loving well.

well, it's happened again.  blogging is fun ... relaxing even.  makes me kinda stop and think.  i love it, but recently haven't made time to sit and write.  it has been a crazy, fun, hard, and reflective few weeks.    brace yourself.

i want to love well.  what it looks like, sounds like, feels like, etc. to love someone well til it hurts.  to really care for people.  it's always special when you get opportunities to put that desire into action.  three sweet family friends are all going through trying times ... may i learn even a glimpse of what it means, feels like, looks like to love them well.

i was honored with the 'teacher of the year' award in early april from school and felt super loved on by my precious friends and family.  what a humbling experience and a privilege to represent the school, staff, & kids.  later in the month, i got to celebrate some b-day fun with sweet friends at the ranger's game.  beautiful night.  lots of fun!

as i finish up this 11th day in may, i'm thankful to say that i have completed all my classwork for my masters degree!  i went last night to my last class - kinda felt like a little kid at christmas.  so completely thrilled to turn in my last assignment and internship hours.  crazy that i've been able to finish that.  thankful to close that chapter!

even though it has seemed like i had a thousand things to do all at once, i'm thankful for the big and small reminders i've had to ponder what it truly means to love others well.  the next step: putting this into action!

jan. feb. mar.

well...keeping up with the blog hasn't really happened.  oh well!

the last two months have really flown by - i'm making progress on the masters degree, had a bit of a "hitch" in the walking/jogging deal, but hopefully will get back up to speed, and have been able to manage plenty of fun with friends (and words with friends!).

spring break was a just that ... a great break from the crazy routine i've had lately at school and with school.  during that week, i went with the family and some friends to an allen americans minor league hockey game.  apparently dad filled out an entry form for a drawing for a suite at a playoff game.  randomly, he won!  this weekend my parents were out of town, so the brother and i (and some friends!) enjoyed the game in a suite.  here's a couple pics from the 'suite action'.

on another note, we've had snow this year ... more than most years.  one day, it snowed a lot (well, a lot for around here!) and i took my kids outside to play in it.  they were dying to get outside... and honestly, who doesn't like a little snow?!  snowballs, snow angels, warm jackets & mittens.  they loved it!

that's it for now!  :)

jogging. school. and life.

that's right...i've decided i want to be a jogger.  no, not a runner ... just yet.  i have some goals set ... and hopefully i'll get to them.  regardless, it's been kinda fun walking/jogging the past few days.  it always helps to load up the ipod with some fun tunes.  my sweet friends & family moved the ole' treadmill upstairs into the extra room so that it will be easy access during these cold days/months.  no excuses.  or so i hope!

i'm not sure i'm doing such a great job with keeping up with this blog, but it is kinda fun.  the past month has been busy, but also allowed for the day to day routine to be changed up a bit.  having two weeks off from school was a great chance to rest and relax ... and do some traveling.  

this week i'll be starting my internship (pre-practicum) portion of my school counseling degree.  if all goes well, i'll be completely finished in May.  it has been a fun journey, but i'll be thankful to not have to write a fat check each month, buy new books, and will finally have my Masters.  hooray!  i do have to attend a class on Wednesday nights and i'm nervous about the workload that might be about to smack me in the face this semester.

better get some rest.  6am is coming way too fast.

holiday extravaganza

Today mom and I ventured on over to her school where they were having a holiday extravaganza.  She raved about the cute baskets and it sounded like a fun holidayish thing to do!  On the way there, I told myself I'd spend $10 on raffle tickets - 10 tickets to put in any baskets I wanted.

She was right - several fun items indeed.  I got my money out ... and realized I really had $11.  At that point, we decided it was better to spend $15 since the tickets we already counted in stacks of 5 or 10.  Mom threw in the extra $4 ... and off we went to look at the baskets.

After looking at them all, I selected a few and put 2-3 tickets in each basket that was my favorite.  We joked about how I always fold my tickets  in weird ways in hopes that it will be easy for the hand that is drawing to select the one with my name on it.  We knew the drawings would take place later in the day and you didn't have to be present to win, so after we chatted with a few familiar faces ... we were on our way.

About 3:30, mom reminded me that the drawings were probably taking place.  We had our phones ready in case we'd get a lucky call.  Mom is normally fairly lucky in these situations... and her mom was always a winner in drawings.  I'm a different story.  A loser MOST of the times.  Today was different.

My phone rang ... and with good news!  I won the "decor galore" basket!  We couldn't believe it!  Anyway, kinda fun ... and soon (when I figure out this blog thing!) I'll post some pictures of the new decor!

Blogland!

Well... I'm doing it.  I'm entering blogland.  Scary.
More to come - when I figure this out!