Yup I'm a Geek!

Grading papers and watching this one! Yay! 

Reading Challenge

       Is it cheating on my Goodreads reading challenge that the 4 books I've read this year are books I've read aloud to my students? I'm saying no. They are all books I have never read. So I'm counting them. It's my challenge I can read what I want to. (I'm totally singing that in my head now!)

       I've really been wanting to read a lot lately. I watch way too much tv and read way too little. So I've started reading when I go to bed at night instead of watching a show on my computer. I have to say, I've been sleeping a lot better because of it. And my desire to read has been growing.

       One thing that has made me really excited about reading is my local library. We have a cute little library in town. The first time I walked in, all of the ladies working there knew who I was. That was the moment when I realized I liked living in a small town. Anyway, not only have I liked checking out books for school, I've discovered that my library is connected with overdrive.com. I log on with my library card and can check out ebooks that will link to my kindle app on my ipad. It is wonderful!! Some of them I have to wait a while to get because they only have so many copies. But I'm loving it! I've created a long list of books on there that I plan on checking out. The only hard thing is that you only get the book for 7 days and you can renew it only once. I even use it for read aloud books at school. The kids think it's fun that I'm reading off of my ipad and I can still show them pictures when there are some.

Back to the reading challenge.
       The last few years I've majorly failed at my reading goal so this year I only put 15 books as my goal for 2015. I've already read 4. I think I've made a good start. And I'm almost done with the only I've been reading at home.

Here are the books I've read so far:

A Bear Called Paddington - I read this book to my class because the movie was coming out and I thought it would be fun in case they went to see it. I'm sure the movie is very different, but the kids really liked the book. There was a lot of giggling while I read this one.

 Attack at the Arena - The is an Adventures in Oddessy book. I checked it out from my library on my ipad. Woohoo! My class was really disappointed when this book was over. They wanted it to continue. It was a fun one.

 Who was Dr. Seuss? - Dr. Seuss' birthday is coming up so I figured it was a good idea to learn a little about it. This was a very interesting book. As I read it I also read Dr. Seuss books that were specifically talked about in the book. It was really fun. There was one part in the book though that was a little inappropriate for my class and I was really disappointed that the author felt it necessary to put it in a book written for kids.




 Who was George Washington? - Read this one to them right after President's day. It was a good one. It brought up good conversations about our country's history. Things that did not go into our history curriculum. Any time I picked up the book the boys in my class were really excited. It was great! I love that it gave my kids an excitement for history.

Blech

       I'll be honest. Today was a rough day. I'm still getting over a cold so I'm tired, which doesn't help. But I've been struggling with one of my coworkers yesterday and today complaining about a lot of things. I try to be encouraging to her, but today it was just so discouraging. Nothing seems to meet her standards and she even tells people how they should change things so they will be better for her.

       I tried really hard to brush it off today, but couldn't. It put me in a funk and I really struggled getting out of it this afternoon. I made myself go to the school basketball games tonight, which turned out to be a good thing. It was the perfect distraction to get me out of the mood I was in. That along with some funny pins on pinterest from a good friend.

       I'm hoping that a good nights sleep will help make tomorrow go better.

Time Flies!

Wow, it has been over a month since my last post!

This last month feels like a whirlwind. What is really blowing my mind right now is that we are sending out progress reports this week. That means that the 3rd quarter of school is half over! Good Grief! How is it that times seems to go faster as you get older? Have you ever noticed that? As a kid school lasted for-ev-er. Now as an adult it flies by! I don't get it. Not sure that I ever will.

