Mother's Day!

For Mother's Day this year, Bryce went out and got me some flowers, a hanging pot, and some soil.... and this is how it turned out! It was such a thoughtful surprise; I just had to share. I love my little hanging pot of flowers. Even though we have just a little apartment, Bryce has always been able to find ways to make it feel like a home. :)

Also, I just wanted to share how great I think my mom is. I don't tell her enough. One thing I want to tell you about my mom and one thing that I love most about her is that she has always been my biggest cheerleader in life. She is always so encouraging and positive about whatever is going on in my life. When I was young, she was my biggest soccer cheerleader. When I was contemplating whether or not to go to Guatemala, she said, "You go on that adventure! You won't regret it!" When it comes to my new job, she is just as excited for me as I am about the whole thing. She is the best. She is always encouraging me to follow my dreams and be the best I can be. I have a text message saved as a picture on my phone that kind of shows you how positive and encouraging she is. It is one of my favorite texts from her. I'm pretty sure it made me cry.... This was one I received soon after I graduated from college:

See. I told you she is the best. I love you, mom. Happy Mother's Day! 

Not only do I have the best mom, I also have the best mother-in-law! I feel so blessed. She is always trying so hard to include everyone and make everyone feel so happy. She is always planning our next fun outing where we can all come together and enjoy an exciting time with family. She has an amazing gift to make others feel special and good about themselves. Before Bryce left on his mission, he talked with his mom and asked her to take care of me while he was away. And she did just that. When Bryce was gone, she always went out of her way to invite me to family activities and other things. Sometimes we would go on bike rides or play raquetball... she has always made me feel important and loved. And I know that is what everyone feels when they are around her. 

***This is written in Beki's voice... 

but both Bryce and I "wrote" it together.***

WE LOVE YOU, MOM(s)!!!!

A North Fremont Husky!

Yesterday was crazy.

It all started with an interview up in Ashton, Idaho.

Initially I was just interviewing for a kindergarten or a 5th grade position at Ashton Elementary School. But then they informed me that there was also a 6th grade opening at the the middle/high school just a block or two down the road, and that I would also be interviewing for that position. There were 6 people interviewing me: a 5th grade teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a 3rd grade teacher, the current principal at the elementary school (who is moving to the middle/high school next year), the future principal of the elementary school, and the assistant principal from the middle/high school. The interview went really well! I was proud that I didn't let my nerves get to me. I answered every question in the best way I possibly could have.

When I left the interview, I got about 15 minutes away when I received a phone call from Niel Williams (the current principal of the elementary school/ future principal of the middle/high school). He asked how far out of town I was, and if I would be willing to come back for another little interview with the 6th grade team. Of course I said yes. He then told me that they really wanted me to be an employee of their district, and that they were just fighting over whether they should put me in 5th or 6th grade. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face! At that point, I felt like I already had a job... I was stoked!

I went back for the second interview, where I pretty much gave the same answers to the same questions, but then they went over all the logistics of working at the middle/high school. Then I left to go back home.

Once again I had driven about 15 minutes when I got another phone call from Niel Williams. But this time it was to offer me a job! So, I am thrilled to let you know that after 41 applications in 5 different school districts, and after 4 interviews, I have accepted a position as a 6th grade math and science teacher, and 7th grade PE teacher. I am so excited! He also asked if I would be interested in being a soccer coach for their school.... which is a no brainer for me! Nothing is really set in stone for that, though :)

This will probably be a really long post, so you can stop reading here, if you'd like. Clearly am just really excited that I was offered a teaching position... and one that I am really looking forward to!

You can now consider me a North Fremont Husky!

There is a picture of my school! It is actually pretty new. It was just built in 2004. So that is fun! 

I know that you probably don't care nearly as much as I do, but if for some reason you want to read a little bit more about the school, here is the link to the website:

http://www.nfhuskies.net/

When I was talking to my dad about my job, he just asked me a little bit about Ashton, Idaho. The conversation went a little bit like this:

Dad: "So how big is Ashton?"

