Love

I'm not one who is an expert on love, or even one who knows very much about love. Lately I have come to notice that I think I have a very different view of love. I feel that love is something that happens once. Don't get me wrong I love lots of people, but I feel that I want to love just one time. I want to love someone with all my heart, with every fiber of my being, the love of life time just once. I want to have what my grandparents had. Maybe I am too much like my name sake my Grandpa Lynch who died of a broken heart. The story goes that Grandma Lynch died and my Grandpa survived long enough to see my sister be born, but the whole time he was miserable without his love. I want to love someone so much that I would be miserable without them. That living without them would be just surviving.

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE chick flicks. I pretty much watch the same chick flicks over and over again. I have my staples, and I stick to them. As I have been watching these chick flicks over the years I don't think I ever thought I want a love like that, because it seems like the people in these movies go from one love to the next. This theory on love does make great movies though. In one of these movies it talks about how love fades… if love is love does it really fade? I think that if it truly is love it only grows stronger.

Well these are just the thoughts from one single girl about love…

PRAXIS & The End of The Semester

Here is the big news….
I PASSED THE PRAXIS!!!!
No more state tests!!! No more stressing!!! I'm so close to being a real teacher!!

I have been counting down till the end of the semester for a while now, but I think I will make this official. ONLY 14 MORE DAYS!!! I'm actually kind of sad about this. I know crazy right!! I came back from Thanksgiving break and realized that I missed my 4th grade students. I don't want to leave them! I also don't want to leave my Rexburg family! Finally I don't want to be an adult… ok yeah I'm old and I'm technically an adult, but I don't know what my life is going to be like without getting up and going to class everyday. I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have a teacher to be mad at. I don't know what I'm going to do when I can't go to my favorite teacher's class. I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm not a student anymore. Rexburg has become my home, and even though it may drive me crazy I have come to love the people here. BYU-Idaho and Rexburg will always have a special place in my heart, because the things I have learned and the people I have met.

ANYWAYS only 14 more days!!!!

Day 11

Day 11: Today I'm thankful for a few things. First and probably most important I'm thankful for the veterans and for those that are currently serving our country in the military. Second I'm thankful for being able to work out. I have really come to love it! I glad that I finally have the drive to do it too!!

What happens when you go off the deep end… (ohhh and I'm thankful for)

Ok so this last week I made a goal to loose 30 pounds before graduation. Graduation is in April I can do that no problem right. I just need to exercise and eat better. I decided that I would start November 1st and I did. I'm using this really great app (because I'm all about the apps, free apps that is) called my fitness pal. It's great you just put in what you eat and when you excersice and it does the rest. Well the first week was going great… and Thursday came. Thursday is usually a hard day for me I'm in class from about 7 AM till 6 PM, and most of the day I'm teaching. Well I was going pretty well until I came home… I decided I was too tired to work out and then I saw rolls and just couldn't help myself. Since Thursday I have been a little crazy, but not too bad. I have been working out and going just a little over on my calories. It's ok though because I lost my two pounds for the week, so it's ok to go off the deep end everyone in a while.

Day 5: I'm so grateful that I have pick a career that I will love for the rest of my life. I know that teaching is the job for me, and I'm so excited to be with students all day everyday!!!

Day 6: I'm thankful for my sister Patty! She is such an inspiration, and teaches me everyday to be a little better. I'm so proud of her and I'm so excited for all that she has a head of her.

Day 7:  I'm thankful that we have chances to grow and become better. I'm thankful that I can improve.

Day 8: I'm thankful for my Mom!! She helps me so much all the time. I may not talk to her a whole lot, and we may disagree about some things, and we may fight BUT I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART!!!

Day 9: I'm thankful for temples. I'm thankful that every week I can serve in the Lord's house for five hours. I'm thankful that we have the opportunity to be in the Lord's house!

Day 10: I'm thankful for my sister Amy. I'm thankful that she is constantly serving me and thinking about me. I'm thankful that she sends me mail. I'm thankful that she love me!

