Mutual, I'm Sure!

I came home today after school, dropped my pile of spelling tests (that are still waiting to be graded) on the chair, kicked off my boots which had been killing my feet (seriously, by the end of the day, it took all my will power not to give each student an evil eye that had me get up and walk over to their desk to answer a question), and flipped on the TV as I enjoyed my afternoon snack (yes, teachers get those too).

I was just in time to catch the last few minutes of Irving Berlin's White Christmas!! I. Love. This. Movie.

My mom and I watch it together every year and have since as I long as I can remember. In fact, I teared up today as I watched the last few minutes, feeling nostalgic and missing my mom and wanting to be home to watch it with her. Soon!


Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, witty lines, dancing, singing, romantic mix-ups, and a feel-good ending! And Christmas! For me, it was love at first sight and the feeling just grows every year!

In spite of my love for this movie, that magical feeling of the first snow fall, and the inimitable snowy Christmas...I will be GREATLY enjoying my Southern Californian version with palm trees, sunshine, and my family. Merry Christmas to me! 19 days til we leave!

Small Moments

One of my students stayed after-school the other day for help on his grammar homework. As we finished he said, "Staying here and doing this with you is better than watching t.v.!"

SCORE! I love being a teacher.

Oh...and (drumroll, please) I will officially have my own 4th grade classroom starting January 5th!

I can remember going on a walk with my old roommate, Lizzie, one summer night and saying the words "my classroom" for the very first time. It gave me a thrill then and it still does...even as it's becoming my own reality.

So farewell hourly wages, tests in the testing center and countless papers to write.

Hello colorful bulletin boards, centers, reading groups, and laughter. Hello to interesting projects, Utah history, and assemblies. Mrs. Goold is ready.

Can you dig it?

This past weekend, Jeff and I celebrated Halloween in style. On Friday, we got together with some other couples, built a fire, made caramel apples, and watched a scary movie. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures, but I did get some rockin' pictures of the ward Halloween party. Check it out:

Salt & Pepper

Baker and preggo "Bun in the Oven" wife

A fisherman with the world's greatest catch!

Big, bad wolf and Little Red Riding Hood


Flapper and 1920's gangster

Another Little Red Riding Hood? and Boyscout, Ohio State's Jim Tressel and fan


Groovy, baby! Hope everyone had a far out Halloween!

The Long and Short of It

I have a hair appointment in about 3 weeks. I'm thinking of getting it done like this:


Or, perhaps a little less drastic, like this (both straight and curly versions):











Okay, yes, I kind of love Reese Witherspoon. So, readers, what do you think? Go short ala Reese in "Sweet Home Alabama" (the 1st pic)? Or in "Just like Heaven"? Or keep it long and luscious? :) Share your thoughts!

Love, Trials, Faith

I came home tonight after a wonderful, warm evening spent with Jeff's family, and did my daily check on the c jane blog. I read the story that had been written about her sister, brother-in-law and family and just wept. I was still crying when Jeff returned home from home-teaching. It's beautifully written, but even better, it truly captures the spirit of this remarkable family and their faith amidst this current struggle. It is tender, poignant, and made me truly grateful for the many tender mercies in my life. This is the sweet couple.


You can read the article here.
It made me wish I had sisters.

A rekindled passion...

Yesterday was my last day with my 3rd graders and oh how I will miss them! We have Fall Break today and tomorrow, so we parted yesterday. One of my students said, "Can we just come to school on Thursday and Friday then so we can see you?" They are adorable. This student teaching experience was exactly what I needed. During my cohort experiences, I had definite highs and lows, but I found that, overall, it was rather draining and left me questioning whether or not I could really do this. Over the last 6 weeks, I have found the energizing, rejuvenating aspects of teaching that both inspire and delight me. It is still tiring and time-consuming at times, but I have finally found myself as a teacher. I found the confidence that I need to finally enter my own classroom and LOVE teaching. I think, more than anything, I have really grown in my testimony. I truly have a testimony of education and its necessity for progression. Indeed, education and the gospel are the two things that would most benefit our world. I felt the Spirit in my teaching, in the ideas that would come to me late at night that would help me reach certain students or make a difficult concept more clear, in the added patience I found on a particularly trying day, and in the way I viewed my students. The Lord loves these children so very dearly, and I felt privileged to glimpse that, work with them and to develop my own love for them. Many times the words came to my mind, "how dear to God are little children."

