Be brave!

This blog post is dedicated to my dear friend, Rachel Holland. When we were roommates, there were certain things we had to do each day. One of those was one brave thing for the day. Ever since I've been on my new adventure, I've thought about our "being brave thing" several times a day.

On my way home from work, I saw this sign. Minus the dash board and bug splatters, it says, "Be brave."

HOW APROPRIATE!!!

For those of you that don't know yet, and for those that do...I got a job offer!! In............

Mohave Valley, Arizona

Not quite as exotic as I wanted, but I took it anyway. It is a job teaching preschool to children with developmental disabilities.

So, I got into my little silver car and drove south for several hours and ended up here.

Again, sorry about the dash board but it's really hard to drive and take pictures at the same time.

When I got into town I stayed at a casino hotel because they are SO cheap, which is what I needed because I had to stay there for 4 nights while I found housing and got everything ready. This is where I stayed.

It's shaped like a boat!!!! How cool is that!! I think I ended up paying around $63 for 4 nights. I only ate there twice but both meals were AMAZING and fit for a queen!! The first thing I tried was:

Cobb salad from heaven!! I know not everybody is a blue cheese fan, but this was to die for!!

A couple of days later I ordered this:

Pasta!! Note the saltine cracker. I got it to go and the waiter forgot to give me eating utensils. I was too lazy to walk all the way back to the restraunt so I improvised! I know what you're thinking, "She's one of those geeks who takes pictures of her food." But when it's this good you've got to document it somehow! Well, now I am (mostly) settled in my little apartment and getting familiar with the school and area.

Now, back to the beginning of this post. I have been in a brand new area for almost two weeks now. I didn't know one person when I first came here. I didn't know the school, the area, or anything about this place before I came. Some times have been exciting, others a little uncomfortable. So, the point is; if you ever want to burst your comfort zone bubble, move somewhere you've never been on your own. I actually think everyone should do this at least once in there life, although, I know it's not possible for most people. It's amazing the experiences you'll have, the people you'll meet, and the things you'll learn along the way. So, here I am, in little old Bullhead City, Arizona! If any of you want to visit, I would LOVE to have you!

To Rachel: I was going to tell you that I did my one brave thing for the day, but I think that moving to a new state counts for at least the rest of the year! At least I haven't said awkward things to any guys yet!!

Love you all and hope you are all well and happy!! And remember to have an adventure every single day!!

What good are plans

Tomorrow is my last day of student teaching. I have no job...and no prospects. I'm moving back home on the 9th until something comes up. You might be asking, why didn't you plan ahead? Answer-I did. You see, life never seems to turn out the way I think it will. I had everything put together. I knew exactly where I was going to move to. I knew the job I wanted. I knew the income was good. I was making plans for this to all take place and then....life happened. One small change in my life ends up changing everything in my life. Now to figure out how to overcome this small speed bump in life. I've been applying all over the nation...literally! Nothing so far. I really really really really really really really really really, I mean really don't want to be in Bancroft Idaho for an extended stay. Everyone keeps telling me that it's difficult to find a job when you don't life in the area and I understand that, but I can't really move to each area that I'm applying to. I am also afraid of moving somewhere before I get a job and having to move somewhere else. It's ok though, because I know that somehow things always find a way of working itself out. I am just not a fan of not knowing what will happen, and not getting what I want. But I guess that's what life is all about.

People wonder why.......my hair looks like this......

....and why my face does this.

Well, now you know why!

I hope everyone is doing well. Good luck in your lives with everything that's happening and remember to take the time to....breath!

I forget sometimes! :)

I can do anything good!

This is what I do every morning before I leave the apartment!! Or what I should do every morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg

Check it out!

I are a grajiate!!

I know you're probably thinking, "How can you be graduating Tandy, you are still student teaching?" Well, I decided to walk early so I didn't have to go back to Rexburg just to graduate. I won't get my diploma until July but it was still a great day and very exciting for me!

This is around 7:30ish in the morning just before leaving to campus.

This is just after I received my empty diploma case. The man on the right who is clapping and smiling was one of my professors and is who I report to during student teaching.

I was really excited!!!

With my Mom and Dad!

Tyler, Mom, Me, Paul, and Dad. Wendy was the only one that wasn't able to make it.

Some good friends from my program.

My Dad was doing weird things behind my back so I decided to join him. I love my Dad!!!

I know this has taken awhile to get on here. Life has been extremely busy and crazy. The same weekend I graduated, I moved to Utah and began student teaching on Monday morning. It's finally spring break and it's been great having a moment to breath and relax a little. Student teaching is going well. No one told me know exhausting it was going to be!!! I come home every night and crash. I love my students though and I have a great cooperative teacher. I have four more weeks in the first grade classroom and then I'll spend the next six weeks in the special education room. The lady at my school who will be over me in the special education room was looking over my paper work the other day and we both found out that she graduated from high school with my Dad. Yeah, she's from Bancroft of all places! So crazy!!! I'm excited to be able to work with her and get the REAL stories of my Dad's childhood! Hehe!

Hope everyone is well!

Also, when you look at my blog, please leave a comment every once in a while so I know who gets on here. Thanks!

Student teaching

Hello dear friends!

I graduate in two weeks and I'm starting to freak out a little! I just received my student teaching placement today and everything is beginning to set in. There really is an end!! I really am leaving Rexburg! The school I will be at is only about 15 minutes from my apartment depending on traffic, so it shouldn't be too bad. Yay for student teaching!

I also just finished up my BIGGEST stress of my college career!! Portfolio review! Gag!!! For those of you who don't know what this is...it's terrible!!

It's where you have to put a portfolio together of your entire college education and have everything a certain way. Then, you will take yourself and your portfolio and present to a committee. You have 15 minutes to share your speech, (or basically where you prove to them that you're ready to go on to student teaching!) Then, for the next 15 minutes they can ask you any question they want to ask. After that, you leave and they deliberate about you. When they're finished, you go back in and they tell you whether or not you can go on to student teaching.

Don't get me wrong, it's not hard, it's intimidating! Very!! I'm so glad it's over and that there's life after portfolio!! :)

It'll be weird being in Utah, but it'll only be for 3 months. Plus, Utah is beautiful in the summer and I'm planning on spending a lot of time in the mountains!! I have really missed the mountains after living in Rexburg for 5 years.

Yay for life!!!

We know how to.....

....watch the big game in style!!!

The BYU game was on and they were playing it at the Crossroads, which is the university's food area. It was on a huge screen and we could work on homework while we watched. The only problem was that it got a little loud at times.

Great game! Great company!! Great times!!!

Back in the day...

I found this picture the other day and had to share it! I love this picture!! It's funny to see how young we all were.

Wendy, Me, Paul, and Tyler

We are a good looking bunch!