Week Two. Wisdom.

This week I focused on seeking wisdom.
In Luke 2:40-52 is the story of Jesus growing up. There's not a whole lot to say but what is said is pretty important. It says that He "waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God" and that He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

important points

• even though Christ is and was perfect He still had to learn, grow and experience.
• He found favor in the eyes of God his father AND with mortal man. This means that we cannot simply go around waiting with our LDS friends for the 2nd coming and hiding away from the real world. We are to be IN the world but not OF the world. Being powerful, popular, or well-known are not bad things, in fact they could help spread the gospel even more!

in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus is speaking about those who labour and are heavy laden (which is what I feel like on a regular basis teaching 7th graders...). He asks us to take his yoke upon us, and to LEARN of Him. I was always concerned with the yoke part and forgot about the learning. We are to Learn of Christ so that we can be like Him and ask for his help. That is the only way we will find rest.

In the LDS magazine the Ensign, there was a talk by Elder Anderson entitled Wisdom of God this month. Elder Anderson talks about being wise in the ways of God instead of the ways of the world. Though we must live in the World, we do not have to be wiser than we are in the ways of God. Does that make sense?

this is what I mean...

We need to FIRST make sure we are following the teachings, lessons and directions from the Lord.

THEN we can be sure we are aligned in the ways of the Lord. 

If the two ever crossover or clash, we will always know which to follow if we follow the Lord's ways first. 

Heavenly Father will take care of that, I'm positive. But we can help take care of ourselves if we learn the  lessons He has already set out there for us to learn in the scriptures and through the prophets. 

ah, Oh to be wise.

Faith is fearless, sometimes.

This week I studied faith in the scriptures. Specifically faith in the birth of Jesus Christ.

oh yesh, I forgot to mention that i'm going to be trying to study some aspect of Christ's life each week and then report on my findings here.

Annywayysss. So I looked at a few key places where the birth of Christ was foretold and I learned more than I bargained for.

In 3rd Nephi, Nephi is explaining that Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy had not yet come to pass. Samuel had prophesied, in Helaman14, that when Jesus was born there would be a day, a night, and a day with no darkness. The light would shine all through the night and the people would know that their Savior had been born. But it hadn't happened yet and the non- believers were getting restless. They set a date and vowed that if the prolonged day was not accomplished by then that the believers would be destroyed.

With that huge background.....
Nephi explains that the people believed in the coming of Christ so much that they had "faith unto destruction". They were willing to wait until they were wiped off the earth to know that their was hope. They were willing to sacrifice their lives and posterity to simply believe in a chance day. The day wouldn't even be anything grand, no fireworks, or holy messengers. No singing angels or shepherds in a field. All they would see is a longer day than usual and a new star in the heavens.

I was shocked. How could they have so much faith? There are people in the world that STILL cannot believe that Christ even ever lived though there is plenty of evidence. I know that Christ lived, and died for us, but I know because I've been taught, I've read about his life, I've even traveled where his apostles have traveled to feel that spirit.

But would I have had "faith unto destruction" back then? Would I have had that unfailing faith for just a longer day? That is what faith is. It is absolutely fearless. Knowing that Heavenly Father will keep his promises to us if we are diligent and obedient to his word and gospel.

I want to have that much faith, to be so full of the knowledge of Jesus Christ that I'm not even afraid of destruction. I'm thankful that I live in a time when I can read about the beautiful signs and miracles of His coming, both past and future. And like in 3rd Nephi 2:1, I will not forget those signs and I will watch for them.

I will have faith unto destruction.

What makes you Brave?

I asked my students to write a journal entry on what makes them brave today.

I didn't get to read the answers but I can't stop thinking about it. I explained that I feel like a new year is terrifying, and sad, and hard, and that I feel like just giving up at the thought of a new year. But there has got to be something that keeps us motivated right? Something that keeps us from falling off our bed in the morning and crawling into a tiny ball in our PJ's and sucking our thumbs until the night comes again? There's got to be.

These are the things which make us brave. That make us brave? who knows.

Anyway. There are several things that makes me brave.

1. Prayer to my Heavenly Father. I cannot imagine not being able to access that relationship every day and being constantly comforted and buoyed up by His love and care.

2. Sugar. For real. I am absolutely addicted to it and I think about the next delicious thing I'm going to make and what it's going to look, taste, and smell like. I'm obsessed.....for this readon I'm on a processed/baked sugar fast for the next 2 weeks. Whoop-de-do....

