Never Doubt Yourself

I have had the time recently to think and reflect on what I love and what makes me tick. In other words what makes Karla Thelma...Karla Thelma. Here is a list I have composed:

1. I love my family more than words can describe, being away from them leaves me with a little empty feeling

2. I adore slow dancing, it is one of my favorite things. Oddly it makes me miss stake dances when that cute boy would come up and ask you to dance. It also makes me miss going up to the wallflower boys and scaring the daylights out of them as I ask them to dance--yes I was THAT girl

3. Disney-need I say more? Disneyland, Disney Movies, Disney Princesses, Disney Princes, Disney dress up, DISNEY DISNEY DISNEY 

4. Tulips. I dream about going to Holland to run through fields of tulips (it's Holland right?)

5. The ocean, being out on the ocean, there is nothing like it

6. Children, they are the light in my life. They remind me to be free! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't teach. 

7. Sending mail, not to mention receiving it as well

8. Blasting oldies music and being proud to know almost every single song that comes on the oldies station--let alone knowing what the oldies station is by heart no matter where I move

9. Dressing up--for no reason at all

10. Building forts

11. Cuddling up in a big sweatshirt with a book, or just cuddling

12. Yoga pants, not yoga...just the pants

13. Teaching

14. Bathing suits...wearing them all day in the summer so you are ready to swim at a moment's notice

15. The "after Thanksgiving a coma" where my whole family and extended family piles on the couch in front of a Disney movie. Then waking up an hour later with someone's foot in your face and head on your shoulder

16. Harry Potter

17. Watching murder mysteries with my grandma :)

18. Pugs

19. Dancing in the rain

20. Rocking a baby to sleep, feels like you're with an angel

21. The peace of a river or stream

22. Laying in the sun and falling asleep, then coming in with red lines all over your face from the grass

23. Being barefoot, everyday, everywhere

24. Cabins

25. Falling asleep to movies on the couch with my brother laughing like a mad man

26. Heart to hearts

27. Pillow Talk

28. Cramming into a twin sized bed with my best friend and not feeling squished at all

29. Love. No matter what type, it always fascinates me how powerful one little 4 letter word can be. Never ever take it for granted, more people in this world need love

30. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is my rock. 


There are many more things that I love and would write about, but I would rather let that become more of a mystery discovery process. I am unique. We all are. Be proud of who you are, what you are like, and what you are capable of. Some of the best advice I ever received was to "Never doubt yourself". I have followed that as best as I know how.  And you know what? It's true. 

Lessons from Disney

We all grew up watching Disney, at least most of us did. I breathed Disney, I played Disney, I loved Disney, but more than anything I watched Disney. Today as I was sick in bed the only thing I wanted to watch was Disney movies. As I lay in bed watching Toy Story 3 I thought of all of the lessons I learned from good old Walt.

Disney taught me the following:

If you sing while walking alone in a forest you will find the man of your dreams (literally)

Toys do have feelings ( I knew it)

Seeing someone for who they are inside softens even the toughest of beasts

If you rebel against your father you get to marry a prince and become human (huh)

To be a princess you can only have 1 parent

If you eat food from a stranger a prince will come wake you up from death

If you tell lies your nose will grow to unnatural lengths

Attaching balloons to a house will make it drift away to precisely where you need to go (how convenient)

You can sleep for 100 years and wake up in the exact same state you fell asleep in...perfect

Monsters only scare you for their job, they are actually quite cuddly 

Dogs can fall in love over spaghetti, and Tramp is just a name, not a derogatory term

If you kiss a frog you actually turn into a frog (boy have I had that backwards for years!)

Mice actually befriend elephants not scare them

Little boys can be raised by wolves...and panthers

Love can be found in an instant, or in a glass slipper

If you have big leg muscles you can basically surf up and down trees no problem

Chanting "I do believe in fairies" brings fairies back to life

Sharks can control their hunger for fish, so why not humans?

Women can pass for men as long as the other men wear buns and armor



The most important lesson I learned is that dreams do come true, and Disney allows that to happen, no matter what age you are. I mean what other place would there be full grown adults pushing past little kids in a parade just to see their favorite princess? (ok maybe that is just me). Or what other movie would bring tears to your eyes as love blossomed between prince and princess or between toy and boy? Today I am grateful for Disney, where dreams come true, and I never have to grow up. 

