Bye Bye Baby

My last tie to a younger, freer, non-adult version of me is finally cut.  My high school car bit the dust.  HARD.  Well, hard enough that my fiance got to looking, found me a car, and we got it!

Alison came down for the weekend.  It was a fabulous time!  Now, Alison has been my friend for nearly 3 years.  She's ridden in my car her fair share of time.  One time going back to camp from church Alison, Andrea, and I literally coasted almost the entire way on gravel because she died and that was all I could do.

Anyway, Alison and I went up to Cedar Falls the day before just fine in my baby.  She was running great despite the cold.  We ran some errands and ran into Callie and Autumn.  We also had to get Scratch.

The next day heading to church, we were doing just fine.  Seriously, my car was running as normally as ever.  Then, it just didn't want to accelerate...and then it started jerking a little bit.  Alison was chill and so was I.  I mean, we've both been in this situation with my baby before.  I pulled over, turned it off and started it again.  I was working fine...for about 5 minutes.  I pulled over, tried again and she died.

I called Dustin.

He was almost to church and came to our rescue.  We tried so hard to get it to Dustin's sister's house, but she kept dying.  We took Alison back and I had to tell her goodbye before I was ready.

Dustin and I tried again to get my baby somewhere safe, but to no avail.  She lasted 10 seconds at a time before Dustin finally gave up and him and his dad got a trailer.  Right now, she's sitting in Dustin's brother-in-law's brother's driveway.  He's a Chevy mechanic.  Sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know.

Yesterday, Dustin found me a car online.  I prayed for us on the way to the dealership.  Today we went and saw it, took it out to lunch and talked numbers.  I am now the owner of a 2011 Chevy Equinox in a beautiful maroon color.  I think I am now officially an adult with my first loan and first time car buying experience.  WOW!

For now, my baby still sits.  She will be brought back to Dustin's to sit until he can tinker with her for a while.  Who knows, she might get fixed and become some high schooler's baby someday.  She served me well!

My Little Puzzles

It has been so long since I've written about my kiddos at work, and just as long since I've written anything in general.  I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my job!  I cannot even fully express how perfect it is for me!  I mean, I cried happy tears the other night telling Tums, just this!

This week has been one of the strangest weeks thus far...  I think.  Monday we were missing one kid.  Tuesday one had an appointment, two went home early and one left school sick.  I left for a meeting in Ames with the SLP across the hall.  We had a wonderful time!  Anyway, the same three were gone on Wednesday and Thursday, two more were gone for temperature reasons.  So, we only had three students.  Today, we seriously only had two students!  Out of eight, we only had two!  Every one of my wonderful ladies were there too!  Talk about weirdness!  Time seemed to drag on and on!  At one point, all of us kind of chimed in as we looked at the clock saying, 'It's only 1:30?!'  We were able to get so much done though!

My kiddos are absolutely incredible!  They amaze me each and every day by what they do, what they say, and what they choose not to do.  I have two girls that absolutely love to cuddle...and it's a good thing I do too!  I have one that talks to puppy toys in her own little way because of the dozens of times she's watched Lady and the Tramp lately.  She happens to be the most content little individual I've met.  My student who is blind blows me away with the way he memorizes schedules and holds us to them, especially during calendar.  I am exhausted watching a couple of my boys' energy levels, and taking one to gym every now and then.

Today I was working with one little girl trying to figure out why she was doing somethings a certain way, and why she just won't talk.  She snuggled up to me and I just looked at her and I told her that she was a little puzzle that none of us can get figured out.  I told her she's like a puzzle without edge pieces.  I feel like all of my kids are.  We don't have the easy edge pieces of information that we can put together first.  We basically have to start with the hard inside pieces.  Keeping this in mind, I know that one day, when they leave my room, even if the puzzle is only half figured out, it will be beautiful.

 I love each and every one of their smiles and giggles, hugs and high fives.  I love the way they come in through the door every morning happy to see all of us.  I love that I get to tell people just how much I love my job.  I love how all of the prayers I prayed through applying and interviewing are still being answered, and that I hope to never see the end of answers to those prayers.  I'm so incredible blessed by being brought to this classroom, through working with all of my ladies, and by each of my 8 little puzzles!

Harvest Rides

Home for the weekend.

I was excitedly telling of my plans all week long and I was bouncing around with a quick stop at Dustin's before getting started for home.  I all but jumped out of a still moving car when we pulled in the drive.  Ruby and I were both pretty excited to see each other!  It's safe to say that I missed my pup dearly!  When we walked in the door I hugged Momma and Daddy before sitting down to chili, which I had been craving all week.  My brother joined and Momma said it was like it used to be with us both interrupting each other for a chance to tell a story.  We played our typical game of Rummy before wrapping it up for the night.

Today I woke up to dad banging around in the kitchen (the other side of the couch) and I knew he was ready to get busy in the fields.  Mom and I ran to Ottumwa to watch some volleyball action that my niece was in and do a little shopping...like paint to repaint my brother and I's rooms since we are now both gone.  As soon as we got back I headed to Gramps & Grammy's to ride in the combine.  

Running across the field I saw a rather big smile spreading across Gramps' face knowing that I was coming to ride with him.  It truly is one of my favorite things to do.  We rode and talked and dumped a hopper or two.  He told me stories of when he was a boy and caught me up on the neighborhood.  I told him of my classroom and about the Hawkeye game Dustin and I are going to next week.  It's soothing to ride and watch all that corn get gobbled up and spit out and chat about everything with him.  I don't get a chance to do it enough.  Too soon he was done with that field.  

Supper tonight will involve all of the people helping tonight.  And we will laugh, eat, talk, and then probably play a round of cards or two!  :)

Field Trip Fundamentals

Today was my first field trip as a teacher.  Oh. Boy.  I learned a lot and the next field trip should be even more exciting.  Today's trip was to Apple Berry Farms.  This is what I learned:

#1.  Bring water, even if no body drinks it.  Chances are, if I hadn't brought it, everyone would have been thirsty.
#2.  Ask what services they provide.  It could be nothing other than the facility.
#3.  Even with a lot of prep, students can still work themselves up with anxiety over this sudden change in schedule and then throw up as soon as we get there.
#4.  Don't let students too close to the decor or items for sale...they might want to throw rocks...just because.
#5.  Remember to bring a stroller for that wheelchair-bound child whose chair is not made for off roading.
#6.  Be ready for anything.  Seriously, children falling over apples on the ground, picking up apples to eat off the ground, chucking apples, you name it and I probably saw it today!
#7.  Bring a camera to capture sweet moments...and the sour faced ones too!
#8.  Have fun and be overly excited even if it's nothing to brag about!

