Been Lovin' This Past Year

I worked for 4 years in Jordan School District.  I learned a lot, made good friends, but it was time for me to go.  The commute (while not too bad in of itself) was getting to me.  It took 2 hours out of my day, took me away from my family, and put wear and tear on my car (80 miles roundtrip)

I got a job at Clear Horizons Academy.  It is a non-profit private school for students with Autism.  I got to work with a teacher that I used to be an aide for years ago.  It has been great working with her again. I have a small class of 7 students which range from 1st to 6th grade. I have great aides in my class.  They are knowledgeable and really love the students.  We've been having lots of fun.

The year is winding down.  I don't know what next year is going to be for me.  My school is changing its format for next year and is joining forces with Utah Autism Academy.  Hopefully I will be a part of this.  I am looking at going back to school to get a Masters along with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst certificate.  Wish me luck.

Hump Day

Oh my gosh I can't believe it's been a year since I last posted on my blog.  And that it has been a year for Zac to be on his mission.

He is doing well.  He is on his 6th transfer and 5th companion.  Here is his year in review:
August 28, 2013 entered MTC.  His companion is Elder Cannon.  After a few weeks they are joined by Elder Shibata.

October 28, 2013 Zac flies to Japan.  He is in the largest transfer of 36 new missionaries.  His companion is Elder Golightly (a kid from Spanish Fork from whom Zac took guitar lessons).  They are together for 1 transfer (6 weeks) in Kamagaya.  Zac stays in Kamagaya and is with Elder Kyotani for 2 transfers (12 weeks), they are joined by Elder Druml.  Then Zac goes to Yachiyo and is with Elder Buxton for 2 transfers.  After that he is in Abiko with Elder Shibata (again) for 2 transfers.  Zac stays in Abiko and is now the senior companion to Elder Turley.

He had 1 baptism in his first area, Ryouta.  Zac had a few investigators here and there, but none seemed to commit.  In his current area there was a Nepalese family that was baptized and he's got another prospect.  I think he was getting depressed in not having any baptisms or interest in the church for quite a few months.  He's also struggled with some ward members.

Zac has gotten better at eating the food there.  He's willing to try more stuff.  Lately he's been having a hard time with the weather.  The summer has been very hot and humid.  He was very prone to heat exhaustion.  I worried that he wasn't getting enough water.  Also, he's skin was having a weird reaction.  He was treated by the mission doctor, some creams were ordered.  I don't know if it was eczema or fungal infection.

His spirits have lifted, his health is getting better, and he is enjoying his companion.

Zac's Mission

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 we took my oldest child to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.  He will be serving a 2 year mission in Tokyo, Japan for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We slept in, got cleaned up, finished the final packing and then headed off for a nice lunch together.  We went to Sizzler because missionaries eat free there on Wednesdays.

I was fine, no tears shed, no nervousness or anxiety.  We drove up to the MTC and there were a lot of cars, families, and missionaries.  We were directed to a spot at the curb to unload our missionary and his bags.  Just as we come up to the curb I start to get teary-eyed.  I start crying when I open my car door.  There is a host missionary to greet us and he comments to me that it is natural to cry (duh).  I turn to Zac who had just gotten out of the minivan and I say, "I'm already crying and I haven't even hugged you yet."  We hug, all of us are now out of the minivan giving Zac hugs and helping to get the luggage out.

I knew that the MTC changed their system to curbside drop off.  Before (back in the olden days) they had the MTC President and his wife speak, there was a video/slideshow about missionaries, everyone stood to sing "Called to Serve" then time was given to hug and say goodbye.  Finally it was missionaries through this door and family/friends through that door.  That's how it was when I took my 2 brothers and 1 sister to the MTC.

I was worried with the new system that I would feel rushed and not able to give a proper good-bye.  Our hosts were relaxed and patient while we took some pictures.  They chit-chatted a bit about how long they have been in the MTC and where they are going on their mission.  Then is was, "Alright, are you ready Elder?" and off they went.

