Life lessons

The theme song of the month (all you Ally McBeal fans from the 90s) is Running just as fast as you can...okay maybe that is just a one liner from a song, but that about sums it up.  We just entertained family during a parent teacher conference week, roll your clocks back an hour, daylight savings time week.  Getting ready for National History Day competition in Fremont week.  Students who are ready for spring break so are super challenging week.

I find in these moments when I feel over extended and stretched thin, that I get to learn life lessons too.  These moments are sacred to me.  I got to bond with my nieces of various ages.  I got to talk college with the oldest, who is thinking of coming to OSU.  I got to play connect four with the youngest two and talk about things they like.  We did a road trip together and had a great time.  There is a bit of patience to be learned sharing a one bathroom house with ten people.  There is more to be learned with two dogs following ten people around everywhere they go.  Noise levels like a lunch cafeteria daily.  But, it was a great visit and service to our family and we'd do it again anyway.

I have a job where you see and hear a lot of things that you don't like to hear.  Students who are not loved by the family they live with.  We have a couple who are really struggling this year.  They are constantly on my mind.  We are taught to emulate the Savior and help these children.  I am finding more often then not the world is cynical to these situations.  That, mercy and grace are not always extended.  I've had the opportunity to talk about the savior with a couple of my colleagues and how I want to extend mercy and grace and be like the Savior and that has brought on some wonderful conversations.  Not all days come out with life lessons, but it seems like there has been occasion to have tender mercies among the busyness.