A little update!

May:

I graduated from University of Idaho... can't believe it. I really did it in three years. I don't know if the graduation ceremony is "the thing" I'd been waiting on for those three years... it wasn't really that exciting. Walt Minick was the commencement speaker and it really felt like a campaign speech... I was hoping for Sarah Palin :).

I pulled my parents' trailer up to Moscow to stay in during finals week. The Ag Ed department took all the student teachers on a trip to Seattle. We visited ag programs along the way. It was a fun trip and I gained a lot from seeing programs in a different state. The singing piano bar in Seattle was probably the highlight!

My little sister also graduated in May from Kimberly High School. She was Valedictorian (4.0!!) and is headed to University of Montana Western in Dillon MT this fall. She's such a beautiful and amazing young woman and I know God has great plans for her. She's going to UMW on a rodeo scholarship and is majoring in Natural Horsemanship. My brother Jake and I took a load of stuff to my new house in Grangeville later in May. He's getting so big and is such a sweet boy. He played at the skate park in Grangeville while I finished my contract at the school. He saved up his own money and bought a new skateboard in Twin before we went. He's getting really good!!

June:

Road trip with Richard!

I flew to Tennessee to drive across the country with Richard- back home to IDAHO!! (FOR GOOD!) We camped all but the first night in TN when it was raining. Camping in the south isn't really all that fun for those of you who were wondering. Tennessee was pretty. Arkansas was kinda gross. There's nothing in Arkansas. We stayed in Hot Springs. WE thought that with a name like Hot Springs, there might actually be one... but no. It is the birth place of Bill Clinton, though.... Yeah, that's what we thought.... awesome.... :)

We stayed the third night in New Mexico. There's not really anything to see in Oklahoma or Texas (the panhandle). In our trusty atlas, there was a place called The Blue Hole in NM. We thought it sounded interesting so we went there. It was a giant artisan spring right in the middle of the little town on Route 66.

The next day we drove to Colorado and stayed the night at a property owned by Cheley Camps- where I worked last summer. It was awesome being able to introduce Richard to the owners and directors of the camp and seeing some of the staff members I worked with last summer. We ate dinner with Jaime- my partner last summer at Poppy's in Estes Park. I hope Richard and I can both go back one summer and work there!We finally got to Idaho!

Then, we spent a week in Pocatello at the Idaho Vocational Ag Teachers Association Summer Conference. I enjoyed the conference and learned A LOT! The Idaho High School Rodeo Association Finals were also in Pocatello that week, so Richard and I were able to watch Megan compete. She placed in Goat Tying and Pole Bending and will head to Farmington New Mexico in July to compete at the National Finals rodeo.

We also moved to Grangeville in June. We rented a little house in town and are liking it just fine! We actually have a lawn to mow! It's the first "house" we've had. All the rest of our rentals have been apartments or duplexes without yards. I'll take more pictures of our house after I go home and clean today!

July:

July started with Border Days in Grangeville. Border Days is a three day community celebration with parades and rodeos and events each day. The finale is the 4th of July parade, rodeo, and fireworks show. Richard and I went to the parade each day and the FFA had a float in the 4th of July parade. My dad also came up on the 4th and went to the parade and rodeo with us. We also did the famous egg toss on Main Street on the 4th. There were like 1,000 people there. We wanted to win, but you actually have to practice for this thing! We'll get 'em next year!


After that we've just been relaxing, camping, and enjoying life! We went camping one night up in the mountain south of Grangeville. We've been down to New Meadows to go swimming at Zim's Hot Springs. We also celebrated Richard's 23rd birthday! We went golfing and had lunch on my parents (Thanks!!!) And yesterday, we tried to find a hot springs on the Lochsa river but had no luck. It was beautiful scenery and good conversation, though.Overall, we're liking it in Grangeville and are enjoying actually living together. I thank God for all the blessings He's given me(especially the blessing named Richard!) and look forward for a great school year!!

Memorial Day Motorcyle Adventure

On Memorial Day, my parents and little brother and I went up to the South Hills and rode cycles on the Third Fork trail. My mom and dad rode double on one big wheel, I rode a big wheel, and my brother rode his little bike.

The trail was steep and rocky at some points, but I got through it! :) The narrow trail didn't make it too easy for the big wheel bikes. The tires just wanted to climb up the sides of the trail ruts instead of staying in the middle.

