ok, new favorite song this week!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
life
i think today about marks the halfway point through summer. crazy. so far i have done a whole lot of... well, nothing. haven't been to the beach, haven't traveled anywhere exciting. i have, however, bought a car and taken quite a few naps. not really living life to the fullest, i guess. gotta work on that.
last week was my niece rebecca's 13th birthday. 13! although she looks more like she's 18.
i think it's the eye make up.
i remember when rebecca was born. my first niece. she was 5 weeks early and a PEANUT. oh how i love babies!
i digress.
i've been thinking a lot about a lot of different things lately. life in general, really. where is mine going?
it's never easy to admit when you're unhappy with life. at least it's not for me. and when i look back at the past few years, i realize i'm really not that happy.
i love the kids i teach. i really do. as much as some of them drive me crazy, i'm honored and proud to have entered the teaching profession and strive to be a positive influence in the lives of my students each and every day. i know their lives are far from ideal, and i just hope they can look back at their time in my classroom and know that i loved them. it would be great if they learned something, too! but to know that i loved them is more important to me.
when i was job searching, i remember saying ''i just want to find a job. my life has been at a standstill for 3 years and i just want some movement forward.'' i thought getting hired to teach would help change that feeling of my life being "on pause"...
i was 29, and saw myself in a condo by 30. (ha! didn't happen.) paying off student loans, credit card debt, adding a car payment, cell phone bill, "rent", and spending just because i can haven't allowed me to be as close to being debt free as i would like to be. i'm not getting any younger. i'm no closer to living the dream of being a wife and mom than i was 5 years ago when i graduated with my bachelor's...
so now the time has come to make a decision about my master's. honestly, it was something i was hoping i could avoid altogether because i am by NO MEANS a student. i have never been a fan of academia... just a big fan of the social aspect of getting my education. now that i have clean slate to start with, i want to hold myself to high standards. but, the problem lies with where to start...
do i take a step of faith and apply to schools outside of connecticut? what programs should i apply for? do i stop at a master's, or get my 6th year? then, why stop there? i was able to witness my brother's doctoral commencement and was inspired by the ONE and ONLY Ph. D. candidate in education. but do i want to stick with education?
i've thought a lot about nursing. i'd probably apply to an accelerated nursing's program and get my master's. last summer i talked to another youth leader at church about nursing and she offered to have me shadow her for a day on the labor and delivery floor. how AWESOME would that be?? if i'm not blessed with a husband and children, wouldn't it be cool to help bring a bunch of babies into the world?! i think so.
i took out part of a valentine's gift from 2 GREAT girls the other night, and 2 verses they gave me slapped me in the face:
"NEVER stop praying. be THANKFUL in ALL circumstances, for this is GOD's WILL for YOU who BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST." - 1 Thess 5:17-18
and
"commit to the LORD whatever you do... and YOUR PLANS WILL SUCCEED!" - proverbs 16:3
what great verses!!!
i'm not sure anyone will make it to the end of this post... but i wanted to be able to come back at some point and see how far i have come... because at this point in my life... i feel like i'm stuck on "pause" again........
last week was my niece rebecca's 13th birthday. 13! although she looks more like she's 18.
i think it's the eye make up.
i remember when rebecca was born. my first niece. she was 5 weeks early and a PEANUT. oh how i love babies!
i digress.
i've been thinking a lot about a lot of different things lately. life in general, really. where is mine going?
it's never easy to admit when you're unhappy with life. at least it's not for me. and when i look back at the past few years, i realize i'm really not that happy.
i love the kids i teach. i really do. as much as some of them drive me crazy, i'm honored and proud to have entered the teaching profession and strive to be a positive influence in the lives of my students each and every day. i know their lives are far from ideal, and i just hope they can look back at their time in my classroom and know that i loved them. it would be great if they learned something, too! but to know that i loved them is more important to me.
when i was job searching, i remember saying ''i just want to find a job. my life has been at a standstill for 3 years and i just want some movement forward.'' i thought getting hired to teach would help change that feeling of my life being "on pause"...
i was 29, and saw myself in a condo by 30. (ha! didn't happen.) paying off student loans, credit card debt, adding a car payment, cell phone bill, "rent", and spending just because i can haven't allowed me to be as close to being debt free as i would like to be. i'm not getting any younger. i'm no closer to living the dream of being a wife and mom than i was 5 years ago when i graduated with my bachelor's...
