The Sisterhood

For my birthday I got the DVD of "The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants". I LOVE that movie! My favorite "sister" experience is probably Tibby then Lena, Carmen, and Bridget. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

Bridget: [excitedly] Lena! Lena: [holding a picture of her and Kostas fishing] I know, isn't he gorgeous? Bridget: I was talking about you holding a fish!

Kostos: Some people show off their beauty because they want the world to see it. Others try to hide their beauty because they want the world to see something else. Lena: And what do you see? Kostos: Everything. [they kiss for the first time]

Tibby: How old are you, anyway? 10? Bailey: I'm 12! Tibby: Same thing. Bailey: No, when I was 10 I didn't have an iPod.

Carmen: [to her father's fiancee after trying out a bridesmaid dress for the wedding] You know what? Just forget about the dress. We can tell everybody that Carmen's Puerto Rican. And it never occurred to you she might be built differently. Or that, unlike you or your daughter, she has an ass that the tailor didn't have enough bolts of material to cover.

Tibby: Well what, what is she doing here? Tell me. Bailey: She's thinking. Tibby: She's thinking? I think she's trying to grow a brain, that's what.

and my personal favorite

Bailey: Maybe the truth is there's a little bit of loser in all of us you know, being happy isnt having everything in your life being perfect. Maybe it's about stringing together all the little things like wearing these pants, or getting to a new level of Dragon's Lair. Making those count more then the bad stuff. Maybe we just get through it. And that's all we can ask for.

Cast Away

On Wednesday I watched Cast Away at Adam and Xan's house all by myself. I really enjoyed it! There was a quote that I particularly like. After Chuck Noland is home he talks with a friend about his time spent on the island and says: One day logic was proven all wrong because the tide lifted, came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I'm back. In Memphis, talking to you. I have *ice* in my glass. And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I have to keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring? ( I like the part in red!)

Ray's Gingerbread Man

picture coming soon

Hoops and Yoyo

These guys are hilarious!! I recieved an Ecard from a friend of mine and have been hooked ever since. (The Ecard was Jingle All the Way) I love the Birthday Shout, Go Out with Me, Big Kiss, etc, etc, etc. They make me laugh all the time. I love the little comments they make. Visit them at hoopsandyoyo.com ENJoY!!!


Hoops is pink and Yoyo is green!

Sunrise

There are times that I wish that I had my camera. Well, today was one of those days and it happened before 7:30! There was a gorgeous sunrise this morning. The colors were amazing and the lighting was perfect.

Thanksgiving Day

Stella going for a stroll



















HeeHaw! Cowgirl Anabelle





















Ray and I

Gratitude

This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

~Thomas S. Monson

Country Fair Barnyard Dance

Last night I went out with a friend to the Country Fair out at Schnepf Farm. It was a lot of fun. There was Country dancing, a bon fire, a corn maze, cotton candy, homeade Root Beer, and fresh popcron. Here is a picture of me and my date:

The Future

"In my quiet moments, I think of the future with all of its wonderfulpossibilities and with all of its terrible temptations. I wonder what willhappen to you in the next 10 years. Where will you be? What will you bedoing? That will depend on the choices you make, some of which may seemunimportant at the time but which will have tremendousconsequences."

~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

Formula for Success

"May I leave with you today a simple yet far-reaching formula to guide you in the choices of life:

"Fill your minds with truth.

"Fill your hearts with love.

"Fill your lives with service.

"By doing so, may we one day hear the plaudit from our Lord and Savior, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord' (Matthew 25:23).

~President Thomas S. Monson

My Right Pinkie

Yesterday I read with a student during silent reading time. When we were finished with the book I was asking him questions about the story. Here is how the rest of the conversation went:

STUDENT: Can I see your finger that you got stung by the scorpion?

ME:Oh sure, but there is no mark left. (showing him the finger) When I got stung it took me a minute to realize what happened then I put ice on it and took some medicine to help with the pain.

His question made me chuckle because a few weeks earlier I had asked him what his favorite animal was and he replied that it was a scorpion!!

Organ Stop Pizza

For Anabelle's birthday all of her family and friends met at Organ Stop Pizza. It was so much fun! I loved singing to the songs that I knew! He played these songs:

Sound of Music melody

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Phantom of the Opera melody

Star Wars, X-Flies, and Star Trek melody

Mission Impossible song

Who Let the Dogs Out

Mary Poppins Melody

Entertainer

Here are some pictures of the FuN evening!

Anabelle hearing her song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow! She was so happy!

George and Grandpa having a little too much fun!

Computer Lab Mania

At my intern school they go to the computer lab every Thursday. I have the wonderful opportunity to go with them and see them marvel at the MANY, MaNy, mAnY activities they can do. Here are a few of the websites that they have been to:

www.jigzone.com

www.funbrain.com/cashreg/index.html

Side note: The computer lab instructor trains helper dogs and when we left today she had the dog (Nickel, a Golden Retriever) turn off the lights and open the door for us. It was so cool!

School, school, and MORE school

i am still alive!

I have been very busy with my studies, which is a good thing. I have been interning at a local school, which means I get to be in a classroom with kids.

It has been so much fun and is my favorite part of school at ASU.

