Changes...

So changes--am I afraid, nervous---well maybe. FDR said "The only thing to fear is fear itself." Pres. Monson said "Our future is only as bright as our faith." Well with that said here are my changes:
1. New YSA Ward
2. Turning the big 30.
3. New Common Core to teach from

Last year when I changed from 2nd grade to 5th grade, I was a little nervous, but I knew it was a good change. It has proved to be true in many ways. Yes there are still issues with working on a team--and there will always be with so many different personalities, and desires. I LOVE my kids. They are a good group of kids. Some don't always remember that they are good, but deep down they are and sometimes don't always think through the consequences of their actions. I was a little hesitant to make the decision to change, but deep down I knew (since Jan. 2010) that that was what was going to happen. I knew that if I was going to stay at Elk Meadows I was going to move to 5th and not stay in 2nd. So my point is I am not always fearful of change--hesitant maybe, cautious absolutely, but fearful---NO!

So now to my new changes New YSA Ward--Ok so there are benefits. I will be with new people--and still have a comfort zone of people I already know that are moving with me to the new ward. New boundaries were created, so I get to have the best of both worlds, in theory anyway. My old ward was becoming, or perhaps already was, stagnant for me. I had been in the ward for 4 1/2 years. Almost as long as the ward I had been in when I had graduated high school. So here is my hesitation: I am a little afraid of the fact this used to be former fiance's ward. Yes, I know he is married now, and I know that their boundaries were changed too, taking people out to put my stake into the mix. So what's the problem--I know some people are still the same, The Bishop to be exact. I know bishops are great and wonderful and all, but...they are only men. I know they make mistakes, just like I do, though probably on a smaller scale than my own, but mistakes none the less. I am afraid he will say something to me, unintentional as it may be, but something that will bring up old wounds. Wounds that I am trying to forget, forgive and move on. I am trying to move forward, not backwards. It will probably be fine, and I actually am more ok with it now then I was earlier this week. My first Sunday is tomorrow. I am sure it will be fine, or at least hope. And FYI I am very pleased with the new changes in the Wasatch front to YSAs. Singles Stakes are a great decision. I think this will help with the YSA problems I have seen in my decade or so of being a YSA.

Now to turning 30. So I am among the last of my single friends to turn 30. I didn't feel like it was that big of deal to them, but to me...I am kinda freaking out! I never expected to be this "old" and still single. Granted I only want to be married, if it is a good marriage. I would much rather be single than to be married to the wrong guy. That said, this is not what I anticipated with my life. As I have been talking to my married friends--the ones who I work with who have kids that are much older, not just elementary age--I think I have determined the reason of my freaking out: 30 kind of is the symbol of my youth ending. In your 20s you are still young, but 30s you really are a true adult. I know age is all relative, and its all about how young you feel. So in truth I shouldn't freak out, but I am.

Now the new common core. Hooray for education moving into the direction of a common core across states. That means that if I teach something to my students here and they move mid year to Idaho they will not have lost a huge chunk of knowledge because the cores are different. I went to a training yesterday in regards to the new core. It wont be fully implemented for about 4 years. Many teachers are skeptical because the pendulum of education changes all the time, or the name changes on the same thing, etc, etc, etc. So truth is I am excited about this change! I think it will be a great opportunity for me to bring my kids around to higher level thinking, and get them better prepared for the next grade and their future in education and beyond. See---I am not afraid of all change--HA! It will be good, a lot of work, but good!

:)

So to end Russell M. Nelson last conference said, “Each individual will make his or her way in a constantly changing world—a world of competing ideologies. The forces of evil will ever be in opposition to the forces of good. Satan constantly strives to influence us to follow his ways and make us miserable, even as he is...we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith.”