I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.

This past year:

Have your religious views gotten stronger or weaker? My views have shifted, but they have not really strengthened or weakened. I have, however, become less devout in any particular religion.

Who were your best friends? Brandon

Name your boyfriends: No boyfriends for me this year. :)

How long was each relationship? I won't have any more relationships ... thankfully I just get one long, happy marriage! :)

How was January: Spent my first married new year's in an overpriced hotel downtown, but at least I had good company. :) I started student teaching in Josh's class and fell more in love with those kids ... and my choice of career.
How was February: Student teaching continued. Had a minor Valentine's Day battle with our car that really didn't feel minor at the time. Now we can laugh about it though, so all is well. Spent the evening loving on my husband. Brandon turned 21, which is a night I will never forget ... or stop laughing at the memory of what occurred that evening. My little sister came to visit, which is always a fun thing. I wish she would come visit more often. Pretty sure I started working at Target in February too.
How was March: I worked a lot ... and taught a lot ... and tried to keep my sanity a lot. I remember being very stressed out by the sheer amount of work I was trying to accomplish. Between my thesis, student teaching, and working at Target, I remember having to cry a lot in order to keep myself sane. Brandon surprised me with a homebaked cake on my 22nd birthday because I had to work all day. Went to Mexico at the end of the month with the MAT folks, which was a blast!
How was April: I wrote my thesis, started subbing, and worked a lot of hours at Target. That pretty much sums up April. lol
How was May: I finished my thesis! May was really exciting! :) Then, after finishing my thesis, Brandon and I took off for Costa Rica (literally ... 4 hours after finishing my thesis presentation) and had a mindblowingly awesome time! We were so blessed with that opportunity. What an experience! We relaxed for 9 days straight and just enjoyed being with each other ... with a long overdue celebration of our marriage. Then after we came home, I graduated with my first 4.0 ... which for me, was quite the reward after pouring my soul into my work. My parents came to see me graduate, which was a really exciting/weird thing. Exciting because they got to see my house and be there one of the proudest moments of my life. Weird because they got to see my house ... and then leave my house. It's a strange thing when your parents come to visit you.
How was June: I think it was pretty good. lol I don't remember a whole lot about June.
How was July: I spent a LOT of hours in my classroom ... and don't really remember much else about July.
How was August : I started my teaching career! Students showed up at my classroom door on August 4, and they've continued to come back since then. :) There are too many things to say about teaching, so I will just defer you to my other blogs. haha Brandon and I also celebrated our one year anniversary, and we went to California for Steve and Rhonda's (much anticipated) wedding.
How was September: Teaching continued. We went home for Mark's wedding.
How was October: Teaching continued. :) Brandon and I went to Seattle and Portland over fall break, which was one of the best decisions we've made recently. We had such an amazing time seeing our friends and getting away from Utah for a little while!
How was November: We went home for Thanksgiving ... took a week off and enjoyed our families. I don't remember much else.
How was December: Brandon applied for a job with Washington County that we are awaiting results of. We are increasingly excited about moving back to Portland this summer! We went home AGAIN, but this time to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday and Christmas. Again, it was a great week of relaxing and reconnecting with old friends ... something we wish we could do more of.

How many parties did you attend?: Not very many actual "parties" ... but we went to and hosted a lot of get togethers.
Did you get drunk for the first time?: Nope
Did you lose someone you love?: No
Did someone have a baby?: My twin had her second child ... this time a beautiful baby girl. I know a lot of people who got pregnant in '08 though!
Any new friends?: Yessum
Who changed your year?: My students have, I think, had the biggest influence on me this year. They've only been part of my life for five months, but they have already taught me more than I can express.
Anything you wish you could re-do?: No. I'm pretty happy with the way things have turned out ... and even if they turned out poorly, I'm still happy with where I have ended up.
What and why?: See above
Did you lie to your parents?: Probably. lol
Did you lie to your friends?: Again, probably. :-P It's never intentional, but sometimes it happens.
Did you get lied to?: Probably. It is unreasonable to expect that everyone is completely honest all the time. We're flawed, and that's okay.
Do you hate anyone new?: Negative. I just hold on to my old grudges. ;) Kidding.
Does anyone knew hate you?: I don't know.
Are you glad this year is over?: Suuuuure. ha I don't know. It's always nice to have a fresh start, but I am pretty content with my life and the pace at which things are moving.
Who do you want to thank for your bad year?: No one, because it wasn't a bad year at all!
Who do you want to thank for your good year?: The people who were in it.
Do you think you'll keep the same friends?: Yes! But I also think I will make some new ones.
What is your new year resolution?: I don't really do New Year's resolutions.

