generate a list of some important points. I can't promise that they'll be chronological, nor will I promise that they will make sense to everyone.

I stayed home sick today from work. I have a cold, although part of me wishes it was swine flu. I still don't believe that disease exists (despite the number of confirmed cases in Tooele County).
Speaking of Tooele County, I'm officially a resident.

I didn't vote this year which makes me very sad. It's the first election I've ever missed in all my voting years. I never took the time to familiarize myself with the candidates and proposals for this county. I didn't want to go to the polls uneducated and pick the name that sounded the best. I was ashamed that I neglected my patriotic duty to be informed and to share my voice.

I really like Tooele. Or at least I did until it started to snow.

My car broke. The transmission gave out. That wasn't the only thing wrong with it. It would've cost more to fix than it's worth. It was a blessing in disguise. Well, actually it wasn't even disguised all that well. I was certain to die in the car I used to drive if I were to have driven it in the snow.

That means I bought a new (to me) car. It's number one selling point for me was traction control. I told myself if I ever lived in the snow again then I wanted a car with traction control. I was sold on that feature years ago when I lived in Provo and dated a boy who drove a car with traction control. I was never scared when I drove his car, but I was always scared when I drove my car.

So far, I love my car.

Second only to traction control is my other favorite feature. It has a tape deck. That's right. I can listen to cassette tapes any time I want in my car. The only problem is, I don't have any cassette tapes. So I'm adding that to my Christmas List. As a matter of fact, it's the only thing on my Christmas List (since the last item was satisfied a little over a month ago). I want a mix tape from each and every one of you. PLEASE. And make this wish come true faster than my wish for a Snuggie.

Speaking of Snuggies, I got one! YAY! My life is complete now. My younger sister, Casey, got one for me. I'm using it right now. To show my appreciation for her wonderful gift, I created this photo album of me enjoying my Snuggie. View the album here. You'll be ever so grateful you did. (Of course, I have to thank Casey again for taking the pictures for this gratitude photo album.)

I'm the in the Relief Society Presidency of my ward. I was a little, make that a lot, intimidated by the calling. I've never felt like I was the woman that I imagined all members of Relief Society Presidencies to be. As always, the Lord has helped me to grow into my calling. This calling has been the source of great happiness and countless blessings these past couple months. I look forward with great anticipation to the tremendous blessings that will continue to occur in my life as I serve diligently.

I really like my ward. It's smaller than I would like, but there are new people and visitors every week. We'll be busting at the seams before you know it.

I've made some really great friends in my ward as well. I have something to do every night of the week. We go on amazing adventures. Click here, here, here, here, and here for some photos of the great things we do.

I like teaching. Teaching is fun. The rest of my job isn't as fun. Well, I take the back. The social part of my job is fun. I have made some really good friends in my colleagues. One of the other fifth grade teachers has become one of my favorite friends. We went to St. George together during UEA and hiked in Zion and caught a couple shows. We went to The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City and to Aida at Tuacahn.
Gosh, I miss St. George. I almost drove there last night. I just didn't want to drive back today. Oh, well. Thanksgiving will be here in a week-ish. I can hardly wait.

My students are amazing. They are adorable. They are smart. They work really hard. They make me giggle all the time. I had a student say to me the other day, "You laugh more than anyone I know." I took that as the highest compliment. I like them, and they like me. They like me so much, that they want me to have the finer things in life...including a dreamy boyfriend. They invented a boyfriend for me a couple weeks ago named Chad Hotpants. He has been the source of many a conversation since then. I even had a student bring in a picture from a magazine of Chad Hotpants. He clipped out the cartoon of a man climbing a ladder with the seat of his pants on fire. Hahahaha! They had a heyday the one time I ever let them write on the white board. Enjoy these photos of their graffiti.

Well, this post is entirely too long. I'll have to save some other random information for another day, but I wanted to get these posts under way so that I could post a few days worth of "I'm thankful for..." posts. I really enjoyed that last year.

An adventure at Bear Lake

What does an alfalfa field have to do with my adventure to Bear Lake?
Everything.

