my life (aka craziness) ...according to Instagram.

Things around here have been crazy! Hence why my 52 in 52 updates have been running late for the past couple of weeks.

I started grad school in May! I am getting my Master's in Education in Divergent Learning.

It's only a year long program, but it is very intense.

It's not all serious business though.

Last night, we made cookie people, choosing the different toppings according to our personality styles.

I apparently have a yummy personality because all of my personality style toppings were among my favorite treats! Yay!

(my cookie didn't last long...obviously)

On a serious note, I am learning SO much in my classes. I'm glad I started in the summer and not this fall because I'm able to transition into the work load. However, it's a bit frustrating at times because I want to implement these strategies right now.

Patience, dear teacher. Patience.

My homeowner-ness is continuing to stretch my handy woman skills!

I put in a new doorbell several weeks ago.

The original one that "came with the house" had part of the plastic button part missing, so people feared for their lives when they came to my house, choosing to just knock instead of risk electrocution by ringing the doorbell. No need to worry any longer, my dear friends!

Right after I finished changing out the doorbell, the UPS man came by to deliver a package (containing a grad school book - woohoo...). I was so excited and proud that I very enthusiastically exclaimed to him, "I just changed my doorbell!!!"

Yeah. I get excited about small things. But it's just me. I don't have someone to run to for an impromptu celebration...because you know. Adding another notch in my tool belt as handy woman calls for impromptu celebrations! So this would be why my life is often on Facebook.

Just in case you were wondering!

But anyhow -- back to Mr. UPS. Upon hearing my jubilation in a new doorbell that I changed all by myself, he turned around, gave me two (not just one!) thumbs up and said, "Alright!!"

Yep. I'm a dork! At least I'm a smiley dork though, right? :)

So, along with my grad classes and my brand spanking new doorbell, I'm also experiencing empty nest syndrome...

Sad times.

I had become so accustomed to checking on my little feathered friends every day that I was super sad to see them gone.

Ever need a reminder of God's love for you? Yeah, me too.

The church down the road from my parents has this great reminder for all the world to see! It's on their ball field fence.

It makes me smile every time I drive by. And makes me wish I had an obnoxious chain link fence in my front yard to broadcast love to all as well.

Okay, maybe not to that extent. But it does make me happy. I love it!

And look what I have on the windowsill above my sink! 

Baby marigold plants! I've been plucking the seeds out of my [dead] marigold flowers in my flower boxes (another post about that soon-ish!).

I'm excited to see that the seeds I "harvested" are growing! Woo!

I also planted LOTS more, but they're on the deck rail in the back yard. I'm experimenting a lot with seeding flowers. We'll see what happens!

I also have some squash, sunflowers, morning glories, celosias, and forget me nots planted to grow some before putting them in my flowerbed.

Speaking of...

I now have a GORGEOUS flowerbed in my backyard! (Thanks, Mom and Dad!!!!!)

It has some of my grandpa's lilies (my brother had them in his yard, then shared them with me) along with some plants I bought at Walmart for 50% off.

Hope they don't die!

I have a knock out rose bush, two tomato plants, and two other perennials that I'm not sure of their names. 

So this has been my life lately. We finished up the school year this past week, so now I'm focusing on church, grad school, and my home.

Sleep is always nice too.

3250

if moms were flowers...

I'd pick mine a million times over! :)

Last week, my students took home the plants we've been growing for their mom's. They were all VERY excited!

(Are kids not the cutest when they're missing teeth?! I absolutely love this part of first graders!! So adorable!)

We packaged the plants very carefully into paper bags my students decorated with their mom's favorite colors and many, "I <3 you"s written all over. They were instructed to not let their bag tip over. You know, so the soil won't fall out of the pots.

I didn't grow plants for my mom for Mother's Day. But I did make my momma these...

There's one for each of the grandkids, as well as one with all of them on there.

My brother's three boys. Love them!!

And my sister's four kids. Love them too!

So, what are these things?!

Coasters! When my mom opened them, she immediately said, "But I can't put anything on their little faces!!!!"

I assured her that they're safe and protected from any liquid messing them up.

I'm pretty proud of them. :)

I also gave her, my sister, and my sister-in-law necklaces...

My sister-in-law's is on the left. Three little blue "eggs" in a nest for her three boys. My mom's is in the middle with seven "eggs" for the seven grandkids, and then my sister's on the right with four "eggs" for her kids.

