The Golden Grahams

That's a line by Kid President.  If you don't know who that is, I recommend you watch his videos on Youtube.  He's a very inspiring kid.  And that's something I needed to hear today. So much has happened since my last blog post.  Let's do some quick updates... Work: In my second year of teaching, I have an inclusion class. Which, in the world of education means "including" special needs students in the general class setting, so they are able to learn in the "Least Restrictive Environment."  It was also decided last year that I would be the Grade Level Chair (GLC) for my team of 5 total 4th grade teachers.  ALSO, (there seems to be two too many also's in this update...) I am a co-leader for the Math Content group...for my entire school... WHY did anyone think I could do all of this on top of figuring out how to teach in my probationary years as a teacher?! I don't know. I have no idea. House: For the past 6 months or so we've gon...

There is one big reason why I am writing this blog post.  Here it is. When I was completing my undergraduate studies at BYU-Hawai'i, I had a professor by the name of Dr. Buckner who frequently told us that most people who end up burning out and quitting the teaching profession do so around 3 years .  That's the point when they struggled, they stuck it out, and after sticking it out, they realize that teaching is not what they want to do for the rest of their lives. It's probably related to the whole idea of being "overworked and underpaid."  I am now halfway through those 3 years, so I wanted to write down my feelings of this past year.  I don't want to finish my 3rd or 5th or 10th or even 15th year teaching completely removed from these feelings. I want to remind myself of why I chose this profession and why I stay in this profession.  Who knows, maybe the Lord will show me a different path of passion to pursue, but I don't want to ever feel like quit...

I was reading through some old blog posts since I hardly update this thing...it's interesting how I'll read something and completely not remember ever thinking or writing it. But anyway, this post is a follow-up of a post I wrote in January 2012 titled, "New Year, New Thoughts." Well, I changed the name of this blog post to not so new thoughts. The reason being, as I read through that post, I realized...personally, I haven't even changed. I still feel discontent when I thinking about who I am as a person. I still have a lot to work on...and at first, I felt really discouraged. It has been 3 years since that post was written. Have I really not progressed at all, since then??? Let's make a list of milestones in the past 3 years: -graduated from college, summa cum laude -finished student teaching -got hired at a school right away And that's pretty much it....plug in surfing and dates and family activities in between and that's me in a nutshel...

http://www.mormonwomenstand.com/finding-faith-in-infertility/

I am the One who dreams . I take a look at my present and say to myself, "That's great, but it's not enough." I thank God for the outpouring of love in my life. Yet, I yearn and seek for the ultimate manifestation of love that I may give someday. I am the One who aches . When you stop to think and look and just sit and take in all that is the pain and stress you feel is in your life, I am right there, looking and sitting and thinking and wishing that I could have a chance at your trial. I am the One who wonders . You're right, I don't know what it's like. I have no idea what it's like. How could I? I've not yet experienced it. Will I love it? Will I hate it? Will I know what to do when the time comes? Will it bring all the happiness that I have romanticized that it would? Will I still get to be Me? I am the One who tries . You say it's a burden to have this life. I try to see your perspective. Others seem to be blessed while I r...

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements ,and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied. The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is...

Titles matter. Titles establish roles and responsibilities. Titles also credit respect and authority to recognize certain achievements. Titles distinguish one person from another. We go through life holding many titles. I was born a Daughter and a Sister. For years I was a Center-Midfielder in soccer. I was a Teammate. For 15+ years I was a Student. Now I am a Teacher and a Mentor. But there is one title I wish so desperately to hold. I have been able to push it to the back of my mind for many months now. I'm not sure if it was desensitization or simply being in denial, but I have been able to focus on other things. In lieu of the upcoming holiday, that title has now been forced again to the front of my mind. That title is Mother . This month officially marks two years of wanting that title and knowing I would have to wait to get it. I don't want to be ungrateful, so yes, I am truly grateful and indebted to my own mother. I honestly don't know how she manag...