2012 wasn't a horrible year, but it wasn't the best year either. There are parts of this year that I will look back on forever. Dates from 2012 that will be with me until the day I die. There are other days that I will do my best to forget. Here are a few moments of 2012, both the good and the bad!
January
We started talking about renting a house from some friends. After thinking we would take it we got a very solid, "NO" while praying about it. I was devastated, frustrated, and I felt like we may have let our friends down. God is always right! Our friends sold their house just weeks later and months later we realized God had a much different plan for our living situation.
Tim started indoor. A time that I loved and loathed. I loved spending time with the kids and helping out. I loathed the late hours that it brought and the feeling of never seeing my hubs. Practice, practice, practice!
February
I don't really remember much about February! It must have been a boring month! I'll note here that I was super glad last winter was a mild one because we were in portables at school. They were cold and I had to buy an electric blanket to keep me warm!
March
Indoor was wrapping up! We took the HS kids on an overnight trip to Tim's hometown. They did two competitions and it was a blast! We got to see some of Tim's friends from back home while there as well. Very great weekend! Oh, and my KENTUCKY WILDCATS WON THEIR 8th NATIONAL TITLE!!! GO BIG BLUE!!!
April
I remember April being a rough month at school. Just a lot of junk going on. It seemed there was always a lot of junk going on at school. We had a week off in April. We didn't go anywhere fancy, just relaxed! Tim's new job was going great and we were starting to toy with the idea of moving. Our best friends also had big news! They were expecting!!!
May
Shortest school year ever!! State testing was rough! New standards, new assessment. Stressful! But, with only one snow day and an early release due to tornado's, we were out of school EARLY! Tim's sister also announced that she was pregnant! We were going to be Aunt Rissa and Uncle Tim! The end of May would be the month that I called our realtor and told her we were going to move forward in June!
June
House hunting!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!! We are going to buy a house! We began our search and we found our home the first day out. Someone already had an offer in, but it didn't work out and we snatched the house up just a few short days into June! June is a whirlwind of financial documents, signing, packing, signing, oh, did I say signing! But, we did it and in July...
July
WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!! We closed on July 3rd and moved on July 4th! Happy Independence Day!!! We had amazing friends that helped us!!! July was a month of moving, settling, and resting! June wore us out! Then, band started back! Goodbye Tim! Did I mention that I taught summer school in June?
August
Marching band...I have nothing else, just marching band. All day, everyday, practice, football, practice, football! Oh, Tim turned 27!
September
The start of my favorite time of the year. My uncle passed in early September, some crazy changes took place at school, and I celebrated my 28th birthday. Seriously, 28? When did that happen! Band continues on!
October
Feels like yesterday! We handed out candy at our new home! It was cold and rainy! YUCK! Work was feeling much better and I love my team! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Silas! Marching band ended. Both a happy and sad time!
November
SILAS IS HERE!! Love that sweet little boy! I wasn't prepared for how much my life would change by our friends having a baby. I love him and hope that he will call me Aunt Rissa even though I'm not his real aunt. My dad's company closed down making this November a hard one. He's such a hard worker and it has really been hard for me to see him out of work. Thanksgiving was nice and my favorite time of the year continues on. I love holidays!
December
It's December? Where did 2012 go? We welcomed our sweet Kaylee Rae on the 6th which was also MaMaw Kay's birthday! Happy birthday Mary Kay! I love being an aunt. I love to snuggle with sweet Kaylee! We had a different Christmas, but it was an amazing Christmas. Decorating the new house was a blast! I can't believe we've been here 6 months! Today we will bring in the New Year with a few of our friends and pray that 2013 will be better than ever!
So there you go! Highlights of 2012. There are things that I missed, like two visits from two friends from college that were lovely! But I can't remember exactly when all those took place. :-) 2012 has been a balanced year of ups and downs and I am hopeful that 2013 will be the best year ever!
*If you actually stuck through this entire post you deserve a prize!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Happy Holidays!
If my mother saw the title of this post she would be upset. She doesn't like "Happy Holidays". But, this post isn't just about Christmas. This post is about the holidays.
This has been one of the weirdest holiday seasons that I have experienced in a while, yet it has been one of the best holiday seasons. Right before Thanksgiving my dad lost his job. My dad is one of the hardest working men I know. It's been hard for me to see him out of work. It's been hard to see him not find a job after a month. It's hard to see my parents struggle. Due to this struggle I had a talk with mom about Christmas. She tends to go over the top in the gift department. I mean, way over the top. It's silly really. But, she does it every year. I had to have the "It isn't about gifts" talk with my mom. Because it isn't.
I've thought about that so much this year. Especially when I know that so many around me don't have gifts. Like kids at my school. It's just been on my mind a lot. I had a hard time making a list. I put door mats on my list. Yep, door mats. Maybe it's a sign of being old. Maybe it's a sign of home ownership. Maybe it's a sign of me realizing that Christmas is about so much more than gifts.
I hope it's the last!
I've never been one to focus on gifts. Sure, I love them. Honestly, I enjoy giving them more. This year was just different. I thought so much more about what the holiday season is all about. The obvious answer is Jesus. But, it's honestly about more than just Him.
It's about stopping. Resting. Reflecting. It's about family. It's about new nieces and nephews. It's about friends. It's about putting all idevices away. It's about helping your dad with his resume. It's about your mom making your recipe for cheese ball and asking you if she did it right. It's about making your Nana's cookies and holding your breath while she gives her approval. It's about watching your brother live his dream on stage. It's about gathering around your Nana's nursing home bed and laughing until you cry as she tells you how she hid a nurse in her closet in order to scare a new nurse on his first day. It's about best friends telling you they are expecting. It's about kittens almost knocking down your tree for the ten millionth time. It's about your mother and father in law becoming grandparents and watching them glow. It's about standing in your living room looking at your blessings. It's about your hubs taking care of you after he shared his germs with you. It's about standing in front of a window and watching it snow. It's about so much more than gifts and bows.
I think Jesus wants us to remember Him at Christmas, but I have been feeling him tell me time and time again to just take it all in. To stop. To rest. To reflect. To just take life in one day at time.
This holiday season has been one of the best in a while because I've tried to do just that. Although life is hard, although it doesn't seem fair, although I don't have answers, I've never felt closer to my family and friends and I love that feeling!
This has been one of the weirdest holiday seasons that I have experienced in a while, yet it has been one of the best holiday seasons. Right before Thanksgiving my dad lost his job. My dad is one of the hardest working men I know. It's been hard for me to see him out of work. It's been hard to see him not find a job after a month. It's hard to see my parents struggle. Due to this struggle I had a talk with mom about Christmas. She tends to go over the top in the gift department. I mean, way over the top. It's silly really. But, she does it every year. I had to have the "It isn't about gifts" talk with my mom. Because it isn't.
I've thought about that so much this year. Especially when I know that so many around me don't have gifts. Like kids at my school. It's just been on my mind a lot. I had a hard time making a list. I put door mats on my list. Yep, door mats. Maybe it's a sign of being old. Maybe it's a sign of home ownership. Maybe it's a sign of me realizing that Christmas is about so much more than gifts.
I hope it's the last!
I've never been one to focus on gifts. Sure, I love them. Honestly, I enjoy giving them more. This year was just different. I thought so much more about what the holiday season is all about. The obvious answer is Jesus. But, it's honestly about more than just Him.
It's about stopping. Resting. Reflecting. It's about family. It's about new nieces and nephews. It's about friends. It's about putting all idevices away. It's about helping your dad with his resume. It's about your mom making your recipe for cheese ball and asking you if she did it right. It's about making your Nana's cookies and holding your breath while she gives her approval. It's about watching your brother live his dream on stage. It's about gathering around your Nana's nursing home bed and laughing until you cry as she tells you how she hid a nurse in her closet in order to scare a new nurse on his first day. It's about best friends telling you they are expecting. It's about kittens almost knocking down your tree for the ten millionth time. It's about your mother and father in law becoming grandparents and watching them glow. It's about standing in your living room looking at your blessings. It's about your hubs taking care of you after he shared his germs with you. It's about standing in front of a window and watching it snow. It's about so much more than gifts and bows.
I think Jesus wants us to remember Him at Christmas, but I have been feeling him tell me time and time again to just take it all in. To stop. To rest. To reflect. To just take life in one day at time.
This holiday season has been one of the best in a while because I've tried to do just that. Although life is hard, although it doesn't seem fair, although I don't have answers, I've never felt closer to my family and friends and I love that feeling!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
My niece
I got to snuggle with my beautiful niece for hours today. There really isn't much that is better in life than snuggling a newborn. Especially when you can hand them back to their mommy and daddy the second they begin to cry. (Sorry mom and dad! Aunt Rissa just can't fix everything, although she will try!) She was laying in my arms, napping and dreaming, and she was grinning a big grin. I can only imagine that she was dreaming about mommy and aunt Rissa taking her shopping for frilly things like princess gowns and tiarra's. I love my niece and I love being Aunt Rissa.
Introducing my niece, Kaylee!
Introducing my niece, Kaylee!
Seriously, how can you not love that face? I could stare at her all day long. Just beautiful!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Snowflakes
I've started a million posts to put into words the way I feel.
I know a million people have commented on the events at Sandy Hook. I know everyone has said the same things over and over again. I know I can't say anything that anyone else hasn't already said, but I just can't let it go.
I didn't hear about the event until school was over. Our building is under construction and we don't have cable TV right now. We also wouldn't want to broadcast that information to elementary aged children. They just don't understand. Upon hearing the news I just kept thinking about how sad it was.
Once I arrived home I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I watched very little of the coverage because I was honestly very disturbed by the news asking those poor babies to recount what they "saw and heard". They are babies!! I know the parents gave them permission to ask them the questions, but I just felt that it was wrong to ask those poor children to relive that horrible event. An event that robbed them of their feeling of safety. So, I turned it off and prayed and cried.
I just kept thinking, "What if that were my babies faces on the news? What if I had been that teacher? Would I have been able to hide my kids? Would I have been that quick to think? Could I have saved my babies lives?" Then, I prayed some more.
I can't imagine how this event will change the lives of the Sandy Hook community. I can't imagine how it will change my life as a teacher. I can't imagine how these poor teachers and children and moms and dads and brothers and sisters and friends will ever move on.
My kids have been begging to make cards for the kids at Sandy Hook. So yesterday, as part of our "Holiday Party" my kids decided to make snowflakes. They so willing gave up of their time to make the typical school treats for themselves in order to fill the halls of Sandy Hook with beautiful snowflakes. In all we made close to 200 snowflakes. They cut and I cried. One little boy asked me if I thought the snowflakes would make them happy again. Although I don't think they will fix the broken hearts, I do think that walking into their "new" school will be a bit easier when they see the halls filled with beautiful snowflakes that represent a nation who is praying for peace in their lives.
So, here's to Sandy Hook! May the Lord bring peace to your lives and hearts!
I know a million people have commented on the events at Sandy Hook. I know everyone has said the same things over and over again. I know I can't say anything that anyone else hasn't already said, but I just can't let it go.
I didn't hear about the event until school was over. Our building is under construction and we don't have cable TV right now. We also wouldn't want to broadcast that information to elementary aged children. They just don't understand. Upon hearing the news I just kept thinking about how sad it was.
Once I arrived home I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I watched very little of the coverage because I was honestly very disturbed by the news asking those poor babies to recount what they "saw and heard". They are babies!! I know the parents gave them permission to ask them the questions, but I just felt that it was wrong to ask those poor children to relive that horrible event. An event that robbed them of their feeling of safety. So, I turned it off and prayed and cried.
I just kept thinking, "What if that were my babies faces on the news? What if I had been that teacher? Would I have been able to hide my kids? Would I have been that quick to think? Could I have saved my babies lives?" Then, I prayed some more.
I can't imagine how this event will change the lives of the Sandy Hook community. I can't imagine how it will change my life as a teacher. I can't imagine how these poor teachers and children and moms and dads and brothers and sisters and friends will ever move on.
