A Summer of Firsts

Well as we get nearer and nearer the end of the summer, for many school has already started up again, and traffic is back to horrible, yet the heat hasn't let up one tiny bit, a fact for which I am very grateful. I thought I'd share a few milestones I hit this summer since I haven't written since it began.

To start, this is my FIRST post for the summer of 2011 :)

No promises to update regularly. Sorry, I'm predictable in the fact that I probably won't keep it going.

Today marks the FIRST time I have lived in Texas for a whole YEAR!

I honestly can't believe it has been that long. It has been a year full of lots of changes, great memories, new friends, adventures, lots of laughing, lots of crying, and lots of learning. I'm definitely not doing what I thought I'd be doing, which is teaching in an Elementary school, but I love going to work everyday so I can't complain. I have especially come to appreciate my job, or rather the people I work with, in the last month or so. They keep me laughing which I always need. I do feel that the time to focus on teaching is getting closer. So I think that by next year I hope to be in a classroom full time.

July 16th - 30th was the FIRST time I went back to ARGENTINA to visit my mission!

It was an amazing 2 weeks full of lots of adventures. I got to go back with one of my favorite companions. I was able to see so many people that I love and miss so much it hurts. I was expecting to feel so different, especially not carrying the mantel and name tag of a full time missionary. But I was surprised to feel almost like I was home. They say missionaries leave a part of their heart where they served, and I guess that's true. Anyway, I'll spare you the details, or save it for another post, because I could go on gushing for hours. Suffice it to say, I love Argentina, the smell, the sidewalks, the sounds, the people, the accent, the life there. And now that I have gone back once, I think it will be significantly easier to go back another day. Maybe next year.

I stayed in a hostel for the FIRST time.

This was while I was traveling through Argentina. We stayed in 2 different Hostels, one in Rosario and one in Santa Fe. I have only heard scary things about hostels (not from anyone who has ever actually stayed in one of course) so I had my reservations. But it was quite a lovely experience both times. We met either Tricia or my husband at the first one. Cristian from Columbia. An absolutely handsome peach. We would have stayed in Rosario the entire trip if we could have. We had our own room, the place was painted with all of these really fun bright colors, and it was just a happy place. The 2nd hostel in Santa Fe was with a family, and they liked us so much they dropped the price of our stay, AFTER we had already committed to 5 nights there! We had our own beds, bedroom, and bathroom, hot water, and hot milk and facturas for breakfast for a mere $14.45 a night.

For the FIRST time I went on more than one date with a boy that I liked and that liked me back. And he became my FIRST boyfriend, which of course led to my FIRST kiss and then my FIRST break-up.

Yes yes, like I said, huge milestones were met this summer. It was quick and short lived but so fun while it lasted. I loved pretty much everything about the experience except for the break-up part. I learned a lot more from the whole thing than I was anticipating. And I cried about it after it ended more than I thought I would. The boy is very different from anyone I would have seen myself dating, a year ago, but I feel like that shows how much I have learned and grown in the last year. We are very different in a lot of ways, but surprisingly the same in a lot of other ways. He made me feel like a lady, and beautiful, not just like 'one of the guys' and that was so refreshing and so lovely.

This summer was the FIRST time I had lived in the same state as my little brother Nathan since before my mission in 2005.

He was here selling alarm systems for the summer so I got to see him sometimes once a week. It was so great having him here. I'm grateful for the relationship that I have with him. I can talk to him about pretty much everything so with all of the stuff I learned this summer, I could hash through it as he listened and actually gave me some pretty good advice sometimes.

To finish off, this is the FIRST time I have had 2 nieces!