We stopped about halfway through the ride and chose to go on the Walstom Hollow trail. BAD IDEA!! The trail was very steep and rocky, but the view was beautiful. It was very special to have the freedom to be up in the mountains enjoying God's creation on the day we give thanks to those who have died for our country.



I did have one little mishap, though. We were almost back to the truck when my back wheel caught a big rock on the trail and threw my motorcycle over the edge. It scared me more than anything, but I did manage a small cut on my hand from high-fiving a tree branch on my way off the motorcycle. :) And I broke the brake lever. Luckily my dad carries extras. Who'd a thunk you'd need extra brake handles on a short trail ride?

It was a great family ride and we even managed a self portrait on top of the moutain. I just wish my sister Megan would have gone, too! She was busy riding horses and resting. Meg graduated high school this last Wednesday as a Valedictorian from Kimberly High School. I'm so proud of her. She's going to the University of Montana Western this fall on a Rodeo scholarship. She'll do awesome and I can't wait to see where God takes her in life!

Finals Week and Graduation!

I did it... I graduated from college in three years- six semesters since I was a high schooler. It doesn't feel real... yet!

Last week I traveled back to Moscow for the Ag-Ed finals week trip. Six ag-ed student teachers and two of my professors spent three days traveling the state of Washington in two suburbans. It was a great trip and I learned a lot about ag programs in Washington. We spent the second night in Seattle (well Everette actually.) We went down town, ate on the pier, and finished the evening at Chopsticks- A Dueling Piano Bar. It was hilarious!

Here's my atempt at self-photography of the group on the pier in Seattle.

After the trip, Richard and my family came to Moscow for graduation. Graduation took 2 1/2 hours and was oh so boring. I did get my one second of fame and it felt pretty darn good!

I pulled the camp trailer up to Moscow and stayed at the Fair Grounds, which was way better than sleeping on a couch!

I'm so thankful my family could be there to celebrate graduation with me!

Things I've learned from my cooperating teacher...

As of tomorrow I will have one week of student teaching left at Castleford High School. I'm sad to go because I've loved being there. Mr. Wells is a great cooperating teacher and because of his guidance and help, I feel ready to take on my own program next year in Grangeville. I still have so much to learn, but here are a few things I've learned from Mr. Wells- my cooperating teacher.

1. Always sit in the back at teacher’s meetings.
2. Always ask for more money than you know you’ll get because if you don’t ask you won’t get it for sure.
3. Always plant more than you need in the greenhouse because some kids just kill stuff.
4. Don’t be afraid to use the textbook- kids expect it.
5. Some kids will never be motivated by grades, no matter how many zeros they have. But if you can teach them one thing that helps them later in life, you made a difference.
6. Make friends with all the moms because FFA banquets are so much easier when you don’t have to cook.
7. If you want to castrate pigs and dissect calves in class, don’t teach in a big school
8. Ag teachers never have any free time- which is mostly self-inflicted.
9. Don’t compete with coaches or other advisors for kids’ time. Always be flexible and rarely be demanding.
10. If you want to earn your Master’s, keep the University happy.
11. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
12. Teach your kids that bringing home more clipboards, FFA ties, pencils, calculators, etc. than we brought to FFA events earns them bonus points.
13. Welding electrodes aren’t cheap.
14. Ask for a student teacher every few years- it’s like taking a vacation for a semester.
15. It’s ok to say “no” once in a while.
16. Be honest about not knowing an answer: kids know when you’re BSing.
17. Beg, borrow, and steal ideas from great teachers- don’t reinvent the wheel.
18. Sometimes you have to be creative in order to make your program better- don’t let the price of propane stand in the way of having an awesome greenhouse.
19. Sometimes you have to get really mad about something small to remind the kids that they don’t have you all figure out.
20. Learn to drive a school bus and fix a computer.
21. Always check luggage before an FFA trip.
22. You’ll always have a Tyler Draper in some class- surprise them by not giving up on them and challenging them to do better and be better because you know they are better.

And finally,
23. Teaching high school agriculture is one of the most fun, rewarding jobs you’ll ever have.

A job, graduation, and beyond!

