10 Honest Things

I've been tagged to tell you 10 honest things about myself...And for the record, this is the third one I've done in the past two weeks. I completed the "25 random facts" and "45 questions" on Facebook. I love these types of things, especially when I have 10 million other things to do and they help me to procrastinate. To avoid repeating myself, I will try to write 10 NEW honest things, so you don't get bored. And, the best part is you can read all three and have a triple dose of me! I'm not so sure that's a good thing...but here goes:

1. I keep everything - invitations, cards, notes, menus, programs...you name it. And I LOVE to go back and read through them.

2. I am a blog stalker - I am obsessed with reading blogs. I keep up with complete and total strangers through blogs and I truly get emotionally attached.

3. While I am good with technology (or at least I like to think so), I hate trying to figure things out. And I hate it when things change... like I just downloaded the latest version of iTunes, and I don't get it all. And now, I don't want to spend the time to figure it out - what a waste when I had become an expert with the old version I had! The same is true with cell phones... I don't want some complicated phone like a BlackBerry. I have an old Nokia (and will never own any other brand if I can help it) and it has a hard time charging now because I've dropped it so many times - like once a day - and so many pieces have broken off, but I fear getting a new phone in 2 months because I'll have to figure out how it works - ugh!!

4. Speaking of change... I hate it. Period.

5. I hate the way my fingers/nails feel after they've been filed. My fingernails grow really fast and are fairly strong, so I can go like 2 months without cutting them - and I do because I hate the idea of filing them! I don't even really like it when the "professionals" do it, but they get it done a lot faster than me, so I'll take it!

6. I love to play games. My absolute favorite is Catchphrase (especially with Brittany - on the same team of course!) and Apples to Apples. I also like playing Dominoes with the fam at the beach.

7. My first year of teaching was great in the classroom - I STILL miss those kids. They were great! However, outside of the classroom... it was horrible!!! I watched my mom lose her best friend (who was my second mom while I was growing up) and continue to take care of her family since they were in the aftermath of a house fire. I had TWO gum graft surgeries that were not covered by insurance... not even one penny! I severely sprained my foot AT school... on crutches for 4 weeks and in a walking boot for 7 weeks - yuck. I lost my grandmother.

8. I love to cooking and try making new things. I love collecting recipes from people and magazines... if I find a good recipe in a magazine that's not mine (like at a doctor's office), I will totally rip it out. Yes, I am the reason you couldn't finish that great story in the 3 month old People magazine at the doctor's office. ;)

9. I have some incredibly strange allergies. Apparently, I grew into them in the last several years. I am supposed to go for allergy shots, but I gave up. I have also discovered that I am allergic to wool, which required me to throw out half of my winter wardrobe this year - including my nice wool coat that I have yet to replace. Annoying!!!

10. I like to sing and I know the words to a lot of songs. My favorites are country songs. However, don't be surprised if you change the radio station to Christian - I'll know those... or oldies - I'll know those... or pop - I'll know those... or rap - who knows? I might even know some of those!!

I am tagging Ashley (haha) and Terri Leigh.

Random Ramblings & Reflections

Wow! It's been a while... sorry. I really think about this blog a lot and think about things I want to write about, and then I sit down to write, and I got nothin'...it's terrible. But I'll do my best - this post may not be exciting, but it's an update nonetheless!



Work: Ugh, I am praying I only have four more days with the challenge that the Lord presented to me this year. And that's not to say that I don't love this child, but he really needs more help than I (or anyone else at my school) can give him. The plan is for him to be placed at another local school in a special class for children with emotional/behavioral disorders. That's really all I can say about that, but I need to climb up on a soap box for a minute regarding all of this. If you EVER have a child and at any point, you do not feel that you can provide for that child or give him/her the attention and things they need, PLEASE allow someone else to take care of them and provide for them. I want people to remember this even if they end up becoming grandparents that are raising their grandchildren because their own children are inept at their parenting job. If it ever becomes too burdensome, please find some help! All you have to do is ask and people will surround you with the resources/people you need to get that help.