There were, of course, many hilarious things that happened in the classroom. Here are few of my favorites:

1. (during a health unit, a lesson on calcium) "Mrs. Goold, is milk still healthy for you if you only eat it with a cookie?"

2. (showing them a picture of the 13 colonies) "Well, Adam and Eve were the first people on the earth and they lived in Kansas, and that isn't on the map." --wow. I did not even know what to say to that one!

3. (when I had a cold) "Mrs. Goold, you sound weird today!"

4. One student bringing me in these crazy costume jewelry rings and wanting me to wear a different one every day.

5. And so many more! Racing them around the track, eating lunch together, doing muscle poses to remind us of what protein does for our bodies, hearing their "I love you's", and of course, trying to keep teaching when all the kids are laughing because one kid (ahem) passes gas while sitting on the rug. Nice. In Jeff's words, "I don't care who you are, that's funny!"


My mentor teacher ordered in a yummy goodbye cake, had compiled letters from them to me in the cute book pictured above, and after a flurry of pictures and hugs, they were out the door. And I am forever changed.


One word in summary? Blessed.

My dearest Jeffrey,

Thank you for coming home from work early today to cuddle with me on the couch during my comfort movie, "You've Got Mail," after what had been one long, stressful day. Thank you for reading my mind and knowing that yes, tomato basil soup from Ottavio's was EXACTLY what I had been craving all day long and was just what I wanted for dinner. Thank you for picking it up while I stayed home to finish love notes to my 3rd graders since tomorrow will be my last day with them. Thank you for making Pasta-Roni for you, and pretending that was what you wanted for dinner all along (when really, you just wanted me to be able to take the leftover soup with me for lunch tomorrow since I love it so very much). Thank you for understanding that when I'm not feeling well, sometimes thin mint cookies can work wonders in restoring my health! Thank you for doing laundry with me, then for dumping me and the warm, clean clothes on the bed to snuggle up after running in from outside. Thanks for telling me I'm beautiful even when I am in my pajamas, glasses, and wearing no make-up. Thanks for knowing that what I needed most today was you. I've never known happy like I've known it with you.

All my love.

I Heart Free Stuff

Hey girls! Let's be honest, you can never have too many cute bags. Handbag Planet is giving away one awesome bag every HOUR! Click here to enter!

Good luck!

Autumn

“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

-William Cullen Bryant

I can never fully commit myself to one season, however, were I to do so, it just might have to be autumn. There is a certain welcoming crispness in the air after summer's drowsy heat, and I have been immersing myself in the season by making gingersnaps and pumpkin bread and by adding little autumn touches to our apartment. As I write, our pumpkin spice candle perfumes the air, and I have a cup of raspberry hot chocolate close by. Today, Jeff and I decided to celebrate this time of year by pulling on some cords (me) and sweaters (both of us) and heading to Santaquin to visit the Red Barn! It was such a fun little excursion. We browsed through quaint little crafts, ate delicious apple and cherry hand-held pies, and warmed up with apple cider! We even picked out our first pumpkin together, and it is a beaut! We came home with our pumpkin and some fun little gourds, and cuddled up to do some homework while sampling some of that pumpkin bread. Yum!

HELP!

Okay, I am getting desperate!

For those of you who know me well, you know that I almost always have a book with me that I will pull out and read whenever I get a free minute. Reading is a way for me to de-stress and pamper myself without breaking the bank! Guess what? I haven't had a good book to read in at least 3 weeks!! Part of the reason is that I have been incredibly busy and lacking enough free time to read for pleasure, but I also need new ideas for great reads.

That is where you, dear readers, come in! I am dying to hear about books you love: new reads, old favorites, all types! Please--for my sanity's sake, leave me a comment with your ideas!

Thanks!

Healthy and Happy

On Friday, Jeff's sweet little 6-year-old niece, Eliza, got her port taken out of her little body on Friday and we are so thrilled!! She was diagnosed with leukemia a little over two years ago, and we are so happy that this long process is coming to an end! This is Eliza in the hospital right after the surgery:




Also, Jeff's sister, Sheri, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma earlier this year finished her treatment this month and is cancer free! Here she is at her "bell-ringing ceremony" to celebrate being finished with treatments! Hooray!


