It has been a good couple of days for me.
For starters, I turned 27 in 2011 (you have to say it twenty-eleven other wise it does not sound catchy). My roommates threw me a birthday party, and I just love where I am right now in life. Friday afternoon I left the middle school I substitute at three days a week, the air was warm, the sun was beginning to set, I had a party to get ready for and I just thought, 'Life is really good right now.'
Today, I was in the hallway ushering students to class, and some kids from another class I have been in before and started talking to me. The fact that they remember my name warms my heart, and that they excitedly ask if I'm going to be in their class makes me even more happy.
K, a chattery, but lovable kid says to me, 'Miss Mac they be talkin' bout you, but I got your back.'
I responded, 'Who was talking about me K?'
K: 'You know (insert name of female student I had to remind to stop talking about a million times first period). '
Me: 'Oh yeah, I know her. What did she say?'
K: 'She said, "oooh that sub be gettin' up on my nerves!' So I told her, 'Girl, you better back up off Miss Mac.'
Me: (laughing) 'Well thanks K, I appreciate it.'
Cute, I know.
On Sunday, I found this note in my scriptures. I wrote it when I first got here to Houston, but I feel like it is MORE true now than it was four months ago.
'This is not the path I thought I was going to be on, but I know it is where I am supposed to be. I am grateful for a God whose wisdom leads me on journeys that make me stronger. I am closer to Him because of the wisdom He possesses in putting me where I need to be, even if it is the last place I thought He'd want me.'
Love this life.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Stick to the Trail
Stick to your task till it sticks to you
Starters are many, finishers few.
-John Bytheway
In case you ever wanted to know, I moved.
I know, you are heartbroken and all that jazz. But I had to move, and I am really pleased with the neighborhood I am living in now. It is cute, its neighborhoody, and I can run on the roads in the morning/evenings.
Last Saturday I set out to go on my required by training 7 mile run. I sat down at Mapmyrun.com and I put together a route that I thought would be interesting and would fulfill the required distance. I was excited about it. I sat at the screen and memorized it. Then I walked out the door and started running. About 20 minutes in I realized that I had no idea where I was going, so I decided not to worry and that I would just run for around what I thought it would take me to run 7 miles and then try and find my way home. By the time I got to around an hour and ten minutes of running, I realized I had no idea where I was. I ended up running for another 20 minutes trying to find my house. I eventually found the beautiful brick house that I live in, right next to about 50 other houses that look exactly alike on streets that are identical.
Today, I had a better plan. I had found a trail that was about 2 miles long. I figured I could loop around for my 8 mile run so I was excited. (Sidenote: It is so nice to live somewhere where I can run outside in January...) This trail runs along side of a bayou. On the other side I could tell that people had made their own make shift trail and I paid careful attention...for the first mile or so, to the fact that they paralleled, so I figured I was going to run back on the other side. Well when I got to the end of the 2 mile trail, I saw that it was connected to another. The thought of not having to do several loops was appealing so I kept running. When I got to four miles I crossed the bridge and continued down the grassy side of the bayou...well about five minutes down the trail I realized that I hadn't made sure that this side connected to the other, or that it paralleled the path. I found myself looking down at a fork in the bayou with two options: A) turn around or B) take my shoes off, cross the water that looked pretty shallow and get back on the path.
I chose option B, took advantage of the cool water, and waded across to get back to my trail and to get back to my goal.
As I came back down the four mile chute I thought about how easily that happens to me in life. I follow very carefully the trail, for a time, but then I am distracted by other things. There are ideas and places that seem so inviting at first, but in the end serve only to separate you from the path that leads to where you want to be going. And that is the way of life.
Sticking to the trail is a full time job, it is not something that can be worked at diligently for an hour or so (doesn't diligently imply constantly anyways?).
A few years ago Elaine S. Dalton, current General President of the Young Women gave a talk called Stay on the Path and said the following:
Sometimes as we walk life’s paths, we want to loiter in dangerous places, thinking that it is fun and thrilling and that we are in control. Sometimes we think we can live on the edge and still maintain our virtue. But that is a risky place to be. As the Prophet Joseph Smith told us, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue” (History of the Church, 5:134–35).
It is always interesting to me the many paths that seem so constantly before me. They all seem to be so inviting, and at times may give the appearance of leading to the same place. But in reality, there is only one path that will lead you directly to where you want to be going.
