Living and Living Well

Today marks week number 2 of my second to last spring semester at Utah State. It's a little bittersweet, knowing that college is drawing nearer and nearer to an end...but then I remember that when I'm done I'll have a real job with a real paycheck and I won't have to worry about walking all over campus in the bitter cold.

I started Level 1 (of 3) of the teaching program and have really enjoyed it so far. It's going to be a very busy semester but a great one nonetheless. (Except for my ag fabrications class...I don't do math) One thing that I'm really excited for are the 30 hours of clinicals that I'll be doing this semester. One of the requirements is to observe a teacher and ag program for 30 hours and take notes, participate when needed etc. One thing that's difficult in the ag ed program is that they are fewer and farther between than say, an English or Math education class-so this requires most of us to travel anywhere from an hour to 6 hours away. We can't go to a school that already has a student teacher for this semester and all of the nearby schools do and you aren't allowed to go to the high school you graduated from. I'm actually excited to have to go somewhere completely different and see a new program and a new teacher.

We haven't been assigned yet but we were able to choose a top 3 list from the options we had and mine were 1) Grace, Idaho-1 hour 15 minutes away 2) Malad, Idaho-1 hour away and 3)Blackfoot, Idaho-2 hours away. I had a couple of reasons for choosing all Idaho schools. The first being that those 3 schools are all closer than any of the Utah schools available for me, as I am from the most northern part of Utah. The second reason being that I have only been retired as a state officer for less than a year and want to have a fresh pair of eyes for whatever program I get to go to. I want to go where the kids and teacher don't know who I am which is hard to do after being a state officer. I also want to go somewhere that I don't know the kids or teacher either so I don't have any preconceived notions about them or their program.

I'm so excited to finally be at least ankle deep in the program and so happy to finally be in the classroom-even if only observing. If there's one thing I miss about being a state officer it's being in the classroom. It's what made me want to teach and I can't wait to do it for real.

But the most important part of this post is this: I can't begin to describe how good it feels to be excited about my future occupation and that I know I'm where I need to be. Life's been a bit eventful, to say the least, since the middle of December but I've been tremendously blessed through it all.

Summer? Seriously?

Guys...it's January 12th and I'm already in major anticipation of SUMMER!!! Since I know it is not even close to "just around the riverbend", I needed to change my blog background to something that reminded me of sunshine. Thus, the palm trees. I guess that the long winter is just something that we deal with here in Cache Valley, and since I love it so, I'll deal with it. But can I just vent for like...2 seconds? Top 5 reasons winter is NO BUENO!



1. Scraping the car windows!
2. Not being able to breath the red day air!
3. School!
4. Slippery ice!
5. Short days!

Have a great day :)

Potential Singing Act?

Ok so this post is mainly for my 3 sisters. Seeing as how there are conveniently 4 of us Peterson gals, I was somewhat inspired when I saw this video clip. All I have to say is, why not?...what about now girls? This could be our chance to make it big. So, with no further ado, please enjoy the inspiration to the possible future Peterson Sisters Act.

P.S-The video isn't working very well on here, so here is the link so it might work better.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/37752/saturday-night-live-the-lawrence-welk-show

New Decade, Old Memories

As we approach the end of yet another decade, I can't help but look back on the past two decades and think of the changes that have taken place.

Having been born in the 80's (barely) I lived a few quality years in the 90's and they seemed to be pretty rad if you know what I mean. I spent the past couple of days transferring all of my music onto my laptop and came to the realization that at least 90% of my music comes from the 90's. Mostly country.

But really-you've got to agree that the 90's was a great decade for all genres of music. Who can't help but sing along to Bust a Move or Ice Ice Baby? Or to Chatohoochie and the Grundy County Auction? Maybe it's just because those years were my most imaginative and life as a kid was pretty care free. Either way, I loved the 90's and I hope you did too.

I do realize that we're a decade off of the 90's, but we don't want to forget those years too quickly, so here's a tribute to a most memorable decade-in fashion, music and television.

You may have lived in the 90's if...

You know all the words to The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air theme song


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBe0VCso0qs

Goosebumps and Are You Afraid Of The Dark scared you

You collected (and maybe played) Pogs

You remember people fighting over Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo toys

You had a short-lived slap bracelet phase

You know the Macarena. And you do it well.

You loved your pair of overalls

You hoped that someday you could climb Agrocrag like the kids on GUTS

Your shoes had flashing lights

Oregon Trail Day was your favorite day in class

Bill Nye taught you something

You’d have a cassette tape in the radio so you could record your favorite song when it came on

You predicted your future with one of these:

You knew every detail about each Saved By The Bell character

You thought gas was expensive when it was over $1

You (or someone you know) wore Jelly Shoes

And to my family, this is a reminder of the 90's

Remember the good times!

Done. Finished. Completed. Ceased. Terminated. Ended. Cuh-put.

Fall Semester 2009=Over!
As of 35 minutes ago, when I turned in my highly procrastinated take home final for Soils, (due at 5:00, it is now 5:34) the first half of my junior year is over. I don't think I've ever felt so much relief at the end of a finals week as I do today.

Christmas break is strategically placed on the calendar for more than just one reason you know.

December is a month to get together with people we love.
It's a time to remember why we celebrate Christmas.

AND

Every college student deserves a break. We've all been working hard. We've all had our stresses, struggles and our flat out "I"M DONE!" moments. Please, everyone, do me a favor and have some fun this Christmas break. It won't be long before people will laugh at us for wanting a month long break from life, so enjoy it while you can.

And to you old fogies who don't get to take a 30 day leave of absence, enjoy your holidays anyway...and be jealous. Be very jealous.

But really, Happy Holidays from me to you.

One Late Night and a Sleeping Foreigner

I lost my keys last night.

My spare key doesn't work in my ignition...only on the doors.

We checked the chair in the library that I was sitting in. It took a while as there was a sleeping man in it. It took much shaking and many "excuse me's" to wake him up out of his deep slumber. They still weren't there.

Because of my luck, the snow has come down hard in the last 48 hours, therefore most likely sending my keys into the abyss of snow drifts on the edges of the sidewalks.

No one has turned them in to any lost and found.

My car is stuck in the parking terrace.

Please pray that I find my keys. I'm going to need all the help I can get.

Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving break was much needed in the school department for me. School is going well, but it was definitely nice to have a few days off to get rejuvenated before finals week comes. I was able to get a lot done and even put up my Christmas tree! :) I left my camera at mom and dad's so I can't post a picture of it yet, but by tonight I will.

I thought I'd post a few pictures from Thanksgiving day. We didn't have a big elaborate celebration, just mom, dad, Landon and I, but it was still a lot of fun. Dad and Landon were burning a bunch of the brush that we needed to get rid of so we just hung outside for a while so that was fun.
This all needs to be cleared out so instead of hauling it they decided to have a bonfire! It will look so much better when just the trees are there instead of all of the shrubs and dead brush.

I also rode the motor bike around and I was so proud of myself for not crashing! I wish I would have gotten a picture of me on it but at least I got one of Landon.



In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is a short list of the things I'm most thankful for. (Not in any particular order) :)

1. My family
2. The Gospel
3. Good friends
4. Opportunity to go to school and work
5. Warm bed and warm showers
6. A car
7. Music
8. Agriculture
9. Technology
10. People who do the jobs that no one else wants to (if you don't know what I'm talking about, just watch Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe on The Discovery Channel)

Happy Holidays!