My kids have been begging to make cards for the kids at Sandy Hook. So yesterday, as part of our "Holiday Party" my kids decided to make snowflakes. They so willing gave up of their time to make the typical school treats for themselves in order to fill the halls of Sandy Hook with beautiful snowflakes. In all we made close to 200 snowflakes. They cut and I cried. One little boy asked me if I thought the snowflakes would make them happy again. Although I don't think they will fix the broken hearts, I do think that walking into their "new" school will be a bit easier when they see the halls filled with beautiful snowflakes that represent a nation who is praying for peace in their lives.
So, here's to Sandy Hook! May the Lord bring peace to your lives and hearts!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Old Fashion
There are a few things in life that I am really old fashion about. One being Christmas Cards.
I LOVE Christmas cards! I love sending them and I love getting them. I love to see peoples names signed at the bottom. I especially love when the person took time to write a message, even if it is only Merry Christmas.
While making my cards this year I realized that my address book is very out of date. I got my address book when I got married, and in the past 3 1/2 years many of my friends have transitioned into married life which often means moving to a new home. Needless to say, half my book is marked through and redone on the next page. It's what I like to call a "Hot Mess".
I looked for a new address book but was highly disappointed. They don't make cute address books anymore! Why? Because writing letters and sending cards is a lost art! People don't send cards like they use to! No one writes letters! Quite frankly, it's sad!
I was sharing this thought with a friend of mine and she informed me that I was an old lady. Then she added, "We're so sad! In my day, you had address books." We laughed, but it's true! Kids growing up now think an address book is only in e-mail or on your iPhone! What is the world coming to!
My hubs things technology is taking over the world. (His actual thoughts on this are much deeper and would require a much longer post that I could not do justice.) Although I think he is a bit extreme at times, I do think he is right. It is sad that people don't write letters, and send cards, and TALK IN PERSON anymore! It's sad that I don't keep a journal but have a blog!
Call me old fashion, but I'm sending my Christmas Cards anyway!
I LOVE Christmas cards! I love sending them and I love getting them. I love to see peoples names signed at the bottom. I especially love when the person took time to write a message, even if it is only Merry Christmas.
While making my cards this year I realized that my address book is very out of date. I got my address book when I got married, and in the past 3 1/2 years many of my friends have transitioned into married life which often means moving to a new home. Needless to say, half my book is marked through and redone on the next page. It's what I like to call a "Hot Mess".
I looked for a new address book but was highly disappointed. They don't make cute address books anymore! Why? Because writing letters and sending cards is a lost art! People don't send cards like they use to! No one writes letters! Quite frankly, it's sad!
I was sharing this thought with a friend of mine and she informed me that I was an old lady. Then she added, "We're so sad! In my day, you had address books." We laughed, but it's true! Kids growing up now think an address book is only in e-mail or on your iPhone! What is the world coming to!
My hubs things technology is taking over the world. (His actual thoughts on this are much deeper and would require a much longer post that I could not do justice.) Although I think he is a bit extreme at times, I do think he is right. It is sad that people don't write letters, and send cards, and TALK IN PERSON anymore! It's sad that I don't keep a journal but have a blog!
Call me old fashion, but I'm sending my Christmas Cards anyway!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Go Big Blue
Last Friday night was the season opener for the boys in blue. Let's just get it out now...they were scrappy! They are not looking like the champions from March! But, this fan will hang in there until the end and pray that they improve...mostly because my voice can't handle a season of last Friday night!
Thing thing that was most amazing was the surprise performance from Polson! Polson graduated from West Jessamine High School (Where hubs works) two years ago. His dad owns the place where we get our oil changed. He went to UK as a walk on and expected "no" real playing time, but last Friday night he shocked out socks off!
The boys got off to a rough start. We had a player with flu like symptoms, and they just weren't communicating anything! So coach Cal did what any coach would do...he put Polson in.
I almost died!
Polson? really? POLSON?
Wait! What's that? Polson is leading the team? Polson stole the ball? Polson is calling the shots? Polson just rebounded the ball? Polson has been in most of the first half? WHAT?
He played the game of his life!
Hubs and I always joke about "putting Polson in" when the the cats are down, but tonight Polson is starting in the game against Duke! I know I've never met the kid, but I can't help but be "hometown proud"!
So here's to a hopeful win! Here's to a less scrappy team! Here's to my boys in blue!
Thing thing that was most amazing was the surprise performance from Polson! Polson graduated from West Jessamine High School (Where hubs works) two years ago. His dad owns the place where we get our oil changed. He went to UK as a walk on and expected "no" real playing time, but last Friday night he shocked out socks off!
The boys got off to a rough start. We had a player with flu like symptoms, and they just weren't communicating anything! So coach Cal did what any coach would do...he put Polson in.
I almost died!
Polson? really? POLSON?
Wait! What's that? Polson is leading the team? Polson stole the ball? Polson is calling the shots? Polson just rebounded the ball? Polson has been in most of the first half? WHAT?
He played the game of his life!
Hubs and I always joke about "putting Polson in" when the the cats are down, but tonight Polson is starting in the game against Duke! I know I've never met the kid, but I can't help but be "hometown proud"!
So here's to a hopeful win! Here's to a less scrappy team! Here's to my boys in blue!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Life
Over the last few weeks we have been anxiously awaiting the birth of our first "nephew". I say "nephew" because he isn't really our nephew, he's our best friends baby. Regardless, we will be aunt Rissa and uncle Twix.
His parents are two of our best friends on this Earth and really the first people that Tim and I have been super close to as they welcome a new life. It's been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have so loved watching my friends become parents. I have felt so close to baby, even though he isn't mine. When I watched him snuggle with his parents just minutes after he was born I couldn't help feeling like he was part of my family. As I left him at the hospital with his mom and dad I missed him. Tonight as I snuggled him for hours I loved him. There's something magical about becoming an aunt! I get to do it "for real" in Dec. when Tim's sister has her little gal!
So, what does this mean about me and hubs having our own...someday, but not today! Right now I'm happy loving on all the nieces and nephews!
His parents are two of our best friends on this Earth and really the first people that Tim and I have been super close to as they welcome a new life. It's been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have so loved watching my friends become parents. I have felt so close to baby, even though he isn't mine. When I watched him snuggle with his parents just minutes after he was born I couldn't help feeling like he was part of my family. As I left him at the hospital with his mom and dad I missed him. Tonight as I snuggled him for hours I loved him. There's something magical about becoming an aunt! I get to do it "for real" in Dec. when Tim's sister has her little gal!
So, what does this mean about me and hubs having our own...someday, but not today! Right now I'm happy loving on all the nieces and nephews!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Company
In one week from today the world better watch out because I get to have lunch with one of my greatest friends of all time. Seriously, the two of us being together may cause catastrophic things to happen.
Heater and I have been friends since her Freshman year of college. You see, she was lucky enough to be placed into my upper class-men suite. Although, I will have to admit that I was quite aggravated when I found out there was going to be a FRESHMAN in my upper class-men suite. So, my suite mates and I devised a plan to run said freshman off. Because that's what you do! Sadly, we didn't follow through with our plan because we actually liked our freshman suite mate. She was quirky, and sarcastic, funny, she loved FRIENDS and she put up with us (especially our love for Kentucky Basketball even though she grew up in *GASP* Tennessee). Thus began our beautiful friendship.
Seriously, we've become the best of friends. Not many people get me the way Heater does. I can tell her anything. I call her when I have any problem. In fact, I called her this week because I was spiraling out of control over something that was out of my control. She grounded me. Then calmed me down again when I started to spiral again. Because that's what we do!
So, let the countdown begin!! Oh, and you'd better show up this time! Not like that one time when you said you were coming up and then didn't because boy proposed! Don't think you'll get off that easy this time.
Heater and I have been friends since her Freshman year of college. You see, she was lucky enough to be placed into my upper class-men suite. Although, I will have to admit that I was quite aggravated when I found out there was going to be a FRESHMAN in my upper class-men suite. So, my suite mates and I devised a plan to run said freshman off. Because that's what you do! Sadly, we didn't follow through with our plan because we actually liked our freshman suite mate. She was quirky, and sarcastic, funny, she loved FRIENDS and she put up with us (especially our love for Kentucky Basketball even though she grew up in *GASP* Tennessee). Thus began our beautiful friendship.
Seriously, we've become the best of friends. Not many people get me the way Heater does. I can tell her anything. I call her when I have any problem. In fact, I called her this week because I was spiraling out of control over something that was out of my control. She grounded me. Then calmed me down again when I started to spiral again. Because that's what we do!
So, let the countdown begin!! Oh, and you'd better show up this time! Not like that one time when you said you were coming up and then didn't because boy proposed! Don't think you'll get off that easy this time.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Weekend Away
Before hubs was hubs, he was called boy. Boy and I always planned to go to the zoo. We never made it there as Carissa and boy, and since we've been Carissa and hubs we've talked about going but never gone. This weekend hubs surprised me with the idea of actually going to the zoo!!! We needed a weekend get-a-way anyway, so he planned this trip for us!
So, for you enjoyment, pictures from our get-a-way.
View of the city from the Levee. It really was beautiful. The night was crisp and clear. It wasn't too hot or too cold. Just a lovely night with my hubs.
This is pretty much a horrible picture of us, but it is the only picture of us together from the trip. There's only so much you can do with an idevice.
Mr. Tiger was just hanging out. Aren't they pretty? Sometimes I'm so amazed by the millions of animals God created. How did he come up with such brilliant ideas?
This little guy was precious! He was a new baby at the zoo. He would walk over to his momma and she would comfort him just like any momma would. He played with that ball. He sucked his thumb. God love him! I wanted to take him home.
When boy and I were dating he sent me a stuffed one of these. We named him George. We talked about how George was ours. George was the first thing that was "ours" together. I remember joking about having George and thinking wow, he's "ours". We have him together. I remember Tim saying he was the first of many "ours" to come. When we saw George at the zoo I had to smile thinking back to those days. The days of dreaming about being together forever. We have so many "ours" now, but George still sits on the guest bed. If you come visit he will watch over you!
These dudes were roaming free everywhere. They were so pretty! Mom shared that my grandpa use to have his chickens hatch peacock eggs for a little petting zoo in London. I think I would have loved that. There are a ton of neat things that I wish I could have done with my grandpa. I think he and I were a lot alike. I wish he'd lived longer. I was 10 months old when he passed. I never really got to know him. I get little pieces of his life through stories. I can't wait to see him someday.
Horrible picture of me, but hysterical! I love animals. (I'm sure you hadn't noticed that.) My mom called me Ellie Mae growing up. Anyway, I had to feed the birds at the zoo. Any chance I get to hold, feed, or play with animals I'm game. I don't care what they are. So, I snuck and bought a cup of food and I had these guys crawling all over me. This little fella was on my finger and just before Tim snapped the picture he crawled up my arm, on my head, and then finally ended up here. This is why I'm hunkered down. He'd been on my head. He was a sweetie though.
And finally, the wildest beast of all. My Millie cat. Seriously? Do you guys know anyone who lets her cat sleep on her head? Tim snapped this while I was sleeping. We pretty much sleep like this every night.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Giving It Up
The last two weeks have been rough ones. Honestly, if my birthday celebrations hadn't been smooshed in the middle of it all, I probably would have had a nervous breakdown.
You see, work has been crazy. I don't talk much about work, there's too many laws about confidentiality that I don't want to touch, but we've had some major transitions. If you watched our local news you'd know what I'm talking about. :-) Although these transitions are for the best, transitions are still hard. There's a lot of growth and healing that need to take place. This is making work a tough place to be. Things are getting better each day and with a look ahead to the future I can see wonderful days coming. This keeps me positive. This makes all the scary in between times ok.
Grad school has been a nightmare! I'm not going to delve into my despair of grad school, but I have hope that it will end soon! May is just around the corner!
My dad asked if we really had to "do" graduation again. I've thought a lot about it. I had no real desire to walk at my first graduation. I did it for my parents sake. I remember looking up and seeing my dad. His face was priceless. It was one of those moments when you just knew you'd made your parents proud. I'll never forget that moment. Nothing could have ever replaced it.
