I'm Like Bird...

I can't believe the time is finally here!  I am finally standing on the edge of the nest getting ready to fly solo! 

In a matter of weeks I will be moving into my new basement apartment in a townhouse in Arlington, VA where there are currently two sweet girls living that I will be sharing common areas and a washer/dryer with.  The place is definitely the perfect place for me to get started in.  From the moment I drove through the neighborhood I just had good feelings, and once I stepped inside the house, I felt like I was home, and when I saw the space in the basement...and...the GINORMOUS CLOSET I was home :)

So currently, I'm still working my rear-end off trying to save up enough money to get started comfortably up there, and starting now to pack up and put things into boxes, and get rid of stuff I don't want.  I feel like the whole putting my possessions into boxes would go a little bit smoother if Mom hadn't insisted on purchasing a HUGE queen size bed, and instead of waiting to set it up in my room till after I moved out, insisted on setting it up NOW...which has moved my furniture around and made the room 10x's smaller so now with the boxes in there I literally can't move...and I can't even get to stuff that I need to put in boxes...very frustrating.  But of course I got yelled at today for having boxes up against the new bed...(which had to be moved there so I could get to my dresser...kind of need clothes to go to work in MA...and so I could get to my DVD player...) Why the need to put the new bed in there now...I will never understand!!!!  I mean...REALLY?!?!  And don't mis-interpret, I am not upset at the fact that she's already moving me out of my room...believe me, if I could I'd be gone already.  I'm just upset at the fact that that was a REALLY INCONVENIENT idea...but she insisted...and it's "mom's house" yet again, another reason on the list of many why I can't wait to be flying solo.

Oh and while I'm on all this mom stuff, I should talk about the fact that I've been having some great convos with this lady I work with, who actually has a daughter my age who's in the same stage of life as me right now moving out etc. And this lady and I have been able to really have some real mom/daughter conversations w/o the personal/emotional attachment.  So she's seeing her daughter's side through me...and I see my mom's side through her.  It's kinda cool.  So hopefully I'm helping her daughter out a bit...I'm sure she's hoping she's helping out my mom a bit...I dunno. So ladies out there I will say it's not a bad idea to link up with a "mom-mentor" I guess I would call it, if you can.

Anyway, I guess that's about all I have to say about that.  Sorry, no life-altering words this evening.  I will leave  you and your weekend ahead with this life-lesson I learned this past week.  Having a rock awesome amazing weekend leads to a good week that goes by quickly! JUST SAYIN'

SOOOO have a ROCK AWESOME, AMAZING WEEKEND!

I'm out!

Thankful Thursday

Alright...honesty box time.  I got into that selfish mopey place in my head again tonight.  What is it about when the sun goes down, suddenly a switch flips inside you (or at least inside me anyway), and all the bad thoughts and feelings come seeping in, festering and dwelling.  Darkness...night...provides the perfect environment for the sting of loneliness, and doubt to penetrate and linger.

But here I am now....after wallowing for a while...drowning thoughts in a steaming hot shower...and prayer...I remember it's Thankful Thursday, and there's a ping in my heart.  I've been sulking again and forgotten to remember the blessings of the day.  Guilt washes over me, and yet as I sit thinking of what to write about being thankful for...gratitude actually begins to trickle in...

I'm thankful for:

1. The blessings I am seeing in my friends' lives.  (Jobs, and opportunities, weddings, and babies!)
2. The most amazing friends in the entire world!  Friends that challenge me and encourage me; that speak the God's Truth into my life.
3. My incredible Dad! (That I still have no idea what to get for Father's Day....)
4. Employment...
5. Sunshine and warm weather
6. I'm thankful to be done with school and to have the time to read books for pleasure, NOVELS! To watch movies, and to cook!  (I made banana pudding all by myself last night for a cook-out today LOOK!)

