Well, I got to start swimming again last week! That is progress!
Also, Ben and I got called to be the 14-year-old class Sunday School teachers!
Ben and Kilee
Monday, January 28, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Welcome to Arkansas
Well, we officially moved to Arkansas.
We did it!
We've experienced a lot of emotions over the past couple of weeks as we spent Christmas with the Luthis, packed up everything we owned, said goodbye to everything we have known together, and welcomed a new life down South. Happy. Sad. Excited. Nervous. Scared. Happy. Excited. Utah-home-sick. Excited.
You know how moving goes.
We had a nice drive down here from Utah. It took about 25 hours (I think), but it could have been worse. Ben's dad was driving the moving truck, so it took him even a few hours longer (thanks for doing that). The reason it took so long is because we left in the middle of a snowstorm and had to take alternate routes to get the least-dangerous roads. And we had to drive slow coming out of Utah and through Colorado.
The first couple weeks of being here have been good. It's been nice to get into a routine of living with the Herlins. Ben is at a job interview right now (woot!), and I am in the process of getting a substitute teaching job (hopefully!!) and transferring my teaching license to Arkansas. Our ward is really nice, which is reassuring. We want to find a house in this ward because it is that awesome.
It's weird to be graduated and getting things ready for "real" life. It's weird to be trying to save for a house and talking about houses and prices. It's weird and exciting!
My back is doing well. I have finally graduated from my brace! Monday was the first day that I didn't wear it at all. Friday or Saturday I went out for my first walk (half a mile). Yesterday, I decided to do two half-mile walks each day. When I am good with that, I will increase my mileage or number or walks. Or both. I am just trying to take it easy though, I promise. I am trusting in the plan for me and taking advantage of opportunities that come, but not getting mad or depressed about what I can't do. I still hope I can do the Grand Teton Relay in August. But I am trying not to think about it :) Just one step at a time, right? I am grateful that I have been able to sew a little and start playing the piano again too!
Our dog, Paisley, is the cutest.
Here is a link to a picture of her on Instagram. I love her!
So, life is good. We've been married almost 2 1/2 years, and we graduated, have a dog (no baby on the way, sorry folks), almost have real jobs, and are looking forward to what life brings us!
I'll try to do a better job at keeping up to date this year. Not my new year's resolution, though. So don't hold me accountable for that :)
We did it!
We've experienced a lot of emotions over the past couple of weeks as we spent Christmas with the Luthis, packed up everything we owned, said goodbye to everything we have known together, and welcomed a new life down South. Happy. Sad. Excited. Nervous. Scared. Happy. Excited. Utah-home-sick. Excited.
You know how moving goes.
We had a nice drive down here from Utah. It took about 25 hours (I think), but it could have been worse. Ben's dad was driving the moving truck, so it took him even a few hours longer (thanks for doing that). The reason it took so long is because we left in the middle of a snowstorm and had to take alternate routes to get the least-dangerous roads. And we had to drive slow coming out of Utah and through Colorado.
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| We left this |
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| And knew we were truly in the South when we saw this :) |
The first couple weeks of being here have been good. It's been nice to get into a routine of living with the Herlins. Ben is at a job interview right now (woot!), and I am in the process of getting a substitute teaching job (hopefully!!) and transferring my teaching license to Arkansas. Our ward is really nice, which is reassuring. We want to find a house in this ward because it is that awesome.
It's weird to be graduated and getting things ready for "real" life. It's weird to be trying to save for a house and talking about houses and prices. It's weird and exciting!
My back is doing well. I have finally graduated from my brace! Monday was the first day that I didn't wear it at all. Friday or Saturday I went out for my first walk (half a mile). Yesterday, I decided to do two half-mile walks each day. When I am good with that, I will increase my mileage or number or walks. Or both. I am just trying to take it easy though, I promise. I am trusting in the plan for me and taking advantage of opportunities that come, but not getting mad or depressed about what I can't do. I still hope I can do the Grand Teton Relay in August. But I am trying not to think about it :) Just one step at a time, right? I am grateful that I have been able to sew a little and start playing the piano again too!
