Taking time to stop and smell the roses

Anyone who knows me knows that this time of year is insanely busy for me. I am in the midst of preparations for my musical. As a high school drama teacher, you wear many different hats other than director. It is truly a miracle when a show is performed. I get so stressed during this time of year, I have so much to do and think about. But, last week, a took a few days off and went to one of my favorite places in the entire world with a very dear friend.

And I visited this charming fellow. I cannot believe how much my nephew has grown! He is so adorable and incredibly smart. It was so hard to leave knowing it might be some time before I will see him again. I LOVE being an Aunt!

I enjoyed Dole Whip with my dear sister-in-law while at the Magic Kingdom!

We met Pluto and became immediate friends!

We celebrated Halloween! (Ben, Luana and Elliott were fruit, it was so fun to be at the parks with them and hear people's reactions to their adorable family! Priceless!)

I was a fruit fly!

And so was my friend, April!

With the most adorable little boy in the world! (And no, I am not biased, I am merely stating the facts.)

All in all, it was a wonderful breath before I came back to the craziness of my life. I think in life it is important to take moments to pause and truly allow yourself to soak in the wonderment that is life. I am sometimes in awe of life. I am in awe of relationships. I am in awe of how blessed I am.
I have an amazing family, I have a fulfilling job, I have wonderful friends and I am making beautiful memories each day.
Yes, as corny as this may be, for me life truly is the roses.

Teachers are Human

I know this may come as a shock, but teachers are indeed human beings.

We do not sleep at the school, we are not insensitive robots and we DO care about you.

There are a lot of you and we have to be fair. So forgive us for being human and imperfect. Forgive us for having emotions, forgive us for not being what you expect us to be, forgive us for our gut reactions to things. Sometimes, like you, we do and say things in the moment that aren't always the best choice.
And to the parents- Your child is not the only child I teach. I try to treat everyone equal, please do not make your child "the exception". If I made everyone the exception, I would go crazy. And guess what- no one would learn anything. And don't threaten to get the administration involved when I do something that your child doesn't agree with; that will not intimidate me.
And to the students- for crying out loud... DO YOUR WORK!! Stop making excuses. Your excuses are just another way of saying that you made a choice to NOT do what is expected of you in class! Be willing to accept the consequences of your actions. Don't go crying to your parents because you failed to do what was required and make it seems like it is all my fault. Learn responsibility, stop going through life half-assed because you want to do the minimum required and expect me to make up the difference.
I do try to be fair. I do try to take your feelings and 'special needs' into consideration. I truly do. I control my temper, I try to validate your feelings, I try to engage you in learning, I make you laugh, I teach you SOMETHING, I try to make you feel loved and safe.
But for heavens sake, cut me some slack. Do you part, and if you don't- be willing to accept the consequences of your actions!
Because, I am not a robot. Do not insult me, belittle me, or make me feel like I am failing.
I am doing my best, but I am only human.

Waiting... Gracefully...

It always seems like we are waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the cookies to be done in the oven, waiting for a boring class to end, waiting for Christmas morning, waiting for Prince Charming, waiting for life to makes sense, waiting to "arrive"... All while we live. Sometimes it seems like we are spending more time waiting rather than just living.
I've learned some things about being a single LDS girl. Growing up in the LDS culture, it seemed as if all of the lessons in Young Womens centered around Temple Marriage. I even remember a lesson in Laurels where the teacher brought a wedding cake, her old wedding memorabilia and we had a 'mock reception' of sorts.
When an LDS gal grows up, she knows her #1 priority is to get married to a returned missionary and start having babies. Now if this doesn't happen right away, she can go to college, but be willing to drop-out at any time to achieve the highest of all degrees... the coveted MRS. And if she has not married by the time she is 21, a mission can be a possibility, but she must be willing to not go if Mr. Right comes along... Since I was 12 years old marriage has been drilled into my conscious and my sub-conscious.
So, my story. At the age of 20 I decided I would serve a mission (unless Mr. Right came along of course). I left at the age of 21 and came home a few months before my 23rd birthday. I remember as I approached the end of my mission that my focus shifted to the idea of marriage. It was the next logical step and I knew it would be happening shortly after my arrival home.
I went to college... I turned the dreaded age of 25... I left BYU-Idaho without the MRS degree (I should've demanded my money back)... I started my career... I turned 30 years old... I was "kicked" out of the Singles Ward... all while waiting for the elusive MRS...
And I am still waiting. But today the word waiting took on a new significance for me. In General Conference Elder Hales gave an especially poignant talk about 'waiting upon the Lord'. I always viewed waiting as a negative word, more like a stagnant lack of progression. Instead, as Elder Hales explained, "In the scriptures the word wait means to hope, to anticipate and to trust. To hope and trust in Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments. And enduring to the end."
Waiting upon the Lord. My advice to the single LDS girl is to be happy and to find joy in the journey. I have learned that Heavenly Father knows me perfectly and as I "wait upon the Lord" there are many experiences to be had, many lives to be touched and things for me to do.

I've learned to never give up hope! I know that as I try to do my best, that the Lord will bless me with what I need. The right time, the right place, the right man...