2018 is Almost Over!!!

I can't believe that next week is Christmas! Another semester is over, another round of grades are in the books. Next semester will hopefully be my last until student teaching in August! I'm so excited to be so close to finishing my degree and earning my teaching certificate! I'm still praying and pondering about what comes after graduation. Brandon and I think we have a pretty good idea of what we will be doing and where we'll be living in the next few years, but we haven't yet figured out the details. So, more information on life after graduation will come over the next year or so.....

I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on how 2018 has been so far, seeing as there are only a couple of weeks left in the year. Then I'll share some of my goals for 2019.

In January, I decided to focus on faith and relationships for the year. My faith has been on a roller coaster these past few years: sometimes it's strong, sometimes it's weak. I have had experiences this year that have strengthened my faith. I have also had experiences that have strengthened my relationships. Going to the Lower 48 was especially beneficial because I was able to see people that I've seen in 5 years. I'm making it a goal to get down to the Lower 48 at least once a year to visit people (and maybe even more often than that, depending on how future plans pan out).

For a refresher of my goals for 2018, go here. 

For the most part, I accomplished my 2018 goals. I went to the temple, and I went to the Lower 48. I made an attempt to use time wisely, even though I still have my lazy days! I was especially grateful that my church leaders encouraged me to take a break from social media. That really helped me to prioritize my time. I need to take breaks from social media more often!

Thinking ahead to 2019, I have decided to base my goals on a framework that I learned in my child development classes. The acronym PIES represents different areas of development:

PIES Chart Created using Google Sheets

P- Physical
I-  Intellectual
E- Emotional
S- Social

I also added an extra S: Spirituality.

Here are my goals for each area of development:

Physical: Exercise at least 3 times a week. I also have a reasonable weight loss goal which I will not disclose to online world.

Intellectual: Begin student teaching.

Emotional: Write in a gratitude journal at least once a week.

Social: Attend a conference in a city that I've never been to before.

Spiritual: Attend the temple at least 4 times in 2019.

Goals with PIES chart

Here's to a great 2019! I hope you all enjoy your Christmas!



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I survived another semester!

Sorry dear blog for ignoring you! I had a busy semester, but it's all done now!

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Spring Semester

I am a few weeks into the Spring Semester, so I thought I should finally write about it! Haha

I am crazy so I decided to take 18 credits (6 classes) this semester:
ED 100 Linguistics and Education
MATH 212 Math for Elementary Teachers
ENG 270 Creative Writing
ED 201 Intro to Education
ED 204 Children's Literature
GEOG 101 World Geography

I'm also serving as secretary for my church's children's program, so you can definitely say I'm busy!  Hopefully I'll be able to survive this semester.

It's interesting, though. Even though I'm super-busy, I magically have time to get things done and actually feel like I have a social life. I'm forced to interact with people more on a daily basis. So I'm slowly becoming more friendly and coming out of my shell again. I experience seasonal depression plus I'm introverted so this is kind of a big deal for me. I can be social but it takes work and drains me. I really like my "me time" and need to recharge after social events. But I've been getting better.

I'll try to write more but if I'm absent more often than not, it's because I'm so busy!

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Hot Topics: the Plus-Sized Life

My sister recently wrote an awesome post about life as a curvy cutie and all of the emotional turmoil that often brings. You can check out her post here: https://djslifestory.blogspot.com/2018/01/being-plus-size-woman-self-esteem.html   Her post was so awesome and thought-provoking, and I could relate to a lot of what she had to say! That's why I decided to write a short response to her post and share it with y'all.

My sister wrote a lot about how being a curvy cutie affected her social life, how she dressed, and how she felt about herself. Despite her challenges, she finds different ways to rise above them and be comfortable being unique. She's developed a style all her own, and let me just tell you, sometimes I want to raid her closet! I want to be like Denali when I grow up.

I too can relate to self-esteem issues related to my size. I've always been bigger, even when I've been more physically fit. Add shyness and quietness, and that makes it harder to make friends. I've had moments where I let my challenges get the better of me, but I've done some hard scary things just to show myself that I could!  I did cheerleading my junior and senior years of high school! I did have to wear the largest size skirts and I had a hard time keeping the beat but I didn't let that stop me! Being a cheerleader scared the snot out of me, but it was so rewarding. It increased my confidence and gave me something to look forward to.  So did serving a mission for my church, being a preschool teacher, going to college, and serving in various responsibilities at church. All of these things have helped me to be a more confident person and helped me to see what I am capable of, no matter my size.

