I'm back!

   It has been SO long since I have written on my blog, and I feel that it is high time to get back to it. I hope it can be a means of both record keeping and also sharing with family and friends more. To start out, I'll give a brief overview of what has happened for me the past couple of years.

In January 2011, the Lord guided me to know that I should serve a mission for Him in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I started the work need for that during the following couple of weeks, and a couple of months later was called to serve in the Tacoma Washington Mission. I left on June 1st, 2011, and had many experiences that helped me to learn, grow, and come closer to my Heavenly Father and also my Savior Jesus Christ. I will likely share some of the many experiences I had while serving in future posts. So if anyone who reads this ever would like to ask me any questions about it, or about God, Jesus Christ, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I am always more than happy to talk together! :)

   After returning home in December 2012, I enjoyed the wonderful Christmas season with family and friends. Right after I returned, I dated a man named Joshua for about a month, we had become friends while I was serving my mission, he was a good supporter of me serving the Lord. And then our paths changed directions, and I dated a few different guys and looked for someone that I could have joy with.  I was blessed to meet such a man. Michael Brady, a man of integrity and faith, asked me on a few dates. We didn't fall head over heels for each other at first, but we felt like we should go on some more dates together, and over time things just really clicked for us. What a blessing that has been, and such a joy!!
   We decided to date each other exclusively while we went on a road trip together at the beginning of April. We went to Utah to go to General Conference and we had a wonderful time. For me it was sad to have the trip end, but we have continued to have enjoyable dates and times together since then. I look forward to many future road trips and everyday memories with Michael.
 
   I have also returned to substitute teaching, which has been a great job that I enjoy. I also started teaching my very first art class, which is a 5 week program. Four great girls are in the class, and our last day of class will be tomorrow. I plan on teaching one or two more art program classes this summer, which should be fun as well! It is nice to have the opportunity to do that, I have wanted to for a long time but didn't do all that was needed to have it actually happen until this year.

Here is a photo of Michael and me on our roadtrip:

At the top of Ensign Peak

   

New Blog!

One and all! I have a new blog, which I will be using instead of this one. The address for it is:

http://missjessicajudy.blogspot.com/

I hope you will be able to check up on it occasionally, and remember that I'll be using that blog instead of this one. If you have any questions about it, feel free to email me. (jessicajudy@me.com) I'm sorry if the blog change is inconvenient for you, I hope it won't be. I just feel like it's the best way for me to get a fresh start on blogging. Thanks, see you at the new one!
-Jessica

Preview of what the new blog looks like:

Happy Thanksgiving to All

  I am thankful for the many many blessings in my life. I love and am so very thankful for my wonderful parents, family, friends, ward, the temple, and the gospel. I am also very thankful for my home, job, health, country, the beauty of nature, and so much more. What a wonderful world we live in.
 
    I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father blessing me with all that I have and loving me completely. I know that my Heavenly Father and my eldest brother, the Savior Jesus Christ do live, and give us all the ability to repent through the Atonement and return to live with them again. I am so grateful for the restored gospel that is again on the Earth and for the privilege we have of having a living prophet, apostles, that we can have the guidance and comfort of the Holy Ghost, and receive personal revelation from God. I would not be the same today without my Savior Jesus Christ, my Heavenly Father, and their unfailing love.

  I hope we can remember the many blessings we have been given and give thanks on this special day, and everyday as well.

Substituting... it's official!

  Well, it's official! I am a substitute teacher, and my first day was yesterday. I hoped my first time would go well, the funny part was.... I subbed for high school boys P.E.! Haha, it wasn't bad, though. For the first hour, it was combined with another class and after the boys did 2 laps, we went in the weight room and I helped supervise the boys while they were exercising. It was fun, one of my cousins, Jared, was in there! (but I think he was in the class of the other teacher who was there, but it was still fun to see him there) So For the next two hours, I had the boys do 2 laps and then play basketball on the courts outside. In the 2nd hour I shot some hoops with some of them, and in 3rd hour played a bit of 4-Square with some of the boys. (it was their idea, and I joined them... funny that high school boys would want to play it, it was a good idea!) We had a bit of trauma that hour too, head trauma, that is. One of the boys I guess somehow hit the back of his head on one of the poles and I think split it, it was bleeding on the back of his head and neck, and blood was on his hand from holding it against his head. Thankfully he was able to walk and the aid took him to the nurse.

 The next hour was JV football, and it was combined with another class. The other coach said he'd take over and they watched films in the boys locker room, so I had an extra free hour. :) The hour following that was lunch for me, and the one after that was prep. So I had 3 hours to chill at HHS! I ate for the first time in the faculty eating area, and that was nice. Then I entertained myself with my phone for a while. The last class was a baseball class, but we just did the same 2 laps and played basketball. Over the course of the day I saw my cousins Sharilyn, Jared, Justin, Alex, and my wonderful brother Brett! It was fun to see them while at my job.

    Today, I subbed for Child Development and Toybox at Mesquite High, which went fine. In 2 of the hours we watched part of Mary Poppins and the kids answered questions. In Toybox Lab, there were others in charge so I just helped, which was nice. The little kids were so cute!

On Friday I am going to be subbing at HHS again, for orchestra! Aah! That is a HUGE class, (all of the classes are, that I know of) and I don't know what I'll be able to do, it's not the same as most classes. I hope things go smoothly, I let the sub coordinator know I don't know how to conduct, but the teacher said he thinks I will do fine. We'll see! I hope it goes well. Thankfully I think he said there would be someone else there too.

  Wonderful news! My sister Jenn and her cute kids are here to visit! I am so glad, it's so nice to see all of them again. It will be fun to spend time with them, I am taking off work tomorrow and get to be with them. I love being with my family members, it is the best.




Images from :
extend.schoolwires.com
www.webweaver.nu/clipart

Miller Photoshoot

  Melissa and her son Christian came over a couple of days ago and let me take photos of them! I hadn't done a photoshoot for someone like that in quite a while, so it was great to practice. Plus it was a first for a photoshoot with a baby. They did great, and we got some good photos! Here are some of them:

Fun with my friends!

I was able to go with my good friends Paige, Melissa and Becki (and Melissa's son Christian) out to lunch a couple of weeks ago! It was so fun to get together to talk and go out to lunch. We were able to hang out for most of the day on Monday the next week. I love these girls so much!

Home

Well, last weekend I quit my job, since it was just not suited well for me. I loved my coworkers, but the work could be stressful and was in front of a computer all day, which I'd rather not have. So this week I've started the process to apply to be a substitute teacher. This week I've also been able to go with my family to Ponderosa Campground, which was SO fun! I also have been able to go to some fun young single adult activities, and plan to go to many more, thanks to a friend who knows about many of the activities. I am enjoying being home and spending more time with my family, but still would like to get that substituting job as soon as I can. I hope I get it!!