A Little of This and a Little of That

This post should probably be like 8 different ones, but it's not... It should have also been posted a good month+ ago, but it wasn't.  Oops! Fair warning: given.

I'm always amazing how fast time passes when you're busy.  For six years (yes, count them... six) I have been anticipating graduation and now that the day has come and gone I can hardly believe that life has panned out the way it is.  Today while getting my Praxis scores (just a test that says I was smart enough to take the classes to become a teacher... no biggie.  Haha!) from the School of Ed at UVU, I saw a bulletin board-thingie for graduate students and free GRE prep classes.  Got me thinkin, maybe I'll start a masters program if I don't find a job for this fall.  It's goofy that I've been out of school of approximately two weeks and already I'm seriously thinking about going back.  Ha!  Never thought that day would come, especially this quickly.

On a lighter note, I moved to Provo.  I live in an apartment with four other girls and am loving the experience!  However there are a few things I miss; noise in the morning (our apt is like a tomb all morning... maybe I'll get used to it), my mom's cooking, having a washer/dryer unit, and my family.  All in all life is good.  I've joined a dinner group, which equates to instant friends (right??) and tomorrow we're going on a hike up the canyon.  I'm crazy excited to be up the canyon with new and potential friends.

Other exciting news!  I'm an aunt again!!!  This is number eight for us, and he is ADORABLE!  (As are all of my nieces and nephews... trust me when I say this is unbiased.)  I get to see him in the flesh and hold him in approximately three weeks... but who's counting?

I've come to know (again) that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is where true happiness can be found. The other day I was having kind of a bum day and since I got off work early I went to the temple.  As I was sitting in a pew I started reading in the most recent Ensign (from the most recent General Conference) and found myself more or less bawling tears of joy right there in the temple.  There were only about 5 other people there, yet I didn't feel embarassed at all; just joy and peace.  Ahh!  I love when Heavenly Father blesses me with wake up calls and allows me to repent and come closer to Him.  The reality is, we all need them, and He is just waiting for us to humble ourselves so we can grow and improve.

Well, this is Brittish Knees peacing out!

Hodge-Podge of 2010

I've been reading a lot of Christmas cards/blogs related to the season and I wanted to put in my little shpeel (spelt phonetically of course...) concerning my thoughts of the Christmas season.

(Deep inhale)  I love the smell of the Christmas Season.  Everything smells like cinnamon - cinnamon and nutmeg.  Mmm!  It's amazing how powerful and calming a smell can be.  Maybe that's why everyone is getting into those Scentsy things now... and I digress.

Christmas has always been amongst my favorite times of the year.  I love the positive attitudes that most people possess and even the stressfulness of shopping.  I love the priceless look on the faces of family and loved ones as gifts are open and their face lights up with surprise as they open the 'perfect gift.'  

Holiday food is nothing short of delightful.  Even though in the I regret all the fantastic calories I eat all between November and January, in the moment of indulgence I cherish ever delicious bite.  (Just for your gee whiz file my favorites include home-made toffee, soft ginger cookies and hot apple cider. Mmmm!)

Despite all of the lovely things I've listed above, I think one of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the miracles that I'm more prone to see around me.  Everything from the not-so-cheerful men and women ringing bells at Walmart entrances for the Salvation Army to the anonymous acts of service and charity bestowed and humbly accepted.  What other time of year would it be totally acceptable to take hordes of treats to family, friends and really strangers in the spirit of giving.