I have tried to exercise and diet before, but I realized that trying to lose weight will make no difference unless I learn to love myself the way I am first. That journey of self-love is a constant work in progress. Some days are better than others. I try to look at the positives, like my smile and laugh, when I get down on myself. I am planning to make improvements for my physical health this year, but I don't want to get down on myself if the scale doesn't move or if I stuff my face with chocolate. I'm still beautiful no matter my size. As long as I'm striving to improve, the number on the scale or tape measure doesn't matter. The size of my heart is much more important than my dress size.

The same is true for you too! Whether you think you're too fat or too thin, too hairy, or have a face full of acne. You're beautiful inside even if all that people look at is the outside.  God doesn't make junk; He made you special for His purposes. Never forget your great worth.

I wanted to share a few songs that have gotten me through hard times and showed me that I'm awesome just the way I am.  At the end of the post, I have some lovely pictures of me rocking awesome outfits at different stages of my life.

Proof that I was a cheerleader!

Junior Year

Senior year rocking denim on denim

Picture with the hubby

That one time I dyed my hair purple

Anyone can be a mermaid!

I love love love Junie Blake dresses! Modest, adorable, and affordable

Sometimes you can find cute dresses at thrift stores!

Wedding reception with my sisters!

My pretty wedding dress! And Hubby looks good in purple!

Love this dress!

My high school style!

We are princesses!

Trees need love too and so do you!

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A Tribute to Thomas S. Monson

Last night, an important leader of my church passed away. His name was Thomas Spencer Monson, and he spent most of his life serving in the church in a variety of capacities, with his most recent responsibility being the prophet and president of the church. His life was one of service and love.  Below are just a few of the things that have impressed me when I think about Thomas S. Monson's life:

Trust- Thomas S. Monson trusted in God and in His plan, even when things were rough.
Honor- Thomas S. Monson honored his covenants and promises to God and others.
Our Prophet- Thomas S. Monson met many people and he will always remain in our hearts.
Mercy- Thomas S. Monson has met people of all walks of life and strived to be kind to those he meets.
Altruistic- Thomas S. Monson served others without thought of reward.
Strength- Although his health sharply declined toward the end of his life, Thomas S. Monson served to the best of his abilities.

Military- Thomas S. Monson served in the military as a young man and showed bravery.
Obedience- Thomas S. Monson followed the commandments and promptings of the Spirit.
Natural Love- Thomas S. Monson showed natural, Christlike love for others.
Stories- Thomas S. Monson used stories as he discussed gospel principles.
Ordinary (with a little extra)- Although Thomas S. Monson was an ordinary man, the Lord helped him to fulfill his duties and touch many lives.
Nurture- Thomas S. Monson cared for others, especially the widows and fatherless.


Heaven gained another angel last night. Thomas S. Monson will be missed, but his legacy will live on.

Images from lds.org

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New Years Resolutions

Hi everyone and Happy 2018!
I've enjoyed reading friend's posts about their goals and resolutions for this year. I have decided that I don't want to have a lot of resolutions this year, but I do want to have two focus words to outline my purpose for this year: faith and relationships. I chose faith because I want to increase my faith in God and also increase the faith and trust that I have in my family and friends. I also chose relationships because strengthening my faith and trust in God, family, and friends will improve my relationships with important people in my life.
While my focus words will guide me throughout the course of the year as I set daily and weekly goals, I have set one goal related to each focus word that I hope to accomplish by the end of the year.

Faith Goal: I will attend the temple at least two times by the end of 2018.

Relationship Goal: I will go on a vacation to visit family and friends in the Lower 48 by the end of 2018.

Overarching Goal: I will use my time wisely as I strengthen my faith and my relationships.


Here's to a wonderful 2018!

Pictures and Clipart from clipart-library.com

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Hot Topics: Non-Committal Make-out Sessions (NCMOS)

Hello blog friends!

My sister has been blogging up a storm, and as I mentioned before, this has inspired me to take up blogging again.  You can check out some of her work over at https://djslifestory.blogspot.com .

My sis and I have been discussing ideas for blog posts, and one of the ideas that we came up with writing an opinion piece about a common practice among young people that has the potential to lead to much more than the participants had bargained for. NCMOS (non-committal make-out sessions) are a plague among some of the college town social scenes that my sis and I have been involved in, so I wanted to talk about why I don't like NCMOS and would discourage young people from participating in them.

