Like an announcement? :)

I have some exciting news!! Justin and I are engaged!! :) The wedding will be December 17th in the Oakland Temple. We'll be having a reception that night in Los Banos, California and a reception in Cheney, Washington on December 30th. We're pretty excited. I'm one lucky gal. If you'd like an announcement, please go to: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEVoNjIwU3M4ZUJwYXVzcmNHcDJFSlE6MQ. Thanks. Have a fantastic day. Love, love, love, Janae...soon to be Hixson :)

A long overdue update

One week til we see each other. I can't wait!!

So, I've been horrible at updating lately. I can't think of a general theme, or thesis, so I will go by my normal procedure-lists. I sure love 'em. So, here are some random thoughts/happenings in my life:

1. I'm in love...and I don't care who knows it. He rocks my socks!!
2. I love my new job. It's challenging, but that makes me like it even more.
3. In the past week, I have broken up at least 5 fights, wrote 2 referrals, had 3 students cry in my class, and wow, so much more. Gotta love the ghetto.
4. I have tried cooking/baking the following since I moved here (among many other things): bolinhos de chova (Brazilian rain donuts), hush puppies (not the shoe-it's a Southern culinary, well, I wouldn't call it a delight, but more of a staple), chicken salad sandwiches with honey mustard, grapes, and cranberries, Peanut butter/chocolate cupcakes, creamsicle cupcakes, Nutella-infused cupcakes, homemade tortillas, homemade veggie and pasta soup, and so much more. I think the whole "Southern cooking and hospitality" mentality has taken heart in this Northwest gal. I was meant to be a Southern belle.
5. Songs I've been obsessed with lately: "Rosas" (La Oreja de Van Gogh), "Getting By" (Weekend Excursion), "Teach me how to Dougie" (it's cuz they played it at the school dance today. I can't help it. It's so darn catchy!!), "Must Have Done Something Right (Relient K), "Amiguito Baila Conmigo" (it gets the kiddos' wiggles out, which is a Godsend :)), "You Make My Dreams" (Daryl Hall and John Oates), "Crazier" and "Today was a Fairytale" (Taylor Swift).
6. Things I currently am grateful for: cough drops, the weekend, homemade soup to soothe the throat and my soul of course :), that my books are starting to sell on Amazon, the school dance today which saved me from the adorable little monsters we like to call kindergarteners.
7. ONE WEEK TIL I GET TO SEE JUSTIN AND MY FAMILY!! I also get to go through the temple. I'm super excited. :)
8. Fun story:

In the staff room, I was with the ladies. We were talking about a dress I'm getting and how it shows my curves. The ladies (who are all Black) said, "You've sure got 'em." I said, "I'm like a white girl in a Latina body." One of the ladies said, "Maybe Black?". Long pause...they look at each other, the bolts in their mind spinning away... "Naw, Latina." Joe-I knew you'd appreciate that one. :) Honorarily Latina til the day I die. :)
9. I learned how to "dougie" today from 3rd graders. Wow. It looks soooo hard!! Another reason I wish I was Black. They're always cooler than us.
10. I LOVE life, family, friends, and the Gospel.

Life is good. Love, love, love, Janae :)

Pasos-pequenos y gigantes

Liz, my mom, and I at the Carthage Jail. What an amazing man of God Joseph Smith was!! What a good reminder as to how I should live my life as I took a big step into my new season of life-RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. :)

God loves us. What a miracle. What a blessing. He looks out for each and every one of us, whether we choose to see it or not. I, for one, am grateful for His constant love and support every step of my life-big and small. What's my latest step? Moving to Richmond, Virginia (that's sure a BIG one :)) where I am far from everything and everyone I have ever known-except for my Savior. What a blessing it has been throughout Hurricane Irene, the first earthquake Virginia's had in centuries, and moving to a new city, new apt., and essentially new everything to know that He is there watching over me.

Yes, God lives. Yes, God is there to protect us. Yes, He will ALWAYS be there for us. And yes, I will live faithful so that I can return to His loving arms again.

Isn't life SIMPLY AMAZING!?!?!?!

Ya know what's even better?

Knowing that we are never alone and that we'll be reunited with our Heavenly parents again one day.

