The Gluten Free Life

So recently I have just found out that I have a gluten intolerance, ok so maybe it has been almost two months, but I have been in denial about it. Since last summer I have been having stomach problems and I get frequent headaches. We thought the stomach problem was an ulcer, but after getting my stomach scoped in October it showed that it wasn't the problem. I just figured the headaches were hereditary considering two of my older siblings get them quite often also. After I had my stomach scoped in October the doctor put me on medicine for IBS, but I still wasn't feeling the greatest. In December my sister-in-law Stacey was watching Dr. Oz and there was a show on celiacs disease. I had a lot of the same symptoms that they described. So after Christmas I cut gluten out of my diet and I started feeling better. I kept telling myself that it was all in my head so after being gluten free for a week I went back to having it in my diet, I could defiantly tell the difference. So after that I decided that for me to feel well and do well student teaching I would go gluten free. If I have gluten in small amounts it doesn't seem to affect me, it is when I eat it in large amounts do I feel it. Yesterday was the super bowl and lets just say I over did it on gluten. This morning when I woke up I did not feel well at all and called in sick to my cooperating teacher. Through out today I realized how much gluten does affect me and how much better I do feel when I cut it out of my diet. Even though eating gluten free isn't any fun it is worth it because of how much better I feel when I don't eat things with gluten in it.

Even after this experience of feeling terrible after eating gluten I am still going to go get tested for a gluten intolerance once we get better insurance :)

Right Decision

I am only in week three of student teaching, but I already know I have made the right decision for a career choice. I look forward to going to school everyday and what the students will do or say. There is one student that has already won me over. I look forward to the time I get to spend with this particular student each day. He is so much fun to be around, while at the same time being one of the most difficult students I have worked with. I love the challenge that he gives me, trying to figure out what to do to give him the best education. I know it is going to be difficult to leave once my time is up at Logan High. I'm sure Jared gets tired of hearing all of my stories, but he better get use to it! :)

Week Two!

Today was the start of week two of student teaching. My brain still feels like scrambled eggs, but I am slowly figuring out my role as a teacher and what I need to accomplish for my portfolio. I am hoping to complete most of my portfolio while I am at Logan High because once I get to the preschool I will have to complete more lesson plans and do more planning which will take up more of my time. I have loved getting to know all of the students in my classroom. They are each so unique I love getting to know all of them. I have to say there is never a dull moment in the day of a Special Educator. I have to say that is why I love what I do. Each day is a challenge, but also rewarding. Jared says his classes are going well. I think he is really enjoying them.

The End of a Break

This week was the last week of our break before the semester to start, and surprisingly I am quite excited for the break to be over. It's been nice to have a break from our busy life, but I am ready to be productive and be doing something that I love. And the sooner I start with student teaching, the faster I will graduate. :) Monday and Tuesday I went and met with my cooperating teachers. I will be able to learn a lot from both of these teachers and am so excited to work with them.

Jared and I enjoyed some time together this week. Monday we went to Sherlock Holmes and we loved it! Then on Thursday he took me to go see New Moon, it wasn't anything wonderful but now I can say that I have seen it. Today we went down to Salt Lake to go to a temple session. This was my first time going to the Salt Lake Temple for a session. It was such a neat experience. I hope we can make it down again soon.

It has been so cold in Logan this week. It makes us want to move out of Logan even more and go somewhere warm. I am so happy I don't have to walk on campus this semester and freeze! We are really looking forward to the warmer weather that spring and summer will bring.

This is what our car antenna looked like the other morning, yes that is frost!

Sunday, sunday....

Today we got our new primary class. Only 4 of the kids were there, but I thinking I am really going to enjoy this class. It is mostly boys, but they seem to have a good sense of humor. The lesson today was on the Plan of Salvation. Jared did an awesome job teaching. While he was teaching I thought about how grateful I am for the Plan of Salvation and what Christ did so the plan is possible. I am grateful for temples and that families can be together forever. It is such a comforting feeling to know that we will never be alone.

Today also marks the two year mark of Jared and I meeting. These past two years have certainly flown by, but so much has happened. I would change any of it though. We have both grown and learned a lot.

Tomorrow I am going in to meet the teacher at Logan High I will be working with and on Tuesday I am going to meet the teacher at Canyon Elementary. It will be nice to have a better idea of how the classroom is ran and what will be expected of me. I am so excited to get started teaching and use the skills I have acquired over the past 2 years of school.

Pictures from last year

Jared and I at the beach in North Carolina.

Camping up Logan Canyon

Visiting Temple Square

At the USU vs. BYU basketball game at ESA

Glenn Beck book signing

Catch Up Time!

So it has been well over a year since our last post, so I figured it was time to write something about us rather than reading about everyone else's lives. Since last May Jared and I have been living in my brother Ben's basement. I think it has been nice for everyone. We are able to help Ben and Stacey out with the boys and we are able to save some money with the cheap rent. In August we went back to North Carolina to one of Jared's missions companions weddings. It was a nice little trip and I was able to experience North Carolina in the summer. Lets just say I enjoyed coming back to the nice dry weather in Utah.

Fall semester went by quickly. Jared started classes for his major and he seemed to really enjoy them. I finished up what classes I had left before student teaching. It was a pretty easy semester for me. The Spring semester Jared will continue his classes for his major and I will be student teaching. For the first half of the semester I will be at Logan High in the Severe classroom and the second half of the semester I will be at Canyon Elementary School in Hyrum in the Special Needs preschool out there. I will be working with great teachers and I am excited for everything I will be able to learn from them.

We are the 11-12 year old teachers in primary and we are enjoying it. Tomorrow we will be getting a new class which has mostly boys so we will see how that goes. :) It has been fun to get to know the kids in our ward. We are really enjoying being in this ward.

Well hopefully this catches everyone up on our lives!