What a year!

So....blogging didn't happen as much as I planned for it to this year. But it's better than blogs in the past! This year has been crazy, yet oh so good! So here is a tribute to the year 2012!

My best friend, Jonna, left on a mission. This is only the 3rd time we've been more than 10 mins away from each other for months/years at a time, since we were 5 years old. I seriously miss her! But I wouldn't want her to be anywhere else! She's serving the Lord in Texas, and absolutely loving it! I'm so proud of her! I've always looked up to her as my example. I'm grateful for EVERYTHING she does for me and is to me!

After much thought, and prayer I decided to leave the ward I live in and ventured my way into the Mesa YSA 1st Ward. It was THE BEST decision I made all year! I felt so welcome. I loved going to church every week. I finally started going to ward activities. I made so many wonderful new friends, and I cannot see my life without them any more.

Some other best friends of mine had a baby! She is seriously a cutie! Looks like a little cabbage patch doll. I love her!

A friend from my mission, Laura, came to visit me and stayed for 5 whole weeks! We were companions for 3 transfers and never once had an argument while serving together. This was her first time to America and she came to AZ in JULY! Probably not the best idea, but we had a blast! I took her to California for some much needed cooler weather and Disneyland which I promised I'd take her to if she ever made it over here. We then went to Utah and had a wonderful time catching up with other RM's from our mission. Laura was here during a huge trial in my life, and while I don't think I ever expressed to her my love and appreciation for all she meant to me, and did for me at that time, I am eternally grateful she was here for me.

That trial was almost losing my mom. My mom is seriously one of my best friends! I do not know where I would be without her. A week after Laura got here my mom had chemo and then got a staff infection immediately afterwards, which put her in the hospital in ICU, in a coma. After 4 weeks of that we were told she wasnt going to pull through and that when she went we should just let her go. The next morning she woke up and surprised the Dr. with her overnight recovery, she ripped off her DNR bracelet the next day! However, she also caught pnemonia and had to have major surgery, which kept her in the ICU for another week. And then she had to go to a nursing home for yet another week after that. But somehow......with a lot of prayer, faith, and fasting she pulled through!

I started my year of student teaching! Finally! I've waited my whole life to teach. I've known my entire life that this is what I'm supposed/want to do. And finally I'm only one year away from it! ASU's teacher program makes you student teach for a full year, and my specific cohort is in 8 week rotations. We are placed in a Pre-k and a K-3rd grade class. I was blessed to start in 2nd grade and then in a special need pre-K and I'm loving the experience. It is definitely a lot of hard work, but I love going to work every morning! There have been some trials and difficulties with my mentor teachers, but they are both wonderful people and I have gained a lot of knowledge in how to run a class and what I do and do not want to do in my own classroom in the future.

I was eventually kicked out of the mesa ward because 5 YSA stakes were created in the valley and there were no exceptions to the boundaries, NONE. I was so sad to leave that ward. I ended up in another ward where quite honestly I felt was the worst place I could possibly be. Thank goodness that only last 1 week, as another ward was created which I luckily lived in the boundaries of. This ward has been a blessing to me. For months, like 6 months to really get down to it, I felt that I was going to be called to teach Relief Society. After this new ward was established that calling finally came. I was not surprised or overwhelmed with the idea at all. I knew it was coming and gladly accepted it. It was a wonderful blessing for me to see that the Lord was communicating with me and preparing me for this calling. It is and will be great blessing in my life, and I'm really looking forward to teaching and getting to know the sister in my ward.

This next year, Cole gets home from his mission. I graduate from college. Jonna gets home from her mission. And who knows what else?! I'm sure it's going to be another great year though!

Life in the Second Grade

Wow. It has been forever since I've posted! This summer was quite eventful. First, I quit my job at the after school daycare. Second, one of my favorite companions came to visit for a whole 5 weeks! We road tripped it to Disneyland and Utah. Her visit was so much fun!

But at the same time, my mom had caught a staff infection practically immediately after a chemo treatment. She was in the hospital for 4 of those 5 weeks in a coma, on a breathing machine, and at one point given only hours to live, and then miracle! after another week in a nursing home she was able to come home, as long as a nurse comes daily to still give her antibiotics through her iv. And so far she continues to improve!

So... fast forward to today. I'm finally student teaching. I've waited my whole life for this and am so excited for the experiences I'm having.

Today, my mentor teacher had a family emergency and was away, the sub came in - in the hour my mentor was at school and was told "This is the student teacher. You don't need to really do anything, cause she can take over." While I was a little nervous, I was excited for this challenge. Little did I know that these kids had a plan to really make the morning difficult. But I have to say I'm pretty proud of how the day ended.