Love, love, love, Janae :)

Isn't Life Great?

Me n' some of my favorite people that make life simply wonderful-Jeyza and Scarlet!! :)

A statement often mocked or overlooked, but always true. I am SO blessed and lucky to have such a charmed life. I have a family that loves me, that teaches me tons, and I love them right back. I have outstanding friends that I would do anything for. I have marvelous freedoms in this country and am forever in debt to those who have sacrificed for me so that I can have them. I am beyond blessed to have a knowledge of the truth of the Gospel. Most importantly, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and elder brother, Jesus Christ and love them so much. I am blessed to have their love and support every step of the way. Life is wonderful!!!

Love, love, love, Janae :)

Application to date me:

To date me, please qualify for at least five of the following categories. Category #1 is a requirement.
1. Be an upstanding, awesome, recommend-holding LDS guy. (This one is required.)
2. Be a cowboy. (BONUS point on this one!! :))
3. Speak Spanish and/or Portuguese, and want to teach your children a second language.
4. Be Black.
5. Want to adopt children.
6. Be Tongan.
7. Want to travel all over the world and explore the great outdoors.
8. Sing like Josh Turner.
9. Dance latin style!!
10. Be well read.
11. Kids LOVE you-especially my nieces and nephews.
12. Make me crack up.
13. Love music.
14. Have genes for one of the following: red hair, twins, or dark skin.
15. Be athletic.
16. Love to learn and try out new things.
17. Get along well with my awesome and diverse family.
18. Love country music.
19. Be happy and optimistic.
20. Work hard at things worth working hard at.

If you meet the qualifications, please send in a resume, photo, and three personal letters of recommendations to janaepiercy@gmail.com.

Best of luck,

Janae :)

Consejos de la semana

Ande en bicicleta cuando hace sol!! :)

Lunes:
Tienes que tener confidencia en tu futuro, y hace lo que tienes que hacer para lograr tus metas.
Martes:
Obtenga un trabajo que te gusta, para que puedes divertirte en el trabajo.
Miercoles:
Trabaje, y trabaje duro.
Jueves:
Hable con ancianos. Tienen muchas ideas y experiencias que puedan ayudarte.
Viernes:
Ser paciente con tus amigos. Ya tienen que soportarte y es probable que es muy dificul, como en mi vida.
Sabado:
Disfrute tu tiempo solo, y andar en bicicileta cuando hace sol. Que divertido!
Domingo:
Presta atencion en iglesia. Siempre hay cosas que puedes aprender.

Announcement, Announcement!!

A preview of what I'll be doing in the fall..working with KIDLETS!!

I've finally made my decision. I will be going to Richmond, Virginia to teach Spanish!! How cool, huh? It's totally not what I expected, but it feels right and it's gonna be a fun and new adventure for sure!!

So, here's a little info on how this came to pass:
1. I went to BYU's Teacher Fair in March. I randomly talked to the representatives of Richmond Public Schools, gave them my resume, and walked off.
2. They sent me an e mail asking me to consider their school, and I didn't think anything of it.
3. They sent me a letter a week or two later offering me a job as an Elementary Spanish teacher. Crazy, huh?
4. I did a phone interview and they offered me the job!!
5. I considered all of my options (mission, Taiwan, going to nursing school here or in Washington, subbing in Washington, teaching in Brazil/Portugal, etc., etc.) and finally decided last Sunday that that is what I'm going to do!!
6. The only thing I need to do now is to pass the Spanish PRAXIS exam on July 29th. When I pass, I have a job teaching Spanish in an elementary school. I get to teach in an inner city school district where the ethnic background is 85% Black, 10% White, and 5% Other. How awesome is that? I'll also be within two hours of D.C., be in a good singles' ward, be close to Virginia Commonwealth University, and hello-EAST COAST!! It's gonna be a fun adventure where I learn lots, try something new, and get to learn to rely on my Savior and feel His love and guidance in my life, wherever it may take me.

LIFE IS GREAT!!

