Life is like 'The Spooky Old Tree'!

When my kids were very little, they liked me to read 'The Spooky Old Tree', a Berenstain Bears book all about three little bears (2 boys and a girl!) who go out at night to explore a giant tree full of hidden wall panels, slides, spiders, crocodiles, and, of course, a great sleeping bear! These little bears would encounter an obstacle, and the book would ask 'do they dare?' Do they dare go into that spooky old tree, do they dare go up the twisty old stair, do they dare go through the moving wall, do they dare go into that spooky old hall, do they dare go over great sleeping bear? You get the idea. Well, lately my life has been one ginormous spooky old tree just full of 'do I dare?' moments! And I don't think I will be getting to the happy 'home again, safe at last' moment for a very long time!

But then I got to thinking about how I have been in this spooky old tree for a very long time now...

Did I dare to file for my divorce? Yes- and it led me to regaining myself and finding the courage to be a single mom when it was needed.

Did I dare quit doing daycare in my home and to find a job? Yes- and it led to me discovering the joys of working with students with learning disabilities.

Did I dare return to school with my kids so little, to stay up nights studying and then writing my thesis? Yes- and it led to making lifelong friends, gaining a career, and showing my kids the importance of an education no matter the difficulties in obtaining it!

Did I dare purchase a house on my own and then try to maintain it? Yes- and I have learned so very much knowledge that I can now share with others- and my kids and I gained the best extended family (our neighbors) that we could have ever hoped to have!

Did I dare to work at Herriman High this year (after leaving what felt like my home, my previous school)? Yes- and I have to come to realize what a blessing it has been in my life. I have gained so much of my confidence back again, confidence in my abilities and my interactions- something I hadn't even realized I had lost.

Now, will I dare to pursue a new job opportunity? A job that would be so much what I have dreamed of doing, but of which I feel so under-prepared to do. A job that will pull me away from my own classroom and the kids I think of as my own at times... 

And will I dare to try just one more time to give my trust and my heart to someone else- to not be in control of everything in my life (as my Father in Heaven chuckles at that last illusion!)? 

To answer: Guess I'll have to return to the original story: 'Do they dare? Well... they came into the tree, they climbed the stair, they went through the wall and into the hall, so of course they went over great sleeping bear!'

Do I dare? Well I filed for divorce, I found a job outside my safe little world, I returned to school and earned my master's degree, I purchased my home, and I work at HHS... so of course, I will dare! (stay tuned for results- although it may be a while! I finally found a use for that turtle icon on my cell phone, after all!)

And Mother's Day? Well, my kids are the most wonderful kids in the entire universe! Snapshot of my day:

Little Adilynne Sue came into the room with the largest grin, ran as fast as she could run towards me while yelling 'happy Mother's day!', threw herself into my arms, climbed into my lap while still hugging my neck and gave me a big kiss! Yep. I definitely enjoyed my Mother's day!

And we were able to update the photos for Sue! Love my family!!!