Compare and Contrast

I have now been at my new school in Utah for a few weeks and whoa the difference! It has been a nice change to be in a new venue for several reasons. I definitely loved my school in DC and miss certain things about it, but being in Utah has been incredibly refreshing. Here's just a list of some of the major things that have stood out to me as differences in my 2 schools so far…

Class Rosters. I posted the following on Facebook a week ago or so…

DC Class Roster: Diamond, Shaniqua, DeAndre, Tyrone, Monet, Marquis, Ebony, Malik, Deja, Chanté.

Utah Class Roster: Abigail, Emma, Caroline, Jack, Hunter, Caden, Ethan, Bailey, Moroni...and have I said Abigail?

#AWholeNewWorld

Enough said, right?

Teaming: This year I am on a team with 4 other teachers in the English, Math, Science, and Special Ed. We all teach the same kids and we have weekly team meetings to discuss concerns and how we can align our curriculum together. It's definitely more time at school but it forces me to be much more organized and on top of my lesson plans which is good.

Technology: We have some great access to technology. Not only do I have my own laptop and iPad but we have apple TV in the classroom as well. We have an "Ed Tech" in our school that helps us with our technology needs and also teaches us about new apps and features, etc. It's really quite amazing. Now I just need to get on my technology A game.

The Administration: They have been very helpful, humorous, responsible, and organized. They are on their game so teacher buy in is actually there. They expect a lot from us, but I think that's what makes the school run with much more efficiency.

The Bell System: They play dance music during transitions like "Cotton Eyed Joe" and "We Will Rock You" and "Everybody Dance Now." It's fun to dance along in the hallways as kids are coming to class.

Co-Workers: It's not DCPS. I miss the diversity for sure but everyone is super nice. It's weird being a Mormon in a state where the majority is Mormon. Sharing the Gospel is different now. I almost feel like I am defending my faith a bit more as the non-LDS population can be critical of Utah culture. However, I have appreciated their kindness and their differences. I'm glad not everyone is LDS. It's refreshing.

The Students: It has only been a few weeks but these kids are blowing my mind. They are not perfect but they are overall very well-behaved, helpful to other students, and engaged in the learning process. I have been floored. If I ask them to "think-pair-share" they actually do it. If I ask them to take out their planners, they do it and ask questions about upcoming assignments. Students tell me thank you after the lesson, they triple check with me about their homework assignment, they ask if they can help a fellow student, and they all want to answer my really awesome questions. I feel like I get to teach. Classroom management has been a breeze (so far).

This has been such a good change. I know I'm supposed to be here. Cheers for change!

"There is beauty all around"

About 11 years ago, I graced the campus of BYU for the first time as a student. At that time I had just moved from California to Utah and it was an indefinite move for mom moved too. As a typical teenager with the typical California girl attitude I thought to myself "No place will EVER compare to California in awesomeness." Then I got to BYU. One of my first FHE activities was hiking the Y. We got to the top as the sun was setting. And then I had an epiphany. Utah was beautiful too. It had its advantages and disadvantages but I could find beauty there. I feel like this has been a theme of my life. "There is beauty all around" because so many places provide different types of beauty.

I have been in Utah for about 3 weeks now and I have been reminded almost everyday of this sentiment that I adopted as an 18 year old. I am reminded, once again, that there is beauty that lies in Utah if I just choose to see it--a good plug for joy in the journey, right? So although I miss DC and my beloved monuments and the history at my finger tips, I can't help but be constantly in awe of the beauty of Utah. DC was a beautiful time and Utah Part 2 will also be beautiful...for it is all around. 

Cougars in training

I got the chance to spend a few hours with 6 of my nieces and nephews on BYU campus a few weeks ago. These teens are just so awesome. Can't wait for them to attend BYU in the future so I have the excuse to visit campus more often! 

We love BYU!!! (Can't believe I'm going to the U for Grad School! :/)

Performing my Abrahamic Sacrifice--Round 3

I feel like a theme in my life is sacrificing something good for something that I hope will be better. This is the 3rd time in my life where I have said "I am performing my Abrahamic sacrifice, Lord please bless me!"