3. Ben. That guy is so dang positive! I seriously think he must have some strange book that translates women talk. Today (the beginning to that lovely monthly gift) he decided he would help me go to Costco, help me do the laundry, clean all the dishes and the kitchen, and rave about dinner even though it was a little off. Dear Heavens he is heaven sent.

4. Future. The future must be brighter because it can only get better from a day where one would like to be squashed between the wall and her gigantic bed in footie pajamas with a jar of nutella. The future hold gorgeous things, the end of the term, the end of the year, summer, family, our family, beautiful life.

I could go on and on.

I guess I'm trying to say that love makes me brave. My love for things, people, time, and their never wavering love for me. I am trying to be brave world, but it's very scary out there.

The Interim

At the end of something fabulous and the beginning of something unknown I tend to fall apart.

The whole nine yards...
-sobbing
-gloomy
-sugar binge
-uptight
-disagreeable
-and generally sad.

Plain old sad.

When I got married this happened for a goo two weeks straight and then another couple months here and there. Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled to marry Ben! It's the best thing that's happened so far in all my 23 years! But the mourning of my old life, and the transition to my new one was devastating for me. I could not make the two slip into one another like a hand in a glove. One life was a very gnarly old hand and the other life was a sleek, leather glove.

I've coined this strange occurrence "the interim".

Lately I've been plagued by one of my more difficult interims. We had one of the most amazing Christmas Breaks I've ever had. It was full of family, friends, food, lazyness, memories, skiing, food, laughter, games, anniversaries, black diamonds, aquarium fish, food, shopping, sisters, brothers, mommies and pops, and naturally-cookies.

Needless to say it was perfect, the perfect break from my life on planet.....well, for appropriateness' sake....middle school.
No more, yelling, running around, teaching, planning, monotony, surprises, kids, papers, assignments, parents. No More me being an adult.
Oh yes, plus I finally got to see my husband :)

We returned to ProvoLand after New Year's and the effect of my interim was shocking. I immediately felt awful and terrified of what was coming next. Mind you I knew exactly what was coming next but I could not come to terms with it. I couldn't leave my tiny paradise behind and go into the world of 6-3pm. again.

Thankfully I have the most darling husband in the world who holds me tight and listens when I'm low then makes me tea in my favorite owl mug. Love him.

Anyway, tomorrow this interim ends. The new beginning starts and the sadness will start to fade as I remember how much I love those kids and how hilarious my life is. I will go to the grocery store and revel in the ability I have to pick out my own food and cook meals I love and experiment in the kitchen. I will drag my dirty laundry down the stairs into the 10 degree weather and wash it gladly so I can once more nuzzle my nose into Ben's shoulder and smell home. I will call up my sister and sister-in-law (my new best friends) and we will go to the gym and talk about love while pretending to stay healthy.

But for now- excuse me while I tear up and take my last interim moments up by watching the season premier of Downton Abbey.

How to teach in a power outage

#rd hour was going great. Almost half of my kids did their homework (it's a rough class) and everyone was working away on their peer edits--making sure their classmates bumped up their grades a bit.

I walked back to my desk to see what I could from the back of the room and grab something or other and
BAM
blackout.

not really BAM per say, it was more of a bewooowwwwmmmm- silence. Absolute chaos ensued.

My classroom was mostly just mildly surprised and everyone was a tad confused- but the 6th grader down the hall were yelling, screaming in pure terror! Oh did I mention that they actually have WINDOWS in those classrooms? So here are my precious 9th graders, calmly taking out cell phone to light the way, opening doors and staying seated just waiting until I figure out what's going on.

Little do they know, the dark is what I'm most afraid of. Terrified really. I can't stand it.

SO we trudge out to the hallway where there's a bit more light, but it's super loud and freeeeing because the heat is electric and they just get right back to work. Love them.

Anyway, we get ushered into another teacher's room and keep working. Eventually the kids are let out to go get lunch in the pitch dark lunch room (I refused to help until my need for a fork forced me in) and then they're told to return to their 3rd hour classroom. Back they come to me and we just sit and eat lunch and they ask me questions after question.

What's your husband's name?
major?
age?
where'd you get married?
Why?
What kind of music do you like?
What is the longest time you've spent doing the same thing at one time? ( writing an outline, 8 hours)


It was exhausting but fun! I loved being able to tell them about my life and to be a real person just stuck in a blackout with them! But my favorite part was when they all asked
"well can't we just stay with you 4th hour and talk, someone can cover your class and who care if we go to ours?"

love them.

still had to go to class :/

luckily for me 4th hour was held in the library and by 2:20 we had a total of 5 people left after the mass parental concern took most kids home.


