Hola amigos.
I doubt anyone even reads this since I don't write on here anymore! Sorry! I have been solo busy. No I have not forgotten about my nasty post surgery pictures... Once I find them I will post it.
What have I been doing for the past few months? Here is a list.
- had 2 foot surgeries this summer and recently found out my journey doesn't end here.
- Brian and I went to Florida for a week on vacation with Brian's family. We did 6 intense days of theme parks. It was awesome and fun. I think Harry Poter land was my favorite. Brian was so kind and pushed me around the whole time in a wheel chair. Front of the lines :)
- Brian and I moved and have our own place. We love it.
- Brian and I spent Labor day weekend at Powell. I love that place. So beautiful and fun!
- I am s l o w l y Recovering from my surgeries. It has been an extremely painful recovery but it is happening.
-I am a teacher! I teach spanish at my old high school, mountain ridge. I love my job! It is so much work and extremely long hours, but fun! I am glad I get to do what I love! It is probably why I am always busy. (I have my students entertain me with skits and karaoke, haha, we laugh a lot in class).
- I turned 24, I don't feel any different. But Some people still think I'm a student and not a teacher.
- Brian has 3 jobs. I don't know how he does it. I can barely manage one job. We hardly see each other, except weekends and after 9.
Welp, that's the update. Adios!!
story time
So I find myself at home on the computer when I really should be looking at lesson plans or forming a discipline plan or something...but I am a procrastinator so that won't happen until the week before school starts :) How about a story?
Well, I recently have seen a lot of blessings in my life. After graduation I wanted to find the most perfect teaching job (teaching Spanish). I prayed and prayed and there was NOTHING. First of all, it was January, so half way through the school year what could there be? Second, I am a brand-spankin'-new teacher. Zero experience. And have come to find out no one will even look at you twice once they find out you have no experience in teaching.
Since the government decided they are better off spending tax payers' dollars elsewhere, education has gone down. A lot! Thus, downsizing on teachers and overcrowding classrooms. Sad. My point is, there are a million pink slipped teachers out there (means they got canned) who have 20 years experience and a Masters Degree who will get any job over me.
January goes by, February, and then March comes and I STILL don't have a job! I decided to do what I was dreading...substituting. haha. I signed up, signed the papers and became a substitute teacher. But I couldn't actually get myself to do it. Once I mustered up enough courage to go on the substitute website and see what job openings there was and there was nothing...not one substitute opening for 3 months! I was shocked! So even if I wanted to sub, I couldn't.
Finally, I got a job interview at a private school and sadly they turned me down for the more experienced teacher with a Masters degree. At this point I had enough! I was mad and wondering why I had a gotten a degree in education! So I was looking at my options: 1-go back to school and get a Masters degree in something other than education to broaden my career options. 2- just have babies. 3-keep trying to get a job... While I was looking at Masters programs I had started running a lot more than usual (because I had nothing else to do) and noticed I had more pain in my foot and it was getting painful just to walk...long story short I went to the doctor and he said "I am suprised you could even run at all on this foot. You need surgery. Now!"
So that is where all of this surgery business started...well kind of started, that is another story. Anyways, I look back now and think of all the blessings on why I didn't get those jobs or have babies yet...how could I take care of a baby or have a job when I have to have my foot elevated 20+ hours a day? Impossible. So thanks to my Father in Heaven for blessing my life in a small way.
Now, who wants to see a picture of my nasty foot?? If enough of you say yes I will post pictures. If you say no I will keep them to myself. but I am not kidding when I say they are gruesome, nasty and kind of make me want to throw up. What do you think?
PS- I forgot to mention, after all of that job searching I ended up getting a Spanish teaching job at my old high school! Funny how things turn out!
Well, I recently have seen a lot of blessings in my life. After graduation I wanted to find the most perfect teaching job (teaching Spanish). I prayed and prayed and there was NOTHING. First of all, it was January, so half way through the school year what could there be? Second, I am a brand-spankin'-new teacher. Zero experience. And have come to find out no one will even look at you twice once they find out you have no experience in teaching.
Since the government decided they are better off spending tax payers' dollars elsewhere, education has gone down. A lot! Thus, downsizing on teachers and overcrowding classrooms. Sad. My point is, there are a million pink slipped teachers out there (means they got canned) who have 20 years experience and a Masters Degree who will get any job over me.
January goes by, February, and then March comes and I STILL don't have a job! I decided to do what I was dreading...substituting. haha. I signed up, signed the papers and became a substitute teacher. But I couldn't actually get myself to do it. Once I mustered up enough courage to go on the substitute website and see what job openings there was and there was nothing...not one substitute opening for 3 months! I was shocked! So even if I wanted to sub, I couldn't.