I just adore them both. T turned 2 in June and she is so fun! She has such a fun, loving, and hilarious personality. I love her hugs, I love how she calls me "Anndi", I love how she talks and jumps and runs and laughs and rolls her eyes and dances, and I love her crazy hair and beautiful eyes, and just everything about her. I love M's vocal chords and that she is figuring out how to use them to make all kinds of noises. I love her toothless smile and her wide eyes and big lips. I love that she is content just laying on the floor watching everyone, and I especially love when she sleeps hunched over with her lips stuck out. I'm grateful that my brother and sister-in-law live in the same city so I get to see them sometimes and enjoy their little, lovely, growing family

I'm sure I missed some firsts, but those are the important ones that have made up my summer adventures.

As far as NOT firsts, this is NOT the first time I have felt like I have no idea what I'm doing with my life or where to go next. I have lived in Texas for a year and still love it here, mostly. In March my apartment contract will be up and who knows whether my roommates will still be around by then or not. Should I stay? Should I move somewhere new? Like the other side of the city? Or to a whole new state all together? Where should I be and what should I be doing are questions that seem to pop up every 6 months or so. Sometimes the questions get answered, and I feel like I should keep on keepin on right where I am. But so often I feel that itching to get out, go away to somewhere new, meet new people and have new adventures, not because I don't like where I am, just because I can only progress so far on my own. I'm still looking for that next step. And after a year, I feel like it's not here. So on to the next place? Or do I hold out here, and learn a little patience? Not sure of the answer yet. Luckily I have until March to decide.

Lots Of Things

I feel like I have lots of things going on inside my head, just not sure where this post will lead, but I know it has been a while, so here it goes.

I moved! I live in an apartment with 3 lovely ladies. We signed a lease for a whole year! I've never done that before but I feel like it's a good step in the direction of being able to committ to things long term. One of my roommates is my sister-in-law's sister and I adore her. We laugh a whole ton, get frustrated and hormonal at the same time, and share now 2 little nieces! I adore her and am learning a lot from her. She loves books and movies and everything about the English language. One thing that I love about her is that she doesn't have to prove herself to anyone. She is who she is, likes what she likes, hates what she hates, and doesn't care if people agree or not. She is her own best friend and has done enough introspection to know that she can intertwine her toes, (yes she is that talented).

My next roommate was my first friend here in San Antonio. She moved here the same day I did and we basically live parallel lives. We both graduated from a BYU, moved here to San Antonio, lived with our bothers, while looking for a teaching job, and substitute teaching at the same time. We both served Spanish speaking missions and still love the work. She understands perfectly the sheer joy I get from being able to attend and serve in our little branch. We love to talk about people...in a non-gossipy-ish way, because we love people. We are both branch missionaries and I love teaching the gospel with her.


My 3rd roommate we met through a mutual friend at institute. She actually lived here in the apartment for almost a whole month before the rest of us moved in. She gets me to the gym every once in a while for which I am very grateful. She reminds me so much of another roommate I had at school, soft spoken yet great to have deep conversations with about life and the mysteries of the universe. She loves to read as well so yay for an apartment of readers!

I have a new calling, serving in the Stake Young Women's Presidency. I feel like I'm still finding that balance between kid and adult so I was quite shocked but I am so excited to participate in all of those YW activities that I loved as a youth. I was driving to work yesterday listening to the CD of songs for YW and I just felt my heart get bigger, with love for the gospel, love for the young women in this stake, and excitement for them to learn and grow and become the amazing daughters of our Heavenly Father that He knows they can become. I felt so grateful for all of the YW leaders that had such a profound influence on my life, and grateful for the many many experiences in my life that I can draw on to be whatever kind of ldeader these YW need.

And guess what else?! I have 2 new family members in San Antonio! My littlest brother moved down here last weekend. He will be here all summer selling alarm systems with Pinnacle. He works all the time, but I'm excited to get to hang out with him on Sundays at least. My newest niece was also born the day before my birthday! So on my birthday we got to go to the hospital and see her and her big sister (who is the most adorable big sister ever, I might add). Best birthday present ever! Last Saturday we all got together, my 2 brothers, my sister-in-law and her sister, and my 2 nieces. It was so lovely being with a group of my family members! I loved it and miss that.