Four more weeks of student teaching! I've had such a great time in Castleford and I'll be sad to leave. However, I am looking forward to commencement at the University of Idaho on May 16 at 9:30 am. I've accepted a teaching job in Grangeville, ID for this coming school year. (See picture below.) My summer calendar is already filling up with Idaho Vocational Agriculture Teachers' Association conferences, moving, FFA activities, and preparing my classroom and facilties. This has been the time Richard and I have been looking forward for the past four years. We are so blessed to have each other and such a promising future ahead of us. We're planning a fun road trip after Richard's EAS (End of Active Service) date. I'll write more later about that!

Ah, spring break!

Last week was spring break and it was oh, so good. :) Richard came home for the week and we had a lot of adventures. I was very sick, sick, sick on Friday when I picked him up. I took the science Praxis test on Saturday and tried to go to the doctor. However, the only quick care place in Twin Falls had a 2 1/2 hour wait on Saturday morning. I didn't see a doctor...

We drove to Wyoming on Sunday (and stopped in Ogden to see a doctor). We stayed in Saratoga, Wy on Sunday night in the Riviara Lodge. It was ok... not our favorite hotel... but the hotsprings in Saratoga was pretty cool. It is a natural hot springs behind the city pool that is HOT! The spring comes up in the little rock pool and the whole thing is only knee deep. There were tons of people there on Sunday night. Then it empties into the river behind the pool.
I interviewed for a job in Hanna, Wy the next day. The town was ok and the school was really nice, but I ended up declining the job offer. They called later that week and offered me the job. I'm not that eager to leave Idaho, yet.

The trip was pretty fun. It was good to have Richard there to see the town and school and everything.

I did have an interview scheduled in Grangeville on Thursday but after traveling to Hanna, I was completely wiped out and my body was screaming at me to just REST and get better. I have a phone interview this week.

The rest of the week, Richard and I just hung out with family and each other. It was nice being together for a week. We'll see each other next during Graduation week. Hopefully we'll be able to find a house during that week wherever I accept a job. It's a time for change and a time for new beginnings and I'm really excited to see what the next six months holds!

Fulfilling my Goals

I've been student teaching for the past two week out at Castleford HS. I absolutely love it!! I'm having a blast with the kids and finally fulfilling my goal of becoming an ag teacher. It's funny to think that I made up my mind about six years ago while I was at the Idaho FFA Convention listening to Stacia Berry from Wyoming. She was the National FFA Secretary and the convention was my first big FFA event. I decided from then on that I would be an ag teacher. I went to CSI during high school and finished college in three years so I could reach that goal as fast as I could. It feels good to be almost there!


The other day I had a vet come into my animal science class and dissect a calf. The kids loved it! They talked about it all day. It was kind of gross, but it was a really good introduction to internal anatomy of animals.

On a different note, Richard and I are definitley ready to start living together, not apart! He's coming home for my spring break in two weeks and then he'll come to Moscow for graduation on May 16th. Then, come the middle of June, we'll be done with school, done with the Marine Corps, and ready for life together!!

A Few Updates

I haven't posted in a while because I've been so busy!! Right now I'm back in Southern Idaho student teaching but I'll post about that after this... Before I left to come down here, I had the opportunity to go to the Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Convention in Sacramento, CA. While I was there I got to participate in the Collegiate Discussion Meet. It was a really fun experience and I'm so glad I went. A discussion meet is kind of like a debate, but sort of opposite... if that makes sense. Participants get points for cooperative attitude, speaking content and quality, and opening and closing statements. You're supposed to work with the other participants to find a solution for the topic given. The topics I discussed were "How does the aging infrastructure affect transportation of agricultural commodities?" and "How do we correct the misconceptions of Farm Bureau?"Here's me before my first round. The young lady at the end of the table ended up making it to the Sweet 16 semi-final round.

Here's my biography poster. There were about 40 participants from all over the U.S.
Alex V. was the other participant from Idaho. He qualified for the Sweet 16 Semi-finals. I did not qualify, but I felt ok about it because at least two people from both my rounds qualified. I had some tough competition!

On the last day of the conference, I got to go to the Jelly Belly, Campbell's Soup, and California Rice Growers factories. I also got to see my best friend Shayla while I was there. The Sacramento area is really nice and it changed my mind of what California is really like. I'd only been to big cities and Sacramento was a very agricultural area. It was a good trip!

We are FAMILY

This morning I was getting dressed, I looked through my jewelry to find a necklace to wear. I picked out the necklace my brother got my for Christmas. The necklace is a silver pendant that says "A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams." My brother picked it out all by himself and was really, really excited to give it to me. It was really cute (and he chose really well!!).

