i can do hard things.

I have played soccer most of my life and I love it. The adrenaline, the drive and the pressure. Everything about this magnificent sport makes me push myself to be better and there is always something to improve. 

Last night, I played with my intramural soccer team. It is a coed team and we are playing in a single elimination tournament. It was the second round and it was an intense game. We played down a player for most of the game due to a red card ( it was unfortunate but we deserved it) We held them at 4-4 the whole game and ended up having to go to PKs. Now I have played soccer my whole life and have never enjoyed taking PKs. It's just you and the goalie. They line the ball up, goalie stands on the goalie line, they blow the whistle and you should the ball. Doesnt seem too hard right? Well I tend to wig myself out. It is a completely mental aspect of soccer. Sure it takes skill, but it is the mental ability to relinquish all nerves and just be calm.. I am never calm. So when my team said I had to shoot, i freaked and said put me last. what are the odds that we would go all the way to the 5th kicker right? we would win before then.. Turns out we went to the 5th player. it was 3-3 in PKs, I was the last shooter. I had to score to win. As I walked up to the  PK line, knees shaking. All my training from my mom and grandpa came into my head 

**remain calm**

 ** dont give away where you are going to shoot** 

** its about finesse not power** 

**breathe** 

I walked up thinking "you can do this". I bent my head; not even looking at the goalie. Years of soccer have taught me where the goal is. It doesnt move, I dont need to watch it. I concentrated on the ball. I took my steps to the ball, shot, and scored! 

The euphoria from my team was astounding. We created our celebratory circle, cheering and screaming. Then thanked the other team for a hard fought battle. 

I can do hard things. 

I can do the things that petrify me if I use the counsel of those who are wiser

If I realize it is about finesse instead of power and most importantly 

if I remember to remain calm and breathe. 

Life throughs us curve balls in all sorts of places and soccer has taught me that I can do hard things. 

where is the love?

Being in the elementary school, I am reminded of how mean we can be. Students are constantly belittling and hurting each other in any way they can. It amazes me that human beings this young have found the degration of another human being so enjoyable. Throughout the day it is a constant battle to stop the snide comments and sarcastic remarks that are meant to sting. 

Since when is being a red head a bad thing? 

Why does it matter if you have glasses?

Why pick on the student who is struggling to understand the English language?

What gives anyone the right to make fun of someone because of their background? 

Why doe is matter if you are short, tall, skinny or fat?

All these insecurities are carried throughout our life. We learn our worth while in school and it is hard to shake those comments that hurt you in places that cannot be seen. Wherever you are in life: elementary school, high school, college or real life, it seems like we are programed to separate ourselves from those who are different. We are meant to do those things that will make us the same. 

When will the world realize that uniqueness and originality are a good thing? When will we realize that every person has a story, a battle we are continuously fighting? What gives any one person the right to judge another human being? Where is the Love in this world? 

These are questions that I do not have the answer to. I do not know how to change the system this world has created and yet, I will do everything in my power as a teacher, to teach the next generation the power of originality and the strength in coming together and finding unity. 

Judging a person does not do anyone any good. Those snide comments may hurt the other person but it doesnt define them. It only affects them. But every time we make those mean comments and judge another, we define ourselves. We define what type of person we are. We choose how we treat others. Everyday we make the choice to uplift or belittle.

Knowing the affects we have on other people, how can we wake up and consciously choose to hurt? 

The Best birth control.

If you were ever feeling baby hungry and knew you just were not ready to become a mom just yet... teach nursery, swim lessons and be an elementary school teacher. Between the three jobs, you get so much baby/ kid time that you feel like you can wait a little longer to have a cute little slugger of your own. I have always wanted to be a mom. But I love being a wife. I am enjoying being a partner in crime and enjoying the freedom of marriage with nothing to worry about but each other.

 But a cute puppy sure sounds like a fun adventure... 

 

something I never thought I would say.

