I wanted to share with you a poem that I got from another woman's blog. This reminds me that I complain way too often about what I don't have, and in the process I am missing out on the good things in life that I should be appreciating. This was especially true when I first moved to Phoenix from Seattle when I was 16. I was mopey and I didn't want to make new friends and I would lash out and threaten to run away. Looking back, I really regret the sour attitude I had. I didn't realize that there are beautiful things about Phoenix, and things that I will miss about it when I eventually leave here.
Also, I was reading my diary last night from when I was 14 (yes, I still have that and many other diaries that I have written over the years!), and at the time I was living in Seattle still. In almost every entry I was complaining about wanting to live in Texas and not Seattle! Oh, the irony! Anyway, here's the poem:
It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors.
It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air.
It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.
It was now winter but it was spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect.
I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged but it was twenty I wanted; the youth and the free spirit.
I was retired but it was middle-age I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over but I never got what I wanted.
-Written by a 14 year old boy; from a message by Dr. Charles Swindoll at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas
3.29.2010
3.24.2010
Thoughts about school
I have a throbbing headache right now because I just finished one of the most epic school projects I have done in awhile. A pointless video about snail mail vs. e-mail. Sometimes I can't believe that I subjected myself to 4 more years of projects and deadlines and papers after completing the first 12. We tend to celebrate high school graduations more than college ones, but shouldn't it be the other way around? Once your out of college, you're really done. For good. Forever. Unless you go on to graduate school. Which I don't plan on doing.
Not that I'm against lifelong learning. I desperately want to be a lifelong learner and I want to instill that same passion in my kids one day. But sometimes structured, organized schooling under flourescent lights isn't the best way to learn. And so after I graduate ASU, I am fully looking forward to being in the "real world" that everyone dreads. I don't dread it AT ALL. I welcome it, I embrace it! I want a dog, a house, a kitchen to clean, a deck or a patio to sit on, or at the very least windows that open all the way (The one's at the dorms don't because they don't want people committing suicide by jumping out. Considering I live on the 12th story, it's a legitimate precaution because you would definitely die.)
Anyway, I am feeling stifled right now in my current existence at the dorms. My extreme exhaustion could have something to do with it.
On the bright side, I spent all day in a Kindergarten classroom. I like school a lot more when I'm the teacher, and not the student. When I'm "Miss Fletcher" and not just "Lindsay". I know each kids' name, and I love the questions they ask me on a daily basis: "Do you remember us?" "Are you coming back?" "How old are you?" (They guessed 34...to them, anyone over the age of 10 probably falls under the super old category and their age is indecipherable). Or, my favorite: "Do you have a husband?", and when I say no, they gasp or look shocked. They probably aren't used to a teacher who isn't married or a "Mrs." I guess they don't grasp they I'm an intern, because their always saying "We're lucky, because we have TWO teachers!" It's really cute.
Not that I'm against lifelong learning. I desperately want to be a lifelong learner and I want to instill that same passion in my kids one day. But sometimes structured, organized schooling under flourescent lights isn't the best way to learn. And so after I graduate ASU, I am fully looking forward to being in the "real world" that everyone dreads. I don't dread it AT ALL. I welcome it, I embrace it! I want a dog, a house, a kitchen to clean, a deck or a patio to sit on, or at the very least windows that open all the way (The one's at the dorms don't because they don't want people committing suicide by jumping out. Considering I live on the 12th story, it's a legitimate precaution because you would definitely die.)
Anyway, I am feeling stifled right now in my current existence at the dorms. My extreme exhaustion could have something to do with it.
On the bright side, I spent all day in a Kindergarten classroom. I like school a lot more when I'm the teacher, and not the student. When I'm "Miss Fletcher" and not just "Lindsay". I know each kids' name, and I love the questions they ask me on a daily basis: "Do you remember us?" "Are you coming back?" "How old are you?" (They guessed 34...to them, anyone over the age of 10 probably falls under the super old category and their age is indecipherable). Or, my favorite: "Do you have a husband?", and when I say no, they gasp or look shocked. They probably aren't used to a teacher who isn't married or a "Mrs." I guess they don't grasp they I'm an intern, because their always saying "We're lucky, because we have TWO teachers!" It's really cute.
