The Sabbath

1) I forgot to mention it before but this last week I finish the Book of Mormon for this year. :) I've started over again. It's such a great book!
2) I have a calling now (a "job," if you will, at church)!
3) I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow but at least I have my lessons already planned.
4) I made homemade caramel popcorn. It was yummy!
5) I still can't believe I signed up for PRK ... I'm excited to never wear contacts ever again! Less than a month! And tomorrow is December... 0.o Just crazy.

happiness quote: “Happiness is a state of activity.” ― Aristotle

I'm a candidate for PRK!

1) I went to Sandy this morning and had an appointment at the Lasik Vision Institute.
2) I came away with a surgery appointment. :) I'm nervous but really excited!!
3) After that I went on a date and it went really well. :) First one since my divorce and I really enjoyed myself.
4) I got to see Devin and spend some time with him.
5) My sister, her husband, and my cousin played Rockband with me. 

happiness quotes: “I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” ― Albert Schweitzer

Leftovers!

1) I got to have Thanksgiving leftovers today and they were really yummy!
2) I watched some more Walking Dead with my sister and her husband.
3) I watched one of my new movies and really enjoyed it.
4) I have an appointment set up tomorrow to find out if I'm a good candidate for Lasik. :) 
5) I worked pretty much all day. I got A LOT done though. I've got a few more things on my list but I feel great about how much I got done. (Been running myself a little ragged though and getting sicker. *sigh* At least I still have tomorrow and Sunday before I go back to work. And when I get back, three weeks and then Christmas Break!)

happiness quote: “Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt

Thanksgiving Day

(Ironically I missed Thanksgiving Day...)
1) So glad to have another day off!
2) Dinner was so delicious.
3) Jenelle, Ang, and Emmett came over. 
4) I refused to do any work. :D (work for my job that is)
5) I got to go to Angèle's and Emmett's and watch The Walking Dead with them.

happiness quote: “I consider myself a stained-glass window. And this is how I live my life. Closing no doors and covering no windows; I am the multi-colored glass with light filtering through me, in many different shades. Allowing light to shed and fall into many many hues. My job is not to direct anything, but only to filter into many colors. My answer is destiny and my guide is joy. And there you have me.” ― C. JoyBell C.

My sister didn't know what to put in the vase for the centerpiece, so I took care of it. ;)

A day off!!

1) I was able to sleep in a little - which is great because I apparently didn't go to bed for a LONG time. I took an ambien around midnight when I STILL wasn't asleep and I vaguely remember being in the kitchen at some point and almost eating stuffing. Adri says I was in her room. I remember trying to get something in her closet ceiling and I couldn't reach it... oh amby...
2) I planned for my French and Spanish 2 classes for the rest of the year.
3) I had a spectacular workout at the gym! :D
4) I got to text my BFF today. (Well I pretty much text her everyday but I love her and I'm so glad we get to talk so often. 
5) I'm so incredibly grateful for my amazing family. I have been struggling for a while and they are so giving to me. I feel like I only take (because of a sense of dearth of love having been left by my ex husband), and they continue to give to me. 

happiness quote: “Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.” ― Ben Carson

Tuesday the 25th

1) I planned the rest of classes for the year for my Spanish 1 classes.
2) I got out of school early! (We had a half day.)
3) I was asked to chaperon a dance! I'm pretty excited to do it. :)
4) I was asked by some students if I was 24, and then at the temple if I was 20! :)
5) I am having friends over on Saturday and my cousin is coming too! We're going to play Rockband. Woooo!

happiness quote: “The greatest thing about dreams is they don’t expire. They can lay dormant for years and when you pull them out and dust them off, they shine like new.” ― Casi McLean

Tests galore!

1) I gave tests today and then for the little bit of class that remained, we watched Invader Zim in Spanish. It was hilarious!
2) Two students talked to me for about an hour. It's nice, for me, that they are open and friendly with me. :)
3) I can see the strength I'm slowing gaining at the gym and I love it!
4) I only woke up once last night.
5) I got a new supplement. :) I'm really excited to try it. :D

happiness quote: “Even in Siberia there is happiness.” ― Anton Chekhov

A bad day that still had good things...