This time I'll be walking for me. I've worked really hard in grad school. School isn't easy for me. I struggled through middle, high and college. I didn't have the best grades, but I worked really hard. In grad school I've worked my buns off. I currently have a 4.0. I've been able to hold a full time job at one of the toughest schools in Fayette County. I'm proud of myself. So yes dad, we are doing that graduation thing.
This week I've also had a dear friend who has been super sick. I've known this friend since I was a baby. We grew up in church together. We had sleep overs, we had birthdays, we were best friends. She moved when we were in middle school and I remember being so hurt. We wrote letters. Long letters. I still have some of them. Then, we had e-mail and face.book to keep us going. When she got married she invited me to be part of her special day. When I started dating Tim we discovered she lived one town across the river in Indiana. She's one of those special people that I don't get to see everyday, but I love dearly.
She had a baby last week!! After they got home she became super ill. After a rush to the hospital and emergency surgery she spent last week in critical condition, on a ventilator. She was fighting for her life and all I could do is pray. For days there was no progress at all. But, Thursday her sister finally posted that she was cautiously optimistic!! Small progress! Today, one week later, she posted that she finally got to hold and feed her baby!
I've had to give a lot of things up. I am a control freak! I like to have my hand in things that effect my life. But, these last few weeks I've had to give it up. I can't control my work situations, so I have to make the best of them. I have to choose to be positive, even when i don't feel like it. I can't control assignments, and exams. I have to work hard, I have to do my best, and then I have to realize that my best is my best. I have to let go of wanting a perfect score on everything and just do what I can do. I have to understand that sometimes I don't understand why things happen. I have to understand that God is in control, and that he knows what he's doing. I just have to let it go!
On this Saturday I am so thankful that some of these battles are over. School is looking up. My grad class only has one more "big" assignment and there are only three more to go! My friend is feeling better each and everyday! I am thankful, and I am so glad that God is teaching me to let Him have things.
You see, work has been crazy. I don't talk much about work, there's too many laws about confidentiality that I don't want to touch, but we've had some major transitions. If you watched our local news you'd know what I'm talking about. :-) Although these transitions are for the best, transitions are still hard. There's a lot of growth and healing that need to take place. This is making work a tough place to be. Things are getting better each day and with a look ahead to the future I can see wonderful days coming. This keeps me positive. This makes all the scary in between times ok.
Grad school has been a nightmare! I'm not going to delve into my despair of grad school, but I have hope that it will end soon! May is just around the corner!
My dad asked if we really had to "do" graduation again. I've thought a lot about it. I had no real desire to walk at my first graduation. I did it for my parents sake. I remember looking up and seeing my dad. His face was priceless. It was one of those moments when you just knew you'd made your parents proud. I'll never forget that moment. Nothing could have ever replaced it.
This time I'll be walking for me. I've worked really hard in grad school. School isn't easy for me. I struggled through middle, high and college. I didn't have the best grades, but I worked really hard. In grad school I've worked my buns off. I currently have a 4.0. I've been able to hold a full time job at one of the toughest schools in Fayette County. I'm proud of myself. So yes dad, we are doing that graduation thing.
This week I've also had a dear friend who has been super sick. I've known this friend since I was a baby. We grew up in church together. We had sleep overs, we had birthdays, we were best friends. She moved when we were in middle school and I remember being so hurt. We wrote letters. Long letters. I still have some of them. Then, we had e-mail and face.book to keep us going. When she got married she invited me to be part of her special day. When I started dating Tim we discovered she lived one town across the river in Indiana. She's one of those special people that I don't get to see everyday, but I love dearly.
She had a baby last week!! After they got home she became super ill. After a rush to the hospital and emergency surgery she spent last week in critical condition, on a ventilator. She was fighting for her life and all I could do is pray. For days there was no progress at all. But, Thursday her sister finally posted that she was cautiously optimistic!! Small progress! Today, one week later, she posted that she finally got to hold and feed her baby!
I've had to give a lot of things up. I am a control freak! I like to have my hand in things that effect my life. But, these last few weeks I've had to give it up. I can't control my work situations, so I have to make the best of them. I have to choose to be positive, even when i don't feel like it. I can't control assignments, and exams. I have to work hard, I have to do my best, and then I have to realize that my best is my best. I have to let go of wanting a perfect score on everything and just do what I can do. I have to understand that sometimes I don't understand why things happen. I have to understand that God is in control, and that he knows what he's doing. I just have to let it go!
On this Saturday I am so thankful that some of these battles are over. School is looking up. My grad class only has one more "big" assignment and there are only three more to go! My friend is feeling better each and everyday! I am thankful, and I am so glad that God is teaching me to let Him have things.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Big Bang
I love the show! I think it is hysterically funny. But more so, I wish that I had pitched the idea to Hollywood before the writers of Big Bang did.
You see, the show is actually a perfect display of my dorm life in college. I use to joke about making a reality series about our college suite. I knew it would be a hit. Now here we are, several years later and it is true! Big Bang is a hit!
In our dorm there were 8 girls. 6 were science geeks, just like the show. Then there were the two "normal" girls, as normal as we could be anyway. The truth is, none of us were "normal" and we were all quite geeky. Thus lead to hysterical nights of fun and laughter.
Sometimes I miss THAT part of college.
Anyway, my favorite part of tonight's show. When Amy called Sheldon a "sexy praying mantis". Seriously, I laughed until I cried.
You guys better start watching! This season is going to be good!
You see, the show is actually a perfect display of my dorm life in college. I use to joke about making a reality series about our college suite. I knew it would be a hit. Now here we are, several years later and it is true! Big Bang is a hit!
In our dorm there were 8 girls. 6 were science geeks, just like the show. Then there were the two "normal" girls, as normal as we could be anyway. The truth is, none of us were "normal" and we were all quite geeky. Thus lead to hysterical nights of fun and laughter.
Sometimes I miss THAT part of college.
Anyway, my favorite part of tonight's show. When Amy called Sheldon a "sexy praying mantis". Seriously, I laughed until I cried.
You guys better start watching! This season is going to be good!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Dishwaser War
Dishwasher WarI must begin by telling you that I worked 15 1/2 hours straight yesterday. Yeah, I know. You don't feel sorry for me. It's ok. I don't expect you to. However, when I finally finished up my night class last night I was done. I mean D-O-N-E, done.
Hubs decided to be helpful, because that's how lucky I am, and he loaded the dishwasher. As I was finishing up class I hear him say something about the dishwasher sounding funny. Then he insisted that I come listen. Ah, it's ok! Nothing odd! I go sit back down. Still insisting that something sounds funny hubs adds that something smells funny. So, I get back up, walk over, and smell. Nothing. But then I see something. It's this billowing smoke coming from the vents. Ummm....is that smoke? Umm....Ummm!!!!
As we opened the dishwasher it is filled with something. I'm still not quite sure if it was smoke or just a ton of steam, as I mentioned before I'd worked 15 1/2 hours and was dying before I was ever asked to come look, listen, and smell. Needless to say I had the fire extinguisher in hand as Tim checked the dishwasher out.
I dared hubs to turn it back on last night. I was fare too tired to stop drop and roll! (Thanks Heather)
Today, hubs ran the dishwasher. No problems. So, what was all that smoke about? My guess? It wasn't real! I still think I was dreaming!
Hubs decided to be helpful, because that's how lucky I am, and he loaded the dishwasher. As I was finishing up class I hear him say something about the dishwasher sounding funny. Then he insisted that I come listen. Ah, it's ok! Nothing odd! I go sit back down. Still insisting that something sounds funny hubs adds that something smells funny. So, I get back up, walk over, and smell. Nothing. But then I see something. It's this billowing smoke coming from the vents. Ummm....is that smoke? Umm....Ummm!!!!
As we opened the dishwasher it is filled with something. I'm still not quite sure if it was smoke or just a ton of steam, as I mentioned before I'd worked 15 1/2 hours and was dying before I was ever asked to come look, listen, and smell. Needless to say I had the fire extinguisher in hand as Tim checked the dishwasher out.
I dared hubs to turn it back on last night. I was fare too tired to stop drop and roll! (Thanks Heather)
Today, hubs ran the dishwasher. No problems. So, what was all that smoke about? My guess? It wasn't real! I still think I was dreaming!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Birthday Week
This week is my birthday week. I'm turning 25, again. :-)
My students from last year come to visit me most mornings. They always seem to find a way to sneak out of the breakfast line and make it to my room. I don't mind. I love that they love me. I love that they still want to see me. Someday, they will run the other way when they see me because I was their teacher.
Back to the point, my last years kiddos remembered that my birthday was at the beginning of the year last year so they have been driving me crazy asking me when my birthday is. So, I told them. This has resulted in a classroom countdown to Mrs. Wix birthday. I don't really mind because I think it's adorable that they care about my birthday, but it's a daily reminder that I'm getting OLD!
I'm getting so old that my kids made fun of my actual birthday. You see, we do DOL sentences everyday. The other day I put the following sentence on the board and asked the kids to correct it:
u wuz borned on september 20 1984
Now, they recognized all the errors and corrected this sentence, but one little boy raised his hand and said, "Man, whoever was born in that year must be like 50 or something." Hmmm? 50? Not quite!
I told him he failed for the day. (Only not really!)
I then told my kids that I could remember a day without cell phones. A day when facebook didn't exist. Nor did Twitter. Heck, we didn't even have the Internet! Honestly, when I was a kid we didn't even have a computer! I told them our phones use to have cords. I told them we use to look things up in BOOKS, not computers. I also told them that our cartoons rocked, and that we played outside!
Then I realized that they couldn't comprehend the world I was talking about. They literally can't picture life without facebook, or computers, or cell phones. They think the life I described is so long ago. But really, it isn't! (Right?)
Is anyone else out there amazed at the "stuff" that is out there? The technology is almost frightening. The fact that you don't need to "memorize" things anymore because they are a google search away, and no need to go home and get on your computer...you can look it up on your IWhatever right then and there!!
Anyway, tomorrow I'll be saying happy three year anniversary to turning 25!
My students from last year come to visit me most mornings. They always seem to find a way to sneak out of the breakfast line and make it to my room. I don't mind. I love that they love me. I love that they still want to see me. Someday, they will run the other way when they see me because I was their teacher.
Back to the point, my last years kiddos remembered that my birthday was at the beginning of the year last year so they have been driving me crazy asking me when my birthday is. So, I told them. This has resulted in a classroom countdown to Mrs. Wix birthday. I don't really mind because I think it's adorable that they care about my birthday, but it's a daily reminder that I'm getting OLD!
I'm getting so old that my kids made fun of my actual birthday. You see, we do DOL sentences everyday. The other day I put the following sentence on the board and asked the kids to correct it:
u wuz borned on september 20 1984
Now, they recognized all the errors and corrected this sentence, but one little boy raised his hand and said, "Man, whoever was born in that year must be like 50 or something." Hmmm? 50? Not quite!
I told him he failed for the day. (Only not really!)
I then told my kids that I could remember a day without cell phones. A day when facebook didn't exist. Nor did Twitter. Heck, we didn't even have the Internet! Honestly, when I was a kid we didn't even have a computer! I told them our phones use to have cords. I told them we use to look things up in BOOKS, not computers. I also told them that our cartoons rocked, and that we played outside!
Then I realized that they couldn't comprehend the world I was talking about. They literally can't picture life without facebook, or computers, or cell phones. They think the life I described is so long ago. But really, it isn't! (Right?)
Is anyone else out there amazed at the "stuff" that is out there? The technology is almost frightening. The fact that you don't need to "memorize" things anymore because they are a google search away, and no need to go home and get on your computer...you can look it up on your IWhatever right then and there!!
Anyway, tomorrow I'll be saying happy three year anniversary to turning 25!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Another List
There hasn't been much I could write about lately. Work is interesting right now, but I don't write about work much. Too many confidential lines that could be crossed to even dare to write. Although, if I could openly write down my typical day the book would be a best seller! So many hysterical things that happen in a school day. :-)
Anyway, since I haven't had much to write about I'm going to make a list of all the things I'm excited about!
1. My birthday celebration week begins tomorrow! When you start getting close to 30 you get to celebrate however you want. So, I'm celebrating all week. If you have a problem with that you can help be be 25 again.
