Look Who's One!!!

On February 9th, I was lucky enough to go and pick Shauna, Joaquin and Elena up from the Sea-Tac airport. They flew in for Zack and Jeanette's sealing and came a few days early. Elena turned one that very day! I picked them up and took them to Tacoma where they were going to stay a few days with Shauna's friend, Julia, and her little family. We got to Julia's and had a yummy lasagna dinner. We then opened up some presents for Elena. I gave her a little Minnie Mouse stuffed animal and also a little hat that I had knit for her. I also had fun making a birthday cake for the birthday girl. Elena is such a sweet baby girl and I just love her to pieces. I was so happy that they were here in Washington to celebrate her big one year old birthday. :)

Fun with Friends in February...

Jake, Me, Sara and Katrina rocking out with Bon Jovi!!!

Rachel, Sarah, Rachel, Lindsay and Me enjoying some yummy BBQ!!!

Stephanie, Me and Jen enjoying and celebrating men!!!

The month of February has brought a lot of fun times with a lot of fun friends. The first weekend in February, I attended a conference with some of my fun single friends. The conference was, "Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women." It was a very insightful conference weekend that helped to shed a light on how men and women are different, how we can celebrate those differences and how we can work together to support and lift one another. I attended with a friend of mine, Stephanie. She is a ton of fun and we had lots of laughs together. Plus, my friend, Jen was volunteering at the conference and so she was able to spend some good time with us, too. I am grateful that I went and truly honor and respect the men in my life more than I did before the conference. This past weekend also brought some fun and laughter into my life. On Friday night, I went with a group of girlfriends to dinner at a yummy BBQ restaurant in Issaquah. We then went to a really great movie, Extraordinary Measures. Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford were the main stars in the movie...and it was surprisingly enough NOT a movie with a lot of running and action. Instead, it was one of those that tugs on your heart strings a bit. I recommend it...two thumbs up! Then...drum roll please...I went to the Bon Jovi concert at the Key Arena on Saturday with some other friends. It seriously rocked my world! It was so fun to sing along to the songs that I used to listen to while I was in high school...it was a total blast from the past! Plus, it was pretty sweet to actually sing along with Bon Jovi in concert to "Living on A Prayer." Good times for sure! I am lucky to have some great friends who are always up for an adventure!!! :)

The Peoples Choice Awards

One of the neatest events that we have at GKHS each year is the Peoples Choice Awards. Each staff member has the opportunity to nominate a student who has excelled despite any obstacles that may have prohibited them from doing so. This year, I nominated one of my awesome senior boys, Juan. He is a student that I have gotten to know really well throughout the past three years. He is a kind hearted individual who is always quick to share a smile. He and his parents immigrated from Mexico when he was about 6 months old. Juan is currently not an American citizen but has strong desires to get his citizenship. Juan has not let this stop him and has really taken full advantage of being in America. He is planning on going to college and will be the first one in his family to do so. Juan is also very involved in DECA at GKHS. He has been to state the past two years. He really loves business and wants to study international business at WWU this coming Fall. I love Juan...he is one student that has definitely made a difference in my life! :)