A Backwards World

This world is backwards. People that should be recognized are not. I am obviously talking about teachers. Teachers shape the world. Teachers inspire, develop, nurture, and encourage the leaders of our future. Teachers' are the leaders of today. Yet, they are not noticed. They are not given proper funds. They are not recognized for the backbreaking and heart wrenching details that play into the life of a teacher. Doctors and lawyers are important, and should be recognized and well paid. But what would they have become if they had not had a teacher? A teacher who cared enough to help them succeed? Where would you be without your teachers? Yes, "boys and girls", teachers is plural. There may be one or two teachers that stand out above the rest, but we have all been touched by many many many teachers. I estimated and by the end of high school I had had over 60 teachers. By the time I finished college I had had over 100 teachers throughout my time in school. From age 5 to 21 I had had over 100 men and women affect my life for better. 

Teachers' see and hear some of the most heartbreaking and life shattering life stories. Stories that you should never hear, especially because they are so often told about the students that you care for and love every day in your classroom. Teachers work tirelessly to ensure that EVERY child benefits, that EVERY child is being serviced to reach his or her greatest potential. Teachers raise the children of today. They are team members with parents. Teachers are advocates for a higher and better society. Please don't stand in their way, don't bring down all of their hard work. Please don't demean or judge a woman or man who chooses to be a teacher. When you do you are demeaning all of the hundreds of men and women that you praised as "teacher" throughout your life. The men and women who helped you grow to be who you are today. Please don't underestimate the power of a teacher, for this world is backwards. Those that work in the dirt are creating the most beautiful flowers. Don't step on our garden.

My name is Karla Horne. I go by Ms. Horne, Miss Karla, Karla, Horne, Hey you, um, but most importantly "teacher". 

Love Month

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have found my one true love the first time around. Then I think about all of the experiences, loves, losses, and wonderful friends I made over the dating process and realize each person that came into and out of my life was there for a reason. I realize this might be an odd blogpost to write, but it is how I am feeling. I have been thinking about love and the many forms it takes, especially because we are so close to Valentine's day. "Love month", as I like to call it, is approaching, and yet there is so much more than just the romantic love that should be celebrated. These are the types of love I consider worth celebrating:

1. The love of a mother for her child
2. The love of a father and his baby girl
3. The love of a blossoming romance
4. The love of siblings that is often expressed in quarrels and made up in cuddles
5. The love of a best friend, who knows that no matter how far a part you are, or how little you may talk, nothing could ever break or harm the friendship you hold
6. The love of a teacher for her students, a kind of love that so often goes unappreciated or unnoticed except between the teacher and student themselves.
7. The love of a mother and a father for each other. I feel that this love might be so very different from the love of a young couple. The love of parents for one another is a deep bond that I look forward to experiencing one day.
8. The love of an old couple who has been together through it all and back again. 
9. The love of a grandparent for their grandchildren. It's often hard to describe but so easy to feel
10. The love of relatives for relatives, no matter how distantly related you may be, family is family
11. The love of a pet and its owner, the looks of love and adoration, the comfort received, the loyalty
12. The love of guardian angels protecting us from the other side of the veil
13. The deep love rooted in human nature to be charitable to one another, even the strangers we meet
14. The love of a religious leader and his or her congregation, something that moves deep inside of them and whispers "protect them"
15. The love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, when He gave His life so we could live

But most importantly...The love of a Father in Heaven, who gave His Only Begotten Son so He could have all of His children back. A Father who never leaves our sides even when we leave His. A Father who desperately longs for us to choose the right and to return to His loving embrace. A Father who turned His back on His Son, even Jesus Christ, as He suffered for the sins of mankind.How hard that must have been for Him. 

That, my friends, is love. That is the love that should be celebrated not once a year, but each and every day. This Valentines day I challenge myself and whoever continued reading this post to find someone new to love and to express that love to everyday. Whether it be a long lost friend, a stranger, a family member, a significant other, or your Heavenly Father. Express it in your words and actions. Love is an expression of understanding. When we love we express to others that we understand our relationship with them. It expresses gratitude and charity. One of my favorite movies Dan In Real Life states "Love isn't a feeling. It's an ability." 

What a powerful statement. Take the time to enable yourself to love, and love in many different ways. 

I am constantly surrounded by love. Why not show it a little more?