I wish I could share a super sweet shot of my kiddos and ladies in the orchard, but I can't.  Just picture us all there.  2 wheelchairs, 5 kiddos, and 6 ladies.  Just a Kodak moment in the making!  :)

A Case of Monday Crazies

I knew Cindy would be gone.  Little did I know that once I got to school I would have 2 of my paras gone as well.  A little bit of fear set in.

But then a male sub walked in and I knew I could put him with my sumo wrestler of a kindergartner.  Then I remembered one student would be late and his para could help with someone/something else until 10.  And then another sub showed up.  A little relief showed up as well.

The day went on and as I was working with one student, another came up.  We'll call him Wallace.  He looked and me, I said, "Hey Wallace!"  He looked right back and said, "Hey Katie!"  He has never said my name with that amount of initiation before!  I was so happy I practically started crying happy tears!  God knows just how to show up, just when I need Him.  Wallace might never say my name like that again, but I'm so thankful he did today!

Cindy came back and our male sub left at lunch.  I'm the bigger of Cindy and I, so I took our kindergartner for the afternoon.  I'm surprised I still have enough energy to type this much for a blog!  I'm pooped!  He was all over the place, throwing tantrums and running down the hall.  I'll admit.  He ran from me today.  Not very far though!

At the end of the day, we had a little mix up in busing and after some phone calls and bus rearranging, we were finally able to send all of our kiddos home.  Once they were gone, I could only sit and sigh for a little bit before chatting with Cindy and getting ready for tomorrow.  Hmmm....wonder if Tuesday will be the Tuesday Tumble or something like that....

Plan For It. Roll With It.

This past week was the craziest so far.  I wish I could remember more to tell you, but with the fast pace and full schedule, it all sort of blurred together in the end.  With early outs (as a teacher, I now despise early dismissals), evacuation drills, sick students, sick paras, and parent notes, it was needless to say that I was pooped by the end of the week!

Monday and Tuesday were early outs.  Well...so was Wednesday, but that's an every week thing.  One thing about Cindy and I, we stick around and plan and prepare.  We don't leave right after the kids leave.  Monday Cindy and I went to Iowa Alternate Assessment training until 5.  One of my wonderful paras also had a birthday on Monday so we all had supper to celebrate.  Wednesday I had mentor training until 6:30.  Thursday there was a meeting after school as well as a PTO meeting I had to go to and introduce myself as a new teacher.  One of my paras was out sick on Wednesday and Thursday.  Cindy, Shannon and I took turns with her student on Wednesday and then it was basically me with him on Thursday. 

This kid is so stinking funny!  He's HUGE compared to his kindergarten classmates.  He looks like a miniature sumo wrestler.  He is exhausting in a good way.  We have so much fun together and he wants to learn soooooo bad, but at the end of the day, I was pooped.  I went home, ate supper, took a shower, talked to Dustin and was in bed way before 10!

Cindy and I's conversations about lesson planning involve a lot of what we have planned, but haven't been able to get to due to early dismissals and such.  I keep telling her that we will plan for it and then roll with it.  It has really become our motto.  One of our student's attendance is heavily tied to the temperature outside.  We keep planning lessons like he'll be there and then roll with it the next day.

We can make all the plans we want, but ultimately, we don't have much control.  The kids have a lot of control as far as attendance, behavior, naps during nap time that keep going, and then there are the practice drills too.  God tells us that we can make all the plans we want, but ultimately His plans prevail.

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

-Proverbs 19:21

So for now, we're going to keep acting like every day will have a normal dismissal and that we'll have all of our students and then we'll roll with it when we really get to that day.

Bachelorette Babes

First time being a Maid of Honor is a little intimidating, I don't think I'm the first to admit that.  Granted that being a bride for the first and only time isn't a walk down easy street either.

Here I am planning with inconsistent ways of contacting the girls.  That is scary enough in itself.  Then it becomes the Sunday before the party and I'm not 100% sure about who is coming and I can't contact them because my Facebook messages aren't working!  I was getting a little freaked out, but in the end, it all worked!

Whit spent Friday night at my house.  Saturday I was pooped.  My body could finally be tired and it was!  After taking a nap in the afternoon, I got all dolled up with Whit and we headed to meet the girls at her house.  We met up with Mary, Lynnae, Alison, Hanna, and Sarah.  We all piled in that big van and headed out!  It was quite the entertaining ride with hot air, tea parties, and fist pumps for semi drivers!

We were supposed to eat at Zombie Burger.  They don't take reservations and it was a very long wait!  We instead went to Spaghetti Works and had a wonderful meal, conversation, and I was almost charged double!  A few free mints later and we were out the door!

We arrived at Sky Zone in all our fancies and it was almost like a ghost town in there!  There was a few kids here and there, but we basically had the place to ourselves!  We quickly changed and started to jump!  Seriously, there was joy radiating from every one's faces!  Some may say it is sweat, but I'm sticking with joy!  It was so funny to watch the bride-to-be jumping with her sash flopping about!  Every now and then it was tossed around Mary's neck for safe keeping.  We signed on for an hour and I was trying hard to believe we could last that long.  Somehow we did it.  We soon left extremely sweaty and tired.

When us older girls got to my place, we broke out some big girl drinks, bachelorette gifts, and Apples to Apples!  We had a blast!  It was so much fun to do all of this for my best friend!  She keeps waiting for me to get a ring on my finger so she can carry out all of these things in her own fashion and get me back!  It was a wonderful night and I can't wait to see what the showers and the wedding will bring!

Upskirted

This week has been INSANE!  It was supposed to be our first normal week to start off the new year.  Sunday night came with news of 12:30 dismissals for Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday we got news of early dismissals for the rest of the week.  It has been hot and miserable in our classrooms.  Everyone must know that by now!

Not only have the dismissals caught us off guard, but we were integrating our students to specials with their grade level this week.  It was a little weird to not have all my students with me all the time, but it is a joy to know they are with their grade level peers.

I have worn dresses and skirts all week along with the majority of my female colleagues.  It provides a little bit of air flow to help cool a body down.  I tried to explain this to Dustin, but I guess men just don't understand...

Thursday we were one para short due to an emergency.  This para has my student who is blind.  I jumped up to volunteer to be with him for a good chunk of the day.  I greeted him at the bus, walked him in and we went to his locker.  From there, his walking cane fell when he placed it against the wall.  When he went to pick it up, the end of it caught the front of my skirt, but thankfully didn't give him a sight!  I was glad no one else was around to witness that! 