The new year:

Will you keep your resolution?: Again, I don't really make them. I always forget them. lol
How many more girlfriends/boyfriends do you think you'll have? Zero. :)
Who do you think you'll spend the most time with?: Brandon. :)
Who will you stop hanging out with?: Well, my friends in Salt Lake and I will be pretty far apart come June ... but we won't stop hanging out. It will just be less frequently unless we can convince them to move to Oregon with us. :)
Anything you hope to do this year?: Move, get a dog, get a new job at a fantastically diverse school
Are you gonna kiss the same person this next new year?: Quite frankly, I plan on kissing the same boy for the rest of forever.

Take Action finale

To complete part two of this experiment, read through your answers to the exercises from the five days prior and take time to answer the following questions:

What themes or patterns do you see?
I am a truly optimistic person who sometimes struggles to believe in herself. I see that I am determined and hopeful, and also very self-aware.

Which answers feel right, but scary?
"11 I will not let my past define my future."
AND
"Believe in yourself as much as you believe in others. See the good in yourself that you see in others. Know that you are strong than he made you feel that night ... and one day you will be completely free of that pain. You will always have the memory, but you will not always be haunted by it. You are strong enough to get through it. Let Brandon help you. Let those who love you be the strength you don't always feel. Let them guide you when you can't find your way. You are strong, but you need their love. You don't have to fight this alone. It's okay NOT to fight this alone. it wasn't your fault, so please don't punish yourself by trying to figure this out on your own."
I struggle ... every day I struggle. And I don't even let the people who mean the most to me know about it until I blow my top. It's not fair to them and it's not fair to me. I shouldn't have to do this alone, but I choose to because I don't have the courage to stand up and say, "This is what happened to me." Instead, I allow it to belittle my ambitions and eat away at me one day at a time. It's my choice ... and I know I need to have the courage, even though it can be the scariest thing in the world.

What life lessons have you needed to work through?
I am still working through issues of inferiority. For as big of an optimist as I am, I have bouts of severe self esteem issues, and I'm not entirely sure why. I am loved by the most incredible man in the universe, I am successful, and I am doing something I love every day of my life. Most of the time I am pretty self-confident, but there are times when my self-esteem plummets ... and that is the biggest thing I have to work on.
I've also learned a great deal about hope when things seem pretty dismal, and surviving when life is at its worst.

If you were meant to teach others three things, what would they be?
Oh boy. Umm ... I guess I would have to say hope and faith that things will always work out as they are supposed to. Live a life of no regrets, even if you made a bad choice. Live honestly, especially with yourself.

How is "who" you are, related to "what" you might offer others?
Who I am is still up for debate, I think. Although the groundwork is laid, the process of becoming who we really are is lifelong. That being said, I am a wife, a friend, a teacher, a sister, and a daughter ... and all of those things have different things to offer people. I have a lot to offer in my sincerity, my optimism, and my desire for the extraordinary. I refuse to settle and it is my hope that I will be able to help others realize their unlimited potential for greatness.

What one theme best reflects your life lesson thus far?
Life is beautiful should we choose to look for it. Our lives are best defined by what we are willing to see and what we choose to focus on.

What have you learned about yourself since you completed the first experiment?
The biggest thing this project has brought into light is how much I miss journaling. I used to be an avid journaler, but have lost the desire to spend my time writing. This has brought that desire back, and has reminded me how beneficial it is to take time for myself and bring my pen to paper (I wrote all these things out before typing them here). Writing is good for my soul ... it's calming and refreshing.

What advice would you give yourself now?
To make sure my actions match my outlook on life. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in all the little things that I forget to look for the big picture. I know life is short; I cherish so much about my life ... and all too often I let it slip away.


Using the first and second person, write at least one page in your journal completing each of these two sentence stems:

When I read through my answers, I notice that I ___
When I read through my answers I notice that I am strong, motivated, and well rounded. I am particularly impressed by the five jobs I chose on the last day because of how diverse they are. Sometimes I feel as though I am a single minded person whose interests are relatively one dimensional ... but after reading through my recent posts, I realize that this is not true. I have interests that are vastly different from one another, and that is a good thing.

