The Circle of Life

Last week I turned off the lights and locked the door of my classroom for the very last time. It was funny as I packed up all of my things I was struck with this philosophical feeling, perspective I guess. It was almost this time last year that I showed up with Crys's car filled with stuff. I was so eager to fill my classroom with all of the things I had been working so hard on. Then, there was the day I got my nametag next to my door "Mrs. Rich" That's right I was Mrs. Rich and this was my classroom!
As I was packing I was surprised by how much had changed now I couldn't wait to move all of my things out. Then, It hit me I wasn't coming back. I have no job for next year, no new classroom to decorate. All of my teaching stuff will live in boxes waiting for "someday". Someday when I get up the courage to try teaching again. When I am once again filled with a million ideas, hopes, and dreams.
I am going to lunch with the new interns tomorrow. It is suppose to be a nice chat, pass on wisdom kind of lunch. What I really want to say is run! I'm sure the internship can be wonderful given the right situation, but it was quite the roller coaster ride. Perhaps, I really do stink as a teacher and a person and all of their "concerns" were valid. I however, think they forgot to notice one thing about my "teaching style" how much I cared for and loved my students. Maybe it is because I don't have my own kids, but for 6 hours a day I felt like I had 24 kids.
No, I suppose I did not move everything out of my classroom. The books are gone. The decorations gone. The students gone. The computer files... still there (oops). A year's worth of sweat, tears, hopes, and dreams from a teacher's first year teaching... still there. I will probably never step foot in Mt. Loafer again, but a part of me will always be there just as a part of my students will always be with me.
This year my students taught me that the important things are not math, science, and especially not literacy! *Gasp!* (it's ok they already gave me my degree) The most important thing my class and I learned was not on the end of the year criterion reference test. I learned that the most important thing is to be a good person and to put all your trust in the Lord. Then, everything else will fall into place as it should. That doesn't mean you will not be criticized for your methods, but in the end it will all come together for your good.

Food Blog!

I've decided to start a food blog! This is so that I quit posting pictures of our meals on this blog come see it! Something to Savor

Look at me I'm a graduate!

After 4 quick years of college I have now joined the ranks as a college grad.

Procession at the Smith Field House

Mom & Dad with the classic BYU sign


The classic BYU sign


Photo Opportunity with Grandma & Grandpa Ferrell



I was reminising today about some of my experiences over the past 4 years. It feels like thy keep letting freshman in younger and younger. They also seem to be less and less mature. It was then that I discovered that deep down I am still my freshman self. To an outsider it may seem that I have learned and grown so much, but really it's just the same ol' me just with a new fancy piece of paper.

Oh yeah, I might know a few more facts as well :)

Conference Sunday

McDonalds Has Got Nothing On Us!


Every conference Sunday since I was a kid was "Big Breakfast" Sunday. It didn't matter what we had but it always took the majority of the first session to make. This year we continued the tradition, but haha! we were actually eating it by the first talk. I feel particularly proud of this fact. So here's our breakfast egg, bacon, and cheese biscuits and hashbrowns.


I made the biscuits using this amazing recipe from a blog I randomly found http://pinchmysalt.com/2007/09/18/how-to-make-the-best-buttermilk-biscuits-from-scratch/ but they have since become my new favorite thing because they are amazing!!!
Now all me and Danny need to do is decide what to but on top of the hashbrowns. Danny likes ketchup while I prefer maple syrup.

Then, for dinner we had Beef Stew with Cibatta bread.


I threw in a can of diced tomatoes
2/3 of a can beef broth (would have been a whole can but this was left over from some other recipe)
1 lb. beef stew meat tossed in four and pan fried till outside is brown
1 onion diced
2-3 cloves of garlic
a swig of Worcestershire sauce
3 beef bollin cubes
2 c. water
About 8 small potatoes cut into bit-sized pieces.

Then let it sit in the crock pot all day on low (about 10 hours, but if you don't have that much time like me today 1-2 hrs. high 4-6 hrs. low)

For the cibatta bread I cut them in half then rubbed the insides with a garlic glove, drizzled them with olive oil, and toasted them lightly. They made a great addition to the stew.
Also during the conference break I decided to make something fun for my visiting teachies for Easter. I didn't want to bring anything foodish because I always bring food and it is a little cliche. So this is what I came up with. Tiff had an egg like this when we were kids, but it got broken. She was crushed so my mom helped her make a new one. I remember being so amazed when she blew the egg out! Anyways it turned out to be the perfect idea as they were so much fun to make.

Synthy

So we were playing around with this new program microsoft put out called photosynth and wow it is slick. You have to dl'd the program in order to watch these but it is worth it.
The first is one that I did for my mom for here b-day
http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=f83d8202-d518-4c07-bbeb-6e301d8216bd

The second one is a picture of all the wonderful things that jenni did for valentines day. It was the best day ever.

http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=c46e47f3-ba12-4702-aa86-288e3a07f7cf

Anywho check these out I think there will be more to follow that is just too much fun
--Danny and Jenni

Official First Post!

Here is my very first blog post! Since this is the first here is a little bit of information about me and Danny. We were married on 8/8/08 and have lived here in Provo, UT ever since. I teach 4th grade at an elementary school in Salem and both me and Danny are finishing up school to graduate this year.

Here's where we call home.

We both have cowboy hats! Well I suppose mine is a cowgirl hat.

Here's our bathroom.

Our Bedroom: Danny's Grandma made our quilt as a wedding present.

Kitchen from front room

Front room

Tiff this is for you! :)