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!

Summer Reading

Once my summer vacation started at the beginning of June, I started reading books like a madwoman. I get to read when I'm teaching, but I usually don't have a lot of time and it's very few and far between when I get to read what I want. I thought I would make a list of books I've read so far. The ones that are starred are the ones I recommend the most:

1. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova*
2. Eiffel's Tower by Jill Jonnes*
3. Abigail Adams by Janet Whitney*
4. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis*
5. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer*
6. The Undaunted by Gerald N. Lund*
7. MEE Speaks But Does She Have Anything to Say by Mary Ellen Edmunds*
8. You Can Never Get Enough of What You Don't Need by Mary Ellen Edmunds*
9. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Okay, so I pretty much recommend all of them. If you are interested in another type of vampire story that is really good, then you should definitely read The Historian. It isn't light like the Twilight series, but way good. You can borrow mine if you want. I thought Gulliver's Travels would be kind of a nice little book about a guy who meets little people, then big people, etc., but it is more of a satire. It was pretty good, but it was a book I had no problem putting down when I needed to.

I have a bunch of other books on my list I'm going to try to get through so hopefully you won't have to wait too long in anticipation of my next list!

A Little Bit "Glee"ful

Almost the whole world knows about a little TV show called "Glee". I have to admit that I, too, am a huge fan of this show. I mean, what more could a girl who loves music ask for? They sing, dance, AND act! I have had dreams of doing some theater and I am constantly singing (just ask my sister, Amy, who would like me to stop singing).

"Glee" logo

I love this show because although I'm not in high school, I can remember what it was like and I can totally identify with each cast member at some level (it also helps that I'm a teacher).

I grew up loving musicals and even today I wish I could just break out into song. I would, of course, find a song that fits the mood I'm in. And there is always a song that fits.

"Glee" cast

The songs on this show are just remakes of ones made by other artists, but that's what makes it so much fun. My favorite is their version of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. It is used in a context that gives people hope. I am given hope through listening to this song.

So if you are feeling like you are in despair and you're in a hard place (like half the cast in the picture above), just pop in "Don't Stop Believin'" and feel inspired. You can do anything!

Anne Frank...A Lesson in Journal Writing

Taken from Google images

About a week ago, I finished reading Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl for the first time. I have to say how impressed I am with the type of journal she kept. This is a girl that was only 13 years old when she began writing and 15 when she was captured in the Secret Annex and her diary ends.

For a girl of 13, she wrote with the understanding of an adult. I suppose she had to grow up fast due to the situation in which she found herself. Her entries were so detailed and really explained what was going on in her life. She certainly endured more than what I could put up with on a good day!

The reason I'm writing this is because I think my journal writing stinks in comparison. I write every day, but it mostly consists of a few things I did with an "...and I am tired so I'm going to bed." I know I need to write more about my feelings and how I deal with my everyday situations, but I just haven't done it. Every once in awhile I will write those type of things, but I haven't made time for it.

To make this shorter, what I'm saying is that I think I can take a lesson from Anne and take the recording of my life more seriously. Anne certainly had a life she wouldn't have chosen for herself (at least the frustration and fear), but she used her diary as a way to keep her sanity and to tell her story. The least I can do is follow her example.

Online Dating...Yes or No?

As February draws to a close, I think about how this month is considered the "Valentine's" month. So many people put a lot of stock into Valentine's Day (or as I like to call it-"Single Awareness Day") and it puts me into a thoughtful mood concerning why we consider it to be so important. I don't mean to belittle the idea that sharing your love with someone is not important, I'm just wondering why we can't just do that type of thing more when there isn't a day to help us remember. Is this just my single status talking? Which brings me to the question:

Should I put myself back on an online dating site (or two)?

I have already been on LDS Mingles. For a little over two years, I put my profile on, web mailed new people from the site, and got out of my comfort zone to go on some dates. I met some very nice people and had some good experiences. I left the site due to money issues, but also because it wasn't going anywhere. There were some major weird guys on there, believe me.

I also tried Eharmony. BIG MISTAKE! Not only does it suck the financial savings right out from under you, but there were few matches for an LDS girl that would love to be married in the temple. I was matched with a guy in Las Vegas who sounded very nice, but when I talked to him on the phone, he spent most of it talking about his job (he has some sort of thing with music) and he sang a portion of something he was writing. Entertaining, yes. Falling head over heels, heck no!

So here is where it stands. I am considering going back on and I would love your input on if I should and if so, which one (or two). I've been thinking about match.com or chemistry.com, but again, I wonder about LDS matches.

Could you give me some advice?