This week was extremely eventful, which was kind of a nice change after being bored for so many months on end before the semester started again. Busy isn't always bad!
On Wednesday, I got to participate in a day at Shumway Academy here in the Rexburg area for my ED361 class. At the very beginning of the semester each of us signed up for a day, and my day was this past Wednesday. Shumway Academy is a school that teaches a lot of lessons outdoors, and the kids learn about things in nature. The lesson I was assigned was about bears and hibernation, and I was REALLY nervous to teach! Long story short things didn't go as I expected they would--I taught 5-14 year olds instead of just the 1st-3rd graders like I'd been expecting, and I honestly hardly taught at all. My partner and I were paired with one of the lead teachers, and he took over almost everything. So while it wasn't much teaching experience, it was still neat to see how the school worked and be outside for a change.
Then, on Friday, my partner Haden and I taught our first lesson in our classrooms at the middle school here in Rexburg. At the beginning of the semester we were told that we probably wouldn't be working in a classroom that taught the same subject as our major, which freaked me out. I was so worried I'd have to teach about math or science! However, I lucked out and all the teachers we work with teach 5th grade Social Studies. So while it's definitely not the age group or subject I'm planning on teaching, at least I'm not having to teach a subject that I hate!
The lesson Haden and I were assigned for Friday was about Fort Sumter, and we had lots of activities and discussions planned for the kids to help make things less boring. We taught our lesson twice: once being observed by one of the teacher assistants in our ED361 class, and then we received feedback. Then we would teach again, hopefully implementing the tips we'd received. Our first time through the lesson was a bit rough, and it was especially hard trying to get the attention of all the kids. There were about 25 of them, and when there are 10-15 kids all yelling and talking and jumping around at once, it can get pretty...exciting haha. So one of the things both my partner and I wanted to work on for our second time around was being more authoritative, and trying things out with the kids in terms of getting them to listen better or more quickly.
When we taught a second time, our class was slightly smaller and they had just had a talk the day before about respecting others with their "main" teacher, Mrs. Pixton, so they were a bit more well-behaved. However, they still got a bit out of hand a few times. Near the beginning of that period I decided to try something really random to get the kids' attention and see if it worked. When they started getting restless and acting out, I'd say "Alright, guys! Are we ready? Show me your chicken wing if you're ready! Chicken wing if you're ready, guys!" Along with yelling this, I took one of my arms and made a chicken wing against my body. And you know what? IT TOTALLY WORKED! It worked BEAUTIFULLY! First of all, they thought it was hysterical. Secondly this was an awesome way to get their attention because if they weren't looking at me, hearing the words "show me your chicken wing" would be a really confusing statement, and hard to copy. So they had to look at me to mimic the action I was making! I'm brilliant! I used it the rest of the class period and it still worked really well, so I'm definitely going to be adding it to my list of things to use. I'm not sure how well it would work on high school kids...but hey, you never know!
Today, Sunday, Jake and I gave talks in sacrament meeting about motherhood, and Heavenly Father's definition of motherhood. People seemed to like what we had to say, and it went pretty well overall!
I'll add our talks below, if you'd like to read them.
Jessica's Talk:
I've been asked to speak about Heavenly Father’s definition of motherhood. I think
it’s important to focus on the fact that this is Heavenly Father’s definition
of motherhood, not the world’s. The world’s definition of motherhood is very
black and white—you're either a mother with biological or legally adopted
children, or you're not a mother. Heavenly Father doesn't see motherhood that
way.
In the
talk “Are We Not All Mothers?” given by Sister Sheri Dew, she says: “in the
Lord’s language the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words or
titles they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the
Father and Adam called Eve ‘the mother of all living.’ And they did so before
she even bore a child. The Lord does nothing with a short-range view.
Everything He does is for forever. Thus, like Eve, our motherhood began before
we were born.”
