Practice What You Teach

        It truly feels like just yesterday my grandparents gathered our family in the living room of our rented beach house and told us that they were taking us on a Disney Cruise. In reality, it was a year and a half ago and at the time it seemed like November 2014 would never come. It still almost felt like a dream even as we boarded our plane to Orlando last Saturday after MUCH airport turmoil, i.e. Michael forgetting his carry on at security, Jonathan getting a bloody nose, and me almost losing my debit card. Against all odds, the Shipp cousins made it to Orlando in one piece. I always get teary-eyed when I see my family after a few months away, and this time was no exception! Just as we were getting settled into our hotel room, we found out that our toilet was broken, so we had to move rooms! Once we were finally settled, Uncle Dave was kind enough to take as many cousins as could pile into his van for a McDonald's run. We spent Sunday in Downtown Disney, visiti...

When I first came to BYU, my heart was SO set on being a music education major. It never really felt right, but my mind was made up and nothing was ever going to change it. It never even occurred to me that the Lord might have another plan for me. However, he was patient and let me go through the application process and come SO close to being accepted. He let me travel down the wrong road until I hit a dead end and was humble enough to turn to Him and find out what He wanted me to do.      Elementary Education seemed like a natural "second choice". I had always wanted to be a teacher, and I knew that I loved kids and that I absolutely love to learn. I prayed about my decision, but never got an immediate answer. I decided to go through with it and started taking El Ed classes. Over the course of the past few semesters, I have received small reassurances that have helped me to know that I had found my correct path.  I've still had moments where that nasty voice in my...