I've already been offered a contract for the next school year. It's hard to believe that I'm thinking about the next school year. This year has gone nothing like I thought it would. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be living in my grandparent's house by myself I would have thought you were crazy. Honestly, it is going ok, but it is very strange to live here alone. I'm living here as if it's my home, but it looks nothing like me. There are so many changes I would make to this house. I have moved a few things though. I probably could get away with moving furniture, since I'm not sure when my grandma will be coming back, as long as I move it back before she comes. ha! But I think if I remodeled the bathroom she would notice. (not that I have the money to do that--don't worry mom)

On an extremely random note: whenever I hear Ellen Degeneres' voice I want to watch Finding Nemo.  It doesn't matter what she says I just think of Dory. K I'm done now. :D

A goal for 2015!

       Like most people I make goals for the New Year. I'm trying not to make too many goals because I actually want to accomplish them, and if I have too many goals it just isn't going to happen. One of my goals is to complete a project once a month. I love working on craft projects but I don't always make the time to do them. So here goes nothing! I'm looking through my gazillion pins and finding a project to do for the month of January.
       I've been in the mood to sew lately so this month I'm going to work on a quilt. I've got some really cute little girl fabric that I'll use. Not sure who will get it, but will be fun to do. Time to get cutting! I'm excited!

Christmas Traditions in the Classroom

This has become a Christmas tradition in my classroom. I love to see how it turns out every year.  My kiddos did a fantastic job coloring each section this year! I bought this Andy Warhol inspired Christmas Tree mural several years ago. There are a bunch more murals on the site. I might have to buy another one sometime. 

Having fun!

Too much thinking

I really shouldn't stay up late.
Especially when I'm alone.

Too much time to think and overthink things. But then I guess it is also a good time to pray about it.

Wishing my copy of "When people are big and God is small" weren't in storage in CA. I really need to read that book at least once a year. Fearing what other people think is not something you stop doing easily. Here I just had a nice evening with friends and now I sit here remembering things I said throughout the evening and start worrying about what they thought when I said it. If a friend of mine were telling me this I would be reassuring them that what they said was ok, but it is hard convincing yourself. Have you ever noticed that?

So, what do you do? My initial thought...

I have no idea.

But when I sit and think about it I know that I need to pray about it and let it go. I would know if I had said anything really wrong. And when I think about it I know I didn't. I know that God has put these friends in my life for a reason. If I really did say something dumb they would let me know. But if they really do know me they would know that I didn't mean anything by the things I said. It all comes down to the fact that I may have said a few things that were embarrassing and I don't like being embarrassed. They have probably forgotten about it by now...they are probably sleeping by now. Which is what I should be doing.

Ok, going to bed now. Time to stop thinking about it. Sleep will help!

Grandma

Grandma and I showing off our White Elephant gifts. 

I've been trying to get my grandma out of the house a little bit more. Hard when it is so cold outside. She doesn't like to be cold. Here we are at our church Christmas party. I have to say that I think she is adjusting well to my Grandpa being gone. I know that it is hard for her at times. I'm excited when I can take her out to do things since she is stuck at home alone all day long while I work. The biggest outing will be in a few weeks when I take her in California with me for Christmas. That will be a big adventure...I haven't told her yet. I know that sounds terrible, but she is such a worrier that I was afraid she would be miserable for a month. Miserable with worry for a week and a half is much better...hopefully. I'm prepared for the fact that she may be very mad at me for just buying her a ticket. But in the end I think it is the best decision. She needs a big distraction from the first Christmas without Grandpa. And my mom and I need her around so we don't worry about her the entire time I'm in CA. Praying that God keeps us safe and healthy while we travel.

Oh Grandma

Oh the things that happen when you live with your grandma.
She used so much bleach to clean her kitchen towels that I had to open the front door so I could breath. Did I mention it is 24 degrees outside? But breathing is important. :)

Fun lettering!

A friend asked me to write some song lyrics for her to frame. I think they are from a Chris August song. I write it three ways to give her some options. I love doodling with words!

The last one is with a metallic pen. I love it, but it needs a simple frame since it is so busy. 

I love this kind of doodling! It is so relaxing to me (I know I've said that a lot on here). 