I am beginning to really look forward to running. Anyone who knows me knows how ridiculous that sentence truly is. I am keeping with my resolution and am right on track! Everyday... ok, most days... even if I tell myself I do not want to run, I am planning out my runs or gym time. I am beginning to need that physical exertion. I am enjoying running and pushing myself to run faster or longer. Granted I would enjoy also seeing the change in my body. Still waiting on that, but that might be slightly hindered by my food intake. I just love food. I am trying to get better and eat healthier but there are days when McDonald's french fries or Panda Express are just calling my name and I am ashamed to admit, I cave and I cave fast. Who knew that exercise alone wouldn't get me a rocking body? 

Saturday, I ran 5 miles on a treadmill and I felt like Rocky. I fist pumped then fell to the floor in pure exhaustion letting my heart return to normal before leaving that hot, smelly cinema room at Golds. The movie that was playing was Spiderman. I forgot how much I enjoy that movie. I think my liking for the original Spiderman was clouded by the crap that was suppose to be the sequel. Spiderman #2 and #3 were just not up to par. 

Hunger games comes out this weekend and I am stoked! I cannot wait! Ryan's family is coming into town this weekend and we are taking family pictures. I'm looking forward to hanging out with everyone! It should be fun to spend the weekend up at the cabin. 

On a professional note, Internship meetings and interviews are coming up and I am petrified. What district should I choose? what should I wear? Will I get an internship? How can I guarantee myself an internship? My first meeting is this wednesday! wish me luck! Until next time. adios! 

sunday.

I am in my practicum. 22 5th graders. It is tough work. I am physically exhausted and mentally tired of jumping through the hoops of being a BYU practicum student. I know all the assignments I am doing will help me to be a better teacher, but it is just tiring. Plus, we still dont have internet at our house which is just a tad bit irritating. McDonalds has become a friend to me with its free wifi. Boy do I want internet back! Life has been pretty routine lately. Wake up at 6, drive an hour to Riverside elementary, teach, go to work, workout. Finally get home around 630-7ish. then time to do hw. haha. I dont mean this to sound depressing. It's just busy.

On a much lighter note, yesterday was awesome! Church was very spiritually uplifting and then Visiting teaching was exactly what I needed. I have begun to really appreciate visiting teaching. The discussions we have and the spirit I feel is incredible. I feel as if I am benefitting more from visiting teaching than the people I am visiting teaching. I hope they get as much out of our discussions as I do. I am so blessed to have a very spiritual, down to earth partner who always has such good insight. I truly love this gospel and the way it brings direction to my life. Life is truly beautiful when we take the time to see its beauty. During this crazy time in my life, Sunday was a much needed day on perspective.

i survived!

It is practicum season again and this time around I am not only doing my el ed practicum but also my TELL practicum. NBD. hahahahaha. Anywhoo, I started today at Riverside elementary in a 5th grade classroom and I can already tell it will be different from last practicum where I was in the 1st grade and yet, I am soooo excited! Riverside has video announcements and so they announced us to the school and we had to introduce ourselves while looking into a camera that was being broadcasted to the school.. great. so we had to say who we were, something about ourselves and which classroom we would be in. As soon as I announced which class I would be in, an eruption of cheers exploded in the halls as my class welcomed me. I immediately felt better. It was awesome. 

I spent the day getting to know the class and my surroundings. Now I am sitting in McDonalds because I was too lazy to walk up to campus and we have no internet at my house. Convenient, right? only upside is.. I have been sitting here so long that the employees took pity on me and gave me a free milkshake. woohoo! I already have tons of assignments to do but I am organized thanks to my previous epiphany about not procrastinating so I have already started some assignments and am ready to take this practicum on. All I have to say is, Bring it. I am ready to be a teacher and prove it to the whole world! =) 

The students I am working with are hilarious and full of spunk. I have a lot to learn and they seem to have a lot to teach me. This next month and a half will be a blast. It never ceases to amaze me how smart children are and how enthusiastic they can be. I hope that their enthusiasm for life and curiosity somehow rubs off on me. If not, I just hope that when I teach, I do not stamp out any of that desire to learn but instead, inspire them to push harder and go farther than they thought possible. 

the funnies

On a day when I am stressed, it is things like this that make me laugh. 

