A blessing and a curse.

As a result of not knowing what to write about today, I'm going to vent about IPODS.

Everybody has them. They're probably the one motivation I have in going to the gym. They're great for walking to classes, even better for road trips. However, they SUCK!

My first Ipod was a present given to me for Christmas my senior(?) year in high school. It broke when I was a freshmen in College. I don't know what happened to it, one day it just stopped working.

I bought one from my brother a few months after that incident. Then one day it disappeared. I searched everywhere for it. After accusing my cleaning ladies (in my head) of stealing it I moved on to the next Ipod-the 80 gig.

I bought it mostly for Africa, so that I could have something to keep me sane on the crazy days. I started loading my pictures onto my Ipod once I was there, so I could free up my memory card and keep taking more pictures. BAD IDEA. The Ipod got a virus, and I lost every single one of my pictures. Once I got to America, I went to two different Apple stores, sat on the phone for over 2 hours and 65 dollars later I finally had an Ipod that was "fixed". Well guess what? A month after getting it back it doesn't work again. I can't load any songs onto it and when I try to connect it to Itunes it freezes up. I've tried it on a few computers and it does the same thing to all of them. I've called them again and after sitting on the phone for an hour with them they came up with the bright idea of restoring my Ipod, and downloading Itunes again. Wow, like I hadn't thought of that before?? Seriously???

Luckily one day after I got back from Africa I randomly found the Ipod and got my brother to admit he took it. So, I have that to get me through, now I'm just mad that I spent 250$ on an Ipod that doesn't work. BOO!

If I don't get this Ipod fixed I'm giving up on Ipods forever!

Motivation

This semester has been hard, to say the least. It seems like there's a test every single day, and the homework just keeps piling up on my desk. Weekends no longer belong to myself, and when they do that only means that it's because i'm not doing something I should be. I wake up every morning at 7 to study and do homework, something I've NEVER done before. I can't count how many times I've said to myself, "Just drop out. This is SO not worth it."

But, homework is handed in, tests are being taken and I find myself still in school. There must be something that keeps me going.

All week I've been thinking about what could be so great that it would keep me motivated enough to just keep going. I've decided that this is it:

These are some of the pictures and notes from the kids I've taught.

Right now I work with four second grade students who are really struggling in reading. I force them to work hard and some days leave feeling like they are going hate me! But today when I was giving the test and the girl who has had the hardest time with reading passed with only 2 errors (that's an excellent score) I left feeling like the hard work really does pay off. Seeing her improve her scores really makes the work I put in totally worth it! And, somehow these kids always find a way to give me the motivation to keep working hard and put in my best effort.

What gives you the motivation to keep going?

The Worth of a Soul

I wanted to do a blog on this painting, because I think it's absolutely amazing! I don't know if any of you watch the thing in between and right after general conference, but this year they did one on the lady who painted this painting. She was asked by some people from the Mothers without Borders program to go over with them and paint something. She brought the Jesus model and she said she really just didn't know what to paint, until one day she saw the model pick up this boy and she knew it's what she needed to paint. From the minute I saw it I totally loved it!

There are many reasons why I love this painting, but I think the main reason for it is because it reminds me of how much Jesus cares. Why else would he have suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross just for us? He did it to prepare a way for me to return to Heavenly Father, and he did it for the boy in this picture. He did it for all of us because he loves us that much.

The title of this picture is perfect-The Worth of a Soul. I can't think of a better name for it.

I love how the boy is laying in his arms. This totally reminds me of how the children are when you hold them over there. They love to be held! Oh how I miss Africa!

Sorry this is random, but hopefully you'll love the picture just as much as I do!

Ps. Thanks for the picture Brock!

Logan is a happening place. You should come and visit too!

Brock came up yesterday to hang out with me! We had lots of fun. We went to the mall, took photo booth pictures (Somehow, everyone else who takes those can do cute ones but these are our second ones and both times we have left thinking, ok, those suck lets not do it again), went for a drive up the canyon, I made dinner for him, Michelle and Doug, went to coldstone and then watched casino Royal-and I didn't even fall asleep. Thanks for coming up Brock!





These pictures are a few weeks old, but I still wanted to post them anyway. Aubs, Jeana and Car drove all the way up to Logan to come hang out with me! It was awesome. They are great friends. We went to the mall, Olive Garden, and to see Highschool Musical 3. Thanks guys!



Brock came up the night before and I'd put pictures up of that except we didn't take any.

I'm really lucky to have such great friends!

Lindsi Sullivan has been blogging every day and it made me want to try it. Even if it only lasts for like a week, I'm going to see if I can do it! I can't promise mine will be funny like hers are though.