You don't realize how much junk you accumulate over the course of two years until you have to pack and move it all! It almost makes me want to ask, "why am I going home for two months?!" I've spent the last week and a half packing and organizing my stuff, which includes mostly clothes, only to move most of it into a storage unit yesterday. It'll stay there for the next two months until my roommate and I move back to Utah and into a new place. Oh the joys of moving!
On the bright side, now I have less stuff! I've thrown away a lot that I've accumulated these last few years.
It's been bittersweet these last couple of weeks as I've been getting ready to head to Michigan. I'm grateful to be a teacher and have a few months off in the summer to go spend it with my family, especially since my dad had the stroke. I'm grateful that my contract was up at the beginning of the summer, allowing me to have this little "break." However, I'm sad to leave this home I've created in Utah that I love so much. Being single and not having any family out here, I've done my best to choose great friends that have become like family. I've also been blessed to have been in a wonderful ward family for the last 2 1/2 years, which I'll move back into when I come back. :) I also have a good friend who's moving to Idaho for a new job at the same time I'm moving to Michigan. He's been like a brother to me since I've lived in Utah. I'm so grateful to have his friendship and that he's always been worthy to exercise his Priesthood power when I need him to. He's been my home teacher for the last 2 years. Him and his roommate helped us move yesterday and we fed them pizza as a "thank you," and as the four of us sat there eating, talking, and laughing, I realized that time and friendship is so precious. You have to appreciate every moment, before people move away or move on and that "era" ends.
Tender mercies. Great friends. Good times. Love life; it's beautiful. :)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Beautiful Life!!
This post is slightly similar to the last post, but not, at the same time. Yesterday morning, I was at work, like usual, and the secretary intercom-ed me to let me know I had a phone call. I ran to the back room, picked up the phone, said, "This is Ms. Evans," and proceeded to have a very blessed phone call. Truly a tender mercy of the Lord. :)
I have one 6th grader this year, in advanced math and English classes, and recently his little brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Throughout the year, I've spoken with his mother many times (she comes to see me more than any other parent, I think, because she's still in elementary school mode with her son :) ). Not that I'm complaining. She'll stop by after school, with her two-three little ones, every couple of weeks, for one reason or another, and during this time, I've come to respect this sweet woman. She is so sweet and caring with her children, and she's very gentle with them. I couldn't imagine her ever yelling or becoming angry with her children; I don't think it's even in her personality at all. I've come to admire this quality in her very much.
Side note: this past school year, I've become VERY patient with my students, very rarely yelling at them because I'm upset. It just hasn't happened very often this year, and my students have noticed. Because of this, my observation, I've decided that I don't want to yell at my own children when I get upset. I don't think that would help to create my own Spirit-filled home when I have children and such.
ANYWAYS, I've looked up to this mother in that way, and I really have appreciated her example, being that I'm a single LDS woman, hoping to have children of my own someday. Yesterday, she called me regarding her son's schedule, and we ended up having a much-needed conversation, having nothing to do with her son's schedule. She was sharing some of her thoughts about trials, fasting, and prayer; telling me how making fasts and prayers more specific has helped her and her family. Also, she mentioned that in times of trial, sometimes you need and pray for the ability for others to feel your strength, which strength ultimately comes from the Lord. And WOW, how I needed to hear that.
I mentioned to her how I've come to really realize and recognize how BEAUTIFUL life really is. Yes, it's so often hard and heart-breaking, but at the same time; life's really beautiful. We are so blessed to live in a beautiful land and be able to experience wonderful relationships, both family and other kinds of relationships. She mentioned how she really needed to hear that. What she doesn't know is that I used to envy those who were in love and young married or young dating couples who were so happy. Over the last year or so, that has stopped for me. There's no longer resentment or jealousy because I don't have that in my life. I look forward to being in love, and try to bless those who are. Love is amazing; unfathomable; sometimes I wonder how I can find a man who will make me happy for forever and whom I can give myself wholeheartedly to. But I know I will; that realization has taken me down this path and helped me recognize that life really is beautiful. It's such a short time of our eternity, but what a wonderful time it is.
It's wonderful how so often the Lord puts people in our path for a reason. Conversations become guided by the Spirit; how amazing is that?! The gospel of Jesus Christ is amazing and I'm so blessed to have it in my life.
LOVE LIFE :)
I have one 6th grader this year, in advanced math and English classes, and recently his little brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Throughout the year, I've spoken with his mother many times (she comes to see me more than any other parent, I think, because she's still in elementary school mode with her son :) ). Not that I'm complaining. She'll stop by after school, with her two-three little ones, every couple of weeks, for one reason or another, and during this time, I've come to respect this sweet woman. She is so sweet and caring with her children, and she's very gentle with them. I couldn't imagine her ever yelling or becoming angry with her children; I don't think it's even in her personality at all. I've come to admire this quality in her very much.
Side note: this past school year, I've become VERY patient with my students, very rarely yelling at them because I'm upset. It just hasn't happened very often this year, and my students have noticed. Because of this, my observation, I've decided that I don't want to yell at my own children when I get upset. I don't think that would help to create my own Spirit-filled home when I have children and such.
ANYWAYS, I've looked up to this mother in that way, and I really have appreciated her example, being that I'm a single LDS woman, hoping to have children of my own someday. Yesterday, she called me regarding her son's schedule, and we ended up having a much-needed conversation, having nothing to do with her son's schedule. She was sharing some of her thoughts about trials, fasting, and prayer; telling me how making fasts and prayers more specific has helped her and her family. Also, she mentioned that in times of trial, sometimes you need and pray for the ability for others to feel your strength, which strength ultimately comes from the Lord. And WOW, how I needed to hear that.
I mentioned to her how I've come to really realize and recognize how BEAUTIFUL life really is. Yes, it's so often hard and heart-breaking, but at the same time; life's really beautiful. We are so blessed to live in a beautiful land and be able to experience wonderful relationships, both family and other kinds of relationships. She mentioned how she really needed to hear that. What she doesn't know is that I used to envy those who were in love and young married or young dating couples who were so happy. Over the last year or so, that has stopped for me. There's no longer resentment or jealousy because I don't have that in my life. I look forward to being in love, and try to bless those who are. Love is amazing; unfathomable; sometimes I wonder how I can find a man who will make me happy for forever and whom I can give myself wholeheartedly to. But I know I will; that realization has taken me down this path and helped me recognize that life really is beautiful. It's such a short time of our eternity, but what a wonderful time it is.
It's wonderful how so often the Lord puts people in our path for a reason. Conversations become guided by the Spirit; how amazing is that?! The gospel of Jesus Christ is amazing and I'm so blessed to have it in my life.
LOVE LIFE :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)