Many Happy Returns

Today is the birthday of a very dear friend.

Probably the person who knows me best.

Our friendship began the first few weeks of freshmen year. She and my roommate had a class together and she wandered into our dorm room and asked if my roomie was there. I told her no she was taking a shower and would be back in a bit. At this point in the conversation I thought this girl would go back to her room across the hall but instead she responded with, “Great! I’m going to hide in her closet!”

I should have known then what was in store.

Over the remaining four years of college and the years since we’ve graduated, our friendship has grown, and I don’t know what I would do without her.

She is always there with a kind and reassuring word when life seems impossible, and the promise that she’ll be praying.  She joyfully, wholeheartedly celebrates successes and blessings with me. Whenever we’re together we end up staying up to all hours of the night talking, sometimes just silliness and sometimes deep heartfelt conversation. She is always encouraging about my search for Prince Charming, and puts up with my relentless (and I’m sure at times annoying) pleas for her to set me up with some “hot  man.”  She’s even created a board on Pintrest dedicated to my someday wedding.  We can be incredibly goofy together but don’t really care what anyone else thinks about us. She has such a heart for God, and a steadfast faith.  She loves her family and her husband, she is going to be the most amazing mom someday – and I fully intended to spoil all of her children because I’m sure they will be just as incredible as she is. Even though she lives 3 hours away, anytime I need to talk I know I can call or send her an email and she will be there ready to help.

She is a friend, through and through…simply the best.

And although I am not there to celebrate her 25th birthday - which she may or may not have been nervously anticipating – I am so blessed to have a friend like her and so glad that today is her day.

Happy Birthday!

Splendid Saturday

Happy Saturday! Hope you’re all having a splendid morning! I’m on the train making my way to Vancouver to spend the weekend with some of my favorite people ever! It’s going to be a fun weekend!

I’ve been looking forward to this all week…well more accurately since I made the plans with Kim. I haven’t seen her since before Christmas, at our beach weekend getaway, and I’m so glad we were able to fit in a visit before our next big get together…”Titanic 3D!” Titanic is the traditional Christmas movie for Kim, Nat and I, so when we heard it was coming out in 3D we knew we had to go, and we are going all out, life-jackets will be part of our movie-going attire!

Anyway…

The train is one of my favorite ways to travel (aside from the time Nat and I got in trouble for talking too loudly), I can just sit back and read, listen to music, sleep, or blog :0). And the people watching/conversations you overhear can make the trip even more entertaining.

The standout from this trip (and I’ve only been on the train for an hour) has been the three kids, who sat right in front of me, who got on the wrong train. So here’s what happened, two teenagers – boyfriend and girlfriend – plus little brother boarded the train in Tacoma. As the conductor comes down the aisle to take our tickets he looks at theirs and says, “Tell me this is wrong and you’re not going to Spokane.” Turns out they were supposed to get on the bus leaving the station just a few minutes before the train left. So, the conductor got in touch with their parents and they made alternate plans to get to their original destination. I know I would have been more than a little upset if that had happened to me as a teenager. Poor kids, they’ve got a long day of travel ahead of them!

Hope Saturday is going more smoothly for you than it is for those 3 kids!

Monday One Day

Random title I know…today has felt like a very long day. Coming back from a long weekend with the girls and diving straight back to work I feel like I need a day to recover! At least with afternoon kindergarten I got to sleep in this morning a bit! School was good and it was nice to see so many smiling faces, they are all so excited about Christmas!

I had to get ready for a sub again today since I have a day long meeting at the district office tomorrow, not exactly thrilled about that but I’m sure it will be beneficial. I’m being observed on Thursday and am feeling nervous about that, it’ll be a reading lesson and I basically know what I’m going to do but it’s always nerve-wracking to have someone watch and critique you. I had to teach a lesson as part of my interview so it’s reassuring that I got the job! I may end up writing the story I’ll use to teach the lesson since I haven’t found anything I’m set on yet.

And I know I already said it in my last post but I really do have the best friends, a very sweet reminder of that came my way tonight and I just feel beyond blessed to have such dear friends. Love them.

Rivers and Roads

I am on my way home, sitting on the train listening to some Head and the Heart and Bon Iver after my weekend at the beach with the girls. I’m so tired but feel so blessed for the time we were able to spend together over the last few days. We realized that we have been friends for 6 years, it seems long and short a the same time. That’s as long as elementary school – minus kindergarten – crazy!

The weekend was completely wonderful, I love that although we only get together all three of us twice a year everything falls into place so quickly and it’s like we’re living together in the dorms again – the silliness and the ease of open, deep conversation.

