Adios THIRTIES

As I close out another decade of life, I am reflecting on how totally awesome my thirties were.  When I think about how hard it was to turn 30 and not be married, I found myself determined to buck up, wipe off the disappointment, and make the most of my 30s.  And THAT I did.  Here's a few things off the top of my mind:
1.  I bought my first house.
2.  I earned a Master's Degree.
3.  I went on my first cruise (who am I kidding?  I went on 3!)
4.  I traveled to China with a group of teachers for 4 weeks one summer.
5.  I traveled through 6 countries through Europe with some of my family and friends for 3 weeks.
6.  I returned to China ALONE to study the language for a summer at a university.
7.  I taught for 3 colleges/universities SEVERAL courses (that's how I pay for my travel fun!)
8.  I got the last of my nieces and nephews.  Now on to the NEXT generation!
9.  I spent nights in the hospital with my nephew Ryan after brain surgery - never to forget.
10.  I owned 3 cars...finally sticking with this one!
11.  I remodeled my house (twice downstairs) and painted almost every wall.
12.  I refinished a piano with my dad.
13.  I was introduced to IKEA!
14.  I taught laurels, primary, gospel doctrine, relief society, and seminary.
15.  I was on the Stake camp committee with Music and YCLs
16.  I learned to LOVE to Hike and exercise
17.  I learned to like:  oatmeal, yogurt, jelly, spinach, Havarti cheese, SOME chicken on a bone, and steak.  No such luck with Salmon.
18.  I met some amazing people who are now good friends.
19.  I lost my grandparents.
20.  I met several authors - children's books, James Patterson, and education theory books
21.  I practically ran my previous school - learning TONS of administrative responsibilities
22.  I continued to survive fighting depression.
23.  I learned that I love visiting Cedar City to get away from LIFE
24.  I've seen a butt-load (that's alot) of broadway plays
25.  I've been a district teacher-trainer, a 3rd grade teacher, an ELL specialist, and now 3rd grade again
26.  I've lost and gained the same 50 pounds 3 times...working on losing the next!
27.  I learned to make digital movies
28.  I'm learning to take really good pictures - both of scenery and of people in scenery
29.  I've learned that I am not perfect, never was, and never will be perfect and so get over it.
AND
30.  I hiked for 3 1/2 days through the Andes mountains in Peru to reach Machu Pichu - an experience that is not to soon be forgotten or passed up.  INCREDIBLE experience and I can say that I DID IT and I LOVED almost EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
 
I've learned that life is to be enjoyed, not endured.  This is a lesson I have to remind myself every single day.  There have been MANY challenges - mostly brought on by my over-active mind, but I've learned to appreciate the saying, "Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes God calms his child." 

To all those who have contributed to who I have become so far, THANK YOU.  It's been a good ride.

November Highlights

Work Update:

Fall hit my street today

November is almost over and that means only 3 more weeks until Christmas break.  It's been a long, personally difficult trimester teaching every day in a classroom again.  The planning/prep time is horrific (sometimes 3-7 hours a day after work) and report cards and all those comments are lingering this week.  I have been truely blessed to be able to make it this far with the mental anguish I put myself through.  I am not positive by nature, and it's exhausting pretending to be so every day.  My kids are getting more used to me, and visa-versa and some days after they leave, I think..."Boy I hope I didn't damage any of them today!"  I'm hoping they are learning INSPITE of their cranky, ill-equipped teacher.  My school is great, my boss is one of a kind great, and my grade level is always there to offer an idea or resource.  It does, however, feel very isolating.  In my Inca Trail Hike metaphor for this year, I'm just about hitting the top of Dead Woman's Pass, I think!  I was really struggling on Monday and posted something on FB about it...the next day, a bouquet of flowers was delivered...from Amber.  How nice was that???

House Update:

Well, it's 95% done.  The work is done - I just have to finish unpacking a few things and hang things back up on the walls again.  I really like it, especially the kitchen and fireplace.  Yesterday, for Thanksgiving, I actaully cooked in the new kitchen for the first time!  Thankfully, the Saturday before, Kristi came over and helped me unpack/wash the dishes and things that go back into the cupboards.  I had caught a cold virus and had NO energy to do it, or desire for that matter, so she came over and helped me get my life back in order.  I ended up spending the day cleaning out the garage (TONS of white powder dust EVERYWHERE) because every time we came in and out, we just brought more white powder onto the dark floors.  It took FOREVER to wash the floors by HAND (Jessica P came and helped that morning with the floors!) and I was tired of all the dust.  I think I inhaled quite a bit of dust into my already sick lungs, so I ended up in bed the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday.  I had even stayed home from work the Friday prior.  Even now, a week later, I'm still not up to par.  But anyway, I love the way the house turned out!

Time Out For Women


Sadie - one of my BFFs for 30 years
Emily had straightened my hair!



Krystal C-G - my trainer in Guate!

Two weekends ago, my mom and sisters and I went to St. George for the weekend for Time Out for Women.  We had a great time walking around Tai Pan, Krumpets, and of course, Kohls, Down East, and Roberts.  We enjoyed the music and speakers on Friday night and again others on Saturday.  Hilary Weeks was probably my favorite.  It was a nice weekend away NOT thinking about work.  I ran into Amber, Sadie, and my mission companion - Krystal - my first in Guatemala.  That was a surprise! 