3.21.2010
Spring Break 2010
It's been a long time since I last posted, but I've had good excuses! I had a lot of homework and projects prior to spring break that took up a lot of time. And once spring break started, I hardly even touched my computer! :)
Here were some of the highlights of my spring break:
1) I stayed at Lars' parents house for the first 6 days of break. Alas, I have no pictures. We mostly just lounged around the house in our PJ's, eating and watching shows on their GIANT new High Definition TV screen. We also made a few trips to Costco, Sprouts, and Target! His parents are so nice and so generous to let me stay with them for so long :) Also, during this time I got my haircut for free at Kohler Academy, a local beauty school. One of my friends was having her test-outs (final exams before you can move on to the next level). Below are the results. She did a great job!
2) On Thursday night, my mom and brother arrived from Seattle! I was sooo excited to see them and to show them my dorm and all the different changes since they were last in Phoenix 2 years ago! They only had 2 full days here, but we crammed in as many fun things as we could! Lars was with us for most of our adventures :) Here's a glimpse at what we did.
FRIDAY
(10 am) We waited in line at Matt's Big Breakfast. The boys didn't feel like posing for pictures, hence this picture. HAHA.
(2pm) We decided to hop on the lightrail and head to Tempe. After some shopping on Mill Ave, we went to Mojo Yogurt. It was my mom's first time going there!
(3 pm) We went to Tempe Town Lake!
(3:30pm) And the Tempe Center for the Arts! (Below are Nathan's awesome photography skills).
(4pm) We walked to the very end so we could see the "waterfall" that has resulted from all of the rain we have gotten in PHX lately. Before this was a dry riverbed and now it's a raging river!
SATURDAY
First we got a rental car, and then we went to the West Campus so my mom could see where I'll be living next year. She seemed to really like the campus, and the apartments! Unfortunately I have no pictures of that. Then we went to Chick-fil-a, which my mom was craving since they don't have them in washington!
(4:30 pm) We got a yogurt parfait, yum!
Then we went to My Sister's closet (a consignment clothing store) and then met up with Nathan at Fashion Square. After some shopping at LUSH and some time playing with toys in the Microsoft store, all 4 of us went out to eat at Modern Steak, a brand new restaurant that just opened in the fall. It was SOOO good! The boys split a 12 0z. steak and my mom and I split salad and some parmesan/white truffle french fries.
(8 pm) We sat out on the patio. My mom and I loved the decor! It reminded us of Alice in Wonderland!
(8:30 pm) Here are Lars and Nathan, patiently (or not-so-patiently) awaiting their steak . My brother rated it the #3 best steak he has ever had, behind #1 which was Ruth's Chris Steak House and #2 which was a steak he and his friend made. My brother LOVES steak so that is pretty high rating in his book.
SUNDAY
Today was the saddest day, because they had to leave! We had time to go to Target though, and to go on a wild goose hunt to find a Rubio's (another restaurant they don't have in Washington).
(2:30 pm) Here they are about to leave, next to "Short Butt", their rental car, so named because of it's extremely short tail end (it was a Hyundai Accent 2010).
I'm not gonna lie, it was realllly hard to see them go, but I am comforted by the fact that I will see them again in about 2 months. I'm glad they got to come and stay with me and see where I live, go to school and hang out every day! It means the world to me!
Here were some of the highlights of my spring break:
1) I stayed at Lars' parents house for the first 6 days of break. Alas, I have no pictures. We mostly just lounged around the house in our PJ's, eating and watching shows on their GIANT new High Definition TV screen. We also made a few trips to Costco, Sprouts, and Target! His parents are so nice and so generous to let me stay with them for so long :) Also, during this time I got my haircut for free at Kohler Academy, a local beauty school. One of my friends was having her test-outs (final exams before you can move on to the next level). Below are the results. She did a great job!
2) On Thursday night, my mom and brother arrived from Seattle! I was sooo excited to see them and to show them my dorm and all the different changes since they were last in Phoenix 2 years ago! They only had 2 full days here, but we crammed in as many fun things as we could! Lars was with us for most of our adventures :) Here's a glimpse at what we did.