A few more tears shed as we drove away, but I've been fine.  Kyle and I both sent emails to Zac but we have yet to hear from him.  If you'd like to email him... phillips.zachary@myldsmail.net

We are as the Army of Helaman

http://www.lds.org/media-library/images/gospel-art/book-of-mormon?id=two-thousand-stripling-warriors-39660&lang=eng#two-thousand-stripling-warriors-39660

Two of my sons had a chance to march in the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days parade as 2000 Stripling Warriors in the Army of Helaman.

They carried staffs and made their own flags as Titles of Liberty.  They were given costumes to wear.  The boys and men were ages 11-26 years old.  Some of their leaders walked with them.  They were divided by Stakes (you can see the tall white flags designating their group).

A vehicle was in their midst playing the Primary song We'll Bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman) and the missionary hymn Called to Serve.  The boys would tap their staffs in time to the music.  Periodically they would stomp and give a chant and tap their staffs.

You can see my sons at about the 1:20-1:24 mark of the video I took.  Zane's staff has a white flag tied with black shoelaces.  Cooper should be near him.  (Sorry about some of the picture my hand was getting tired).

Little Miss Spanish Fork

Chloe participated in Spanish Fork's Little Miss competition.  Girls are divided into age groups.  Minis ages 7-8, Littles 9-10, Junior 11-12, Teen 13-15.  Chloe was in the Little category.  There were 18 girls in her group.

First we had to be there about two hours before the pageant for interviews.  There were three judges and they each asked her two questions.  They asked her about pets and her family.

The pageant is opened with all the girls (Friday night Minis and Littles, Saturday Jr. and Teen) dancing a production number in the same outfit.  Each contestant is introduced with their name and number.

For her talent she performed a dance she learned with her dancing group at Devotion Dance Academy.  It was a lyrical dance routine to Little Things by One Direction.  We had to change a couple of movements since this was performed as a group.  There was a section where they lifted a girl and rotated her.  So some choreography was altered showing off some technique like leg lifts, straddles, and leaps.  She was doing great on stage, she remembered the first two changes.  Then she got ahead of the music, forgot one section and froze for about 5 seconds (which seemed like forever) quickly remembered and finished the song.

I met her backstage after her talent performance and she was crying and I was crying because I knew she'd be crying because she messed up.  We talked with her dance teacher and choreographer backstage and she got us calmed down.  We got her changed for the party dress portion.  She wore the dress she got as a flower girl in her aunt's wedding.  Each girl was walked out with an escort and walked to key points on the stage while information about the girls was read aloud.  Information as in who her parents were, who her siblings are, and what her dreams and aspirations are.

After some entertainment while the judges calculate their scoring the girls are brought back on stage for the announcement of winners.   There are four attendants and a queen for Minis, and four attendants and a queen for Littles.  Chloe did not place.  I didn't expect her to for her first time out.  I don't think she expected to win either. Backstage there were girls crying because they didn't win.  Chloe was just fine.  She even commented to me in a sympathetic voice about how the girls were crying because they didn't win.  Our only crying was in relation to her talent performance.

Overall, I think she had fun and it will be a memory she has for a while.  We talked about her doing this again next year.  She is up for it and hopes to perform better to even place.

Flashmob

Friday was my first flashmob. Let me explain.

My school was having a fundraiser and at ceratin dollar amounts the students got something (lunchtime activities, extra time for passing period, etc.) Well, at $10,000 they got the principal Ms. Gough to dye her hair, the male vice principal Mr. Welch to get a mohawk (that they cut on stage) and the female vice principal Ms. Wing to get a hair cut (also cut on stage) and a teacher talent show (forward to 19:00 for my number)

One teacher, Ms. Lynn, sang "Mele Kalikimaka" while four male teachers danced; Mr. Bustin, Mr. Carwin, Mr. Talley and Mr. Carlsen.  They were dressed up in grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts with coconut bras over it, and silly wigs.  They even went out into the audience and put leis on students.

Four female teachers did a dance competition with the wii; Ms. Vittetoe, Ms. Kirkman, Ms. Murdock and Ms. Nebeker.  One teacher, Ms. Neff sang "All I Want For Christmas is You" (a la Mariah Carey). At the last minute a few of us acted as back up dancers.  We had no routine, just followed each other.

