goodbye singles ward!

I am ecstatic to update my blog! It’s been a few months since I last wrote, even though I’ve been meaning to. I even have files of pictures on the computer that I have wanted to post of the recent happenings in my life- mostly of Patrick and me. He’s a lot of fun.

But instead of going through an accounting of all of our adventures since January, I will just get to the real purpose of writing this blog…

I’m ENGAGED!!!!!!



Patrick proposed this past Monday after returning to Houston from Denver. He met my family and had a “talk” with my father. It was the perfect proposal- exactly what I wanted, even though I had no idea before what I “wanted” in terms of a proposal.

I flew to Denver on Thursday, about a day and a half before Patrick. Over the phone one evening he asked me how I felt about driving down to Galveston when we arrived back in Houston on Monday. When he asked this, I thought that it couldn’t be more obvious! I was excited, and thought it was funny that he wasn’t being more secretive about it. Patrick, unlike me, is really good at keeping secrets and allowing for things to be a surprise. I just figured he was really excited.

Well, he arrived in Denver on Saturday morning and later told me that it was raining a lot in Houston, so we were going to have to wait until Thursday to drive down to Galveston. I can’t even tell you how disappointed I was. I know it sounds bratty, but I was so anxious to finally make things official and announce that we were engaged. So I did my best (not really) to accept that I had to wait.

We got back to Houston around 4:30 pm on Monday, and made it back to my apartment around 6 pm. Everything seemed normal. We ran into my roommate Kate, who informed us that she was on her way to pick up some frisbees for Family Home Evening. Patrick and I attend FHE every week; so still, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I went inside the apartment, cooked dinner, and before I knew it, Patrick said we needed to head over to the polo club, where we were going to be playing ultimate frisbee. I did think it was a little strange that we were playing at the polo club, but a girl we know plays polo, so I figured she got permission for our group to use the field.

I was driving the car, and Patrick was telling me where to turn. Eventually he told me to stop and to park the car. He wanted to get out of the car, but I protested, telling him that it was kind of chilly and no one had arrived yet. He was insistent, so I got out of the car. There was this booth overlooking the field, so I figured he wanted to climb up and look at the view. Nothing out of the ordinary.

As I climbed the stairs, I was munching on a red apple (silly me) and nearing the top of the stairs I noticed a vase of white daises! I turned around to look at Patrick and he just stopped and smiled at me. I took his hand and we continued to the top of the stairs. There in the booth was a table with a cream colored table cloth. The table was decorated with blue and white candles and coasters that had our pictures on them. Next to the table was his guitar case with his black guitar propped against it. I teared up and turned to him. We hugged for a long time, until he had me sit down on one of the chairs. He took his guitar and went to the other side of the table.



Before we started dating, I told Patrick about one of my favorite songs, and thought that he would enjoy playing it. As he prepared for the proposal, he taught himself how to play the song, and then sang it for me as I sat across from him and listened. He was so cute- he even choked up several times.



When he finished, he got up, came over and hugged me and then turned to his guitar case. When he turned around, he got down on one knee and started giggling/choking up. “Tiffany Lynn Etter, will you marry me?”

I giggled, or cried, or maybe both, kissed his forehead and said, “Of course I will!”

He got up, hugged and kissed me, and then I looked over on one of the ledges and noticed a camera that did not belong to either of us! As I pointed to the camera, Patrick smiled and took me back downstairs. Around the corner I spotted my roommates, hiding. They were there the entire time, and caught the proposal on video! Sneaky girls!

They were incredibly helpful in making sure everything was ready since Patrick and I were going to be arriving Monday evening from Denver. They also helped Patrick come up with the idea of making me believe I was going to have to wait until later in the week!

So yes, I am happily in love and engaged to the sweetest, best, most romantic and handsome man in the world!

progress

Progress. I’ve been thinking for a couple of weeks now about how I am going to approach this new year. I am sitting at my desk at work after dismissing the children to go home, looking at two paintings I have on my desk of Barack Obama. I remember during the election, one of his slogans was “Progress.” This single word is simple, yet holds incredible power for me at the moment.

Personally: My life has gone through some incredible challenges and changes over the past few months. Some have been very painful, but as I have experienced, through my faith in my Heavenly Father and Savior, I have progressed.

My testimony has been ever strengthened as I have come to rely more fully on my Father in Heaven. My sister escorted me through the temple in November, further grounding me and moving me forward in my faith in the gospel.