My adventure started with this status update.
Having scored an invite, I was set to go. I didn't bother with finding out any more details than what time my sister, Casey, and I should meet them.
It turns out this was a singles stake activity. Our link to the stake was Karl, but he didn't even know what ward he was in or the names of his Bishopric. (He's new to the ward.)
Having waited for Nic to get off work, we didn't get to Bear Lake until after dinner had been scheduled to be served, so we stopped at a pizza joint.
We arrived at the stake campsite just in time for the rest of a concert.

Wanting to leave the crowded campsite behind to enjoy a peaceful night under the stars, we went in search of a place to camp on the shore. Karl told us that a former Bishop of his owned some property up on the Idaho side that had beach access. He assured us that it would be okay for us to stay there.
We trusted him.
We pulled off the road onto an alfalfa farm. He promised us that a short hike would lead to the beach.
We trusted him.
We piled all our stuff on our backs and started walking through the field. Before we knew it, we hit muddy, marshy patches. We kept going, because Karl insisted that the beach was just ahead.
We trusted him.
At one dry point, we set our stuff down and sent Karl through the next wet patch. Our trust in him was fading. He soon reached a barbed wire fence.
We decided to set up camp right there.
Nic brought a tent which he shared with Michelle. Casey and I didn't have a tent, but had planned to sleep under the stars anyway. Karl brought a tent but didn't want to use it.
Michelle had borrowed a tarp which turned out to be ginormous. How big was it? Large enough for three tacos and a tent. (You had to be there, although I will attempt to explain in just a bit.)




The forecast had stated a chance of rain showers in the area. Those of us who were sleeping under the stars staged our sleeping quarters so that we could roll the tarp over us if it started to rain. Sometime, someone called this tarp covering a taco. From then on, we referred to covering ourselves with the tarp tacoing in.
Less than an hour after falling asleep, I awoke, because I was certain that someone was walking on our tarp. It turns out I was crazy, but it still proved beneficial.
The stars were no longer visible and the air was moist. It was ready to rain. My sister woke up to me making some noise. She asked me what I was doing. I casually stated that I was going to taco in, because I suspected it would rain any minute. Nic and Michelle hadn't yet fallen asleep and erupted in laughter at the use of the new phrase. Karl awoke to their laughter; he tacoed in as well.
The rain did come. Although never a heavy rain, it was a consistent rain. The tarp amplified the drips of the small raindrops keeping me from falling into a deep sleep.
Morning soon came to our excitement. We all desperately wanted to see where we had spent the night.
(This photo was not staged. These were the real expressions on their faces shortly after waking up and looking around.)

We packed in a hurry, because we didn't want confrontation with a farmer. (I still can't believe it. We camped in the middle of a recently harvested alfalfa field. Ahhh hahahahaha!)
Below is one of the wet, marshy areas we trudged through because we trusted Karl.

The rain continued throughout the morning. Finally, we decided to pack up and head home. We didn't want to wait to see if the rain would stop so that we could go out on the lake.

Since neither Michelle, Casey, nor I had ever been to Bear Lake, we were determined to make it to the shore. We stopped near the stake campsite to view the lake. Not knowing that we could've accessed the beach much easier down the road, we three girls started trudging through the mud and river reeds to get to the water. Nic hollered at us after we had already gone halfway to tell us there was an easier way. However, we were committed (and no longer foreign to getting our pants soaked and muddy). We enjoyed the little bit of the lake we got to experience.


Although different than I ever would've imagined, my adventure at Bear Lake was wonderful...wonderfully memorable. I can't wait until next time when I can enjoy it like any normal person would.

Yippee!

I finally won something! Yay!



No. I didn't win a boy. But this kid right here has this absolutely amazing sister (who I've never met). One day when he was bumming my internet, he showed me her blog. I've read it ever since.
She's lovely. Very lovely.
She had a drawing for a 20,000 hits giveaway. She was offering jewelry as her prize. One of the ways that you could win was to be the one to comment the most. Well, it was no small task, but I took a half hour and proved that I can be crazy dedicated to a single task (hence the reason why I didn't sleep much in college). About 100 comments later, I blew the competition out of the water.
Go check out her blog. She does amazing things for the world. And I mean the world. Check out some of the cool things she's done for Mothers Without Borders by clicking here and here. She is also dedicated to service on the homefront as well setting up another blog to share service opportunities in Utah. She says that she has the ultimate project coming up soon. I can't wait find out what it is and assist if I can.
She promised me some jewelry. I don't know if it can beat the bounteous amount that her brother and Josh gave me for my birthday last year, but I'm sure it will come close.

