Excitement

This week was full of exciting things.  New beginnings and future plans.  Hilarious adventures and scary moments. Sounds like a lot right! Don’t worry, I will make a list for you, because that’s what I do.

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** I caught up with my cousin, fellow teacher, and friend over FroYo! She teaches in a really small town in Western Kansas but we share a lot of similar experiences.  We talked struggles, our students, and what are futures entail.

** I have some exciting things coming up this week with my involvement in church.  They aren’t full fledged plans yet, so I can’t to go into detail, but it is an answer to prayer in many ways.

**Monday night dinner started out as any dinner, my friends and I eating delish eats and talking about our lives.  Then, the dog that my friend Christine was dog sitting, had a seizure or something like it!!  We were all freaking out, screaming, and running for our lives!  (Many of you know, I am not an animal person, I wouldn’t have touched the dog with a 10 foot pole. I just drove the car.)  My other friend, Kristen, took charge and got us to take the dog to the ER for animals.  We sat and waited for the dog to get examined and for Christine to figure out what to do.
(The hilarious part is that Christine isn’t a dog person either and we were hysterically laughing at the irony of this situation.)

** Interestingly enough, someone thought I was qualified enough to have a student teacher this next year.  (It will most likely be an interesting experiment!) I got to meet her this week.  I love her already and I am so excited for her to get to know our students and spend the year at our school!  It got me excited about teaching again, just talking to her.

** I helped out with Redeemer Soccer Camp this week and it was so much fun to be able to serve the community and the kids.  I loved talking to parents, even if we were all complaining how hot was both evenings. Plus, these kids are hilarious and super energetic. After 2 hours of running around a field, I would probably die!

** I had dinner/drinks with an AMAZING friend who is leaving town soon for grad school in Arizona.  This friend is a kindred spirit and someone who has brought much joy and light to my life this year.  I hopefully will forever be her friend and I am so excited for this opportunity for her.  (She got a full ride!!)

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 SO….my mom sends out this email this week to all of kids.  (I love when she does this, it is almost as if she needs an email subscribing list or something.) It was all about how she and my dad were making plans to spend Christmas in Australia with my brother and his wife. (She has a totes amazing job with Yelp and HAS to live near a beach in Sydney. Such a hard life.) 

This email made me all sorts of sad and depressed. Being one of the siblings that doesn’t have a significant other to spend Christmas with, I could just imagine myself sitting in the cold in my living room looking at my tree with no presents all by myself. (Perhaps, I am being over-dramatic!) (Or perhaps being totally alone for 2 weeks might be the best idea ever!) 

Then, I get another email, planting the idea in my head to join them on their trip! “SQUEAL! Eek, I don’t have any extra money!” were my first thought.  Then I spent more time thinking and praying about it.  I looked at tickets and I thought about how I could feasibly do this.  Should I sell a kidney, plasma, everything valuable I own?  Could I put a tip jar on my desk this year?  Could I have a “Send Ms. Spare to Austrailia Bake Sale?”  Lots of ideas started flowing.

Then, after dinner, my brother calls me….my brother who lives in Australia, he leaves a message saying, “This is the first of many phone calls until you are convinced to come!”

Much to his joy, I AM GOING TO AUSTRALIA!!!  (provided I can buy my plane ticket in the next week!!)
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Last but certainly not least, my beautiful older sister, Angela, came to town to throw a Pampered Chef party at my house.  Well, I was hosting but she is a consultant.  We made some fancy salsa and fajitas (always makes me think of this scene.) I love hosting and having my friends over, plus I love when I get to see my sister! Shameless plug, if you want to order some Pampered Chef under my party, feel free to go to this link and put my name in!!

She and I in Mexico for my brother’s wedding!
Her little one! Who is the most adorable nephew!

So that is the excitement of my week!  Maybe you find it interesting or boring or hilarious.  Perhaps you read my blog because you thought this was supposed to be something else, sorry!

Anything exciting happen to you this week?  Or find anything interesting that you think I would find hilarious or ironic or think is cuter than my nephew? (I dare you to try!)

Late to the Thankful Party

So I have notice some of my friends and family posting what they are thankful for every day this month. Every time I see a post, I want to join in, but I thought I would just catch up today. I have 13 things to be thankful for so far….I am not going to prioritize totally because that is too much thinking for a Sunday morning!

I am thankful for:

Day 1: My Savior and My God….my life would have no purpose, no hope, no joy without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Day 2: My siblings….as much as they frustrated me growing up, I love them a lot. I am excited to see them a lot in the next month or so!

Day 3: My job…I get to do what I love everyday and love on a great group of kids who make me laugh, challenge me to be the best teacher possible.

(I try to tell them that I am not married, but they have a hard time remembering.)

Day 4: My friends….even when all they are doing is sitting on their computer next to me or far away, I love having friends who love me for me.

Day 5: My Redeemer Community….when I left college for KC, I prayed that I would find a church home, and I did. Every time I spend time with my community, I feel home.

Day 6: My parents! They have done so much for me and continue to love and pray for me every day. I can always count on them to preach truth and love at me when I need to hear it.

Day 7: My co-workers! They are tons of fun and help keep me sane on crazy days! I don’t think I could do my job if I didn’t work with awesome people.

Day 8: My trainer Angie….she pushes me to do things that I don’t think I am capable of and is in my corner! Even though I pay her, I consider her a friend! She has helped me change my life in so many ways.

Day 9: Drama Club! I love being able to inspire young actors and help them be apart of the arts. Even if it only changes 1 kids life, I would say all the time and energy is worth it. It is also a fun way to end my days at school!

Day 10: A healthy body! I am not just thankful for all the weight I have lost, but more so for a body that works and that allows me to work hard at the gym. I am thankful for no aches or pains, even when I am sore and tired!

Day 11 (Friday): For supportive principals! This last week on Friday we had a Poetry Jam in the library! I am so thankful that I have principals that allow us to take risks in the classroom, so we can inspire kids to work hard and have fun!

Day 12: (Yesterday) My nephew! I love that little guy, he is starting to talk and he is constantly on the move, but I love him. He is fun to play with and so smart! I wish I could be around him more.

Day 13: (Today) I am thankful for my Sunday mornings at The Roasterie. Days like today when I especially need to spend time with God and reflect are good for my heart and soul. I am thankful that I have the money to come every week. I am thankful for a church that has an evening service. I am thankful for big tables to spread out on. I am thankful for time. I am so glad for where I am at in my life that I have time on a Sunday morning to spend an extended time with God.

Belated Pictures

Here are some pictures that I have been meaning to put up! I got a new camera for Christmas and my goal is to take more pictures of 2011!


We have him hooked early. He was watching soccer and wearing appropriate gear.


I just love him, love him, love him! He is getting big so fast!

We had a reception for Jonathan and Laura, and me being the most wonderful sister helped my mom out with decorations and getting ready.

They had to tell their story…it was very detailed and long, but great nonetheless!



We got some really great family photos taken! Getting my family to look natural in pictures is sometimes difficult…we all aren’t as photogenic as I am.
For New Year’s Eve, Emily and Kari came over for a sweat pants party with French Toast included! We got to play a little Wii on our beautiful TV! I might have to get one of my own!