Short and Sweet

So today is going to be another one of those "here's a list of my random thoughts" post. I am in the middle of studying for the GACE (test to be certified to teach in Ga) and I figured I would use my mental break time to update you all.  Therefore, my brain is too fried to put together a coherent post. So here it goes:
1. My Christmas was great! I received a lot of great gifts, but most of all I got to spend some quality time with the entire family.  We spent the majority of the day playing games (apples to apples and Just Dance 4).
2. I am almost finished with the book The 5 Love Languages, Singles Edition.  Even if you are in a serious relationship, I highly recommend this book!  It is a fairly easy read, minus the deep self-reflection. It has taught me a lot about how to better express and receive love.  I came to realize that I best receive love through the form of quality time and words of affirmation; which really was no shock.  However, people usually give love in the same way they receive love so I realized I have to actively work on speaking and receiving love in other "languages".  The book talks about how you can intellectually know that someone loves you but still not feel loved by them if they are not speaking love in the language you receive best.  Anyways, it is quite interesting and I am excited to put into practice some of the ideas I took away from this book to improve the relationships in my life.
3. I am taking the GACE this Saturday....and yes, I waited till this week to start studying.  I have never been one to study in my life (thanks to my photographic memory I usually just had to read through my notes once and I was good to go).  However, this test covers all subjects across multiple grade levels, and since my long-term memory pretty much sucks, for lack of a better word, I am a little worried about this test...primarily the social studies section.  History has never been my strong suit.
4. I am really excited about starting my student teaching a week...wait a week?! It seems like it has taken an eternity to get here, but at the same time I cannot believe that in 16 weeks I will be done and hopefully well on my way to finding a full-time position!  I must admit that I was starting to have some doubts about student teaching.  I found myself not looking forward to it as much as I thought I would.  I think it is mostly because my placement is predominantly in 5th grade.  I have met the teacher and the kids I will be with and they are absolutely great!  However, I have been in 4th grade the last 2 semesters and I think I was getting tired of the upper grades.  While I have truly loved my time in 4th grade, and know that I will learn a lot with the 5th graders, my passion has always been with the younger students, especially since my emphasis is on reading.  However, my faculty adviser told me she is working to get my placement changed so that I will be in 5th grade for 5 weeks and 1st grade for 10 weeks (rather than the other way around).  I could not be more excited about the possibility of this!  As soon as I heard this all my worries and doubts immediately went away and the anticipation returned.  I am mostly excited about this because I have so little experience in 1st grade and since this is the grade that I really hope to teach in the future I really want to get as much exposure as I can.
5. I will be deleting my facebook indefinitely...it is time for a break.  I am not on there that often but I just feels good to know I will have one less distraction.  I will still be using my twitter and instagram, so feel free to follow me there.  I will of course be continuing my blog updates.  However, this means that I will not be posting links on my facebook whenever I post a new entry.  So, if you are one of my readers that would like to continue reading my blog, I suggest you add yourself as a follower using the email link and the top right.  If you have any trouble with this, I have opened the comment box below.
6. Thank you all for reading and encouraging me to keep this blog going.  I am impressed with myself for keeping it going this long and it has been a fun learning experience.  This year has been one of many new beginnings.  I look forward to what the new year has in store for me and all of my loved ones.  I have a feeling it is going to be a year of great change for many of us.  So with that, Happy New Year to you all!! xoxo

Tis the Season

So here I am in Starbucks, watching the rush of people all around as they try to wrap up their Christmas shopping (no pun intended).  People watching is one of my favorite things.  It is like watching the world in slow motion.  I find it so interesting how we can all be in our own little world and never see some of the amazing and humbling things that go on around us; like the customer who just payed for the next person's order or the little boy who put the change his mom gave him in the tip jar.  It's times like these that remind me to pause and to just be in the moment more; to take the time to make small talk with the cashier or to simply hold the door open even if the person is more than just a few steps behind me.  If I've learned anything this year, it is that you never know what someone is going through in their personal life.  A simple gesture can mean more than you know.  In my previous post I talked about wanting to find ways to do more for others; to give more of myself.  I have seen the people who do a Random Act of Kindness thing where they try to do one RAK a week or even daily.  I thought about this and while I think it is a great thing to do, I want my "giving" to be more genuine than some thought out list of deeds to do.  Instead I would rather be more aware of opportunities that present themselves by being in the moment.  I also won't be writing about the specific ways I find to give back, no matter how small or big the gesture.  I originally thought it would be great to share as a way to encourage others to do the same, but I am afraid it would become more about me and the acts themselves rather than the meaning behind my doing them in the first place.  Matthew 6:1-4 says "Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them...so when you give to the needy, do not announce it to be honored by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."  My goal is not to draw attention to myself or to prove that I am a good person.  God knows the kind of person I am and he knows the true desires and intentions of my heart.   I feel I have been so blessed this last year, that I can only hope to pay it forward as much as possible. 