Day 4

Today I'm grateful that this is my last semester. I have really love my time here at BYU-Idaho, but man all this homework is starting to kill me. Plus another benefit to this being my last semester is I finally get to be a teacher. I finally get to have my own apartment. I finally get to be an adult. (well kind of I don't think I will ever really be an adult) I finally get to get away from the freezing cold of Rexburg. I grateful that I only have 45 more days!!!

PRAXIS, Roommates, and Thanksgiving

Ok so be prepared this post is going to be jam packed. First yesterday I took my last certification test to become a teacher. Let me tell you teachers have to go through a lot! I kind of like that though, because now the future of our country is getting taught by a certain level of excellence. Just so ya'all know here are the test I have to pass to become a teacher: Literacy 1, Literacy 2, Literacy 3, PRAXIS content knowledge, PRAXIS principles of learning and teaching. Those are just the state tests, but to even be in my Elementary Education program I had to pass 3 Math proficiency tests, 1 spelling test, and 1 writing test. Fheww it's been a long two years taking all these tests, but I'm so grateful that I have to pass them. I want to be the best teacher and theses tests make sure that I am. Here is the bright side of all these tests I'M DONE!!!!! NO MORE!!!!! I should get my results in a month from my last PRAXIS test, but as of right now I'M DONE!!!!! I just have to pass this semester which is already half way done, and next semester student teaching and I will be a teacher!!!! Who's excited? I AM!!!
My roommates are great! Yesterday I woke up to this:




I know you might not be able to see it very well, but they wrote tons of encouragement on my mirror for me!! I'm a Hawt Mama, When in doubt get creative, Good luck, You can do it, and tons of other great things. Then after my test still stressing about my score (because lets be honest I'm going to stress about it for the next month) I found this:



They are even encouraging me after my test. Pretty great roommates right? I think so! Also on the note of being pretty great I have so really great friends that hung out with me all week and encouraged me all week and were there for me through it all like they always are. Thanks Jenn and Zach!

Enough of the awesome people that I'm surrounded by it time to talk Thanksgiving. So lately I have seen saying what they are grateful for everyday because it's November and we are suppose to remember what we are thankful for right? I agree with what someone said ok now that it's November lets start the post with what we are thankful for because we aren't thankful the other 11 months of the year. I think part of this is true that we need to be saying what we are thankful for all year round, but I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and say everyday what I'm thankful for so here is Day 1 - 3:

Day 1: I'm thankful for of course my family. I feel like no explanation is needed. My family is everything to me. Probably little know fact about me I haven't live less than 10 hours from my parents in 6 years. I know a long time right. I'm their independent child that decided to leave and spread my wings, well take advice from me don't leave... don't spread your wings. You will just end up missing the people you love the most. Just kidding... but really.... To elaborate on this a little more I made a deal with Heavenly Father almost 3 years ago that if I could get into BYU- Idaho and finish my degree I would move back home, and that is all I have been working on ever since. I just want to go home. Everyday I'm thankful for every single one of my family members. They are everything to me even though I might not show it all the time.

Day 2: I'm thankful for BYU-Idaho. This amazing school is stuck in the middle of freezing cold now where, but it is the best school. I know everyone will say that about their own school as I think they should but there is something special about this school. I love the teachers. I love the students. I love the campus even though it is on one big hill. I love BYU-Idaho!

Day 3: I'm thankful I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saint. It has be the best decision I have ever made. I'm grateful everyday for the knowledge that I have being a member of the Church. This sums up my feeling perfectly:

Why I joined the church!

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!!

In life we are faced with challenges everywhere we turn. To quote a very wise woman "Christ had people stone him and hurt him but he still loved them and never said bad things about them." This wise woman went on to say "You can do hard things" As I face a very hard week with a lot on my plate and more and more getting put on it I find myself doing hard things all the time. How do we get through these hard things? I may not have an answer to that question beside the fact that I can do hard things.
Today on my way to Idaho Falls to teach one of my fellow teachers shared this song:

(Child) Teacher*, do you love me?