They were really fun to make.

Today, I celebrate my mom! The woman that I love to laugh with, feel free to cry with, and am blessed to call my momma.

I love you, Mom!!!



2929

high fives and smiles

I teach at the best school ever. Seriously.

Our principal is amazing. He has a heart for the Lord, and a heart for the children that set foot into his building each day.

Our school is packed full of amazing teachers. They support each other and celebrate with each other.

The PTO and parent support is crazy. They rock it out with raising money for the school, and it's amazing how many parent volunteers we have coming in every day.

And the students. They make us laugh everyday, they have fun learning, and they make work enjoyable.

I love my school!

Today was no exception.

Next week, students in 3-5 grade will take our state test, the PASS. It's tough. It's long. And honestly, boring. 3 days (4 for 4th graders) of tests. yay.

Our principal loves to encourage the students in any way he can, so the first year the school was open (2 years ago), he started a huge PASS pep rally. SO much fun!

The younger students (k-2) line the hallways, and while the 3-5 grade students walk to the gym, the younger ones cheer them on. Very loud. Very exciting.

It makes me tear up every year. Yes, I'm a sap.

The kids love it. The little kids, the big kids. It's such a sense of excitement and togetherness as a whole school.

Today was this year's PASS pep rally.

The teachers had just as much fun as the kids! Lisa was having fun pumping the younger kids up while the older kids made their way to the gym.

And when the older kids started coming, it was even more exciting! Of course, the younger kids don't fully understand what's happening - they just enjoy the fact that I told them they could be as loud as they could. ha It was a nice release for some of the little ones in my class!

Too many high fives to count.

Too many smiles to count.

But one lasting memory. A memory of unity, encouragement, and genuine fun.

(Our principal wasn't able to be here today because his wife had a baby this week. I'm sure he greatly missed being here today, but I'm also sure he knew we had some great people to help carry on without him!)



2727

sentences

I went running yesterday. 2 miles. It stunk.

I walked up one of the hills instead of running it. I'm a wimp like that.

I was finally able to get a picture of a family's sidewalk while I was being a wimp though. I've run by it many times now, and I've never stopped to snap a picture. Love!

We only have 21 days of school left. I'm excited. But I'm sad. Definitely conflicting emotions here.

I need to cut my grass. I was going to tonight, but now I'm not feeling it. Ever have days like that?

I won this print through a giveaway on a blog awhile ago, and I've never put it in a frame. Until now!

I got the frame from a friend's yard sale, but it didn't have any glass in it. So I got a frame for $5 at a discount type store in town, and I used the glass from it for this frame (wasn't fond of the frame itself). Score!

It now hangs by my bedroom door. Perfect place for it.

I was accepted into graduate school last week. Excited? Totally! A bit nervous? Yes! Ready for the work? ha!

Excitement wins out though.

Izzy is still her cute self. She takes over the bed when I have it in disarray with the sheets in the wash.

That's the only time she's allowed on my comforter. Otherwise, it's covered with another blanket so she won't get it dirty.

I love her. Dirt and all!

PS - It's now 8:37 and I just finished cutting my grass. Yes. It was worth it. :)



2688

watching them grow

One of my favorite things about teaching is watching my students grow throughout the school year.

Seeing them grow leaps and bounds in reading.

Watching their love of math develop through the weeks.

Hearing their imaginative stories about volcanoes, dinosaurs, and venus fly traps. Yes. Venus fly traps. Everyday. :)

I'm actually hoping to find a venus fly trap to get for my classroom since they are so interested.

I looked into getting seeds, but they take too long to germinate.

These little guys though...

We planted seeds one day last week. On Friday to be exact.

Lots of seeds. LOTS.

Sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, celosias, marigolds. Even rye grass.

The students have been so excited to come everyday to see that the plants have germinated, sprouted, and now growing leaves. Some of the students have learned the hard way that some seeds germinate sooner than others. Sunflowers are the fastest. Celosias has so far been the slowest.

Today, we decided to transplant the little guys into pots. We took them out of the little mesh bag things they were in, and put them into pots so they can continue growing into pretty plants to give their mommas for Mother's Day.

As I was separating the seedlings into the pots, my students were SO excited.

They could see the roots! And some of them had the little seed covers still on the leaves.