Thanksgiving


My padres, taken a year ago.



Yesterday, after working on a new dessert (Magic Bars - recipe on the evaporated milk can) and a new spicy green beans dish, IN MY NEW KITCHEN, I headed over to mom and dad's for Thanksgiving.  Duncans were in Utah, so it was just us and the Wisers.  It was good to have Alli home from college.  It was even better to have my dad at the head of the table again.  As we went around the table and shared what we were grateful for, dad caught the attention of all by getting extremely emotional and personal about his gratitude for my mom in her new role as care-giver and for all of us.  We all couldn't help crying.  It was only the second time in my life that I've seen my dad cry.  The first was at his father's funeral.  It was humbling to say the least.  Family is everything.  We are fortunate that dad is still with us - and hope to have him at the head of next year's table! 

The Gym Chronicles

Since my life has been shaken up and turned upside down with my house torn apart, living between my house and Shan's for a while, school kicking my butt, my own self-torture about not being very good at teaching or even multi-tasking anymore....since all that has taken over, I have NOT been to the gym in about 5 weeks.  I have been eating horribly and not working out and it definitely has taken it's toll on me physically and emotionally.  Today, this morning, even though I'm not feeling 100% yet, I went to Body Pump (mainly because my favorite instructor from the summer was leading it) and I made it through, using lower weights, but made it.  It felt great.  It felt great to be able to blend a protein shake again in my Magic Bullet.  I realize how much working out and pumping iron :o)  increases my ability to cope and my self-esteem and my energy.  I've got to get back on track this month (not waiting until January like most people - I always start after Thanksgiving when it gets hard!).  I have another big hike this June - leading the 3-day full-backpacking 20 mile hike in Pine Valley - as the 4th year hike specialist for our stake.  I think the Lord knows I need GOALS to work towards!  Fine with me!

I have a lot to be grateful for - I feel quite spoiled compared to many others I know.

Who said you can't go home again?

Life has been crazy hectic...so much so that I haven't been to the gym in a week and BOY do I feel it!  Meeting with contractors, living at Lowes, Home Depot, RCWilley, Stone yards, etc. has been my evenings.  Here are some highlights of the HOME REPAIRS UPDATE as well as a few Halloween pics.

Some of my boys all dressed up (out of 16 boys)

Almost all of my girls (only have 6 total)

Yep - team player again...was out of the toga
in less than 30 minutes.  Halloween is not my
favorite!  But I'll play for a while...

Decided to add a hearth to my fireplace.  They
put on the wrong tile - luckily it's easily take-offable.

The floors are in and I love them...except that
I can't get all the workers dust off them - sweep, swiffer,
vacuum, steam mop...it's going to be a hands and knees
chore when it's all done.

My garage is in there somewhere. 

My method for choosing paint.  I went through 4 tans, 6 greens and 6 reds. 
I also have about 8 yellows from last year's master bedroom painting!
Anyone need samples???

It's been a work zone for so long I can't even
imagine getting to cozy up by my fire to read a book and
enjoy hot coco on a cold day (today would have been perfect)
...except that I don't have time to do that with all the
school work I have to do!

The cabinets are in and the red paint has been chosen.
It looks great.  By the weekend, I'm hoping to have
a kitchen sink...and water downstairs again!
(side note - I replaced the red pendant lights with others
because the reds clashed.  Hence, my many trips
to Lowes.)

Yep, the final decision has been made.  I got a good deal on a slab of
granite and I got a good guy who's going to fabricate it and
install it this week. 

All in all, I'm grateful for this process.  I'm looking at this as an opportunity - a blessing in disguise at first, but now in full view.  The timing was awful and it's been hard to be stuck at work when the contractors have needed me there to make some decisions, but I think the Lord knew I needed a distraction from my trials and tribulations of being a classroom teacher again.  I think a less-intrusive blessing would have sufficed, but who's complaining?  My addiction to HGTV and DIY network shows has come to my own house!  I'm at the point now where I expect them to send me off to a spa and come back to the final result...all clean and put back together!  Ha.  Anyway, I'm extremely grateful for a new downstairs, for good insurance, for good people who have helped me through this process, and for the distraction it has given me from work.

Work.  Hmmmm.  In my 14 years in the district, I have only been a classroom teacher on and off for 7 of those years.  I have been out of the classroom for the past 6 years straight.  I am struggling - big time.  Everyday I give it what I've got and it is so apparent to me that it is NOT my best, but it's all I've got to give.  I'm learning that THAT has to be sufficient for now and that I need to allow myself a growing period.  I am soooo fortunate to have the principal I do who says I'm doing a great job - she came into observe one Friday morning and I was "winging it" big time.  It wasn't one of my best days emotionally, but I managed to pull it off.  I just feel so behind the eight-ball and so alone at that.  I miss getting to talk with some of the friends I made last year, who are just as busy as I am.  I am extremely grateful for the 3 gals I work with in my grade level - I couldn't have been put in better hands.  I am learning to be patient with myself and just try each and every day to start off smiling.  If I can end the school day doing the same, I feel lucky.