2. Marching Band season has begun! Last weekend we had our first competition! The kids did a great job and they have so much potential to do great things this year! I love this time of the year. I love competitions. I love the people that I get to spend my time with! It's just fun!
3. Fall. Do I need to say much else? The weather, the colors, the crisp sky, the holidays. Everything!
4. Bath time. Yes, my favorite time! The time in which I get to take a bath and relax.
5. Halloween is coming up! I think it's a lot of fun to dress up and be someone else for a day. Last year the teachers dressed up at school. It was so much fun. We were pirates. The kids loved it.
6. Spending time at my "home" in London. I'm heading there next weekend to celebrate my birthday with my family!
7. Small Groups! Our small group will start back up soon and that makes me excited! I love spending time with my small group. I love sharing with them. I love that I can tell them anything.
There you have it! My list of things I'm excited about!
Anyway, since I haven't had much to write about I'm going to make a list of all the things I'm excited about!
1. My birthday celebration week begins tomorrow! When you start getting close to 30 you get to celebrate however you want. So, I'm celebrating all week. If you have a problem with that you can help be be 25 again.
2. Marching Band season has begun! Last weekend we had our first competition! The kids did a great job and they have so much potential to do great things this year! I love this time of the year. I love competitions. I love the people that I get to spend my time with! It's just fun!
3. Fall. Do I need to say much else? The weather, the colors, the crisp sky, the holidays. Everything!
4. Bath time. Yes, my favorite time! The time in which I get to take a bath and relax.
5. Halloween is coming up! I think it's a lot of fun to dress up and be someone else for a day. Last year the teachers dressed up at school. It was so much fun. We were pirates. The kids loved it.
6. Spending time at my "home" in London. I'm heading there next weekend to celebrate my birthday with my family!
7. Small Groups! Our small group will start back up soon and that makes me excited! I love spending time with my small group. I love sharing with them. I love that I can tell them anything.
There you have it! My list of things I'm excited about!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Too Old
Lat night we arrived back to the hs at 12:30 a.m. Honestly, not too bad for competition day. I was pleased and we feeling tired, but good. By the time we unloaded the truck, tucked all the hs kids into their parents cars, and headed home it was about 1:30 a.m. Still, not too bad. We were in bed and asleep by 2:00 a.m. Although very tired, not too bad!
Until this morning...
I'm getting too old for this! When the alarm went off at 7:30 I though I would die! I rolled over, hit the off button on my alarm and rolled out of bed. (Literally, I had to roll because I couldn't sit up!) My legs are so sore from pulling and lifting equipment for hours yesterday. My back hurts from the bus. I was so tired that I could hardly manage today at church.
Conclusion: I'm not as young as I use to be! There was a day when we would do this kind of thing every weekend. I'd get a few hours rest and pop right out of bed and head to church. Not anymore! I still made it to church, but I sure wasn't my chirpy self. (Because I am the most chirpy person on the planet.)
So, how do you remedy this? You take a three hour nap when you get home. :-)
Now, I MUST get the laundry done, and my small group plans written, and my grad school homework finished!!!
Until this morning...
I'm getting too old for this! When the alarm went off at 7:30 I though I would die! I rolled over, hit the off button on my alarm and rolled out of bed. (Literally, I had to roll because I couldn't sit up!) My legs are so sore from pulling and lifting equipment for hours yesterday. My back hurts from the bus. I was so tired that I could hardly manage today at church.
Conclusion: I'm not as young as I use to be! There was a day when we would do this kind of thing every weekend. I'd get a few hours rest and pop right out of bed and head to church. Not anymore! I still made it to church, but I sure wasn't my chirpy self. (Because I am the most chirpy person on the planet.)
So, how do you remedy this? You take a three hour nap when you get home. :-)
Now, I MUST get the laundry done, and my small group plans written, and my grad school homework finished!!!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Bragging Rights
I have to take a minute to brag on a very special group of kids. My husband teaches percussion at West Jessamine High School. Tonight was their first show of the season and they had a lot going against them. We honestly weren't expecting much this weekend. The show isn't even finished yet.
As awards began we knew we would win our class because we were the only group in our class. As the overall awards were announced we were only half listening. We were very surprised to hear our name called for overall visual effect, a caption we typically struggle in. Then they announces best overall percussion and our name was called!!!
I love this group of kids. Tim's been teaching them for six years now, and they have come such a long way. Most of his group is seniors this year and I can't help but feel pride as I watch them this year! So, here is to the WJHS best overall percussion and to the amazing guy that teaches them (yes, I know I am bias!).
As awards began we knew we would win our class because we were the only group in our class. As the overall awards were announced we were only half listening. We were very surprised to hear our name called for overall visual effect, a caption we typically struggle in. Then they announces best overall percussion and our name was called!!!
I love this group of kids. Tim's been teaching them for six years now, and they have come such a long way. Most of his group is seniors this year and I can't help but feel pride as I watch them this year! So, here is to the WJHS best overall percussion and to the amazing guy that teaches them (yes, I know I am bias!).
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Sleep
I need sleep!
I laid down at 9:00 last night. I was out like a light. Then I awoke to the pains of a Charlie Horse in my left calf. You know what that's like. It's happened to all of us. After that, I couldn't go back to sleep. Cramp. Cramp. Cramp. UGG!
I should have just gotten up and moved to the couch, but Hurley was all cuddled up next to me. His purr should have been enough to lullaby me back, but no. I couldn't disturb the little one, so I laid there. Starring at the clock.
Once I finally fell back asleep I felt Tim jolt up. Awake, again.
Then, the alarm went off.
Don't you LOVE nights like that! :-)
Tonight, I'm in bed by 8:30! Tim won't even be home from practice yet, but I'll be asleep when he gets home!! :-)
I laid down at 9:00 last night. I was out like a light. Then I awoke to the pains of a Charlie Horse in my left calf. You know what that's like. It's happened to all of us. After that, I couldn't go back to sleep. Cramp. Cramp. Cramp. UGG!
I should have just gotten up and moved to the couch, but Hurley was all cuddled up next to me. His purr should have been enough to lullaby me back, but no. I couldn't disturb the little one, so I laid there. Starring at the clock.
Once I finally fell back asleep I felt Tim jolt up. Awake, again.
Then, the alarm went off.
Don't you LOVE nights like that! :-)
Tonight, I'm in bed by 8:30! Tim won't even be home from practice yet, but I'll be asleep when he gets home!! :-)
Monday, August 27, 2012
Halfway!
I'm halfway through my masters!!!! Actually, I'm halfway plus a class! The best part, I've managed to keep a 4.0 through this process. (I DID NOT have a 4.0 in undergrad. I wasn't even close!)
School has always been hard for me. Maybe that's part of why I wanted to teach. School is something I have to work at, and even then I may not get the best score. In fact, I would often feel discouraged when "friends" would ask what I got on a test or a paper. I wouldn't want to answer because I knew it wouldn't be up to their standards.
Maybe that's why I'm working so hard in my masters. Part of me just wanted to prove to myself that I COULD do it! And, 6 classes in, I have!
So, here's the the last year! My plan is to graduate in May. I hoping to graduate with honors, although I don't think they announce them when your a graduate student. (I think they should!! After all, we are not only working on a degree, but we are working full time too!)
Anyone else going back to school? Maybe we could share horror stories!
School has always been hard for me. Maybe that's part of why I wanted to teach. School is something I have to work at, and even then I may not get the best score. In fact, I would often feel discouraged when "friends" would ask what I got on a test or a paper. I wouldn't want to answer because I knew it wouldn't be up to their standards.
Maybe that's why I'm working so hard in my masters. Part of me just wanted to prove to myself that I COULD do it! And, 6 classes in, I have!
So, here's the the last year! My plan is to graduate in May. I hoping to graduate with honors, although I don't think they announce them when your a graduate student. (I think they should!! After all, we are not only working on a degree, but we are working full time too!)
Anyone else going back to school? Maybe we could share horror stories!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Joy List
On a day when I arrived at work at 6:30 a.m. and left at 7:00 pm I needed to write down things that make me feel joy.
1. Upon seeing a spider the size of a half dollar crawling toward me at an alarming speed a little boy in my class jumped up and smashed his guts. He then grabbed a tissue and cleaned the guts up off the floor. Seriously, he was my hero today! I hugged him and told him this and he never said a word. Just smiled from ear to ear and sat down. I *heart* him.
2. Tomorrow I plan to make tutrle brownies. Chocolate always brings me joy.
3. My hubs put a roast in the crock pot this morning. This meant I didn't have to cook dinner after my almost 13 hour work day. This made me a happy wife!
4. My husband is laughing at a T.V. show and it makes me melt. I love to hear him laugh. Especially when he "belly" laughs. It's cute.
5. After our faculty meetings my team decided to get our plans together for next week (this is why I worked nearly 13 hours today). We'd been planning for nearly 2 hours when the automatic lights turned off. My friend jumped up to flip the switch back on when she saw a shadow and screamed and jumped. Needless to say I screamed because I'm jumpy too. I've never seen four girls laugh so hard. Unless you count the time Heather tackled me in the hallway, or the time the little one told the Mormon one she'd pack her bags, or the time Roomie caught the microwave on fire. Ok, girls laugh hard a lot!
6. My college friends fill me full of joy!
7. The cooler temps are wonderful. I love it when it's about 70 during the day, but then drops down to 50-60 after dark. The sun is so warm, but the breeze is cool and crisp. Ahhh, fall!
8. From September until New Years is my favorite time of year. September is just around the corner and I can't wait for all the wonderful things this fall will bring. (Including two new babies!)
9. I became an aunt to my "step" nephew last October, but this December I will become a real aunt to my first niece! I can't wait to hold her, and to love her, and to spoil her! She will love her aunt Rissa! I'll be way cooler than her other aunts!
10. My kids from last year told their teacher this year that I should be nicknamed "huggy bear" because I give the best hugs. Although I'm not crazy about being called "huggy bear," I'm so glad that they remember that I love them. They make me feel like a million dollars when I walk down the hall and they wave. It also feels so rewarding to see ten of them show up at my door before school starts just so they can say hi. I love what I do! It makes 13 hours days worth it.
1. Upon seeing a spider the size of a half dollar crawling toward me at an alarming speed a little boy in my class jumped up and smashed his guts. He then grabbed a tissue and cleaned the guts up off the floor. Seriously, he was my hero today! I hugged him and told him this and he never said a word. Just smiled from ear to ear and sat down. I *heart* him.
2. Tomorrow I plan to make tutrle brownies. Chocolate always brings me joy.
3. My hubs put a roast in the crock pot this morning. This meant I didn't have to cook dinner after my almost 13 hour work day. This made me a happy wife!
4. My husband is laughing at a T.V. show and it makes me melt. I love to hear him laugh. Especially when he "belly" laughs. It's cute.
5. After our faculty meetings my team decided to get our plans together for next week (this is why I worked nearly 13 hours today). We'd been planning for nearly 2 hours when the automatic lights turned off. My friend jumped up to flip the switch back on when she saw a shadow and screamed and jumped. Needless to say I screamed because I'm jumpy too. I've never seen four girls laugh so hard. Unless you count the time Heather tackled me in the hallway, or the time the little one told the Mormon one she'd pack her bags, or the time Roomie caught the microwave on fire. Ok, girls laugh hard a lot!
6. My college friends fill me full of joy!
7. The cooler temps are wonderful. I love it when it's about 70 during the day, but then drops down to 50-60 after dark. The sun is so warm, but the breeze is cool and crisp. Ahhh, fall!
8. From September until New Years is my favorite time of year. September is just around the corner and I can't wait for all the wonderful things this fall will bring. (Including two new babies!)
9. I became an aunt to my "step" nephew last October, but this December I will become a real aunt to my first niece! I can't wait to hold her, and to love her, and to spoil her! She will love her aunt Rissa! I'll be way cooler than her other aunts!
10. My kids from last year told their teacher this year that I should be nicknamed "huggy bear" because I give the best hugs. Although I'm not crazy about being called "huggy bear," I'm so glad that they remember that I love them. They make me feel like a million dollars when I walk down the hall and they wave. It also feels so rewarding to see ten of them show up at my door before school starts just so they can say hi. I love what I do! It makes 13 hours days worth it.
