1.18.15

I’ve been doing all my paper work for quite a while now to be a para educator sub at the schools. Well, I finally got it all done and signed up and started! I’ve had 3 different jobs so far. Last week I worked at Olympic View Elementary and helped in the kindergarten class all day. I loved it. It was my favorite. The kids were good and it is close to my preschoolers ages. In fact, I was surprised to see one of my “old” preschoolers in the class, I had him for 2 years, so that was fun!

On Monday, I went to Horizons elementary school. It was fun, but not as fun as the other one. It was a little crazy because I was moving from class room to class room and I do not know my way around that school! Then on Wed, I went to NTHS! That was... different! I was given a schedule and had to walk in between classes like all the other kids. Good thing my classes weren’t too far away from each other. Let’s just say it was... interesting and I learned and observed a lot. There was a lot of swearing, couples and cell phones. I told this to my kids and they were like, yah...  I’m sorry you guys had to go thru that high school thing..

Monday was my birthday! It was a fun day for a few reasons. One of the best things about facebook is having a birthday. I had lots of wishes – texts, and phone calls with kind thoughts. I got to read lots of missionary letters on Monday, too. Bro. Shoop made me a nice steak dinner. We’re not big on getting each other big gifts. (I would rather pick out my own “stuff”) but we do like to make sure that meals are fixed and dishes are done for the person, and that is the best gift ever for me. Later in the week, a friend spoiled me and took me out to lunch and we got pedicures. That is one of the pictures, me and Sandy Falter. I’ve been blessed to have such good friends for many years! And today is Bro. Shoop’s bday. It is fun having our bdays close together. We’re excited because tomorrow is a holiday and we can sleep in and we’ll go out to lunch for our bdays.

Well, you’ve probably heard.. it has been crazy Seahawks crazy around here as they were playing today for a chance to go to the Superbowl AGAIN!! We are huge fans at our house. One of the pics is of Melissa in her gear. I also watch a couple of kids sometimes and they are CRAZY fans!! The little boy, Cruz is 3 and one of the pictures is of his haircut!! Did I say crazy enough?! haha

Last week we went to Jason’s baptism. His family has been super supportive of him! His mom sent ME a thank you card for supporting him! What a great family he has! I was thinking, I don’t think YOU(his mom) realize, I should be thanking you for supporting him! Amazing! Wouldn’t that be wonderful to have that kind of support when someone gets baptized and is the only member of their family! Maybe someday he won’t be the only one... (the picture is the thank you card she sent me)

As I have mentioned before, we have been blessed to have so many wonderful missionaries serve in our ward and have grown close to many of them. Adam Chichoski lives in Provo now – going to UVU and Stewart Kearney lives close also. They were companions in our ward. They got together and sent me a text with their picture. Then they came and picked up Melissa and the 3 hung out for a while. Melissa said she had so much fun with those 2. (The picture of Melissa and the 2 “boys”)

I know, sorry, I haven’t told you about the pictures in any particular order, but the last one black and white is me and my friend Katrina. She posted it to facebook for my bday. It was the year after I graduated from high school... Yes, I rocked the 80s hair.

Today was the first of our ward conferences of the year for my stake calling. Today’s was Lacey 1st ward. It’s kind of funny, the past year our stake goes in order.. so Lacey 1, then 2, and so on. As the stake primary, we did the sharing time. We talked about the Savior - sacrament and mostly how we should be acting and what kinds of things we can think about. Luckily, it went well. It really is a fun calling. I get to go to other wards, hear their bishop and our stake president talk. One of my favorite things is that we always sustain the prophet and apostles. What a blessing!

I hope everyone is doing well! We pray for you!

Love you!

Sis. Shoop