Ask me again after Isaiah

September 2, 2026

I have taught five full days of early morning seminary, and I think I’m going to survive.

Maybe even settle in—but I don’t want to jinx it. Also, the next week I teach we are starting Isaiah...so there’s that.

I don’t think I’ve ever talked to someone who taught early morning seminary who didn’t love it. I’m not sure exactly why, but whenever I mention that I’m teaching seminary, former teachers get huge grins on their faces.

“I LOVED teaching seminary.”

“The kids are the best.”

“You’re so lucky.”

That is what I've heard over and over again.

I honestly have a some good memories from teaching seminary 25 years ago, but this time around, my terror of actually getting started overshadowed most of them. There was so much to prepare and remember and figure out that it was hard to imagine getting to the point where I would just enjoy it.

But after a week, I’m starting to understand those big grins a little more.

I already think about our 20 students a lot. I pray for them every night. I want to connect more with each of them, although right now it feels more like a group connection than an individual one. There just isn’t much time during class for one-on-one conversations, and there really isn’t a time outside of class either.

We’ll see how that develops.

I am starting to make my way around to the different groups when they have a group assignment and interact with them that way. This is definite progress because the first few days I would give them an assignment and then immediately and frantically scan my notes to figure out what I was supposed to do next.

Baby steps.

I’m also just really impressed with these students. Their days are FULL. They have school, extracurricular activities, Wednesday night church activities, temple trips, home responsibilites and some of them have part-time jobs. And somehow they are getting up ridiculously early and coming to seminary too.

They are kind to each other. They are smart. They participate (at times, and sometimes with candy bribes, but I’ll take it). And they have already given some amazing devotionals. I genuinely enjoy being with them.

Last week I had an impression about callings sometimes being tender mercies in our lives. And that reminder itself felt like a tender mercy to me.

I’m only one week in, so I certainly don’t know yet what this seminary year will look like. But I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, learn, stretch, connect, and grow.

And maybe—just maybe—I’m beginning to understand why former seminary teachers get those huge grins on their faces.

Ask me again after Isaiah.

The Things In Between

April-August 2026

I got so bogged (blogged?!) down in catching up on the big events—Cal's birth, our Africa trip, Utah vacation, Aub's mission, etc.—that I wasn't able to write about some other pretty important things. I actually love documenting some of the day-to-day happenings because those are the things that are so easy to forget.

Well, my chance to document the day-to-day from April until now has passed. However, I'm going to post some pictures and comment on some of the happenings along the way.

Brinley graduated with her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology in June, but walked at graduation in April. I am incredibly proud of her. She started her new job in the Nebo School District a couple of weeks ago and will be working two days a week. 

Derek graduated in December with a teaching degree in history, but also walked in April. I am proud of him as well, but haven't been invested in his education all of his life. He recently began teaching English at Delta Middle School. (Shout out to Colleen and Thayne who are helping with Cal while Brinley works, and also opened their home so Bryn and Derek can save money for a home.)

April 2026

And speaking of Cal...he has hit a lot of baby milestones the past several months. (smiling, babbling, rolling, lauging, trying solid foods and more)

Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday is alive and well. I'm very grateful to my parents for creating traditions that allow us opportunities to remain close as an extended family.

Grandpa Vore (my dad), Char, Brit, Braddock, Becca, Aubrey, Erin & Megan

Char and Aubrey

So much cousinly love.

Gracie and Kaide

Brian and I were able to enjoy a weekend trip to Dallas to relax, see the musical Wicked, and pop in on the Merkley family. 

Beck, Brian M, Griffin, Sutton, Perry, Blair, me and Bri

Brinley and Derek made the drive to Lafayette, California to spend a weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam. Eric (Bri's brother) and a few of his kids were in town too so it was an extra bonus. (Maci and Bryn were good friends growing up and especially throughout their BYU years.)

Jack, Cal & Maci

Our nephew Logan Fontaine got engaged.

We had a pretty big surprise when Kaide and family stopped by to share a picture....

(This was taken at the other grandparents' house...I was so surprised, I fogot to snap one!)

Also, on July 4th they had Kaide kick a soccer ball to reveal the gender of the baby. He was really confused when the ball broke in half, blue dye exploded and everyone was clapping and cheering. Soon though, he was excitedly spreading the news. 

Later that evening he told Britney, who had no idea they were expecting, "Hey Britney, I kicked a ball and made a baby brother." She was like, "What?! Erin Noel! Do you have something to tell us?!" She also said, "Really....so that's how babies are made, huh."

I hosted another bookclub, and we made bookmarks while discussing the book. I also had a few RS friends come help me put together the Father's Day gifts for the men and young men at church.

