Seriously?

I woke up this morning feeling nice and rested.  As I rolled over and got up a thought crossed my mind that terrified me for a moment:  "Wait a second, I'm still single!?"  Can't remember it, but it must have been a nice dream.  Then I laughed and got ready for work.  Oh those early morning moments.

Perspective

Work was rough today. There are so many things involved with being a Special Ed. Resource teacher, that sometimes I wonder how my head doesn't explode on a daily basis. I know it is a common theme with all school teachers - so much to think about and plan that you can hardly leave it at school when you finally DO go home. Today I was struck while I was thinking about the challenges that many of my special students face. My thoughts seemed to focus on one little student in particular and I was inspired - so I would like to share that with you.
I have a student who is an only child and comes from a broken home. Mom stays at home, I think she is ill - she can't bring him to school because their car just died. He rides his scooter in the snow. His step dad works a lot. I don't know the particulars of the family, only that in trying to schedule a meeting mom didn't show up 3 times and on the fourth, we managed to have a meeting over the phone. Despite whatever may be going on at home, this little boy is the most positive boy I have ever taught. He is 3 grades below on all academic levels (reading, writing and math), he is sick a lot and he does not have many friends. Despite his academic non-achievements, whenever I give him a timed math or reading test, his typical attitude is this:
Me: How far do you think you can get in one minute?
Him: I can finish the whole page!
Me: Ok! Just do your best.
(He gets approxiamately 3 of the 25 done)
Me: Do you want to try again?
Him: Ya! I can get the whole page this time!
Me: Just do your best.
(He gets 3 again)
Him: I want to try one more time!
This little charade could go on and on without him improving in the least and if we were to do these little tests all day long, he would still believe that he can do the whole page the next time! He has heart and determination as well as a sweet ignorance to his own imperfect little mind. He is constantly helping me clean or 'helping' other students with their work. He loves every soul he meets and yet they often do not love him - because he is different. In appearance and activity he is a normal little boy, but they can tell that he is not the same and they let it effect what they think of him. This example of his determination is just one of the many ways that he has taught me. I am glad that he has such an innocent perception of his situation - he needs it to survive. One day he came to school in new clothes - I am sure it is not often that he gets something new. He couldn't stop smiling (or telling me about it!) for the entire class time. He informed me today that his shoes are tight now, but he didn't tell me that in complaint. He followed it up with, "Now I can run faster! Tighter shoes make you a better runner."
For all the challenges that I think I have in my life, these children have so much more. More than I would ever wish on a child so pure. And from this all, there is no doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father is real. He loves me because he has given me so much. He loves these children because he has given them ways to handle what they must. I only hope that I can be given enough wisdom and strength to help them on their journey - as much as they are helping me.

Happy New Year!

Reflections from 2009: (what would a New Year post be without a little reminiscing?)

Got hired for my first real teaching job, learned a lot; got my first salary pay check; left the United States for the FIRST time ever; went para-sailing; moved back to Provo; made tons of new friends; crocheted a blanket; learned to knit; forgot how to knit; accepted a teaching job at a new school; made some more friends; went on my second plane ride ever; visited my brother in Ohio; went camping at Fish Lake and Capitol Reef; turned 25; picked up some awesome Country Dancing skills and so much more! It's hard to condense a year in one blog post. I have had some fun times this past year! I feel like I have also learned a lot more about myself and what I want out of life, but that's something for another post. I'm not in a serious mood today.

But boy am I excited for new beginnings! I - as I am sure many are the world over - have been thinking a lot about changes and goals and making a fresh start with the turn of another year. In years past, I would get very excited for all of these new goals I wanted to accomplish. I believe I had around 20 goals last year! And did I accomplish them all? Who knows?! My problem is I write them down and then never look at them again until ...actually I just don't ever look at them again. Not a very good system. This year I have decided to set some goals and actually pay attention to them throughout the year! Sounds like a plan, eh? I know - don't mock me. I figured it would be easiest to set only a minimum amount of goals in order to remain focused. These will be big picture type goals - hopefully to take shape as the year progresses. Drum roll please....