That was about the biggest bang of the week for me.  It has been a wonderful crazy week continuing to getting to know my students and learn their quirks.  I have also had to make a few parent phone calls.  I have really been getting to know the various adults in the building and have enjoyed getting my students out of our room and getting them involved with their grade level peers.  I have been learning so much about my district, building, and class that I could write novels!

I sat at the computer for a while after school today reading through my e-mails and filling up my planner.  I know it will be a busy year, but I am already loving my first year of teaching!  

Sleeping Single in a Double Bed

Many of you might not have heard the catchy country tune that comes to mind when reading this title, and I think you should go check out the Barbara Mandrell classic!

Anyway, the title has nothing to do with my relationship status, but rather my move up in sleeping situations when I moved out.  I now have a double bed.  The only kicker is the only double bed that came in the price range of taking anything my mother would let me was the air mattress.  It was a transitional piece in the guest room anyway and had only been occupied by Abbey and Tim for one night and Dustin a half dozen times since being aired up in February.

This is just one of the notable things in my new apartment.  I also have the bookshelf that Great-Grandpa Fauth made for Dad, the lamp/table that Dad made, the rocker that got moved to the guest bedroom, and many, many dishes from Grandma Goudy's kitchen that had been in our basement since Mom cleaned out their house 4 years ago.

I should probably back up and tell all about moving day, because it was sure eventful! 

Sunday morning Dustin and I went to church.  I cried after the service talking to Momma Jones and saying goodbye to everyone.  I seriously did that every year when I moved to college...  We went home and had a quick lunch so we could get started.  Dustin and Dad already had everything packed up in my car and Dad's truck.  We all took off in different directions.

I forgot to mention that I had a doughnut on my car because Dustin got a flat the day before.  We had to stop at his house so he could take my tire to the neighbor's to get it patched before coming to my apartment.  A big shout out to Dave for fixing my tire for me!

Mom and Dad arrived before I did.  I showed up about 5 minutes later.  Whit and Caleb were on the way.  Dad and I started unloading while Mom worked on stuff in the kitchen.  Dustin finally showed up when all that was left was a chair and a dresser.  Mom and Dad didn't stick around for too long.  Whit and Caleb finally showed up and amidst all the talking, Caleb aired up my bed, Whit took care of my clothes, and Dustin changed my tire and arranged my living room under my command.  It was a long day!

Dustin came over a couple of nights later and helped me hang some things.  Let's just say some things didn't want to go on the walls.  So for now, I have a few pencil marks and extra holes in my walls and plenty of my mini snow globe collection in their boxes!

I am still adjusting to the city life, but it is good.  I might not have a lot in my apartment, but it's all good and it's all from home.  And for now, I'll continue to sleep single in the double air mattress.

Loading Up The Lincoln

Written 8/19/13

Today was the first real day of work for everyone.  It started out with a building wide meeting.  I had to introduce myself since I am a new teacher to the building.  After that, we got dismissed to our rooms.  Cindy and I walked the hall with our 6 wonderful paraprofessionals in tow.  When we got in the room, we all got conversations and questions flowing!  They had plenty of questions and we had plenty of answers after all of our work these last few weeks to get the room up and running. 

Soon enough, it was time to head for lunch.  I got invited along with 4 of the ladies.  Cindy came too.  Ann offered to drive, but she warned us she had her mother's car.  Her mother is easily in her 80's. 

"Let's load up the Lincoln!  This boat is one smooth ride!"

We piled in like we were all back in high school!  So many giggles and reminiscing ...theirs were a little different than mine since I am the youngest of the crew by about 10 years.  We all compared where we used to sit in the family car when we were kids.

At the restaurant, we had just as much fun!  I can tell you that I will be laughing every day with these ladies!  I'm not sad about that!  They are a hoot!  We had oodles of fun and took a little long of a lunch break, but then it was time to head back to the room to work the afternoon away.

By 3:30, we had the room all but ready to go.  There are still a few things that need to be done, but it's not too bad!  After a quick run to my apartment and Wal-Mart, I was back in time for Back-to-School Night!  It was quite the crazy hour!  I meat 3 out of 8 students along with 4 out of 8 /parents/families.  Seeing the kids running around the halls got me so excited to start that I was practically crying happy tears!

I am excited to see what the year will bring with these students, a wonderful co-teacher, and 6 amazing ladies that load a Lincoln with laughs!

Hailstorm Hiccough

When Dustin and I first started dating, he mentioned that he put out a garden every year.  He's a pretty plain eater, so it basically only consisted of tomatoes, green beans and potatoes.  I added a bit of variety to his garden this year with popcorn, zucchini, cucumbers, radishes and peas.  It has been doing very well and we have been enjoying quite a few goodies so far this season.

I haven't been in a garden since I was a kid.  Every year Donna and Errol would put in a huge garden and share many of their homegrown goods.  I can remember helping plant the potatoes and beans.  Errol would give us short sticks to place in between seeds so we wouldn't over or under plant each row.  We'd help water, weed and harvest.  It was such a huge accomplishment when we'd dig up a giant carrot and Donna would exclaim over it.  There's only a handful of moments where I have smiled as big as I did in those moments of glory!

Donna would can like crazy about this time of the year.  She didn't see any sense of running the air conditioner when the kitchen was already so hot, so we all but boiled during canning season!  I am really now learning how to can because although I was there, I was just a kid and only interested in peeling the skins of tomatoes and not worried about slicing or mashing or canning.  I can still practically feel the stickiness of my hot sweaty skin on those days!

Errol would be out there every day without fail.  He would hoe and weed, water and harvest.  That garden had the straightest rows of any garden I have seen.  About every year he would try to grow something new.  He even tried his hand at grapes for a while.

This year I have almost cried bittersweet tears fairly often as we've worked in our garden.  Dustin reminds me a lot of Errol with the way he gardens.  He's tried so hard to make it a bountiful garden and to be able to share our harvest with our families.

The other night there was a hailstorm.  He told me our garden looked rough.  I went and saw it and my throat caught.  It's so hard to see something you've worked so hard at become green shreds overnight.  All the tomatoes have nicks and the plants have broken branches.  Some of the popcorn fell.  The zucchini got nicked pretty bad.  We were both bummed about this.

"At least we still have the potatoes."

"You always see the positive side of things, Katie."

It's a little disheartening to see our garden trying to come back to life after a pounding like a hailstorm, but it just has to, that's what it's made to do.  It's made to keep living.  Just like in our lives, we get hit with the hailstorms of life.  We need to come back and keep on living.

