Feeling Happy!

Happy October!

Can I just say that from here until about the end of December is my absolutely most favorite time of year?

I absolutely love October. The smell of spiced pumpkins, apple cider, the fun Halloween decorations, pumpkins, hay mazes, witches brooms, black cats, frost in the morning, fall leaves crunching under shoes, occasional days where it snows, being able to wear sweaters, boots, coats, sweatshirts, puffy blankets on your bed, fireplace turned on, hot chocolate for breakfast with a bagel, and just the general atmosphere of life! I love October!

It snowed a little this morning, the morning that I happened to put a sweater on. Yesssss. Lovely feeling! I also pulled out the long socks and fuzzy boots that are pure comfiness. Let's just say I'm glad this time of year is here! I also found out that the ONLY source of heat for my apartment is a little gas fireplace at the bottom of our stairs (we have two floors in our apartment). Although that should scare most people off, I got really excited. That means that my room will most likely be chilly, which is my favorite! Snuggling in warm sock monkey footie pajamas, drinking hot chocolate, wrapping myself in blankets, etc.

I know this post doesn't really have a whole lot of substance, but I feel just up to the brim with happiness today. Besides all those things I have listed above that make me happy, I thought I'd share a few other things that make me really happy as of late as well. I also cut my hair by myself today, and I'll admit it, I did a pretty good job--at least for the first time I've ever cut my hair. I needed some layers, and so I took a razor to it and now all the curls kind of just go together and are the same--lately, it was getting bushy, and I didn't want to go pay money to get mine cut. Plus, I was getting sick of it being a bush, so I added some layers, and so far, I've liked it a lot more. :) Don't worry mom, it's not as bad as when I cut my hair when I was 8. There is no bald spot on my head!

I gave a presentation in my education class today, and I was actually really nervous for it, because I was in the first set of students to present--which means you don't really know what the teacher expects in a presentation. And I had to present a lengthy chapter of a great textbook in under 5 minutes. It was incredibly difficult to figure out what to include, what to leave out, how to include the class without going over time and getting too involved in discussion, etc. I had to teach my class how to write an effective assignment--lesson planning, writing objectives, state standards, purposes of lessons, etc. It was a lot of knowledge I had to prepare myself for, but I did really well today. I was a little nervous while I was standing up and teaching, but everything seemed to come really naturally. And I didn't go over time, which I was really grateful for! My teacher also gave me "Superior" marks on my presentation, which was the highest you could go--I got 12/12 points! Yesssss. Feeling a little successful.

I get to see a really awesome piano concert tonight--I've actually been waiting for about 3 weeks to see it. It's Del Parkinson, and he's performing one of my absolute (if not very favorite) piano piece, Rhapsody in Blue, by George Gershwin. Not only is he performing that one, but he also is performing several other pieces by Gershwin. I absolutely love Gershwin's music, and I am not going to miss this concert! It's free, but you just have to beat everyone else there, since Del is an amazing pianist.

My education classes are going really well, my tests are going really well, I'm passing all the required tests to be a teacher so far, and (knock on wood) I have all A's in my classes, even though the homework load is significantly larger and harder than last year.

I have less than a month until I'm the big 20! I'm super excited! My friends are coming up to visit me that weekend, and I think on my birthday, we're planning on going to Costa Vida (kind of like Cafe Rio), and then going bowling at Fat Cats. I'm so excited! We might even go to COLD STONE. I love ice cream!!

Just over a month until I get to see Michael Buble in concert!!!! I can NOT wait until then! Seriously, I think my mom may have to drag my passed out body out of the concert afterwards. I really think I might pass out, cry, or just be speechless seeing Michael Buble in REAL LIFE. I have dreamed of this moment for 8 years! I am so excited!!!

Other than that random burst of excitement, I'm just feeling really happy! I have a great FHE group here, my roommate is really awesome, and we're getting our other roommate today, I think. I love Rexburg, but I love BYU-Idaho even more. I absolutely love my teachers, and I love the homework that I have. I love how much it's making me grow--not only in my knowledge of temporal things, but also in spiritual things. I have felt my spirit grow stronger, and my testimony has increased already in the 3 weeks that I've been here. I can't believe it's already been 3 weeks, but it also feels like I've been here for much much longer.

I'm so thankful that I have curly hair, the glasses I have, the smile I have, the internal joy and laughter I have every day, and for the blue eyes and long eyelashes that I have. I'm so thankful for all the little things that make me happy, that make me who I am, and that make me appreciate what I have been given.

I love teaching in elementary schools, getting to know students, learning how to be a more selfless person and helping students, and following the Master Teacher, even Jesus Christ. That one aspect of this education program is something I truly love. We are taught to act and teach like Christ did, for He is and was the Master Teacher. Even if I don't formally go into teaching and having a classroom of my own, I know the principles, disciplines, and ways to teach and love children. There are so many beneficial classes as an education major that are great to know as you start your own family one day.

I'm thankful for my friends, for my life, for music, and for the awesome situations I am in every single day. I'm thankful that there are lots of cute guys who are actually paying attention to me, for the opportunity to live so extremely close to the temple, and to have the family that I have. Without any of these things, I definitely would not be the person I am today.

I hope everyone has a happy October, for, as Anne says in Anne of Green Gables,

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
--L.M. Montgomery

Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.