High Time

Yep, I figure it is high time to start blogging again.  I have slacked in the blogging area because last week I was told that I had used up all of my space with my gmail account to upload any pictures.  That's a bummer!  Don't worry, my blog is a journal right now so I am more than willing to pay a little a month to have some more storage space.  Now it is just getting around to doing that!  Life has been busy but really good.  I am really officially a kindergarten teacher as of last Thursday.  It is crazy to be known as "Miss Sharp" to all of those little 5 and 6 year-olds.  They are just absolutely adorable and I feel so blessed to work with them.  I also LOVE the school that I am working at.  Richmond is a darling community and I think it is the best possible place to start as a new teacher.  Last week I prepped every day until Wednesday night when I had Back to School Night.  Since I had already met all of the students and parents when I had done my home visits it wasn't as scary.  It actually got me really excited!  10 of the kids came on Thursday to school and the other 10 came on Friday.  All 20 came today and it was so much fun!  Even though I only work and am paid for a half day I can't help but spend my whole day at the school prepping and making sure everything is ready.  It is worth it to me.  Anyway, that is teaching in a nutshell for the time being.

Last week my sister and her two kids, as well as my Mom and my little sister came up for a few nights. It was a blast!  Because of school I didn't get to spend as much time with them as I would have liked to but they were a great help to me.  Chops is officially living in Logan now!  It is so fun to have family here so close.

I begin university classes tomorrow.  I am a little nervous but really excited!  It wasn't until I graduated from college that I realized how much I love it.  I am just starting two masters courses.  I was also set on taking violin lessons but, as of today, I decided that it is not the best time for me.  First of all, it is really expensive!  For the semester it is $530+ for 6.5 hours of lessons.  And that it is not including the violin. I think that I am going to aim for next semester.  I just feel better about it.

My new ward is fantastic!  I have attended church for 2 Sundays now and I love it!  I received a calling there my first Sunday.  I am now the Music Chairman of the ward.  I am in charge of conducting during sacrament meeting, choosing the hymns, arranging for weekly musical numbers, and directing the choir.  Am I overwhelmed?  Yes.  Am I willing?  Most definitely.  I don't know much about music other than the piano but I am excited to learn new things and work with others who have musical talents and abilities.  If anyone has any tips or advice, it would be greatly appreciated!

I went to my rheumatologist the first week I was back in Logan.  I really like him and I think that I am going to stick with him out of all of the other doctors that I have gone to.  He might not have all of the expertise and experience that the others have but he is so willing to help and listen and make things better.  He decided to re-do all of the blood tests and see if anything new popped up.  I haven't been feeling well over the last couple of months but didn't really think that it was different than normal.  However, within the last couple of weeks I started to experience a whole lot of muscle and joint pain.  He called me on Friday with my test results and told me that a normal person's muscle inflammation level would be a 200 but mine was a 1000.  If I wasn't to take care of it quickly my muscles would start deteriorating and it would cause serious damage.  Yesterday I started a double dose of prednisone that I will take for the next several months to get things back in control a bit.  I haven't heard the best of things about prednisone (most common side effects are acne and weight gain...fantastic) but I guess the positive effects weigh out the negative.  Bleh.  I hate medications but I decided that I need to change my attitude about them since they can be a great blessing.  Here is to my new attitude no matter what side effects occur!  I think that finding this out on Friday really started to influence my decision to do the violin or not.  I really feel a great urge to focus more on my health.  I love running and I have been going but it is not good for the inflammation.  So, I think that I am going to take a Yoga or Pilates class.  Any say on which one I should do?  I would love to hear opinions!

Well that is my life right now.  Things are really great and I feel extremely blessed!  I hope that you are doing well too!  By the way, if you are in the Logan/Cache Valley/surrounding area and we haven't caught up in a while I would love to get together!  I miss all of you!

