READ!!!!!!

You can follow me at www.downlowes.wordpress.com

We moved due to the iphones. We want to be able to blog from there.

New Job, new week.

Here we go. On to a new week of a new job and new hours. I hope it goes well. I got a job at a company called Belden doing PR and Marketing which is my major. I hope I enjoy it and have a good experience from it. We need the money and so it will be good for us to be able to save and pay back. I am so excited for Trent this year, he has been the soccer coach for the middle school team. He is SO good with them and yet the boys love him as well. I love all the boys and they are so respectful. This past week we finished up tryouts and then held practice. I attended at least three practices. I am so sad to know that I won't be able to help as much as I'd like but we are doing the right thing. :) Good luck to KMS this year. Win REGION! PS if anyone is willing or knows anyone to make donations, we are accepting for the team. :) They get no funding so we are busy trying to get sponsors.

More news. A guy from Trent's mission Henriod and his wife were accepted to TFA and are moving to Memphis! AHHH I WILL HAVE A FRIEND! She already knows that she has to be my BFF and live right by us! I am not needy at all. I am so excited for them to move here and get to know them better. Also I went out this weekend with some girls from Trent's TFA group. One girl Karen who teaches at his school was the one who initially invited me and we had a blast. Got our nails done at a place called NailBar on the Island. It was quick, average price, and just a nice relaxing time. After that Karen and I went to the mall and I got some good old girl time. We shopped and talked, and I wished I could buy everything. Go figure. It was a lot of fun. So thanks for a good night out Karen. I needed it!

My dear Grandma is honestly one of the STRONGEST people I have ever met in my life. I had found out through the grapevine she was sick but no one would tell me how only said to call her. So I gave Grandma White a call. White is her last name, and yet in public we all forget and say, "Oh the White women are so strong." Many people probably think we are talking about race and yet, it's just the family name! So I call her yesterday afternoon to chat, and I ask how things are and she pauses and says well I guess I broke two ribs. WHAT THE HECK? My grandma is 86, how she broke two ribs and went 4 days before she saw a doctor and yet is still up and moving and VACUMNING I do not know. She shocks me every day. I just hope one day I will be as strong and faithful as she is. What a wonderful example she has been. I was fortunate enough to spend quality time with her and my Grandpa this summer on the Cape while I was there alone and husband was in Atlanta. It was amazing. I love my Grandparents and are so proud and thankful for all they do for me. Also glad I have the "white" genes, and as she tells me pioneer stock in my blood. Thanks GMA.

Will write more soon about subbing but for now it's Memph time.

Tough...to tougher.

Well we found out about TFA. It wasn't good. Wasn't pretty. There were tears and emotions of frustrations and confusions. Things happen for a reason. I was sad because I really wanted it and we had prepped ourselves for acceptance not denial. Thank the lord for Memphis Teaching Fellows. I am very excited I am in a great program with great leaders that will help me to become a good school teacher. So for now, I will be teaching middle school. Who knows where. I will be staying in Memph Town for 5 weeks for training like they do in Atlanta for TFA and get to be inside of the schools in the summer. It will be an awesome opportunity and I am very greatful for it. We had a few family/friends get into TFA. CONGRATS! Sincerely I am happy for you. Mad I didn't, but happy you did! :) I will be looking into getting my masters this upcoming year. Wish me luck on that. School and I will be best friends.

On another update, I am still subbing. I love it. I love the kids and the reactions I get. We had Monday off together and got to relax then Tuesday I was back to the grind. I loved Jen Kozin's kids. They were hilarious. I asked them where they wanted to go to college, (majority of the kids were black in my classes and juniors or seniors,) one girls said Ole Miss.

B: "who said tha?"
Girl raised her hand and said me.
B: Girl they racist over thure. They tried to hung my cusssin when he goes thure.

