# 3 I am grateful for fast and testimony meeting.

Admittedly, fasting is hard, but so worth it, when you go in with a purpose, However, I always look forward to fast Sunday, because it means testimony meeting, and I love hearing all the faith filled testimonies, they are always so inspired, and i learn so much, and I love that time to think and contemplate and even share my own. ok fine, it's true confession, I hardly ever share my testimony, but I at least think about it and reflect on it. Also I hope i share it in my daily actions. Anyway back to fast and testimony meeting and my gratitude for it, I guess now is as good as a time as ever to share my own testimony seeing as I am grateful for it.

First of all in some of the testimonies that I heard today they talked about death of parents and grandparents that happened recently in their lives, and it reminded me of the time when I was on my mission, and the phone rang. It was president Becerra calling to tell me that my grandma had passed away, he didn't tell me which one, but he didn't have to since I had only one living Grandma at the time, well I guess technically at that time, I had none. I don't know why or how, but I only felt calmness and peace at that moment. And I don't know why I wasn't more sad, maybe it was because of my understanding and knowledge of the gospel and the great plan of happiness. Well, I did feel sad, mainly for my family and grandpa, but i was okay. It was a little puzzling, because it wasn't expected, I had no idea that my grandma wasn't doing well. For some reason, my family doesn't like to tell us anything that they might consider a distraction on their mission. But anyway at that moment, the plan of salvation was such a comfort, knowing I would see my grandmother again, and I just felt a particular closeness to her, knowing both her and I were doing the exact same thing.... missionary work, just on different sides of the veil, and I know both my grandmothers are excellent missionaries. Anyway i guess I also thought particularly of this experience of my grandma Jean because this month it will be 2 years since she passed away, and I just really love her, well both my grandmas. So yes I have a testimony of the plan of Salvation.

Another testimony I received just this week, on halloween, to be exact was the importance of visiting teachers and home teachers. It all started when I was at school and we were having a halloween party, and suddenly i wasn't feeling well. It was mainly a  stomachache, which was odd since I had literally only eaten applesauce that day. Well as the day went on, I just felt worse, almost like the flu, so after my team meeting, I booked it home, and the stomachache flu turned into unbearable sharp pain in my stomach, unlike anything I had ever felt before. I had no idea how long it was going to last or what was happening, and it was then when I realized I was alone. i couldn't call visiting teachers because i have none, and more importantly I couldn't call home teachers because I had none. I knew or felt i deserved a priesthood blessing in the moment, but realized I had absolutely no one to turn to, well anyone that was close by at least. And I realized that visiting teachers and home teachers are really important, i've never cared or worried too much before, since I've had my family and at school i had friends there, but here I still pretty much don't anyone. True it's my fault, I haven't really put myself out there, and it's not a complaint just a recognition, that someone might need me as a visiting teacher one day, and I should be there so if needs be i can help them. I also have an extreme testimony of priesthood and the power of it, that experience confirmed just a little stronger, that when I do get married, it will have to be to a worthy priesthood holder, because it's hard not having it technically right now, and i'm grateful to my parents who taught me these important things.

I have a testimony of many other things, but I'm sure during the rest of this month I'll have opportunities to share as long as I keep up on it.

Day #2 I am grateful for my awesome place I live

My landlord came today, painted the room I will move into which is the master, which means my own bathroom and...... with winter creeping up the carport! I'm real excited about it, so now i get to move into the master bedroom, which will be super awesome! I'm also happy about how affordable this nice condo is, and that I found it so I don't get to commute from my parents, which would be insane. I'm also grateful for Saturdays! There you have it day 2, short, sweet, and to the point!

#1 I am grateful for Russia.... and Mitchell!