It was such a fun weekend, and now we’re all headed back to our separate lives. In a way it’s sad but it also makes our friendship all the more beautiful that we are at such different places in our lives and yet we still are us.

On another note, my 25th birthday is Saturday. Which I am excited about, and over the last week I’ve been very reflective about life, not in like a depressing way, just thinking about where I am in life now and where I would like to be…which isn’t exactly what I mean, I’m not discontent with life now or where things are at, just that I’ve always seen myself as married with kids and that seems so far away now. I know it will all happen in God’s perfect timing, and I just need to trust, but sometimes it’s frustrating. I feel so ready for that chapter of life but I have no reason to think that’s where I’m headed next. I just need to have faith and trust where God is leading.

The topic of love, marriage, and men were a big focus for us over the weekend which was good for me to get some of this out instead of mulling it over in my own head.

It’s so good to have friends who love you and dream for you when you get stuck in your own reality. I am leaving this weekend feeling rejuvenated but tired, loved, and just so blessed to have the friends I do. Love you girls!

Thoughts on a Friday Morning

I am sitting at the train station, anxiously awaiting the weekend ahead where I will be reunited with my two bests from school. So excited! I’ve been counting down the days all week, I didn’t sleep well last night not sure if it was due to the excitement of today or something else. Anyway, just taking a few minutes to write and share some random thoughts.

I am totally obsessed with Pinterest if you haven’t checked it out you need to! So addicted! Love all the ideas on there – food, crafts, teaching, style, etc. I’ve tried several teaching ideas from the site but haven’t tried any recipes yet, that’s next on my list!

Another obsession, which isn’t so new is style blogs. After doing the 30 for 30 challenge last year that I found on Kendi’s page. I have found a list of other stylish ladies that I read on a regular basis: Rose ala Mode, Bex, Snappy Casual, Jill, and many others. I am always inspired by their creativity and how they put their outfits together. I’ve played with the idea of taking outfit photos to post along with regular blogs but don’t quite know if I’m up to it.

Today, is the first time my kindergartners will be with a sub. I’m a little nervous but I left good plans and the kids are sweet and should be okay! Just a little nerve wracking leaving them for the first time! And I’m leaving the pupster with the roommates for the weekend – hopefully she won’t be too crazy!

Well, I am sure I am running down my phone battery, and the train should be here in about 20 minutes! Eeeeep! :0)

Far and Near

So this past weekend I ventured down to Oregon to visit sister and then go apartment hunting. Friday I got to go to camp with her and hang out with her campers. It was a lot of fun I got to do some of he high elements up in the trees. So fun!

Saturday was apartment day, but things didn’t go so well. So here’s the short version of things: we were super late on the way to our first appointment, got very lost, then I go a parking ticket, we got lost again, drove around looking for parking for 20 minutes, and then things majorly fell apart…

We looked at one of sister’s friends apartments right off one of the busiest streets in downtown Portland, the exact opposite of where I pictured living. I told her this and she was not willing to compromise about the area sue wanted to live in so it came down to me deciding to give up what I want to live in Portland or to stick with my gut and say no. So I did.

And that brings me to this, I am officially not moving to Portland. Which was really a hard decision to come to but being in the city just didn’t feel right it didn’t feel like I fit there. And if I’m going to make a big life changing decision like that I want it to feel right.

It’s like when I was trying to decide what school I wanted to go to. I visited several schools and some felt okay, some not so great, but when I set foot on the campus that is now my alma mater I knew. It felt right, I knew that was where I was supposed to be. I’m not saying I need to have some magical happy feeling for every decision I make but in my gut I just knew it wasn’t the right choice for me.

So Saturday was rough and disappointing, and things with sister were filled with tension for the remainder of the weekend but things have definitely turned around for the next year.

I came home planning to find a place on my own nearby because I am done living in my little bedroom. So Dad and I drove around and even looked at a few places and we were feeling pretty good, we even found a great place and put my name on a waiting list.

The next day, I was meeting up with my fellow girl YL leaders for a little dinner and game night. They all wanted to know what was up with my life for next year, so I filled them in, and then Ashley suggested that I live with her and our mutual friend Laura. (Earlier this year, Ashley had mentioned that she and Laura had talked about living with me in case Portland didn’t work out.) Talk about a perfect opportunity! So I found myself two new roommates who also want a dog or maybe two. We are going to find a house together not too far from out hometown, and I am feeling so blessed about how things worked out. The girls had almost moved into a two bedroom place a few weeks ago but didn’t feel right about it, I’m totally feeling like this was a God thing and am so stinking excited about the adventure ahead!