I was in shock. I didn't know how to respond so I just told them that's not appropriate and to look forward.
The KAPLAN teacher didn't show up for the second period and they begged me to not go get her so I didn't, instead I threatened them to stay in their chairs or I would. They were angels! :)

I loved her classes and will be back next week. As for today and the rest of the week I will be at Trent's school. KMS. I love their school and the classes. Thankful for a good day and a good job. :)

Thanks for everyones support these past few months.

kids kids kids.....

Well recently I lost my job like I told everyone so now I am working as a Substitute teacher. My first day was high school history classes. I got there couldn't find where to park, was so stressed by all these high school boys that towered me, and nervous if they were even going to listen to me. I went inside waited five minutes...ten minutes....fifteen minutes.... then I finally see a secretary I tell her I am a sub and am just reporting to her and finding my class. She tells me I am in a portable and honestly I was relieved because then if I needed to yell I could and it wouldn't be a big deal, or if they were to loud no one would think I was being killed. I walk out to portable, students are walking by looking at me like why is the stupid girl standing in the cold and not going in the portable because it was locked. THEN I wait....five minutes....ten minutes....fifteen minutes... then someone arrives. I can barely understand him. He finally tells me that the heater is broken in the portable so for the 15 minutes you were standing outside in the freezing you could have been in the auditorium where you will be spending your day with 3 other teachers. AWESOME. NOT! I was in for hell. The kids didn't have books, paper, binders. NOTHING. So what did we do. We sat. I took roll at the beginning and end and asked the other teacher what to do and he said let them sit there and talk. Wow. MCS really? So I let them sit there. It was like watching Freedom Writers. VERY segregated and a lot of dirty looks to the teacher up front. One girl wouldn't shut her mouth. So I stood up and said do you want to take a seat or should we wait the entire time for you to finish your time? I thought she might hit me. I finally told her to shut her mouth and sit down or I will write her up. She shut up and turned around. I had a total of 10 kids "escape" from the auditorium that the other teachers were guarding. Don't ask how. I would tell them and yet they just sat there. This is why the school system needs help.

3rd grade was a whole new world. It was a lot of fun. They all drew me pictures, gave me hugs, and wanted to be my best friend. A nice change! They were pretty well behaved. Some devil children but overall not bad.

7th grade boys are demons. They are funny as hell. BUT DEMONS. I taught at Trent's school for one of the other TFA teachers. It was fun. The first class was all boys. Some knew I was Trent's wife and so I used that as leverage. I was strict because I know how KMS runs and didn't want them walking all over me. They told me I looked like Katy Parry and Kim Kardashian booty. WOW. Thanks boys. Great compliments. :) A bigger girl with a few mental challenges came in the room and the boys were immediately in teasing mode. I silenced it but then they shouted something I didn't hear and she turns in the class room and did the biggest HISS I had ever see. I was trying sooo hard no to laugh. But it was hilarious. The boys made me laugh all day. Telling me I had pretty eyes like the ocean blue. Like the rich Carribean oceans. I wonder if they know most islands are third world??? The second class was angels and then the third walked in. It was all girls and ONE boy. This boy S was a DEMON at first. Demanded to leave so finally I got another teacher and let him go. I was done. Later in the day he decided he loved me and was silent and very well behaved with the all boy class. The girls...HATED me. They thought I was a major bitch. Which maybe I was but really? Did you expect different? Pain in the butts. The boys just wanted help. They wanted attention. I felt bad they don't always get that so I am glad I was able to have fun with them. I love teaching and can't wait.

Then we taught KINDER world. oh hell. Little children are what make the world laugh. They wouldn't behave so I decided I would make up Officer George. I told them if they didn't behave he'd come get them. One little boy, A, came up to me and said Miss Lowe, is Officer George brown? hahahahha what do you say. So I said Well yes he is but his partner Officer Johny is white. So there are two officers. He was so happy there were two. I wonder where they come up with this. They cried very easily. Which SUCKED. One little boy was slightly autistic but you would have NEVER known. He was adorable I love him. Honestly I was sad to leave him. They also asked me if I was Henry's mom. He was the only hispanic child in the class. Why in the hell they related that who knows? Always makes for entertainment.