Mr. Carlsen sang Taylor Swift's "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and many students came up on stage with him to sing.

Then as a surprise final number the flashmob.  Mr. Talley is introduced as the final number.  He goes out and dances a bit (he did a number last year showing off his dancing skills and the students go wild for it).  Then a number of us join him on stage, and we are awesome.  Then, more teachers from the audience join us.  The students go crazy.  They are all standing, many have phones out taking pictures and filming us.  Lots of cheering, screaming, and clapping.  It was such a rush.  We did Gangnam Style by Psy.  The routine we used from Cornell University.

It was a rush and I'd love to do it again.

My First 5K

A coworker of mine convinced me and some other coworkers to join him in a 5K.  A few coworkers jog daily and planned to run the 5K.  Others, like me, planned to walk it.  I have never done a 5K and wasn't sure what to expect.

During times where I am exercising I would go walking and had gotten up to 2 miles and it took about 40-45 minutes to do that.  5K is 3.1 miles, I thought I could do it in 1 hour.

This race was called a Turkey Trot.  I think the winners of each age group got a certificate for a turkey.  We all got a race shirt.

I was in the Women age 35-39 division.  I placed 23rd in that division and 134th overall (but I don't know how many participated).  My time was 55:17.7 (55  minutes 17.1 seconds)

So I was under an hour.  I hope that this race will jumpstart me to exercising more.  I'd like to do another 5K and see how much time I can shave off.

Annual Pumpkin Party

Well the pumpkin party was a hit again.

I made: a Sweet Pumpkin Dip served with graham crackers, ginger snaps, and Nilla wafers; Savory Pumpkin Dip served with crackers and celery; Little Smokies in a pumpkin BBQ sauce; and a Sausage Stuffed Pumpkin.

Rachelle brought homemade pumpkin bread, Shelley brought homemade brownies with little pumpkins on top, Mitch & Jen brought pumpkin bread and muffins, Emma brought homemade Pumpkin Pie Pops, Dwayne brought a pumpkin pie, and Julie brought a homemade pumpkin dump cake.

There were also jack o' lantern sugar cookies for the kids to decorate.

A station set up for pumpkin carving.  There were some awesome carvings.

A Pirate, a Werewolf, the Flash logo, Stitch an Alien

A mouse, a spider

Jack Skellington, A skull (which was the winner)

Another spider

A sun, Classic Jack O' Lantern, 2 Silly faces

A green pumpkin jack o' lantern (the token black guy)

Summer Thus far

Summer has gone by fast, but maybe it is because I've been so lazy.  We did get to visit family this summer.

We went to Denver, Colorado for a wedding.  It was a beautiful outdoor wedding.  The reception was awesome with fun dancing and delicious food.

We also got to go to Bandimere raceway to watch jet fuel cars.

We did our booth at Spanish Fork Fiesta Days.

Chloe was in the Children's Parade.

My parents came for a weekend visit.  We spent Friday at Trafalga.  We rode some rides, to some Dippin' Dots, and played arcade games.  Zane won 1,000 tickets on one game.


We spent Saturday at Price International Days to see a car show, then we played board games all evening.

Lazy Summer

So far my summer has been fairly lazy.  I sleep in, read, watch tv, do a little bit of housework like dishes or laundry.

I need to get my butt in gear and complete the projects I had planned: clean house, fix house, sell house, buy new house, get a dog, lose weight, buy a new car, take music lessons (guitar, violin or flute), practice languages (ASL, German, maybe learn Spanish) and go on a spectacular vacation.

I have gotten a start, I tackled a pile.  I think if I just tackled a pile or task or room a day that I should be fine.  We got a great start on cleaning out the garage.  We can actually park a car in there now.  Now Cooper and Chloe want to clean out their room in hopes of having a yard sale and getting some money.  Money is a good motivator.

I have been exercising, I try to go to Curves 3 times a week, Zumba twice a week, and R.I.P.P.E.D. twice a week.  I just need to get my eating in check.  At least I've maintained and my endurance is better.  I've been on a blood pressure medication for over a month now and my pressure has come down.

