The Misadventures of my Christmas Vacation

Most of you readers don't know me..I am known to be quirky, silly, and at times a bit scatterbrained...sometimes I feel that if I had to keep up with my head I would have a hard time finding it. My Christmas vacation turned out to be filled with some unexpected and funny adventures...what can I say there is never a dull moment with me around. I left Florida on Friday, December 20th, my car packed, my house semi-clean, and exhausted from a crazy crazy week. I left an hour and half later than I wanted to since I got busy trying to get my classroom cleaned, things at my house straightened, trash out, and a T.V. put into my car. I was all excited to finally be ready to go, but still had to put gas in my car and get my Starbucks for the road. As I went out of my house in a frenzy I grabbed my keys, or so I thought. Turned out by the time I locked my door and closed it I had grabbed my school keys...NOT my house keys. Thankfully, I have given a friend my keys so she can feed my dear fish, Gershwin while I was away. I don't live too far away from where we work, so I walked back to school to get my key, walked back home, then drove back to give her the keys back. I hopped in my car and drove and drove and drove to my first stop--the Davis' house. I stayed the night there, exhausted from a busy week and from driving slept pretty soundly. The next morning I woke up and looked at my phone...still being sleepy, the room being dark, and not having glasses on I put my phone in a cup of water (ARGH)....so now I had a water damaged phone. I then drove to NC to see a friend, Angela and we spent that time getting my phone figured out--thankfully she had an extra one and had my number put on the old phone--by this really nice looking Verizon salesperson. I then traveled the rest of the way to my families house....got my stuff in the basement and took a breath after the crazy misadventures. OH DID I MENTION THURSDAY NIGHT I WENT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND GOT LOST ON THE WAY...YEAH I WAS THAT TIRED.....Anyway back to my vacation....I spent most of my time laying in bed watching my new all time favorite show--Chuck (Zachary Levi is now my new favorite celebrity crush--he is now only cute and handsome but hilarious--oh and he sings {Flynn in Tangled})! The Saturday after Christmas I traveled to VA to see my all time best friend, and we went to this creepy almost abandoned mall....compared to the malls around where I live this one was really creepy....I had a good time with Amy and he little one. The adventure continues to Tuesday where I went to see my other best friend Angela and to spend the week with her...We spent NYE at a friend's house celebrating till almost 3:30 A.M....We stayed up most of the night I was there just chilling....Thursday was a cold and rainy day and we spent it taking her dog to the vet, THEN as we were going out to eat I received a text from my bank...I had 27.00 in my account...turned out I double payed on a bill...so I called mom and dad and said HELP! We drove up to my parent's and ate dinner there and then drove back down. When we got back to Angela's I realized I had left my keys at my parents.....what can I say.. =) So, the next day we met my parents half way so I can get my keys...Saturday morning I left to come back home to Florida and could have kissed the ground when I got home...but the misadventures don't end there....I had received a T.V. and Blu-ray player for Christmas and was having trouble getting my blue-ray to work with my internet...I drove to Sears and the electronic guy didn't know how to set up the player with the internet...so me being tired and frustrated went back home and got my geeky, nerdy side going and figured it out myself....the next morning I slept way past Sunday school and made it just in time for church. I have rested up from my trip, but still need to unpack my clothes. It was a good vacation over all, and the unexpected adventures made it even more exciting. 

Just a post before bed time...

Well, I was headed to bed-it seems the times I am about to climb under my covers and go off to the wonderful land of sugar plum fairies, my dream wedding, meeting prince charming, eating cotton candy, or swimming in a large much of delicious coffee is when my mind starts racing! There has been a lot going on over the past couple of years, a battle on the inside that I feel black and blue over, a battle I am tired of fighting, and think I have come to the point I am putting the boxing gloves away and giving it to the Lord. I have to say giving things to the Lord is something that is hard for me to do...sometimes I think I can win this on my own, but in the end I can't.

Over the past several years I have been praying and seeking the Lord's guidance whether or not to move from the area I am in now or to quit teaching all together. I have to admit...I am not confident when it comes to teaching, sometimes I feel that there is someone better and more adequate to do my job. But then I look into the eyes of the students I stand in front of every single day, from 8-3 five times a week, their sweet words, their sweet and thoughtful expressions of love--from hugs, pictures, flowers (more like weeds), songs, and even using grass as confetti while singing a "we love you" song to the tune of Happy Birthday. All these expressions of love helps me know I am where the Lord wants me to be. The times a student comes to me and simple says "I love you" means the world to me. I look at my life and think that there isn't anything else I want to do except teaching my students about God, reading, math, science, and social studies. Telling them stories about me when I was a kid, reading books to them, and laughing with them on the playground in the classroom brings me more joy than looking up in the night sky and seeing the starts, or drinking coffee, or eating chocolate. I am very thankful the Lord has allowed me to be a teacher--this is His Will for my life-and this is what I am meant to do. Someday, I still hope some dashing young man on a white horse (well in my dreams at least) will waltz into my life and sweep me off my feet. But, for now I am going to be a single, carefree, Christian young lady who loves teaching and loves being around "her kids." 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS!

Weight Loss Journey

Yes this is the same person....the picture on the left was taken October 2012, I was at 180 pounds...not super heavy, but not at a weight I wanted to be at. The picture on right is from October 2013, 15 pounds gone, longer hair (which will be cut in June--i think), and looking so much slimmer....I was one chubby monkey last year...I am very proud of myself and the weight loss journey I've been on since April 2013. It has been a lot of hard work, and I want to lose even more by June--like 10 more pounds at least. I would LOVE to be at my high-school/pre-college weight (135 lbs) but first the goal of getting down to 150---15 more pounds give or take a little to go. The holiday season has been tough, because I have a sweet tooth and been craving soda--but after the new year I shall get back to eating healthy again.

Five Minute Friday: Together

Greetings from my blog! I hope everyone is having a  fantastic Friday! I am joining Lisa-Jo and other bloggers from around the world for Five Minute Friday. A time where bloggers can come together and write for five minutes. Todays topic is TOGETHER.

Begin

Following Christ is much like a three-legged race. This came to me today watching my students do three legged races today during our fun day. If a three legged racer gets ahead of his partner they stumble and fall. This is how the Christian life is, and serving Christ. If I get ahead of where Christ wants me I can stumble and fall in my Christian life. If I walk directly with Christ I will be exactly where He wants me to be. I might still stumble and fall, and when I do Christ is always there with me to help me up, and help me get back to where I need to be to finish the race.

Done

Fall (according to Kindergarten)

It is amazing what gets done in class when your kids are being well behaved. You get things done, and get to do extra fun learning activities. Today we had time to write a "spider web" story--with the topic being "fall."
I am trying to do a writing activity or two with my kids this year. I was surprised at some of my kids answers! 

Here is the spider web story they wrote:

Starbucks Friday

Almost two weeks without Starbucks.....having coffee only ONCE this week...yes I was craving some. It worked out for my to get some Starbucks today! (yay me!)

I admit...I got a Viente and enjoyed every single drop of my Pumpkin Spice Frappuchino

Can't wait to dig into this!!! 

Five Minute Friday: Ordinary

It is amazing how God uses ORDINARY people to serve Him. He chose some simple fisherman to be his apostles. He told a lady at the well about Christ. He healed ordinary, poor sick lepers. He raised the dead and healed the sick. These people didn't live in mansions, have nice horses (or donkeys)--they lived simply. But yet GOD still used them. I want to be like these people--an ordinary person that God can use for Him to serve Him.

I am an ORDINARY single girl full of life serving the Lord. I hope though I am making an EXTRAORDINARY impact to those around me and making a difference.