Wahoo 5K

I ran my first 5K yesterday. I trained for a couple of months because as you all know, I am not a runner, but I really wanted to be able to run it. That was my only goal...to run the whole thing! And I made it. It was so much fun! I'm already looking for my next race!

I finished in 35 minutes and 21 seconds. My goal for the next race is to beat my own time!

Internship

Monday was my first day as Intern Assistant Principal at Matheson Jr. High School in Magna, Utah. I was nervous and unsure about how this experience would be. I hadn't been in a Jr. High since I was there myself. It is an age group that you hear so much about. They are awkward, judgmental and mean. In my experience over the last week, I've seen some of those behaviors, but I've also learned that they are sweet, happy and kind. I am looking forward to the next three months of not only working with a different group of students than I am use to, but also learning the responsibilities that come with being part of administration.

The current principal at Matheson Jr. is a very positive woman who has a great rapport with the students, faculty and staff. In the short time that I have worked with her I already know that I will gain a lot of knowledge and understanding of what a good principal is. She has an extensive background in working with students with behavior problems and has really helped to change the climate of the school. I know that by working with her, I will be more able to help students be successful.

I've finished two terms of graduate school. Fall semester starts August 31st. My schedule will be very busy, but I am looking forward to the experiences I will be having. My internship is all day Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I will be in class every Wednesday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. It's going to be tough, but I have a great group that I am doing this with and am looking forward to the challenge!

*Check back with me in a couple of weeks to see if I still feel the same. :)

Trials

What can I say? Life is hard. We are given challenges that, if we let them, help us to grow and become more like the person that God intends for us to be. That said, it doesn't make life easier. It's the little things that help me keep going...good friends, family, and most importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When I seek for His guidance and comfort in my life, I find it.

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy, said in his April General Conference talk, "The only way to see the views is to make the climb."

It's hard to make that climb and some days it's hard to get started, but by consciously making that effort and putting one foot in front of the other, having faith in Christ, we make it. And at the end of each trial we can like the person we are becoming.

In that same talk, he quoted Orson F. Whitney who said, "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. ... All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. ... It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulations, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire."

I've been going through life without too many trials of my own the last couple of years (and I've been okay with that). It's times like now, though, that I realize as much as trials hurt, they are for my own good. I need to be reminded how much I need my Heavenly Father and through trials I grow closer to Him and feel His love for me. Instead of asking why?, I've been trying to ask what can I learn from this experience? There is always more we can learn and always more we can do.

My Dad

Dad,

I just wanted to say thanks for everything you are and for all that you do! You are a great man and a wonderful father! I was talking to my students about why we celebrate Father's day and was telling them that we need to show our appreciation for our dads because they love us and take care of us. Even though I'm grown and away from home, I can still feel your love and care every day.

I love you!

Brit

Back to School

It's official, I am back in school. I started working on my Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Foundations two weeks ago. Boy, has it been a long time since I've had to study and read so much! I am excited to begin this process and am looking forward to the next 14 months of learning with a little trepidation and a lot of hope. Wish me luck!

So I've been slacking lately on one of my New Year's goals, which of course, is to report to you about my Movie Club! Well earlier last year, I watched Jane Eyre for the first time. I quickly became obsessed with it. Aimee had told me several times that I should read the book because it was her favorite. I actually tried to start it once, but the language was difficult for me to read and I couldn't get into it. Once I watched the Masterpiece Theatre version, however, I read it and had a much easier time reading it.

There is a new Jane Eyre movie coming to theaters soon and I am looking forward to seeing it. So in preparation for that, we decided to watch the version below again. I'm pretty sure it was even better the second time. If you haven't seen it or read it, check it out!!

Downton Abbey

I think this is BBC's newest mini-series. It is set in the years 1912-1914 and is the story of a rich man whose estate is entailed to a related male heir. He has only daughters and so you see where the drama lies. This is a little more "racy" than any Jane Austen book or movie, but no worries, it is still pretty wholesome. At least it has good morals, I think. It took us two weeks to finish the 6-hour series and to my shock and horror...it's not over. It is to be continued in who knows how long. They are currently in production right now. So I guess I'll have to try and be patient. Hopefully it won't be too long. I want to know how it all pans out!

We're trying to get creative with our pictures, but there is only so much to do. Lis is an English teacher and as you might guess, very well read. She has hundreds of books, so we all chose our favorites (or at least something that looked good). I'm holding Jane Eyre. I finally read it last year and it was so great!!