Smile

a few little things that are making me smile

and providing inspiration today

 

and have you seen this,

make me smile and tear up all at the same time

amazing

Wonderful

just a little thought for the weekend,

in case your week has been anything like mine

and you need a reminder that there are wonderful things waiting for you

happy weekending :0)

Report Card Season

I’ve been MIA the past week, due to report cards at school.  It seems like when that time of year rolls around, things just get crazy! For every category on the report card there’s a test that I have to give my kids, it’s exhausting for them and for me.  It has been a very long week full of math and reading testing, but today will hopefully be the last day! Hallelujah! And after all this testing and since St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow, we’re going to do a few fun little activities with Lucky Charms today!

In other new, I feel like I’ve been a little boy crazy in the last month in my posts. Sorry! Not meaning to be, just something that’s been on my mind, and so it comes out here. :0)

I had an interview for another part-time position on Tuesday (when it snowed!).  They only interviewed me and one other candidate, but I haven’t heard anything yet, so I’m thinking that they decided to go with the other person.  Which is okay, disappointing but okay.  The principal at my current school also offered me an additional part-time job, as a small group tutor essentially.  So, however it works out I’ll have more work which is such a Godsend!

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday

Things that have been on my mind today, and lately…

• Who decided that it’s okay to build rooms without windows? Sure I get that dungeons, and basements probably are windowless, but an above-ground room without windows? Really? YUCK – and I was stuck in one all day in a meeting, I was desperate for a peak at the outside world, especially since I woke up to a winter wonderland! At least the sun was shining when I finally could escape the horrible windowless room!

• I need more creative blog titles…

• I checked out a new church on Sunday night, and really enjoyed it.  It wasn’t a typical service, since they were having a little mini concert with this gospel duo, but the worship before was awesome and I definitely want to go back.  I didn’t really meet any people, so next time maybe I’ll try to be a little more adventurous.

•  Being sick is no fun, which is nothing new but I’m really wishing this cold would go away already – it’s a beautiful and sunny outside and if I was feeling better I’d go for a run with the pup!

• I have fallen back in love with Pandora, I used to listen to it all the time, and for some reason stopped, it is my new old favorite

• I know I already gave them a shout-out yesterday, but I just have to say I have the best friends in Kim and Tim.  They are amazing and I am so blessed to have them in my life.

• It feels like I live alone, my roommates are never home.

• At this meeting – which has basically been a monthly thing for kindergarten teachers – there’s this kindergarten teacher from the school I worked at last year who every time I see her mentions that she has a son my age, and asks if I’m interested, I always laugh it off not knowing if she’s serious or just being silly, so I see her first thing this morning and she says, “So have you thought anymore about my son?” I just giggled nervously, as is pretty commonplace for me, yes I can be shy at times, but I sorta wish I had said yes, I’ve never met this guy and I’m pretty sure he lives in Portland, and who knows how a date would ever come about, but hey you never know, so I’m sort of hoping she’ll  bring it up the next time I see her sometime in April probably, and I even briefly thought about emailing her but quickly changed my mind, that seems a little too forward, so I think I’ll just have to wait and see if she brings it up again!

• I saw this at http://laviepetite.blogspot.com/ and thought it was a great thought for the day, and life in general :0)

Up and Down

Today has been crazy. And I’m feeling a little silly, so I’m going to break the ups and downs of today into a playlist of sorts (there are links to each song)…so here’s my Wednesday…

