AHHHHHHH

So sometimes I get the urge to do something drastic to relieve me of this stress. I've been in control of the classroom for a few weeks now and every day is different. Some days I come home ready to conquer the world and others I feel like the world is caving in. It's pretty much a flip flop from day to day. I can't decide either if I'm just stressed and hormonal or if I'm really not liking this. At first I thought, oh these kids are so cute how wonderful. And now I'm frustrated a lot. It's mostly my fault cause I haven't figured out how to manage 6 classes a day with 45 kids in each class with many in each class with ADD, learning disabilities, English issues or whatever. Plus I'm starting to really dislike the school system.

Ok this all sounds bad. Really there are some rewarding things I've seen so far. Some have just done some really wonderful art. It's a great feeling for them to grasp a concept. I also love that elementary students always say "hello mrs. chinn!" when they pass me in the hallway. So among all the craziness, I can find some things to smile about I guess=)

and here's jessi's painting: (also on the art blog and facebook I think)

no talking in the art class please sir

I feel like I should update. This week was craaazy and no signs of slowing down. This semester has no speed limit. I'm student teaching at an elementary school with a great man. He is super smart, knows ALOT, is wonderful with kids.

However those kids I'm teaching are to die for cute. I always imagined teaching upper grades, but I love the little kids! and they are so creative! I've already noticed boys draw aliens, lightning, explosions, and things eating people. When you ask them about their pictures they tell you incredibly detailed stories about it. I laugh inside.

I finished the painting for Jessi and Ryan wedding present. I'll post a picture later. One goal for myself: update art blog. I kind of stopped using it. I've got another commission from a friend for a painting. The more the merrier! more yes! I need more!

Stained glass biz

I just finished my stained glass class. I'm thrilled to have learned how to make it! Although I cut myself almost every class, I think I'll keep doing this. I just need my own soldering iron =) These are my projects, the colors aren't very accurate, but just imagine pretty colors. I learned how to make pendants, which means our christmas presents are already done =)

tribute

3 years ago today I was a fresh naive missionary entering the MTC excited and totally unaware of what was coming. The next year and a half was the best time of my life. So I've been thinking about all the things I learned in my service as a missionary. I am who I am today in great part because of this incredible journey. So...some valuable things I learned...

I learned Spanish and Papiamento

I learned how to love people I didn't know

I learned to love people I didn't like

I learned to work even though you're dead tired

I learned to follow the Spirit even when you're not sure why

I learned to give comfort even when it makes me uncomfortable

I learned to hate contention

I learned to rely on the Lord first

I learned to love the scriptures

I learned to talk to strangers!

I learned to make delicious food

I learned you are strongest when on your knees

There are so many other lessons learned from the incredible 18 months I spent among the islands of the Caribbean. I think about the people there every day. I still think about moments, good and bad, from the mission. I wish I could see their faces again and hug them tightly. I am so grateful that I decided to serve. Aside from deciding to marry David, it was the best decision of my life.

Speaking of David...he is in El Salvador. This opportunity came up suddenly and I immediately told him to do it. We were a little hesitant cause he had to pay his own way, but it's worth it for preparing to apply to medical school. He's with a BYU venture company called 2ft. prosthetics. They go to struggling countries to provide a cheap alternative to expensive carbon fiber prosthetics. They figured out how to produce a prosthetic limb for only 20$ using PVC pipe. Amazing. So David is gone for 2 weeks with them really as their spanish man. He is the only in the group that speaks the language, so he's doing lots of translation. I'm alone until August 1st and being without him for one day has already made me appreciate what he does around here. I have taken him for granted.

Oh and he took my camera with him, and it's already been stolen. Oh well.

June rocks

The month of June rapidly flew by and soon eclipse is coming out! (which is the culmination of my summer experience...and the colorado trip). This month was very busy with the Utah Valley marathon, my praxis exam (teacher certification), my huge research paper, our one year anniversary, and a visit from my mommy!

I know it's late but I had to do a tribute to my wonderful husband of one year. We've been together for a total of 6 years so here are 6 things I love about you.

1. You prop the door open for me when you know I'm on my way home.

2. You eat my bad cooking graciously and tell me it's delicious.

3. Dr pepper, pizza, playing golf, and watching football make you a happy man.

4. You scratch my back when I don't ask for it, and sometimes when I do =)

5. You are such a good sport when I make you do things you don't want to do...like shop and eat vegetables.

6. And your number 1 priority is me, your wife, and making me happy.

I love you babe. Here's to many more years of a rockin' marriage!

disclaimer...we are drinking welch's white grape juice in our private balcony hot tub at our park city resort

Happenings

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We've been busy bees lately...the utah valley marathon is finally over. Last weekend David got hardly any sleep and was working all night to make sure the marathon happened. We were up really late on Friday night cutting hundreds of bananas and oranges for the runners. There are so many things that go into events like this that people don't think about. Next year...I'm gonna run it! David sounds like he'd like to run it next year too =)

I've also had the pleasure of doing some wedding stuff with Jessi like seeing her try on dresses! It's hard to choose because she looks perfect in all of them. Jessi got the beautiful Kirk genes. At first I was a little freaked out to think my little sister is getting married, but now it just seems normal. I got a video of him proposing but you can't really hear anything until we cheer at the end, but it's worth watching, it's sweet =). They're so beautiful together it makes me sick, they're gonna have super cute babies.

My friend Lauren commissioned me to do a painting for her little sister's graduation present. I'm really happy with how it turned out and am anxious to do MORE paintings for people who will pay me =) So if any of you would like a painting...I'll do whatever you want, you can email me and we can talk about prices =)

So I did one of those little video things that has what we've been up to lately, AND "the proposal." In their video he is singing to her, you can hear faintly singing sometimes, it was adorable. All of us were perched in a horse trailer nearby so jessi wouldn't know we were there. She was very surprised, not by the proposal, but all the people watching her.