Packing Up & Moving Out

Well, I've done it.  I've signed a lease on my first apartment!  It's a sweet little one bedroom sort of across from the high school in town.  Out my windows I can see woods.  Beyond that is a bean field.  It's on a quiet part of town and is only a couple of minutes from the school I'm working at.

This time, I'm moving out...for real.  This time, there's no loft bed.  There's no RA.  There's no door dec.  There's no community bathroom and there's no moving at the end of the semester or school year.

This time, I'm really packing up.  My breakables were the first to find housing in newspaper and boxes.  My books and shelves were next.  My room now has an echo.  I don't much like it.

But ya know, I'm really looking forward to having my own place.  I'm excited to decorate how I want and to choose things like curtains.  This is a big step!

I'm learning that I really come with a lot of baggage. 

Dressing Room Divas

I needed some new additions to my wardrobe.  Maurices was having a sale.  Whit has a discount.  Best friend weekend!  :)

Originally, we were supposed to go to a concert at PLC on Saturday night with shopping before hand.  With Whit, you usually forget about time and keep on shopping.  Good thing we had both seen the band before.

We started at one store, then hit another, tried to find Maurice's, and then wound up at another mall.  I'm pretty sure we got some laughs of women who overheard our conversations and laughter in the dressing rooms...we get a little crazy sometimes.  And then we went to Maurice's.  Whit loaded up on hangers of clothes for me to try on.  I ended up getting almost everything because of the wonderful deal!  I got a beautiful dress for less than $6!!!  Besides all that, I got some great pieces for teaching!  I also managed to walk through a sales associates fart.  That was rather unpleasant.

Through all our wandering and trying on, Whit and I talked...  a lot!  We got all caught up on all things wedding, Caleb's job, Dustin's job, apartment searching, classes, the future.  And we laughed.  I haven't laughed for that amount of time in quiet a while.  It was so good to reminisce over our friendship and be completely goofy!  I was also making plenty of honeymoon jokes at the future Mrs. Edgerly!  :)

She drug me to Dress Barn and I swear there was like 20 dresses in that fitting room!  I tried on most of them and found a great one for the bachelorette party!   And then I had a mini photo shoot.  I think the sales lady thought we were nuts!  I was doing that awkward 'silent' laughter, but I really needed to snort!

We had sooooo much fun!  And then we got to go back to her house and show off our goods!  That night, it was a slumber party in Whit's bed.  Lynnae was convinced she needed to sleep with us...in the bed.  It was a little crowded.  I had a unicorn pillow pet nose up my butt the whole night.  Whit also rolled over and hit me in the temple/ear.  It was a long night.

The next morning, we both got up and dressed in dresses to go to church.  In a lot of ways we are very different from each other, but in quite a few ways, we are exactly the same.

June 2013

In a way, I'm thankful that this month is over.  I spent most of the month living out of a suitcase, which in case you have been missing the underlying theme of some of my blogs, I'm sick of living out of a suitcase!  Don't get me wrong, I have LOVED each and every adventure I have packed my suitcase for!

Low:

• Grammy has been under the weather a little often this month.  She's doing better now, but she's sick of going to the doctor.
• I wasn't able to get my car into the shop until just last week.  There have been some hot days with no AC!
• I didn't play with Ruby for a few days because she found a skunk.
• I'm starting to get a cold...I'm not a fan.

High:

• I finished out a school year!  I was so thankful for the opportunity to sub!
• I've spent so many wonderful summer days at home!  This has included sleeping in, playing with Ruby, reading for afternoons at a time, horseback riding, fishing, playing with Ruby, hunting up kitten litters, going to Gramps and Grammy's, and beginning to go through and pack up my belongings to move again.
• I spent Whit's birthday weekend with her!  We had a double-date to the drive-in, finished Caleb's quilt, watched movies, and just had some quality best friend time!
• I spent a lot of time at the Historical Society quilting with Grammy and her friends!  Such sweet days! :)
• Dustin, Rach, and I went to Country Night!  It was so much fun to be stomping around that dance floor in my boots again!
• I went to camp!!!!!  I was reunited with some of my best friends, had some WONDERFUL campers and had an all around great week in the Valley!  :)

• I got a sweet new library card.  I am now up to date!
• Dustin came down for the weekend and we spent most of the time outside!  Fishing, horseback riding, painting at Grammy's.  He even got Grammy to eat some fish!  

This month has also been monumental in the fact that I have found my theme for the year.  Last year, God taught me a lot about forgiveness and who I needed to forgive for past grievances.  This year, God is teaching me to recognize.  I will blog about that realization soon.  

This month has flown and the year is half over.  How can this be?!  I'm looking forward to next month with apartment searches, moving, classroom set up, berry picking, and so much more!

  

Favorite picture of the month!  :)

#seniorhigh

I've tossed around a title for too long.  Maybe that was why its taken me so long to write about my week at camp.  I thought about Sweet Repeats, Look at the Ring I Made Today in the Craft Room, and others that I can't think of now.  And maybe, I just wasn't ready to write until now.

Sunday I was so glad to go to camp!  It had been 6 months too long since I had let the Valley refresh me to my core.  It was just plain too long since I had been back.  I didn't go back for the whole summer this year.  I had sadly reached that point where my age and all that comes with growing up was limiting my work at camp.  I had been saying since last year that I would hopefully be setting up my classroom and stuff this summer.  I kept saying that I would at the very least be back for Senior High.

Sunday I left super excited!  I wouldn't be talking to Dustin at all for the week, I would be back in the Valley, I would be the most focused on God I had been in quite a while, I would be surrounded by some of my best friends again, I would meet new staff, I would have campers, etc.  The closer I got, the less I could contain myself.  I was bouncing and singing and screaming and laughing and smiling so hard my face hurt.  Before I even put my car into Park, I could see Lu racing to me across the yard.  And then all the reunions started!  It was WONDERFUL!  I got to see all of my old friends, get embraced in so many hugs, and meet so many new staff that I would come to love by the end of the week.  Soon, Andy Ott informed me that I had reached a sort of legend status at camp.  Apparently, my name comes up a lot.  I am also in the first name/last name club with the likes of Jim Day.

I soon just jumped into the swing of things.  It was almost as though I had been there the whole time.  I found out I would have some repeat campers from last year.  I was living in Lower Level which is located in Tom and Camie's house.  I started to roam waiting for them to arrive.  They were excited to see me again.  Before I knew it, we had our opening, a little switch in campers, played a game, ate supper, had chapel, and the first night of camp was done.

Monday started with dishes.  My crew kicked butt!  I do enjoy the dish room.  I like to be the runner who brings the tubs back to be sorted and washed.  And then I jump in to help with other parts too.  The day progressed and soon, it was time to go to the Craft Room with Alison and Lu.  I don't know if they really thought that through...

