More Snowshoeing

Febraury 20, 2010

I am so grateful for friends who will put up with me and my desire to go snowshoeing. My friend Jason is one of these people. Last weekend, we decided that since he hadn't gotten out into the snow yet this season (see...Jason is a skier...Amy is not...not yet anyways...) that I would take him snowshoeing. Because he was so nice to go with me--I think I owe him a ski date...I probably need to learn better first (I've only been once before...and I had fun--but honestly--I don't know what I'm doing!). So--I've made it a goal to maybe learn to ski in March if my leg is up for it (I think it is slowly getting stronger--I can almost run!).

Jason and I hit the trail called the Spruces and just kinda wandered around and enjoyed the snowfall. We had a great time away from they busy "city" life.

Jason tightening his snowshoes

Jason and me before the hike

Some Aspen Trees (they look like they are dancing).

Me by the map of the cabins...we took the picture so we wouldn't get lost--wait--we didn't even use this map...

Jason was such a gentleman, he even carried my hiking pack with my avalanche shovel in it.

An outhouse that belonged to a cabin.

The lone tree in the middle of the path.

It was so peaceful. I love winter in the mountains--it just feels so quiet and relaxed.

Any friends out there want me to take them, I totally will! I love being in the outdoors. And thanks, Jason, for going with me!

President's Day Fun

February 15, 2010

So--I have had some busy craziness lately, and managed to squeeze in some fun! I have been.... SNOWSHOEING! Can I just say I love it.

This month, I have bee three times. I went one night with a bunch of strangers I don't know and thought I was going to die. They didn't stop at all in the first mile of the hike...and I usually stop a couple times as my body acclimates. But--I survived and kept up with them! I was proud of me!

Then, I went with some friends from work and a friend from Florida. It was a beginner trip with some ladies who had never been before. So--we took an easy trail--Donut Falls. It ended up being a lot of fun. The ladies were pros!

Here's some pics from the outing!

The Donut Falls Area

Snow on the outhouse (not as much as we usually get...)

My principal Barb. She was attacked by a tree.

My friend Kelly--it was her first time.

The group of us: Kathy Joffs, Kelly Wren, Cheryl Droz, Bob Joffs, Me, and Barb Yost.

We had a great time and I am planning another snowshoe adventure for these ladies in the future.

Needing something...

I am totally up for an adventure. Anyone else up for one?

It takes 21 days...

January 21, 2010

...to develop a habit. Three weeks is what I've heard. And today--I put my 21st smiley face on my Robert Duncan calendar.

What habit is this?

FLOSSING! I have flossed my teeth for 21 days in a row.

Why did this perk to me? I had taken the "real age" test on realage.com and my age was 24. The test then told me that if I flossed my teeth--it would add years to my life.

I also read an article that says flossing your teeth prevents gingivitis and halitosis.

And we all love having good breath. If your breath smells, you may consider flossing.

All this flossing though has brought a profound thought to my mind. Maybe I should "floss" and clean out other areas of my life.

So--the process begins.

For the next 21 days, I am going to work on a new habit I need to improve on and develop...

This could make for an interesting year!

A teaching funny...

January 7, 2009

Life can never be dull in teaching...to prove this fact--let me share with you a day in Kindergarten.

Now--normally I teach first grade--and I can tell you there is a world of difference between Kindergarten and first grade--as in students and management.

Today when I was subbing the afternoon class at my school, an interesting thing happened. The morning class was so chatty and noisy, the afternoon class was so good and quiet. Amazing! And then, just when I thought all was going well with this afternoon class--I had this moment.

It was about 5 minutes before the bell rang to go home. The kids were all ready with their coats and backpacks on. So--it was fill time--which I am good at! So--I had the kids sit on the floor to play, "I See, I See..." The way this game works is I say, "I see, I see..." and the kids say, "What do you see?" I then tell them something like, "I see elephants tromping through the jungle." And we do it over again and again to fill time. Great game because it allows creative movement and can test locomotor skills.

