4 Years

I was in high school for four years. I was in college for four years. I taught at Barnett Elementary for four years.  Four years seems to be my time range until big changes happen and I have to say a lot of good byes to people.

During these last four years that I've been a teacher at Barnett, I got married

I taught fifth grade for two years and third grade for two years, my nephew was born, I lived in Washington DC for a summer












Cody graduated from BYU


I cooked my first turkey, I got pregnant twice, I lived in three different apartments, I've been to California three times and Michigan twice, I've grown out my hair twice and cut it shorter twice, I started work on my Masters in Education (and should finish it soon), I was in a car accident, two of my great-grandmas died, my grandpa passed away,












I gave birth to Calvin, I took two months of maternity leave,  and now...

now I leave for a new adventure in Maryland.

I'm really going to miss all of my friends at Barnett and the students that I taught.  However, thank goodness for Facebook and email so we can keep in contact.

I can't believe it's here. The beginning of the end of our time in Provo.

I chose a great sub!

The past seven weeks that I've been on maternity leave, I've followed the emails between my sub and one of my student's parents.  This student and I didn't have a bad relationship, but he was a great self-distractor and distractor to his friends, so I would work with him a lot on appropriate behavior, etc.  When he did well, I let him know, but I think that our "let's work on this" conversations outnumbered the "you did great" conversations and he didn't feel like he was up to the task of managing his own behavior.

Now, back to the emails I've been tracking for seven weeks: My sub has helped this kid and his parent feel success. I've read many emails of thanks from this parent to my sub.

And I'll be honest, my first gut-wrenching emotion is that I'm a lousy teacher and she's better than I am.

But then I realize: I CHOSE A GREAT SUB! I chose a sub that has the energy to do what I physically and emotionally couldn't handle my last weeks of being pregnant. I chose a sub who finds creative ways to motivate students to change their behavior.  I chose a wonderful teacher to be with my class of third graders so I wouldn't need to worry about them or their learning while I'm home. She is better than me at certain things because she's a different person with different strengths. And she was just the person that student needed to help change his behavior, not me.

Second year in 3rd grade

Here I go....about to start my second year in third grade!  It's amazing the difference between fifth and third grade. However, just like I felt a lot more confident about my ability to teach and pace fifth grade my second year teaching fifth grade, I feel the same way about third grade this year.  I'm really excited to try out some new things, begin my rules and management plan right from the beginning of the year, and get to know my students and help them facilitate their learning.

Here are some pictures of my empty classroom. It won't stay empty for long since school starts tomorrow!

Back counter

Classroom library and outside door

Carpet area and word wall

Part of the carpet area and library

Computer area and word work materials

Whiteboard and display shelves

View from the front corner by the computers, look at the back of the room

View from the front, look at the back of the room

View from the door, look at the front of the room

View from the door, look at the back of the room

When Plans Change

I'm not one for plans changing. In fact, I hate to change. I know that it's part of being human to resist change to a certain degree, that's why there's usually a messy transition period when feelings are changing from the old normal to the new normal. I cry and try to assimilate, but it is so hard. And then after some time, I adjust.

These past few months plans have changed and I think I'm on the other side of the transition period where I have successfully (for the most part) adjusted to the new normal.

In the old normal this was the plan for the next few months:

• Cody would have applied for grad schools and we would be finding out where he got accepted about now
• I would be preparing to leave Barnett Elementary at the end of this school year
• We would be getting ready to move across the country, most likely

In this new normal, this is the plan:

• Cody will take the GRE again this summer and apply to grad schools in the fall
• I've applied to the SUU M.Ed program that they're doing with my school district and will be finding out in the next month if I've been accepted
• We're moving to a different apartment within our complex and still in our ward at the end of July
• Getting ready to be at Barnett Elementary in third grade for another year

Some of the positive side effects are:

• I'm settling into my classroom at school more. I've been thinking even more seriously about the environment that I've had so far this year and what I'd like to change for the rest of this year and the changes I'd like to make to my classroom for next year.
• I'm having my parents ship out my bike so that I can ride it around all spring, summer, and fall
• I'm not freaking out anymore by the changes because enough time has passed since November when we started making these decisions

The end

Today is the end of The West Wing.  Since we started it this past summer when we were living in Washington DC it has been a wonderful reminder of that place we live; of getting involved and staying abreast on what is happening in local, state, and national politics; and it has been the topic of many conversations.