Marines Educator Workshop

SEMPER FIDELUS

What exactly does SEMPER FIDELUS mean? It is latin for, "Always Faithful." I had the opportunity of witnessing first-hand how this applies specifically to the Marines and how it is fitting for it to be their theme. This is a post that I have been wanting to do for a while now...just haven't had the time until now. Time for a bit of a travel log...if interested read on... In January (January 18-22), I went to San Diego, California for a week training with the Marines. I went down there with educators (principals, counselors, teachers, superintendents) from all over Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the pan handle of Idaho for a week long educator workshop. I can honestly say that it was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. We arrived to California just in time for monsoon season...lucky us! And, no, we did not bring the bad weather with us. Ironically enough, it did turn out to be one of the rainiest times that San Diego has seen for a long time....years! Anyways, we got there on Monday night. When we arrived, they took us to a nice dinner where they explained to us a little about what would be taking place that week. We were also introduced to the Marines that would be with us that week. That night, I met my roommate. Her name was Kelly and she was from the Tri-Cities area. She is teaching fashion and foods at a high school there. She was super cool and I must say that I was lucky to have her for my roommate. I also met and became friends with some other really cool people... Beri and Nycole who are both counselors at Stadium High School in Tacoma, and John who was an administrator at a high school in Lynwood. Tuesday. We were in for a rude awakening. The group from Washington, about 40 of us, was assigned a drill instructor. His name was Sgt. King. We had to answer him with "Yes, Sir." "No, Sir." "Aye, Aye, Sir." We even learned to walk in formation. In comparison, we were totally off and it was pretty hilarious. Anyways, we went to the Marines Recruiting Depot in San Diego to start off our experience. When we arrived, we had to rush to get off the bus and to line up on yellow footprints. We then had to stand at attention. Once we were all lined up, we were escorted in to where the Marines receive all that they will need for their time at boot camp. It is also where they get their heads shaved and where they begin their journey to becoming Marines. That day we also were given a tour of the swimming pool area where they must pass certain water tests, the martial arts area where they learn to fight and the baracks where they live while they are at Boot Camp. We also got to have lunch with a Marine from Auburn. He is 28 and has a wife and a child back home. We asked him why he decided to join the Marines. He told us that he could have joined any of the branches and received a signing bonus in doing so. The Marines did not give a signing bonus. He went on to say that in the face of combat, he would much rather have someone with him that was there for the right reasons...not because he had received money to be there. Someone that would be there because his heart was in it. I thought that was really interesting and was grateful for those men and women who put it all on the line to protect our country. Tuesday night. We usually got done with the activities with the Marines around 3 PM each day. I knew that whatever I did in San Diego, I wanted to go to the San Diego temple. So, when I returned on Tuesday, I called the front desk. They told me that it would cost about $40 to rent a car or to take a taxi to and from the temple. I knew that there had to be a better way to get there from the hotel. I decided to call the temple. I explained to the sister, on the other end of the line, my situation and asked her if she knew anyone in the area that I was staying at that would be able to take me to the temple. The Sister proceeded to give me the name of a friend of hers that lived in the area where I was at. I called this sister and told her my situation. She then gave me a list of people from her ward that I could call. She told me also that it was their ward temple night. She was not able to attend because she was ill. The first person that I called was Bishop Mendez. He and his sweet wife agreed to come and pick me up and take me to the temple with them that night. They were so awesome. I felt very grateful for the ability to connect with members and to feel as though I knew them and that they knew me, too. Church membership truly does provide us with a world wide family. I am grateful. And, I am so grateful that I was able to visit the San Diego Temple while I was in California. It truly is beautiful!!! Wednesday. This was a pretty cool day and we got to see lots of neat things. We went to Miramar. This is where they have all the planes and the helicopters. We actually got to get inside of them and see all of the controls and how massive they really are. During lunch, we got to listen to one of the Marine Corps bands. They were really talented and I was definitely impressed. We also went and saw the real baracks where the Marines stay...way different from where the recruits stay. A trip to the Marines museum and to the gift shop topped off the day. Wednesday night. The rain was coming down hard and so most people stayed at the hotel for dinner. The restaurant at the hotel is super nice and so the food is pretty divine! I had delicious salmon with couscous. I also had a yummy peach bread pudding with cinnamon cream for desert. Delish!!! Definitely better than the food that we ate with the recruits at the chow hall. Thursday. This day was spent at Camp Pendleton. This was possibly the most powerful day of them all. During the 11th week of training, the recruits experience a 52 hour challenge known as The Crucible. This is an incredibly intense experience in which the recruits are given only 3 ready-made meals, encounter difficult obstacles in which they must rely on each other completely in order to make it, climb mountains, etc. Plus, they do not sleep hardly at all through this experience. I had so much respect for the recruits that did The Crucible the week I was there. Not only did they have to test themselves more than ever, but they had to do it in horrible weather. They pulled together and they made it. It was so awesome because we got to witness as these fine young men came in from The Crucible. We got to watch as they sang the Marines anthem and we got to witness as they received the Marines emblem which crowned them as official Marines. It was amazing to see as their drill instructors walked from Marine to Marine. He would tell them of the strengths that he saw in them, what would help them to be the best Marine possible. As these young men received the emblems- The Eagle, Globe and Anchor- they grasped onto them and held them tightly. They knew that they had passed the test and that they had reached their goal of becoming a Marine. It was a teary moment for us all...one that was accompanied by music such as, "I am Proud to be an American." Wow! Unbelievable! I will always remember this moment. After this ceremony, we went to the shooting range and witnessed as the recruits practiced their shooting. It was accompanied by a heavy down pour of rain...so we did not stay too long. The cool thing about it was that they actually gave us some goracks to wear...camo coats. We then went to a place where they simulate shooting practice and we were able to try it. We also got to go and see the real thing... I got to hold a machine gun in my hands! We then went and saw the Amphibious vehicles...the ones that go on water and in land. They were pretty cool to see and we got to talk with the Marines that work with them afterwards. I think that was one of the best things about the conference...talking with actual Marines...those who are in boot camp and those who have already made it through and are serving as actual Marines. It was eye opening to hear about their experiences and to learn about what it really takes to serve our country. HONOR, COURAGE and COMMITMENT-- the three core values of The United States Marine Corps. Thursday night. In my first graduating class at Graham-Kapowsin High School, the Class of 2007, there was a young man by the name of Kyle Kramer. I got to know Kyle really well while he was at GKHS. A month after he graduated, Kyle joined the Marines and headed to boot camp in San Diego. Since that time, he has been on a ship in the Indian Ocean, he has been over to Thailand and has been to Iraq. He currently is stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. I knew that I wanted to see him while I was there. So, we connected and went to dinner in Old Town in San Diego. We had dinner at a yummy authentic mexican restaurant. It was so great to be with Kyle and to get caught up on his life and to hear about his experiences in the Marines. Kyle will deploy to Iraq one more time and then has plans to get out once his four years are through. At that point, he would like to join a fire department. It was definitely a highlight of my trip to reconnect with Kyle! I am definitely proud of my student and the man that he is now! Friday. We had the opportunity of meeting the Marines mascot, Belleau, at breakfast this day. We also got to meet the Brigadier General, Ronald Bailey. General Bailey is the Commanding General of the Western Recruiting Region for the Marines. He took the time to shake each of our hands and to thank us for being there that week. The day was topped off by attending the Marines Graduation. That was a very special event. However, I still think that witnessing the men come in after The Crucible was even more rewarding. We flew home after the graduation. Overall, it was definitely an incredible experience...it's hard to describe just how amazing it really was. I am grateful that I had the chance to attend and have a much greater appreciation for the Marines and for the other branches of the Military that unselfishly serve our country each day. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS and GOD BLESS THE USA!!! SEMPER FIDELUS!!!

