My March Miracle

I know, and it is only the second week of March! I've actually had two so far and one was with my Praxis test so I don't need to say that one again. But this one is truly a miracle. After my almost 4th completed year of teaching it happened. I assigned a project and every single student in my class turned it in!!! Even the kids that don't regularly come turned it in! It was incredible. So good, I am giving them a movie day. And trust me, they are almost as excited as me!

Our Minnesota Missionary

Clearly I have no idea how to get pictures from Google docs saved as individual pictures to then put on a blog. I am clueless sometimes when it comes to technology! But, here are some pictures of our Minnesota Missionary! She is doing so great. She just was able to witness a baptism of a guy named Eric who is doing really good and was very ready to receive the gospel. She is loving her mission and it is flying by for all of us (except for mom!) She is on her downhill now and will be back home with us before we know it. We are counting down the days to June 22 when we can greet her at the Idaho Falls airport with our Minnesota shirts on! A mission goes way to fast but she is clearly enjoying it and loving the opportunity to share the gospel and serve some of our Heavenly Father's children.

Last time

I sure hope that yesterday will be the last time I ever walk into the Science and Engineering at Utah Valley University at 7:30 am to take the dreaded World and U.S. History Praxis test. It is awful but, I feel so good about this one and I know that I passed it. I studied so hard and was so ready for it! A big thank you to those who were thinking of me and praying for me yesterday. I guarantee that your prayers were heard and were felt!

The Praxis test is a funny (and ridiculous) thing. I guess I can say this because I have taken part in this more times than I care to count. Here are some funny things I notice.....
- the huge line of people waiting to check in. (I always wonder why everyone is standing in that line. Eventually, the line will get short and then you can go check in. It's so nice to just sit there and read a book and wait)
- people with their ziploc bag full of pencils and erasers and pencil sharpeners. And...their admission ticket
- the nervous looks of people once in the correct testing room
- the conversations going on around me (while I am still reading my book and just not caring!) "This test is so stupid" "I don't get why we need to take this test" "I am SO nervous" " I just can't do the world history part" and my favorite that brought a smile to my face, "Can we work in groups?" Oh man, I wish!!!
- The same instructions that I have memorized and filling out the bubble sheet that doesn't take any time at all anymore. But people get so concerned with whether or not the testing center should be called "Utah Valley University" or "Utah Valley State College because that is what is says on the admission ticket"

But once all those funny comments are done and the test begins, it is no longer funny. Though this test has been a huge challenge for me, I feel great about this one. I actually had a few minutes to read through a few past questions. I felt calm, I felt great and in four weeks we will see that all that hard work of studying and lack of sleep paid off!

Awkward and Awesome....really, it just sounded fun!

So, I guess I am to write awkward and awesome things about my life on this lovely spring Thursday.....

Awkward:
- walking into the 24 hour fitness in Sandy for the first time and having no idea where to go
- getting completely confused with the steps in step class and the teacher saying something about it
- needing to use the restroom so badly during my class today that I have to use the student restroom and....one of my students is in there...weird and awkward!
- realizing that my zipper was down ALL during class!!! Super awkward!

Awesome:
- remembering that I have the day off tomorrow!
- thinking of being able to spend the whole weekend with the love of my life, Tyler!
- knowing that I am going to pass this ridiculous test once and for all on Saturday
- finally getting caught up on ALL of my grades
- when every single student in my 2A class turned in their projects! Miracles do happen!
- my step class (once I got my brain ready for it!)
- tonight's phone call from Tyler!

Sick

I am sick. I got sick last week and it just hit with me being miserable Saturday to now. (for the record, I think I am on the uphill but need another day or so of good sleep and meds!) I didn't want to take today off because I took 2 days last week to go to Boise. Now, I am playing catch up and feeling miserable. So, I slept in until 6:30 and had permission from my principal to miss our morning meetings and come to work at 8 (which was wonderful! I love getting up at 6:30!) I get to work and have a pretty easy day. Then comes my 4th period full of rowdy and energetic sophomores and it goes something like this....

Me: Ok guys. To be honest, I just don't feel good so we are going to finish watching the movie.

Class: Yea!!!!! (and possibly a few claps from random kids)

Me: Do not think you can just start talking because we can do work. But...I don't really want to so just watch the movie

Student: So, can you just not feel well everyday!

Yes, I love my job!

My conversation with a 4 year old

I hesitate to do this but it was so cute! The last few days Tyler and I were in Boise visiting with his family. His parents were there to watch Snake River in the State Basketball tournament (we did go to one game and I did cheer for Snake- as long as Sugar lost I didn't really care. But don't worry, they threatened to make me walk home if I would renounce my Salmon Savage Pride. I didn't do it and because I was sick I was able to ride in the car!) Anyway, his brother and family live there so we stayed with them. Their kids are so cute and we were always laughing. And my conversation with Kinsee was no exception.

It is Saturday and most everyone went to watch Snake River play in the consolation game. Tyler went upstairs to take a shower while Kinsee and I finished watching a movie. After the movie, we had this conversation....

Kinsee: Carrie, are you married yet?

Me: (Smile) No, not yet. Why?

Kinsee: Well, my mom wants Tyler to marry you!

Me: (another smile) Oh really.....

My new cupcake maker

For Valentines Day Tyler gave me this heart shaped cup cake maker. We cracked it open on Saturday and made some tasty heart shaped cupcakes. It is so fun and there are so many good recipes I am ready to use. Thanks Tyler and if anyone needs heart shaped cupcakes, I am your girl!!!