• “Let It Snow” - This morning when the pup and I left on our run, it was snowing and very windy. But we ventured out nonetheless.  It was a cold but invigorating run, and about halfway through the snow stopped.
• “Flight of the Bumblebee” - Later in the morning, while I was getting ready to head for work, I let the dog out into the backyard, and she ran out to chase a squirrel.  Well, she caught it and then it escaped, and then I chased the dog, chasing the squirrel.
• “ABC” - Kindergarten…great day in kindergarten.  Full of reading testing, writing thank you letters to the Kiwanis club,  and learning how to solve problems using Kelso skills.  Favorite kindergarten quote of the day, “I know this letter, it’s S, I always know it, it’s just is stuck in my brain all the time.”
• “It Never Entered My Mind” – I came home from school to find that my roommates would once again be out of the house for the evening (fifth night in a row).  I always thought that if I lived with people, we’d actually be at the house together, that’s how it was when I had roommates in college, and maybe having roommates post-college is different. But I may as well be living on my own, it’s frustrating and also disappointing, but mostly lonely.  (Also, this is one of my favorite jazz songs ever, love Miles Davis)
• “Blindsided” – It’s payday today, which should be a happy day, and it started out that way a little like this “Just Got Paid” but after paying rent, utilities, student loans, cell phone, and other assorted bills I realized that once again I will have to dip into my savings account to make ends meet this month, even with the added cushion I gave myself with my tax refund.  Definitely felt blindsided.  I’m not going to lie, I got a little over emotional about it.  For the past two years I’ve had plenty of money, and was able to spend it however I wanted while still paying bills, and putting money into savings, now I’m scraping by and it’s been tough. I’m not destitute and I am blessed to have a job and a roof over my head, I know there are people in a tighter fix than me, but I feel like I’m scrambling and it’s not a pleasant feeling.  I feel like I’m back in college living on a very structured budget with very little if any room to spend money for fun or savings.  I’m going to try to set up a much more organized and strict outline of how and where my money gets spent so I can start putting more into my savings account. And for this coffee fiend, that means so long Starbucks, but that’s okay, I’ll do what I need to do.
• “How I Met Your Mother” – So after all of that, I decided to come home and watch a little of my newest favorite TV show. It has helped to lift my spirits and make me laugh, like this sage advice from one Barney Stinson.

Tomorrow is a new day and I’m hoping there will be more ups than downs!

Highlights of 2011

The year is winding down and with only 2 more days left of December and 2011, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on some of the best things about this past year. Overall it was a good year, but definitely one I am glad to have ending, I’m hoping for big things in my 25th year and 2012, so without much further ado here are my 11 greatest hits of 2011 (in no particular order):

1. Getting a Job (October 2011) For the third year in a row I wasn’t sure if I would get a teaching contract again and just when I thought I was destined for a year of subbing, God swept in with a job. A job I have so far loved, teaching kindergarten with two wonderful women who have been beyond helpful, encouraging, and kind. So thankful to be teaching where I am, and with wonderful teaching partners and a very sweet group of kids.
2. Pixie Cut (January – September 2011) Okay, so this may seem strange to make the list but this is by far the most daring thing I have ever done when it comes to personal style. It was a total whim that I decided to chop off my longer than shoulder length hair into a pixie. After totally shocking my family and friends with my new look I grew to love it but it totally took some getting used to! I’m currently growing my hair out again – a pixie cut is too cold in the winter – maybe the pixie will make a comeback next spring!
3. Beth’s Wedding (June – September 2011) I was so honored to be a part of my friend Beth’s wedding this past September and while being a part of the wedding party and taking part in wedding weekend and the ceremony was unbelievable and amazing, I had sooo much fun planning and preparing for the wedding with Beth this summer. I helped with everything from wedding invitations to creating center pieces, and my personal favorite giving the bride, groom, and father of the bride dance lessons. I really think I would enjoy being a wedding planner if I had any idea about how to run a business! I miss the days of wedding prep with Beth and having her only an hour away instead of halfway (okay maybe not that far) in Texas.
4. Moving Out (September 2011) After much heartache, drama, etc. I finally moved out of my childhood bedroom and into a house with two friends. While living without my parents has been nice I do miss seeing them and as much as I thought I was done with it, I do miss my hometown – not all of it, just parts – but I am totally a small town girl at heart and even though I now live in a quiet suburb of a medium-sized city I think small town life is really what is ideal for me.
5. Turd Ferguson and Fundue Reunions (January – December 2011) I think this year I have been blessed to be able to get together with my two best friends from college more than any other year. The three of us were only all together maybe 3 times but I was able to see them individually a handful more than that! Although we are once again living spread apart it has been really fun to visit with them and hear about their lives in their new cities, here’s hoping 2012 will see even more reunions with these two lovely ladies!
6. Kanga (September 2011) With moving out of my parents house I was finally able to get a puppy of my own to love. The little spitfire I brought home from the Humane Society is not the dog I thought I was getting, but she has been an awesome addition to life. In fact, I am watching her wrestle Mom and Dad’s chocolate lab, Tucker, as I type this, he may be twice her size and three times her weight but she puts up a pretty good fight!
7. Travel (January – December 2011) I was quite the traveler, although I didn’t venture anywhere that far or exotic I traveled to Boston, Vancouver, Winthrop, Seattle, Portland, Olympia. Each trip was centered around spending time with friends or family and I think that’s what made it seem like a memorable year of travel.
8. Paying Off My Car (June 2011) No real explanation needed here, but yay! I own my car!
9. New Camera (April 2011) I got a new camera right before my trip to Boston last spring and I have been teaching myself to become a better photographer. I’ve really enjoyed going on little photowalks and exploring in the backyard.
10. Getting to Teach at the School Where I Had My First Classroom (September – December 2011) I didn’t think I would get to come back to teach at the school where I had my very first classroom and through being able to sub part-time I got the opportunity to go back for the first half of the school year. It was wonderful to come back to the school I call home.
11. Confidence (January – December 2011) Although this year was filled with ups and downs (and lots of those), I can say whole-heartedly that I am leaving 2011 more confident and self-assured than when the year began. I know a little bit more about who I am and I know a big part of that was the chaos and upsets of 2011. I feel confident in what I do and how I do it. I take more risks than I used to especially when it comes to fashion and style! (Pinterest and style blogs have been a big contributor to that avenue of life.) I feel like I really know who I am, that I am grateful for the events, people and God who have shaped me into the person I am.

