Hey Julie!

I was asked if I ever heard this song when I introduced myself to some new people in my ward, I had never heard of it so I looked it up. I like it!

Almost 11:00

It's almost 11:00 and I don't want to go to bed just yet. I really don't have anything that would, should, or could keep me up at this point, but I just don't feel like sleeping right now. I had a great week! I had a great weekend! Can't really pinpoint anything in particular to make it great, it just is! I don't want to sleep because I don't want the greatness to end.

Today was great because I really put myself out there. At church lately I have made it a goal to talk to as many new people as I dare. I have a really hard time talking to people if I don't know them very well so I really don't talk to people that I don't know at all. Each Sunday, I pinpoint someone new to ask to pray before and after my lesson in Sunday School, I'm starting to learn names this way. In Sacrament meeting, I find an empty chair next to some people I don't know. Not only do I get to know their names but then we chat a bit and learn a little something extra as well. Today, after church, I was invited to join a group of people for a little potluck in my complex--there aren't that many people in my complex that are in my ward so I'm glad I'm getting to know the people that are here. I have felt like a piece of the background in the ward for quite awhile now, but with so many new people and a new calling, I feel like I'm pushing my way forward. I was also able to help a friend out with one of her classes today but also just sat and talked with her for a couple of hours. I have friends!

Another exciting thing that happened this week is that my sister finally posted some of the pictures she took of me this summer. This is one of them:

She's a really good photographer! You should hire her, go check her website out! And her blog! There are more on Facebook if you are friends with me or Diane.

Still waiting on Prince Charming. No white horses have galloped up to me and no brooms have been put in action either. At this point, bring on the blind dates! I'm in a good mood and as long as you're not setting me up with someone just because we're both single or both short, I will probably be ok with it. The more I look at my ward, the more I think, "Dang, they're so young!" I've finally gotten rid of all of the roommates and enjoy having the house to myself, but I'm kinda looking forward to sharing it again.

Other than that...I had ice cream for dinner tonight. It was delicious!

Love!

I think everyone should have a song, one that when it comes on the radio you just want to turn it up and sing as loud as you dare. My recent is this:

I just love the way it sounds, it's really fun to sing, and I also understand and can sometimes relate to what they're singing about.

Today's Thoughts

Today was a good day at school, yesterday was a good day as well. I have been thinking about some of the things I have been thinking about lately and even some of the things I have posted over the last month and I realized that maybe I haven't been saying things quite like they are. I think I have been feeling pretty down about school lately and even saying that it's been really rough, but really, it's gone really well. Yeah, it's been kind of crazy and I haven't been able to have a "normal" day or schedule just yet. Maybe I don't know all of my students yet and have a few new problems that I haven't had to deal with before. Maybe I am still getting used to having another co-worker around and having to remember to explain a few things before just doing them. Maybe I am still just getting used to everything. BUT all things considered, school is great! This is the first year that I have gone to school and been excited for at least one thing each day. This is the first year that I can say that I am happy with how things turn out each day because I'm not sweating the small stuff and seeing the positive side of everything. I can truly say that I am happy. I really enjoy my job. I enjoy my class. I enjoy my co-workers. I enjoy the other students in 6th grade. Compared to the first month of school in prior years this is probably the best one I have had. I laugh with my students every day. I feel comfortable and confident in my abilities. I go to school and I have fun every day even when things are crazy.

So, what have I been complaining about? I think it's easier to focus on some of the more negative aspects or to talk about them with others. Usually, I let my school life interfere with my home life and vice versa, but lately, I think I have been letting my home life interfere a little bit more than usual. I can definitely say that the beginning of the school year started so well because I was happy at home. I was in a bit of a rut at the end of last year and a little through the summer, but a lot of things have changed since then. The dynamics of my house have changed drastically and the people I hang out with and get to talk to have changed a bit as well. A really good friend of mine became a really good friend of mine right after I came back from California this summer. I don't think that they realize how much of a difference they made, but they really yanked me out of a rough spot. Not that I wouldn't have eventually made it out on my own, this person just sped things up quite a bit. I was excited to get out and do things rather than just let things happen when they happened. I found more joy in the little things in life and started looking at my life as an adventure to be lived and explored rather than just a day to day occurrence. I was able to start the school year off with not just a good attitude, but a great one! I also learned the importance of exclamation points! Life is just more exciting when you write about it with exclamation!

