Do not die with your music still in you.

Last Friday was another 3 month checkup with my surgeon.  Everything checked out great, and I return in 3 months for another checkup and mammograms.  It's so weird to think that a year ago, I was weak from chemo.  Now, I have ultra curly hair, I'm up to 3.5 miles on runs, and starting new adventures in life.

I recently came across a saying that really impacted me:  "Do not die with your music still in you."  It was mentioned in an LDS General Conference talk by Tad Callister, in the priesthood session, directed to leaders of young men in the Mormon faith.  It was a great talk for all of us as leaders of youth.  In thinking about that, I pondered about what gifts I've been blessed with that I've been keeping inside.  I've been blessed with intensive training, a graduate degree, and years of experience in helping kids with reading disabilities, though most of that experience has come through raising my oldest child, who has dyslexia and asperger's syndrome.  Since living in Indiana, I've done almost nothing with this gift,   though there are kids everywhere that need help with reading.  So, with this quote in mind, I decided to look into a reading specialist job for next fall.  I inquired at a small school that was very close to my house.  I learned that it was a public charter school, and I've always been a fan of school choice.  To make a long story short, I'm now working with the resource team and enjoying the opportunity of helping children in each of the classrooms.  It's an assistant teacher position that I'm hoping will lead into a full time specialist position in the future.  I'm really enjoying it.  The kids are so much fun!

The summer was great.  I enjoyed girls' camp, youth conference, two family reunions, and time with our kids, minus Heath, who is still awaiting his visa to Argentina.  He's working hard and staying focused as he serves our Savior as a missionary in Ohio, only 2 hours away from home.  His blog is "elderheathtenney.blogspot.com," if you'd like to read his weekly letters.  And no, I haven't dropped any care packages on his porch, though it was very tempting--I was voted down on the idea by the men in my family.

What music is still inside of you?  Think about it, and make sure you're using the gifts and opportunities you've been blessed with to bless the lives of others.  I think God's big plan, besides returning to Him, is for all of us to learn to serve and bless others as our Savior did when he was on Earth, and as he continually watches over us and blesses us from day to day.

The first weekend in October is another LDS General Conference.  We get to hear inspiring messages from our prophet, the 12 apostles, and other leaders for two days and it's broadcast on the internet and some television channels.  October Conference at lds.org lists times and session, and how to watch online live, or catch it afterwards.  It is uplifting and inspiring.

I know these blog entries are infrequent.  No news is good news.  So, if it's December before I post again, I hope you have a wonderful fall and Thanksgiving!