My Big Brother

Today my oldest brother Dustin would have turned 29. It has been seven years since he passed away. On this day, and this day only, do I go out by myself to place a single yellow (his favorite color) rose on his grave. I don't generally go out to the cemetery unless my mom asks me to go with her. Time hasn't made it easier for me to gaze at his headstone and feel connected to him.

I miss Dustin like crazy but, for me, the cemetery is not where I feel close to him. I feel close to him when I hold one of his favorite shirts that I kept, the yellow-striped button-up. I feel close to him when I listen to his Pearl Jam and Creed CDs. I smile because he is the reason one of my first CDs to own was a Creed album. I feel close to him when I hang his favorite type of Christmas ornament on our Christmas tree. I feel close to him when I think about how he was my favorite person to talk to about my achievements, big or small. When I told him my ACT score, for instance, he called all of his friends to let them know how smart his sister was. He was always so proud of me and I loved him for it. I try to keep making him proud every day.

My family is blessed to have a piece of Dustin here with us in his son Braden. His mom Steph and her husband Corom are really amazing people and they are so good to include us in their and Braden's lives. Below is a portion of a video that was made in remembrance of Dustin. It's my favorite part to watch and re-watch. Braden was in a toddler race in an event that takes place every year in Panguitch. He smoked everyone with encouragement from Dustin and Steph. Dustin was so proud and rushed to congratulate Braden with a high five. I love it because it's not a still picture. I get to watch Dustin smile and interact with his son.

There are a lot of things I have learned through Dustin's passing and one day, when I'm ready, I think I'll share the whole experience. For right now, I simply want to share how wonderful he was and how terribly I miss him. I am so overjoyed to know of the plan of salvation and the peace it brings to me and my family. I know, without a doubt, I will see Dustin again. I am so looking forward to that day.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Dustin. I love you.

Things We Teachers Do to Entertain

After End of Levels, it's borderline running a zoo as far as middle school students are concerned. My 8th grade classes were towards the beginning of the testing chopping block, which left us with 5ish weeks of class post-test. KILL.ME.NOW. That's what I was thinking. Thank goodness my mentor teacher is full of fun and creative ideas. The kids loved them. I was doped up on Advil and Mountain Dew to deal with the screeching. All in all though, those weeks were definitely the most fun of the school year.

A highlight of a few of our activities as a department and as a school (picture overload, you've been warned)-

Activity #1: BOTTLE ROCKETS

Step #1: Assemble rocket with two pop bottles, counter weight, fins, and choice of duct tape.

The girl who made this "Penguin Express" is adorable for the record. As in, I just want to put her in pocket and take her home with me.

Step #2: Fill your rocket half full with water, place on launcher, wait while Mrs. Thatcher pumps the air compressor....or wait until it's your turn.

I realize that these photos probably seem biased. I promise there are pictures of guy students too...Middle school girls are just much more willing to pose for the camera.

Step #3: Pull the string and watch your rocket blast-off, then go and get it to assess the damage

Activity #2: Egg Drop Contest

Step #1: Assemble a device no bigger than a foot in any direction that will stop your egg from cracking when dropped 20 feet. Be creative!

Step #2: Mass your device so you can calculate its acceleration during the drop.

Step #3: Drop your egg and hopefully come out victorious. This kid did.

Students were unbelievably creative with their egg drop devices. A lot of them decided to surround their egg with peanut butter...apparently they saw it on a show (Disney's iCarly I think?). For the record, of the fifteen that chose peanut butter, one survived. Disney lied to the children. His was in a different container so that probably helped. My favorite though was a student who put his egg in a gallon of milk. He cut a hole in the top, dropped the egg in, and duct taped the hole.

It totally worked! Clever, clever kid.

Activity #3: Making Ice Cream with Carbon Dioxide

Step #1: Pour pre-mixed ice cream mix into your cup, wait in line, put your cup next to the ice machine while Mrs. Thatcher shaves dry ice into it, and stir like crazy.

