This American Life

All must listen to "This American Life" - podcast or other...

My two favorite episodes (for lack of better word) are:  "Television taught me everything I need to know" and "Fear of Sleep"

Steeple Chase Sundays

I thought I should at lease mention that I take

 pictures of church steeples every Sunday afternoon.  I am compiling photos for a book that I call "The Steeple Chase" which is just pictuers of the LDS steeples/buildings in the Salt Lake Valley...which is 500+ and we are at about 134.  YIKES!

               

New Year's...for teachers.

Tomorrow is the first real day of school (Friday is for 7th graders only).  Usually I am really prepared, but I still can't fathom working starting tomorrow.  YIKES!  This year I am teaching 2 pre-algebra classes and 4 dance classes.  My dance program is really growing, I love it!  I usually have some goals set up and my first weeks planned...not so for tomorrow.  In my head I am still planning on reading at the pool :)

I feel a little more involved in my ward.  I went VT on Tuesday and met a lot of new people.  I had to call and set up the appts.  It was difficult for me, but I just sat myself down and did it.  Whew.  Wednesday I received several calls from people from my ward.  Family wards are a whole new world of Church.  I was able to answer questions about my VTee to someone from RS, she and I were both surprised I had any information about her, but I was helpful.  Later, I was asked to teach RS lesson in September on the Plan of Salvation and then the RS presidency called to set up an appt. to visit Thurs.  I was all RSed out by the end of school (in a good way, obviously).  Today I was asked to speak next week on Charity.  I hope they won't be sick of me :)  - as if that's ever possible.

Yesterday Sandra, Ali and I went to Provo to finish Becky's bathroom - curtains, caulking, touch ups etc.  We arrived at her cul-de-sac and there were cars parked on every inch of the street and houses.  People were coming in and out of her house with wood and furniture.  I was confused so I called Becky.  She said she was on her way and didn't show any signs that she knew anything was happening, so I said nothing.  She told me to go try the door, I just said "yeah, its open" 

Her coworkers (teachers) got together and donated time and stuff to finishing her house.  What a great faculty!  They organized it at faculty mtg. while Becky was called out to the office.  She cried, of course, when she arrived.  The curtains are adorable (I always forget to take pictures at the time I enter my blog - to come).  I was just happy to apart of something so great...even if we weren't invited.

...and then the sun shines...

Sometimes I feel hopeless and then it's gone so quickly.  I've had a wonderful week.  It started with two days of freedom, then two days of dance camp, then finished with two days at Bear Lake.  On my way to camp (SLC Rose Wagner Theatre) mom called in reference to my previous blog.  She said that it was nice to have people talk to you, not because you need to be consoled but to let you know that they know.  That made sense.  

I got her number that day and left her a message that I was praying for her and thinking about her all week.  She sent me a text that said thanks.  I felt much better.  I saw her at the viewing and the family was very uplifting and smiley, it melted my fears.  The Lord is in control and has the power to bring peace to troubled times.   Truly amazing.

Reality Bites

Last weekend while watching the Olympics, I saw a news story in Magna UT.  A woman stabbed to death in her home with her 14 year old daughter terrified at the neighbors waiting for the police.  What a horrible story.   Then life went on and I watched some other stories, some lame thing about a puppy stuck in someone's vent and the entire fire dept. working to get him free...blah blah blah.  It wasn't until late that night when I received a phone call from one of my girls that asked if I'd heard the story of my captain's mom. 

I felt sick to my stomach and I needed release.  I tossed and turned, called a friend, texted another until I got someone.  I talked to my roommate who just brushed it off, ugh.  I really didn't know what to do.  I wanted to cry, but couldn't (and still can't).  I feel very angry, but then really sad over and over.  Many students, parents and teachers are calling me to find out information and what I'm doing about it.  I don't really know where to start.  I don't dare call her and I don't dare ask the girls how they're doing or how she's doing because I don't know if I can deal with their reactions.  What if they need comfort from me, I don't know that I can give it.  I found out funeral stuff and that is about all I can give people when they ask me all sorts of things.  I saw her best friend (her "jeani" ) today and just smiled and said hi.  I couldn't bring myself to say anything.  It seems so unfair.

 I don't know if she's okay.  I don't know where she is.  I don't know if she'll go to my school.  I don't know if she's with her brother or dad.  I don't know her relations.  I don't know if she even likes her dad.  I don't know, but maybe I should...I just can't.

I pray for her and her family.  I know the Lord has the power to comfort and I hope that she feels it and that this doesn't ruin her life.  She is amazing!

Cabin Fever - Breaking Dawn

I went with Jenicee and Cho to Jenicee's cabin, down south.  Our goal was to read Breaking Dawn (the 4th book in the Twilight series) and finish it before returning home.  It was a nice break to know that I didn't have anything to do...Jenicee was ahead of us, so she was trying to keep busy cooking and cleaning and asking us what was happening until we caught up to her. 

Apparently I read differently than they do.  I am not interested in all of the little details, so I read over them quickly and my goal is to finish the book, not ingest the deeper meanings.  I have the ideas of characters in my head and I don't think they are anything like those in the book.  I tried to pay more attention to the looks of the characters, this book, so I wouldn't be so lost when the movies come out.  Alice is not a blonde, Rosalie is not a brunette, Edward is not really tall and big with short black hair, I think that is everyone I'd messed up.

I'm not sure if I liked it or not.  It went totally (TOTALLY) different than I thought it would.  I felt a little like deja vu from book 3 (Eclipse).  I won't write anything more, incase some crazy hasn't already finished it ;)