Thankful Thoughts- Day 10

Day 10:

Today I am thankful for being able to live in Hawaii. 

During the first semester of my freshman year at Georgia College, I applied to BYU Hawaii as a transfer student. By February, I had gotten accepted and was seriously considering whether I should be over 4000 miles away from my family and my home state of Georgia. 

As most of you know- I chose Hawaii. By August of 2007, my mom, me, and four suitcases were on our way to the beautiful island of Hawaii. I had a signed contract for a house in Hau'ula (a town about three miles away from campus and Laie). I was excited and beyond scared... I was also not 100% sure of my choice to go to Hawaii. 

I always had such great dreams of traveling and living on my own, but in reality I am a home body. 

I went to school at BYU Hawaii from 2007-2009. I adjusted to living on an island... seeing a lot (and I mean a lot) of Asians... I got really close with my cousins in Hawaii - The Johnson Family- I went to the beach a lot- saw the huge surf waves during the Winter months- I got called Haole a lot- and I met some really great girlfriends. 

It was a great experience. I was so lucky to have been giving this opportunity. And after a quick 18 months of some life changes (i.e. studying abroad in London, and getting married) it was time to go back. 

I enjoyed my time in Hawaii and when I left in April of 2009 I felt like I was not quite done with life in Hawaii. 

So, while Matt and I were engaged and talking about our future we decided it would be best to move back to Hawaii so I could finish school. As a newlywed couple we moved back (well I moved back) to the beautiful island of Hawaii in January of 2011 and have been ever since. 

While I enjoyed being here as a single lady, it has been way better with my husband. I don't get as lonely or as homesick like before and now Matt and I have awesome memories of our first two years of marriage. 

We have been able to explore the island and go on many adventures. We have gotten used to living in close quarters (i.e. a studio apartment). We have been able to stand on our own as a newlywed couple. I graduated with my bachelors, and Matt started back at school. And we have been able to spend time with Matt's family that live on the island. 

It has been a great blessing to be able to live here. I can't believe I have been able to live in one of the best vacation spots! I am thankful we have this opportunity. 

Thank you for reading my Thankful Thoughts. 

Friday Flashback #26

I have been in the nostalgic mood lately and really can't wait to travel again. I know you know- but I loved living in London and being able to take mini-trips to different places in Europe. 

Anyway, I was scrolling through some pictures and I found these beauties. 

Here is some background for those that don't know (although most of my readers where in London with me.... so this is pointless)- anyway I will tell you regardless- while in London, Matt and I were skyping a lot and he really wanted to go to the different places I was going to. So to be funny I printed his picture out and put it on a popsicle stick... or coffee stirs I stole from Costa... and took him to Paris. 

It started out pretty funny, but it ended hilarious. By the end of the first day, Matt's picture became like a strange real person in that I carried around in my backpack. 

I remember saying stuff like "Do you want Matt to be in the picture, or just girls?" 

In which Jenny would reply: "Just girls" or "Yeah, Matt come join" 

Oh wow that was a lot of background! 

Okay here are the pictures- finally 

In these pictures, Matt and I are at Versailles and it was so so windy. At one point, I dropped the picture flew out of my hand and the bottom picture is the result of that event. 

I really think I thought Matt was falling to his death. Hahaha it was a strange time- as you might tell from this here video clip. 

Thankful Thoughts- Day 9

Day 9: 

I am thankful for cell phones. 

Most of the time cell phones drive me crazy... not really crazy... but I feel people are way way way too attached to their cell phone. I particularly get upset with my students because they are on their phones literally all the time. I see students at school before school starts talking on the phone... and they are like oh yeah I see you okay I am walking towards you... ARE YOU KIDDING ME... these girls were talking to each other and they can see each other- and I am thinking JUST WALK DOWN THE HILL  lazy bums... 

Oh wait- this isn't a post about pet peeves about cell phones- it's me being thankful. 

For serious- I am thankful for this technology. Where would we be without our phones? I am especially glad I have my phone when I drive to work (1. I can call my mom to keep me awake and 2. I know that I have it in case of an emergency) 

I know it's a little materialistic, but whatever.

Thanks for reading my Thankful Thoughts. 

Thankful Thoughts- Day 8

Day 8: 

I am thankful for dental floss. 

For real- sometimes dental floss is a life saver- especially when I eat popcorn. I know we are supposed to floss daily, but I don't. So often I forget about the wondrous dental floss. But the other day it literally saved my life. 

And that's that- I told you some days would be that simple!

Thanks for reading my Thankful Thoughts and keep on keeping on.  

Thankful Thoughts- Day 7

Day 7: 

I am thankful for our Nissan Maxima. 

Now, Matt and I have had a few car issues in the past year and half since we bought this car, but I am beyond grateful that we are able to afford this means of transportation. 

If we did not have a car we would be completely dependent on the bus system- which is not so great. I have to drive an hour each way every day for work and that would easily double if I had to take the bus. So thank you Mrs. Maxima! 

Thank you for reading my Thankful Thoughts! And I challenge you to find some of your own! 

Sewing With: Part II

Lesson 1- Threading the Needle

If you missed Part I you can go here, but because I am nice here is a recap- for my job I teach one class of FCS and right now I am teaching my kids how to sew. That's it. Oh wait... I don't know how to sew. So between my helpless students and my helpless self this should be fun!  

The first couple of days after quarter 2 started the students were finally given a needle and thread for their first lesson- Threading the needle. 

So I told my kids- we are going to thread the needle this is the first step. Everyone get their thread and cut it about a foot long... check 

Step 2: Put the thread through the eye of the needle....I said this WHILE MODELING what they should be doing...  Check (or so I thought) 

(Now I was teaching them how to double the thread so the knot goes at the bottom and you just tie the two sides together.) 

So I explained and check check 

Now just to make sure you understand what I was doing while I was explaining the info - I was wandering around check on all my students.... 

Okay so after they tied the knot I said Good Job you have threaded the needle... now we can move onto practicing stitches... 

At this point, I was thinking so far so good.... no big issues!

NOT SO FAST!  Right as I said the good job a student (usually one of my higher level students) said ...

Student: Wait what do we do with the needle?

Me: What are you talking about- we are going to start stitches with it...

Student: But when do we put the thread on (Student holds up thread-less needle)

Me: Where is your thread? What were you doing during instruction? 

Student: I was tying my knot (holds up tied thread.... NOT on a needle) 

My student had just tied the thread without putting the needle on!!!!! 

I don't know what concerns me more: 

1. That I did not see student A just tying string (which in my defense it's hard to see a tiny little needle)

or 

2. That it took student A that long just to tie a knot.... 

or 

3. What part of we are going to THREAD THE NEEDLE... did student A not understand? 

All I gotta say is this sewing bit is going to drive me CRAZY!!!! 

Stay tuned for Part III. I decided this is just going to be a monthly post! So check back on December 7 

Thankful Thoughts- Day 6

Day 6: 

Today I am thankful for the right to vote. 

I am so glad to live in a country where we can vote for our leaders both on the local and national level. I firmly believe that if you don't vote you can't complain. 

Now I definitely have a political opinion, but this thankful thought is not about political party- it is the fact that as Americans- we have the right to vote! 

Today I voted in my second presidential election and I am happy happy happy! 

Thanks for reading my Thankful Thoughts!