Today I Woke up at 4 AM

Today I woke up at 4 AM. I have no idea why. Probably because I was subconsciously anxious to start this new trimester. All new students, 3 different classes, and not getting nearly as many plans done as I should have this weekend (meaning I planned one day instead of 2 weeks). I told myself if I wasn't asleep by 4:30 I was going to get up and do something productive. So of course I just got more and more awake thinking of what I could do. I was very productive for about an hour but then I had to get ready for the day. Because I was so awake the whole process happened a lot faster so I had time for scripture study before I left. I do try to do it in the mornings but sometimes I need my extra 20 min of sleep. I read a fantastic article in last month's (January 2012) Ensign by Elder D. Todd Christofferson called Recognizing God's Hand in our Daily Blessings. This might have been the real reason I was wide awake at 4 AM. In it he tells the story of his mother who survived radical cancer surgery and went through rigorous, painful radiation treatments. "She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since: "I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, 'Oh Mother, I can't stand having 16 more of those treatments.' She said, 'Can you go today?' 'Yes' 'Well, honey, that's all you have to do today.'

My first hour wouldn't say ANYTHING. Not a word. It was so uncomfortable and really discouraging. I ran out of stuff fast and was making up games on the spot... 2nd hour was worse. They talked... but the students were terrible! I definitely wanted to cry after that one. I'm so excited for a seating chart tomorrow! They were being so inappropriate (well just 5 boys) and totally ruined an activity I thought was going to be fun... turns out 8th graders aren't mature enough yet. 3rd... I was already feeling overwhelmed from the first two and again, people were having a hard time talking. I felt so incapable and like I was a terrible teacher. Instead of imagining what a terrible trimester it was going to be for those first 3 hours (which felt like an entire day) I just kept telling myself, "this is all you have to do today."  I got through it! I had a prep, lunch, another prep, and then an amazing 6th hour! I left feeling great about classes and I'm ready to try again tomorrow!

Recycle: Redesign

I like to sew. I'm not amazing, but I do ok. I like to make things for my nieces but I can't afford fabric right now. I learned from my mom to keep everything and I I do keep a lot of things, most fabric/old clothes under the pretense I'm going to make a quilt. Well when my jeans just got too worn out and I finally found an inexpensive pair to replace them, I couldn't stand to throw away all that denim! So I decided to use it for a project.

I started out with a worn out pair of jeans

Then I cut the legs off and sewed the bottom together

Then I cut out a strap from the leg.

I stitched that on to the sides

Added a bow to close the bag so everything wouldn't spill out.

Sewed on a yellow flower

Added my niece's initials to the pockets

And then I couldn't wait until her birthday so I gave it to her the next day! 

Looks like she likes it!!


Moral of the story: get creative with old stuff :) 

Someone Was Watching part 2

A few years ago I had a frightening experience driving on the freeway. I hit something in the road and my tire blew out. I luckily didn't roll and nothing went wrong. To read the whole experience, click here.

Well yesterday I witnessed another automotive miracle. I was leaving work to go meet my dear friend Julia. I was disappointed that I had barely missed the light to turn left but since I was going to be early to our meeting I didn't care. I waited for the light cycle and the light turned green. Well I love to rush into the intersection. As soon as the light turns green my foot is always on the gas peddle instantly so I can reach my destination 3 seconds faster. But since I was relaxed and not rushed I slowly took my foot of the brake. Oddly enough though, the light wasn't a green arrow as it usually is, it was a yield. So I waited even longer to leave the line. Right as I was about to put my foot on the gas and move into the intersection I looked left (something I learned from my defensive driving class I was required to take for work) and I saw it. Some guy in a huge car speeding down the street. I kept watching him and he didn't show any sign of slowing down. The light had been red for his direction for quite some time- 2 cars had already gone through the green light and he kept going straight. I had my foot firmly on the brake watching the constant flow of cars go through the green light and I knew there was going to be an accident. I watch a gray car move into the intersection just as the color blind (I'm assuming he was red-green color blind) man crossed into the intersection. Somehow the car was able to speed through the intersection and barely didn't get hit and luckily again the car behind him slowed down. I'm pretty sure he couldn't see the speeder so I don't know what prompted him to slow down. But the most lucky and miraculous thing was that I didn't move into the intersection when the light turned green. I would have had nowhere to move to and the car would have hit the driver's side of my car and probably the driver (ME!).

I am so grateful that I had to take that class and that I wasn't in a hurry because who knows what would have happened to me! As I related the story to my co-workers one of them reminded me, "Someone's looking out for you!" I'm definitely grateful to be alive right now!

Goodness is something you don't have to chase because it's following you

I LOVE Vanessa Carlton. Her song A Thousand Miles inspired me to go out and meet my wonderful amazing husband!!! But this song is so amazingly beautiful. I wanted to be a dancer when I was younger. In fact I would dance up in my room all the time. When I hear this song I wish I could dance. I wish I was a ballerina so I could express what this song makes me feel. Her lyrics and meanings are so beautiful and deep (in all her songs generally) "To all you broken hearted lovers lost, go find another one." "Love comes back around again, It's a carousel, my friend" 

Cupcake Bouquets

I try to be creative. I started scrapbooking, which I think is really fun. But I LOVE cooking! I really love spending hours in the kitchen and creating beautiful food! Plate presentation is huge and I love making my food look pretty. I am going to a FACS conference- I can't wait! and one of the classes was on making cupcake bouquets. So I looked it up and I watched a youtube video and decided I wanted to try this out! I must say my first attempt was successful, but that doesn't mean I won't make improvements. I hope to make more of these until I perfect it :) I used a cream cheese frosting- delicious, but I might try another frosting. Any suggestions? Anyway, I'll continue to post my attempts at pretty food. At some point I will try cake pops! They look so cute, but I don't have a steady enough hand to intricately decorate something so small. Oh and I would totally make and sell these if anyone's interested :)

FLORIDA

I feel lame when I read all my friend's blogs because I don't blog. I just don't feel like my life is that interesting to anyone besides myself.


There are a bunch of funny demotivators and comics about blogging but I relate to this one most.

Anyway, I thought I'd write about our trip to Florida

We left on a Saturday and made it to our hotel and got food and went to bed. Then Sunday we went to church and then walked on the beach with a random couple we met at church also on vacation. Our condo was nice, it had a screened in patio. Please notice that the screen is transparent. It seems our neighbors across the way didn't realize this and walked around without articles of clothing. This was the only day we went out on our patio.

Monday we went to Universal Studios where I was finally able to go to Hogwarts and drink Butterbeer!! I was in Heaven!!! There weren't very many people so we walked right onto all the rides- it was fantastic!

  the sweet Hulk ride

The rest of the trip was spent in the Disney World Parks. Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom. We spent Thursday in bed because Dave was really sick. It was nice to have a day just to relax though. We had a great time!!

Meals with the Paynes

Chicken Alfredo-Marinara Pizza

Frozen pizza and strawberry or chocolate milk

Garlic-Basil Pasta with tomatoes and cucumbers and poppyseed dressing.

Eggs fried in bacon grease, bacon, peaches, and toast!

Eating David's french toast is like eating a piece of heaven

Pretzels and Cream Cheese Frosting--- AMAZING

Pork Chops with Avacoda, pees, and pasta

Parmesan Chicken and noodles with green beans