Personal Teaching Philosophy

Hi readers...this is for a class assignment (Hi Stacie!).
I promise I've got a great post coming your way this weekend, though. Stay tuned.
  
  My personal teaching philosophy is definitely still a work in progress. My whole life I knew I wanted to be a teacher of some sort, but didn't know where or what I wanted to teach. My senior year of high school I had the best Adult Roles & Financial Literacy teacher. She is pretty much the one person who made me aware of the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program. I fell in love with it as soon as I began my first course at Utah State University. It is almost everything I enjoy - cooking, sewing, design, human development, future planning - compiled into one major. In reality, I am going to school to be a good mom. I think that being able to teach these life lessons to secondary education students is vital for their futures. I feel that this study is the most applicable to the real world. They will use what they learn in school every single day - I know I have.
        My future plans as far as actually teaching in the classroom, right now, are a little unsure. I hope to be able to teach Adult Roles and Responsibility courses to upperclassmen in the secondary education system, but we all know that sometimes we will just have to take what we can get. I am glad, though, that this degree does involve so many different aspects which brings more opportunities to teach.

The evolution of a Tatum Kiss.
If you don't mind ending up covered in slobber and a few strands of hair being pulled out, then this girl is the one to go to for some loves.
I sure do love her.

the second legal and vday lovin.

2.14.13 was a grand day.
it was lovers day as facebook and instagram made you all aware, am i right?
flowers, chocolate, engagements, red/pink/purple, hearts, cute outfits, teddy bears - the whole shebang flooded my newfeeds. i actually really do love valentine's day. I have never disliked it, but i guess that's because i have never had a super romantic and over-the-moon experience to compare to. which is strange to me because since sophomore year of high school, i have had a boyfriend.
i guess i owe my thanks to wisdom teeth extractions, volleyball tournaments, and russia for my lack of romance on this special day.
remember last year, though?
Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker with my sweet momma?? Heaven.

Feb 14th is also my bff Mel's bday!! This year was especially fun.
I was dumb and totally didn't get a reservation for dinner early enough so she chose the ever so classy - yet perfectly delicious - Chick-Fil-A for her birthday dinner! Im pretty positive there were no complaints in the shewolf house about it. After din and after some pretty great gift openings and singing with cake, we all headed to the movie theater for SAFE HAVEN.
HOLYYYY. I died. i highly recommend reading the book before seeing the movie. it is magnificent. even thought the movie is a bit different, i am sure this is going to be one i am ok with watching over and over again. and plus, my boyfriend Josh Duhamel is in it, so what's not to like?
I bawled, but what's new? It is just so romantic and lovely and suspenseful. Julianne Hough isn't my fave actress, but her beauty makes up for it... she is outta this world!

I just wanna give melly belly a quick shout out. we always talk about how truly unique our friendship/situation is. it is rare that you find girlfriends like the ones i've snagged. our love for one another is one of my greatest blessings and i know we didn't fall into one another's lives by accident. we like to think of one another as soulmates. i love you mel, thanks for putting up with my craziness and always making me laugh. my life would be a whole lot more boring without you in it. love you boo.

the things we do before a picture is taken. we are such girls...

yes, that is jordan's head on a stick.

See ya in 18.

well, she's gone. 

actually, she'll be gone in about 2.15 hours. 

but it's official.

Jordan Elsie Jones Hermana Jones is headed to Chile. 

Her farewell was this last weekend and i am still trying to decide if it actually happened or not.

JoJo is one of the greatest people i could ever know. 

I am such a bawl baby and selfish and don't want her to go, but then i am reminded that she was pretty much made for a mission. she is so excited and that makes it a little easier to say Adios. 

I can't wait to hear about all of her stories because if you know Jo at all, you know her stories will be nothing short of passionate and entertaining. 

She's gonna rock it in Chile. 

Your shewolves are missing you already!!!

when she called us one last time last night, she made us share our personal 18 month projections. let me tell you, these next 18 months will be pretty adventurous for every single one of us. i'm excited! are you excited? 

and don't worry. we already have an 8x10 cutout of her face that we will put on a popsicle stick so she will still go everywhere with us and be in all the pics. i think thats what she is most excited about, i just know it. 

i am so grateful for her and her decision and strength to do what she is doing. I have such a soft spot in my heart for missionaries, knowing i wouldn't be who i am today without them. she's gonna change a lot of people's lives. 

#hermanajonesismybestfriend 

crushed it.

seriously, i don't care what you say, but this lady NAILED it. 

How can you NOT love her??

destiny's child reunion was outstanding. I might have screamed when Michele and Kelly arrived on stage.

it made me not feel very bad about the 49ers loss. 

but, to be honest, i can't really tell you how much of the game i actually watched.

with "Safe Haven" in hand, my attention was elsewhere.

oops. 

Thanks Bey.

Six.teen.

That's right. Keatskeet has been serving the Big Man for 16 months.
When people ask me how much longer he has left, it's like their minds are completely blown. "7 months?! What?! Didn't he just barely leave?!"
Um, yes and no.
Not gonna lie, the last 3 months have moved like freaking molasses. I blame it on the holidays and being home for the majority of it. And the fact that the first of the semester is always a drag didn't help much at all.
Right now, in this moment, I literally feel like it could easily be April already. But, ask me in April and I'm sure ill be having anxiety attacks and wishing it was February again. But that's just me.
Overall, I absolutely cannot believe it has already been 16 months. And I couldn't be more grateful for it. As a whole, sometimes I feel like his mission and my sophomore and junior years of college have been an absolute blur. I'm enjoying it to the fullest and doing things I have always wanted to do and accomplish. Go me!
Not to mention, when I get a lengthy letter and some pics unexpectedly, it is a definite motivator and confidence booster. There's not a single thing I'd change about this whole experience so far. It's been one heck of a ride, but somehow, I know it will all be worth it!
#teamrussianmissionaries
I think I am gonna stick with the summarizing hashtag for the rest of my posts. At least until they go out of style.
#yourewelcome

I can never think of good titles...

Good moment of the weekend:
Temple sesh with my Sista friend.
The draper temple is one of my faves and I'm not gonna pretend like I don't love it solely based on the impeccable brides room... But I mean, it's fine.
It was a beautiful day to begin with and it only made it better spending time with my sis feelin the love of this wonderful gospel. I'm grateful for these moments when I'm reminded of things that are far greater than myself and how it fits perfectly into my own little ol' world.