I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends

Last weekend Jason and I went to Crossroads, one of my new favorite weekend activities. The topic of the service was friendship, and it really got me thinking about my friends. (If you're interested in watching the service, go here.) So I decided to dedicate a post on my very neglected blog to those special friends that have blessed my life. While I have many friends and acquaintances, these are the people who have shaped my life in important ways. I have listed them in the order that I met them.

This is my oldest friend, Alison. We met in kindergarten, and she moved away from Ohio when we were in 4th grade. Most of the time when this happens, kids lose touch with their friends because of the distance. Well, not Alison and I! We have maintained a friendship through the years, and distance has not really affected us. We have made many visits to see each other (such as this one, in the Fall of 2008). She is a friend that no matter how long it's been since our last phone call, be it days, months, or even years...we can always pick up right where we left off. I turn into a giddy 5 year old when I am with her, laughing and reminiscing about our "Radio Show" and mint cups. We got to see each other grow up, and were there for each other during all of life's ups and downs. I am lucky to have such a dear friend for such a long amount of time.

Julia is my friend from Ursuline that I have kept in touch with the most. We met our freshman year, and I could post some very embarrassing pictures of us up here (but I won't)! Although, this picture is not the best...we need some new pictures together, Jules! We went through the whole "growing up" phases of life together...high school, transitioning to college, and now being real adults in the working world. She has met every single guy I've dated, and wasn't afraid to give me her opinion of them all! ;) I know I can trust Julia with anything, and she knows me for who I truly am. We have shared beliefs about countless topics, and were president and vice for Teens for Life at UA. We were an awesome team together! While we don't get to see each other nearly enough, I know Julia and I will always share a special friendship.

This is one of my first "new" friends I met at OU, Jackie. I met Jackie in the hallways of our dorm - she was crying because of a stupid boy (haha) and I stopped to make sure she was okay. We have been best friends ever since. Jackie is one of those people that I can tell anything and everything to without feeling judged. I like to think I know her pretty well, and I know she knows pretty much everything there is to know about me! I have many fond memories of laughing until we were crying, complaining about silly boys, making pizzas (or going to Goodfellas!) after late nights at OU, and crying together when we had to leave one another for the summers. I wish she lived closer, but despite the distance, we still talk at least once a week. While you are never sure who you will keep in touch with after graduation day, I have always known Jackie and I would be friends forever. I can't wait to see what life has in store for the two of us!

Sarah and I met through our sorority at OU, AOII. While there were times I doubted my choice to join a sorority, after I met Sarah, I knew it was a great decision. We became fast friends after our retreat, where we stayed up and talked all night while the other girls were doing who-knows-what. Even though she lived in a different dorm freshman year, she came over to my dorm to hang out with us and watch "The Bachelor" and other shows we were all obsessed with. Sophomore year we lived in the AOII house together, which was the size of a very small cubicle. You want to get to know someone quickly, you share next to no space with them for a year! We also lived together our Junior and Senior year at 50. This past year, I had the opportunity to live with her again in my Mason apartment for a few months. Sarah is one of those friends that will listen no matter what, and always thinks of me (I love my yearly birthday cards!). I can't wait to be in her wedding this Sept., and I know she will be in mine someday! :)

Kelly and I met when we were in a Partnership at OU for education majors. We were placed in the same first grade classroom together, which was destiny, if you ask me! We got hired at the same school right out of college, teach the same grade, and our rooms have always been side by side. While we make a good team as teachers, we also make a good team as friends. Kelly is an honest friend that I can always count on when I need an opinion. She has seen me though the good and the bad of relationships, always there with support and advice. I was lucky enough to be in her wedding this past summer, and it was beautiful! So was she - see the above picture for proof! While she lives a decent drive away now in Dayton, she and Shawn will soon be moving to Cincinnati. I am so excited to spend more time with her, and I know there are many great memories waiting for us!