Every
time I have heard this concept, I think of my best friend. Over the years of
our friendship, she started jokingly calling me “Momma” because of the way I
treated her: I was constantly reminding her to bring a jacket when we’d go out,
to eat a snack before leaving the house, or to do her homework. I remember the
summer before I left for my first semester here at BYU-Idaho as a 21-year-old
transfer student, I taught my best friend how to do laundry and how to cook for
herself. She is currently finishing up the last month of her mission in San
Antonio, Texas, and every letter I have received from her over the past 18
months has started with “Dear Momma.” What started out as a joke between two
friends was quickly realized as the truth.
In her
talk, Sister Dew continues: “Motherhood is more than bearing children…it is the
essence of who we are as women. Motherhood defines our very identity, our
divine status and nature, and the unique traits, talents, and tendencies with
which our Father endowed us…Motherhood is not what was left over after our
Father blessed His sons with the privilege of priesthood ordination. It was the
most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave
woman an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate.”
When
reading that last portion, one of the words that really stuck out to me was
“unparalleled.” Being an English major and lover of words, I decided to look up
the complete definition. Unparalleled means “having no parallel or equal;
exceptional.” Going back to the quote from Sister Dew, this means that we as
women have an exceptional role in helping God’s children keep their second
estate, or to succeed during our mortal lives here on earth.
Sheri
Dew continues: “As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve…we
each have the responsibility and the privilege to love and to help lead the
rising generation…one of the single most significant responsibilities for a
latter-day woman of God—regardless of her personal circumstances—is to help
love and lead the younger generation.”
The
phrase “regardless of her personal circumstances” here was kind of a wake-up
call, in my opinion, for all those like me who don’t have children yet, or even
for those who have raised their children already and are enjoying a home that’s
probably a lot quieter than what it used to be. Regardless of our personal
circumstances; whether or not we have children in the home currently, don't have any yet, or have raised some already, it is our duty to help the next
generation be successful. We don't get to kick back and say “well, it’s not my
turn yet” or “I've already done my fair share of mothering, now I get to
relax!”.
Our
time to be mothers is never on pause or over. We are called to be mothers our
entire lives, whether that’s through raising our own children, or helping the
youth of our ward. Motherhood even applies to the women who haven’t married
yet, let alone had their own children—it’s also their duty to help the youth
around them, or to reach out to those older than them who need support.
Motherhood
is not just sitting up late at night with a fussy baby, or changing diapers, or
reading “Goodnight, Moon” over and over and over and over, although those are
extremely important parts of being a mother. Motherhood is reaching out to
those in need, sometimes before they even have a chance to ask for help.
Motherhood is working to be the answer to someone else’s prayer for assistance,
encouragement, or comfort.
One of
the closing remarks from Sister Dew’s talk is: “As mothers in Israel, we are the Lord’s secret weapon.” I testify
that this is true; that we as mothers are a vital part of God’s plan for us to
all return to Him one day. CLOSE
Jake's Talk:
What is a mother?
A
mother is someone who loves you
Who cares for you in every way
She sits down and listens
To what you have to say
She always thinks you’re beautiful
Never puts you down
She always has a smile
To wipe away your frown
A mother is someone who believes in you
Always pushes you to go far
Tells you to believe in yourself
No matter who you are
A mother is like an angel
Although without the wings
She tells you to enjoy
Life's smallest and simplest things
I really love my mother
She means so much to me
Mommy I really love you
And that's how it will always be.
According to urban dictionary, mother is
defined as “the woman who loves you unconditionally from birth, the one who
puts her kids before herself and the one who you can always count on above
everyone else. A mother is someone you tell your problems to and it makes you
feel better because moms always know how to make it all go away.
Rachel Wheatley – “A mother is a loving,
caring woman who is more than willing to give up her dreams to have a family.
Someone who puts her children and husband first and never looks back with
regret.”
Savanna Butler – “A mother to me is
someone who gives everything to receive nothing and yet is infinitely blessed
because of it.”
Kiana DeBerry – “I believe a mother is
someone who gives up everything she has to support and make others happy.
Someone who is willing to sacrifice anything to help keep a family together and
strong. They are all full of love and patience. They are the peacemakers to life.”