I'm thankful for 911

Weird. Weird. Weird. I hope one day my brain will recover.

I went to the movies tonight with Eliza and my sister, Casey. Never would I have imagined the way my night ended.
We left the theater ten minutes after eleven. We were at the cheap theater and got out of the latest show, so there were only about six cars in the parking lot. The car parked next to us had a few running lights on, so I assumed that someone had used their keyless entry to unlock it from across the lot. However, there was no one walking in the same direction as us.
I walked around to the passenger side of the truck away from the car. Eliza said in a very light-hearted tone, "Do you think that kid's dead?"
(You read it right. This story is going to be crazy!)
What kid? I hadn't seen anyone in the vehicle. I got out of the truck with Casey behind me. There was a young man in the driver's seat slumped over with his head lowered on the passenger's side. We waited a moment thinking that he must just be looking for something. Yet he didn't move at all.
Casey, which coincidentally means Brave, practiced courage as she walked over to the passenger window and starting knocking. She knocked and knocked and knocked. After the fourth or fifth time of knocking without a response, I suggested we call 911.
After a short moment, Casey knocked again. Finally, the kid slowly sat up. He never looked in her direction. He started rubbing his face the whole while she stood in the passenger window. He started nodding as one does when extremely tired.
She knocked again. He sat up slowly again touching his face with his hands. Still he did not look in her direction or notice that Eliza and I were also staring into his vehicle.
Casey walked around to the driver's side. He must've had his window down as she immediately began asking him questions. Again, he wouldn't look at her. That was when I called 911.
Casey asked him over and over again, "Are you waiting for someone? Did you just fall asleep in your car? Are you okay? Do you need help?"
He never looked at her and she said he never enunciated a clear response.
As I spoke with dispatcher, he sat there with an absent look and a lifeless body. Casey finally came around to the passenger side of Eliza's truck.
Shortly after I walked to the back of the truck to get his car make/model and license number, he started revving his engine. I told the dispatcher that if he could get the vehicle in gear, then he would likely start driving.
All the while, I wondered why we didn't have an emergency response vehicle yet on the scene. I pass numerous cops every night. Where were they now when I needed them?
He finally put his car into reverse. He backed up about four feet and then stopped. In the mean time, I had passed the phone to Casey so she could tell the dispatcher if she saw any paraphernalia or smelled anything strange.
As she explained that there was no physical evidence of drug or alcohol use, he managed to put the car in drive. He drove right over the cement curb. He swerved to miss another cement divide and then stopped.
He stayed there for about ten seconds, then he started driving again. He stopped. He stayed there for a moment.
Still there was no police car on scene.
When he started driving toward the light to get onto the main road, Eliza had us pull our doors closed and she started following him.
He very slowly rolled into the main road and turned right. Fortunately, the car in his lane was attentive enough to slow down and move out of the way.
Finally, a police car pulled in behind him. Two other cops were right behind.
We came around the corner to find the car successfully pulled over in a business parking lot. We pulled in as per the request of the dispatcher. An officer came to our window and we explained that we had called in the incident. He had us fill out witness sheets.
It was very evident that this boy was looped out on something. Watching the search process and sobriety tests, it was obvious that he was not coherent. The only way I know how to describe him in the car and standing with the cops is to say that he looked like a zombie or a body without a spirit.
The officer that took our statements didn't give us much detail but told us that prescription medication was found in his car. Likely, he overdosed.
The officer told us thank you a few separate times as this boy could have killed someone tonight had he tried to drive farther.

This leads me to the gratitude section.
I'm thankful for
1. Eliza and her dad's truck. Had we gone to the movies in her tiny car, none of us would have seen the boy. Because Eliza had to climb up into the tall beast, she was able to see right into his car. I'm also glad she said something, even in jest. She explained that she said it that way hoping that it would really be a joke and that he'd sit up and catch her looking in his car.
2. Casey's courage. I hope I would have been able to knock on the window and attempt to talk to the boy like Casey did. Anything could have happened, so it took much courage for Casey to do what she did.
3. 911 and cell phones. I don't know what we would've done had we had to handle this on our own. Also, I'm glad we didn't have to leave the scene to get to a phone. Who knows what would have happened.
4. Nice police officers. The officer who took our statement was so very kind. I know I'm in good hands with kind and knowledgeable officers like him.

