The Challenge

My friend and I decided on a challenge last night. I am pretty excited about it. And the reward is even better!!

So here it is, your have to work out 6 days every week for the next 5 months. A little extreme I know. But it's worth it. Each day that you work out you give yourself $10. Not much right, but at the end of 5 months that equals $1200. Now you can use that money any way your want, but I am going to Costa Rica for Spring Break!!!

Is that not perfect?

It is definitely difficult for me to keep up on my blog. I don't know how Jenny does it. She is a full time mom and still does it so well.

As for me lately, I am doing pretty well. I had some trials at the start of this school year that were unexpected, but they are all working themselves out. I am lucky to have the perspective that life is supposed to be happy, but it is our choice to make it that way. So, although I had those unexpected trials, I am still kicking and really quite happy.

I do have a question though, what do you do with a person in your life that makes life more difficult. Do you take them out of your life or deal with it. I naturally would run! I would run as fast as I could, but then...where is the growth? Is it a good enough reason to keep someone in your life for the pure reason of growth, or is that cruel and unusual punishment? What do you think? I realize I am rambling, but I am quite curious of what you would do.

TREADMILLS

So, I have a question. I have been thinking about buying a treadmill. It has been a battle within myself because I don't know if it is worth it. I can always run outside, but sometimes I just don't want to run another hill. And then I was looking them up the other day and they range in price so drastically I couldn't make a decision. What do you think? Are they worth it? What maker would you suggest and at what price range? Do you think the more expensive ones are really that much better? Let me know what you think.

I'm a little jealous!

I have to say that I am a little jealous. I have been looking at the blogs posted by my family. You all have kids! I realize I have 45 of my own, but they leave at the end of the day. Not that that is always a bad thing, but I wouldn't mind taking a few home for myself. I do have some pretty cute ones! So with this jealously, I have to say... congradulations to all of my family that have the cutest little ones at home! You are a success!

A New Year!

Some people measure their years starting in January. I am not one of them. My year starts at the end of August and ends at the end of May. June to August is just my own personal recess. To put it simply it is my play time. But that time is over. My year has begun. I am teaching two new kindergarten classes. I have a total of 45 students. And they have a lot of energy. My students this year are so different this year than last, but at the same time they are the same. I do enjoy comparing and contrasting this years collection of students with last years. So, after over 3 weeks of school I have seen plenty of similarities and differences.

Along with that, my students from last year drop by my classroom or see me in the halls frequently. Both them and myself are so excited to see each other. I love it when they give me hugs or just want me to see them and say hello. With how difficult the new year can be with kindergarten, that definately brightens my day....every day!

What do you do during a summer with no responsibiltiy?

This summer has been a unique one. If my memory serves me correct, it is my first summer since I was 12 years old that I don't have a responsibility every day. I remember a life of waking up at 5:30 just to make it to diving practice by 6:15 (insanity I tell you, who dives tower that early in the morning?). And then staying in Salt Lake all day with other practices to come. Or to go more recent, last summer I was up early at at work all day and then brought more work home so I could do it all night. I don't think I have ever experienced a life without responsibility until this summer. And to be perfectly honest, I have mixed emotions. Sometimes I just don't know what to fill my days with. Let me give you a recap of my summer...

The day school got out I flew to Taiwan. It has been 2 1/2 years since I returned from my mission and I felt like it was time to go see my much loved friends. I was there for 2 weeks and I loved it. Taiwan is an amazing place. The people there are my family. They are absolutely incredible. The members are true pioneers with more righteousness than I have ever before beheld. They were examples to me of love, kindness and truly keeping the gospel in the forefront of their lives.

Along with seeing my old friends, I was always able to go to the south eastern coast and surf. I am not the greatest surfer, but I do enjoy it- expecially when the environment is as beautiful as it was. The water was warm and clear. The beaches were a wonderful white soft sand and the ocean went forever. It was a view that took my breath away.

Two weeks later I returned from Taiwan, stopped in LA to see Jared, Renee and kids. They are pretty great! I have to say that I have been blessed with a family that was made just for me. It was so fun to be down there and playing with Julian and Payton (Micah doesn't really play yet!). Then I returned to Utah. I had a teaching conference the week I returned and then I had a whole lot of time to myself.

So for the first week I didn't really do anything (well, except coach diving 2 times a week). You could say I took a vacation from life. I cut my hair, read books, watched tv, ate and slept. Then I got bored, and I mean really bored. So since then I some how fill my days. There are a lot of ward activities I attend, I have been preparing my classroom for next year, I go up to Bear Lake every weekend, and what ever else I feel like doing.

Having a life of no responsibility is fun and all, but I don't think I will ever do it again. I personally need more purpose. So I have other things in the works for next summer.

I wish I had pictures to share, but I lost my camera a couple of weeks after I got back from Taiwan.

Jenny I hope this is what you were asking for, I will try to be better about my blogging!!!

Life

I was walking down the hall today and a teacher looked at me and said, "Tessa you seem to gave a glow about you lately!" I thought it was an interesting comment, but I took it as a compliment. Really my life is pretty great right now. And I hope that when my life is going well that it will show in me. I hope it will show in my smile, my behavior, my dress and so forth. On the other hand...if life is kind of terrible I hope that never shows through!

I also think that that extra bit of glow is from the sun tan I got on Saturday. I decided that I needed a weekend away. I am a little sick of travel to far away lands, so me and my friend took a retreat to her parents farm house in the distant Midway. It was much needed and appreciated. On our mini retreat we decided that we would not use our cars. Rather, we road bike cruise around all day. It was wonderful. The weather was perfect and these bikes allow you to sit upright and relax. As we were riding around we reflected upon our lives and decided we were planted in the really really really good soil (no rocks for us!). I realize that there is so much I do not appreciate in my life, but in moments of true gratitude for the things I do appreciate I realize how blessed I really am. I realize that I should always have a glow about me. I want to always be excited about life and making it all I can. My life really is amazing!