Birthday Birthday

I turned 22 years old yesterday. I was born to my sweet parents on January, 30th 22 years ago. It's funny to me how when birthdays arrive it doesn't really seem to feel any different and yet another year has flown by. When you look back over the past year it seems as though so much has changed. What baffles me is that isn't a year such a little amount of time? Isn't it so short in comparison to the large scheme of things? And yet, in the past year I was able to finish my last three semesters of college, watch my brother leave on a mission, fall in love, break my heart, learn to mend it again, see those I love through hard times, and begin my career as an educator. All of this and so much more in a year. A simple, tiny year. The ability that humans have to accomplish things is incredible. I am grateful for the past year and looking forward to the new one to come. Although I know this year will bring so much sadness, challenge, excitement, and joy--I look forward to it all. It makes me stronger each year. Here is to being 22! Young, beautiful, and more and more in touch with who I am becoming. 

Lessons and Lessons

I have been student teaching for almost a month now. The time has flown by and I now have a spare moment to update my blog, and update myself even, as I reflect on this past month. I never expected to be so busy. I never expected to literally lie in my bed at 8 pm and have no regrets about possibly falling asleep due to pure exhaustion. I never expected to have so many emotions when I walked into school each morning. The feelings of love for the sweet children that enter my doors. The feelings of anxiety as I am thrown into a lesson or situation that takes me completely outside of my comfort zone. The feeling of complete despair when I hear the tragic homes these children come from. The feeling to just give up and at the same time the feeling of total obligation and responsibility to these children who rely on me every day to be happy and ready to teach. 
Being a teacher is a great gift and an immense responsibility. Those children trust you and admire you more than words could possibly describe. It is felt in their smiles, their eyes that constantly follow you, their tears, their hugs, their gifts, and so much more. 
I know my gift is with teaching and in working with children. I have already seen the difference I can make in their lives. It is a gift that I will always cherish. 
The first day of student teaching in my 1st grade classroom I told myself that I wouldn't say no to opportunities to teach, even if it scared me to death. Well, I can gladly say that I haven't. I have said "Yes" and jumped into teaching. As a result I nearly took over the entire class after two weeks of student teaching, which is unusual. Now I am a month in and already feeling sad that I only have a month left with these little ones before I switch to my special education placement. 

Student teaching doesn't leave much time to look pretty, but some days I get a chance to wake up and actually take the time to get ready. While most days I just rush out the door. I usually tell my roommates "Well, it's a pony tail day" or "Well, it's a bun day for me". I have great roomies. 

I participated in crazy hair day-naturally. :)

I also infested our home with sickness. This is right after I found out I had strep throat. Thank goodness I have supportive roommates.

Although there is so much to learn still, I have feel so prepared. I feel so blessed to have gone to a wonderful university with professors that forever impacted my life. I cannot wait to begin my career as a teacher. I realize more and more each day the important things in this life. Family. Education. Love. The Gospel. Close Friends. Relationships. Those are my treasures. 

Christmas Lessons

When I reflect on Christmas time in my life my mind overflows with smiles, laughter, memories, music, and warm things. When I was young, Christmas began with the delight of Santa coming down the chimney and leaving gifts galore under our Christmas tree. It meant arranging all of my stuffed animals perfectly so I could sleep well, only to find that I couldn't sleep at all due to the possibility of hearing Santa's sleigh land on my roof. Those years were filled with American girl dolls and playing barbies in Grandma's back room for hours on end with my cousin. The little cares in life didn't seem to matter as much. 

As I progressed throughout the years braces came, hair frizzed, pimples popped, and harsh realities hit. Grandparents and friends passed away amidst babies being born into the family. The reality of Santa Claus hit while I fought valiantly to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in my heart. 

There were a few years where the string of thoughts of "Christmas feels different this year", or "something is missing" came to my mind. I couldn't understand why the "magic" was suddenly gone. 

As I reflect now I realize that some of my most memorable Christmases have been the ones that were oriented around serving others. Isn't that what Christ's life emulated? And isn't Christmas celebrating the birth of Christ? 

That is my Christmas lesson: giving. Christmas is about giving to others. It is about loving others in the spirit of giving. It means to be filled with music of selflessness and kindness. I have since realized that I had forgotten the reason why we give. We give because Christ gave everything to us. We give because Christ gave His life for us. We give because Christ is the ultimate gift, and during this celebratory time of year we give to one another in His name. Because He is the ultimate example of giving, and He was the ultimate gift. Remember, on this day, and during this time, and throughout the years; the true meaning of Christmas is in the name. Christ. 


If you need a good talk to read on this, Elder Holland reminds us of the story of the birth of Christ in the following talk:

http://www.lds.org/liahona/1995/12/christmas-doesnt-come-from-a-store?lang=eng&query=*+(name%3a%22Jeffrey+R.+Holland%22)

Artist: Liz Lemon Swindle