So it is officially gratitude month! Let me tell you I have soo much to be grateful for.... I will begin today with gratitude for Russia and the people that I met there. We had a Russian reunion today and ate Russian food, I made a Russian salad, and it turned out pretty good, I was super excited! Anyway, it's been way too long since I have had Russian food and seen my friends I met through Russia, actually it's been more that 3 years. That's an insane amount of time. I miss Russia and all those fun people. As I was thinking about Russia, I realized how much it taught me. I learned how people are the same no matter where you are, even though we have cultural differences. I learned patience, and I learned how much I love kids, and I learned how much I love traveling. I really learned to love to travel... so much, that I'm desperately looking for a way to travel this summer. I don't know where, or how long, but I will travel this summer... somewhere. But anyway I will say that because of Russia and the experiences that I had there, I am who I am today, and I will always love my friends I met in Russia.


From tonight, it was a semi halloween party, and we all wore red without talking to each other, i took my popcorn costume off!

 
Red Square!



So grateful for these Students! Mark, Sergey, Daniel, and Lena!



I love Sharma!!

In any case it's obvious of my love and gratitude for sharma!!

And of course I can't forget to be grateful for my oldest nephew who is now 9!
9 reasons I am grateful for Mitchell

1. He makes me laugh
2. He never ceases to amaze me at his intelligence
3. He's such a good example for his 3 siblings and me too!
4. He's the first Nephew I ever had.
5. He tells awesome jokes
6. He plays awesome baseball
7. He's great at the drums!
8. A year ago he made an awesome decision to be baptized!
9. He's Mitchell

 

First day of school!

So it's true, I made it through my very first day of school as a teacher at Midvale Elementary! I'm a teacher! That's nuts! Anyway I thought that I would not sleep at all the night before because of all my nerves, excitement and emotions, but indeed I guess all the preparations exhausted and I slept through the night, I was super happy about it.

Anyway I got to school early, and got everything ready, for my first day. I also was given my official class list (what I had seen was 24) but when I got my list I had 13 students on my list.

Then 8:00 came. I went outside where all the students were and we waited until 2nd grade was called to go into the building. All 6 of us 2nd grade teachers took the 2nd graders to the library, where we called the names of students in our class.

I took my students and we played a name game, I gave them seats and we went over rules, i had planned to do a lot of things with my students but came to realize that you can't get through as much with 2nd graders, but it was still a very good day. We learned a few things but mainly just procedures and rules.

The craziest part was lunch, they were behind and for some reason I didn't realize I was supposed to bring lunch cards that I had received last week, it was a bit chaotic, by the time they made it through the lunch line, we were supposed to be back in class, needless to say we were late.

Anyway, but overall the day was good, I ended the day with 17 students and a knowledge of a few students who can not sit by each other. I'm excited for another day at Midvale, I think it will be a great year!

I'm a Poet....and I didn't even know it!

Ok so I was cleaning out my room, getting ready to move out, out into the real world. Midvale Elementary here I come! Yikes!!! It will be good though, I think, I am getting a little nervous. Anyway so I was cleaning out my room and found this writers workshop folder from my Senior year of High School, and well... it's apparent that I really am definitely am not a poet, but I thought that these were funny anyway.. so here's the first poem

Graduation

I've looked to this day for thirteen years
Now it's the end and I have sudden fears
I've dedicated so many hours to this life
But now I'll be lost without this strife

It all began in kindergarten when I was five
I was sure I would never make it out alive
Being taught by the same teacher all day long
Always waiting for recess and I was never wrong

Then I went on my way into junior high
Seven different classes in one day "oh my"
Striving to make new friends and act cool
Everyone in my classes were just naive fools

Walking into the school feeling so small
I didn't belong inside these walls
School actually counted and passing drivers Ed.
But now it doesn't matter; now I need a college Ed.

I've looked to this day for thirteen years
Watching the clock and looking in the mirror
Now ready or not the real world comes
I't time to prove we've learned and were not bums
I've looked to this day for thirteen years

Yup, that's my claim to fame, haha, Who ever let me write something like this? It makes me laugh though.

The next one is just purely entertaining, I don't even understand it.

