What Are Your Keys For?

Have you ever really looked for something? Like your keys- you search your house! You make sure to search the usual, “I always put them right here” spot.



When they aren’t there you be sure to check the "sometimes over there"spot.

Which resorts to checking the pants on the floor or in the laundry basket from yesterday spot

and finally think you’ve found them! 

I know it’s Wednesday but they have to be in the church bag used on Sunday for Sunday School.



Discouraged to find them still missing you consider a break down, “Hey Honey?” referencing your spouse, “Have you seen my keys?” Together you think about it, maybe even pray about it, then the search recommences with reignited fervor. I’ve done it a thousand times! Together it’s easer to find things.

This parable came to mind as I considered standing for truth in marriage. I’m not here to tell you what is right or what is wrong. I just have learned that it is important to stand for something and to pick those “somethings” together. 

While in school as a single student it is easy to take a few minutes before the beginning of the semester and decide your own goals and expectations for the semester. It’s a simple lined piece of paper with a couple jotted lines of what you want to accomplish this semester and maybe a few bullet points on how to make it happen. Once you get married it gets a little more complicated.

Ideally you come together with your lined papers and compare goals and expectations. I’m happy to relate that didn’t happen when Josh and I got married. I had some goals scribbled in my brain and maybe a couple notes in an app on my I-pad. He had lots of goals written on his eyelids as he slept that never really made it to paper. Before marriage actually we purchased a book entitled, “300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask Before Marriage.” Written by Shannon L. Alder. It helped us to get on the same page before literally sealing the deal.

I believe that it is crucial to a marriage relationship to determine what your key’s are for. As a couple we need to determine what we will stand for and that which is unacceptable by our standards. We need to be sure to make our Father in Heaven a key, His Gospel another key, our marriage one, and future children another for sure. But have you seen my key ring?! I have way more than just four lonely keys. Together through prayer and careful consideration between husband and wife we need to make “my” and “their” goals become “our” goals. After all; we are better together.

Marriage and How to Do it

I'm now currently enrolled in BYU-Idaho's Online program. I'm working full time and taking 3 courses so needless to say, I sleep a little, see my husband a little bit and am reading a ton. The courses I am taking are full of statistics of Marriage, Family Relations and Parenting. Currently two apply but hopefully one day the third will get there. My husband, Josh, and I are preparing as much as we can for the future even though everyone says it won't help. Knowledge is empowering and we are learning all we can until Heavenly Father blesses our little apartment with a new little one.
This blog will become a place where I can write about the things I am learning and share them with my classmates and anyone else who wanders to my little space of the internet.
My husband and I were recently married in the Oakland California LDS temple and It was a beautiful occasion. I've never been one for being overly girly so of course I rocked some velvet converse under my dress. The lesson I learned that day coming out of the temple ladies is this. Try walking in your wedding shoes with your dress before the time when you are walking out newly wedded to tons of family stares. I nearly tripped and spent the whole walk out of the temple laughing as my newly dubbed husband tried to keep me upright. :) Want proof? See below! (notice you can see the bottom of my shoe curled under my dress-trapped by my wedding dress)

Individualized Education Programs

After watching the video on Individualized Educational Programs and thinking a lot about IEPs I realized that that is what life is all about. We go through this life guided by a teacher (The Sprit) who helps us find our way through tests (trials) in order for us to return back to Heavenly Father. We have been given different trials. Each person is unique and the problems they go through help them to become. Once we realize that we are not alone in our struggle and that our teacher wants whats best for us and that our goals will be met if we but continue on; life becomes that much easier. This is the same experience parents of exceptional students need. Our teams of specialists and teachers who work together so that their child will be successful in what they want to do. As such it is our responsibility as future students to be as confident in our students as we are in our own ability to teach. As parents go through difficulties with a subject matter or with some homework their child cannot due yet, it is our responsibility to help them feel just as confident as we are on the Spirit and our Heavenly Father. We are the team those parents rely on and as such we need to be unified and positive in the success of students.

