Thoughts

This past week I have been thinking a lot about trials that we face in this life. My husband and I attended a funeral of a good friends of ours little brother. The funeral definitely put into perspective the purpose of this life and trials. Over the last week I have been pondering the following three questions:

• What is the purposes of trials and why does life have to be so hard at times?
• How can I win when the battles of life keep changing?
• Do I run or fight when it comes to trials I encounter in my life?

Life would be easier without trials, but we wouldn’t learn or grow much. Trials can humble us, help us grow spiritually, and remind us that we need the Lord’s help. Trials can help us learn to appreciate times of peace. Most important, they give us opportunities to show the Lord and ourselves that we will be faithful.

Be grateful for your trials, for they too are a blessing. God already knows how you will handle your trials, but He wants you to know it. Pray to your Heavenly Father and ask Him for the strength and the patience that you will need, and the Lord will surely sustain you.
God sent us to earth to be tested. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary for our growth and progress. Pray specifically for help so that you can become a persevering person, and pray to Him to receive comfort. He will take you by the hand and pour out on your head many blessings. Do not despair, but stay close to the gospel. It is the only thing that can truly help.
The question "How can I win when the battles of life keep changing?" really made me think about how it truly applies to our daily lives. In life our daily trials and struggles has us constantly trying to figure out ways to win and do good in our lives. There is only one person that can truly help you through your trials and this life and the one person you should talk to daily.

I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and I know that he lives. With Jesus Christ by my side "I can do hard things"

Best 4 months of college career!

During my last semester of college I did my senior practicum course where I was place in a 5th grade classroom. I have been forever changed because of those kids and my cooperating teacher. I learned so much from them and loved them dearly. They taught me how to be a good teacher and to care about the students needs before my own. They will forever be a part of who I am as a person and a teacher.

My cooperating teacher was Mrs Hubbell. I couldn't have asked for a better cooperating teacher. She was awesome and I learned a lot from her. She will be my mentor and a role model to me for many years to come. I hope I can be half the teacher that she is. She is the type of where old students she has had in the past come back to visit, that is the type of teacher I want to be, one that students remember and that I had an impact on. She was awesome and I am going to miss her!

This is where I spend four months of my life. I must admit at times it was hard, stressful, fun, but I loved every minute of it. The last four months have been the best four months of my college career. I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to work with these amazing students and teacher.

Jackson Hole Day Trip

Last Saturday Randy & I and Blake & Diana decided to go to Jackson Hole for the day to the Elk Refuge sleigh ride. So we piled in the car with all of our snow gear and set out for Jackson Hole.

When we got to Jackson Hole we had to find the visitors center so we could buy the tickets for the sleigh ride. Well we didn't make the first one so we had to wait about twenty minutes for the next ride. So we decided to hang out at the visitors center and walk around. We bought some souveniers and took pictures next to some of the animal displays. We went to get dressed and then boarded the bus that would take us out to the elk refuge where we would get on the horse-drawn sleigh.



We had to get all bundled up in our winter snow gear because it was really chilly and we were going to be sitting on the sleigh for about an hour. We got on the sleigh and then our tour guide took us out to see the elk. The herd of bull elk were close which was fine because they are cooler to look at then cow elk. We were out there for about an hour and we took lots of pictures. Here are just a few because I didn't want to post 200 pictures of bull elk on the blog.

After our sleigh ride was over a man told us about a herd of big horned sheep that was just down the road a ways so we decided to go try and find them. So we got back to the visitors center undressed and hit the road again. We found the herds of sheep and they got really close to the car in fact they were licking the salt off of the car. Here are some pictures.

After we were done looking at the big horned sheep we headed home and ended our days adventures at Applebees. It was a fun experience and I had a ton of fun.



How Handsome!

Yesterday Randy and I spent the day hanging out together watching movies, eating lunch, shopping, etc. For a while now Randy and told me that he needs a new coat because all he had been wearing was sweatshirts and light jackets that aren't very warm. So yesterday we went on the hunt for a new winter coat for him and we were really successful. We found this coat at Cal-Ranch for only $44. He loves it and was like a little kid that when we got outside of the store he took off the tags and wore it the rest of the day he was so excited. I must admit and I might be a little biased but I think he looks handsome!

Golden Orange Moon

The other night Randy and I were driving home from Blackfoot and we looked up at the sky and this is the sight we saw. This moon is gorgeous. I have never seen it look so orangey and golden before. I made me reflect on the beauty of this earth that we live on and how I don't appreciate it as much as I should. This is a reminder in my life that the Savior is real.

Relief and oh so Happy!!

This is how I feel right now. Earlier in the week I posted about how stressed I was because I a ton of things to do. Well I feel so HAPPY right now because I just finished my unit for my senior practicum course and it was a huge project. This whole week I worked a total of 54 hours, six days, and came out with a grand total of 67 pages. That is the longest and biggest project I have ever had to do in all of my education. I can now relax and my stress level is so low right now. I have six more assignments left to do in my college experience and I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me. It is now 12:30 on a Saturday so I need to go and get ready for my day of relaxation.

Crunch Time

Well I am down to my last two weeks of my college career. I can't believe I am almost done. I have waited five long years for this. I am very stressed and I am super worried I won't get everything done I need to get done. This picture describes how I am feeling perfectly:

I still have a million things to do such as:

• finish my unit by Friday December 9th (just barely started)
• type up four lesson plans
• put together my portfolio
• create an affective assessment
• take my math diagnostic test #2 re-take
• write up three informal lessons
• say goodbye to my 5th graders:(
• take 7 finals
• teach MLA lesson #2
• write reflection on MLA lesson #2

The list seems to go on and on. I have not been feeling the greatest for the last two days either so I am really starting to worry whether or not I will make it through the next two weeks. My two number one concerns are the unit and math test so if you read this blog in the next 24 to 120 hours PRAY FOR ME is all I have to say because it is crunch time.



Jack and Jill

Yesterday Randy and I rode to Pocatello with Blake and Diana to meet Jack and Jill. Jack and Jill are the newest members of the Purcell family. You might be wondering what I am even talking about well here they are people introducing Jack and Jill....

Jack and Jill are brand new 2012 Ski-Doo E-tec summits. Blake traded in his two 2008's for these two beauties. We got them loaded and headed home. When we got back to Blackfoot Randy and Blake unloaded them and then put on the screws and things that will hold seats into place. Let's just say I am super excited to go snowmobiling this winter.

Randy unloading one of the 08's

Saying goodbye to Lexie and Willie

Getting ready to lead the first new snowmobile