Everyone gobbled it all up! (One guy had 4 servings! :D)

7. New days, and new opportunities...always a chance to start over.  I was watching Forrest Gump this weekend (it was on TV...you know you can NEVER resist!) And it hit me one of the biggest reasons why I love that movie and the character.  It's because he embodies the life I strive to lead...the life-style I truly believe humans were created to lead.  You see, in the movie...Forrest goes where ever the wind blows him (hence the feather I think at the end...yes, it probably has to do with Jenny flying away too...but still you watch it fly and catch with the wind).  But Forrest is an open book when it comes to life...and whenever opportunity knocks...he doesn't really think too hard about it...he just takes it...he just does it...he just LIVES!  And he never feels the need to stick with any one thing...nothing is permanent except the love he has for the people in his life...like Momma, Jenny, Bubba, and Lt. Dan; he never waivers in his loyalty to the people he loves!  Anyway, that's a whole lot of talking about a movie, but basically the way Forrest lived in the movie is what I hope to emulate...I want to be an open book, to take in all life has to offer me, to truly experience every season of life, and to do and be everything I can in this world...in this one short...precious life.  And I'm thankful for every knocking opportunity, every change of the wind, every detour, every chance to live life to the fullest.

With that said my friends, I can now say that where there was only moments ago dark, painful, and lonely thoughts...all of me is brimming with gratitude and reassurance.  I was meant for greater things than what lurks in the darkness...

Why wait for Thursday to be Thankful?...

I don't want to start off this post with the typical "Happy Memorial Day"...I think that's a little weird.  I don't know why, but that phrase hits me weird.  Yes, we should be happy that we have our freedoms, and I hope you all are having a happy day, but I feel weird saying I hope you have a happy day of remembering our fallen men and women who paid the ultimate price so I could have days and a life of freedom and happiness. 

Don't get me wrong, I myself have already been to the beach with friends and back today, and I am certainly happy, I hope all of you are having a great day as well, but I also hope you have taken time to say a quick prayer of gratitude for the many blessings we have in this incredibly country thanks to the sacrifices of the men and women we honor today.  Today is a day of remembrance and a good day to be thankful...and since I've missed a few Thankful Thursdays...why not take the opportunity today?

I am thankful for:

1. The men and women of our great nation, and their families who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms and liberties of the people of our nation.  The husbands and wives who have laid down their spouse, and the children who have laid down their parents...Mothers and Fathers who have sacrificed their children, siblings who have laid down their brothers and sisters, and friends who have sacrificed friends for the unnamed millions who live here in this country, and for me.  So that I could be free...to live, and to pursue happiness.

2. I am thankful for the wonderful members of my family who have served.  Thankful and proud!

3. I am thankful for time, on a day like today and in times like these where friends and family are delivered into places of uncertainty, one realizes even more so the fleeting nature of time, and the unpredictability of life.

4. On a sillier note, I'm thankful that I escaped getting stung by a crazy bee that decided to fly in through the car window while we were driving to the beach...it scathed my shoulder and landed curled up in the car seat next to me...it was actually quite traumatizing...for one who is terrified of bees and whose immediate reaction is to run away, when you can't run away...it's a little scary....

5. Sunshine, sand, and water...yay beaches! (and the fact that I finally got to go!)

6. I am thankful for the most incredible friends in the world.

7.  I am thankful for the countless blessings I have been showered with lately.  For a job, in the district that I wanted, at the school that I wanted, at the grade level I wanted...and for the doors that God has been throwing open for me.

Those are just a few of the things I have remembered to be thankful for today....

What are you thankful for?

The Best Laid Plans (Jer. 29:11)

It's amazing how when things start falling into place in your life, everything just lines up...although it works equally just the same the other way around, you know the old adage, "When it rains...it pours."  Fortunately for the time being the stars are aligning quite nicely.

I am now blogging to you as a real 4th grade teacher!  I went for an interview this past weekend and was offered the job on the same day!  WOOHOO!!! I couldn't be more thrilled, it's the exact position I want at the exact school I want.  I have a feeling that as things progress this blog may evolve into something more about  my journey to becoming a teacher, and the first year of teaching, and living on my own FINALLY!