Well, those are all my thoughts for now because I'm falling asleep which must mean it's finally bed time. Those were not the thoughts I had planned to write...more to come later.

How long has it been since you went to the mall??

I lived in Rexburg, Idaho for approximately, a long time. It is 30 minutes to the nearest mall! And its a tiny mall at that. So I almost never really felt a need to go there. Ever since I moved, I've been poor. Well, I live in San Antonio now where there are apparently several of them. I went tonight to help a friend shop for a summer dress she could wear to church. Well goodness gracious great balls of fire! I had this horrible flash forward to someday having a teenage daughter who wants to go shopping at the mall. How can I tell her no way! Well the answer came as I was talking to my friend. Her and her boyfriend were somewhere, I can't remember where or when and I'm sure the details are unimportant, but a few paces behind them was a little family walking. The conversation went something like this:

Little girl: "but Mom, why can't I have 5 inch plastic platform heels? 'So and so' has them!"
Mom: "Because you're not a hooker!"

Ha! how can you argue with that right? Not that 5 inch plastic platform heels necessarily make you a hooker of course. I know plenty of girls that can pull that off in a classy way, but that will be my answer to my little dears if any of my girls ever get the idea in their heads of wanting to dress like...well, like that. Holy cow when did "fashion" get so trashy? So I haven't been to the mall in a while, but I also don't think I've been living in a hole this whole time. Have you seen the movie 13 Going On 30? The part where the 2 girls both have to present their big ideas for the new direction of the magazine? I know they were trying to show the 2 extremes, but I like the first, slightly scary, supposed best friend's presentation is exactly what I saw in one of the stores I went in to. Frightening indeed.

Anyway, I freaked out for a moment, terrified about one day having to try and help my girls understand why that is not cool, and I know it's only going to get worse. I applaud all of the mothers who have taught my generation of daughters well, the mothers now who face teaching their little ones, and the little ones that will someday become the future mothers and will have to teach their daughters amidst the scarriness that will only continue to get worse.

Thank goodness for a living prophet and the truthfulness of the gospel restored right? It makes the job of motherhood seem almost do-able.

"Do you need a man in your life?"

So I stopped at the gas station on my way home to fill up. The guy at the pump next to mine smiles at me from across the way, asks how I'm doing tonight and then asks " So, do you need a man in your life?" Ha. Do I ever! I figure it is either painfully obvious that I'm lacking in that department, or he thought I was hot stuff. Obviously the latter is the truer of the two. Did I respond in the affirmative you ask? Well he was of the older and slightly creepy variety so I respectfully declined. But it definitely made my night.

As for other fantastic happenings in the life that is mine, I am house sitting for only one more week. Then I can fully move in to my apartment! I'm working on a list of goals, one of which is to make a real home cooked meal for my roommates once a week. I feel like I need to be more domestic, that and if I want to eventually have meals as a family, I should start learning how to prepare them. Thing is, its super hard to cook for one. So I'll start with 4. We'll see how it goes. Another lofty goal I have is to use the available fitness room. I'm going for 3 times a week. And there, since I wrote it down, I will be held accountable.

One last thought before I head to the land of dreams (or in my case deep sleep where I may or may not be dreaming, but definitely don't remember any by the time I am jerked into half consciousness by the dog who needs to pee at 3:30 or by my alarm at 5:30, both of which are disgusting hours to be awake), wow how's this for a long sentence? Anyway, I work with a bunch of dudes... Henry, Roy, Ram, Robert, and Art or Kook, and my supervisor Shawn. I have a great appreciation for these guys. They keep me laughing all day and every day. We mostly joke around, but in the joking we talk about life a little, and we've had some good serious conversations. I love being "a peculiar people". I know that we are supposed to stand out, to be different, and not be afraid of that. I am so grateful for what the gospel teaches, that none of us are perfect now, but we are all working at it, therefore we can't judge, rather we've got to love, see the potential in others, treat 'em like the Sons and Daughters of God that they are. It feels so good to be a part of that. Hmmm not sure if any of that made sense, but I'm grateful to be where I am.

