Hunkdate

Like an update or "bumpdate".....get it? Stretching it too far....? Ok, fine.
Whatever.
Now that you're all updated on the goings-on of our resident fetus, here's a little update on our resident manly-man.

Annie wanted Mommy to put lots of pony-tails in Daddy's hair. And he let us!

Tucker has been our superhero this year. He works so hard for our family and somehow manages to still have time for us.
At the beginning of the semester, Tucker started teaching 1st and 2nd hour seminary classes at Highland High School, in addition to his full-time job at the rebate call center. He was gone from 6:30AM to 8:30PM, only to have to hole himself up for more hours to prepare the next day's lesson. Including lesson prep, he was working 70-80 hours a week, and it was exhausting and hard on all of us. He was always tired and drained, I was home alone all the time and never saw my husband, and Annie missed her daddy a lot. So after crunching numbers and pro/con lists, we made the decision to cut the call center down to part-time. And it has had such a positive effect on our whole family!

These days, he still gets up early for seminary, but then he's home after his 2nd job by 5 every evening. We get to have dinner together, and Annie can usually coax a dance party or a few minutes of jumping on the trampoline out of him. Her favorite thing these days is to ask Daddy for a made-up "monster song" before bedtime. And he's always happy to oblige.

having a very important 2-yr-old conversation

And as fun as it is to see their little relationship growing and changing, I can't wait to see the relationship Tucker and this baby boy will have. I hope Blueb grows up to be just like his daddy or even better!

In way of a seminary update...
Ok, so we've established that he's teaching at Highland High School's seminary during first and second hour. And he absolutely LOVES it. Every part of it. Even the not so fun parts like taking role and administrative stuff. He just revels in every aspect of it because it's just all part of being a seminary teacher, and this is what he wants more than anything. Every couple of weeks, one of his directors will come in with no warning to observe his classes and leave feedback. Actually, there was even a week where he was observed 4 out of 5 days. Every other Tuesday, Tucker and the other student-teachers met to discuss different struggles and successes they face in their classrooms. At the end of each month, spouses were invited to the discussion, and we just had the last of those for the semester last week.
The difference between here and the program in Utah is the amount of personal attention Tucker has received from the directors. Here, it is so clear that Bro. Jeppesen wants Tucker to succeed and loves him enough to occasionally give him harsher criticisms so that he can become the best seminary teacher he can be. That was missing in Utah. The personal connection and the transparency. Yes, it is stressful, and yes, I wish I knew what the future holds, but whatever it is, I'm looking forward to it. What we know right now is that Tucker will mostly likely be asked to continue student-teaching this next semester, probably at a different high school. However, we also know that there are 2 full-time positions opening for this next semester, and Tucker's experience and reviews seem to put him in a pretty good position. But we're trying to not think about that and just keep thinking positive thoughts and trust that whatever happens will be best for our family.

Can I brag just a little bit more?
I've always known Tucker would make an amazing husband. But dang, there's just something about marrying your best friend that makes life blissful. Sometimes, it's not blissful. Sometimes we're stressed and irritated and say stupid things and have to swallow our pride to ask for forgiveness and forgive each other. But I cannot adequately express how grateful I am to have a partner who does ask for forgiveness and who does forgive me.
Our anniversary was at the end of September, and to be totally honest, it was a really crappy day. Lots of things went wrong, and it was just one of those days that can't end soon enough. I was in bed by 8:00PM with a chick-flick playing and a carton of ice cream in hand. 9:00PM comes around, and I hear the car door slam, and a few seconds later, Tucker walks in. With a bouquet of red flowers and a plate of chocolate cake. And I immediately broke into tears from hormones and stress while he scooped me up and held me.

I love being married to Tucker Denton. I'm so thankful for how hard he works for our family. I'm thankful he plans little things that he may not enjoy but that mean a lot to me. I'm thankful that he makes me laugh and holds me when I cry. I'm thankful he likes to discuss nerdy things and will stay up late joking and laughing through pillow-talk even when he has to be up early.
Because he's my Perfect Fit.

