So much to say, so little time...

It has been FOREVER since I have posted anything. The longer I go without writing a post, the more urgently I feel the need to write a post yet here I am blanking on where to start.

Let's start with today. With the snow and the change in weather added to the stress of my wonderful (although all-consuming and incredibly challenging) job my auto-immune disorders have really flared up. This translates to me sleeping lots with increased fatigue when I am awake and being in considerable more pain than is typical for me. Yet. I don't want to complain or really talk about it too much. I do want to acknowledge that it is there and affects me. I want to be someone that deals with life's challenges gracefully. I think this includes health challenges. Part of being graceful includes being grateful for ALL that you have. Not just the parts you enjoy. I am grateful for my health, which I suppose in some measure, means I am grateful for the achey, painful, tired portions along with the working, able body and mind portions.

That being said, I didn't wake up when my Mom called me three times this morning. My mom calls me every morning and talks to me on her way to work. At the beginning of the school year it was so that I would wake up super early so I could go to work and be prepared for school. On the days I still need to be up early I wake up, otherwise I go back to sleep and wake up to my alarm. Some mornings I forget to set my alarm though. Today was one of them. I still woke up with plenty of time to get to work on time (albeit I was rushed and didn't look as nice as I could have). Days like today when I wake up without an alarm I really believe that Heavenly Father wakes me up.

On to my job. I love my job. It is by far the very best part of my life. I love my team, although certain members can be difficult to work with at times. I love my students, although figuring out how to reach them and measure their progress in terms of data, keep up with paperwork and everything else keeps me on my toes. If I am not careful I can get very discouraged, but it isn't worth it. I know I can be better and I want to be better. I also know I am doing my best right now with the energy and experience that I have.
It was a crazy day but a good day. I was missing a couple of students and this changes the dynamics of the whole class. It was really a pretty quiet day all in all.

For FHE we went to Temple Square and had a cooking class at the Lion House and played Family History Jeopardy at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was really a good FHE. During the cooking class, the Chef explained that while we thought it was a cooking class, it was really a dating class. He asked what date was, and I said, "Paid for, paired off, and planned." He asked my name, if I was dating anyone and if he could embarrass me. He then asked the guy next to me (who is in my ward and IS dating someone-ahem, the girl who was sitting right next to him) and myself to come up. He had me smash garlic and add it to this yummy alfredo pasta dish he was showing us how to make. Then he had this guy "teach" me how to chop it up (by putting his arms around me, etc. etc.) in front of the whole group. He then served up two plates and set a table for us in front of everyone and we got to go on a little date as a visual aid for his cooking/dating class. This was both amazing (because of the food, I was not feeling well- a little faint even and this really helped me feel better) and super AWKWARD. Because this guy, my elders quorum president went on a "date" with me in front of his girlfriend (and 50 other people). Also because, this amazing food that everyone got to see and smell... I ate in front of them. I felt bad all around... but also very grateful for the food.

So that was my day. Pretty interesting.