Mandi and I met when we were both hired to teach 1st grade. Even though she is one of my newest friends, she has quickly become one of my closest friends! Mandi is someone that I can talk with for hours on end, and she always has the best advice. She knows exactly what I need in my life - heck, she introduced me to Jason (my boyfriend, for those of you that don't know!), and even encouraged me to build a house in her neighborhood! I love spending time with her on the weekends, and our "boys" get along great. We started going to Crossroads together, which has strengthened both of our spiritual lives and our friendship. Our dogs, Sadie and Hunter, are best buddies...whenever Sadie gets loose outside, I know I can always find her three doors down at Hunter's house looking for her boyfriend! I am so lucky to have such a great neighbor, co-worker, and friend. I can't wait until she has her first baby in May - it will be spoiled rotten! :)

I always have said that someday I want to marry my best friend. Well, I can honestly say that Jason has quickly become one of my best friends over the past year or so! He knows how to make me smile and laugh, and we always have fun together no matter what we do. He has brought out a side of me that no one else really has been able to. I love that he has encouraged me to be the person that I am today. I love that we go to Church every weekend together, and can talk about the topic and share our thoughts on God and religion. We can talk about anything, and it is comforting to know that we are 100% truthful and honest with one another. He trusts me (as he darn well should!), and encourages me to go after my dreams, no matter what they might be. When I decided to build a house by myself, he was nothing but supportive. He didn't ask what was in it for him, or worry that I was being too "independent." He was glad that I could take care of myself, and he respects me more for that. While our relationship and friendship are not "perfect" by any means (whose really is, quite honestly?!), I know that I can tell him anything and that we will work through anything. I love him so much, as my boyfriend and my friend, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us!

Overall, I am so blessed with everyone that I have in my life. There are many other friends from high school, college, and work that I could have included in this post. I also could have included my family (who I consider among my best friends, as well), and even Jason's family. For the sake of time, I did not, but know that I love and appreciate everyone that God has put in my life. I am one lucky and loved girl!

Life is Good (Cont'd)

I finally got the picture uploader up and working again, so here are the most current pictures:

Me in front of the house

By the front door/in the family room

Family room / Dining room

Upstairs (loft; extra bedroom door, hall closet)

Master bedroom (such a mess!)

Not really a whole lot else to report. I hope you enjoyed the pics! :)

I almost forgot!

I am grateful for...

1.) My amazing boyfriend, friends, and family that I get to share my life with.

2.) The fact that my house will (hopefully!) be finished by the end of June! Wahoo!!!

3.) 10 more days of school to go! But I will miss my kiddies though...

Life is Good

The past few days and weeks have been a whirlwind. School is coming to an end, and my guy and I never seem to have a moment to spare on the weekends! Yet in all of the craziness, I have come to realize (yet again) how good my life is. I am enjoying every second!

Last weekend J. and I volunteered at GoCincinnati through my new church. J. was not too sure about the whole thing, but was a good sport and went along with my "give back to God and the world" mood. We are BOTH so glad we volunteered at this event! We set up for a HUGE block party that took place in Washington Park, which is in Over the Rhine. For those of you not from Cincy, this is not a good part of town! After setting up, J. and I were asked to help run one of the food stations, and work closely with three of the best chefs from Cincinnati. We mainly worked with the lead chef from Bootsy's, a new restaurant downtown. We served fancy sausages to over 6,000 volunteers and all of the OTR community. You could tell this was one of the best meals these people had ever had! We worked from 9-3:00 straight, but left with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts. J. even bragged to his friends how much fun it was, which SHOCKED me! God is so good!

Check out these links for more info. on how we spent our Saturday last week:

News 5

Channel 9 News

In other news, I had yet another wonderful weekend. J. and I went out to dinner downtown on Friday, his friend's wedding on Saturday, my family's Memorial Day picnic thing on Sunday, and then today (Monday) we went to IKEA and to the mall. Whew! I got this bookcase for only $50, which will match the $30 desk I found at Organized Living perfectly! I LOVE bargain hunting!!! :) Both will help the loft of my house to not seem so empty (I hope!).

Which brings me to my next point...the house!

It continues to come along more quickly than I could have ever imagined! Here are some new pics of the progress:

For some reason it won't let me post any more pics, so I will make a new entry for those! The above ones were taken on May 17th, and the next ones were taken on May 25th. This should give you some idea on how much work has been done in only about a week's time! :)

God Doesn't Give You More Than You Can Handle

I know I scared some people on Facebook tonight with the status of, "...is trying really hard to trust in God's plan over mine!" Have no fear - all is well in the house, finance, relationship, friendship, health, etc. categories! Thank you, God, for that! I have been blessed in so many countless ways!



