"The Mormon Moment" in Little Provo

Some of my best friends are famous! Namely,

The one and only MJ Henshaw (that's a bottle of Martinelli's folks, some of the finest drinks around)
And C1 Poster Child, Eric Cragun. It's probably a good thing he doesn't read my blog or he'd hate me saying that...
Check out this link here to see what they have to say about Mitt Romney and the way members of the Church view him in the DC area. Yes, we often have many "Mormon Moments" here in DC...

killing them with kindness is killing me...

Thanks, mom, for teaching me to be nice to people. Cause if I wasn't taught that, there is no way that I could survive my job.

I will admit that many words have been in my head recently towards my students and many of them have not been kind. BUT, outwardly I have shown them kindness...that's a start right?

To be honest, with the student population that I teach, I feel the best way to manage them and to work with them is to be so, so kind. If I get too upset, it usually backfires. It's pretty rough to always be kind especially when they yell out things like:

"Your class is boring"

"I should have taken AP..."

"Why you do too much?"

"You're gettin' on my nerves"

"Hey shoddy Baer"

"@$!# you" (Happened a few days ago...)

"You're irritatin'"

"I hate this class"

"This assignment is so stupid"

Half way through the school year brings up so many warm and fuzzy expressions, right?So here I go trying to kill them with kindness:

"Great to see you today! I am so happy you're here." (In my mind I'm thinking, "Crap, they're here. Why did they come to school today?)

"Wow, I love your sweater. Did you get it at Forever 21?" (Me, trying to stay in on my student's fashion)

"You made a really insightful comment, I love it when you do that." (thank you for not cursing)

"You did such a great job being productive today in class, thank you for your participation" (wow, you actually completed half of your classwork)

Killing them with kindness is almost killing me. After the last few days, I'm barely keeping my head above water. And hopefully I'm making a difference somewhere in there...

It's not very often...

That I get to be surrounded by 6 strapping men. I guess I should soak up the attention while I can!

Thanks for the 5 minutes of Susie Spotlight!

It's that blah time of year again...

Signs that it's that "blah" time of year:

1. I want to sleep all the time
2. Motivation to go out and be adventurous is almost non-existant
3. I find myself eating my comfort foods (I'm still trying to be good though)
4. I find myself working a lot and feeling burned out.
5. I start reflecting about whether or not I am a productive human being and I end up feeling completely boring.
6. Nothing sounds fun to me...not even sports, music, movies, and even blogging
7. I want to become more cute, artsy, and creative like every other girl and I can't get myself to even reorganize my dresser.

Yes, it's that Funk time of year again (see my post 1 year ago...today!)

I don't want to be blah but somehow I just am right now. Help! Am I blah person? Please say it isn't so!

2012: May the Mayans be wrong!

From 5 sweaty dancers to all of you. Happy New Year!

Testimonial of Christ

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas!

With it being the day we commemorate the Savior's birth and a Sunday, I thought it only appropriate to share my testimony of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

I know that Jesus Christ was born, lived, died, was resurrected, and continues to live today. I know that He is a perfect being that perfectly knows our sorrows, joys, griefs, disappointments, desires, capacities, and shortcomings. Through His atonement I know that I can be clean from my sins, and that He can succor me through my trials. I have felt His atonement in my life and as I turn to Him, I recognize that He is the true constant in my life that I can always count on.

I am grateful for the example of the Savior, for his teachings, his example, and his ministry as he was the ultimate exemplar of love, peace, and service. I am grateful that the Gospel of Jesus Christ allows me to become better: to be more loving, patient, understanding, kind, forgiving, faithful, and hopeful. One of my favorite quotes is from Elder Oaks, "Compared to the institutions of the world that challenge us to know something, the Gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something" (Elder Oaks, The Challenge to Become).

I know this is true. I know that I can change through Christ and I know I can be better through him. I know that He loves me and He loves you. I know that my Lord and Savior lives!

Thank you all for your Christ-like examples and discipleship. Often my testimony is strengthened as I spend time with wonderful friends and family.

May we always remember Christ and seek him out always is my prayer and wish for all of you in the New Year.

Much Love, Susie

Team Baer

Minus my TA, Daniel. (I doubt he'd want to be in a picture with a bunch of 20-somethings anyways).

This has been my sense of sanity the last 9 weeks of work before the winter break--my "Team Baer." Thanks to my practicum student, Tori (left), and my student teacher, Tina (on the right) we managed to stay so on top of my grades, plan meaningful lessons, and help a lot more students. I don't know why more teachers don't have student teachers! It's the greatest blessing. Plus, I eventually want to be a mentor teacher in the future, so great practice for me.

And if you're starting to feel sorry that I won't have a student teacher anymore...don't. I'm getting another one come January! Praise the teaching gods!