so now the time has come to make a decision about my master's. honestly, it was something i was hoping i could avoid altogether because i am by NO MEANS a student. i have never been a fan of academia... just a big fan of the social aspect of getting my education. now that i have clean slate to start with, i want to hold myself to high standards. but, the problem lies with where to start...
do i take a step of faith and apply to schools outside of connecticut? what programs should i apply for? do i stop at a master's, or get my 6th year? then, why stop there? i was able to witness my brother's doctoral commencement and was inspired by the ONE and ONLY Ph. D. candidate in education. but do i want to stick with education?
i've thought a lot about nursing. i'd probably apply to an accelerated nursing's program and get my master's. last summer i talked to another youth leader at church about nursing and she offered to have me shadow her for a day on the labor and delivery floor. how AWESOME would that be?? if i'm not blessed with a husband and children, wouldn't it be cool to help bring a bunch of babies into the world?! i think so.
i took out part of a valentine's gift from 2 GREAT girls the other night, and 2 verses they gave me slapped me in the face:
"NEVER stop praying. be THANKFUL in ALL circumstances, for this is GOD's WILL for YOU who BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST." - 1 Thess 5:17-18
and
"commit to the LORD whatever you do... and YOUR PLANS WILL SUCCEED!" - proverbs 16:3
what great verses!!!
i'm not sure anyone will make it to the end of this post... but i wanted to be able to come back at some point and see how far i have come... because at this point in my life... i feel like i'm stuck on "pause" again........
Thursday, June 17, 2010
school's out for summer!
(almost)....
i really can't believe that i am looking at the end of another school year tonight. typically i reflect on the year i've had, and i have to say this has been the best. i have enjoyed teaching 5th and 6th graders immensely. they are young enough that they want to learn (usually) but old enough that their personalities are beginning to truly develop their unique qualities. i love my kids, and i never, ever, EVER thought i would be able to say that about teaching in new london. God has been so good to me these past 2 and a half years. He has brought me through some difficult situations. i've seen growth from those situations. and now, i am thrilled to be working with an experienced, BIG, MALE teacher next year. God has answered prayer. not in my timing, and the process was incredibly hard.... but it's answered. i really think next year is going to be a great one.
tomorrow i will watch my first group of 6th graders be promoted from 8th to 9th grade. it has been so neat to see them grow these past few years. it is with mixed emotions that i will watch them walk across the stage in tomorrow's ceremony. mostly i will feel proud, with hopes and prayers that they will make it through the next 4 years to graduate from high school and then experience college. the sad reality is that the majority of them won't, but i'm praying for some major change in their lives in the coming years.
these students will always hold a special place in my heart, because they were "my first kids". i look forward to hearing great things from them in the coming years... to be continued....
i really can't believe that i am looking at the end of another school year tonight. typically i reflect on the year i've had, and i have to say this has been the best. i have enjoyed teaching 5th and 6th graders immensely. they are young enough that they want to learn (usually) but old enough that their personalities are beginning to truly develop their unique qualities. i love my kids, and i never, ever, EVER thought i would be able to say that about teaching in new london. God has been so good to me these past 2 and a half years. He has brought me through some difficult situations. i've seen growth from those situations. and now, i am thrilled to be working with an experienced, BIG, MALE teacher next year. God has answered prayer. not in my timing, and the process was incredibly hard.... but it's answered. i really think next year is going to be a great one.
tomorrow i will watch my first group of 6th graders be promoted from 8th to 9th grade. it has been so neat to see them grow these past few years. it is with mixed emotions that i will watch them walk across the stage in tomorrow's ceremony. mostly i will feel proud, with hopes and prayers that they will make it through the next 4 years to graduate from high school and then experience college. the sad reality is that the majority of them won't, but i'm praying for some major change in their lives in the coming years.
these students will always hold a special place in my heart, because they were "my first kids". i look forward to hearing great things from them in the coming years... to be continued....
Saturday, May 1, 2010
can i just say
things that are making me happy right now:
- i am currently in nazareth, pennsylvania with my brother michael and my sister in law thea. momma muck is here, along with thea's mom and dad (oma and opa). they are a wonderful family and i am so blessed to have them in my life.
- wednesday night i fly out to chicago to see my brother receive his doctorate degree. i am so proud.
- there are only 33 days of school left... 32 for me :)
- the yankees lost today
- even though i have a countdown going for the end of school, i love my job and the kids i get to see every day.
