D-O-N-E...DONE!!!!!!

I am officially DONE with college. I know many of you might be thinking...well duh...you graduated in May! I did indeed graduate in May but I had one last summer class to finish up. I am so excited that it is over! It feels kind of strange to know that I won't have to do homework, write papers, or take any more dreaded mid-terms/finals. It is a liberating feeling! I definitely could not have done it alone. I have had so many wonderful family members and friends praying for me and encouraging me! Thank you...all of you! Now, time to think about vacation...before school trainings and meetings start back up!

We are a Team

I love my husband! We make a great team and I am so very thankful that God blessed me with such a great spouse! I have so much to say and I can't even really think of how to put it into words.

What made me think of writing this post was a conversation that we just had over the phone. He had a presentation meeting with a company in St. Louis today; goes with his side business of online marketing. He called to tell me how the meeting went and I could see the smile on his face and hear the excitement in his voice! I love being the one he calls to share news with! I light up inside when I see that he is calling.

Marriage is something that today's society takes for granted. People don't feel that they should have to work to make a marriage last. It is a hard, full time job. It is also the best job in the world! I love being a wife to my husband. I love that we talk about anything and everything. I love that we make time for each other...even when it would be easier to just continue on with other things. I love that we are able to work on projects together. I love laying in bed with our kids and laughing together! I even love when we disagree, because God uses those times to help us to grow and understand each other better.

I am a blessed wife!

It Did My Heart Good

God works in amazing ways and sends us who or what we need at the exact moment that we need it! I was having another one of those...oh my goodness, school is going to start soon and I am so not prepared...days today. I went to the store to grab a few things that I forgot this week at Walmart. As soon as I walked in a little boy ran up to me to say "Hello!" I will have this little boy in my class in just a few short weeks. I have only met him once, on the last day of school, for just a few minutes. Yet, he still ran right up to me! We chatted for a few minutes and the he said, "I will see you in third grade!" Oh that did my heart good! I needed that! God knew I needed that! I get the chance to make a difference in the lives of children. Leave a positive influence in their little souls! What an awesome feeling!

Thank you, God for sending that little boy into my path today! Help me to be the teacher that you have so clearly called me to be. Let your light shine through me in all that I do! Amen

Change is in the Air

For those of you that know me, you know I do not handle change well! I like consistency, routine, plans, schedules, etc. Changes are in the air in our household, well actually, they have been in the air all summer long and I have found myself in a slump. My husband went from working 1 full time job and his own online business, to working 2 part time jobs and the said side business. You would not think that this would be much different but it has really changed his hours and our routine. Now, I know that once summer winds down, one of the jobs will settle quite a bit but it still makes for a stressful summer. Another change is quickly approaching...I am going back to work! I was blessed to quit my job at a local bank almost 3 years ago and stay home with my girls while I finished up school. The last 3 years have really gone by quickly. I am looking forward to going back to work, but I am still feeling pretty blah. At first I didn't know what my problem was. I have been quick tempered, crabby, sad, mopey....all of those yucky things that make you realize that you are in a slump! While I haven't been able to completely shake these feelings, I do realize why I am feeling this way. My goal now is to just enjoy summer with the girls, start getting things ready for my classroom, and pray for God to help me accept the changes and opportunities that I know He has provided with love.

Spontaneity

Definitely something that is hard to have once kids and jobs are in the picture. I enjoy planning many things (often times get very angry if things don't work out the way I plan), but there is still a part of me that longs to do something in the spur of a moment! I am pleased to say that we were able make a quick decision and book a last minute Summer vacation with the girls. We are heading to Clearwater Beach, Florida! We booked our flights and hotel yesterday! It was fun to plan everything out quickly! I am so excited to go to the beach and watch the girls experience it for the first time. I know we will all enjoy the time away, just hanging out as a family!!!

I can't wait to walk on that sand!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Mya!!!

To my sweet baby girl,

I cannot believe that you are 1 year old today! Where has this year gone?

It seems like just yesterday, I was carrying you around in my belly. I loved being pregnant with you! I felt great, after the first few months of nausea passed! I loved being the only one that could hold you for those 9 months. I was so sure that you were a boy, but God blessed us with you...a sweet baby girl!

This year has been so wonderful. Your dad, Ally and I are so happy to have you! We love you more than words can say! You are such a blessing! I know that you will be a blessing in many lives! If I could freeze time, I would! I love the stage that you are in right now! I also look forward to seeing your future milestones. You have such great potential and I can't wait to see what all you accomplish!

I love you so very much! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Love,
Mommy

Christmas in July!!!

It feels like Christmas in July! I just got a delivery from UPS of some school stuff that I had ordered online! I will admit it...I am SO EXCITED!!! Like a kid on Christmas morning! It was so fun to open up the boxes to see what was inside, even though I knew what I had ordered! I have been having some blah moments and breakdowns at the thought of school starting up and my girls going to a babysitter. I know they will love their sitter, she is amazing! It is still hard! I have been blessed to be home since October, 2006...many people don't even get that time with their children! Today's shipment helped the excitement return and I am looking forward to my new career!