And now we're on the last episode of the last season ever.

I never thought this day would come.  Yet now that it's here, it makes me a little happier, because now I can watch it whenever I want and not have to wait for Cody to come home.

In other news: I get to sleep in on Monday. After discussing Martin Luther King Jr and his impact on the world, my students had a writing assignment to describe what their dream is. This is one of my favorites:  "I have a dream that one day my brothers will leave me alone! I cannot get in trouble. I can go everywhere! I will go to the pool, Disneyland, and space! I love space!"

Gratitude

I feel like I'm always trying to find things for which to be grateful.  I know November is a natural time for Americans to think about gratitude because of Thanksgiving. I'm sure that other months are months of "Thanksgiving" in other cultures.

Here's a short list. I hope to add some longer posts about specific things that I am grateful for in the coming weeks:

1. the Gospel of Jesus Christ
2. my husband, Cody
3. the restored church of Jesus Christ (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
4. family
5. prophets, seers, and revelators today
6. books
7. library cards
8. chocolate
9. friends
10. letters
11. my mom and dad, specifically
12. Lindsey, specifically
13. carpools
14. airplanes
15. cameras
16. notebooks and pens
17. literacy
18. music
19. patient people
20. knowledge
21. Shakespeare
22. Dr. Seuss
23. Yo Yo Ma
24. blue things
25. warm blankets
26. colors
27. food
28. being able to cook
29. running water
30. indoor plumbing
31. indoor heating and cooling
32. a car
33. my job
34. Cody's job
35. that I live in the United States 
36. that I grew up in middle-class America so that I'm blessed with opportunities beyond many in the world
37. our local and national leaders
38. good people that have the desire to run for/be president/Senate/House of Representatives/Governor/etc. and who mostly are all just trying to do their best, so that I don't ever have to feel like I need to
39. scientists
40. iPods
41. running shoes
42. socks
43. my nephew who is the cutest
44. my brothers and sisters (counting in-laws, too)
45. American history
46. having gone to BYU and taken so many different classes
47. prayer
48. perspective
49. fall
50. that I'm not allergic to any foods or medicines

Almost a month...

Well, this has been the longest hiatus with posting on my blog for the past six months. It's kind of weird to think that seven months ago I started that special diet to see if any of the food I was eating was a trigger for headaches. It's even more weird to think that five months ago I wrote my first blog post from DC (followed by many, many more). And then school started and my blogging took a backseat to figuring out how to be a third grade teacher, how to be a teacher, and how to balance my work life, personal life, and church life.

Maybe life will slow down, but probably not.

Today has been kind of a hard day. I've been really worried about someone that I care about so much all day. I'm not sure exactly what is going on with her and her life, but I know that it isn't what was planned and if it happened to me I would be crying buckets all day.  Like I said, I don't know exactly what is going on, but the worrying and praying and trying to be hopeful for her all day, has been a growing feeling throughout the day.  I wish I could do more for her than just think about her and pray for her, but I can't.  I've made myself available to talk but probably everyone wants to talk to her right now and that can get old and annoying.  Thankfully I know she has a great family that is supporting her right now and that Heavenly Father is right there with her giving her the strength she needs to make any tough decisions.

...

Other than today though, I've had a good week.  I voted on Tuesday for mayor and a city-council Member. I love feeling and knowing that I am participating in the great American experiment when I vote, even when it is in "small" elections like for mayor. These are our leaders that impact the exact place where we live! Why wouldn't we vote for "lesser" positions like mayor and city-council?

Proof! I have the "I voted!" sticker

Last week was Halloween and Cody and I dressed up as Wreck-it-Ralph and Vanellope Von Schweetz.

I'm starting to get into the groove of third grade, but I do still miss teaching fifth grade social studies. I'm trying to follow Jane Eyre's advice when she becomes the teacher to those poor, country-folk--to put aside her fine accomplishments because she knows they will keep.  I know that my love for American History will keep. I'll still find ways to incorporate it a little bit in my class (still not the same!), but that knowledge and that love will "keep."

Also, I got my first flu shot (that I can remember; I maybe got one when I was a baby) today. I figured I should just bite the bullet, get it and not try to test my luck that I won't get it this year. I've been blessed with extraordinarily good health, but I don't want to let getting sick mess up my Thanksgiving or Christmas plans (after that? Sure why not? haha).

