Dancing with the Angels...

Death…it’s inevitable. We can’t protect our loved ones enough to keep them from dying. We have experienced death in our family two times in the last three weeks. Not long lost cousins, or aunts that we hardly knew. These two guys were close to our hearts, very close. One fought for two weeks after his cancer diagnoses; the other didn’t have any time to fight and was perfectly healthy the morning that he passed away. Being around people who are morning puts things into perspective really fast. We don’t know how long our loved ones are going to be here.
Another part of death is explaining it to the youngsters. Hannah took the news of her Papa dying pretty hard. So when it was Angela’s turn to explain that her only other Grandpa had passed away, the task was daunting…not something that any parent wants to have to do. As much as we wish we could protect our children from pain, we can’t. Telling a 9 year old that “it’s all part of life” doesn’t really make sense to them. They want concrete answers that they can see and touch and hear. When death happens we don’t always have those concrete answers.
Making the slide show and coming up with music for the funeral has been interesting. I went with Dancing with the Angels by Monk and Neagle, With Hope by Steven Curtis Chapman, and Third Day’s Cry Out to Jesus. We’ll see how it all turns out…

Sleepovers are the BEST!

I remember when I was younger I was not too

fond of sleepovers. I was kind of (putting it mildly) a mommas girl, and sleepovers meant that she wouldn't be able to tuck me in. Sleepovers are now one of my favorite things ever. I love that it makes me feel like a kid all over again.

On Friday I got to go to a sleepover at some friends house. It was so much fun...and we didn't even stay up all night. After our amazing midnight snack (enchiladas) we called it a night.

Its been 3 days and I am still sore from Wii-ing, and too many attempts to put my foot behind my head.

Im thankful that Ang and I have such amazing friends that we can act silly and have so much fun with. We woke up Saturday morning, and spent the entire day with them. I had a blast!

I just want to scream...

You know that moment when your world kind of stops? Sometimes its a good thing, but sometimes its not a good thing at all. You know when you get a phone call that has only bad news? I have had a few of those phone calls. The most recent being from a dear friend informing me that her sweet mom has cancer. They are words that sting the ears and pierce your heart. I vividly remember my mom telling me that my Grandpa had been diagnosed with cancer, but that it was very treatable....the news from this friend was very different. They don't know where it started, where it has spread to, what "stage" it is in....they don't know much, except they know its cancer. I struggle with words...I can't say "I understand" because my mom has never had cancer. I can't say "it is going to be fine" because it might not be fine. I don't want to say the wrong thing. Its a tough place....she and and her sister are both great friends of mine...I just want to scream and tell them both that I love them and will do anything in the world to help them.

Friends...

You know when you first meet someone and sometimes you have that connection. The connection that is more than just a surface level connection....the connection that you hope lasts a very long time. Angela and I had the great pleasure of being introduced to a couple of girls...Anita in March...and Kim in May. We have that connection. They are pretty amazing women. The kind of women that I love spending time with...the kind of women that I hope to be friends with for a very long time. Angela said it best when she said, "you know they are good friends, when they make you want to be a better person."

So I got to spend time with an old friend today. Well she didnt start out as my friend. She started out as my teacher. I put off taking Art in high school until my senior year, b/c I am not an artist....AT ALL. Shelley was my teacher...but she has become my friend. I think everyone has that teacher in high school that they trust and confide in...she was mine! We would go to basketball games together, I would hang out at her house, we would run errands together after school. I visited her today, b/c tomorrow I get to SUB for her...I can't believe it. I'm pretty lucky to still have her in my life.

There is someone else that I want to tell you about. I dont have much to say about her, other than the fact that she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. I live with her, know pretty much everything there is to know about her, and love her more than she will ever know. She is more than just my best friend...

Talk

I had one of the best conversations of my life last night. It was with 2 other girls. It was raw. It was honest. It was respectable. It was emotional. It was loving. It was truthful. It was the talk that was just what we all needed. I love the girls that were a part of this conversation. They brought truth to my eyes and my heart that was much needed. We were able to talk about things that some people don't want to talk about....but it needed to be done. Thanks girls!

The girls....

You wanna know what I love? Friends...not just any friends....the kind of friends that you can hang out with for hours and it seems like minutes...the kind of friends that you can completely be yourself around...the kind of friends that you can ask questions to and know they wont laugh...the kind of friends that love you just the way the are...the kind of friends that make you want to be a better person...the kind of friends that before you even leave their home, you want to make arrangements for the next time you will be able to see them...the kind of friends that you know would have your back, no matter what...the kind of friends that can make you laugh so much your tummy hurts......
Last night I spent time with a couple of girls who are all of the above. They are amazing in every sense of the word. The time we get to spend with them is never enough. We all had a blast last night...and I am looking forward to the next time we get to hang out. I just love those girls!