What I was referring to is something that me and some of my other fellow teacher friends heard tonight through the grapevine. I will not go into details, but let's just say that my class this year, though chatty and sometimes difficult, will probably be referred to as my "easy class" next year. If what I heard comes to fruition, I will have my hands full and will surely earn every penny of my salary! But this is not an "oh, pity me!" post. It appears that many of my fellow teachers will be in similar boats. I have probably already said too much as it is, so I am going to stop with the details now! But basically that sums up my Facebook post in a nutshell.



This brings me to my point for this post...



I have always heard the saying, "God doesn't give you more than He knows you can handle." In my youth, I would smile at this, feeling peace and comfort in this fact. I also believed that, "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." Again, I would smile and let go a sigh of relief. Yet sometimes it is hard to believe this fully. Sometimes I want to scream, "God, why do you trust me so much?! Would you cut that out for a little bit?!" I have a hard time naturally seeing the good in bad situations. I want to complain; I want to feel bad for myself; I want to curl into a ball and tell God to make it go away. I even find myself questioning my abilities. "I can't do it!" or "I can't handle this!" are phrases I say to myself. Sometimes I even catch myself saying them aloud to the people in my life. I have to constantly remind myself of those two sayings I heard while growing up. If God gives me certain situations in life, I must have faith that He trusts in my abilities even when I do not trust in my own, and He WILL help to bring me through them.



Thinking about the load that God might be trusting me with next year has made me stop and think about what a light load it really is in comparison to other people's loads. He is giving me the gift of children that need me. In reality, this is a blessing. I should be grateful that He trusts me with kids that so desperately need a patient, loving, and good role model in their lives. So therefore, thank you, God! I will do my best to serve you and the people you put in my life as best as I can. I know you will provide me with all that I need, even those skills that I feel I lack.



So enough about me! I typically don't read too many blogs, but I have stumbled upon three that have been very inspirational for me. I found two through websites of teacher friends, and one through one of my VERY old friend's blogs.



The first is a blog written by a teacher in her 30's who carried a baby to full term and lost him after only a few short minutes of life. I can't even imagine the pain she has felt and continues to feel! God sure trusted her with a lot, and I really admire her ability to continue to trust in His plan, even when something so tragic happened to her. Please check out He Will Carry Me.



The second is another blog about a mother trusting in God's plan for her and her family. She is currently pregnant with conjoined twin girls, Hope and Grace. As of now, the fate of the girls is unknown. Yet when you read this blog, it is so apparent that Luci has placed all of her faith and trust in God's plan. It is refreshing to see someone turn such a scary situation into such a beautiful journey. Please check out The Klare Family Blog.



Finally, I became hooked on the CaringBridge Page of a girl I never met named Meredith. She was friends with some of the girls I teach with, and after a long fight with colon cancer, God called her home last Spring. Her words, her fight, and her MIRACLE remain very inspirational for me. I must admit that I don't think I could remain as trusting in God's plan if I were in Meredith's shoes. Please check out Meredith's CaringBridge Page. If you have time, and want to get the "full effect" of just how amazing this girl was (and I'm sure continues to be in Heaven!), go to "Journal" at the top, and then sort by "date ascending." Her story will touch and inspire you!



So as you can see, I sound very silly for worrying about God's plan for my class next year. I should instead thank Him for the gift of working with His children. There is always someone, somewhere, walking a much rockier path than I!



I am grateful for...

1.) God's plans, no matter what they may be.

2.) Volunteering with GoCincinnati on Saturday, even if I have to be there at 7:30 AM!

3.) Good friends and family that stand by you through all of life's seasons.

House Update / Mother's Day

My house actually looks like...A HOUSE!!!

I am still amazed by how fast my house is going up! It's like every time I go over there, something MAJOR has been done! I never believed them when they told me I'd move in by end of June or early July, but now I do!!! I have to add that the last few pics are not of MY house...they may work quickly, but not THAT quickly!!! ;) My roomie Sarah and I snuck into a house that is almost finished and found MY CABINETS! So of course I took a picture of how they'll look in the kitchen and bathroom! My kitchen will look different though. I have all black appliances (not stainless) and a darker counter top (black with light specs). I also have hardwood floors instead of the vinyl tiles, so I am excited to see how it all comes together! I am a tad bit obsessed with my cabinets though. I think they look very modern and warm the kitchen up. Is it bad to be in love with cabinetry?!?!



