August/September Goings-On

Whew! These last few months have been a complete and utter whirlwind, with a few carefully placed moments of peace.

Todd and I were just called to be temple workers. For my non-LDS friends, this means we drive up to our nearest temple (kinda like a super special chapel, only open to members of our Church) and volunteer. We greet people, we smile a lot, we direct indoor traffic, we talk to lots of old people :) It's a lot of fun, and we do it from 6 am-4 pm. Why? Because we were asked to, and because we believe in the principles of service and sacrifice.

When we got the call, we were really overwhelmed. School was starting, our income was about to be sliced in half, student loans deferment periods were over, Todd was asked to teach Sunday School in addition to being a Webelos leader, my Primary calling was still demanding (Primary Program anyone?), we are still baby-less with no solution to that in the near future. So yeah. But we said yes, and we've gone 3 times, and it's been an absolute blessing. I always knew I wanted to be a temple worker, and now I just think that maybe life will turn out so that I can't do it when I'm older (volunteers are typically older people with more flexible schedules). So, maybe the opportunity is now!

The LDS temple in north KC, off of I-435 and Shoal Creek Parkway.

Speaking of school, it has started, and we've been going strong for a few weeks. My class this year is much more challenging, much more immature, much lower. But they will grow a lot this year :) Work continues to be more demanding as we move to Common Core and a super lame evaluation system. Honestly, I don't know if I can teach forever. It's sad, but teaching is no longer just teaching. I am anti-meeting, and so I just don't know if I'm cut out for a job that requires data meetings, intervention meetings, committee meetings, PLC meetings, goal-setting conferences, and planning meetings in addition to learning labs, grading, professional development, observations, planning for DAILY TEACHING, and oh yeah, meeting the social/emotional needs of 25 kids. All of these "methods" designed to make us better teachers are just making me exhausted. One of my friends asked how I did it all (I firmly believe in leaving work at work in order to have balance in my life), and I told her there are things that just don't get done. I don't grade every paper, I don't organize my desk, I don't read my chapters in between PLC's (I can handle short articles), I don't put every paper up on the wall, and I tell myself I do whatever I can so that I don't have to take it home. And somehow it works. Oh, and I pray that I can keep my life balanced!

In other news, all of this busy-ness has helped us really appreciate the small moments Todd and I have together. This summer was beautiful, and not super hot, and so we got a few hikes in at the Konza Prairie.

For the last three weeks, it's been unbearably hot. Did I mention the a/c doesn't work great in my classroom. I've been a sweaty mess at work (maybe that is contributing to my grouchiness when I get home!). Fortunately, the weather has been beautiful the last two days, and I'm hoping the trend continues. We even got outside for some tennis this morning, and then took a quick walk after that...where I discovered I can do a grand total of 0 pullups. Yep.

We really love our quiet Sunday afternoons, and we now more fully appreciate any moment that isn't spent on the "have-to's"!

Forever Families

Tonight Todd and I spoke for a few minutes with our families. Me, with my Mom on speakerphone (and Dad listening in the background), and Todd with his Mom on Skype.

I'm so grateful for our parents, and for their continued love and support, and for the legacy of faith they are leaving for their children. I think they are like us, they thought life would maybe turn out a little differently than it did, but regardless of trials and hardships, they face the future with hope.

I'm grateful we have parents we can turn to for prayers, for advice, and for a listening ear.

I am grateful for my testimony that families are forever, that these bonds we forge here on earth don't have to end here...they will only be strengthened. I don't have the words to convey the peace I feel in this gospel principle, but Todd and I have been so blessed to truly have been born into forever families.