Good Motivation

Well it hit me hard today that I have got to get in better shape than I am right now. I'm going to be trying on bridesmaid dresses at the end of the month! So I brought out the dreaded 30 Day Shred dvd. Kinda proud that I made it through all three circuits! The funny part was that when I did jumping jacks near the touch lamp it kept turning on and off. Hahaha!!

Mist vs. Midst

       I'm so glad the Lord guides us to reread things! I'm constantly having to reread things.
       This morning in my Bible reading I was reading things all wrong. And I'm sitting here thinking to myself "That is strange. I don't remember reading or hearing that before." Not that I'm this great mind that remembers all I've read or been taught in scripture. But this stuck out to me.
       For whatever reason, ok I know it was the Lord, I went back and read the passage again. I had to laugh when I saw how I had read it wrong the first time. Luke 4:30 says, "But passing through their midst, he went away." What I initially read was, "But passing through the mist, he went away." Just a little different. I must be watching too much sci fi. Ha!
       Reading through the passage and a study guide I do believe that it was a miraculous escape from those who wanted to kill Him (Jesus). This wasn't the time God had prepared for Jesus to die. But I'm sitting here picturing in my head Jesus standing at the edge of a cliff, a mist forms and Jesus floats away in the mist over the cliff... I have a strange imagination sometimes. Anyway, it is amazing what a difference a few letters make when you are reading. And that wasn't the only thing I misread this morning.
       So all that to say, I'm thankful that even through our faults God teaches us and allows us to see His truth.

{Day 14 - Memory}

Obviously I'm not doing this picture thing is every day! I've been slacking off. 

I have so many fun memories that I randomly chose one. This is from college when my friends and I saw Wicked. I was totally obsessed with Wicked. I have to say that seeing Broadway musicals is one of my favorite things to do. 

This was such a fun night! We got dressed up and drove down to LA along with a bunch of other TMC students. I miss these ladies so much! We all had so much fun with each other. I love being able to keep up with them on facebook. So thankful for the fun memories I have from college. God sure is good to me! 

Cling to the Right Thing

Phil 2:14 "Do all things without grumbling or questioning."

I've always heard this verse with the word complaining instead of questioning. I was thrown off when I read it this morning. But when I think about the word complaining it really is questioning. When we complain we are questioning God's plan. Ouch! I'm continually telling my students that God has a plan and His plan is perfect. That is an easy thing to say and not as easy to live by.

Complaining = questioning

So how do we live out Phil 2:14? Well, we have to continue reading.

Verse 16 says "holding fast to the word of life..." 

If we cling to Scripture the grumbling and questioning will diminish because our eyes will be in the right place. When we grumble and question then our focus is definitely on ourselves. "I'm not happy" "I want this" "Why can't I have (you fill in the blank)?" These things are essentially telling God that His plan isn't good enough. If God can create the entire universe in 6 days wouldn't you think that His plan for you and me is thought out and perfect in His eyes? Sometimes I just want to smack myself on the head and say, "Come on, think Jamie!" This should be so obvious, but we/I so easily forget. That is why clinging to scripture is so important.

{Day 13 - Animals}

The 2nd title of this post is "Gus Gus."

And there is no picture...you will understand why in a minute.

A week or so ago my mom and I discovered a mouse in the house. She saw it and I heard it run along the baseboard behind me. You should have seen how fast I moved across the living room. My feet did not touch the ground for a few hours after that. I'm creeped out enough by mice in cages that ones around the house like that make me shiver all over. My pastor here left a mousetrap for me in my mailbox at school because he heard our story. Still dreading the idea of using it. But I really don't want mice in the house all winter. (more shivers!) Mom and I named it Gus Gus.