My friend, LC

There are a few people (mostly kids) that can melt my heart the second I see them. My little friend here, LC, is one of those. I got to hang out with her on Saturday for a bit, while her aunts baby shower was in full swing. We got to read an Olivia book together and just hang out. She really is one of the most beautiful kids I have ever seen.



















She is a pretty spunky kiddo who just turned 2 last month. Cant wait to see her again!

Puppies

Here are a few more pictures of the puppies. These were actually taken about a week and a half ago, so they are even bigger now!

Mamma

My mom went to the doctor today at 12:45 because she was having some issues....its 2:30 now and she will be heading into surgery in about 30 minutes. I dont know much at this time other than she told me not to worry. The surgery takes less than an hour, so I should be able to see her around 4 oclock or so. My grandpa is going to be with her right now and my sister and I will be heading over there in about an hour.
She is probably the strongest woman I know. I love her so much...just hoping everything goes smooth.

Vacation is over...

Well vacation is over...we came home to 2 new puppies. They are pretty easy to handle right now, mostly because they cant walk, see, or hear. How much trouble can you get in when you cant even see where you are crawling to? They are fun to hold and still pretty tiny. We have some pretty amazing friends who took care of Sophie while we were on vacation, she was there for the 4am delivery and took great care of all 3 of them until Ang and I got home yesterday. The top picture is Angus and the bottom picture is Jersey. They turned one week old today!

We are so lucky to have such great friends.

We were shown the true gift of hospitality while we were away on vacation. Ms. Tammy let us stay in her home for 7 nights...and it was amazing. She knows that I am allergic to veggies, but her cooking was still delicious. She had a huge crab cookout...I heard that was pretty tastey too. I wouldn't know, b/c I dont eat crab. She was just so darn nice to let us stay at her house for so long.

It comes down to this!

Gosh, I have not had an interview in a very, very long time. The last time was actually when I interviewed for the job at Starbucks....which I think was something like 3 years ago. Its come down to this...its tomorrow. Who knows how this thing will go? I am up against some pretty stiff competition who have the same educational experience as I do. I hate the part of the interview when they say "Why should we hire you instead of someone else?" I absolutley hate selling myself...but tomorrow I am going to have to give it my best shot. The bummer about tomorrows interview is I probably wont know if I got the job for at least 2 weeks...DARN IT! Tomorrow at 3 oclock in the afternoon is the moment in time when my life could start a whole new chapter. Excited, nervous, anxious, edgy...just ready for it to be here already.

Exciting news!

A few exciting things that are happening. I got a call yesterday informing me that I have an interview next week with the district I have always wanted to work in. I'm already nervous about it, and its still 6 days away. I am trying not to count on this job, but I want it really, really bad. Yesterday in the mail came my application for my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. This is also very exciting because it means I am one step closer to having that paper in my hot little hands that says I am qualified to be a teacher.


I am still amazed at the fact that I am done with school, I will soon have my credential, and will hopefully soon have my own classroom. I really cant believe it. Maybe its hard to believe because I am only 23. I still feel so young...and naive. I really am excited though. I am excited to start this new chapter in my life.


Next week I start my vacation. I get time off from work and school (other than having to take an online test while I am there). Vacation starts with a concert in Paso Robles on Wednesday and ends the following Thursday. I have a friend who is graciously letting me stay in her house at the coast for 3 nights. She is pretty amazing. She let Ang and I stay with her for 4th of July, and we had an AMAZING time. After we(meaning Ang, I and the kiddos) leave Tammy's (that gracious friend I was just talking about)...we will head to Pismo Beach (about 30 minutes from Tammy's) and spend 4 nights in a hotel with my parents and my sister and brother-in-law. So there will be 8 of us, we have 2 huge hotel rooms, each with 3 beds and a kitchen and all that good stuff. My parents are pretty amazing to do this for us. Its going to be amazing.

4th of July on Tammy's deck, overlooking the bay!

Finished!

I have a lot of thoughts running through my mind that I would love to share...but all I will say for now is....."it is finished." The student teaching phase is complete...never to be forgotten for sure. It was a time of extreme growth; I learned a lot about what I am capable of. But all that matters right now....I AM DONE!

