Birthday Surprises and much more

THE UPDATE:

Well, to being my life as of late has been rather busy. I am constantly working on school and trying to either stay ahead or on top of all the different assignments that I am required to do. I am about to be finishing my 4th week of my second to last semester before I do my student teaching and finish college, and hopefully then have a career in teaching. As a brief update over the break between semesters I was able to look up my Praxis I scores... I got a 154 and the requirement for certification in Idaho is 143; in Utah 150; in Colorado 147; and in Louisiana 150. I was quite pleased that I was able to pass the requirement for all 4 of those states. However, when I came back to school I relaized that it would be a while before receiving my Literacy State Test Scores... 2 weeks went by and the 3rd week of school these scores came in. I went to go get mine hoping I had passed both of them, and to my disappointment I had not... I passed the Standard III test, but not the Standard II test. I am retaking it at the end of this semester. I had wanted to possibly take the Praxis II this semester so I wouldn't have to pay an extra registration fee, but I realized that for me it would probably be best if I only had to do one major test each semester. So, I registered for the Literacy test, and opted to wait on the Praxis II test. Well, things just keep getting interesting... last week I received an e-mail about applying for graduation... after last semester and applying for Student Teaching I knew I would soon be approaching the time when I would be able to apply for graduation as well. Well, it's finally here! I am excited to be finished in December and then to go out and do my student teaching after. Speaking of Student Teaching: today I go to get my picture taken that will be put on my letter of introduction that will then be sent to each area I applied to student teach. Amazing how things work... after today I will be submitting my letter of introduction and hopefully it won't be sent back to me *crosses fingers*, and after that is taken care of some time next week I will most likely go to the advising office in the Hinckley to get my VCC Verification of Course Completion! I am more than excited about this as well... this shows that I will have all of my courses done and out of the way before I student teach! It makes me very excited! I still can't believe I have gotten this far, and with little help... I have had my wonderful family supporting me the entire time, but the grades are all my own! I am achieving the different things I always dreamed of.

MY GORGEOUS INJURY:

I thought it best to also include a picture of what happened to my knee on the same day I got my Lit scores... over all it wasn't a fun day!

IN A PUBLIC PLACE:

Also, my picture was in a public place... TACO BELL... go figure!

ON INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION

I am not sure as to who all watched the CES broadcast on May 3rd, but it was here at BYU-Idaho and I had the opportunity to be part of that tv audience. I wasn't sure if I would actually be on television or not, but it turns out that I was. During the closing hymn and second verse it does a pan shot of where I am sitting and sure enough... it's me! What was best after this was that my brother called me, and then we called Jeane, David, Dad, Mom, and Kaite until we were all on the phone talking in all of our different locations. Family Reunion on the phone!

to view go to: www.byutv.org

and look under the archives for the May 3, 2009 CES Fireside with Elder Bednar!

A MOTHER'S DAY & BIRTHDAY!!!!

I was born on Mother's Day of 1987-- 22 years ago, and this year I had the privilege of having my birthday on that exact day. I was excited for this because it meant I had the opportunity to go see my parents and spend the day with the woman who I appreciate most in my life, my mother. So, on May 8th I took the 4:30 shuttle down to Salt Lake City, Utah where my parents picked me up and took me home. The next day was very exciting, we woke up and went to IHOP for breakfast as upon my request for my birthday! Then, we went back home after buying a kite and walked across the street to the elementary school where my parents ward was having a kite flying/ picinic activity. However, the wind did not cooperate with us much so the kite flying wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been, but I still had fun running around and watching my parents do it as well. Afterwards we worked outside for a bit where Dad & I put back together our old picnic table. I had tons of fun using just regular hand tools, and the power drill. After we finished up with that and mom finished working on the garden we went to get my hair cut, and go shopping. While we were shopping I got 2 new pairs of shoes, and 2 new outifts for sunday! I was rather happy about this... then, I told mom that we had to get home so I could go out with Dad... Dad and I went to the mall in Layton so we could go to the Deseret book there to get mom's presents for the next day. Well, then we went home and all had a relaxing time with each other. The next day I woke up at 6:00 am... I was born at 6:10 so, I thought it appropriate... I knocked on my parents door with the cards from dad & I and the books we got mom in hand. Mom said, "you're early" to which dad replied, "she was 22 years ago as well." I then decided to tell mom, "I may have been early 22 years ago, but I'm tired now & going back to bed." And I did exactly that. Well, around 8ish my lovely sister's decided to give me a ring... they sang the following : "HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANCES DEAR, HAPPY DAYS WILL COME TO YOU ALL YEAR, IF I HAD ONE WISH THEN IT WOULD BE, A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU FROM ME." My crazy sisters... I love them! Well, then Katie had a crazy idea of singing "Mother Dear I Love You So..." to our mother. So, we called John & David and I put them all on speaker and we sang it... well, about halfway through I started laughing too hard to even think about finishing, and mom said that she was going to reach through the phone and slap all of them. It was rather amusing! Well, we then called Grandma Mayhoffer because she was trying to get a hold of the boys to thank them for the flowers they sent to her (they sent mom & I flowers too) :) She was very delighted to hear from all of us at the same time even though we were all in different locations. Well, then it was time to go to church, and that we did. In mom's Sunday School class she decided it best to tell of her experience 22 years ago! :) I love it! :) Hmm... overall it was a wonderful experience. On Monday I went to get a Utah state ID... probably going to get my license in August! Then it was back to Idaho... where I had surprises from my roommates waiting for me! I still can't believe this week is going by so fast... pretty soon I'll be done with everything! AHH! Well, I'm going to leave with pictures of the birthday... I hope everyone enjoys... (The pictures aren't in any certain order...)