Our dog, Paisley, is the cutest.
Here is a link to a picture of her on Instagram. I love her!
So, life is good. We've been married almost 2 1/2 years, and we graduated, have a dog (no baby on the way, sorry folks), almost have real jobs, and are looking forward to what life brings us!
I'll try to do a better job at keeping up to date this year. Not my new year's resolution, though. So don't hold me accountable for that :)
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Christmastime
This Christmas season has been packed with craziness: buying/making the perfect gifts within our budget for our loved ones, packing and getting ready to move, spending time with friends and family, and barely having time to breathe. While I have loved every minute of coming up with gifts, getting ready to move, and spending time with loved ones, I feel like the true meaning of Christmas has gotten kind of lost in the jumble of excitement.
I finally sat down last week and really thought about Christmas, and I have tried to keep the right spirit with me as I have gone through the rest of this season. Now, just a couple days before Christmas, I want to share with you what I have learned and my testimony of the Christ.
Christmas is a great time of celebration. It's when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ, our king, was born in humble conditions. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. The only thing extravagant about the birth of our king was God sending the Spirit to testify into the hearts of men that Christ had come. The Shepherds and the wise men came to visit. The wise men brought the babe gifts, and they had faith in what was to come to pass.
Why is the birth of this child so important? Well, it's one miracle that brought forth the series of miracles that would be Christ's life. And Christ isn't just any ordinary man. He is the master teacher, leader, friend, brother, and king.
Christ was sent here to save us from our sins and death. His life exemplified many attributes and qualities of life that we need to become our best selves.
He taught me how to love.
He taught me about gratitude.
He taught and showed me mercy.
He taught me sacrifice. And service.
He taught the plan of salvation.
He taught me about my divine heritage and role in the kingdom of God.
He taught me faith. And trust.
I could go on and on about what Christ has taught me, what He has taught all of us.
In His Atonement, Christ suffered for my (our)
- pains
- afflications
- temptations
- infirmities
- transgressions
He loosed the bonds of death.
He suffered so He would know how to succor each of us in our time of need.
Christ has give me the ultimate gift: the ability to return to my Father in Heaven. Without Christ, there would be no way.
He has taught me all I need to know about life.
So, at this wonderful time of year, we share our love with each other. We follow Christ's example and celebrate His birth by serving and giving to others. Of course, we should do that anyway, but the Christmas season really is a time of pure love.
The problem is that the Christmas season is tainted by the world's commercialization. We spend so much time focusing on gifts: giving gifts, receiving gifts, and so forth. I know I'm not alone in spending tons of time and energy trying to find the perfect gift, and also deciding what I want so I can tell the people who ask me what I want. The focus on gifts is not bad, obviously. We give gifts out of love. And Christmas is about love.
But what I hope I never forget is what Christ has given me and why I give gifts at this time of year. It's because of love for those around me, giving back what I can, and showing gratitude to those who have served me throughout the year. I give because I want to be as much like Christ as I can.
I'm grateful for the sweet peace offered me through the gospel and the Atonement.
I'm grateful for the gifts I have been given so I can serve and further the work of God.
I'm grateful for a loving family. And I'm grateful for the ability and opportunity to love them back.
I'm grateful for opposition and trials. They teach me my weaknesses and help me become stronger and come unto Christ.
I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and what He has done for me. I know that without Him I am nothing. None of the good I do or have done is because of me. It's because He is guiding me and has touched my life. It's because His gospel has made me who I am, and I am continuously trying to become more like Him. I'm not perfect, but I don't have to be. I just have to try, and when I fail, I can repent and try again.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the birth of my Savior, my king who has given me everything I have. I'm grateful for the things I have learned this year through His Atonement.
I am so excited for my first Christmas with the Luthis, and I am excited for the many Christmases to come with both the Herlins and Luthis, along with my own little family. But amidst the holiday giving, receiving, and service, I hope I never lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, the meaning behind all the wrapping.
For more information or good reading about Christmas, I loved this talk by President Monson in this year's devotional: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/christmas-devotional/2012/12/christmas-is-love?lang=eng&query=christmas
Friday, December 21, 2012
It's December!
