Our Newest Decor

If you were to walk in our house right now, you would think we were weird.

We're not.

Well, no more than most people.

This newest piece of furniture in our dining room is evidence of the final bit of this.

Brian is cutting tile as we speak. The linoleum has been pulled up and several pieces of tile have been laid. If things go well, our kitchen will be completely finished by the end of the weekend!

I'm hopeful!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

School's Out for Summer

Today was my third "last day of school" as a teacher. It is always a peculiar feeling. These children that I have loved and invested in over the course of 10 months walk out the door and in an instant, they are no longer my responsibility. It's incredibly strange and I don't think I am quite adjusted to it yet. I am excited it is summer, but I will really miss some of these children.

This "last day" was much different than the other two last days. Today, I walked out the door of the school knowing that in August I will be walking back in, knowing that I will be able to see those students again. I am incredibly blessed by God. My job and school, though not perfect, are far more incredible than anything I could have imagined. For the first time since I started teaching, I feel like I fit in, like I belong, like I assist in making the school great. The steps to getting here have been very emotional and hard, but God had each step planned to a T. Things I learned from school #1 and #2 have been essential to my success at school #3 and I am thankful for the time and growth I had from those opportunities.

Today was the last day of school, but it was also a reminder of God's faithfulness. He is so good.

Happy summer break!!

Cupcakes from another planet

Today my class has their compliment party. Long story short, part of my behavior plan is to add a compliment link to the chain each time they get a compliment- either from me or from someone else. I hang the chain from the ceiling and when it hits the floor, we have a party. After a long list of ideas from the students, including a *beach day, where we use hoses and bring sprinklers and play outside- ha!* and *I don't know, you could bring balloons and everyone could have a balloon (?),* we finally settled on a special snack made by yours truly and a movie/ free reading extravaganza. The students brought their sleeping bag, pillow, and a favorite stuffed animal and found a comfy place in the room to enjoy their book and movie.

I found this cupcake idea here and knew I had to try it out for the special snack- it was way too easy and too cute to pass up. I had a blast making them and the class loved them! It makes me want to throw a child's birthday party.

Anyone else have a great website with fun recipe/party ideas? Leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

Have a blessed Wednesday night my friends!

Far More Than Rubies

Have you checked out the blog Far More Than Rubies? I love it. Brittney is such an encouragement- her and her husband have moved so many times over the course of the past year, she takes incredible pictures, and is an awesome writer. She features great well written, attention grabbing book reviews that make you want to read the book. Above all, she is pursuing the Lord, no matter where He leads. It's fabulous.

ANYWAY, to add to all that, she is having a giveaway! In honor of her 500th post (plus a few), she is giving away a selection of really great items- an AWESOME bag, bookmark, book, cardset, and lotion- WOW! I would *love* to win.

So, go check out the giveaway, but more importantly, her blog because it is awesome and will leave you motivated to read, write, and take pictures, but also to follow God where He leads.

Have a blessed Saturday evening!

Let's get REAL

So, when I said three weeks ago that I was back, what I really meant was that I would love to be back if I had anything to say! You would not believe the number of times I have signed in, only to sign out again. Sure, there has been lots going on, yet, I could not formulate any of it into words.

See, there was this....

and these...

There was a second grade birthday party, a baby shower that resulted in the complete change of my dining room, the 7-8 year old Little League championship baseball game, or the interview process, in which I helped interview, instead of being interviewed.

My May has been all that I hoped it would be- relaxing and fun, full of friends and cooking dinner and crafting. But if I were to go on about these things, I would be leaving out the most exciting part of the past three weeks.

I am a Christian. I asked Christ into my heart at the age of 9. In middle school, as I surrounded myself by believers, I recognized I was not allowing the Holy Spirit to live through me and I dedicated myself to living for Christ. My walk has not always been straight, nor has it been easy. I will be the first one to tell you that I lay blame where it should not be laid, and I complain when there is nothing to complain about. I spent so many years embracing who God is and what Jesus did for me on the cross, without truly embracing his all encompassing love that loves ME for ME. The love that realizes that He is not interested in me being like someone else, but wants me to be REAL. And not just real with Him, but real with the people who surround me from day to day. You see, I was very good at playing the game. The game that said I had it all together. But, I need you to know- I don't. Through wonderful women in our church, my fabulous accountability group, and some incredible friends, God has been working on my heart. He has been taking down the barrier I have had up for as long as my mature heart can remember. No doubt, there will be trouble again, no doubt I will be tempted to raise the barrier again, but the glorious truth is that God is still God. He created us individually and knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He created the Body of Christ to mold those strengths and weaknesses together and create support and accountability, so that we can glorify Him.

So, over the past three weeks, my blog has not been updated, I have not left many comments for others, and I have stayed in my own little bubble, and I am sorry for that. But in the wake of this time away, I hope you find my posts are REAL. Not just about my home, husband, and crafts, but about the God I serve.

Have a blessed night my friends.

I'm back!!

Well, I didn't get my final in by 6:00, but 3/3 of my finals are turned in and I'm DONE!! Welcome May! Oh how I love your freedom :)

At the end of the tunnel...

Image

This morning, I spent an enormous amont of money to overnight 2/3 of my finals to Uni. South Alabama. The money thing was my own fault... see here to find out why. I actually didn't have to overnight it, but the paranoid, perfectionist side of me showed up and didn't want to get a bad grade because it was late.

For the past two weeks, everyone I have spoken to has said, "You can see the light at the end of the tunnel," or "You're almost done," or "Aren't you relieved?" But because of this, I could never say yes. Today, walking away from the post office, where I paid as much as we did for mine and Brian's dinner last night, I finally agreed. My last final is due Monday at midnight. I intend to have it turned in tomorrow by 6:00. I can *finally* see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's time to start that final :)