Monday, August 20, 2012
#Blessed
This post isn't about that website where you # everythign you say. No, this post is about church.
I grew up in church. I actually went to church the very day I came home from the hospital. I was baptized in that very church. I was married in that church. That church was my life.
But something was missing. Although I grew up in church it didn't seem to be enough. My parents had always been an example to my brother and I, but I could see that something was missing there as well. There was a joy that was lacking.
When Tim and I became engaged we had to make some big decisions. I had a graet job in Whitley County. A job that I would be able to keep if I stayed, but Tim was in seminary 90 miles away. We debated where to live. Here. There. We struggled with it.
Then I realized that until I moved away I would never find religious freedom. So, we moved. I quit my job. (Boy did I get rediculed for that!) We took a leap of faith! As school came around I hadn't found work. Many told me it was because I had made a bad decision. So, I started believing that. Little did I know the Lord was teaching me lessons about Faith, Love, and Trust.
After a month of no promises of work money was running thin. I was beginning to worry that we wouldn't be able to make it. That Tim would have to quit seminary. That I had destroyed my teaching career. Worst of all, we'd visited tons of churches and hadn't found anyhting that led me to believe that Christ centered churches existed. But then, when things seemed lower than ever God showed up BIG!
One night I literally laid face first in the floor and cried out to God. I begged with him to open my eyes to all that I was missing. I pleaded with him to show me his way. In that moment of weakness I felt his strength. Things started to change.
Tim had heard about this church called Vineyard. They claimed to be a church of faith, hope, and love. They claimed to serve the community. They claimed to do a lot of things. I was sceptical. But we decided to vist.
This is where everything changed. For the first time in years I felt freedom. A weight was lifted. The spirit of the Lord was there. Alive. Active. Stirring in the hearts of the church.
We saw the church loving the city of Lexington. We served along side our church members. We came as we were, but change was expected. But this post isn't about that...
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Three years later Tim and I are still members of VCC. This past Sunday our church held a back to school blessing for the students in the area. It was a big deal. There were ballons, t-shirts, braclets, and school supplies gallore! But that isn't what I want to share.
Kevin prayed over the students. Parents laid hands on their kids. Strangers prayed for strangers. The kids were full of joy. But then, Kevin prayed for me. He prayed for teachers. He poured out blessings on us. He prayed for protection. He prayed for peace. He prayed for our well being. He prayed that we would not be silent. He prayed that we would be a light for our students, parents, and co-works.
I can honestly say I've never felt the Holy Spirit quite like I did on Sunday. It was like I could literally feel something magical happening inside me. It was the first time I've ever had someone pray so openly for me, for my career, for my mission in life. Words really can't even express it.
They handed out braclet's Sunday. What they say describes everything that I am feeling in this moment in my life. Not just because my pastor prayed for me, but because my God is pouring out his blessings everyday in my life. Is life perfect? No! Do I have bad days? Yes. But am I blessed? 100%, Yes!
I grew up in church. I actually went to church the very day I came home from the hospital. I was baptized in that very church. I was married in that church. That church was my life.
But something was missing. Although I grew up in church it didn't seem to be enough. My parents had always been an example to my brother and I, but I could see that something was missing there as well. There was a joy that was lacking.
When Tim and I became engaged we had to make some big decisions. I had a graet job in Whitley County. A job that I would be able to keep if I stayed, but Tim was in seminary 90 miles away. We debated where to live. Here. There. We struggled with it.
Then I realized that until I moved away I would never find religious freedom. So, we moved. I quit my job. (Boy did I get rediculed for that!) We took a leap of faith! As school came around I hadn't found work. Many told me it was because I had made a bad decision. So, I started believing that. Little did I know the Lord was teaching me lessons about Faith, Love, and Trust.
After a month of no promises of work money was running thin. I was beginning to worry that we wouldn't be able to make it. That Tim would have to quit seminary. That I had destroyed my teaching career. Worst of all, we'd visited tons of churches and hadn't found anyhting that led me to believe that Christ centered churches existed. But then, when things seemed lower than ever God showed up BIG!
One night I literally laid face first in the floor and cried out to God. I begged with him to open my eyes to all that I was missing. I pleaded with him to show me his way. In that moment of weakness I felt his strength. Things started to change.
Tim had heard about this church called Vineyard. They claimed to be a church of faith, hope, and love. They claimed to serve the community. They claimed to do a lot of things. I was sceptical. But we decided to vist.
This is where everything changed. For the first time in years I felt freedom. A weight was lifted. The spirit of the Lord was there. Alive. Active. Stirring in the hearts of the church.
We saw the church loving the city of Lexington. We served along side our church members. We came as we were, but change was expected. But this post isn't about that...
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Three years later Tim and I are still members of VCC. This past Sunday our church held a back to school blessing for the students in the area. It was a big deal. There were ballons, t-shirts, braclets, and school supplies gallore! But that isn't what I want to share.
Kevin prayed over the students. Parents laid hands on their kids. Strangers prayed for strangers. The kids were full of joy. But then, Kevin prayed for me. He prayed for teachers. He poured out blessings on us. He prayed for protection. He prayed for peace. He prayed for our well being. He prayed that we would not be silent. He prayed that we would be a light for our students, parents, and co-works.
I can honestly say I've never felt the Holy Spirit quite like I did on Sunday. It was like I could literally feel something magical happening inside me. It was the first time I've ever had someone pray so openly for me, for my career, for my mission in life. Words really can't even express it.
They handed out braclet's Sunday. What they say describes everything that I am feeling in this moment in my life. Not just because my pastor prayed for me, but because my God is pouring out his blessings everyday in my life. Is life perfect? No! Do I have bad days? Yes. But am I blessed? 100%, Yes!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Outlet Store
I am in love with the Gap Outlet store in E-town. A few months ago Tim and I stopped in because I needed to exchange a pair of pants that I'd gotten for my birthday, or Christmas, or something. While there we noticed a lot of clearance items and started browsing. Tim managed to score 3-4 shirts for under 2 bucks a piece! I scored a pair of cute dress shoes 70% off and a cute dress shirt for just a few bucks.
Last night we were heading home after spending some time with Tim's parents. Since we had to drive right past the outlet store we decided to stop in. Upon leaving we had scored a pair of jeans, 3 polo shirts, a short sleeve sweater shirt, and a nice long sleeve top for 57.00. The jeans Tim bought were originally 60.00. So, for the price of the jeans we basically got 5 shirts free. Seriously...amazing!
If you are in E-town you should check the Gap Outlet store out!
Last night we were heading home after spending some time with Tim's parents. Since we had to drive right past the outlet store we decided to stop in. Upon leaving we had scored a pair of jeans, 3 polo shirts, a short sleeve sweater shirt, and a nice long sleeve top for 57.00. The jeans Tim bought were originally 60.00. So, for the price of the jeans we basically got 5 shirts free. Seriously...amazing!
If you are in E-town you should check the Gap Outlet store out!
Routines
Tim and I sat down to make a plan for this school year because it always seems that we are too busy to get anything done other than work. We made a list of chores that need to be done each week and then divided them out evenly throughout the week. Yes, divided them. Tim does chores. Go on, hate me because my husband does chores. He's amazing. I know!
It seems doable that I can do laundry twice a week. It seems doable that I can clean a bathroom once a week. It seems doable to clean our floors once a week. The schedule seems doable. Until 12 hour work days begin. Then...
We'll see.
My mom asked me the other day why I was so scared to have children. My answer...I can't even keep my house clean now. How does one go about working full time, being a mom, and keeping a house clean? I just don't understand how these women do it! If anyone has an idea I'd love to hear how YOU do it! Someday mom, someday!
For now, I'm going to stick to no children and trying to keep our house clean! If anyone has any advice as to how you do work and cleaning I'd love to hear!
It seems doable that I can do laundry twice a week. It seems doable that I can clean a bathroom once a week. It seems doable to clean our floors once a week. The schedule seems doable. Until 12 hour work days begin. Then...
We'll see.
My mom asked me the other day why I was so scared to have children. My answer...I can't even keep my house clean now. How does one go about working full time, being a mom, and keeping a house clean? I just don't understand how these women do it! If anyone has an idea I'd love to hear how YOU do it! Someday mom, someday!
For now, I'm going to stick to no children and trying to keep our house clean! If anyone has any advice as to how you do work and cleaning I'd love to hear!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
List
1. My alarm went off at 5:00 a.m. which is too early.
2. Our classrooms were "release" to us Friday and I since then I've worked 48 hours to get my classroom ready and teach the first day. That's 58 hours in 5 days.
3. That's too many hours!
4. I have a good class. Only 21 compared to 28 last year!
5. 7 kids makes a big difference!
6. I'm tired and all I want to do is take a nap.
7. I can't take a nap, I have 2 papers due tomorrow!
8. Did I mention I'm tired!
Seriously, I had a great first day of school. Probably the best first day I've ever had. But, I am dead dog tired! Now, off to write two papers!
2. Our classrooms were "release" to us Friday and I since then I've worked 48 hours to get my classroom ready and teach the first day. That's 58 hours in 5 days.
3. That's too many hours!
4. I have a good class. Only 21 compared to 28 last year!
5. 7 kids makes a big difference!
6. I'm tired and all I want to do is take a nap.
7. I can't take a nap, I have 2 papers due tomorrow!
8. Did I mention I'm tired!
Seriously, I had a great first day of school. Probably the best first day I've ever had. But, I am dead dog tired! Now, off to write two papers!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Prayer
It's been a long week and it's only Monday.
I could use some prayers! School starts back up on Wednesday and I'm not ready. Not because I don't want to go back to school, because I do. I'm not ready because our building isn't ready. In less than two days I'll have a classroom full of kids and I still don't have enough desks in my room. I don't have my classroom set up 100%, and today they were still drilling and installing things into my room. So, you can see why I'm not feeling ready! I also have two grad classes wrapping up this week and next. This means lots of assignments that are due. Like the research paper that is due Thursday and I haven't started! Or the reflection that is due soon that I haven't started either! There just isn't time!
So, if you could, pray for me! I need some peace in my life. I also need to focus on what's most important in my life. I also need to set healthy boundaries between work and home!
Thanks!
I could use some prayers! School starts back up on Wednesday and I'm not ready. Not because I don't want to go back to school, because I do. I'm not ready because our building isn't ready. In less than two days I'll have a classroom full of kids and I still don't have enough desks in my room. I don't have my classroom set up 100%, and today they were still drilling and installing things into my room. So, you can see why I'm not feeling ready! I also have two grad classes wrapping up this week and next. This means lots of assignments that are due. Like the research paper that is due Thursday and I haven't started! Or the reflection that is due soon that I haven't started either! There just isn't time!
So, if you could, pray for me! I need some peace in my life. I also need to focus on what's most important in my life. I also need to set healthy boundaries between work and home!
Thanks!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Light Fixture Fail
No, this isn't a post about Tim and I installing a light fixture. It's actually quite the opposite!
Thursday morning Tim was getting ready to head to work when I heard a crash in the bathroom. I came to Tim's rescue to find him staring at a light bulb cover that had fallen out and landed in our tub. It's just a thin little plastic piece that covers the light bulb. Nothing major. Tim simply re-installed the thing and went about his day.
On Friday I had a really long day. They FINALLY released our rooms to us at school on a temporary permit, (we are under construction) and I worked from morning till night. I was tired. I was hot. I was gross. I decided to take a nice warm bubble bath. I got all nestled in and had a wonderful time soaking in the tub. I had just looked up and had seen the fixture back in its spot and though what would happen if that thing fell while I'm in here? On about my bath I went. Until...
CRASH!
That darn thing fell out again. It crashed into the side of the tub before slicing the tip of my pinky finger nearly off. I felt the throbbing immediately. I looked down and there it was. Red dripping everywhere. Grabbing the cut I jumped out of the tub yelling I'M CUT! I'M CUT! IT GOT ME! Tim had already made it to the door. He sees me holding my pinky and sees blood splattered all over the tub and simply asks me what I've done.