I am soooo excited to teach next year and excited to find out if I got into TFA. Only 6 days to go.

What a day!

If there is anything I have learned it's that working hard and being social pays off!

Friday I had an hour long conversation with the President of the bank I was working at. I got a call today saying that he was very impressed with me and wants to find a position for me at the bank. What a relief and perfect way to start my day. I also will begin subbing tomorrow! So wish me luck. 2011 is looking up!

New Years Eve

Today I am sad and done. I will be ready to go for 2011. Cross my fingers. I just need to be mad.

Today-

So I am employed through a temp agency and they have me at a bank here in Memph town. Well, I knew it might not be permanent and found out today, IT WASN'T PERMANENT. As a matter of fact tomorrow is my LAST day.

I got a call over Christmas time when we were in Utah from another temp agency telling me that they wanted to submit my resume for an Executive Admin job in East Memphis. Well I work in East Memphis so I told her that and how I work at Independent Bank. She replied with oh they job is at Ibank. Hmmmmm......so either me or the other girl were going to lose our job. Naive me thought it was the other girl. I was wrong. I never had them submit my resume because I didn't want to lose my job and cause problems. I spoke to the HR Manager today and told her the situation and she said well Emily, you need to sit down. So I did. She then went on to tell me how the other girl was filling in until they found someone permanent for the Executive Admin, and when they do the other girl will take back her old job which is my job. So then where does that leave Emily? UNEMPLOYED. I should have expected it with working temporary but the fact they weren't going to tell me til tomorrow makes me a bit upset. Oh well, at least I can sub and hopefully the temp agency will place me elsewhere. In the time being we are accepting any donations. Big or small. Food or toilet paper.

Also, for Christmas I got a gift card to Taco Bell so tonight we decided to go get some food. We were eating and in a hurry so I started to scarf my beef hard shell taco. I started choking. A big piece had gotten stuck in my throat. I started to cry not knowing what to do. Keep me in mind we went in to eat. Trent is trying to pat my back so I start coughing and the old people behind us are starting to freak out. I decide to run to the bathroom and try to throw it up. Gross I know but I did. I didn't get it up but I did clear my airway a little bit more. My throat and mouth are now swollen and hurt. Needless to say tonight has not been my night. Wish me luck that my mouth doesn't swell in my sleep! :)

Happy New Year

Well, once you think you have things under control and made it through the toughest times, you get called into the temporary managers office and they tell you tomorrow is your last day. Happy Freaking New Year. So I am unemployed as of Monday. We don't know what we will do or where I will find a job, but we do know that now is a time of faith and letting my heavenly father be there for me to help guide us in this time of need. I am so greatful for Trent and how supportive he is. The situation is sticky ugly and just unprofessional so yes we are shocked. Can we make it? YES! We are very blessed and are going to move forward from here and do the best that we can with what we have. Hopefully there will be subbing jobs all next week and I can sub! We can make pretty good money to live off of until then. So cross your fingers.

Ask me if we have a student loan due on the 17th of this month??? OF COURSE!
When life sucks, it sucks bad. It's a shitty day and yet it keeps on coming.

Help

Who shops at JcPenney or is planning on it? We had to return some items and could only get in store credit but are looking into selling the in store credit so we can buy a wii game! If you are interested comment me.

Work

Here I am at work while my cute husband is at home in bed sleeping. Sad day for Emily. We find out in less then 3 weeks if I was accepted to Teach For America and boy is the anticipation killing me. Looking forward to Friday for a half day and getting to spend time playing my wii and watching Netflix movies on there!

P.S. Congrats to my good friend Katie Henderson for being featured in the Utah Style and Design Magazine. She is amazing, go check her out at www.kplusz.com

I had another blog and I plan on transfering all the photos from that blog to here then you can see more of what she has done. I am hoping one day I'll get a discount on our housing design! :)

Back to the grind.

