Why I won't sleep tonight:

There is a mouse,
Here in my house.
It does not run
But comes for fun,
To scare my wits
To little bits.
I do not like it, Sam-I-Am,
I do not like it--not a fan.

If this mouse should wish to stay,
I'll ask him back another day
When, armed with traps and poison, see,
I will be rid of this new enemy.

I do not like the mouse that ran,
I do NOT like him, Sam-I-Am!

Still kicking

First graders are waaaaay easier to entertain than second graders. And they still get excited to sing songs and learn games and play instruments. And they like to be quiet when I ask.

And I could not be more grateful for that.

From the bottom of the pool...

Who knew that 2nd graders could be so terrifying? Or so energetic? Or so loud?

Actually, I think I knew that last one...

In a bizarre and unexpected turn of events, I am now the Music Specialist at Westmore Elementary. That's right, I teach music to the 1st and 2nd graders for an hour every day. How did such a strange thing happen, you ask? Let me 'splain...

My wonderful sister-in-law Bekah teaches 4th grade at Westmore. Earlier this summer, she thought there might be some openings for teachers' aides for the new school year and I thought that sounded great, especially if I reached the end of the summer still job-less.

Bekah called me Monday to let me know there were indeed some aide openings and gave me the needed information. "Oh, and if you're interested, they also need a music teacher." The pay was good, the hours short, and I thought, why not? It's a job, after all. I'll just go in and interview and see what happens.

I went in to interview and ten minutes later, I had the job, more or less. There were some technicalities to work out, but if I wanted it, the job was mine. Did I want it? I said I did. I planned my first lesson, took notes from Bekah on how to run a class, and went early this morning to set up, prep, and wait.

And then the children came in...and every carefully prepared speech left my head, every structured and organized minute flew away, and in the hands of twenty-nine restless, talkative, easily distracted seven-year-olds and one particularly disruptive child, my first hour of teaching was not what I would term a success.

Granted, no one got hurt, no one threw up, no one cried (except possibly me much later), and I did get them to sing in more or less unison at one point, so perhaps I could give myself some credit. For my very first ever day teaching with a class that is known to be hard to handle, perhaps it wasn't so very bad.

Well...yeah, it was still that bad.

I have a new plan for tomorrow's class and I know that this teaching thing will get better and easier over time. But I can't help stopping and wondering, how the heck did I get here? From hired to teaching in two days, I jumped in with both feet and hit the bottom of the pool running. I am determined not to drown...and who knows? I may even learn to swim.

Surviving the Summit

There it was...the trail went up, the mountain loomed, and I took those first steps knowing that before the end of my journey, each of those steps would hurt.

I was right.

Two and a half hours later, I was two and a half miles up the mountain and still had eight switchbacks to go. Though it was only a three-mile hike, the trail ascended 3,000 feet in those three miles--literally an uphill climb the entire way. My knees were ready to give out, my ankles hurt were aching, and I was soaked with sweat. I didn't know how I was going to make it up that last half-mile to the Summit.

That was when my little brother Ethan, the firefighting champion that he is, walked with me at my slow pace, sometimes pushing me from behind, as I fought to keep hiking. And I thought, this is what family is all about--supporting each other when we falter, pushing each other up when we feel we have no strength, walking at the pace of the slowest person to make sure we all make it to the top.

The hike to Hidden Peak at Snowbird has become a yearly tradition for my family since my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Though we don't always hike, we at least ride the tram to the top of the mountain and stay for the program that the Cancer Wellness House does and take pictures of the hundreds of yellow flags snapping in the breeze. The flags are each dedicated to people with cancer, and each one speaks of hope and love, triumph and strength, as well as grief and farewells.

This year was the first year I was able to hike all the way to the Summit, and though it just about killed me, I am so glad that I did it. I realized as I hiked that surviving cancer, just like surviving the Summit, isn't about the end result--it's about every step along the way, it's about taking control of each day, it's about how you live and how you hike. And if you're lucky, like I am, you will have a loving, crazy, wonderful family to do it with you.

