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.