Looking Back & Looking Forward

       2016 was an interesting year for me.  It ended with a bang with the birth of my new niece Bryndall, but other than that it was pretty uneventful. Is it weird that before Bryndall was born the highlight of my year was that my parents and I got my garage cleaned out so I could park my car in it?

       It was a year of change for me. Friends got married and moved away, I began to grow less satisfied with my church, grandma's dementia grew more severe, small friendships grew into bigger ones, I paid off one of my student loans, and I turned off my cable. Ha! That last one is a silly one, but I'm saving a bunch of money so it makes me happy and not having cable is a change.
       I honestly feel so blah about 2016 which makes me feel blah about 2017. I really think that the blah's are a result of my walk with the Lord. I've struggled at being consistent in my prayer life and personal study of God's Word. But not only that, I've spent a majority of the year in a church where I'm not consistently being fed. As of this week those things are going to change. I'm working at making my daily walk with the Lord more consistent and Sunday I'm going to start attending a new church in hopes of making that my new church home. I've been praying for a loooong time about going to this church, actually a new church in general, and I feel the most peace about going to this one. But I'll also be praying throughout the month to see if the Lord does want me to attend there.
       I'm ready to push myself out of these blahs. I'm ready to make 2017 great. It's time! I'm excited about the goals I've been thinking about for this new year. I try not to make too many goals for the year and I'm trying to make them realistic so that they are achievable.

• Read 25 books - I barely met my goal of 20 books for 2016. So adding 5 more books is a stretch, but I'm going to go for it! 
• Pay off a good chunk of my student loans. I've found ways to save money in some areas so I'm going to put that saved money toward my loans. Dave Ramsey, I'm going to snowball them!! 
• Eat right - My biggest enemy right now is my scale. I'm refusing to use it anymore. Instead I'm going to eat better and follow the Whole30 eating plan for longer periods of time and take care of my body. 
• Get moving - I have no excuse in this area. I own a treadmill. I need to use it! 
• Cross 2 things off my 40x40 list! - I have a ways to go on my list, it's time to get going! :) 

Ready or not, 2017, here I come! 

Jamie the Runner?

The two words "Jamie" and "Running" have never and I mean never gone together. I try not to think about running the mile in high school. The days we had to do that were the worst. And I was usually that last person to finish. But now I'm giving it a try! We'll see how it goes. 

Today I started using the Couch to 5K training plan. I made it through half of the first day. It is going to take me a while I think, but I'm not giving up! My goal is to walk/jog/run a 3 or 5k in the fall. I'm not sure if I'll get to that point, but at least I'm going to try. 

Back 2 School - And Loving It!

I've been waiting to post about school starting because my dad has some pictures on his camera that I wanted to post. Obviously it is taking me a while to get them (my fault, not his). So here is my back to school post minus the pictures from the first day of school.

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A few shots around my classroom. 

It is official!
I LOVE teaching!!
       I've been teaching for just over 2 weeks and I love, love, love it! It is challenging, but it is my class. Oh yes!
       I started the day with several of my students greeting me with "Hello, New Teacher!" There was a little bit of chaos as we got into the room and about 5 minutes later I shooed the parents out of the room. Phew! I really didn't want to start with them in there. The parents make me nervous.
       About half way through the first day I realized that I didn't plan enough for us to do. This resulted in a few games and an extra recess. The kids thought this was great! It made me nervous. One boy who was sick on the first day was sad because he had missed the best day "they didn't do any work and they had 3 recesses!" is what he told his dad. I laughed and said, "Yep, it won't be like that for long."
       I was on cloud nine the entire first week (and really, I still am). My voice started going on the second day. By the end of the week I sounded terrible. I think my voice is almost back to normal. By the end of the day it is a little scratchy.
       I feel so blessed to be teaching third grade this year. I have great students. There are a few challenging ones, but I'm working at helping them and trying to not get frustrated with them. (sometimes that is easier said than done) One thing I like about this group of kids is their sense of humor. They know how to laugh. Sometime they laugh at the wrong times, but we are working on that. Not only does this class have a great sense of humor they also love to learn. They are just soaking up everything I give them! It is great!
       One of my favorite things to do in class is read aloud after lunch. I've always loved doing this. I give the kids the option of coloring while I read. Half of them just sit there and listen, which makes me love them even more!

I just feel so blessed!

       I can tell you right now that I am going to have some fun stories throughout the school year. I'm being good and writing them down in a book so I don't forget them. Maybe you'll see a book of my teaching memoirs in a bookstore someday. If so, it will all make you laugh. They say hilarious things!

Exciting Times!