Sister Dalton continued:
The Savior is the perfect example of virtue. When Jesus walked the roads of the Holy Land, He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He healed the sick and caused the blind to see and raised the dead. “He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and [our] potential … (see “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Liahonaand Ensign, Apr. 2000, 2–3). One of my favorite scriptures says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Sure there are detours, sure you can get yourself back on the path...but you'll have to take your shoes off and get a little muddy.
Starters are many, finishers few.
-John Bytheway
This is me and my dad after we ran our first half-marathon together. He looks like he rocked it, I look like I'm about to die...and really I almost did.
In case you ever wanted to know, I moved.
I know, you are heartbroken and all that jazz. But I had to move, and I am really pleased with the neighborhood I am living in now. It is cute, its neighborhoody, and I can run on the roads in the morning/evenings.
Last Saturday I set out to go on my required by training 7 mile run. I sat down at Mapmyrun.com and I put together a route that I thought would be interesting and would fulfill the required distance. I was excited about it. I sat at the screen and memorized it. Then I walked out the door and started running. About 20 minutes in I realized that I had no idea where I was going, so I decided not to worry and that I would just run for around what I thought it would take me to run 7 miles and then try and find my way home. By the time I got to around an hour and ten minutes of running, I realized I had no idea where I was. I ended up running for another 20 minutes trying to find my house. I eventually found the beautiful brick house that I live in, right next to about 50 other houses that look exactly alike on streets that are identical.
Today, I had a better plan. I had found a trail that was about 2 miles long. I figured I could loop around for my 8 mile run so I was excited. (Sidenote: It is so nice to live somewhere where I can run outside in January...) This trail runs along side of a bayou. On the other side I could tell that people had made their own make shift trail and I paid careful attention...for the first mile or so, to the fact that they paralleled, so I figured I was going to run back on the other side. Well when I got to the end of the 2 mile trail, I saw that it was connected to another. The thought of not having to do several loops was appealing so I kept running. When I got to four miles I crossed the bridge and continued down the grassy side of the bayou...well about five minutes down the trail I realized that I hadn't made sure that this side connected to the other, or that it paralleled the path. I found myself looking down at a fork in the bayou with two options: A) turn around or B) take my shoes off, cross the water that looked pretty shallow and get back on the path.
I chose option B, took advantage of the cool water, and waded across to get back to my trail and to get back to my goal.
As I came back down the four mile chute I thought about how easily that happens to me in life. I follow very carefully the trail, for a time, but then I am distracted by other things. There are ideas and places that seem so inviting at first, but in the end serve only to separate you from the path that leads to where you want to be going. And that is the way of life.
Sticking to the trail is a full time job, it is not something that can be worked at diligently for an hour or so (doesn't diligently imply constantly anyways?).
A few years ago Elaine S. Dalton, current General President of the Young Women gave a talk called Stay on the Path and said the following:
Sometimes as we walk life’s paths, we want to loiter in dangerous places, thinking that it is fun and thrilling and that we are in control. Sometimes we think we can live on the edge and still maintain our virtue. But that is a risky place to be. As the Prophet Joseph Smith told us, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue” (History of the Church, 5:134–35).
It is always interesting to me the many paths that seem so constantly before me. They all seem to be so inviting, and at times may give the appearance of leading to the same place. But in reality, there is only one path that will lead you directly to where you want to be going.
Sister Dalton continued:
The Savior is the perfect example of virtue. When Jesus walked the roads of the Holy Land, He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He healed the sick and caused the blind to see and raised the dead. “He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and [our] potential … (see “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Liahonaand Ensign, Apr. 2000, 2–3). One of my favorite scriptures says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Sure there are detours, sure you can get yourself back on the path...but you'll have to take your shoes off and get a little muddy.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
TMFH: car shows
Need to be on the weekend. I can pretend I'm interested, but not after a full day of work.
Monday, January 17, 2011
To My Future Husband
So I followTHIS cute blog. I love every time one of this guy's posts show up on my google reader. Its short, sweet and to the point. So I decided that when ever I have those kinds of thoughts, that I am going to also just throw down little one-liners. I mean, my future husband should have SOME reference to what I am going to be like. I will call them TMFH posts and always have the subject in the title line.