Well, Friday morning I got up a little early and decided to make my coffee and breakfast before I read my Bible. For some reason it seems cozier to read my Bible with my coffee. I needed to wash the pan that I heat my water in so I went to the sink. There was dirty water left in the sink from the night before, which is unusual because my grandma is really into having a super clean sink. I stuck my hand in the dirty water, pulled the plug and as I was taking my hand out saw something floating. Praise the Lord I did not touch it!! Yes, low and behold Gus Gus drowned in the sink. (I'm shivering again!) I was completely grossed out and almost screamed! My hand had been in that water! I turned the water on super hot and dumped a bunch of dish soap on my hand and scrubbed hard. So nasty!
Disposing of the mouse was so hard, but I knew I had to be brave and do it. Ugh! It was already on a plate that was in the sink so I dumped it in the garbage can. Yuck yuck yuck!! Then I filled the sink with super hot water, dish soap, and bleach. I hope I never have to do that again.

Everyone keeps telling me that where there is one mouse there are more. So I have to be brave today and set the trap from my pastor. So not looking forward to catching anything.

{Day 12 - Friends}

God has been so good in blessing me with wonderful friendships. I'm reminded of how much God cares for me when I think back on the friendships I've had over the years. There have been seasons in my life where God has placed the exact friend that I needed right then to encourage me and point me to Christ. One of the things I'm the most thankful for in my friendships is that even though I'm not the best at long distant friendships we are able to pick up where we left off when we do talk or see each other.
I have to say that the friendship I'm the most thankful for is from my sister. Growing up we got along ok. We didn't fight all the time like some siblings, but we weren't super close. What's funny is that when I went away to college our friendship clicked. I love my sister so much. I'm so proud of the amazing woman she has become. I love talking with her, shopping with her, watching Doctor Who with her, and our random usies (is that how you spell it?).
Julie, you challenge me to walk closer to the Lord, make me laugh, and bring so much joy to my life. You are beautiful on the inside and out. You are my best friend! I love you!

{Day 11 - Make up}

I don't wear a ton of make-up. In fact today I was a little lazy and only put on eye liner and mascara. My other make-up is pretty basic and a little goes a long way. My sister got me into Sephora make-up so it is a good thing a little goes a long way. What's funny is that at the moment I'm more excited about what I use to take off my make-up. A cousin here in Wisconsin (there are many of those around here) got me hooked on Norwex. I co-hosted a party with her so got a bunch of free stuff. They have a make-up removing cloth that is amazing! It takes my eye make-up off really fast. I hate using oily eye make-up remover so this cloth is wonderful. I'm totally sold on it.

{Day 10 - Something you hate}

Chalk is totally comes with my job. When I first started teaching I loved chalk! Now... I can't stand it. I'll only use I if I absolutely have to. This is all of the chalk I have in my classroom, and after I took this picture I threw it away. Ha!

Here are my top 3 reasons why I greatly dislike (aka hate) chalk:

1. It gets everywhere - gotta love it when you realize that you have chalk dust on your pants and you don't know how long it has been there! 
2. It dries out your hands - I want to wash my hands every time I touch the stuff! 
3. I lose my voice when I use it on a regular basis - true story! When I first started teaching I would lose my voice by the end of each week. It took me a long time to realize that it wasn't from talking too much. It was from the chalk! The year they put a white board in my room I didn't lose my voice once. Crazy! 

In my current classroom I have a white board as well as chalkboards. Instead of using chalk I use chalk pens. True it takes me longer to clean it off, but it is SO worth it! 

{Day 9 - Love}

First real snow fall today! I loved how soft the snowfall was as I walked to school this morning. It was beautiful! It snowed for several hours this morning and the ground was completely covered. This California girl is pretty excited about the snow. I love my eskimo coat too! There are so many people who are dreading this winter because of how bad last winter was. I'm praying that I don't lose my joy over the snow. Growing up in CA I haven't had a lot of snow experience. And I totally have a winter bucket list started. :) A few people have even mentioned the possibility of a snow-day tomorrow! Can you tell I'm a little excited about it all?! 

(Wow, I completely rambled in this post! Obviously I'm a little excited)