Miss Edgar

A few weeks ago my sweet practicum class wrote me  letters. After over a month of seeing this unique, silly, smart, and loving class nearly everyday I almost couldn't bear to leave. I learned their struggles, strengths, and innocent little cares. I have many sweet memories of each child in this class and their carefully written words and precious pictures touch my heart. 

Some of the most touching responses to me came from my students who struggled the most. These were the children that I cried over at night worrying about whether or not what I was doing was helping them. These were the students that brought happy tears to my eyes when they succeeded at reading. These were the students that I really needed and that really needed me. 

"Ms Edgar is nice! She reads with Me. She is helpful With math."

"Ms Edgar helps me. She smils. She plays with me." 

"Miss Edgar is nice! I lice when she playd With use. She is fun. She is the best. She is mi best friend. I will mis her so much" 

"Ms. Edgar you ar so prety.!!!!!! I am gowing to miss you. I love you Ms. Edgar. I like when you plad with us."

"Ms. Edgar is nice! She brings us treats. She also I like when she is a friend. She is cool."

"Ms Edgar us NICE! Sh is my favrit. I like her, I like when she is here. Ms Edgar is NICE!"

"Ms. Edgar is nice! She help me. She is awesome. I like wen she is a god friend."

"Miss Edgar is nice! she is awesome, she helps us. She also plas with me. We will miss her so much. The end." 

My darling students-

You are smart. You are creative. You are important. Your words and thoughts have power and meaning. You can change the world. 

Students, when you laugh I laugh. When you cry, I cry. When you struggle I will be with you no matter what. When you are learning you are teaching me far more than I could ever teach you. Your stories, your thoughts, and your cares touch me. 

You are my happiness! All of my students; past, present, and future, have influenced me and formed me into the woman that I am today. Your little stories and smiles make me laugh and bring such a light into my life! You are all my best friends. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for trusting me, for forgiving me when I mess up, and for all the love you give unto me no matter what. 

With all my love and smiles 

Miss Edgar 

Home Sweet Home

It's hard to believe that this beautiful woman beside me has been out serving the Lord for the past 18 months. Tomorrow she comes home and oh how much joy she brings with her!

Anna has been my best friend since birth. She is the cousin I spent countless summers with and have more inside jokes with than any other person. Anna makes me laugh, cry, and truly realize my Heavenly Father's hand in my life.

Anna's selfless service on her mission this past year and a half has truly been an example to me. She is full of love and light and those she has taught have seen that! I truly aspire to be like Anna, and I cannot wait to see her again!

Outfit Details:

Hat: Gift

Dress: Vintage, thrifted

It's Elementary Darling

I'm back, at least for now.  

If I've learned anything from this past year and a half, it is that you can never truly know what to expect from life, and just as soon as you think that you have everything exactly the way that you want it to be-- things change.

This semester has been crazy! I'm taking 18 credits, working, and trying to balance, sleep, callings at church, and club involvement and often I feel like I have no control over my life and what is happening in it. I hardly have time to breathe, and sleep truly has become a thing of the past.

But, lately I've been learning that no matter the situation you have to make time for joy.

In my life I have dealt with a lot of stress and anxiety-- It's just a part of my personality. I joke with my close friends that my brother Matthew was born a warrior, and I was born a worrier. This semester it seems like all of this worry and stress has compounded leaving me with a deep set anxiety.

Last week I reached one day when I was at a breaking point. Just when I felt that I couldn't deal with it all anymore and wanted to let go of everything that was worrying me, even in the slightest a friend gave me some wonderful advice.

He gave me three rules to follow.

1. Breath when you feel overwhelmed
2. Focus on what you can change; ignore what you cannot
3. Relax. Go out with friends and family when you feel anxious and overwhelmed

Although simple there three things have really grounded me these past few days, and I've been able to see how much of a strength my friends are to me. I feel like so often I go through my life trying to carry all of my worries, stresses, and anxieties inside me because I don't want to be a burden to another, but this semester especially I've been able to see what a strength my friends are. Just as I am there for them-- THEY ARE THERE FOR ME-- and they want to help me, I just have to let them in.

This weekend I went home (rule #3) and as always the light and love found in my family filled and rejuvenated me. While home my little sister, Sasha, asked me about why I no longer blog. Honestly that answer was easy. I don't have time. But, this is something I truly love. A way to express myself through word and photographs, and it's something that I love. So for this... I will try to make time.

There is joy to be found in little things, even in the most trying of times, and for that I am so thankful! I am thankful for journals, little notes from my students, inspiring quotes on Instagram, finished to do lists, random dance parties, laughing in the early hours of the morning even though you have gotten four hours of sleep in the last two days, for sisters and for mothers, for love that stretches across state lines, and for the promise that comes while spring is in the air!

I'm glad to be back.

Outfit Details:
Glasses: Vintage (Dad's from the 80's-- they used to be Sun glasses, but I popped out the dark lenses and filled them with my prescription instead)
Dress: Vintage, thrifted
Shoes: But Another Innocent Tale, thrifted
Circle Ring: Forever 21
Triangle Ring: Rue 21