Pumpkin Walk and Halloween!

Hey, Everyone! I know it has been a really long time since I updated my blogspot. But, better late than never! So, I've been in Logan for almost 3 months now. School is going great and I found a job at Logan Regional Hospital. I love living here! It is absolutely beautiful! The people are great and I'm having a blast! So, we went to a pumpkin walk a few weeks ago and we decided, despite what the signs said, to be a part of the show!




Mike and me in Whoville.

Going on a cruise!

Umpa-loompa pumpkins. (I have no idea how to spell that.)

Popeye and Olive Oil.

Jumping on the sleigh with the Grinch!

We had a Halloween party at work.

Obviously I'm a witch, but most people didn't know what Mike was. So, for those of you who don't know he is a character from Mash....do you know which one?

Mike rising from the dead!

This is my roommate Amanda and we went camping with the pumpkins.

I've always known I was a princess:)

This picture never ceases to make me laugh! This is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Hope you all had a great Halloween!

Saying Goodbye to the Best Time of My Life.

MY SWEET GIRLS!

MY BOYS!!

We were the Lucky Charms for our Olympics Day. We won FIRST PLACE!

This is Brian. This picture just gives you a little taste of what our relationship has been. He was one of my harder students, but he is definitely my favorite! I had the hardest time saying goodbye to him. He came right up to me and gave me a huge hug. I will always have a sweet spot for him.

I can't believe it's already over. We had graduation tonight. We have been preparing the kids for about a month now. Each class does a song and dance number. I have never seen anything so cute in my entire life! So, I just spent the last two days saying goodbye to these kids who mean more than anything to me.

I can't even describe how this has changed my life. The best thing I can come up with is that I have never felt so complete and fulfilled. At the end of graduation they had all of us teachers stand up on the stage. Then one of my first grade students, Cheryl, brought me flowers. I absolutely lost it right on the stage. As I stood there looking out at the kids I have truly come to love, I was overcome with the love the Lord has for them. This is the COOLEST thing I have ever done. It is always the things that are the hardest, you come to cherish the most. Teaching them was so hard, but the most rewarding. It tested and stretched me in so many ways that will affect me for the rest of my life. I have especially learned how to, "get down with my goofy self," to quote our school director.

I will never forget these kids. They taught me so much about myself. I have learned so much about how the Lord works. He loves each and everyone of us, including these little Taiwanese kids.

The Lord's hand is in every aspect of our lives. He has led me down an incredible path and blessed me in so many ways. I'm thankful for every opportunity to build a stronger conviction of our Savior. It has been incredible to see how intimately the Lord is involved in our lives. I can't wait to see what else He has in store for me. This is only the beginning!!

It's Raining!

It has been raining the last 7 days straight. And I'm not talking about a little sprinkle here and there. I'm talking sheets of rain. I was riding my bike back from kindergarten and I heard this really loud rumbling. I thought it was thunder at first......but, it was the rain. I could here it coming towards me!!! Then I was drenched in a matter of seconds.

This was on Saturday, when we finally decided to give into the rain. We went on a bike ride all around town and to a park. We splashed around in the HUGE puddles.

Just getting back from the 45 minute scooter ride from church in Taichung. Even with the poncho, something every Taiwanese person owns, I was pretty soaked. It's a good thing you don't really get cold.

The kindergarten school is literally 1-2 minutes away. It wasn't really raining when I left in the morning. But, on the way home I was in the rain for about 30 seconds and that was enough to give me another shower.

By the way, can you believe it! I will be home in 20 days, but more importantly I will finish teaching in 7 days!! Then off to Taroka Gorge and then we hit the Kenting beaches for 9 days!!

Sunrise at the top of Alishan

We got up at 3:00 am to catch the train up to see the famous Alishan sunrise. The locals told us a trip to Alishan isn't complete without seeing the sunrise. It was worth it! I tried to load the pictures from beginning to end. It was incredible. We were on the top of the mountain above the clouds! It's known as the "sea of clouds."

I know what you're thinking......no, I'm not wearing 3-D glasses. They are colored lenses that allow you to look directly at the sunrise and still be able to see everything clearly.

So, we got a little crazy with the glasses....

Mother's Day in Alishan

We headed up the mountain on this little wooden train to hike the trails.

It was so much fun being able to hang out the windows! I have been riding trains so much now, it was a nice break to not have to sit in a seat.

Although, trains can be pretty dangerous. I tripped and fell.....luckily they got to me in time!!

Then, I almost missed the train back down the mountain.

Hiking the trails. It was so beautiful. I have yet to be anywhere prettier. Alishan is definitely the best place for relaxing and getting some exercise.

I also made a video for mom, but I couldn't get it to attach. Oh well, Happy Mother's Day from Alishan, Taiwan!

I'm pretty sure they meant "no more than 6 people at a time on the bridge."

Of course, we couldn't just walk across....jumping and screaming is so much more fun. Plus, we felt like we were in the Indiana Jones movie. It was kinda scary.

It was touch and go there for a moment!!

The trees were huge! It was nice to get away from the pollution in the cities for a few days. My throat usually hurts by the end of the day. The air was crisp and clean.