MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Oh my...it's been a long time.

I feel like life in general has been moving faster than me these days. Don't get me wrong, I love where I am, but I seem a few steps behind all the time. :)

Work has been amazing as always. There have been some really rough days, but I love my babies and miss them! Haha. I've realized this year that I've had a fear of balancing the love/discipline ratio ever since I knew I was going to teach. I just knew that would be one of my weakest elements....turns out I was wrong. I can honestly say it's a strength of mine. My overwhelming love for the kids is evident to them, but I have control over the class and their respect. Amazing. Only through God can that be possible. As my love for Him grows I feel it growing for them. :)

Anyways....(I talk about my kids too much) Matt decided to quit his job at Dish. He is seeking God in this season. Trying to discover His plan and will for Matt's life. It's been an interesting adventure. In January he will be working somewhere less demanding and in town to bring in extra money...then going to the U of Memphis, probably in the Fall. I'm so excited for him! SO glad we can afford this.

Right now the family is over again for Christmas. This tradition is one that I absolutely love and almost live for. It's so nice just to hang out, play games, and be together. How often I would take that for granted.

Well, I have to go do some baking for our Christmas parties. I hope you all enjoy time with family and/or friends! Don't forget why we're celebrating....God's gift of life is greater than anything we can try to imagine!

BEST DAY!

Today was the best day of the school year so far!

I have a student in my class who is difficult. Hm, but that word doesn't even start to describe him. Maybe I'll go into detail another day....but today we had a breakthrough! I found a trick that literally brought out a different child! Ok..I have to give more details, but later. I'm so tired with more things to get done before the night is over.

I'm just so overjoyed I had to share a bit of the story. God is really blessing me with great co-workers and wisdom that can only come from him! Today was all about him!

One day at a time

Life has officially gotten crazy! Yesterday was a full day of in-service and then open house. I got to meet every child's parent but one. :) I'm praying that I'll be a better teacher and be the love and light they need everyday. I can't wait!

This morning I came off of my adrenaline and hit the bottom. I was literally dragging my feet around for half of the day. (more in-service...woohoo) Then I kicked it into gear and got a lot done in the room. Tomorrow is the last day that I have to prep myself for this year. I'm not nervous...just anxious that I won't get everything ready and the year will start and end with chaos.

I can say without a doubt that this week (even though it's only Tuesday) has been only possible with God's power.

Oh...I forgot to mention that my brother Evan came to visit us last week. It was soooo nice to have him. I just wish it had been during a less busy time. He left Sunday night and will be starting Masters Commission. (I'll explain later).

And Bo has officially been part of our family for a year! She's still quite destructive, but at least not going potty everywhere. Haha.

PTL!!!

PTL - Praise the Lord!! I love this phrase. It reminds me of my Mom too. I remember growing up and she was always saying or writing it.

Matt has really had a lot of ups and downs with his Dish job...seems to be more down than up. ;) We were going to buy a second car at the end of August so I can get to work and run errands more easily. Well instead he will be getting a remote tech position...finally!

This means he will drive the work van home and to his jobs, fill out paperwork at home, and check in once a week to refill supplies. So not only do we save gas money (into Memphis and back four times a week), he'll be home earlier, AND this is the absolute best part HE IS OFF ON SUNDAY!!! I almost start crying when I say it. Since Matt has taken this job he's worked Sunday. I've been praying just about ever since then that he would have a different schedule.

I'm so beyond amazed at how quickly and perfectly God is putting everything into place. How incredible!

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

It's Late!

Well, I can't seem to fall asleep tonight and it's almost midnight! My body needs to get back on schedule because school is right around the corner. My room is coming together and that makes it all the more exciting! I can't wait to meet my new kids and have a fabulous year.

Our trip to Florida was amazing! We are so blessed to be able to take such a nice vacation. During our stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, they upgraded our room to the "Club Level". It was pretty nice because we had our own breakfast, snacks, drinks, and desserts all day. The rest of the time was spent at the theme parks. I must say, Harry Potter was pretty awesome! And I loved the Dr. Seuss park....who would have thought. ;) If I had my way though, I would have ridden almost every ride three times. Matt isn't so big on the rides so I dragged him to as many as I could.

We then drove to New Smyrna Beach on the East Coast. Beautiful beach! We got burnt pretty bad, despite the previous days in the sun and multiple sun block sessions. So we left early to see my Gma and Aunt Ruthie. It was a treat to again not be in charge of meals. :) We got to visit with them for a couple days and then head home.