They have both been inspirational examples of faith, positivity, and determination. We are so happy for them. His family has had its share of trials, (and we are SO sick of cancer), but we have also been abundantly blessed.

I am including a portion of Christy's last email to invite you all to eat at Chili's tomorrow! It is a great excuse to not cook, get out with friends or family, and support a good cause.


This month is Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. As I’m sure you are all aware that our daughter, Eliza, has just finished treatment fighting leukemia. She is doing so well and we are so blessed to have the best treatment available to her. If I had leukemia when I was her age, there would only be about a 10% chance that I would have lived. Today Eliza is looking at around a 90% cure rate. So needless to say we are very thankful for all of the research.

On Monday, September 29^th Chili’s is donating their profits to the St. Jude Research Foundation. So please eat at Chili’s on Monday. No matter where you live.

Dance Festival & Carnival

So 3rd grade is great! They are at such a fun age where they are becoming a little bit more independent but still really like their teachers! It is challenging. I come home exhausted some days because I feel as though I have been on an emotional roller coaster! I get so excited when I see that they are learning and little light bulbs are going off, but it is frustrating when you realize a lesson just isn't going the way you hoped it would. However, I am learning a ton and my mentor teacher is just great! We have really similar teaching styles, and she is just hilarious. We have a good time together.

On Friday, we celebrated the school's 25th anniversary with a dance festival and carnival. My students had been working so hard on their dance for the last couple of weeks. They danced to "Seize the Day" from Newsies, and came with their jeans rolled up like knickers, long socks, news caps, suspenders...the works! Absolutely adorable. Jeff came along for the fun and captured some great moments for me with the camera.




Cami, my mentor teacher, was nominated to be in the dunk tank and our kids were THRILLED! Poor girl, the wind had really started up and it was pretty chilly waiting there on that ledge. She was a great sport!

Jeff and I hung out with my students, bought some boiled hot dogs (gross, I know) to support the school, and then caught a dollar movie. He loved being introduced as "Mr. Goold!"

Swell, Hip, Groovy, Rad...check us OUT!

Back to School

I FINALLY found out! I will be doing my student teaching in a third grade classroom at Canyon Crest Elementary School in the Provo School District. I am pretty excited! I have taught 1st and 5th and now I get to try something in the middle.

I had an orientation meeting today and my enthusiasm grew as we talked about the classroom, field trips, and students. It feels like it has been so long since I have been in an elementary school classroom and I am definitely ready to jump back in. I am even feeling okay about the Teacher Work Sample: a huge culminating project that is graded pass/fail and determines whether or not I will get my teaching certificate!

So tomorrow will be my first official day! Wish me luck!

How Sweet It Is...

(Sorry, this is a long one)
I absolutely love Sundays. Our ward doesn't start until 1:20pm, and while I would prefer it earlier, it enables me to study, prepare dinner, and spend some wonderful time with Jeff before heading to our meetings. It is such a blessing to be able to take the sacrament each week, be uplifted through talks and lessons, and to have a fresh week to make improvements in one's life. We had a wonderful block of meetings today: a combined meeting on food storage and financial planning, an excellent Sunday School lesson, and testimonies (we have stake conference next week). We had about 10 new couples move into the ward this week and I am so excited. Our ward finally seems to be achieving more stability now that school has started, and the new couples seem very friendly, outgoing and eager to serve and get involved. We are really excited for the upcoming year!

The last couple of weeks have been really, really fun. We went to the Dinosaur Museum for the first time last Tuesday along with most of the Utah population! It was $2 Tuesday, and so busy! Kids were everywhere! But it was interesting and educational...both good things to a future school teacher!

Last Friday we said goodbye to Laney, my friend and manager at the MOA, who hired me. She has moved to Buffalo, NY with her husband and new little baby. We love them (and the MOA, of course), and can't wait to visit!
Last Saturday we drove out to Jeff's parents' house, picked up his nephew, Cameron (age 7), and some golf clubs and went to hit a bucket of balls. Let's be honest, golf is SO not my thing. I think that all of my brothers were gifted with all of the hand/eye coordination genes in our family. But I am unashamed to admit that Cameron was FAR better than I was. We were totally impressed. We moved on to the putting green after hitting all our balls, and I partially redeemed myself there only because it is like miniature golf! Check out these pros! (Notice: there are no pictures of me because I was that bad)


Yesterday, we went to lunch with our good friend, Brian Hansen, who served with Jeff in the Idaho, Boise Mission, and his FIANCE, Lisa Lee. It was our first time meeting Lisa and we were absolutely thrilled. It was so fun to hear their story, listen to their plans, and get to know her a little better. She is so nice and they are great together. We are so excited for their wedding in December.