Grace

"Law tells me how crooked I am; grace comes along and straightens me out."
D.L. Moody

Student Teaching, Part 2

So I am 8 days into my second set of student teaching jobs. My first one was completed at Ronald Reagan Elementary which is located in the middle of a very wealthy neighborhood. This session I am at a very different school, on the opposite side of town, in a very poor neighborhood. One thing I have learned about this experience is that kids are kids, no matter how much money they or their parents have or dont have. They dont have more problems than the wealthier kids, they just have different problems. They are still kids that love playing games and sweating. It has been a very different experience than what I got used to at Reagan, but it has already taught me a lot. I only have 11 more days with these kids, because its summer school and we only go 4 days a week. I have 12 boys, and 6 girls...I sure do wish it was the other way around....boys may be less drama, but they sure can be rowdy!

Graduation Cashola

I have been left thinking about something lately. I got some graduation money from some friends and family. I have been left pondering what I am going to do with it. I think people give you money so that you can treat yourself to something you don’t normally get to do, you can buy something that you would normally pass on, you would spend it on something that really means a lot to you but you don’t have the money for it. Often times I want to take my most special friend out on a date…like a real date, but more times that not, I don’t have the spare cash. So last night we went on a date. Oh my goodness sakes, it was so much fun. We started at Johnny Rockets where we sat by the window and people watched for quite awhile. We had good food and great conversation. Next we headed down to Color Me Mine where we each painted a bowl for each other. It was Ladies Night…which we didn’t even know about….and so the studio fee was only 5 dollars, instead of 10. We picked out colors and made the bowls look exactly how we thought the other would enjoy. It was a blast! We finally left at around 9:30 (even though they closed at 9)…and we headed to Baskin Robbins. We got ice cream and found a bench to sit on. We talked and people watched for quite awhile. It was amazing. Every single moment of the night was perfect. I felt so great that I got to pay for everything all nigh. So for the people that gave me graduation money….thanks for the amazing gift of a great date with an amazing person.

It's so close I can almost taste it

All I have to say is I graduate TOMORROW! 17 hours from right now...There were days when I thought this would never come...but its here, and I couldnt be happier.

Friends

Angela, Mary, Camille, ME!!!! We had been out at

Relay for Life all day, so we are all a bit sunburned!

I just have to say that I have some pretty amazing friends. I may not have a long list of friends that goes on forever, but the ones that I do have, are wonderful. I get to live with one of my best friends. Angela has been there for me so much over the last 4 years. We have grown together and shared experiences that many don't even know about. We can do nothing at all and still have a blast together. She knows all my likes and dislikes and can pretty much complete my sentences. Amanda and I have been friends for something like 11 years. She is the one I go to if I want to hurt my stomach laughing. She is a constant source of support for me. Tammy...gosh this is a hard one. First of all, she is my boss, and I never would have thought that I could be this close to a boss, but we are. She is one of the most giving people I have ever met. She has a hard time saying no, because she loves people so much that she just wants to help. She has a wonderful and contagious spirit. My sister, Mary...she amazes me with her positive attitude. I blogged about her in my last post...she too loves people and wants to always do her very best. She didn't let obstacles get in her way of becoming the best kindergarten teacher. These girls, while they may not be perfect, are a great source of strength for me. They all accept me and all my baggage. I don't really know how else to say that they are some of my favorite people in the whole world and I just love them!


Oh...did I mention that if you dont count today or Saturday, I graduate in 2 days! WOO-HOO!!!

A few things

A few special things about today. First of all my sister turns 25. I told her the best thing about 25 is she can officially rent a car, but thats about all the good there is to this birthday. I dont know who the heck reads this blog, but if you dont know my sister, she is the most amazing person you will ever meet. She has a positive outlook on everything. She loves people, the way that I could only one day hope to. She has such a happy spirit...its rare that she says anything negative about life. I love her.

Next...let me tell you about my evening. Ang has been sick, so I was kind of worried that she wouldn't feel up to doing much. She got home and was in a great mood. We talked for awhile about our days. The kiddos came home a little later. Davis shared about his first day of HIGH SCHOOL summer school. Ang and I ate some leftover pizza, and then I turned on the Womens College World Series. It was a pretty good game and the Sun Devils came out on top...Game 2 is tonight. After we watched the game I was productive in putting away some of my winter clothes that I will not need for several months. After that the 4 of us played Guesstures. Oh my goodness sakes...we had so much fun. Everyone was in a good mood, nobody got their feelings hurt, everyone had fun and it was great. We played for a good hour and then it was time for bed. The rest of my evening was also amazing, but I will spare you the details.

Oh yeah, and the graduation countdown...if you dont count today, and you dont count the day I graduate, its only 3 days away. I have a final in my Computers and Society class and then I will be completely done with finals and projects and term papers.

8 days...