Well, as you can see, its official. I'm a Texan! Ok that's not totally true, the day I went to get these beauties, a guy came into work and asked who had Oregon plates. That would be me. So together we gushed for about 10 minutes about how much we love Oregon. Its true Oregon will always hold a special place in my heart and I want to have a home there someday, but oh how I have come to love Texas in 6 short months.

I can't believe it has already been 6 months! This week I registered my car here, and signed a year lease with an apartment, so I guess Texas really is my home for now. When it reaches 86 degrees the first week of March, I know I made a good decision. I have never in my entire life signed a lease for a whole year. I think this is a good step for me. Moving forward, growing up, and all that jazz. I'll be living with 3 other rather lovely girls. A year is a long time, and while I wonder what changes will come, I know they'll be great ones and I look forward to every minute.

A good friend inspired me to again begin blogging, so this will be the first of many I'm sure. I have all kinds of adventures, like locking my keys in my car, housitting a ginormous dog, playing with my little adorable niece, working an interestingly fun job, attending a small branch of about 25, road trips, dates, dancing, and the list goes on. So stay tuned. (PS Dafni I love how I'm writing this like its addressed to lots of people, when I'm fairly certain you will be the only one to read it. A fact I'm very ok with. )

Remember when TV didn't suck?

TV today is just no good. I suppose that's why I don't have one nor do I want one. However, I was thinking back today on a much simpler time...Remember the TGIF Friday line up? One of our favorite things to do on Friday night was hang out with the Winslow Family from Family Matters, or Corey and Topanga from Boy Meets World. A-Team provided us with hours of entertainment as we took turns being Mr. T. Who could forget our rock concerts with headbands over our eyes inspired by Star Trek The Next Generation's Geordi La Forge? The Cosby Show, I watch it today and am seriously considering bringing back their sense of fashion. All that color and fabric was truly an art. Growing Pains, with guest appearances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Kirk cameron and all of his shenanagins....oh and one of my all time favorites was of course Charles In Charge. This kind of TV takes me back to the days when life was much simpler. Back when my whole family lived under the same roof, when I spent my summers playing outside with my brothers and eating fresh peaches while mom canned. Back when we had skinned knees and made mud pies. Back when we would play everything from explorers to G.I. Joes to tag, hide and seek, cards, cars, dress up, school, office, and everything in between. We had no worries or cares in the world other than who's turn it was to have a friend spend the night. I miss those days. I miss the families on TV that consisted of Dad, Mom, and kids, with much simpler problems than today's world. I can't go back, but luckily you can find almost all of these shows on DVD :) I'm filled with warm fuzzies and reminded of my brothers so this post is dedicated to them (although they will probably never read it).

Humility...comin right up... served on a VERY LARGE platter

So my conclusion is this, I needed to be humbled. I am currently being very humbled. Not that I'm humble, just being HUMBLED. Who knew student teaching would be so hard? I sure didnt. Who knew 19 little 1st graders would send me so close to my death bed or the insane asylum... whichever comes first? Just when I start to think I'm getting the hang of it, an oversized needle comes speeding my way to deflate my balloon faster than I can say "pop". It's ok though right? I mean, these evaluations will only follow me for the rest of my life, and lets see, those looking to hire me will feel real comforted by my complete lack of classroom management skills. Ha.

On a happier note, I sure do love my kids no matter how crazy they make me. One little boy, has a smile to die for. I don't know how to not smile back, especially when he is getting in trouble. And today, after studying insects, one little girl was so fascinated with walking sticks and how they can camoflauge themselves so they won't be eaten by their enemies. She was amazed by these little critters! How can you not love a girl who loves bugs!

Well, that's all for now. I'm prayin reeeeeal hard that I can survive this student teaching experience and find someone who wants to pay me to be this crazy everyday. But I never forget that "Life Is Good!"
Ms. Spradlin... over and out.