It's been a long time. That is due to finishing school and getting ready to move!
Ben and I have both finally graduated. Hooray!
The semester was tough in many ways, but the hardest part was the day before Thanksgiving when my back went out. Again. That made for a very difficult end to student-teaching, and I barely scraped through with graduation (assuming I actually did pass student-teaching. We don't really know for sure yet because the grade isn't posted. But I should pass). We are both so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord that have been extended through various means.
Thanks to everyone who has helped us pack and clean. We are almost finished (we are moving everything out and finishing cleaning on the 26th and anyone who wants to is more than welcome to help :))!! Another big thank you to everyone who brought us meals while I couldn't walk during Thanksgiving and the week after!
Finishing school is bitter-sweet. There are many classes we both wish we could have taken because we both love to learn! We have friends who we will miss spending time with, especially me and my FACS buddies with hours upon hours doing crazy amounts of homework and eating things that are not good for you :)
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Moving is also bitter-sweet. We are SO excited to live closer to the Herlins, but we are also so sad to leave the Luthis behind, along with our many friends who have been an important part of our lives here. Here are some of the memories we have made here. We love you all and are so grateful for the ways you have touched our lives!
Ben and I have both finally graduated. Hooray!
The semester was tough in many ways, but the hardest part was the day before Thanksgiving when my back went out. Again. That made for a very difficult end to student-teaching, and I barely scraped through with graduation (assuming I actually did pass student-teaching. We don't really know for sure yet because the grade isn't posted. But I should pass). We are both so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord that have been extended through various means.
Thanks to everyone who has helped us pack and clean. We are almost finished (we are moving everything out and finishing cleaning on the 26th and anyone who wants to is more than welcome to help :))!! Another big thank you to everyone who brought us meals while I couldn't walk during Thanksgiving and the week after!
Finishing school is bitter-sweet. There are many classes we both wish we could have taken because we both love to learn! We have friends who we will miss spending time with, especially me and my FACS buddies with hours upon hours doing crazy amounts of homework and eating things that are not good for you :)
Moving is also bitter-sweet. We are SO excited to live closer to the Herlins, but we are also so sad to leave the Luthis behind, along with our many friends who have been an important part of our lives here. Here are some of the memories we have made here. We love you all and are so grateful for the ways you have touched our lives!
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| Ladies night with the Luthi women while the men are at Priesthood session |
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| Luthi Family |
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| Luthi Halloween Party |
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| Wilson and Jenna, Halloween while Wilson lived with us |
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| Finally won the intramural championship! |
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| St. Patty's Day Dinner |
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| Just Dance Work Party! |
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| The prank cookies for Steve and Ben |
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| Date night with Kara! |
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| CP Roomies |
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| Some of my freshman roomies |
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| Lauren |
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| Steve and Ben |
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| Jenae |
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| Hiking around Zion |
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| Best friends since high school :) |
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Kilee's soapbox
Today I talked to one of my foreign exchange students for a while about the education system. Then it sparked a really long conversation with my mentor teacher after school.
This foreign exchange student basically said that the schools here are a joke. School is way harder in Norway. They are more based on the sciences and math (which is what we are turning to as well), but they also don't have "busy work."
Okay, I really don't like busy work. I think all assignments should be given to enhance student learning. Although, some things could be busy work to one student but really needed to help another student understand things better. I think the ideal for me would be to have a range of projects or assignments with varying degrees of challenge and let the students choose to do whatever challenges them to the next level. Some would be easier than others, but the more advanced students who need more of a challenge would do the harder assignments. I would totally like to set up my classroom like that too in the future if I could. But then the problem becomes the "fairness" of that. So many people are so lazy these days, and life is all about trying to make everything fair (apparently). I can guarantee that students would want the easier projects because they don't think it's fair to let someone do easier work than them. Many people think that everyone should be given the same treatment, so of course it wouldn't be fair to let Jonny have an easier assignment than Tim. Then Tim isn't challenged enough in school and either doesn't turn in his homework at all or doesn't pay attention in class because he feels like it's too easy. I haven't figured out where the line is. No one really has. There is no right answer to these kinds of things. Teachers just do their best to meet the needs of their students.