So many exciting things are going on in my life right now! I can't believe it has taken me this long blog about it. Ok, where to begin? I'm totally a list person, so I'll make you a list. :)

1. Next year I'm teaching 3rd grade!! I've been waiting and waiting to tell people this and I finally can! I've been waiting to teach my own class at RVC and that waiting has paid off. I've loved my 3 years of teaching/aiding at Rincon, but my heart's desire has always been to have my very own class to teach. God has taught me so much during those 3 years and I know that I still have a lot to learn, but I'm super excited about next year. One of the blessings is that I know the kids who will be in my class pretty well. I worked with them in Kindergarten as well as this year while they've been in 2nd grade. I already know many of their strengths and weaknesses, which will give me a great head start for next year. 
2. One of my dear friends got engaged a few weeks ago! I'm so excited for Lindsay and Jeff, who will get married in September. I'm going to be her maid of honor! (Another reason to be excited) I am a little sad that I won't be near her to help her with the planning of her wedding. The Lord has blessed me with several people whom I would call my best friends and Lindsay is one of them. I'm excited that the Lord has brought this man into her life!
3. School is almost out! This is exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. There is a lot to do at the end of the school year. But I know that God will give me the strength I need to get everything done. School being out also means that Day Camp is starting soon. We have a few new families for this summer and several returning. It will be great to see how God uses us this summer in these families' lives. Many of them don't know Christ so this is a huge witnessing opportunity. 
4. My birthday is tomorrow! That is always exciting. :) Just going to spend a nice day with my family. Coffee at Aroma Roasters, walk around Railroad Square (unless it is raining), and finish off with dinner at PamPosh (An Indian restaurant in town). Should be a great day!

So Far So Good

So...I'm taking this time to tell you that I am very proud of myself right now. I don't normally think this highly of myself, but today I've accomplished something new in my life.
Today is day 7 of my journey through Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I have been doing this workout for 1 week straight!! Yay! I've never done anything like this before.
This really is such a great work out. The first couple of days I thought I was going to die from my legs hurting so badly. Just ask my students. I would moan every time I got up from my chair. Then on Friday I had a hard time keeping up with my students as we were walking to the computer lab. I felt a little pathetic as I was walking like and elderly woman. My muscles didn't know what hit them. On the 3rd day I was still sore, but not nearly as much. Today and yesterday I've felt so much better. I'm not saying the workout has gotten any easier. I'm just not as sore during the day. PTL.
I could go on and on about why I like this workout. One of the main reasons is because the exercises I'm doing aren't overly complicated. The jumping jacks and jump rope (which are probably the most well known) are what kill me the most. That is when I start yelling at Jillian. Yes, I yell at her. Often I'm telling her to hurry up and that I hate her.
One thing I want to know is how she knows when I want to give up. Can she read minds? Right when I'm ready to give up or take a break she tells me to keep going and not give up. Those are the moments when I really want to yell at her.
I think the main reason why I'm able to keep going with this workout is that I have a few people doing the same thing. I really need that accountability. I am so determined to do 30 days in a row. As for right now 7 days is a huge accomplishment. I'm looking forward to day 10, 20, and then especially 30! I'm still thinking about what my reward for myself will be when I complete the 30 days, but I'm going to make it a good one. :)

Look out for the Spelling Master!

I did something new today.
I was the Spelling Master for a group of 22 - 6th graders.
That means I was the one to sit in front of the microphone (wish I had a picture), give the word and a sentence to the students and tell them whether they are correct of not.

I can't even describe how nervous I was to begin with! It was bad.
One of the mom's called it hyperventilating.

I prayed a lot and had several people praying for me. My voice was pretty shaky at the beginning, especially when I had to give the instructions, but after a few rounds I really became focused. I tuned out everyone except for the student standing in front of me. 

I was shocked at how difficult some of those words were! Several of them I had never even heard of. Good grief!
As we were getting toward the end of the spelling bee there were several words that I mispronounced and had to correct myself. That was a little embarrassing, but what can I say, they were hard words.

In the end I had a really good time. I loved the response of the girl who won. She and a boy had been going back and forth for a while, and when she finally won she jumped in the air and had this excited look on her face. It was priceless.

I think I would like to do it again, but maybe with a younger group of spellers where the words are a little easier for me to read. :)

doink doink

Well, yesterday and today I felt like I was 'one' with Law and Order (hence the doink doink -- I watch way too much tv) Yes, I had jury duty. My first time and a memorable experience. I went in yesterday and sat around for a while listening to possible jury members being interviewed. Today I went back in and we were all told to go home. Pretty cool huh? I'm looking forward to get back to work. I really missed being there the whole day.

Next week starts VBS. Son Treasure Island! Oh how I love pirates. :o) Please be praying that the Lord will work in the lives of the kids who attend.

Oh yeah! Also pray for my helper at Day Camp. I don't think that she is saved. I pray that I will be a good example to her.

Bye Bye!