the physical and it's effect on our spirits

Bad hair day = A bad day all together.  Have you ever noticed that?  How I feel about myself is a huge factor in determining how my day goes.  When I feel like I was rushed and maybe my outfit just doesn't go quite right, my make up is off, or I just look tired - I find myself a little more on edge, grumpy, anxious, and impatient.

Over the last few years, I have found that I see this even in my students.

My greatest example comes from my internship.  I had a student in this class that I had worked with as an aide a few years prior.  I saw this as a little tender mercy.  Not only because I had aided in a different school district and didn't ever think this boy would be in my life again, but also because I had something familiar in this new setting and the next stage of my life.

Now, as much as I was excited to have this boy in my class again, I also remembered how difficult he could be.  He was aggressive (lots of scratching and biting), almost nonverbal, and he was a really big boy.  A really big boy.  Did I tell you that he was a big boy?!  He was short and sturdy and I am pretty sure he could knock over any football player if he wanted.  A few months into the year, we realized that even when his diaper had been changed, he was stinky.  We discussed with his father and our IEP team ideas of things that we might be able to do for him.  Together, we came to the conclusion that we needed to teach him how to shower himself - sort of a big task to take on at school, but we got the permission we needed and me and one of the aides worked with him everyday.

Within a week of showing him how to clean and care for his body, he became a different boy.  He was all lovey and sweet.  He began talking with us.  He used nice hands and made eye contact.  It was amazing the change that we could see.  I love that boy with all of my heart.


The last two years, I have worked with older students.  They are at the age where showering isn't always fun and brushing your hair is just an option.  Sometimes we are attached to clothes/costumes that are old, full of holes, and stinky.  There are lots of little things we are doing in our class to reinforce good hygiene, but a lot of it happens at home.  When one of my students shows up with new clothes, shoes, or if mom has done their hair, they glow with confidence.  They seem excited to work and participate, because then it gets them attention and their peers can notice their new clothes.

This draws me to the conclusion that our physical bodies affect our spirits.  I know I have talked a lot about it's appearance as well as hygiene, but we also need to remember that this includes what we put in our bodies.  We need to take care of our bodies so that we can allow our spirits to shine.

my little man

Sunday night I received this text:

Well, how can anyone resist that face!?  My heart melted fast and I made plans to visit my Ryder.  I spent Monday night at the Bennet's house, never letting him go.  Exactly 4 weeks before my visit on Monday, I was in the hospital meeting Ryder for the first time!  I cannot believe how fast this month has flown by.  I also can't believe how natural it is to see Alyse as a mom.  I always knew she would be great, but it is so weird to see her changing HER baby's diaper, talking about mommy schedule, parenting, and future plans with baby boy.  As I was memorized oohhing and aaahing over Ryder, she made me dinner and dessert.  She was so excited to use her food processor and, as always, the food was delicious.

She took a few pictures of me and Ryder while I was visiting.  Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing that cute face!!  He is currently my favorite person in the whole world and I have the hardest time leaving him!

baby sister's birthday

Best reason to blog is a BIRTHDAY!

That's right.  It is Hannah's birthday!  She has become a teenager.  (Don't we all remember what a big deal it was to turn 13!)

I love my beans a lot.  So much that this lucky girl has had three previous birthday posts (That even shocks me - I didn't realize my blog had been around for that long!):

• post 1
• post 2
• post 3

Pretty much, she has and always will melt my heart.  She is the sweetest.  The cutest.  The funniest. Baby sister any big sister could ask for.

For at least a year, she did not go anywhere without her tiara...

Hannah got the curly hair I always wished for.

 I will never forget how she would cry every time I had to leave for BYU.  No one else did that.  I missed a lot of Hannah's little girl years - everything from the time she was 7 to 12.  But now, lucky for my whole family, I get to be a part of it all again...probably more than they would like.  I have to say, that is the best part about moving back home.  Sharing the memories of my siblings growing up.

My hannah banana,

There is no one like you.  You are unique.  You grew up with three older sisters, that you followed with all the love a little girl could have, and have become the best mix of us all.  No one can dance like you, laugh like you, or dress like you - at least not as well as you can.  You don't complain.  You give your all.  And I know you won't trade me for the Utes like one of our sisters has...Thank you for your shining example.  Thank you for the love that you have always given me, especially when I don't deserve it.

I love you my beans.  I love you a lot.

Another post about...

how much I love my job.

I wish that I could post all the amazing pictures I took today of one of my students. We went on a field trip and he was being ridiculously hilarious on the bus today. He was getting all thug like and then being really lovey.

It made me smile. Not just an I-am-laughing-so-I-smile type smile, but an I-am-full-of-pure-joy type smile. And that's how I have been feeling about work A LOT lately.

Granted, the last three days were so jam packed full that I was having anxiety attacks last weekend. But once I get to school and see their smiling faces (for the most part) that stress fades.