I was beginning to get to know my girls and we were having a great time!  The week went on and I really began to develop relationships with them.  They are in high school and going through some tough stuff.  One of them is headed to college this fall.  I was really proud of her for opening up because she told me up front she often changes the subject to the other person so she doesn't have to talk about herself.  Each girl is truly amazing and I love them all dearly.  I am so proud of each and every one of them.

Anyway, the week went on with basically the same routine every day.  Lu, Alison, and I shared my blanket for TAG time, I was blown away by God's goodness, I began to open up about my struggles in the last 6 months, and I began to feel freedom again.

Tuesday was Lu's 22nd birthday.  Let's just say that by the end of the day I hardly had a voice...  We had a great day of presents, Mickey Mouse tattoos, singing T. Swift's song, and we ended the day with an ice cream party!  :)

The girl with the glasses on the right is Jordan.  I've known her for the past 2 summers.  I've chatted with her every time she has come.  She could NEVER remember my name.  I asked her if she could this year and she did!  I didn't even say my name when I said hello on Sunday!  This gave us a special bond this week.  She is such a sweet girl.  She does have some special needs and therefore finds a special place in my heart.  She constantly talked to me this week and it was so sweet!  I even got invited to a pizza party because she made it all the way through chapel!  :)

Wednesday was AWESOME!  Along with all the typical, I had supper dishes.  Our crew started off a little rough because everyone forgot and showed up late.  I mean everyone.  Even Alison and I, the seasoned veterans.  We did get done in really good time.  That night was a lipsincing/dancing competition between the teams.  Dayton was in charge of ours.  I felt pretty confident since he leads worship and just came from a men's choir trip.  I was not expecting what I saw.  All the teams were great, but when my team showed their stuff, I was crying happy tears I was so proud!  I couldn't believe the talent that all the students had this week!  We found out later that WE WON!!!  :)

Thursday was the talent show.  Again, I sat there in wonder of all the talent in these kids!  I had some of my JUMP campers up there, I had some past campers and current campers sharing there talent.  I was like a mom in the audience yelling "That's my girl up there!"  And yes, I might have been crying during a few...  I'm just so stinking proud of my girls!

And then it was Friday.  The last full day of camp.  I was already dreading Saturday.  Friday I finished the one-on-one's with my girls,  we had the usual schedule, we dodged hail in the morning, had awesome worship, I helped with the Tiki Torch Cafe, and I read my girls Max Lucado's book, You Are Special.  I do this every single week with my girls no matter their age.

Saturday morning came and I knew I would be a wreck.  I had to say goodbye to 9 beautiful, talented, amazing girls.  I had to say goodbye to the new friends I had meet and some of my best friends in the world. I would have to say goodbye to the full-time staff who love me and that I love dearly.  I would have to say goodbye to the valley that I love.  And I cried.  I said goodbye to Gwen and my JUMP girls.  I'm just so stinking proud of them!  And then one of them said I was one of the reasons they want to be a teacher?!  That didn't help matters at all.  I recovered slightly, packed my car, and then we had a staff meeting.  There, along with Alison and Anna, a past camper, we were prayed for.  I cried again.  I told Anna goodbye and then I started saying goodbye to the staff.  I bawled when I said goodbye to Debbi, Camie, and Sue.  It was time to go do some emotional eating at The Skinny Dip.  Lu, Alison, and I were dragging out our time there because of the inevitable goodbye with 3 best friends.  And there we cried again.  In The Skinny Dip parking lot all because God has placed us in each other's lives and it hurts so much when we are separated.  As I drove away, I made it to Postville before having to stop for caffine and then I broke down again, but this time in raw honest prayer.  And then I was good the rest of the way home.  Just me and the radio blasting Jesus tunes.  Just me reflecting on the awesome week I had just experienced.

I love each and every one of these girls so much!

TMHTS Pt. 2

Refer back to Teach Me How To Sew Part 1.  Yep.  That was over a year ago that we started on that project.  And now, I am proud to announce that it is finished.  The best part about it was the added bonus of my best friend's birthday and a double date night at the drive in!

I came on Thursday and we got right to work!  We got that quilt in the frame.  It took quite a bit of time to sew all the backing onto the wooden frame, but we got plenty of chatting done in that time.  Whit was all about the iron throughout this project!  :)  We started tying those red strings on Thursday night.  We got through most of it.

Friday morning we got up and finished tying before Whit went to work.  I stopped by and let her play dress up with me before she was off the clock.  We got everything out of the frame and all the extra fabric trimmed off before we headed to the drive-in movie theater with the boys.

Saturday was the finale!  We got up and I set up my sewing machine.  Whit helped pull pins and shift that humongous quilt!  The binding was half on, and let me tell you, it was looking good!  While Whit trimmed the strings, I trimmed off a little extra fabric.

Then, another lesson was delivered.  I taught her how to hand sew the binding!  I did the corners for her, but she did the rest.  She worked steadily through The Aristocats and Avatar.  I left for a date with Dustin and the quilt was almost finished.  I come back and she had it finished and was snuggled up underneath its warmth!  :)  Caleb was pretty proud to have it on his bed!  :)

And she's already talking about another t-shirt quilt project...  :)

A Thimble In My Pocket

Usually in the winter, you can find me with a thimble in my pocket.  I typically have a quilt in the basement and some embroidery work upstairs.  I work on both and I need a thimble for both and usually, I just don't know where I'll be, so the thimble will be close by.

The last two mornings have been bliss.  Grammy invited me up the Historical Society to quilt with the ladies.  They always have something in the frame.  I love going up there.  I don't do that much talking, but I love listening to them talk.  They are always chatting about who is where, what they're sick with, who moved where, who bought what at a sale, and it goes on.

And then we quilt.  We quilt beautiful designs into stunning fabric that has created artistic patterns.  We take dainty little stitches that stand the test of time as the quilt will get used.  I learn little tips and tricks to increase my skill.  I learn from these ladies who are some of the best in the business that is all to quickly diminishing.  I learn about past projects, current projects, and prospective projects they are working on.

I simply enjoy my time with them.  I know that all I'll ever need to bring is my thimble.  

May 2013

This month I have been living out of a suitcase pretty regularly.  I've moved out and back in with families, and am temporarily staying with another one.  I've had interviews and offers.  I've had tears of homesickness and happiness.  This month has really been a roller coaster of a ride!

Low:

• I got really homesick by the end of student teaching.  It was rough for a couple of weeks.
• I did move out of the Abrahamson's house, but I did move back into my own...well, sort of.
• My mentor teacher had surgery which requires her to be gone for the rest of the year.