Finally, I got a job interview at a private school and sadly they turned me down for the more experienced teacher with a Masters degree. At this point I had enough! I was mad and wondering why I had a gotten a degree in education! So I was looking at my options: 1-go back to school and get a Masters degree in something other than education to broaden my career options. 2- just have babies. 3-keep trying to get a job... While I was looking at Masters programs I had started running a lot more than usual (because I had nothing else to do) and noticed I had more pain in my foot and it was getting painful just to walk...long story short I went to the doctor and he said "I am suprised you could even run at all on this foot. You need surgery. Now!"
So that is where all of this surgery business started...well kind of started, that is another story. Anyways, I look back now and think of all the blessings on why I didn't get those jobs or have babies yet...how could I take care of a baby or have a job when I have to have my foot elevated 20+ hours a day? Impossible. So thanks to my Father in Heaven for blessing my life in a small way.
Now, who wants to see a picture of my nasty foot?? If enough of you say yes I will post pictures. If you say no I will keep them to myself. but I am not kidding when I say they are gruesome, nasty and kind of make me want to throw up. What do you think?
PS- I forgot to mention, after all of that job searching I ended up getting a Spanish teaching job at my old high school! Funny how things turn out!
An inspiration
Have you ever met someone that you knew would change the world? Literally. Brian and I have blessed to know someone very inspirational and special whose goal in life is unmistakeably selfless...
So as you know, Brian and I attended U of A and in some of Brian's science classes he made a friend. His name is Wol. (it is pronounced like wool, seriously.) He is a Lost Boy from Southern Sudan. ("Lost boys are men who survived the war by leaving their villages as children and walking to refugee camps. Many of their parents died during the war.")
I don't know if you are familiar with world news or what is going on in other countries...but Sudan has gone through and is going through a very rough time. Located in Northeastern Africa, just South of Egypt and West of Ethiopia, it is a 3rd world country still struggling to build a foundation. There has been a lot going on there, and it is sad!! Have you ever seen Hotel Rwanda? It is such a good movie that depicts the horrors and reality of what is happening in Africa. Just like in Rwanda, Sudan had a similar genocide occur...heard of Darfur? It makes me want to cry and reach out and help those people when I think about it. Well Sudan has had similiar trouble, and more now due to its newly found oil. Some oil companies discovered the oil beginning in the 70's and since have overtaken various parts of the country. Led by the Muslim Sudanese people of Northern Sudan, they have burnt villiages to overtake the oil industry. It is a sad truth that face these helpless people. This oil has caused a civil war between the Sudanese people of the North and South. The South is where the oil is located and the north is part of an army that is trying to kill off and take over the southern land. You can read more about it here. And if you feel like watching videos on it go here, (this video gives the best description of the oil wars and what Sudan is going to face).
So back to Wol. Brian found him in some science classes at U of A and they quickly became friends, studying together and even going to some basketball games with us. He is the nicest person I have ever met and very smart!! Let me tell you his inspiriing story... at an early age, Wol learned his country was in warfare. Living in Southern Sudan, Wol was directly in the heart of the civil war. At 6, Wol heard of a village raid and had to walk 1,000 miles to "safety" where "he endured choking thirst, aching hunger and the constant terror of ambushes". He walked all the way to Ethiopia where the nearest refugee camp was located only to go back out to Sudan and then to another refugee camp in Kenya. There he was given the opportunity to come to the United States and where his story continues. During the time of the war, many died of violent raids, villages being burned, hunger, and simple colds. With no medicine available, it was common to have babies die from diarrhea!! Wol studied science at U of A to graduate and continue his studies in order to go back to his homeland and help re-build Southern Sudan and establish peace.
Recently Sudan has been given a blessing, an opportunity for independence from Northern Sudan. When voting time came, Wol was one of the first in line to help his village and country be liberated, finally! Not having seen his family for over 6 years he made a trip back to Sudan after voting to see his family and the aftermath of the voting.
