I'm Back!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I created a new blog yesterday and even posted something too. I am not going to be using this blog anymore, but I'll see you in my new blog! Love you all!

abbisthoughts.blogspot.com

Great Quote

"The most important knowledge you can acquire, and the area of learning that will keep everything else in focus for you and bring you true happiness and joy, will be your solid anchor of assurance that you are a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ."
-M. Russell Ballard

I love this quote. It has helped me keep perspective throughout my college career as I've been tempted to stress about tests and grades. I think it will continue to help me throughout the rest of my life, too. Nothing is as important as following the Lord Jesus Christ.

Old Car:

New Car:

My Job

Hello again! Thanks so much for your kind comments! I just wanted to give everyone an update about my job. I am going to be working at a school for children with autism in Salt Lake. I am so excited about this! I will be working in a preschool classroom. Before I applied I went and observed a classroom and I felt so much excitement thinking about being in there interacting with those kids! The student to teacher ratio is absolutely amazing--it was 2 to 1 when I was observing, and they said they try to keep it at about that. Isn't that phenomenal. I am so excited. My position is an "autism aide" and I will be working with kids, helping them reach specific goals they have, like learning their numbers, matching verbs to pictures of those verbs, and other broad goals like increasing their attention span and decreasing negative behaviors and such. So exciting!! Okay, so I know that may not sound all that exciting to you guys, but it really is for me. And hopefully I will be able to maintain my excitement over it as I am working there. :)

The only drawback to this job is that it's part-time. I'll be working in two two-week summer programs in July and August for 25 hours a week, and then once the regular school year begins in August I'll be working 31 hours a week. They open up the full-time positions to part-time faculty before they open these positions to the public, and so the part-time faculty almost always fill these positions before they would be open to applications from outsiders such as myself. So hopefully a full-time position will open up very soon after I start working there and I will get promoted to full-time. Everyone, keep your fingers crossed.

I'm Still Here

I'm still alive! I'm sorry I haven't blogged or commented on anyone's blog for a long time! I have been incredibly busy, and it is unbelievable that it's been two and half weeks since I blogged about Tevas. Time is going by so fast. I have so much to do, and it doesn't look like that's going to change before the wedding, so I may not blog very much until July. But here are some updates on my life:

1. I sold the Blazer. It was so stressful because I do not like selling things, haggling about prices, or letting go of so many memories and good times I had in that Blazer. But it was for the best, because now:
2. I have a new car that can get me to NSL and back! Chad was so good to do all the talking for me in the buying process, and then I just had to write the check. Thank you, Chad, for helping me find, drive to, decide on, and haggle the price of the car!! It is a beautiful 2001 black Honda Civic that I absolutely love. And it's nice to no longer have to harass Adam every day about when I can use the Passport.
3. I got a job! Well, actually, I haven't actually accepted it yet, but I've been offered a job and I'm going to accept it and I'll let you know the details later.
4. I took my last two midterms of my undergraduate career. Now it's just a couple projects and two finals to go!
5. My four lovely future sisters-in-law put on an AMAZING bridal shower for me last Saturday and so much family was there to support me! Thanks, everyone, you're the best!
6. I have my appointments set up for my temple recommend interview, and Chad and I have met with both of our bishops.
7. Chad and I got our marriage license this morning!
8. Chad and I went to his Residency Awards Banquet last Friday and I had such a good time. It was held at the magnificent Grand America Hotel, and I loved the beauty of it all. But most of all it was good to spend time with Chad and be able to meet and observe some of the people he works with.
9. I have my veil and jewelry all set for my wedding day, and now I just need to get shoes!
10. All the invitations are sent out, thanks to my mom! My mom is so incredibly amazing it's unreal. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have her as my mom.

Tevas

I love my mush Teva flip-flops. They are so comfortable, I wear them almost every day. Thanks to Chad's family for introducing them to me! If anyone is looking for comfy flip-flops for the summertime, these are the way to go.

Springtime

I love this time of year! I love how when I wake up, even if I wake up early, it is already light outside and in my bedroom. I love how I don't have to wake up super early to go running, because I can run later in the morning or in the evening and it won't be too hot. I love how I can hear birds chirping from my window and see pictures of frogs, turtles, and birds on my sisters' and mom's blogs! I love how the BYU campus isn't as busy during spring term. And I love how green everything is!!