25 and Ready to Thrive

It’s official, I am a quarter of a century old! Weird! My birthday was Saturday and it was a nice low-key day. I feel like this is going to be a big year for me, I don’t totally know why but just something makes me feel like big things are coming my way…good things I hope! 24 was just an okay year and I’m really excited about the year ahead!

Tomorrow is my last day of school before break. It’ll be a little bit of a crazy day between getting 23 Christmas present wrapped and addressed. I am very ready to be done and breathe, and get caught up on everything and spend time with Mom and Dad. I miss seeing them as often as I used to.

Anyway, I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open :0) night!

Contemplation

Friday evening, and I’m home. Sitting in front of the computer. Not exactly my idea of a fabulous Friday night. Lately, I’ve had a lot on my mind with, well everything.

Work’s fine, okay let me rephrase, my kids are wonderful. The building I’m working in is not my ideal, I don’t want to go into detail but there have been some things that happened that would never happen at my old school. Just ridiculous crap. I guess in a way I’m homesick for that building, and that staff, the attitude over there. I mean whose to say that I wouldn’t have issues there, and maybe I’m romanticizing last year, but I’m glad the year seems to be going by quickly.

Honestly, I adore my 2nd graders. They are so sweet, they make me drawings and posters that build me up and make me feel like I am doing something right, at least in their eyes. I can hardly do anything without one of them running up and hugging me. That’s a joy about going to work everyday, making them smile and the way they do things in return to brighten my day…dealing with everything else, not so much.

With all the work drama and stress, there’s been some issues with YL over the past couple of weeks too. A new member of our YL team has instituted some new requirements of what makes a good leader and according to him I’m not doing my job right. And really, that’s what it feels like right now, a job. I’m constantly being evaluated on my performance. There are more meetings to attend, more expectations, that just build into all this pressure. And at the core of it, not all of the stuff is bad, the way it’s being presented and outlined is.  Making it out that we’ll be “fired” if we don’t measure up. I’m really trying to just push past it and be there for my girls, not worry about these regulations.It’s really in God’s hands. I know I’m there for my girls, and any kids, they know I’m there and I love them to pieces, that’s all that matters.

I guess, I just kinda feel stuck in general. Like I’m not growing, which I know isn’t true. But I’m living in my hometown, in my childhood bedroom, I don’t have any friends within 30 miles, and I just want so much more – okay, total dork I am instantly reminded me of a Disney movie typing the end of that, I won’t say which one.

I’ve been playing with the idea of moving, and not just out of the parent’s house but farther away, a whole new city, maybe a whole new state. It wouldn’t be until the end of the school year and I’m not even sure if it’s the right thing, but I’ve been thinking about it and trying to pray about it. It would force me out of my comfort zone, for sure.  I’m intrigued and nervous about it at the same time, like first date nerves. Good but still a little scary. I don’t know, it’s just a thought for now.

Confession – My quiet times have been few and far between lately. Tomorrow I’m hoping to go have some good God time, and really soak up his word and pray. I know I need it.

Confession 2 – Because I feel like this is a really melancholy post (I love that word, melancholy) and I hate sad endings. I am sorta crushing on this guy I used to work with at Starbucks. Sorta, and maybe it’s just because he’s always happy to see me and he makes me smile. Don’t think anything will ever come of it, or if he even feels close to anything but friendship for me; still, it’s fun to flirt a little. :0)