They were also very impressed that they could see the roots coming out of the soil. I assured them that this meant it was time to transplant them!

Roots are so neat!! (Okay okay, I may have been just as excited as my students the whole time!) 

This one was also very exciting to see! 

It was germinating, but it hadn't come up above the soil yet! This was so cool!

Some of them were worried the plants were going to die because we were moving them. However, I explained that if we do it carefully and make sure the roots are buried correctly, they should be fine.

I should have taken a picture of the pots, but I didn't think about it.

Can't wait to see these little guys grow bigger! Love them!

Both the plants and my students.

2646

my week, according to Instagram

The week after Spring Break always seem to be a tough one. Getting back into the swing of waking up early isn't always easy!

This week was no different! I spoke with about 4 other teachers that all said the same thing: Spring Break was such a glorious taste of summer that coming back was almost unbearable! Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad, and we didn't exactly say it was that bad, but it was rough! I have enjoyed being back on a "normal" schedule again, and I truly did miss my little kiddos, however I struggled with waking up early and having energy to last me through the school day. Yawns were in abundance, and afternoon naps were a constant threat. But we made it! And we only have 33 days left (I'm pretty sure that's correct).

So here's a peek at my week. ha! I'm a poet and didn't know it. ba-da-ching!

-On Tuesday evening, I helped throw a baby shower for one of my best friends Mary. Okay, so this is totally not a picture of Mary, but it is of my little dog Izzy. While I was at the shower, Izzy set the security alarm at my house off, which eventually called the police because they couldn't get ahold of me. Craziness! Thankfully, everything was fine, I didn't have to pay a false warning fee, and it was all chalked up to me rushing out of the house in an I'm-going-to-be-late frenzy. Oh, and when I got up Wednesday morning, in my very sleepy state, I pushed in the duress (emergency! Call the police now!!) code on my security system. Thankfully, I immediately realized it and called the security company to cancel the code. No police came on Wednesday morning, thankfully!

-This is actually from last Saturday, but we'll pretend! :) I finally planted flowers in my flower boxes outside. They make me so happy when I pull into my driveway! And I haven't even killed them yet!!! Score!

-One of my precious students brought me flowers on Thursday just because. Love!! She even said I could keep the vase (which stands about 6 inches tall) because her momma can get them at the store for $1. haha Can I just say, that as a single woman, I'm glad my students bring me flowers from time to time! Of course, this is not to say that I'm expecting my one-day husband to buy me flowers all the time, but I love how God romances me even through simple signs of love such as a student bringing me flowers. Makes my heart smile. :)

-And lastly, my new kitchen cuties! I got Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper today at a Come See Me (Rock Hill's spring festival) event, and I love them! So cute. I also picked up the small plate/dish beside the happy seasoning couple this week. I'm so happy about having something to put my spoon/spatula/whatever on while I cook! No more food-dirtied counters! Yay!

And one more picture! The number line in my classroom started falling on Monday afternoon, so I decided to hot glue it back up! Well, I don't exactly have a ladder in my room (it's at the top of my wall), so I put the spinny desk chair to the highest it would go, heated up my hot glue gun, and stepped up to glue my number line back into place. Easy peasy, right?

Hot so much. The hot glue dripped, and the dripped glob of hot glue landed right on my foot! Ouch! And turned it yellow!! Strange, huh?

Just kidding. The hot glue didn't turn my skin yellow, but it did burn it pretty bad! And one of my dear teacher friends insisted that if I put yellow mustard on the burn, it would stop burning. She almost talked me into getting some mustard from the cafeteria, but I decided to wait until I got home since I needed to run a couple errands, and I didn't think it would be very attractive for me to walk around with mustard on my foot (however, I'll snap a picture and post it on Instagram/Facebook? Weird, I know).

Well, I tried it when I got home, and it WORKS! I was so stinking amazed that the mustard just pulled the burn out completely! I let the mustard stay on until it was just about dried (yes, gross. lol), and I had to make sure Izzy didn't decide to have a mustard snack that afternoon. Now, the spot is sloooowly healing. Hopefully there won't be a nasty scar there.

Well, there are about 40 minutes left to this week, so I better hit the sack so I can start next week bright eyed and bushy tailed! How was your week? Drop any hot glue on your foot? I wouldn't recommend it.