This is something that, perhaps, no one else will notice, but it is something that is increasingly clear to me as I read through my writing. My life is about people, not about places or things. I think this is something I knew before, but it is something that is incredibly clear to me now. The things that are important to me ... are the people who were there when I was learning something, or experiencing something, or traveling somewhere. My semester abroad would not have been the same without the people who were there with me. My time in college and in graduate school would not have been nearly as meaningful if I hadn't met such incredbile people along the way. My wedding would have just been another moment in life had Brandon not been the one waiting for me at the end of the aisle ... had my best friends and my family not been there to witness such a monumental moment in my life. The people I choose to associate with are such enormous parts of my life, and so much of who I am is because of what they have meant to me throughout the years. The best and worst moments of my life are because of people.

That being said, I also notice that I really need to let the people who love me ... love me. In effort to regain my footing, I often push people away by not answering the phone, not talking about my problems, etc. I don't mean to do it ... but it happens. It's something that I am continually trying to move past.

When I read through the answers, I notice that (your name) ___
When I read through the answers, I notice that Sam is really trying to be happy and complete, even when it is hard for her. I notice that she believes that people are good at heart and that she believes she is capable of a full and happy life. She knows life is hard sometimes, but she is determined not to be jaded by what she has experienced in the past. She is self-aware and knows that she has a long way to go, and that she isn't going to be happy all the time ... but she is trying. Her effort is astounding and her strength should not go unnoticed.

However, Sam also tries to solve her problems on her own. While she knows this is not a healthy way of handling things, she struggles to let people in enough to help her with the things that are bothering her the most. This is something she clearly wants to get over, but struggles to do so.

I notice that Sam has goals and that she is constantly readjusting those goals to make them reachable, while still maintaining her high standards for herself. She is driven and passionate, and will go far in life because of those characteristics.

Finally, what are three specific action steps you need to take to do something with what you've learned from the experiments? Challenge yourself to take these steps before the New Year!
Well, the new year is tomorrow ... so these will not be done before then. :)
1) Talk about what I've been through ... really hash it out. Then get the help that I need to heal.
2) Make an effort to be in better contact with the people that I love.
3) Take time for myself ... breathe ... relax ... read a book ... write ... do nothing ... whatever. I need to start taking more me time and not feel guilty about it.

Day 5

Day Five:
5. If you could try five new jobs over the next year what would they be?

1) Volunteer at an orphanage overseas.
2) Pediatrician
3) Interior decorator
4) Contractor
5) Artist

I know ... quite the range, right? I do plan to learn some of the tricks of the trade of a general contractor one day so that I can help fix up any house Brandon and I ever live in. Also, I have a (not so) secret desire to flip houses during my summers off ... and before I even start to do something like that, I want to know how to change out floors and cabinets and countertops and all of that.

Anyway, Merry Christmas yesterday! :) There is a finale to this thing too ... I will post it in the next couple of days.

Day 4

4. Complete the following four exercises:

List three internal changes you'll need to make to live a more meaningful life.
1) I will need to learn to be more patient with myself in all aspects of my life. Otherwise I'm bound to drive myself to the edge of insanity with my desire for success/immediate gratification/etc.
2) I will need to be less critical of others. Even though I'm not usually being 100% serious, being so critical is bad for the soul.
3) I want to become more spiritual and continue to grow in my relationship with God. It's an area of my life that I have let slide lately, and I would like to regain my footing/

List three external changes you'll need to make to live a more meaningful life.
1) I need to continue to strive to be healthy emotionally and physically.
2) I need to sleep more ... which will help reduce stress and keep me healthier.
3) I need to smile more. Even though I smile a lot already, I am a firm believer that you can never smile too much.

List three positive qualities that you feel proud of possessing.
1) In general, I'm a very optimistic person.
2) I see the good in everyone and make it a point to help people reach the potential I see.
3) I am patient and willing to teach those who don't understand.

List three qualities that you'd like to develop.
1) I would like to become more patient with myself and see the good in myself that I am able to see in other people.
2) I would like to be more relaxed.
3) I would like to worry less.

Day 3

What three major choices brought you to this point in your life?

