"A Taste of" Adulthood

    As I drove to JC to meet girls from my Class 15' freshman  group for dinner I reflected on how much I missed college. How much I missed those random trips to McDonald's or Sonic while "studying for Sociology", sliding on our socks in the hallway, late night talks, Simply Apple, taking pictures during class,  and Well dances. If you asked me if I would go back to high school,  it would be an automatic "NO", however I would go back to my freshman year at ETSU in a heartbeat.

     This whole "adulthood" thing isn't all it was cracked up to be. If I'm honest with myself, I have only exprienced a very mild version of adulthood. I still live at home, and although I am very much indpendent in a lot of things, my parents still do a lot of things for me that they don't have to.  Don't get me wrong, I absoultely love my job. I love my kids, my co-teacher, and my school. I have been very blessed in where I have been placed and wouldn't change it for the world. There is no doubt in my mind that this is exactly where I am supposed to be. When I say that I would go back to college, I wouldn't change my major, I would just go back to those nights when being a responsible adult wasn't necessary. ( Not that I got into any major shannigans, but I like to thnk I had fun!)

       I've learned a lot since this May, like how much an eye appointment costs, how confusing insurance is,  and being an adult is not fun! :) More than that, being a teacher is hard..really hard. I'm really overwhelmed about 98% of the time, and I feel like I am constantly trying to catch up with what's next. I am still in awe that the Lord provided me this job, my dream job.  I still can't get over the fact that I am teaching in my old classroom, I would like to think my kids think that it is as cool as I do (I remind them constantly)! However, I have to be on it 100% of the time because teaching is important. (At one point during reading I killed a bug, picked it up with a tissue, and threw it away while still teaching.)  During my new teacher orientation I was introduced to this quote, and I really believe it is 100% true. Teaching matters, and I have already seen the benefits of how rewarding it is, but the pressure to do well is tough, because I don't want to disappoint myself, my principal, my school..and most of all my students.

I spend most of my waking hours planning, organizing, cutting, researching, or thinking about school. I thought that I did a lot of work in college, but it doesn't quite compare. Please don't think I'm complaining,  because I'm not, I'm just saying that I spend a lot of time working on stuff for school. i just know that I could do so much more. I want to be the very best first grade teacher there is. I want to please everone, I want my students to learn and enjoy while learning ,and I want to impress.  I know that the Lord has called me to this for a reason, why else would he place me at the exact spot I had always dreamed about. However, I'm still trying to figure out what exactly he has up his sleeve.

I randomly found a book on our book shelf at home called You Matter More Than You Think. I started it last night, and boy does it speak to me already. It got my attention with the very first line in the summary on the back... "How can I make a difference when some days I can't even find my keys?"...If you know me, then you know that is right down my alley! I've really struggled with trying to find a balance between meeting standards, forms, and all the above and really being Jesus to my students. I know God's called me to be there, but how in the world do I balance that and making sure that I teach them all the things that I am required to teach them. I want them to always know that I love them and that I care about them, but I feel that I am constantly throwing tens and ones, adjectives, and writing down their throat. How can I truly make a difference in their life when I can barely remember to take them to the bathroom,  on my way to take them to the bathroom (don't ask..it was a long day). Like I shared with another educator earlier this evening, "How in the world do I make time for Jesus with Common Core??" I was joking, but really. I am stressed with the pressure to do well, because I don't like to disappoint. I don't like to fail, and  I always strive to be the best,  because well that is what I've been taught to do. I don't know if that is a good quality to have or not because sometimes I allow the competitive side of me to take control and cause sin in my life. The author shared this verse, and it summed up my feelings pretty well...

  "Make a careful exlporation of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself.  Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." Galatians 6:4-5 MSG

I need to stop and think, slow down, breath and realize what the Lord has given me (Oh what a blessing it is)! I can't compare myself with others,  because I have a different life. There is nobody else in my exact life for a reason, because God created me (as crazy and spastic as I may be) exactly for what he had planned. "That's why measuring the way we love against the way someone else loves is bound to lead us down the wrong path."  I guess what I am trying to say is that I need to take a deep breath, and do the best that I can with the blessing God has handed me. I guess all I can do is love. God isn't asking me to do something crazy, he is just asking me to love,  with a kind of love that only He can be a perfect example of.  I haven't gone above and beyond in my first two months of teaching, but I have certainly worked hard. Now I hope that I can take a deep breath and realize that "What matters is that you are making the best use of your life by loving the people in it. This is the difference that endures."

I know that this is spastic and crazy, and probably doesn't make any sense...but you see my mind is a little spastic and crazy..and I'm ok with it!

Labor Day Weekend

This past weekend we had a 4 day weekend because of Labor Day. It was quite marvelous actually. I've pretty much been going non stop since the first of August, and I was getting a little overwhelmed. My weekend started on Thursday afternoon, I had planned (we can all dream, right?) to have the next week planned before leaving school, but that didn't quite happen. I drove up to Johnson City to meet Chelsea for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. I can't really tell you why, but this place is also my first choice to go to in Johnson City. We ended up choosing this place because The Well card has a 10% discount, buuutttt Chelsea left hers at home. It actually was exciting because it was 60 cent boneless wing night. We sat there and caught up and I drank 3 glasses of sweet tea for about two hours before calling it a night. It was so nice to catch up with Chelsea. We roomed together our sophomore year, and I basically lived with her my freshman year. Chelsea is in her last year of being an education major, so we are able to share stories with each other about our "favorite" teachers. Chelsea always laughs at all my stories..so that helps too! I don't have any pictures from our rendezvous, but here is an old picture that always makes me laugh!

