Taking the Positive and Running With It

         Today was a good day over all. I have always had a hard time taking things people comment about and making it personal. But today I was pretty proud of myself because I choose see the fact that I did my best and if this individual had a such a problem with it , they could get over it and move on because it wasn't that big of a deal to begin with. I am proud because in the past I would begin to say negative things in my brain about how awful I am or stupid but today I choose to instead say... you did your best and the students learned some thing and they had fun and you even enjoyed yourself.  I am a work in progress I like to say rather then I am not perfect. I feel like a work in progress means ... you got good things going on with you and you are adding more onto it. 

         I also received a compliment from my supervisor through another co-worker that the children had fun while I was in their class and they really liked me ! So I always choose to record the positive compliments I get because I can look back at them when I am feel down or incapable and remember I am loved and appreciated.  Seeing the positive is pretty hard but as I have been doing it , I feel better.I still have my down moments but I feel like my down moments aren't nearly as frequently or low as they use to be.  I also rely on the Lord as much as I can because getting through some moments or days seems unbearable. I am so grateful for that strength and peace God gives me each day. I am know that I will always have trials but choosing to see the good in all things helps the journey to be brighter and less stressful. 

So remember to see the positive in all.... because it will help through and God will definately give you the strength too.
             

       

Educate yourself

So pretty much everyone knows I am a  prek teacher. I carry or rather I pull a large cart behind me when I go to work. I have been told it looks like a cooler or maybe I am going on a flight some where. I love my teacher bag because I carry all  my items I need : markers, pens, books and lots more. The items all depend on the week and what we are learning that week.  I have always prided myself on being prepared.I like to be prepared... some times to the extreme but oh! well.

 I will be finishing my masters degree in teaching special education. I must say I am very proud of that fact. I have worked very hard to get to this point.  I have lots to do between now and then including sending out resumes and lots more. I am also working on bettering myself. I have been reading alot and watching less tv. I am reading Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus which has been funny to read and definately have learned a thing or two about how the perspectives of Men and Women are so different.  I have also been reading : Codependency No More. Also a good book and very informative.  I have spent alot of time trying to gain happiness from making others happy but that's not the way it works , we have to love ourselves and find happiness with ourselves because at the end of the day we are the ones we are stuck with :) . Yes, we want people in our lives to help bring us happiness but we also have to make our minds up to be happy as well. I have learned many important things from this book but one last thing I want to share from the book is that we have to find a balance between taking care of ourselves and serving others.  Balance is always one of those tricky things but we must strive for it.  So I am working on finding the good in myself and choosing joy in my life instead of always focusing on the negative. 

I have been pouring over books like these as well as my scriptures to help me learn more and educate myself so that I can find peace and joy in my life. I have also been praying alot to find that peace and joy. I strongly feel that is so important that we educate ourselves whether we pour over good books or we go to a university but that we are always progressing and learning.  Educating yourself isn't always going to a university it can be done by learning more today then you knew yesterday and applying it.

My Latest Mass Email

Hello My Amazing Family and Friends, I hope this email finds you well and happy. I am on my way to graduating. I have one more session of summer classes to go and then I will be student teaching in the fall and then I will officially graduate in May 2013 with my masters in teaching special education. It's been so amazing to learn and grow through all my experiences as a pre k teacher and through all my classes. I feel that knowledge is power and I want to help children be enpowered by knowledge and know they can do anything if they educate themselves. I have had a great deal of learning experiences in the last few months that have brought me so much closer to my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for every experience. I am trying to see them as experiences and not trials because I know I have learned so much. I know that this life isn't easy but the Lord has given us the tools to get through them and that is prayer and scriptures. I know that everything happens for a reason and some times we just have to experience certain things that arent' fun or comfortable and some times incredibly painful but it helps us become who we need to be and learn what is needed for our next experience. Heavenly Father gives me the strength I need to keep moving and put one foot in front of another. Jennifer Lewis :)

The Lord is My Strength!!!

“Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you. God does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God love encompasses us completely. He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked. What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us.” ― Dieter F. Uchtdorf Recently, I have experienced a great deal , it's been a mix of emotions. I see things I need to work on. I feel closer to God and know that I can turn to him for peace. He is my strength when I need him. I needed all the experiences I have had lately because I have been able to open my eyes to so many things ( not all easy things). Struggles strenghten us!!!! Despite how the lessons I am learning are right now I know and am grateful for every person and moment that has been part of my growth. I know It's often after the trail we see the blessings. There is part of me that wishes I could turn back time but I know God is preparing me and strengthening me every second I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I am not in control , the Lord is in control. It maybe hard for me to give him the wheel but I realize despite my hard head ness some times that it's the best way. I can't see all that is to come but I know great things are to come. I must have faith in God's plan and HOPE for a brighter tomorrow. Loving myself hasn't always been something I have done. I often beat myself up constantly. If God loves me shouldn't I love myself. Many things change : Change is part of life but the one thing I can have constantly in my life is God and a relationship with him.

Let It BE/ Waiting

I have always struggled with the concept of just letting something be or just waiting. I want to fix things instantly and not have to worry anymore. I have had a great deal of experiences where the whole purpose was to learn : Let it be and it will work out. I was sitting in sacrament today and I was worrying and thinking as I have been for a long time. I had impression that was clear: "JUST WAIT". I know in the last month I have learned so much and I know it's a matter of time and being patient but it's hard. I take it a day at a time and strive to have faith and know God's plan is perfect. I was listening to Saturday's Warrior soundtrack recently and there's a part where the sister is talking about the stars and how we can't see all the stars and if we just simply forgot and didn't cherish all the stars we can't see how much we would be missing. We have to see the stars that are shining now and cherish them so we can learn and grow and be prepare for what the furture holds. I have looked at my life many times and how there's a reason for everything I have done and has happened in my life , it has made me who I am.

Unique

I have realized something recently! I have realized that everyone has their own way of reacting and doing things. There is no normal way that certain things happen. Yea! maybe it has happen alot but doesn't mean it's normal. What is normal anyway? I have always relied on the norm; oh that's how it suppose to be or that's what usually happens. Trully all we can do is do , do what is best for ourselves and understanding what happen in our own specific situation. Of course this is all my opinion and this is not be preaching but just expressing the way I feel. The one thing that is constant is that we all feel pain and joy. We feel them differently and we seek after them differently as well. I once read a quote and here it is : "There was never another like you in this world. God throws the mold away everytime he makes a man... I think he mad you what you are in order that you might do some particular thing better than anyone else in the world could do it; and if you don't find what that work is and do it, that particular work will not be done." -Hugh B. Brown We were all here for a purpose , a unique purpose. There maybe similar things that Heavenly Father is having you do that he is having Jane or John down the road do but no one will do it like you will. I have also seen that sometimes we get hurt and it's not done out of spite or malicousness it's done out the course of things and we have to pick ourselves up and learn from it and move one foot in front of the other. I am so grateful for my Savior and the atonement that he suffered for me.. I wouldn't be able to learn or grow if it wasn't for his love and sacriface for me and everyone else. It's important we all see that we are special and unique and that God doesn't make mistakes! We maybe imperfect but that is what makes us unique and helps us to see that we need the Lord in our lives.

Unexpected Blessings

I feel like most blessings we receive are unexpected when we first receive them. I know I am blessed to have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in but day to day... there are things that happen that we don't expect to happen. I have had a great unexpected blessing come into my life.. I had no idea and who knows what will happen down the line but for now I see it as a great blessing and opporunity to understand myself more and to expand my likes. I am so happy I could shout it from the mountian tops probably but.... I'll wait !