Response to TIffany's Blog

Okay...so...maybe Tiffany was right and so was everyone else who gave props to using a Neti Pot or SinuCleanse. My mom and sister new that after painting my future niece's bedroom my sinuses were starting to get the best of me. It took my sister showing me how to use it in order for me to actually try it too. I was scared because I didn't want to have the feeling like I was drowning. I went ahead and did it a couple times in a row. The one side of my nose is clear and the other is almost there. The funniest part of the whole thing is that my 2 and 1/2 year old nephew sat there through my sister and me doing it. (Okay that sounds bad...anyways...) I would swear by this thing now. It is SO useful and will probably get use it quite often since I have allergy issues ALL the time- it seems like. Not only did I do it while my nephew watched, but afterwards, thanks to Tiffany, Dave went on YouTube. He found the like actual video of how to use it, but then there is more. The 'more' part is these 'exercises' that you do after you use it. To start, you bend forward, like your upper body is at like 90 degrees. You turn your head from side to side and this is suppose to get the rest of the water out of your head. AND OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!! I bent over and tilted my head, there was a huge puddle of water on the floor. I just burst out laughing because I didn't expect what the ladie did in the video would help anything. I was wrong! Then you also do another way, but OH MY GOSH! Yeah...if you have issues, go buy one! It works wonders.

Have I ever told you...

Wow! Long time no blog, huh? It's been awhile again. What has happened since I wrote last? I am onto my second long-term substitute job. The first one went by very quickly. That school actually offered me a full-time teaching job for next year, but I declined. I know that I am meant to go and teach in a public school now. I really like where I am at now and could see myself there or in a similar school like it for a long long long time. I have applied to several school districts throughout a lot of southern Wisconsin. Most of them have been for Kindergarten through 3rd grade- as that is what my license covers. I like teaching Kindergarten, but I think that I would LOVE to teach 2nd or 3rd grade. My mom and dad are kinda happy that I turned it down too, but for other reasons. My sister has been having a little bit of trouble with her second pregnancy. Please pray for her and the baby to remain healthy! Landon is doing great. He has grown up so much and is really working on his colors, ABCs and 123s! What a big boy! We went down to visit Erin in Gilberts, Il. a couple of weeks ago. It was nice to be there, but I agree with her that no one can be sick or have any issues when we go down there again. Her place is nice and I think that we should look for something like that when we finally move. However, I still like the idea of finding a fixer-upper to get a big chunk of my student loans paid off when we resell! My parents are doing well too. Other than working and trying to find the love and fun in my life is all that I have been up to. Hopefully I won't take so long to write next time. Peace!

Tough Times

Again, it's been a little while since I've written. I feel compelled to write now because the last two weeks have been rough personally and I have a feeling that professionally this week will be rough. It helps to write/talk about and through things- for me anyways. Even when I don't get the answers that I want or am looking for to fulfill my questions. With family and friends like can really seem to give a person a hard time. The last two weeks lead me to evaluate my life and whether or not I think it is going in the direction I really want it to, or the direction I think God wants me to be in. After long talks, prayers and conversations the answer is...YES! I am on the right track. I am headed down the pathway that I want to be going down. I am realizing that this is what I want to do with my future and how I want to live my life. Could I do it better? Yes, of course. I think we all could do it a little better, but not on our own. I have been praying more, as I should have been doing all this time, but the realization is there. I have found a new trust in people- or at least I think I have. I am trying to still work on being a better person as a whole and remain more positive, instead of looking at the negative side of things. Life can be great even when we think it isn't, that is because the devil is pulling us down. I know that I need to fight harder to keep him at a distance and accept Jesus more and more each day, rather than question.
As a teacher I am trying to be more positve with my students. Sure, right now they are just my temporary students, but I can still make an impact. As I leave this school and move onto my next long-term placement I need to remember this too, even if it isn't a Lutheran school. I am also debaiting whether or not I should be in a Lutheran school next year. My old pastor reminded me that even public schools need good teachers with Christian foundation. I think this pastor is a very smart man for saying this, instead of trying to talk me into staying Lutheran my entire career. I spoke with my parents last night and of course my dad sides with me the whole way on that. Perhaps that is because he knows it would be best for me and knows that it would financially help me out more in the long run.
Even though these tough times have come I know that God is still going to love me and be by me no matter what. I also know that we, as a family or as friends, will always be there for each other as well. I have to thank God for those friends and family members because without them I do not know where I would be.

It's Been Awhile

It's been a little while since I've written. Since last time, I've completed all the paperwork and portfolio work for my teaching license. I handed everything in the week before Christmas. I am pretty sure I won't actually see the license though until March or April because I know that Dr. Seider will take nearly forever to send everything in. I've been checking my transcipts every day, I'm not sure why, because in reality I know that it's probably not actually going to show anything for awhile. I have started my long-term sub position, and subbed for 4th and 5th grade classrooms now too.
I have not been drinking soda, as a 'part' of my New Year's Resolution. However, I agree with Cassie on her blog. I am not just 'not drinking soda', I am trying to be a better person over all and help other people become better as well. It's only going okay. I feel like at times I am being really harsh when trying to get people to do better. Maybe I should change that to help support people instead of help them to be better.
New Year's was a really fun night. We started out by having Cass make dinner for all of us and an old friend, Emily, was able to stop in to eat with us. Afterwards, we headed off to the bar in Port, Schooner's. They have this upper bar area that we drank in last year and we wanted to go to the same place again because we had so much fun. We made this year's new year's night even better. Mia, Ericka, Paul, Cassie, Julie, Dave, Tiffany, Corey, Nixie, Emily and Josh were all there. Although a few left early, it was still a great evening! As you can tell from some of the pictures Tiffy added, it was a great time. It's also a good thing that I didn't drive with Lacey back to Baton Rouge. She wanted to leave right away on the 1st and trust me, I was in NO shape to sit in a car for 8 hours. I didn't even get out of bed until 3 p.m. We actually started out until nearly bar time this year and didn't crash at 12:01!!! I am quite proud of us! I was definitely a great start to a new year!!!