There is so much more I want/need to write but I will save it for another day.  Right now, I am going to enjoy my chai tea vanilla latte (try it--it unexpectedly tastes like Christmas in a cup), catch up on some reading that is not school or work related and enjoy the JDC music I just downloaded. Seriously, check him out. Truly talented.  Anyways, I probably won't be posting again till the end of the week, so I hope you all have a very blessed Christmas and get to spend it enjoying the company of those you love most.  And to my family and friends that are too far away for me to see, just know that I will be thinking of you and that I love you all very much!

P.s. Happy 29th birthday, TK!

Happy Holidays from the pups :)

12/12/12

So today is a very special day.  It is one of my best friend's birthday! Ashley and I met our freshman year of college at KSU and I cannot imagine where I would be without her.  God definitely knew what he was doing when he put her in my life.  Thanks to her I transferred to UGA my Junior year, even though I chose as a freshman to deny my acceptance because I did not want to go to a big school.  However, it ended up being one of the best decisions I could have made and I owe it all to her encouragement. I still remember that day in gym class where she told to at least apply so I had the "option" to transfer with her :) We have had some great memories and I am so happy I was able to experience all 4 years of college with her.  Even though we don't get to talk or see each other as often as I would like, I know that we will always remain close and be great friends. So, thank you Ashley for being by my side through it all and for 7 great years of friendship! Here's to the many more years to come!

Lexi turns 3!

Photos from my Scrapbook of Lexi's 1st year (yes, I know!)

Lexi's 1st Birthday

Just a Baby :)

My sweet girl

 

I couldn't pass up an opportunity to show off my little girl. I can't believe I have had her for three years already! For those of you who don't have a dog, I know what you're thinking...I use to be the same way.  But until you have a dog, you cannot understand the pure joy that they bring.  Yes, they are a ton of work but SO worth it.  I can't express enough how much Lexi has impacted my life and I cannot imagine it without her.  She shows me endless and unconditional love and wants nothing more than to please me.  I never thought a little thing like her could have so much emotion and be so smart.  Nothing brings me more joy than when I come home and she is so excited to see me.  She is the perfect dog and I absolutely adore her.  I can only hope that she knows how much she means to me. Happy 3rd birthday Lexi!!

It's a Hat Kind of Day

Today is one of those days where I woke up, it was raining and I did not want to get out of bed.  Not really having anywhere to go, I laid it bed and contemplated just staying there for awhile.  Instead, I told myself I need to get motivated and be productive today.  With too many distractions for me at home, I got ready, put on a hat so I didn't have to worry about doing my hair and set out for good ol' Barnes & Nobel.  I love coming here and searching the bookshelves and grabbing a cup of coffee before finding the perfect spot to get to work.  However, I have a feeling I am not going to be as productive here as I intended.  I have a bad habit of people watching and listening to the interesting conversations around me.  And there is plenty of that going on this morning.  In fact a group of people not too far from me are debating the influence of God in their lives and whether they have the right to blame God for things that go wrong in their lives.  It's actually quite interesting.  So in attempt to further put off writing my final paper of the semester, I decided to write to you, my trusty followers (all 1 of you that is). I know more of you read this (at least that's what I like to believe) so feel free to boost my ego this morning and click the follow link on the right :)  This last month has been a crazy one.  In fact, it went by so fast I'm pretty sure I just skipped over the entire month of November.  I will do my best to update you on the majority of what went on.  My mind is all over the place right now so rather than try to explain the past few weeks in what would be a jumble of thoughts that would make no sense to you I'm sure, I will list the key events in no particular order. Here it goes:
1. I completed my time in 4th grade for this semester.  I am happy for the additional free time, but I will do miss the students.  I'm thinking about stopping by the classroom one last time before the break.
2. I am meeting my 5th grade students this week (the ones I will be teaching for 10 weeks next semester!)
3. My cousin from Colorado graduated from Army bootcamp at Ft. Benning at the beginning of the month and I was able to go see him and his family (my aunt and uncle) again.  Twice in one year! The rest of my family went as well, which I was really happy about bc my dad had not seen his brother in probably 10 years!
4. All 6 of us were together for Thanksgiving, which is a rare occasion!  I love when we're all together, especially since the holidays can feel so empty without all my extended family that I grew up having around for all occasions.
5. I made a ornament wreath (pictures to come)
6. I received two scholarships for next semester! God is so great...I know that he provided this for me.  The amount I received was exactly enough to pay for 3 out of the 4 months worth of bills for the time I will be student teaching and not able to work. Such a huge relief to say the least.
7. I am thinking of starting a personal goal in terms of giving more of myself (think Random Acts of Kindness).  I haven't exactly figured out what I want to do but it has been on my heart lately.  We are in the middle of a series at church called Be Rich and the focus is that if you have more than you need, you are rich and that we should give our time and money to those who can not do anything in return for us (true generosity at it's core).
 This is all I can think of at the moment, so I guess it is time to get to work on my paper.  But, lucky you, I will be posting pictures tomorrow...promise! I know, two posts in one week?! Craziness. Talk to you soon, whoever you may be.