172

I am officially back in Logan!  It hardly seems like I left.  Summer went by so fast.  But I am happy to be here and ready to start a lot of new adventures...one being living in #172!  Look at this house!  Isn't it classic?  When Tish and I started looking for apartments in June we were having a hard time finding something. I came across this house on KSL and made an appointment with the owner to see it.  When Tish and I did a little walk-through we knew that we needed to live here!  The owner had just barely gutted and remodeled the whole thing.  Everything was brand new-carpet, flooring, bathroom, etc.  We are living in the upstairs which has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen and a living room (also known as the corner...you'll see why:)).  It is small and cozy but I think that is what made it so intriguing to me...it reminded me of the Netherlands!  Long story short, Tish and I signed contracts and then found a third roommate-the wonderful Jami Garvin-to live with us.  I know it is going to be a great year!  Me, my Mom, and my Dad drove up on Sunday with a whole trailer and two cars full of stuff.  My Mom stayed up here with me until yesterday afternoon making sure that everything was put together and just right.  She finished so many projects and made our apartment perfect!  She is such a handy woman and can do anything!  I am so thankful for her to give of her time to help me.  I can't thank her enough!  This is how everything turned out once we got it all together:

We didn't do anything to this area but isn't it beautiful!  The staircase is 111 years old.  And isn't the chandelier gorgeous?!  I admire it every time I walk in the house.

My desk

My bookshelf, jewelry, "vanity"

My bed

My closet

The rest of my room

The bathroom

The dining area

The kitchen

The corner

The dishes.  This may be my favorite part of my apartment because, to me, it means gathering.  My goal is to have people over A LOT!  To eat, to socialize, to enjoy one another's company.  So, please come over!  

Bernell Buchanan Family Reunion 2012

Yes, another Buchanan reunion.  This takes place at the Sharp home every year during the second weekend in August.  And it all because of these two:

 Don't they look wonderful?!  Meet my Grandma and Grandpa Buchanan.  If there was one word to describe them it would be LOVE.  They radiate it and live by it!  

I was the co-chair of the reunion this year and it really was a lot of fun to plan activities and carry the whole thing out!  On Thursday we gathered for dinner and then enjoyed a Variety Show put on by the little ones and some hilarious games that my brother and sister-in-law planned.  

Friday morning started out with exercising at 7:30, breakfast, and then a service project.  This year we were able to help my aunt and uncle in their process of moving from Centerville to Riverton.  What a blessing service is!  We had lunch, a women's craft, water activities for the kids, an adult discussion, dinner, an emergency preparedness class, testimony meeting and games.  We played hard and enjoyed time together.  We didn't stop games until midnight last night!  

Today was supposed to begin with exercising but I think we were all too tired...we were barely ready for breakfast by 9!  We did an awesome ropes course, water games, dancing, lunch, and a family meeting.  I am the official chairman for the 2013 reunion with my aunt Bev and cousin, Devon and his wife Lauren, as co-chairs!  I am stoked about the committee!  Even though it is not for another year, let the planning begin!  Thanks to all who came and made it so special!  And for those of you who would like to join the family, mark down the dates August 8-10, 2013 in your calendar!   

Chopsy's all grown up!

First of all, Chopsy is my little 19 year old sister Carli.  I started calling her Chopsy a few years back and it stuck.  It's quite the nickname, eh?  You should hear my little nieces and nephews call her by it!  It is the cutest thing ever!  Anyway, on to my post...we had Chopsy's surprise college shower tonight!  She got off of work at about 6 and my Mom told her that she was going to take her clothes shopping for school at City Creek.  Little did she know, we were going to be waiting for her at The Cheesecake Factory.  Don't you love the surprise look on her face?!  Priceless!  We enjoyed dinner together and she was loaded with all kinds of goodies for her apartment.  Yes, she will be in Logan with me!  I am stoked!  I know that she will love being an Aggie!  I am so proud of her and the example she is to me!  Chops, I love you and am so happy for you!  GO AGGIES!

Brooke, Kristin, Marianne

Mom, me, Kelly

Carli

Carli and Brooke

School supplies from Marianne

Candle warmer from Kristin

Sheets to match her room set from Mom

She almost cried when she read the card that my Mom gave her.  Don't you love all of the emotion on her face...she is our little drama queen and we love her for it!

Bathroom set from Brooke

Dish set from me

Delish food

Aggie sweatshirt certificate from Kelly

She is all set!

We are all behind you Carli!