Kiln!

I finally got my kiln Friday night! Thanks to our home teacher, his neighbor, and AJ! Thanks AJ, for all you do to support me!

We found when we measured our apt doorway that the kiln would not fit through the frame. We are keeping it in our parking lot under a leafy tree covered in the heavy plastic our mattresses came in. I hope it will be safe!

Happy Birthday Gavin!

Instead of releasing balloons for Gavin in honor of his 1st birthday, like his family did, Erika, Livvy, and I released (or rather blew) bubbles! Happy Birthday Gavin! We love you and miss you!

Family Reunion

Saturday we had our annual Bridges Reunion. But we started off the festivities at my aunt Teena's home with a double shower! We have two cousins getting married. The shower was a blast. I always love to see the gifts that everyone gets.





Saturday we stopped by Walmart so I could get a new phone. My old one was growing quiet and the battery life was waning. Thanks everyone for your patience with me while I made my phone selection, perhaps it brought back unpleasant memories of choosing toothbrushes... I didn't get an iPhone, I just got a maroon Motorola V9 Ravr.

We spent the day in the park watching Livvy enjoy rides for the first time and enjoying the new rides ourselves for the first time. I have to say Wicked took my breath away as I was propelled up and then shoved down. The swings made sick, I am embarrassed to report. I never get motion sickness and I rarely get nauseous but I was so close to puking on that. We spent a the afternoon at Lagoona Beach. I waded through the water in my bare feet and shorts and the water felt good! We had a great dinner and a program to honor my grandparents as their 80th birthdays are approaching.

On Sunday we had a small gathering with our immediate family at Monica and Jon's new place (which is bigger and way cute, BTW). Monica made great lasagna which some even dared to call better than Mom's (Mom called it that, she's allow to). And it did rival Mom's. So now whenever I am homesick, I will come to your place, Monica, and you can make Mom's lasagna for me! ;) After dinner we played Rock Band and HS Musical Sing Along on the Wii. Fun times!

Ragnar Run, Rock Band, and Camping

Ok, I am behind on my blog! Time to catch up a little...

On 6/20 - 6/21 AJ and Marcus ran in the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay. AJ ran a total of 19.5 miles. There are ten runners and each runner has 3 legs so there are 30 legs total. They run continuously without stopping through the night. There were tales of water fights, ambushes, and more. I am so proud of AJ for doing that! He is much braver than me.

Erika and I stayed home with Livvy while the boys ran. We were able to attend a family sealing which had a very special spirit during the ceremony. We went swimming and all sorts of things.




On 6/22 Rock Band was released for the Wii and AJ's long wait was over. He loves music and loves the drums in particular. What a fun way let out that music jitter bug of his! He excells at the game!

On 7/4-7/6 AJ and I went down to Snow Canyon near St. George, UT. We camped. When I told my dad our plans he laughed at me and provided a one word explanation: HOT! And he was right! To escape the heat we hit up the outlet mall and then went to "Get Smart" with Steve Carrell.

On Saturday we did some light hiking and then visited with my grandparents who live nearby. That night we went to dinner and then to "Les Miserables" at the out door Tuacahn theatre with my cousins Lindsay and Jason.

We drove home Sunday and we were exhausted, the sun can be so draining. We did not go home without meeting some little animal friends. One night, I saw a bunny with short stubby ears. It let me inch close to 6 feet from it before growing uneasy. I also saw these strange little burrowing creatures that looked like fat white chipmunks. AJ saw a slender orange fox right outside our tent one morning.

My Last Day

Today was my last day at Mstar. You thought I was done on July 18th! I tricked you. My replacement, Scott, was going out of town for a couple weeks and got back the Monday after my old last day. I extended my stay by a week to train him.

I have learned many things from my experience at Mstar from professional to personal to spiritual. My understanding of what it means to, "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in," has become more contrete and my resultion to do that has been made more firm.

I Quit!

In mid April I got a call from Celia at Paradigm High School. She was looking for someone she interviewed with last year who brought in a lot of ceramic pieces. I told her that, "I think that was me!"

Celia was looking for an art teacher for this next school year. She had remembered me a year later among all the other interviewees from this year and last (a high complement, she repeatedly told me, and I took it as that).

I interviewed with her the day I left for Arizona in late April. I was very much at ease. I arrived early and was impressed with the student body as they passed by me sitting in the lobby. Nearly every student looked me in the eye and some said hello. Students even held open doors for me as I lugged heavy boxes of art work. When crossing the street a driving student paused to let me cross. This experience is a stark contrast to an interview I had at a high school the summer of 2006. Students wouldn't so much make eye contact.

As I interviewed with the school officials I felt I was in my element. I was at a school that empowers teachers and students to teach and learn what excites them. The philosophy of the school is so in sync with my own. I felt like I had to keep lifting my jaw from off the ground, I was in amazement.

I heard nothing the week I was out of town. I was a little discouraged by that. AJ and I returned home on a Monday. I got a call Tuesday from Paradigm, "We would like to offer you the job!" I had the week to think it over and on Monday, May 5, 2008 I happily accepted the position.

So since the beginning of May I have had this news but was unable to share it with anyone in the office. I wanted very much to be able to give my notice myself and not have anyone hear it through the grape vine before the time was right. I wanted to wait until now before giving my notice for various reasons but mostly because I wasn't ready to leave until mid July.

School FAQ
1. Paradigm is a charter school. http://www.paradigmhigh.com/
2. Paradigm is located at about 11700 S. and Bangerter
3. I am not sure yet exactly what I will be teaching but I would like to teach Ceramics, Drawing, Graphic Design, and Painting
4. The school year starts in mid August.
5. Yes, I am EXCITED!!!

Have another question for me? Ask it in the comments and I will answer it.

Time til the News... 0000 : 00 : 00 : 00 : 000

Dear Tim C,

I wish to notify you of my resignation from my position as Residential Order Processor at Mstar, effective Friday, July 18, 2008.

I have accepted a most desired position as Art Instructor for Paradigm High School. This is the opportunity I have sought for since the conclusion of my art and education studies at Brigham Young University - Idaho.

Thank you for my time at Mstar. I have grown both personally and professionally. During my remaining time, I am happy to be involved in the selection and training of my replacement. Please let me know how I may be of service to help make this a smooth transition.

Kind regards,
Jessica Wilcox