my goal

is to be a combination of these inspiring teachers: 

Miss Shirley

Erin Gruwell

Miss Honey

Mr. Holland

Mr. Hundert

and...

Viola Swamp

Happy First Day of School!

some things just must be said

First, 
Bailey is moving to Cedar City on Sunday.  I don't think it really hit me until just now that she is going to be 300 miles away.  I will miss our silly afternoons laughing and eating island flavor snocones.  I'll miss her help in organizing my classroom library.  I'll miss hearing her blast "circle of life," and singing all of the Swahili.  She has such an eye for design.  She has such a hippie style.  She is going to love SUU, and I am excited for her.
Having Bay move has brought back memories of my own freshman year of college.  I was scared right out of my schmoozers, but I was excited too.  I didn't know what to expect.  I feel like I went in expecting the best, and got the....... not best.  But it got better.  It always does; I am convinced of that.  Thanks to friends, teachers, tears, prayers, opportunities along the way.  If I have any advice for Bay this would be it:

• Study abroad at some point.  It will change your life.
• Look for ways to serve the people around you, especially people you live with.
• Enjoy college!  (Samuel told me I didn't take enough fun classes. But I loved every class I took-- except maybe math).
• Go to church even if your roommates don't.  
• Find a friend in choir.  This turned out to be my saving grace at SUU.  
• Enjoy the area-- go hiking in Zion, visit Kolob Canyon, hit up the outlets in St. George
• Come home and visit me often.

I love you, Bailey.  Thanks for being amazing.  

Second, 

Kaite is leaving on her mission in a week and a half!  She will be speaking Spanish in San Antonio.  I've been thinking recently about the circles we move in throughout our lives.  We circle with certain friends and people for a while until we choose to leave and move in a different circle.  For me, Kaite has always been in my circle.  Through childhood, through adolescence, through crazy ups and downs of college, through big decisions-- it has always been Kaite.  She's that kind of friend.  I am so amazed at her conviction.  She will be an inspiring missionary because she is so Christlike.  I'll miss having her in my immediate circle while she's away.  

Third, 

Samuel is home from field camp, and it's awesome to have him home.  

Fourth, 

Hebgen was fantastic.

Fifth, 

School starts Monday.  My class arrives a week from Monday.  I am looking forward to this year because I think I have some things "down" now that I've experienced that infamous first year.  Still, I am nervous because I'll have new challenging kiddos, new curriculum to learn and teach, and a new team to work with.  Things that work out in my mind don't always work out in real life.  That said, I love love love my job and I can't imagine life without third grade.  

Sixth, 

Happy last day of summer.  I hope you got to sleep in. (I did).  

rally!

We are having our annual summer concert!

Come support our friend Riley; he needs a special van to get around.  

August 14

7:00 pm

Holladay City Hall

two good things to look forward to

this:

and this: 

book review

If we have had a conversation within the past couple of weeks, you have probably heard about this book:

It is about Greg Mortenson, who is just a "regular guy" who made an unthinkable difference in the lives of numerous Pakistani children.  It is a long book, but so worthwhile.  So inspiring.  

Read it; I know you'll love it.  

off to cali

because samuel is off studying mountains and rocks, the girls and I are off to sunny california to hit the beach, celebrate kaite's mission call, and have an adventure.

happy summer

Fourth of July weekend is summer at its peak.  Its best.  Its boldest.

It involves so many things I love: parades with Lyv, patriotic pennant flags, homemade hamburgers/ lemonade/ ice cream, sunshine, water balloon volleyball, breakfast up Milcreek canyon, sitting on the grass to watch fireworks, the national anthem.  And this year it means Samuel will be home (for 2 days)!  I'm so jazzed.  We're going to ride bikes.

It will be nice to be home this year, but the past few Independence Days have been nothing short of amazing:

Last year I spent the fourth of July weekend in Ghana.  We went on some adventurous hikes, and then ate mangoes and guacamole.

The year before last I spent the fourth of July at Hebgen with roommates and family.  West Yellowstone knows how to do fireworks, that's all I can say.

And in the epic summer of 2007 I spent the fourth of July in London.  A little ironic, but completely worth it.  I think we ate hamburgers.


Anyway, here's wishing you a weekend full of barbeques, red + white + blue, fireworks, the Sandlot, parades, and watermelon.  Stars and Stripes Forever!

this is lyv as a tiny patriot- 2(ish) years ago