Hola! October Break

The beginning of the school year is underway. The rush of routine, the hurry of mornings, the daily grind. Pushing through August and September is no easy feat if you are a teacher. It takes this huge amount of energy and there are SO many SO SO many SO SO SO many behind the scenes things that no one even realizes take place. The hours upon hours worked. For instance, I have 26 little souls that come into my classroom home each day. Each and everyone of those little souls have their own set of emotions happy or sad. There are a myriad of situations each day; feelings, triumphs and struggles to work out. Then each of those children has two adults whose feelings you need to deal with sometimes or four adults if those first two adults didn't get along so well..... There are problems at home that you shoulder a bit of because those problems don't disappear when the child enters the classroom. There are children who are hungry in every sense of the word. Emotionally hungry. Physically Hungry. Spiritually Hungry. Parental roles have been pushed onto teachers in this day and age as well as business roles. Not only are teachers expected to parent but we are also expected to run like a business and be evaluated randomly. Oh wait, and then there's that thing you know, the thing we are actually hired to do...teach. We are expected to teach, and parent, and counsel, and nourish the aching soul in a broken hearted world. The beautiful thing about teachers is we do it. Every single day. I see all of these amazing people give their hearts and souls to the lifting of others, the teaching of others day in and day out. The truth is it is the best work. It really is a magnificent work to give your heart, might, and mind each day. The demand of the job begins to deplete you. It is a good depletion. Even the most well intentioned teacher who KNOWS the key is balance begins to wear on his or her face the exhaustion of the work. If you don't believe me just look around the Friday before a break. One word: WEARY. The breaks have been earned. So happily we lock up our classroom doors for a week off. Last week was October Break. 

Friday...I literally was in a fog and can't remember what I even did....Oh wait...yes birthday party

Saturday....I spent a few hours in the Gilbert Temple and I can't even remember what else..thick dense exhausted fog

Sunday...I taught Sunday School, had a singing practice, went to my parents and a fireside

Monday and Tuesday are a blur...and then Tuesday evening I woke up. I packed food and suitcases and headed to my glorious sunshiny happy place. Rocky Point. 

There really are only a handful of things to do in Rocky Point. They are:

1. Go to the Beach/Play at the beach

2. Run on the Beach

3. Take naps

4. Watch movies

5. Read Books

6. Talk to Friends

7. Go out to eat

In one short list and for about $300 for five days I can vacation and do almost ALL of my favorite things in one place. What Rocky Point offers the weary soul is TIME. Time to do the things you desperately need to do like take naps, disconnect, and enjoy your peeps. 

And now I am left with nothing but stress free shoulders, happy memories, tan skin...well sort of, and laundry. To my favorite Heather..love you and your family thank you for letting us tag along. IT was the best October Break we have had in a very long time. 

XOXO- Beach Peddler: Buy my Mexican Ray Bans they are almost free. Sunny D: I have sunglasses they were only $5. Beach Peddler: Your glasses are ugly. 

.......and I still didn't buy any glasses. 

Sunday Shoes

Every Sunday I take a picture of my shoes or my kids shoes. Ever since I became a "Mid-Single" adult I have found it difficult to go to church on the Sunday's I don't have my kids. Now. I still go but that does not mean in any way that it is easy for me to do so. It is HARD to be alone in church! Especially when you are surrounded by "perfect" (at least in your mind at that moment) families. 

A few years ago a friend asked me where my feet were on Sunday. Were they in church where they should be? Were they standing in Holy Places?  This began the Sunday Shoe picture taking. I snapped a picture of my shoes and my friend would return a snapshot of their shoes in church and this became a sort of accountability thing for us. All either one of us has to do is text, shoes? Or send a picture of our shoes and they other knows exactly what that means. It means, How ya doin'? Are you in church today? 

If there is a hardwood floor under my feet my friend will say....Oh...I see you were LATE today.

Or Time for a pedicure? 

I am grateful for this little tradition because there have been many Sundays where I thought I was going to throw in the towel and just stay home....but I knew I would be asked and I didn't want to report the fact that I didn't go. 

Sometimes I can't take a picture of my shoes because I have a sleepy head in my lap. 

I just have to say, I love you my friend. You are a real true blue through and through friend! I am so glad we can keep each other accountable. Thank you for helping me get to church. I am happier each week because of it. 

XOXO- The Sunny D....and I just love shoes too.