1) Choosing to study abroad in England. While I was there, I experienced things that I never dreamed I would, and met people who have altered the course of my life forever. Those five months were five of the best months of my life, and I am so glad I made that choice.
2) Choosing to marry Brandon. He is my heart, my soul, and my very best friend. I am so grateful that we took a chance on each other so many years ago, and that now ... as a married couple, we are prepared and able to face everything that life throws at us. He is the better part of me and he truly completes my life. While I don't need him to be happy, he certainly adds an unimaginable amount of love and happiness to my life. So much of who I am is because of who he has been to me, and I am so grateful for him.
3) Choosing to become a teacher. This is my calling ... it's what I was meant to do. I am so happy that this is where I have ended up, and so grateful that I am have opportunity to teach.

Looking back, what three things do you wish you had tried?

1) I wish I had tried having roommates in college after having such a ridiculous roommate freshman year.
2) I wish I had tried learning a language fluently when I was younger.
3) I wish I had tried learning piano before senior year, and I wish I had kept it up after the one class I took in college.

If you had to choose an object to represent your future, what would it be?

I would have to choose a book. I have learned so much in my life so far, and plan to continue to learn throughout the rest of my life. Also, books are written by authors, and I hope to write a book someday. Lastly, books have the power to evoke strong emotions of all kinds ... which, to me, represents being alive. I hope my life will be filled with those emotions that continue to let me know that I am truly living.

If you had to choose an object that represented your past, what would it be?

I would choose a dog to represent my past. Dogs are loyal, happy, and they always forgive.

What tasks or assignments would you say you've been given in your life so far?
Teaching. Being a wife. Learning patience and forgiveness. Learning to trust that things will work out the way they are supposed to, even if I can't currently see a reason for what is happening.

Reason #495830 why I love being a teacher.

Brandon sent this to me via email. It's a third grader writing about horses ... but it reads a little differently given the crafty spelling. :)

Day 2 of the Take Action Challenge

2. What advice would you give yourself at this time in your life? (fill at least one page)

Cut yourself some slack. You work harder thn you think. It's okay to not get everything done. It's okay to not be everything to everyone all the time. It's okay to let other people do thyou. In fact, it's acgs for intually good for you to rest, relax, and unwind ... not just when you're about to collapse, but every day. Don't beat yourself up so much. You are an amazing friend, a dedicated teacher, and a loving and supportive wife. You are a good person.

Believe in yourself as much as you believe in others. See the good in yourself that you see in others. Know that you are strong than he made you feel that night ... and one day you will be completely free of that pain. You will always have the memory, but you will not always be haunted by it. You are strong enough to get through it. Let Brandon help you. Let those who love you be the strength you don't always feel. Let them guide you when you can't find your way. You are strong, but you need their love. You don't have to fight this alone. It's okay NOT to fight this alone. it wasn't your fault, so please don't punish yourself by trying to figure this out on your own.

Start answering the phone when people call you. And if you don't, start calling people back right away. You are a busy woman, but you should never be too busy for your friends.

Write in your journal more. You love it and you deserve some time to decompress each day. In your later years of life and teaching, you are going to want to remember where you were today.

Spend less time worrying about the future and more time focussing on today. You've set yourself up for success; enjoy that feeling. You're only 22. You don't always have to be such a grown up.

Trust your heart. It's never led you astray.

Realize that some people simply aren't meant to fit into your life ... and that's okay. It doesn't imply that you are devestatingly flawed or that you aren't good enough. It simply means that your paths are running in different directions. You are still lovable; you are still worthwhile. Sometimes, though, God has bigger plans for both of you. And sadly, those plans don't always involve both of you ... sometimes that has to be okay.

Never forget how you felt on your wedding day. Keep the uncontrolable joy and ridiculous love that you have for Brandon alive. Cherish the fact that you were blessed with the ability to marry your best friend. Continue to believe that the love you share is strong enough to overcome. Continue to work on your marriage every day. Continue to love with with the same intensity you do now. Let his arms be your safe haven. Allow his strength to fortify and protect you. Be his rock when he needs you. Love each other always.

Lastly, always remember the zeal with which you began your teaching career. Even when times get rough, which thehy inevitably will ... remember why you teach. Remember that you didn't choose teaching -- teaching chose you. This is what you were born to do. Remember how much you love the kids ... know that they need you. But at the same time, rmeember that they need you healthy, so you can't forget to take care of yourself.

Above all, always be true to yourself. Even if it hurts, even it's scary. Take chances. Make mistakes. Always open the door. Your life is waiting for you.