Have a Little Faith

 

Found this on pinterest a few weeks ago and it has been my daily mantra ever since.  One of the goals I set for myself recently was to be more purposeful in my prayers.  Often it is after though while I'm laying in bed and I just let my thoughts wonder, rather than taking the time to focus on my prayers and be deliberate in what I pray for.  However that last few days I have decided to take the time to pause and pray morning and nigh, asking God to help me follow His plan for my life, rather than my own.  I can't even tell you how this little time has affected me.  Not only do I have a better outlook and positive attitude each day, but I have seen his plan unfolding for me already. Last night I received the officially email that my appeal for my student teaching placement was approved! So instead of a 1.5hour drive, I will be at a school just 25 minutes away.  They also told me that I will be in a 5th grade classroom for the first 10 weeks of my placement and a 1st grade classroom the last 5 weeks.  While 5th grade is not what I wanted, I know that it will be a great experience and will teach me a lot. I am also really looking forward to my placement in 1st grade! God clearly has a plan for me and this is all part of it, so I know that he will guide me through it all. 

In other good news...

My Dawgs beat the gators this last weekend!!

  Flowers I received from a student at work :)

The Michael's cake class has been a lot of fun and a nice creative outlet. Tomorrow is out last session. I have to come up with a design for my final cake.

 Nothing says fall like the county fair!

 

A little craft time...countdown blocks for a special someone :)

Insert Clever Title Here

So here I am 2.5 weeks since my last post...that's an improvement right??  I really need to find a better system for staying updated in the blogging world (and coming up with titles for my posts).  Really it just comes down to me not being lazy during my time off.  I feel like I am constantly on the go from one place to another that when I'm home I just want to do absolutely nothing.  But unfortunately, being a grad student isn't really conducive to being lazy.  This week will be my last week of planning and teaching lessons for my independent course.  Then I just have my final reflection paper and can officially be done with my courses for the program.  I will also hopefully be finding out soon if my appeal for my student teaching placement was accepted.  Basically I am trying to get approved for a closer placement that what they originally gave me.  Driving 1.5 hours each way 5 days a week for 15 weeks just isn't feasible.  I am also anxious to find out what grade I will be in.  Most of all though, no matter where I am, I am just looking forward to the experience and being on a normal schedule.  So hopefully by the time I get around to writing the next post I will have some good news to share.

On another note, I went to Athens yesterday to turn in my scholarship application and meet with my advisor.  I also got to have lunch with two great girls that I haven't seen since our Italy trip.  It was so nice to catch up and reminisce.  On my way out I stopped by my old house and saw my roommate...it was just like old times. It really made me realize how much I miss Athens and living on my own though.  I just have to keep looking to the future. This next year is going to bring a lot of change and I can't wait to see where God leads me.  I'm just happy that I have the best of friends and that I am in such a great small group with an amazing group of girls that will help me get through all these transitions and to stay positive. There is so much more that I want to share with you all (if any one even reads this) but I have some overdue homework that I need to get to. So I will leave you with a little quote that I saw recently in hopes that it will help anyone who may be going through a rough patch: Rejection is God's way of telling you wrong direction.

Just Say Maybe

So as usual, I have had "update blog" on my to-do list for a couple weeks now and it finally made it to the top of the list.  Sorry for the month long break. September was a whirlwind of tasks.  My portfolio for student teaching was due in the middle of the month and then my Exhibition was last week.  I am happy to report that both went extremely well! The faculty members told me that they were impressed with my work and that I did exactly what they were looking for. I could not be more relieved.  While the process was stressful, I really did enjoy getting to remember all the times I have spent in the classroom over the last year and a half.  I was actually surprised at the amount of work I really have accomplished.  It was nice to see it all come together.  While I am approved to student teach, I am still waiting to get my placement so I will know where and what grade level I will be teaching next semester.