(Oh yes! I was supposed to run in the Come See Me 5k race this morning, but I slept late. Arg! I've run it the past 2 years, and I was excited about keeping the tradition going! I think God was telling me to slow down and take it easy some. My body listened this morning, I reckon. Oh well. Next year!)

2488

52 in 52 wk 10 -- my prayer

Show me Your ways, O Lord, and teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truths and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord.

Psalm 25:4-7

In the back of my Bible, I've listed scriptures that meant something to me with a snid bit of what they said to the side. Sometimes I like to just go down the list and read the passages that God used to teach me during different points in my life.

This week's verse comes from this list in one of my Bibles. Beside it, I had written, "my prayer."

It is my prayer that God would reveal to me His ways, His will, and His path for my life. I don't always take this route, and that usually ends up with me once again realizing my humanly sinful nature. However, God's love is overwhelming and He welcomes me with open arms when I realize my stupidity, my rebellious ways.

My prayer is that God would teach me through these times and draw me ever closer to Him. And He has been. For that I am outrageously thankful.

So, a quick(ish) 52 in 52 story for you -- I've mentioned that I can't exactly rattle off every single verse that I've memorized so far without some sort of list of the references. However, it's amazing how God brings certain scripture to mind right when I need it!

I sometimes I feel overwhelmed at work with all of the new programs we've been implementing in our classrooms this year. I sometimes feel like I'm drowning as I try to master one program and at the same time start up a brand new one that I've never done before. They're great programs, but it takes me a bit to figure out how it fits into my classroom and what it will look like with my teaching style.

Well, today was one of those days. I was trying to figure out how to integrate this particular program into my math curriculum, and I was quickly sucked into this mind set that I can't do it, I'm not that great of a teacher, and there was no way I would be able to manage this program and have the students be successful at it. And at the same time, I was putting packets together for my students to take home to start the at-home portion...and I was thinking, "Why am I even putting these together?! We won't be able to do this!!"

And then God stilled me. He silenced me and brought one of my 52 in 52 scriptures to mind.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

God has given me a passion for teaching for a reason. He has placed me in this classroom for a purpose. And in this moment, I had to remind myself that my insecurities were not from Truth. The source of my frustrations were not brought from the knowledge of God's hand in my life. They were from satan and his evil schemes to knock me on my rear so I feel like a failure.

As I sat there, I repeated this scripture in my mind several times, tried my hardest to capture these thoughts and feelings of being not good enough, and then I carried on with my day. My students were excited about the homework they were assigned as part of the program, and I sort of felt better about the program.

Although I can't recall each verse without a list of the verses I've memorized, God is definitely using them in my daily life, which really is the point after all. :) I want to hide His Word in my heart so that I can use it in my walk to be encouraged, lead, and reminded of His very real presence in my life.

That's what it's really all about.

1432

sprints vs distance

Kickball. Tons of fun, right? Definitely!

Our school formed a team of teachers to battle another school's team of teachers in a game of kickball.

We're such tough competitors, aren't we? Be afraid...be very afraid!
(Yes, the tutu made an appearance!)

We had an absolute BLAST! There were tons of laughs, a few confusing moments, and hopefully we were able to raise some funds through concessions for our schools. Our school didn't win (sad!), but that's alright. I hear there will be a rematch next year (hopefully), and we're supposed to actually strategize and practice maybe once. ...we'll see!

So, that's the background to my post. Now for my point. :)

I can go out and run 5miles, no problem. I actually enjoy it, oddly enough (a year and a half ago, I would have laughed in your face if you told me to run 5miles). So, I should be fine running around some silly bases, right? HA! Good gravy, my thighs are STILL bothering me! I didn't realize sprints worked a completely different sets of muscles than distance running. But, now I do!!

Speaking of running, which I speak of often, I haven't run since last week. This week has been rough with my grandpa's funeral, and then some things at work (prayers appreciated!), so I haven't gotten out for a run at all this week. We're furloughed tomorrow though, so I'm hoping to get out for a run while I'm off.

And one more thing. If you haven't watched the new show Coming Home, you should definitely check it out! Just have some tissues handy. :)



543

esty shop memo & a real rain check

Just fyi - the etsy shop is in my sister's name, not mine. Soooo...although it says Jennifer S., I'm there too! :)

I sold this little bag today.