There I stand, no clothes, bleeding, and trying not to cry because my pinky finger feels like it has been cut off.
Upon first glance Tim mentioned the words hospital, but I quickly shot that down! By this point I had moved to the bed, still holding my finger with a towl that was now covered with blood. I am laying there and Tim asks what I need. My answer, clothes. And at that we both cracked up. I have tears streaming down my face, although some of them may have been from the pain.
Two days later I still have a giant gash in my pinky finger. It's also bruised, which is why I think it hurts so bad. It sliced the tip in a circle, but left just enough skin that it's still connected. I swear, only I can almost die by light fixture. (Exaggerated a bit!)
Thursday morning Tim was getting ready to head to work when I heard a crash in the bathroom. I came to Tim's rescue to find him staring at a light bulb cover that had fallen out and landed in our tub. It's just a thin little plastic piece that covers the light bulb. Nothing major. Tim simply re-installed the thing and went about his day.
On Friday I had a really long day. They FINALLY released our rooms to us at school on a temporary permit, (we are under construction) and I worked from morning till night. I was tired. I was hot. I was gross. I decided to take a nice warm bubble bath. I got all nestled in and had a wonderful time soaking in the tub. I had just looked up and had seen the fixture back in its spot and though what would happen if that thing fell while I'm in here? On about my bath I went. Until...
CRASH!
That darn thing fell out again. It crashed into the side of the tub before slicing the tip of my pinky finger nearly off. I felt the throbbing immediately. I looked down and there it was. Red dripping everywhere. Grabbing the cut I jumped out of the tub yelling I'M CUT! I'M CUT! IT GOT ME! Tim had already made it to the door. He sees me holding my pinky and sees blood splattered all over the tub and simply asks me what I've done.
There I stand, no clothes, bleeding, and trying not to cry because my pinky finger feels like it has been cut off.
Upon first glance Tim mentioned the words hospital, but I quickly shot that down! By this point I had moved to the bed, still holding my finger with a towl that was now covered with blood. I am laying there and Tim asks what I need. My answer, clothes. And at that we both cracked up. I have tears streaming down my face, although some of them may have been from the pain.
Two days later I still have a giant gash in my pinky finger. It's also bruised, which is why I think it hurts so bad. It sliced the tip in a circle, but left just enough skin that it's still connected. I swear, only I can almost die by light fixture. (Exaggerated a bit!)
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Joy List
I'm stealing this idea from my friend, Heather . I think it's good to think about the things that bring you Joy in life. I think it's important to know what they are, and to run to them when you need to. So, here is my joy list.
1. My savior.
2. My church and the freedom it brought to my life.
3. Tim, who loves me no matter how difficult I am.
4. My parents, who support me and love me.
5. My brother, who amazes me with his strength!
6. My Inner Ciricle
7. Millie and Hurley. It's amazing how pets can make you happy when nothing else can.
8. Our new home!!
9. Sheldon and the Big Bang crew.
10. Friends
11. The one that shared her love of Friends with me. The one that I can quote any season, any episode, any time and she can name it and relate to it.
12. My momma's porch.
13. Hearing "Mrs. Weeks!" as I walk into my school building.
14. Opening a door to a home visit, telling a child I'll be there teacher next year, and them screaming, "YES!"
15. Kentucky Basketball and my nana who shared her love of the sport.
16. National Championships!
17. My nana. She is so wise, and so funny. I believe I love her more than anyone on this Earth. I miss her so much and wish I could see her more! She can grow flowers like no one else!
18. Memories. Like the time we put Johnny above Roomies bed. Or the time Tim proposed. Or the time my best friend called to tell me she was engaged. Or the time we decorated our suite for Christmas. Or the time roomie set the microwave on fire making fudge. Or the time the little one threaten to pack her bags. Or the time my best friend told me she was pregnant and I thought she was talking about her brother and I literally almost passed out when I realized what she had just said. Or the time Tim wore that new blue shirt and when he got in bed we realized he was dyed blue. Seriously. I laughed all night over that! The time we beat Ohio State, or North Carolina, or anyone! the time my mom came up to watch the National Championship game and then we went to Rupp Arena to great the Wildcats on their return home. The time WJHS made finals when no one said they could. I was so proud, like their own mother. I cried tears of joy, hugged all my kids, and was blessed to put medals around some of the necks! So. many. memories!
19. My momma, who is now my best friend. She gives of her self so freely. It's really inspiring.
20. My parents new church, which as brought them freedom to worship.
21. Getting flowers.
22. Fall and the beautiful colors that it brings.
23. My WJHS kids and the fact that they call me momma twix.
24. M&M Blizzards
25. Italian food!
26. Lists :-)
27. Baking, and an oven that actually works!
28. My new tub, that has jets, that I would live in if Tim would allow it!
29. School supplies.
30. Even numbers.
And that's my joy list for today. I have much to be thankful for.
1. My savior.
2. My church and the freedom it brought to my life.
3. Tim, who loves me no matter how difficult I am.
4. My parents, who support me and love me.
5. My brother, who amazes me with his strength!
6. My Inner Ciricle
7. Millie and Hurley. It's amazing how pets can make you happy when nothing else can.
8. Our new home!!
9. Sheldon and the Big Bang crew.
10. Friends
11. The one that shared her love of Friends with me. The one that I can quote any season, any episode, any time and she can name it and relate to it.
12. My momma's porch.
13. Hearing "Mrs. Weeks!" as I walk into my school building.
14. Opening a door to a home visit, telling a child I'll be there teacher next year, and them screaming, "YES!"
15. Kentucky Basketball and my nana who shared her love of the sport.
16. National Championships!
17. My nana. She is so wise, and so funny. I believe I love her more than anyone on this Earth. I miss her so much and wish I could see her more! She can grow flowers like no one else!
18. Memories. Like the time we put Johnny above Roomies bed. Or the time Tim proposed. Or the time my best friend called to tell me she was engaged. Or the time we decorated our suite for Christmas. Or the time roomie set the microwave on fire making fudge. Or the time the little one threaten to pack her bags. Or the time my best friend told me she was pregnant and I thought she was talking about her brother and I literally almost passed out when I realized what she had just said. Or the time Tim wore that new blue shirt and when he got in bed we realized he was dyed blue. Seriously. I laughed all night over that! The time we beat Ohio State, or North Carolina, or anyone! the time my mom came up to watch the National Championship game and then we went to Rupp Arena to great the Wildcats on their return home. The time WJHS made finals when no one said they could. I was so proud, like their own mother. I cried tears of joy, hugged all my kids, and was blessed to put medals around some of the necks! So. many. memories!
19. My momma, who is now my best friend. She gives of her self so freely. It's really inspiring.
20. My parents new church, which as brought them freedom to worship.
21. Getting flowers.
22. Fall and the beautiful colors that it brings.
23. My WJHS kids and the fact that they call me momma twix.
24. M&M Blizzards
25. Italian food!
26. Lists :-)
27. Baking, and an oven that actually works!
28. My new tub, that has jets, that I would live in if Tim would allow it!
29. School supplies.
30. Even numbers.
And that's my joy list for today. I have much to be thankful for.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
F.R.I.E.N.D.S
I've been blessed to have an amazing circle of friends. Girls that love me for who I am. Girls I laugh with, cry with, pray with, and love with. Girls that have supported me and encouraged me. When I began college I met an amazing group of girls. We had funny names for our group. We endured crazy conditions. We supported each other in the great times, and in hard times. We even got together a few weeks ago for our 10 year reunion of when we met. Times were great, and I love that we still keep in touch.
I also have what I call my "inner circle," the girls that I could not function without.
I have my college roomie. The original roomie. The one that I went to high school with but really didn't know until college. The one who was there when I broke up with my idiot boyfriend and helped put my pieces back together. The one who cried with my when I lost my granddad, came to his funeral, and was there the first holiday without him. The one who laughed with me when I did stupid things. The one who I confessed my "crush" to, the one I confessed him as being the love of my life to, and the one I called and asked to be my Maid of Honor when he proposed. The one who called out of the blue and I had FroYo with tonight just because we both needed a break from life. The one I can tell anything to and know that she will pray till her knees hurt.
I have the one who I met my freshman year of college but didn't really talk to until my junior year. The one who co-created the MKL. The one I hung out with every Friday night for three straight years in college. The one I shared my first apartment with. The one that helped my hubs pick out my engagement ring. The one that got married two weeks before me. The one that I have shared all my married secrets with. The one that is literally my family here in Nicholasville. The one that is expecting her first baby and begged me to get pregnant so we could do it together. The one that will call me "aunt Rissa" when her baby boy is born. The one that I love like a sister. The one that just moved 45 minutes away and I'm not sure how to function now that she isn't next door.
There is also the one that I met my Junior year of college. She was the one that I tried to scare away because she was a freshman living in our not freshman suite. The one that I can be sarcastic with. The one I can laugh hysterically with. The one that tackled me in the hallway of our dorm and the other suite mates thought we hated each other. The one I use to call "heater" and the one that use to call me "smelly lake duck". The one that my hubs called to help him pull of his proposal. The one that I called first after he proposed. The one that lives in the land of the orange, but I know deep down loves blue. The one that loves storms and will send pictures, videos, and texts just to freak me out. The one that I watched fall madly in love, and despite what many said, has a beautiful, successful relationship with the man of her dreams. She's the one that I can trust with my life and I know she'll take it to the grave. The one I can talk religion with and know I won't be judged. The one I hardly ever see, but I know we'll always be just as close as we are now.
So, here's to the "ones". The ones I met in college. The ones I couldn't live without. No matter where life takes us, you will always be the "ones".
I also have what I call my "inner circle," the girls that I could not function without.
I have my college roomie. The original roomie. The one that I went to high school with but really didn't know until college. The one who was there when I broke up with my idiot boyfriend and helped put my pieces back together. The one who cried with my when I lost my granddad, came to his funeral, and was there the first holiday without him. The one who laughed with me when I did stupid things. The one who I confessed my "crush" to, the one I confessed him as being the love of my life to, and the one I called and asked to be my Maid of Honor when he proposed. The one who called out of the blue and I had FroYo with tonight just because we both needed a break from life. The one I can tell anything to and know that she will pray till her knees hurt.
I have the one who I met my freshman year of college but didn't really talk to until my junior year. The one who co-created the MKL. The one I hung out with every Friday night for three straight years in college. The one I shared my first apartment with. The one that helped my hubs pick out my engagement ring. The one that got married two weeks before me. The one that I have shared all my married secrets with. The one that is literally my family here in Nicholasville. The one that is expecting her first baby and begged me to get pregnant so we could do it together. The one that will call me "aunt Rissa" when her baby boy is born. The one that I love like a sister. The one that just moved 45 minutes away and I'm not sure how to function now that she isn't next door.
There is also the one that I met my Junior year of college. She was the one that I tried to scare away because she was a freshman living in our not freshman suite. The one that I can be sarcastic with. The one I can laugh hysterically with. The one that tackled me in the hallway of our dorm and the other suite mates thought we hated each other. The one I use to call "heater" and the one that use to call me "smelly lake duck". The one that my hubs called to help him pull of his proposal. The one that I called first after he proposed. The one that lives in the land of the orange, but I know deep down loves blue. The one that loves storms and will send pictures, videos, and texts just to freak me out. The one that I watched fall madly in love, and despite what many said, has a beautiful, successful relationship with the man of her dreams. She's the one that I can trust with my life and I know she'll take it to the grave. The one I can talk religion with and know I won't be judged. The one I hardly ever see, but I know we'll always be just as close as we are now.
So, here's to the "ones". The ones I met in college. The ones I couldn't live without. No matter where life takes us, you will always be the "ones".
Monday, August 6, 2012
Positive Attitude
I've come to realize that there are many things in life that you just can't control. Life throws us on curves, bumps, and climbs each day. All these events are unwanted, and many times we (I) let them get us (me) down.
Things like:
1. Terminal brain cancer to a friend of mine. She has a high school daughter who has to face loosing her mom someday unless there is a miracle.
2. Terminal spinal tumors that are full of cancer. Radiation will allow for extended life, but no treatments can cure. Again, only a miracle.
