I don't know that I ever finished our last life update.... but here goes.
Hyrum and I are spending our second summer apart. (Third if you count the summer we got married, when I was in Peru for 3 weeks and then he had AT for 3 weeks.) This summer has been much easier than last summer, for a few reasons. 1) My job is better. (read: I don't hate my job as much). Last summer was a busy/stressful time at work, and then I came home to an empty house. 2) We get to communicate with each other regularly. Unlike last summer, when there was virtually no contact (do letters count??) we get to talk on the phone whenever we want. Unfortunately his hotel doesn't get phone reception, but we make do with the room #. 3) I'm so busy preparing for German that I stay pretty occupied. I'm busy researching housing, cleaning our apartment and throwing away unnecessary things, filling out paperwork, trying to sell the car, etc. There's an even longer list I have here on a post-it note, but before I stress myself our, I'll stop that train of thought. 4) I'm more social. Not sure why. Maybe I just know more people from having been around longer. Being an introvert, I certainly don't require much socialization to stay happy. In fact, spending time alone in my apartment is actually great, but it's nice to have real conversations with people once in a while, and I think I'm getting my fill. 4) I'm almost out of here, so the excitement is carrying me through! I have several trips to break up the summer. Last weekend I went to Columbia to visit Hyrum, next weekend I'm going to Kentucky, and the following week to Columbia again. At the end of the summer I'll get to visit Utah, then it's off to Germany. Like I said, no time to get bored.
My calling has been interesting. Someone today asked me if I liked it, and maybe I was too honest. I like working with the young women, and I'm grateful for my calling. But whoa! The Beehives are something else. Sometimes in a good way, but sometimes in a bad way. I'll try to explain why. Normally I really enjoy teaching, but the last few lessons have been rough. They haven't paid attention and seem completely zoned out to what I'm trying to say. So this week I made an extra effort to plan more interactive activities and discussions to keep them interested and focused. I had a pretty good object lesson to start out--involving food items. A visitor spent the rest of class trying to get me to give her my bottle of Ranch. (Weird, I know.) Another girl was sleeping on the floor. Another girl was sitting on the floor, showing way too much to the world. One wouldn't stop talking to anyone who would listen to her, including to herself if no one else would listen. The same girl made the comment that she mostly just loves church when they get treats. (that irks me, but I won't start). At the end I tried to share my testimony, and as soon as I was done, two hands shot up, both making completely irrelevant comments. Then closing prayer. ahhhhhhh. Luckily, Danielle came up to me after to tell me she thought it was a great lesson. It's all about the small things, I suppose. I wish I was better able to reach them.
At work I'm finally starting to train my replacement. Definitely not enough time, but I can only do so much. When I'm gone they'll just have to figure it all out. Unfortunately, that means that much of the progress I've made will just be lost. It's a bit discouraging. I wish the department would have planned better for the transition. They've known for 2 years that I'd be leaving.
Mom and Dad listed their house for sale. The day has finally come that they're leaving Kentucky. I guess when mom went to visit Doug & Laurel and baby Ella she decided she was done living far away from family. Now it will just be us living far away! And potentially for a very long time. (I STILL can't believe my whole family is in UTAH!)
My back still hurts, but not nearly as bad as it used to. For that, I'm very, very grateful. It never (rarely) distracts me while I'm at work, but it's mostly just on the weekends when I'm running around.
