De Retour

Guess who's back, back again.

It is fall break and for Miss GC this is grand news. Definitely something my brain and body have both been needing!
My goal was to keep as busy as possible and not give myself time to think. Partly because of certain events, and partly because I wanted to use my precious time effectively.
I feel as if I've been pretty dang good at it so far.

Here is the run down in photographs:

First off, this beauty was born!! Élodie is freaking gorgeous. Perfect baby. You may now refer to me as "aunt Amandine":) 

I visited BYU campus and put my newly acquired library card to use by checking out a large selection of créole books and haitian cooking books. 

It will prove useful, I promise.
Speaking of Haiti, I am going this summer.
Don't know how, don't know when. 

Frankly, don't know much. 

But it's happening. Count on it. 

Also, I swung by the BYU art museum which was marvelous! 

And the took a quick habitual trip to DI where I found the following beauties. 

I have a thing for old suitcases...don't ask because I can't explain. 

And my new pride and joy, a sewing machine.
I just need to get good at it...

I took a well-deserved and well-needed hike up provo canyon as well. 

I am pretty obsessed with the close-up pictures...it might get slightly annoying for you #sorrynotsorry

such AMAZING colors.
I can't even begin to express how much I LOVE the fall!

There was absolutely no editing done.
I gladly pat myself upon the back for that. 

I think I might actually be getting good:)

Several fun visits to the family involving loads of chinese food and happy times.
Lauring taught me how to make a great scarf in 15 minutes...for real. And you knit with your arms. 

NBD

This morning I went to the temple. 

Without a doubt, the most beautiful, peaceful, wonderful, fabulous, and grand place on the earth. 

I love the calm and comfort I feel within its walls.

How blessed I am to live so close! 

I attempted to record a song...

Take the word attempted seriously. 

I looked up the definition. 

attempt: make an effort to achieve or complete something (something, typically a difficult task or action) i.e. try to climb to the top of a mountain.
What a mountain. 

Also, my grandpa once said that no one should ever ever ever try to sing Edith Piaf songs. 

It marked me. 

However! she is the best and my favorite. 

Well, my grandpa's right. So take it with a grain of salt and if you stop listening after 10 seconds, I won't even know:) 

Disclaimer: Just because it's on youtube doesn't mean it's good. 

It was the only way I could get it on here.

Since I woke up at an outrageously early hour, I spent the remainder of my morning working on random art projects. 

I mean, leaf collages and dream catchers? Yes.

Then I went to Joann's where someone told me I had great hair.

Noted.  

I then tried to get my phone fixed because it now has a mind of it's own...

Seriously. It's a little scary how often it restarts itself in one day. 

Sprint couldn't help. 

Sooooo, I bought a new phone.
Rash, you may say? 

Bring it. 

My evening consisted of this: 

and grocery shopping.
I will not go hungry next week:)

To make it an even more complete day I went and visited Cassi. 

You see, Cassi is the coolest gal ever.

She is one of my closest friends and we did as all good friends do. 

We watched "Ever After" and had ourselves a grand time! 

I mean how can you not??

No joke, this was the movie of my childhood summers.
I have watched it well over a million times. 

(I also felt like the black and white photo gave it that extra "hmph") 

A grand break it has been so far! 

Two more days to go.

More adventures to follow. 

Stay tuned!

En vacances.

Summer, summer, summer...

It's been too good to me! 

Most of it consisted of EFY, which I absolutely loved! 

Seriously, I had way too much fun hanging out with the youth and talking about the gospel all day long! 

I learned so much from them and my testimony of the gospel was tremendously strengthened. I feel so lucky to have been influenced by their examples and love!

Also, I have gained a deep love for #selfies. 

Océane and I decided to go on a crazy adventure. 

This resulted in us making plans in one night, putting everything together, hopping in my car, and driving to california in a day. 

It was, oh, so grand!

Here are the details in photos:)

Bummed at the beach.

Biked the coast. 

Visited the aquarium. 

Slept in the most horrendous hotel. 

Ate delicious sea food. 

Came across a tacky museum. 

Hugged giant trees...and giant sharks.

Drove for HOURS.

Spent too much money. 

Laughed way too hard. 

And did it all with my best friend:)

bientôt la fin...

There are four days left of school. 

This school year has just FLOWN by. 

Yes, I will be crying on friday. 

