Do you remember that feeling that you used to get when school was about to start? For some it was a dreaded event, but for others, the days before were filled with excited anticipation.
I have both of these feelings right now! I am about to start student teaching and while I am very excited and filled with great anticipation of the changes that are coming, I can't help the bittersweet thoughts that are filling my mind.
I have not had to actually work (minus some subbing days last fall) since October, 2006! I might have forgotten what it feels like to wake up at 5:30am and actually have to get ready for the day. I enjoy working around the house or on homework and getting to stay in my PJs! I have been away from Mya once for an 8 hour time period and now I will have to do it on a daily basis. I like talking to Ally throughout the day to learn more about her and her beautiful personality. I like to talk to my husband when he calls randomly. I like the flexibility of doing things at my own pace.
On the other hand, I will enjoy more adult conversations that will occur with co-workers. I will enjoy getting to know my new students and watching them learn things that I am teaching! I will love the excitement that my daughters will show when I come home from work! I will enjoy getting to share the highlights of my day with my husband.
I am definitely filled with anticipation!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Lost in the Chaos
I have neglected my blog for the last month or so. I have found myself lost in the chaos. The chaos that is the holiday season. I love this time of year for many reasons but I welcome the new year with open arms and sleepy eyes! Although I am sure that I could have found some time to write, I filled it with many miscellaneous tasks; baking cookies, shopping, wrapping presents, visiting with friends and family, wrestling two sleepy little girls and the list can go on and on! This new year is going to bring on new changes but I hope to keep up with my blog more frequently, even among the chaos!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time to Reflect
With Thanksgiving and Nick and I's 4 year anniversary right around the corner, I have been looking back at all of the blessings that have occurred in our lives over the past 4 years.
Nov '04 - Nov '05 Year 1- During our first year of marriage we were blessed with our oldest daughter, Ally on April 20, 2005! What a blessing she was that day and every day since then! Then in May, Nick accepted a new job that was willing to work around his school schedule! Towards the end of the first year, we welcomed our nephew, Ganon to our family!
Nov '05 - Nov '06 Year 2- Year two began with the welcoming of yet another niece, Haylee! This year was also Ally's first Christmas! I was just looking at older videos and came across this awesome memory. She was sitting up but not yet crawling! January marked the beginning of our Small Group-Bible Study. What a wonderful group of people that we have gotten to know! We started out as friends and now feel more like family! April and May of 2006 were very busy months for us! We closed on our new house on April 10th and immediately started the renovation project! We celebrated Ally's 1st birthday and a few days later, we moved into our new house! In May, Nick graduated from college and to celebrate, he and I took our first over night trip away from Ally and went to the Lake of the Ozarks! We then took our first family trip to Gatlinburg, TN in September. October brought one of the greatest blessings of all...I was able to quit my job and become a stay at home mommy!
Nov ' 06 - Nov '07 Year 3- Our third year together began with our first Christmas in our new house! I began taking classes in January 2007 to finish up my degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. We were able to celebrate two very special birthdays this year, my Grandma Moreland and Nick's Grandma Vitale both celebrated their 80th birthdays! There is so much to be thankful for in just these 4 years that I am looking at...I can only imagine the blessings God has given these ladies over the past 8 decades! November 2007, we welcomed our FOURTH niece, Natalee and learned just 3 days later that we would be expecting Baby #2 in July '08!
Nov '07 - Nov '08 Year 4- This past year has flown by so fast and has been full of God's grace and love! Our youngest daughter, Mya was born on July 8, 2008! Ally is so proud of her sister and we are so proud of both of them! Ally started preschool and dance class in September 2008! Just a few more blinks and she will be off to kindergarten!
I haven't even scratched the surface of all of the highlights and I could go on and on...maybe one day I'll write a book! :o) These past four years have been filled with love, smiles, tears of joy and of sorrow but most importantly they have been full of God's love and grace! Sure there have been rainy days but if you keep your head down, you'll miss the rainbow!
Nov '04 - Nov '05 Year 1- During our first year of marriage we were blessed with our oldest daughter, Ally on April 20, 2005! What a blessing she was that day and every day since then! Then in May, Nick accepted a new job that was willing to work around his school schedule! Towards the end of the first year, we welcomed our nephew, Ganon to our family!
Nov '05 - Nov '06 Year 2- Year two began with the welcoming of yet another niece, Haylee! This year was also Ally's first Christmas! I was just looking at older videos and came across this awesome memory. She was sitting up but not yet crawling! January marked the beginning of our Small Group-Bible Study. What a wonderful group of people that we have gotten to know! We started out as friends and now feel more like family! April and May of 2006 were very busy months for us! We closed on our new house on April 10th and immediately started the renovation project! We celebrated Ally's 1st birthday and a few days later, we moved into our new house! In May, Nick graduated from college and to celebrate, he and I took our first over night trip away from Ally and went to the Lake of the Ozarks! We then took our first family trip to Gatlinburg, TN in September. October brought one of the greatest blessings of all...I was able to quit my job and become a stay at home mommy!
Nov ' 06 - Nov '07 Year 3- Our third year together began with our first Christmas in our new house! I began taking classes in January 2007 to finish up my degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. We were able to celebrate two very special birthdays this year, my Grandma Moreland and Nick's Grandma Vitale both celebrated their 80th birthdays! There is so much to be thankful for in just these 4 years that I am looking at...I can only imagine the blessings God has given these ladies over the past 8 decades! November 2007, we welcomed our FOURTH niece, Natalee and learned just 3 days later that we would be expecting Baby #2 in July '08!
Nov '07 - Nov '08 Year 4- This past year has flown by so fast and has been full of God's grace and love! Our youngest daughter, Mya was born on July 8, 2008! Ally is so proud of her sister and we are so proud of both of them! Ally started preschool and dance class in September 2008! Just a few more blinks and she will be off to kindergarten!