I feel my confidence returning and my heart healing after a rather difficult breakup. I know of my great worth and that I deserve to be treated with respect. I am happy to report that I am dating again. :0) Like I said, progress.

I have made and have so far been successful at keeping several goals this year- working out, attending the temple twice a month on my own, writing in my journal and paying off debt. Yay!

Professionally: I am happy with my students and am finding joy in coming to work each day to teach them and challenge them to be better readers. I feel inspired by my students and am in awe at the progress we have made as a class. We just got through with middle of the year testing and I have no more students reading on a kindergarten level. I have one student who is my absolute pride and joy. This tiny little girl has learned to read in a matter of weeks, and continues to amaze me each day as she challenges herself to be the best reader she can. I can only imagine the immeasurable love that her Father in Heaven has for her.

Spiritually: I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father in my entire life. I love that He blesses me and helps me to be faithful. I love that because of Him, I am able to find joy and strength to accomplish the tasks He sets before me.

I am grateful for my family. We have progressed over the past year as well. Tashina is soon to be married to an incredible man, and my family has worked to prepare themselves to be temple ready. My family has been restored, and my heart is filled with love and gratitude for the faith my family has shown as we have worked to better ourselves.

I have never been more aware of the love my Heavenly Father has for me and for my divine potential as His daughter. As this year continues, I only hope to continue progressing, not only for myself, but for those I encounter, especially my students and family.

Happy New Year!

Christmas on the Costa...Costa Rica, that is!

One of the perks of being a teacher is the great vacation time! I am allotted two weeks of vacation for Christmas, and this year I was able to spend nine, warm and sunny days with my family in Costa Rica.
On the first night, dad, Cin, Devon and I had the chance to visit my host family from my study abroad program. I lived with David, Ana, little Mara Jose and Diego (not pictured) for a semester my junior year of college. They were wonderful to me and were excited to have me back in their home.
Dad rented a car and we drove to Mt. Arenal, one of seven active volcanoes in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, Tashina is not in this family photo. She arrived a day late due to an incident with her passport, later resulting in my father yelling, “that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard!” over the phone once we realized she had missed her flight. Don’t worry, we all missed her, especially Michael.

We enjoyed an easy hike along the base of Arenal with our tour guide, Jason. He referred to us as “my friend,” as he pointed out interesting plants in the rain forest. Later, we stopped at a site along a river, just as dusk was setting. We were able to see lava spewing from the top of the volcano. My camera was not able to capture the lava, but I must say, it is one of the most beautiful things of nature I have ever seen.
The next day we drove back to San Jose to pick up Tashina from the airport before we drove down to the Caribbean Coast. Michael was so excited to see her and was probably somewhat relieved to have here there as it was his first time spending a period of time with our family. He’s a real trooper!

We spent the remainder of our vacation in Puerto Viejo…
playing on the beachteaching Devon to surfenjoying the scenery snorkeling on Christmas Eve Celebratng Daddy's 52nd!






hiking in the rain forest along the coast on Christmas Day
and my personal favorite, hunting for teeny, tiny shells!

Feliz Navidad!

farewell, little pugs

This past Monday, Kate and I had to part ways with our little Pugsly. We moved into an apartment with our friend Virginia and we couldn’t take him with us. Instead of giving him to a shelter or selling the little guy on Craigslist or something, we found a pug rescue center here in Houston called Pug Hearts. They will place him in a foster home and then adopt him out to a good family.

It was hard to let him go! As crazy as he was, we loved him. He could be really cute sometimes when he cuddled behind your legs on the couch, or snored while taking a nap. However, it was time to let him go, so Kate and I packed up his crate, blankets and toys and drove him down to the center. They boarded him overnight and told us they were going to neuter and chip him the next morning. When it was time to let him go, all we could do was hold him, cry and kiss his little head. Poor Pugs. ..he really had no idea.

Kate and I cried in silence for the rest of the way home.

bad new bears- i got sick!

So, my friend Matt and I had this deal where one of us would get sick, and then share germs so that we could both get a day off work. The plan was we would eat chicken noodle soup and watch tv all day. It was supposed to be glorious. But no, that is not how it played out.

Instead-- I have now decided that I hate getting sick when my momma isn’t here to take care of me! It started on Saturday evening while shopping at Khol’s with the ladies. My body was starting to ache and I had a slight headache. I decided it had to be because of the weather (since it snowed in Houston on Friday), and now that I am getting old (turned 24 on the first!), my joints just must start aching at 24. NOPE!