5 day challenge

There's something about keeping a journal or writing private thoughts in a notebook that activates our inner wisdom. While your entries might seem like random thoughts or ideas, often they contain vital information about who you are and what you've come here to do.

Think of this assignment as a special gift to yourself. Taking time out of your busy life to reflect on who you are and what you want is one of the key ways that we influence the direction of our lives.

To make it easier, break the exercise into five parts and complete one part a day over the next week. Work on it during your lunch hour or while the kids are at school. You'll be glad you made the investment in yourself.

Once you complete these exercises follow the "Take Action Challenge" below to complete part two of the experiment. Enjoy!

Day 1 ... 10 things
1. Finish the following sentence stems with at least ten answers for each one:

I am
01 I am strong.
02 I am dedicated.
03 I am a teacher, daughter, sister, wife, and friend.
04 I am stubborn.
05 I am a writer.
06 I am goal oriented.
07 I am sensitive.
08 I am interested.
09 I am in love.
10 I am making my life worth living.
11 I am a survivor.

I will not
01 I will not disregard others' feelings.
02 I will not let my students fail.
03 I will not be defeated.
04 I will not let someone hurt the people I love.
05 I will not walk down a dark street by myself.
06 I will not stop trying.
07 I will not hurt someone to better myself or my position in life.
08 I will not take my life or anyone in it for granted.
09 I will not compromise on things I truly believe in.
10 I will not stop loving my husband.
11 I will not let my past define my future.

I would like
01 I would like to see the world in its entirety.
02 I would like to raise a family.
03 I would like to make a difference in someone's life.
04 I would like to move back to Oregon.
05 I would like to have a dog.
06 I would like my little sister to be happy.
07 I would like it to snow in Medford right now.
08 I would like to spend my time doing something helpful and worthwhile.
09 I would like Brandon to get the job with Washington County.
10 I would like to keep believing that all people are truly good at heart.
11 I would like for my heart to be completely healed.
12 I would like to be able to say that I have forgiven him.

I will
01 I will never stop learning.
02 I will fight for what I believe in.
03 I will be married to one man for the rest of forever.
04 I will believe in myself.
05 I will be a mother someday.
06 I will stand tall, even when others try to beat me down.
07 I will actively pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
08 I will never take my husband, my friends, or my family for granted.
09 I will teach my children and my students to see good in everyone.
10 I will hope for the best.
11 I will learn to forgive fully.

I love
01 I love Brandon.
02 I love my family.
03 I love my friends.
04 I love God.
05 I love teaching.
06 I love sunshine.
07 I love traveling.
08 I love fires, hot cocoa, and cuddling under the blankets.
09 I love long bubble baths in a bathroom filled with candlelight.
10 I love laughing.

I hate
01 I hate racism and closemindedness.
02 I hate lying.
03 I hate when people think my students are incapable just because of where they live, the family they were born into, or the country they were born in.
04 I hate when people judge others.
05 I hate feeling unproductive.
06 I hate seeing the people I love cry.
07 I hate that good people sometimes have crappy lives.
08 I hate when people let their circumstances define them.
09 I hate that I am so hard on myself sometimes.
10 I hate losing contact with people who used to be so important to me.

Today I learned the true meaning of Christmas.

"Mrs. Trask, I know why you bought me this book..." [said in a whisper while cradling his Christmas present from me ... Little Bear's Visit]
"Why is that Alan?"
[with the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face]"Because I can read it!"

I almost died right then and there.
It was the single most rewarding moment of my teaching career so far.

As a little back story is probably required here ... I bought all 27 of my kids books for Christmas and totally surprised them with gifts today. I had them all sit in a big circle and gave a speech of sorts about how much I love Christmas because it is an excuse for me to buy the people I love gifts that I know they will love. I then proceeded to tell them that I had bought each of them a very special gift. I told them that they couldn't open their gifts until everyone had theirs, and that we would open them all together at once. So I passed them out and then, "On your mark ... get set .... open your gift!" 27 kids squealed with delight as they opened their gift ... a brand spankin' new book that was theirs to keep forever. I was then greeted with comments like, "Mrs. Trask, it's like you know what we like!" They were amazed that I paid enough attention about them to know what books they would be able to read and what kind of book they would enjoy. One girl even said to me, "I love this book, but I don't have any money to buy it," while thanking me for buying it for her. It was amazing. I almost cried because it was such a special experience for me. As I just stood back and looked at their smiling faces, I realized that in that moment ... I was experiecing my dream Christmas. 27 kids opening brand new books ... realizing that I had picked these books for them and that through my magical teacher powers (they are still trying to figure them all out), I had managed to pick books that they would enjoy and be able to read on their own. One of my girls was so dumbfounded at the fact that I had bought her a Horrible Harry (series) book that she just sat there looking at it, quietly saying to herself, "I love Horrible Harry..." It was truly one of the most incredible moments of my life, and definitely the highest point of my teaching career.