Yes, I am aware that it could be potentially embarrassing. 

Bring it on. 

This year I learned that some of my students not only found my blog, they read it and studied it, thoroughly. 

So, here is to me hoping that some of them will read this post one day. 

I will miss: 

crazy stories

embarrassing stories

funny stories

dance parties

sassy comments

dodgeball

tree-hugging

art projects

singing with the guitar

food parties

learning

confused looks

silly questions

serious conversations

soccer

their concern for my singleness

racing down the hallway

comforting the crying ones

picture taking

math reviews

science projects

surprise parties

quick writes

speaking french all day

accents

seating arrangements

inside jokes

matching shoes

smiling faces

broken lockers

returns from the weekend

babar

reading time

simon says

uncontrollable laughter

student presentations

christmas lights

poisson d'avril

friendship bracelets

SEP

high fives

making videos

mrs conrad

and much much MUCH more...

What a treat this year has been! I can't wait to keep doing this over and over again. 

I am so grateful to my students who made this the best year ever!

A few lessons that I, my dear students, hope I have taught you:

1. You are special and loved. 

2. Education is important. 

3. Art is important. 

4. Your teacher cares about you. 

5. Life is real, and what you learn in school prepares you for it. 

6. Be respectful. 

7. Be kind. 

8. Don't whine. 

9. Watch out for everyone, especially those who don't have many friends. 

10. Get along with everyone, even if you don't want to. Force yourself. 

11. Be the better person. 

12. Always have a smile on your face. 

A few lessons that you, my dear students, have taught me: 

1. I am special, because you show me everyday and remind me in your actions and hard work. 

2. Education is important, because it is what has got me here and I see that you cherish it as well. 

3. Art is important, because it gives room for creativity and fun. 

4. You care about me, because you ask me questions and give me advice. 

5. Life is real. Be prepared for the inevitable.

6. Be respectful, because that way we are all respectful towards each other.

7. Be kind, because others see your actions. 

8. Don't whine, because that's just embarrassing. 

9. Watch out for everyone, because everyone has a different story and a different situation. 

10. Get along with everyone, because some days some students make me want to pull my hair out. 

11. Be the better example. 

12. Always have a smile on your face. 

Merci pour une merveilleuse année mes amis!

c'est long

I don't know why today feels like the new year for me, but it does.

Maybe it's the fact that it was general conference.
Maybe it's the fact that spring break started and I have a lot of free time to reflect on things.
Or maybe it's the fact that I never sat down and planned out my 2014 on January 1st...

Better late than never.


Speaking of general conference, it was inspiring and answered many questions that I had.

Link:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/04?cid=HPSU040614654&lang=eng

I'll take this time to share a few thoughts.
I know with a surety that God speaks through modern day prophets and that they are inspired men.
I feel so blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I will always be so grateful for the missionaries who found my grandparents, and for my grandparents who accepted such a wonderful message. I owe them so much.
I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and redeemer, that He lives, that He suffered and died for me, that He knows me perfectly, and that He loves me perfectly.
I cannot imagine what my life would be without this knowledge.

Sometimes I think of the value of posts like this one. Whether it is read by many or by few, what matters most is that I have a testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and I am not ashamed to share it with others. I am not afraid of what others may think of me.
It has taken me a while to come to understand my responsibility as a member of this church, to fully understand that I must share this message with others as often as possible. It took me time to have courage to stand strong and open my mouth. It took patience, prayer, faith and much help, but I feel unstoppable now. I finally feel that desire to lead others to feel the joy and peace that I feel. What a wonderful blessing this gospel truly is!


I often reflect on the past few years of my life and wish I could write it all out on one of my white boards at school and take a step back...then take that darn eraser and wipe out quite a few unappealing moments.
But how incomplete my life would seem. How dull and unfulfilling those empty white spots would appear.
I don't embrace my failures until much later in life. I think that's the natural thing to do. My life without failures would be a joke. I wouldn't be who I am today without them.
Today I made up my mind to embrace those failures. Not as a reminder of how lame I once was, but as a reminder of how awesome I can become.


Since I haven't blogged in a few...months, I hope this doesn't come across as an oh-Amandine-is-just-spilling-her-beans-because-it's-been-so-long post.
It's more of an oh-Amandine-just-wants-you-to-know-a-few-things, whoever you may be.