High:

• I got to go home!  Ruby missed me a little bit!  :)

• Whit and I went shopping for a bridesmaid's dress again.  This time, I really have it on the way.
• We had a garage sale where we both got rid of a bunch of junk we didn't need.  :)
• I sat at my sewing machine.  I baked cookies and bread.  I got a lot accomplished!

• Because of my teacher being gone for the rest of the year, they wanted to hire a long-term sub.  Who better than the one who just spent the last 8 weeks with them?  Of course I didn't turn this opportunity down!  After commuting the first couple of days, I loaded up a week's worth of stuff to move into my teacher's house.  I've now made a couple of furry friends.  Kitty and Winston are most hospitable!

• I got to see my dear friend, Tums, graduate!  So proud of that girl!

• Dustin and I had a wonderful Strawberry Point date in between commencement and the party.  Such a beautiful afternoon!  :)

• I GOT A JOB!!!  I'm so excited and looking forward to it all!  I've been very welcomed by a couple of people via e-mail and offers to help with the apartment search to make sure I'm in a safe place.  I'm excited to see what opportunities will arise from this classroom and city.

I could tell story after story of all the crazy things that have happened to me over the past month.  God has continued to answer prayers I haven't prayed since January that focused on student teaching.  Just because we stop praying about a certain topic, doesn't mean God stops answering.  He is always faithful.  This month is living proof of that.  Here's to June and all the crazy adventures it's sure to bring!  :)

I Accept

Last Tuesday I had 2 interviews.  One of the interviews was at the building where Dustin works.  As much as I love him, I don't want to work at the same building.  We've talked about it.  We talked about both sides of that opportunity, should it arise.  At the same time, he's waiting to hear back about climbing the ladder.

I went to my first one.  I don't feel comfortable disclosing the names of the school just for confidentiality reasons, but my Facebook friends know.  I got lost.  I had to turn around and ask for directions from a guy at Pizza Ranch.  The school is a little large and a little like a maze.  When the secretary told me I could sit, I turned and there was only a little person chair.  I asked if there was a bigger one and by the time I got back from the bathroom I had one there.  My nervousness was beginning to grow.  I was greeted by the principal and welcomed by the teacher who I would be co-teaching with if I got the job.

We sat down for the interview and I couldn't shut up.  They asked me about my past experiences and of course I talked in great details about them all and talked highly of so many of my students.  Naturally, I grinned and giggled like anyone who knows me knows I do.  I was given a tour and some good news to end the interview.  Because this job hadn't been posted and I had been contacted because of other interest in the district, there were very few if any other interviews to conduct.  I would be notified by the end of the week.  At this point, I was in love with the school and the prospect of this job.  The room is kind of a younger version of where I'm at now.

On to the next interview.  This one was a little weird for me because I knew the people conducting my interview.  They had to handle some of my discipline problems when I did all I could and had to continue teaching.  I laughed at some of the questions just because I knew they knew somewhat of what my answer would be before I spoke a word.  They told me the same thing.  I would hopefully know by the end of the week.

Prayer, prayer, prayer.

Thursday was the day.  I had just gotten home and picked up the phone saying 'Unavailable.'  The principal from the first school called me offering me the job!  I took it right away!  I started jumping up and down excitedly and all but bouncing off the wall!  She gave me detail after detail and soon, she was offering to help in the apartment search just to make sure her new employee was in a safe part of town.

I called Dustin, he called Grandma Schuett and his parents.  They called everyone else and I was getting calls back of congratulations.  I called Whit and told my parents.  Excitement was buzzing through the phone lines that night.

Friday, the principal at the other school started asking Dustin if I'd accepted the job at the first school.  He called him twice on Friday night and again on Monday.  Ya know, sometimes, it's just nice to be wanted.  This morning, I got the call from him asking if I took another offer.  I had to tell him yes.  I think he was a little disappointed he didn't get to me first, but I don't think I'll be disappointed with where I'll be at!

This weekend, Dustin took me to some graduation parties in his area.  When introducing me, he said my name closely followed by my new employment.  I think he's just a little excited for me!  :)

In Limbo

I'm sitting at school torn.  I'm torn because I absolutely love what I'm doing.  I love the fact that I'm subbing and gaining more teaching experience and spending more time with the kiddos that I love.  I love the fact that I will be spending my last summer before the start of my career at home.  I'll spend plenty of time at Gramps and Grammy's.  She's been working on a list for me.  Mom has too...  I'll be driving back and forth to visit Dustin and he'll be driving back and forth to visit me.  I'll be in the kitchen, at my sewing machine, and outside...I'll probably pick and eat my fair share of berries like usual.  I'll be teaching Ruby a new trick or two.  I'll be working in the garden and growing flowers.  I'll be sleeping in.

Friday started staff training at camp.  Every day since then, I've been thinking, "If I was at camp right now, this is what I'd be doing."  I'd be doing team building, getting to know new staff, being goofy with Lu Bird, Tums, and Gwen, I'd be all but unplugged from Facebook and my phone, I'd be sending snail mail and spending time with my Bible and journal on a bench next to the crick watching the water flow.

I'm just ready to stop moving.  I love camp, but I'm glad to not be moving weekly and not be living out of a suitcase for the summer.  With the moving topic, I know I'll be moving in August.  I've already been going through my stuff and organizing in ready anticipation.  I just want to be somewhere with a little more permanence than knowing I'll have to pack up and move again in a matter of days, weeks, or months.

Right now, I don't feel like the 'lives in' category on Facebook really pertains to me.

Extended Stay

Last week was bliss.  I was home.  I cleaned, sorted, got rid of so many things from my room.  I baked, wandered around outside with Ruby, and sat at my sewing machine.  All this to distract me as I waited for phone calls about interviews.

Wednesday I got a call about an interview for Thursday.

Thursday I got a call from the principal at the school I just left.  He said that my mentor teacher would be out for the rest of the year and was wondering if I could get my license soon and be willing to take over for her for the rest of the school year.

Is that really a question?

I started making calls as soon as I could so I could get back to that classroom of kids as soon as I could.  They all wanted me to stay anyway, so why not give them a fake out of about 2 weeks and show up again?  :)

As of Monday afternoon, I am a licensed practitioner in the state of Iowa!!!  What a great feeling that is to know that all the classes, field experiences, late night homework, big tests, student teaching, and the writing of my TWS are worth it!

I started today instead of yesterday because I had 2 interviews yesterday.  I think they went well and I'll know by the end of the week.