Thoughts during Fall Break

When I told my mom on Sunday that I had fall break this week, she asked, "What is that?" since it doesn't exist in the school district my brother attends in Michigan or in any of the schools that my sister and I attended growing up. My answer was that it was created for teachers so that they can come back to school and be ready to be with their students again.  We all laughed, but such were my feelings on Sunday.

After another roller coaster each day at school, I was really looking forward to my fall break.  As the day ended on Wednesday, one of my students invited me, yet again, to her soccer game, the last one of the season. I said that I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it, but I'd see.  Cody and I ended up being able to go and watch this student (and another one of my students) in their last soccer game of the season. It was really fun! I was able to talk with their parents in an informal manner about their lives. And my students saw me in an informal setting, laughing and having fun.

And that's when it hit me.

Just like during my student teaching when my mentor teacher, Rachelle, had to call me out and say, "You need to be yourself with the students. You're funny and laughing at lunch but you get all serious when you're teaching. Be yourself all of the time!" I realized that I was doing the same thing with my third graders. This is one of the reasons why the first week of school was so much fun and why the following six weeks have been roller coasters of good and bad and discouragement and hope.

Duh! I wasn't being me with my students. I didn't and still don't know exactly how to be me with my third graders, but I figured it out with my fifth graders so that gives me somewhere to start.  I need to laugh every day with my students or else I will go crazy. I won't want to go to work, I won't enjoy teaching, and I'm sure my students won't enjoy learning as much.  I'm surprised so many of them have said they enjoy school still.  I wouldn't if I was in third grade with a teacher as serious as I have been.  I need to be more fun, like I know I can be.

Another way this was revealed to me today was as I was checking their writing homework, I kept chuckling over their creativity and humor. I have really funny students. I should find more time to laugh with them.  An example of their wit:

One two buckle my shoe. Buckle your own shoe! Who said that? I did. What are you doing with those silly buckles on your shoes anyway? Three four shut the door. You shut it--you opened it! Five six pick up sticks. Why should I pick them up--do you think I'm your slave? Buckle my shoe, shut the door, puck up sticks, next thing you'll be telling me to lay them straight!! But it's only a poem. Nine ten a big fat, oh never mind.

Isn't she funny? Here's a picture of my creative, funny, and adorable students. I just need to remember that they are. :)

Three of my students with their fish as part of their aquarium project

I'm alive (and Lord of the Flies moment)

I realize I haven't posted on here for almost a month. It isn't because I haven't had anything going on. It's because I've had too much going on--meetings, getting ready for Primary Program, figuring out how to be a third grade teacher when I'm used to being a fifth grade teacher, Relief Society meeting, General Conference, doing family history work and taking the names to the temple, orchestra, and trying to decide if I'm going to exercise again.

Here's a little peak into a day I had two weeks ago after doing an art project.  It was only a small moment, but it was the moment in between finishing up and cleaning up... The name of the video should give you a clue as to how I was feeling:

Checking off the list

Today I woke up in a better mood than yesterday but still not great. I wasn't terribly optimistic about how school would go, especially after how yesterday ended.  However, I tried to pretend that it would be okay. I had a flash of inspiration on how to engage my students more in math--PowerPoints, whispering, and songs.  I used several PowerPoints today and I definitely employed whispering, which was followed by station activities where they answered similar questions that most of them got wrong on the test yesterday.  It made all the difference!

Yesterday's math lesson=I didn't know what was wrong with me as a teacher and why I was teaching third grade
Today's math lesson=why didn't I do this before, this was awesome, but I can't use it too much or else it will get old

After school I looked up some fun multiplication facts songs that I'm going to play for my class the next few weeks to help them learn their times tables.

Not only was figuring out how to engage my students a success, I also got to watch an episode of The West Wing with Cody (a show we love!  We started in when we were in DC and now it's a friendly reminder of where we lived all summer, helps us keep national events in mind, and connects us to incredibly like-able TV characters), practiced my violin, and went for a run.

I'd say that the mental list I made for myself, thinking it was impossible this morning, has now become finished. And I feel great about that!

Counting blessings

1. I went out for a run tonight and ended up running 4.67 miles with little problem (my knees started getting sore near the end).

2. A friend's third grade class is going to be pen pals with my third grade class (talk about having a motivation to write!).

3. I have the next two weeks planned for school (except for math...)!

4. We had pizza for dinner and I love pizza.

5. I'm doing benchmarks with my students tomorrow which means that I get to meet with every student individually and listen to them read. I love that!

