Old and New

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to start this entry, taking deep breaths and thinking about all that this week has in store for me. This summer has been great for me. I've grown and I feel that I can face things with a better perspective and greater hope than I have ever before. The summer's now over and it's time to get back to work. I have mixed feelings about that, but overall, I know that things will be good for me.
This past week it was great to reunite with friends I haven't seen all summer or longer. It felt to be with them and catch up. One of my previous roommates returned from her full-time mission in Nauvoo, IL and it has been a pleasure being with her again. This week I also started meeting some of the new people who have moved into my ward. I am very excited to meet all the new people, but I am also a bit anxious.
Yesterday was a crazy day with visiting teaching, home teaching, mission homecoming, church, cooking dinner for friends, Relief Society meeting, and ward prayer. I felt like I was running around anyway, but I encountered lots of new people and it really overwhelmed me. It's ironic that I feel so overwhelmed with all the new people because I've been in the same ward for 5 1/2 years and have gone through this transition so many times before. But for some reason it is different this time. It may be my calling as Relief Society secretary and knowing I have the responsibility to get to know all the sisters. It could be my desire to apply all I learned from my pageant experiences to my interactions in the ward. Or it could just be the fact that everything around me changing. I feel like this is the most I've seen the ward change in one transition-maybe 3/4 of the ward is new. Some of the other long timers in the ward like me have left, although there are still two others who have been here about as long as I have. It's comforting to see them and others who have been in the ward for about 3 years. My ward has always been amazing and unique in the kind of people who come to it. There is a reason why I've stayed in the same ward for so long! I am not worried about the quality of the people at all, I just feel overwhelmed to get to know them and not feel so lost in the crowd. I've always had problems in big crowds, but from my experience in Nauvoo, I know what I can do to handle it. I guess it's just too much to take in all at once.
Good news is that my ward is going the extra mile and having about 4 activities this week: ward FHE, activities on Tuesday and Wednesday, and a boating activity on Saturday. It will be crazy, but good. It will give me a chance to get used to having a large ward again and to get to know more people on a individual basis. It is best if I think of individuals rather than how big the crowd is, I think.
Other changes going on in my life:
I am starting work again this week. This first month is training and getting the classroom ready. I am part-time again ( insert sad face here) and I will be working in a part-day afternoon class in Provo. I will be working with new teachers, at a new time, and in a new classroom. I'm excited for all of this, although I am a bit anxious about it still. I guess that is just me having a hard time with change, which is normal for me.
Like a mentioned earlier, I have a new calling, Relief Society secretary. I am really excited about this calling! I already love it! It is giving me a whole new perspective on Relief Society, particularly visiting teaching. I am serving with some amazing and really fun sisters.
I got a new retainer, to replace the one that I lost at the top of Mt. Timpanogoes. This one is much, much better than the other one. I can actually eat with it. I'm grateful for that because it will avoid awkwardness and grossness on any dates I might go on this semester. :) Also, I have to eat with the kids at preschool, so it will make things so much easier for me.
I have a new roommate, although she is really great and fits well with the apartment. The changes regarding roommates is that none of us are dating anyone and that our schedules are changing. I won't be seeing my roommate Savannah much at all for the first block of classes. I'm really sad about that. I'm not sure about the rest of my roommates, but from here on out, it will be crazy trying to still do things with my roommates like I want to.
 Overall, my life is really good. I am happy. I am excited for the newness of everything... really, the newness of me as a result of this summer. I've made goals and have great expectations for this coming semester.
I congratulate you if you actually read all of this. I just needed to get this out there and figured an update on my current adventure would be appetizing to some. I feel a bit better now. :)