Other than the house updates, nothing else is really new here. On Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day with my family and the boy's family. Again, it is so nice to spend holidays with BOTH families...they all genuinely enjoy one another's company, and I could not be more blessed!



My mother is one of the most amazing people I know. She has always been such a wonderful role model for me. She is loving, hard-working, and goes out of her way to help others. I wrote a blog called "On Being a Woman" awhile back that included more about how amazing my mother is. Feel free to check it out if you never got to read it! I honestly don't know what I would ever do without my mom. I am a lucky girl to get along so well with my mother, and I count her as one of my best friends. Here is a video I made for her last year for her Mother's Day present:

I included some pretty embarrassing pictures of my family, huh?!?! I'm sure mom will LOVE that I posted this on here for all to see! ;) Anyway...I love my mom, and am thankful for all she has done, and continues to do, for me. My only hope is that someday I will be as great of a mom to my kids as she has been to my brother and me. Thanks, mom! We all love and appreciate you!!!

I am grateful for...

1.) My mom!

2.) My cabinets and how cute they look! ;)

3.) Mid-week personal days...SO GREAT!!!

...And God said, "Let there be walls!"

I have to make this post fairly quick, as it is presently 10:51 P.M., AKA way too late for this tired teacher to be up on a school night! But I had to post the updated pictures on here, because as the title suggests...I HAVE WALLS!!! Well, the beginnings of them anyway. My house looks so small right now! When I saw the slab I thought, "Is that IT?!" And now with the walls up, it still seems pretty small inside. I guess I just need to see the whole thing together, including the second floor. When I went in my friend's mom's house (same house as mine), it seemed so much bigger! I hope the same will be true of mine when it's finished! Here are some updated pictures, now that I purchased a new USB cord for my camera! :)

I was going to put captions under the pics, but for some reason this site won't let me. I am too tired to try harder to figure out a way to do so - sorry!

Today was one of those days that I felt very frustrated with my job. It felt like everyone was "needing" things last minute, so I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off first thing in the morning. My kids got yelled at by the music teacher, who is seriously the Pied Piper of children. If they made HIM mad, there was no hope for me today!!! It was very hard to stay patient, and I am having a very difficult time enjoying the last few weeks of school with my kids as I vowed I was going to do. Luckily tomorrow is a new day...let's hope it's a better one!

The contractor said they MIGHT be able to finish framing my house by the weekend IF the weather is good. It rained today...ugh. PLEASE pray for sunny weather the next few days! If not for my house (HAHA), for your own happiness and enjoyment!!!

Sorry this post is so random and not very well thought out. Again, I am one tired teacher who has had all of her patience drained from her today! But thanks for putting up with me and reading anyway! :)

On an end note, I found this Bible verse on one of my old college friend's AIM away messages. It is so fitting, especially for what I have been trying to do these past few weeks - put my trust in God's plan over my own.

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths."

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Enough said. Will do, God! ;)

I am grateful for...

1.) Going to bed in about ten minutes. It is MUCH needed!

2.) A new day to start fresh.

3.) Teacher appreciation week, even though some of us didn't get to feel "appreciated" with ice cream today! :( HAHA. Bummer...

Still Trusting in His Plan

It has become apparent (yet again!) that I really need to let go of my plans and let God take over....

To make a very long story short...me and my "Aqua Pod" mate have been looking to change classrooms for a few years now. The opportunity recently presented itself to move, and we jumped at the chance. It was with some hesitation, as we thought we were going to have to go our separate ways and move to classrooms apart from one another. After MANY different scenarios presented to us, MANY different feelings involved, and talking to MANY people about it, we finally left it up to the administration to decide where to put us. As it turns out, it seems that they will PROBABLY put us together. This is a blessing for the both of us, as we have grown so close as co-workers and friends in our three years in the "Aqua Pod." (HAHA) On the other hand, this move is causing another very good friend and co-worker to have to move rooms. I have such mixed feelings - I wish everyone could be happy!!! The only good thing is that I still get to have her as my WONDERFUL neighbor this summer in my new house, which I am sure will help us to become even closer than we already are!

