I am thankful...

So tonight for FHE we tonight we went around and shared what we are thankful for and when it came to me I was just overwhelmed with how much my life has changed over this last semester.

I have lost three people who have been a part of my life. I am so thankful for the relationships I have and the relationships that I will continue to have. I am grateful for those who have changed my life and are still changing my life, whether it be though my interaction with them or through the example they have left. I have been thinking a lot lately of Robi especially. I still cry because I miss him so much and I think that's a little selfish of me. I know that he is experiencing more joy than ever before, but that doesn't mean that I don't miss his amazing hair, adventurous/daredevil attitude, and friendship.

I am so lucky to be teaching my specific class with my specific students. I don't think I can express enough how much they mean to me and how much they have helped me look at the world through new eyes. I have never been around such good and amazing children in my life. They go through so much that makes life really difficult but everyday they get off the bus and come to school, everyday they smile, everyday they make me smile. Today for of them were sitting on our bean bag...it was a pretty tight squeeze and it was just so adorable, I had to grab my phone for a picture. I wish I could share it with you all because the minute I told them I was taking a picture and to say "cheese" they threw their arms around each other and smiled. To see them be such good friends and to tell me that they are friends is amazing. I love them.

My family. They are beautiful and I am so thankful for their love and friendship. Dad and Port came with me to the game on Saturday and Phil leans over to me and said, "Your family wins the greatest hair award, hands down!" haha Yes, yes we do. I miss them but it is amazing to know that forever and always we will be together. I can't wait for Christmas when we get to sit around the family room and watch our crazy movies and play charades. That's all I want to do.

Berto. I love coming home to my baby. He is so cute and I wish you could all see the way he lays down now. haha I can't even explain it and it might just be me that thinks it is absolutely adorable...just like a real mom huh? haha I love him.

The Gospel, My Savior, the Book of Mormon, President Monson. I am so grateful that I was born into the church. I am grateful that my parents lived in such a way that they were married and sealed in the Los Angeles Temple. I am so grateful for my testimony and the knowledge and truth that is within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am especially grateful that at this Christmas season we get to really focus on our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him and I am forever indebted to Him and His sacrifice.

Christmas music - it is amazing. "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." - Buddy the Elf.

Christmas movies - ELF, Little Women, A White Christmas, Holiday Inn, A Christmas Story, Pride and Prejudice (the A&E version, every Christmas with my mom after opening presents), The Holiday...and those are just a few.

BYU beating UTAH at my final football game as a Cougar. Then rushing the field.


That's just what is jumbling around in my crazy little head right now. I have so much to be thankful for that it has made me very emotional. I just can't believe that I should be so lucky.

the mayflower, the mayflower, a little ship on an ocean trip

First - TOMORROW IS THANKSGIVING! I love the holidays.

Mom, Kelsey, Sydney, and Porter all came into my class on Tuesday and I am so glad they did. I am so lucky to have a family who supports me in my career and is willing to lose themselves with my students.
Syd set her status on facebook after seeing my cuties. It said -

"Sydney Thorkelson has never fallen in love with kids so quickly. tati-- your kids are adorable and i love them. ♥ "

Pretty cool huh?


We took sissy pictures today and hung out with MYERS! We went up to Sundance - just like we did when it was just me, Alyse, and Kels around. Sort of nostalgic, freezing, and lots of fun!

what a week!

I don't know that anyone can understand how unbelievably rough this week has been for me (unless you are an aide in my classroom). We got two new students and they are going to be very hard. I know that things will get better but having these new students has also thrown off all my other kids. I have been about ready to fall over and Friday, I did...TWICE. We were at BYU swimming and one of my kids thought it was fun to run and I slipped on the wet tile. The second time was really hard. I felt my whole spine vibrate all the way up to my head. The poor boy fell with me and he just looked at me and said OW! and I told him that that is what happens when we run. It only got better to find a poopy diaper and to have my super large cookie in a box (given to me by a super cute boy - i've got your attention now huh!) smooshed. SO - it was just a hard week and to end with a hard Friday makes it even worse. BUT...

There have been some great positives this week that have kept me going!

1. Knowning that I would get to see my family this weekend.
2. BYU Basketball with my good friend's mom on Tuesady - Thank you Mama L :)
3. Preach My Gospel - I love being a part of the missionary council and studying PMG
4. I just decided that I can listen to CHRISTMAS MUSIC and I think I have the greatest Christmas music collection a college student could have!
5. A cute boy
6. My sweet kids and their Thanksgiving Play - gobble gobble gobble gobble gobble!
7. Ray's institute lesson on Humility and Gratitude that I'm sure was just for me to hear on Wednesday
8. Watching UP in a parking lot
9. Reading So B. It - it's by Sarah Weeks and I recommend it to anyone
10. All my childhood friends. I spent yesterday in St. George for Tim Cummings' funeral. What an amazing service and an even more amazing family. Everyone I remember growing up was there and I know everything went just as Tim would have wanted. Each of his kids spoke and there were several music numbers. I was amazed at their talent and their sweet memories of their father. It was a very emotional but happy afternoon.
11. The Plan of Salvation and the knowledge of Eternal Families
12. The super cute picture Porter and I got to take together :)

I really can't complain because I sure am a lucky girl.