My goal had been to purchase chapter books for each of my kids ... but I realized that it wasn't feasable if I wanted the kids to be able to read the books I sent home. This was, of course, the goal. What good would it do to give a gift that causes frustration? So for my kids who don't read as strongly as the others, I chose books like Little Bear, Frog and Toad, etc. Books that are longer ... but still on their levels. Alan struggles ... a lot. But he is one of the most determined kids I have ever met. I hope he teaches someday. He would be great. He knows what it's like to struggle through language barriers, getting picked on, etc. He knows what it's like to not understand. I really think he would be able to reach kids in a very unique way. His determination will get him through life when his skills fail him. I have poured endless effort into helping him become a stronger reader, as did his third grade teacher. To see his face light up when he opened a book that he realized he could read today was incredible. Every kid deserves that. Today, I hope all of mine were able to experience that feeling to some extent.

One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. ~ Carl Jung

The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate "apparently ordinary" people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people. ~ K. Patricia Cross

The secret of life is waking up early. The secret of life is staying up late.

Life is a funny thing sometimes. The clarity that comes from times of uncertainty is amazing to me. As unpredictable and ever changing as life is, I never fail to be surprised by the changes that take place both within me and within the life I live. The changes are often unpredictable and sometimes scary; sometimes the changes are negative. Sometimes just the prospect of change is, in and of itself, absolutely terrifying. However, those changes signify movement. While that movement is not always the most desirable or appeasing, it is movement nonetheless and I think that is something to be grateful for. Life would be incredibly boring if we spent all our time standing still!

Beware: the comparison I am about to make will clearly illustrate how engulfed I have become by teaching.

Life, I have found, is a little bit like the Dibels test. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a reading screening test developed by some people at the UofOregon to test how many words per minute a student can read. After their first reading, we create a goal line. Everyone is trying to reach the same goal, but the steepness depends on where the individual student is starting. Some kids need to improve by 10-15 words per week, others can improve at a more leisurely pace of 1 -2 words per week. Each week my kids hover around that line ... sometimes moving up, sometimes moving down. Sometimes falling 30+ words below the goal line and sometimes (like today), I have a child who soars well beyond the goal line!

I say all that to say this ... it matters less that you are right on track to meet all your goals in a certain time than it does that you are making progress. Moving forward is the most important thing. Sometimes we stumble and sometimes we flat out fail ... but if we're strong enough (or lucky enough to have someone else be strong for us), we will pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and try again next time. We're all trying to reach the same ultimate goal: a life of happiness and fulfillment. Does that necessarily mean the same thing for everyone? No. Some people are fulfilled with things that others deem unneeded. Some people need more in their lives to be happy. That doesn't matter though. What matters is that we are all trying to get there. Every day the world is filled with people striving to be better than they were the day before ... the week before ... the month before. Sometimes they're falling and sometimes their soaring beyond their wildest dreams. Either way, they're making progress.

The world does not wait for those who stand still. The earth is in constant motion; the universe would fall apart if it stood still.

I can only hope to be in constant motion. Forward, backward, side to side ... it doesn't matter to me (though one can always hope for constant forward motion :)), so long as I am hovering around that goal line. My successes outweigh my shortfalls, and certainly they make up for those days when I seem to be regressing. As long as the end goal is in sight, I will be okay.

Life is good.
Sometimes life is strange. But mostly ... life is good to me.
Even when things don't go as I planned ... I know that I am blessed.
Even when terrible things are happening ... life is good.
Things always work out as they are supposed to.
I have always believed that there is a reason for every event in our lives, even if that reason is not immediately visible. Some call it foolishness, but I call it optimism. Call it what you will ... but I think my way of thinking is more enjoyable than those who have nothing to hope for. Life goes on one way or another ... you may as well enjoy yourself.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one in the world who’s struggling, who’s frustrated, or unsatisfied, or barely getting by. But that’s feeling’s a lie. And if you just hold on, just find the courage to face it all for another day and someone, or something, will find you and make it all okay. Because we all need a little help sometimes. Someone to help us hear the music in our world. To remind us that it won’t always be this way. That someone is out there, and that someone will find you. - One Tree Hill

If you look for it, I think you will find that love really IS all around.