I went back to work today, and for those who do not know I got clip in extensions again. I kinda assumed the women in my office would notice my hair and yet not one did, BUT 4 of the men in my office did.
My favorite was:
B: " Did your hair grow really fast since I last saw you?"
E: Yeah that's what Utah weather does to ya.
B: No really, didn't you have short hair?
E: Well it was kinda shorter but not way shorter.
B: I am going crazy.

Then I told him the truth. Made me laugh and happy that someone noticed at least.
We got a WII for Christmas and we set it up today and I went out and bought Trent the Cabellas Dangerous Hunts Game. He LOVES it for a small amount of time. If you know my husband really well you are probably shocked just as much as I am that he likes the video game so much. We played the canoeing, biking, and sword fighting tonight. I LOVE IT! It was a great workout too. Very excited to have it. Trent kept getting on me because he thought I was going to hit the TV when I was playing the sword fighting game. When we were in Utah we played my mom's wii a lot and she had the GLEE karaoke game. For some reason I decided to make a fool of myself and sing the Dream Girls song that Mercades sang, "You're gonna love me". It was a blast and everyone got a good laugh out of my craziness and making myself look like an idiot. My cousin had said I can't believe you'll do that in front of your husband! Isn't that what being married for eternity is all about? Making a fool of yourself so that your husband realizes he is stuck with you? Hopefully Trent found it funny. :) We had a lot of fun and I am working on Trent to buy it for me now! :) CROSSING MY FINGERS! so everyone please send a comment or a facebook post to him telling him to get me the game for New Years.

I am off to bed hoping to get some good sleep and that my back will feel better in the morn. Glad that Memphis is quite tonight and we will get some relaxing sleep.

Goodnight Memphis/Salt Lake City.

Christmas 2010

Christmas has been fabulous this year! Trent and I decided to get each other pea coats this fall when we were in Chicago for our Christmas presents. Trent then decided to be amazing and bought me a pair of red canvas TOMS that I love and have wanted. We have been visiting in Utah since the 18th and spent lots of times with good friends. I am so glad we came and were able to spend the time here. The beginning of our trip we went to one of our favorite spots, Off Broadway Theatre for a comedy club, had many nights of dinners with friends at our favorite restraunts, and spent a lot of time with family. We went to our annual dinner "Hog Nog n' Log" on Wednesday and had a fabulous time with friends and family. My dad came up from Idaho and spent some time with us also which was a lot of fun. Trent and I went up to Brighton ski resort on Tuesday and went snowboarding for the first time in 5 years for each of us! It was a great time and even better we got half off.

My sister has a little girl named Annie that will be 2 in January and Trent, my mom and I took her to the aquarium Tuesday afternoon. She LOVES it. Just likes to walk around and look. I have been so grateful for all the time I have been able to spend with her. She lights up my life.

We took our "little" friends Lia and Sophia ice skating on Wednesday afternoon, which was a workout in itself. They are the sweetest little girls and so fun to be with.

Thursday night we went to sushi with my good friend Katie Henderson. I was SO excited to see her and had been counting down the moments! Made this trip worth it! :) Thanks for coming and mingling with us for countless hours.

Sunday we did family pictures with my in-laws and went to the annual Herrick Christmas party and did games all night! We have been exhausted and ready for a break this whole week.

For Christmas Eve we spent the day and night at the Lowe's house and had the annual weenie roast and opened presents! Trent and I were SPOILED ROTTEN. To start it off, we got fun gadgets and gizmos in our stockings and I got a food processor, jumper cable pack, and a WII!!!!! NO WAY! I was so excited. Trent got Itunes gift cards, jumped cable pack, and A LOT OF TOOLS that were needed, and he was so excited for them. We had a great Christmas with the Lowe's and are grateful for all they did for us this year!

