Fun New Things To Learn

Well, some of you know I am up at Snow Bird right now at a technology training. Today, one of the things we learned was Stop Motion. This is where you take a picture, move the object just a bit, then take another picture, move the object again, and so on. It is the technique that is used for Claymation. Chantelle, Penny, and I made this one in about 45 minutes, start to finish. Stop Motion is by far my most favorite thing I have learned this week. And now I am falling asleep at my computer, so I will go to bed.

Presenting... Owen Jeremiah Porter

I just wanted everyone to be able to see my cute little nephew. He was born on Friday, October 2nd. He weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 1/2 inces long. He and Adrienne are both home and doing well.

My New Phone Number

So I FINALLY got a phone number that is local to the St. George area. It is 435-669-8555. I also got a new phone and I love it! (mine is the blue one and Raylene got the burgundy one).

My Incredible Bed

This may seem like a strange topic for an entry, but let me tell you about my week and you may understand.

So... I have taught my 4th graders for two and a half weeks now. After the first full week I came down with a cold. Not just a little sniffle, this was the full thing: fever, sinus cold, cough, sore throat, exhaustion, etc. The last time I was sick was over a year and a half ago. I honestly don't get sick very much.

We were doing the beginning of the year reading test and my principal had arranged for substitutes to come in and cover our classes for two half-days so that we could get these horrendous tests done. I couldn't just get a substitute. I HAD to go in. Monday and Tuesday were the worst but Wednesday was a close runner up.

This whole last week has been a haze. I would drag myself out of bed at (or soon after) 5:30 so that I could be at the school by 7:00 where I would try to somehow get ready for the day. After a day of the students telling me, "Miss Porter you look like you don't feel good!" and wearing a black jacket at recess when it was about 100 degrees outside and still getting the chills, I would force myself to give up trying to get things in order for the next day at about 7:00 in the evening. I would walk into my house, drop my stuff on the floor inside my door, take a dose of NyQuil and climb into my incredibly comfortable bed (hence the picture). Then I would start all over the next morning.

My mom and sister saved my life this week. They did so much for me including prep, correcting papers, and getting medicine and food for me. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. I am still exhausted, but it seems that I am finally on the mend.

Roses

After an incredibly long ten hours working in my classroom today, I finally decided I needed more nourishment than Raspberry-filled Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and decided to call it a day and go home. There were roses! SERIOUSLY... 3 wonderful-smelling roses were there on my car! So if by some miracle the thoughtful giver of the flowers reads this... Thank you. You gave me a reason to smile today. I have only received roses from my big brother on my 16th birthday and from my father on occasion. It was a totally unexpected and wonderful surprise. Thank you for brightening my very stressful day.

Hugs~ Shiloa

Tada!

Last Monday a friend of mine taught me how to make these incredible linking cubes. It is called Unit Origami and I love it! I spent more time than i would like to admit making this chain of linking cubes, but I enjoyed every moment... even when I got strange looks from friends and family who happened upon me while I was building it. I don't know if it is something that I will pursue, but it was great learning something new. Each cube takes 12 smaller pieces to make it.

Another Happy Day

Adrienne (my sister-in-law) graduated from Nursing School on May 18th. We started our "programs" at the same time and now we have graduated at the same time. Adrienne is one of the sweetest people I know and my brother really lucked out when she said "yes"! She worked SO hard to reach her goals and it payed off because she was one of the top in her class and has now been offered a position at the hospital in St. George. I love you Adrienne! Congratulations!

Graduation!!!

I know it has been over two weeks since I graduated, but I am writing this post to share some pictures with anyone who wants to see them. The graduation ceremony was kind of long and boring, but that was expected right? It is the greatest feeling to finally be done! I have worked toward this point (off and on) for about seven years. It was a long time coming, but I have finally graduated! Hooray!!!

Change in Policy... a.k.a. NOT Valedictorian

I found out last Wednesday that Dixie has changed there policy since the previous week when I was informed that I was graduating valedictorian. One student was chosen to give the speech from each of the Associates and Bachelors Valedictorian groups. Because there were so many valedictorians, Dixie has decided that ONLY those two students (who are speaking) are going to be honored with the title. I didn't take it to well, which is pathetic because it is not like they lowered my GPA and I didn't want to give the speech anyway. It was just really hard being told that I had earned the honor of Valedictorian and then being told.. oh, never mind, you're not good enough any more. Oh, well... I am surviving just fine in my non-valedictorian state. Either way I am excited to FINALLY be graduating next Friday at 6:00pm!!!!!

I HAVE A JOB!!!

I got a call yesterday after school from the Washington County School District Office. Hurricane Elementary offered me a position for next year as a 4th grade teacher! Hooray!!! I didn't have to interview or anything. I guess my current principal must have talked me up pretty well. It feels SO good to know I have a job. I am feeling really blessed right now.

