busyness (I really like that word)

I really have no idea how people find the time to blog daily or even every other day! Maybe it's just that blogging still hasn't become a part of my routine, but I really do not understand how people find time to blog daily...it amazes me!

We have a lot going on in our life these days.

• busy packing for the move
• making preparations for the move
• finishing up student teaching/my teacher work sample
• graduating in 11 days
• going to various hurrahs for my almost-graduatedness and shin digs for my scholarship/academic study program
• enjoying brookside as much as possible before we move!

Tomorrow I am going to visit one of my student's homes and meet her grandma who she lives with. She is also gonna show me where she likes to hang out and what she does in her neighborhood. I'm really excited!

Today one of my students matter of factly pointed out the zit between my eyebrows. He wasn't being rude, just observant. He then pointed out that he also has a pimple there on his forehead in the same spot. :) He sure got a kick out of that. 12-year-olds don't judge you for having pimples because they are at the prime age to start getting them!

I am so lucky to have Alex as my husband. He does so much for me, just because he loves me and desires to put me and my needs above his! I hope I can be as good of a spouse as he is someday. :)

I really like people. Every person is so different and fascinating and wonderful in their own unique way.

I have an awesomely blessed life.

spirit week

Now that I am a teacher, I actually participate in spirit week. I think a lot of my participation now has to do with the fact that I no longer care what people think of me.

Today was 80s day

I rocked a side pony.

A lot of students told me I looked pretty today...either they felt sorry for me, or the 80s look really suits me. I also got asked multiple times if I was wearing a weave. Oh, cultural differences....:)

I should really get to work on my teacher work sample. But for some reason I am highly unmotivated. Senioritis? Possibly. It's just weird because this is the most relevant assignment I've ever had, but I can't get myself to do it. Probably because I've already taught all the lessons and reflected on them on my own, and feel like this assignment is just a trivial afterthought for me.

Sunday is my favorite sister's birthday...she's gonna be 16! ahh!

She's pretty daaaang awesome.

Birthday!!

What a fabulous 22nd birthday I've had.

• New camera from my mom for birthday/graduation.
• Favorite season of Gilmore Girls on DVD from Molly. (My favorite thing to watch when I am sick or having a rough day.)
• Enjoying God book from Jordan. I read this when I was in high school but never finished it before I gave my copy away. This was also what I gave her for her birthday last November. (A different copy of course. :))
• A gift card to my favorite coffee shop The Roasterie from my dad.
• A really awesome mummy-style sleeping bag from my older brother.
• A t-shirt from Alex that says Math Has Serious Problems.
• And for my birthday/graduation present from my wonderful husband, we are going on a cruise May 22nd-May 27th!!! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. :)

This morning Alex and I skipped church and walked to The Roasterie. It was a glorious morning and I'm glad I got to start my birthday off in such a peaceful, relaxing, and enjoyable day. If you hadn't noticed, I'm pretty fond of going on walks with my love.

This evening we went on a walk and I used my schnazzy new camera to take some sweet pics.

On the Trolley Trail at the bottom of the hill of our apartment.

I love tulips! 

Alex picked a little flower and put it in my hair.

Fabulous day

I had a lovely day today...actually it has been a really great week overall. But today seemed especially enjoyable. I'm not sure if it was because I had leftover homemade blackberry cobbler for dessert in my lunch, or if it was the half hour walk with my husband after school, or getting reassurance about my future as an educator; but I'd have to say that today was delightful.

I have a million stories, quotes, and anecdotes about my students running through my head right now. It would take me forever to write them all down and it would probably bore all 2 of my readers...who have probably heard them all already anyway! So I'm just going to say that I am amazed by my students every day. They are so fascinating, smart, funny, honest, athletic, talented, and so many other things. I really feel lucky to be a part of their lives. I like thinking that God knew exactly where he was guiding my steps, and he knew that I would make it to this exact stage in my life. He knew how much these kids would impact my life and change me into a better teacher and more understanding person.

I'm glad that God is God, and I am not. I woulda really screwed my life up.

Lalalalalalalalife is wonderful

I lead a great life. Instead of rigorously detailing everything that has happened in my life since my last post, I will give you a list of bullet points....these are the highlights of the past week or so.

• Going to the lake and having no clocks, cell phone service, or internet. Having no concept of time makes the days go by nice and slow.
• Hiking a 2.5 mile trail at Ha Ha Tonka Park. (It felt waaaay longer than 2.5 miles.) 
• Eating gorp (aka trail mix) while sitting on a rock during our hike.
• Spending time with my bff Brittany. She treated me to a pedicure and bought me a super cute purse for my birthday. (Which is this coming Sunday if you were wondering. :))
• Alex showing me what true love is by holding my hair back when I threw up the hamburger I ate for dinner. Now that I eat healthier, greasy food makes me sick. 
• I've lost 9 pounds so far...I still have a ways to go, but I am celebrating each pound being shed!
• This weekend I racked in the Starbucks gift cards...I was given $40 to spend as I please at Starbucks. That'll buy me quite a few iced coffees. :)
• Look at this tree that got knocked over in a little microburst that happened Friday. 

Exciting news: Alex and I are moving to Olathe! We found a really, really great apartment that has everything we wanted in a new place. We are super stoked even though pretty much everyone we know is confused as to why we're moving. But I realized something today as I was taking a walk outside in the glorious 75 degree weather...the best things in my life are all the things that people tried to talk me out of doing. Going to Uganda...3 times. Teaching middle school math in an urban school. Getting married at 21. Reflecting on this has made me even more excited to move. Whenever I encounter opposition in a decision, it always turns out spectacular. 

Today was the first day back from spring break and it was so very wonderful to see the 120 faces of my students so eager to be back in school. I love those kids.