How have your summer projects been coming?

Wood Badge, Fox Patrol

I attended a Wood Badge course in Park City at Snydermill Lodge.  This particular course is lovingly referred to as "Camp Cush" because of the nice facilities.

This was an unusual training because it is the first ASL integrated course.  (You can check out the Salt Lake Tribune article here).  There were 2 Deaf patrols.  There were 3 interpreters and many instructors who know some ASL.  It has been great for me because the ASL I learned at BYU started to come back to me.  I've been able to help interpret a bit between hearing and deaf scouters.  I've taught my patrol some signs and phrases, such as 'nice to meet you,'  'good morning', and of course most important, 'bathroom'.

My patrol is the Fox Patrol.  There are 6 guys (Dallin, Ryan, Daniel, Tony, RJ, and Jeremy), me, and our troop guide Jay.  There are a total of 8 patrols.

We had kitchen duty.  Here is proof that the guys do dishes.

We got to make a rocket and shoot it off.  It was very fun, though our rocket didn't fair so well.

Here we are balancing nails on one single nail.  Can you feel how excited we are at our accomplishment?

The guys doing their Captain Morgan stance.  From left to right is RJ, Daniel, Jeremy, Tony, Ryan and Dallin.

On the last day we did not get in our article for the Gilwell Gazette so the scribes wrote it for us.  They had put that people could get their picture with us for a reasonable price.  So here is a pic of Dave the Scribe and Daniel.

I had a great time at Wood Badge and had a great group of guys.  They were such gentlemen taking care of me: making sure I was OK while hiking, lending me a jacket when it was cold, escorting me to my tent late at night, and Daniel even killed a spider for me.

We got along great and really bonded, we are like a fraternity and will be lifelong friends.  We are planning to get together often in the future.

Overhaul

So today I went to the doctor to have some things checked out.  I needed a physical to attend Woodbadge for scouting and had some other issues I needed looked at. At the end, I felt like a car taken to the shop to get its engine overhauled.

The last four times I've tried to donate blood I've been turned away because my blood pressure was too high.  Sure enough, it was high at the doctor's too.  So he's put me on a hypertension medicine called Zestoretic.  I hope it helps.  Oh, they also did an EKG for a baseline.

I also had blood drawn and they will check it to see if I have diabetes or hypoglycemia.  They'll also check my thyroid.  I was also given a tetanus shot (since I couldn't remember when I last had one and they didn't have any record of giving me one).

Bottom line, I could remedy many of my issues if I lost weight, lots of weight.  Hopefully my blood pressure will come down, I can keep Type II Diabetes away, and my knee joints would be relieved of some pressure.

A day in Salt Lake City

So today is the first day of my Spring Break.  I tried to sleep in a bit, but was getting the kids off to school.

I hung around the house, caught up on some TV shows on the DVR.  Then went to run errands in Salt Lake City.  First I stopped by my sister's house to drop off a tool for her to take to my dad's house in Nevada.  Then I went to Simmons Media Group offices at Trolley Corner to pick up the T-shirt I won.

Then I took myself to lunch.  I had heard about a German deli called Siegfried's Delicatessen.  I had their special for the day, knackwurst and 2 sides.  I chose sauerkraut, and spaetzle with gravy.  I had Almdudler Limonade to drink, and a slice of chocolate hazelnut cake for dessert.

It was all very good.  I'd like to go again and try other things on their menu.  They had many things for sale: kinder chocolates, marzipan, noodles, cookies, pickles, beets, crackers, mixes, candies, mugs, t-shirts, deli meats and cheeses, and fish.  I bought a slice of black forest cake to take home to Kyle and some Hungarian style pickles.

Daylight Savings

I got this in an email and thought it was great.

My students and I had a hard time adjusting to the new day.  I even went to bed early to compensate. I ended up just lying there thinking, "Go to sleep.  You need to get drowsy.  You have to get up early for work, go to sleep."

It seems willing yourself to sleep is hard.  It is easier to fall asleep when you are fighting it.

