A curious question to ponder?

I recently attended a teacher's conference (for Science Olympiad) at Weber State University. While there I sat next to a woman I'll call Jo.

I introduced myself and asked her where she was from and what she taught. Jo isn't a teacher, she is a parent with 3 young boys and wants to be involved in Science at the school. She stays at home and has a degree in Chemistry; she's not LDS.

When she discovered that I had attended BYU she said: "You don't fit the mold of a typical LDS woman to me."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"LDS girls only attend BYU to get married and if they receive a degree it's only in Home Economics so they can be better stay at home moms." Jo paused, "That's what your church teaches right? That girls don't need an education, they just stay home and have kids."   

My response: "No. The LDS faith promotes learning. Everyone is encouraged to receive a good education not only in spiritual education but also in secular."

The conversation continued throughout my two day stay in Weber. I explained that I was allowed to think and that I had decided for myself that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. (I wasn't forced into it, or coerced.)   

Then she brought up a few things that concerned me...

For most of my childhood I was a quiet child, shy. I recall being scared of talking to people who were not LDS. I remember thinking they were all criminals and scary. (I've learned otherwise now.)

Jo explained that in her community all non LDS are in, what she called "pods". Groups of them get together for parent groups, clubs etc. She cannot get any of the LDS people around her to come or talk to her. "There is a barrier. Maybe it's the garment layer. I can only get to know them so much and then no more."

I have attended an LDS Church in another area(outside of Utah). I remember being instantly invited and welcomed. Are we the same in Utah?

I know I need to improve.  

 

I was shocked by a few of the misconceptions some of which I'd heard before and others I hadn't. But what worried me the most was the realization that I still sit inside my house staring out my window at the 'non-LDS' people. Only becoming friends with the people in my ward, because it's safer, easier. (The Utah Bubble, I think I'll call it a fishbowl-but even I struggle looking through the glass.)

Overall this was a very positive conversation and I really enjoyed talking to Jo. I wasn't trying to convert her or force her into anything. I was just there to answer her questions to the best of my ability.

So just curious: How do you respond to a new friend you've made and leave a positive impression of the LDS faith when their previous experience is that we won't even leave our yard to say hello?

Yellowstone

Hurrah! We finally made it to Yellowstone. Rew & I have been wanting to go to Yellowstone for a long while and finally got the chance to go last week(Fri-Mon). I toldRew that I couldn't be a proper science teacher until I went! :)

Yellowstone Lake in the background you can get a glimpse of the Tetons.

Where Yellowstone gets the name, from the sulfur deposits.

Old Faithful (just before camera died.)

Hot Spring! Yellowstone is very active right now. Rew told me that I was incredibly lucky to see so many geysers and hot springs go off. He teased that I only had to look at it and it would blow...a few minutes later we were walking down a boardwalk and every one I looked at...blew!! It was so awesome!!

Looking down at Artist Paint Pots...an area where each hot spring has a unique color, from orange, red, light blue, grey, white.

Mud Pots. They are so funny! I loved hearing the "bloop, splat" that they make.

This paint pot was rather wet, so didn't hold the bubbles for too long.

Sarah kept pointing at the bubbling water and saying, "Bubbles! Big Bubbles! Small bubbles! Hot bubbles."

Ash Flow Tuff mountain...gorgeous!

Keeping our energetic little one safe! She was trying to grab a chipmunk!

Yellowstone's grand canyon. This waterfall formed by cutting into the softer sediment layer(mostly sulfur) beneath a harder sediment layer of lava flow.

The waterfall was one of Rew's favorite.

Which is why we have a lot of pictures!

The landscape was green! Really Green! (just above sulfur lakes)

Dragon's Mouth Spring (Apparently a 9 year old boy died here when he jumped in.) The water is very incredibly hot, and smells like rotten eggs(sulfur).

Hot Spring!

We saw several Bison, this one only 6 feet away (we were in the car). We also saw deer, bucks, coyotes, a falcon type bird retrieving a fish out of the river (really cool!) lots of birds, a black bear and a grizzly bear!! (The black bear was really close to the road, the grizzly at the top of a ridge. - our camera said it had a full battery charge when we left home, but after taking two pictures, told us the charge was gone! What?!? Anyway... It kept dying after just one picture, so the pictures of the bears are on my cell phone and thedisposable camera we bought...I'll try to scan them in later.)

