Why Teach?
It's no secret, I'm a teacher.  I am currently attending BYU to obtain an elementary teaching degree.  While it feels like I'm going to be in school forever, I am now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  I just started my 8th semester and beginning in March I will be in an elementary school all day.  I'm extremely excited and extremely nervous at the same time.  Many adventures await!
One thing a majority of the world doesn't understand is that teaching is HARD.  No, we don't sit and color and cut paper all day.  No, we don't sit on rugs and read children's books all day.  No, we don't play math games and take spelling tests all day.  While I will eventually probably do all those things in my future classroom one day, there is so much more to teaching.  There is really no way to completely train for this career.  We teachers teach English, math, science, social studies, reading, and more.  We provide physical, mental, psychological, and emotional needs.  We teach every single personality and every single learning type.  We teach children with physical and learning disabilities.  We teach second language learners.  We teach children with no support at home.  We teach children who are bullied.  We teach children how to act in a healthy environment.  We create small communities and tight relationships.  We are with children for six to seven hours a day.  There are so many elements to teaching that don't come from a textbook or a math problem.  It's not just the child's education that I am responsible for, but for six to seven hours, their entire social and emotional world.  Teachers have to be delicate, sensitive, understanding, a person to look to, an anchor, a mentor, and everything else.  Teaching is a very special role, and it means a lot to me.  It takes so much work to be a teacher, and I'm excited to except that challenge.  I know that I can be that role model for my students. I love seeing that light in their eyes when they finally understand what you are teaching.  I love their giggles and their sweet laughter!  I love seeing their work, progress, and improvement.  Children are so wonderful!  I can't wait to be in a classroom with my own students.
Anyways, sorry for the rant, but teaching means a lot to me :) Thanks for all the support in my career!  It has and will continue to be a wonderful journey!
Here is a video about teaching for your enjoyment!

Live Life

I don't know if you guys have gotten around to it, but you should go see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty!  It's a wonderful movie, beautifully filmed and full of adventure.  I was skeptical at first, not quite sure what to expect and it didn't seem that interesting.  Jackson and I saw it over Christmas break, and I thought it was the perfect movie to start the new year with.  It made me want to travel all over the world, of course!  But it also made me want to live life to the fullest.  Life is meant to be explored, and you may call me an explorer!  This year I'm going to push and challenge myself to try new things.  I also have a goal to take more pictures to document my adventures, so you all may see what goes on in my crazy wonderful life.   

PS- The soundtrack is amazing, so if you don't see the movie, at least listen to that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New year, new blog!  Yes, that's right, I've decided to enter the blog world.  I'm a newcomer and I don't know all the ropes, so bare with me as I learn!

Welcome 2014!  I'm so excited to start this new year!  2013 was such a good year for me; I was blessed in countless ways.  Lets review what happened this year:

January:  I started dating Jackson!

February:  I got to be my best friend's Valentine and see two of my good friends get engaged.

March:  On the 9th, I got engaged to Jackson Mark Beazer!

April:  I became an official adult by turning 21.  I also finished another semester at BYU.

May:  I did a lot of wedding planning!  I also got to meet my future in-laws in Arizona.

June:  I went through the Twin Falls, Idaho temple on June 8th.  I was able to share that moment with my fiance, parents, grandparents, and aunt.  It was followed by an even more beautiful day, June 22nd, the day I was married for eternity to my best friend!  Four days before that, I was in a bad rollover car accident on my way to Idaho to help Mom get ready for the wedding.  By divine intervention, I was protected and barely even hurt!  While it wasn't the most ideal situation, many blessings came from it, and I'm grateful for the lessons I was able to learn.  Jackson and I spent our honeymoon in the beautiful Lake Tahoe.

July:  Since our car got wrecked in the accident, Jackson and I bought a new car.  However, that car got in an accident in it's way to us!  No worries, all turned out well.  I also worked at the MTC Bookstore all summer with my old roommate.  

August:  I got the flu four times.

September:  I started my fourth year of college.  

October:  I went to New York with Jackson and my family, a great adventure in the big apple!  

November:  I got to spend Thanksgiving with the Beazer family in Arizona.  Jackson and I also got to see a Phoenix Suns game for Jackson's birthday.

December:  Jackson and I finished another semester at BYU.  We spent Christmas with the Wasdens in Idaho.

It was a wonderful year, and I learned a lot about myself.  I'm grateful for everything that I learned and I'm grateful for the Lord's hand in my life.  I felt the Lord's love more this year than I ever have before, and I know that He looks out for me every day.  Here's to another great year full of love, faith, and life!