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.

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...

Well, I have been in Las Vegas 2 weeks now. Not gonna lie, the first one was a bit rough. I missed Rexburg, and the homey feel it provided. I missed Birch Plaza and the nasty carpet, not to mention the vacuums that didn't work, the leaky sink, and tempermental toilets. I mostly missed the people, my roommates, the ward that was kinda like family, and the same comfortable thing semester after semester. I even missed Melaleuca. I missed Nat and I's sleepovers, our pretty much constant laughter, I missed last semester real bad, as well as all of the other wonderful semesters I spent there.
Nevertheless, here I am in Vegas, and its coming...slowly but surely. I have 3 new roommates who I have never lived with (don't worry they are great, just takes some getting used to). I have a totally new ward with only 1 familiar face. It has been ridiculously cold and uber windy here. Go ahead and ask if I brought a jacket or anything long-sleeved to LAS VEGAS where "it is going to be so miserably hot". Of course not! I must count my blessings though that it is not snowing.
Im teaching 1st grade, and I have 19 of the little anke biters. They sure do love to talk.... constantly... as in they never stop even when I'm teaching. So that is a brand new challenge for me. I never really have had classroom management issues, however this is a whole nother (and I know that's not really a word) ball game! My teacher says I HAVE to be mean. I have to yell and be firm ...ok, can I yell at 1st graders? Not gonna happen... so this is going to require smart brains, lots of patience, and some creativity.
Well, And now, since I'm falling to sleep as I write this, I eralize it much be time for bed. Maybe I'' finish later, mabe I won't...
'Night!

GRADUATION

So it has been approximately 8 years since I graduated High School and I finally graduated College! Well, technically. I won't get my diploma until after student teaching, but still...I walked and I'm done with Rexburg. Of course its a little bittersweet.... I sure did love that place and the school while I was there, but I'm excited to move on to new things. I'll be in Las Vegas on Saturday or Sunday and I start Student Teaching on Monday. I still don't know the grade or school but hopefully I'll get that info soon. These are just some of the people I love and will miss....

Blake Keyser... and Nat (I'll come back to her). We were on a bowling team this semester. There were 6 of us on the team but they only took 4 scores each week. I helped the team by being one of the scores they didn't take :) Team Roadkill actually ended up 2nd out of the whole school! I guess I did my job really well.

Heather Jones...My first roommate at BYU-Idaho and one of my best friends. Well, her last name is actually Scott now. She married Elder Brandon Scott from my mission. There just aren't enough words to describe this lady and how amazing she is. I loved that we got to graduate together! We plan to go back to Rexburg for Education Week every year. I sure do love her!

Ok, so really, is this the thing I should be doing at this exact moment? No. Nevertheless, here I am, updating my blog after more than a year. But today is a new day! I have just been thinking a lot today (which usually is slightly dangerous to my blood pressure) just about life. In less than a month, I will be a college graduate! Who'da thought? This semester has really been kickin my trash but with only 3 weeks left, I have a feeling it is only going to get harder. And then? It's off to VEGAS! Well, until July anyway. After that I really have no idea. I like to plan things at the last minute, but I at least usually have some kind of an idea of where I will be and what I will be doing. You know, change is so good though. Someone mentioned the other day that I have gotten comfortable here. This is so true! I have been in the same apartment complex and ward for the past 3 years. And now I'll be going somewhere new and starting over. I sure wish Nyckie and Joe were still out there....Anyway, I'm going to sign off for now. Maybe I'll make this a regular occurance...

well, I just thought I would mention again for those of you who don't know....I HATE living alone!!! all my roommates moved out completely this morning except for one and she is in Vegas for the week. I come home from work to an empty house....don't get me wrong, it's good to have some alone time and I appreciate all that I can get done and just think about....but just the feeling of knowing that no one is here, and no one is going to be here for the rest of the week, it's kind of depressing :( ok done....now you know how you sometimes have dreams that seem totally real and you wake up and end up thinking about them all day? had one of those last night.... it was pretty comical...not the laugh out loud kind, but just the things my mind comes up with when i'm sleeping....ha. anyway, that's all for today I guess. I'm just feeling bored and lonely and I've been home a whole 20 minutes.... so I gotta take care of that immediately....