Brian and I kept a close watch on Sudan, watching the improvements from the votes and the final outcome of a liberated Southern Sudan (which will take place in July). But after months from not hearing from Wol, we got really worried. No one could get a hold of him. I saw articles on hundreds of deaths continuing in Southern Sudan and we prayed for our friend. Finally we were able to get into contact with him, he won't be back until the end of the year or so. It was a big relief because we felt connected with Sudan and our friend. His inspiriing story...to study medicine to help his country is amazing to me. He isn't studying to support his family or build a better life for himself, but to help others, millions of his own people! I know he is going to change his country and maybe even the world because of his driven passion. He isn't mad or angry about what happened to him, but he is focusing his energy on helping his country succeed in the world. Brian and I feel so grateful to know someone like Wol! He makes us want to reach out and help ..and I know one day we will somehow. I feel so selfish when I think about my life in perspective of his, but I know Heavenly Father has a plan for me and maybe one day I can help change the world too!!
Read Wol's full story here. It is amazing and inspirational!!
There are many articles posted about him and his story.
So as you know, Brian and I attended U of A and in some of Brian's science classes he made a friend. His name is Wol. (it is pronounced like wool, seriously.) He is a Lost Boy from Southern Sudan. ("Lost boys are men who survived the war by leaving their villages as children and walking to refugee camps. Many of their parents died during the war.")
I don't know if you are familiar with world news or what is going on in other countries...but Sudan has gone through and is going through a very rough time. Located in Northeastern Africa, just South of Egypt and West of Ethiopia, it is a 3rd world country still struggling to build a foundation. There has been a lot going on there, and it is sad!! Have you ever seen Hotel Rwanda? It is such a good movie that depicts the horrors and reality of what is happening in Africa. Just like in Rwanda, Sudan had a similar genocide occur...heard of Darfur? It makes me want to cry and reach out and help those people when I think about it. Well Sudan has had similiar trouble, and more now due to its newly found oil. Some oil companies discovered the oil beginning in the 70's and since have overtaken various parts of the country. Led by the Muslim Sudanese people of Northern Sudan, they have burnt villiages to overtake the oil industry. It is a sad truth that face these helpless people. This oil has caused a civil war between the Sudanese people of the North and South. The South is where the oil is located and the north is part of an army that is trying to kill off and take over the southern land. You can read more about it here. And if you feel like watching videos on it go here, (this video gives the best description of the oil wars and what Sudan is going to face).
So back to Wol. Brian found him in some science classes at U of A and they quickly became friends, studying together and even going to some basketball games with us. He is the nicest person I have ever met and very smart!! Let me tell you his inspiriing story... at an early age, Wol learned his country was in warfare. Living in Southern Sudan, Wol was directly in the heart of the civil war. At 6, Wol heard of a village raid and had to walk 1,000 miles to "safety" where "he endured choking thirst, aching hunger and the constant terror of ambushes". He walked all the way to Ethiopia where the nearest refugee camp was located only to go back out to Sudan and then to another refugee camp in Kenya. There he was given the opportunity to come to the United States and where his story continues. During the time of the war, many died of violent raids, villages being burned, hunger, and simple colds. With no medicine available, it was common to have babies die from diarrhea!! Wol studied science at U of A to graduate and continue his studies in order to go back to his homeland and help re-build Southern Sudan and establish peace.
Recently Sudan has been given a blessing, an opportunity for independence from Northern Sudan. When voting time came, Wol was one of the first in line to help his village and country be liberated, finally! Not having seen his family for over 6 years he made a trip back to Sudan after voting to see his family and the aftermath of the voting.
Brian and I kept a close watch on Sudan, watching the improvements from the votes and the final outcome of a liberated Southern Sudan (which will take place in July). But after months from not hearing from Wol, we got really worried. No one could get a hold of him. I saw articles on hundreds of deaths continuing in Southern Sudan and we prayed for our friend. Finally we were able to get into contact with him, he won't be back until the end of the year or so. It was a big relief because we felt connected with Sudan and our friend. His inspiriing story...to study medicine to help his country is amazing to me. He isn't studying to support his family or build a better life for himself, but to help others, millions of his own people! I know he is going to change his country and maybe even the world because of his driven passion. He isn't mad or angry about what happened to him, but he is focusing his energy on helping his country succeed in the world. Brian and I feel so grateful to know someone like Wol! He makes us want to reach out and help ..and I know one day we will somehow. I feel so selfish when I think about my life in perspective of his, but I know Heavenly Father has a plan for me and maybe one day I can help change the world too!!
Read Wol's full story here. It is amazing and inspirational!!
There are many articles posted about him and his story.
Machu Picchu
I decided I couldn't wait another day until I documented my trip to Peru, which was almost a year ago! So Yes, the pictures are finally here...acutally, I finally found the time to post pictures!! So if you don't remember this past summer Brian and I (and my mom) visited my grandmother and lots of my family in Peru. We made a special trip to Cusco, Peru. A very beautiful colonial town where the Inca's once reigned. It was so amazing to see all the history of my ancestors. It was incredible! While in Cusco we traveled to Machu Picchu for a day to see one of the World's Greatest Wonders!! It was truly breathtaking I suggest to everyone to go to Peru and see Machu Picchu for youselves. It is a-ma-zing! I can't wait to go back and explore some more.