1. This Elephant

Secret To Happiness: Ability to blow water out of nose; having no particular place to be. 
Favorite Thing: Hurrying anyway.

Via: utterlycute.com

2. Boo, The Pomeranian

Secret To Happiness: Seizing the day; seeing the silver lining; dressing up like a bear occasionally. 
Favorite Thing: Literally everything.

Via: facebook.com

3. This Rabbit

Secret To Happiness: Looking adversity in the face and squawking contentedly at it. 
Favorite Thing: Apartment-grade carpeting.

Via: stuffistolefromtheinternet.com

4. This Seal

Secret To Happiness: An abiding awareness that life is a series of profound absurdities that are beyond his control and, more importantly, not his fault. 
Favorite Thing: Mostly just seal stuff.

Via: wowcoolpics.blogspot.com

5. This Cat

Secret To Happiness: A high-minded and esoteric sense of humor. 
Favorite Thing: Cat food.

Via: flickr.com

6. This Crocodile

Secret To Happiness: Lives in a river. 
Favorite Thing: Probably biting things.

Via: ianimal.ru

7. This Dog

Secret To Happiness: An unshakeable belief that the simple things in life require all of our attention all of the time. 
Favorite Thing: Drooling.

Via: pieski.net

8. This Stoat

Secret To Happiness: Advanced hopping/pouncing ability. 
Favorite Thing: Eating small rodents.

Via: newswhip.com

9. This Sloth

Secret To Happiness: Strong sense of self worth. 
Favorite Thing: Looking smug.

Via: honeymoonincostarica.com

10. This Squirrel

Secret To Happiness: Hard work; simple, old-fashioned, American values. 
Favorite Thing: Being a homeowner.

Via: blogs.roanoke.com

11. This Seal

Secret To Happiness: Lives on the beach. 
Favorite Thing: Jokes.

Via: animal-animal-animal.blogspot.com

12. This Anteater

Secret To Happiness: Welcomes each new opportunity with open arms and a glad heart. 
Favorite Thing: Ants, probably.

Via: captiontool.com

16. This Dog

Secret To Happiness: Persistent, unmitigated enthusiasm without context. 
Favorite Thing: Interrupting.

Via: picfor.me

17. This Rabbit

Secret To Happiness: Getting it. Just getting it. 
Favorite Thing: Seeing the bigger picture.

Via: tehcute.com

20. This Ferret

Secret To Happiness: A healthy distrust of conformity when it comes to the important things in life, like headwear. 
Favorite Thing: Dressing up like an idiot

Via: killorn

22. This Baby Elephant

Secret To Happiness: Seeing each new challenge as an opportunity. 
Favorite Thing: Rolling in trash.

Via: keywordpicture.com

23. This Duckling

Secret To Happiness: Buoyancy, levity, and an enviable knack for discovering joy in the little things. 
Favorite Thing: Actually being one of the little things.

Via: dominionpaper.ca

24. This Dog With Spaghetti On His Face

Secret To Happiness: A fierce, unshakeable hopefulness paired with a realistic understanding of his place in the world. 
Favorite Thing: Licking spaghetti off own face.

Via: dooce.com

25. This Bulldog

Secret To Happiness: Stopping to smell the roses; stopping to smell everything else. 
Favorite Thing: Smelling things.

Via: squee.icanhascheezburger.com

26. This Lamb

Secret To Happiness: Constant prancing. 
Favorite Thing: Constant prancing.

courtesy of http://www.buzzfeed.com/animals/happiest-animals-in-the-world