a MILESTONE day in the life of me....

So, most of you know that I've been training for a half marathon. Well I did it! I finally broke the 5 mile mental block. I decided to not track miles, but just do time and guess what?!

I ran 5.86 miles in 54 minutes!!!!!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I did it and I did it with style!!!

On a different note. Today I was teaching my students about analogies and how they can compare items from two classes: example:

finch:sparrow::cow:horse

I was going through the answers with my students and after one of them gave me an answer, I turned to him to question his thought process. (Yes I like to play the devils advocate sometimes) He looked at me, before I could even open my mouth and said, "Just trust me. I'm a doctor!"

Oh. My. Gosh. I LOVE being a teacher.

a WOW day in the life of me...

Okay folks! What a beautiful Sunday. Sure, it was cold and there is snow outside, but it was beautiful all the same.
On my way home from church, I was suddenly overcome with how grateful I am for the sun and for my amazing black wool coat. When you put those two things together, it's a piece of heaven for the one inside :-)

I have some fun plans coming up in the next two months. I'm going to be upping my running to 5 and 6 miles. I mapped out some new running routes and am going to start on them this week - well if the weather will let me. Who honestly knows. Some of the people that I've been talking to recently told me that "they" are expecting snow into May - what?! Come on now. I believe that I can stand the snow until March, but after that I'll be okay if it goes away until next November.

I also have definite plans for my spring break. I get to spend 4 days with my friend Cecile and her new baby! I can hardly wait to see him. He was born in January, so will be 3 1/2 months old by the time I get down there. Even though that's not entirely "new born" it will be small enough for me to probably not want to leave him at the end of those four days. I will then spend the rest of my spring break in Seattle with my friend Ken. I've never been to Seattle and am pretty excited to go out there! I've been looking up some "things to do" in Seattle and pretty much my list is too long for the 3 days that I will be there. Oh well. That's why people keep taking vacations - you can never see everything you want to see the first time around - right?!

I was recently nominated for teacher of the year at PHS. I was one of 9 nominees. A vote was taken and I am now one of the top 4. Honestly, I am shocked (and thrilled)! The other three "finalists" are men who have all been teaching for 20 years or so. I am a woman (obviously) and have only been teaching 1 1/2 years. I'll keep you all posted on how that pans out.

**the boyfriend from the last post is no longer a boyfriend

a GRATEFUL day in the life of me...

Hi folks.
Wow! It's been a long time since I've been on. My life has been super busy but wonderful. I have so many blessings pouring in right now I feel very overwhelmed. Here are some of the great things that I have going on in my life right now!

1) I've made it through 1 1/2 years teaching and am still sane (according to me!)
2) The weather in Utah is stunning and I'm able to run outside!
3) I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and it's the best exercise regimen I've ever put myself through - I'm grateful that my body is holding up so well and letting me do this.
4) I just accepted a job with BYU for the summer - teacher mentor in the special education practicum during summer term!
5) I have wonderful friends who keep my thought process in check! love ya
6) An amazing family who listens and loves and lets me learn
7) I'm dating an amazing guy who is so thoughtful and kind. I seriously don't know where he came from, but I am so grateful that he chose me to spend time with!
(He bought me a calligraphy set for v-day, because I am going to be taking a class. He got one that requires the user to dip it in ink and has screw in tips. They all came for right handed users only, so he then bought me left handed tips - honestly how sweet is that?!)
8) I know that God loves me and it's daily manifest for me. I'm kind of thick in the head sometimes, so I'm grateful it comes daily ... just to remind me!
9) I received the "best practice" award at PHS last week. They announced it during a student assembly. Instead of getting BOO'd, my students stood up and cheered for me and then talked about it and congratulated me later that day and the next. (It's nice to know I'm doing something for someone, because as teacher it's sometimes hard to remember or know that)
10) I'm smiling!