Here is a little history for you... so Machu Picchu is located in the Andes mountains of Peru, just 4 hours or so from Cusco. (takes 21 hours to get to Cusco by bus from the capital Lima...luckily we flew, took a whopping 1 and a half hours). Most people suffer from altitude sickness "soroche" upon arriving to Cusco because it is over 11,000 feet above sea level. Many drink a hot tea that helps the light headedness and nausea, it is a drink made from Coca leaves. Basically the plant that is used to make cocaine, but the leaves are just boiled in hot water. It really helped my altitude sickness but gives you a weird taste in your muth. Anyway, we traveled in a bus ( by bus I mean a 10 seater van that was super uncomfortable) for over 2 hours from Cusco on zig zagging roads and at one point lost sight of the paved road and then drove on railroad tracks, which just autheticated the experience. After the bus trip we rode the train for about an hour and a half then got into a small town called "Aguas Calientes". Once there we took another bus to get into Machu Picchu! Yeah, crazy, it took FOREVER. On our drive up there it was so crazy seeing the scenery change from moutainous to jungle. SO BEAUTIFUL! At one point the train stopped and I saw this random toothless old woman trying to sell some flowers. Pretty funny.
So as we finally reached our destination we saw that we were on the top of this mountain. It was crazy high!! We started on a hike for the best view and once we reached it we were silent for a minute just observing everyting in awe. It was a sight to see. Being so high up and having the sun beating down on you it was so hot, it felt as if the sun was right on my shoulders. However, in the shade it was freezing cold because of the high elevation. Here is the view from the top where we hiked to.
Isn't it amazing? Can you believe this great city was built thousands of years ago? The stones are so perfectly placed together with exactness. How did they manage to get such heavy stones up such a tall mountain? There are so many miraculous things here, and so many unanswered questions. All the windows in the entire city line up perfectly so the light can reach the most inner part of the city.
They were great engineers and architects, their precision is just marvelous. They even figured out a way to get an aquaduct system to travel up the mountain and flow throughout the city. It still works today and the nearrest hotel on the mountain gets its water from this SAME system. Anyway, here are pictures of how they were able to grow crops on a mountain: (each level is dedicated to certain plants, they were able to have agriculture on top of a mountain from this creation)
Brian and I also walked around for practically the whole day. It was SO exhausting!! So many stairs and steps, ups and downs, I am telling you the Incan empire was really in shape! Brian and I also were able to hike up mini Wayna Picchu. Unfortunately we waited too long in the day to tackle the Wayna Picchu hike and it had JUST closed but we were able to persuade some fellow Peruvians to let us hike mini Wayna Picchu. Wayna Picchu is the neighboring mountain, when I say mountain I mean it is gigantic, enormous, and all jungle. I was sad we missed the hike and at the top the best view of Macchu Picchu but we were able to climb the mini Wayna Picchu. Let me tell you this was not easy, I am a hiker and like climbing up things but this was hard!! At one point we had to grab a rope and climb up it to reach the next ledge. Another point we were on a cliff where the stone was only wide enough for 1 foot...you couldn't even walk straight you had to lay flat against the mountain and slowly scoot your way over to reach the endless stairs...yes it was difficult but so worth it!
At the top of mini Wayna. You can see all of Macchu Picchu!
There were so many llamas and animals there too. Brian almost got attacked because he tried to ride the llama. haha. Anyway here are some more random pictures of our adventures.
Next time we visit my family in Peru we are definitely making another special trip to Macchu Picchu and hiking the Incan trial all the way into Macchu Picchu. It is the trial the Incans would take to get down from these huge mountains. It is a 3-5 day backpacking excursiou filled with ancient ruins, stories, locals. in the jungle..doesn't it sound amazing?? Who is in?
Seriously, who wouldn't want to go here??
Life after Tucson
I am going to make this quick, I don't think I like blogging, but every time I open my blog to look at my friends blogs I feel the need to update it. So I am finally giving in! Maybe this feeling will change once I have some kids to blog about...but for now, you get a list of 10 "somewhat new" things
1. Brian started volunteering at the Dental Clinic in downtown Phx. It is in the homeless district and he works on their teeth. I really don't know how he does it...