Mini Vacation

I just got back from a wonderful mini vacation in Vancouver where I got to visit Kim and Tim and their families. Love those guys! We had a packed three days and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The Fourth of July was fun and we got to see some good fireworks – the boys were pretty proud of themselves for engineering a six shot mortar. Kim and I hit the outlets for some shopping and found some great deals. The deal of the day was J.Crew jeans for $15! Yes! We had lots of good food and conversation. I wish they still lived an hour away, but if I end up moving then we’ll be a lot closer!

My allergies have been going crazy over the past few weeks and they’ve intensified now that the weather has finally become more summer-like. We were over at a friend’s for a BBQ tonight and had to leave early because of my allergies. Gah! I hope they get better soon!

Anyway, here’s a little look at life lately…

Scrabble with Mom

Shrimp fajitas! Delicious!

View of the bridge from the train on the way home from Vancouver.

Just Great

Back from a long, unintended blogging break. And while not that much has changed aside from the fact that the school year will be coming to a close in 2 and a half weeks, I’m here to share news from my little corner of the world. This week has not been all that good. Okay, not totally true.

Last weekend was wonderful. Kim, Natalie and I had a little reunion over Memorial Day weekend. It was the first time we’d all hung out since February getting Kim ready to head down to Oregon for her dream job.  I love those girls. It’s like no time has passed when we’re together, minus the fact that now one of us has a husband, we are not in college anymore living next door to each other, and life seems to be more complicated.  Anyway, we had a weekend full of laughter and giggles, watching old videos from our college days and staying up way too late.  Miss them already.

School was actually pretty good this week, no major issues minus trying to catch up on the lack of sleep from an eventful weekend. My kids were great. They have Spring Fever and are so ready to be done. I’m right with them but have to keep them focused on school still, it’s been a little challenging, but we had lots of laughs this week.

Oh, and let me just add this little morsel of awkwardness. So last week, we had this open house thing where parents could come with their kids to see what they’ve been up to in class lately. I had about half my class come, anyway this very sweet little girl came with her dad. And after she’s showed him her work, etc. She looks at me and says, “My dad likes you.” And he goes “Well, she’s a great teacher!” And here’s the kicker, she responds, “Yeah, and he wants to ask you out!”

AHHH! I wanted to die, I think I just kinda awkwardly smiled and tried to brush it off, thankfully other parents and kids were in the room so I wasn’t stranded and then the little girl and her dad left. Well, I thought that was the end of that. Yesterday, she writes me this note:

“My Dad loves you. He’s been dreaming about you. He loves you.”

Ahhh!! I didn’t respond and now I’m desperately hoping he’s not going to try to ask me out after school ends. I need a pretend boyfriend, or a real one, and fast!

So embarrassing incident, number one…then, fast forward to this morning, wake up to a glorious day sun shining and the hopeful promise from the weatherman  today will be in the high 60s. I got ready for school and headed off to work, stopped and got a coffee, and headed towards the building.  Well, I was running just a tad late and right as I’m approaching the building those flashy signs that let you know when you need to slow down during school hours turned on, and I started to slow down…

Not fast enough. I got pulled over in the school parking lot, for speeding in a school zone, even though I was in the middle of slowing down.  Oh and wait it gets better, standing out front of school is a crowd of 5th and 6th graders hanging out.  And yes, they totally recognized me and watched the whole saga of me being ticketed unfold.

I was mortified, and not to mention now even later for work then I was before. AND, I have an almost $300 fine to pay because in case you didn’t know, speeding in a school zone is a double fine. yikes! I managed to hold it together until I got to my classroom, through calling Mom and then I called Dad and tears started falling.  We talked for a few minutes until I had to let my munchkins in and I managed to pull it together. But then later today, one of my students came up to me and said, “Were you upset you got pulled over?” I answered yes, to which she replied, “I thought so, it looked like you’d been crying when we came in this morning.” And she patted my shoulder and smiled at me. Kids somehow know when you need a little extra love, brightened my day.

And the kids were definitely talking about all the excitement I’d caused, I heard from several teachers who heard from students about my being pulled over.  In one way it was nice though.  The teacher whose classroom is next door came over and gave me a big hug and told mer her own school zone ticket story, so thanks 6th graders for spreading the word. Gah, I made it through the day in one piece, and managed to drive home and to Tacoma without having any more interactions with the police.

I’m really hoping tomorrow will be better, and I can stop feeling so stupid.

