2013.

When I was first thinking about recapping this year I felt like there wasn't that much to talk about that was exciting or worth re-living. Then last night I decided that I wanted to make a flipogram for my instagram and when I looked through my pictures I found so many things that were worth mentioning. I am thankful that I did that because now I can really look back and reflect on this year. Here are some highlights of where the year has taken me and what I've done in the past 12 months. 

January

*I started substitute teaching since I had just finished my student teaching. I was no longer a student and was actually a 'real teacher' just without a job.

February

*I turned 23, it was very anti-climate and not the best birthday on the actual day. 

*I went to Pullman (my college town) to celebrate my birthday and had a blast thanks to my amazing friends && boyfriend. 

*I had my first competition as an FFA advisor/coach. My kids were competing in Agricultural Issues and I remember having butterflies in my stomach the entire evening. I think I was more nervous than the kids. 

March

*My mom took my brother and I do DISNEYLAND! It truly is the happiest place on earth and I love going there. It will always be my top choice for a vacation that is going to be 4 days or less. 

April

*Another State FFA competition, my kids got 2nd in State. So close to winning, I was so proud of them. 

*My best friend [since 5th grade!] got engaged and asked me to be the maid of honor in her wedding. 

May

*I watched my best friend graduate from college. 

*Macklemore concert! 

*State FFA Convention, this is why I am an ag teacher. The passion that the students have, how hard they work to achieve their goals, and their smiles when they are successful cannot be matched. It was an amazing 5 days. 

*4 year anniversary with the boyfriend. <3

June

*I GOT MY FIRST TEACHING JOB! I was hired at the school that I student taught at. It was a dream come true. The most amazing kids, teachers, and FFA program. 

*I went on a mini Drum Corps tour with my boyfriend who teaches the Drum Line for a local Corps. It was great to see what his life is like on tour and be a part of it for a few days.

July

*I planned and executed awesome 4th of July Party. 

*My little brother and I went to New Jersey to visit my dad and family there. While we were there we road tripped to Boston because neither of us have been there before. 

August

*Last month of freedom before school, girls nights, weekends with my boyfriend, && relaxing before the craziness begins. 

*Our family's favorite activity was going to the Horse Races. I was pro at losing all of my money, but I love the atmosphere and all the yummy food!

September

*I started my first year of teaching. It was hard, stressful, and tiring, but I loved it. 

*Carrie Underwood concert!

October

*Went back to Pullman for a football game && managed to party until 5am. That's a record for me. It was such a blast.

*I took 11 students over 2,000 miles away to the National FFA Convention in Louisville. I successfully didn't lose any of them in the sea of 67,000 students and came home with 4 National Champions. I was one proud advisor. 

November

*My boyfriend and I got an apartment together and moved in! We had been apart for almost 18 months since we graduated from college so the end of our long distance relationship was a glorious day. 

*My boyfriend, a couple of my friends, and I carpooled to our college for our marching band director's last game at our school. He has been the director there for over 25 years and has change the life of so many students and taken the band from about 30 to 250. It was a really special moment to be there to see him recognized at halftime. 

December

*Celebrated my Grandad's 80th birthday by surprising him for a Brunch with the entire family. 

*My boyfriend spent Christmas with my and my family and it was so special. If there is one holiday I love more than anything else it's Christmas, we have so many traditions which I love and it was great that he got to be a part of it. 

Turns out it was a pretty great year! I will be posting my hopes for 2014 in the next post. Time to go shopping for my New Year's party. I hope you all have a safe && Happy New Year! 

one year ago.

one year ago was my last day of student teaching. look at me now, with my own classroom, surviving, and working with the most amazing kids.

i am blessed.

the fact that i have survived the past 4 months amazes me. i have learned so much about myself and what i am capable of. i love being a teacher. i love greeting my students at the door at the beginning of each class period. i love when their faces light up because they are excited to tell me a story. i love when they finally understand something and it clicks.

it hasn't always been easy, i have the kids who are disrespectful, rude, and disengaged but i don't let them get me down. i kill them with kindness, greet them with a smile every day, and hope that this wil be the day they change their attitude. it's tough, but so worth it.

i am so excited to see what the next 6 months have in store for me.

for now, 2 weeks of relaxation, family time, boyfriend time, and enjoying the season. i am looking forward to this break so much.

a peek at my tree.

Last night my mom my boyfriend and I went to my house for dinner and I helped my mom set up the Christmas Tree. Usually my little brother is there too but he decided to stay at school longer after finals so he isn't home yet. My mom didn't want to wait any longer so we decorated it on our own. Our Christmas tree is full of tradition and one of our traditions is that we keep all of our old ornaments. There are ones that range from the year I was born all the way to ones that we got last year. I love that it is eclectic and that each ornament has a story. I hope that when I have children we have a tree like that. While I do love how perfect some trees look with matching ornaments and color schemes, I love the chaos and originality that our tree has. I picked some of my favorite ornaments and made this pic stitch last night.

 In the top corner is me when I was in second grade...check out those bangs. :P Below that is an ornament from my college. GO COUGS! The seasame street ornament is one that has been on the tree as long as I can remember. I think that it was my older brothers. My mom tried to not put it on the tree this year but I objected, it's a classic! The bottom right is a santa buried in sand which my dad gave me last year. It has the name of the town on the shore in NJ where he lives. I go visit him every summer, that is my happy place. Lastly is the big heart ornament in memory of my stepdad who died two years ago. I miss him every day and I am thankful that we have that ornament so that he is part of our christmas. He was my father for 10 years and had a really big impact on my life. 

I hope that you have as much fun decorating your tree as I do! 9 days until Christmas! 

16 days

I cannot believe that it is only 16 days until Christmas, where did the fall go? The time is flying by and I will take that as a good thing because it means that I am surviving my first year of teaching. It has it's days, but I still love it. I am so thankful for a job that is so wonderful, it is truly a blessing.

Speaking of blessings, my boyfriend moved to my side of the state (he was 4 hours away) and now we are living together! I am so excited to finally be living our lives together. After spending 4 years together in college when we could hang out basically 24/7 the past 18 months apart have been so incredibly hard. I love being able to welcome him home from work every night, spend lazy sundays watching football, and reading the bible together before bed. It is wonderful. I also now only live 5 minutes from where I teach and am absolutely loving that commute. It doesn't get better than this!

I am really in the Christmas spirit this year. I have been diving into my bible and trying to really focus on Jesus and his birth during this season. Along with that, I am such a giver and absolutely love being able to shop for the people that I love. I must say, I am impressed with my purchases so far.

I've been gone a while but besides moving out things are pretty standard. Life is so, so, good. I thank the Lord for all of these blessing every day.

 

Re-reading Mockingjay after seeing Catching Fire & enjoying my fireplace in this freezing weather! 

<3