Me: "SUPER tiny."

Dad: "Like the size of Kuna?"

Me: "No. Like way smaller."

Dad: "Haha... way smaller than Kuna?!?"

Me: "Yah!"

Dad: "Is there a grocery store?"

Me: "No, I don't think so. I don't even think there is a stop light. There is a gas station, though. And Big Jud's." :)

Later I found out that the current population of Ashton is 1,117. Not even joking. The entire population of the city is smaller than the population of the high school I graduated from. Pretty little! Ashton is a 30 minute drive north of Rexburg. For the job I have right now, I drive 30 minutes south of Rexburg to Idaho Falls, so this drive will be pretty comparable to what I am already doing... just the opposite direction. 

In the interview, Niel Williams, the Vice Principal, and the 6th grade team explained to me what my schedule would look like. This is what they told me it would be: 

1st Period: Prep

2nd Period: Prep (because the 6th graders go to PE at this time.)

3rd Period: Math (with class #1)

4th Period: Science (with class #1)
Home Room
Lunch

5th Period: Math (with class #2)

6th Period: Science (with class #2) 

7th Period: PE (with the 7th graders) 

School is in session from 8:00-3:15 on Monday-Thursday, and 8:00-1:55 on Fridays. Each period is 51 minutes long. 

Anyway. I am so happy! I knew that I was going to accept the first position I was offered, so I prayed really hard that the first position I was offered would be one that would make me happy. I prayed that I would get a job at a school that needed me the most. And I truly know that my prayers were answered. I am so grateful that I get to be a teacher! 

If I Never Got Paid a Single Cent...

If I never got paid a single cent, this note/poem from a student would make it all worth it. 

Teacher Appreciation Day

Being a teacher also comes with a lot of fun little perks. One of those perks is teacher appreciation day. Check out these cute things I received from my students! A huge card with little notes from everyone, and a beautiful little pot of redish-pink roses. 

We also got free Olive Garden spaghetti, breadsticks, and salad for lunch, along with a bunch of fun homemade desserts.... Being a teacher is awesome! 

The Blue Gel Pen

This is a really old story, but I feel like it needs to be recorded somewhere. As we were reading in a textbook in my 6th grade class today, the authors brought up gel pens... and oh man... do I have a story about gel pens.

Gel pens in the 90's were all the rage. I would know. I was in elementary school at the time, and gel pens were pretty much a status symbol. Like cell phones in elementary school today. If you have a cell phone now, you are cool. Back then we didn't have cell phones. We had gel pens. And if you had gel pens, you were cool. Especially the sweet gel pens that were sparkly or the ones that changed colors right before your eyes. Believe me, they were ALL the rage.

That being said, let's rewind to 3rd grade.

Do you see me? With the weird pink things in my hair? Yah. I don't know what I was thinking. I also want you to notice the girl in the front row with the pretty white dress with purple flowers on it. That is Meagan West. (Now Meagan Williamson). In 3rd grade, I absolutely coveted one of Meagan's blue gel pens. It was one of the pretty sparkly ones. One day, I found myself inside the classroom during recess, when I spotted Meagan's blue gel pen sitting on her desk. Out in the open. Taunting me. I literally could hear it speaking to me, saying, "I know you want me! Nobody else is in the room. You can just take me!" So I did. Yes. You have it. I Beki Nye, innocent 3rd grader who had never done so much as to harm a fly just stole Meagan West's gel pen. However, I was finally going to live the dream... I now had a beautiful blue gel pen that sparkled in the light. Cloud 9, here I come. 

When Meagan got in from recess, she was wondering where her gel pen went. She asked everyone in class... including me. When she asked me if I had seen it, I hesitantly said, "Nope." Can you believe it? I stole it, and then I lied about it. 

