[Teachldsseminary] OFF TOPIC: good feelings and had to share

[Debbie]

I hope you'll forgive me, but something happened today at church and I 
wanted to share it with you.  For no particular reason, except that it 
sure did make me feel good.  I hope I don't get to lengthly on this.  If 
I do, just delete.  ;-)

We moved from a very large Ward into a small branch in April.  Around 
the first of June I was asked to be the Seminary teacher.  I had never 
taught Seminary before, but thought studying the Doctrine and Covenants 
would be a good way to get my feet wet (so to speak).  I thought.....how 
much easier can Seminary be than to study church history!  The closer it 
got to school starting, the more nervous I got.  Here I was.......a new 
person, in a new branch, and I didn't know any of the youth except to 
say "hi" to.  In my old Ward, I had been there all my life and knew 
everyone.  In my old Ward, I knew the parents of the youth really well.  
Most I had grown up with.  Anyway, I jumped in both feet.  I was very 
nervous the first week and thought it would never end.  lol  It's now 
been 2 months and I have learned to love those 4 students I have (2 
active, 2 not).  The 2 that come daily.........I'm getting to know 
really well and they are getting to know me.  Sometimes I think I'm on 
their level.  I have three children of my own that are in their early to 
mid 20's, so sometimes I think I can still relate pretty well.  (At 
least I hope that's it!)  Another little tidbit of information about 
myself....we moved to a smaller city after my husband retired in 
February.  He retired, and I just quit.  We were getting use to NOT 
setting an alarm, going out when we wanted, watching movies, a little 
TV, driving around the new city, etc.  We were retired!  Then Seminary.  lol

Anyway......we have been on a week fall break, so.....no Seminary.  
Also, the week before General Conf., we were out of town for the 
weekend, and this past weekend (Gen. Conf.) we were also out of town.  
So, I hadn't seen my Seminary students in over a week.  I hadn't thought 
about it until today.  I seem to study several hours a night, if not 
longer, for my lessons.  Sometimes my husband doesn't understand what 
takes me so long, but I want to make sure I know what I'm talking about 
before I go in and teach my kids.  I want to be able to know my material 
and scriptures well enough that I don't have to read a lot.  
Okay........getting back to today at church.  I always sit near the 
back.  Today my oldest son was at church with us and he wrote me a note 
and asked me to point out my Seminary students.  I pointed out my 2 
regulars.  After Sacrament meeting I was getting my things together when 
one of my students came up and said........Hello Sister Liebegott.  How 
are you?  I called her by name and told her I was doing really well.  I 
asked her how she was enjoying her break.  I let her know that I was 
enjoying my sleeping in too.  We talked for a little while and she went 
on to her class.  I know this doesn't seem like a big deal.....but it 
sure was to me.  In the two months that I have been teaching, they 
usually just say "hi" to me in passing.  And almost every time, I'm the 
first one to speak.  But not today.  She had asked me to get some work 
together for her that she had missed, so I handed her that.  I explained 
a little of it to her.  The day went on and after church was over, I saw 
her in the hall again and she said..........by the way Sister Liebegott, 
I heard you sneeze and knew it was you without turning around.  We 
laughed.  I have to tell you that I have an unusual sneeze.  I'm not 
sure how you describe the sound, but I sneeze NO less than 10 times.  
Today was no exception.  I sneezed 12 times, while the Sacrament was 
being passed. Talk about standing out!  lol  Anyway, I thought that was 
interesting that she knew it was me and even mentioned it. 

Okay, I'm almost finished.  I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, 
but it really was to me.  I left church today thinking.........I think 
they like me!....I think I'm not that stranger that started teaching 
them 2 months ago!!!     

It's not that I want my students to like me like they like their friends 
at school, it's not like I want to be their buddy, but it sure does help 
knowing that they are getting to know me, and me them, well enough to 
come up and talk to me on their own, and outside of Seminary.  It just 
made me feel really good.  It made me know that what I'm doing is a good 
thing not only for me, but for them as well.

I'm sorry this is so long.  I may not have expressed myself very well, 
but I left church on cloud nine today.  I thought to myself......she 
will never know how her stopping to talk to me for that 1 minute made me 
feel.  It sure made me feel accepted.  I guess that's the word I'm 
looking for.  All that nervousness in the beginning vanished. 

Thanks for listening.
Debbie