Life lately

Anyone reading this probably knows that I am in the middle of my practicum for ElEd. The school I'm at is amazing. Really, I would feel lucky to work somewhere like this school. It is a full hour away, though, and that can be a real pain in the butt. We leave at 6:45 every morning and get home around 4. I'm realizing in this practicum what really makes it so tiring to be a teacher. You have to be "on" all day. You are in charge of those kids. You are their example. There is really no down time for you. Only certain special people are strong enough to do that. They are called teachers. Anyone who thinks teaching of any kind is an easy-out job, has never been in the position to feel the weight a teacher feels. Obviously, lot's of other roles in life take similar strength, but I'm on my teacher soap box right now :). Anyway, long story short, this is a tiring time. And yet, I feel very content. One of the blessings of being a teacher is you really develop an eye and ear for the little things. Like a little third grade boy holding the door for you. Like one student writing in behalf of his classmate who has a broken arm during a poetry lesson. Like the student who visibly gains confidence as you help him work through a math problem. Like a wink and mouthing "good job" from your cooperating teacher after teaching your first observed lesson. Teachers really do develop a keen sense for these kinds of things. Haha, that just may be a survival instinct due to all the stress a teacher feels. But it's great.

Here's some pictures of some things that have made me smile recently.

Baby Emery Rose

My niece and nephew

Chance's adoration of this little girl.

Dressing up for Halloween. And being in a place where you are the weird one if you don't dress up, unlike boring BYU.

A beautiful anniversary gift from the special man in my life.

Flowers from that same man :)

Getting to see Chance after every long day.

Finally, this video kind of sums up my feelings that I tried to say. I usually don't like music videos. This one is different. I loved the song more after I saw it.