mrs. wallentine

It seems crazy to me that over 3 years ago I was a freshmen in college. I have managed to stick with the same major and it seems even more crazy that I will be graduating a year from now. You kind of start to believe that time will never come. As I am nearing the end, however, its beginning to feel like torture. I am in all Secondary Education courses this semester with one fun leadership class to keep it interesting. This is where I am going to stand on my soap box and start complaining about two of my teachers this semester. Baaarrrrbbb and Faaawwwnnnn. They are interesting women to say the least. I know several people that have survived their classes so I know it is doable, but their classes get worse everyday. Tedious writing assignments, long boring lectures, all day workshops on sexism and racism, violent students in the classroom etc. You name it I am going through it. Not that I don't think any of those things are important it is just getting really old really fast. 

On a more exciting note, today I finally changed my name through the university to McKena Dee Wallentine. I also went and got my clinical ID badge that I get to where to go to observations throughout the semester. By the way, I was approved to do my clinical observations with Mr. Burrell at Bear River High School. I am pretty excited even though the work load seems never ending and overwhelming this semester.  

CHECK IT OUT 

It is kind of exciting to think that Bekka is student teaching right now with a name badge that says Miss Wallentine and I now have one that says Mrs. Wallentine. I will definitely be wearing this with pride!

Not only am I going to be starting my teaching career soon, but on a more spiritual note I thought I would share an experience from teaching Sunday School. (Cade and I were put in as sunday school teachers for the 14 year olds at the beginning of the year). The first week we taught seemed like a disaster. The kids were scared of us or something. However, the next week I decided to get to know them a little better. Their likes, dislikes etc. Just to get them talking. Jenni, a girl in the class who normally is on her cell phone the entire time, told us she liked horses and rodeo! I knew this was my chance to connect with her on a personal level. So, of course I said HEY I DID THAT TOO. You could automatically see a light come on as she found a connection with me.

The next week I walked into relief society where the president stopped me. She thanked me for doing a good job teaching that class and proceeded to tell me how her daughter, Jenni, hasn't had much interest in the church. She told me how Jenni came home the week before excited that I had rodeoed and liked the same things as her. She was grateful that I was in that class to hopefully help Jenni make a connection with her likes and still be apart of the gospel. I learned that day that the lord really does put us in certain places for a reason. In the end, it will still be Jenni's choice whether she sticks with the church or not, but at least I know I played a role in setting a good example for her.

Just to relive my glory days I thought I would share a few rodeo pictures from the past. I hope you enjoy!

As it is the beginning of february it is CALVING SEASON. So, be looking forward to a flipping awesome update on that soon. 

wedding bells

Even though I feel like this is the craziest time in my life yet, I finally decided to start a blog. So many wonderful things have happened over the course of the last several months and I definitely need to start documenting. Just a quick recap...in October of 2012 I started dating the man of my dreams and love of my life...Cade. After many wonderful dating experiences (that I may look back upon eventually on this blog) Cade asked me to marry him. August 2, 2013 to be exact. He took me up Weber Canyon to "check on my cows." I could tell he was nervous all day. After packing me across the rivers and meadows on foot we stopped to take a rest deep in the trees. There I was sitting on a log looking around for my cows and I turn around to him on one knee with the most gorgeous ring glimmering in the sunlight. Of course I said YES! 

During the time we were engaged I was crazy enough to move back to Logan and continue going to school. Planning a wedding, being a full-time student and having a part time job was an interesting experience to say the least. I took care of the invitations and my mom basically did the rest. She is simply amazing!

On October 3, 2013 I went through the temple for my first time and finally got to start wearing the magic underwear. I had the opportunity to go through the Logan Temple. Such a wonderful spirit filled my soul that day and I knew I couldn't be more ready to marry the man of my dreams. He changed my life for the better and I am forever grateful for that. The following week on October 10, 2013 Cade and I were married in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity by my wonderful Grandpa Ken. It was such a personal experience and I know everyone felt Sandy's (Cade's mom) presence in the room. I'm fairly certain she was sitting right next to Cade. Her warmth filled my soul. We had our reception the previous night at the Oakley Town Hall and it was absolutely beautiful. Credit given to my mother, Kim Hansen and Stacy Blonquist! Most look back upon their weddings and want to change things, but the thing is that my focus was more on the temple so everything else just seemed so perfect to me. Here are a few pictures from our special day:

I can't forget to mention how Cade and meant, because Bekka (Cade's sister and my BFF) deserves all of the credit. You see Bekka and I came into each others lives in the year 2012 and for a very good reason at that. We both needed a friend and had been in similar relationships in the past. Needless to say we were meant for each other. We had a few classes together because we both are going into Agriculture Education. From there it went from study groups, to lunch dates, to going to the movies, to her setting me up with her older brother on a date! We had become BFF's and it was exactly what we both needed. I am forever indebted to her and her beautiful soul for providing me an opportunity to meet my eternal companion. I am sure I will share plenty more stories about my Bekka aka shnookums in my book. Bear with me as I do my best to catch up on blogging so many different details in my life. For now, ta-ta.