Step #2: Once all of the dry ice bits have been stirred into the mixture, eat your ice cream and try your best not to make Mrs. Thatcher lose her mind while she helps the rest of the students.

We did some other fun activities in science but those were definitely the highlights. Our school also had a talent show, field day, and movie day. Below are pictures of my three favorite students participating in those activities- my cousins. This year three of them attended my school, one of which I had the opportunity to teach.

Kessler. He signed up for Honors Science so I didn't teach him, but look! He's a fellow red-head. We're cool like that.

 Rockets

Field Day- He got 1st in the mile!

Talent show. He's workin' the guitar. P.S. I love that they know this song.

Kordell. He signed up for Honors Science too, but his schedule didn't work out to allow it so he got stuck with me. I liked it. He did his best all year to not address me so that he wouldn't have to call me Mrs. Thatcher.

 Rockets- He's on the right. One of the few non-ginger cousins.

 Field Day- Neither of his feet are touching the ground. Whaaa? He's got speed.

Brynlee. She just started at the middle school so I didn't get to teach her yet. She also has some awesome flaming hair. And I call her my mini-me because she and I are buds plus she's full of spunk and likes to chatter.

Field Day- She got second in her relay

Talent Show. Miss Bryn is drumming it up with her class. She's the little orange head wearing plaid to the right of the impressive, blindingly white afro.

See? We like each other a little. Old picture proof.

Whew! Longest post ever but lots of memories for me to keep. I'll end with this...

My sunscreen for all of those outdoor activities. My students busted up laughing when they saw the SPF. I simply explained to them that I had to protect my ginger skin. They all nodded in agreement knowing full well that I may be the whitest of all white people.

The Much Belated and Highly Anticipated Mother's Day Post

My mom's birthday is always about a week before Mother's Day so we get to celebrate her twice during the month of May. First off her birthday..

The cute ladies that work with my mom called me the night before her birthday and asked if I had any pictures of her when she was younger. Seeing as how we currently reside in my Grandpa's house, I had plenty. I dropped them off and let the ladies do their dirty work. (They did a spectacular job...and in case you were wondering how old my mom turned, they did their best to not keep it a secret - at all.)

My mom called me bright and early the next morning (We're talking 6:45) and asked me if I provided the pictures of her. In my best lying voice I told her that I had not. While still on the phone with me she turned to the rest of the ladies and yelled, "She says she didn't. Where did you guys get these?!" I couldn't hold it in anymore, I admitted my guilt via laughing. That earned me a stern, "DaNae Dawn, are you lying to me?!"

My mom apparently had already called my aunt to give her a verbal thrashing that morning (Sorry, LeAnne!) because she assumed that's where the pictures came from. She laughed about it with me over the phone and invited me to come and see what had been done to her office.

The people at her work just love her, as do I.

I didn't get any pictures of the birthday girl and I don't have any recent ones. I blame her. Every time I try to take a picture she provides me with a witheringly glare letting me know in no uncertain terms that if I would like to keep breathing I better not snap a photo.

So..these oldies but goodies will have to suffice. She is beautiful in every one of them.

My mother is one of the best people I know. She taught me what it means to be strong, patient, giving, kind, and loving. She taught me how to overcome. I've seen her cry tears of sorrow more times than I wish to remember but I've also seen her pull herself back together and press on with full determination and faith. She taught me what true love means by loving my dad and having him love her back. They still hold hands and call each other ridiculous pet names like "Babycakes". I see her face glow with pure happiness when she looks at him. She taught me what it means to work hard and take pride in whatever you do. She helped me develop my love for reading. She taught me about the gospel and helped my testimony grow. She has shown me what it really means to be a mother- to appreciate the good times, to endure the bad times, and to love so fiercely that your children never question how much they mean to you.

I know I don't say it nearly enough. I love you Mom. Thank you for everything you've done for me.

Love,

Your favorite daughter