Graduation

Yesterday was my last official day of class...ever. I'm finally, completely, thoroughly, one hundred percent-ly done with school, possibly forever. (I reserve the right to go back if I want to...someday.) It's a strange feeling to be done, to know that I may never be a student again, that all my time spent in classrooms from here on out will be in a teaching capacity, that I can no longer mark "student" when asked for my occupation. It's exhilarating and freeing and forlorn at the same time.

In a week or so, school will start up again at BYU and UVU, and I will not be one of the many people buying books, checking my class schedule, reading syllabuses, and resigning myself to another semester of homework and classes. I've been going to school every September since I was 5 years old, and I just turned 24. I've been a student for the last 19 years, and except for the past year when I was also a wife and full-time employee, that was one of my primary identifiers. That word, "student," defined so much about me, and without it, I feel a little unsure of myself.

At the same time, I can't help but rejoice in my freedom and make plans for my newly-open evenings and weekends: learning how to bake bread, finishing that quilt Tim and I started a year ago, organizing photos into photo albums, reading the two dozen or so books that I own but have never read. Yes, I think I may really enjoy not being in school. And of course, I'll be supporting Tim as he slogs through another semester, which will probably make it easier not to miss being in school myself.

I was able to go to my graduation in May in Pittsburgh, thanks to my wonderful and generous parents. Tim and I and my parents flew out a few days early and I got to show them all around the city I called home for a year. We had a lot fun, in spite of the rain (which, really, only completed the true Pittsburgh experience). We ate a ton of really good food (Pamela's, anyone?) and shopped and visited my campus and picked up the bound copies of my thesis. I read at the MFA Graduate Student Reading and visited with old friends and professors. And then Sunday May 23, I went to my graduation where I wore a gown with funny sleeves and a green and purple hood, and I took time to celebrate and be proud of myself. Maybe that's a strange thing to say, but when the President of the University declared us graduated and all the family and friends stood as they clapped and cheered for us, I got teary-eyed as it hit me--I did it. I got my Master's degree. I worked so hard, especially during the year I was also working full-time and writing my thesis, and to have my parents and husband--the people who knew exactly what that degree cost me--stand and clap for me and my accomplishment and all it represented...wow. It was one of the highlights of my life, a moment I don't think I'll ever forget.

Going to my graduation was the perfect celebration. Having a bound copy of my thesis on my bookshelf is just amazing. Being done with my last summer class is so relieving. I did it. It's done, and more than anything else, I am so grateful.

Happy 1 Week Birthday, Gracie!

My newest niece, Sandra Grace Herrick, was born one week ago today, which just happened to be my birthday. I was quite pleased that she made the deadline--she was born right around 11:30 pm! I now have a legitimate reason to be her favorite aunt, and I fully plan to milk that fact. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful, with her mom's big eyes and her dad's full lips, and I can't wait to see her grow up and learn and develop her personality because I have no doubt, given her parentage, she's going to be hilarious. And amazing. Good work, Paul and Bekah! And welcome Gracie! We've been waiting for you.

24 years ago today...

Thanks, Mom, for laboring to bring me into the world. I really, really appreciate it. (Tim does too.) I know it was hard and painful, but I hope it was also worth it. I love you!


It's hard to believe that I've been around for 24 years of good experiences, growth, learning, tears, and occasional tantrums. It's been good--really good. I am grateful for everything and everyone that have made me who I am and brought me to this point in my life.


Today was a really wonderful day. Tim and I had a picnic lunch together and went to the temple. Then up to my parents' house for dinner and presents and games. Perfect.




I have a feeling 24 is going to be a great year...Happy Birthday to Kate!

Hotel Herrick

I love my little basement apartment so much more when it's clean! It's not at all fancy, and every once in a while I look around and laugh at how mismatched everything is. It's come a long way in the last year, though, and I'd like to show it off a little. So, without further ado...

The Living Room(what is just out of sight in both pictures is the entertainment center and TV):



The Office/Guest Room--check out that beautiful quilt made by my Grandma Hadley! (Also just out of sight in this picture is the extra entertainment center and TV...Anyone need some furniture?):


The Bathroom:


And the Kitchen/Dining/Laundry Room:


We have a lot of family coming to stay with us soon, so I am so glad we had time to make everything presentable for our guests. Hotel Herrick--lowest prices guaranteed--is officially up and running!