Rebecca Miller – “A mother is someone
who is nurturing and caring, selfless, sacrifices a lot, takes care of others
needs before her own.”
A
mother is selfless!
Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because
she was the mother of all living
(Moses 4:26)
1st Commandment given to Adam
and Eve = multiply and replenish the earth. (Pertained to their potential for
parenthood)
The family is ordained of God. Marriage
between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled
to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a
mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded
upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families
are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance,
forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational
activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in
love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life
and protection for their families. Mothers
are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these
sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another
as equal partners.
Faith – Alma 56:47-48
Work – (including obedience) Alma
57:19-21 (Stripling Warriors)
Prayer – Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “When I was nearly five
years old, my mother received word that her younger brother had been killed
when the battleship on which he was serving was bombed off the coast of Japan
near the end of World War II. This news was devastating to her. She was
very emotional and went into the bedroom. After a while I peeked into the room
to see if she was OK. She was kneeling by the bed in prayer. A great peace came
over me because she had taught me to pray and love the Savior. This was typical
of the example she always set for me.”
-
Abraham Lincoln once said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have
always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
-
Robert Brault said, “If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely
to go where a prayer has not already been.”
Repentance – To prepare us for baptism.
When we learn repentance, we are moving away from sin and turning toward our
Heavenly Father more fully.
Forgiveness – Taught by mothers.
Forgiveness helps us to gain a new faith. It helps us to learn and grow. When
we forgive others we feel peace and the work of God in our life.
Respect – Honor thy father and mother
(Mosiah 13:20)
Love – Elder Robert D. Hales said, “I
remember as a young man asking permission to play baseball through dinnertime.
‘Just put my meal in the oven,’ I said to my mother. She responded, ‘Robert, I
really want you to take a break, come home, be with your family for dinner, and
then you can go out and play baseball until dark.’ She taught all of us that
where family meals are concerned, it’s not the food but the family interaction
that nourishes the soul. My mother taught that the greatest love we give is
within our homes.”
-
Karl Lagerfeld
also said, “The only love that I really believe in is a mother’s love for her
children.”
Compassion – is the response to the
suffering of others that motivates a desire to help. It comes from Latin and
means “to suffer with”. Mothers can have the ability to feel what their
children are feeling.
Mothers teach us wrong from right. Truth
from lies. Left from right. Baking soda from baking powder. She slept little
and worried much. Taught us to love God. To love others. To love ourselves. Taught
how to help others. Prayed with us and prayed for us. Read to us and taught us
what the scriptures meant. Was the cheerleader and our biggest fan. The queen
of all.
A poem by Katherine Nelson Davis reads:
"What is a
Mother?"
A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,
To love us, whatever we do,
With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
And wonderful gentleness, too.
How often a mother means swift reassurance
In soothing our small, childish fears,
How tenderly mothers watch over their children
And treasure them all through the years.
The hearth of a mother is full of forgiveness
For any mistake, big or small,
And generous always in helping her family
Whose needs she has placed above all.
A mother can utter a word of compassion
And make all our cares fall away,
She can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter
And make life delightful and gay.
A mother possesses incredible wisdom
And wonderful insight and skill-
In each human heart is that one special corner
which only a mother can fill!
“No man is poor who has a Godly mother.”
– Abraham Lincoln
I often go walking in meadows of clover
And I gather armfuls of blossoms of
blue.
I gather the blossoms the whole meadow
over;
Dear mother, all flowers remind me of
you.
O mother, I give you my love with each
flower
To give forth sweet fragrance a whole
lifetime through;
For if I love blossoms and meadows and
walking,
I learn how to love them, dear mother,
from you.
Happy Mother's Day to our amazing moms!
On Friday we went to Disney California Adventure since Carly's mom had won tickets for us! 
me. I was SO HAPPY to see my husband again! I missed him so so much, and just hugging him again made me feel 10 times better and like everything was ok again. We went to Ross and Ulta, and then over to Temple Square to meet up with my girls Kasey and Kenzie! It was so fun finally getting to meet them!
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