When I came back today, it was like I hadn't left at all.  Some of the students didn't even acknowledge my prior absence and greeted me like I had been there the whole time.  Others came in with exclamations of seeing me again.  Over and over I explained that I would be staying just a little while longer.  7 more days and I will really have to leave.  But until June 3rd, I'm thankful for God's provision with a job that I love.

Please take some time to pray for my mentor teacher though.  She's had to undergo some surgery and will be in the hospital for about the next week.

Windblown

Yesterday was completely wonderful!  Dustin and I headed to Strawberry Point to see Tums graduate from high school!  :)  I thought we were going to leave in plenty of time...Hwy 63 thought different.

I love my car.  Everyone knows it's my baby.  She has things that just add to her character such as her purple color, the dents from Peyton and myself, the bumper stickers, and all the scratches and dents from the college parking lot.  Currently, she's in need of an oil change and tire rotation.  Thankfully, I have a boyfriend who used to work in a shop and so he offered to do these for me.  She also needs an AC recharge.  She's needed one for a while, but after one really hot ride home from the Twin Cities followed by a week of cold weather with snow included and being away from the men at PTL, I have put it off.  Lately whenever Dustin and I go somewhere farther away, we've been taking my car.  Anytime I drive lately I need to roll the windows down to get cooled off.  I've been rocking the windblown look just about every day.

Yesterday was no different.  We hadn't even made it to Traer and we were uncomfortable.  When we made it to Hudson we had been rolling the windows down for periods of time.  At Cedar Falls, I showed Dustin where I lived while at UNI.  I also showed him the famous Scratch Cupcakery where I spent quite a bit of time!  :)  As we headed towards Waterloo, we found a chunk of Hwy 63 to be closed.  We were beginning to get crunched for time and I was hot and getting frustrated.  We had to take some back roads and got to Olwein when we stopped for lunch.  At this point, we grabbed some drive-thru McDonald's and ate on the way.  We rolled up to Starmont with minutes to spare, but other people were pulling in at the same time, so we weren't the last ones!

Tums giggled as she saw us strolled in.  Naturally, all the graduates were lined up and ready to go graduate.  After a quick hug, we went to find a seat.  I'm so stinking proud of my friend!

After getting out of that hot high school gym, Dustin and I headed to the giant strawberry!  Luckily, a nice lady was walking by who took our picture for us!  :)

After a quick stop for some gas and ice cream, we headed to Backbone State Park.  It was a GORGEOUS day to be there!  We started out hiking a little of the Devil's Backbone.  It was stunning to stand and look out over so much beauty!  After being a little winded from that, we sat on a bench in the shade for a while just hanging out letting the world pass by.  After a while, we headed down to the spring and sit by the water.  That water was cold.  Plain and simple.  We had a couple of contests to see who could hold their feet under the water the longest.  Neither one of us lasted very long.  It was so much fun to laugh and be completely silly at that spring.  We still had a while to kill, so we just laid there on a blanket under the sun soaking in the beauty all around us.  It was such a memorable afternoon!

Tums told us to come hungry to her party.  We did.  Anyone who knows me knows that I can put quite a bit down.  It was so yummy!  I also took a cupcake to go!  :)  We knew we needed to get headed back because of the impending storm.  We could see it coming from a long ways off.  It got scary black and started blowing and raining around Traer.  I was scared.  I was almost to the point of tears.  And the wind was blowing.  Finally, we drove out of it.  I was glad to be back at Dustin's and not have to worry about the storm anymore.

Now, I'll have to wait just a little bit longer before I can get my car in to get my AC recharged.  I'll blog about that reason later.  :)  So, for a little bit longer, I'll deal with that windblown look!

Hakuna Matata

I foreshadowed to me being an emotional wreck this week, and it has rang true.  Honestly, I've cried every day about something.  I've cried because I don't want student teaching to end, in a way.  I'm going to miss these kids like it's nobody's business!  I've cried because I want to go home.  Don't get me wrong, I love living with the Abrahamson's and appreciate all they've done for me, but I'm ready to live with my own mom and dad, play with my dog and wander around back behind again.

This week was interesting and I have felt like I've been all over the place!  I haven't been teaching and so after weeks of that, I just hardly knew what to do with myself.  I have been observing in other schools and classrooms, so I hardly knew what my kids have been doing.  I also had an afternoon where I went back to the school where I had an interview.  I'm also ended this week on Thursday instead of Friday.

On Tuesday, I went to the high school to observe.  One of the students had a soundtrack for The Lion King.  Naturally, I was singing along with him!  Then Hakuna Matata came on.  That song is true in the sense that we shouldn't worry, but in the bigger sense that we shouldn't worry because God has things taken care of and we need to trust in Him.  At this point, I was trying to make a decision about a job offer.

I was able to go to the high school where I was offered a position.  The building reminded me a little of my high school with the rich history of the building itself.  The principal gave me more of a tour and then he left me with the lady who I would be replacing.  It was so good to talk to her and get a sense of her job and the role they were asking me to fill.  After a long talk with her and a sinking feeling that this was not what I wanted, she took me to the SCI room.  My mood totally changed and I was happy in that room.  My heart is in SCI.  I knew then that I could not take this job.  I did ask for a little more time to think and pray before giving a final decision.

As I was on my way out, the lady I had been with for the past half hour came back to me.  She grabbed my hand and said, "I noticed you had the word 'pray' on your bracelet.  That's all you need to do right now.  He has the answer."  WOW!  Seriously!?  How incredible is that?!  As I left fighting tears, I couldn't wait to get to my car to really cry and pray.  As I went to Dustin's house, I continued to cry and pray and realized that I would have to turn down the position.

After praying, I felt more at peace about my decision and was able to talk to Whit, Dustin, and my parents about my decision.  After continued prayer, I feel more renewed in the job search.  And in the wise words of my friend Alison, "Well at least you know that there are people out there that will hire you." 

So now, I'm back to filling out applications and sending out resumes.  And all the while, I'm praying and saying, "Hakuna Matata," because, after all, it means no worries.

if it is teaching...

The last 2 months have been quite an adventure being at the junior high level.  I love this age a lot, but then I remember how I was just beginning my awkward stage.  The kids at this level are able to have deeper conversations...sometimes.  Other times, it's great to laugh and talk about the goofy things that happen to them and to me when I was that age.

Yesterday, I had an interview for a Special Education position at the high school level.  I have never had any field experiences involving high school students.  One of the questions they asked me was what my biggest challenge would be if I got this position.  I honestly stated my lack of experience at the high school level.