Love, Janae

Tiparoos of the Week

Play soccer barefoot in the grass and give kids piggy back rides. It keeps you happy, and plus, it's a good workout. I was so refreshingly tired after this.
Tips of the week:

Monday:Go shopping with Eleisha. Don't call boots "hooker boots" unless you know for sure that the store clerk isn't listening. I'm a sinner-dang it. Also, avoid the high council representative while shopping for bridal shower gifts. Wow. I thought I was gonna bust into fire and brimestone as we were walking out of VS.
Tuesday: Choose to enjoy whatever work you have-even if it is the Psych ward. :) Do puzzles with them. It calms them like nothing else. Get food at hospital cafeterias. It's cheap and d-lish!!
Wednesday:Fill up the gas tank before getting to California...it's expensive there. Take pictures of bears while in the wilderness. Let sleeping dogs, er, boys, lie.
Thursday:Visit your granny. She'll love it. Eat your veggies and stay smart to be spunky like my awesome Grandma Brown. Go to high school reunions. It makes you appreciate not being back in the scary jungle...not to be confused with Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, but still very rough.
Friday:Go to the temple, and often. Wear polka dots. Wear yellow. They make everyone around you happy. Check around the car to make sure there isn't a dog next to you. Holy scary. Dance at wedding receptions. Fun stuff!!
Saturday:Buy the Hunger Games series. Then again, if you want to have a life for the next few days besides the books, don't. It's beyond addicting. It's my own personal brand of heroine. Play Scattergories. It brings out a true personality in a person. But, for me personally, I better avoid it meeting my future husband's family. I'll scare him away right away!! I was cracking up and on the point of tears at the Cooks'. Good thing they were already okay with my crazy self.
Sunday:Enjoy times with your friends. You never know where your life may lead, so appreciate the time you have with them. Do stay up til 4 a.m. with your roommate as she writes a 10 page paper that she started at midnight while eating animal crackers. They'll be memories to last a lifetime.

Tips of the Week

Tips of life: LOVE life, LOVE family, LOVE the Gospel, LOVE God, LOVE life. Oh, and smile, like in this picture, or else you'll get frown marks. Not pretty.

Every once in a while, I give "tips of the day". Why not post them to help my dear friends out? I don't want you to have to make the silly mistakes I make each day, so take these as tips to keep from being a dork, that is, unless you wanna run into the funny situations I do each day. Enjoy!! :)

Monday: Chocolate milk is ESSENTIAL at midnight to keep ya going on a 12 hr road trip. Stop in Dillon, MT to get pizza. It's good. Oh, and they actually have stop signs. STOP. Funny story.
Tuesday: You can live a happy life no matter what your physical or other disabilities may be. It all depends on your attitude and perspective. Make conversations with people at the Social Security Card Center. They're funny.
Wednesday: Rock climbing shows you a lot about yourself in your ability to try new things and push yourself to new limits. Don't be a pansy-try it out!! And don't have long nails when you climb.
Thursday: Pick your battles and choose not to be offended by those you love. Two words: Spicy tiger. It does wonders for frisbee.
Friday: Spontaneous weekends are the best weekends. (Especially if they involve fun roommates and going to Dominoes at 12:30.) :)Do not leave belay devices hanging around the Quarry. Whoops.
Saturday: Do NOT put taffy in your back pocket on a sunny day. It's not pretty-nor smooth...it's actually quite sticky on your boo-tay. Play soccer barefoot. It will solve everything.

Tune in next week for some tips all the way from sunny California.

Love, love, love, Janae :)

Summer Adventures

Mis padres y yo at the graduação. :)

I'm a list person. Have you noticed it yet?

Summer adventures so far:
1. Graduate from college. CHECK.
2. Get a rock climbing pass to the Quarry. Check
3. Get a second job to fund summer adventures. Check.
4. Go to morning yoga that's free with rock climbing pass. Check.
5. Read a book each week. Check for the 1st week.
6. Catch my first fish. TBC. (to be checked)
7. Make crum brulee.TBC.
8. Learn the guitar. TBC.
9. Run a marathon. (May 14th-please pray I'll survive!! :)) TBC.
10. Get ice cream from an ice cream truck for the first time. TBC.

LIFE IS GREAT!!

Com amor,
Janae

If I had a wish list for Easter, this is what I'd ask for...

A MAN PILLOW!! Ha-love it!!
http://www.dreamdawn.com/sh/features/img/japanese_horror/man_pillow.jpg


A monthly pass to the Quarry.

