2.27.2010

Best. Day. Ever.

This week I finished reading the book No Talking by Andrew Clements to my class. In this delightful book, the boys and girls in the fifth grade at Laketon Elementary School decide to have a competition to see who can go two whole days without talking. I love this book because it naturally turns into a no talking competition within my class, which equals a beautifully quiet day for me! We did our No Talking Day on Monday, and even though this class was nowhere near as good at it as my class last year (the boys had talked 23 times within the first 20 minutes of the day!) it was a very pleasant day. If only I could convince them that it would be fun to do no talking every day!

2.19.2010

Practicing

Earlier this week Bryan got a phone call from his cousin. I heard him saying, "Um yeah... I think I'm free that night. . . That would be fine." It was pretty obvious Bryan wasn't being asked to go snowboarding or biking or something exciting like that. Turns out his cousin was going out of town and was wondering if Bryan would go with his daughter to her Daddy-Daughter Achievement Day Activity on Thursday.

Before I go any further let me remind you that Bryan is from a family of all boys. I've spent the past 3 years teaching him the basics of girls, but we still have many lessons to go. I just about went into hysterics thinking of Bry at an Achievement Day Activity. I gave him a few pointers and sent him on his way.

He came home with some delightful stories- it seems as though there was some kind of mishap during the "put on a hairnet, then put whipped cream all over your head, then have your daughter throw marshmallows at your head" activity. There was a lot of dirty laundry that night. But, overall, it seemed to have been a success. I told Bryan it was practice for the many Daddy-Daughter Activities to come in his future. He informed me that he would prefer to stick to Fathers and Sons Campouts. We'll see who gets their wish in the years to come.

2.18.2010

Life

This afternoon between school and my technology class (which I hate, loathe, and despise) I read posts from three very amazing women. The first one was from my old roommate showing off pictures of her beautiful newborn baby boy. I am so excited for her family, which already includes an adorable two-year-old big brother. Next I read a post from a friend whose husband's cancer just returned after a year in remission. They are such wonderful people and deal with everything that comes with such grace and faith. Last I read a post from a friend who is now 2 months away from being a mom but had a miscarriage a year ago. I love her outlook- she knows that "there's a Master Sorter-Outer who knows me and what's going on in my life."

As I read all of these posts I thought about 2 things:
A: How lucky I am to have been surrounded all my life by women who are such great examples of faith, patience, perseverance, and love.
B: Life is never easy, even for those that seem to deserve it. We all have trials and difficulties that will make us better people if we allow them to.

I hope that I can learn from these women and use every challenge to become a better me.

2.14.2010

Sending all my love

"Love is of the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arches across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, church, and neighbors. I am one who believes that love, like faith, is a gift of God." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

Among the many gifts my Heavenly Father has given me, today I am most grateful for love- love for and from those wonderful people around me, love of my Savior to sacrifice for me, love of my Father in Heaven to have given me such a marvelous life.

Happy Valentine's Day, xoxo

2.12.2010

A Day Off

I kind of feel like a hypocrite after my last post, but today Provo School District has a day off! I'm not exactly sure of the reason, but I'm assuming that they realized their amazing teachers were getting burned out and needed a 4-day weekend to rejuvenate and catch up on life. I am deeply grateful.

So, this morning I've been cleaning, pittering around on the internet, making a grocery list, thinking about actually getting dressed, and watching Bryan "study." So that's what he does all day...

2.10.2010

Not Fair

I realize that "life's not fair" is a lesson we've all learned since we were young. But, it's a lesson I've learned in a big way this winter. As I previously mentioned, Richmond does not get snow very often. Like maybe a couple centimeters a year. Apparently this year Jack Frost had something else in mind. They have had 3 major snowstorms, getting about a foot of snow each time. If this occurred in Utah it would mean messy roads, kids spending all of their recess time putting on and taking off snow clothes (makes me laugh so hard,) lots of snowboarding trips for Bryan, and gallons of hot chocolate for me. But, since it is happening in Virginia it means only one thing- snow days! In the past 2 weeks my siblings have gone to school for a day and a half. Yes, a day and a half!!! This morning I was talking to my mom on the way to school and she said, "School, what's that? We don't know about that anymore!" Ugh. I guess I'll be the one gloating when they're still in school in July!


My home all decked out in snow. This is at the very beginning of one of the storms- before the flakes started piling up.