Boyfriend

I have some good news!!! As most of you know I have been emailing a man named Jean Paul. This past week or so we have been able to talk on the phone each night. I had no idea that you could get butterflies from emails and phone calls!! I really, really, really, like him. We have been chatting about pretty serious things from the get go. And yesterday he asked me to be his girlfriend! I have never had a boyfriend so I am pretty stoked about this. He wants to be my first boyfriend and my last boyfriend. And I am very willing to let that happen. I can't wait for him to come visit in December. Which really is only three months away. It will go by fast since work started yesterday and Davis High Football. So I will keep myself busy. We still email twice a day. I get so excited when I read his emails. This is the only picture I have of him. More pictures to come.

So yes he is very black. I love that he had to put a white screen behind him so you could see him. I am very happy!
Side note: I went to my first faculty meeting yesterday! I feel like such a grown up. I met the principal and she seems really nice and funny. This next week I am going to be slaving away in the classroom trying to get everything ready. Well I am off to Bear Lake. Got to live the last days of summer to the fullest!

Hilarious Trip to Kanab

My mom's family had a reunion in Kanab on Saturday. Becca and I traveled down on Thursday with grandma and grandpa Betenson. Just out of Bountiful  my grandma asked when we were going to eat. We stopped and got a ice cream cone in Scipio and then headed on to Richfield. Grandma again mentioned lunch...Grandpa says Is that all we are going to do is eat?
Becca and I were able to spend time with our Holland cousins. It was a blast. We experienced the Prickly Pear and Art Gallery. Went on a tour of Kanab mostly past Maddie's boyfriends houses. And were serenaded by Devin. Nicole and James let us sleep at their house. Thank you Nicole. Nicole even made us breakfast it was wonderful. Friday and Saturday we spent our days at Western Legends and with the family. I will write more about that later. Here are a few pictures of the weekend!

 Amy, Alicia and I in front of Denny's Wigwam

 Devin and Becca. Devin is proud to be almost as tall as Bec.

 First adventure in the Beer Cave

 My Grandma and her sisters

 Dinner with Carter and Amy

 Lacey, Carter, Amy and Becca at the Betenson Reunion

 Carter and Becca in the puddle I mean pool.

 My  new cowboy boyfriend

Yes this sign was at the Kanab Park HIlarious!!!!

More pictures and updates to come!

Jean Paul

Good Morning!
Oh what a beautiful day it is going to be! The sun is shining and the sky is blue. So I know many of you have been wondering about my new love interest. His name is Jean Paul. My neighbor Tressa's mom gave him my email. He lives in Everett, Washington. We have been talking for about a week....just emailing. He moved from the Congo. He is a recent convert to the church. I really like him..I look forward to his emails. We usually email twice a day. This is not an announcement....he isnt considered my boyfriend yet.  We just live one day at time and enjoy learning about each other. Of course I am still being a little cautious...I am not  moving to Washington any time soon. There is a brief synopsis of my life.
Now to get back to packing and coloring. Going to Kanab this weekend!!!!!

Dating

Have you ever looked forward to an email from someone? Well I have this whole week and it's been strange. I have enjoyed every minute of it!! LIfe is good and I am happy!!!!

Yuba Lake with some amazing people

Have you ever been to Yuba Lake? I have often passed the sign outside of Nephi (Exit 202), but never been. This past week I had the opportunity to join my friends from my YSA ward at Yuba. It was so so fun! We spent our days at the Lake in boats, on the tramp and in the pebbles. We had scrumptious food thanks to the Clarkson's. I met lots of new people and learned things about myself that I didn't even know. One day on the boat, my dear friend Ashley informs me that I am a big flirt. I had never thought of myself as a flirt...I usually despise the girls who talk to every boy and play with their emotions. Have I become one of those girls in my old age? When we got back to camp I talked to my friends and it was unanimous I am a big flirt. I guess I like to have fun and we all know that I am friendly so I guess it was bound to happen.
As many of you know my Uncle Reed is in the bishopric of my Singles Ward. At first I was pretty apprehensive about this...I like to have my space. I have actually enjoyed it. On this trip I was able to get to know my aunt and uncle better. When I was younger we used to do things together, but that stopped once everyone was teenagers.
I am constantly amazed how you can put a group of LDS Singles who are acquainted and end up with budding friendships. I knew a about half of the group on the way down to Yuba and now I feel like I know most of them. I gained a lot of new friends...guys and girls. I am ecstatic about it! So grateful for my religion and the many blessings it brings. The church is true! Have a wonderful Monday...off to get ready for school. Ah I am getting nervous.

FRUSTRATIONS

I have felt frustrated about somethings lately. I have been trying to organize my fall work schedule. With my new job I will be working ten more hours plus TONS of more responsibilty. I have felt so blessed with this promotion. I now will have Health Insurance which i've not had for two years, I am getting a raise, more hours and the joy of running my own class. With this new job I will most likely lose some of my friend and hang out time, plus I wont be able to work with the Soper's as much.

 Most of you who know me, know how much I love this family. E was one of my first preschoolers and one day her mom mentioned needing a respite worker. I quit Target and the rest is history. Four summers and four school years later I still work with them. Mr C man just turned 12 and he is going into Jr High, what a priviledge it has been watching him grow up. I have been able to hang out with E and O and C everyday. They have become part of my family, E always wanted a sister. I have learned so much from the Soper's. My patience has been tested and I have grown so much. I have a great love for their family and especially C. Austism is such a trying disease/disorder. My love for Special Ed kids has grown immensely.
Everyone goes through trials..small, medium and big ones. This blog has been my release from stress and life.  One of my biggest frustrations has been the way people treat others. No one knows what you are going through. You can pretend or say you know what they are going through, but you aren't in their shoes. I believe everyone needs to take a step back and think about others. I try to do this but I know I can do this more. I need to work more on trying to respect and see where others are coming from. I know Satan is working really hard on me and knowing that I have a hard time with the fact that I'm not married and starting my own family. I hope for this someday, I just have to keep bettering myself and being the best I can be. Just remember everyone struggles single, married, divorced,widowed.

Well I must be off I need to prepare my lesson for tomorrow. Oh church calling :$

Where has summer gone?

I can't believe that it is almost August. I had so many plans this summer and I dont feel like I accomplished everything. I have done a lot though. June was spent celebrating Birthdays. As you know my mom turned the big 50 and we had a HUGE party at Gailey Park. We had a huge turnout and some of the ward friends were able to meet my amazing family. We spent a lot of time celebrating. Becca is now 22 and we took a trip to Gardner's Village for the birthdays. My mom loves Gardner's Village so we got a few birds with one stone. If you have never been to Gardner's Village you need to visit. They are have a delicious restaurant in an old Silo. Cute boutiques and of course a candy shop. The candy shop has homemade fudge! We got cute rose buds and made them into earrings.

I have had the oppurtunity to get to know a family quite well that lives in my neighborhood. The Casper's live across the street from me.  You can read more about them at http://johncaspersjourney.blogspot.com Tressa is the mom and she is a very talented women. John has been struggling with Cancer for at least three years. Our neighboorhood had a yard sale for them and Will also spoke about the blog on 1280 THE ZONE. A very nice, generous annoymous man has given them two 1,000 dollar checks. The neighborhood raised at least 2,000 dollars for them. I have been constantly amazed at the out pour of love.