My favorite mornings
I apologize if this gets gushy... but there is this sweet hour I get every once in a while at work. It happens at 7:30am. I come in as the first person in the school and 'open' the school. I stand (or sit) and greet all the students as they arrive. There is something so sweet about being able to shake each student's hand. I feel like I'm channeling all the energy I have to helping them feel loved and happy about the start of a new day. There is not a single student who walks in for whom I don't feel that love. I love talking with them and getting to know them outside of the classroom and before they start their school work.

I think there is something to be said about the magic of the early morning hours. When I think back on some of the sweetest moments, many of them happen in the morning... early... when it is tempting to still be under the covers. I think of early morning runs or bike rides or watching the sun rise. Or when my dad would take me out to breakfast for my birthday. Or being at work early and getting so much more done. Or my best scripture studies. I think part of it is sacrifice, and I think part of it is the newness and purity of the beginning of a new beginning.

Which brings me to the increase in blessings that come from attending the temple when it is a sacrifice. I was on my way to the temple with a good friend a few weeks ago. He had a lot of work to do that day and was a little anxious about getting it all done. We had just attended the baptism of a friend and were heading up to the temple. I told him I was impressed that he was attending the temple with all he needed to do. He told me that those were the times when he received the greatest blessings from temple attendance- when it was the greatest sacrifice. When he showed the Lord his priorities during a time when many things were demanding of his attention. I have since gained a testimony of this principle. I have felt abundantly blessed and can see how many of these blessings are connected to attending the temple when it was most difficult to fit into my schedule.

Pismo Beach. Was perfect. Thank you Mom and Dad for making it so perfect in every way. We camped at the beach Friday night. Biked from my parents' house to Avila Saturday morning (that distance seemed so much longer when I was little). Ate lunch and had a much too short 20 minutes in the sun on Avila Beach when the sun finally came out. I went to pick flowers with Kristina while everyone else did ATV's on the dunes. We went to downtown SLO for dinner with everyone and my parents and Kristina. Then we just went back to the house and chatted and were all pretty exhausted. Church in the morning, lunch and yummy desserts for Mother's Day and Mom's birthday, then headed back up to the bay. I was probably the most spoiled of anyone. I got to be with my friends AND my family in one of my favorite places.

She's always stopping to smell the flowers. I need to be more like her...

I was still in my biking gear. The flowers were doing a great job of adding to my already lovely smells:)

Bike ride! (small one, but pretty and nostalgic) Dave, me, Jennia.

Another adventure... Coldplay concert! It was without question the BEST concert I have ever been to. And right up there with some of the best memories. Meredith, Jennia, Dave, Sneha, and some of his other really great coworkers... Quality people and good friends.

Lately... I have NOT been good about taking pictures. BUT, I've had some great adventures and may be able to scrounge up a few pictures. Camping and the most grueling half marathon trail run EVER. Also one of the most beautiful courses. Just north of SF.

The half marathoners prepping for the big race. One of us ran a lot faster than the other... Dani might be the most hardcore athlete I know. But... I did receive this little ribbon in the mail a few weeks later. 99% sure it's a mistake, but I'll go with it.

Dave, me, Danielle, Shelly... all finished strong despite the intensity of the trail. Dave and Dani actually placed.

Crazy sunglasses make any occasion better.

Starting the race in the soft sand. Good thing I didn't know running in soft sand was a cake walk compared to the remainder of the trail.

I knew I looked ridiculous, just didn't know I looked ridiculous enough for Dave to be laughing at me and strangers to be staring... what no one runs in wool socks, funky sunglasses, and lopsided tights?

The best part of my day- covered in salt and sand, laying on a warm beach, done with the run. Lovely.

Thank you Jennia. She knows how much I love sand:)

Ahhhh...

Conversation today at the end of Spanish with one of my favorite 6 year olds: Lindsey: "Melissa, do you have a dog?" Tanvee: "No, she doesn't have a dog. She's not married" Me: Smiling, "No I don't have a dog but you don't have to be married to have a dog" Lindsey: "Do you have a kiden?" Me: "When I was a little girl I had one but I don't anymore" Lindsey: "Do you have fishes?" Me: "Nope" Tanvee: "Melissa that is very surprising that you are not married. You're almost 30!" (a couple of kids came into my office the other day and guessed my age. One said 15 and another said 45 so I decided to let them know I was actually right in the middle) Me: Still smiling, "Well it's not that weird. I think it will happen someday" Tanvee: "You need to get married. You're getting old. But don't do it on a Tuesday or Thursday because I want to have Spanish" (I teach Spanish to their class on Tuesdays and Thursdays) Me: "Ok Tanvee. I'll make sure not to get married on a Tuesday or Thursday. And I'll try to do it soon" Tanvee: "Then you can get a baby and a dog" Me:" That sounds great. I'll work on it"