Flying Solo with God as my Captain

Well, this week and the following week, I will be teaching EVERYTHING and taking over the first grade classroom that I am in right now. I have been writing down my plans, getting things prepared for some of my centers and small group activities. It's definitely a lot of work but I really enjoy it. I like being busy, it keeps my mind occupied and my body active. I lost one pound last week and I truly attribute it to the simple fact that I am constantly moving in and out of the classroom. The only time I really get to sit for a moment is during planning period and lunch, oh and later in the dat with small groups. I am truly blessed with the cooperating teacher that has taken me under her wing and guided me through a lot of planning, paperwork, and assessments. I am also very blessed to have a very well managed, well behaved classroom full of bright and cheerful children whom I truly adore. I know you're not supposed to have favorites but it's hard not to. These weeks of student teaching have really gone quickly and before I can take a breath, I will be moving on to my next placement; FOURTH GRADE! I am very nervous about teaching this age group but I have a really great cooperating teacher at this school and I think she will be just as helpful as my first grade cooperating teacher.
Finally, I have really been asking God to show me the "mediocrity" in my life and He is showing me that I have a real problem with judging others. It's the most difficult thing to NOT do because our humanness wants us to feel superior to those who are inferior. I am searching scripture and asking God to break this stronghold. I think it's going to be a lengthy process just because it's been such a long hard habit and to just completely stop is not possible without the Holy Spirit and God's divine grace. I just wanted to share that in the hopes that someone else might relate.
luvyameanit~ard

The Beginning of The End...

Just like when you were a kid and you couldn't sleep worth a darn because you were so anxious, excited, and scared about the first day of school. Well, that's how I felt on Thursday when I began the first day of Student Teaching. I woke up at 5am because I just couldn't lay in bed waiting for the alarm to go off. I got up, made a pot of coffee, jumped in the shower and got myself "spiffy-ed" up for those darling first graders I will be with for the next seven or so weeks.
I can't believe I am here at this point in my journey through school. I am so thankful and happy that I have made it. Through all the peaks and valleys, I have made it. It feels terrific and I am ready for it all. I love the challenge, the skills, and the wisdom I will gain from others that will only help me to become a better teacher. Only one thing left to say really,
Bring It On!!!
I'm Ready!!!

2009

Comments & Myspace layouts

Wow, I can hardly believe how the past year has just flown by and now I get to start over again. There are a lot of things I hope to accomplish this coming year including to say the least, college graduation. That day will be full of emotions but also a day of relief and sense of accomplishment. My child will be turning five in a blink of an eye it seems and getting ready to start Kindergarten in the fall. Maybe just maybe he will get a baby sister or brother this year, we shall wait and see what God has planned. I am still keeping my weight loss goals on the front burner and plan to get back into the swing of things using what I have learned at Weight Watchers and keeping that support system in place. There is a lot to be accomplished and yet it all is so unknown, it is my faith that God knows what is best for me and rely on His wisdom to see me through whatever may come my way. It is my hope and prayer that all of my friends and family have a richly blessed 2009.

my not so "perfect" angel....

This is my "not so perfect" angel, Grant. I say this because during our Children's Christmas program at church this past Sunday, my child almost became a "fallen" angel. You see, he was placed near another angel that he adores (a girl angel, named Emma) and during the program he stepped in between her and another angel ( a boy) and that other angel (his name will go unmentioned) was hitting Grant with his wings and pushing him. Well of course this distracted Grant from the whole program and he was more concerened about protecting himself and his "girl". The whole scene was a bit funny but slightly embarassing. Oh well, maybe next year he will keep to his own "angelic" business and stay in one place long enough to finish the songs in the program. He's too cute in his costume anyway, right?

my most prized possession

I am reminded today that I have a precious gift from God whose personality and charisma captures my heart each day. This picture was taken at Gentry's Farm where we had a "date". It was just me and my boy. and a couple of friends. Man, I love the stuffin' out of him.

perpetually exhausted....

I think I could sleep for days if my life would allow it. I am so tired and yet there is a mounting pile of work to accomplish. I hate that I have to neglect my family in order to focus on school and the endless assignments which are supoosed to prove that I can teach. It's very overwhelming but I just keep telling myself that it won't be like this forever and I hope that one day I can come home, cook dinner, do a little bit of home maintenance and then just sit and enjoy my evening. For now, I will stay perpetually exhauseted.....until next time. ~ard~
p.s. I miss you h.A.m. and scrapbooking!!!

HIS mysterious ways....

Okay, so I am in the process of working and completing my Electronic Portfolio which is due to be submitted on Oct. 29th. I have no words to describe the enormous task of making sure that all is "perfect" in this portfolio. Unlike the "olden" days when a portfolio was put together in a notebook featuring all the hard work you had ever done....thanks to the ever increasing, ever complex world of technology.....it's ALL electronic. And to add to that are the TEN INTASC Principles that we should know backwards and forwards. These are also applied to every document I have ever created and placed in the portfolio. N E WAY....on to the coolest part of this story. I have been looking for this flash drive that holds a few important things I have done in various classes that I have taken and well.......I lost it, mmmmmm, really misplaced it. Well, today my hubbs helped me search the whole house. We tore through everything we could think of. Earlier this evening, I was back to looking again and I just kept praying "God, please help me find this, it's so important. Please just give me some sort of sign or something!" So I kept having this thought go over and over and over in my head "GO TO THE BOX!" Well, okay, so there's this box downstairs near the washing machine and it has a bunch of junk that I have cleaned out of my car over the past few months and put there to sort through later. So, I tear through it, tossing stuff that was trash, NOTHING! (except Grant's lost spiderman gloves) lol. But then something told me to look on the floor where the box had been b/c the box wasn't fully taped on the bottom and anything could have fell out. GUESS WHAT!!!! I found it! The flash drive that was so important for me to find, God helped me. WOW! GOD IS AWESOME!!! He does care about the little things in your life, not just the big things. TYJ!!! Can I get a witness?