6. I get to go to the Relief Society meeting with my sister in three weeks.

7. Cody and I will be getting together with some of our friends on Saturday for dinner or lunch and going to the temple.

8. I slept really well last night.

9. I'm feeling sort of organized with my new calling at church (Primary secretary--Primary is the children's organization in the LDS church for those who don't know), which is saying a lot since that is basically all that my calling means I need to be.

10. Beautiful sunset tonight that I got to watch appear as I went on my run.

11.  Thinking about how one of these days (soon...) I'll write about how I'm in a community orchestra and read a fantastic book that I think about all the time now.

The Honeymoon is Over

I hate to say that it's over when it's only been one week.

But...

It's over.

Today was the first day that I left school with a headache caused by the noise of my students and not because of being inept and losing my water bottle.  I know partly it was my students rambunctious natures, they're only 8 and 9, after all. However, I know the larger reason was me. I came to school feeling tired and while the morning was fantastic--they read for 12 minutes and then 8 minutes with it completely quiet, everyone participated the whole time during keyboarding, and everyone was engaged when we learned about sentences.  However, after lunch (which I wasn't too excited about today; it was a last minute lunch consisting of a tomato sandwich, cashews, a peach, and some pumpkin seeds that I didn't even eat), I started the beginning of my crazy, chaotic afternoon.

How?

Easy. I didn't state all of my expectations clearly and explicitly.  Specifically: I forgot to tell them what to do when they finished their math quiz, making their brown frosting, and read-aloud.  Ugh. I won't ever need this reminder again, though I probably will still make the same mistake. When I do, then I'll think, "Why didn't I just tell them what I wanted?! I thought I learned this the first week of school!?" And I have.

Successes

Open House last week: took a nap
Thursday, first full day of school: took a nap
Friday, last day for the week: no nap, but I went on a run
Saturday: visited my grandparents
Sunday: visited my grandparents, sister & her family arrived, parents & brothers arrived
Monday: took family pictures and drove back down to Provo, went for a run
Tuesday: back to school, went for a run and no nap
Wednesday: shortened day (got out at 2:30 instead of 3:15), no nap (yet...), but no run today (I need to give my knees a break)

I think it's a great success that I can still squeeze in time to take a nap.  I also think it's a great success that even when I am tired from teaching all day that I can still go out in the grossly hot 5-7pm time period and go for a run.  My parents and brothers are in town for a few more days, helping my new BYU freshman brother get settled in, so I'm expecting to spend time with them.

I'm also hoping that my brain doesn't feel as much like mush at the end of every school days as it has for this past week.  I feel like my vocabulary and sentence structure is being depleted every day. Isn't it supposed to get better when you go back to school?  I mean, I can figure out how to say things when I'm at school (for the most part...I still mix up words like "five highs" instead of "high fives", and I've been having problems with saying my vowels correctly when they're by ls or ms...weird), but as soon as I get home, I just lose all ability to speak like an adult.

Ten days

It's been ten days since Cody and I returned from DC.  In those ten days we have attended two weddings, one two-day graduation, I have had math training, back-to-school faculty welcome meeting, district meeting, third grade team meeting, and Open House.  School starts tomorrow.

Needless to say, I am exhausted. I was doing fine until today but man, I forgot how wiped out I get the first week of school.

Now, to go in order: Cody's younger sister got married last Wednesday.  We attended their sealing in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple...

Cody and me standing next to Cody's sister and her new husband, just outside the doors of the Salt Lake Temple

then went from there to help set up her reception at Wheeler Historic Farm in Cottonwood Heights area. After about four and a half hours of set-up, we attended the actual reception. Three hours later, we helped take it all down in an hour and a half. Also a funny thing that I thought of that day as I was getting my picture taken with the bride and all of her bridesmaids (of which I was one), is that I was the only one with my hair up. All the rest of the girls had their hair down. The funny thing is that, it used to be that after a certain age, it was a "privilege" to have your hair pinned up to show that you were a woman. Now it seems to be the opposite--have your hair down and show how beautiful it is.  I'm not complaining or judging (I have my hair down half the time, too), I just wonder when that switch in the female psyche happened in the Western world.