That was a bit of a tangent.
Another difference between the US and Norway is that they don't have tons of homework assignments. It's just assumed that students will do their work and/or study enough to know the material. And they don't have multiple choice tests. They really KNOW the material. But here, teachers do give busy work and multiple choice tests. And I think that is because the young generation of Americans expects everything to be easy and handed to them. So, no, they don't really do much studying. We even had a class where many of the students failed an OPEN NOTE TEST. How is that even possible?
Another issue I have is when teachers form their class to have high expectations, they get a bad rep because they are "so hard" and "expect too much."
So, where is the line?
Well, like I said, I don't know.
I don't even have a really solid opinion about this. But I find the differences noticed by this foreign exchange student both fascinating and troubling. It makes me think.
What do you think?
(be nice)
This foreign exchange student basically said that the schools here are a joke. School is way harder in Norway. They are more based on the sciences and math (which is what we are turning to as well), but they also don't have "busy work."
Okay, I really don't like busy work. I think all assignments should be given to enhance student learning. Although, some things could be busy work to one student but really needed to help another student understand things better. I think the ideal for me would be to have a range of projects or assignments with varying degrees of challenge and let the students choose to do whatever challenges them to the next level. Some would be easier than others, but the more advanced students who need more of a challenge would do the harder assignments. I would totally like to set up my classroom like that too in the future if I could. But then the problem becomes the "fairness" of that. So many people are so lazy these days, and life is all about trying to make everything fair (apparently). I can guarantee that students would want the easier projects because they don't think it's fair to let someone do easier work than them. Many people think that everyone should be given the same treatment, so of course it wouldn't be fair to let Jonny have an easier assignment than Tim. Then Tim isn't challenged enough in school and either doesn't turn in his homework at all or doesn't pay attention in class because he feels like it's too easy. I haven't figured out where the line is. No one really has. There is no right answer to these kinds of things. Teachers just do their best to meet the needs of their students.
That was a bit of a tangent.
Another difference between the US and Norway is that they don't have tons of homework assignments. It's just assumed that students will do their work and/or study enough to know the material. And they don't have multiple choice tests. They really KNOW the material. But here, teachers do give busy work and multiple choice tests. And I think that is because the young generation of Americans expects everything to be easy and handed to them. So, no, they don't really do much studying. We even had a class where many of the students failed an OPEN NOTE TEST. How is that even possible?
Another issue I have is when teachers form their class to have high expectations, they get a bad rep because they are "so hard" and "expect too much."
So, where is the line?
Well, like I said, I don't know.
I don't even have a really solid opinion about this. But I find the differences noticed by this foreign exchange student both fascinating and troubling. It makes me think.
What do you think?
(be nice)
Tribute to grandma
This is long overdue, and I hope none of my family is offended that this is so far after her passing. I really wanted to write this long ago, but I have been going crazy keeping up with school.
My grandma, Diana Rose Kopecky, was an amazing woman. She has always been a great example of love, faith and hope. I know that she loved my grandpa, my mom and aunts, and my siblings and cousins so much. She loved getting together and doing fun things. Last time I heard from her, she was in the process of planning a huge family reunion (which I was really looking forward to).
She had a strong testimony of the gospel. And she set a great example of hope and faith to me.
Many of you know that I have had a lot of physical health challenges over the past five years. Sometimes, it's almost unbearable. Sometimes, I don't know how I can keep going on because it's so hard. Well, my grandma suffered much worse than I. And I'm sure she had her down moments, but I never saw it. When she was hooked up to her IV, she would invite us to watch TV or talk with her, and whenever she had the chance, she would unhook herself from the IV and dance and sing joyfully, "I'm free! I'm free!" She loved dancing. I get that trait from her. And I loved dancing with her. She was so hopeful all the time. I never saw her angry or depressed or blaming God for the hard things her body suffered through. And I am so, so grateful for the knowledge that she is in a better place and free of that pain she has suffered in the past.