What's on the altar this time? DC! I am (still) sad that I left DC but I knew I had to sacrifice my good life out there for Utah. Yes, I put my friends, stable job, ward, house, roommates, and friends (I know I said it twice) on the altar for a new chapter of life in Utah that is barely unfolding. I have faith that things will work out for the best and that blessings are in store.

I know I am supposed to be here as the Spirit has told me on several occasions. I feel like Adam in Moses chapter 5 who says to the angel who asks him why he performs sacrifices with the statement: "I know not save the Lord commanded me."

I don't know all of the reasons, but I am here because God told me. For now my Abrahamic sacrifice seems like a big deal, but I am sure that in the grand scheme of life I will be able to look back with "Oh, I am so glad I did that"as I experienced with my 2 other sacrifices in previous years. The comfort about performing any kind of sacrifice is knowing that "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

#westwardho2014

Westward did I go! I left DC at noon on July 21st with some major emotions; anything from extremely sad to super excited. I had an amazing 9 day journey, with tolls galore, gas stations, coke in hand, GPS systems, and so much trail mix I didn't know what to do with myself. All the logistics of the trip turned out tremendously and I even managed to visit some family and friends along the way. It was a trip of a lifetime and I drove about 36 hours total to get to my final destination of Utah. Yes, I'm feeling pretty empowered right now!

Here's an account of my travels. If you follow me on insta, you've already seen most of these!

My final hurrah at the Jefferson the night before I left. So many tears. I love DC.

Road trip CD mixes, cards, snacks, and trail mix galore! All from wonderful friends.

My final goodbye at the Grove St. house

1st stop, Cleveland:

Gravesite of John D. Rockefellar. Managed to get some history in there!

My cousin Kim and I with her 2 girls at the gravesite of President James A Garfield.

This is Indiana. Check out those clouds!

 2nd stop, Notre Dame--for a nice hour or so.

Touchdown Jesus!

And there's my selfie!

3rd stop, Chicago. 

Architecture boat tour. Can I say AMAZING? An absolutely beautiful day!

Another gorgeous view of Chicago!

Oh and Melissa joined me in Chicago. At the Bean in Millenial Park

Beanin' it

No road trip is complete without a jumping picture.

The Willis Tower. Formerly known as the Sears Tower. 

Those are our feet--Duh.

And Melissa with me. Yes, that's a huge drop down there. 

Another jumping pic on the shore of Lake Michigan

And we biked along the shore. Gorgeous!

A Chicago style hot dog. I didn't like it. 

We went to a Cubs game too!

Check out that view! Too bad they lost 12-1. :(

 4th stop: Nauvoo, Illinois

Lucy Mack Smith house

Selfie time

The temple. Had an amazing session and saw Susan Easton Black (popular church historian. I took her class at BYU)

with Melissa

Love this pic with Hyrum and Joseph and an incredible sunset

 5th stop: LDS Church history sites in Missouri

There's a lot of land, in case you're wondering

We drove an extra 40 minutes for this. Oh well. Haun's Mill.

Far West MO temple cornerstone

Liberty Jail--my favorite stop out of all of them!

Kansas City, MO temple. 

Oh yah and then we ate some Kansas City BBQ. Mmmm good. Met up with my old roommie Stacia and her husband, not pictured.

SO much meat! So messy.

 6th stop, Lawrence Kansas with my cousins!

Got to see 4 of my cousins while I was there!

Janae and I decided to match. That's what you do when you're the same age.

Oh and this was on my 8 hour drive to Denver! Kansas was freakin' boring just FYI

7th stop, Denver, CO:

My cousin's cute kids. Unfortunately I didn't get any pics with my Baer cousins

Yep and people sell Marijuana. Denver is quite the hippy town!

Got some sight-seeing in.

Love me some historical homes

And Voodoo Donuts

I even braved a torrential rainstorm to get these, which is why I look so wet. I also saw my friend Melanie who is not pictured!

Oh the Rockies! 

And 9 hours later I got home to Utah--Exhausted.

And my nieces made me some sweet signs to greet me

I had no idea I had short brown hair… :)

Now I'm back in Utah. It was an EPIC journey that turned out to be incredibly empowering. For 2/3 of the trip I drove by myself and had a lot of time to drive and think. I kept chanting to myself: I CAN DO HARD THINGS. Driving across the country was one of them and now starting a new chapter in my life is another. I got this: I CAN DO HARD THINGS--again.