Weekly Update

So time has really gotten away from me. It's been a blur. My last posting mentioned I had been sick. It only got worse from there. I went into the doctor who exclaimed "You're blue!" She promptly called the paramedics who took me into the hospital. Double pneumonia. For five days I was waited on hand and foot because they were afraid I would slip into respiratory arrest. For five days I got all the IV antibiotics, chicken broth, jello, and soda I could hold. Now back at home, the waiting-on continues. My family has been wonderful to jump at my every request and my wonderful ward family has been bringing us the most delicious dinners. I haven't missed the broth at all. When I went to the doctor Thursday, she said "I am so happy to see you alive!" I'm happy, too, and will be even happier when she releases me to return to my normal schedule.

I miss everyone at Seminary, but I know for certain that everything is just fine. Thank you, thank you Sisters Pope and Weitzel! You rock!

Love,
Sister Mann

Weekly Update

This was my week. Laying on the couch with a fever and aches. Planning to get right on that as soon as I wasn't coughing hard enough to rupture something. I hate being sick. So please pardon the typos and the ramblings -- medicine head.

I owe a HUGE thanks to Sister Weitzel for filling in for me and to Sister Pope for hanging in there. This week found the class in the first few chapters of Jacob with his admonitions to both the righteous and the wicked. The Allegory of the Olive Tree was also introduced. Friday was Par-tay and Breakfast Day. Everyone got a fabulous gift and an even more fabulous breakfast. Eggs, sausage, waffles -- it was so tasty and the first real food I'd had all week. Thanks Bishop Naillon for such a yummy Christmas send-off! (So, Bishop, maybe consider leaving something like that for Santa...)

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sister Mann

Weekly Update

So the count is on -- only 5 days of Seminary left until Christmas break. The excitement of the season is as contagious as the flu...what a bad analogy, huh?

Monday was the finale of Crocodile Craft Day. We talked about how sin and temptation are like hungry crocs, just waiting to pounce on the innocent and unaware. And, again just like hungry crocs, they hunt with patience and cunning. However, in the end, dinner is dinner and damnation is damnation. This week we finished 2 Nephi. His words to us in the last four chapters, while written so long ago, are so insightful and so personal. Nephi teaches us about faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. The students did some great mini-lessons based on chapters 29, 30, and 31. In chapter 32, we looked at the triange of "tell all things" and "show all things" and "pray always." Chapter 33 is one that is, in my humble opinion, one of the most personal chapters in all of scripture. I cry every time I read it -- so read it with a big box of Kleenex standing by.

Next week, if school is delayed or cancelled, we won't have Seminary. Our Christmas party plans have been foiled for the last 2 years in a row and I'm praying it won't become 3. So you pray, too! We want to par-tay in a Seminary kind of way!

Love,

Sister Mann

Weekly Update

First of all, my apologies for not having a weekly update last week. There were only two days of class, one of those being a game day. So, really, there wasn't much to update.

The room was set up differently this week with the tables facing towards the back parking lot. There's nothing like rearranging furniture to brighten up dark mornings. Next week, we'll try it the other way.

This was a big week, chapter wise. We studied from 2 Nephi chapter 14 all the way through chapter 26 by Thursday. Whew! Friday was Crocodile Craft Day. The crocodile part will be explained next week. Anyway, the students made green croc bookmarks and googly eyes and croc trading cards. The trading cards highlighted evil crocodiles -- sins and temptations. Talk about creativity! I won't tell you what's on them, but suffice it to say I was impressed and entertained at the same time. The cards will be up in the room this week, so stop by and take a look.

Students also got their most current attendance percentages this week and make-up work was handed out. If you have questions about your student's punctuality or attendance, please don't hesitate to ask.

Only 10 days of Seminary until Christmas break!

Love,

Sister Mann

Weekly Update

Yep, it was just what I thought it would be -- five full days of fun. And guess what? The freshmen finally got their scriptures. Yes, finally. The "scripture scramble" began with the initial order in August, which was followed up by the secondary order in September. A partial order arrived in October and the rest arrived last weekend. It's a good thing scriptures teach eternal truth because it was an eternal process to get them and who wants outdated information anyway...

This week we learned about the cast of Josephs in 2 Nephi chapter 3 and Nephi's Psalm in chapter 4. The psalm's pattern of sorrow for sin to blessings to personal improvement to trust and redemption is very applicable in our own lives. Chapters 9 and 10, part of Jacob's sermon and testimony, are full of deep doctrines about the Atonement that we must heed if we seek salvation. Also -- this week was the official family split following Lehi's death. The Nephites and Lamanites have arrived.

Next week is another shorty -- just two days because it's Thanksgiving. This really is a three day holiday anyway, in my opinion. There's Thanksgiving Preparation Day, Thanksgiving Feasting Day, and Thanksgiving Recovery Day. So enjoy them all and don't forget to count your blessings!

Love,

Sister Mann

Weekly Update

This week rolled right on by! But when there are only two Seminary days, it's bound to be that way. Next week we'll be back on track for a full five days of fun.

On Monday, Sister Weitzel was our special speaker and she shared some wonderful thoughts and ideas about joy. She explained what it is, how we find it, and how we can continue to experience it. After all, we are that we might have joy. And if that involves baked goods, so be it.

Tuesday found us in a heated game of Backpack Scavenger Hunt. What these kids tote around on a regular basis is amazing! If only the pioneers had been able to have backpacks with expanding pockets it would have been a whole different journey. Gum, tape, money, ID, textbooks, paper, and the list goes on and on. In fact, on the whole list, there wasn't one item that someone did not have. Of course, there were scriptures involved in the game. Worldliness, materialism and contention must be put in perspective.

All of the students received make-up work assignments on Tuesday. Our class had a rather stunning amount of absences and tardies -- not in a good way. Those assignments should be turned back in to me by the time we dismiss for the Christmas break. If there are any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call me.

Love,

Sister Mann

Sleepy Don Diego is modeling the latest Seminary fad -- dozing while trying to pay attention. It's sad to say, but the time change did not help us stay awake in Seminary. These dark, cold mornings are only made for sleeping through the snooze alarm.

This was a short week because there wasn't school or Seminary on Friday due to teacher inservice and workday. Just because it was short doesn't mean it wasn't busy -- especially for Nephi and Co. They built a ship and crossed to the Promised Land, all within four days. 1 Nephi is done and 2 Nephi has been introduced. Speaking of finishing a book, when Seminary students finish reading each book of the Book of Mormon, they should put a sticker up on the reading chart. Daily reading should be tracked in their individual folders. Daily reading is part of the grade.

The October roll went in to SHQ (Seminary Headquarters) and the latest percentages should be arriving any moment. Students who need to make up absences or tardies will be notified. 80% overall attendance and 80% puncutality are required in order to pass Seminary. Absences and tardies can, and should, be made up.

Next week, there are only two days of class due to Veteran's Day and Parent-Teacher conferences. While I don't do any conferencing, if you have any questions about Seminary or Seminary policies, please ask me. If I don't have the answer you need, SHQ will for sure! So what's planned for such a short week? Monday will be a special speaker and Tuesday will be...hmm...a surprise. Monday will also be Birthday Brownie Day -- yum!

Love,

Sister Mann