Two Morrows: 2014

Fall Happenings

4:02:00 PM

Ah, its Thanksgiving break, which means a week in California with my family and a little free time to write down what we've been up to lately. The answer is A LOT. In the past six weeks, I ended one job, started a new one, traveled to North Carolina and Tennessee, moved into a new apartment, and hopped on a plane to California.

I'll start with my job. When I first moved to Charleston, I had a difficult time finding a teaching position in Mt. Pleasant. So, I took on a fifth grade long term substitute position at a school in Goose Creek. This was a thirty minute commute each way and did not guarantee a secure position once my time was up. I kept checking for openings in Mt. P and sure enough, a fourth grade position was posted about six weeks into my time as a sub. The job was at Charles Pinckney Elementary, which happens to be 5 minutes from the apartment complex we just signed to live. This would be the PERFECT job! I applied for the job and got an interview! Before my interview, however, I came down with laryngitis and could not speak. It was awful. I had to whisper my whole interview. Oh I was sure I wasn't getting the job. I promise it was the worst interview of my life. But I guess it was meant to be because I was offered the job a few days later!

Now I was faced with two very stressful tasks. First, plan out the next few weeks for the new sub who would be taking my place at Marrington. Second, set up my new classroom, learn fourth grade curriculum, and start creating lesson plans for my new job at Pinckney. I was hired because there were too many students per teacher and they needed to add a SIXTEENTH teacher to the fourth grade team. Yes, you heard me correctly, I am fourth grade teacher number sixteen. I started out with only fifteen students and am now up to ninteen. I am loving the challenges that come from uniting a class where all my students come from different classes and places in the curriculum. It has been very difficult but I am grateful to have this job.

I SPY: Mrs. Morrow, the kid from UP, and a kid having a bad day

Mug shot

I took a long weekend to go to the Smoky Mountains and see the fall colors! We were spoiled with some beautiful mountains and canyons in Utah and got used to enjoying the colors of the leaves changing every year. We loved being able to do some fun hikes and seeing some breathtaking views on our trip. We have so much fun exploring!

We have been so lucky to have had the chance to stay with Stephanie here in Charleston. I loved getting to know the Morrow family better and being able to save some money. What an amazing family. Last month, we finally moved into our own place. Definitely bitter sweet. While we miss the fam, we are loving having our own space. We have been taking advantage of the mom swap and have been able to get amazing deals on some good quality used furniture. It's been fun to get our apartment all set up. We feel very hashtag blessed.

One last story. What are the chances that one of my students is on the same flight as me to Orange County?! It gets crazier. What are the chances he is sitting in the same ROW as me?? So crazy that this happened yesterday! So fun.

That was probably far too much to read, but that's what happens when I skip two months of posting.

DC Lovin'

7:40:00 PM

Lake Hartwell Family Vacation

4:05:00 PM

COAST TO COAST

2:43:00 PM

After three days of driving, we finally made it to our new home: South Carolina! The drive was long. Very long. But we snapped a few cool pictures along the way. It was fun watching the scenery change. At first, it was a complete desert. But as we drove further east, it became more and more green. It's pretty amazing this is all part of the United States.

We passed this HUGE wind farm in the Palm Springs area

I got to see Kaitlyn in Fort Worth, TX! We had some tasty BBQ for dinner. Classic Texas.

Obligatory picture in front of the Texas sign. We spent 11 hours diving through this state!

Louisiana. Officially in the South!

Louisiana sunset.

We managed to move from Utah to South Carolina without renting a moving truck! It was sure a lot of work! We boxed up 26 boxes and shipped them on a Greyhound bus to Charleston. It was MUCH cheaper than the postal service. This worked out well for us because we do not own any furniture; our Provo apartment came furnished. So we did not have to pay for a moving truck or pod. Go us!

My first day in South Carolina went something like this. I struggled to deposit a check at the bank-I'd never sent a check flying up a tube before! I couldn't see where I was driving-there are so many trees! I almost ran into another car-there were two streets with the same name "Johnny Dodds." I got asked out on a date at the library-by a man with a braided ponytail. I took a wrong turn on the Isle of Palms Connector-I couldn't turn back until I was at the beach! Luckily, Kori and I got to chat for a while. And that made my day a whole lot better. I just felt so out of place. Like I didn't belong. I still feel that way a little bit. And I know it will just take some time.

Sometimes, change is hard just because it is, well, change. For five years, I surrounded myself with friends I'd made. I had a wonderful teaching job. I knew where everything was. I had a purpose. Now, I have few friends, no job, and I don't know where anything is. I think I was so excited to start a new adventure, I forgot to account for the adjustment period. I know it will get easier as I get used to this new place that will be my home for a while. And I am excited for that. :)

Also, I experienced a SICK thunderstorm this afternoon. It shook the house like crazy! I went outside to watch it and ran back inside for a second because I was legitimately SCARED.

FROM HERE OR NOW OR YOU

11:21:00 PM

BYU Graduates!

9:20:00 PM

BYU-Then and Now.

I started my BYU adventure five years ago. I could not ask for a better place to spend the past five years of my life. Everybody goes where they're supposed to go, but I sure am glad I had the honor of attending and graduating from this university! I have made the best friends and best memories. I remember when my parents first dropped me off at the dorms my freshman year. I had the best years ahead of me and I didn't even know it!

I have grown so much through college. One of the most important things I've learned in college is that you really can accomplish so much more if you enjoy the road you're on. I know, cliche. But you know what, some people never learn that. Some people go through life always seeing the negative. One of my favorite quotes is, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." That is one lesson I'll never forget. I've had five solid years to learn that life throws curve balls, whether that's a hard test, obnoxious professor, stressful job, or other challenges. There will be plenty more to come in the future, and I'm glad I learned that hard work and a good attitude are simple but incredibly important things to value in life.

I could go on and on about the things I've learned, the people I've met, the experiences I've had. But I'll save that for my journal. For right now, I am content with saying that BYU has been one of the best things I've ever done.

My heroes.

Love him so much

So grateful to have worked with Al Merkley

I loved graduating with my best friend!

Lendrum and I are excited to begin our new adventure in Charleston, South Carolina next month! Wow. What a huge move for me! I am definitely thrilled to be moving on in life, but I will really miss Utah, and perhaps more importantly, the close proximity to my family in California. Lendrum is enrolled in a graduate certification program at MUSC, which will hopefully give him a good chance to get into medical school next year. His program starts May 28th, so we will be moving in the next month. Definitely an exciting time for us right now!