Overcoming Challenges

The central theme of this weeks activities stood out to me to be overcoming challenges together. Through the resolution of the Supreme court case of Brown vs. The Board of Education the world was shown that separate but equal does not mean equality. This spurred a lot of forward momentum for special education and help for those people struggling from physical or mental limitations. As I studied the required materials this week I was reminded of the movie Hidden Figures. The women working for NASA during the 20's when segregation was still roaring. These women had equal facilities as the white men but were still segregated in common areas like coffee pots and restrooms. These limitations were forced upon them and it was a great struggle for them. However as NASA pushed through with their space programs the white men needed the help of these brilliant African American women to be successful. In their selfish need they overlooked how these differences would negatively affect the work flow produced. Once this realization was made and remedied the forward progress of their programs increased tremendously. This is the case that we are all in when it comes to our own struggles. Sometimes we get caught up in our own struggles and never realize the difficulties of another person, who happens to be struggling right along with you. Thankfully the Supreme court cases discussed were focussed outward and helped to establish Special Education organizations to help people to struggle together to succeed instead of working apart to the detriment of all those involved.

Exceptional Students

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for anyone who tries their best to do something. It doesn't matter how simple the task may be for me but how they themselves are feeling. This week I was able to apply some of the talks that we read to a real life situation with my niece. Annabelle has autism and she is a doll! Some days are more difficult then others and it shows on my sisters face. They live in New Zealand and consequently we FaceTime quite frequently. This week on a more trying day I spent time catching my sister up on life as Annabelle jumped on the bed, couch or chair where my sister was talking to me. She had a brief moment of dismay and hopelessness and a few tears were shed. The next day I recalled the talk,  "The Moving of the Water" by President Boyd K. Packer. In his talk he reminds us about perspective and how if we lose our eternal perspective everything will be more difficult. "You parents and you families whose lives must be reordered because of a handicapped one, whose resources and time must be devoted to them, are special heroes. You are manifesting the works of God with every thought, with every gesture of tenderness and care you extend to the handicapped loved one. Never mind the tears nor the hours of regret and discouragement; never mind the times when you feel you cannot stand another day of what is required. You are living the principles of then gospel of Jesus Christ in exceptional purity. and you perfect yourselves in the process." As future teachers I think it is incredibly important to realize the stress that sometimes becomes involved with our exceptional students. Some days will be good and some days will be rougher but as we remind ourselves of their worth and love them just as the Savior loves us everything will work out and all will be uplifted.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/04/the-moving-of-the-water?lang=eng

Return on Investment

As a teacher we never know the situation a student comes from or goes home to. The activities from this week helped me to realize many different things. From the Saving Brains video the most important days are the first 1000 days. It is crucial to have children experience positive stimulation, protection and nutrition. These things are necessary for success. Just like Maslow's hierarchy of needs the basics have to be met before development can continue upward. One day at a time makes a difference. As students come into classrooms teachers need to be aware of their students and help intervene when necessary.
The Abuse and Neglect video was eye opening to what the process is when there is a problem with abuse or neglect. I didn't know each state had different specifications for what is proof of abuse or neglect. It is a teachers responsibility to be aware and aid when needed. They need to keep track of situations and notes with the CPS so that they can investigate if necessary.
Whitney Elementary is an awesome place. The principal is dedicated to student success and also success at home. Miss Gahn, the principal- said, "If you do what you do with integrity and intent you will shine." She is an inspiring woman who made a great impact on the children at her school. The hope she has for the children of her school is just like the hope the parents have for their children despite their current situation. The needs of children are universal and since they can meet those needs those students will be successful. This week was rough and I found myself not having enough time to get things done. Today I woke up to a tire on my car with a nail in it and a slow leaking tire. While I was at the car shop, waiting for the repair to be made a few children came in. In the waiting room was a man watching a rated R movie. The children were trying to ignore the TV but there wasn't anything else to do. I asked the man if we could change it to something more appropriate. He said of course and left the room handing me the remote. Upon changing the channel one of the children recognized me from being an aid in their classroom. They didn't want to say anything to the man but they were thankful that I did. Most times it isn't the fault of the children that they suffer but it definitely makes their lives more difficult. As teachers our responsibility is to pay attention, have hope in our students future, and do everything we can to help them be inspired to continue despite their circumstances. When we take the time to invest in our students lives they feel that reassurance that what they are doing is correct and when given that chance the return on that small investment is a new life of learning and confidence.

The Frozen Tundra

Back to the good old frozen tundra it is! Luckily it hasn't snowed much lately! Upon arrival there were two feet of snow on my poor California car and Tori was not too happy to start up! The semester is going strong, two weeks in and still straight A's. I feel like it is going to be a great semester... despite the white frozen stuff.