Teaching

Every day we teach someone something sometimes it is explicit or maybe not sometimes intentional or maybe not.

On Sundays right now I teach 10 18m-2's that wiggle around, climb on me and the furniture, turn the lights off and on, can easily recognize a picture of the modern day prophet, the Savior, and the Prophet Joseph Smith. There is singing, standing up and down, pointing to a bunch of pictures and sometimes in there they learn something - at least I hope so. Becca and I repeat all of our lessons twice in a row and you would never guess, it is like they are learning it for the first time every time. They are super cute, fun and sometimes even cuddly.







Then on Thursday nights I teach for the community college here. I walk the 5 minutes from my office in the School of Nursing to the old engineering building and teach for 3 hours straight. At first I thought I was nuts, that I have too many things this semester to do and when am I going to find the time to plan my lessons anyway? But it is nights like last night that make all the difference in teaching. I was able to get them to work together, learn together, discuss and hopefully begin to think more about the things we talked about. It was a good night which left me energized instead of tired - that is what I love about teaching. It is awesome to watch others get things, explore idea and see what they are thinking in that brain of theirs. It was fun. The more I teach the more I like to teach in community colleges. The classes are small, the kids down to earth and want to be there. So it is all conducive to great class discussions and fun activities that are not possible with 80-100 kids.
Anyway just thought I would tell you about my good teaching night - they don't all go that way and so I have to remember the ones that do.

In other news: the classes are going to be alright. I think that once I get over the shock of going and working so hard then it will be fine. I just keep telling myself that I just have to get through the next couple of months. I still would love for anyone to be my secretary and find jobs for me to apply for. Just think if you are the secretary you can find jobs near you!

How I feel today about my Dissertation

I would just love if someone could tell me what the middle part is - the "miracle" part and then I could sit down and write it. 
In the 2 days of the semester so far I feel overwhelmed with all that I need to do.  At work we are starting yet another project and so that is taking more time than usual and so that is hard.  It just means I have to figure out the "then a miracle occurs" part of the semester and my dissertation and all will be well in Zion!

Recent Project Updates

Project #1

Someone asked me what my next quilt was like and here it is in all of it's glory!  I know the first one is a bad picture - kinda blurry but that is alright it will keep you guessing.  Probably will take awhile before you see another shot because school starts tomorrow and I have to finish up any Christmas presents first. 

 

These materials need to still be cut - around 400 squares from the top one - now you see why it might take a while!

Project #2

Christmas present bags - I finished about 50 some of these.  They are all different sizes and fabrics.  They will be used instead of wrapping paper at my parents home this year and for years to come.  The reason is because I got very tired of wrapping presents this past Christmas.  There are a lot of people in our family and everyone has presents under the tree and days went by with me wrapping so after Christmas I went to JoAnn's and bought a bunch of material with Mandy and Nathan (Mama and Daddy were in Amarillo) and now they are done!  I hope to only wrap a bare minimum amount this year and buy more material after Christmas to make more for the next year.

Project #3

This is a Christmas present for some little boys I am related to.  It will be fun I hope.  Can't say too much more or I will give it away!

Update

I was told that I needed to update my blog. So here goes. I finished up transcribing, coding and yesterday meet with my advisor about themes and have most of those ironed out. I can start writing now - just not completely sure what to say and how to say it so that should be easy. My advisor is going to send me an example of what she is looking for - in the past almost 2 years of comps and proposals and such this is the first example I will have seen! I hope that it helps give me an idea of what I need to be writing. Don't get me wrong I do have ideas I just want to do it right hte first time not the 25th. So I am right on with my goals. Now the next big deadline is December 20th - I want to be pretty much there with the writing so that I can turn it over to my committee in Jan.

Last Friday I met up with a friend and we went to the temple and dinner. It was a nice session and enjoyable evening. Didn't take any pictures sorry.

I start teaching tomorrow and I am currently working on lectures/lessons. I hate that I have to lecture the very first day but to get through the book I can't lose the first 3 hours because I just want to give them the syllabus and leave. That is the hard part of night classes because you have to move forward so you don't miss out on all of the time that they would have had if it was a day class.

I have the flu - don't know if it is H1N1 or not but it is yucky and thus making all of the things above harder to do. I don't want to teach at all tomorrow if I still feel like this so I am hoping it goes away very soon. I have been sleeping a lot and that helps some.




I have seen 2 of the 3 syllabi I have this semester for classes and they are going to be more work and reading than I hoped but I guess that is what I get for wanting to learn more. :)

I think that is about it - life is good, I am enjoying my time even if it is busy and I have the flu.

Newest Quilt

Nothing too exciting happening in my life this week.  I am getting closer to my goal of having all of my interviews transcribed - only 3 left.  Hooray and then the hard work begins.  I start teaching again on August 20th - only 1 class this semester but it is a new course and I need to make some lectures for it, but I am excited to get started.

I am taking 3 courses this semester and finishing up my internships - hopefully very soon!

I finished another quilt top - haven't had it quilted yet - need more money first.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

Also I finally joined the modern day and bought a camera for my computer so I can now skype.  I hate how I look on the camera - tired and colorless but that is ok.  Let me know if you ever want to have a free video conversation.

Lovely Nauvoo - Pioneer Past Times

Last weekend I went to Nauvoo with Kim, the Blacks and the Schramms.  We left about 7:45 on Friday morning and drove down, we found our campsite, set up our tents and then went down to save seats for the pageant and play in Pioneer Pastimes. 

The Schramm's all dressed up.

 

Mallory and Hayden

A old fashioned game of stick pull

And Jaron wins!!!

 

Cute Aubrey

Stilt walking

Riding the wooden horsee

Josiah trying his hand

There is such thing as a free ride!

All I want is some water!

A Australia bound, stilt walking professor!  We will miss you Kim!

The Rest of Nauvoo

I wasn't as good after Pioneer Pastimes with taking pictures but we went on a Ox-drawn wagon ride, Denise, Kim and I attended the temple, we ate some yummy food, watched the pageant, slept, got rained on, learned about shoe making, brick making, wagon and blacksmithing, watched a wonderful movie about Joseph and the Saints and then headed home.

It was a wonderful two days and a very needed break for me.  I always love Nauvoo but there was a special peace there this time for me.  I felt the Lord so close so many times, I am so very grateful.  I love that place so much.

Here are some more fun pictures.

Hayden trying to escape.

Cute Mallory

We thought Chandler was going to cry when she had to take the dress off - I will be making them one soon.

Ephraim waiting for the wagon.

The Elder told Jaron, Simeon and Chandler since they were in the front that they had to watch out for bears and Indians.  Chandlers asked if that happened often and the poor Elder replied every once in a while.  This was Chandlers face following that comment.

Pre-pageant I took just a few photos - here is Josiah.

Bowling anyone?