Stress

Lately I've been under a lot of stress.  It has taken a toll on my body.  In general I feel OK, but my blood pressure has increased greatly over the past year.  I've tried to donate blood and all four times have been denied because my blood pressure is too high.

I guess it is time to make an appointment and get lots of things checked out: blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid, knees, hips and feet, etc.

I'm an everything eater.  I eat socially (dates, parties and gatherings), absently (like while watching TV), because I'm bored (like while on the computer), emotionally (like when I'm sad because ice cream makes everything better), and with stress (usually caffeine and chocolate).  I've been trying to exercise more to work off the stress instead of eat my problems away.  I wish the following statement were true.

A New Semester

This week was the end of the first semester at the middle school where I teach.  I can't believe we are already halfway through the year, on the other hand, I can't wait for summer.

I have 12 special needs students.  Then I have peer tutors who are general ed. students that come in and work with my students.  Peer tutors are an extra pair of hands to help with worksheets, run errands, get my group to lunch or the bus or assemblies.  I of course have a few that are my favorites, and then there are those that drive me nuts.  Let's just say I am definitely ready for a new batch of peer tutors.

I feel like I am looking at the first semester as a trial run.  Yes I taught last year, but that was at a high school with a different set of kids, curriculum and expectations.  This year I am starting over again.  I have figured out what kind of things I want to do differently for the second semester.  Hopefully this will help alleviate some of the problems from first semester.  And as always, personality plays a big part.

I had some peer tutors that just got right into the swing of things.  They buddied up with one of my students and developed a friendship.  Then there were other peer tutors who hung around the perimeter of class and waited to be told what to do and who to do it with.  I would make comments like, "this isn't an 8th grade dance where you hang out by the wall, pick a student and help" or "this isn't peer tutor social hour, get with a student and help."

Maybe its their age or maturity level where I have to invite them to participate in class.  Hopefully this new batch is better.

Just a few Christmas Traditions

Over the years I have incorporated the Christmas traditions of my family from my childhood into my own family.

One is we open gifts one person at a time.  This way we can ooh and ahh over what others received for gifts.  I delight in watching the faces of others when I got them a gift that is oh so special.

Another is that my husband and I give each other an ornament.  I always give him a car ornament and he gets me a bear ornament.  We always have a live tree.  We just don't have the storage space to keep a fake one.

A new one just started about 2 or 3 years ago.  I'm always trying to find something special to make for Christmas breakfast and Christmas dinner.  So a few years ago I made Cornish game hens.  It must have left an impression on my son Cooper because the next year he asked, "Are you going to make those little chickens for Christmas?"  Again this year I was asked the same questions, so that is a new tradition.

Growing up my mother would hang up the cards we got in the mail over the archway between the living room and dining room.  I too hang up cards around the archway between the living room and family room.

I love setting out knick-knacks for the holidays.  I make little vignettes.  I have a Santa section, and Christmas tree section, a Snowman section, Christmas bear section, and a couple of Nativities.  My mother-in-law often gets the kids a book as a gift and I am able to pair these holiday books with the corresponding vignettes.

I'm not really sure which traditions my husband had in his family that we know incorporate, I think I dominate the traditions.  I should ask if there is anything he would like us to start or stop doing.

I'm a good driver, really I am...

I have been visiting my in-laws for Thanksgiving in Newcastle, WY.  My Cousin Ray lives about 50 miles away in Moorcroft and I went to visit him.  My parents were there for 2 days for Thanksgiving, I wanted to touch base and give them Zac for the return trip back through Utah then Nevada.

During the trip as I get to Osage there is lots of snow and wind.  It was like driving through a mini-blizzard and it was like that through Upton too.  It all cleared up as I got to Moorcroft.  We visited and about 2 1/2 hours later I left for the return trip, alone.

Once I hit Upton the snow and wind started, though the wind wasn't as strong as before.  It was snowy all the way to Osage, visibility was low and I was driving about 40mph on the highway.  The snow stopped once I passed Osage so I thought it would be smooth sailing the rest of the way.