Aside from all of that, I have been adding to my weekly schedule.  I discovered I have a problem with telling people no. First I added on another student to my math tutoring schedule. Then I agreed to babysit a teacher's child every Wednesday starting at 7am.  I need the money so of course I didn't want to tell anyone no.  So that meant I was in the classroom 2 days a week, tutoring 2 kids in math 3 days a week, and working at the reading center 3 days a week.  On top of all that I was having to do my exhibition work as well as keep up with my online class.  So as you can see there was little time in the last month to update you all...but I did warn you that may happen.  I quickly felt myself getting overwhelmed and realized that I need to learn to tell people maybe, until I have time to think about it and can give them rational answer.  But like all things, it all works out in the end.  I absolutely love my job and the kids I tutor.   Plus, the teacher I babysat for found a full time in-home daycare for her daughter which opened up my Wednesdays again.  It may not seem like much, but that break during the day really helps to break up my week and give me the energy to make it through.  And now that my exhibition is over, I can concentrate on other things, like getting to plan and teach some actual lessons in the 4th grade class I work with.  I am also starting a cake class at Michael's next week.  I am really excited to have something that is for pure fun each week and allows me to be creative.

The next big thing on my to-do list is to apply to some scholarships.  Not being able to work during student teaching next semester is really going to hurt my bank account and I really don't want to take out any more loans than necessary.  So, any prayers you can send my way would be much appreciated.  Until next month week...

 

Putting my portfolios together

 

Got to visit my cousin at Ft. Benning (haven't seen him in 4 years!)

Tiger Woods at the FedEx Cup...fun day!

Bought Lexi a Thundershirt for her nervousness 

around people...needless to say she didn't like it and I took it back.

A little BFF tradition

Took advantage of an empty house and made some banana muffins :)

 

**Sorry, no matter what I did some of the pictures kept rotating to the side for some reason :/

You Win Some, You Lose Some

This past week was a full one.  It started off with meeting my new small group on Monday.  The group of girls are great and I am so excited to start this new journey with them.  I'm so happy to have a new circle of people that I can connect with and lean on for positivity and strength during this crazy time in my life.  This group could not have come at a better time for me.  In attempt to keep myself organized and more productive, I began using this planning sheet that I stumbled upon on pinterest (of course!) I love that it helps me prioritize and categorize my to-do list.  I also love that it has a place for 'joys today' which helps me focus on the good in each day.  So far, it has really helped me stay on track, especially with my school work.  The rest of my week was filled with volunteering in the classroom and working at the reading center.  Work has been challenging, but I'm really enjoying it and learning a lot that I will be able to apply to my teaching.  Speaking of teaching, I was finally able to sign up for my exhibition.  It is officially on the 25th, which gives me...22 days until the presentation (14 until my portfolio is due) YIKES! Let the pressure sink in.  Luckily this past week was semi-productive, so I am hoping to finish up the writing this week, so I can have all next week to put the books together (we need to turn in multiple copies for each faculty member in our presentation.)  I also have to create a presentation but that is not on my radar at the moment.  One step at a time.  In other news, I took a break from all the work this week and went with my family to Harrah's casino in NC to celebrate my brother's 21st birthday....I know, I can't believe he's 21!  Pretty soon we will all be in our careers and moving through life so quickly in all different directions.  I'm thankful for the times like this weekend that we get to spend together, because they are becoming less frequent.  Seems like holidays are the only time we can get all six of us together...and we all live within an hour from each other. Anyways, back to the casino.  I unfortunately lost $25, but I'm happy to say I lost the least; except for my dad who was the only winner, coming out ahead by $30.  Despite the loss (and the ac in the truck going on on the way up) we had a great trip.  It was a much needed break as this is going to be a crazy month for me.  Every weekend is already packed with things to do (both work and play) and it's a critical time in my master's program.  It's going to be a stressful month, but my plan is to stay on top of everything and take it one day at a time.  The good thing is I won't be going through it alone. I will try to keep you all updated, but if you don't hear from me in awhile you know why.

A Little Me Time

So among all the adjusting I have been going through the last month, I have managed to find some time for myself in order to keep my sanity.  Reason why: I have my exhibition portfolio due in less than a month so the stress level has been on the high end lately.  For those of you who don't know my exhibition is probably the most important part of my master's program.  I have to compile a written portfolio of everything I have done to prepare for my future as a teacher.  I then present my portfolio at my exhibition, which determines the fate of my student teaching.  No pressure.  It has been SLOWLY coming along.  I still have a long way to go and should be working on it, rather than updating my blog, but we all need a break every now and then, right? But, at least I'm being more productive than my family downstairs, who are on their third movie of the day.  I love a lazy day and a good movie as much as the next person, but I hate feeling like I've wasted an entire day.

