Reminder

The third term of the year is very hard. The kids are done with school, and frankly(I don't know why it concerns Frank, either) the teachers are too! I have felt very much like I am done with the horrible language, the sexual remarks, dress code violations and bad attitudes. I find that my patience in minuscule and that I am having a hard time loving my students.

Well, just when I needed it most, one of my favorite former students walked into my classroom yesterday during the last period of the day. He was one of my Leadership students who graduated two years ago and who I had as a student in my Leadership class for all four of his high school years. He was one of my favorites because he was sensitive and would do anything that I asked him to do(that is always an amazing characteristic in my students) and he truly cared not only for me but for the students he went to school with.

The reason for his visit was to make amends in a way. He felt as if he had lied to his teachers because he put on a face that said everything was alright, but in fact, he was battling depression and was suicidal. (This was pretty interesting to me because I knew all along he was depressed and often talked with his dad about said depression and the worry I had for him. This student thought he was hiding this from both his dad and his teachers, silly kid!) He also came to tell me thank you because he felt that if it were not for the care that I showed him, he wouldn't be here today. I was truly touched. This is the reason I go to work everyday. It isn't for the money(although I do like to be able to pay rent and for food), the prestige(haha, yeah right), or the great hours(ha ha again! Yeah right, teachers only work 8-3, right?). The reason I get out of bed everyday is because there may be one student whom I need to talk to that day. There may be one kid who needs a non-judgement ear, or a shoulder to cry on. I am there to help the one. Sure it would be great to say that I can change each and every kid, but in reality, I can only help those who will accept it. It was truly an honor to have this student thank me and tell me he had always considered me one of his friends.

I wear a bracelet that says "Love Them More." It is inspired by a tattoo on Kelly Clarkson's right wrist. The story behind it is that Kelly would often talk to her step-father about people who were bothering her and he would just say: "Well, maybe you need to love them more." Sometimes, the people who are hardest to love, are the ones who need our love the most. I feel this way about the kids I work with everyday. They don't need another person to point out their weaknesses or to constantly be putting them in the wrong. They just need somebody to love them. Today, I told my Connections class(the replacement to Leadership) the story of my former student and promised that I was going to be more full of love. It is the month of love after all, isn't it?

May we all be a little more committed to open our hearts to those around us and to spread love around. I think the messed up world we live in needs it. So get out there and love people. Just LOVE! Open doors for those behind you, let people into you lane when you would rather not to, smile at random strangers, help a mom with crying kids, carry things for elderly people(or young people too!), ask a co-worker how their day is, be happy for those around you. There are so many things we can do to make the world a better place. We just need to notice where we can help and the courage to do so. Just do it!

Love you all,
Alice

Howdy.

Time warp much? Yeah. That pretty much sums up how I have felt the last month. Seriously, time is flying yet in some ways going slowly.

Thursday night we decorated my friend, Kristi's, office. It was her birthday on Friday. We decided flowers were in order. She loved them even if she was at a conference on Friday and didn't get said flowers until today.

Friday night, Rueben and I went to my school's basketball games. The kids were funny about seeing us holding hands. We went to dinner between games and then went to play games at my friend, Jamie's, mom's house. It was way fun.

Saturday, I ran and then went to lunch with Morgan and Derek and their crew of wee ones. It was fun even if the wee ones were a bit crabby.

Saturday night, Rueb and I made dinner and then watched a movie.

Sunday we went to church and then to a Superbowl party. It was a blast.

Today was hard. I am sick of teenagers. Too bad I have to work with them so closely. I think 3rd term burnout has hit. Bummer.

Let's hope tomorrow is better!

One highlight of the day was waking up to the wee ones. I stayed with them because I had a doctors appointment in salt lake this morning. Ezra is almost my friend these days. One day he will realize how cool I am!

12:22

Late nights abound.

Random pics and I'm off to sleep. Work is work. Reuben is cute and so much more fun to spend time with than work or grading. I laugh at myself for all the times I have picked on other people about dating and engagements. I guess you never really get it until you are living it. Crazy.

Why so fast Saturday?

Weekends are going much too fast these days. Crazy.

Today was fun. Ran in the sun. 4 miles almost killed me. I was a pansy today.

Went ring shopping with Rueben. Yep, you heard it here first. I am getting married. The date is not set and it is not official(although different people have different definitions of official for being engaged. Some would say as soon as you decide to marry, others may say as soon as there is a ring and proposal. I am on the side of there is a ring on that finger. There is no ring. Rueben on the other hand is of the belief that it is when you decide to marry and has been introducing me as his fiancé the whole weekend. So I guess it's okay to talk about it on here.)

Someday when I am not tired I will tell you the whole month long story of us. Tonight you can just see pics of the ring. It isn't the real ring and it will be a bit different, but it is close. I will send more when the ring is really on my finger. Some of you may be completely shocked. Sorry I didn't call you or sent you any other news. I have been a busy girl the past few weeks. Rueben and I celebrated the start of this process via bowling, dinner and movies.

Cheers.

Tickets to Sundance.

A whole bunch of my friends including my boyfriend(gag....just kidding) are going to a Sundance Film Festival movie at the Sundance resort tomorrow night. It is going to be awesome. I loved being a part of the fest last year. What a way cool thing.

Here are some icicles that were hanging from the roof at the resort tonight. Jane and I picked up our tickets before going to our weight watchers meeting. Good times!

Should be a fun Friday! Yipee. It seemed to take an eternity to get to the end of the week. I am afraid we have reached the hard part of the year.