Later that day we watched the first BYU game of the season (go Cougs!) with Andrew Scott, a friend of Jeff's from high school, made ourselves sick on Muddy Buddies Chex Mix, and then spent the evening with my cousins playing games. We decided that it is time to start building up our own collection of games and they had some we definitely want to add to our collection! Thanks to Chelsey and Mike for inviting us, and to Justin and Emily for having us over. We will need to get together again soon!

"Dancin' when the stars go blue..."

On Tuesday, Jeff and I were suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that summer was, in essence, over, due to the fact that he started classes the next day. Determined to enjoy that evening to its fullest, we grabbed a laptop and DVD and loaded up his truck with pillows and blankets and set off up the canyon. We parked where we had a beautiful view of Bridal Veil Falls and got all set to enjoy the setting and the movie.

Alas, after fiddling with the laptop and trying various programs, it became clear that we simply would not be watching a movie that night. Frustrated, we lay back against the pillows and looked up.

As we had been focusing on the computer problems, deeper blues had stolen across the sky and the first stars winked out at us. I was struck by the absolute beauty of the night: the rushing sound of the waterfall, the dark mountains silhouetted against the deep blue of the night, and the pinpoints of light above. I was filled with a surge of thanksgiving for the ornery laptop for these stolen moments of peace, beauty, and utter contentment. I love to be busy and I do not stop often enough to bask in the deliciousness of the moment and let the enjoyment wash over me. Resting my head on my best friend's shoulder, I was filled with the magic of it all.

Literally or symbolically, I resolved to find more moments in which I choose to look up.

And thanks to my sweet Jeffrey for finding pleasure in the simple things alongside me.

Spicin' It Up

So I've been thinking a lot about a conversation I had with my dear friend Laney about those people that proudly march to the beat of their own drum. I admit that many of my closest friends, while they each have their own endearing personalities and quirks, are very similar to me, which is why it is easy to be such great friends. Yet, I have also been privileged to meet many individuals who just intrigue me! Their minds work in ways that are so different from my own, and I absolutely LOVE it. They push me, in their subtle ways, to examine things from other angles, to really determine what I believe and to see things from new, fascinating perspectives. They add spice to my life!

So here's to you! All of you who dare to stand outside the norm and be yourself. Who aren't afraid to speak up and out and provide a source of constant delight! You truly are like a fresh breeze, causing me to see previously mundane things in a whole new light. So today I salute the members of BYU's medieval club, those people with ridiculously good balance who ride their unicycles across campus, those people who bravely stand on the soapbox in the quad and shout their opinions (even though few are really listening)! Here's to those talented, artistic souls that fill the HFAC with such amazing pieces, and those who push the envelope just enough to make sure the rest of us are still breathing!

It is often inspiring and invigorating to watch. Perhaps I will write that children's book, see if I have any hidden artistic talent, or, gasp, learn to sew!!

I shall miss BYU, the college life, where there is such an eclectic mix of personalities and interests. How fortunate that we all have our own idiosyncrasies, ideals, dreams, talents, and beliefs. It makes the world a brighter, more interesting place.

GOOGLE happy

Saw this on some friends' blogs and decided to give it try. Mostly, classes are over, I have taken my last finals as an undergrad, and I have time to waste! What a great feeling. Here's the deal: type in the word you pick to answer each question and pick an image to represent it from one of the first 3 pages of results.

Here goes!

First name: Whitney

Middle name: MarieLast name: Goold

(I just found this! In Australia! We will have to go here And I'd just like to point out that I have a mountain and an island...as Jeff would say, Booya!)

Past nicknames: Bulldog and Downtown

Where was I born: Provo, UT

Place I want to visit: SO many. Currently? Africa.

Favorite place: library

Favorite object: chapstick (I'm a mess without it)

Favorite food: Again, too many, but I'm loving fresh peaches right now

Favorite color: Currently, yellow

Pet I have had: none!

First job: Smoothie girl at Smoothie King

One of your grandmother's names: Esther
College degree: Elementary Education
Something I'd love to try/learn: Camp Pendleton Mud Run