A break from school

Well, last Thursday I ended a very successful semester. I say successful because with all the stress that this last semester carried I managed to get through it and pass all of my classes with a C+ or higher! And I also passed the Praxis I Content Knowledge exam! This week I have quite an adventurous break! Saturday we went to Park City to watch the sunset come up and well, in didn't work out quite as planned, but that's okay cause we still got cool pics of olympic things. Then Sunday we went to Music & The Spoken Word. I absolutely love Easter. I also helped mom make Schaume Torte! Yesterday we went shopping and I got new clothes!!!! Tomorrow I'm going to the Optometrist and then Saturday it's back to the burg to start a new semester! Let's hope all this hard work continues to pay off! Enjoy the pics.

The Big Stretch to the End...

Right now I'm just trying to work hard on school and finish. I thought I would give a little bit of time to my blog as I try to take a break from homework. 

This week my mom came up on Tuesday and Dad on Wednesday for my concert that night. I absolutely loved spending time with them. Mom went to both my Physical Science and my Literacy II class with me. I got to share with my mom some of the things I have been learning in my classes. That night Dad showed up, and I saw them both after my concert. (They hadn't been to a concert of mine since high school... Mom 4 years and Dad about 4 1/2). After the concert we went to G's Dairy for ice cream and such... it was extremely delicious, and I had fun spending time with my parents. The next morning I had my Literacy Practicum, but previously planned that after I got out I would have lunch with my parents. So, we went to Applebee's for lunch, and I got to tell them everything that was going on in my life and also catch up on my siblings lives. Well, after lunch we parted our seperate ways :(. However, I am going down for conference next weekend and I'm rather excited to see them again. 

So, I've also come to the realization recently that school kills people. I wish it wouldn't though. I have loads to do and only two weeks to finish it all in. I'm hoping I can get through it all and then relax. We'll see... I may not be the happiest person for a while... Let's hope things get better. 
On another side note I've also been channeling my "bubba" for a bit. He's been down and I seem to be getting that way too... Meh, oh well, I'll get over it. Also, I'm hoping to be hanging out with my friend, Rob, some time soon. Maybe that will cheer me up some too. We shall see. Anyways, here are some pics of my recent journeys. Enjoy.

with my dad in Logan

on the way back to Rexburg from Logan...

this was taken at the beginning of the semester, but it's me with my "bubba" Mike Brown.

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Today is the day of green! I love green! Not as much as I love blue or brown, but I am grateful there is a day we can all wear green. As many of you know I go to Adam's Elementary twice a week to assess students on literacy skills. I have been assessing Kindergarteners on Letter Names, but today we started assessing them on letter sounds. I am amazed as to how much those kids know... I love it. There is one little boy who every day I see him he reminds me of my nephew! This little boy reads at a 4th grade reading level... my nephew, is in 2nd grade and reads at a 6th grade reading level. I've only been in the school for a few weeks now and I love these kids. I'm excited to become a teacher and enjoy a whole classroom full of them. On another note, but still along the same lines... today when I walked into the classroom every student was wearing green. All the kids were coloring clovers and I was reminded of when I was about their age and the things my teachers did on St. Patrick's Day. My favorite St. Patrick's Day ever was in 1st grade with Ms. Blackwell. I remember we went out for recess and when we got back it looked like a Leperchaun attacked our room. There were little footprints everywhere! It was way cool! I'm going to love having the opportunity to do that with my students. I love this holiday! Don't forget Brown Day on the 19th!!!!! St. Joseph's Day!

