Suffer the Little Children. . . .

So, given the desparate and somewhat pessimistic nature of my last two posts I thought that I had better give all of you who are beginning to wonder if my happy go lucky nature is disappearing a reason to hope!

1 -- The student teacher has arrived and she will do a great job. Unlike student teachers of years gone by she will actually look me in the eye, can hold a normal conversation, and can interact with six year olds at a level they understand. I think that it will be a good experience for both of us. Plus, her name is Amber (what is not to love about that). :)

2 -- Year 9 of teaching is off to a running start. . . while I have my fair share of struggles in this class that are already apparent, I also have a newfound goal to do everything in my power to make this year the best first grade year that these kids will ever have. (I know that is kind of already a given, since they will only be in first grade once, but it sounds good!) Honestly, this past week I just decided that it was up to me to be positive about the upcoming school year and to find joy in the opportunity that I have to be a part of these little children's lives. Some of them, may not be loved if not by me, and I would never want to know that I passed up an opportunity to love someone who needed me. In addition, it is fulfilling to know that someone is counting on you, and greets you each morning with a smile and some sort of kind comment about how beautiful you look or how they like you "almost as much" as their kindergarten teacher. I need these kids right now, maybe even more than they need me, and I am thankful that Heavenly Father blessed me with the ability to teach young children, and pray that he will continue to help me to learn from them and be a better person each day. I am coming to understand more and more why Jesus beckoned the little children to come unto Him. Words cannot express what children can do for an empty, aching heart or even a heart that is full can be overflowing when we are open to the love that children are so willing to share and the miraculous spirit that they carry.


3 -- Lastly, I loved our Regional Conference that I was able to participate in this morning. The messages shared with insightful, poignant, and meaningful. I think that my favorite message was the one shared by Elder Marlin K. Jenson.
He spoke about how in one way or another, each of our lives vary from the "ideal" and that in essence we are all lost sheep. Truly, none of our lives are ideal, yet we can still strive to help one another achieve the ideal and come unto Christ, by ourselves living in a Christlike manner. I love how our church leaders are so inspired and how when we listen, with ears to hear, the messages prepared truly are just for us!