My Birthday!

I turned 23 about 2 weeks ago. So far, my 23rd year has been . . . interesting. For my birthday, my parents took me and the rest of my family to a Suns game. The Suns won . . . of course, and Steve Nash rocked the house, like he always does. :)

Nash is the one in the very middle of the picture. Also in the picture are Amar'e Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Richardson, and Leandro Barbosa.

Anyway, we all had a lot of fun!

Especially my brother-in-law, Jeremy, which you can tell from the picture below couldn't contain his excitement!

(I'm not quite sure what my little sister Lou is doing. It looks like some deep, interpretive thinking. I am trying to block and dribble the imaginary ball, and my older sister is trying to look energetic, but is afraid that if she moves around too much she may go into labor.)

In this picture to the left, I am clearly going to block Jason Richardson from making a basket. I think I would have really blocked him if he wasn't made out of cardboard!

My birthday was so much fun. I love being home with my family. I couldn't have wished for a more perfect day. The only thing that would have made it better was what I wished for when I blew out my candles. I guess I just have to wait and see if my wish comes true! ;)

Church was weird. . .

Maybe I lived in Utah for too long, but church was different today . . . more than usual. First, I got up thinking that church started at noon. Luckily, my mom found out from the Bishop that the singles ward in my stake started at 1:30pm. I could have been at church super early; good thing she double checked. I got to church at 1:25, only to discover that nobody was there. I thought to myself. . . Did I miss the meeting? So, I sat in the foyer not knowing what to do when I heard a young man ask, "What time does the singles ward start?" Another boy replied, "1:45 pm." Oh, man! I still had 20 minutes before church. I was still there super early. Oh, well. I got to meet the bishopric, and fill out a new member form, and transfer my records, and get my picture taken for the ward directory, and stare at everybody as they walk into the sacrament room and watch them stare me down . . . after all I am the new girl in this ward of 20 members. Maybe people are out of town this week, but there were only 20 people in church today. This is a really small ward.

One of the counselors started the meeting by saying, "You may have noticed that the program says that the speakers are to be announced. That's because we are just going to call on random people to come up and talk to us about setting goals and sticking to them. They can also share what they are thankful for if they'd like to." Okay . . . what? . . . I was confused. Did they really not have speakers? "Okay, the first speakers are . . . Kim, Ruth, and . . . Paul." They really called up random people to speak. Looking around for an exit I remembered that I just moved into the ward and they probably won't call on me because they don't know me. Wait! They do know me. I spent the last 20 minutes engaged in conversation with them. The minutes past… I was nervous. What would I say if they called me up? Then, something happened that made me forget all my worries.

*Latin Dance Music*
:)

Someone's cell phone had gone off. It was loud and it was definitely dance mambo/Latin/salsa music. I looked around to see who forgot to turn off their cell phone. It was . . . the bishop's wife. Not only could she not find her phone so it went off for a whole minute, but when she finally found her phone she answered it!! I was laughing so hard with the boys I was sitting by. We were so shocked, we couldn't help but laugh. This is going to be an interesting change and an entertaining ward.

No Snow? I love it here!!

After 15 long hours of driving through 3 blizzards on 3 hours of sleep, I am finally home . . . No snow, 60 degrees, sunny all day long . . . I could get used to this. :) I love Mesa.

The picture to the top left is a really big hill that my car got stuck on in the snow Monday Night. Because my family and I had driven through two blizzards all ready and was hitting our third one, we decided to stop in Flagstaff for the night. Unfortunately, my parents picked the hotel that was on top of a mountain!! I was stuck on the hill for 15 minutes waiting for my dad to come push me out of the snow. Lucky for me, a man who happened to be going to the same hotel saw my struggles and came to my rescue. I love random acts of kindness. What a good man. My family and I managed to make it home just in time for Christmas Eve Eve (The day before Christmas Eve.) I am so excited for Christmas. You know what they say . . . It's the best time of the year. I think so too. :)

Who are the Beatles?

Tonight was a great night. Me and my roommates were talking about George Bailey when the conversation quickley turned to George Harrison. "Who?", I asked. Camille looked and me and said, "You don't know who George Harrison is? You know . . . George Harrison?" (Blank Stare) "Do you know who he is Jessy?", Camille asks. (Blank Stare) Camille educates us. "George Harrison is one of the Beatles! Do you know any of the Beetles names?" I wasn't expecting a pop-quiz, but thinking quickly on my feet I made up the names Steve, Mike, and Chris. Thinking I was so clever, I was shocked when Camille broke out in a burst of laughter. I was completely wrong.
For those of you who don't know who George Harrison is like me, I have included a picture for your enjoyment. Also, I have included Camille's blog address so you can read her side of the story. :)
http://ms-mclaws.blogspot.com

2 more weeks of Provo!!

I just sold my contract today and it's sad to say, but I am leaving Provo December 19. I am graduating and plan to move to Arizona where my family is and find a teaching job there. I am sad to leave because all of my friends are up here, but I am sure I will make new friends and have lots of fun adventures with my family. Some of the fun times I have had in Provo include:
- Late night talks with roommates
- Hiking the 'Y' (In daylight and moonlight)
- Practical jokes that involve fish, peanut butter, canned peaches, light bulbs, hiding food in microwave/oven, dishwashing soap in dishwasher, and much more. :)
- Coming up with lame excuses to get out of dates
- Coming up with ways to get a certain boy to date me . . . not successful.
- Late night movies with friends
- Concerts!! (I have been to 6 this year).
- Laughing so hard that I cry. (I wonder if people cry from laughing so hard the tears just start flowing, or if it's because their side hurts so much from stomache compressions.)
- And many, many more Good Times!
Provo Rocks!

Mollie and Jaimee's Week O' Fun!!

This week, me and Mollie did something fun every night.

On Monday, we went out to eat with some old friends that used to be in the ward, but now they are married.

On Tuesday, we went to SLC and watched Savior of the World. The first act was amazing, but the second act was just okay. I feel like they didn't want to show the Savior's face, but I think it would have been more powerful if they did show the Savior's face. Anyway, it was good, but the Easter pagent is way
better.

On Wednesday, we went out to eat with the Adams before the . . . Carrie Underwood Concert!! She rocks. I had so much fun at that concert. Carrie sounds just as good live as she does on her CD.

On Thursday, we went to the Twilight midnight showing. It was kind of a funny, cheesy movie. I liked it a lot, but I would see it more as a comedy rather than a romance.

Besides all of the craziness with never being home and staying out way late, I started teaching all by myself all day everyday this last week. It was so much fun! I love being a teacher. That is my true calling in life. What a fun and memorable week!

3 Weeks Left of Student Teaching

I can't believe I am almost done with my student teaching and college! I am all grown up. I am trying to find a job, but I don't know if I'll find one in the middle of the year. My teacher work sample passed, and my I had my TESOL exit interview this week . . . and I passed. The next three weeks are going to fly by and I'll be back in Mesa before I know it. :)