Whatchamacallit

What my week feels like

Renewed Outlook

Yesterday turned into one of those "pity me" days, one of those days that everything seems to loom over you like a dark rain cloud and all you have is a tiny toy umbrella to keep you safe from the deluge of expectation and responsibility.

When the storm starts, however, you realize that it only falls one or two drops at a time.  Life is manageable.  We will conquer so long as we stop worrying that we get a little wet or that our hair gets a little tangled by the wind of adversity.  The reality is the Lord is my umbrella and He is one of those giant, family sized ones shielding me from the storm.  He takes on the real storm.  We just get the sweat from His hard work, the part that He has already experienced and knows how to best help us.

From now on I will trust the Lord to protect me, to teach me, and to guide me where I need to be.

Confused Emotions

Yesterday was one of the busiest days since I have been home from the mission.  I thought Sunday was supposed to be the day of rest but it seems like things just pile up.  I went to a friend's farewell, went to my own ward (including choir practice), went to the open house for said friend, went back to my ward for an interview with my bishop (at least I got to talk to a cute kid while waiting), ran home to pull brownies out of the freezer, went to the stake center so that I could have my interview with my stake president, went back home to grab said brownies and also grabbed an apple because at this point I was starving, went back to church for a fireside, and then finally got home to stay at 8.  That means about 11 hours of go, go, go!  When I got home I text one of my friends because she had had a bad weekend and I was chatting with another friend about our goals for life and how to fix things and be happy which both were a little emotionally taxing for me.  It was just a crazy day that didn't end well and the effects are carrying over to today.  I have been sassy and sarcastic with the teacher, a good friend of mine, which makes me feel worse.  Can this day be over now?  I don't care that it's only lunch time...

Chocolate Milk

I went to the temple today with some others from my singles ward and it was totally fun.  On the way home we stopped by Sonic and got drinks and one of the girls paid for me because she is super nice (and because I was driving and it was a temple further from our houses) and it was just loads of fun.

That's when the bad stuff happened.  I think I may have lost over 200 unsaved pictures because my memory card decided to freak.  Then a friend stopped by unexpectedly which was great but we got on a topic that isn't fun for me and that I don't longer thinking about... Since it was our last topic it's on my mind now so I need to think about some thing other than that.

I love chocolate milk.  The picture is from a few days ago when I made myself a nice tall glass of chocolate milk.  As the chocolate was flowering from the bottle into the cup of milk it fascinated me how there was a little resistence on the part of the milk, forcing the chocolate to linger on the surface for a brief moment before falling silently to the bottom.  In my trance I didn't realize how much chocolate was actually going into my glass... It ended up being a lot.  Fortunately it made for a good photo opportunity.  It made me laugh.  Once I mixed it in and took a swig I laughed even harder (after the fact) because it tasted like Hershey's chocolate syrup.  So gross.  It was enough chocolate for at least two glasses of milk.

And there you have it, my chocolate milk experience to swallow down the bad taste still lingering in my mouth.

New job?

So for those who don't know I work as a teacher's assistant for a local school district here in Salt Lake. It's what I did before I went on my mission and now I'm back. It's been a great job and I've been lucky enough to work with an amazing teacher who makes being in a school fun (no matter how much I dislike schools in general). She is wonderful. I worked with her before and I'm working with her again and I love it. The thing I don't love is the fact that right now I can only work 15 hours a week. That's not much. Another thing is that I took a serious paycut, apparently the district cut the budget while I was away. It's about $4 an hour less! AHH! How do they expect me to live and pay my bills on that?

Well yesterday we were on our way home (I carpool with my friend/ the teacher I work with) and my phone rang. Usually I wouldn't answer but I was expecting a call so I pulled my phone out and looked at the number. It wasn't my granddad who I was expecting, but when I said the number my friend told me it was a district number so curiousity got the best of me and I answered. The woman on the phone introduced herself as a teacher at an elementary school and she saw my name on a list of people looking for teacher assistant positions. What?!? I don't remember putting my name on a list! She went on to say that the position is 29 hours a week (almost double my hours!) and asked if I had a job yet. (My head was reeling at this point!) I told her that I was already working at a school 15 hours a week so maybe I won't be able to do it... Then my friend whispered to me (now remember, she's the teacher that I currently work with) 'If it's a better position, take it!!' The woman on the phone said something I don't remember because I was so confused that I couldn't pay attention and then I asked how much the hourly pay would be. Her answer was one dollar more an hour than what I'm making now, but she added that if I have special ed experience (which I have) then that may, no promises, boost the digits a little.
My mind is blown! I was blindsided with this! It seems like a great position but at the same time I don't know. This new teacher works, as I mentioned, at an elementary school with children that have communication disorders (CD) and learning disabilities (LD). I am hesitant about this new job because the CD. That and when I started this job in 2008 I told myself that I couldn't work with little kids. But now, adding both of those together I don't really know what to think. What do I do? I need to call the new teacher later today or tomorrow morning.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...

It's been a while

Well, now that it has been almost two years since I have posted on my blog, I think it's about time to start up again. Blogs seem to be a good way to keep up with people that it just seems like there isn't enough time in the day to keep up with.

One of the reasons that I haven't posted in so long is because I was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines Cebu Mission. It was great! It was amazing! It was everything that I needed!

Now I'm back and ready to start the next phase of life, whatever that may be. I will however keep you updated on the happenings of my life for any and all that are interested. I can't promise to be completely diligent in posting, but I will do my best whenever something big happens.


Stay tuned for more.

Airport

We're just going to make this a tradition I guess. I'm in the airport on my way to Denver to visit my sister and some other "family" there for the long weekend. I can't wait to get over there, I just want my plane to come so I can get on and leave.

The plane is now here and I'm getting ready to board with a Cinnabun in hand. WA HOO!