Here's a little recap of my journey to becoming a teacher....

Martha Crunch Math Boot Camp!

My first bulletin board! A geometric quilt the students made!

Read/Write/Think Aloud with one of my favorite books!

Outdoor Inspiration for our Haikus

Our trip to Jamestown!

Saying Goodbye...

Oh the journey it has been and it's only the beginning.  Now I am moving on to my very own class of 4th graders next year, and I am SO EXCITED!!!  It is amazing how richly blessed I am, and I thank God every day for leading me to my calling in his own perfect way.

Parting is such Sweet Sorrow

This week marks the end of an era for me.  On Weds. I completed my student teaching and my Master's program.  On Sunday I graduated with my Master's of Arts in Education.  It has been a long hard road that I'm not quite sure I would do quite the same way if I had to do it again, but the path has lead me to great places and thrown wide open doors of opportunity.

Weds. was a bitter sweet day as I said farewell to my very special class of fourth graders whom I have grown to love over the past year.  I baked and brought in cupcakes decorated in school colors. In addition to those I used up a majority of my stationary collection writing hand-written notes to each one of my students thanking them for being such wonderful members of the class and a special part of my first teaching experience, and encouraging them to continue to grow and learn.  I also wrote thank you notes to teachers and the principal who all had a great impact on my success this year.  While I am glad this stressful academic year is over, I was sad to depart from this wonderful group of people who have certainly touched my heart and life.

Sunday marked a monumental occasion for myself, my friends, and my family.  Sunday I graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Master's of Arts in Education which I completed in one year.  No small feat for anyone I dare say, especially from this establishment.  Last year I graduated in May with a Bachelor's of Music, and began this rigorous program in June...and now I have my second degree!  I am the first in my generation of the family ever to receive a Master's Degree, and the first to attend this university.  It was a beautiful day for graduation ceremonies, and I actually received my diploma that day, not just that little note that tells you it will be coming in the mail!  I am so relieved to have this degree under my belt and the student part of my life finished, because it was starting to get old.  I will however, dearly miss the girls I have come to love over the course of this year as we've struggled and shared the joys of teaching together, and I sincerely hope we all get jobs in areas near each other so that we don't actually have to say good bye.  As for me, I have received an offer that I have accepted from my top choice school district and I am thrilled!  Not only to have landed a job, and with my first choice district, but also to know that I will finally be moving out!!!  After living at home for a year....this is a MUCH NEEDED BREAKTHROUGH!

 The Fabulous Five! I will miss you girls!

 I've got looks with brains to match!

I can't believe it's finally here!  All the blood, sweat, and tears have paid off in full and God has been extremely good to me.  Congrats to the class of 2010, to my girls whom I love, WE DID IT!!!  We're teachers!!!!

Friday's a Good Day to Be Thankful Too!

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I didn't do a thankful thursday post...so here it is on Friday...Friday's just as good a day as any to be thankful.

I'm thankful for...

1. Being done with grad school!!!!

2. Being a teacher!!!!

3. Summer time!!!

4. An amazing group of ladies that share my love for teaching and know how to have a good time...I'm gonna miss you girls!

5. Parents that have given me everything and made my success possible!

6. Mountain Dew and coffee...for getting me through many days this past year. You've been good to me.

7. Dresses and ponytails...the best quick fix for bad hair days and days when you just don't feel pretty...throw on a dress and you're instantly cute...and ponytails fix everything.

Alrighty that's about all I got for now.  Enjoy, and I'll see you next week sometime, if not before then.

Counting My Blessings Again

1. Jobs
2. Special people in my life
3. All of my little angels
4. Change
5. A blessed calling
6. That I graduate in just over a week!
7. Opportunities to prove to myself and others I can do more than I give myself credit for...so, all thanks and glory to the one who really is behind everything!