New Experiences!

So this week has been a busy one. I drove to Tacoma on Wednesday night to help put on our Washington Association of Bilingual Education conference. We had around 700 people attend! On Friday night, I had the opportunity to go out to dinner with Andy's girlfriend, Yulia. We went to Red Robbin and only got lost three or four times on our way there. I had a great time and think my son is lucky to have her. She is a very sweet young lady and I enjoyed getting to know her better. We tried to go and check out the college library but it was closed. When I took her home, she showed me her 'mini' studio apartment. Holy Cow! It was tiny.

As June 2nd rapidly closes in on us, we are busier than ever trying to get Casey ready to graduate, receive his Eagle, and moved to BYU. He has checked out a litte bit too early for my comfort and still has some work to do in order to graduate. Yikes! My baby is all grown up. We'll see what this week has to offer in the way of challenges.

The Power of Prayer

Today was definately a day that centered around the importance of prayer. During Fast and Testimony meeting the overriding theme seemed to be prayer and how we are blessed by prayer. My friend Shannon shared her testimony of prayer and a situation she had where her daughter had lost her ipohne and called her mom to ask her to pray. Needless to say, the iphone was found. I also had a testimony building experience this past Friday night. Remember the newest member of our family George? Well Friday night George got lost. Kelly decided to let George go outside while he mowed the lawn. What he hadn't bargained on was George's fear of the mower. When Kel started up the mower George took off like a shot! Kelly finished mowing and was relaxing in the house when I came home. I asked if he had seen George lately and we went searching to no avail. We decided to head to Wenatchee for some time together and when we returned, still no George. We left all the doors open and looked EVERYWHERE. By 10, we decided to head to bed. I couldn't sleep and stayed up looking out the windows until 1:30 just sure that he would show up. Of course, I was saying prayers throughout all of this. I went to bed and woke up at 6:00 a.m. and knelt to say one more prayer. Afterward, I had the strongest impression to go back and look in the shed again. (Kelly had already looked 3 times.) The night before I had felt prompted to look their again, but brushed it off when I walked up and Kelly had the door open. So I looked a bit over the bank and again felt the impression to look in the shed. I walked over and peered through the window to find George all curled up in a pot we were storing. I know now that when I am prompted I need to do it right away! Poor George suffered an entire night trapped in a strange place because I didn't look where I had been prompted to. I am grateful to a Father in Heaven who truly answers our prayers.

Track Meet/ Eagle Project/ Prom!

These next few weeks are going to fly by in a whirlwind of activity. This past week Casey decided to ask Bronte to the prom! Never mind that the prom was on Saturday! He convinced Joe to help him create the letters P-R-O-M on the beach at Wapato Point. He then put on Kurt’s pants and his own white shirt and had Joe escort Bronte down to the beach where he met her with flowers. She said yes! We spent the rest of the week ordering a tux, flowers, buying tickets, and getting ready for the big night. Casey decided he wanted a white tux but didn’t think to order shoes as well. So, I was elected to drive down Saturday morning and pick up some white converse tennis shoes. On Friday, we traveled to Peshastin to watch Casey compete in an Invitational Track Meet. He is quite the sight to see. I love watching him run.

His relay team PR’d. I’m not exactly sure what the time was but they were certainly excited about it. Saturday began with Kelly and Casey heading to Chelan to help the Hinkley’s move into their new house. They then went to the school to spend a couple of hours working on Casey’s Eagle Scout project. They had some great helpers (Toolson boys, Vanderholm boys, and Willie Picton) come to help spread the sand. They did a great job!

Casey then headed to the Vanderholm’s to get ready for the big event.

Harry Potter!
I must say that I am loving this year in 4th grade! I spent the last week of summer frantically decorating my classroom and have had many requests for pictures of what I have done. I’m not done yet but here is what I have so far.
Potions!

Notice the House point jars! These work awesomely.

Common Room Fireplace:

Professor’s Desk and Stairs to the Headmaster’s Office. Notice the sorting stool in the corner :)

Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse Corner and Word Wall:

Owlry and Hedwig

Wouldn't be complete without Honeydukes! (Although more to come)

Top of the Stairs and Entryway

Last but not least my PINpleted classroom door for spring! Look closely...the sun is made out of pencils and the rain and stems are melted crayons. My kids loved making this today!

Life at the Sorensens

Well folks the decision has been made! Casey is heading to BYU Provo! I am so excited for him.
He needed time to adjust to thought of going to school in the summer, but decided that was what was best. My boy is growing up.

Andy got a job! He is working at a Boys and Girls Club in Corvallis Washington. This year has definitely been bitter sweet. I have anxiously looked forward to the day he would strike out on his own and now that he has, I miss him. Ahhh the life of a mother.
As for me, I recently joined the Get Fit Lake Chelan with Shannon and Kurt Toolson and Celeste Thomas. I’m not doing so well so far. I will do better next week though. My sister Cindi is also starting her get fit program, so I have tons of support.

BYU BYU BYU!!!

Casey has been accepted to BYU Provo starting summer term and BYU Idaho fall/winter track. Now he has to decide which one is best for him. I am sure proud of my baby boy! Time has flown by and our household is experiencing a lot of change.

Andy has applied to the University of Washington and is anxiously awaiting news.

Kel and I are just biting our nails hoping our boy makes the right choice. Ah the life of a parent - painful!

Lot's a Happenin' in the Sorensen Household

After 21 years, our oldest son decided it was time to spread his wings and make a fresh start in the world! Andy moved to Corvallis Oregon on the 28th of January. It was a bittersweet day. Here I had been hoping for the day that he would strike out on his own and begin to find his way and now I am sad to see him go. It’s been two weeks and I have heard more from him in the past two weeks than I had the past month that he was living at home. He called this week to let me know that he has applied to the University of Washington!
I have been to six basketball games in the last three weeks, and I have to say I wasn’t sad to see the end of basketball season. Casey had a great season! He was quite the player, although I think his coach wished he would have tackled a little less. He couldn’t seem to take the football player out of himself. He found out that he has been accepted to BYU Idaho and is on hold for BYU Hawaii! Hawaii sent him a letter saying he is academically qualified, but that they need to wait and see if there is space for him. We are waiting on Provo now! We are praying he gets accepted.
Last week, Casey had to say good-bye to his friend Lorenza. She returned to Italy and neither one of them was happy about it. I only hope that he will refocus on his schooling. A mother can wish can’t she?
On the 4th of February, I attended our Stake women’s conference with Shannon. I loved the lesson that was given on health and nutrition. More Fit for the Kingdom was the theme and the gal who taught the nutrition class made some pretty powerful statements. The two that stuck with me were: “Strive to be healthy, not perfect.” And, make small changes and celebrate them. The second one is just what I remembered. After the conference, Shannon and I went to Kathryn Ellis’s baby shower. We had a great time and then went to a Manson basketball game. It was a crazy day.
I am still working with two gals on their National Board Certification and helping my lovely sister Cindi with her teaching classes. Life is busy!