May 10th

Two years ago, it was one of the most exciting days of my life.

This year, it will be one of the most stressful.

I'm hoping for a happy ending.

Hoping

A few weeks ago, I interviewed for a job.

A job I really want.

Don't be alarmed, I'm still teaching school, and I will continue to teach school. There's no way I could leave my third graders.

This was an interview for a job this summer. I know it's a perfect job for me. I would be good at it. It's a perfect fit.

Will you cross your fingers for me?

Tender Mercies

I'm always amazed at how tender mercies from my Heavenly Father come into my life. Sometimes it feels as if he is sending me love notes meant especially for me.

About a month ago, I was thumbing through an old New Era magazine when I came upon an article titled, "Cast Off Thine Afflictions." It was only two pages, so I thought I'd read it.

Who would have thought that a month later when I was laying on the couch with my own leg in a cast, I would remember that article and read it again with a totally new perspective? This article brought me a little bit of peace and helped me refocus on what is really important.

2 Nephi 2:2 "... Thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain."

Read more about tender mercies here.

I want to make this

Isn't this blanket absolutely wonderful? I would be even more excited to make it if I had a giant craft room with a roomy craft table to lay everything out. Alas, I'll have to make do with what I've got. :) I'll post a picture when it's done. (Which may be May 2011... I'm a slow worker.)

Directions found here.

So true

My friend KK posted this on her marvelous blog.

Inspirational

This is one of my all-time favorite Olympic moments. I just can't get enough.

P.S. Did you notice during the Pairs Short Program Figure Skating last night that they played music between the performances? My favorite funny moment was when they played Miley Cyrus's 'Party in the USA.' Don't they know they're in CANADA? Is there a party there too?

Loved those Opening Ceremonies

Did you catch the Opening Ceremonies last night? I love the Olympics (especially the Winter Games) more than I can say, so you can bet that I spent my Friday night on the couch, elevating my casted leg, enjoying the happiness that is the Winter Olympics.

After making some snarky comments and listening to my mom, dad, and sister say some pretty funny things about the whole show, I decided I would write down my feedback on this amazing production.

- Okay, okay. The Parade of Nations is not my favorite. I fell asleep somewhere between Azerbaijan and Belgium.

- I woke up to the Inuit people sliding apart from each other on giant glaciers. Now that was pretty cool. I loved how they used light to make it look like the floor of the stadium was moving. And don't even get me started on the amazing-ness of the whales swimming across the arena floor!!!

- I adore Sarah McLachlan. I also adored the segment with the totem poles, her on the piano, and the beautiful dancing. Remarkable.

- If my students were watching, they probably went nuts over the full moon with the fiddler. We've been studying the phases of the moon.

- Those fiddlers were just a little bit nuts. I never realized that they destroy their bows each time they play.

- I loved the opportunity to quote Tom Hanks in 'You've Got Mail.' "'It's clouds' illusions I recall, I really don't know clouds at all.' What does that mean? Is she taking flying lessons?"

- I asked my dad, "Is Whistler in British Columbia?" He said yes. Then my mom said, "Maybe Whistler's mother is too." :D

- I loved poet's line, "Don't let your luggage define your travels. Each life unravels differently."

- And the age-old question: Is K.D. Lang a woman?

- Whether she is or not, I loved her rendition of 'Hallelujah.'

- Did you catch the woman singing the Olympic anthem? I wonder how much hairspray that hairdo took.

- The 'history making' cauldron lighting was fantastic. I loved:

* The fake snow.

*Making predictions about how they were going to light the cauldron.

*Wayne Gretsky's face when the pillars didn't come up like they were supposed to.

*Steve Nash's smile to cover the technical difficulties. I could almost hear him thinking to himself, "Just keep smiling. Just keep smiling."

*Wondering what would happen if the flame went out. Carrie's suggestion to relight it was the best, "Did anyone bring flame from Athens? Does anyone have a Greek match?"

*The decoy cauldron. It's pretty anticlimactic when Mr. Gretsky has to leave the arena and drive across town to light the REAL Olympic cauldron.

I just can't wait for the next two weeks of Olympic Heaven.

Check this out

This is my newest fashion statement. I'll be sporting this lovely new accessory in a bright turquoise for about four weeks. Then I plan to upgrade to a (non-walking) boot.

Maybe I'll start a trend.

"I think it's broken"

Remember this great moment? Well, it's going to be quite a while before this fantastic experience is repeated.

Remember my 'sprained' ankle? Well, today I finally went to the doctor after hearing horror stories about people who thought they hadn't hurt themselves seriously and later found out that they needed pins in their bone, or a full leg cast, etc, etc. And the doctor's verdict is... "You broke it."

He recommended I go to an orthopedic doctor so he could fix my ankle the right way, because if it's fixed the wrong way, my mobility could be impaired.

Best case scenario? The guy lets me go with a giant boot/walking cast. Worst case scenario? Surgery and pins.

I don't care who I have to go see... as long as I can run again.

Here are some tidbits from my thoughts this afternoon coming home from the doctor:
*I'll have to find another fallback option for playing 'I Have Never.' 'I have never broken a bone' just won't work anymore.
* I've only run one 5K in my life! I sure hope it's not the only race I ever run.
* If I have to have an honest-to-goodness cast, I know 28 kids who will stand in line to sign it.

Secret Surprises

For the past two Mondays, I've gotten to school, walked to the faculty room, checked my mailbox and found...

A delightful little surprise.

I can't even tell you how special it made me feel to know that someone at my school was thinking about me and wanted to brighten my day. It made my week.

Now I'm much more excited for work on Mondays.

OUCH

If I had a camera on the couch with me right now, I'd take a picture of me laying here for the third day straight, unable to walk, with my swollen right ankle in a brace.

Now that you've got that great mental picture...

I fell down. On Saturday.

Now, this is not really an unusual thing for me to do, but I did a fine job of it this time. I was carrying a huge basket of laundry down my very steep and very skinny stairs when I missed a step and went crashing to the bottom. One severly sprained and hopefully not broken ankle later, I'm laying on the couch with my leg on a pillow.

I don't think I'll be able to walk for a while. Here is why this is a problem:
1. I won't be able to go to my favorite aerobics class with my favorite people for a very long time.
2. Teaching on crutches will be an adventure, for sure.
3. How am I supposed to carry anything to the copy room when I'm making copies for my class?
4. I'm not 100% sure my leg isn't broken, but I REALLY don't want to go to the hospital if they're just going to say, "Ice it, wrap it, and stay off of it."
5. I missed an awesome concert on Saturday night and a Jazz game tonight because I can't move.
6. I won't be able to run for weeks. Ugh!

Okay, okay... I'll try to find some silver linings.
1. The wonderful people I work with are super supportive and have offered to help with anything I need.
2. I got to watch loads of television today.
3. It could have been worse. There could have been blood.
4. I have crutches to help me hobble.
5. I caught up on my reading of "The Lost Symbol." It's an exciting book that I'm glad I didn't have to put down. And now I can return it to my friend on time. :)
6. When I am finally able to run again, it will feel so great!