I love waking up to the snow. :) I've been watching it for the last 30-40 minutes ... and it's just beautiful.

Winter is here!

It's the hap-happiest time of the year!

Our really cute Christmas tree! :) We got a good one the first time this year. No more Charlie Brown trees for us! This one is short (~5 ft), but it will do. :)

Yes, we have a sombrero on our Christmas tree. :) I bought it in Mexico and it has been hanging on the wall in the kitchen, but I replaced it with a Christmas wall hanging. So the sombrero has a new temporary home.

Putting the star on top of our second (third?) tree as a married couple! :)

These are pictures from a Christmas party we went to last weekend. While my eyes are closed (no real surprise..), this is the only picture of Brandon and I from that night. So it's worth posting. Besides ... he looks really cute!

Westminster gals!

Two of the most amazing women I know ... and the sexiest man I've ever met.

Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.

Thought I would post some pictures from some of our November adventures/ what's been going on in school. :) Nothing substantial to report today ... I am tired an headed to bed after this post.

My little sister is old enough to drive me around in her very own car. It's a strange thing, though it makes me very happy. :)

The hubster and I during Thanksgiving break. :)


Mi hermana y yo




We made texture turkeys in school. :) They were really fun!


Some of my kiddos making clouds!


One of my favorite pictures from our field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts at the U


What the back of my classroom looked like a few weeks ago. Now it is covered with different types of clouds and other fun projects. :)

People always say I have a laugh like my mother does ...

... guess that makes sense. She taught me to smile when things get rough." -- Kristy Lee Cook, "Like my Mother Does"

I heard this song on the radio this morning on my way to school and it made me smile. Perhaps it is slightly (or overly) cheesy, but I really love songs about parents because they really make me think of my own and how wonderful they are. I love them so much, in fact, that I have separate playlists on itunes called "Mom" and "Dad". Dorky? Yes. But the good news is that I don't care at all!

(Have I mentioned I think my parents are amazing?)

Anyway, life is slowly becoming easier to handle again. For a while I thought I was going to have to blow my brains out this week. Alright, perhaps that is slightly over dramatic. However, I have found that coming back from vacation can be an incredibly stressful thing ... especially when coming home from an incredibly relaxing vacation! Brandon and I got home Sunday night at like ... 10:15 or something. Then I had to go full speed ahead to work the next morning to see the bright and shining faces of my students! Needless to say, this week has been spent trying to catch up on sleep! I think I am finally about there. Well, maybe not almost there ... but I am certainly pretty close to my normal level of exhaustion, which makes it alright.

This post is really quite pointless ... as are many of my posts.

Oh! Good news (for me anyway..)! When shopping on black Friday con mi hermana y mi madre, I found a pair of shoes at Buckle that I REALLY wanted. They are practically the same as my favorite pair of shoes that I have run completely ragged. So today I went to buy them and not only were they $3 cheaper, but they were on sale too! So I went in to spend $40 and only spent $28! Hooray for savings! I know it's only $12 ... but that's a big deal these days.

On that note, I would also like to point out that I filled up my car from almost completely empty for $16 and some change last night. Thank heavens for gas that only costs $1.50! It hasn't been this low since high school!

I also bought some new Christmas decorations last night. Brandon and I are going to get our tree this weekend (yay!!) and hopefully buy some more decorations/lights. I LOOOOOVE Christmas! I wish we could leave our decorations up all year ... and we almost did last year! Last year we didn't take our Christmas tree down until February ... oops. haha We promise to try to take it down earlier than that this year. Since you'll be able to see it in our front window from the street, we probably should make a point to. ;)

Alright, that is enough of my rambling for one post. Thanks for taking the time to read. :)
Adios

"When I love, I give it all I've got ... like my mother does.
And when I'm scared, I bow my head and pray ... like my mother does.
When I feel weak and unpretty, I know I'm beautiful and strong because I see myself like my mother does."

Ugh.

Tomorrow will be another exhausting day. :-P I really need to get to bed earlier and not put off unpacking until 11:00 at night.

Bah. 5am comes so early..

PS: Happy December! Can't believe it's already the end of 2008. Sheesh.