Health

I have been obsessed with being healthy. That was a goal for the year and I think I'm on the right track. I have lost some weight and want to lose a little more, but then I got to thinking, "Do I want to be skinny or healthy?"

We live in a society where people are obsessed with being skinny. I don't think people realize that skinny doesn't mean healthy. We are all drilled to think that skinny means pretty, skinny means success, skinny is what everyone needs to be. So, do I want to be skinny or healthy?

I have people in my life who have made comments about my weight. I have never been overweight, but smaller girls have made comments that I am bigger. I actually dated someone smaller than me and he would comment about my size. I have also had people ask if I eat or not because I am skinny. I do eat. I actually eat a lot! These comments have gotten in my head and have made me believe I need to be a size two in order to be considered "pretty." That size will never happen since I have a naturally big butt. I need to come to terms with this because I have been obsessing about my weight.

I count my calories and I work out. This is healthy, right? Well it is but, I weigh myself six times a day. That is NOT healthy. I think I need to be anorexic skinny in order to be healthy. This is NOT true. Being too skinny causes health problems too!

I struggle because I have an athletic build, which doesn't fit the "skinny" girls aim for. I look bigger then some girls my height, but I'm at a healthy weight and that's all that matters!

I have decided I want to be healthy! I want to live a long life. I want to do all I can to prevent diseases.I want to be healthy inside and out. I don't need to be skinny, but I do need to be healthy!

Hobby

I have learned a lot about myself this summer. I have learned that I need a hobby! I have been off for two weeks and I'm going crazy! I pace the house waiting for my husband to get home. I honestly don't know what to do with myself!

The first week I was off we did a lot with our families. We went to West Yellowstone with Coll's family and went camping with mine. We had a lot of fun! (Below are the fun pictures from the week)

Now I sit at home wondering what to do with all this free time. I thought about cooking more, but I absolutely hate dishes! I thought about painting, but I don't have the patience. So, what do I do? Maybe by the time I start school I will have chosen my hobby or maybe I'll just go crazy with boredom!

NASA

This past year has made me question if teaching was the right path for me. The stress teachers deal with isn’t worth the pay they receive. They take on twenty + kids and have to bring them up to grade level. It isn’t an easy job. I have been praying lately and have been asking if this is really the career path I should be on. I have been on a health kick, which has made me question if I should be a dietician. This past summer has shown me that teaching is where I need to be right now. I know this because of two reasons:
1. NASA PSTI Program
2. Paid internship
I had to apply for these two opportunities and I was accepted by both! When this happened all I could think was, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” This is from my favorite book, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. I realized then that this is where I am meant to be.

My experience at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas:
#1 This is what you see when you first walk in the space center.
#2 It was like Disneyland here! This is the Space Center Star. He was funny. There was a moon, but I didn't get a picture. :(
#3 This was a robotic hand made out of cardboard. It was so cool to see. The cute old man who showed us this spent time cutting all the cardboard for us. I haven't made mine yet but it's on my to-do list!
#4 This is what I would look like if I was an Astronaut :)
#5 Owlbert and I with a space suit.
#6 Owlbert on a rocket. Sam was worried I was sending him to space and Coll thought I was going to blow him up. I am happy to say he is safe on earth :)
#7 I learned how how they go to the bathroom on the ISS. It was especially funny to hear Clay Anderson tell us his experience!
#8 Owlbert with a rocket
#9 Christopher Kraft was so cute! I wanted to take him home with me. He really expressed how important it is to inspire future generations to participate in NASA programs.
#10 This is Clay Anderson and he is a real astronaut!! He was freaking hilarious!

I am also certified to handle lunar and meteorite samples! This means I can borrow these samples for two weeks and show my class :)

I’m thankful for…..

Dads

My dad is Mr. Fix It. He can pretty much do anything and if he can’t he’ll figure it out. He was kind enough to fix my car, as well as, drive up to my house to put in an air conditioner. He didn’t get home till late, but was willing to help us out. I’m proud to say he is my dad. He sets an example of how we should be. He works hard all day and still finds the time to help those around him.

Air Conditioning

We have air conditioning, but our room gets soooooo hot. My parent’s neighbor was nice enough to give us an air conditioning unit. I must say it is heaven to sleep now J

My Health

I was talking to a friend from high school and she was telling me about the health problems she has been having. I feel bad for the pain she has to go through, but she is getting better (we just need to put her in a bubble for the future.) This made me start to realize how lucky I am for my health. I do have a thyroid problem that is easily fixed by taking a pill, which I hate taking, but I would much rather have that then multiple surgeries involving needles. I hate needles!!

Nephews

I was able to hang out with my three crazy nephews this week. They have me laughing over crazy things they say. I love when they give me hugs and kisses and tell me they love me. I know they mean it because kids tell you what they are thinking. It was nice to spend some time with them since I don’t get to see them as often as I would like. I thought it was funny that they had me flustered over ice cream. How can a five year old like mint ice cream? Why did the guy at Culver’s lie to me about not having any mint ice cream? Luckily we found an Oreo that was filled with mint ice cream.

July!