I'm not adjusting well to "regular life". I guess it's been so long since I've had a vacation...actually never since being married. Coming home to the dogs and responsibilities isn't as fun as getting away and being taken care of. Hehe. Nevertheless, life goes on.

I've been doing my last summer projects or things I've been meaning to-do before the summer runs out. I'm still working on that terrible room. It's been much slower than I had hoped, due to money (going towards the trip) and motivation. :D Another layer of Spackle has been applied and I'm crossing my fingers that it's the last one. I'll update a picture later.

Now the issue of color. I would LOVE a light green but Matt insists on not having green. He would rather have a deep red. Maybe since this has been my project I'll pick the color....maybe. I've also considered accenting the room with stencils. I THINK it'll be spread over one wall...or maybe a border at the top of the wall. I am sadly the kind of person who has to SEE something to decide whether I like it or not. I certainly won't be redoing this anytime soon...so YOU should help me pick.

Option 1: These two stencils





Option 2: This one stencil


Either option will be done in one color...probably white. Let me know what ya think!

As I write this I'm packing, cleaning, burning CDs, clearing memory cards, and getting ready to leave for Orlando! My dear husband and I will be driving down to visit the Universal Studios to see Harry Potter, visit a beach or two, and swing by to see some of my family. Overall, it's gonna be a great trip!

One of my goals was to finish the Spackle in the spare room before we leave....but I don't think it'll happen. :) I've gotten one coat on and need to do another this afternoon. Then when we get back it needs to be sanded down and it's time for paint! Here's a picture of the progress.

OH....I didn't tell you the whole story!!!! I was trying to remove the wallpaper that is under the paint and instead I was pulling off layers of the drywall. The paint used in that one spot (over Michael Jordan) wasn't meant for inside and had some kind of sealant so you can imagine how much fun that was. :) We decided to just Spackle the room and paint over it. The picture of the man in an airplane was the found wallpaper. That would NEVER be exposed in my house for sure!




So I'm going to finish my CDs and force myself to finish this room! I'm sure I'll be back from my trip sooner than I would like. :)

I'm back!! The trip went well...details may come later. I posted a picture to give you a feel for what went down, haha. That was at the San Diego Zoo. It's as amazing as everyone says! Overall it was great to see family! It's nice to be home with Matt and the dogs and have an expected pattern for the week.

We recently bought a treadmill and I've been having a nice walk/jog about four times a week (minus the last week and a half). I've gotten inspired to run a 5K and I'm super excited. I've only done this once in my life and didn't prepare very well. Because of that I didn't actually jog the whole thing and still felt like I was going to pass out at the end. Nevertheless, I've found a group on Facebook called Couch to 5K (C25K). I have some work friends that are trying to get healthier too and checked out the link on their page. It's a simple guide to training for a 5K for beginners. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm starting sometime tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow....I'm going to work (of course not getting paid..it's too early for that) and checking out my room. I SHOULD have a SmartBoard up and running. For those of you that don't know what one is...Google it. It's a teacher's heavenly tool! I'm part of the last few people in our school to get one and I am thrilled! This also means that I can start setting up my room around this large bulletin-board-like-thing. :) Oh I can see things coming together in my room finally!

I'll be posting pictures soon!

Haircut and California

Here is a picture of my new hair cut. It doesn't show the cut very well...it looks great in person! I'm so impressed and have totally found a place/person to do my hair!

Well...in a matter of hours I will be waking up and preparing for my trip across the country to visit my parents and Kyle. I have been so excited, until recently. Don't get me wrong I'm still very thrilled, but I'm going to miss my hubby. :( This will be the first time we've been apart for more than a few days in a year and a half.

For those that don't know, Matt and I spent much of our dating relationship apart and then into the first year of our marriage. I've been enjoying and adjusting to being around him 24/7 and I don't mind this break. ;) I LOVE my husband beyond words, but it'll be nice to spend a week not caring for someone else's needs. (Another reason why I'm not ready for kids. hehe.) Despite my selfishness, I will miss all the little things that are routine in my life because of him.

So I probably won't be around for a week. My Mom has built an amazing schedule for us! See you in a week!

Tuesday June 22nd. Exactly one week from today I will be on a plane and headed across the country to California. I have the chance to visit my brother, Kyle, and parents. We will be traveling in the LA/San Diego area. I've never been to Cali before so needless to say I'm excited. Don't forget the fact that I get to spend time with my family. Those moments are still too rare.

