Dear Blog, I have neglected you. For so very long. But better things were happening.Life was happening.And your job is to keep memories... and I guess you could say that I was a little too busy for you because I was out there making them... Like saying goodbye to my second fourth grade class who I fell in love with. I wish I could post pictures to give you an idea of how great this class was. They will be missed...
Like driving up to Rexburg for a spur of the moment adventure date...
Like celebrating my favorite American holiday with great people, BBQ, icecream, and a fire work show put on by a very patriotic dad...
Like spending a week in the magical land of Sun Valley, ID where family fun never ends...
Like running my very first race, a 10K, with my dad after sending texts of progress and encouragement back and forth all summer. AND both of us reaching our time goals...
Like enjoying beaches, perfect weather, and whale watching in Long Beach, CA...
Like welcoming home a beautiful sister-in-law who spent the last year and a half serving the good people in Russia...
Like watching your dear friend since 9th grade marry the love of her life...
And like reuniting with old roommates who helped make your college years some of the best years you'll ever have...
So blog, please forgive me for forgetting about you. But it sure was one heck of a summer and I am glad I didn't miss one second of it.
Well, it's been a while. But here I am again, ready to share some thoughts with you. There is no order to these thoughts... So here we go.
It has been snowing hard all morning long. First of all, this explains to me why some of my fourth graders have been acting like crazy Mexican jumping beans for the last two days. They always get weird when the pressure changes. No lie. Second of all... I just got back from the grocery store and I heard several people complaining about the weather. I was thinking to myself, I must be a total weirdo then because I am LOVING the weather today. If it is going to be cold, then I want it to look pretty. Also, Saturdays are the BEST days for snowstorms. I love cooking a good breakfast with the husband and then curling up on the couch with a book while watching the snow fall. I mean, really, it doesn't get better than that. Not for me anyway.
My job can be exhausting, but super rewarding. Like, more than I can say. I'm not a mother yet, but I hope I will be one day and I feel as though being a teacher is really preparing me for that.... although I wouldn't really know- because I have never been a mother, right? Anyway, for those who have read blog posts in the past, you may be familiar with Hardest Student from last year. The one who caused me to shed more tears than I can count. Well, in the last couple of weeks, he has stopped into my room more than once after school "just to say hi." And you might think, "So.....??" But man, it just means the world to me. If you knew this kid, you might understand why. It means that after all the struggles we had last year, it did get through to this kid that feels that no one cares for him, that I actually do. And to me, that is one of my life's greatest successes.
I have a cute girl this year that hangs out in my classroom after school a few days a week. She just needs to call her dad to let him know she's staying. Most days she'll help get the board ready, play on the iPad, or chat with me while I grade papers. Yesterday she got out the checkers board and challenged me to a game. At first I was thinking, man, I really just need to get my plans ready for next week. But I succumbed and ended up playing the most hilariously intense game of checkers of my life. I loved laughing with her and getting to know her better. It just felt good to throw work aside and enjoy this cute girl because, honestly, that is the BEST part of my job. And as I drove home I had the thought... I really hope that as a mother I will be able to, every once and a while, put the work aside and enjoy my kids. Because those are the moments that count. That mean something. That build relationships.
I very often feel extremely unworthy of all the great blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me. But I hope I can make the most of the them. I know I fall short a lot and I am always discovering new weaknesses I have, but I am grateful for all the many wonderful people in my life that make me who I am- the better version of myself.
And to end this random post, here is a lovely song for a snowy day. Enjoy.
After a most lovely week of visiting family for the holidays, we arrived back in Logan last night. We were welcomed back by a land of ice, snow, and a temperature of 5 degrees.
It may be cold around here, but there is no denying it is beautiful.
