I'm supposed to be writing a paper...

...but instead I wanted to write a blog post.

Here's a little update about what's going on...

School has started, which is such a bitter sweet thing for me. I L.O.V.E my job! I do truly love my cute little class and of course the incredible people I work with. However, school takes over my life. I swear, I have very little free time right now and I feel like I can't hardly breathe (that could be my asthma though...hmmm...time to up my Pulmicort dose?). But all in all, being a teacher does one important thing that I am very grateful for...it drives me to my knees. It helps me to be a better person because I feel such a weight on my shoulders and therefore spend a lot of time praying for help.

Dale & family have moved to 'Bama. I have dreaded this for months, but now it's done and aside from occasional moments when I miss them like crazy, I am surviving. I hope they are surviving as well. And hey, only 60 days until I fly out there for a week. You can look forward to the awesome blog posts that trip will produce. Just picture a photo of a sign at a storage facility that says "Parker Storage: Where Jesus is Lord". (True story)

I have one month left of Grad school and I can hardly wait. I am SOOOO tired of being a student it is not even funny!!! I doubt I'll ever get a doctorate because I'm not sure I'll be able to convince myself to go back to school yet again.

In other news... I hate NCLB (No Child Left Behind) more than about anything...but according to a priority sorter Ian found online, I don't want to time travel back in time and stop it from being passed as badly as I want to pay off my student loans.

I have more updating to do...but it involves pictures. That would take more time away from the paper writing that I'm supposed to be participating in, so you'll have to wait.

Birthday Moment...

It's my sister-in-law's birthday today. She is my first sister and boy was I glad to finally have a sister the day she joined our family. She amazing and fun! I love you and hope your birthday was fabulous!

Birthday Moment...

My older and definitely wiser brother's birthday is today. He is an amazing man and fun to be around. I hope you have an awesome birthday, love you!

#10 - Check!

While in Oregon...I accomplished my #10 item on my list of things to do before I turn 31. I sent a message in a bottle. It was an interesting experience. First I had to go to Safeway to get a beverage in a glass bottle. This was nice because I got a really good vanilla cream soda out of the deal. Then I had to purchase some stationary because I didn't want to send my message on boring hotel notepad paper. Then I had the problem of what in the blazes I should write. That took some serious thinking. I was afraid to put any identifying information in it because Oregon is such a, how should I put this, green state? I was afraid I'd rot in prison for littering! So I opted to just make a quick note telling a possible reader why I was sending a message in a bottle and then leaving them with the best advice I have to give anyone... that they should visit www.mormon.org because the church has made all the difference in my life.

Here is the bottle...on the balcony of our hotel in Yachats, Oregon...all ready for sending.

The problem with Yachats is that it is a very rocky area of the coast. Mom and I had to drive a bit to find a place I could discard my bottle without it breaking on the rocks moments after I chucked it in the water. What's fun about my parents is that they are supportive of all my crazy ideas.

We finally found a spot where I could climb down some rocks, across some more rocks, and then down yet some more rocks to a sandy bit of beach.

My mom waited in the car while Daisy and I made our way to the beach. She took a photo of the place we headed down while she waited. We had to go down there where there looks like there's a trail, then it twisted around away from the bay to the open sea where we went down the rocks.

It was there, on that beach that I realized that I'm not a pitcher and couldn't launch my bottle out far enough that it wouldn't come right back. After 3 tries, I went back to the car hoping that the tide would take it out later. Otherwise, someone just south of Yachats could find my bottle and wonder how much it had traveled (they'll never know I stood right where they were the day before trying to get it out to sea).

Oregon Coast

In August my parents, Daisy, and I took a trip to the Oregon Coast. We love it there because it's so beautiful and relaxing. We figured it would be our last trip there for a very long time, since our new destination of choice is Alabama. We decided to head to a different area of the coast than we usually visit...to see some new places. It was awesome as usual.

Daisy enjoyed the trip, of course. She loves seeing new places.


She likes relaxing in the hotel room (as opposed to her busy life filled with relaxing at home).

She loves to feel the ocean breeze in her hair.

But her favorite thing is to play on the beach. A game of fetch followed by running around in circles and digging is always a great way to spend the afternoon.


We hiked to Heceta Head Lighthouse. It was BEAUTIFUL!



Then we stopped to take a photo of it from a distance.

Of course, what's a trip to the Oregon Coast without eating at Mo's? See how my dad looks all happy? That's why we go to Oregon...it's relaxing and you just can't help but feel good when you are there. Perhaps the Mo's famous clam chowder he's eating helped the smile a bit too.

And yes, I realize I just chronicled my vacation almost entirely with photos of my dog. Clearly I need children. :)

Just what I needed to hear today...

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."

--Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Birthday Moment...

Happy birthday to my sister in law! I love you lots and hope you have an amazing birthday!!