Speaking of the house - it continues to be a work in progress! I swear my house has got to be the most photographed one in the neighborhood! All I can say is that my poor children someday will HATE ME for always having a camera in their face! I just don't want to miss a thing! Here are some updated pictures of the progress:

Blocks, minimal pipes, and mud! :)

Pebbles and pipes!

The back of my house, and my lovely grass ;)

Me and the progress

They poured the concrete slab, and that is apparently a big deal because now they can start framing it and making it look like a house!!! I do have pictures of the slab on my camera, but Sadie decided to chew the USB cord that connects my camera to my computer!!! So unfortunately I can't upload those until I get a new one. Silly, Sadie....

As the title of this post suggests, I am still trying to trust in God's plan for me and not my plans. This has been an easy thing to do at times, and difficult to do at others. For instance, I am grateful for my pending home, but I am worried about finances more than I ever have been before. It's like the more progress they do, the more real the situation becomes, and the more dollar signs I begin to see! $$$ I know I will be able to pay the bills, but my shopping and eating out will have to go! I am grateful for my wonderful boyfriend, someone I know that God has placed in my life for a very important reason. Yet it can be difficult at times to date someone who is pretty much my polar opposite in terms of hobbies and how he spends his free time! (He knows this, so this would be no surprise to him!) I am having to learn to ask for things I want or need, instead of just hoping he'll "know" what that is. I am not good at this, but I am trying! It is a learning process for me, and while I wouldn't change it for the world, it can be trying at times.

So again, I am putting my faith and trust in God in all areas of my life: relationships, career, house, and finances! I know that everything happens for a reason, and my only job in life is to do my best and to be grateful for all I am given. So....

I am grateful for...

1.) How happy Sadie is every day when I come home. (This makes up for all she destroys!)

2.) May, because hopefully those April showers will bring about May flowers!

3.) My student that was once angry and hard to handle, who is now kind, helpful, and a joy to be around! There is hope for all! :)

Finally...another post!!!

Have you missed me?!?! It has been forever since I've posted! Sorry!

Anyway...first item to update - my house!!! They finally got the permit approved, so they have started work on it. Here is the latest picture I have taken....MUD!!!

My wonderful teacher friend that lives three doors down from my lot has been great at updating me on what is going on with my house. Apparently today they are laying the blocks down, and once this rain lets up, they should pour the concrete slab. Once that happens, it should start looking more like a house - yay!!! :) I met with my contractor, and he is a really nice guy. He says my closing date should either be late June or early July. This was such a (good!) surprise for me! Originally they told me late July or early August, which as most of my teacher friends know, can be a crazy, busy time! So hopefully all goes as planned and I can get settled before school starts back up again.

Now on to my Easter update...

Easter was spent with my wonderful boyfriend, my family, and his family. It was great! Both of our families all went to Church together, which works out because both our families belong to the same parish. Going from Crossroads back to the full-blown Catholic Mass was kind of strange. I love both Churches for different reasons. We purposefully went to the Mass that Father Graham presided, because he is my family's favorite priest. I knew going to Mass that I was going to cry! You see, every Easter he always says the same homily. It is about a family he knows out in Arizona who couldn't have a baby, so they turned to fertility treatment. They ended up getting pregnant with five babies - all boys! A "basketball team" as they called it. The priest goes on to share that the family delivered all five babies naturally, and each of the five quickly passed away. He tells of how those babies are still part of their family, and they always think of them and consider them their guardian angels. The babies' first birthday landed on Easter Sunday the following year, hence why he has turned their story into a traditional homily each Easter Sunday.