Ahhh! Sarah had A LOT of fun! We recieved comments from all our neighbors at camp saying, "When you pulled in I thought your daughter would cry and scream and keep up awake. But I never even heard a single cry!" Yea Sarah! She really is a wonderful daughter and a trooper!

Sulfur springs-by far the stinkiest thing ever.

Oooh!! look! it's a chemical reaction! Swirly mud!

The Fishermans Bridge...is closed to fishing! Due to high water...All the islands are under water...the stairs as you can see...underwater and the surrounding forest!

Wind in her hair! The first night and day were perfect. We attended church in West Yellowstone (close to our campsite) A couple of thunderstorms blew in, during one therainfly on our tent blew off while we were gone and soaked our blankets! (I should'velearned from Geo 210. This time it was even a different tent!) We spent a few hours drying everything off using our car. Several people in RV's offered for us to spend the night-but luckily everything dried before we went to bed.

Bison, "Room for two?" "King sized beds only!"

More sulfur! We used the disposable camera, our camera and my phone and Rew's phone until they all died. The online site said that our camp wouldn't have electricity, but it did in the bathrooms! I could've recharged the camera batteries, but I didn't bring the recharger!)

Spasmodic Geyser! It was cute and little!

Still Spasmodic!

Cute! Bubbly water! DO NOT TOUCH!!! Ouch!

It was a wonderful trip and I would love to go again sometime! Good bye Yellowstone! I have a bunch of geyser videos on my cell phone, I'll try to load them later!

Harry Potter

Rew & I had tickets to see the Midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! People everywhere were in full costume! My sister Sara & her husband Spencer got our tickets for us while we were in Yellowstone, thank you!!

I didn't read any reviews for the movie, but I had watched the trailer a number of times. Overall? I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY AWESOME MOVIE!!!!! They did an excellent job on this one. As always parts in the book were left out as should be expected, however, the director did a beautiful job of catching the story line.

I'll let the cashier check my groceries

Today was grocery day! On my list: Broccoli, Peaches, Bananas, Watermelon, Celery, Green Onions, Pork, Chicken, Milk, Butter, Shampoo, Baby Treats, Sushi etc.

Oh the joys of walking through the grocery store. Have you ever looked at people's faces? Usually they are focusing on the task ahead, concentrating with great effort, you can see the math in the air...almost.

I stopped by Buy Low, Walmart, Sunflower Market. (It was a big grocery day...)

I decided to get the milk at Smith's...as they have the cheapest price currently. Just a normal trip.

Go to Store.

Buy milk.

Go back home.

Have husband put milk away. :)

I decided to check out at the self check. I love them. (I was a cashier at Macey's for 4 1/2 years.)

In front of me were two girls, both buying ice cream and other delectable treats. The brown haired one was holding a skate board & the blonde one a scooter, you know the one, the popular scooters that nearly every child has with two wheels and the handle. The scooter is metal. M-E-T-A-L

Her self check opened and she placed her ice cream down and then her scooter.

suddenly....

!!!BLUE AND YELLOW SPARKS!!

Electricity gone mad at the scooter.

Guests stepping back in shocked admiration.

The girl standing, not too close, watching her scooter fry to the floor!

The Smith's worker, pausing for a minute, then calling on the overhead

"Uh, could we have the head electrical worker come to the front?"

The Smith's worker then having to stop a brave young man from trying to touch it...

People in the circle (people always form circles, no matter what the event/disaster)

People in the circle trying to explain electricity to the gentleman

and why it's a 'Do Not Touch' situation.

Finally the electrician came.

Moved the scooter...to uh...'safer' location.

I admired the scorch marks and white residue on the floor.

Enthusiastically thanked the Smith's worker for the Fireworks.

Glad that I did not witness electrocution.

And drove home.

Next time...I'll let the cashier check my groceries!

Sealing and Blessing: Sarah

Last Saturday (May 23rd) Andrew & I were finally able to have our daughter sealed to us in the Provo Temple. (For those of you that don't know what 'sealing' means. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe in Eternal Families-we believe that our families will be with us forever, even after we die. The sealing is an ordinance performed for families so they can become Eternal.)

The night before we went to Jolene's dress store; I pulled down every white dress in her size that I could find. We placed them all in front of her and let her pick. Her choice was the fluffiest dress of all. (I will try my best to get pictures later, we lost our camera.) She chose a dress with a lace top, three white fabric roses adorn the waist, the skirt has layers of lace as well as a netting overlay, ribbon bow for the back. When she first tried it on she twirled and said, "Oh, I pretty. I cute."

