Hello to 2013

This may be my only post of 2013, but here it goes. I'll try to give a little glimpse into my life during the past year and some hopes for the coming year. I've decided not to torture myself by trying to evaluate my goals from 2012, which were vague anyway, and just focus on what went right. It was a good year and I feel blessed.

Many of you know that I've been driving a school bus for a while now. It's my second school year behind the wheel and it's been eye opening. Some days are trying, some are affirming, and most are somewhere in the middle. It's amazing how working with students in this small window of their day teaches me so much about them. It's like seeing wild animals in the jungle. I have had students tell me I'm their favorite driver and ask me about my life. I've also had students assume that they know what my life is like and try to tell me that I'm something like a sad cat lady and treat me even worse. I've been called names and mistreated, but I also see many opportunities to reach out to students who need love. By being a positive influence in my small sphere I feel successful. It also empowers me to move on to becoming a teacher. I am planning this next step in the near-ish future, although it still seems daunting.


I can say during my second school year that I still love working with the kids. I enjoy their questions and jokes. I enjoy moments when I get to lift them up. I cherish their sweet notes, flowers, and treats. This job has been a wake up call to help me understand how to work with children and not take certain things personally. I could not have said that a few years ago. I am happy with the realizations I've had and I know I have much more to learn. Working with children can be different every day and I need to be consistent for them. That can be a lot to ask, but I'm trying. I didn't know what I was taking on when I started this job, but I am glad that it has been so much more than driving from point A to point B.

In other blessings, I am very glad to have met someone last year. We have been dating since September and still going strong. His name is Nate. We met in part because I was at Girl's Camp with his mom. I have had many mothers talk to me about meeting their sons, but none ever really followed through. It just seemed like all the others, so I said sure, I'd meet him if he wanted. I didn't think much about it. A couple weeks later I was contacted by him and right away I was drawn in by his sense of humor. He messaged me telling me he'd seen me at church, but I was sure I'd never seen him. He mustered up the courage to call me and ask me out and we had a great time playing mini golf followed by root beer floats. It was essentially a blind date, even though our families knew each other. The first thing he said to me was something like "why don't I know you?" I said I wasn't sure. It seemed like we would have run into each other throughout the years, but we never did. We even went to BYU and never crossed paths. Well, since we went out we've spent almost every day, give or take a few, together. I've brought him out of his comfort zone on many occasions. I've had him try on clothes. He's teaching me how to play more nerdy games. We share books. We go on walks and hikes. I have never dated someone so willing to work with me. He is such a kind and patient person. I'm very grateful we met.

This year seems full of possibilities. I know many of them depend on me and I want to do my best. I don't want to be hampered by fear as I have in the past. Maybe that's the only resolution I'll mention on my blog this time. I want to live with greater courage. I may not seem like a person who scares easily, but you'd be surprised. Everyone has fears. I want to let go of mine and enjoy this year!