But where was I?  Oh, right...the crafts.  Since my options are limited in my parents' house, I have stuck to simple, fairly clean projects.  It's been nice to have quick projects that I can accomplish with little time and money (bc let's face it, I don't have much of either these days).  I got both ideas from Pinterest of course and I love how they turned out and had some function and girly decor to my brother's room, which I hijacked when I moved in....thanks Anthony for moving down to the basement :)  Anyways, the first project I did was to paint some cork boards.  I've had the cork squares from a sale a few months back that I just couldn't pass up and knew I would find use for some day.

First I painted 4 cork squares white.

Then using painter's tape I created a stripe pattern.

Next I painted over the tape with a grey.

 The grey turned out a lot darker than I had hoped for, but that's what you get for trying to mix the colors yourself.

This is the finished product once I hung them up above my desk.

(excuse the bad quality phone pic)

The next project I worked on was a jewelry stand for my bathroom.  I don't have any counter space and so I needed a convenient place to keep my odds and ends (watch, bobby pins, earring, ect) easily accessible.  When I saw this idea on Pinterest I knew it was the right solution.  I picked up some cheap clay plant holders at Home Depot.  I already had the paint color I wanted so I was set.

First I painted them with my base color.

 

I initially was going to leave it the solid color, but though it could use a little contrast, so I added in some white.

I attempted to hot glue the pieces together but it wouldn't stick.  It seems to be sturdy enough without it anyways.  They probably could use another coat of the white, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

While I had the paint out, I decided to do another quick craft I remembered seeing on Pinterest (I have a lot of pins saved up for a rainy day).  I painted some clothes pins and hot glued a thumb tack to the back of them.  I used them as hangers for my cork board.  I think it makes my decorative cork board more functional without sacrificing style.

I even found time to clean out all my school binders from the past year...I love a good organization and purge session!

 While my social life has suffered a little from moving home, I've enjoyed the additional "me time."  It's been nice to do some things just for fun and take my mind of everything else going on.  Hopefully my social life will get back on track soon though.  I just joined a small group at church, which has mostly single girls.  I'm excited to connect with some new friends that can relate to my stage in life.  We meet for the first time as a group tomorrow, so I will update you on how that goes.  I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and don't forget to take time for yourselves every now and then...it will make you a happier and more productive person in the long run.

Adjustments

So here I am, another month has gone by.  I honestly don't know where the time goes.  I have been meaning to post for about two weeks and some how I just kept putting it off.  So instead of watching t.v. or doing some other pointless time-wasting task on my day off, I have decided to be productive.  First on my list today: update you all on what I have being doing the last month.  My word for the month is adjustment.  I feel like I have had to do a lot of adjusting these last few weeks.  First, the month started off with me moving back home.  While this is never an ideal situation, at least for me, it is a blessing that I have parents who are supportive and willing to help me out.  With only one class this semester and not knowing where my student teaching placement will be next semester, it only seemed logical to move home, save some much needed money, and not be locked into a lease somewhere.  In almost 7 years I have only lived at home for an 8 month period, so being 25 and moving home again has come with a lot of personal challenges.  My lifestyle changed completely overnight. I lost a lot of freedom I had become accustomed to over the last few years.  Now, all of a sudden, I am no longer accountable to just myself.  No longer having my own place, I have had to give up a lot of things I enjoy doing, like experimenting in the kitchen and having people over.  There's also some added stress when you have to abide by someone else's rules and routines.  At 25 it's a patronizing humbling experience to be in this position.  I know that a lot of people are in my same position, especially with this economy, but being the independent person that I am, it is not where I had hoped I would be at this age. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful to my parents for giving me a free place to stay and it actually hasn't been as bad as I expected it to be, but regardless, it is naturally a huge adjustment that I'm still trying to carefully navigate.  I think the hardest thing for me right now is just accepting that this is where I am in my life and reminding myself that it won't be like this forever. But, I am looking forward.  Next semester I will be student teaching and then next fall I will hopefully be teaching my own classroom!  I know that God has a plan for me and that this will all be worth it one day very soon. 
Continuing with the positive, moving home has also allowed me to do a lot of things that I would not otherwise be able to do.  Not only am I closer to a few of my friends, I am also closer to my church, which allows me to go on a regular basis and even get more involved.  I recently became a leader in our children's ministry where I get to watch 22 4-yr-olds (with the help of additional volunteers!) and teach them about how Jesus loves them! It is so heartwarming to see their excitement every Sunday.  I will also be joining a new small group so I can continue to grow my own faith and meet others in the same stage of life as myself. Additionally, I have also been volunteering in a 4th grade classroom twice a week.  I truly look forward to going each time and it reassures me every day that I am on the right path.  I am also making some great connections, so hopefully I can land a job when I graduate!  Another big adjustment I have had to make in the last month, is starting a new job.  This was something that was giving me a lot of anxiety before I moved.  I needed a job that would not only be beneficial to my resume, but one that would fit with my schedule; allow me to work in the classroom and be flexible with my student teaching next semester.  Luckily I landed the perfect job.  After a long and overwhelming exciting training period, I am now a reading therapist for elementary and middle school students.  It is such a great experience and I love getting to work with the students one-on-one and watch them grow their confidence and reading abilities.  I have also learned so much that I will be able to carry with me into my teaching.  We also just started our school hours, which means I only work after school.  This also means I have time during the days I am not volunteering in the classroom to work on my school work or just relax and do things for myself.  That alone has been an adjustment; learning what to do with my time.  I have had to do a lot of self-disciplining and prioritizing.  More on that later though.  This post has already taken a different direction than I set out to write, but that's nothing new.  I hope you all enjoyed the end of your summers and are adjusting well back into work or school.  Thanks for letting me rant.  You're a great audience ;)

