"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans"- Woody Allen

A speaker at my graduation used this quote, and I've thought about it a lot lately. 

The past two years of my life, I've learned my plan may not have really been the best plan for me ( go figure). I was going to breeze through school, become an SLP, and start thinking about marriage after that. I obviously have a loving Heavenly Father who has much more understanding about what I really need than I do. 

My plans for post graduation were to work and become Karl's sugar mama to get him through school. It was a good plan.....until I couldn't find a job. So I kept praying, applying everywhere and trying to figure out what I was supposed to do with my life. One of my professors mentioned a fairly new masters program at USU in the deaf education department. Something inside me pushed me to to ask her for more information. I liked what I heard and applied on a whim assuming even if I got in, I wouldn't be accepting. There was no way we could pay for it anyways. 

Miracle of miracles I have been accepted into this program and been provided with financial aid to cover a lot of the cost. I've hesitated about posting this for awhile, afraid that I'm jumping ahead of myself and this isn't what I'm supposed to be doing, but after a lot of thought and prayer I've accepted the offer. I'm freaked out, not totally sure how this is all going to work out, but I definitely feel good about this new path. I'm learning to trust in that still small voice that is helping me get out of my own way to find the best direction for my small family. 

I'm really excited about this program! It's not where I thought I was going, but I am so excited to work with deaf children and make a difference in their lives and their family's lives. So in two more years I can call myself Master Beckert! I think Karl 's gonna like that more than Bachelor Beckert:)

(http://www.soundbeginnings.usu.edu/auditory_learning/index.html)dex.html)

Land of the Sun

We had a great time in Arizona! I was afraid Karl wouldn't come home with me when the trip was over! He's already started our two year plan for moving to Mesa as soon as we're both done. We made so many good memories this trip. 

-We learned that there is in fact a town called Tuba city

-We got to go to the zoo and have a monkey jump right in front of us! And I mean right in front of us! 

-I proved that the Phoenix zoo does have camel rides! 

-We went to a Diamondbacks game ( a first for me and Garrick, Tori's husband)

-A man with a very sweet looking Sparky tattoo got very excited about Karl's ASU Fear the Fork shirt.  He my friends, was a true ASU fan.

-We went to Freestone park and enjoyed a free concert in the park

-We swam our little hearts out

-We got tans! 

-We went to the Gilbert Library and hung out by the coolest pond in the back

-We went to eat at Matta's twice and decided that the shredded beef is so good, we would be happy to order a plate of just the beef

-I learned that reading in the car for Tara is a big no no unless she wants to feel sick for the next 24 hours

-We also learned that we need to invest in a video camera, because the gems we caught with my parents camera were too good not to share. I'm putting all of the footage we have together and I'll post that later, but here is hands down everyone's favorite video clip from the trip: 

 

P.S. If anyone knows of a good program to use to put video together for a PC. I'd love ideas:)

Bachelor Beckert

Graduation was awesome!!! I keep calling myself Bachelor Beckert. Karl hates it. Something about me not being single.....or a man. 

 Here are some pictures to prove that I made it...

 "Congratulations on participating in the commencement ceremony at Utah State University! Participation in ceremony does not guarantee graduation from the university." Awesome.

Graduation was filled of lots of good family time. My awesome in laws through me a BBQ beforehand complete with amazing burgers, sarah salad (courtesy of my mama), and sheet cake! I loved getting to see my family and even have my grandma & grandpa Hansen come up to celebrate. Shae and Jake stayed with us that night and we got to party hardy! I love my family. 


This whole day I couldn't believe I actually finished. I thought a lot about the people who helped me get here. My parents have always pushed me to do my best, not to mention I could not have survived college without their support. Karl supported me throughout all the craziness of taking on way too much. Man I'm so glad I married a patient guy! 


I have no idea what I'll be doing after this summer, but I'm excited for new opportunities to open up. 

I'm done!!!

Gradjeeatin'

That's right. I be gradjeeatin' this Saturday!!! 

I took my last final on Tuesday and that was that. Graduating from Utah State has a lot of mixed emotions for me. I have loved school. It's one thing I'm actually good at. I could be a professional student if the pay was better. So being done with school is actually kind of a scary thing for me. I have to figure out life. I have to get a job. When Karl goes back to school, I most likely won't be going back with him. It's weird.

But, I am excited to say that I survived college. I've learned so much and I love the major I picked. It's been a pretty awesome ride.

 I met Karl in math 1010. We got married the next fall and both had the worst semesters of our college careers (it got better:) College has been good to me. 

Now, I'll most likely have to dive into the real world, find myself a big girl job, and become Karl's sugar mama for the next little while. I am pretty excited to be at a point where I can start really helping him achieve his goals. We're dreamers. We have big plans that may never happen, but they keep us moving forward. 

Graduating has really filled my mind with lots of random thoughts about life and how just when I get comfortable, everything changes again. I'm starting to like change a lot more than I used to though. Change is good. 

For now, I'm soaking up the last little bit of this week of exciting changes.

Look out world! Here comes Mrs. Tara Julene Beckert with a head full of Bachelors degree knowledge in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education.

Giddy up!