Sooooooore.

I'm not planning on turning this blog into a journal for my exercise regime, I promise... but I just have to say, that after Day 3 of P90... I am most certainly feelin it! My legs are sore. My arms are sore. My back is sore. My tush is sore. EVERYTHING is sore!

And, I love it!

Yesterday was an awesome day. I have been substituting at Churchill Jr. for the last two weeks and then I went to Sub at Oly High. Well, let me tell you that I really appreciated the Jr. High kids after I went back to the high school. There is something special about middle school and all the quirky, funny kids that are found there. I tried telling a funny story to the high school kids that the jr high kids LOVED... they didn't even make a peep. I missed the kids laughing with me and enjoying school. Maybe I belong in the jr. high? Not sure, but let's just say I was glad to be back with the youngin's at Churchill yesterday... and tomorrow its back to the high school. Lots of good practice for the future, whatever it brings!

Starting over...

I used to be in really good shape... it just comes along with the job of being a college athlete.

(The key words in this statement is "used to be")

Today, this very morning, I started over. I am dedicating myself to a healthier lifestyle including watching my portions of what I eat, working out daily, and getting my cardio in. I hope that I can get back into shape and obtain the "shape" that I am looking for.

P90X today.

and tomorrow.

and the next day.

for 90 Days!

Summer bod, here I come!

Joe's Daycare - Part One

Jeff and I have been watching kids quite a bit in our first year of marriage and it really is a fun/stressful job. I think it gives us a little bit of insight into what parenting will be like in the future. This week we are watching Jeff's cousins and these kids can be quite a handful... but they are pretty random and hilarious too.

Today when I was helping the 10 year old with her homework, she said the most random comment but it made me laugh so hard inside. This is how the conversation went...

"I hate math"

Me: Why do you hate math?

"Because sometimes I confuse math with spelling."

hahahaha what??? Are they even closely related in any aspect? Oh man, I thought it was so funny.

Also, tonight during dinner, the 10 year old and the 5 year old got into a heated discussion about space and what constitutes a star, an asteroid, a planet, and if Jupiter was a dwarf planet or a piece of space rock. These kids think of the funniest things.

The five year old was complaining because school was stupid. Jeff said "Well, actually school is really important." and He says "Yeeeeeaaah... school is good. But, my school is stupid. My teacher thinks space is purple."

Oh boy.... Kids really say the funniest most random things. Gotta love em!

hum diddly dum

This week has been crazy busy for both Jeff and I. Jeff is swamped with turning on the sprinklers at all his clients and he has been working from the wee morning hours until the sun is setting at night. I don't know how he does it. What a champ! Jeff works so hard and he takes so much stress! He really is the most amazing guy. I sure lucked out!

Well, I have been substituting at Churchill Jr. High this week. This is probably the dream job that I have been looking for all my life. I LOVE working at Churchill. It is my absolute favorite place to substitute and I would give an arm and a leg (and probably another arm and another leg) to get a teaching job at this school. The kids are hilarious, and for some reason I think they think I am funny too (or maybe just a complete dork) but we have been having the best time. I have been substituting for a US History class (8th grade). I never thought I would actually like teaching history but it has been awesome! I have found that the more I relate history to the students, the more they are interested in it! (imagine that. haha)

I had a student come into my classroom today during lunch and she was just talking with me about random things, what I like to do, where I went to college, and then out of nowhere she throws out this comment that just made my day and made me feel like I am actually an okay teacher.

She said "You know, its really easy to learn from you as a teacher. Mrs. Blank always makes me bored and tired, but you make it interesting."

ummm.... seriously? I almost wanted to question her and be like "Are you sure you are talking about me?" I don't know much about the Jacksonian Era (or at least I didn't before I started teaching about it 4 times a day, 2 days in a row.) and I definitely have my doubts about being a good teacher, but to hear that little girl say that she liked me as a teacher just made me feel like I could do anything in the world. It is weird what a 13 year old can do to your self esteem, right? haha, She must be REALLY smart :) haha

Speaking about jobs... I am still waiting on a few different schools. I have talked with them (but not interviewed yet) and all of them would be really ideal situations. If I got a job at any of the schools I would be very happy and feel completely blessed. I hope one of these days I will be posting this ecstatic news that I finally was hired. I am SO looking forward to that post :)

This Peace in My Heart

Yesterday Jeff and I didn't have work...something we are working on. Substituting only comes around every now and then, it is definitely not a consistent source of income... so we decided to go to the temple to do work there. I couldn't think of a place I would rather be on a day where I needed Him for than anything. I am usually not one to divulge personal feelings - really personal feelings - on my blog, however, at the Temple yesterday, I really felt peace in my heart. Peace even though these are perilous times. A peace that I am sure I am not the only one to feel. I needed a answer. I needed His comfort. I needed to just be near Him and feel his presence. Which I did.

I used to think that once I graduated it would be so easy to find a teaching job. I thought it was one of those professions that would always be in demand, that would always be in need to further the education of our young ones.

I guess nothing is in demand now.

What can a person do to make themselves look unique or better than another teacher when in fact we are all the same - desperate for some kind of job, any job - to help us get through the tough times. I am no better than the person in line for an interview next to me, who actually probably needs the job more than I do since they have kids and a family to provide for. We all have our reasons and needs. It is a hard time right now.

Sitting in the Celestial Room I prayed... more like pleaded with my Father for some kind of answer. Where should I be now in my life. WHERE am I going? Is there something I could be doing now? Will I ever get the chance to be a teacher? Through all this pleading, crying, feeling... I felt calm. I looked to my left and saw my sweet husband, smiling.

I know I am in a good place in my life. I am happy. WE are happy. Things might not be what we expect them to be, but He has a plan for us and He is merciful. He knows what I'm feeling. He knows what I need. He knows what WE need. I have so many blessings in my life, and even though I don't quite have a job... yet... I know he is looking out for me and helping me look in the right places and be in the right places and do the right things.

Tears may come and go. Insecurity may come and go. The world can throw everything it's got at me, at us. He will always be there and that comfort stays with me always. We really have so much to be thankful for.

So, friends and family, if you are reading this...

Thank you for who you are.

Thank you for being our friends.

Thanks for bringing smiles to our faces.

You are angels and make life the happy and good life that it is.

Among the downers, there is peace in my heart.

“This is a place of light, a place of peace, a place of love, where we deal with the things of eternity.”

- President Gordon B. Hinckley

Giveaway!

One of my very dear friends is having a giveaway at the awesome blog of Love and Photographs. She is so talented in her photography and has the most darling earrings that she creates. Go over and check out the giveaway. It is one you will NOT want to miss!