A little less than nothing

Lately, I have had tons going on in my life and the weirdest part of all is that finally there is no drama!!!!!! WOOHOO!!! However, other people have complicated drama in their lives so, indirectly I'm still dealing with drama. EWW! 
On a totally different note: let's go to why I feel this way... As many know on the 13th of February I went on a date with a good friend of mine (yes, he's a premi). It's been really good getting to know him and watching him prepare to leave to go to Brazil in July. He's one really nice guy and I'm learning tons hanging around him so far. Now, many are probably wondering about everything with my best friend in France! He will always be my best friend... there is never a doubt in my mind about that and lately I have been wondering as well what the heck I'm going to do because all I want to do right now is date, and when he gets home that's all I want him to do too. I really think he should DATE AROUND!!!!! I'm seeing way too much lately people rushing into marriage and honestly it scares me just a bit. Marriage is the biggest decision in a person's life. Especially in the church. Anyway, yesterday I received an e-mail from Jonathan that said this:

désolé que c'est si tard...

Frances,
  Sorry I'm getting to you so late...I wanted to wait until after this weekend to get a letter off to you, because we had a baptism planned for this Saturday, the 28.  Well, it was a dry baptism, if you catch my meaning.  Our investigator has completely disappeared and we have no clue what happened or how to get in touch with her...She doesn't answer her phone and apparently she moved out of her appartment.  So, that's my excuse for not having gotten your letter off yet.
  I've found a new penpal!  One of the Elders in my district, Elder Becquereau, from Canada, gave me his sister's address and so I'm writing to her regularly to work on my written French and grammar.  She's pretty cool.
  So, how was your date with the premi?  I was actually glad to hear that you went out with someone.  It's been a while, no?  Get out, enjoy life!  You're still young!  I think I might go to the Singles Ward in Baton Rouge until I either go to BYU-I or whatever I end up doing.  I know I told you that you were locked in my heart and it's true.  You've been my best friend for a long time and I love you forever for all you've done for me.  When I do get home, I promised you a date.  I'm also going to date other girls, because I've only dated one member in my life.  I'm going to date others and hang out with others.  I'm telling you all this just so you don't get the idea that our future is etched in stone.  I'm on my mission, and the very last thing I need to be worrying about is marriage and all that.  I've got time.  The Lord needs all my heart, might, mind, and strength here where I am.  So, like I said, I'll wait for you and we'll 'faire une sortie.'  But I can't promise anything beyond that.  I gotta go, we've got an appointment in a few minutes, but have a great day and stay safe!!!  Love ya!!

                                                      Ton numéro deux,
                                                                  Elder Lundberg
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- 3 Néphi 5:13

I wrote him an e-mail back to which I said the following:

Jonny boy!!!!!!!
 Hey, that sucks with the whole investigator... Tiff saw that and she
feels for you cause she knows how it goes. I'll have to get her to
write you a letter! ;) She's the best!
 I wrote you a letter on the whole date with the premi. It was
awesome. Also, I wanted to let you know that I might go on a date with
this guy from my trumpet section. We'll see... I haven't really
decided about that. I might talk to him today in class... hmm...
 Anyway's I'm really glad you said what you did about dating other
girls when you get home. I actually really really want you to! Our
past is crazy and yeah, we will have to date because we'll both be new
people, but you need to date other member girls! You need to start off
your first semester at BYU-Idaho dating tons of girls, but I did
promise that I would go on a date with you (or more than one). Anyway,
like you said... you need to have your whole heart, might, mind, and
strength on the LORD! I know you can do it! Endure it all well, and I
will do the same with school!

your number one!
Frances Mae

D&C 18:10 "Remember the Worth of Souls is great in the sight of God."

 so, as I read his e-mail I was very happy to see that he wasn't thinking about me waiting for him. that is not something I can nor do I want to do. Yeah, he's my best friend, but heck that's all! Anyways, I told my mom about it this morning because of course through facebook my siblings spy on me and then tell mom... However, I read her both e-mails and had no problem with it. Soon my mom will get a facebook then she can find out stuff for herself! Well, that's all for now! Gotta love life!