1) I had a wonderful work out. I tried a new circuit that really was quite vigorous.
2) There was a Deaf event at the mall and I got to spend the whole time with Anna and Hillary. It was great to sign for two hours straight and just visit with good friends.
3) One of the students told me that their mom said I was their favorite teacher. :) She told her daughter, "I really like the Spanish teacher! She was my favorite." :D Feels great.
4) Even though I'm getting sick, a break is near so I will be able to rest (well and the weekend).
5) Next Tuesday is a half day. Wahoo! I hope that there aren't meetings after school. That would be good!

happiness quote: “Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.” ― Elise Boulding

Almost a Friday again :D

1) My guitar teacher always gives me awesome compliments. :)
2) My jhs class went extremely well today. They were on their best behavior and that was much appreciated.
3) I woke up early and was able to read scriptures before school. (I usually read them at night.)
4) My ASL kids did pretty well on their test. :) I'm so proud!
5) I have had a few kids request me for extra classes next year. Makes me feel great that they want me back! :)

happiness quote: I never understood the point of being sad when I could choose to be happy. -- Megan McCafferty, Second Helpings

Empanada fun

1) Making empanadas with my classes turned out pretty well. :) 
2) I was able to help some students in my mentor group.
3) I have my tests ready for tomorrow and Monday. 
4) I got to dance in the kitchen during my prep period. It was great!
5) My jhs class is cancelled next week. :D That is a relief! (Those sixth graders are my hardest class.)

happiness quote: “In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance.” ― Dieter F. Uchtdorf

What's that in the kitchen?

Oh yes. This is very useful here.

I was getting a mixer piece out of the dishwasher and a knife FOUR INCHES AWAY got me!

Our empanadas

the 18th

1) I got to spend lots of time in the temple today.
2) I've been enough that I'm being recognized as a regular. :) ^
3) My classes went really well. 
4) I got my errands done. 
5) I'm making empanadas with two classes tomorrow. 

happiness quote: "Happiness doesn't lie in conspicuous consumption and the relentless amassing of useless crap. Happiness lies in the person sitting beside you and your ability to talk to them. Happiness is clear-headed human interaction and empathy. Happiness is home. And home is not a house-home is a mythological conceit. It is a state of mind. A place of communion and unconditional love. It is where, when you cross its threshold, you finally feel at peace.” ― Dennis Lehane

Just another manic Monday

1) My students are a very talented bunch and drew some great pictures! 
2) J'ai vu le film "les Choristes." Je l'amais bien!
3) (Now I have an urge to write the rest in French!) I didn't think I would get to play my guitar today but I was wrong. :) 
4) A good friend called me and talked to me for a few minutes. It was unexpected and much appreciated.
5) I'm starting Japanese tomorrow with my sixth graders and they're going to freak! (With happiness)

5 Minutes

1) I had a 5 minute phone conversation today and I feel awesome! 
2) I have plans for tomorrow night. :D
3) I was able to talk to my BFF on the phone for an hour. 
4) Church was awesome.
5) The primary kids made me laugh with their antics during the program. :)

happiness quote: “I like to believe that you don't need to reach a certain goal to be happy. I prefer to think that happiness is always there, and that when things don't go the way we might like them to, it's a sign from above that something even better is right around the corner.” ― David Archuleta, Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance

Time Warp!

Didn't realize I'd missed Friday...
1) I got to have a bunch of friends over to play Rockband.
2) Two friends came early and we watched a movie..
3) and had dinner together. :) (I cooked and was ambition and .. lol I'm glad they liked it.)
4) I have plans for next Saturday with my BFF and another good friend.
5) My faith in humanity is being restored. I guess specifically my faith that good men are still out. (No offense to any males I know - I have just met a lot of .. not great guys recently. Good to know good ones are still out and about.)

happiness quote: “Take all that you can of this book upon reason, and the balance on faith, and you will live and die a happier man. (When a skeptic expressed surprise to see him reading a Bible)” ― Abraham Lincoln

Growing pains

1) I've got the next week and a half planned for my MWF classes. :)
2) It's almost Thanksgiving break!!!
3) I'm having a lot of recent tough growing experiences, but I'm grateful for them. The only way I can learn to become the person I would like to be is to just live it. 
4) I'm glad I have supportive friends who are patient, forgiving, and loving with me as I make these changes.
5) I'm finally learning how to react to guys in a normal way. (I've dated so many manipulative guys that it's still hard for me to know what to do or say.)

happiness quote: “Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” ― Mother Teresa

Happy Day!

1) Today started out poorly but turned around quite quickly. :D
2) My classes went REALLY well.
3) I got to help with the kitchen replacement we did for maman.
4) My maman cried when she saw what we had done (replaced the countertops, lights, and took off the remaining wallpaper. We also replaced the light switches. It looks amazing in there).
5) I get to see some really good friends tomorrow and I'm so excited about that!
6) I got to spend some time with my nieces and nephews. :)

happiness quote: “Joy came always after pain.” ― Guillaume Apollinaire

Wednesday the 12th

1) I was told, to my face, "You are so beautiful."
2) I went to ice cream with a good friend.
3) I did a lot more push-ups than I thought I could!
4) The pink in my hair is fading but it's becoming this really cool strawberry blonde. (Since I was a kid I've always wanted to be a strawberry blonde.)
5) I'm feeling SO awesome. It's amazing what an unsolicited compliment will do for your night. 

happiness quote: “Everybody has something, that one thing they must do to feel happy. I think this is yours, and I want you to be happy. You don’t have to do it, but it’s here if you choose to come back to it.” ― Ilona Andrews, Magic Bleeds