I LOVE THE RAIN!!! It never rains in Rexburg but no worries it is raining now....and yes I went out and played in it :) So I haven't written anything for a while and i'ts because I was out of town and for most of the time I didn't have access to a computer...or phone and it was fantastic!! How do we get so addicted to those little technological devices? So much happened this last week and I just want to write about it all! Ok so Friday I flew home, Saturday my little Nathan went through the temple :) I just can't believe he's so old already but I love how proactive he has become about preparing for the temple and to go serve a mission. He's going to do great! Sunday I got to go to church in my home ward. I love going there because most of those people have known me since I was a wee little one and they're like family.... Then Sunday afternoon Heather Raddatz came to visit. She served in my ward when I was in 8th grade...10 years ago... and was a huge inspiration for me to serve a mission. She's amazing and it has been several years since I've seen her last so It was so great to catch up! She's one of the happiest people I have ever known and just such an amazing example to me! I'm considering moving to Africa with her to work at an orphanage :) So then on Monday Nathan, Marcus and I left for Crater lake where we camped for 3 days and it was amazing! So relaxing not worrying about anything... A great way to prepare to start the semester... Here are just a few fotos...
This is Crater lake....seriously the bluest lake I have ever seen...gorgeous!

We did some hiking down to the lake which was about 38 degrees and there is only one place that you can hike down to it and get in.... Nathan and Marcus got in...

And almost died....and then Marcus wanted to go again the next day....sick...just sick...

We hiked up to Watchman's Peak to watch the sunset which was also gorgeous...and very windy and cold...

We hiked down....it took us about 12 tries to get this to work and this is the best we got :)

So we decided to leave Wednesday night and drive all night to Salt Lake and we got there about 10:30 AM on Thursday. I proceeded to have a long, much needed shower and then tried to sleep for a bit. Friday was my Hija's (Kourtney Nielsen) wedding in Salt Lake so we all, Caleb, Nathan, Marcus and I drove up and it was just great. When my mission president and the Hermana walked into the sealing room, my heart just felt so happy! Then Elder Holland followed shortly after...He did the sealing and what an awesome experience that was to be taught from him, right there in the Sealng Room of the Salt Lake Temple! Then I got a few minutes with Pres and Hna all to myself and it was just so great to be with them. At the reception I met for the first time I met my nieta (Hermana Pitman....that means I trained Hna Nielsen and she trained Hna Pitman so here we have a 3 generation picture :) we sat with president the rest of the evening and talked about the mission...and anyone who knows me, knows that this was a little slice of heaven for me. Although all the missionaries that President and Pitman talked about were way after my time so I dont' know any of them...wow that makes me feel old! Anyway, It was a great day...no a great Week! Now I feel all rested and rejuvinated and reenergized and all that stuff and ready to start school in a week... :)

hmmm haven't written in a while.... I don't have anything too exciting to write... but I'm going home in 2 DAYS!!! I am so excitedabout that!! My youngest brother is going through the temple.. wow! So when nathan and dad came to get me in Argentina we bought matching bracelets for our whole fam with the theme of "meet at the gate 2008" my dad wore his for a long time but i'm pretty sure no one else did....i of course still have mine and wear it constantly but that's just me... my question is, what do i do with it after Saturday? Do I keep wearing it? take it off and save it somewhere? I'm not sure how much longer it will last, its been over a year and a half...anyway, I am so excited and proud of nathan beyond words. it's so cool to see him really put so much into preparing to go and I know its going to be a great experience for him. The temple as well as the whole mission. I was talking to a friend from the mission the other day and we got on the hard stuff. It's the stuff that you dont think of or I guess just really 'get' until you've done it. but some how those experiences were good for me. I can't pin point exactly why, maybe they helped me realize how much i cared for these people, maybe they caused me to humble myself, get on my knees and plead for help, of maybe they helped me learn more about myself. Not sure, but I know they had a profound effect on me. So change of subject, but on the road map in my brain, there is a connection... a dear dear friend of mine from highschool, one who I attribute to helping me learn to really love myself...He, after spending some time off the straight and narrow, I just found out that he is working his way back. It just reaffirms to me how our Heavenly Father really doesn't forget any one of His children, but continues to love and stretch out His hand to them. And he listens to and answers prayers said in their behalf. I'm grateful for that, to know that those who I love who stray, aren't forgotten by the Lord, even if they forget Him for a time. Hmmm there are my thoughts. time to sleep now (and my body shouts for joy)! :)