I am thankful for the rest of my class who always make me laugh. I have another student that I believe needs to be in the hands of another, but there is nothing I can do, except pray and do my best to educate him to be better... he is constantly making me laugh. He ALWAYS wants to know what I am doing, where I am going, or even what I am thinking. He is the student who had alligator tears for the first few days of school because he "wanthed thoo go home", and when I told him he was at school to learn, he said "Go outhide?" Precious - especially with the lisp. A few weeks into school, I had to leave early to go to the doctor one day, so he noticed me getting my stuff together to leave, and he started bawling. He said, "Mith Inninen, where you goin?" I explained that I wasn't feeling well, so I was going to see the doctor so she could help me feel better, and I assured him I would be back the next day. He cried harder, and said, "Mith Inninen, I wanth thoo go with you!" Adorable!! Needless to say, he has overcome his separation issues, but he still loves me. I hope he never loses the ability to say, "Mith Inninen, what you doin?" I will miss it when he begins to say my name correctly. Of course, there are the girls that already have drama - who knew all that began at 5 years old?! Lord, help me when I am a mom to understand - ha! And I think I have seriously seen every child in my class cry at LEAST once, and it wasn't even because they were in trouble... they didn't get to play on the computer, someone took the yellow bear they were looking at, they wanted to play with the cars, they wanted to answer my question... I mean, really?! Yes, it's pretty ridiculous, but they have truly come a long way since day 1 (good thing since we're on day 108)!!


House: Well, no explosions yet. And I'm even baking cookies right now as I type, so I think I'm doing well with this whole gas stove/oven thing. My oven has a tendency to make a popping noise, and I think I have jumped everytime and expected to open the oven door to see balls of fire where there once was cookie dough. But alas, this has not come true yet - thank you, Jesus!! I am facing the reality that I live by myself... I am having Bible study at my house next week, which means I need to clean it up and make it presentable (every room since they haven't seen a finished product), and I have realized that this is a BIG house! Haha, but thankfully, it's my mess to clean up, and I haven't made too many of them or ones that are too big. We'll see what I'm saying after I clean...

On another note, I am ready to continue with the decorating! I got paid, so I have money again (not much, but more than I had!) so I will be purchasing some much needed things so that I can actually make my house feel like a home. I am pretty excited about that - looking for furniture/accessories and getting new ideas from all those magazines and other things out there. I am hoping to get some pictures hung up by the end of next week, so that will make me feel better too. I LOVE pictures. I also hope to get my "craft room" organized, so I can once again start working on my scrapbook. I can't wait to be doing all of that again. Hopefully, things will all be in order by the end of the month - then, I will deliver the pictures!


Bible Study: It is going great! I am so excited about our weekend events with this. We have bene given the challenge of discipling some ninth grade girls in the area, and we are so pumped. We are having a tea on Sunday for them. We cannot wait to love on these girls and just share our love for the Lord with them. I think it will be great, and I really miss d'groups from Auburn. In our Bible study time, we are finishing up our Beth Moore book, and then we'll be starting our own study on women of the Bible. I think we're all ready for a change too - it should be wonderful.

Guard: Well... I had started a Winter Guard program back up at Marietta, but it ended up folding before the first competition. To make a long story short, I am very disappointed, because I think I have some great girls that have a lot of potential. And I was so excited about my show concept I had created (with lots of help). I have decided that I really miss performing. However, since Marietta folded, I have been helping Nicole with her guard at Sprayberry a little bit. I think it has been good for me to watch someone instruct. I already have some different ways to do things when we get ready for fall season to start up. Then again, I'm enjoying the down time, so I'm not going to rush the winter for spring so we can begin preparing for fall...

Friends: Oh, how I am so thankful for all of my friends. I love my "Marietta girls" and am so glad we are all back. I am blessed to have each of you in my life, and I am grateful that we are reconnecting through Bible study (and all the other times we spend together). I miss my Auburn friends everyday. There is not a single day that goes by that I am reminded of something from Auburn. The Lord truly crafted my friendships in Auburn, and I praise Him everyday for placing each of you in my life and making that obvious to me. I also miss those friends from Marietta that are not back in Marietta - in fact, they are spread across the globe now just like my Auburn friends! Craziness!

