One week down and many more to go! Overall, my first week with students went well. I love my Creative Writing class--only 16 kids! So far my English classes have been going well too (even though those classes have anywhere from 29-33 kids each!). Can't complain too much though since public school teachers are dealing with 45 in a classroom, which is unbelievable.
I did have quite a sobering experience today, though. I can't give details on a blog, but there are some kids going through some very difficult things this year from their own health to their parents' health. One student in particular is going through something so difficult that I had a hard time keeping it together today after I heard about it. By the time the school day ended and I got in my car, I had held it in as long as I could. I cried all the way home and when I got home I cried again in Ben's arms. This wasn't even a case of me thinking how lucky I am or blessed I am. That's true but I can't even think about my own situation right now. I wish I could just change these kids circumstances and give them a better life. But I can't.
So I realized the only thing I do have power over is the fact that I am in their life and possibly for a reason. In the case of one child, I hope that he will feel safe, loved, and comfortable in my classroom. And while I hope this for all of my students, I pray with all my heart that if I fail at everything else this year, that I won't fail to love this child the way he needs to be loved.
Please pray for me to be a minister of love for all of my students this year. Please pray for me to know what to do and say to children who go through difficult times. Thank you.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Dinner at the Medley's
While I am far from a good cook, I have been trying to learn! About once a week I try to cook something...I mean really cook (not heat, boil, microwave, etc...lol). I suppose I'm inspired by other bloggers (dandelionpaperweight for one) who seem to always find time to make delicious (and healthy!) meals.
I am a good baker...I'll say that with some confidence, but cooking still takes effort for me, mostly because I find it difficult to shop for reasonable prices. Sometimes I'll look up a recipe and realize that all the ingredients would cost a fortune so I don't even bother. I remember one time I go the ingredients for what I thought was a fairly simple meal and it cost me around $40! I figure for that price I might as well go out to a nice restaurant and let someone else do the work.
For Ben's birthday this year I cooked something I never had before--a shepherd's pie! It was very reasonably priced to make (about $10 for both of us but that's partially because I already had some of the ingredients).
Tonight dinner consists of stuffed pork chops (apple stuffing), artichokes, and chicken/mushroom rice (that did come from a rice-a-roni box...lol). For desert we have peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm...don't you wish you were @ our house tonight ;) LOL. I say this partly because Ben and I went to Roy's last night (we had a giftcard for $50). We had a mediocre dinner and still had to kick in $30! Ridiculous! I'm done with overpriced restaurants when I can make a good meal for $10-15 for TWO people! Okay, maybe every once in a while I'll go to some of my favorite restaurants (Maggiano's, Los Toros, Versailles) for a treat, but otherwise, I plan on learning more about this whole domestic thing. Enjoy this pix of our dinner!
I am a good baker...I'll say that with some confidence, but cooking still takes effort for me, mostly because I find it difficult to shop for reasonable prices. Sometimes I'll look up a recipe and realize that all the ingredients would cost a fortune so I don't even bother. I remember one time I go the ingredients for what I thought was a fairly simple meal and it cost me around $40! I figure for that price I might as well go out to a nice restaurant and let someone else do the work.
For Ben's birthday this year I cooked something I never had before--a shepherd's pie! It was very reasonably priced to make (about $10 for both of us but that's partially because I already had some of the ingredients).
Tonight dinner consists of stuffed pork chops (apple stuffing), artichokes, and chicken/mushroom rice (that did come from a rice-a-roni box...lol). For desert we have peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm...don't you wish you were @ our house tonight ;) LOL. I say this partly because Ben and I went to Roy's last night (we had a giftcard for $50). We had a mediocre dinner and still had to kick in $30! Ridiculous! I'm done with overpriced restaurants when I can make a good meal for $10-15 for TWO people! Okay, maybe every once in a while I'll go to some of my favorite restaurants (Maggiano's, Los Toros, Versailles) for a treat, but otherwise, I plan on learning more about this whole domestic thing. Enjoy this pix of our dinner!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Just the two of us (more wedding photos)
Well, it's back to wedding picture posts. It's hard to post all of them (and trust me, I won't) with over 600 photos and so many of them so good! Here are some of my favorites of Ben and me.
I love the look of this shot...so glamorous :)
So many romantic spots at the Hidden Chateau
Love how cute Ben looks here!
such a cool shot!
1st dance!
so neat that she caught this moment!
one of my favs!