Back from Seclusion

So let me start off by apologizing for my absence lately. I cannot believe it has been, what? almost 2 months since my last post.  Where in the world did summer go???  I'll tell you where my summer went...to grad school.  I feel like I have been non-stop this summer.  As soon as I got back from Italy (which seems like a year ago at this point) it was right back into school mode.  I am currently on my last two summer classes, one of which is the more intense classes I have ever taken.  On top of all that I am moving this weekend.  My wonderful mother gracious came and helped me pack up most of my things last week.  Really it was the other way around...she did most of the work while I was in class.  On top of class, moving, and working I somehow found the time to land a new job! I am extremely excited about this new opportunity, however I start full time training on Monday....thus still no break. I'm starting to get the feeling that I won't get a break until Christmas.  Once I move and start working, the new school year starts literally the following week.  With this comes new classes and volunteering in the elementary schools.  On top of all that I have to prepare for my exhibition in a couple of months, which requires putting together a portfolio and presenting to the faculty members, convincing them that I am prepared to student teach. Oh and somewhere in between all that I am going to find time to prepare for the GACE (I hope!). So needless to say I have been a little busy. Now you can understand why I have been MIA all summer.  I just hope things slow down soon so I can breathe again because his stress is really starting to get to me.  In fact I am suppose to be reading for class right now so rather than recap every detail from the summer, I will leave you with some photos. 

My new ballet shoes...I have always wanted to take ballet and decided to go for it this summer...however school has taken over and I unfortunately have only been able to use them once.

 

I have managed to take a few breaks here and there...fun day of tubing in Helen

 

Gotta have a Lexi picture....she keeps me sane during all this chaos

 

Reading for class

 

Snuck in a pleasure book for sanity sake...highly recommend this book, but be sure to have some tissues close by

The start of the moving process

I ensure you it won't be as long for my next post...and I will get around to those Italy pictures as promised! Until then....I hope you are enjoying your summer. -J

Fill in the Blank

I've been wanting to blog the last couple of days about being back, but I just was at a loss for words and didn't want to force it.  However, after three days of being back, it has not become any easier.  It already feels like an eternity that I have been away from my host family in Italy. I miss them greatly and have been emailing back and forth with them since I left, especially since I missed Anna's surprise birthday party and her and Fabrizio's anniversary. Adjusting back to life here has been, let's say, interesting and I have to admit that I have been putting it off in any way I can.  Aside from doing all my laundry and uploading pictures, I have yet to do anything majorly productive.  I have watched way too much t.v. and eaten more junk food than I want to admit.  I blame it on the rain...and technically I am still on vacation so it doesn't count, right??  Friday starts the beginning of summer classes. While I am looking forward to my classes this semester and getting back on a normal routine, I know I am not ready to get back to "real life."  My to-do list is never-ending and includes some big things like: find a job for the fall (and summer if I can), prepare to move in August :( and start putting together my exhibition portfolio, which I have majorly been avoiding.  I am stressed just thinking about it all, but I am taking it one day at a time and trusting Him that it will all work out as planned. For now I am off to enjoy this beautiful sunshine (finally) by taking Lexi for a long walk and then going to the pool.

Just a sample of my diet the last few days...note to self: add 'work out' to my to-do list!

Nothing Says Italy like...

