Blackfoot...at least that is what they say

Cooper & I decided to go to see my sister Misti and her kids for a few days, just a short trip. I didn't bring any homework so we could just visit and play. I was very nervous about snowy roads, but it didn't start snowing until we actually hit Blackfoot, or what I thought was Blackfoot. As I'm cruising along I-15, watching the snowflakes start to fall, I see a sign "Blackfoot exit 1 mile". I like to follow directions and there were no signs saying there were multiple exits, so I took it. I knew I made a mistake as soon as I got off the exit, but I figured Blackfoot was a very small town so I could figure it out. WRONG.

I couldn't find any of the cross streets I had on my mapquest sheet, so when I saw a mailman, I decided to stalk him. I finally ran him down and he didn't have a clue as to the address I was looking for. Meanwhile, the snow started to fall harder and harder. Being that I'm a woman, I'm not afraid to ask for directions so I stopped at Maverick and decided to call Misti on the pay phone. Outside. In the snow. Thank heavens Misti jumped in her van and came to get us. I don't think I would have ever found her place.

The 2 nights and 3 days I was there was so much fun. Bostyn & Kams are hilarious. So much drama in those tiny little bodies and so much personality. Misti made me the best soup ever and I really need the recipe. We stayed up too late both nights playing Rock Band and Mario Party 8 on the Wii. I favorite was just visiting and being entertained by the kids. It was just what I needed, although I wish I could have stayed longer. Cooper, on the other hand, did stay longer. He is still there. Oh my. The secrets Misti will find out about our family. Maybe I cried a little when I left him. Maybe Misti thought I was my dad. I guess we'll never know. Tag! Misti...it's your turn for a visit!

My Puh-Pah

Tomorrow. March 15th. The celebration begins. It's my dad's, Freddy Leo Fairhurst, birthday and for the force-to-be-reckoned with kind of guy he is, I think the whole world (at least my little blogging world) should celebrate with him and wish him a Happy Birthday.

Since most of us can't make it to Colorado Springs, CO, where he is serving his mission, the best way to celebrate with him is to celebrate Fred style. I'll give you some choices, or if you're Fred enough, you can try them all at once.

Take a Pepsi, pour peanuts straight into the Pepsi, and drink/chew it down. Salty & sweet all at the same time.

Eat Gizzard without having to chew each one more than 10 times. (My Dad was born with T-Rex teeth)

Ask someone to pull your finger, but be prepared to deliver.

Bring out THE CLAW...and the evil laugh.

Drive a vintage Ford Mustang or mist up a little every time vintage vehicles pass your view.

Although all of the above are true...I make no joke about that, if you are really going to celebrate Fred style you have to do anything for anyone, forgive easily, think all people are beautiful, try to fix anything and it actually works afterward, actively adore your grandchildren, have incredible public speaking abilities, and love God in word and deed.

It's a lot to live up to. I miss you Dad. Love you. More than all of your other children. Happy Birthday!

Taboo

To associate yourself with any particular religion has become taboo. Why? Because if you are religious, you are now deemed a zealot or extremist. Instead, it has become trendy to be “enlightened” or “spiritual”, but not religious. For those of you who haven’t received the social memo, what is the difference between the two?

If you are religious, you read designated scripture, consistently attend church, pray (a lot). You probably abstain, or try to abstain, from certain socially encouraged behaviors. You believe in God. Not some mystical, theoretical idea, but an actual loving Being who knows you and has expectations of you and communicates with you. You probably believe there are consequences to poor choices. Your values and traditions are often considered old-fashioned, but they have brought considerable joy and peace in to your life. You aren’t swayed by the latest and greatest theory or finding. You believe in a plan of self-improvement and work hard on inadequacies.

I can’t really define the new social “enlightenment” because there are so many contradicting attributes to those who have jumped into this category. From what I have observed (so a very biased perspective), enlightened individuals are the proponents of socially acceptable ideals. In other words, it’s the absolute correct belief until society in general disagrees. You have to be keen to societal inclinations to stay a member of this group. The great thing is you can almost always do what you want when you want, except call yourself religious, unless it offends another “enlightened” individual.

So, I’ve been shunned. I’m religious. And…hold on….I’m Mormon. My first, and main order of business, as a religious zealot is to take personal inventory each day and work on those things that are not in accordance with God’s will. Why? He loves me. I love Him. What’s important to Him is important to me and You are what is important to Him. So through my shunning, I will look for divine qualities in all I meet. And hopefully improve along the way.

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8: 35-36

Religiously Yours.

Beginning

It's March and it's begun. The quest for teacherhood. I applied for my first teaching job this week and it was an experience, one that will continue at least a couple more times. There was no class explaining the excruciating length and boundless hoop jumping of teaching applications. I have reach into the cobwebbed corners of my vast memory to find the teensiest bits of applicable information. If anyone knows a good mind detective...let me know.

You have to have pertinent schooling information, job experience information, letters of recommendation (2-3), copies of Praxis scores, copies of certifications, copies of transcripts, a background check with fingerprinting, and it seems each applications has at least 3 pages of instructions..which prove to be very necessary. The one thing you don't have to provide: urine. That did surprise me a bit. I could have a bit of an advantage if urine was collected, unless sugar is deemed a drug.

It's all worth it though. To be a teacher. To realize my goals. I hope I can do it. I hope my love of learning will shine through to my students. It's time. A new beginning.