Thoughts

I am now in my fifth week of student teaching and each week we have a cohort meeting to discuss what is happening and a certain topic. I have the sweetest clinical supervisor. She is so supportive and flexible and our number one fan. Each week she brings a quote and a treat for us. The past three weeks have been such awesome quotes that I have tried to incorporate into my teaching or personality. I have to share them with others as well.

"Your students deserve more than your knowledge. They deserve and hunger for your inspiration. They want the warm glow of personal relationships. This always has been the hallmark of a great teacher."
                                                                                           -Gordon B. Hinckly

"You don't have the power to make rainbows or waterfalls, sunsets or roses, but you do have the power to bless people by your words and smiles. You carry within you the power to make the world better."

"I've come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my persaonl approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a person humanized or de-humanized."
                                                                                           -Haim Ginott

Invaluable Girl

I got this quote today from my university supervisor and it really hit me and made me think about how valuable women really are.

Dear Invaluable Girl,

In a world where we are one of 3 billion other women, it is easy to feel like a grain of sand somewhere on a remote island...It is easy to get discouraged and feel like we could never possibly make a difference or that we could not possibly have anything to offer than someone else is not already doing better. It is sometimes hard to see what our value is at all, what our purpose could possibly be.

Please remember, incredible girl, that there are thousands of species of flowers, there are tens of thousands of species of butterflies and birds...there are countless species of trees. Each creation is designed to grow and become and change until its purpose has been fulfilled. Every living thing is this way. And, if plants and insects and birds are created with such care and purpose...how could it ever be that we are not created with the same care and purpose?

Never before has a woman been born with your eyes, your smile and your heart...combined with your talents, your desires and your personalilty. Never has a woman just like you been in the exact place that you are, with the exact people that you are with, doing the exact things that you are doing. Never, ever. YOU are the ONLY ONE who has the impact that you have. There are so many many incredible things that will never happen if you do not do them.

Look around today at the people around you, the circumstances you are in and the power that you might have to make the exact difference that you could make. It is big...very very big. Please work hard to see it, every day...and use this beautiful heart that you have been given. The world so needs you and your ideas and kindness.

You are unforgettable, irreplaceable, and valuable...

and oh so loved.

Family Pictures 2011

While Randy and I were down in Utah over New Year's weekend we got family pictures taken with my family. My mom likes to have a new family picture taken every year and this year we were running out of time and it was a holiday weekend so we just decided to take them ourselves. We used a digital camera and headed down to the riverwoods to take them. The riverwoods is a shopping strip mall with awesome backgrounds. We had a fun time taking them and they actually turned out really well. I can't wait to hang them up in my hallway!

Randy and I

Megan, Peyton, and Jeff

Mom and Dad

Mikala

The family

Sisters

Little Miss Peyton

The Guys

The Girls

Temple Square 2011

Randy and I went to Utah two weeks ago and while we were there we went to Temple Square to see the lights. My little sister Mikala and her friend came with us. It was such a pretty night, it wasn't cold and it was very clear. I swear that every year they get prettier and prettier. Whenever I go to Temple Square I always feel the spirit so strong. The temple is such a magnificent place to ponder what it really important in life.

First Snowmobile Ride of the Season!

The day after Christmas Randy and I went on the first snowmobile ride of the season. We went to St. Charles near Bear Lake. The snow wasn't great but it was still a ton of fun. I couldn't get a lot of pictures because I forgot to charge my camera batteries. Randy was really excited to go snowmobiling because he had been talking about it for months. He was also really excited to try out the new machines his dad bought at the end of November. Here are some pictures of our adventure:

I am waiting for Randy to finish unloading the machines and to get dressed! I was excited to ride!

Randy is stoked to get riding!

Me on one of the new machines!

Jack and Jill in the snow

The new machines are super powerful and lets just say the one I was riding got away from me and I got it stuck. It made me nervous and it took me about ten minutes to get back on the machine. I am just going to stick to the blue 2009 machine.

Randy enjoying himself very MUCH!!!

Can't wait for many more rides to come this winter!



Christmas Re-Cap

We have been super busy around here hence the lack of blogging. This past Christmas we spent it in Blackfoot with Randy's parents. We went down on Friday and stayed till Tuesday. It was a great Christmas weekend with lots of activities. We did our Christmas on Christmas Eve because Randy had to work on Christmas Day. We had a great Christmas and got lots of stuff.

The book about Randy's grandpa we got! It was such a great present.

I got a new snowmobiling coat so now dad and I have coats that match our helmets.

Dad and his brand new tool set. He was really excited about getting it!

Mom and her new hair tool!

Presents under the tree

On Christmas we woke up early so we could talk to Elder Purcell. We talked for about an hour and a half. It was the first time I had ever talked to a missionary over the phone. I loved just listening to how well he is doing and talk about his mission. We had quite the contraption set up. We had me, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Chambers in Blackfoot, Randy in Idaho Falls, Brian and his family in Texas, and Cindy in Michigian. Every one was able to hear and talk to Jared on one phone call.

The rest of the day we just hung out, watched a movie, talked, and played games. It was a wonderful holiday and I love spending time with family. Here are some other pictures from the weekend:





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.