The Ups and Downs of Living in Utah

First of all, I have been so blessed by so many. I am extremely grateful for how things have turned out. For those of you who don't know, (if anybody even reads this) getting through school was a struggle towards the end. I either wanted to give up or play and found my grades getting pretty low. Once I realized I was about to get the boot, I switched gears, focused, and earned good grades and made it to student teaching (with the help of family and roommates keeping me in check). I walked on April 12th of 2013. I felt like a cheater because I didn't have my diploma yet, but I wasn't about to come all the way back to Rexburg just to walk. My sweet parents drove up and grabbed my little sister from Provo to watch. When I opened my apartment door there was something behind Sam... I thought it was flowers. But then it started to giggle... It was MADISON!!! My absolute favorite 4 year old niece :) My awesome sister and brother-in-law let me borrow her for a few days. It was the best graduation present ever. I've missed that little girl to no end.

I am currently doing my student teaching. Wow that is quite a story. Due to my lack of focus with school, my student teaching semester had to change probably 4 times. I was probably aggravating the people in the education and graduation department with how many switches I had to make. I finally was able to do it this Spring semester (April 15th - July 2nd). It just so happens this semester is only 12 weeks long and the others are 16... How did I get so lucky? The only place BYU-Idaho can send student teachers in the Spring is in Utah with Jordan School District. Thinking everything would go as planned... I thought I would be teaching with others from my major and living somewhere with them and car pooling (yeah, no car). To my surprise, I was somehow left off the placement list and when I realized everyone was getting placed (three weeks beforehand) and I wasn't... there was a problem. When I addressed this issue, they said "Oh sorry, they are filled up but we will try to find something." I kind of started to panic considering I needed to plan ahead of time where I would live and how I would get to my school because I didn't have easy transportation. Luckily, my sister-in-law Keri was very thoughtful and suggested I ask to get into a school around the corner from her brother and wife's house and live with their family. I decided to ask and after a week of waiting to hear from the principal to see if they would make the exception, they did. Everything worked out. Just as things usually do for me (my sister Jessica always says this ;). It's true.

Now I am living in this beautiful home with the most amazing family. Mark and Shelly have three cute kids under the age of 7. It's interesting to see what life will be like teaching kids all day then coming home to them. So I'm thinking I'll be more prepared for the future with the way things have turned out. Speaking of the future... it is currently May 19th, and I will have my diploma after July 2nd. Time is flying and I'm not sure I'm ready for this whole growing up thing to come so fast. I've been thinking a lot about what I should do and where I should be. I don't see myself leaving Utah. I know. I said it. It's weird but it's true. I never ever thought I would end up here. Ever. I really didn't know where I would end up after school in Idaho. Haha! To be honest, I thought I would be married before I graduated so I wouldn't have to make big life altering decisions on my own, but someone obviously has something else in mind for me ;)

If we look at my last few future plans, things turned out differently than I wanted but came out better than expected. So who knows what could happen but here are my current hopes. I love, love, love the school I'm student teaching in. It's amazing. It's in a great neighborhood and I love the kids there. I have an interview this coming Wednesday with the VP in the morning. The scary part is that this is the only thing I have going for me. I don't know how to start the application process for other schools because I'm not finished with this semester and I don't have my diploma or license or anything. This school obviously knows my situation and if I get the job, those things will get figured out because they understand. As for the job... they originally said they had some openings in 4th when I told them I was interested. Well a week later that changed to an opening in 6th. K let's think about this for a minute. I've always wanted K-2. I now realize Kindergarten is crazy and I really want 2nd or 3rd. So 4th is pushing it... but 6th? Have you SEEN the size of those kids now-a-days?! They are huge. They are almost in middle school which means they are almost teenagers. They could beat me up if you really think about it. So if I get this job, I'm just imagining that I'm standing there and all the kids start asking each other "Where's our teacher?!" Yep, just picture it. Half of them are literally as tall as I am and I am 5'5. Alright I'm done being over dramatic. A job is a job and I'd obviously be grateful for any position in that school so that I could continue walking to save up for a car and an apartment. They said changes always happen so maybe it won't even be 6th anymore, that is if I get anything. I'm trying to stay positive but I'm also trying not to get my hopes up. So I will keep you posted and hopefully things keep working out!

This is my dream plan. I get this job, I get a car, I move in an apartment. Now reality tells me I live in a family town so my singles ward (don't get me started on that one) is full of people a little older than me living with their families because they can't afford not to. Now that leaves me with a problem as far as roommates. I keep telling myself my sister lived alone for a few months I could do it too... only difference is she had a boyfriend who was most likely going to propose (and did). That's okay though, I could do it... live alone... get a cat. Maybe turn into that teacher you had in elementary school who was single and spent all of her free time grading more homework she assigned because she could.

Alright I guess I should probably stop procrastinating my lesson planning... those kids need to know about the three different types of rocks. It's crucial! Could you tell me all three and explain each one? ;) Without google!

Oh I should probably refer to the title of this post.

Ups of Utah
The mountains are BEAUTIFUL and so so close.
So much to do if you live near SLC.
The winters aren't nearly as harsh as Idaho's.
The summers are longer than Idaho's.
Near tons of family.
4 hours closer to the parents.

Downs of Utah
Still 12 hours away from the parents.
Everyone is aware of you.
I'll let you know if I can think of anymore...