I'm not missing...yet

October 18, 2011

I really am not missing--just way behind. And realizing how much I have missed blogging on here. I have been through a lot the last few months since I blogged and I have gotten way behind. I'll have to play catchup again sometime--but for now--I want to post about what has been happening to me most recently.

I became an aunt! My baby sister Kimberly had a baby on October 5. Carter Kim Gundersen entered the world at a whole 7 lbs. and my whole family is thrilled--especially my mother who is now calling herself grandma. She has never been grandma--but Big Sister. This will be such a fun addition for Caleb and Kimberly. He's a handsome little boy and I'm excited for the chance I have to be his aunt.

My mom is heard to be saying, "He's sooo cuuuute!" And he sure is. I am thrilled to have this experience.


Another thing I think people are questioning me on is my dating. Which--yes--I am dating. I have been dating a nice man for the past 3 months. His name is Matt and I think he's pretty great. He's one of the smartest guys I have ever spent my time with and just being with him makes me feel like maybe I have potential to be smart too.

Matt and I met a while back at the National Board Dinner (I think that may have been in February)--yes--he is also National Board Certified. I didn't really get to know him then, but we saw each other at a few different National Board events.

Us at the National Boards at the Capitol Day

When I first saw him--I don't really remember thinking much about it because I was dating someone else at the time. I do remember the thought popping into my head--"I wonder what it would be like to date someone as achieving as him?" And look, here I am.

Honestly--it's not the easiest thing dating Matt--we've had our share of ups and downs--but I find overall just knowing him has been very rewarding. If nothing else from this relationship--I am grateful for one more thing from passing my boards, and that is my friendship with him and the renewed passion he has shown for teaching. He truly is one of the best teachers I know and the students he teaches each day are surely some of the luckiest Jordan District can have.

I'm usually not very vocal at all about guys I date on here--usually I leave everyone guessing. Mostly it boils down to the idea that I don't want to disappoint anyone with my break ups or the disappointment of things not working out with a certain guy. But--for some reason tonight I am just so proud of this guy. He dedicates his life to making the world better for his high school students and I just am so thankful for his example. He reminds me on days when I am exhausted from my job that maybe it is worth it--maybe there is a kid out there who will look back and say, "Miss Merritt--in 1st grade, she taught me to love learning." And that makes it all worth it.

So--as for the future--who knows. I like the guy a lot. And I am sure no matter what happens, we will always be friends. I guess for now--we'll just all wait and see. But--Matt--I am thankful you have taken a chance on me and let me into your life. Hopefully I can be just as amazing to make you just as proud.

Yoga

September 4, 2011

So--I haven't really caught up all the way on my blogging--I still have a few stories left to go to get caught up! But--I have started doing Yoga this past week. I had made a personal goal in my physical goals to work on flexibility--I have never been very flexible--period. But, my friend Bridger was buying a livingsocial deal to do yoga and he invited me to join him. We also bought one for our friend Roque for his birthday. So--the three of us have been attending yoga here in Draper. It has been interesting. I went four times this week. And I love the way it makes you feel--physically and mentally. Well--my body maybe hates it a little--I still am not great at being flexible (I still have never been able to reach my toes). But--my spirit is enjoying the time to meditate and ponder about me and my being. It is also nice to just think about breathing. I love the new age relaxing music that we listen to as we do the poses. And I love feeling the muscles in my body that I didn't even realize I had. But--four times may have been to much for 3 days!

So--I have a new goal to continue to go to Yoga at least a couple times a month to put me in the right zone of thinking. The deal we bought only lasts us for two weeks, but this studio also has free classes on Friday evenings. So--if I have free time on a Friday night (ha--it may be happening more now that I've made some recent decisions...in the past few weeks I've decided to narrow my dating down to one guy...) you might be able to find me at yoga.

It has made my mind think so much more differently lately. It is more focused and relaxed.

What U Get

August 28, 2011

I am having a ponder moment tonight. Tonight while I was listening to my Backstreet Boy Pandora station as I was driving home from Heber, it played Britney's What U Get--I hadn't heard it in forever--and as I was listening to it--the thought crossed my mind that I am what I am...and I can't really change that. Forgive me as I have a relive my teenage years moment by listening to Britney...

I've been dating a lot of different guys in the last year or so--and as I've reflected on it--I am me. And that is who I am...and it is pretty much the way it is. I can't change who I am from each relationship--but--I can learn and become better from each one. But--I have learned this about myself: I am this spontaneous girl who loves to have fun and learn at the same time. And I like the way I am...

Really--I can only become better, right? Maybe that is what it is all about--liking who you are and working to become even better. Hopefully someday one lucky man will realize that :)

Anyway--maybe I'm tired and my pondering is off...but just food for thought.

Journey!

July 21, 2011

My friends Dorothy and Shannee and I decided we needed to go to the Journey concert at Rio Tinto this summer. I love LOVE Journey! It was a great concert live!

Foreigner opened for them and I knew a few of their songs. But I knew most of Journeys--thanks to growing up in the 80's. It was a pretty amazing concert!

Donut Falls With Gabe

July 20, 2011

My friend Gabe and I got two hikes in this summer--a new record for us. We usually get just one! We decided to hike to Doughnut Falls because he'd never been there before. So--we went. It was so wet! The water levels were high.

Playing With Will

July 15, 2011

Since I was up at Will's so late watching Harry Potter, his parents had me spend the night in their guest room. Will and I got to play some the next day. We drove his family's Ranger up the mountain behind his house. And we saw sooo much snow still! It was insane.

I got some neat pictures of it though!

A view of Kamas from the way up

Will was admiring the snow. 

It was all over the place.

It was a fun morning! I love exploring nature!

St. George and Zions

July 13-14

My friend Ruth Ann and I work at the same school and we decided it would be good to get away. She had gotten a free hotel room for teacher appreciation, and she decided to take me (partly because it was my room before she got it--it was one of those games where you trade things around...). So we went down.

On the way, we stopped in Cedar City and watched a play for the Shakespeare Festival. We saw a play that was not related to Shakespeare at all. But--it was hilarious! It was called  Noises Off! It was a play within a play.

Then we went to St. George. We found our hotel and we had dinner at the Thai restaurant there. Their Thai food is my favorite. We then went to play on the Red Rock.

 The next day we got up and went to Zions National Park. I have my park pass still and have been burning a hole in my pocket to go and use it. So--we did. And it was beautiful!

We ended up hiking the Emerald Pool trail. It was absolutely breathtaking.

I would have liked to have stayed longer n the park, but while we were there, I was invited to go and see Harry Potter opening that night with my friend Will in Kamas. So, we left so I could make it up there by midnight. 

It was a nice little getaway.