Great People at Work

As usual, this year I'm surrounded by great people at work. 

SFL Faculty

The School of Family Life had a retreat in St. George during University Week. We drove down on Thursday morning. Once we arrived, we had lunch and faculty meeting. We then checked into our rooms. Dawna Baugh and I were roommates. I really enjoy Dawna's company. She is wonderful. She works hard to help her students. She is very dedicated to helping them succeed. 

After a bit of rest, we met for dinner, then we went to the Tuacahn Outdoor Theater to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" starring David Archeluta as Joseph. I feel very welcomed and valued by my colleagues. They are all very nice. I try to branch out and to talk to those I don't know well. I already know a lot of the women well, but I'll try to get to know all faculty better. I did get to know a new visiting faculty member, Mindy Brown, on the drive down. She and I were in the back seat and tried to get on the waitlist for the return of MoviePass. Natalie drove us down there. 

The show was fun. It's no Broadway, but it was fun. The weather was great. We were worried we'd get rained on, but we didn't. After the show, we had pie for dessert. We got up early and I was signed up for a tour of church history sites in St. George. We got a private, early morning tour of the temple visitor's center. We also visited Brigham Young's winter home and the tabernacle. There is rich history in St. George. The saints who were sent there really sacrificed. HEAT. 

I got to know different people on the way back. I rode in a van that Spencer James drove. At one point in the drive, we all got on our apps to see who was related to whom. Nobody was a close relative, but it was fun to make connections. We also stopped in Beaver to get ice cream. I got home around 4:00.

I also get to work with SFLSA again this year. It's the School of Family Life Student Association and they are great kids. I get to go to presidency meetings and board meetings. I really like associating with these students. They work hard and they volunteer their time for important things. They have goals and plans and are energetic. I love the time I spend with them. I'll miss their opening social this week because I'll be in Lake Powell with the School of Family Life female faculty.

SFLSA Board

Wedding Week

Me, Elle, Karen, Kamiko, Allison, and Kristen

Me, Karen, Debbie, and Kristen with mom and dad at the reception

Couple's dance

I had to miss the luncheon due to work

Kris, mom, Karen, me, and Debbie outside of the Payson Temple. It was a hot day.

Chase Crockett married Bree on September 1. There were a lot of family in town. Lots of Hunters and Crocketts and it was a lot of fun. The bummer was that I had a lot of work that week. I didn't have much time to do things with family. I was able to go to the sealing in the Payson Temple before going to work. Then I taught my first lab for 215, Advanced cooking. After class, I went to the reception. Melia was out of town for the Labor Day weekend. Kamiko and Bekki came to the reception. Kristen came in town. She was Karen's right hand man. She helped all week and it was wonderful to have her in town. Starlyn and Lee came to the reception. Debbie and Mark came. Mom and dad were there. We FaceTimed Allie in. We danced and ate tacos and pizookies. At one time, Bekki asked me to get her a chocolate pizookie with as much hot fudge as was legally possible for the girl to put on it. 

I'll be honest...it was a bit sobering too. I think it was the first extended family (really extended with Crocketts and Hunters) since the divorce. It was strange to not be part of a couple. It was strange to be alone. It's something I'll get used to. 

Dad did a great job. He's slowing down with the recent health issues he's had this year. He is on oxygen. He taught about the covenants in the temple. I got to stick around for some photos, then had to get to work. I'm very grateful for my job. I got to change the signature on my email from Visiting Associate Teaching Professor to Associate Teaching Professor. I'm enrolled in 401K. It feels good. 

Sharing a Student

Fall 2022 Semester has begun. I never think to take first day of school pictures. I get super tired. In fact, I read in my journal from a year ago and most entries mentioned how tired I was. I guess that's the theme for September. At least I know it will pass. 

I was in 110 on Wednesday, meeting my students. I always ask them where they are from, what they are studying, and something interesting about them. I got to the last kitchen - Kitchen 11 - and the conversation with a young man went like this:

"Where's home?"

"Pismo Beach"

"I know where Pismo Beach is."

"You do?"

Yes, my uncle taught at Arroyo Grande High School."

"That's my high school. Who is your uncle?"

"Mike Sears."

"Mr. Sears was my Avid teacher."

I had the student follow me into the dispensary where I have on of Mike's name plaques hanging on the wall. Zach and I had a great conversation about Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Halcyon, and the ward there. He is in the same ward as my aunt and uncle, Carolyn and Val Brandt. He is good friends with the children of Blair Mankins, a former student of Mike's who I have known since before we both went on missions. Zach said he's camped on the property where Mike lived and that Mike helped many times with pinewood derbies. I can't believe I have one of uncle Mike's students. We took a photo and sent it to Mike, Carolyn, and Blair. I'm so excited to have this kid in my class. This will probably only happen once in my life. Mike has had a huge influence on my career. He taught me about the 4 F's of being a teacher: Fair, Firm, Friendly, and Flexible. I think I'm pretty good at the first 3. I'll work on Flexibility my whole life.