I feel like, overall, the interview went well.  I answered all the questions after a slight pause.  I answered all the questions with confidence and truthfully.  I didn't feel nervous at all.  I was given a tour and met the very nice secretary who welcomed me warmly.  The building is old and new and reminds me slightly of high school.

Throughout my interview, I referred back to my current student teaching placement.  I referenced my students and the various things I do for them on a daily basis as well as the gains they have made in my time there.

Thursday is going to be so bittersweet.  Thursday will be the last day that I will banter back and forth with one of my students about who needs to "Watch it!"  Thursday will be the last day one of my students will ask me if we're cooking that day.  Thursday will be the last day I will be able to tease one of my students about his dislike for George Strait music.  I joke with him and tell him he's going to come asking someone to play it on Friday after I'm gone.

Never did I think that I wanted to be a teacher until my senior year of high school.  Now, I wouldn't have it any other way.

We have different gifts according to the grace given us. ...if it is teaching, let him teach... 

-Romans 12:6-7

April 2013

I have seriously been lacking in the blogging area lately.  With spring reluctantly arriving, my fingers want to dig into the dirt and grow something rather than type away at the keyboard.  And then again, how on Earth can it be the night before May 1st?!

Low:

• My time is winding down at my second placement.  It has literally flown by and I now only have 7 teaching days left!
• My car air conditioning needs recharged.  It was a long, hot drive back from the Twin Cities last weekend.  Just ask Dustin.
• Lu canceled her Netflix.  Just when I was almost done with Brothers & Sisters.

High:

• I have had great weekends this whole month!  The first one was spent with Whit having best friend time, the second one was spent at home with the niece and nephew for their birthdays, one was spent in Brandon and Iowa City, and last weekend was in the Twin Cities.  Great times were had!  :)

• I have had a wonderful time in my second placement!  I love the students, teachers, paras, and the random things that happen.  Like Duck Dynasty Day!  :)

• So far, I have sent out exactly 1 application for teaching positions.  I sent it yesterday.  I received a call to have an interview today.  I have an interview on Thursday!  Pray for me please?

What a crazy month before a summer of unknowns.  Some answers are slowly coming, but a lot of things are still up in the air.  Just knowing that God is always faithful keeps me hopeful.

Commonalities

Finding that common ground.  Pick up on commonalities.  Common, common, common.  This thought has been drilled into my head in my years at UNI.  Bill, last semester, was the main driller.  Whenever I hear the word, I hear it in his voice.  Seriously.  

Never in my whole life did I think that the common ground with my students would be as easy as princess stickers, talking about the day to day, high fives and Mario.

I seriously love these students so much!  I mean, how many people can say they have made cupcakes with a student who is blind?  Or dirt cups for that matter?  I love what I do!  I love the people I work with!  They make every day just a little bit better than it already was.

Yesterday one of my students was asking me about what radio station I listen to.  I told him I listen to country and Christian music.  He is the soft rock kind of guy so he was a little disgusted with my answer.  Somehow, the conversation got turned to George Strait.  Go figure since he is my FAVORITE!  I like to consider myself a George Strait Junkie of sorts!  :)  Anyway, Evelyn is one of the sweet paraprofessionals that I work with.  She's kind of like my grandma at school.  She was saying something about having George Strait records that she'd have to look for.  The subject changed and I never gave it another thought.

Today in the hub-bub of the morning, Evelyn came in and handed me a flat bag.  I opened it to 2 George Strait records!  She told me I could keep them!  I geeked really badly!  It was all I talked about today!  I annoyed my students a little when they didn't know who he was and I played some tunes for them.  I didn't care!  I was too stinking happy!  Evelyn found that common ground with me, and look at where we are now!  It's huge when you can find something that really connects with a person.  Finding common ground with one of my girls was as simple as offering her princess stickers, but it's been a little slow up until about Tuesday.

Ah, common ground!  :)

You Just Have To...

I have been embarrassingly behind on blogging lately.  So much has been going on since I last blogged!  I've sat down to write a couple of times over the past month and then I would get distracted by a more pressing need.  So, for this blog, I will attempt to catch up on the past month and all its happenings.

I couldn't be happier with my second student teaching placement.  I started after a mere 4 days of saying goodbye to my 3rd graders.  That first day was practical culture shock.  Instead of there being more students than teachers, it's the other way around.  Instead of my name being said, yelled, uttered multiple times in a half hour span, I could go for half hours without hearing my name.  Instead of a stuck to schedule, there is a roll with the punches atmosphere.  I don't think I can express how happy and free I feel in this room.  I take over next week completely.  I've been getting along so well with each of the students.  And I need to get red pants for Red Pant Wednesday!

And I have a desk.

With a yellow rain boots pot with a plant.

AHHHH!!!!  

:)

My boyfriend and I have been dating for 2 whole months.  The time has simply flown by!  He's come home with my twice and loves hanging out with my family.  We love playing cards and just last night, he beat me for the first time in Rummy.  Dustin is a country boy through and through.  He's convinced I need to get a gun and go hunting with him this year.  He loves fishing...and he enjoys catching more than me...

Bella, his dog, is super jealous.  She's had him all to herself for her whole doggie life.  But that problem is now solved since he took her into his parent's house to stay. 

And then there's Benji.  Ya know, that sweet and innocent Yorkie that guards the Abrahamson house?  The only reason he's so 'sweet' is because he ate 1 1/2 Scratch cupcakes.  Yep.  The cupcakes I got for Dustin and I.  One that he special requested.  Benji got them and took one to hide for later.  We aren't on sweet terms right now.

I was able to see Jani Lippert last week.  Oh man, did I miss that girl!  It was so good to get a hug from her!  It was great to catch up a little bit in the gas station parking lot.  She brought me a portfolio that I was badly in need of because not only do I have to do the whole teaching thing, but I have to do the portfolios and other assignments for seminar.

Did I mention that I'm starting to look for real jobs now?  Holy cow!  I'm trying to find something up this way.  There are a few openings, and there is so much to get done for the application process.  Dustin came over last week to help me look and I was stressing out a little bit.  After a good dose of prayer, I was able to sleep that night.  I know that God will open the door I need to walk through.

Well, you should all know by now that my best friend is getting married in November.  We got her dress, and so with my precious few weekends that I have left, we spent Saturday looking for my dress.  The first one I tried on was the one!  I can't wait to wear it at her wedding!  No pictures because the dress was the wrong color, and it was a size too small, but look for them in November.

Before the kids even left today, my teacher told me to get ready because I was leaving as soon as the kids left.  She was too.  

"It's too nice to sit in here and work.  Sometimes you just have to do that for yourself."

So I sit on the deck getting ready to work on lesson plans and portfolios.  At least I'm outside, right?