Christmas day we woke up and opened presents with the Maack/Tabish family. I had already gotten my present (extensions) from my mom and Jim, makeup, some dress clothes, Taco Bell giftcards, and an adorable headband. I am very happy to have them! Trent got money, subway giftcards, ties, a "drift" car, other nerf type toys, and a Sig Ep blanket. We are very grateful for friends and family this holiday season and love them all.

Handy Dandy

My husband is fabulous. He can fix and do anything. Tonight he fixed his truck that has been not working for a few days. I don't know details other then I am good at holding a flash light but I am so proud of him for being so creative and smart. Go Babe!

Do we really??

This is based a bit of Mockingjay if you have read the book! Thanks Peeta!

I live in Memphis. Real

I haven't seen Annie or the family since July. Real

I am flying home Saturday. Real

It might snow in Memphis on Saturday. Real

I might not make it home. Not real. I will find a way.

We have no money for Xmas but are spending it anyway. Real

Trent is taking our dog on the plane instead of me. Real, poor guy.

I find out about TFA in 5 weeks. Real

It doesn't feel like Christmas is in 11 days because I am so focused on getting home. Real

I will have pretty long hair again in 11 days! Real maybe even sooner!

Glad to know my thoughts are all realistic this week!

He is good....SO GOOD!

My new job leaves me with NOTHING TO DO! meaning I am bored and should probably not be lazy and learn how to be cool and blog better.

I read on http://www.lifedoneproperly.com/ that everytime she hears Carrie's song (yes we are friends, me and Carrie) that she thinks of her hub and it made me tear up. I love my hub and I don't care if any of you hate the word HUB or HUBBY then all i have to say to you is hub hub hub hubby hubs hubbers! eat that!

I just thought i'd update we are only 12 days away until I return to the SLC and enjoy some great times with friends and family. Trent and I got each other coats in Chicago for Christmas and I will post them later when I am at home. So other then that our XMAS is our family time and being appreciative to each other. AND BRINGING JACK WITH US!

I love my HUB

Trying.

There have been some times this past year that have for sure tested my patience and my ability to stay calm and not completely attack people like I typically would. Reality is...yes I am a brat and selfish, and I typically want things to go my way. BUT when I am trying to have things work for you as well, don't be a bitch and try to understand I am TRYING and you put effort forward as well.

I have let go of a few really close friends this year. It's been sad and hard but looking back worth it. Don't make me want to let go of you as well. I have realized that I must grow in order for me to get a long with others as well. I MUST CHANGE. I am so thankful for my husband who has helped me realize the qualities that I want to have in myself and in my children one day. I know that by being an example I will have a better chance of them turning out okay. I love my mom and sister for all the lessons and strengths they have given me. They showed me that being an independant woman is important and I pride myself in saying for majority of my life I have been pretty INDEPENDANT! "All the women who independent throw your hands up at me!" Thanks Beyonce. I am ready to have 2011 be one of the greatest years for me. I plan to learn a lot, study hard, try hard, and trust and believe in myself. Something I haven't done.

While we don't have plans for kids or a house for maybe 5 years plus I strongly believe Trent and I have started a strong life and family together here in Memphis. We plan on continuing it at our pace and enjoying life. I know I feel awkward at times cause one, we live in Memphis and are mormon, two we live in Memphis and don't have kids, and three we don't drink. That leaves not to many things to do here. So what do we do? We cuddle up on Friday nights and tickle each others backs and enjoy the fact that we have each other. I love Trent, especially has strengthened lately. He has been my back bone while I hated my job and came home each night and cried he just let me, and then eventually let me quit. Three days later I got a job. The LORD loves us. I have a testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and without that I wonder where we might be now......

Thanks for my blessings and my wonderful dog and husband. I love them more then life itself. I'd die without them.

Long or Short

Should I get extensions or cut my hair short again?

Update on Life

Well I made the blog private. I don't want randoms looking at my life anymore. Things are going well here.