FRIDAY
(10 am) We waited in line at Matt's Big Breakfast. The boys didn't feel like posing for pictures, hence this picture. HAHA.
(12 pm) Lars and Nathan playing with the fountains at the park. It was a beautiful day!
(2pm) We decided to hop on the lightrail and head to Tempe. After some shopping on Mill Ave, we went to Mojo Yogurt. It was my mom's first time going there!
(3 pm) We went to Tempe Town Lake!
(3:30pm) And the Tempe Center for the Arts! (Below are Nathan's awesome photography skills).
(4pm) We walked to the very end so we could see the "waterfall" that has resulted from all of the rain we have gotten in PHX lately. Before this was a dry riverbed and now it's a raging river!
SATURDAY
First we got a rental car, and then we went to the West Campus so my mom could see where I'll be living next year. She seemed to really like the campus, and the apartments! Unfortunately I have no pictures of that. Then we went to Chick-fil-a, which my mom was craving since they don't have them in washington!
(4:30 pm) We got a yogurt parfait, yum!
Then we went to My Sister's closet (a consignment clothing store) and then met up with Nathan at Fashion Square. After some shopping at LUSH and some time playing with toys in the Microsoft store, all 4 of us went out to eat at Modern Steak, a brand new restaurant that just opened in the fall. It was SOOO good! The boys split a 12 0z. steak and my mom and I split salad and some parmesan/white truffle french fries.
(8 pm) We sat out on the patio. My mom and I loved the decor! It reminded us of Alice in Wonderland!
(8:30 pm) Here are Lars and Nathan, patiently (or not-so-patiently) awaiting their steak . My brother rated it the #3 best steak he has ever had, behind #1 which was Ruth's Chris Steak House and #2 which was a steak he and his friend made. My brother LOVES steak so that is pretty high rating in his book.
SUNDAYToday was the saddest day, because they had to leave! We had time to go to Target though, and to go on a wild goose hunt to find a Rubio's (another restaurant they don't have in Washington).
(2:30 pm) Here they are about to leave, next to "Short Butt", their rental car, so named because of it's extremely short tail end (it was a Hyundai Accent 2010).
I'm not gonna lie, it was realllly hard to see them go, but I am comforted by the fact that I will see them again in about 2 months. I'm glad they got to come and stay with me and see where I live, go to school and hang out every day! It means the world to me!
3.07.2010
Peacock Park and Kindergartners :)
On Friday I went with my good friend Michelle to Sahuaro Ranch park, AKA "Peacock Park", where we walked around and scoped out places that she could have her ceremony/reception for her wedding, which is scheduled for sometime next year! She is such a sweet girl, and afterwards we ate Rubio's (my fave Mexican place) and shopped at Old Navy for what I like to call "teacher-y clothes" - khaki pants, cute little embroidered cardigans, headbands and the like. Anyway, here are a few pictures of the peacocks:
These were the first ones we saw. The one on the ground is a female, with only a hint of color and none of the big, pretty feathers that the males have. I think she needs some bling!
Next, we stumbled across this big guy, who we thought was the Alpha. He had a HUGE plume of feathers, and he is the one who stretched out the feathers territorially in the next picture. I thought it was amazing that all these peacocks were just roaming the parking lot, like it was no big deal. Apparently this is how it is 24/7, they're never in cages or anything! If you look on the ground you can see the cap'n crunch that we were throwing for him :)
Look at those feathers! They were seriously like 5 feet tall! I didn't want to get too close.
Here is a closer look at one of the non-alpha males. At one point there were about 11 of these guys, plus all sorts of birds like pheasants, roosters and pigeons all crowding around us! They must L-O-V-E cap'n crunch!
Anyway, as for the "Kindergartner" part of the post...I started my internship on Friday in a Kindergarten classroom at a charter school! The kids were sooo sweet and they gave me lots of hugs from the very beginning! One kid threw up (apparently he makes himself do it when he wants to go home) and another got sent to the principal's office for refusing to listen or cooperate. It was definitely an eye-opening look at the challenges of teaching 5-6 year-olds. They are constantly wanting to go to the bathroom! My teacher has a really good system called "The Bean System" where every time they go to the bathroom (not including recess or lunch time), they put a bean in a big jar. Once they are out of beans (they each get 5), they can't go any more! So it's a good way to keep them accountable and help them to ration their beans!