- i am currently drinking a margarita.
- i am currently in nazareth, pennsylvania with my brother michael and my sister in law thea. momma muck is here, along with thea's mom and dad (oma and opa). they are a wonderful family and i am so blessed to have them in my life.
- wednesday night i fly out to chicago to see my brother receive his doctorate degree. i am so proud.
- there are only 33 days of school left... 32 for me :)
- the yankees lost today
- even though i have a countdown going for the end of school, i love my job and the kids i get to see every day.
- i am currently drinking a margarita.
Monday, March 8, 2010
precious Kate McRae
i spoke a bit about Kate McRae last night, and today I saw a video of her posted and wanted to share.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
1st Corinthians 14:33
this past week was an exhausting one. there is SO much going on at school, i don't know where to begin. i'm caught in the middle in a variety of ways... and the Lord is really using this situation to grow and stretch me.
i've found great solace in going to visit the 6 kids in the autism room. while some people (and sadly, even their parents) write these kids off as nothing more than a nuisance, i see their progress and potential. they completely brighten my day. i've been staying at school later to get planning done and going to visit them during my prep period during the day.
i follow quite a few blogs - some here on my blog roll and a few on my phone. many of them are heartbreaking stories that i read in order to keep those families in my prayers. i'm to the point where i feel like i know these people. one girl in particular - kate mcrae. this little girl was diagnosed with a brain tumor back at the end of june. her family was getting ready to go to the water park in arizona, and her mom noticed a tremble in her hand a few days prior that wasn't going away. little kate was admitted THAT day and has only left the hospital a handful of times since then. she's currently on a study for a type of brain cancer that has a very high relapse rate. i check on this little girl every day, and have even commented on her blog that i hope to meet a CANCER FREE kate one day when i visit my sister in arizona. i encourage you to visit kate's blog and to pray for her complete healing: www.prayforkate.com
i think satan has a knack for getting in my mind and letting me think it's ok to have a pity party instead of thanking God in my every day life for the things He HAS provided.
this past christmas i bought a calendar with daily bible verses. this past friday was a day that i knew was going to be chaotic at school. like i said, there's a lot going on that can really get me down if i let it. what was friday's verse? "for God is NOT a God of disorder, but of peace." - 1st Corinthians 14:33
as much as satan can get in my head when i'm not consciously trying to see the positive, God is there in every day circumstances - the good and the bad. what a comfort! i love when God sends me words of encouragement right when i need it....
i've found great solace in going to visit the 6 kids in the autism room. while some people (and sadly, even their parents) write these kids off as nothing more than a nuisance, i see their progress and potential. they completely brighten my day. i've been staying at school later to get planning done and going to visit them during my prep period during the day.
i follow quite a few blogs - some here on my blog roll and a few on my phone. many of them are heartbreaking stories that i read in order to keep those families in my prayers. i'm to the point where i feel like i know these people. one girl in particular - kate mcrae. this little girl was diagnosed with a brain tumor back at the end of june. her family was getting ready to go to the water park in arizona, and her mom noticed a tremble in her hand a few days prior that wasn't going away. little kate was admitted THAT day and has only left the hospital a handful of times since then. she's currently on a study for a type of brain cancer that has a very high relapse rate. i check on this little girl every day, and have even commented on her blog that i hope to meet a CANCER FREE kate one day when i visit my sister in arizona. i encourage you to visit kate's blog and to pray for her complete healing: www.prayforkate.com
i think satan has a knack for getting in my mind and letting me think it's ok to have a pity party instead of thanking God in my every day life for the things He HAS provided.
this past christmas i bought a calendar with daily bible verses. this past friday was a day that i knew was going to be chaotic at school. like i said, there's a lot going on that can really get me down if i let it. what was friday's verse? "for God is NOT a God of disorder, but of peace." - 1st Corinthians 14:33
as much as satan can get in my head when i'm not consciously trying to see the positive, God is there in every day circumstances - the good and the bad. what a comfort! i love when God sends me words of encouragement right when i need it....
