Change

I survived my first week of student teaching! I’m in 3^rd grade special education at Lee’s Corner Elementary. It’s been so much fun. The teacher I’m assigned too is amazing, and the staff has been so welcoming. They put up with me asking “what’s that?” every 10 minutes and constantly getting lost in the school.

 

            Now this is not the special education where I am chasing students with Autism or getting bitten. I know some of you are thinking that’s what I’m doing. Although I do go down to those classrooms and see if they need help. I love being in those rooms. At Lees Corner I am in the general classroom helping students, or pulling them out of for extra help in certain subject areas. I bounce between three classes, so that is three classes of names to remember, about 85 students!

This is the last semester of school for me. I will be able to graduate in December and FINALLY say I have a BS… Yes, graduate school has crossed my mind, but one hurtle at a time.

Troy is back at Herndon Elementary for the third year. Only this year he has moved up to second grade. I joke with him that he passed first grade. He has stayed with this group of kids since Kindergarten, he’s enjoyed watching them grow and working with a new group of teachers every year.

First Day!

            While I am loving the experience, it’s been a HUGE change. I’m not crazy about change. In fact, generally, I avoid it when possible. I’m in a school building all day… With adults... In real clothes… Gone are days of wearing whatever I feel like wearing. And yes, sleeping in. I wake up at 6:30am, every day. Blech.

Went and got a new hair cut for school

Dad will be home, for the most part, with Gwen. Which is another big change. I don’t like not being the one to make sure he is home safe during a storm. Or randomly taking him out to buy peanut M&Ms.

Kelli is at day care every day. She loves it. She loves being with the other children. Although she does not like being woke at 7:30am. She usually glares at me and turns around hoping I will go away.

This is a great experience that I want for her. It’s just hard being away from her all day, every day. I’m no longer her primary caregiver, I’m not the one there when she trips or learns something new. She no longer gets to see her best friend almost every day. And being able to get all my errands, (and laundry!) done during the day.

BFF

There has already been days I haven’t seen her. I wake her up, leave, and get home after she has gone to bed. And it makes me sad. Yes, I have cried over this.

But we have bitten the bullet. All three of us are adjusting and trying, to get into the routine of things. We have pressed forward with the change that I have been avoiding.

There is no turning back! 

Did Love Win?

Now that things have calmed down I decided to put my opinion on the subject.

On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court ruled at same-sex marriage was legal in all 50 states of the US. This decision came with many different responses. Some were thrilled beyond belief, others were heart broken.

The Church of Jesus Latter Day Saints is firm in its belief that marriage is to be between a man and women. The Church has that right to stand by what it believes in and to refuse to perform such marriages. Among members there is much confusion on what members can do without putting their membership in jeopardy. As my understanding, members are can have attractions to the same sex and stand by that attraction, however if they practice homosexuality they can be excommunicated. Members can advocate their beliefs on the subject- whatever that may be. However if they start to request members to follow them and push their beliefs they also, maybe excommunicated. That is the Churches position. They hold that right to stand by that, like it or not.

Personally- As a Christian I believe that marriage should be between a man and women, and that is how I have chosen to live my life. But I was excited. Who am I (or anyone!) to say who you can’t marry? So what if it’s two men or two women. They deserve the same healthcare and other legal benefits as any other married couple.  Today at the nail salon these lovely men walked in hand and hand. They are getting ready for their honeymoon and wanted to have fresh nails for the photos. If you are happy that is all that matters. Love prevailed in this court decision.

I was heartbroken to see people say that the world is going to hell or that they would wish their child dead rather than Gay. Or that these people are “abomination” quoting Leviticus 18:22. As well as recounting the story of the Sodomites, which may I add I never saw the word homosexuality.

Really? If Kelli were to walk up to me and say she liked women, I’m not going to lie I would not be thrilled and caught off guard. But I would love her and support her, not wish her dead or tell her she is an abomination.

In a letter form the Church presidency they state:

“The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same‐sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully. Indeed, the Church has advocated for rights of same‐sex couples in matters of hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment, and probate, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.”

I feel like this was a good summary of my feelings, and I don’t expect anyone to share that belief. We all have our own opinions on this topic, but we need to be able to respect these opinions.