Christmas' in the past have all been memorable for one thing or another, but this Christmas will be one I'm sure I'll cherish for years.  Not so much because of the gifts (although just for the record I did gets some sweet stuff!) but because of everything that happened.  You see, this year it dawned on me... my family is changing - I know you'd think I'd have thought of that 8+ years ago when my oldest sisters got married, but apparently I'm a little slow.  So now that we've added three in-laws and a plethora of grandchildren later, and my just-younger brother is shortly leaving on a mission I've come to see that Christmas really isn't what is purchased, given and or received; it's all about family and our Savior Jesus Christ.  What a glorious thing to remember.  I hope this year to be better able to  remember that it's because of Him that all things are possible. :)

2010 has been a year for me to, figuratively speaking, grow up.  It's been a year of personal and family trials, however I wouldn't change a one of them for the world.  It is because of those trials I've had some AMAZING learning and growing experiences.  This year has been an opportunity for me to step back from what everyone else whats and expects of me and come to see what it is that I want and what I want to achieve but more importantly it's been a blessing for me to begin to realize what my Heavenly Father wants for me.  It's been awe-inspiring to say the least.  I am truly blessed.

Well, I guess since I don't send out a Christmas card I'll provide you a short synopsis of my year.

Spring semester was pretty intense.  I had some difficult classes as I progressed in my program (Elementary Education) at Utah Valley University, but I'm pleased to say that with they help of good friends, an amazing family, and a grundle of hours spent at the BYU library I was able to come out on top and got nearly all As. (Yeah me!)

My summer was full of nothing short of amazing experiences!!  In June I spent two awe inspiring weeks in Chiapas, Mexico serving with a humanitarian group.  (See posts 1, 2, & 3) I'm confident in saying that everything that accumulated prior to and within those two weeks has forever changed my life.

In July Shaun and I had the super cool chance to go to Seoul, South Korea where our Grandfather served our country nearly 50 years ago.  (See posts 1 & 2) I've developed a new love and respect for the men and women over the years who have jeopardized their safety to protect and defend that of others.  When I now hear our National Anthem I think of my Grandfathers who gave so much so others could have what we do.

The whole family was finally together again at the end of July and beginning of August.  We went up Ogden canyon and spent a few days enjoying each others company, swimming and attending our Church meetings.  It was delightful to be with everyone once again.

Since starting my program I've found that the semesters more quickly fly by.  Fall semester was no different.  I've made so many amazing friends as I've moved through my program and hope to keep in touch with them as we part our was after graduation this coming spring.  I spent three weeks in the most lovely first grade class.  They are angels and I thoroughly enjoy working with them.  I'm so lucky to get to go back to them come January when I'll begin my student teaching.

I'm always surprised to see how quickly December comes around.  It must be the hustle and bustle of the season; finals, attempting to get more work hours, and wrapping up Christmas shopping, etc.  I'm amazed to reflect back and see all I've been blessed with.  I'm convinced it's no coincidence and that my Savior has had a hand in my life.  I'm grateful for this time and season to take special note of all He's done in my behalf. 

I'm sure this upcoming year will behold many more unexpected turns (as new years typically do), and I'm looking forward to the adventures that I'll behold; graduation, hopefully a little more traveling, more good and awful dates, letters to and from my favorite missionaries and about 80 gazillion hours spent teaching or prepping for my classes to be taught.  I hope that this year finishes strong and that that New Year brings all the happiness and joy your heart desires.

With Love,

Brittish Knees

Don't worry! I'm not dead.

My Dearest Fan Club,

I've been worried about you lately... okay, so not really (sorry, but it's ture).  My life has been focused on me, self-centered I know, the group of 22 six and seven year olds I hang out with all day, and my family.  Aah the life of a pre-service teacher.

So field (for all you non-elementary educationers that's where I spend three weeks of the semester in a classroom practicing all the things I was learning) started last week... actually it was a week ago Wednesday... which is almost tomorrow.  (Oh wow!  I should probably go to bed.)  I guess I just wanted you to know that all is going well.  Dispite some bumpiness at the beginning, I am really enjoying it.  I'm glad that I'll be able to come back to this same class of adorable first graders in January to do my for-real-deal student teaching.  They are fun, and they hug me daily and tell me they love me.  Who wouldn't want that?  Call me crazy, call me weird, but I call me a future teacher. :)

Peace out world, well at least until probably Thanksgiving.
Brittish Knees