Blast From the Past

Alright, so we just got home from the wedding reception, which overall was a good experience. I’m glad I went, and here are a few highlights from the evening…

We walk in and who do I immediately come face-to-face with, but my ex-boyfriend, scratch that first serious boyfriend ever. Ummm…super awkward. I think our entire interaction went something like this -

me – “hi”

him – “hi”

me – “how are you?”

him – “Good”

So you know overall, the way you want every conversation with an ex-boyfriend to go. Well, at least I looked hot while having said conversation! :0)

Michelle came, and brought the kids. Kelsey and I spent the majority of the evening dancing together, which was a blast. But also a little awkward because she kept on picking places to dance in front of the mentioned ex-boyfriend and another high school friend, who sorta always had a crush on me. I just smiled, ignored them, and we bopped around the dance floor.

(Although, it did occur to me that some of those people I haven’t seen in years may have thought Kelsey was mine…oh well!)

At the end of the evening, I went to say hello to a few of the people I was fairly close with in high school but haven’t really kept in contact with since. And it was good, it was nice to say hi despite the initial awkwardness of it. Interestingly, most of us are all living here in town. Small world.

During that time, the bride, my high school best friend, came over to catch up. It was really good to talk to her and catch up. We haven’t really talked aside from Facebook and there were some not so friendly exchanges that took place. But whatever animosity there had been was totally-gone tonight. It was just nice to be there for an old friend, and hear that life is going well for her and wish her congratulations.

So, I guess that’s that. Now, I’m off to go find a little late-night snack!

Loss For Words

Okay, so the title doesn’t really fit this post because I have plenty of words to say, just none that can be squished down into an amusing or witty title.  And that’s the story of how this post got its name, fascinating I know. 

It’s been a few days (better than going a few months!) and lots has been going on in my world. So, let’s break it down…

Fatty (aka Beth) reunion!  On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to get to spend the day with my best friend of 23 years. Yes, 23.  We have been friends since before I can remember owing to the fact that our dads our like glued to the hip. She’s been going to grad school in Boston and the last time I saw her was Christmas break. I love her and definitely do not get to spend enough time with her. It was a simple day of lunch, coffee at my most favorite shop ever, pedicures and cupcake baking. We’re going camping with her fam in a couple weeks and I’m so looking forward to getting to hang with her more!

Job News - While over at Beth’s place, I checked my email and happened to get word that I had not been selected to interview for any of the remaining positions I had applied to. I managed to keep it together while I was over, but inside it kept constantly picking at me. Last summer I got an interview for almost every job I applied to, when I was a new teacher and had zero experience. And now, things are not looking good for the coming school year.  So, that means more subbing for me and a possible return to Starbucks.

I’m trying to stay positive and not lose sight of the fact that something could still open up in August, but not to  put all my eggs in one basket.  I’m not going to lie I feel like it would be a little humiliating to come back as a sub next year…but I’m trusting Him.  Trusting Him to provide the right job, at the right time, at the right school.  Who knows? Subbing could be really beneficial this year, and maybe I would be able to do some other stuff like a little traveling. No matter what happens I know that He is in control of my life.

Baby Visit! Today, Mom and I went to visit one of the 3rd grade teachers from SG who had a baby two weeks ago. Little Reece! She’s sooooo sweet, and I got to hold her for a majority of the visit. She fell asleep in my arms, ahhh I can’t wait! (Not that I’m ANYWHERE close) Hopefully I’ll get to babysit!

House sitting Hijinx – Over the next three weeks or so I will be house- and dog-sitting for two different people. It all starts Monday, where I’ll be off to take care of puppies and my college roommates’ parents’ house. (yes it’s a mouthful) They don’t exactly live close, so it will kinda be a mini-retreat, hanging out and just having some good me time. I’m trying to come up with some fun things to do while I’m there but I haven’t come up with a very compelling list.

Tomorrow – Okay, so I am super excited for tomorrow night because….get ready for it, and full disclosure, I am a total dork for this, but I’m going to see “Eclipse”!! Yes, I am a Twilight fan.  Last summer, all the girls in my Bible study group made our way through the books, and each week we would sit around the kitchen table before diving into the Bible, and discuss the newest development, or those of us who were ahead of the group would sit back and giggle at predictions made by others. Based on our mutual love of the story, we enjoy going to see the movies together.  It’s such a giggly, girly thing to do and don’t worry we fully discuss the movies after viewing and embrace the dorkiness of doing so.  Tomorrow night is the night, and in spite of the reviews and teasing I am so excited to see it!

Fourth of July Sunday is the 4th, which is one of my most favorite holidays ever. We’re going over to a friends’ house which happens to be right on the lake. We were there last year, and it was gorgeous, I spent the majority of the day floating on the lake working on my tan, or on the boat. Here’s hoping for nice weather and a repeat of last year!

see, lots of words to say and not all of them that fantastic, but hey it’s my blog! :0)