Shari, me, Kara, Tyler

Erin Noel

I had fun making tags, baking brownies and especially gathering with friends to put them together.

Tyler, Debbie, & Janet

Loved celebrating my dad and Brian for Father's Day. They area the best of the best.

I LOVE that Tanner, Erin and Kaide live just a couple of miles away. We get together every Sunday night for dinner, FHE and Sunday night gatherings at the Birds. It's also fun to see them throughout the week. I help with Kaide some while Erin is at school, and Tanner will often come over one week night or on Saturday mornings.

Erin is working her tail off in nursing school, and I am so impressed with her focus and dedication. She was recently released as a counselor in the Primary and called to serve as the Young Women Secretary. She’s pretty amazing, and I hope she doesn’t overdo it trying to juggle all the balls in her life.

Kaide turned four, and his parents through him a big swim party with lots of family and friends to celebrate.

My mom is "hanging in there." People often ask me how she is doing, which is very sweet. It's always a little hard to know how to answer. One time I heard my dad smile and say, "She's hanging in there," and I've found myself using that explanation often since. 

This was one of her clearer moments. She picked up the phone and was having quite the conversation with whoever she thought was on the other end. I appreciate being able to go over almost everyday to love on her.

Visiting w/ her oldest grandchild, Adam

Parker did summer term at BYUI. He is a man who likes to be busy. On top of school, his calling (counselor in the bishopric) and trips with friends, he has also been working at a custom cabinet shop. Our niece and her family live in St. Anthony, and her husband, Levi, hooked him up with the family business. Parker has enjoyed working with Levi and getting more experience that goes along with his major: Construction Management.

Parker (in the orange hat) and friends at a concert

Park's been getting more into golf the past year.

Braddock started home MTC in July, and then headed to his mission in Modesto, California. 

Left-right/back row: Adam Vore, Adam Bird, Hudson Bird, Braddock Bird and Britney Bird, me and Brian, Erin Noel Gwilliam, Tanner Gwilliam, Grandpa Vore  Front row: Lincoln Vore, Charlotte Bird, Christian Vore, Ella Bird, Kaide Gwilliam

My dad was released in August from his two year service mission teaching BYU Pathway Institute classes. He taught online religion classes to students in Mexico, West Africa, Central America, and the southwest United States. 

Ella, 11, was asked to speak in Stake Conference on why having faith in Jesus Christ is important.  She prepared her own talk and did a phenomenal job.

This little guy...what can a Gigi say? I need him/them to live closer!

Fun to have my happy helper nearby.

And my Hermana Gwilliam. I love this girl. I know how hard it was for me to adjust to being a missionary in the States—and I was speaking English! I can't even imagine how difficult it is to adjust to missionary life AND learn another language, culture, and country.

I look forward to reading her letters and talking to her every Monday. She is doing good things in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission.

With her trainer Hermana Nalder

With her 2nd comp in the field, Hermana Costa

Apparently I Needed Something to Do

August 28, 2026

Just one more thing about seminary and ChatGPT. (Well—to be honest, there will probably be lots more things about seminary.)

I guess God was preparing me because I have had way too much time on my hands this past year. I quit helping with my mom so I could be available to help with Kaide while Erin is in nursing school. Her schedule fluctuates from week to week, and I have only had him about 3 to maybe 10 hours a week. (Which has been AMAZING/so much fun/we do all sorts of things together—but I digress.)

I have been bored. Too much time on my hands.

At one point in June, I actually sat down and scratched out some ideas of things I could do with my time. After I wrote this, I started doing more RS visits (my current calling was 1st Counselor in Relief Society), and I really loved it. It was wonderful to think and pray about who might need a visit and then just go do it.

I didn't really do a deeper dive into the other things before our Colorado trip pulled my attention away...but all this being said, the fact that I would actually write out and admit that maybe I should volunteer for Seminary (I knew our ward needed new teachers) shows just how much I knew I needed something more in my life. (I did not volunteer.)

And apparently God knew what that “something more” was going to be. 😂

Also—back to ChatGPT—look at this cute printable it made from my messy notes! I did have to ask it to correct a few things a couple of times...but in less than three minutes total it made this. Incredible.

I'm sure this kind of thing will become more and more commonplace, and someday I'll look back at this and laugh that I was so amazed by it. But for 2026, I am in awe.

One Day Down

August 18, 2026

I was asked to teach Seminary in the middle of July.

Stressed. Overwhelmed. Intimidated. Drinking from a firehose. Those are probably the best words to describe the last month.

I have spent the past month training, pondering, preparing, ignoring it for a little while, stressing some more, and then preparing again. 