I haven't even scratched the surface of all of the highlights and I could go on and on...maybe one day I'll write a book! :o) These past four years have been filled with love, smiles, tears of joy and of sorrow but most importantly they have been full of God's love and grace! Sure there have been rainy days but if you keep your head down, you'll miss the rainbow!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Almost There!
Mya has been working so hard on learning to roll over. She is almost there! This morning she got 95% of her body over but just could not seem to get that arm out of the way. She gets so mad and has started a HORRIBLE scream when she is mad! It is not a cry, it is a SCREAM! I often wonder if the neighbors can hear her and wonder what in the world is going on over here!
As I watched Mya try to roll over this morning, it made me realize how fast she is growing up. We go in this afternoon for her 4 month check-up and shots and it does not even seem possible. I do look forward to watching her grow but it is definitely a bittersweet feeling at times!
As I watched Mya try to roll over this morning, it made me realize how fast she is growing up. We go in this afternoon for her 4 month check-up and shots and it does not even seem possible. I do look forward to watching her grow but it is definitely a bittersweet feeling at times!
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Newfound Love...
COOKING!!! Well, I have always loved to cook but I have recently realized that I love to make new recipes. My motto: "You never know unless you try and if it is a flop...thank God for takeout!"
I am not sure how it is at your house, but we get into cooking ruts. I end up cooking the same or similar meals every week. BORING!!! We recently bought a quarter of a cow from a local herdsman and so now I have to learn how to cook a few pieces of meat that I have not had much experience. I am also on the hunt for different recipes to use with hamburger. I am definitely up for the challenge!
I have two recipes that I am going to try this week! The first one will be done this evening and it is a Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy. I remember my mom making something similar when I was growing up, so I am looking forward to this dish! My two prior experiences with gravy making were not the greatest, so I am hoping that the old saying, "Third time's a charm" is true! The second dish is a three day event and will be done on Tuesday evening, Beef Brisket. I am actually enjoying the smell of it right now, as it bakes for 8 hours on day 2! Taco soup is on the menu for Wednesday and while it is not a new recipe, it is a definite favorite!
It is fun and exciting to try new things, even if it is just following a recipe!
What are your favorite recipes?
I am not sure how it is at your house, but we get into cooking ruts. I end up cooking the same or similar meals every week. BORING!!! We recently bought a quarter of a cow from a local herdsman and so now I have to learn how to cook a few pieces of meat that I have not had much experience. I am also on the hunt for different recipes to use with hamburger. I am definitely up for the challenge!
I have two recipes that I am going to try this week! The first one will be done this evening and it is a Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy. I remember my mom making something similar when I was growing up, so I am looking forward to this dish! My two prior experiences with gravy making were not the greatest, so I am hoping that the old saying, "Third time's a charm" is true! The second dish is a three day event and will be done on Tuesday evening, Beef Brisket. I am actually enjoying the smell of it right now, as it bakes for 8 hours on day 2! Taco soup is on the menu for Wednesday and while it is not a new recipe, it is a definite favorite!
It is fun and exciting to try new things, even if it is just following a recipe!
What are your favorite recipes?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Smiles
Have you ever noticed how little people smile these days?!? I am not saying that nobody ever smiles, but there could be more smiles out there!
I had to do an assignment for one of my psychology classes and it was looking at people in public, making eye contact, smiling at them and then recording (mentally) what their reaction was. I was a little amazed at the number of people that will just look away.
I LOVE SMILES!!! It is awesome to see people smile. I love waking up in the morning to see Mya's great big smile as I peek my head in to see her! Then when Ally realizes that we are awake (yes, she wakes up earlier than us and usually hangs out with daddy), she smiles as she runs to hug us both. I love to make my husbands favorite food to see the smile on his face! Smiles have a way of turning a bad day good and that is AWESOME!!!
Have you made someone smile lately?!?
I had to do an assignment for one of my psychology classes and it was looking at people in public, making eye contact, smiling at them and then recording (mentally) what their reaction was. I was a little amazed at the number of people that will just look away.
I LOVE SMILES!!! It is awesome to see people smile. I love waking up in the morning to see Mya's great big smile as I peek my head in to see her! Then when Ally realizes that we are awake (yes, she wakes up earlier than us and usually hangs out with daddy), she smiles as she runs to hug us both. I love to make my husbands favorite food to see the smile on his face! Smiles have a way of turning a bad day good and that is AWESOME!!!
Have you made someone smile lately?!?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Success
After a semi-tough, first week of weight watchers, I am proud to say that it was a success! I have officially lost 3 lbs. Not bad considering all of the tempting Halloween candy and a few stressful days!
I have a tendency to eat based on emotion! If I am having a bad day, I love to indulge in any kind of junk food that I can find. It is much easier to eat healthier on less stressful days!
On another note...
Last night, we learned that Ally's babysitter will be retiring at the end of the month. I immediately broke down to tears, as I have already been searching for Mya's babysitter! This forced Nick and I to talk about our options and FAST! We decided to call his mom to see if she would be up to the task and, even though, we are still discussing how everything will work, it looks like it is another success!
Despite a few bumps in the road, I would say this week was a definite success!
I have a tendency to eat based on emotion! If I am having a bad day, I love to indulge in any kind of junk food that I can find. It is much easier to eat healthier on less stressful days!
On another note...
Last night, we learned that Ally's babysitter will be retiring at the end of the month. I immediately broke down to tears, as I have already been searching for Mya's babysitter! This forced Nick and I to talk about our options and FAST! We decided to call his mom to see if she would be up to the task and, even though, we are still discussing how everything will work, it looks like it is another success!
Despite a few bumps in the road, I would say this week was a definite success!
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