Another amazing shot! One day I want to learn how to take photographs like this! :)
I love the look of this shot...so glamorous :)
So many romantic spots at the Hidden Chateau
Love how cute Ben looks here!
such a cool shot!
1st dance!
so neat that she caught this moment!
one of my favs!
Another amazing shot! One day I want to learn how to take photographs like this! :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
My first week back...
Okay, so I haven't had students yet, but I've had a full week of meetings and a computer tragedy. I also squeezed in some fun times at an Old 97s concert on Wednesday night!
Monday was a good day of friendly fun meetings until the afternoon arrived and I had to get my username changed in the system. All the work I did over summer vacation to prepare for Creative Writing and my English classes was lost in the process and no one has had any luck recovering it, so I have resigned myself to the fact that it's gone. I was so devastated that I cried all the way home. It is SO frustrating realizing that about 30 hours worth of hard work just vanished into thin air...poof! There have been additional stresses this week, but probably not things I'd want to put out on the internet, so I'll keep them to myself. I just wish people were easier to work with. I always try so hard to be a team player who makes life easier for others by having a pleasant demeanor and kind spirit. Apparently some people don't feel the same way, but I guess that's life, and I have to learn to deal with it.
On a happier note, the concert at the Wiltern was tons of fun. Ben & I met up with a couple friends and rocked the night out to Josh Ritter and the Old 97s. Just a little personal history on this. About three weeks after Ben and I started dating, he gave me four CDs to listen to of music that he likes. On one of them, the first song was "Question" (Old 97s). The song is all about how someday someone's going to ask you a question "that you should say yes to once in your life." When I heard that song the first time on the CD, I wondered if it meant anything...did he already think I was "the one"? I thought about that a lot until after he proposed and I asked him. "Yes," he had told me. He knew by our 3rd date.
Funny thing is it was our third date that I knew too. :)
Monday was a good day of friendly fun meetings until the afternoon arrived and I had to get my username changed in the system. All the work I did over summer vacation to prepare for Creative Writing and my English classes was lost in the process and no one has had any luck recovering it, so I have resigned myself to the fact that it's gone. I was so devastated that I cried all the way home. It is SO frustrating realizing that about 30 hours worth of hard work just vanished into thin air...poof! There have been additional stresses this week, but probably not things I'd want to put out on the internet, so I'll keep them to myself. I just wish people were easier to work with. I always try so hard to be a team player who makes life easier for others by having a pleasant demeanor and kind spirit. Apparently some people don't feel the same way, but I guess that's life, and I have to learn to deal with it.
On a happier note, the concert at the Wiltern was tons of fun. Ben & I met up with a couple friends and rocked the night out to Josh Ritter and the Old 97s. Just a little personal history on this. About three weeks after Ben and I started dating, he gave me four CDs to listen to of music that he likes. On one of them, the first song was "Question" (Old 97s). The song is all about how someday someone's going to ask you a question "that you should say yes to once in your life." When I heard that song the first time on the CD, I wondered if it meant anything...did he already think I was "the one"? I thought about that a lot until after he proposed and I asked him. "Yes," he had told me. He knew by our 3rd date.
Funny thing is it was our third date that I knew too. :)
Sunday, August 14, 2011
School tomorrow...aah!
Well, I knew it was going to happen eventually. The best summer of my life would have to come to an end. From the moment it started it was a whirlwind of fun and adventure and that excitement lasted all summer long. I know it won't be the same when I'm back to work and Ben starts school, but at least we know there will be many adventures ahead...just not quite so many in such a short period of time.
In the past 2 months (since June 15th), we have:
1. Had our rehearsal dinner @ Maggiano's
2. Got married at the Hidden Chateau!
3. Spent 8 days in Punta Uva, Costa Rica where we had many adventures (ziplining, swimming, white water rafting, hiking...)
4. Spent a week in St. Louis with Ben's family (site seeing, partying, going to the farm, watched a spectacular fire works show, spent time with my new in-laws and new niece and nephews, went to a Cardinals game, and ate frozen custard @ Ted Drews)
5. Went backpacking in the lower Kern Valley
6. Read several good books (especially "A Separate Peace")
7. Went backpacking in the Golden Trout Wilderness
In addition to that, I've had an awesome time hanging out with friends and family. Today we're going to my parent's end of the summer BBQ and swim party. So I guess the fun isn't over yet. I suppose it's never really over...it'll just be a little different.