I love BYU

Alison brought home some pictures she got at work. They were both pictures of campus and they almost make me want to cry. BYU is beautiful and I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I am a senior and that this part of my life is coming to an end.
I have come to the point where I have to think about my future and the more that I do this, the more that I realize how much I have loved these last four years at BYU. As much as I am not a fan of this snow that has begun to fall (yes, I know it's beautiful - but it is so cold!), I do love life in Provo. I love the student wards. I love the social life. I love the adventures. I don't know how to live on my own anywhere else and I am not sure if Provo is the place I need to stay once I graduate. When I walk on campus I am still amazed that I made it here. I remember that it was like a dream freshman year. It would overwhelm me and I would tear up. It's four years later and walking on campus will still get me teary eyed. There is this joy, excitment, and love eminating from BYU.

On another note - my bishopric was released today and our new bishopric was called. It is so hard to say goodbye. I was with them longer than any other bishopric at BYU and I love them so much. I have developed relationships not only with them but also with their wives - their sweet wives who always put their arms around me when I needed it. But it is amazing how the church continues and the minute Bishop Richards was called and I saw his smile, I knew everything will keep going. He had that smile on throughout the entire meeting.

Also. I got a text Saturday morning while Kelsey and I were squished trying to sleep in my bed, telling me that Tim Cummings had passed away earlier that morning. Anyone that knew Tim has been touched and changed for the better. He was my dad's first friend in Orange County and stayed one of his very closest friends. I think I might have mentioned how I went to St. George with my dad about a month ago and we got to visit Tim - a trip I am so very grateful for. I love the Cummings family and they are in my prayers. I admire their strength and I love the childhood memories I have with them. I am thankful that I have the Gospel in my life, that I know that things continue after this life and that Tim is experiencing joy that we could never imagine. These recent experiences I have had with death - the experiences I have had with it over the last four years - have really made me appreciate those around me. I hope all of you know that. I cannot take for granted the relationships I have.

Today was a BEAUTIFUL Sunday. It is going to be a BEAUTIFUL week.

it's raining, it's pouring

So, I know it has been fall for a while now - but can I just tell you that last week was one of the prettiest weeks Provo has seen in a long time. The leaves are beautiful and falling. The sun was out and then...today started the rain. If there was some thunder and lightning - I would love it. And if I had a rocking chair by a window and a cute boy to watch it all with - I would love it even more. I guess this is the longest I have seen Provo stay beautiful so I really cannot complain but...

Here are a few updates in my life:


BERTO- loves to be held on his back ans tickled. It's pretty adorable. I am still working on learning what he wants and needs. He squeals quite a bit these days and sometimes it gets really loud, but I sure just love having him around.


BYU BASKETBALL - Our season starts on Friday. We have had two exhibition games - one on Tuesday and one tonight. I don't know if you can understand how much I love this. I love it so much that I have camped outside of the Marriott (quite possibly my favorite place at BYU) to get tickets. Basketball is how I make it through the winter.

BISHOPRIC - The bishopric I have come to love over the last year and a half living here at Chatsworth is being released on Sunday. This will be very hard for me and the rest of my ward but we are so lucky to have had them for this long. I am just so grateful for the time that they have put into my ward and me.

FAMILY - My family is coming up the entire week of Thanksgiving! Greatest news I received all weekend!

VETERANS DAY - We had an assembly yesterday and before it started the 4th graders stood up and sang the Military Medley. My class has been going into a music class once a week with the 4th graders so I actually new the words and I have watched my kids learn the words or just sing as loud as they can with their 4th grade friends. When these sweet kids started singing...I started crying. I was just overwhelmed with the courage they had and continue to have.

MY CLASS - I still love them. Can you believe it!? haha Today one of them said, "PBS kids. Where a kid can be a kid." PBS + Chuck E. Cheese = Amazing. We also went to a PE class with some 6th graders and one of my kids was so good...he mimicked everything the other kids. He leaped, he galloped, skipped, stretched. I could not stop laughing!

Basically, I am really tired but I love life.

Now Introducing...

Everyone, meet Berto - my totally and completely adorable guinea pig.

I picked him up tonight and I am already totally in love! He is about 5 weeks old but I think I will just claim today as his birthday. He has the greatest cowlicks everywhere...it seriously looks like he has fireworks on his back! He has about every color on him. Swirls of white, black, and red.

Pretty darn cute huh?