A few times during the past few weeks I have been going into a classroom to just observe literacy in action.
One time while observing I was helping some students with some questions they had while they were working on an assignment. A cute little girl asked me what my name was and I got "confused" with what name to give her because I was just going to be there for a few more minutes.

So I said to myself, "Do I tell her my first name or do I give her my teacher name, Miss.?" At length I came to the conclusion that I should just tell her my first name.

So I did and she said, "That's a pretty name!"

That made me smile the whole rest of the day!

I am still alive

I know that it has been a long time since my last post but I have been on vacation and school has started up. Life is kind of cRaZy right now! Hopefully I can update sometime soon!

Amen

"No man achieves the supernal exalting status of worthy fatherhood

except as a gift from his wife."
—President Boyd K. PackerEnsign, May 1998, 73

The Book of Mormon Challenge

A couple of weeks ago there was a letter from the First Presidency about reading the Book of Mormon, starting now and finishing by the end of the year. I was half way through Alma and decided to start over again. I love these words from President Hinckley and I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives:

We studied the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this past year. Nonetheless I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year. Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries ago. Said he:
"And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? . . .
"And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true" (Moroni 10:27, 29).
Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God. (My favorite part)

Richard Hatch

I had a lot of money to count from the candy store so I popped in a video. I watched the season one video of "Survivor". It was fun to watch and remember things. One thing that I remembered from watching the highlight's is when Richard made fire and did a little dance. Watching that made me laugh so HaRd! It was a prety short clip but it was great.

A Photographer Helps Keep Memories Alive

I was fliping through the channels and saw something on the Today show that sparked my interest. On Today, Seattle photographer Lynette Johnson talks to Ann Curry about how she's helping families with terminally ill children. It was so touching to hear her talk about what she does.

Photography Lighting Class

On July 30 I went to a photography class that I have been counting down the days since I signed up. It was at Memory Lane. Alison and Donna (who are also the co-owners of the store) taught the class. They did a great job! I learned So MuCh!!!! They had a slide show with pictures of Donna's granddaughter, Grace, from birth to two years old. In the slide show they had the cutest song. It's by Ben Folds and the song is called Gracie. Here are the lyrics:

You can’t fool me I saw you when you came out

You've got your mamma’s taste but you got my mouth

And you will always have a part of me

Nobody else is ever gonna see

Gracie girl

With your cards to your chest

Walking on your toes

What you got in the box

Only Gracie knows

And I would never try to make you be

Anything you didn’t really want to be

Gracie girl

Life flies by in seconds

You’re not a baby

Gracie, you're my friend

You’ll be a lady soon

But until then

You gotta do what I say

Nodding off in my arms watching TV

I won’t move you an inch even though my arm’s asleep

One day you’re gonna want to go

I hope we taught you everything you need to know

Gracie girl

And you will always have a part of me

Nobody else is ever going to see but you and me

A little girl

My Gracie girl

Maximizing Happiness

I was searching on the Internet and found a little ad that said something about maximizing your happiness. It reminded me of a lesson I had in church yesterday about choosing happiness. One thing that I know will make anyone truly happy is following the teachings of Jesus Christ. Here is a scripture that I love about happiness:

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. Mosiah 2:41

Continuing my education

Today I went to ASU and got my books. I had 15 books and I still needed to get one more! HoLy CoW!! I will be VERY busy this fall. I am really excited to be in the Education Program at ASU. Here are some words by President Hinckley that I love about education.

You are moving into the most competitive age the world has ever known. All around you is competition. You need all the education you can get. Sacrifice a car; sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed to qualify yourselves to do the work of the world. That world will in large measure pay you what it thinks you are worth, and your worth will increase as you gain education and proficiency in your chosen field. You belong to a church that teaches the importance of education. You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands.

I need to study hard and understand the things that I am learning in my classes! I need to ask a lot of questions! I hope that I can continue to do well in school and work on becoming a great teacher because great teachers inspire!

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Arthur Ward

My First Post

This is my first post. I am really excited to start this blog!
Let's first discuss the reasoning behind the name of my blog and the quote. It is from Wicked, which is one of my all time favorite musicals. I listen to the music all the time. Every song on the CD is great. This is from one of my favorites called Defying Gravity. I really do believe that "everyone deserves a chance to fly." It's coming to Arizona in August of 2006. I can't wait!

Power Outage at the Temple

My ward had signed up to do some temple work. I love to go to the temple at any chance that I get. I had gotten there early and took some pictures. The word was spreading around that the power had gone out and there would no more temple sessions. The lighting was amazing so I got some great pictures of the temple. Hopefully I can go back when my ward goes again. Here are some pictures:

Look at all of the people.

Self-Portrait

I've been experimenting with my digital camera, tripod, and backdrops. There was a picture in my collection that I really liked and want to recreate as a self-portrait. I had some of my favorite music on and let's just say I had lots of fun! I hope that I can capture personality when I take pictures of people! I love this quote by Anne Leibovitz:

"When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I'd like to know them."

Katie's Wedding

My friend got married today! She was so happy!! My friends and I went to see her walk out of the temple. I got some great pictures of them. Here are some:

Congratulations Katie and Steve!