Out of the Ordinary

I love Summer! I love the warm weather and everything that comes with the season! But, today I got to do something out of the ordinary (at least for Summer)...I made Chicken and Dumplings. It was so cloudy, kind of rainy and chilly. What better thing to have than Chicken and Dumplings! My family enjoyed it and we always have a ton leftover so I took some out to my parents! It was fun to do something out of the ordinary! Thank you, God, for a great day that allowed us to hang out inside!

P.S. Tonight was also Mya's first night to enjoy a whole dinner with no baby food! She loved the chicken, carrots and green beans! Here is a picture of her and her first big girl plate of food!

Bedtime Routine

I love the bedtime routine that we do with the girls before putting them to bed. While some nights vary a little, we always get some time with the girls and those moments are priceless.

After baths, Mya takes a bottle. Ally gives her sissy big hugs and kisses and then Nick or I take her in, pray with her and lay her down. She sleeps with her pacifier and Pooh Bear! I love standing in her room, holding her, looking at her sweet little face and sleepy eyes!

Then we take Ally into her room. We have started making up stories. Nick and I have different characters that we use in our stories and they don't always make sense but Ally LOVES them! Ally always wants us to say her preschool prayer with her. "Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you God for everything!" Such a sweet prayer!

A day can be as crazy as ever...I can be absolutely exhausted and these few moments erase them all! I feel so blessed that God has given me such a great family and sweet little girls! I hope that the girls enjoy this nightly routine as much as I do!

While we are on the topic...

Of second children, I have to express my amazement of how different my two girls are! They have been different from day one and by day one, I mean the day of conception! I was perfectly fine during my pregnancy with Ally. My pregnancy with Mya, nauseated daily for many months. I found myself in my Ob's office quite frequently with Ally because she would not move the "required" movements within a certain time. Mya, on the other hand, moved CONSTANTLY! Ally had a certain time, usually the evenings between 6 and 8pm, of fussiness. Her evening fussiness lasted approximately 3 months. Mya has felt the need to let her voice be heard much more! Her fussiness occurred frequently throughout the day and lasted well into 6 months. After that, she was fine! Ally liked to cuddle for a while but Mya LOVES it. She loves to be held, kissed and hugged. I soak up all of the extra loves I can get from her each day! Ally never climbed up on anything until she was probably 2 years old and was good at getting up onto a chair. Mya has already started climbing on chairs, tables, etc. Of course once she is up on a chair, she chooses to stand...not sit. She is quite the daredevil. It is amazing to watch my girls and discover more about their personalities. I love each difference that they have and I am sure there are many more differences to come! Here is a picture of my little sweeties!

The Second Time Around...

I know, I know, I know! I haven't written in a VERY long time. Student teaching, classes, the girls, and just life in general have kept me super busy! I am determined to start writing again!

I was talking with my cousin tonight and we got on the topic of second children. I have tried to keep things equal between Ally and Mya but the truth is that Ally comes out on top. Ally has a baby book that is far more filled in than Mya's book. I have TONS of pictures that I would take on a daily basis with Ally, while I only have some here and there of Mya. We have video of Ally's birth but sadly our camera messed up and Mya's birth got deleted when we shipped it off to have it fixed. I made a scrapbook of my pregnancy with Ally and have not touched my scrapbook stuff since then...so needless to say there is not one of those for Mya. Not all of these things are really under my control but I can't help but to feel guilty. I know that I am not alone in this ordeal. My mom has far more things for me than she does for my little brother! I know one day, Mya will understand and know that I love her just as much as I love Ally! Now...my goal is to start taking more pictures/video of the girls!

Does it ever get easier?

"Time heals all things."

We have all heard the saying. I am sure that at some point in time, I have said this to someone that was hurting. Tonight, I stopped and asked myself if this statement is really true. I have to be honest and say NO. After a pretty rough week, I finally realized my problem. I am in my annual depression. My father died around this time 18 years ago. Seriously, 18 years has passed and I find myself sobbing as if I were 7 again. Does it ever get easier? I have come along way since that time but healing is a process. It is not instant and I am not sure that the process is ever complete. I have a wonderful Dad, who has been there for everything along the way and I am grateful for all that he has done and continues to do. I just can't help but to feel an empty spot in my heart this time of year. I count heavily on God's grace to pull me through!

I miss you and love you, dad!

Student Teaching

This last week has been exhausting, yet so very rewarding...exciting and scary...rich with information and confusing. The funny thing about it...I LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!!

I began my student teaching experience this week. I am in 4th grade Communication Arts. At first, I was not sure if it would be a good fit for me since I have never been a huge reader and really didn't enjoy writing either. Much to my surprise, it is a PERFECT fit! I have always felt that God called me to teach and this week, those thoughts were confirmed. This is where God wants me and the peace and drive that comes with that is unbelievable.

I came home every night, mentally and physically exhausted but I longed for the next day! I miss the additional time at home with my girls but they love being watched by their MiMa (Nick's mom). Ally asks, everyday, "Mommy, what did you do today at your student teaching?" I LOVE our conversations about the day! My husband and I have more to talk about than just his work and the girls, which is a little refreshing!

I had such an amazing week and even though I know there will be bad days, I know that God has called me to do this job and he will be there every step of the way!