Has my life completely changed? No. Do I look at things a little differently...yeah, you could say that. The thing is that I used to see life like this before, I guess I just forgot. I had the thought sometime in the last year that people used to comment about my smile all of the time, but I haven't heard anyone mention it in awhile. I realized that I must not be smiling as much as I used to be. When I fly home, especially at Christmas, my goal is to be the best passenger ever! I know that it must be pretty hectic around the airport and on the planes especially with everyone running around and worrying about themselves and their travels that those working around and for them get caught up in the frustrations or even ignored. I try to smile as much as I can once I start traveling if only to make a difference to one person. So, why not do this all of the time? Not only do other people feel better, but in the process, I'm happier too. My latest outlook on life...smile and make people notice (even if you don't really feel like it all of the time).

So, back to one of my original thoughts...I've been saying that school is rough and hard lately, but it really hasn't. Life is rough and hard sometimes, but it doesn't have to be all aspects. School has its ups and downs, but really, it's going great! I've let a few things from home life get me down a bit lately, mostly I've been confused about a few things which frustrates me (I'm supposed to know everything), and that gets in the way of seeing everything in a positive light. Things are now put in order. More things are making sense, others...not so much, but that's ok, I don't have to know everything right now.

It's the Weekend!

I have been waiting for this day all week long and now it is the weekend! Nothing really crazy happened this week, I just woke up last Monday and decided I was ready for the weekend again.

Today I had a sub take over my class so I could pull my students out one at a time to do some reading tests. The district had to reorganize our testing and so today I only got through half of my tests and so now I have to figure out how to finish the rest.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Today I decided to make some bread from a recipe that I found about a month ago. I haven't had time to make it before now as it required 4 hours just in rising time. It's good, but not great...I think I'd rather spend the time making cinnamon rolls.

School is going well. We've finally transitioned over to studying Ancient Greece which has a lot more fun activities to do. This last week, I had my students paint pictures of the Greek gods. It was a lot more stressful this year than past years mostly due to time constraints. Alece asked me if we would ever have a normal week as we have had to reorganize our schedules due to holidays and assemblies ever since school started. It's crazy to think that we've already had three weeks of school pass by, where does the time go?

The three-day weekend finally let me get to some well-needed tasks. I can finally find my bedroom floor and bottom half of my bed again (it's not too big of a deal that my bed was half hidden as I rarely ever use the bottom half). My bathroom got some much needed attention and my car is finally back to its original color! Now I just need to attack my classroom.

I can't decide if my body is thanking me or cursing me right now as I'm starting to get back into a regular sleep schedule. The only problem is that I'm tired a lot earlier than I usually am (especially coming out of my summer schedule), but I'm still not much of a morning person. It's amazing the difference 30 minutes can make though. I have a really difficult time getting out of bed at 6:30, but 7 isn't much of a problem except for the fact that I am now pushing to be late for work :)

As Per Request

Seeing as it's been two weeks and my sister sending a request, I guess I should update:

Life has been a roller coaster the last two weeks. I really love teaching, but I don't think everyone understands just how taxing it can be at times, especially at the beginning of a new school year. I don't feel like I've had much time for anything else and when I do, I'm just plain tired. I'm finally catching up around my house this weekend as it has been ignored since before I left for Montana. It's crazy to think that the first two weeks of school are already over and that I've finally learned all of my students' names and then some from other classes as well. I still feel as though I'm running around like crazy to get things planned and then carried out, I guess I'm having a hard time finding and getting myself back in the groove. September is always hard for me and sometimes into the beginning of October. I'm still trying to get to know my students, their needs, and how to best meet all of their very unique needs while also satisfying their parents in the process. At the same time, my students are trying to figure me out and what I expect and how far they can go before getting into trouble. There have been some tears and I have even been getting to bed early (for me) as I get tuckered out each day. It's hard, but good at the same time. This week's whirlwind had me wrapped up in student council elections and jumping in with both feet to a new social studies unit and translating for some students. Now that the elections are over, maybe things will calm down a bit.

Outside of school, I have a new calling as a Sunday School instructor. This calling would have scared me to death even just a few months ago, but I feel good about it now. Still need to put my lesson together for tomorrow, so there is a benefit to having church at one in the afternoon. I've read it, just don't have it down yet.

I was able to go to dinner with my cousin, Pam, and her friends last night at Olive Garden. It was really fun, I had a good time. Our waiter was a hoot and the conversations at the table were entertaining as well. I wasn't going to go at first, but decided to in the end, I'm glad I did. Although, there was a small incident with my phone, I still love Pam.

Tonight, I went to Divine Comedy with Steven, Kevin, Randi, and her friend. It's been awhile since I have laughed for a continuous amount of time, so it was good. I've spent the last two Saturdays with them, no wonder I don't get anything done! :) It's a good thing this is a three-day weekend!

Monday's plan is to attack my house. I tackled my bathroom and most of my bedroom today. I think Monday it will be the front bedroom and the kitchen area. I'd also like to wash all the bugs off of my car from my trip as well, I was hoping the rain would help out with all of that, but I think it just made it all worse.