Read Eliza's take on the evening.

Through the years

I chanced upon these great family photos when I was cleaning the attic and couldn't help sharing.

My have the styles changed.



Click here to have the most fun you've had in a long time.

Cupid

He hates his job.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Turn! Turn! Turn!

I woke up from a nap today to a text message from a friend that kind of caught me off guard. She expressed concern for me stating that I don't seem like my normal happy self.
This spawned an introspective look into my life. Am I okay? Am I happy?
I've experienced a lot of change recently. I moved, started two new jobs, transferred my records to a new ward, a favorite friend of mine moved away causing my circle of friends to change drastically.
I am naturally very shy. Adjusting to all this new stuff hasn't be outwardly overwhelming, but it has definitely taxed my vibrant spirit. Because of my shy nature, I appreciate control. By control I mean control of my life and the ability to predict with some surety what will happen next.
The change that has probably impacted me the most is my friendship circle changing. I miss showing up at my friend's apartment announced or unannounced. No matter the time or day, he or one of his roommates was home. I did whatever they did. We watched tv, we ran errands, we went fishing, we had homework parties. Now when I want to do something, I have to find someone to do something with. This can be very intimidating to me.
I really like my new ward, but I feel like an outsider. For the most part, I feel accepted by my ward members. The acceptance that is surprisingly hindering is that of my Bishopric, their wives, and the adult members who serve as shepherds. I am monopolized by these adults each Sunday and every time I attend a ward activity. They all come talk to me and express their appreciation to have a young person with so much maturity, leadership skills, and the desire to share talents. I appreciate the awe they express, but it keeps me from socializing with my peers. Not only does this conversation physically keep me from my peers, but I feel like it socially and even spiritually keeps me from my peers. Sometimes I feel as though I'm not allowed to just be a kid in this ward.
Probably the strangest struggle I've encountered is scoring a 200 on the PRAXIS. It should be a source of pride and joy in my ability, but I am beginning to feel like it has changed things for me as well.
When I posted my score, I mentioned a dream I had the night after taking the test. In my dream, I got my perfect score, but I also found out that my dear friend didn't pass. I wanted so desperately to rejoice, but I couldn't because I felt like it was hurting my friend who didn't fare as well.
I think this dream was a preparation for reality. I hesitated to share my score with anyone. Then I thought, well, now that's silly. I should be able to enjoy my successes. I shouldn't hide from them.
While my family wished me congratulations, I don't think they ever grasped how big of a deal this was to me. I had hoped they would want to celebrate with me somehow.
At school, I was put on the spot and even embarrassed. I walked into class where news of my score had spread. One of my classmates called me out and insisted that I had news. I awkwardly announced my results and then sat down.
I appreciated the private congratulations that I received that day. I didn't appreciate the remarks (accompanied by eye rolls) such as, "Of course YOU did well on the PRAXIS."
It was a hard test. Although I didn't dedicate hours to studying specific material with this test in mind, I have spent my whole life studying for this test. I love to learn. I have sacrificed other things to learn. I read everything around me. I study things that pique my interest throughout the day. When I'm with my friends and someone has a question that no one can answer, I go home that night and look up that answer. My friends tease me for that, but I learn a lot as a result. I ask questions and seek answers. I am not a rare genius. I don't just know things naturally. I have worked hard to learn the things I know and to retain this information. When others do as little as possible to get a grade on an assignment, I delve into the material and learn and do more than is required. Learning is something I value and enjoy.
Now in class, I feel alienated and even lonely. The friends I sat next to last year are scattered in other parts of the room. Fortunately, I get to sit by my dear friend, Sarah.
Yet, it feels as though I am not freely accepted as a peer by my classmates.
School also feels different because of a miscommunication before school started that now makes me feel intimidated and awkward around my professors.

Yes, I am happy. I am so incredibly blessed right now. I have many great opportunities in my life. I delight in my future.
I am just expending a lot of energy adjusting to all the change in my life right now.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I appreciate my friend expressing concern. A load that I was unaware of has been lifted, because I took this time to sort through my feelings.