A full time teaching job somewhere cool.

Me to survive my marathon.

AWESOME family and friends. Wait...I'm so lucky and already have them.

Life is good. Love, Janae :)

My life is funny

Some of my awesome friends who surprised me on my birthday!!
Ariane & Nathan, Beto, KC, me, and Chloe!!

No man should run faster than he has strength. Let me add to that: no woman should sprint faster than she can on high heels!! Welcome to the past month or so of my life.:) And it's only gonna be crazier for the next 3 weeks until I graduate. There's so many things to do, to decide, and to reflect upon. There is also plenty to stress, as well as laugh about. But, I choose to laugh, because otherwise I would cry...and that gives me a headache.

Funny Stuff:-
They talked a lot about getting married in this last General Conference. That makes me laugh. My latest dating endeavors have included:

1. An ENGAGED guy standing me up for a date on Friday. No, really.
2. The latest guy interested in me is 31. Oh, goodness.
3. I just found out that something I was suspicious about in an old boyfriend is indeed correct. OUCH.
4. My latest boyfriend and I broke up for the same reason: "It just doesn't feel right." I'm pretty sure there's a specific reason for this happening to me multiple times, and I hope that means there's a specific awesome guy out there. Another funny thing was that my soccer boys asked me why we broke up, and proceeded to tell me they didn't like him anyway. So, I told them that they're the reason we broke up...because he didn't get their approval. I love my soccer boys!! What goofs.

Enough with dating!! Other funny/awesome stuff:
1. I got a job offer last night to be a Spanish teacher in Richmond, Virginia!!!!!!!! Funny thing is, I don't remember ever applying for it.
2. I had my birthday last week.Everyone who found out thought I was turning 21. Geez, I think I'll have a baby face for the rest of my life so when I'm in my 60's they'll all think I'm in my 40's. SWEET!! I also had some AMAZING friends do a surprise birthday for me. How sweet!!
3. I worked on the Psych unit twice last week. Wow, that's entertaining and scary sometimes. I got proposed to 2-3 times...
4. My Spanish professor is a SAINT!! Well, sort of. He extended the deadline for our HUGE 8-12 page paper in Spanish until April 15th. It was April 8th before, so I'm SUPER grateful.
5. My boss, Crystal is also a SAINT!! She worked for me on Friday because she said I work too much. So, I chilled at home and hung out with Liz. Loved it!!
6. I have no idea where I will be in 3 months, and...it's EXCITING!!
Life is good. The Gospel is true, and I'm so grateful for the Lord and His guidance and love all throughout my life. I love you all!!

-Janae :)

What is love?

What is love? It's a question I asked my Health students last semester. A dead silence fell over the class until my dear student, Facundo sang out, "What is love? Baby don't hurt me no more!!." HILARIOUS. That was my third period class in a nutshell. But, let's be serious...

All of this excitement, hustle, and bustle over Valentine's Day is fun (I'll admit that it's one of my favorite holidays), but we often forget what it is celebrating-LOVE. What exactly is love? Love is when you put someone's needs over your own. In layman's terms and conditions, that means doing the dishes or taking out the trash when your loved one needs your help. It means lifting them up with no thought of "what's in it for me?".I believe that love is the biggest motivator in life, and enables us to be the best we can be.

I want to be a more loving person; someone that you would know without a doubt loves you. I can think of countless examples of loving people in my life and in the scriptures, but let's focus on the most loving example we can ever have-the Savior. What did he do to show love? It was shown in His every action, thought, and deed, for, "God is love," as stated in 1st John 8:4 (a fabulous chapter on love by the way). As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I believe that we have the ability, opportunity, blessing, and potential to someday become gods. If I am to do so, I must learn to love as the Savior did. I will be focusing on opening my heart to those in need, to choose to see those in need, to see the best in others, and to learn to express love in the way those I love want to be loved. What is love? It's a work in progress in my book. Love, Janae :)

I Lead a Charmed Life

An old-school picture of Leish, Court, and I. :)

"A friend knows the song of your heart, and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words." -Unknown