Sooo... that got me thinking about siblings and how much I love mine.

This is a Thanksgiving photo of my sister Megan,
my brother Jacob, Richard, me, and the dog Casey

My sister and I are three years apart and are really pretty different people. Meg has always been into sports and horses and I've been more the "nerdy" type with school, piano, and clubs. She is an amazing athlete in rodeo, basketball, and track. And has straight A's to boot. After I graduated from high school, we've had a lot closer relationship than when we were kids, but it could still be better!

Megan is planning to go to University of Montana- Western in Dillon, MT this fall. She's going to do college rodeo and major in everything horsey! I can't wait to see her succeed in life. She has an awesome love for the Lord and she's friends with everyone she meets. She's an amazing young lady!


My brother Jacob is a firecracker! He is ten years old and in the 4th grade. He plays the guitar, plays basketball, snowboards, kayaks, and raises chickens. His favorite thing in schools are Idaho History and Science. I was 11 years old when he was born and he slept in my bed as soon as he could walk. I still remember the door cracking open and hearing "Sissy, can I sleep with you??"

Jake can cook, too! (And if you like pizza and brownies, you're set!) He's going to make a great boyfriend and husband one day (but that's a long way off). He's very compassionate and sweet, yet tough and driven at the same time.



I am very blessed to have such great siblings. I love them both very much and am excited to go home so I can spend more time with them. Only a few more weeks in MOSCOW!

2009 Already??

I realize we are almost half way through January, but I haven't posted since 2008, so here goes! I was in North Carolina with Richard for New Year's. We had decided to go down to Carolina Beach, NC, "The Island of Lights" for New Year's Eve. We found the event on the internet and it was supposed to be a family-friendly beach party on the Pier. We got there at about 9pm and had hot cocoa at this cute, old restaurant called the Old Pier House.

It was a fun time. It was so cheesy and lame, though. Richard and I totally fit in! There was a DJ that played lots of oldies dance songs, new songs, etc. Oh, they also played the chicken dance and made all the guys do it. I caught Richard with the camera.

At midnight, the city firefighters dropped a lighted beach ball that was hung from the ladder. There were fireworks and kissing and then we drove the 2 hours home. It was a really fun night.

On New Year's Day, Richard and I went out to the beach and saw a pod of dolphins really close to the shore. We watched them swim up and down the coast for a while. It was really cool to see them so close up. I went back to Idaho on the 5th of January.

I made two resolutions for 2009: 1- I will not buy anymore new clothes until I have a full-time job! 2- I will run a 5K with my mom. So far, I'm doing well with both. So far, I'm doing well with both! Let's see how long they can hold up!

In other news, I'm back in Moscow for one month before I start student teaching in Castleford. I'll be living at home, which I love. It's not so lonely when you have a clingy little brother to play with all the time!

I'm going to CA in February for a the Collegiate Farm Bureau National Discussion Meet. I get to see my best friend Shayla so I'm excited. Richard's probably coming to Idaho for spring break and then again for graduation on May 16th.

2009 will be a year of lots of changes! With God's help and my husband's support, I'm ready and willing for wherever the road takes us! Bring it on!!!

O' Christmas Tree!

Richard and I were in North Carolina for Christmas this year. We've been so blessed to spend every Christmas together. We've missed one Thanksgiving, all birthdays but one each, all Valentine's Days, and all anniversaries. Richard found and decorated a Christmas tree before I got to NC. It's a real tree, by the way!

On Christmas, Richard and I slept in (haven't done that in a while on Christmas morning!), ate sticky buns (my Grandma's very yummy recipe), and opened presents. For dinner, Richard's buddy Ty came over and we had stuffed pork chops, Waldorf salad, rolls, and green beans. After dinner we went to the theater to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt. It was a good movie, but after two and a half hours, we left because the movie was soooo long! We saw Madagascar 2 the next day and it was really good (and only 90 minutes!)

A few days after Christmas, we went to New Bern and spent the night at the Aerie Inn Bed and Breakfast. We took a horse drawn carriage to dinner and enjoyed a jacuzzi bubble bath afterwards! It was a great get away, even if it was only a few miles away.