I quit my job at J Hunt Home for a lot of reasons, mainly the boss and the direct supervisor was a shady person and wasn't getting along with her. So therefore I quit last week. Trent and I spent the weekend in Nashville for Thanksgiving with my aunt Nanette and her family and some close friends. It was a lot of fun and we got to have a home cooked meal and eat SHOE FLY PIE! My FAV! We also ran a 5k on Thanksgiving morning. Huge shock I know. We had a blast. We went shopping for black Friday and had a great time. Unfortunately due to unemployment we didn't get to really shop. But we did get a printer and we are way excited.

I just found out today after having my interview at 8:00 A.M. that I got a job at Independent Bank about 5 minutes from my house! I am SO HAPPY! It pays great and better yet I get paid weekly for a while so that will be nice to have instant money. Thank you OFFICETEAM! We have been very blessed. I will be working at this job for as long as they will keep me or until we are back on our feet and I decide to Substitute teach. I never knew how tough this move would be but again I am greatful for a very supportive husband and a great family and puppy who are with me every step of the way.

I am very excited to announce I was accepted to Memphis Teaching Fellows teaching middle school! I will start in June and the training is here in Memphis. If I am accepted to Teach For America I will take that position instead and then Trent will apply for a job at the institute in Atlanta so that we both can be together for those 6 weeks. I feel very good about being accepted but yet you never know.

We leave in 12 days to come home! I am SOOOO EXCITED! I really have not been this excited for a long time. I crave CAFE RIO and Zupas EVERY DAY! I need it in my life and stomach. We plan on seeing everyone that we can so it will be a crammed trip.

Thanks for keeping up on us, I'll be better about blogging!

What a week.

Monday was a great day. I had a great conversation with my best friend of about 11 years, talking about his new girls and just everything like we always have. Tuesday morning I woke up and looked at facebook saw a post from his brother saying Dad you will be missed. I immediately freaked out and wanted to talk to him to know what happened. It was 6 A.M. Memphis time which is 5 A.M. SLC time. So I waited, and waited. Then I called and the horrible truth came. His dad died that morning. I was heartbroken. Not for me but for him. I just wanted to be there to give him a hug and let him know it will be okay. I just want everyone to remember how blessed we are and always say I love you. Time goes way to quick for you to let one hug or kiss go by. I love my family and Trent for everything they do for me. I love my best friends who are there for thick and thin. I am so lucky to be on this earth and will always remember that. Say I love you to a friend today. Have a good day everyone.

Mom in town!

This past weekend was fabulous having my mom in town. She arrive Friday night at about 6:25 ish and we went to our house to get Trent and show her around. Of course Jack was SO excited to see grandma. Then we went to dinner at a BBQ place called Central. It was GREAT. We had a great time and then went home to get some rest. Saturday morning we woke up and got ready for some dunkin donuts. Me and Trent have been saving for a dryer so my mom went with us to find a good one. We then went and got donuts and COOLADAS which were amazing. My mom has a costco card and we don't so she took me to costco to get a few things while Trent set up the dryer. Then we stopped by Target to grab a few cleaning supplies and we were off to Beale Street. We went to Blue City Cafe it was delicious. We had a great time just talking and being downtown and looking around. I am so glad we went. Then we went home and rested for a bit, and stopped at Hobby Lobby for some stands for my house, and then went to Steak and Shake. SO YUMMY! Tom met us there for dinner so that was fun for her to meet our friend. We spent Sunday going to church and primary where I teach and my sweet mother cried when they sang to her because she was so sad she would be leaving. My kids definetly didn't understand what was going on. That night we rested and did laundry and my mom taught me to make steaks over the pan and oven. They were so yummy, I will definetly do that again. Monday I had to go to work, and then got off at 11:30 and me and mom went to lunch at Moe's Southwest Grill and then went to a few more stops. Then it was off to the airport. Hardest thing ever. Broke my heart. I will miss her and appreciate all the time we spent together her. I love you mom. See you soon!