Moral of the story? Sometimes it snow. And when it snows, sometimes people run into electrical poles and blow a school's power for a day. It rocks.
I love being a teacher.

10 things I love about you

On the tenth day of Christmas your true love gives to you........
the top ten most wonderful things I love about you!

1. I love the way you dance around with all your long limbs wiggling and jiggling when you take study breaks and come visit me in the living room. It makes me laugh and remember why I love your goofiness.

2. I love that you let me take you shopping sometimes and you try things on that you may not like at first just so I can play dress up with my personal Ken doll :)

3. I love when you squeal when I put my cold toes on you and you shrivel up into a little ball when I reven threaten to touch your face with my cold finger tips. But then you relax and let me warm them up, all the while holding in the pain of freezing digits on your warm skin. Hey!

4. I love watching movies with you. Not just the watching part--the whole thing. The walk down to the redbox, the argument over hot chocolate (inevitable), the arranging the couch with blankies and sufficient amounts of pillows, the sudden urge for popcorn (that I sometimes get to beg for ;)), and the last question before the movie- "do you want to (finish some bizzarre craft) or can I turn the lights off?" I love that question! I just love it! You are possibly the sweetest and most considerate thing I've ever met!

5. I love how every Sunday you drive me to church and remind me that you will be keeping your eyes oen as I say a prayer. And how every night you snuggle in bed with me while I read you the scriptures and how you stay close when we say our prayers. I love how you help me be close to my Savior and support me in my wild and crazy calling ;)

6. I love how you encourage me to be healthy and teach me what is best to eat and what kinds of exercise is best. I love learning with you! Without your help I'd be that girl who eats a pint of ice cream every night because, hey! I'm already married!

7. I love that you like reading my blog and stalking me on facebook- a girl loves to be stalked by her hubs every now and again. You always make me feel wanted and like you're still falling in love with me and a little more obsessed with me every day (that sounds weird, but you know what I mean).

8. I love the way you sometimes leave me silly notes on the table/mirror/car anywhere! It helps me remember that I'm loved even when I'm not with  you. I keep all those notes and read them once and a while.

9. I love the way you let me dream and dream with me. We dream about our house on the lake and our adventures in Africa and med school and Europe and puppies and getting out of Provo and being real life people and being in love forever and ever and always. I love it.

10. I love that you let me cry and cry over nothing and just hold me tight and tell me everything will be ok and you squeeze me to death every time you see me and have to hug me at least 10 times a day or you're unsatisfied. I love that you love love as much as I do- I know because you like kissing my cheeks :) and that is a natural sign.

I love the way you love me Ben Otto! This really has been the best year of my life and I can't even imagine ever being without you ever,EVER, again.
I love you <3
Sydney Rose

Gosh DANG you're cute!

Portuguese sweet memories

Well....
Here I sit- being the laziest laze you've ever met. I have my laptop on my lap- my kindle by my side and the TV on playing "Extremem Makeover Home Edition". I have nothing to say for myself other than......I love winter?

Annnyywayyyy
Sunday was fast Sunday. And I had that feeling. The one where you are so grateful for such a great opportunity to fast for friends and family who need a little extra help from our Father in Heaven....but you are starving! So of course I decided that making food would help. What to make was the next question. I flipped through my family recipe book (got a good recipe that's just your? I'd Love it!) and found exactly what I needed-- Portuguese Sweet Bread.

This is no normal sweet bread- this is the most fantastically sweet, succulent, soft, chewy, melt in your mouth goodness bread.

When I was little my mom would make this gorgeous bread and I'd watch her big, strong hands knead the bread over, and over, and over. She would throw her whole body into that bread, concentrating so hard and pounding the dough until it was smooth and thick. Sticking her tongue out she would wave us all over and every girl would knead the bread- our much tinier hands punching the dough until it seemed our arms would fall off!

Then she would roll out the soft goop and shape it into the beautiful snail shell shape we knew meant heaven in your mouth. After brushing a little egg over the top it would go into the over and for the next 30 minutes we were tortured by the wonderful scent of Portuguese sweet bread.

Though my experience was not nearly as romantic, it was full of delicious memories! Oh yeah, and I finally figured out why my mom always insists on stirring and kneading by hand--perfect way to get rid of excess energy, anger, annoyance...and hunger :)