Tender Mercies of the Lord

Hey all!

I am now signed up for both the Canyons AND Jordan District for subbing. I have an interview with Canyons to get into the teacher's pool on Wednesday--I've already done that with Jordan.

When I was signing up to sub in Jordan, one of the women in HR notified me of a possible opening in 2nd grade for a full-time sub, just in case the 4th grade opening didn't happen.

Well, I haven't received any calls on the 4th grade, but I have on the 2nd! A woman from my home ward just happens to be the principal there! She was sent my information and surprised to realized she knows me! I have an interview with her and the team tomorrow.

Life is just grand right now :D I love it when things work out! And when they don't, I know there's a reason. I'm glad that I have a Father in Heaven who's looking out for me!

A Time for Change

Well hello!

Since I've lasted posted I have....wait for it...GRADUATED! I am now a Brigham Young University Alumni! Yay! I have a degree in Elementary Education and a teaching license, which I wasn't planning on using.

Cut to this past week or so. I'm going to be a teacher! I went in to apply for a substitute position, which I got, so long as I don't get a real teaching job! I have a screening interview tomorrow with the Jordan School District. If I pass it, I will get to interview for open positions, of which there are two currently. I'm really hoping for fourth grade--I love teaching that age group.

The last class I blogged about misses me! I get to visit them next week :D

I got a new car! It's super cute :D A blue 2010 Toyota Yaris 5-door hatchback. I love it! This is a picture from the internet.



For Christmas, my wonderful, beautiful, amazing cousin came into town and she, Tally, and I went shopping! I ended up with a new princess dress for Christmas :D Giselle..from Enchanted!


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Speaking of Christmas, Santa came shopping at Deseret Book!



I'm going to post-date a post about the Institute Ball back in Halloween time because it was fabulous.

Anywho, peace out for now!

Halloween Institute Ball

I had TONS of fun at this and thought I'd share some pics!

Friends

Jonessa and I


Tiffany and I

Tawni and I


Hillary and I

Natalie and I

Rachel, Lori, and I

Friends!


Other Disney Characters

Cruella DeVill and Belle


Sleeping Beauty and Belle

Malificent and Belle

Snow White and Belle

Cinderella and Belle


This random prince and Belle


Jack Sparrow and Belle

Belle and the Beast and Belle



I had so much fun!

Teaching Part 1

Well, it has been a wonderful two months! Today was my last day in my third grade class at Draper. It was sad, but also a celebration of what we've experienced together. There are some kids in that class that I hope to never forget--even stay in contact with. I hope my kids turn out like quite a few of them. There was one little boy in particular who really touched me.

This little boy is so cute. He is always smiling and laughing, but that is often overlooked because he is also often off task. My cooperating teacher and I decided to give him a behavior chart. The next day, he couldn't stop smiling as he told us that he completed everything. It was so fun to be able to tell him that he got to mark off one more completed task.

The last week or so, he's been home sick with the swine flu. The class called him along with the other sick kids to wish him well. His mother called back and told us how much that had really made his day.

I wrote each of the kids a note as a goodbye. His note read as follows:

I am so sad that you were so sick these last couple of weeks. I missed you in class! Every time you start talking, a grin lights up your face and brings a smile to mine. You are very funny too and can always make your classmates and I laugh.
I’ve seen a lot of your work that just came in from when you were sick and it is fantastic! You have been doing a great job of completing all your work and doing it well. I am so proud of you! Keep being a rockstar!

Love,
Ms. Denton

When I came back from a meeting, my teacher asked if I had talked to him about the note yet. He had told her that it made him almost cry because he was so happy. When he came back in from recess, he came up to me and said "thank you for the letter" and hugged me for a good 15 seconds. I think he was about to cry again--I know I was!

I hope this boy gets to partake of every opportunity that comes his way and more. It's amazing how much an 8-year-old can affect you!

My New Song!

For many years I’ve dressed up
It’s something I enjoy
I get to be somebody else
It always brings me joy.

This year I am a princess
From a favorite fairy tale
I prance ‘round in my ball gown
The happiness never fails

I went to show my neighbor
A four-year-old little girl
She loved to see my princess dress
It’s so much fun to her

I called her princess Meagan
She balked at the title
“I’m not a princess now,” she said
“I’m just a little girl.”

“Of course you are a princess
And I’m a princess too”
“I know that you’re a princess
I see the dress on you.

My dress is still upstairs
I’m not a princess now
I can go put my gown on
And then I’ll take a bow.”

“But I’m always a princess
Not just when in this dress
And you’re always a princess too”
“I am?” she asked “Oh yes!”

“You have a Heavenly Father
Who is a royal king
And you and I are daughters
It makes me want to sing.”

“In heaven we are royal
And we’re royal here as well
One day we’ll both queens
But as princesses here we dwell”

“You don’t need any dresses
Your heritage is divine”
Listen, you’re father is saying
“You’re a princess and you’re mine.”

An Awesome Comparison from an Awesome Book

I've been reading the Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox--highly recommend it. I came upon an awesome little comparison today and felt like sharing it!

"Most of us try to avoid touching a hot stove, but if it happens we recognize the problem and withdraw our hand quickly. The pain prompts swift action, which keeps us from damaging ourselves further. Who among us is going to leave his hand on the stove and try to convince himself it doesn't really hurt? Committing sin is like touching a hot stove. In normal cases, the pain of guilt leads to recognition, which leads to quick repentance (see Packer, "The Touch of the Master's Hand," 23). This is exactly what Alma taught when he said, "Let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance" (Alma 42:29)...

"In the context of touching a hot stove, consider some of the most common excuses for sin:

• Just one touch won't hurt.
• I'm afraid if I take my hand off I won't be able to leave it off.
• I deserve this.
• The only reason I feel pain is because of my Mormon culture.
• But I was born with the desire to touch the stove.
• It's my parents' fault. They're the ones who bought the stove.
• I just need to adjust to the burning rather than try to overcome it.
• I want to be excommunicated so it won't hurt when I touch the stove.
• No one told me touching the hot stove was bad.
• It may hurt, but at least I am touching it with someone I love.
• It's not like it's totally wrong. It's a gray area.
• Everyone else is touching it.
• I'll touch it if I want. It's my right. Nobody is going to tell me what to do or not do.
• Stove? What stove? I don't see any stove.
• I just don't care anymore. I'm numb to it.
• I know it's wrong, but I'll move my hand tomorrow.
• You can't go without touching the stove all the time.
• I've blown it now. I might as well touch it more.
• Those who don't touch are so old-fashioned.
• At least it's just my hand and not my whole face.
• How will I know it hurts unless I touch it myself?
• At least the other stove touchers accept me and don't judge.
• There are others who touch it more than I do.
• If God iddn't want me to touch the stove, He wouldn't have given me a hand.

Obvisouly, it is easier to find excuses than it is to find God..."


Isn't that incredible? Those excuses seem SO stupid and yet we use them all the time! It was cool to see it in comparison to something we all know will hurt us and so I thought I'd share :D

Happy Sabbath!

Amazing Grace

Another song I wrote!

Amazing Grace:
a phrase I hear
and then I think
and have no fear

The Savior He
did die for me
if I repent
I am set free

He knows my pain
He knows my joy
by His free will
He is employed

Some won't accept
and others will
it's up to us
we have free will

I've made the choice,
and now will you?
you can go through life
as one...or Two

Chorus:
My Brother,
My Teacher,
My Shepherd,
My Friend
Christ is with me
'till the end

September 16, 2009