What about you guys? What was your best summer memory? Please share in a comment! :)
In the past 2 months (since June 15th), we have:
1. Had our rehearsal dinner @ Maggiano's
2. Got married at the Hidden Chateau!
3. Spent 8 days in Punta Uva, Costa Rica where we had many adventures (ziplining, swimming, white water rafting, hiking...)
4. Spent a week in St. Louis with Ben's family (site seeing, partying, going to the farm, watched a spectacular fire works show, spent time with my new in-laws and new niece and nephews, went to a Cardinals game, and ate frozen custard @ Ted Drews)
5. Went backpacking in the lower Kern Valley
6. Read several good books (especially "A Separate Peace")
7. Went backpacking in the Golden Trout Wilderness
In addition to that, I've had an awesome time hanging out with friends and family. Today we're going to my parent's end of the summer BBQ and swim party. So I guess the fun isn't over yet. I suppose it's never really over...it'll just be a little different.
What about you guys? What was your best summer memory? Please share in a comment! :)
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Backpacking in the Golden Trout Wilderness
A little break from all my wedding posts!
This past week we spent Monday-Thursday backpacking through the Golden Trout Wilderness (near Mt. Whitney). It's amazing how you can go walk for 37 miles and not see a soul! We only saw people when we were returning to our car and were within 2 miles of the parking lot (other than a few back country horsemen).
On our journey we saw a bear (two actually! a mama and her cub), caught Golden Trout (the most beautiful trout I've ever seen), saw lava fields, and did a TON of walking. When I got home I splurged and bought myself some pedicure supplies because my feet were ruined by all that walking. Plus, with Ben going back to school, I'd like to save some $$ by giving myself my own pedicures! It was fun pampering myself after the 37 mile hike!
At the start of our hike!
Gorgeous scenery as we began our journey
Reminds me of Ireland except much warmer! :)
This trail was much easier to follow than our last hike...maybe that's because there were actually SIGNS!!
Beautiful golden trout!
Me with the smallest trout in the world!
Gorgeous Scenery
My most favorite picture of all of them--thanks to Ben's camera skills!
Proof that we actually hiked 37.1 miles!!
So what about my readers...do you hike? If so, what are some of you favorite spots? Anyone do any backpacking? Ben and I are looking to find some people who would like to join us on a backpacking trip sometime...we figured it'd be nice to have some company on the trail! Let us know if you're interested!
This past week we spent Monday-Thursday backpacking through the Golden Trout Wilderness (near Mt. Whitney). It's amazing how you can go walk for 37 miles and not see a soul! We only saw people when we were returning to our car and were within 2 miles of the parking lot (other than a few back country horsemen).
On our journey we saw a bear (two actually! a mama and her cub), caught Golden Trout (the most beautiful trout I've ever seen), saw lava fields, and did a TON of walking. When I got home I splurged and bought myself some pedicure supplies because my feet were ruined by all that walking. Plus, with Ben going back to school, I'd like to save some $$ by giving myself my own pedicures! It was fun pampering myself after the 37 mile hike!
At the start of our hike!
Gorgeous scenery as we began our journey
Reminds me of Ireland except much warmer! :)
This trail was much easier to follow than our last hike...maybe that's because there were actually SIGNS!!
Beautiful golden trout!
Me with the smallest trout in the world!
Gorgeous Scenery
My most favorite picture of all of them--thanks to Ben's camera skills!
Proof that we actually hiked 37.1 miles!!
So what about my readers...do you hike? If so, what are some of you favorite spots? Anyone do any backpacking? Ben and I are looking to find some people who would like to join us on a backpacking trip sometime...we figured it'd be nice to have some company on the trail! Let us know if you're interested!
Our first look!
This post is dedicated to our first look pictures :) I'm glad Michelle convinced us to do this!
Approaching Ben for our first look shots!
Our first look! I did dream of this moment :)
Love <3
I love Ben's facial expression...I think all brides want to wow their almost husbands!
A moment of our own (even though my family was eagerly watching this whole thing...lol).
Kissy face!
So happy!
Approaching Ben for our first look shots!
Our first look! I did dream of this moment :)
Love <3
I love Ben's facial expression...I think all brides want to wow their almost husbands!
A moment of our own (even though my family was eagerly watching this whole thing...lol).
Kissy face!
So happy!
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