Valedictorian

So... I got a call on Thursday! I was told that I am one of three valedictorians for the Dixie State College Class of '09. Crazy! I have to have an interview and present a speech to the Board on Friday, April 17th. They will then choose who will be the speaker at the graduation ceremonies. This is crazy. I have a fetish for good grades, but I never expected them to lead me to valedictorian!

Head Above Water... Barely

There are about a dozen things I should be doing instead of writing drivel (noun- childish, silly, or meaningless talk or thinking; nonsense; twaddle) on my blog, but my brain has turned off and I just can’t get myself to concentrate on planning a review unit on weather for this week. So here I sit, wasting my time (and yours) by writing complete nonsense. I really don’t have anything to write, it had just been a while since my last post. Let’s see… March…. Oh! I spent spring break in Mesquite. I had a free two night stay. Raylene went with me. We played with beads (more bands for our watches) and we went to the Valley of Fire State Park and did some hiking… I will have to post some of those pictures when I have the energy to move more than my fingers. We had a great time.

My birthday was in March… I tried to ignore it, but the family dinner was fun.

I also had complete control of the classroom in March. It has been an exahausting and educational experience. I have had to put up with some major verbal abuse from one of my students who has problems. (for example this was shouted across the room one day, “Does anyone have a gun so I can shoot Miss Porter?”) Some days have been rough, let me tell you. It was easier when her hatred and animosity were divided between two teachers instead of all aimed at me.

There have been some great moments too… like when one student asked what grade I was going to teach next year (making the assumption I would still be at Three Falls). When I told him I would teach whatever grade I was hired for, he told me that I should definitely teach 5th grade so he could be in my class next year. These moments get me through the tough ones.

I have three more weeks of student teaching and then I graduate. It has been a long, long, long time coming and it will be amazing to be done. Well, I am going to bed so I can get up at five, tomorrow morning and attack that review unit on weather…

After Three Years

Well, most of you who will read this have never seen my bedroom so you will not know what I am talking about… so I will explain. When I came home from my mission I got a bed and frame at a garage sale. It had some issues, but was better than an air mattress. About 6 months later my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and I attacked my old Deseret Industries monstrosity of a dresser. We painted it, changed the trim and hardware and built a bookshelf to set on top of it. (Mom laughed at me… some girls want a mirror above their dressers, I want a bookshelf.) We distressed the dresser and bookshelf by painting it all a nice cream color then sanding spots and edges to expose the wood. We then took a dark walnut stain and covered the whole thing. When that was dry/soaked in, we covered it with polyurethane. That was done over three years ago. Shortly after that I tackled my bed frame. Dad helped my reconstruct a broken section on an end post with his wood lathe. I then painted the whole frame cream. It never got any further. About the same time I bought fabric to make curtains and some matching decorative pillows for my bed… I never made them.

This weekend Raylene (my sister) and I FINALLY distressed my bed and I bought a new comforter set and curtains. After three years my room looks finished. I have two bookshelves in my room for right now, but they will hopefully be going into my classroom in the fall. I was just tired of the unorganized boxes of children’s books everywhere.

Sorry this post was so long, but I am super happy with how it turned out and wanted to share it with everyone else. Here are some pictures!

Mother Dearest

I just wanted to post a picture of my mom. She is an angel. If I could be more like her, my place in heaven would be much more sure. She is the most thoughtful, caring, considerate, giving person I know. Sometime in my teen years our relationship changed from mother-daughter to the best of friends. I look to her for guidance and comfort and she gives me so much more. I adore this woman. Any of you who don't know her are really missing out!

My Sister

My sister and brother-in-law came down from Logan for the weekend. (As did my parents - from California - who haven't been home for over five weeks.) This is my sister, Raylene Miller. We are so much alike! We think of the same quotes or phrases at the same time. Sometimes it's freaky. We had fun hanging out and house-hunting for her and Patrick. You know, there are some strange houses for sale in the La Verkin/Hurricane area! She will be moving in with me in a week while they continue to job hunt and house hunt. It will be great to have her near again. She is the bestest big sister and sweetest friend.

End of Official Classes

My last two classes for the Elementary Education Program are now finished! It was brutal going all afternoon-everyday for three weeks but we all survived. Monday (Jan 26) was the last day (finals) and since then I have been trying to relax and get ready for student teaching. When I woke up before my alarm on Tuesday I couldn't go back to sleep because I suddenly realized that I was done! I don't have to take any more finals or sit through any more lectures and power points! It has been a great week. I have just been going to the elementary school until noon and then cleaning, playing, preparing, and relaxing the rest of the day. These next eleven weeks will be hard, but I know I will survive them, too.