Then on Thursday, I went to math training and saw most of the faculty again for the first time in three months.  But the more important events of the day were that Cody's day one of graduation occurred. He was given the official "you're graduated" from President Cecil Samuelson, president of BYU. His parents, brothers, and us went to dinner that evening at Sizzler (Cody's choice; my family's traditions have rubbed off on him).

Cody and me after Thursday's ceremony

The next day, me, all of Cody's grandparents (except Papa John), plus his parents and brothers, and his cousin Shane, attended his college's graduation ceremony.  This was followed up by lunch at DP Cheesesteak's (another suggestion by Cody and it was a winner!). We were really happy that so many family members were able to be there for it, especially since most family members won't be able to make it to his higher-degree graduations.

Cody's parents, brothers, and me after graduation

Monday was my back-to-school faculty meeting and district meeting.  Yesterday was my third grade team meeting. And today was Open House.  I'll take some pictures of my classroom before school starts tomorrow.  I like it. It doesn't have an overt decoration theme, but it's simple, uncluttered, and open which I really like.

I miss DC. But I'm happy to be back.  I hope our paths really do take us back out there in the near future, like we hope they will.

I'm the most exciting person I know

How do I spend my Friday night?

1. Working on research
2. Running errands
3. Hurrying to make a quesadilla so I can talk to Cody on the phone
4. Deciding whether I should go to bed at 7:45 because I'm so tired or try to get the house all cleaned by 8:30
5. Decided on cleaning. Cleaning was all done by 8:45 (it included going through the papers on the bookshelf in our bedroom that get piled up in my "church" square).
6. Going to work on planning the next two weeks of school and organizing materials for my annual memory book with pictures and students' work.

Like I said, I'm the most exciting person I know.

I really can't wait till I'm with Cody. Then at least, even if I'm doing the exact same thing, I'll be doing it with him there to help me, talk to me, and sing songs with me.  Maybe we'd even dance in the middle of vacuuming.  It hasn't been 10 days yet, so I know I can definitely make it through two more days.

No idea what to title this...

I did stick to my goal of running four miles this morning. I tried to not push myself too hard since I haven't run more than 2-3 miles in seven months, but I did better than I thought. 48 minutes for four miles.  I cleaned, did a bunch of stuff for school, had a picnic in the park, finished Fire Arrow, watched The Little Traitor (delightful movie--funny, sad, cute; loved it!), made pierogies for dinner, and talked with Cody. Overall, a pretty good day, though my grandma's email made me a sad.  Not looking forward to the looooong Sunday tomorrow, but church will be good, and the CES fireside, and doing Facetime with Cody.

The First Two Days

Yesterday morning I dropped Cody off at the airport for his flight to DC since his internship there starts next week.  Then after napping for fifty minutes, I went to school.  After some of the craziness that has existed earlier this week, yesterday was a very nice break.  My students painted, tutored kindergarteners, worked on revising their multigenre autobiographies, and participated in a fifth grade wax museum.  I began working on research again. Exercise also entered my life again.  After taking a break off to do the elimination diet, I decided I should start exercising again, especially since my back has begun feeling a lot better since going to the chiropractor (I still get headaches though).  I subjected myself to an intense ten minutes of an arm workout and five minutes of an ab workout.  Ugh! It was so hard! I work up sore this morning.

Today was a good day at school. I bought some things for school next year--still no name tags, after ten minutes of internal debate at the Utah-Idaho Supply store--and did a speed workout for about 25 minutes.  I got to talk with Cody and that was wonderful.  I love that we keep up some of our traditions on the phone. It makes it seem not as bad to have him on the other side of the country.

I just finished a really good book and started it's sequel.  The book I just finished is called, Hero's Song by Edith Pattou. The sequel that I began tonight is called Fire Arrow.  Apparently they're based in some Irish myths and legends.  I love that they're different than other fantasy books I've read.  However, when I discovered that they're of Irish origin it made me think that I have a thing for Irish legends and myths because this same time last year I got sucked into a series of books that were based off of Irish myths and history.  I guess that just means I need to visit Ireland one day.

Tomorrow my goal is to go for a four mile run (avoiding the traffic and busy-ness of the Utah City Marathon), clean, and work on some things for school next year. Oh yeah, I'm also planning on watching Little Traitor so that Cody and I can talk about it together, because he's going to watch it this weekend too.