Thank the Lord July is here! This month will be crazy for me, but it will be fun. I go to Houston next week and I’m SO excited. I get to tour the NASA center and learn about incorporating science into my classroom. It will be so much fun. This will be the first time I ride on an airplane, which I’m nervous about. I go to Yellowstone the week after I get home from Houston. I am going camping the weekend after Yellowstone. AND……I’m QUITING!!!! Goodbye graveyards!! I am so excited to start sleeping like a normal person. Coll told me maybe I will go back to normal, but have I ever been normal?

A little bit about graveyards…

• I don’t sleep. I get like three hours of sleep then have to pull a twelve hour shift.
• I don’t eat regularly because my body is use to eating at 3 A.M.
• I’m sick a lot! I don’t think I’ve ever been this sick in my life. I am easily prone to the flu and colds, but maybe this will help me fight of germs from school.
• I never see my husband. I’m generally asleep before he gets home from work.
• The stress on my body has caused serious pain in my knees and shoulders. I am hoping that it will go away when I quit.
• I am exhausted all the time. Even if I sleep twelve hours on my nights off I still am so tired the next day.
• I almost cried when I was offered my internship because it was a relief to know I don’t have to work through my student teaching.

Garden Gnomes!

I absolutely love garden gnomes! I have had my eye on these little guys for a couple months and yesterday they were on sale! I wanted to buy all four, but my husband said he doesn’t care if they are a happy little family, which is why I only have two L

Here is a cute gnome I already had.

Gnome Facts:

1- They are a fairytale creature that lives underground and come up at night to help gardeners

2- If they are caught by the sun they turn into stone

3- They originated in Germany in the 19^th century

4- They are believed to provide protection from evil sorcery

5- Common prank: People release them back into the “wild” by stealing them and traveling to places

(hence Travelocity’s roaming gnome)

6- Believed to be a good luck charm for your garden

7- Believed to make your plants healthy

8- They were originally made of terracotta clay

I just like Gnomes because they make me giggle. I think they are cute and they put a smile on my face.

Why I Love this Guy

Reason #1: His Smile

His smile and laugh are contagious. He makes his surroundings better just by smiling. When he smiles or laughs I can’t help but feel the same type of joy.

Reason#2: His Sense of Humor

 Not many people get the chance to see how funny this guy really is. He is absolutely hilarious! He makes me laugh all the time. He tries to find the humor in everything, which makes life a lot more fun. His sense of humor is what made me fall in love with him. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t come home to a face like this every day.

Reason #3: He is Caring

He is the most caring person I know. He would give the shirt off his back for a stranger. I look at his example and wish more people were like him, including myself. His caring personality makes him great with kids. The way he interacts with his little sister and my nephews shows he will be a great father someday.



Reason #4: He is My Best Friend

He is the friend I have always needed in my life. He makes me laugh, listens when I need to vent, and hugs me when I need to cry. We always have fun together even if we are simply sitting on the couch. He is honest when I’m being a brat or when I need to change my outfit. This is the type of friend you know has your back.

Reason #5: He Makes Me Happy

 I have never been happier in my life and I owe it all to him. He really brings out the best in me by putting me in my place tactfully. He is patient with my stubborn ways, which shows he really loves me. He has taught me the importance of admitting when I’m wrong and using the three simple words “I am sorry.” He has helped me by simply being there for me.

I am so lucky to have Coll in my life. The fact he even agreed to marry me is a miracle in itself. Let’s be honest I am a difficult person and at times I can’t even put up with myself. I know my family is grateful that he took me off their hands, and I’m pretty sure men worship him for taking me off the market. Sometimes I don’t know why he chose me, but I am sure glad he did. 

Why I'm Blogging

I’ve never had the desire to blog, but after watching “The Last Lecture” and reading the book, I decided to start one. Randy Pausch gave this lecture while he was dying of pancreatic cancer. He really stresses the importance of living your childhood dreams. This made me ponder what my childhood dreams were, and if I have achieved any of them. This is the list I came up with:

1-      Go to college (I will accomplish this goal in December! I will graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education)

2-      Marry my best friend (I married him in August 2011. I am one lucky girl!)

3-      Be a teacher (I will be!)

4-      Be a ballerina (Won’t happen, but that is okay because I love to watch ballets. I also keep up with the life of ballet dancers while I watch Breaking Pointe!)

5-      Be a vet (I learned early on I can’t handle blood, but I’m still counting it because I saved stupid Cooper from the pound.)

6-      Be a writer (This blog will count as being a writer. Let’s be honest I won’t be publishing anything anytime soon, so this will have to be the next best thing.)

7-      Travel the world (On my to-do list!)

8-      Own a motorcycle (My cute husband bought me a Honda Rebel in April 2011. I am a biker chick!! YAY!)

9-      Own a Saint Bernard (I already own a horse (AKA Cooper.) I think owning another huge dog will make me lash out irrationally. Maybe somewhere down the road, but then again evil never dies, which means Cooper will be around forever!! My husband is lucky I love him!)

10-   Have a family (I have started my own family by getting married and we do see kids in the FAR future)

I think I am headed down the right path. I have accomplished most of my childhood dreams, but now I need to fulfill my adult dreams. My biggest dream is to be happy. This blog will help me focus on the simply things in life that are often overlooked. Hopefully I will keep up with this blog and others will want to read it.