There have been MANY hours of online and in-person training. I have also spent a lot of time working with my team teacher. We will be teaching Monday through Thursday from 6:30–7:30 a.m. and alternating weeks. Thank goodness for a team teacher!

There was also a lot to do just to get ready for the year. We cleaned out the Seminary bags and closet up at the church and made new bags for each student with scriptures, pens, red pencils, whiteboards, and other supplies.

One of my favorite parts of preparing was getting to know the students before we ever met for class. We made home visits and met individually with all of the new students and their parents to explain Seminary and personally invite them. We also met with many of the returning students and parents, made treat bags for them, and held a Back-to-Seminary pool party.

All of that helped. The more I got to know the students, the less stressed I started to feel. I also knew my family and some friends were praying for me, which meant a lot.

We have about 20 students, and they seem GREAT. I am really excited to get to know them better.

Of course, getting ready to actually teach them was a whole different story.

I am glad I have Britney and my dad to rely on. They are both seminary teaching pros. I ask them random questions every day. I have also used ChatGPT more times than I can count this past month. 😂 I have asked for help with object lessons, class expectations and classroom control, icebreakers, Doctrinal Mastery games, student questionnaires, inexpensive birthday treats, Google Slides, presenter notes, and probably 100 other things I have already forgotten.

I spent over an HOUR preparing a TEN-MINUTE devotional for our first day on Monday. Thankfully, my team teacher taught the actual lesson that morning. Bless her.

On the first day of seminary, I woke up to this sweet message from Aubrey...it made my day. Tanner also called that evening to see how things went. 

Then it was my turn to prepare Tuesday's lesson. I don't even know how many hours that took-probably over five.

I literally wore my mouthpiece while preparing because apparently I have been clenching my teeth without even realizing it.  I think that gives a pretty accurate picture of my stress level.

The format of Seminary is different from anything I have taught in so long, and right now it is hard to know where to start, what to include, what to leave out, and how to fit it all together. (Mostly, I am trying to remember how to engage youth and incorporate the digital world more.)

Meanwhile, my house has looked like Seminary exploded inside it. Student supplies, questionnaires, scriptures, lesson materials, papers, and teaching prep have taken over my kitchen counters and tables.

Last night I decided I needed to get out of the house and clear my head. It was a blazing 97 degrees at 7:00 p.m., so I went to the mall to walk. I somehow ended up stopping for a 25 minute massage from the Chinese massage place.

SO WORTH IT. 

I keep reminding myself that this will come line upon line. I will eventually figure out what works and get into a flow. And most importantly, with God all things are possible.

Then came my first day actually teaching.

I was pretty proud of myself when I got up at 5:15 and was out the door by 5:35. That might be a personal record.

I got to the church extra early because I wanted to try out my slideshow.

It was working...except my presenter notes were showing on the big TV for the entire class to see.

Not ideal.

I messed with it for a while until I managed to make it even worse, and then it wouldn't display on the big screen AT ALL.

Ugh.

So I left that mess for a minute, went into the Relief Society room to set up our Doctrinal Mastery game, and then spotted Bishop Bird walking into the building. I flagged him down and asked for help. He got the slideshow working well enough, and at that point there was nothing left to do but—

GO FOR IT.

And you know what? It went well.

Our opening song wouldn't play correctly from my phone, so one of the students sat down at the piano and played it for us with absolutely no preparation. Many of the students had also come prepared to share their favorite hymns about Jesus Christ, and it was beautiful listening to the songs they had chosen and why they loved them.

We got into the scriptures. We talked about how to find Psalms and other books of scripture and how to use footnotes and cross-references. These are little things, but I loved seeing them actually opening their scriptures and learning how to use them.

And I was glad we played our Doctrinal Mastery game—"Bloody Knuckles." We divided into teams, asked questions, and had them race to the middle to grab dry-erase markers worth different points. A little friendly competition at 6:30 in the morning never hurts. 

One day down. Whew!

I know it is going to get easier with time. Right now, Seminary feels pretty all-consuming. There is so much to learn, so much to prepare, and so much I want to do well.

But a month ago, I mostly felt intimidated and overwhelmed. Today, after actually standing in front of those students and teaching them, I feel a little different.

I don't have to know exactly how to do all of this yet, but hopefully, somewhere along the way, I'll stop needing the mouthpiece. 

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*Postscript

After reading my blog, my amazing 91 year young father-in-law, who taught seminary for over 30 years and is still teaching youth Sunday School sent me this message. I love it.: 

How lucky you are as I have always loved teaching Seminary and now they think I am too old!!!!! 

Things have changed I am sure but one thing is still the same!!! After a while you look on your class members as your kids! You want them to all go on missions, school and most of all like Captain Moroni you want the Devil to have no power over them. Love, Jerry