something a little different

i started this blog about seven years ago when I first discovered we were expecting our second child. we lived out of state and i wanted to keep family up to date.its been a few years, another state, another kid, another job. you get it. i blogged my way through iraq, turning 30 and other significant moments. i am thankful for this journal to look back on. but now i am here to do something different. i am still a wife, mommy, teacher and believer and none of that will change any time soon. but ive been doing a lot of thinking lately about those roles in my life. those are the things that i will be talking about now.reflecting really. currently in my cup: dr.pepper. of course, i wouldn't turn down a glass of wine.

My Papa

This man was THAT man in my life. I have so many incredibly memories from my childhood that include him. He was one of the first people I called with any news.
He bought me my first bike... Purple with white polka dots:)
He used to buy me some weird candy called "chicken on a stick"...Must be an old person candy.
He drank diet coke like it was going out of style.
All my life he offered me a drink. Little did he know that I actually HATE diet coke! He wouldn't know though because I always took that sip.
Because well...he was my Papa and I was his girl.

I can only recall once in my life my Papa ever calling me by my name. Instead he referred to me as just "girl".
The one time he called me Paige, I called mom and told her I thought he was mad at me.:)

I really am not sure what life is supposed to be like without this man in it.

This year on my birthday we said goodbye to him. Not exactly how I would have wished it, but that was the last day I got to see him and thanks to his amazing and thoughtful planning, we even got to hear his recorded voice at the funeral. So really, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Sure miss him so much already... But so thankful for his amazing life.

21. Buy a trampoline

We recently purchased our
1st home and knew that one of our first purchases would be a trampoline.

My parents bought once when we moved into my childhood home and I remember loving it!

So far the kids are loving it! (and me too:)

6. Buy a House

Buying a house is not fun.
There, I said it.
It is not like an episode on HGTV where you look at 3 homes, ultimately decide on the best fit and Wala, it's
yours!
Give.me.a.break.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) for us, we live in a mid size town with enough houses to choose from. Not to many, not to few. We looked for a few weeks and found one we both loved and proceeded.

Who knew choosing the house would be the easier part.

Anyhow, very long story short... We now own our 1st home!

I look forward to many years ahead in our new home, watching our girls grow, making new memories, spending lots of time here with family and friends. Such joy this brings to my heart!

The Real World

When I was growing up I always said I wanted to be a nurse (because we lived by a hospital) but always played school at home. I loved making up students names, giving them homework, and calling mom when their behavior was unacceptable.

I have now had my own classroom for almost 6 months and oh how I miss the comfort of my invisible students in my little bedroom.

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE teaching. I even LOVE the kids..on most days;) But many days it is definetly not like what I had imagined as a child or even going through my ED classes in college.

I have a very mixed population in my classroom. I have exactly the same amount of boys and girls. And most days are really good. Although unfourtantly, not all.

During student teaching you may watch someone else 'handle' the issues that may come up, but you never do it on your own. You never call the parents, you never create weeks worth of lesson plans, you never conduct your own all star reading groups when you have one student screaming at the top of their lungs, while another jumps off of their desks for the 100th time and a 3rd student threatens to punch everyone in the face.

No, never. why?? Well because those classrooms never seem to have those problems and well if the truth be told, if they did, the real teacher would handle it. And probably if they couldn't, the principal would support them along the way.

These of course are all hypothetical situations.

I LOVE teaching and I want to be that teacher that in 50 years when I retire, my first year of teaching is all but a fog because so many amazing years followed.

A girl can dream right.

16. Pay for someone else's meal

Done!



Our family frequent's Chick Fil A. And by frequent I mean, we live less than a mile from the place and when I go through they make sure to say "tell Mark we said hello!". uh ok.

Anyway, as I was making my regular Saturday afternoon lunch stop, I decided today was the day to accomplish a goal. Yes, it was probably the easiest one on the list...but honestly I am a cheap skate so spending anymore than I already planned on spending is not exactly up my ally.

So I made the decision and then I looked behind me to see exactly who I would be blessing today. An old run down car, 1 man inside with a confederate flag bandana on his head.
Sure hope he enjoyed his two spicy chicken sandwiches, chicken wrap and bowl of chicken tortilla soup as much as I enjoyed blessing him.

30 by 30

In just 21 short months this momma will be turning 30. I have never been one to dread age, actually I get pretty excited about getting older. I am sure it's only because I still look 12 and just maybe a new # will bring on a little bit more mature look about myself. So far, not so good. aw well.

Anyway, I am excited about turning 30. But really I am excited about what I hope to accomplish personally in my life before then.

I have given myself a 'to do' list of sorts to get done before October 1, 2013.

*Just a little preface to this list.
I essentially have done none of these things (minus going out of the country..and had a baby). And these were made to be intentional. Rather than just saying "run", I want to specifically run a 1/2 marathon.
Also,these items are in no particular order or importance or priority.

So, here goes.

1.Run 1/2 marathon
2.Spend an entire day by myself...and not get bored:)
3.Skydive
4.Spend a whole day with my little sister..doing just what she wants.
5.Ride in a hot air balloon
6.Buy 1st home
7.Spend a whole day with my mom..doing just what she wants.
8.Visit another country
9.Take a family vacation
10.Spend a whole day with Emma...doing just what she wants
11.Take a sewing class
12.Volunteer in a soup kitchen
13.Go on a mission trip
14.Spending a whole day with Jilli..doing just what she wants.
15.Bake cookies for the mailman
16.Pay for a strangers meal
17.Take the girls to a play, musical or ballet. Or all 3.
18.Give $100 to someone who really need it.
19.Take a handgun class
20.Spend the whole day with Mark, doing just what he wants
21.Buy a trampoline for the kids (or me:)
22.Finish a book series
23.Watch AND stay awake through an entire movie series. (harry potter, lord of the rings, etc).
24. Spend the whole day with Dan, doing just what he wants.
25.Make lambchops for dinner
26.Lose 15 lbs
27.Teach Jillian to write a thank you note.
28.Have another baby
29. Make homemade ice cream
30. Let Emma pick out an entire outfit at the store all by herself.

Ready, Set, Go!