Okay, this has gone on long enough... I mean, it's taken me two days to write it! I'm sorry for the rambling - but you were warned with the title. I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!

Girlfriends...

First off, everyone knows I live for the weekend, but I just have to say that I LOVE three day weekends!! I haven't done much this time, because I was enjoying being lazy, but tonight, I was able to go out for some fun. Kaitlin, Sarah, Audrey, and I went to dinner at TGI Friday's and then Kaitlin, Sarah, and I continued our night of fun seeing the movie Bride Wars. I understand this movie got terrible ratings, but let's face it: romantic comedies always get bad ratings - and I always LOVE them! Haha. It was great, and while there were a few times I started to tear up, I almost laughed through the entire thing. I highly recommend it. My favorite part of the night (aside from some interesting conversation between dinner and the movie) was singing with Celine in the car. Kaitlin was lucky enough to go to her concert last night, and as she said, she was "still on a high" from it, so she burned a CD of Celine songs and brought it along. It was great. We knew every word and sang right along. I love that God granted us friends here on earth that we can enjoy these crazy times we live in. I truly believe that life would be different without friends. And honestly, what would I do without my girlfriends? Auburn would have been a totally different experience without the freshman girls Bible study at Toma's and the girlfriends I gained from that. My relationship with the Lord would be totally different without the girlfriends I gained from the college ministry at Lakeview. And, I surely would have hated "school" without my Cohort C girls. At the same time, I don't think I would have made it TO college without the help of my girlfriends from high school. Whew, thinking about all of my girlfriends is bringing back SO many memories!! So to all of my girlfriends out there - past and present - I am thankful for you and the times you have helped me through, provided for me, and just been there. I love you!

No Worries...

...I cooked tonight on the stove and everything is still the way it was before I started - nothing blew up and nothing caught on fire that wasn't supposed to, so it's all good. Granted, it was only on for like 15 minutes - it was a frozen sweet and sour chicken packet (yummy)! However, it built my confidence for the spaghetti I will fix tomorrow night. I'll be sure to let you know how that goes. . . two pots on the same stove at the same time - could be interesting! ;)

Procrastination

I spent all day yesterday cleaning things around my house - cleaning out drawers and organizing the things I'd already unpacked, and unpacking more boxes. I think I only have 5 left - and I have to wait until I have somewhere to put those things, so it will be a while. Today, I drove with my mom to swap mattresses with Kay, so needless to say, I'm sick of cleaning and too tired, although I desperately need to vacuum. However, I'm not going to - I'll update instead.
Things around my house are really coming together. My den is all in order except one last thing (again, I just don't feel like doing it tonight). My kitchen needs work, but that's a matter of time... it will require me purchasing things or moving things around, so it's as good as it's going to get right now. The dining room is great, but I can't wait to get my next paycheck because I really want to buy some of those cute lampshades for my chandelier. The living room is another room that will take time - because I am waiting on a slipcover for the sofa, and I need to purchase some other pieces of furniture before it will be finished. Since I got the matress for the "teal room" today, it is pretty much finished. I worked on making it presentable this weekend, so it looks like a real guest room now, and is ready for guests! The "pink room/craft room" needs me to finish organizing things, but it is presentable and ready for guests. It's just not usable as a craft room yet. And my room won't be complete until I have my armoire back, but that probably won't be for a while. I'd also like to purchase another piece of furniture for my room, but I'm not quite sure what yet. And of course, every room needs pictures to be hung - I was waiting to get furniture placed and such, and every room needs curtains. I already have them for my room and my kitchen, but I have to figure out what to do in the living room/dining room and the den. I don't think I'll do anything in the guest rooms - the two windows in each room aren't the same so I think curtains would look dumb. SO, that's the latest there. When I have another free day, I'll take pictures so you can actually see what I'm talking about and see the "transformation".
I have had several people ask me lately if I'm lonely in my house all by myself. I have to be honest and tell you that a small piece of me is very lonely. However, another piece of me is really enjoying the peace and quiet and privacy! I definitely miss my mom and the conversations we would have while sitting in the kitchen or dining room and the time we spent together watching our shows. And the thing I miss the most is food! Haha, I've eaten at my house, but I haven't really cooked... part of it is because I have a gas stove and I'm afraid of it, but another reason is that I haven't been home and hungry enough to really cook a meal. Maybe one night this week it will happen. I HAVE been home to eat a meal though and I think that's when I get lonely... I used to eat with 3 other people, so sitting at a table by myself is certainly different. I've also gotten when I've been unpacking and I've found various things from when I lived with Brittany... man, I miss that girl!! Yesterday, I found the fruit pictures that used to hang in our kitchen, and I almost started to cry (don't worry, I didn't). I'm reminded of her everyday when I go to put something in my dishwasher because it is exactly like the one we had in Auburn, and we always unloaded it together. I miss having someone help me to do that! I also unpacked other pictures that reminded me of my time at Auburn, and I just got sad. I miss those days and times... they were so much fun and I was truly blessed to find the friends that I did while I was there. However, life goes on as I have learned (the hard way) and I must continue to live the life that God has laid out for me. I believe that He has plans for me, and I just have to trust that He will blow me away when I am blessed to discover these plans. In the meantime, I am praying that He will bless this time that I have to myself and that I will continue to blossom and grow during this time of my life.

