I told you our ward likes to have dance parties.

So, our first stake dance ever was scheduled for this month. Our ward was put in charge, for obvious reasons (think DJ Hawk. No really, I think that's the reason).

We had a BLAST. After a month of planning, we all met at the church yesterday at five...shopped for the food--veggies and candy...set up...glowsticks in balloons hanging from fishing line on the ceiling--awesome. Cut out paper shapes (think Saved By the Bell) to put on the walls--not SO awesome, but still looked pretty cool, especially in our photo booth.

We finished decorating at 8:45, which gave us just enough time to go home, change, and run back to the dance!

The dance was sweet. We had a better turnout than we thought, people actually dressed up, and everyone was WAY into it! It was a success.

The dance ended at 11:45, we cleaned up fairly quickly, and I was in bed by 2am! Just like 7 hours at the church...nbd...it was worth it because it was fun.

My Presidency --I love these girls!

My Presidency + the EQP--we love him SO much.

The 33rd ward group!

Bishop let me wear his white rim sunglasses! It was a just in time, last minute gem. Makes me want to cry.

Our ward with the stellar DJ, Bishop Hawkins.

What a night, and what a ward! Don't want it to change, but I guess that's inevitable!

The truth is...

The truth is that my ward is awesome. One of my best things about my ward is that we know how to party! Specifically, the bishop knows how to party.

Not only can the bishop throw parties, he can DJ! What does that mean?....DANCE PARTIES!

Last week was our Back to School Bash! It was a blast.

Karly and I with the DJ

Karly and I partying!

Spence and I, in what is probably the scariest picture I have ever seen of myself.

I don't know why I couldn't stop making that face! But...it was an awesome party.

Karly and I being ourselves. But with slightly more awkward faces than usual. Probably because of the flash.

If you didn't know...

...I do have a life outside of teaching. I know it doesn't seem like it, because the only thing I can ever talk about is my class and the fun we have, but this is because I am LOVING IT.

It gets so HARD and so DRAINING! But it's so fun. I haven't cried once out of frustration (I did cry one day in class, but only because I was laughing so hard it moved me to tears) and I haven't even been tempted to yell at my class. That's good, right??

I am sooo far from being a perfect teacher, but for now I'm just trying. I'm trying to work on a couple of goals a week. Slow and steady wins the race!

See? I always end up talking about school no matter what!


(Photo Credit: Lincoln. I think)

Something exciting that just happened was our stake luau. My presidency and the EQP performed a dance from Fiji and, well, we basically rocked. At first we were thinking, "What the heck?? We have to perform at a LUAU?!" but eventually we got into the dance and decided to just have fun with it.

BULA!

T minus less than one month

So, as August quickly approaches, I find myself getting more and more and more stressed! Life is getting busy, and there are lots of triggers for stress in my life right now! But there are some things that are keeping a smile on my face.

1. My Bishop's willingness to act as my wing man, and his willingness to let me cry in his office. Haha.

2. This text from the EQP: "Maybe we should get together just to censure each other." So true!

3. This recent poem from EBish.

Oh Natalie, Oh Natalie,

What rhymes with Natalie?

Perhaps fatality, or even Maternity,

How about profanity, or the word calamity?

I know I'd suffer insanity, if it wasn't for Natalie.

Well, life is crazy! But there's always that silver lining!

How I'm feeling...again.

"It's knowing what they want of me that scares me. It's knowing having followed, I must lead. It's knowing that each person there compares me to those in my past whom I now succeed. But how can whatever I do for them now be enough?"

Luckily, the EQP and I kinda feel as though we've been prepared to serve together in this capacity. And, as he says, we're going to hit the ground running on this. We spent last night talking strategy and we're ready for the game to start. Tomorrow night we'll hit the court.

I just hope that I can be loving and compassionate!

"I know expectations are wild and almost beyond my fulfillment, but they won't hear a word of a doubt or see signs of weakness. My nigh on impossible duty is clear. If I can rekindle my ancestor's dreams, it's enough."

My Sunday

On Saturday I worked until about 1:00am. Got home at 1:45, got ready, finally got into bed a little after 2.

Got up at 6 to get ready for ward council.

At 7:30, I trekked up to the Benson with my presidency and half of the Elder's Quorum. Guess what? No meeting.

Got back to my apartment at 7:45, slept until 8:15. Went back to the Benson.

Sacrament meeting was good! Skipped Sunday school to talk with the bishop...and the stake relief society presidency...and the stake presidency...and Brother Winters. Talked about my move, and my membership records. Reached no conclusions.

Called my mom, started crying. Pulled it together in time for 3rd hour. Decided what to do.

Relief Society was also great. Went home, had a meeting at 12:30. Went visiting teaching at 1:30. Went to my parents house at 2. Slept until 4.

BAD MOOD

Refused to harvest, or help with shake n bake. Set the table, though. Sniped also.

Had chocolate. Felt a little better. Went to my grandparents. Better still. Jarom came over. Best yet. Good ending to a....not so great day.

I can do this!

"It's knowing what they want of me that scares me. It's knowing having followed, I must lead. It's knowing that each person there compares me to those in my past whom I now succeed...

I know expectations are wild and almost beyond my fulfillment, but they won't hear a word of a doubt or see signs of a weakness. My nigh on impossible duty is clear. If I can rekindle my ancestor's dreams, it's enough."