....being in Italy.  Sorry Carrabba's.  You just don't compare.  Today is officially my last day in Italy.  I am going to try to make it through this whole post without crying.  Yesterday we found out that they were letting us stay with our families an extra day since we are not flying out until tomorrow afternoon.  However, we leave at 1am to go to the airport....we will be traveling for 26 hours between bus rides and lay overs.  Just keeps getting better, right?  My family has been great though.  They know I am distraught over the whole thing and since I never made it to Verona, they took a half day off and drove me there.  It was wonderful! We spent the whole day together walking the streets of beautiful Verona and just enjoying eachother's company.  Afterwards we had a family dinner and then met my group at Gelatto.  There was a lot of sadness in the air.  My family has told me a million times that I must come back...and I fully intend to!  They have become a huge part of my life and they will continue to be.  For my last day, I am biking with Cecilia to her school to get her book bag.  After the eaerthquake, they were not allowed to enter the building again.  After that I am going to stop by my school to take some pictures of the outside...its not much, but I want something to remember it by.  The whole family will be home for lunch, so afterwards, we are going to finally make the banana bread.  Anna and Fabrizio took half a day again and we will be going to a Greek restaurant for dinner.  I am happy to grateful to have this one last day with them....for now.

So, in honor of my last day in Italy, I have made a couple of lists (Me? Make lists? Shocking, I know.)  I figured they would be a quick way to sum up my feelings. Here they are:

Things I will miss about Italy:

·         -My family

·         -My students

·         -Wine for lunch and dinner

·         -Gelato

·         -The simple lifestyle: 2 hour lunch breaks, not TV, being able to walk, bike, or take a train everywhere, ect.

 Things I will NOT miss about Italy

·         -Weird toilets

·         -Plug adapters and converters

·         -The small tiny showers

·         -The million smokers everywhere

·         -The pushy tourists

·        - Paying for water or sitting fees

·        - The time difference

Things I am looking forward to seeing

·         -LEXI!! (Knowing I get to see her is the only thing that has kept me from cry more than I already have the last couple of days)

·        - My family

·        - My bed pillow

·         -A bathtub

·         -Nail salon…I desperately need a pedicure after the amount of walking I have done

·         -English menus

·         -Mexican food

·         -Salad dressing

·         -A pool
I  am sure there is a lot more I could add to each of the lists, but for now that is what comes to mind. Next time I write, I will be in the States.  Until then, arrivederci!

Home Is Where the Heart Is...

...and my heart is in Italy. This series of earthquakes has certainly put a crack in my heart.  Yesterday we found out that we will be leaving our families and Italy a week early.  I literally cried the instant I heard the news from our professor.  There had been rumors, but I had hoped we would at least have the weekend to spend with our families as many of us had trips planned with them to go to the sea or the mountains.  I was devastated.  I am no where near ready to leave my family here, especially this sudden.  I am also sad heartbroken that I will not have a chance to say goodbye to my pre-k class or see their class performance or have a picture taken with them.  I will also be missing my host mom's surprise birthday party.  There is just so much that I am going to miss out on these last few days we were supposed to be here.

For those of you who do not know, there has been a series of earthquakes here in Modena, Italy.  While I am not fearful to stay, many of the families are worried about our safety.  It has been so interesting to see the reactions the locals have had to this unexpected course of nature.  While I am use to earthquakes and do not think much of them, it is certainly not normal in Italy and the people hear are naturally terrified.  While there has been little damage in our immediate area from what I have seen, people have been sleeping in their cars and sleeping in tents in the parks out of fear for staying inside.  When the first earthquake of the day (on Tuesday) hit, we were all at school.  The kids in my class seemed to be unphased as we rushed them outside.  In the one minute it took us to line the kids up and get them outside, parents were already rushing to the gates, running and biking up from all directions.  I could see the complete shock and fear on their faces.  Some were even crying.  I was in awe at how deeply these families are affected by the earthquakes.  We then walked the children to the nearby park (to be in an open area away from the buildings) where they met their parents to go home.  Schools have been closed ever since and it is unlikely that they will reopen for the remaining week they have left in the year.

While I am completely saddened by the abrupt end of our stay, I am determined to make the most of my time left with my family. Today I am making banana bread with my brother and sister...even though the bananas are not ready yet.  Hopefully it turns out because I have talked it up all week.  Tonight we are supposed to have our weekly dinner as a group, but I have decided to eat with my family as I want to spend as much time with them as possible.  Tomorrow morning we leave for Milan in order to get further away from the epicenter of the earthquake.  I am hoping that Francesco and Cecilia (my host siblings) will be able to go as well in order to spend one last day together.  The plan is to then fly out first thing Saturday.  While I understand the reasoning for us having to leave, I just wish it weren't so sudden. I wish I could explain the bond that I have made with my host family in such a short amount of time.  As soon as I texted my mom she came straight to meet me from work and took me shopping...I guess shopping is a universal pick-me up.  She bought me two scarves and a pair for sandals (I don't even want to say how much they cost).  She tried to buy me some other clothes but I refused.  They are as sad as I am that I am leaving early.  The worst part was trying to explain all this to my host dad.  He did not want to accept it.  He thought for sure there was another way.  But like they keep telling me, I will be back.  I know in my heart that I will see them again.