What are NCMOS?
NCMOS are non-committal make-out sessions, where individuals who are not in a committed relationship repeatedly kiss each other just for the fun of it. Sometimes the partners have previously met, sometimes they're friends, but often they're people who will likely never see one another after the make-out session. People sometimes describe NCMOS as one-night stands or hookups that don't lead all the way to sex.

Pros and Cons?
I have known people and heard stories about people who have participated in NCMOS. I have also participated in make-out sessions when I was not in a relationship. Some found it to be exciting and fun, plus kissing feels good.  Some liked that it was "no strings attached," meaning they could have the benefits of kissing without having to work at a relationship. Many people dislike NCMOS because they feel that kissing should be saved for serious relationships. I will share how I feel about NCMOS personally, but first, I would like to share some background information.

What do kisses mean?
Kissing can be fun, but I don't think that people should kiss one another willy-nilly as they please. I believe that kissing and other displays of affection have meaning. The meaning of the actions can mean something different depending on who you ask.

For this section of the post, I will draw from the words of LDS author and speaker, John Bytheway. He has given advice to teenagers and young adults for many years and has been one of my favorite authors since I was in Junior High. The New Era, a magazine for LDS teenagers, published an article which John Bytheway wrote about kissing. Bytheway (2004) warns that our actions often speak louder than words, especially when showing physical affection. Even a simple hug between two friends can speak volumes.

According to Bytheway, each person can interpret an action in different ways.  A boy and girl may hold hands while walking at the fair. One might think they are just holding hands so they don't lose one another in the crowd while the other thinks that holding hands means that they are boyfriend and girlfriend. A young man and young woman might share a goodnight kiss after a date. One might feel like they will have a good story to share with their buddies since they finally got that kiss, while the other may feel an outburst of emotions and attachment to their kissing partner. I highly recommend reading John Bytheway's article. I really changed my perspective on kissing and the messages it can convey.

My Take on NCMOS
In my personal opinion, I absolutely agree with John Bytheway. I think that actions speak louder than words, and physical actions can often be misinterpreted. Without going into detail, I will say that  I have had experiences where I misinterpreted messages that guys were sending, and I've had my heart broken a couple of times.

When you kiss someone, you can't take it back. Like it or not, the memory stays with you and can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.  I've thought about guys I've kissed even years after the fact. When you kiss someone, you develop an emotional connection. If your make-out buddy is still in your life after the NCMO, it can strain the relationship and make it more complicated, especially if they make out with or start dating someone else. Making out can also lead to other things way too easily, and the temptation to go further can be quite strong. That's why I strongly caution against NCMOS and even lengthy make-out sessions when you are dating.

Since I made some mistakes when I was younger, when I was in my early 20's, I actually went on a kissing hiatus for several years. One reason was because I wasn't dating anyone. Another was because I served a mission for my church. The biggest reason was because I wanted my kisses to mean something, and I didn't want to kiss anyone else unless I was committed to the relationship and wanted to marry them. After my mission, I made a promise to myself and to God that I wouldn't kiss anyone unless I knew that I was going to marry the guy. I kept that promise, not kissing anyone except for the man I married in 2014. Our first kiss was special because we knew that we were committed to one another and the kiss was an expression of our love. I may regret some of the kisses I gave away when I was younger, but I don't regret saving my first kiss with my husband after an almost 5-year kissing hiatus.

A Final Note

I have shared my personal opinion about NCMOS. I know that everyone has a different opinion, and I respect that. Each person has personal agency to choose how they will act, so although I discourage people from participating in NCMOS, the choice is ultimately up to you. Talk to your make-out buddy to set boundaries and discuss expectations. Use your personal judgement to determine who you want to kiss, when you want to kiss, and how often you want to kiss. The choice is yours to make. Please be responsible though.







Source Cited:
Bytheway, John. 2004. "What Do Kisses Mean?"  New Era, October 2004 issue. https://www.lds.org/new-era/2004/10/what-do-kisses-mean?lang=eng

For more information about kissing and general survival as a teenager, you should check out this book by John Bytheway:
  https://www.amazon.com/Crash-Course-Teenage-Survival-Bytheway/dp/1573459305
The book can even be helpful for college age young adults. John Bytheway has a ton of books and talks available for a variety of age groups. He tackles difficult topics with humor, and I really enjoyed his books growing up.

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