I am beyond blessed. I have some of the most amazing friends I could ever ask for. I cannot thank God enough for my wonderful friends Eleisha, Courtney, Liz, KC, Joseph, Haliaka,Lauren Mugar, and so many people. I love all of these friends dearly, but I do miss them so much when they're gone. So, I'll reflect on them and what they've taught me:

1. Eleisha-I am SO glad that she has finally come back to me after being gone for 2 years. This girl is simply amazing. She has taught me to be happy, to work hard, to play hard, to serve others, and to follow the Savior. She is one of the most happy, generous, sincerely kind, and amazing people you will ever meet.
2. Courtney-I love her and miss her lots. Courtney is an outstanding example of peace, joy, and kindness. She does things for the right reasons, and always has a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.
3. Liz (AKA my sister)-Liz is honestly one of the most kind and guileless people you will ever meet. She does everything for anyone, and always does the most thoughtful things for others. She has taught me to be more observant of those around me, to be patient, to love others, and to love and follow the Savior.
4. KC-KC is like my big bro. He takes care of me and I don't know where I'd be without him helping me each step of the way. KC has taught me to dream big and to work hard towards these dreams. He has also taught me that the best friends are those who are there in hard times. Not every moment in life is full of sunshine, so it's always good to be that shoulder to cry on for your friends.
5. Joseph-Joseph has taught me a lot, unbeknownst to him. He has taught me to be strong, to be fiercely loyal to those you love, and to focus on the positive. Joseph sees the good in others, and will earnestly try to help everyone, even if you are a crazy, hair-brained mess after finals. :) I sure miss him.
6. Haliaka- She has been my friend through so many years. Her constant kindness, smile, and warm heart never fail to make me happy. I have learned to smell the roses from her. She has a calming spirit in which she makes others feel good about themselves and others. I wish I could be like her in this regard. She has taught me to focus on the most important things in life such as your family and the Gospel, and to love others and the Lord above all.
7. Lauren Mugar-What a sweetheart!! I have learned to be calmer, to listen to others, to have adventures, and to take time to relax from Lauren. She will be leaving on a mission soon, and I will sure miss this amazing gal!!

I am so grateful for my amazing friends and for all they have taught me, and continue to teach me. I hope that I can someday be half the outstanding friends that they are to me. I am so lucky. I lead a charmed life. Life is simply wonderful!!

Love, Janae :)

New Year, New Apt., New Job, Oh My Awesome!!

Visiting Eleisha in San Diego. WOW!! What a blast. This is at the San Diego Temple. What a GORGEOUS temple!!

The only thing constant in my life is change. How awesome is that? I love that!! Life has been full of fun changes lately to keep it interesting. That has been keeping me busy, and I've had a lot of fun in the meantime. :)

Fun new changes:
-Starting my LAST semester at BYU. That's crazy. I love it here and it's exciting to graduate, but at the same time, I will really miss this place.
-Moving into a new apartment. It's a nice and cozy apartment that I get to share with my besties Ariane and Eleisha, so I love it.
-Starting a new job as a CNA at Provo Rehab and Nursing.
-Getting promoted at this job, and becoming a nursing quality assurance interviewer. I am not exactly sure what the official title is, but basically I get to interview residents about the care that they receive here. I like talking to people, and it is good preparation for an MPH, so I like it a lot. I also enjoy not having to do the dirty work for at least one day a week. :)
-Starting my ESL Practicum with Mrs. Sellers. I have volunteered with her before, so I am pretty familiar with her policies and classroom, but it's a bit different doing a practicum than simply volunteering. The kids are pretty rambunctous, but I think they're fun and am excited to get to teach them. :)
-Joining a different intramural soccer team this semester. I am on the legit QUICK team. We have t-shirts and everything. I just had a game tonight so it was fresh on my mind, but I LOVED the synergy, clear communication, and unselfishness of this team. I'm glad I'm playing on their team. I am also especially happy because my friend, Lee J, who was on my intramural team in the summer is our goalie. I played sweep and he played goalie in the summer together, so we communicate well, and I trust his opinion. I loved our game today. A well-earned 2-2 tie!!
-Going rock climbing at the Quarry with Eleisha!! That was a new and perfect weekend activity. Yay for fun changes!!

Life is good. There is so much good out there-just choose to see it. I love you all!!