The road was slushy and icy.  All of a sudden I start to fishtail.  I counter-steer but couldn't seem to straighten out, then a big spin and I end up on the shoulder on the other side of the road.  Stuck.  Couldn't get out.  A car pulled up along side of me and asked if I was OK and needed help.  He said he had a tow rope and 4-wheel drive so he may be able to get me out.

He had Indiana plates and I commented that he was a fellow Hoosier.  He was from the Bloomington area, I explained I was from the South Bend area.  Well, he got the rope hooked up and slowly we made our way out of the ditch/shoulder.  Woohoo!  I told him thanks and that he was my savior.

So I get to Newcastle, call my parents to tell them that I made it safely.  Then I drive up the dirt road to the lane where my in-laws live.  At the bottom of the hill I wonder if I can make it up because I wasn't sure how icy the dirt road was, but I didn't have cell service there and I should have called the house when I was were the dirt road met the highway.  Also, I had to pee really bad and decided to drive up the hill.

I didn't even get halfway up when I hit a slick spot and lost momentum.  I tried and tried.  I decided that I should just back down the hill and either try again or drive out to the highway and make a call.  The minivan slips and slides as I back down the hill.  I end up veering into the side of the hill, I'm glad I didn't go off the other side of the road and down the hill.

I get out to walk part way up the hill to Larry & DeeDee's place (I still had to pee so I make a pit stop).  DeeDee drives me up to Jim & Mary's place.  Jim gets his pick up truck with the plow on the front.  He plows the road as he goes down the hill, picks up Larry and they both go off to work on my minivan.  With a tow rope, lots of slipping and luck they were able to back the van down and park at the bottom of the hill.

So while I had the 2 mishaps on my drive home, I am thankful for the prayer of safety we had as a family before I left Ray's house.  You might think that the prayer didn't work, but it did.  I am thankful that I wasn't injured, crashed the car, hurt somebody or something. I am also thankful that there was somebody to help me out so that I didn't have to spend the night out in the cold on the side of the road.

Featurette: Johnny's Blog

So my friend Johnny has been a friend of my family for a long time.  I've known him for as long as I've known my husband.  I think Johnny is a great artist.  I would call his style whimsical, modern, futuristic, fantasy and caricature.  I know one of his artist influences is James C. Christensen.  In the past Johnny has done some graphic arts with video games, with such companies as Morpheus and Avalanche.

Artwork by John-Lehi Jensen

Johnny has made cards for us.

Artwork by John-Lehi Jensen

Artwork by John-Lehi Jensen

  

Artwork by John-Lehi Jensen

We asked him to do drawings for our business.

Artwork by John-Lehi Jensen

He's just so talented.  You can check out some of his other artwork and artist influences at his blog: ragbagmedley.blogspot.com

I recently made one of his 3D paper dolls, it was pretty cool (you can find it on his blog).  His more recent work that he shows on his blog I think belongs in a Tim Burton movie.  Do you hear that Tim Burton?!  You need to hire Johnny as one of your animators!

Anyway, check him out.  He's new to the blogosphere, he could use some subscribers.

New Roof

Our roof has been bad for a few years now.  It leaks, it's rotting.  The swamp cooler has leaked.  Some shingles had blown off during a windstorm or micro-burst.  The final straw was when 2 trees at the side of our house fell and landed on the roof.

So a few weeks ago we were at Sears and they were having a home improvement special.  We signed on to get a new roof.

A big dumpster was dropped off, and after the project it was filled to the brim.

Sears had to replace almost half of the sheeting for the roof it was so bad.  The front half of the house had 3 layers of shingles, the back had 4.  After it rained, because of so many layers of shingles the roof was not able to dry out and it just rotted.  On day 2 one of their guys was walking and he actually fell through.  Well he fell through all the way up to his waist.  A leg was dangling.

A couple of days later another crew sent by Sears came and repaired the ceiling.

The new roof looks great.  The swamp cooler is gone, there is a ridge venting system install, an ice guard, and Feltex Roof Wrap.

Oh, and it came with a lifetime warranty.  I'm glad that we had professionals do it (even though it was costly) because I would have felt horrible having a neighbor or family member fall through the roof.  At least this guy would have been covered by worker's comp.