Words of Wisdom Worth Passing On

This was sent to me - and I thought it was worth sharing again. Food for thought this morning about setting down our burdens.

A psychologist walked around a room while teach stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they would be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz to 20 oz.

She replied, “the absolute weights doesn’t matter. It depends upon how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “the stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down.

Wedding Ideas: Things I Like Right Now

I never thought I would get married in the spring/early summer, so I have never thought about these colors, but they are pretty. I may look back and think they are trendy, but look at all the pretty!

I also have to shout-out to my wonderful, future husband who drove all over Salt Lake City to stop into 5 different Macy's stores to find the groomsman's' ties! It must be true love.

So - for inquiring minds - I think my colors will be cream and pink with accents in sea-glass green. 

P.S. One of my students persuaded me to get on pintrest today to look at wedding ideas - and that is going to be a new distraction. It's quite terrible all of the fun, amazing ideas out there! Now my head is swimming with ideas and distractions!

Bridal Fairs & Brooke Time

Thanksgiving Point Bridal Fair, March 2013

I always swore I would never go to a bridal fair - who needs one anyway? They just try to sell you over-priced services you don't really need - but this weekend I finally went to one. You (hopefully) only get married once, so enjoy it, right? Well, that is what my little sister Brooke is for. She scouted out this Bridal Fair at Thanksgiving Point, and we went and had the time of our lives. It was sooooo soooo fun. What a great sister I have! We ate the cupcakes and looked at the invitations and took photos in the photo booths and just were our own silly-selves.

Of course we went through and "sampled" all of the photo booth s and had so much fun taking pictures and goofing around. I love this girl!

I love that Brooke is here to help me plan my wedding and do the girl-stuff with me. My mom is 800 miles away and so Brooke gets to have a lot of the fun with me! What a good sister. Also this weekend I took her up to the Salt Lake Temple with me. She had never done a session in that temple and it was a neat experience to have together as well.

Miss No Longer

I was finally able to add a sticky-note in response to the anonymous inquiry.

Just one of many notes left all over my whiteboard!

I just found this one today!

My students are absolutely fascinated with my engagement. They haven't been able to stop talking about my boyfriend all year - so of course it follows they are excited for my upcoming marriage as well! I have had everything from advice on "being good" even though it's hard, to kids saying they just got up that morning and "knew" I was going to get engaged that day!

It was of course - announced over the school intercom that I was engaged, and an suprise rootbeer float - engagement party was thrown for my by my 4th hour class.

When I see miracles...

My friend Marta and her husband Joel finally received a little baby by adoption this week.

When I see other people experience miracles in their lives, I know there is one out there for me too, and for each of us.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren  have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men? ... Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.  - Moroni 7: 27, 29

I know miracles happen around us everyday--manifest in an infinite number of ways--if we choose to see them.

North & South on the Heber Creeper

When you think of The Heber Creeper, you might think, Weekend Out With Thomas the Train, or the Polar Express event, or the murder mystery dinner events. I don't. I think of North & South, the ending romantic, kissing scene. My boyfriend obviously didn't know this when he took me on a romanitc date this weekend, for a train ride on The Heber Creeper. Here was what was running through my head:

North & South Train Scene (Kiss.Sigh.)

It actually was a really fun date. We rode the train approx. 40 minutes each way, listened to music, they had a magician on the train, viewed the beautiful snow-covered Utah mountains, and of course cuddled up. The train is from the 1930's and has not been restored - it's really a fun outing. You feel like you literally are back in time.

Maybe they should market a North & South train event for the ladies of Utah who love good period-dramas. Or maybe not. Maybe you should just tell your man you have a really good idea for a date, or have your man talk to my man.

Do Something That Scares You




Terry Tempest Williams

 
My friend Cami and I attended a writing workshop with author, Terry Tempest Williams, (Refuge, When Women Were Brids). Her advice to aspiring writers?

"Write something that scares you...Write about the questions that keep you from sleeping at night."

Last week I did. I wrote about the growing problems with teen promiscuity and potential sexual addictions through the use of cell phones and social media. As a high school teacher I see the growing problem and worry about the future. It has kept me up at night. I wrote about it. I shared it. It is on page O6 of The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday February 10, and can be found here:



My Article in the Salt Lake Tribune, February 10

http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile3/55774047-219/sexting-sexual-digital-education.html.csp

 I'm proud of myself for writing about something that keeps me up at night. Terry Tempest Williams said stories (writing) becomes soceity's collective concsious, and I believe that it can. I believe change begins with dialogue. I'm adding my voice, and I plan on continuing to add my voice to things I feel passionate about.

I am a SECRET AGENT (practicing syllogisms)

Which student didn't understand?

All strange people are secret agents.
Ms. Baker is strange.
Ms. Baker is a secret agent.

Secret agents are devious.
Ms. Baker is devious.
Ms. Baker is a secret agent.

Secret agents are adorable.
Ms. Baker is adorable.
Ms. Baker is a secret agent.

Secret agents are cool.
Ms. Baker is cool.
Ms. Baker is a secret agent.