Afternoon drive

My mother applied for a job that would place her in a regional position that would require she communicate with the hospitals in Southwestern Utah. She has been to Valley View in Cedar but hadn't been to the hospital in Garfield County. She asked me to go with her to Panguitch to check it out. I had never been to Panguitch, but I told her I'd only go if we could take the scenic route.
We went through Zion National Park, up 89 through Orderville, Glendale, and Hatch to Panguitch. We toured the bite-size hospital and then stopped by her coworkers home in Panguitch. On the way home we took 143 passed Panguitch Lake to Cedar Breaks. We saw quite a bit of deer and were even stopped by hundreds of sheep crossing the road. There was a sheep dog and a shepherd with them.
We admired Cedar Breaks at 10,460 feet. We continued down Cedar Mountain into Cedar City. It got dark just as we entered Cedar City so we took I-15 back to St. George.
I enjoyed the drive so much, that I repeated it with a couple friends a few days later. The only difference was that we stopped at Panguitch Lake for some fishing.
Speaking of fishing, I've been on several fishing trips in the last few weeks. My friend complained, because he didn't catch anything no matter where we went. I didn't either, because I didn't fish. I'm about to change that. My sister's friend, Jared, the one who can lift cheerleaders over his head, is going to teach me how to fish. I'm excited. I anticipate spending most every weekend out fishing. Hopefully, I'll catch a fish or two.

This is Zion National Park. I actually took this picture in December when my aunt and cousins were here from Florida.

Kane County takes patrolling seriously in Orderville. I noticed this Sheriff's vehicle on the first trip with my mother. I looked a little closer when I was driving my friends. My friend insisted the deputy was asleep. I said it was too thin to be a person. We turned around to discover a mannequin in the front seat.
Keep Orderville safe by slowing down, but don't worry about getting pulled over by this particular deputy.
She's hard to see, but she was very pretty.

Panguitch Lake was slow blue. It glimmered in the Southern Utah sunlight. Upon closer inspection, there were a few areas that were green with growth. I suspect those parts were the only parts of the lake that were a decent temperature.

The sheep were busy crossing the street. We had to wait a few minutes for a break in the sheep to drive through.

Cedar Breaks is always a surprise. I never remember how majestic it is until I get there.

This was my view as I peed on the side of the road.

These were some of the Cedar trees that broke so as to reveal the desert painted rock.

This shot is from a recent fishing trip to Kolob Reservoir.

After all these years

I've lived in St. George for 9 years. Lake Powell is less than 3 hours away. Until Friday night, I had never even been. I went on a late night fishing adventure with three friends. We got there a little after midnight. I'm not sure what temperature it was, but the weather was perfect!
The moon was full, so I was hoping to see the lake. The lights of the marina, however, were too bright for me to see much of the area.
The two boys fished off the side of the dock. They got skunked. They had a few bites but no catches. Nonetheless, I had a great time.
We got home shortly before sunrise.

Not for the faint of heart

If you don't think these are funny, then you aren't American.
I filmed (if you can call it filming when using a digital camera) all but the first one.









America is a safer place because of friends like this one.

If you like what you saw, vote funny on this site.

Good Sabbath!

Cortney and Amanda
stopped by the house after church on Sunday.
I love it when they spend my afternoon with me.
I grilled up some steaks and potatoes--the Utah diet.
The food was great and
the company was amazing!

Late Night Adventure

Jodilyn, my dear friend, has her kids this week. They are here for Spring Break. I surprised them last night when I showed up at their house with ice cream and cones after 10pm. Their mother, Jodilyn, surprised them by suggesting we all go on a walk to the park. We had intended to go stargazing since it was a New Moon, but we didn't realize this new park would be so well lit. Instead we spent quite a bit of time running timed trials of obstacle courses on the play equipment. It was AMAZING! We didn't leave the park until midnight.
We wandered off into the distance trying to find a dark area, but the lights of the park and the street lamps were just too bright. Hopefully, Jodilyn won't pansy-out and we really will go camping Monday night. Those kids need something to brag about when they go back to school. Sleeping under the stars would be a great story to tell. Jodi, are you tough enough for this adventure?