Dreams

Did I imagine or was it a dream?
In this dream there was no trouble or toil.
I dreamed that you and I were royal.
I danced and in my eye there was a gleam.
We were united just like a team.
I was happy to know you were loyal.
Luckily, my crown was not made of foil.
I looked to you to see a radiant beam.
While this beautiful dream was not a game,
I knew this was none other than pure fate.
I would not jeopardize our sweet short time.
This sweet dream simply was not about fame.
Once again I knew I could not be late.
But true, the alarm clock was the crime.

I sort of want to see if my poem writing skills have gotten better in these past 6 years, but I'll think about that another day.  

The reasons why I love 5th graders!

Here are the many reasons why I love 5th graders! This has come from my practicum time at the elementary school during the past semester.

1. Students: How old are you?

    me: I'm not going to answer?

   Students: Well then, How young are you?

2. John: Miss Love are you married?

    Addie: Why John, do you want to marry her?

   other student: her name is MISS Love that means she's not married.

3. students: You should vote for Romney.

    other students: no, because I heard that Mitt Romney is going to make us go to school on saturdays and       sundays.

    other students: He can't do that because we have to go to church, and Mitt Romney also goes to church.

4. Students: Mitt Romney should win because of taxes (They're in 5th grade, I don't even understand this)

5. 2nd grade student in our classroom, in the morning before school started (the day after elections): It;s good that Obama won because I heard that Romney did something bad.

6. Deleny: Miss Love, do you ever want to get married?

    Me: Sure I do, someday

    Deleny: well my aunt is getting married in December.

7. (On Halloween, see picture above) 

    Student: Miss Love, what are you dressed as?

    other student: Oh I know what she is?

    same student who asked who I was: Oh, I know You're snow white

8. It's a cold day and students are discussing how they are cold

    Addie: My boots aren't very warm, but I would rather be fashionable, than warm.

9. We were in the library one day, and the librarian had a collection of all these bugs and spiders, and books about them as well, and there was a huge spider, and one of the students was reading about it just as I walked over to see how they were doing.

     John: " If you got bitten by this spider you would die instantly, but no one has ever been bitten by this spider before."

me: " If no one has ever been bitten by this spider before, how do you know that a person will really die?"

Addie: in a shocked voice "Miss Love!!"

I just laughed.

and below are my best reasons I love 5th graders!

You can't really tell, but on this card they wrote " u ( and drew a picture of a rock) rock"

Yes! I've always wanted my own pencil!

This card was a pop-up on the back.

This says " thanks for being the sweetest teacher ever!"

Thank You Millville 5th graders! You are the best!

   

...In everything give thanks.....

“Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.” 

I really love thanksgiving, I love the feeling everyone has around that time and the gratitude, everyone seems to have in their heart, around that time. It seems I always need the reminder to be grateful at least for me. I have been incredibly blessed in my life and sometimes I don't notice and fail to recognize the blessings I have received, so I am incredibly thankful for the reminder. I also love that, when you think about it, you really can't be bitter or negative when you have a grateful heart. I feel a lot happier when I am grateful

......And Of course who better to thank than to God our own creator.

......and who is a better example than Christ himself...

The ways Christ showed gratitude and gave us an example:

John 11:41-He prays To give thanks to the father for being able to perform the Miracles that he performs. He teaches us humility, to recognize God's hands in all things.

Matt 15:36-Even Christ gave blessings on the Food to give thanks for it.

Matt 11:27-He gave all credit to God, saying all things comes from God, He is very humble, blessed with so many talents and attributes and never forgets to recognize the hand of God in his life.

.... And my favorite scriptures to remind me of thanks are....

Alma 34:38 - Give daily thanks!

D&C 59:7 - Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in ALL THINGS!

D&C 98:1 - Rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks.

My favorite quotes about gratitude:

“Gratitude is deeper than thanks. Thankfulness is the beginning of Gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thanks. Thankfulness may consist of merely words. Gratitude is shown in acts” – David O. Mckay

"When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives." - President Gordon B. Hinckley.

What better way to start off the Christmas season by giving thanks to our Heavenly Father who gave us his son! I am so grateful this season!

Happy Thanksgiving!