I am already learning so much from observing the classroom, and pretty soon I will start teaching lessons! But for now, here is some of the awesome artwork that they made for me:
These were the first ones we saw. The one on the ground is a female, with only a hint of color and none of the big, pretty feathers that the males have. I think she needs some bling!
Next, we stumbled across this big guy, who we thought was the Alpha. He had a HUGE plume of feathers, and he is the one who stretched out the feathers territorially in the next picture. I thought it was amazing that all these peacocks were just roaming the parking lot, like it was no big deal. Apparently this is how it is 24/7, they're never in cages or anything! If you look on the ground you can see the cap'n crunch that we were throwing for him :)
Look at those feathers! They were seriously like 5 feet tall! I didn't want to get too close.
Here is a closer look at one of the non-alpha males. At one point there were about 11 of these guys, plus all sorts of birds like pheasants, roosters and pigeons all crowding around us! They must L-O-V-E cap'n crunch!Anyway, as for the "Kindergartner" part of the post...I started my internship on Friday in a Kindergarten classroom at a charter school! The kids were sooo sweet and they gave me lots of hugs from the very beginning! One kid threw up (apparently he makes himself do it when he wants to go home) and another got sent to the principal's office for refusing to listen or cooperate. It was definitely an eye-opening look at the challenges of teaching 5-6 year-olds. They are constantly wanting to go to the bathroom! My teacher has a really good system called "The Bean System" where every time they go to the bathroom (not including recess or lunch time), they put a bean in a big jar. Once they are out of beans (they each get 5), they can't go any more! So it's a good way to keep them accountable and help them to ration their beans!
I am already learning so much from observing the classroom, and pretty soon I will start teaching lessons! But for now, here is some of the awesome artwork that they made for me:
3.01.2010
My Cooking Creations
I'm obsessed with cooking and baking. I love to see the finished product, but even more I love to be able to spend hours in the kitchen with my family, taste testing and maneuvering around the kitchen, and eventually pulling everything together just in time. It keeps my hands busy and unlike arts and crafts, everyone usually appreciates the end product...because it's FOOD that they can EAT!
Here are some of the things that I made over winter break (sorry for the poor resolution, these are cell phone pics):
Can't you just smell the cinnamon-y, ginger-y, clove-y goodness?! I made the dough from scratch, with yeast and everything! Each cinnamon roll was so big and so sweet, that I could only eat one! Recipe at : http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/05/overnight-cinnamon-rolls.html
Seriously, the best ones I've ever had. Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/12/gingerbread-cookies.html
They were DIVINE! I ate 3! Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/03/stuffed-bleu-cheese-potatoes.html
We used edamame instead of snow peas and it still turned out great! Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/04/cashew-sweet-and-sour-pork.html
STUFFED PIZZA ROLLS! These are the first recipe I ever tried from ourbestbites.com and since then I have made them multiple times! You can fill them with any pizza toppings you like and then dip them in marinara sauce! I made this particular batch at the dorm kitchen. Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/stuffed-pizza-rolls.html
Honestly, I was never a fan of cooking AT ALL until I stumbled upon Our Best Bites, so check them out! I even have a link on my sidebar! No, they don't pay me to advertise for them ;) I just really love their recipes and their descriptions of each step, as well as the pictures! I don't think I'll ever need a cookbook as long as they're around.
Here are some of the things that I made over winter break (sorry for the poor resolution, these are cell phone pics):
Cinnamon rolls before.......
And after (no frosting yet).....
Can't you just smell the cinnamon-y, ginger-y, clove-y goodness?! I made the dough from scratch, with yeast and everything! Each cinnamon roll was so big and so sweet, that I could only eat one! Recipe at : http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/05/overnight-cinnamon-rolls.html And now for some scrumptious gingerbread men....
