My First Day of School♦

WHOA!! Am I old enough to be a grown up and have a real job and be a real teacher? YEP! I guess I am. Last night was Back to School Night. Lynette was very generous and made chocolate chip cookies for me to give to those who came. It was pretty nerve racking to meet all the families in that short amount of time. But I made it through and the cookies were a big hit. I was finishing things up and saw someone walk in from the corner of my eye. I thought "oh no, another parent-I was hoping to leave" When I looked over, it was RYAN! That couldn't have been a better surprise. Maybe I should have gone to bed, but we went and saw "Batman" instead. Very good movie, unfortunately I missed the last thirty minutes due to sleep deprivation...I woke up 7:00 this morning and just couldn't get out of bed. I finally managed to thirty minutes later which made it so there was no time to read scriptures together. My goal was to be ready by 8:00 so I could get a few more things done before the students came. Good thing I set that goal because I didn't leave until 8:25. I asked Randon to give me a blessing. Good choice! I felt so much better after that and I knew that the Lord was on my side, or I am on His side. When Randon walked out the door to go to work, he saw a gift from Onalee for me. She gave me a card and a lunch box. So nice!!

From First Day of School

Everyone at the school was so kind and helpful. Everyone that saw me asked me how my first day was going and gave me encouragement and support. Most of you know that I cry alot, so you understand the magnitude of me saying that I DIDN'T EVEN FEEL LIKE CRYING! NOT ONCE! Now that is an accomplishment. :) I am so grateful to be working at Summit Elementary. The faculty and staff are really super nice. There is still so much work to be done...filing, filing, filing...too many papers floating around. But I have great hopes for this year. My students seem to be really excited about school. I have two that come in and out because of learning disabilities so I am excited to learn from them as well. Trudy, the principal, told me today that I am the one that will be receiving the new move-in students because I only have 23 enrolled in my class. Everyone else has 26 or 27. They entered in the computer that the students will special needs are mine, when they actually aren't. Anyway, if that is confusing to you...just think how I feel.

To make this day even better, my sweetheart, Ryan, sent me the most beautiful roses with a sweet note. Man, I love him! I stayed at school until 4:30 pm and am very tired. I have tomorrow all planned and that is about it. Baby steps-one day at a time. I am so super excited to start this school year and find out what the Lord has in store for me to learn. I am really truly blessed and another added bonus...I have health and dental insurance and a monthly INCOME!! And did I mention I have the most thoughtful boyfriend EVER?! Well, I do!

Hold Please...

Just wanted to send a little update on my life. Things are going really crazy as I try to prepare my classroom and get school started and start being a real "grown-up". If you could just keep me in your prayers (and maybe Ryan too) I would appreciate it. Making adult decisions can be challenging and difficult, but at the same time, it is easy when we know we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. I have found that some of the hardest challenges of life have to do with agency. Allowing people time to form their own choices, watching people make wrong choices or choices we don't agree with, etc. seem to be the hardest for me. As far as everything else goes, I am a "carni" at the fair serving snow cones...fun, huh? 13 hours yesterday and another 13 today, YEE-HAW!!!!!

More about Ryan and I♦

I first met Ryan in the Birch Creek Singles Ward in 2005. He was my mission prep teacher and I thought very highly of him. He was cute and kind and spiritual, everything a girl wants, right? Well, I knew without a doubt that I was going to serve a mission so didn't spend time flirting or anything like that. I even introduced him to Onalee! I went on a mission and returned home. Ryan and I saw each other on campus maybe twice and then once at the temple. I thought for sure he was going to ask for my phone number then, but was wrong. It turns out that he wanted to but said he got too scared. Well, after some crazy circumstances and a lot of "random" things happening. We were in contact again and started dating. Things have progressed very quickly but it feels so right to the both of us. He is all I've ever wanted and needed. So, if things go as planned, there will be a wedding this fall! YAY!

We've Waited Long Enough!

Some of you may know that one of my favorite movies is ELF...well, "I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!" If you haven't seen it, go watch it. It is great! Ryan and I went down to Monticello to one of his family reunions. They do a lot of 4-wheeling. We had so much fun.