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
when a crappy night turns amazing
wow. that's pretty much all i have to say.
emily gironimi and becky plungis are two of the most amazing women of God i know. it's kind of odd for me to say that, because they are both considerably younger than me... but i am SO thankful that God has placed them both in my life.
sunday. valentine's day. i had forgotten until a youth leader said "happy valentine's day!" to me at the breakfast table at snow camp up in new hampshire. i was glad i was going to be away and on the road for the majority of the day, and i wouldn't be able to get caught up in the "woe is me" aspect of this stupid commercial holiday.
side note: i always wonder if i would feel differently about this holiday if i had someone to celebrate it with. that's right. 31 years of life and 31 years of never having anyone to dote on during this so called day of love. meh.
i digress.
i knew on sunday that i had a package coming my way, but had no idea what it was or why it was coming. well, today was the day!! and i was blown away by the package i received! i was out with a co worker when i came home to an email that didn't make me feel so great. then i remembered seeing THE package my parents had placed in front of my bedroom door.
as i was opening the package i was thinking "WHO DOES THIS?!?!"... who is really this thoughtful?? i've always considered myself a thoughtful person, but this was something i would never have thought of. sending someone a box of love on a day that they would rather skip over altogether.
so... attached is the picture of my package. my favorite part? hard to choose. the dvd of 27 dresses? never seen it. so that's exciting. brownies to bake?! they'll have to wait until after easter but it'll get done. i think my favorite part was the Bible verses written by hand. that's the part that made me cry. amazing reminders of my heavenly father who loves me to no end. i didn't only feel loved by 2 amazing women of God, but by my God.
thank you, girls :)
emily gironimi and becky plungis are two of the most amazing women of God i know. it's kind of odd for me to say that, because they are both considerably younger than me... but i am SO thankful that God has placed them both in my life.
sunday. valentine's day. i had forgotten until a youth leader said "happy valentine's day!" to me at the breakfast table at snow camp up in new hampshire. i was glad i was going to be away and on the road for the majority of the day, and i wouldn't be able to get caught up in the "woe is me" aspect of this stupid commercial holiday.
side note: i always wonder if i would feel differently about this holiday if i had someone to celebrate it with. that's right. 31 years of life and 31 years of never having anyone to dote on during this so called day of love. meh.
i digress.
i knew on sunday that i had a package coming my way, but had no idea what it was or why it was coming. well, today was the day!! and i was blown away by the package i received! i was out with a co worker when i came home to an email that didn't make me feel so great. then i remembered seeing THE package my parents had placed in front of my bedroom door.
as i was opening the package i was thinking "WHO DOES THIS?!?!"... who is really this thoughtful?? i've always considered myself a thoughtful person, but this was something i would never have thought of. sending someone a box of love on a day that they would rather skip over altogether.
so... attached is the picture of my package. my favorite part? hard to choose. the dvd of 27 dresses? never seen it. so that's exciting. brownies to bake?! they'll have to wait until after easter but it'll get done. i think my favorite part was the Bible verses written by hand. that's the part that made me cry. amazing reminders of my heavenly father who loves me to no end. i didn't only feel loved by 2 amazing women of God, but by my God.
thank you, girls :)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
fat tuesday
it's fat tuesday! craziness! here's the "do it for Jesus" list for 2010:
no candy, except for the sugar free sour "mints" i have.
no coffee from dunkin donuts... this is going to be tough. i've been drinking it almost daily for the past week and a half.
no cookies, cake, or any baked good that is remotely tempting.
no potato chips or cheese puffs.
i think that's it? i feel like my list that i jotted down last night was longer. why don't i check my list, you ask? because it is in my purse which is locked in my car which is in the garage. i think it is still snowing out and i don't want to get it. that's why.
no candy, except for the sugar free sour "mints" i have.
no coffee from dunkin donuts... this is going to be tough. i've been drinking it almost daily for the past week and a half.
no cookies, cake, or any baked good that is remotely tempting.
no potato chips or cheese puffs.
i think that's it? i feel like my list that i jotted down last night was longer. why don't i check my list, you ask? because it is in my purse which is locked in my car which is in the garage. i think it is still snowing out and i don't want to get it. that's why.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
sensational seven (what?!) for 1.30.10
when i had what we thought was an ulcer, my doctor put me on anti-anxiety medicine, thinking less stress would help my stomach to make less acid... making my attacks less frequent. of course come to find out, it wasn't an ulcer... it was my gallbladder... but i'm still on the medicine.
for the past 2 weeks, for one reason or another, i had a hard time remembering to take my medicine. my mood was up and down (mostly down), which S U C K E D big time.
anyways, my new weekly post is going to be to find something positive that happened each day.