3. Stillborn babies/Not being able to be pregnant when you desire more than anything to have a child. Not to mention you'd make/you are an amazing mommy!
4. Child molestation that robs someone of their entire childhood. Of peace. Of relationships. Of life.
5. Depression rooted so deep that you struggle to see the impact you make in those around you.
6. Negative work environments.
The list could go on and on. These are just a few things that have been brought to my attention in the last few months.
Here's the deal. Here is what God has been speaking to me...loudly. We can't always control our situations. We can't always determine the way life will go. What we can do...we can choose to face our life with a positive attitude and spirit. We can choose not to allow Satan to take hold. We can choose to breath life affirming words rather then life stealing words.
We have a choice. A choice that I struggle to make correctly. A choice that I need to work on every. single. day. A choice to be positive. A choice to live out each day the best that I can. The choice to make a difference, even if just for a second.
I had a high school teacher who would do announcements every morning of my high school career. At the end of every session he would say, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours."
This teacher passed away a few years ago, but his message will live with me forever. Every single day I have to live by his words. "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours." So, what do you choose? I choose to live. I choose to be more positive. I choose to look at things differently than I have in the past. Bottom line, I need change in my life, and that change begins today!
Things like:
1. Terminal brain cancer to a friend of mine. She has a high school daughter who has to face loosing her mom someday unless there is a miracle.
2. Terminal spinal tumors that are full of cancer. Radiation will allow for extended life, but no treatments can cure. Again, only a miracle.
3. Stillborn babies/Not being able to be pregnant when you desire more than anything to have a child. Not to mention you'd make/you are an amazing mommy!
4. Child molestation that robs someone of their entire childhood. Of peace. Of relationships. Of life.
5. Depression rooted so deep that you struggle to see the impact you make in those around you.
6. Negative work environments.
The list could go on and on. These are just a few things that have been brought to my attention in the last few months.
Here's the deal. Here is what God has been speaking to me...loudly. We can't always control our situations. We can't always determine the way life will go. What we can do...we can choose to face our life with a positive attitude and spirit. We can choose not to allow Satan to take hold. We can choose to breath life affirming words rather then life stealing words.
We have a choice. A choice that I struggle to make correctly. A choice that I need to work on every. single. day. A choice to be positive. A choice to live out each day the best that I can. The choice to make a difference, even if just for a second.
I had a high school teacher who would do announcements every morning of my high school career. At the end of every session he would say, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours."
This teacher passed away a few years ago, but his message will live with me forever. Every single day I have to live by his words. "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours." So, what do you choose? I choose to live. I choose to be more positive. I choose to look at things differently than I have in the past. Bottom line, I need change in my life, and that change begins today!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Just Another Saturday
It seems no matter how hard we try we never have a day to just rest. We really do enjoy staying busy, although I'm not always sure that's always healthy!
This morning came early, 6:30 early. No sleeping in at this house. I had a back to school rally to go to. Fayette County hosts rallies all over the county each year. They serve food and then hand out free food to the students that show up. Sounds easy enough. This was the first time I've been able to help out at one of these rallies and it wasn't that easy! There were kids and parents everywhere! We served hundreds of hot dogs and the kids lined up for hours to get their free backpacks full of supplies. Everything was super regulated and I was scared I would do something wrong! All of this was happening as important board members walked around smiling and waving at the kids. They always scare me!
With that said, I love my kids. I love the fact that I can be standing across the park and I hear kids screaming, "Mrs. Weeeeeeks!" (Their little Spanish accents are so cute!) I love the fact that they smile all. the. time. I love that they are still young enough to love me. I love the fact that they forgive me for not being perfect, and that they understand that I want the best for them. I love the fact that they can't wait to tell me every detail of their summer even though most of them didn't leave Lexington. I love the fact that their hugs can turn the worst day upside down. I love the fact that they teach me so much about life, and about appreciation, and about being grateful.
And that is why I love what I do. It isn't about the money, or the summers off, (trust me, I don't take much time off) or even about teaching. It's about the relationships that are built and the differences that are made in their life, but also in my own life. I'm actually starting to look forward to school starting back! I only hope that I can grow and be better than I've ever been before.
This morning came early, 6:30 early. No sleeping in at this house. I had a back to school rally to go to. Fayette County hosts rallies all over the county each year. They serve food and then hand out free food to the students that show up. Sounds easy enough. This was the first time I've been able to help out at one of these rallies and it wasn't that easy! There were kids and parents everywhere! We served hundreds of hot dogs and the kids lined up for hours to get their free backpacks full of supplies. Everything was super regulated and I was scared I would do something wrong! All of this was happening as important board members walked around smiling and waving at the kids. They always scare me!
With that said, I love my kids. I love the fact that I can be standing across the park and I hear kids screaming, "Mrs. Weeeeeeks!" (Their little Spanish accents are so cute!) I love the fact that they smile all. the. time. I love that they are still young enough to love me. I love the fact that they forgive me for not being perfect, and that they understand that I want the best for them. I love the fact that they can't wait to tell me every detail of their summer even though most of them didn't leave Lexington. I love the fact that their hugs can turn the worst day upside down. I love the fact that they teach me so much about life, and about appreciation, and about being grateful.
And that is why I love what I do. It isn't about the money, or the summers off, (trust me, I don't take much time off) or even about teaching. It's about the relationships that are built and the differences that are made in their life, but also in my own life. I'm actually starting to look forward to school starting back! I only hope that I can grow and be better than I've ever been before.
Friday, August 3, 2012
One month anniversary
Tim and I have been homeowners for a whole month! We made our first mortgage payment this week, YIKES! Now that it's raining again we've had to mow our yard. I've had to call the handyman to repair the trim (which he STILL hasn't done, he's got until Tuesday or else). We really are homeowners!
If you'd asked me 6 months ago if I thought we'd be homeowners I would have said something like this. I dream about being a homeowner, but no, we won't be able to buy anytime soon. I remember having serious conversations about renting a house that some friends of ours were trying to sell. I remember being devastated when we passed on that opportunity because I didn't think we'd find another one like it. I felt so frustrated, and angry that God was telling us NO!
Now, I laugh. God told us NO for a very firm reason. Shun was our reason! We love our house! Sure, we have some work to do. There are little things here and there. But it's our home! It already has so many of our touches. It already has great memories. There are still so many memories to be made here.
When I think about Tim and I it makes me happy. We've come along way in seven years. Seriously, seven years! We were so young and silly when we fell madly in love. We talked about getting married almost instantly. Now look at us. We have grown so much! We are trusting God so much more now than we did then. I'm proud of who we are becoming. I can't wait to see where we go.
Ok, I'm done! Mushy, sentimental stuff over!
If you'd asked me 6 months ago if I thought we'd be homeowners I would have said something like this. I dream about being a homeowner, but no, we won't be able to buy anytime soon. I remember having serious conversations about renting a house that some friends of ours were trying to sell. I remember being devastated when we passed on that opportunity because I didn't think we'd find another one like it. I felt so frustrated, and angry that God was telling us NO!
Now, I laugh. God told us NO for a very firm reason. Shun was our reason! We love our house! Sure, we have some work to do. There are little things here and there. But it's our home! It already has so many of our touches. It already has great memories. There are still so many memories to be made here.
When I think about Tim and I it makes me happy. We've come along way in seven years. Seriously, seven years! We were so young and silly when we fell madly in love. We talked about getting married almost instantly. Now look at us. We have grown so much! We are trusting God so much more now than we did then. I'm proud of who we are becoming. I can't wait to see where we go.
Ok, I'm done! Mushy, sentimental stuff over!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Shower Transformation
Well, we've been at it again! We decided to transform the old shower in our master bath. The old shower was fine, but it had one of those horrible1990's shower doors with the metal tracking and the frosted doors. Yes, you know what I'm talking about! Those doors make me crazy because they are so hard to clean! It's a home for all kinds of mold and mildew. There is no amount of bleach that can get all of that gross stuff out! So away it went!
Tim removed the old shower doors while I was away picking out a new curtain and hooks. He had to caulk the holes that were left behind, and I will say that my hubs is getting quite handy! You can hardly see the holes this morning! This entire project cost a whole 34.00. I bought a good quality curtain so it can be washed and reused, and splurged on cute hooks that we can re-use later if we decide to change things out. We had to buy the white caulk as well, but now we'll have it when we get around to re-caulking the tub. :)
Tim removed the old shower doors while I was away picking out a new curtain and hooks. He had to caulk the holes that were left behind, and I will say that my hubs is getting quite handy! You can hardly see the holes this morning! This entire project cost a whole 34.00. I bought a good quality curtain so it can be washed and reused, and splurged on cute hooks that we can re-use later if we decide to change things out. We had to buy the white caulk as well, but now we'll have it when we get around to re-caulking the tub. :)
Here are before and after pictures for your viewing!
See, it was pretty nasty and very old school.
The picture is a little dark, but the new curtain really brightens things up in there! It makes the bathroom a happier place! Eventually I want to paint in there. A natural color, but something darker than off white. There is too much white in there! White tile, white back splash, white cabinets, white trim, off white walls. BLECK! I am loving these little make overs that make the house our home.
Friday, July 27, 2012
New (Old) Chairs
My mom came up on Wednesday which means we were DIY'ing. :) Yes, I just created that word! Anyway, we worked on transforming my husbands, papaw's old dining room table and chairs into something that looked not so raggedy. The table set was in good condition, just old. The cushions were in horrible condition, also because they were old. So we redid them!
As always, here is a photo diary of the progress.
As always, here is a photo diary of the progress.
This is a chair that has been restained next to a chair in its original form. They are still old, but the polish brought the wood back to life. Honestly, the picture doesn't do it justice.
Three generations of cushions. 5 of the 6 chairs had the green vynol on them. Yes, vynol! One chair had that nasty yellow fabric. I'm sure it was beautiful when it was new, but it was quite out of date! I chose the swirly! The picture isn't loading well, boo! I've tried three times ad this is the best I'm gettig. Excuse the line!
Here is a before and after shot! Amazing!
Transformation
I decided about a week ago that I was over my long hair. This has been coming. I really hate my hair long, but I had grown it out for my sister-in-laws wedding. Anyway, if you know me you know I like my hair medium/short length. Today I fixed it! I hacked it all off! 8 inches off! Here are pictures so you can see what you think!
This is the "before" shot.
This is a pile of hair on the floor. Yes, it's gross! That's only about half of what she actually cut.
And this is the after. That's Kate! She's so beautiful! She's also a great stylist! I would tell anyone to go to her! Posh Salon and Spa in Lexington, ask for Kate!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Ladies Night
On Tuesday I was lucky enough to spend the evening with 4 of the most wonderful ladies I have ever met! It all started 10 years ago (AHHH!) when we met in our freshman dorm room. I remember moving day well. I was a nervous wreck about attending a college a whoppin 30 miles from home (It's ok, I'm laughing too!). My roommate was from my home town and I had known her for years. That part wasn't scary. What was scary was the large hoppy spiders we encountered, sharing a bathroom with people I didn't know, generators that would jackhammer the walls in the middle of the night, brown recluse spiders, and a ghetto rat. But, we survived!
Seriously, I have wonderful memories with these girls! Some of them transferred to other schools after our second year, but I must say we have become quite successful in life! We've made a nice contribution to society. Two of us have gone on to become mothers, we have a nurses, teachers, doctorate students, chemist, homeschoolers, wives, adoption counselors, but most of all we have a group of ladies who laugh together and supports each other even after all these years of being apart.
We decided to make this a annual event, getting together once a year to remember the wonderful college years and the memories we made while eating ramen noodles from paper bowls because the cafe was far to "gross" that day! I've said it before: I am blessed! I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life!
Seriously, I have wonderful memories with these girls! Some of them transferred to other schools after our second year, but I must say we have become quite successful in life! We've made a nice contribution to society. Two of us have gone on to become mothers, we have a nurses, teachers, doctorate students, chemist, homeschoolers, wives, adoption counselors, but most of all we have a group of ladies who laugh together and supports each other even after all these years of being apart.
We decided to make this a annual event, getting together once a year to remember the wonderful college years and the memories we made while eating ramen noodles from paper bowls because the cafe was far to "gross" that day! I've said it before: I am blessed! I am so blessed to have these ladies in my life!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Getting things done around here!