They have all been so happy lately and there is nothing I enjoy more than seeing that in their eyes.

On a side note, I am heading to San Diego as we speak. Melanie is driving me and her mom through St. George right now! I know. You are thinking only in St. George at 9 pm? That's a late night. Well, don't worry. We are staying at the one and only Virgin River tonight. A place I have only ventured in the safety of my Burley men...should be an adventure.

Can't wait to see this beautifulness again...

flying

I am terribly afraid of heights/falling (I can't even handle a glass elevator), but when my friend Jeff asked if I'd like to go flying with him and his pilot roommate...I had to say yes.  And, for the most part (all except for when we experienced a few seconds of zero gravity) I am so glad I did.  The whole free falling thing had me screaming like a mad woman - a few who have witnessed me on blast off rides know the screams I am talking about.

It was stunningly beautiful.  We started in Spanish Fork, flew up and around Temple Square, and then back down to Spanish.  We were in the air for 1.3 hours - just enough time for my ears to ache from the headphones.  I can't believe I did it.  It almost seems like a dream...

baby boy

Alyse is the very first friend I remember having in my life.  Lucky for me, she is still in my life!  I could go on and on about all of our memories and adventures.  Our families did everything together.  Then that day came when the Thorks moved to San Diego...but the minute Alyse and I could drive, she was coming down to see me and I was always going up to visit her.  My friends became her friends and her friends became my friends.

I really enjoyed going through all of my pictures to find these.  We have so many pictures of us making the same faces.  She is such a huge part of my life!  Even now, I am finding more and more pictures I could add to this collage.

In May of 2008, Alyse married Chad.  We didn't think that I was going to make it to their wedding - to read that story, visit here.  Chad is perfect for her and has become one of my good friends too - exactly how a girl hopes her best friends husband will be.

Loved this day.

Then, a few years later and more currently, she told me she was pregnant.  It was right before Kelsey's wedding and I remember the first time I saw her after she called with the exciting news.  We were waiting for Kelsey and Scott to come out of the temple.  I got teary eyed seeing her, knowing that my best friend was going to have a baby. That was more than 6 months ago...

And this morning (at 2:00 am to be exact) I get the following text: "It's baby time!!! You're almost an aunt."  Texts don't normally wake me up...but this one did!  And I could hardly sleep after that.  When I saw his picture this morning, I couldn't help but cry.  He is perfect.  So, guess who went to visit after work?!  That's right...me, Aunt Tati.

I am obsessed with him.  Have I told you how perfect he is?

So congratulations to the Bennetts!  I cannot wait to watch this little guy grow up.  

I love you guys so very much.  

Happy Birthday to my Mom

Earlier this school year I was meeting with my literacy cohort (maybe it was during new teacher training last year, I can't remember), but we always start with someone from the district reading us a short story that we can read to our kids.  Mars Needs Moms was one of the books that I can't forget.  I am not sure how I had never read it before, but it is such a sweet book.  Recently it has become a movie, one that I watched just a few Sundays ago.  Both the book and movie got me a little teary eyed.  I am so grateful for my mom.


This post is mostly about how wonderful my mom is and...

TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY!!

As I was thinking about what I wanted to write in this post, I was walking to change my laundry.  Guess what?  As I was walking into the laundry room, mom was walking out with my clean clothes draped over her arm.  Then tonight, she made me dinner.  Every morning she will make me a smoothie.  (We are doing a little healthy eating together.  6 meals a day is a little hard for me to prep and she is so good to help me!) It is amazing all the little things she does for me and my siblings that just went unnoticed when I was a kid.  Moving back home has really opened my eyes to all the little things that I took for granted.

My mom is my best friend.  She always has been. 

She supports me in everything that I do.  She has never doubted the things that I can accomplish.  She has pushed me to always give it my all.  She listens to all of my crazy stories and she very obviously will do anything to help me and keep me from pain.

We always have so much fun together.  I love when she laughs at her own jokes.  She is very funny.  So sweet.  Kind.  Selfless.  Just wonderful.

Once we were playing charades, well we play a lot, but one time in particular...she was really funny.

Did I mention that my mom is beautiful?

Here she is (on the right) with Michelle and Lyman.  Such a cute girl.

Wish you could see all of this picture.  Her hair goes all the way down her back.  I could probably write a whole post on how amazing my mom's hair is.  People always comment on it and I remember all of my friends growing up thought my mom's hair was the prettiest.  We all wanted long, curly hair...

Mom and Dad at Kelsey's wedding.  She is still beautiful!

I love spending time with her.  Growing up, I loved when she would ask me to come with her to the grocery store.  Once I left for BYU, I would call her every time I went shopping just because I loved that time with my mom.

We are real cool.

I love my mom.  I don't know how I got so lucky.  I don't have her curly, beautiful, thick hair, but I like to think I got her humor, her smarts, her dance moves, and her big heart.  I look up to her, not even just that, I aspire to be like her.