Today's TMFH: Charity
I will probably walk by the bell ringer during the holiday season. I will do a million things, including pretending to text or call someone, to not make eye-contact with them. But if we are stopped at a stop light, and someone is standing on the street corner asking for food, I will give them whatever I have in the car. And yes, that includes your left-overs.
Today's TMFH: Charity
I will probably walk by the bell ringer during the holiday season. I will do a million things, including pretending to text or call someone, to not make eye-contact with them. But if we are stopped at a stop light, and someone is standing on the street corner asking for food, I will give them whatever I have in the car. And yes, that includes your left-overs.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
More Than Big Love
There is a reason for this post, but it isn't important.
I just feel the need to say a few things.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I will never claim to understand all of its history or everything that the Lord has asked of his Saints in these last days. There are things that will be hard for me when I am asked to do them. But because I know that this is God's church, I will do them.
I have been meeting with the missionaries lately as they are teaching a co-worker/friend of mine. It is a new experience to be on the other side of the missionary discussions and it has been great for so many reasons. I realize how thrilling it is to share the gospel, and as they teach Zach, I am awed at how a couple of 20 year old boys are able to relay a message so important with such maturity. Each time we have walked away from lessons, I have asked him what he thought, to which Zach has replied, 'It just makes sense.'
I guess that is the best way to describe how I feel about the gospel. It just makes sense.
I am sorry for whatever has made those who do not agree with the church push so hard against it. And I am saddened at the attacks that the church has received in the last few years for defending our beliefs. But know this, our message is a message of love, a message of forgiveness, and a message of hope.
I just feel the need to say a few things.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I will never claim to understand all of its history or everything that the Lord has asked of his Saints in these last days. There are things that will be hard for me when I am asked to do them. But because I know that this is God's church, I will do them.
I have been meeting with the missionaries lately as they are teaching a co-worker/friend of mine. It is a new experience to be on the other side of the missionary discussions and it has been great for so many reasons. I realize how thrilling it is to share the gospel, and as they teach Zach, I am awed at how a couple of 20 year old boys are able to relay a message so important with such maturity. Each time we have walked away from lessons, I have asked him what he thought, to which Zach has replied, 'It just makes sense.'
I guess that is the best way to describe how I feel about the gospel. It just makes sense.
I am sorry for whatever has made those who do not agree with the church push so hard against it. And I am saddened at the attacks that the church has received in the last few years for defending our beliefs. But know this, our message is a message of love, a message of forgiveness, and a message of hope.
And I'd like to see a T.V. show do that
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Don't ask me, I'm Just the sub!
Adventures in Subbing, Day 1
Today I had my first substitute teaching job. I learned a few things.
#1 DO NOT EVER GET A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR YOUR CLASSROOM AND NOT GIVE THEM LESSON PLANS...EVER!
I mean seriously, how am I supposed to do a good job at keeping control of the classroom if I have nothing for your kids to do for an hour and a half??
#2 No matter what the kids will try and take advantage of you.
I thought I was ready for this, but these kids were CRAZY! I think they might just be those out of control types of kids anyways, but man did I have a headache!
#3 Intermediate School is not the same as Junior High/Middle School
It means 5th and 6th grade. You know, the grade level I would NEVER want to teach. Yeah. Those kids were crazy.
It wasn't all bad, but it opened my eyes to a new meaning behind the scripture, 'I can do all things in Christ which strengthen me.'
Tomorrow I'm saying a longer prayer.
Today I had my first substitute teaching job. I learned a few things.
#1 DO NOT EVER GET A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR YOUR CLASSROOM AND NOT GIVE THEM LESSON PLANS...EVER!
I mean seriously, how am I supposed to do a good job at keeping control of the classroom if I have nothing for your kids to do for an hour and a half??
#2 No matter what the kids will try and take advantage of you.
I thought I was ready for this, but these kids were CRAZY! I think they might just be those out of control types of kids anyways, but man did I have a headache!
#3 Intermediate School is not the same as Junior High/Middle School
It means 5th and 6th grade. You know, the grade level I would NEVER want to teach. Yeah. Those kids were crazy.
It wasn't all bad, but it opened my eyes to a new meaning behind the scripture, 'I can do all things in Christ which strengthen me.'
Tomorrow I'm saying a longer prayer.
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