Happy Birthday to me--from one of my students #holler

This makes me smile. As hard as the job is, it sure brings me a lot of joy. It made the 14 hour workday a little better.

It's September...

Which means...

1. School is officially in session. Talk about busy! My first thoughts are that this school year has seemed much more doable than last school year although it's extremely busy. I'm also the adviser over student government which means there's a ton of planning going on for homecoming. It seems like summer never even happened now that we are back in full swing, but it's also nice to be back as crazy as my schedule is.

2. It's almost the fall. I've been dying to break out my sweaters and scarves but have been holding out cause its still too warm. I'm excited, however, for the change of season and the leaves turning. I'm tired of humidity and ready for some chill in the air. I feel like some good things are coming!

3. It was my birthday! I'm another year older (29) and a bit wiser. It was a pretty good day although it was back to school night and I had to work until 9pm. However my students made it worthwhile and fun as well as my colleagues and friends. Last night we celebrated by doing some Korean karaeoke. It was epic, to say the least.

4. Increased socializing. New people are moving in and people are back in the area after a busy summer. It's great to catch up with friends and meet new ones. Last weekend was our 3rd annual ward retreat up in PA. I spent 2 days camping in the woods with fellow colonialites sitting around a campfire, hiking, playing frisbee, and playing cards. Although I feel like I am growing out of a lot of these activities, I am also grateful for the many amazing people in my life. It's good to be with people and learn from them.

Life is good. It's busy, but good. And , it's September.

What a summer!

Tomorrow it's coming to a close as I go back to work but I just have this overwhelming sense of gratitude for all my many summer opportunities. Here are a few pictures of the things I've done.

Pittsburgh ain't the pits after all...

Who wants to go to Pittsburgh? Well I sure didn't...but there's something called being spontaneous...something that I'm not super good at because I  like to mentally prepare myself for trips. Any who, I called on one of my favorite pals, S-dog and we rocked a road trip pretty last minute; first to Falling water in PA, which is a fancy house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Cool house and beautiful venue, but I'm way more interested in historical homes, just my taste.

Then we decided to go to Pittsburgh. After seeing a Pirates game, we chilled at the hotel and the next morning we went on a tram up Mt. Washington, and then headed to a market where I ate some perogies. It was grand. And we were on our own schedule and felt like we could do as much or as little as we wanted. Just how I like it. So then we left...

The biggest realization? Well, Pittsburgh is super pretty. I was surprised. But hey, what other assumption do you make when it's a steel town...?

S-dog and I

Pirates stadium. Look at that view!

Another great view of the city from Mt. Washington. I'm squinting.

Perogies! Brought me back to my time in Canada!

TREKing it.

I am so behind with posting. There's something about summer vacation that makes you NOT get anything done. You think you'll be productive but in the end you just do nothing...anyway, I am digressing from my real purpose with this blog post.

About 3 weeks ago I had the opportunity to do pioneer trek with the my stake. For those of you who don't know what that means, we reenact our early Mormon heritage by pulling handcarts and wearing pioneer clothes. Sounds crazy? Sure, just a bit. But wow, did my appreciation grow for my Mormon ancestors who traveled thousands of miles to arrive in Utah.

I did this mostly because I never did it as a youth and I wanted the experience of roughing it in nature and pulling a handcart. It seemed kind of romantic at the time, but in all honesty, the experience was difficult. Especially since that same weekend DC decided to have a humongous heat wave. So it ended up that I wore pioneer clothing, in open fields, pulling a handcart, with nasty humidity, AND in heat that was recorded at a 124 degree heat index. Yes, I was absolutely disgusting; sweating like crazy and dirty like no other. Hubba-hubba.

However, we made the best of things. The first day I had no "Pa" (aka, a guy that is assigned to head up my group with me. See I was "Ma" and he was "Pa" and we had about 9 kiddos with us). So while "Pa" was trying to get a flight back to DC, the kiddos and I pulled the hand cart and sweated. like crazy. Have I mentioned that I was really sweaty?'Cause I was...and it was nasty and I was so exhausted.

Pa eventually did come, and the last 2 days were a breeze compared to the first, but we all managed to have a good time, to get along, cook with a Dutch oven, participate in pioneer activities and games (like, making corn husk dolls, archery, learning the polka, cutting some wood, and making some taffy). I had a blast shaking it at the dance Friday night with sweaty hair plastered to my face as I wore my bonnet and danced around in my pioneer clothing. What a sight we were!

Most importantly though, the kids had some great spiritual experiences and learned what hard work really is. One of my kids told me that she "has never worked so hard in her life." Kind of sad, but kind of funny too. They were a bit dramatic but we had a great time together and my "kids" were good sports overall.

Although I sounds like I'm wining, I'm glad I did it. I definitely had some great insights and reflected on what's really important in life. I love indoor plumbing, btw...

Here are some pics, not too many because honestly--I just wanted to survive. So taking pictures was not my top priority and I looked disgusting so there's really none of me...and that was on purpose. Yowza.

The kiddos collapsing in our hut after a long day of pulling our handcart. Luckily one of my "kids" created our shelter with a few other resourceful young men and my pal, Ryan. Thank goodness for men!

Here is our whole family. Pa included on the right :)

Pushing the carts.

River crossing. After the boys crossed with the handcart they came back for the women.

Our last day on trek. Going home. Notice the portal-poddies in the back. Note: I never want to go in one again. Talk about, eeew. Can you tell that I'm just not a natural camper? :/

Here's just a glimpse of our experience. This wasn't even the worst of it, but you get the idea!

Bottom line? Great experience. So glad I did it. Don't want to do it again.

I heart my roommates--2013 version.

I've had many different roommates in my life and honestly I've had a lot of good ones. One thing that I realize as I'm getting older is that the roommates I've had over the years have truly served a specific purpose for me at that specific time. Whether it was the pre-mission years, post mission years, companions on the mission, London study abroad peeps, and the myriad of DC roommates I've had, all I can say is that these individuals have helped me to become the person that I am today. Thank you!

There is no doubt in my mind that my current roommates have a specific purpose in my life now. Obviously all of us would prefer to have a man for a roommate, but we all make the best of things. These ladies are fun, mature, wise, beautiful, spiritual, loyal, sensitive, caring, considerate, easy to talk to, and embody some serious Christ-like qualities. I am seriously so blessed!!!!! (Ok, can you tell that I have some serious "I am grateful" realizations this evening?)

Anyway, I just want to give a shout out to Michele, Allison and Melissa. Thank you for your strong examples, being there for me, giving me the courage to be better, and ultimately for influencing the woman I want to become. Loves! 

Seriously, amazing ladies.

The Fab 5

Ok, so pictured here we're the Fab 4, but imagine Dustin is here too.  

It's not everyday that you get to be in the same ward as 4 other former CTWMers (aka former missionaries that I served with in Canada on my LDS mission). But here we are saying goodbye to Eric as he ventures back west. 

I'm just going to be nostalgic for a sec: I loved my mission and I'm so glad I served one. 6 years later and I still get teary thinking about it. I have been greatly blessed. 

Eric, me, Blaze, and Robbie. CTWM forever.