Before I leave I plan on cutting my hair. I'm tired of it being so long! I hate the way it severely lacks anything resembling beauty in the hot, humid summer. Although this is exciting, I'm pretty nervous. I haven't found a great hair dresser since we've moved and I tend to have bad experiences. This shop and person has been recommended by someone I trust hair advice from so I'm crossing my fingers and literally praying. I'll post a picture before my departure.

Have a fabulous Tuesday!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Most of us think about our Dads or the Dad figures we've had in our lives. I am so blessed to have an amazing Dad. We've been through a lot of good and a lot of bad, but we've loved each other through everything. It's taught me that relationships in general aren't easy. The one thing that holds them together is God.

Two other men I think of on this day are my Grandfather's. They have both passed away, but I'll never forget the time and love they invested in me. :) They both exhibited humor and compassion in all of the relationships they had. Those things combined made for some great Grandpas.

I also think of my brother-in-laws. Three. Like I have three real brothers. Cool hm? I admire them for sticking through the hard times in their marriages, setting examples to their kids, and loving their families!

And the final man I think of is my father-in-law. He doesn't have a deep relationship with Matt and as a result I haven't met him. It's strange to think about because I have a very strong relationship with my Dad. I admire who Matt has become despite the lack of a male presence in his life. It inspires both of us to be present and diligent when our kids come around.

Ok....so I won't lie. I think of my husband on Father's Day too. No, he's not a Father yet. It makes me wonder though and almost picture what kind of Dad he will be one day. How different our lives will be. Only God knows. :)

Enjoy Father's Day with the men you love and praise God for placing them in your life!

Yesterday was my two year anniversary! I can't believe I've had a husband, been married, and performed wifely duties for two years now!

My morning started with breakfast in bed. :) I had a workshop and then Matt and I went into Memphis for the day. We saw Prince of Persia...terrific movie...then went to Cici's for lunch/dinner. After that we drove to Lowe's to dream shop as well as start project #1.

There are MANY large projects we want to do with our home, but the first is going to be painting our guest room. Our lovely puppy, Bo, decided we needed help getting a jump start. This picture shows how much she didn't like the paint job. :) The people who moved out had wallpaper up and just painted over it...so we're the lucky winners who get to take down the paper and then clean up Bo's mess. Finally, after all that we can prime and paint. I'm really excited for that part. :)

P.S. I LOVE having all this time off! I can get a list of things done in a day and rest the next without thinking about being too exhausted. I'm so beyond blessed!

OH MY....

It has been months! So sorry for being distant. Matt and I purchased a new computer since the other one was just about dead...and I didn't bookmark my blog page. I've thought about it a lot, but obviously I haven't posted anything until now.

Life has been crazy busy! My first year of teaching is finished. Not a full year, but it sure felt like it. I love those kids and it was a teary eyed good-bye. I got to experience my first graduation as a teacher, field day, field trip, picture days, treat/party days, and lost teeth. :) It is beyond my wildest dreams! I can't believe that at such a young age I can say I'm fulfilling one of my dreams. I'm living it everyday! How exciting!! AND I get paid for it! :D

Don't get me wrong, there were many stressful and hard days. Weeks came that I didn't know how I would make it! Because of God, Matt, my family, and especially my new co-workers I did make it to see summer. I'm so much more than blessed and can't express how joyful this season in life is!

Speaking of summer....this is my very first one off with no work and no school. I thought I would be bored out of my mind, but I may have been mistaken. My first week has been spent on school stuff (of course) and making lists of things I would love to get done before August. I plan on preparing for school, reading some books, and updating some rooms in our home. Along with all that I get two vacations! Yes I said it! TWO! My parents bought me a ticket to come visit them in California for a week and I can't be more thrilled. While I'm there I get to see one of my brothers, Kyle. I miss them so much!

My second vacation is an anniversary trip with my hubby. I can't believe it's already been 2 years. I love him more everyday and love the way he pushes me to be a better person! We are driving to Orlando, Florida and going to Universal Studios. We are a couple of big dorks and going to the Harry Potter exhibit! Of course I'm making him stop at the beach too and visit my Gma, Aunt Ruthie, Uncle Paul, and Aunt Chris while were there. We both have worked hard the past year and deserve a little break from life!

Well, that's just a small update on life, but hopefully I'll be on here more. Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Inspiration

So Matt and I want to start a new hobby: biking. We have the bikes, but the bad weather has kept us from getting out. It started raining this afternoon and I've had it! I went to ride in the rain anyways.