Happy Papa's birthday! (and Veteran's Day)

1) I got to wish my Papa a happy birthday this morning. :) He's such an amazing father - I'm very blessed to have him. :)
2) I got to help my parents paint their kitchen. 
3) I was in a little bit of emotional distress today but managed not to cry in class! (It was close so I'm glad that I didn't.)
4) My jhs kids all wrote 10 sentences in French today. :D
5) I got to watch some Bones today. 

happiness quote: “Nothing is miserable unless you think it so; and on the other hand, nothing brings happiness unless you are content with it.” ― Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy

A workday :/

1) I planned my entire next week for all my classes. -- It was hard to work all day BUT I'm ready for next week!
2) All my lessons are also entered into the grading system.
3) I got to play some guitar.
4) I have a new HARD song and I put in a ton of practice and it's coming along. :D
5) I got to spend time with family today (well, I worked on planning but I did it in the room where everyone else was)!

happiness quote: “[I]t is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible.” ― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Made it to the weekend again!

1) I managed to teach and not show movies (like I felt like doing, lol)! 
2) I kicked up my amount of cardio and felt pretty awesome when I left the gym.
3) I burned a TON of calories. ^
4) I got to spend time with my parents; that was really lovely.
5)  We watched Edge of Tomorrow and I liked it a lot. :)

happiness quote: “Some day you will find out that there is far more happiness in another's happiness than in your own.” ― Honoré de Balzac, Père Goriot

Some crazy pics from this week (apparently there was some news happening but I didn't see it): 

And my new pink hair!!

  

Almost Friday again!

1) Because I haven't been feeling well I was worried about my lessons (especially my sixth graders), but everything went well. :) 
2) I got a Death Cab For Cutie song from my guitar teacher today!!! 
3) I practicing more and more each day (I spent over two hours the other day)! It's nice to have something on which to focus and an area in which I'm seeing practice paying off.
4) I was slap happy a lot of today as I didn't sleep as well as expected last night but it's been fun!
5) I might be teaching seminary instead of sixth graders next semester. That would be awesome!!!

I will sleep well tonight!

1) I have been hearing from my students that their parents really liked me. :) (At PT Conferences.) 
2) My workout went very well and I think I'm going to up my cardio time. 
3) I am getting my grading done through the week and that's helping me to feel more optimistic about my weekend.
4) I think I'm going to sleep well tonight! I've been nearly passing out all day so I am looking forward to sleeping soundly. 
5) A kid in my mentor group told me that mentor group time is his favorite class. A few others chimed in after that. That made me feel pretty great. :) 

happiness quote: “A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.” ― Hugh Downs

Temple day!

1) I'm so glad I was able to go to the temple today. It was very peaceful.
2) I ran into someone I knew. That was cool. ^
3) I told Sharon (the middle school director) about the dream I had in which she featured. She thought it was pretty funny.
4) I wasn't told my pink hair is unacceptable in the faculty meeting. :D
5) My junior high kids were really good today and I'm glad as I didn't feel well.

happiness quote: “The way I define happiness is being the creator of your experience, choosing to take pleasure in what you have, right now, regardless of the circumstances, while being the best you that you can be.” ― Leo Babauta

Moving forward

1) My Spanish lessons went really well. 
2) I am getting sick so I'm glad I have this weekend open (well nothing on Saturday scheduled but lesson planning).
3) My students really liked my pink hair. :D
4) I got to watch some episodes of a show that made me laugh. That was nice.
5) I played my guitar with the songs (along with the original) and I can play up to speed in almost song! :D
6) I finally got my car registered! Whew. 

happiness quote: “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance. The wise grows it under his feet.” ― James Oppenheim

Simone's birthday!

1) It was great to spend time with Simone on her birthday. 
2) I got to talk to a really good friend for most of the day (through text). 
3) We had a great lesson on prayer in RS.
4) I got to listen to my dad and brothers sing.
5) We had an awesome dinner (homemade eggrolls) and dessert (cheesecake from scratch). 
6) My niece loves spending time with me. <3

happiness quotes: “The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit.” ― Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun

November already!? (the first)

1) I got to watch another scary movie with Abbey and Tara (I watched two with them Halloween night).
2) Abbey and I got to go to a really fun Halloween party my friend threw.
3) I sang a duet with a stranger there and he asked to sing another with me afterwards!
4) It rained!
5) Abbey and I sang a duet as well (karaoke). 

happiness quote: “The victim mindset dilutes the human potential. By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances, we greatly reduce our power to change them.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

Last week of October

It was obviously crazy as I didn't have time to post. Some highlights:

1) I got to teach Halloween lessons!
2) My sister colored my hair (it's now pink on the ends)!
3) I got to go to a haunted house.
4) I got a refill on my ambien. (:D)
5) I survived in spite of the craziness.

happiness quote: “Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice.” ― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change