Time to make more stuff!!! :D


So, I was planning on a good run this afternoon. Took my running clothes to work and everything - couldn't wait! It was going to be the perfect ending to a work day that included a PTO-catered Italian lunch - yum!!! (Thanks, PTO moms!!! You rock!!)

So, I stayed for a yearbook committee meeting as we wrestled with the yearbook software (we will prevail!!), and the closer it got to my marvelous afternoon run, the worse it looked outside. My teacher friend (and just friend in general!) Ashley kept asking if I was sure about going running this afternoon. Well, I was at the time...until I left. By then, the sky had opened up and it was POURING rain. Craziness!!

So, needless to say, no run today. Instead, I headed to Old Navy with a "free ankle jeans" coupon one of my students had given me. I tried on some "ankle jeans" (aka capris...or any jean that showed your ankle - who knew? lol), fell in love with a cute sun dress, decided I looked terrible in Old Navy's "ankle jeans" (something about my big hips/thighs just doesn't mix with them), and bought the lovely dress along with a few other things. So, although I didn't get my run in, it was a good afternoon of shopping. I actually forgot about the monsoon outside while I was looking around Old Navy....that is until I had to swim back to my car to head home.

Will try again tomorrow!



497

Get Your Rear in Gear ...in a pink tutu!

Last year, when I was just getting into running, one of my students' parents mentioned putting together a team for the Get Your Rear in Gear 5k benefiting colon cancer. I jumped on the chance to be in the team, and we were eventually named the Wise Cracks (haha!).

We ran the race again today. Our team just about doubled this time though! We are teachers, spouses, friends, and children. Here we are...

(You've guessed it - I'm the one in the pink tutu.)

My big brother Aaron (affectionately known as Bubba to me) ran in the race as well.

I helped him pin his race number on.

*ahem* Can I just say that I beat my big brother in the race?! :D Aaah...victory! I still love him though...and of course, he still loves me...even if I do rub it in his face just a few times. :)

Quick picture before the race.

The race went really well. I didn't remember the course being very hilly, and it really wasn't. There were a few hills, but not an abundance, and they were completely bearable.

I always do a really big sprint at the end of the race, trying to beat the clock.
I must say that I'm pretty much a beast at running when I do this.
I run hard, and I run fast.
If only I could run that hard and fast during the whole race - I'd beat the pants off everyone there!

Okay, so..my time for this race. The clock as I crossed the finished said I ran it in 30min 36sec (boo!!). But when I started thinking about the course, they didn't really time it very fairly. Instead of starting your timed chip when you crossed the start line (having it be a true measure of your race), they started timing when they started the race. So, although I was probably in the middle of the pack, meaning I didn't cross the start until probably a minute or so after the first people did, they timed me as if I started at the front of the pack.

That being said, I checked my Nike+ time, and I ran the race in 28min 59sec!!!!! Yes, yes...that is UNDER 30min, people!! Woo!! I was so proud!!

-----

Side story! So, in the last picture I have up there, take a peek at the tall guy with the blue shorts on. Okay, now rewind to last month when I ran the Cupid's Cup 5k race. This guy was standing around near me and some friends waiting for that race to start. He talked with me a little about my tutu - he was wearing bright pink shorts, so we teased about switching so I would wear his bright pink shorts and he would wear my pink tutu. I saw him briefly after the race, we said good race, and went our separate ways.

Fast forward again to this morning and this race. Shortly after the race began this morning, this random guy ran up beside me and was like, "HEY!!! Remember me?! Wanna trade still?!" It startled me, but totally made me laugh!! He continued running...buuut! I caught back up with him and finished just a second or two behind him at the end of the race. I wanted so bad to run back up beside him and catch his attention before we crossed the finish, but he was just a hair too quick. That's okay though. I still finished in under 30minutes. :)



424

sleepy, sneezy, and grumpy

I had a headache all weekend. Literally - all weekend. It hasn't bothered me much at all today, which I am highly thankful for - however, now I'm sneezing like crazy, I didn't sleep well last night (I've acquired a habit of waking up at 3:30AM each morning - really, Ellen?!), and I felt semi-grumpy today at work today.

I was planning on a 2.5mile run today. I didn't do it in hopes of finding some relief through my rest. Tomorrow is Zumba (in my pink tutu, of course), and then hopefully I'll pick my 2.5mile run back up either Wednesday or Thursday.

Happy March tomorrow, everyone! Only 61 days of school left. :]



395