One more final to go, and one more project to go....then I am on my way to graduation. I will graduate one week from tomorrow. It really cannot come fast enough.

19 Days and Counting....

19 days from now...I will be a college graduate. I am so completely ready to be done with this chapter, but at the same time...I have SOOOO much to do in the next 19 days. Hoping to not become too overwhelmed with it all. I am trying to be grateful for my education, but at a time like this it is so hard. I know that so many people have gone before me, and completed it all with their sanity in tact, but that seems impossible to me right now. The list of things I have to do within the next 2.5 weeks is crazy...begin (and finish) my 6-8 page research paper, study for my midterm this week, and my final in two weeks for my Computer science class....begin (and finish) my 7 page case study and a power point presentation for my Literacy class...begin (and finish) by 5 page Instructional Plan for my Bilingual Ed class...put together my social studies unit and begin (and finish) the 5 page reflection that goes along with it....OH MY GOODNESS SAKES!!!! I keep reminding myself it will be (temporarily) over in 19 days!

RICA

Passed the RICA...thats all I have to say! Over, done with, no more state testing for me! Woo-hoo!

Yucky

Its the way I feel right now. My life is busy enough, but to not feel good on top of it all, makes things ten times worse. Doing homework and studying is the last thing I want to do at night when I get home at 8 or 9 oclock after student teaching, work and school. I have a snotty nose and a cough that keeps people away.

Hard but rewarding

Gosh...its amazing that I made it through another week. I think to myself every Monday morning as I roll out of bed..."I cannot wait until Friday is here." Well its here and my work day will be over in about 2.5 hours. I have to say that I have one of the most amazing classes ever. The kids keep me humble and at the same time they keep me motivated. I am still learning how to be a teacher and they are so gracious when it comes to my mistakes and shortcomings. The thing about working with children is most of them are pretty forgiving. I love the way they say hello and good-bye refering to me as Ms. Moore. I love the way they raise their hand, quietly, but with a look in their eyes that says "please, please, please call on me!" I love the way they always want to be the best. I love that they still love to play!

RICA time!

So I usually write on Fridays because they are my day to relax and get ready for an easy weekend. That is not really the case today. I am taking the RICA tomorrow at 1:15pm and have not even began studying for it. It is a test to make sure that I know how to teach reading to youngsters. Studying for the RICA will keep me busy for the next 24 hours and then I intend on catching up on some much needed R&R. Hopefully in a few weeks I will have a great post explaining how I passed the RICA with flying colors!

2 Weeks Down

Okay, so now my second week of student teaching is behind me and I am feeling a little less defeated this week. I have amazing kids in my class. One in particular melts my heart and gives me a purpose to get up every morning. He is autistic and I absolutley love him. I love how excited he gets when he gets the right answer. I love how he just wants to hold my hand or touch my arm. I love that he got 100% on both his spelling and his phonics test today. He is an amazing 6 year old who has solidified my decision to become a teacher.
I have another person who has been an amazing source of encouragement. She has stayed up with me and helped me do my homework, even though she was exhausted from her own job. I think what gives me motivation every morning is driving through a beautiful neighborhood and knowing that one day soon I will be able to buy a house and move into with Ang and the kids. I wont have to worry about bills all the dang time. Teachers dont get paid well for the amount of work they do, but its a rewarding job. I get to hang out with amazing kids all day and go home to a house that I own, and be with people that I love.

Defeated

My first week of student teaching is over...which also means the first week of this quarter is over as well. I am overwhelmed. I was telling Angela last night that I feel defeated. Yesterday was a pretty bad day...just seemed like anything that could go wrong, went wrong. Needless to say I am without my car for who knows how long because I couldnt get the stinkin key in the ignition at all. Feeling defeated is a rotten way to end this week, but I am seriously hoping this weekend brings some rest and rejuvination my direction. Mostly because I want to give the people around me all that I have to give. I want to be enthusiastic when I am teaching. I want to show love and grace to the people that I live with. I want to show appreciation to my professors. I want to show people that I care about them, and I dont really feel like I can do this if I am feeling defeated.

A few things I have learned about teaching

When I was little I used to always want to go into the teachers lounge because I thought they were super cool and now that I am supposed to go into the lounge everyday I dread it. I just wish the kids didnt have a break from class, so that I didnt even have to go into the office.

The other thing about teaching is that you can't go to the bathroom whenever you want. My first two days, I was seriously running to the bathroom on recess because I felt like I was going to pee my pants. I cant just leave the classroom and use the restroom like I do at work or during class.

New to this

This is the story of a girl, who loves people and loves living....shes been thinking about sharing her thoughts on a blog for awhile now....so here they are.