It turned out to be very refreshing! Matt and I love riding and want this to be something we do with our kids. I have many fond memories of bike riding with my parents and brothers through Hazel Park, MI.

I also promised myself that since my job is only a mile away, I would start riding to and from work occasionally. Of course that has yet to happen, so that's what my bike ride was today. It only took 7 minutes....and I'm way out of shape still!

I was able to face the weather today because of my Mom. I just spent the best hour and a half talking to her on the phone. She has a new job in California, close to Kyle. Her job is only a mile away and she decided to buy a bike and ride everywhere instead of spending extra money on a rental car and gas. In the past three weeks she's lost 20 pounds!!!!!! That's amazing! I'm so proud of her! And what an inspiration and motivation!

I've started losing weight too. I'm at 7+ pounds, but ready to lose more like 20 pounds! Haha. So I'm striving to be more active than I have been recently. I used be, but it's getting over the tiredness or laziness and just getting started. Once I'm going I'm reminded of how much I love it!

So here's to more bike riding adventures!

Scars and Motivation

I think everyone has at least one thing about their childhood that makes them cringe. Today my "cringe" surfaced again. My parents always struggled with handling and spending money. They're aware, I'm aware and love them through it, but that didn't mean life wasn't stressful in their home. As a result of that issue, I developed a fear of unreliable vehicles. For some reason the memory of riding in cold, fogged up, embarrassingly noisy, and unstable cars is and will always be strong to me.

Today my Mother-in-law hit a pothole and blew her tire. Not a big deal. The car was not towed, she was safe, but....it still makes my stomach turn. The idea of being unsure if the car will make it or something could happen worries me.

My husband has done a marvelous job in providing security in this area of my life. Of course it doesn't change the past or release all my fear. It certainly helps though. We both come from families that didn't have money. God knows what he's doing and I think he's molded us into better people because of it.

I have sworn to myself that I will never drive or put my future children in a car that I'm unsure of. If it has maintenance problems, fix it. If there isn't the money for it, find another way to get there. Slightly extreme, but I'm the kind of person that would rather be safe than sorry.

I'm really thinking this may lead to a ministry that I will one day be involved in. Reaching people and meeting that need is very powerful to me.

On another heavy note, as a teacher I've been refreshed. The car situation made me think of one of my students and the life she has when she goes home. She's the one that can make me want to pull my hair out, beat my head against the wall, or just scream. I've come to a place of frustration and wondered what am I going to do to break through to her? Of course I know the answer, love. That's what God's called us to do and specifically me to do through teaching. To spread His love to my students.

I've be reminded that SHE is why I'm teaching. She is my MOTIVATION, not my frustration. She is why I wake up in the morning and passionately work hard every day. There is nothing more fulfilling for me than to see a student that usually goes home with a list of bad behaviors from the day, instead walk out the door with a smile and stickers showing they had a marvelous day!

Wow, an intense blog this time! Maybe I'll try to ease it up on the next one. :)

Out of Commission

Hello there!

I can't recall when or what my last blog was. NOT GOOD!

Life has been busy and full with my new job! I LOVE it. I wish I could tell you what a blessing this school has been to me. I honestly don't deserve such a wonderful job. I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do and need to seriously stay on my toes in order to keep my job. Everyone has been more than welcoming and helpful. I am excited as I wake up in the morning to go to school (maybe not as early as I would like to wake up sometimes, lol).

Thursday the School Board FINALLY met and my first official day was Friday, but we didn't have school due to snow/ice. What a great way to start a new job. :)

Other than that life is the same. I'm super excited for taxes to come back! We're putting a lot of money into paying off our car and then the rest will be put towards our second we're hoping to buy in the next few months. I started saving money from my school checks and I can't wait to walk into a dealership with cash and I say, "I want that one!" It won't be a fabulous car, but I just need to drive around town and into Memphis every so often. Oh I absolutely love the feeling of not owing anyone money!

Matt and I are still church searching. It's getting frustrating and hard to motivate myself to go on Sunday mornings. Matt works so I'm on my own and I'm not sure I'll find a church like I want in West Memphis. I'm used to the more city-styled churches and in this area they just....feel different. Small and southern. But what I want and God wants are usually different anyways. And He really knows what He's doing, have I not learned that already?!

That's a quick update on life. I'll try to be more diligent with my writing. :)