All secret agents are smart.
All English teachers went to Harvard.
Ms. Baker is a secret agent.
(huh?)

A PhotoEssay of My Life

I just celebrated another birthday and maybe am having a tiny early mid-life crisis. I guess having my birthday in January really makes me think not only of new-years, but new-years of my life. I ponder what is it that I have accomplished, and what is it I should be accomplishing. I am one of those people who always needs to be achieving and progressing, for whatever reason, I was born one of those types of people, however sometimes being one of those type of people means I put undue pressure on myself as well.

Yesterday in church someone re-told the story that is always re-told of the little mulberry bush that needed to be cut down by the gardener so it could grow in a new direction and produce fruit. Sometimes I feel just like that.

New &; Little

Big & Blooming!

Wilted & Dying

Chopped & Tossed

Starting Over.

This past month when it was really cold my cute plant that grew twice the size of the photo got frost-bitten in my classroom. She had to be cut back in order to grow again -- poor girl! I almost cried when I cut back all the shriveled pink blossoms and green leaves. Time to re-grow I guess!

Expect a photo exhibiting new, perfect growth (soon) (I hope).

Florencia En El Amazonas

Florencia En El Amazonas, is a brand new opera, based loosely on Love in the Time of Cholera. It is set  in South America on a riverboat along the Amazon River, and is sung in Spanish.

Dressed up for a night on the town. 

One of the things that I love the most about my wonderful boyfriend, P, is that he is soooo willing to do just about anything with me, as long as he is by my side. I had free tickets to the new opera, Florencia En El Amazonas in Salt Lake City last week.

 He was such a good sport and dressed up with me and ---I think--- secretly enjoyed it, even though the waiter at the resturant we went to joked that a date to the opera surely was his "girlfriend's idea." I appreciate how flexible and easy going and enjoyable my man truly is. 

Las Vegas Getaway Weekend

Tim & Faith Concert @ The Venetian, Las Vegas

Fake Elvis

Fake Elvis, again.

Enjoying the view from the top of the Stratosphere.

Walking around Freemont Street.

I am generally NOT a Vegas person, if the whole city disappeared into thin air, I'd rejoice. But this being said, I did have a really, really fun weekend in Vegas with my friend Krista. We booked tickets to the Tim McGraw concert which was amazing, and other than that shopped (of course), hit a few fun restaurants  soaked up the sunshine and talked, and otherwise took a break from the real world - which let's face it...is needed, especially in January!

Ringing in the New Year

@ The Five Al's in Salt Lake City

We had a really nice evening ringing in 2013. P and I went to dinner with my friends Amanda and Derek at a fancy Old English-style restaurant in SLC, then caught the lights one last time downtown on Temple Square and then back down to Provo to watch fireworks and the ball drop at the Towne Center. P is so darling, we danced in the new year and didn't worry if anyone saw us kissing.

Derek, Amanda, Me, and P at Temple Square

Freezing cold - but happy for the new year, in Provo.

A few days earlier we had a really fun double date with Reece and his wife Caitlin. We went to the BYU vs. Virginia Tech game at the Energy Solutions Arena and had pizza at the California Pizza Kitchen.

Wearing BYU gear.

Reece, Caitlin, Me & P - so fun to see these guys before they went back to Texas.

What 2013 Has to Offer

At the beginning of the new year I wonder what is has to offer to me, to all of us. This morning as I read these words from President Henry B. Eyring's talk, "The Caregiver," (October 2012), I found one fraction of the answer.

With all your differences in personal circumstances and past experiences, I can tell you something of what lies ahead for you. As you keep the faith, you will find yourself invited by the Lord often to serve someone in need when it will not seem convenient. It may appear to be an unpleasant and perhaps even impossible task. When the call comes, it may seem you are not needed or that someone else could easily give the succor .... Remember that when the Lord lets us encounter someone in distress, we honor the good Samaritan for what he did not do as much as for what he did. He did not pass by on the other side even though the beaten traveler on the road was a stranger and perhaps and enemy. He did what he could for the beaten man and then put in place a specific plan for others to do more. 

 Opportunities to Serve.

My Sister is Home!

from her LDS Mission to Melborne, Austraila.

I forgot how much fun it is to have her around! She doubles the silliness in this girl's life.

Like-Notes

After yesterday's tragedy I felt to celebrate my love for working in the schools with my darling students. Each of these kids are pretty special, even the pestery ones. One of the things I love about teaching is the little funny like-notes the students leave all over their papers for me. This is how I know they like me.

I am pretty sure my face says it all - these three boys have taken to calling me mom (?!) and I can't seem to put a stop to it. They say they are my triplet, 17 year olds sons, of mixed race (huh?!) But I know it means they like me and respect me, (apparently).

I love it when the girls compliment my outfits on their papers - every teacher needs a little fashion-compliment once in a while, or this teacher does! 

I love that so many of my students call themselves my favorite. I guess they can all be my favorites if they want to. 

A lot of these kids live hard lives but they are full of life and full of love and full of happy little personalities that pop out at the most unlikely times. I enjoy being their teacher.