Grody

The top five reasons why I love my roommates.

1. KA for making amazing baked goods all the time. OK.

2. MJ for showing off her awesome leopard body pillow...and more...whoa.

3. Sar for having RAD times with me. RAD=Random Acts of Dancing

4. Meliss for giving amazing massages and pep talks.

5. For sharing grody pictures with me. Like the one below.

Seriously, how did I get so lucky to room with such grody girls??

feeling a little bit like a greenie

Four years ago I had just entered the MTC. Come February it will be 4 years since I entered the mission field as a little bitty greenie. In other words, I was new to the mission life and had no idea how to be the best missionary and how to be effective in my calling. More often then not, I wanted to be this incredible missionary...someone at the same level as the AP's or the more seasoned missionaries. It was impossible to become that person. I had just come into Canada. I had no idea what I was doing. I had to learn to be patient with myself, with my companion, and with the work. I had spurts of frustration that I could not be the best missionary I wanted to be. I couldn't be that great missionary because I had just started. I had to learn the ropes, make mistakes, and keep trying to perfect myself. It took time to become the missionary that I wanted to be. Even when I had one week left in Canada, I felt then that I had just figured out how to be an effective missionary.

My mission experiences truly parallel my experiences now as a first year teacher. I am, again, a greenie. I think I know how to be a good teacher but it's MUCH easier said than done. I am learning through my mistakes that often affect my students and their learning. I go to work everyday seeing my weaknesses exposed almost every hour. And I think to myself, "Is this what I signed up for? Can I really make a difference? Will I ever get the hang of this?" The answer is that yes, I know I can do this. It has been challenging since day one of this job trying to figure out what the heck I am doing. But I have to remember: I am a greenie in the teaching profession. I have to be patient with myself. I can't be a seasoned teacher yet because I have to experience all these things to know what I am doing right and wrong. It's okay to be a greenie. We all have to go through it at the start of every stage of life.

But this is one thing that is great about being a greenie, similar to the mission. My reliance on the Lord has increased, my humility has grown, and my love for students is strong. I know I can love, care, and pray for my students. I have that in my power. So as I am messing up everyday I can at least come home knowing that I did my best to help my students. I can give them that love, direction, and motivation. I can do that now, even if the other things are still falling into place.

And I am grateful that I know that this too shall pass and, eventually, I will feel that things will calm down and get better; which is good, because this greenie business is hard!

Put it in a bubble and blow it away

This statement, I believe, was coined by my sister, Chrissie. Or she heard it from somebody else. I can't remember. But it always sticks with me, nonetheless. It's a good visual for me to remember to let things roll off my back, not get carried away, forgive, move on, to not be offended, and to just roll with the punches. I am a tender hearted person and tend to get a little sensitive. I am trying to toughen up.

Lately, I feel like this is my mantra.

A co-worker says something a little offensive about Mormons. Put it in a bubble and blow it away.

My students swear all the time. Address their disrespectful behavior then put it in a bubble and blow it away.

My students question my teaching authority. Hang tough. Put it in a bubble and blow it away.

Boys are indifferent to me and my "encouragement." Put it in a bubble and blow it away.

Friends misconstrue my altruistic behavior. Put it in a bubble and blow it away.

This has been my sanity. I am not perfect. I can't do everything right. I can't take things personally. I can't be so sensitive.

But I can put all my frustrations--offenses, behaviors, indifferences, and every other behavior that I can't control--in a bubble and blow it away.

I already feel better. Phew.

I don't want to grow up, I'm a Toys-R-Us kid.

Remember that commercial from the early 90s??

Well, I do.

First, a disclaimer: I am really really really really really really really grateful that I have a job now. One with benefits, a salary, summer vacation and all that jazz...

If you haven't picked up on it, yes, I do have a job now. It's actually legit. Contract has been signed, everything.

But I will tell you this...it's hard to grow up, be an adult, be responsible for me and for my students, pay for things, be independent, bus and metro to work, make big life decisions. It makes me realize that what I had as a child was good, really good.

So for now I just want to be a Toys-R-Us kid and worry about what toy I want for my next birthday.

Wow, Sunday night blues are hitting me hard tonight. Time for bed.

A mouse-literally-in the house

The mouse arrived at 9:45 Wednesday evening just outside our utilities closet. It was on the verge of death, so we watched it flip-flop for a while. Gross.

Screaming ensued in our living room.


MJ reassured us that she killed huge spiders in Micronesia, so she could surely get the mouse out of the house.

She shoved the mouse slowly but surely across the kitchen floor. Screaming along the way.

Kaleb was our exterminator. He handled it with complete indifference; shoving the mouse out the door with his slipper then eventually using a spatula to flip it over the fence and onto the grass. Leave it to a man.

MJ and Kaleb washing their hands and congratulating themselves on a job well done.

MJ cleaning up the mouse tracks.

KJ cleaning up the mouse poop in the utilities closet. You wanted that detail, right?

Clint arriving after the incident. He was of no help to us at all. His presence is always welcome though.

Mouse-was killed-in the house.

Resolution #1: Bring on the Men in Twenty-ten

That's what we talked about in marriage prep today. Yes, you have it right...bring on the men in 2010. It's the theme among us women singletons. No, we're not asking for Mr. Right to sweep us off our feet (though it would be a nice surprise if that happened), we just want a chance to date and maybe even kiss a lot of men. Is that too much to ask for? Mr. Right doesn't need to be in the picture, but I wouldn't mind a Mr. Right Now.

So here's to 2010!

Wish me luck.

Theme of 2009: Doing the right thing is hard to do.

Right thing #1: Moving out to DC in January of 2009 to student teach in DCPS.
Hard: The unknown. Teaching in DCPS, living with randoms, accustoming myself with a new ward and new scene.
Result: AMAZING experience and opportunity with its hardships, of course.

Right thing #2: Moving back to Utah for the summer, being an EFY counselor, and living at home.
Hard: Attending a non-BYU single's ward; no friends close by; but overall, it wasn't that hard, it was comfortable.
Result: Living the cushy life at home. Life was peachy.

Right thing #3: Moving out of my cushy life and going back to Washington DC to find a teaching job and to live...for a while!
Hard: Started from scratch, unemployed for months, subbing, licensing a pain in the neck, being away from family.
Result: Blissfully happy vs. painfully humbled. It was a competition.

Right thing #4: Living in Washington DC and accepting a teaching position at Wilson High School for the rest of the school year...and beyond.
Hard: TBD...though I have no idea how I'm going to do this. Stories will come very soon.
Result: Hard to know at this point, but I am sure I will be generally happy and busy.

Overall Lesson:

The Lord's plan is truly not my own. I am constantly learning how God is in control of my life, not me. Yet I have found through so many of my experiences that doing it God's way may be difficult, trying, and even heartbreaking, his plan ALWAYS makes me the most happy.

It may be hard, but it is right...and that's what's most important.

Thanks 2009 for this lesson, bring on 2010.