Delayed

Once again, I apologize for my delay in posting anything recently. I am hoping to get back into this. As I was expressing the other day, I have so many things I would LOVE to blog about, but I have to be careful because it usually has to do with someone other than me, and that would be BAD if they somehow came across this. So for now, I'll post the positive and be VERY vague when referring to those annoying people.
It is so hard for me to believe that it is 2009. What happened to 2008?! It seems like just yesterday that I sprained my foot, stood by a dear friend as she got married, attended my grandmother's funeral, had my second gum surgery, went to Macon and Sarasota, worked band camp, attended numerous high school football games, struggled with a very special student, and bought a house! Ridiculous. But wow, looking back, it is amazing to see how the Lord has blessed me. And I think about all the ways I almost missed them, because I was trying to make my own plans and do things my own way. God really has a funny way of doing things - sometimes they really are funny (the laugh out loud kind) and other times they're funny in the sense that they make me think "I never would have suspected that or done it that way".
So anyways, I have so much to catch up on, but I'll just talk about my Christmas break that just ended today :( I was SO not ready to go back to work, and I'm really not ready for kids tomorrow. Basically, I worked the entire break on my house, and it paid off in the end because I'm in!! Not only did I work, but my entire family worked also, for which I will be eternally thankful - it definitely would not have happened without each of them. Of course, none of this happened without a few setbacks... my grandmother was in the hospital for the entire week of Christmas, which put a damper on our traditions and activities. However, I feel like we made the most of it, and came to realize that it's not about traditions - it's just a day on the calendar that world uses as a holiday, when in fact, it is so much more than that. It is a day to celebrate the fact that Lord sent His Son so many years ago as a gift for us. That can be celebrated anywhere. I was able to spend time with some friends and talk with friends over the break that normally wouldn't happen simply because of time - so I'm thankful for all of those conversations and time together. My house is still a work in progress for the time being, but I am hoping by the end of next weekend, I will have everything in order and I can post some before and after pictures. But for now, this post will have to do as an update... until next time...

For you, Brittany...

Happy New Year - everyone!!! I have to apologize because I haven't posted in a while. However, I do believe Brittany is the only person that reads this, so specifically to you, Britt, I'm sorry. For everyone else out there, I am in the process of moving into my house, after having painted every room in it. So, things are a little hectic right now. I haven't had much time to post anything, but I will try my best to be better in the next month. Happy New Year!!!