Anyway. Years went by, and this memory HAUNTED me. Whenever I thought about bad things I had done in my life, this was on the top of my list. I thought about it often.... but it was far past the time to make it right. I hadn't seen Meagan West in years... since elementary school, at least. But when I say it haunted me, I really mean it. I had such a guilty conscience. I thought about it, I dreamed about it..... it was bad. 

Fast forward to college. One day my FHE brother, Jared, told me he was headed back to Boise for the weekend. When I asked him what for, he told me it was for a baptism. Since I was from Boise, too, I asked him if it was anyone I would know.... you will never believe what he said. "It is the baptism of my good friend, Meagan West." My heart sank. I could barely speak. I immediately went to Walmart, bought a blue gel pen, wrote her a sorry note, and sent it with my FHE brother to give to her. I am sure Meagan hadn't thought twice about it since that day, but this was my chance to finally make it right. After years of lost sleep.... I finally was able to return a sparkly blue gel pen to old friend Meagan. 

So... moral of this story... don't steal. Or lie.... your conscience won't let it go. EVER. 

That's the story. The end. Flash forward to April 2013 once again. Where gel pens are a thing of the past.  

Etch-A-Sketch Color

My AMAZING hubby just designed his very first little game. He created the software and hardware and everything! He made an etch-a-sketch but one with an LCD screen and one that you can change the color. He is so proud of his work. And I am proud of him! It took him about 3 days to complete this project.

Here is a picture of him holding his PCB (Printed Circuit Board) right after he designed it and got it printed. He was so excited! 

Here he is playing with it after he got all the components put on the board.

Here is an example of something he etch-a-sketched! Pretty cool, huh? 

Las Hermanas.

Today I just had a silly flashback to one moment in my life that I very vividly remember. I started playing the piano when I was 7. (Or maybe 6? Can't remember.) One day, Kim came home (from college, I think) and said she had been learning how to play the piano too.... and she sat down and played "Choose the Right" straight from the hymn book. What? I had played the piano for at least 2 years by then, and she was already way better than me!

That almost meaningless memory reminded me of a flood of accomplishments in my life that have already been achieved by one of my two sisters. There is not much I have done in my life that one of the two of them haven't already done. For instance:

I married my best friend from high school... so did Mandi. I started out college in the health field, then switched to elementary education and am now a teacher.... so did Mandi. I was so excited for my first 4.0 semester of college.... that was a usual occurrence for Kimberly.  I played soccer ever since I was a little girl, and it was my first love in life.... same with Mandi. I taught English in a foreign country... so did Mandi. I love to work out and be fit and and try hard things like running half marathons... Kim has done two of those. One of my passions in life is team building and ropes course activities.... Mandi was the one to introduce me to that, as she worked at an indoor ropes course in Provo. I was the Key Club president in high school... hmm. So was Kim.

You get the picture. The list could go on and on. After thinking about all these things... I realized how much I totally look up to my sisters. No wonder I do everything that they have done. I want to be just like them! Maybe it is just me, but I think the age difference makes it difficult for them to see me as anything but their baby sister... But, I almost think that me taking after them and doing things that they already have done has helped me get to know them on a pretty deep level... much deeper than if I would have completely done my own thing all my life. Like seriously... I totally know that feeling that Mandi had on the soccer field playing in a state championship game... and losing... because I have felt it too. I absolutely understand the stress and determination and effort and value that Kim put into education... because I have been there now. If I hadn't done all those things, I think the decade gap would have made it difficult for me to really get to know them. So, I feel honored to be walking in their shadows. If I never do a single thing in my life that they haven't already done, that will be fine by me because they are who I look up to and want to be like. I love them and their examples to me so much.

I am proud to let you know, however, that I am closing the age gap! One day they will be in their 40s and I will be in my 30s. One day they will be in their 70s and I will be in my 60s. One day we are going to pretty much be the same age... and the fact that I was 10 when they were 20 won't really matter. It's going to be awesome!