Seriously, the best ones I've ever had. Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/12/gingerbread-cookies.html I made these Stuffed Bleu Cheese Potatoes for Christmas Dinner...
They were DIVINE! I ate 3! Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/03/stuffed-bleu-cheese-potatoes.html Cashew Sweet and Sour Pork. Yum.....
We used edamame instead of snow peas and it still turned out great! Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/04/cashew-sweet-and-sour-pork.html And last but not least, and possibly my favorite....
STUFFED PIZZA ROLLS! These are the first recipe I ever tried from ourbestbites.com and since then I have made them multiple times! You can fill them with any pizza toppings you like and then dip them in marinara sauce! I made this particular batch at the dorm kitchen. Recipe at: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/stuffed-pizza-rolls.htmlHere is Lars enjoying one...
Honestly, I was never a fan of cooking AT ALL until I stumbled upon Our Best Bites, so check them out! I even have a link on my sidebar! No, they don't pay me to advertise for them ;) I just really love their recipes and their descriptions of each step, as well as the pictures! I don't think I'll ever need a cookbook as long as they're around.
2.22.2010
The Graduates
Here's something that cheered me up today:
This is the top of my Mammaw's mantle (AKA her grand piano). A little bit of backstory: Whenever I visit her in Gruver, TX, I am always complaining that my cousins, who are all boys, are always featured in picture frames around her house where there are not as many pictures of me. I usually attribute it to the fact that all of them grew up in Texas where I was the lone Seattleite, not to mention the only girl (until Reilly was born, 11 years after me). I would only get to visit Gruver during the summers, whereas they got to live there. I was (and still am) quite jealous of them!
It's such a great little town, only a little over 1,000 people but tons of character. It's the most magical and quaint place I've ever been to...the kind of place where everyone knows eachother and there's only one stoplight. My family has lived there for 3 generations, and my cousins still live in the same house that my great-grandfather and great-grandmother built themselves. I have taken Lars there twice and he loves it as much as I do! I could go on and on about Gruver, it deserves a post to itself!
Well, it looks like my face can now be found on the mantle, next to all of the other graduates: Matt, Mason and Miles! Thanks Mammaw! I love you :)
P.S. Nathan, Landry and Reilly are next!
This is the top of my Mammaw's mantle (AKA her grand piano). A little bit of backstory: Whenever I visit her in Gruver, TX, I am always complaining that my cousins, who are all boys, are always featured in picture frames around her house where there are not as many pictures of me. I usually attribute it to the fact that all of them grew up in Texas where I was the lone Seattleite, not to mention the only girl (until Reilly was born, 11 years after me). I would only get to visit Gruver during the summers, whereas they got to live there. I was (and still am) quite jealous of them!It's such a great little town, only a little over 1,000 people but tons of character. It's the most magical and quaint place I've ever been to...the kind of place where everyone knows eachother and there's only one stoplight. My family has lived there for 3 generations, and my cousins still live in the same house that my great-grandfather and great-grandmother built themselves. I have taken Lars there twice and he loves it as much as I do! I could go on and on about Gruver, it deserves a post to itself!
Well, it looks like my face can now be found on the mantle, next to all of the other graduates: Matt, Mason and Miles! Thanks Mammaw! I love you :)
P.S. Nathan, Landry and Reilly are next!
2.14.2010
About my Valentine
This is Lars & I's 3rd Valentine's Day together! I love him so! Last night he gave me a Valentine's Day card (I hope this doesn't embarrass him) that quotes Song of Songs 1:15: "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!" I thought it was sweet :)
I definitely can't imagine my life without him. We have been through so much together and he has encouraged me to grow deeper in my devotion to the Lord. Last year I read the whole Bible and I don't think I would have done it so quickly if he hadn't been spurring me on. He is my best friend and he SERIOUSLY knows me better than I know myself. I know that sounds impossible, but it's true! He is my best friend and the one who has never stopped opening doors for me or paying for our dates after almost 3 YEARS of dating (of course, I've pitched in once or twice for our dates too - but not as often as you'd think!)
Basically, he is a HUGE sweetheart, and he loves me so much, and I just wanted to brag on him a little bit! OK, a lot!
<3Linds
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