Primary Fun...

A Valentine's Day Surprise: Heart Attacking the Bishop

Stake Activity Days PJ Party

New Year's Breakfast with The Teachers

Our Awesome Bishopric

I have the amazing opportunity of serving in the Primary. I love the kids that I get to work with and I completely enjoy the other leaders and teachers that I serve with. Honestly, I don't know how I got so lucky to have this calling but I am grateful!!! (I do have to admit that Sharing Time horrifys me...I was in charge of it all month long! I survived and feel like I got a bit better each week.) In January, we had some pretty fun activities. The first Saturday in January we had a breakfast where the kids got to meet their teachers. Everyone had the opportunity to learn about each other. It was a lot of fun! Our awesome Bishop and his wife were the ring leaders for this activity. Another fun activity that we had in January was for the Activity Day Girls. The stake Primary Presidency put together a PJ party for the girls of the stake. It was great fun! The girls made pillows and enjoyed some yummy hot chocolate and sweet rolls. It was fun for our Activity Day Girls of the Surprise Lake Ward to socialize with the other girls of the stake....especially since we only have a handful of girls this age. Then, just last week we (the Activity Day Girls, leaders and myself) went and heart attacked our bishop's house. Way fun to leave this special surprise for our awesome bishop! I really do feel so blessed to be in the Surprise Lake Ward and am so grateful for my calling in the Primary! Let the good times roll! :)