Sunday: church is always uplifting. the praise and worship portion of the service is always my favorite. i LOVE being a part of the praise team, but sometimes being in front of people makes me unable of uninhibited worship. i digress. another great thing from sunday was amanda and adah were visiting, so we all went out to lunch after church. it was just like old times. that night we made a video of random things and were just plain silly. so much fun.
Monday - i was supposed to spend the day with the dishes and the momma to be... but i woke up feeling awful. i went to the doctor, and then got my wisdom teeth looked at. i went home to bed and my dad was kind enough to pick up my 3 medications my doctor prescribed. he had sent them to target electronically. isn't technology amazing?! i also got to say goodbye to amanda and adah via skype. not to sensational... but it means they're closer to moving back! (WHUT WHUT!)
Tuesday - i spent tuesday home from school, too. i actually felt worse tuesday than monday. i got a few text messages from co workers asking if i was ok. it made me feel loved and missed. it was nice!
Wednesday - home again. when i emailed my sub plans to my department head, he emailed me back asking if i was ok. i guess they know i'm not out often, and never for more than a day here or a day there. when i wasn't there for 3 days, he was worried. even though he's my "boss" (i have so many!) it was nice that he thought enough to write.
Thursday - home a g a i n. poppa muck emailed me and asked if i wanted to go to an EB management dinner where the guest speaker would be a survivor of the miracle on the hudson. Dave Sanderson will speak in february. pretty exciting! oh AND thursday was my niece briana's birthday. 8 years old!
Friday - home yet again! i got an email from a coworker who is going to have a yoga class at school every friday from 3-4pm. i'm pretty excited!!!
Saturday - "my" pharmacist at target is the best!! he walked around target for 10 minutes during his lunch break to find me. turns out i had another prescription at the pharmacy, and he wanted to find me before i left. good guy :) oh AND i lost almost 3 pounds this week. i know it's mostly because i was sick and barely eating... but my 2 week total is 5.6 pounds. WOO HOO!
so, my first post was kind of lame... but i'm really going to try to write down (at least) one thing per day that is positive. like my blog title says... i'm going to try to SEE THE POSITIVE!!
for the past 2 weeks, for one reason or another, i had a hard time remembering to take my medicine. my mood was up and down (mostly down), which S U C K E D big time.
anyways, my new weekly post is going to be to find something positive that happened each day.
Sunday: church is always uplifting. the praise and worship portion of the service is always my favorite. i LOVE being a part of the praise team, but sometimes being in front of people makes me unable of uninhibited worship. i digress. another great thing from sunday was amanda and adah were visiting, so we all went out to lunch after church. it was just like old times. that night we made a video of random things and were just plain silly. so much fun.
Monday - i was supposed to spend the day with the dishes and the momma to be... but i woke up feeling awful. i went to the doctor, and then got my wisdom teeth looked at. i went home to bed and my dad was kind enough to pick up my 3 medications my doctor prescribed. he had sent them to target electronically. isn't technology amazing?! i also got to say goodbye to amanda and adah via skype. not to sensational... but it means they're closer to moving back! (WHUT WHUT!)
Tuesday - i spent tuesday home from school, too. i actually felt worse tuesday than monday. i got a few text messages from co workers asking if i was ok. it made me feel loved and missed. it was nice!
Wednesday - home again. when i emailed my sub plans to my department head, he emailed me back asking if i was ok. i guess they know i'm not out often, and never for more than a day here or a day there. when i wasn't there for 3 days, he was worried. even though he's my "boss" (i have so many!) it was nice that he thought enough to write.
Thursday - home a g a i n. poppa muck emailed me and asked if i wanted to go to an EB management dinner where the guest speaker would be a survivor of the miracle on the hudson. Dave Sanderson will speak in february. pretty exciting! oh AND thursday was my niece briana's birthday. 8 years old!
Friday - home yet again! i got an email from a coworker who is going to have a yoga class at school every friday from 3-4pm. i'm pretty excited!!!
Saturday - "my" pharmacist at target is the best!! he walked around target for 10 minutes during his lunch break to find me. turns out i had another prescription at the pharmacy, and he wanted to find me before i left. good guy :) oh AND i lost almost 3 pounds this week. i know it's mostly because i was sick and barely eating... but my 2 week total is 5.6 pounds. WOO HOO!
so, my first post was kind of lame... but i'm really going to try to write down (at least) one thing per day that is positive. like my blog title says... i'm going to try to SEE THE POSITIVE!!
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