Kate made me lay down when we came home. She told me I wasn’t allowed to go to the Christmas Party of a friend of ours if I didn’t at least take a nap. She is so good to me…just like my momma sometimes :0). After about an hour, I lied to her and told her I felt much better and was ready to go to the party. WRONG!

Nearing the end of the Christmas party, I was knocked out DEAD on a love sac. I was freezing and aching from head to toe. It hurt so bad I could barely walk and Patrick, a friend of mine, had to help me put on my boots and zip up my coat. I even started to cry a little. OUCH!

When we got home, poor Kate had to go to great lengths to warm me. She desperately searched for a heat pad, and micro-waved a bag of rice that she had dumped into a pillow case. By the time she brought me the pillow case of rice, I was freaking hot and shedding clothes. This went on for the rest of the night.

On Sunday, the boys (Matt being one of them) came and gave me a blessing. I am sure I looked amazing after having such a great night. Woot! Kate went to church, but left early to come check on me. Good thing, because when she got home, I think I had died a little. She made me get up and took me promptly to a clinic to see a doctor.

When we arrived at the clinic, I was surprised to find that my temperature was 102.9 and my poor little heart rate was really elevated as it was trying to cool down my body. I mean, I felt awful, but I don’t remember ever having a fever that high! I found out I had strep throat, and they sent me home with antibiotics and a throat numbing gargle. I was out of work on Monday and stuck at home sick, alone and bored. :0(

But thank goodness for friends like Kate, who will nurse you back to health in your sickest hour. :0)

sometimes peace comes from not knowing why

WoW!!! Isn't it beautiful? The Sandias in the background and the beautiful sunset. God is truly divine.

I am sitting at work on this Tuesday afternoon. The kids have already gone home to begin their Thanksgiving break. Teachers are required to stay until regular dismissal time. While I am supposed to be working on lesson plans, my mind keeps wandering to thoughts of how much I have been through over the past couple of months, and what role the Lord has played in helping me find my way.

From getting my apartment broken into, my car accident, starting a new job and a new position, a pay cut and a breakup, I have to say that life lately has not been a regualr walk in the park. I have spent hours and shed endless amounts of tears over trying to understand the lessons God wants me to take from the trials I have been dealt. Mostly, I still do not understand; but I finally feel at peace.

I visited the temple last Thursday, and it was suddenly so clear that in spite of a lack of understanding, God is preparing me for something better. As I stay near to the Lord, and strive to live my life in compliance with God's plan, then I will be led down the right path.

I am so grateful for my family and friends who never let me doubt my worth as a woman and as a daughter of God. Most importantly, I am thankful for the men in my life who will never let me down or break my heart- My Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

I think they are starting to care!

After several months of struggling with my second graders, I am finally beginning to see progress…albeit small, I can still call it progress. My heart is starting to get that warm tingly feeling again. It is that same tingly feeling I felt when Jose understood how to compare fractions, or the first time Ana spoke English last year. I really miss my 4th graders from last year, and I miss the grade level all together. But now that I have my class in order and a better handle on where I would like to see them…I have hope. And a warm tingly feeling in my heart. :0)

My Top Three Warmest and Fuzziest Moments

• The tiniest and cutest girl in the entire world only knew six of her High Frequency Words when I tested her on October 30. I tested her again last week, and she knows 40!!! After speaking with her mother at Parent Teacher Conference, my little girl and her family have become more invested in her education. I was so proud of her so I gave her a Tinkerbell pencil on Friday. She was beaming.
• One of my little boys who drives me nuts because he cannot seem to get his homework done, learned how to add and subtract with regrouping. I don’t know if you remember learning this when you were a kid, but man, this concept presents itself as a major feat for many of my kids. Today I had the opportunity to work with him during tutorials and I saw the light bulb come on! He took off and completed two pages of word problems and got every single one of them right!
• Finally, in my more difficult class, I can see that the kids are finally starting to care. They WANT to do well and they WANT to learn. On Friday, I had several who did not pass their assessment, and then the most misbehaved child broke down and cried. While this was not a moment where my heart felt all warm and fuzzy, it was still a small indication that he is starting to care. I came over and had to kinda hold him for a minute and told him we were going to try harder next week. Poor thing.