Lots of Stuff....

I haven't blogged in a long time because the only time I have to be on the computer is here at work, and while I find plenty of time to not do anything, I usually sleep. And when I think about blogging, I realize all my pictures on my computer at home. And then, when I get home, I don't want to deal with our stupid computer there. So usually the only time I blog is when I take my laptop home, which hasn't been happening lately because it's really heavy, and since I have an extra 40 pounds to lug around (40 pounds! AAAAG!), I really don't feel like hefting my laptop up three flights of stairs.

So, what's been going on? First off, it was my wonderful husband's birthday last week, and one of these days, I am going to do a little husband post with some of my cute pictures of my Joe. But, here's a preview: I love my husband because he is sweet, he give me awesome foot massages, he loves to do dishes, and he tries really had to fold the clothes the right way (even though I secretly re-fold them when he's not looking). Plus, he's really good-looking--especially when he wears his new church clothes I bought him for his birthday. Sometimes I can't believe that tall guy I saw across the culteral hall and thought, "he's way too cute for me" is my husband! I'm the luckiest girl ever!

And I really do realize this after the last couple of weeks. My best friend, Kristin, threw me the baby shower of a lifetime. Because of weird family stuff that went down last Christmas on my side, and weird family stuff that's been going down for the past four years on Joe's side, Kristin was the only person who offered to throw a shower. So I had to combine family, high school friends, Joe's friends, and ward friends into one huge shower. It was a huge burden on Kristin, I know, but she did it, and it was the most wonderful shower a girl could ask for. (If you didn't get invited, I am sorry! I was trying to keep the numbers down so she wouldn't have to spend a ton of money on food...) It was so fun, and it was so nice to see my family and Joe's family get together for the first time since our wedding (which was a disaster), and actually get along with each other (which didn't happen at the wedding). And thanks to everyone who helped out--I know there were a lot of people who offered food (Lisa, Natalie Monson, Natalee Hall, Leslie, my mom, Becky, Kim, Francine, and others). Kim did the gorgeous invites, and there were so many people who came early to help set up and stayed late to help clean up! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You don't know how much it meant for me to see all these people willing to help my friend.

We have a new friend--our neighbor, Aaron, had an unfortunate accident a couple of weeks ago, and since we share a porch with him, I was the only person around to help out. I had to call the ambulance and everything. While Joe and I are are very sorry that Aaron had to go through something that was very traumatic for him (Aaron doesn't like to talk about the details, so we'll just leave it at the fact that it was an accident), we are very grateful because after two years of trying, Aaron is our new friend--more specifically, Joe's new friend. He calls Joe and they talk for hours at a time, and Joe will go over and keep him company. Aaron's family all lives back east, and he doesn't really have any friends around our neighborhood, so it's nice for him to have someone to talk to now. The great part is is that he is really interested in the church and is asking a lot of questions. He asked Joe if we could start taking him to church, and he has told us that he sees our life and wants what we have, which is kind of weird to me. Joe and I don't have much. We have a happy life together, but we really aren't wealthy, and our life consists of going to work and watching the latest show and the DVR. But Aaron, who, to put it lightly, is not in any financial distress, sees that simple life and wants it in his own life. It makes me realize how blessed Joe and I really are to have the gospel and the peace and direction is brings in our lives, and how it helps us love each other so much better than we could ever do on our own. I hope that this friendship is one that will last, and I hope that Aaron does get in his life what Joe and I have in ours. We're really trying hard to be good examples for him and to answer whatever questions he has.

I only have two weeks left of work! YAY! I really love my job--I love the students, and I love the (totally legal) relationships I have with them. But dealing with 80 kids a day, plus about 20 adults a day, is emotionally exhuasting. I am ready to stay home, put my feet up, and get my house in order before our little bundle arrives in 30 short days. Sometimes it's discouraging. I look at my students, and I look at my lessons, and I look at the grades, and I think, "Am I even teaching these kids ANYTHING? They don't seem to be getting anything out of this class!" But then I have to remind myself that I might not be doing the best in teaching these kids how to write and think, but I am doing my best to teach these kids responsibility and consequences. I teach them how to organize their time, and I teach them (and sometimes their parents) that there are just some things in life that are crappy to do, but you have to do them. I teach them that at some point, they have to let go of Mommy and Daddy's hands and feed themseleves. I teach them that if they want to do the fun things in life, they have to be responsible for the right things. I feel like I am more a life teacher than an English teacher, and while I don't feel like I am the most knowledgeable English teacher here, I do feel like I am the right person to teach those important skills that they will need the rest of their high school careers, and their college careers, if they choose to go to college. Maybe that's why they keep me with the Sophomores--because I can train them in the ways of responsibility and accountability. Because I am strict, and I say it how it is (which gets me into trouble a lot--but the students appreciate it). But I am also very flexible and fair. I think that's important to these Sophomores, and hopefully, by the time they leave my class, they will understand a little better about choices and consequences. I hope so, otherwise, I am a total failure. Because heaven knows I'm not the best English expert in the world.

Anyway, that's how things have been going lately--lots of baby stuff and high school stuff (which is kind of the same thing, except the baby stuff happens in pastels instead of black).

Maybe I'll post pictures in the next couple of weeks of my 9 months-bloatedness?! I can't wait to see this little person that keeps me up all night. I mostly can't wait to lose 20 pounds in one day, but the baby is a great perk, too.