First day of School

You know those classes that you go to, and something is said that is just what you needed to hear or is something you've thought about but haven't really discussed a lot? Well, that's how every single one of my classes have been so far. Yes, I am an Elementary Ed major so the things we talk about are pretty interesting and fun, to me at least, but I think all my classes this semester are just what I need this year. We watched this video yesterday in one of my Intro classes, and we talked about our legacy we want to have as teachers and what/who our inspirations to become teachers are. 

I know not everyone are going to be teachers (but really we are all teachers in some way), but I think we can all apply this to our lives no matter how old we are or what are career choice is. We all have people that look up to us, and turn to us for advice. So it's our job now to become the person we want to be. How do we want to be remembered and known for? What do we want our legacy to be?

Also, I love the family history section of the library. I was just sitting there minding my own business like I usually do and an old man just started talking to me and we started to talk about education and being a teacher for a little bit. Conversations with strangers make me so incredibly happy, and is one thing that always make me miss family wards. 

P.S. I'll get around to posting pictures(none of which are mine because I haven't charged my camera since Jeru, oops) about my weekend and Bear Lake soon!

Hope you're first few days of classes are as great as mine have been!

Out of Time

The day has finally come. I'm driving back to Utah, but with some fun pitstops planned (Dillon, Rexburg, Bear Lake). I have to admit though I have mixed emotions about leaving this year which is definitely not how I felt at the beginning of the semester. Coming home after Jerusalem was hard, really hard at first. I missed everyone, and hated that I was missing out on all the fun things people were doing together, and at that point the end of summer could have been the next day if I had it my way. Slowly but surely the craving to have friends around me 24/7 like I did at the JC diminished, and I remembered the BEST friends I have living with me right now that will be mine forever. They make laugh constantly, tell me to pull myself together when I need it most, show me how to be a better person, and love me despite all my little quirks. Now that the time has come to leave home and Spokane for another school year I'm so sad how fast the summer went by, and wish I had more time to goof around with the family. I'm so grateful for a family that loves me, sisters(and a new brother!) that go to the same school, and parents that have season tickets to the football games. Summer was great, but it's time to get the school year rollin'. Provo here I come! 

Done!

I am finally done! Time to go give it to the Grandparents and then it's off to the lake!

Things you learn from girl's camp

-How to get a fro-

Step 1: Rag curls

Take small sections of your hair and wind them up in little pieces of cloth, tie them in a knot, and leave them in for a day.

Step 2: Take out rag curls

Enjoy a sneak peek into the future of what your hair will look like when you're 70

-My camera decided to conveniently fog up when we took this picture, no one wants close ups from girl's camp anyways:)

Step 3: Run your fingers through the curls, tease, drench with hairspray, and voila!

Now all you do is enjoy the stares, laughs, make up your own band, and dream that having a fro on a daily basis is socially acceptable:)

By the way, I'm Julia, the third oldest of our clan of girls! Preparing to go to college in one week with my two older sisters! Hope you enjoyed learning how to have a fro! Make sure you have a gallon of conditioner handy to detangle the fro!:)

-Julia

Legos and Countdowns

So this past week I got to babysit these two little cuties every afternoon! Can you tell they're siblings? I told them to make a silly face and they both responded with this face, but I think this is a classic "silly" face for little kids. Also, I'm pretty sure I played with legos more this week than I have in my entire life(legos are so much fun). 

I had a blast with Tucker and Taylor, but I have to say one of the highlights was seeing all the souvenirs from Jerusalem around the house. Every time I turned the corner I would see something like a huge picture on the wall of the Jerusalem center(I'm seriously obsessed!). Today I found a little gem! I found a little plate that had a fish and a loaf on it in the classic blue mosaic that is found all over Israel's tourist sites. This sent me reliving the best two weeks when we were in Galilee visiting all those cities that Jesus spent time teaching and performing miracles. Even babysitting reminds me of Jerusalem! Luckily there is a little Jeru reunion in t-minus 9 days! Yes it has only been 4 months and we already need to see each other again, but those 4 months in the Holy Land have been by far some of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life. All the people there made the experience unique and I think those friendships are the closest thing to "going back there" we can get and that's why anyone you have met that has been there clings onto those friendships. Can't wait for Bear Lake!

Olympics

I bet you thought I was going to talk about the real Olympics, huh? Well I am, at least the kind of Olympics anyone can be in. Every year during our reunion we have a "big" event like a home run derby, or a wipeout course, or a triathlon that includes an obstacle course instead of biking. In honor of the summer Olympics we held our own Ford Reunion Olympics with our own version of a few events(plus a few that should probably be added to the real olympics). The schedule of events went as follows:

1. Summersaulting (the older kids were a little more reluctant to this childhood pastime)
2. "pole-vault" 
3. Holding your breath
4. Marshmallow spit
5. Underwater swim

I bet you didn't know 16th place won gold did ya? Well because the age span was from 2-20 to even things out whoever got 16 place got gold, 15th silver, and 17th bronze. So while the younger kids do everything the best they can, the older kids are desperately trying not to do their best and be average. So let me introduce you to our gold medalist.....

JULIA!