We arrived at the temple around 10:30 a.m. We have been singing "I love to see the Temple" every night for awhile and driving her past the temple and talking about it. Saturday morning we were walking up the Provo Temple sidewalk, Sarah said, "I see Temple. What's in there?" We told her that we were going inside and Grandma was going to help her and mommy and daddy were going to dress in white. We entered and Sarah went with Grandma Hardy to the youth center, where all children wait before sealed. (I already started crying.) We finished filling out the family group record sheet-putting Sarah as our daughter, providing the adoption records.

When Sarah walked into the sealing room and stared at all the family and friends in the room. It was a very sweet experience.

Afterward we had a luncheon with tacos and watermelon and other yummy treats.

Sunday family came to our ward for Sarah's baby blessing. They placed a chair at the front for Sarah to sit in, she was very quiet and was blessed by daddy. Andrew was rather nervous through the entire blessing, but did it!

(Again...our camera was missing...hopefully someone will send me the electronic copies!) :) It was wonderful to have so much family there, thank you everyone!

Science Teacher

Science Teacher

Oquirrh Hills Middle: Home of the Eagle

A week ago I was invited to interview at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. (I have interviewed so many times that I really feel like there's nothing a school can ask that I haven't heard.)

I entered Oquirrh Hills to sounds of the band practicing a classical piece. Turned the corner to the front office and saw a .25 cent candy machine filled with one of my favorites-mini jawbreakers. I introduced myself and sat down. My friends Kaitlin & Tiffany picked out black slacks, a white collared shirt, a light orange sweater vest and matching necklace for me to wear. The bell rang for students to move from class to class.

While sitting and watching the students meander the hallways a student spoke who sounded exactly like one of my favorite students from Diamond Fork Junior- Michael & David. I remembered the day after Science Olympiad when they entered my classroom singing, "Grovel, grovel, beg, kneel, sponge, crawl..." (from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat- the current play at the school.)

"Thankyou Mrs. Rosenvall!" they then held up the medals they had been awarded from Science Olympiad!!! (Kudos go to the kids, they did the work! Amazing feat for their first year attending though!) That memory made me grin from ear-to-ear... I entered the interview still grinning, excited and calm. I had a lot of fun answering the questions. I was still surprised that they offered me the job 32 mins later! After much prayer by Andrew and I, we both felt that I should accept the position. We checked Andrew's school schedule, discovered that nearly all his classes are scheduled for night-lucky for manufacturing courses.

I called the school back and accepted the teaching position.

I am the newest Science Teacher for Oquirrh Hills Middle School! I will be teaching Earth Systems (9th) & Integrated Science (8th). Andrew rented the Praxis test guide for me to study! I'll be taking the General Science Praxis July 25th! (Kassi will know what I mean by Praxis Exam-basically a test for teachers to make certain that they qualify to teach a subject.) Thank you Kassi for writing a letter of recommendation for me!-I needed one more to accept the job.

Today I had some business to complete in SLC. In between meeting time I drove to the Jordan School District office and turned in copies of my teaching license, drivers license, SSC, application etc... Then drove over to my school to see if I could observe the students/teachers/classes. Luckily I arrived right during Ms. Byerline's prep, she gave me the grand tour! I met all the science teachers, some english, history, aides, copy center people, librarians... I had a tour of the stockroom and all the lovely chemicals I get to play with, fossils of ammonites/trilobites, beakers, microscopes, videos, textbooks, they even have a FIRE ORGAN!!! Woo HOO!

(Above: Fire Organ, basically a metal pipe with holes, two speakers are placed at both ends and music is played, you run propane through the pipe and light the holes-like you would a camping stove. The flames dance to oscillations from the music.)

Finally I was able to see my new classroom! It's in a newer section of the school but hasn't really been used for anything other than storage. My room is equipped with sinks and plugs for burners, storage cabinets line the back and side wall, large windows look east to the Mountains, technology equipped too! Yea! (You cannot tell that I'm really excited can you!)

Afterwards I had about 3 hours to kill...so I meandered back over to Jordan Commons and watched Star Trek in the IMAX Theater. It's AWESOME!!!!! :) I LOVED IT!!! (I refuse to recommend it, because I generally try not to recommend any PG-13 movies.) It was cleaner than I expected, and I probably won't own it, but overall a very good Star Trek movie!

The Days are Packed

My top 5 favorite comics:

Calvin & Hobbes

PHD: Piled Higher & Deeper

Sherman's Lagoon

Far Side

Buckles