She shared her faith every time we talked. She always shared her testimony in some kind of way. In her emails, she expressed her gratitude of being a daughter of God and for the family He has blessed us with. And she shared her gratitude of having the gospel and being sealed to her (our) family.
I miss her so much. We weren't expecting this at all. But I have felt her presence. I can feel her sharing her love with me as I write this. And I felt it when we were in Missouri for her funeral services. And I have felt it at other deeply spiritual times.
So, Grandma, I love you. I miss you so much. And I thank you for everything you have taught me and for keeping our family close together. I am grateful for your legacy, and I am proud to be your granddaughter.
My grandma, Diana Rose Kopecky, was an amazing woman. She has always been a great example of love, faith and hope. I know that she loved my grandpa, my mom and aunts, and my siblings and cousins so much. She loved getting together and doing fun things. Last time I heard from her, she was in the process of planning a huge family reunion (which I was really looking forward to).
She had a strong testimony of the gospel. And she set a great example of hope and faith to me.
Many of you know that I have had a lot of physical health challenges over the past five years. Sometimes, it's almost unbearable. Sometimes, I don't know how I can keep going on because it's so hard. Well, my grandma suffered much worse than I. And I'm sure she had her down moments, but I never saw it. When she was hooked up to her IV, she would invite us to watch TV or talk with her, and whenever she had the chance, she would unhook herself from the IV and dance and sing joyfully, "I'm free! I'm free!" She loved dancing. I get that trait from her. And I loved dancing with her. She was so hopeful all the time. I never saw her angry or depressed or blaming God for the hard things her body suffered through. And I am so, so grateful for the knowledge that she is in a better place and free of that pain she has suffered in the past.
She shared her faith every time we talked. She always shared her testimony in some kind of way. In her emails, she expressed her gratitude of being a daughter of God and for the family He has blessed us with. And she shared her gratitude of having the gospel and being sealed to her (our) family.
I miss her so much. We weren't expecting this at all. But I have felt her presence. I can feel her sharing her love with me as I write this. And I felt it when we were in Missouri for her funeral services. And I have felt it at other deeply spiritual times.
So, Grandma, I love you. I miss you so much. And I thank you for everything you have taught me and for keeping our family close together. I am grateful for your legacy, and I am proud to be your granddaughter.
Random thoughts and catching the world up on us
A lot of has been going on.
My wonderful grandma passed away at the beginning of the semester. She will get her own post.
I also started student teaching. South Jordan Middle School was my first experience, and it was awesome. I learned a lot, and I know that I needed those students and the faculty in my life at that time. Lisa Frischknecht is amazing. She is a great teacher, and we are now good friends too. Now, I am student teaching at Timpview High School in Provo with Genet Orme. She is also amazing. She has so much knowledge that I get the privilege of learning from, and I am so excited for the rest of the semester. She is the type of person that I would love to just pick apart her brain. I want to see what she sees and know what she knows. I feel it is a very special blessing to learn from her. We have already talked much about life, the gospel, teaching, and all sorts of other things. Like I felt with SJMS, I know that I was supposed to go to Timpview.
We have also decided to move to Arkansas in January. And Emily got us a free puppy last week, so we have our cute little Paisley waiting for us in Arkansas too :)
Life is full of surprises, challenges, and blessings.
My wonderful grandma passed away at the beginning of the semester. She will get her own post.
I also started student teaching. South Jordan Middle School was my first experience, and it was awesome. I learned a lot, and I know that I needed those students and the faculty in my life at that time. Lisa Frischknecht is amazing. She is a great teacher, and we are now good friends too. Now, I am student teaching at Timpview High School in Provo with Genet Orme. She is also amazing. She has so much knowledge that I get the privilege of learning from, and I am so excited for the rest of the semester. She is the type of person that I would love to just pick apart her brain. I want to see what she sees and know what she knows. I feel it is a very special blessing to learn from her. We have already talked much about life, the gospel, teaching, and all sorts of other things. Like I felt with SJMS, I know that I was supposed to go to Timpview.
We have also decided to move to Arkansas in January. And Emily got us a free puppy last week, so we have our cute little Paisley waiting for us in Arkansas too :)
Life is full of surprises, challenges, and blessings.
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