I've had quite a productive Sunday!
Tim and I have a large list of projects that need to be accomplished around our new home. Some of these tasks are easy, like changing out a light switch cover, while others are more involved, like needing new grout in the master bath. Either way, I decided to get a few things done while Tim was mowing our lawn. (Better word would be weed garden! There's not much grass growing, but the weeds were getting rather tall! Another project is to get grass to grow but it has to rain for that to happen!)
Anyway, while Tim mowed down the weeds I decided to tackle the garage. Right after we moved in Tim cleared out enough room for my car to be parked inside. But there was no way his car would fit. So, today I organized and swept. I put loose items into storage bins, and along the side I organized a few yard sale items that are left over. Although it's still a work in progress, (I'd LOVE shelves in there!) I believe we may now be able to park two cars in the garage!!!
Tim and I have a large list of projects that need to be accomplished around our new home. Some of these tasks are easy, like changing out a light switch cover, while others are more involved, like needing new grout in the master bath. Either way, I decided to get a few things done while Tim was mowing our lawn. (Better word would be weed garden! There's not much grass growing, but the weeds were getting rather tall! Another project is to get grass to grow but it has to rain for that to happen!)
Anyway, while Tim mowed down the weeds I decided to tackle the garage. Right after we moved in Tim cleared out enough room for my car to be parked inside. But there was no way his car would fit. So, today I organized and swept. I put loose items into storage bins, and along the side I organized a few yard sale items that are left over. Although it's still a work in progress, (I'd LOVE shelves in there!) I believe we may now be able to park two cars in the garage!!!
Tim's mom had also given me a bird feeder as a house warming gift. For those of you who don't know me well, you don't understand why this was a perfect gift. My nana and I always watched the birds. She loved them, and always kept them fed. It was one of our favorite things to do before she went to the nursing home. So, I borrowed a Shepherd's hook from my wonderful mom and hung my bird feeder today. Next year I'm planning to put some type of flower something around it, but since it's almost August, and since it's been so hot and dry, I'm just going to go with the bird feeder for now.
We also bought a new run to go in our living space. Found it on SALE, which I am always a fan of! I'm still playing with exactly where I want it, but I LOVE the rug. The colors are perfect to tie in the reds from the kitchen, the browns from the couch, the yellow in the walls, and the greens from the curtains. I also love the pattern, it's just funky enough without being too contemporary. We need to get some type of table, or ottoman, or something for the center of this space, but for now we are happy with its progress.
So there you go! A girl can get a lot done on a Sunday afternoon!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Random Salesman Dude
Last night at 9:00 p.m. my doorbell rings. Without thinking I went to the door. (I shouldn't have gone to the door!) This guy is at the door and he is selling security systems. He gave me his info and then was on his way. He was sorta pushy about me agreeing to his terms. I told him I couldn't buy his security system because he wanted to be a TENNESSEE ORANGE SIGN IN MY YARD! Seriously dude, know your area! You're not going to sale Tennessee orange signs to the Big Blue Nation!
I'm not typically one to be paranoid, but don't you think 9:00 p.m. is too late for a salesman to be going door to door? It made me feel really creepy! I did not let him enter our home. I made him stand out on the front step so anyone driving by could see, but it still creeped me out! Maybe they had planned to come earlier but the hurricane kept him away until it cleared out. (Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it was scary!)
Has anyone else ever had a salesman come at 9:00 p.m.? Does anyone else think that's weird? Do any of you hide in your home when you hear your doorbell ring at night? I'm I over thinking this?
I'm not typically one to be paranoid, but don't you think 9:00 p.m. is too late for a salesman to be going door to door? It made me feel really creepy! I did not let him enter our home. I made him stand out on the front step so anyone driving by could see, but it still creeped me out! Maybe they had planned to come earlier but the hurricane kept him away until it cleared out. (Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it was scary!)
Has anyone else ever had a salesman come at 9:00 p.m.? Does anyone else think that's weird? Do any of you hide in your home when you hear your doorbell ring at night? I'm I over thinking this?
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
List
I like to make lists, it helps me focus my life. It helps me accomplish things. Sometimes it helps me review/remember things. Tonight I need to make a list.
- I hate storms!
- I know we really needed that inch and a half of rain, but did it have to come in 30 min.?
- The ant guy is coming tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
- I've never been so excited about an ant guy in my life!
- I've got some big decisions to make in my near future. I'd appreciate prayers. God knows what they are.
- Terro is great, but it draws more ants in before it kills them. This grosses me out!
- I hung out with an "old" friend last night and it was nice to have company.
- I will be very happy when my hubs comes home! I've missed him.
- My professor didn't require a text for our class. :-)
- To make up for it he sent 22 videos for us to watch, 3 websites to view, and a speech to listen to. :-(
- I'd rather pay 100.00 for a text book!
- I'm going to eat a bowl of Oreo ice-cream and not feel guilty for doing so!
Monday, July 16, 2012
A Thought
The last two nights I have been reminded that I have so much to be thankful for. I have so many friends who have real "problems" they are facing. It may be the loss of a loved one, or not being able to have children, or financial problems, marriage issues, health problems, or whatever. I have a wonderful life, a life that has bumps along the way, but a wonderful life. God has blessed me beyond measure and tonight I'm choosing not to sulk in my temporary loneliness, but rather to give thanks to the one who has blessed be beyond by wildest dreams.
Just a thought that I've been dwelling on tonight.
Just a thought that I've been dwelling on tonight.
Cockroach
As if the ants weren't enough...
We still don't have our giant brown trash bin from our trash pick-up company, so we are having to bag all our trash into 6 32 gallon bags. Last week we didn't have big bags so we had some left over items from the move. One of those left over items was a grill cover that the old owners had left. It had been left out in the weather and was all wet and slimy and gross! As I went to put it in one of our big bags a giant cockroach crawled out and "attacked" me. I did what any 20 something year old lady would do. I screamed, grabbed the broom, and sent him flying across the driveway away from our house!
Moral of this lesson: I am very thankful that the only time I have to deal with taking the trash out is when my husband is away. I am very thankful for my husband because he does a lot of chores around the house. I am very thankful for brooms. And, I am very thankful that our neighbor wasn't outside to hear my scream over a cockroach! :-)
We still don't have our giant brown trash bin from our trash pick-up company, so we are having to bag all our trash into 6 32 gallon bags. Last week we didn't have big bags so we had some left over items from the move. One of those left over items was a grill cover that the old owners had left. It had been left out in the weather and was all wet and slimy and gross! As I went to put it in one of our big bags a giant cockroach crawled out and "attacked" me. I did what any 20 something year old lady would do. I screamed, grabbed the broom, and sent him flying across the driveway away from our house!
Moral of this lesson: I am very thankful that the only time I have to deal with taking the trash out is when my husband is away. I am very thankful for my husband because he does a lot of chores around the house. I am very thankful for brooms. And, I am very thankful that our neighbor wasn't outside to hear my scream over a cockroach! :-)
Ant Attack
When we had our termite inspection they guy told us that there were tons of ants around our house. We knew ants had been bad this year because we didn't really have winter around here. In fact, we'd had some ants at our apartment as well. So, the guy offered to come spray once we moved in.
Last night I came home after being away for a couple days. I put my bags on the table and started petting the kittens. I noticed that they weren't really paying attention to me, but kept staring at the floor. That's when I found them...
There were hundreds, quite possibly thousands of them. Tiny little ants. An entire colony crawling across my kitchen floor, up the side of my beautiful white cabinets, and landing themselves in the middle of the two slices of chocolate cake remaining in the pan. Heather was lucky enough to be on the phone with me when I found them. She couldn't understand much of what I was saying because I was squealing in a high pitch voice. *Sorta like that friends episode where Rachel is telling everyone goodbye before going to Paris.* Anyway, the ants were everywhere.
So, at ten last night I was on my way to WalMart to pick up ant sprays and I worked for two hours trying to kill as many of the little critters as I could. I put traps outside the door where they were coming in. I sprayed there little ant butts with multi-task cleaner and then sucked the dead bugs up the vacuum cleaner. This morning there are still ants, but not as many. Oh, and ant guy is coming out to spray later!
Take that Nicholasville Ant Colony! I can overcome you!
Last night I came home after being away for a couple days. I put my bags on the table and started petting the kittens. I noticed that they weren't really paying attention to me, but kept staring at the floor. That's when I found them...
There were hundreds, quite possibly thousands of them. Tiny little ants. An entire colony crawling across my kitchen floor, up the side of my beautiful white cabinets, and landing themselves in the middle of the two slices of chocolate cake remaining in the pan. Heather was lucky enough to be on the phone with me when I found them. She couldn't understand much of what I was saying because I was squealing in a high pitch voice. *Sorta like that friends episode where Rachel is telling everyone goodbye before going to Paris.* Anyway, the ants were everywhere.
So, at ten last night I was on my way to WalMart to pick up ant sprays and I worked for two hours trying to kill as many of the little critters as I could. I put traps outside the door where they were coming in. I sprayed there little ant butts with multi-task cleaner and then sucked the dead bugs up the vacuum cleaner. This morning there are still ants, but not as many. Oh, and ant guy is coming out to spray later!
Take that Nicholasville Ant Colony! I can overcome you!
Friday, July 13, 2012
Peaceful after the rain...
After nearly a month of no rain, and ridiculous temperatures, we were blessed with a full day of rain. When the rain began I wanted to go outside and jump around in circles, but I had a busy day and had to put that aside.
My dad had been working on a little project for Tim and I. Our old wardrobe didn't need to be a wardrobe anymore so he transformed it to a TV stand for our master bedroom. It turned out wonderfully so we took him out to his favorite place, Copper River, to celebrate.
After we returned home I needed to get some grad work done. It's hard to adjust to certain things after living in an apartment for three years. I have to remind myself that I have my own private yard. That yard has this really lovely deck. And there is an incredible view of this old barn that looks like it could fall down any second. It truly is lovely! A small reminder of my life at home on Whitley. (Another reason I fell in LOVE with this house!)
As I was sitting outside I was reminded of just how blessed we are. After three short years we've accomplished so much. Not that it hasn't come with it's disappointments and failures! We struggled much of our first year just to stay a float. Our second year came with small victories of success as hard work and being very careful with our spending began to pay off. Being faithful that the Lord would deliver us when our time was right was hard, but now we can see just how much we learned from that period of "tough times".
Although I'm sure our tough times are not over, there are always lessons to be learned, I am thankful that we have learned how to be faithful with a little, and with what now seems like a lot. So tonight, as I sit on my back deck and take in the peace after the rain, I am also reflecting the peace that comes from being faithful that the Lord will lead you right where you need to be in HIS time. I pray that I can remember this moment the next time we face a trail because it is such an important principle to hold.
My dad had been working on a little project for Tim and I. Our old wardrobe didn't need to be a wardrobe anymore so he transformed it to a TV stand for our master bedroom. It turned out wonderfully so we took him out to his favorite place, Copper River, to celebrate.
After we returned home I needed to get some grad work done. It's hard to adjust to certain things after living in an apartment for three years. I have to remind myself that I have my own private yard. That yard has this really lovely deck. And there is an incredible view of this old barn that looks like it could fall down any second. It truly is lovely! A small reminder of my life at home on Whitley. (Another reason I fell in LOVE with this house!)
As I was sitting outside I was reminded of just how blessed we are. After three short years we've accomplished so much. Not that it hasn't come with it's disappointments and failures! We struggled much of our first year just to stay a float. Our second year came with small victories of success as hard work and being very careful with our spending began to pay off. Being faithful that the Lord would deliver us when our time was right was hard, but now we can see just how much we learned from that period of "tough times".
Although I'm sure our tough times are not over, there are always lessons to be learned, I am thankful that we have learned how to be faithful with a little, and with what now seems like a lot. So tonight, as I sit on my back deck and take in the peace after the rain, I am also reflecting the peace that comes from being faithful that the Lord will lead you right where you need to be in HIS time. I pray that I can remember this moment the next time we face a trail because it is such an important principle to hold.
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