First Family Photo <3

Allora

Sorry I have been slacking on my posts this trip but we have been extremely busy! (In a good way) Prepare yourself for a long post.   So, where to begin?? Let's see...my trip has been fabulous! It took me about a week to adjust and for everything to sink in, but after than time has flown by and I am finding myself wishing that it would freeze for a little while.  I will start by talking about my class. (I don't remember what I wrote about last time, so ignore me if I repeat myself). My class is absolutely adorable.  They have become just as attached to me as I have to them.  They love asking me how to say things in English and are patient when I try to figure out what they are saying.  Or sometimes they just give up and walk away. I don't blame them.  I have come to understand [relatively] a lot of Italian however.  I was even able to go buy stamps on my own the other day to mail some post cards.  Back to the children though.  They have completely stolen my heart.  Even though we don't say much, I feel like I understand each and everyone of them.  I have collected quite a few drawings and even snuck in some photos.  Unfortunately I can't post them, but take my word for it; they are beyond cute!

As for my host family, I cannot begin to say enough kind words about them.  They are so perfect and I feel like I am right at home.  They are just as sarcastic as my own family and we laugh constantly.  They are also as sweet as can be.  My mom, Anna, leaves me notes every morning, in English, so I know it takes a lot of effort for her, along with snacks for the day.  They are constantly trying to please me and make me feel as if this is my real home.  I only wish I could express my true gratitude for their endless generosity.  I know that they will always be a special part of my life and I cannot wait for the day I will get to see them again (I refuse to think about leaving though.)

Now for Italy.  It is definitely an entirely different culture...mostly in a good way.  It is hard to explain really.  There are the little things, like the weird toilets and their idea of a 'salad' (lettuce, olive oil, and salt). Overall though, everyone here has been so kind and welcoming that it was so easy to feel at home. My family has finally realized that it is impossible for me to eat like a true Italian, although I don't think nona (grandma) will ever give up.  She did teach me how to make Gnocco Fritto though, which was amazing!  We have bee to some amazing places as well.  Each place we go becomes my new favorite.  Our first weekend we went to Venice.  It was so pretty and exactly what you would think it would be.  Water all around, no cars, just bridges everywhere.  My feet have never hurt so much.  We walked all around the city, and believe me, it is not an easy city to navigate.  A lot of small streets that go all different directions.  The American Cup (sailing competition) was going on while we were there though so it was packed with tourist. Luckily, our second day there we got out of the craziness for a little while and took a boat to Murano and Burano.  Both beautiful islands and known for their glass and lace making.  As beautiful as it was, we were ready to leave at the end of the weekend.

This past weekend, we went to Florence.  It was surreal.  Amazing views everywhere you turn.  Our first day, three of us decided to walk to Piazza Michelangelo.  It looked manageable on the map, however two hours late, mostly uphill, we made it.  It was worth it though to see the entire city cast with the sunset glow.  We got there at the perfect time.  We took a ton of pictures and soaked in the view before we finally decided to take a cab back into town for dinner.  They next day we had a tour of the Ufizie and and got to see the David.  Afterwards we shopped until the stores closed (which is early here).   Sunday was my favorite day of the whole entire trip.  We drove up to Tuscany where we were given a tour of a house where they make wine and olive oil (yes, I bought some!)  It was delicious.  Then we got to make pasta, which was then used to make our dinner.  I have made some great meals while I have been here and cannot wait to make them again when I get home.  A pasta machine is on my list of things to buy as soon as I get back. Needless to say Florence was amazing and we didn't want to leave.

Allora (Now/and so...one of our favorite words here) I am having mixed feelings about the fact that we only have 9 more days.  On one hand I am ready to be back to my regular routine and of course Lexi, okay, mostly just Lexi...and my own bed and shower.  But, I cannot imagine leaving all of the wonderful people I have met.  Instead, I just pretend like it is not happening and am trying to enjoy every bit of my time left in this fabulous place.  This trip has changed my life in a way I could not have begun to imagine.  So, I will leave you with something I have learned during my time here: embrace every opportunity, because there is value to be found in it all.  And of course, what you probably skipped ahead to, the pictures!

Of course Lexi had to see me off at the airport :)

 

 

Center of Modena, the city we are staying in

 

First Gelatto of the trip...strawberry and lemon. Delicious!

 No such thing as a slice in Italy

Venice

 

 

Burano

 

Florence

 

View from the top

 

The Winery

 

Pasta Making

Tuscany