Update...

So, I realize that I put the title of my posts as "update" A LOT but I prefer to keep people intrigued via just wanting to see what is going on in my life, or for those who stumble across my blog, to fulfill the need to satisfy boredom. Anyways...

My goal for 2013 is to "channel the stress in my life into positive energy." This goal comes after going to taekwondo one day - Saturday - and being really stressed out and angry. Apparently, according to my instructor, I have two methods of dealing with stress and anger. The first is I go into my shell and the second is I try harder at whatever I'm doing. Saturday, I gave it my all and went faster than I have ever gone before during my forms. It was awesome and I truly enjoyed the feeling afterwards. My instructor asked me, after we had done three forms - what my New Year's resolutions were. I told him "I didn't have any yet" and his response was "keep it up... you know what you're doing." Anyways, skip forward to kicking practice.... I have been recovering from surgery - see past posts. This has limited by ability to jump during anything in taekwondo. We get to kicking practice and, after warming up with the ground kicks, we start on jumping kicks. I just go... remembering to keep my knees bent when I land and to land on the ball of my foot. The first jumping kick is easy but it still feels good to jump again. When we get to the second jumping kick - a vertical jump side kick - I do it better than I had done it even before my injury. I'm amazed... and extremely happy. Anyways... my goal is to "channel the stress in my life into positive energy".

As far as my primary calling, I am still teaching and I will still have the same group of kids I did last year with a few additions. I also, finally, figured out why I had a six-year-old with five-year-olds. The classes are separated by how old the child is at the start of the year. My class has all turned six years old and will be turning seven this year. I'm looking forward to this year. Today, during sharing time... one of the kids in my class - future reference: I will probably call them "my kids" because I teach them - was playing with a spoon (the spoon was being used in an object lesson) and accidentally hit his head with it. Me, my mom (who plays piano in primary), and the chorister started laughing quietly. The kid also started laughing while he rubbed his head and said "that hurt...."

Because I will probably bring them up again, I'm going to give my primary kids nicknames so I can share their awesomeness on my blog without telling their names.

J - This munchkin is very mature for his age, he's the oldest in the class. His prayers are awesome too. He, almost always, says "please help us follow Jesus and not Satan." I like his prayers because he isn't afraid to say "Satan".

K1 - This munchkin doesn't come very often. Hopefully, she'll come but if she doesn't then it's okay because I'm going to do my best to get to know her better without her needing to come to church for that to happen.

Z - This is the spoon munchkin. He's awesome and I love him to pieces. He struggles at times but he always comes up with witty comebacks, opinions, and questions.

C - This munchkin is very quiet and polite. He is supposedly "shy" but I see it as he likes to observe people before he interacts with them.

I - This munchkin is full of energy and is almost always happy. He is also an amazing artist.

A - This munchkin doesn't come as much but he is my "class clown" in the good way. When things get serious he says something that lightens the moment. It's refreshing.

M1 - This munchkin will be coming every other week. His cousin, who will be mentioned next, told me - the first time the two of them were together in my class - that M1 had difficulty being reverent. I asked him "do you know how to behave?" and he told me "yes" and I nodded and looked at his cousin and said "he'll be fine." Today, my second time of having him in class, he was excellent in behavior. He also prayed for Z, during the class closing prayer. Z was making noises during the prayer and M1 said "please help us be quiet so we can learn". It was sweet. M1 also had a huge smile on his face when I told his dad that he could come to my class whenever he was at our ward building. My reason, and this is when M1 smiled, was "I like him. He's fun to have in my class." Biggest smile ever. :)

K2 - This munchkin is very talkative but I don't think it's a problem because at her age talking is how she learns what she needs/wants to know. She is, however, bossy sometimes and that's what I'm working on with her in conjunction with learning gospel principles. I will say this though, she loves to sing and loves the gospel and THAT is awesome!

M2 - I'm not sure if this munchkin will be coming or not but I'm preparing for it. She is very "shy". However, the one time she was in my class she was talking and laughing with everyone by the end of it. My approach was to tell her that she could participate when she was ready and that I understood what it was like to be with people you knew but didn't, and to be in a new class. She's very polite and I can't wait to have her in my class again. She is also cousins with M1 and K2.

T - This munchkin goes to church with me and is ALSO in my taekwondo class. Lucky him. :) He's actually in the CTR 7 class - mine is the CTR 6 class - but I'm including him because I interact with him A LOT. I also interact with his sister H (in the CTR 5 class) and brother L (still in nursery). Anyways, T is sometimes talkative during primary. When he is talkative, I look at him and he straightens up. Sometimes I'll even prompt his behavior by whispering the tenets of taekwondo to him - the tenets are: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. Anyways, today apparently he was either talkative or trying to pinch another kid in his class. My mom went up behind him and asked "what are the tenets of taekwondo?" T whipped his head around and looked at her with the expression that clearly said "how do you...?" before straightening up in his chair and behaving for the rest of sharing time. It was pretty awesome. Poor kid though is going to get it from almost every single side. Oh well, it'll build character.

Anyways, that is all. Until next time....