Teacher*, will you care for me?

Even if I turn away, or disobey, or go astray,

Then will you love me still?

Teacher*, will you teach me?

Teacher*, help me choose the right.

When I do not understand the Lord's command, please take my hand

And lead me safely with his light.

(First time child only.)

I need your love, I need your light

To show me how to be like Jesus.

The Savior's love will light the path

To lead me safely home.

(Teacher) Oh yes, my child, I love you.

My child, I'll always care for you.

And with the Savior as our guide,

I'll share the light I feel inside,

And you will feel his love for you.

Oh, yes, my child, I'll teach you.

My child, I'll help you choose the right.

And when you do not understand

The Lord's command, I'll take your hand,

And he will lead us with his light.

I need your love, I need your light

To show me how to be like Jesus.

The Savior's love will light the path

To lead us safely home.

I think that this song is something that we all need to keep in mind as we do hard things. One of my favorite lines is "I need your love, I need your light". Even if things are hard there are those around us that need our love and our light. 

So when you go through challenges just remember I CAN DO HARD THINGS, because those around me need my love and light. 

Sunday Fun Day!

I love Sundays!! It is a great start to a new week. Today I got to hang out with some of the best people, play some cards, eat some really great food, and chat with my Bishop. One thing that I want everyone to know is that "Heavenly Father knows". Life is that simple Heavenly Father knows! He knows that I'm stressed. He knows that I'm hurt. He knows that I'm angry. He knows that I love him. He knows I'm happy. He knows. He knows. Have a great week everyone!! I take my last certification exam on Saturday, so wish me luck. I found this great song take a listen!

Mid-Terms

Finally half way done!!! I'm still getting really good grades my lowest grade is a 96%!!!! I have found that this semester is really hard for a lot of different reasons. I have a ton of work to do. I feel alone a lot. And it's hard to mesh my new life and my old life. I'm really excited for everything to come!!! I feel really good in the classroom, and my lesson plans are great. I'm pretty sure I've come up with a theme for my classroom, so my amazing family is looking for decorations already. I get to go on a mock interview with an elementary school principal and he is going to tell me everything I need to work on. I have my student teaching dates (January 4th- May 2nd). I'm for sure walking in April. AND I'm going to be SI from Duck Dynasty for Halloween! Here is the quote of the day:

My Last Semester

Well these last few weeks have been crazy!! I moved back to Rexburg for my last semester! WAHOOO!!! School has started... and I'm taking 17 credits... I'm dying just a little bit. I will say this I'm getting really good at getting up at 6 am to finish homework before my 7:45 class. Yesterday I started going to school for my Senior Practicum class. I get to spend all day in a school in Idaho Falls twice a week. I love it!!! It is so much fun!!! My class is so cute! One of the students already gave me a note saying how happy there are that I'm in their class (ohh and the my glasses are really cool). In my Senior Practicum class we get to write lesson plans for every time we are in the class room, and of course teach the lesson plan. We also get to write a unit. I'm in 4th grade and I'm really hoping to be able to do a unit on Idaho State History even though I don't like Idaho... I will probably find out tomorrow what my unit will be on. I'm starting to feel a lot more comfortable in the class room, and I'm not so scared. Now that I'm getting close to being done I'm starting to think about my future classroom and all the fun things that I want to do in it. I also have come up with some what of a time line for graduation, applying for jobs, and getting a job. Basically the beginning of my last semester has been pretty awesome (except I'm already getting really tired).

Now for the fun stuff. My sister came up last weekend and we went to Yellowstone National Park. We saw a lot of really great animals. This Friday we are going to a huge Bon Fire!! Like HUGE!! Our ward also had our opening social this last Monday, which I planned. We had a field day, and played with those big parachutes for elementary school. It was a lot of fun!

So that has been my life in a nut shell.