My Inspiration

Whenever I do not feel like doing my job I think of Mark. He always tells me how proud he is of me for being a teacher and he tells me he thinks I must be doing a wonderful job since most of my students really enjoy my class. He says he thinks he would enjoy my class. So whenever I do not feel like doing my job, I just imagine Mark sitting in my class watching me and I want to do a good job to impress him. I want him to think I am a good teacher. And I think it makes me a better teacher. Because even though he is not there I am trying to impress him. So he really is my inspiration. He helps me be a better person, even when he is not around. I sure love him.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Weekend.... Mostly

Mark and I both agree that this weekend has been terrible, horrible, no good and very bad.... mostly. There have definitely been some bright spots. And that is mostly what I want to write about.

I don't want to focus on our failed date on Friday (because we were both so tired), or the fact that my chili didn't turn out today, or the fact that BYU was killed by Utah.

I want to focus on our fun grocery trip to Harris Teeter. And our fun (second) trip to Wal-Mart in our trial and error effort to get the right ink cartridge for our printer. And our wonderful lunches on both days. And the football games we watched at home on ABC. And the fact that House Hunters just posted some new videos online for us to watch. And the wonderful afternoon drive we had together.

Of course the brightest spot on my weekend is Mark. He is always the brightest spot. No matter how bad a weekend might turn out, as long as we are getting along and spending time together it is never a complete flop of a weekend.

So here is to not letting the (mostly) terrible weekend carry over into the week. Because even though the weekend was terrible, I have the best husband in the whole world to come home to every night. And that is just AWESOME :)

Labor Day Weekend

I love having an afternoon off from work! I have another visit to the doctor today so I took the afternoon off. I have all sorts of time to blog and read and write and download pictures from my camera to my computer and then back up the computer. Is nice having a day off. I am looking forward to my vacations and snow days :)

So over Labor Day weekend Mark and I went up to Washington DC and Stephen's City, VA to visit our friends, the Condies. We had a FABULOUS time. They are the best hosts and they have the most comfortable and beautiful home.

 I love that face. I love that smile. I married the best man in the world. 

 We rode the Metro! I had never used public transportation like that before. It was awesome. It ended up taking longer than we thought it would because of construction, but it was worth it for the experience. 

 We walked past the National Mall, but didn't really visit any of the monuments. It was just the Smithsonians this time!

 We visited the National Air and Space Museum. It was really cool! Next time we want a guided tour!

 They have Cafe Rio in DC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was like a taste of the west. There were about 4 other Mormon families in there. It was pretty funny. Coincidence? I think not :)

 BYU's first game of the season was Saturday. The boys watched the whole thing. We won. Just barely. Emily and I got bored half way through and left to go do some crafting upstairs :) Afterward we had butterbeer. It was amazing!

This picture is a little fuzzy, but it is the best one I got. We love the Condies and had a blast visiting with them! Hopefully we'll get to do it again soon. 

Best Dad Ever

I know I just posted about my dad, but September is a special month for me to think about him because I just miss him so much. It will be two years this month. I still miss him as much now as I did then. My mentor teacher lost his father early in his life too. During our meeting yesterday he said, "You know Amanda, I feel I can tell you this now, but you never get over it." And I agreed with him 100%. You just don't ever get over a loss like that in your life. I don't believe the old adage that says "Time heals all wounds." It doesn't. It doesn't heal all wounds. Time allows you to grow and teaches you how to continue to live happily with the wounds you have. I think Eternity heals all wounds. Because when time is gone and we are all living forever together in Eternity there will be no more loss and the loss that you suffered during time will be restored unto you. So time doesn't heal all wounds, but eternity does.

Harder Second Year

You know, as hard as I tried to come into this year with no expectations I don't think I succeeded. I am thinking that in some ways this is going to be a harder year than last year. I think it is because last year I didn't really have any experience to compare the year with. This year I keep thinking about last year.

A Tribute

I really have been missing my dad these days. I think it is because the two year mark of his passing away is this month. The last time I saw him living and coherent was two years ago this week. I just really miss him. I cried myself almost all the way to work today. Really cried. I just miss him. I wish he was here for so many reasons. If he was alive here are the things I would have said to him this morning. 

Thank you for teaching me to love beautiful things.

Thank you for always playing beautiful music loudly in the morning, especially the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Thank you for encouraging me to be excellent.

Thank you for always being proud of me.

Thank you for always offering to fight my battles but never really doing it so I could learn how. 

Thank you for being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Thank you for taking time to do fun things with me.

Thank you for being such a hard worker and teaching me by example what it means to do your job well.

Thank you for being the best dad ever.

I miss my dad. I can't wait to be with him again in heaven. 

Distinctly Unmotivated

I have been feeling in a funk lately. I have been distinctly unmotivated to do ANYTHING. I don't feel like going to work. I don't feel like cleaning my house. I don't feel like watching a movie. I don't feel like reading a book (well I do. but I can't find a good one.) In short, I don't feel like doing anything! I just want to stay at home and sleep or hang out with my wonderful husband. I haven't felt like this in so long I have forgotten how to get myself out of this feeling... hopefully with the help of my Heavenly Father I will be able to change my attitude. And soon. I can't live with myself like this!

In other news, Mark and I had a wonderful weekend in DC with our friends, the Condies. We love them. We feel so lucky they live so close to us! We were friends back at BYU and now they live near DC and so we visit each other whenever we can. She is a teacher too and they are in the process of adoption so we always have a lot to talk about. Mark and I are not in the process of adoption, but we do have infertility issues so that is what I mean.

Work has been ok. Like I said. Unmotivated.

I got a new calling! Now I teach in primary. I have 5 girls all turning 9 years old. They are very energetic and need a lot of love and guidance, but I enjoy my calling. Primary is awesome. I wish I could stay in there with the kids forever!

Maybe that is a way to get out of my funk. Counting my blessings and instead of focusing on the things I don't love to do, I should focus on those things that I do love to do. Maybe I'll give that a try and report back.