The end of my first year teaching Seminary

I can't believe how fast my 6 week stink of seminary went! Just when I was starting to get the hang of things, it was already coming to a close.

What a stressful 6 weeks it was, but how I enjoyed it!

I had great students in my freshman class. They were a pleasure to teach, and I hope they got something good out of my classes. I know I did!

Shabelly is a sweetheart, and usually the first one there to greet me each morning. Michael is my scripture mastery whiz kid, even if he wasn't always awake. Andrew kept me on my toes, but he was always listening.

Good old Sierra always came in late and loud, but added a lot of cheer to the class. Mary was a ray of sunshine. Becky was always so sweet and helpful. All of them are really great kids, and I love each of them.

The end of the year festivities began with a pool party at Sis. M's.

One of my sweet young women, Kylee, was the only girl in her whole senior seminary class. She was the queen. Love that girl. I'll miss that girl!

Then came the scripture chase. I was so nervous for these guys! I tried my best to help them learn their scripture mastery scriptures in the short time we had left, but they did a great job.

First there was a written test.

Then came the timed find the scripture round.

Finally came the last man standing speed round. Michael was our super-star. He came in 6th place, and was the last freshman up there finding scriptures is only 2 or 3 seconds! Impressive!

Mrs. V in her classroom. My bulletin board was nothing special since didn't have much time to get one together.

On the last day of seminary, the stake treated us to a yummy breakfast. All I had to do was show up and enjoy my kids for one last time.

It was a good year, albeit a short one.

Tara, the seminary principal asked me to decorate the refreshment table for the seminary graduation. I used the Book of Mormon theme complete with a set of gold plates, a liahona, and of course, the resurrected Christ (he his the centerpiece of the Book of Mormon, and so he was also the centerpiece of the table.) I thought it looked great.

The graduation was so nice. The spirit was strong.

What a great opportunity it has bee for me to teach seminary! It had been a lot more work than I was expecting. I have to spend hours each day on my lessons. For me the hardest part is deciding what to teach - there is so much good stuff, and the more I study, the more excited I am to share it all!

Some days went great, and I drove home feeling so satisfied. Other lessons flopped, and I drove home feeling disappointed. But by the time I got home each morning, and got my kids out the door to school, it was time to start working on tomorrow's lesson. Being forced to study the gospel has been so good for me.

I learned so much, and my love for the Book of Mormon has really grown, as well as my relationship with the Lord. I am so glad I was called just before we got to 3 Nephi so I could study and teach these kids about the coming of our Savior to America, and how much he love and cares for each individual and begs us to come unto him. I love and admire the people we studied in the latter half of the book of Mormon: Helaman, Samuel the Lamanite, the prophet Nephi, the brother of Jared, Ether, and especially Mormon and his son Moroni, who went to so much to get this sacred book into our hands because they saw our day, loved us, and wanted us to know what we needed to be happy and return to our Father in Heaven. I love them and will always be grateful for them!

Teaching the Book of Mormon was great, and I am looking forward to getting a new class next year, (and quickly getting into the new building, hopefully) studying, and teaching the Doctrine and Covenants and church history! But first I look forward to a little break, and getting a little more sleep this summer.