One of the students came in at the start of the day already crying. She had a rough weekend, and the morning must not have been any better. The poor thing cried literally all day! No matter what was said or done she was not happy. I tried having her be my helper to get her mind on other things, but each time it only lasted for a few mins, then she was back to crying. It's tough being a kid sometimes.

Later another student must've thought "well she's crying and getting a lot of attention from everyone in the room. I might as well cry for attention too." And she did. But I knew it was an attention cry, so I just didn't give her any extra attention. This eventually led to spitting on others, which in turn lead to one of her friends deciding it was ok for her to spit on someone too. Which only lead to more frustration on my part, and a feeling of complete exhaustion as I had no clue which way was the best way to handle it, while all at the same time I was trying to help and give attention to the students who had good behaviors.

I tried talking with the whole class so not to point out specific students but then one of my spitters felt that I was still singling her out (I was seriously trying just to have a relaxed conversation about respecting others) she threw a fit and ran to the back of the room to hide in a corner. We ignored her and let her calm down. Then left for lunch and she just dragged behind. The second I turned around to make sure she was coming she stops and screams at me. Tells me she hates the school and everything else. Again I ignore her and eventually she finds her way to lunch with me watching her from the corner of my eye the whole way.

Lunch was a much needed and enjoyed break.

After lunch I finally got the hang of things. I was able to keep the noise level down. My classroom shouters were finally raising their hands to speak. My first spitter and screamer had calmed down and after much positive praise on my part she was a little angel! And my cryer had finally realized that no matter how bad things were she couldn't go home and she got tired of the attention so she calmed down too.

It was quite the first experience. I've never worked with this age group before, but with more experiences like this and practice, I know even the toughest children I work with will be my favorites! :)

Baby Joslin is almost here!

I threw my very first baby shower this past weekend. I couldn't have done it with out the help of Becky, Lindsey, and Clair though! Rebecca is now 8 months pregnant and looking big! Annette will be here very soon and we are all very excited! I completely forgot to take more pictures like I wanted to but heres a few...

Some of the decorations: notice the diaper banner

The Diaper Bouquet

The Diaper cake

The diaper bundle of joy and friend

Becky found these tiny plastic babies at party city and froze them into ice for one of our games. First person with their baby melted out in their drink wins by yelling "my water broke!"

We also had a onesie decorating station and lots more food but I forgot to get pictures.

And finally the cute pregnant lady herself! :)

Been keeping busy

Whew! It's been awhile since I've posted. I enjoyed my 3 week christmas break way too much and because of that it flew by way too fast!

School started up again the first week of January and I've been behind ever since. Motivation this semester is no where to be found! But luckily I'm still able to get things in on time. Interning in a preschool is not as fun as it sounds. I definitely want to teach an older age group. But they are cute.

Lets see between school and work I've been busy seeing my longest friend off as she left for her mission to Texas. She's been gone a week and I miss her like crazy. But now it's my turn to graduate from college while she serves the Lord. :) I've also been helping my other best friends fix up their new house before they hopefully move in this weekend.

On top of that I've been spending time with family. I have designated movie/tv time with my mom every Thursday night plus some bonus days through out the week. I look forward to those nights all week long! One of the shows we watch is my new favorite! Bones!! I started watching during my winter break and fell in love! Mom is almost caught up with the seasons. Thank you Netflix! I cannot wait for new episodes to come back!

Along with that I've been planning a baby shower for my new home-owner friends! Their adorable little girl is going to be so spoiled!

I also found out my best friend from my mission, Sister Granier, is coming to stay with me for a whole month this summer and ever since it's been all that I think about!! June 24th seriously needs to get here much faster!

Oh, have I mentioned that I've fallen in love with pinterest?! I get ideas for homework on there, I find fun activities to do, yummy food to try, and most recently a 15 min daily work-out plan which I have started and it is totally kicking my butt! I couldn't move my legs at all yesterday without wanting to scream! But its a good burn, I'm loving it!

AND....I've applied for my full year of student teaching! The time has finally come! Only one more stinkin' year of college and I am officially a certified teacher! It's been my dream for seriously as long as I can remember! I'm still not too sure about a full year of student teaching, I can see the benefits but at the same time, thats a long time to go with no spending money! But thats why I'm saving up for one incredible month with sister Granier, before it all begins!

So like yeah, life is busy, but it's oh so good!

Only 10 more weeks of the semester!