October update

This month has been an interesting one for me. September flew by in some ways and drug by in others. I was definitely feeling ready to go back to school by the time my classes began on the 26^th, but now I’m not so sure about that anymore. I’m very busy with 15 credits in 10 weeks. After I met all four classes for the first time I felt like I was drowning when I heard everything I would be doing. I’m feeling slightly better now, but still overwhelmed. I’m wondering what I was thinking when I enrolled in that many credits and then I remember-oh yeah, I want to graduate sooner than later. Right now if I take only 12 credits until I’m finished, not counting this term of course, I’ll finish in four years from this December. That means Megan will graduate high school about six months after I graduate college. I’m hoping that I can live with that because I’m not sure I’m going to go over 12 credits again.

Beginning on September 7^th I started working in a kindergarten classroom with Marta Onofrio in Battle Creek. She teaches at Franklin Elementary. I was very excited to be back in a kindergarten classroom. I haven’t been in one since Megan moved onto 1^st grade. The first day was a ½ day and I was glad. I can’t remember ever getting that worn out in so short a time. Part of the problem was that it was the first day and many of the kids had obviously never been away from home. I got through it though and it got much better from there. Now I’m enjoying being there more than I enjoy going to my school classes and wish I could spend all my time there. I truly love being in kindergarten and I’ve loved learning from Marta. She teaches very much like I would so that part is going amazing. I only needed 20 hours in the classroom, but I love it so much I’m going to keep going anyway.

On the 10^th I went to some training in Lansing. All of the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies from five stakes were invited. We were trained by Sister Mary N. Cook, the 1^st counselor in the YW General Presidency. We had a great dinner and then we hurried over to Holt, MI for a fireside with the YW. It was fun and I learned a lot. We also got to hear from Elder Seldon before breaking into groups. He was very entertaining and I learned much from him as well.

We recorded and then watched some of the September 11^th special programming. I couldn’t believe how much I felt like it was happening all over again as I watched some of the footage. I was surprised at how I could feel the same emotions sweeping over me again. It was a sad day and one that I will never forget.

I finally watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I didn’t enjoy it all that much. I found it too dark, and too violent. I much prefer Narnia. I guess Tolkien was the one who coached C.S. Lewis to do the Narnia series. I think he did a much better job. I know a lot of people like it, but it wasn’t my style. Of course, I prefer children’s movies, so that might tell you a lot.

 Now that school has begun for me I’m quite busy again. I’m glad in a way because I was really starting to lose my focus on things in general and now I’ve definitely got it back, but I’m also so busy again that now I wish I weren’t so much. It’s funny how things always seem to be different than what we want. 

Still no job for Andrew, though he continues to search. He was on the verge of being hired by a company but then they put a hiring freeze into effect. I was floored to say the least. He is about 2/3 of the way through his welding class. When he finishes he plans to get a job welding somewhere, maybe Teneco. He seems to have a talent for it as the various instructors keep asking him if he has done it previously and they are amazed when he tells them he hasn’t. I hope that’s a good sign for when he is ready to get a job after he’s done with the program.

That just about sums it all up for me. I did enjoy both the Relief Society broadcast and General Conference very much and I hope you had the opportunity to watch or listen to it. I’m looking forward to being able to download and listen to it. First though I have decided to listen again to the discussions BYU did awhile back about the “Lectures on Faith”. I will read the lectures hopefully before each of the discussions. I’m in need of some extra faith right now. I love that series, I have listened to it many times now and I can’t seem to get enough of it.

I better go, it’s late in the afternoon for me and I have yet to begin my mounds (I’m not kidding) of homework. One last thing, next Tuesday Andrew and I celebrate our 15^th wedding anniversary. I can’t believe that it has been that long. In some ways it seems much shorter. In other ways it seems so much longer. Many things have happened to us over the years, but I’m thankful to say our marriage has always been a happy and secure one. I love him deeper than ever before and I can say that every day. I’m so thankful to Heavenly Father for the wonderful husband that I have. I’m also thankful to all of those who helped him to become who he is. Parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, you’ve all made an impact on him and I love you for your part in it.

So much for this month, I shall write again soon. I would have written sooner, but I’ve been so overwhelmed with other things that I just didn’t get it done.