1. Travel more. I have been outside of the USA approximately 1 time in my life. It was a total blast! I want to do that more. I have plans already to visit my brother-in-law and sister in Scotland but I would like to go to at least one more place outside of the US.

2. Be healthier. I know that is a completely vague sort of goal. I have more specific goals in mind - but I think I will leave that for my un-public journal. Basically, I just want to eat less of the bad things, more of the good things, and be more active. Recovering from two knee surgeries and serving a mission (you know how that goes) has sort of kicked my trash in the healthiness department. So - I will be creating a more consistent exercising regime to be better all a'round' (hopefully not so much of that anymore....)

3. Cook more. I have been in a dinner group this last semester and I really enjoyed being able to cook more often. I want to plan and cook more frequently than I have been. I think this will also help with my health goal, too.

4. Get married. When isn't this a goal for me? Maybe this is the year! haha....we shall see.

5. Run a 5k, 10k and half marathon. Progressive goal. I really, really want to do this one! A lot.

There are of course other little goals (spiritual and personal growth goals) but I don't want to post those quite yet. Wish me luck! I hope everyone has a great start to a Brand New Year!!

Ho hum

Just a normal post today. I haven't updated in a while, so I figured it's about time. I have not a clever thing in my head at the moment - so I will grace you with the day-to-day of little Miss Moody.
School is going well. That is if you consider "feeling like my head is barely above water as I plan lessons, IEP's, assess goals and manage behaviors... and parents..." as going well. There has never been a time in my life where I have needed a Christmas Break more than now! Good thing it is only 7 days away!! My students are great though. Let's see if I can think of any charming things they have done lately: 1) A little second grader enthusiastically wished me a 'Very Merry Christmas!' as he was leaving class. This was last Thursday. I guess some are much more anxious for the break than I! 2) I have one student who thinks it is so entertaining to wait outside the bathroom and scare me when I open the door. It wouldn't be so bad except he is a big 6th grade boy and is taller than me ... we have had a few talks about what is socially appropriate since then. Hmmm.. I'm sure more will come to me later.
How about some news from the dating scene, eh? I don't really talk about this on my blog much - but I have been on a few dates lately which is so nice! I feel like I have been in a humongous dating dry spell and to actually go on several dates within a week is very nice! Although there is nothing really fantastic blooming from any of them, I at least feel like I'm doing something about my lack of social life! ha. And a big thanks for those who have thought to set me up. It really makes me feel good when someone thinks enough about me to recommend me to a friend. Does that sound weird? Well, it is what it is. Anyway - that is what my life is about right now. The 'adventure' continues on! Peace.

I'm not that girl.

Yes, it's true. I went to the 12:31 showing of 'New Moon' the night it came out. Let me 'splain...no, no, let me sum up... My good friend, MJ we shall call her, has a cousin. This cousin has a friend. And this friend (I gather) is in love with Twilight. She rented out a theater for a private showing and then needed people to fill it up. So, MJ invited me to go, and I accepted. One month ago.
I liked the first movie; I've read the first two books; so I thought, "What the heck. I might as well!" Although I only got approximately 3 hours of sleep on a school night and was a walking Zombie the entire next day, I am glad I went. It was a lot of fun! But, lest you think any differently about me, I wanted to assure you that I am not one of "those" fans. And by "those" I of course mean these:

I do not buy ridiculously large blankets with Edwards' pale, pale face on them.

I do not enjoy standing in line for hours to get the newest Twilight book coordinating a black T-shirt and red sash with the rest of my crazy Twilight friends.

I also do not enjoy tatooing the three book logos to my back!!! EW!! Can you even imagine?! I apologize for even posting this image. ew.