I'm in NC until after New Year's and am just savoring the days! I'm doing laundry right now as Richard had to work today and tomorrow. I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Dun Dun Dun....

It's finally here! Finals week. My last finals week! It's pretty anti-climatic, though. I only have one final to take. It's Macro-Economics, which doesn't seem hard, but it is hard when you take it from a professor that thinks wheat is measured in pounds (not bushels.)

Anyway, I'm leavin' town on Wednesday morning! My apartment is almost all cleaned out. Stuff is in boxes and tubs and bags. I'm excited... this means I'm one semester away from graduation!

It's my dad's birthday today, too. So Happy Birthday Daddy!

Finally Snowing!!!!

This picture is from the webcam on top of the Student Union building on campus. I'm SOOO excited it's finally snowing!!! Maybe now I'll get to test out my 4-wheel drive in my sweet new truck!

Favorite Class

(ASM 210- Fall 08: I'm on the very far right of this picture and my engine is the green one next to the orange one)

Today was the last small engines class of the semester and I'm kind of sad that it's over! It was my most favorite class so far in college. It's about the only hand-on skill that I'm actually naturally good at. It's pretty exciting! We rebuilt an engine earlier this semester and for the last three classes we've been doing troubleshooting.

The first time we did it, I got way too excited near the end because I was in the lead (it's kind of a race) and I forgot the blower-housing on my engine (that's the part with the pull rope.) So, I went to start my engine, and had nothing to pull... it was kind of embarrassing and everyone gave me a hard time.

So, the next week, I was determined to prove I was actually good at it and I ended up beating everyone. We had to find one problem with the ignition, one with compression, and one with carbureation in 60 minutes and then had another 30 minutes to start our engines. After 60 minutes, Jack (the best teacher, ever) just tells you what the "bugs" are and you have to fix them. I found all three "bugs" and started my engine in 50 minutes. Then today, we had to find 3-5 "bugs" in any area. I was the first one to find all the "bugs," but got my linkages all mixed up and didn't quite finish as quickly. I still beat the 90 minute total time limit, though.

To back up a little, I absolutely dreaded this class before school started. I was so nervous because I didn't feel like I learned anything in my high school small engines class. I think it kept me on my toes, though. I'm glad I took it (well, it was required to graduate, but anyway...).

2,781 miles

2,781 miles= the current distance between me and amazing husband.We actually talked about just grabbing some clothes, jumping in our trucks, and meeting in the middle this weekend. It was a lonely weekend. Tomorrow will be better- that's the way it always is. Tomorrow is always better because it's one more day closer to our next reunion. Nothing about our marriage is normal, except that we love each other unconditionally, unendingly, and undeniably... oh wait, that's not even quite normal in today's culture. A lot of my husband's Marines and their wives are fighting about little things. Money, babies, life, marriage... It makes Richard angry that they can't see the blessings in their lives. I'm so happy Richard is my husband and my best friend. I'll never be able to thank God enough for what he's given me in this man.

Inspired by Sara

So, today I saw a blog kept by one of my very good friends, Sara Vandenbos, and thought maybe I could try it, too. It's not that I'm all that exciting, but this is way more fun than creating lesson plans for student teaching :).

(Sara and her husband Paul at State FFA Convention in 2007)

Next week begins "dead week" at the University of Idaho. I don't have any exams this week and most professors are just reviewing all the super exciting things we learned this semester. I only have one final next week during finals week, so I'm not too stressed this semester.

Lately, my to-do lists look a lot different than they have in the past. For instance: license new truck, send Christmas cards, buy stocking stuffers, pack up apartment. The old to-do lists included a lot of: homework, study, turn in paper, study, go to club meeting, etc. I decided not to stress anymore this semester and it's actually working out pretty well ;). I should have decided to do that a long time ago.

For a basic overview of life at this point, I am just finishing my last semester in Moscow at the University of Idaho. Next semester I'll in be Castleford, ID (middle of no-where Twin Falls County) student teaching high school agriculture. I'll be living with my parents for the first time since I graduated high school. I'll come back up to Moscow for graduation May 16th. Richard finishes his active duty contract with the Marine Corps sometime between June and July and we'll finally get to start Phase 3. (Phase 1: Dating, Phase 2: Engaged & Married, living apart, Phase 3: Finally living together, Phase 4: Beautiful Kiddos!)

This is a pretty long first post so I'll leave more for later.