Introducing Brother Denton!

Two years ago, while I was off galavanting through Europe, Tucker spent the summer working in Utah as an EFY (Especially for Youth) counsellor. At the time, his plan was to become a pediatrician, but as he spent weeks working with 14-18 yr olds, playing games, teaching lessons, guiding discussions, and sharing his testimony, he discovered something about himself. After chance meetings with some of the Church's S&I directors, Tucker came to the conclusion that his personality and skills and goals all added up to the perfect, quirky combination that makes a good seminary teacher.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teenagers enroll in the seminary program in addition to their already busy high-school schedules. In most areas of the world, this means gathering together with a few other teenage members in the area at 5:30AM to be instructed by a local, volunteer Church member through the books of scripture and to learn the key doctrines and principles of the Church. However, in more Mormon-dense areas (parts of Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, California, Idaho, and Colorado), seminary classes are available through release time as part of the normal class schedule at the local high schools, usually held in a dedicated building right across the street from the campus, and taught by full-time teachers.

Each of the four years of instruction focuses on a different book of scripture (Old Testament and Pearl of Great Price, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants) so by the end of high school, it is expected that teenagers have a good understanding and working knowledge of their religion.

Growing up in Mesa, Tucker and I both attended release time seminary classes starting in 9th grade and had great experiences so when he told me about his change of plans, I was so excited. Knowing him as I do, it just seemed like such a good fit.

But dreaming about becoming a full-time seminary teacher and actually becoming one are totally different. The process is extremely competitive, and only about 5% of those who start the program actually get hired at the end.

It was a daunting reality to face, but Tucker knew he had to go for it.

In addition to his required classes for his Spanish Translation major, Tucker enrolled in the seminary teaching program last semester, along with 122 other prospective teachers. Throughout the semester, they observed local classes, prepared lessons, and even had the opportunity to teach a real class twice. As part of the weeding process, after the second teaching opportunity, half the students are cut from the program, while the other half moves on to complete a 2-week teaching practicum. Except for some reason, only 17 students were invited to participate in the 2-week practicum this year. 17 out of 123. And Tucker was one of those 17!

So for two weeks, Tucker prepared lessons, wore a suit and tie, and taught 0-hour seminary at Springville High School. I loved every morning when he'd come home exclaiming, "I just love seminary!" or "Those kids are so cool!" He was livin' the dream and loving every second. And at the end of the two weeks, the kids filled out reviews and said sorrowful goodbyes to "the best student teacher [they]'ve every had!"

As the end of the semester approached and finals loomed ahead, those 17 kids waited anxiously to hear if they would be one of the lucky few who would be hired to teach part-time at a local high school starting in the fall. We waiting and tried to not get our hopes too high.

And then the phone rang.

After some uncomfortable small talk, Brother Martin, one of the directors, explained the situation. One of the current part-time teachers - so someone a year ahead of Tucker in the program - decided to drop out of the seminary program and accept an offer to work full-time somewhere else, and they desperately needed someone to take over teaching his classes. Would Tucker be willing to accept this position? Oh, and by the way, it starts immediately.

I wish I could capture the look on Tucker's face in that moment. So much excitement. And so much humility at the same time (which, if you know him, you know that's saying something... (; ).

But really, I am so incredibly proud of him. I've watched as he's labored over lesson plans and prayed fervently for the Spirit's guidance. I love that he knew all his students by name after the first day, and I love hearing him pray for them. He will make an incredible seminary teacher. Any time I tell someone what he's pursuing, their immediate response is, "Oh my gosh, he would be PERFECT for that!" And I couldn't agree more. It was a bit surreal the first day he unlocked the seminary building with his very own set of keys and walked into his very own classroom and sent emails to parents in his very own office at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, Utah. Surreal, but so completely right. We know this is where he's meant to be and where he fits best. For the next year, he will teach a few classes, and this time next year, we will be praying and crossing our fingers for a full-time offer, trusting all along in the Lord's plan for us.

We're so excited for this opportunity, and we're so excited to see where it takes us.

So proud of our Brother Denton!