2. I finally got a job! Not my ideal job but it is a start. I am doing medical, legal and educational bilingual transcription. Best part is I can work from home! yay! So this is something that will be handy when I have a family. Anyway, eventually I think I would start up my own company, right now it is still in the works.
3. We went to New York in February! My generous parents took the whole family (girlfriends included) to a week vacation to NYC. Mainly it was for my cousin's wedding, but we did a lot of sight seeing and shopping and had a ton of fun together.
4. Brian got a job thanks to our good friend Daniel D! He is now an English teacher for the LA Dodgers. He teaches them about 2-3 times a week English lessons at their hotel and loves it! He is thinking soon he may have a similar contract teaching the Mariners and Padres.
5. I got foot surgery, again! Some of you may remember back in the day when I was about 14 and in that cast all summer...well I had to have another one due to lots of pain. I'm slowly recovering and praying this is one of the last ones. So far I have had 4 major foot operations on my foot, I guess they can't seem to get it right.
6. Brian got another job- actually I originally got this job but can't do it because I am unable to go anywhere because of my surgery. Anyway he's a "high-end" tutor for rich kids, I gave him my "clients" after the surgery, so I guess he will be pretty busy!
7. Well we're living with my parents right now in order to save money to buy a house! Except we don't know where yet...we have to wait until we hear from dental schools, but right now we are mainly looking in one particular area....
8. We have been making lots of trips to Tucson for all the University of Arizona basketball games. Brian is a die hard U of A basketball fan...and I love basketball so it was love at first sight I guess. We have been to every home game, thanks to friends who let us stay with them a night or two :) Anyway, we saw the cats beat Washington in the white out game - amazing! And also witnessed them win the PAC -10 season title. So fun! Love the cats.
9. We traveled up to Prescott for a week to help out up there. Brian's sister just had surgery AND our niece, Bentlee, was staying with grandma and grandpa Mortenson! So we got to be "parents" for a week and it was exhausting!! So exhausting, from lack of sleep and running around all week that I got sick the day we got home from Prescott!
10. John (Brian's brother in Cali) gets home June 1st from his mission. And Jonathan (my brother serving in London, UK) gets home on June 23rd!! We are so excited to welcome them home and finally have the whole family together!
1. Brian started volunteering at the Dental Clinic in downtown Phx. It is in the homeless district and he works on their teeth. I really don't know how he does it...
2. I finally got a job! Not my ideal job but it is a start. I am doing medical, legal and educational bilingual transcription. Best part is I can work from home! yay! So this is something that will be handy when I have a family. Anyway, eventually I think I would start up my own company, right now it is still in the works.
3. We went to New York in February! My generous parents took the whole family (girlfriends included) to a week vacation to NYC. Mainly it was for my cousin's wedding, but we did a lot of sight seeing and shopping and had a ton of fun together.
4. Brian got a job thanks to our good friend Daniel D! He is now an English teacher for the LA Dodgers. He teaches them about 2-3 times a week English lessons at their hotel and loves it! He is thinking soon he may have a similar contract teaching the Mariners and Padres.
5. I got foot surgery, again! Some of you may remember back in the day when I was about 14 and in that cast all summer...well I had to have another one due to lots of pain. I'm slowly recovering and praying this is one of the last ones. So far I have had 4 major foot operations on my foot, I guess they can't seem to get it right.
6. Brian got another job- actually I originally got this job but can't do it because I am unable to go anywhere because of my surgery. Anyway he's a "high-end" tutor for rich kids, I gave him my "clients" after the surgery, so I guess he will be pretty busy!
7. Well we're living with my parents right now in order to save money to buy a house! Except we don't know where yet...we have to wait until we hear from dental schools, but right now we are mainly looking in one particular area....
8. We have been making lots of trips to Tucson for all the University of Arizona basketball games. Brian is a die hard U of A basketball fan...and I love basketball so it was love at first sight I guess. We have been to every home game, thanks to friends who let us stay with them a night or two :) Anyway, we saw the cats beat Washington in the white out game - amazing! And also witnessed them win the PAC -10 season title. So fun! Love the cats.
9. We traveled up to Prescott for a week to help out up there. Brian's sister just had surgery AND our niece, Bentlee, was staying with grandma and grandpa Mortenson! So we got to be "parents" for a week and it was exhausting!! So exhausting, from lack of sleep and running around all week that I got sick the day we got home from Prescott!
10. John (Brian's brother in Cali) gets home June 1st from his mission. And Jonathan (my brother serving in London, UK) gets home on June 23rd!! We are so excited to welcome them home and finally have the whole family together!
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