This is a horrid picture...but it is full of memories!

Friday I woke up at 8:30. I had planned on sleeping late, but I guess since I am an adult now 8:30 is late. I worked on cleaning my room, since I hadn't done any type of cleaning since school began. Then, after taking some strolls down memory lane I went out by the pool for a few hours before Larry and Rhonda dropped Ginnie and Maddie off to spend the weekend with me while they went out of town. After we swam, we headed out to there house for movies and pasta. It was relaxing night of yummy food, silly girls, and movies. We woke up to a thunderstorm on Saturday and before heading out to play tennis and go to Paint Creek we watched several episodes of Boy Meets World. We ended our night with Monts, Sweet Cece's, and more movies. We got to church 3 minutes early on Sunday, which I thought was very impressive had corn dogs and hung out until their parents got home. It was a good way to spend my weekend with two sweet girls I'm very proud of.

Ashley came down to visit right after I got back from house/kid sitting. Once again, I don't know if it is because we are old, lazy, or just good friends, but we literally did nothing while she was in. We hung out at the pool and chatted and talked about...well boys. Then, we came inside for some chicken fries and french fries (maybe our food choices aren't very adult like) watched The Proposal and other shows on tv. made a trip to Creekside for their famous soft serve,  and talked before heading to bed. We slept in (finally), and headed out to my classroom so I could show Ashley what it looked like. Then after lunch at Pals and a second trip to Sweet Cece's we went back home to sit on the couch (again) and chat about our "adult" lives. Before she headed home she helped me make a trip to the garden to gather some veggies. It wasn't an exciting visit, but it was so nice to catch up with my best friend in person! So thankful that she drove down to visit me!

11. fresh okra from the garden
12. a really soft hoody from Yellowstone
13. parents home safely from their vacation out west
14. google maps and google ;) (that's for you Ashley, if you're reading)
15. a reminder that missed opportunties are sometimes blessings in disguise

Gray Fair with Great Friends

Two weeks ago Nathan had mentioned that he wanted to go to the Gray fair, and I was totally up for it. So Drew and Erin tagged along too. Erin and I jabbered and chattered the whole way there about school, and entertained the boys ,funny stories. We stopped at Taco Bell on the way, despite Erin's worries :). We walked around and entertained ourselves by people watching. We went through the barn and Erin made a new friend with a slight over bite, that poor cow just wanted her to pet him. After walking through the barns and exhibits we watched part of a monster truck race. That was...etertaining, but I ended up getting a free t-shirt, can't go wrong with that. After, entertaining ourselves for a few hours we walked over to the Jeremy Camp concert and enjoyed ourselves for a while before getting ice cream and heading home. It was nice evening spend with three of my best friends before Nathan went off to school.

I lasted a whole day with my 1000 gift list...but I am going to try and start it up again.

6. Skyping with Nathan and my sweet babies. Despite being far away, I can still see people that I miss. 

7. Eyes lighting up when they've figured out the answer.

8. Lazy Boy Meets World Saturdays.

9. Watching y best friend who searched for a Godly man, marry the one the Lord made for her.

10. strawberries dipped in chocolate 

My Best Friend's Wedding

(true story..i struggled on how to use the apostrophe in the post title..and I totally taught possessive nouns this week..oops)

Anyway...one of my very best friends, Kristy, got married a week ago! CRAZY!!  So a week before her wedding we celebrated with a fun Bachelorette party for her and all the bridesmaids. We met at my house where I showed her, her wonderful cake that we got for her. Then, we headed to Johnson City to go to Texas Roadhouse. We kept ourself entertained by trying to add things to her Bachelorette Bucket list. I found this neat idea online. I used an old coffee can and taped "Bachelorette Bucket List" on it that I had printed out in her wedding colors. Then, I printed off sheets of paper that said "To do before the "I Do". Kristy refused to do mine, but she did have to sing "Let's Get it On" everytime she heard the word bride, get a piggy back ride throughout the restaurant with her homemade toliet paper veil! She was a trooper, after dinner we headed back to my house for some games after a few stops. We ate cake before we played a few more games. I found a fun mad-lib game to help Kristy write her vows. We had way to much fun with this, and although Tyanna became very uncomfortable it was hilarious! We ended the night with a game about  how well we knew the bride, and after discussing details of the wedding we called it a night. Fast forward to Saturday.

It was Kristy's big day! It was a beautiful outdoor wedding held at Still Hollow Farms. We started out the day getting our hair done, and helping Kristy get ready. She was soooo beautiful all dressed up and dolled up for her big day. We headed to Still Hollow and the sun was shining and the clouds were blue. The bridesmaid had a time getting down to the creek as we all 7 of us piled in one vehicle without ripping our very tight dressing or messing our hair up. The wedding went smoothly, and all but one bridesmaids cried..some harder than others (we won't name names).  After some pictures we went up for the reception for food and cake. Then, we got to put our dancing shoes on! Thanks Kristy for allowing me to spend your day with you!

Getting the beautiful Bride ready!

I loved my hair!

What A Whirlwind

My First Day of School Picture 

Well friends...long time to see! It has been a very busy, exciting, and crazy month. I am basically living, eating, sleeping, dreaming, and doing school. Although I've been stressed, overwhlemed, and very tired during my first month of teaching I absolutely love what I do. It is so hard, but so worth it. I am honestly excited about going to school despite being so tired and overwhelmed. School has been crazy and I haven't had much time for anything else...but I've been able to squeeze in a few things since school began, but more on that later!