Anyway--it was about a minute to the bell--my thought was get these kids lined up and sing the good-bye song and send them out. So--I said, "I see, I see..." They said, "What do you see?" I said, "I see quiet students lining up quietly at the door to go home." Sneaky....I know...

Unless it backfires...

At that very moment, a little boy came up to me. He told me he needed help snapping up his pants. So, I stopped to help him. As I looked up from helping him...I noticed--the line at the door, was actually moving OUT the door! I thought--wait--the bell didn't ring yet! Come back! But--they were gone...

Smart kids? Maybe--I just hope they don't try that on me next year...

New Year's Resolutions...

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions. They are a waste of my time. I think it is silly that we as human beings have resolutions once a year that we set and then we forget about them the whole rest of the year until the next new year. Then we pull them out and say, "Oh, I was going to do that." What a waste of productive reflection time.

Being the reflective person I have become (thank you National Boards process...) I have become a person of goals. Long term and short term. And since I check my goals regularly, this year, I have set a couple major goals.

I have been a horrible flosser. I have always hated flossing my teeth. I guess you can call me lazy, but I would rather spend that five extra minutes in bed pondering my life than protecting my teeth. I've been really good about flossing a week before I go to the dentist. But, I've realized how much I love my teeth, and how much I want to be able to have them to eat in my future. So--I decided this year is the year to make flossing a habit.

To learn more about the importance of flossing, check out this website: flossing

My other major goal is to write in my journal. I have not done this regularly for about two years. And within this goal, is a reflective goal. I am taking a challenge I heard Elder Eyring give directly to me in a group one on one question and answer session. He said in our journals, we should write about two things: 1--How the hand of God has blessed your life that day, and 2--How you have blessed someone else that day.

Those are my two new big things I would like to add to my already in place long term short term goals. Hopefully they make me better physically and mentally/spiritually.

Tonight (or this morning) I'm proud to say I've done them both--flossed and wrote. Now--let's see if I can turn them into habits again....it should take me three weeks, right?

So Over 2009...

So--2009 wasn't my favorite year in the history of my life. Maybe someday it will be.

One thing is for sure--it was a learning year.

Reflecting on 2009 has been a challenge to me. There has been so much that has happened. Positive and negative.

I completed my boards in 2009. Yay--but I failed them and I will be redoing them through out 2010. I hope I pass this time.

I made many new friends. I also lost some good friends. It's crazy to me how people come and go so quickly in life. To friends I've lost, I miss you. And to those I've made--I'm glad I have you.

Moving to Herriman was another 2009 decision. Big one--5 minutes from school. Crazy. Somehow though I don't think I'm saving gas because I am on the East side a lot still.

This year my sister got married! I have a brother now! It is fun to have Lyle in our family. I am grateful for my sister and her example. She is great.

2009 is going out with a bang as well. The robbery thing was ridiculous. Still dealing with issues with the bank because of the thief who stole my things. Very sad about losing my external hard drive in my bag of stolen goods. ALL of my pictures from the past few years of life had been moved onto that. Robbery is horrible--I hope the person who stole my bag someday develops a conscious and realizes how bad it is to steal. Hopefully they figure out how to redeem themselves. As for me now though, I've learned to keep record of all the stuff that has happened. And I have also learned, it could have been a lot worse.

And how can I forget the 3 months of crutches? Having a broken bone was a pain! But--also very humbling. To those who helped me during that time of life--thank you. What a trying time for me.

In all--I have learned a lot this year. Mostly about how I am and what is important to me. I know nothing in this life will ever be more important to me than my family and my testimony of the gospel. I am grateful for both in my life and what they have been turning me into. Hopefully, I can continue to grow more this next year and become more of what my Heavenly Father wants me to be. And that's all I have to say about that.

Stay tuned later for more on resolutions and goals...