Praxis II: PLT Test & Pomegranate Paradise with Raspberries

I took the Praxis II: Principles of Teaching and Learning test this morning. I feel like I did pretty well on it. I tried to pace myself so that I would have time to look over my 70 multiple choice answers and 4 constructed response questions at the end, and I had just enough time to do that.  Then I treated myself by going to Jamba Juice and ordering Pomegranate Paradise with raspberries instead of strawberries. It is sooo delicious! Especially for someone who loves raspberries as much as I do.

Cody picked me up after that. He'd already done the cleaning, so that leaves me with...planning for school? Reading The Hobbit? We'll see.

A fabulous day!

Today was great! The weather has been so warm and sunny and happy!  After working really hard all day (and still not getting their last class point for their reward), I decided to reward my class with a few extra minutes of recess at the end of the day. I feel like it's the beginning of spring when being outside is treasured the most and I want my students to feel it because I sure love being outside in weather like this.

I've been trying to amass a bunch of projects to fill this next week starting on Saturday.  I have a bunch of cleaning coming my way, probably studying for the Praxis, maybe watercoloring, and possibly a movie night.  My spring break in three weeks will be very empty since I'll be doing everything in this next week that I did during spring break last year.  That's okay though. Maybe I'll hang out on campus in the sun more this spring break.

Headaches have still been pretty regular for the past two weeks, despite plenty of sleep, water, vitamins, and still exercising a bit each week.  I'm hoping it's just the change in air pressure.  Cody and I did finish Downton Abbey season 3 this past Sunday.  Now I can easily wait till season four comes out in a year, unlike with season 3--because I knew someone would have season 3 and I would find it.

Term 3 ends this week. It's so crazy that the school year is 3/4 of the way done already!!  I only have 9 more weeks with my students!! Well, I'll try to make the most of those 9 weeks.

Missing and Not

I'm missing France and French today. I know I do a French Club every week at school, but it's different from learning it and being immersed in it. I hope that I'm helping my French Club students gain a love of French so that they'll want to take it in junior high and high school. But mostly it's so that I don't forget everything. And I've forgotten a lot of the more complicated things. One day I hope that I'll be able to take some more college level French courses.

                                         

I'm missing art. I really miss my ceramics and drawing classes I took at BYU.  Taking the time to create was something I loved and struggled with and loved all the more for that struggle. I checked out a watercolor book at the library yesterday with the half-formed plan of trying out watercolor again, especially when Cody's gone on his trips in the next few months.

I'm missing energy. I had a horrid migraine (or what I refer to as a migraine since the doctor obviously says it isn't unless it's diagnosed) last night.  I couldn't sleep for a few hours and I've been lacking in energy most of today.


I'm missing the love of teaching today. This is probably absent from my life today because 1) it was there yesterday, 2) I didn't get a lot of sleep last night and I am sooo affected by the amount of sleep I get, and 3) it seems like a lot of the teachers are just as exhausted as I am at school lately and no one is doing the cheering up and rallying. If I had the energy I would try, but I've just been so stretched lately.

I'm missing my memory.  I've been having blank stretches in my memory, they only last for about a minute but there is no memory whatsoever in my mind of certain things in my life.  I'm sure it's just because I've been tired lately, but I really don't like forgetting things.

I'm not missing unwelcome memories. While I've been forgetting certain things, a lot of other memories have been crowding my brain and making it hard for me to sleep and focus.  Sometimes those memories are unimportant, like thinking about how one of my students moved around the classroom. Who cares? But it can play back and forth in my memory. Other memories are more potent and lead to comparisons and I wish they would stay in the back room so I could fully appreciate the present and find ways to make the best of where I'm at now, instead of wishing for more efficient days or more harmonious days or days when I felt more intellectually stretched.

I'm not missing having an unreliable car. It's been so wonderful having our Mazda 6 this winter.  I've never had to really wonder if the car would be able to make it anywhere. And while the Saturn lives on, it's so nice having a car that is comfortable, classy, and reliable.

I'm not missing homework assignments for a college grade.

I'm not missing single's ward drama, especially in February.

I'm not missing being unemployed.

I know life isn't always the ideal and I know it probably won't ever be exactly what I thought I wanted, but I will get lucky sometimes and get something better. Sometimes it'll be worse, but if I just do the things I can control--sleep, exercise, eating right, telling my husband I love him every day, talking with my family often, keeping my testimony strong, and paying tithing (BIG testimony builder moments with that one lately)--then I know I'll be blessed to be able to endure and make it through.