Operation First Week: ACCOMPLISHED!

So... another school year has yet begun. Interestingly, it's been a pretty good week all around. The night before the first day, I was worried I wouldn't sleep very well because when I get a billion things in my head, it's hard for me to calm down. I lay in bed talking to myself and going through some calming exercises which really helped!

For those who don't know, this is my 5th year of teaching at Wasatch Jr. High School. I started there when I was surplused from Jefferson Jr. High where I had also gone as a student. At first, I didn't like the change, but it was actually for the best because I have made some of my greatest friends ever! The teachers are great and I look forward to talking with them every day!

This year, I teach 2 GT World Geography, 2 Core World Geography, and 2 U.S. History classes. I am very excited about the U.S. History classes because it is my favorite subject and I was teaching Geography all day for the past 4 years and it can get monotonous! When I was in 8th grade, my teacher, Mr. Burton, made it so much fun and that's when I chose what I wanted to teach. I even got to work with him as a teacher before he retired!

I'm hoping I don't look like this guy by the time the school year is over!

When I got home on Friday, I could barely function. I decided a nap was the best way to go so this is what I looked like when I slept (just go with it-we all have our dreams)!

I think it will be a great year. I really do! And although I'm sad that Amy Dimick decided to desert me and go to another school, we will totally keep in touch! On a bright note, Trish Pedersen (who I worked with at Jefferson Jr.) is now teaching at Wasatch!

"Grey skies are gonna clear up..."

He Lives In You

On Thursday, Kerry and I were able to attend "The Lion King" at Capitol Theatre. I've been looking forward to seeing this for a long time! It's been on Broadway for many years and it finally came to Salt Lake on tour! It's so popular, they had to add more weeks so more people could see it. It will be here until the end of September.

"Hakuna Matata"

I really enjoyed watching this version of it. In order to make it a Broadway play, more music was added and some changes were made so it could take place on a stage. The actors playing the animals were incredible! Those who were playing giraffes had to be on stilts-I sure couldn't have done it!

"He Lives In You"

I actually knew most of the new songs that were added because an album came out after the original "The Lion King" cartoon called "Rhythm of the Pride Lands". It takes much of the instrumental music from the cartoon and adds words in English and some of the African languages. One of the songs called "He Lives In You" really touched me more than usual as I was watching the show on Thursday. I've heard it many times before, but for some reason I started thinking of our Father in Heaven and how this song applies to Him. Let me write the lyrics to the chorus here so you may understand a little better:

He lives in you. He lives in me.

He watches over everything we see.

Into the water. Into the truth.

In your reflection, he lives in you.

My eyes started to water as I was listening. I really felt the Holy Spirit whisper the truth of this to me. I think I've been taking for granted that Heavenly Father is there and I haven't been too happy with myself and my lack of motivation to change my life. I really felt His presence there that night and I believe it's stayed with me for the past several days.

Kerry and I at intermission

If anyone would like to hear this song, I have a copy of it. In the show, it's just Mufasa telling Simba about his great forebears and how they are around him all of the time. I think this principle applies to us and how much our Heavenly Father loves us! Don't forget that!

Countdown to Stress

So now it's August. I've had 2 great months of summer where I've done nothing but read and watch T.V. I even did some planning for the upcoming school year. However, I'm still not looking forward to giving up all my free time. It's not that I don't like my job, it's just that I start feeling so stressed during those 9 months. Mostly all my time is taken up with school things and I sometimes don't feel like I have any "ME" time. I think that's why I like my summer vacations so much. I don't feel pulled into a billion different directions. I don't feel stressed about if my lessons are good enough. This next year will be my 12th year of teaching, but I still get nervous about it. I guess the good thing is that it does keep me busy and I get to hang out with my teacher friends. I will just have to make sure I plan my time wisely so I don't feel the stress as much. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think!