That said, please do not be offended if you have done one or all of the above. I'm not judging you - just the crazy things you do.
And now, the favorite parts of the my midnight movie experience are as follows:

1. The 45 year old woman who screamed her head off every time Jacob took off his shirt. (I heard that this actor is only 18? yikes.)
2. Almost being trampled as we entered the theater (even though our tickets were numbered and given assigned seats.)
3. Eating those candy word-hearts (Twilight version) with things like, "I love you for eternity because I'm a vampire and I never die" and "Bite me" written on them. (Ok - so those were heavily paraphrased... I can't remember the exact wording, but you get the idea.)
4. Watching the scene where Alice's vision of Bella as a vampire shows them frolicking in the woods with flowy, pastel colored clothes. EVERYONE in the theater laughed there heads off at this... and I was pleased.
5. It was just fun. If I was going to watch the movie at all, this was for sure the night and the crowd to do it with. So, if you have not seen the movie, I recommend it honestly. Just make sure you go with some crazy fans. It makes it all a lot more entertaining!

I have a problem.

I was looking through some recent and not so recent pictures today and I discovered something tragic. It's a sensitive subject, so please don't make fun. My issue is... I have a dorky-picture-hand. You see, if ever a picture is taken wherein my left hand is visible, the darn thing doesn't know what to do. My hand gets nervous and instead of doing something normal - like hanging limply at the end of my arm - it convulses and moves until it hangs in a rather strange position. Observe:

** Here we see lefty with fingers slightly bent, not sure whether it wants to straighten all the way, or
curl up on itself. Tragedy.

I even tried to cover it with something more attractive, like beautiful Fall leaves.

**See. Weirdo-hand.

Even when I try to do something else, give it a chance to be supported by a hip or side, it still acts bewildered.**See what I mean!? Why must it just rest there as if injured and too sore to move.
Can't it grab a hold of something?

Here it is again. This time jutting out into nowhere for no reason at all!

This one is especially bad. Family photo shoot. Look closely, you'll see what I mean...
And again...**AHHH!

I would appreciate any advise you could give me. I am desperate for help.

And now, we will close this post with a little something from my right hand - who obviously also needs a different kind of help. This was purely accidental, I swear. It is hilarious that it was caught on camera though. And entering the MTC no less....

The Never Ending Story is such a great movie!

And that has nothing to do with this entry. I was just thinking about how much I love that movie.

I feel like I can't blog until I have something interesting to post so my blogging tends to be spread out. That said, I cannot say that I am writing due to something interesting happening - more that I haven't written anything in so dang long. Can my life possibly be that un-interesting? Guess so.

The least (or most rather) I can do is give you an update and exaggerate to make me sound cooler.

School takes up the majority of my time and all of my energy right now. I am learning how to better balance my life so I don't completely burn out which is good. That consists of leaving as soon as my contract time hits and not thinking about school until 5:30 the next morning, at which time I plan my days lessons. Leaving things to the last minute? Maybe. Does it work for me? Definitely yes. My students are super awesome. I love the constant prompting to get my ADD kiddos on task, the incessant re-directing of my always tuned out kids, and saying "no" over and over to my 'I'm-doing-everything-I-can-to-avoid-work' kids. It's fantastic! I actually mean that, though. I'm not trying to be all that sarcastic. It's a lot of work and you must have approximately 6 hands and 4 eyes to do it, but it can be done! This year compared to my last year is a million trillion times more manageable!

In life outside of school we have, well, life stuff. I'm very proud of myself as of late for my better exercising habits! I live about one minute away from the Provo river trail and I love, love to run it often! It has been difficult since my past knee surgery to find something to keep me in shape without playing soccer and running has been a great substitute. The other day while running the trail, I did happen to see a some deer on the trail. Then, right after that, I saw the biggest moose I've ever seen! I just ran on past and it didn't seem to mind. And then, that was my exaggeration ... I probably would have jumped into the river had I seen a moose! ok - I'm not so good at this exaggerating to make things more awesome so I guess it's time to close this post. Thanks for reading! Until next time.