Now, this story is sad enough on its own. Plenty of people cry upon hearing it year after year. However, for my family, the story holds a special place in our hearts for another reason. My mom and dad always wanted to have a third child. Unfortunately, my mom had a miscarriage when I was in fourth grade, and then another when I was in sixth grade. The last one was supposed to be born in April. So you can imagine the pain we all felt that year when we heard this Easter homily for the very first time. I think we all cried our eyes out for those five babies that passed, as well as for our little one that was taken from us way too soon. Ever since that Easter I still cry every time I hear that homily. It reminds me of my sister that I never got to have but have always so desperately wanted. We didn't know for sure if it was a girl or boy, but my mom named her Anne Marie, so we always thought of her as a little girl. I would've taken another brother, though! :)

So you can imagine my slight embarrassment crying over this story in front of all of my boyfriend's family! Haha. Oh well. The message was good: God is with you through all of life's journeys - the good, the bad, and the in-between. There was a reason we didn't get to welcome those two babies into our lives (the reason that is still unknown to me, but I have learned to accept it), and there is a reason that family in Arizona did not get to see those five little boys grow up. There is a reason for everything, and we must all trust in His plans for us, no matter how difficult they may be.

After Mass, my family took my boyfriend's parents out to lunch at Montgomery Inn - Mmmm! That has become the Ruwe family tradition on Easter; we eat ribs and chicken instead of the traditional Easter Brunch food! Haha. After some down time, we then all headed over to my boyfriend's family's house for Easter dinner with his whole extended family. It was so nice to spend all of Easter with BOTH of our families! It is such a blessing for me that our families get along so well. It is something I have always wanted, but never really thought would happen. I can say that it makes things much easier!!! (And more fun!!!)

So overall, life is good. Spring Break is going by waaaay too quickly, but it always does. I know that before I know it, summer will be here and I will be putting my kids on their buses for the last time. So my goal is to try my best to enjoy these next few months with my class, no matter how difficult it might be with the beautiful Spring weather and the end-of-the-year-craziness that always seems to creep into my students' behavior! Life is too short, so make the most of it and savor it while you can!

House Update

Many of my wonderful friends have been asking about updates on my house. Well, for a little while there, it was rather boring! I met with the finance department and had to provide all of the fun paperwork to get my loan. Good news is...I got approved! :) Once all that "boring" stuff was out of the way, I got to visit the design center and pick out all of my "stuff." I never knew how overwhelming this could be! The hardest decisions ended up being my kitchen (coordinating the darker cabinets I like with the wood floor I wanted), bathroom floors, and the siding/shutters colors! I am really happy with the decisions I made. I could list them all here, but I don't want to bore you! ;)



I found another house for sale in the neighborhood I am building in. It is my exact floor plan (like the one linked in my last post), but they did a lot better job of decorating! Haha. Their siding and shudders are pretty much what I picked (only my siding is a little lighter beige, and the shutters are a dark green...I can't tell if the ones in the pic are blue or green). They also have the "uglier" elevation upstairs (gives more room, but I think it looks bad from outside). For those of you who are curious, here are some of the upgrades I made. If you're not interested (which I don't really blame you! haha), feel free to stop reading now! ;)

~Upgraded front door (has a window in it)
~Insulated garage door
~Double sinks in the master bathroom
~Entrance to closet is in the master bedroom instead of master bathroom, and the bathroom door is moved down a little further (long story...door situation in some of the houses we toured were goofy)
~Ceiling fan in master bedroom
~6 recess lights in the family room
~Upgraded cabinets in kitchen (maple cabinets in a cherry-ish color - kind of dark)
~Dark counters (black with beige/white specs in it) with shiny finish to make them look more like granite (but of course I can't afford granite!)
~Hardwood floors in kitchen, dining area, and powder room (lighter than cabinets, but a medium-wood color)
~Pendant lighting over sink and counter island
~Upgraded appliances (dishwasher, stove, and an added microwave over the stove) in black

I will add more as I think of it...but that's it for now! Let me know ideas for paint colors! ;) And let me know if you want to come help paint my entire house this summer! (Haha...just kidding....well, kind of!)

Happy weekend!

I am grateful for...
1.) NOT getting the lovely illness(es) my teacher friends had this week, even though I thought I was getting it last night and this morning!
2.) The weekend - so needed!!!
3.) Sunshine! (But it's missing the warmer weather with it!)

God's Plan = So much better than mine!!!

Within a month of putting my trust in God's plan for me, I have realized that His plans are by far better than my own! Here is a reason why...

My dad had told me awhile back that I should look into buying a house. He said that it was silly of me to pay rent when the housing market is so great for a first time home buyer. I laughed. "Me? Buy a house?" I had said. "I am not married...I am one income...I don't have much savings. I don't want a fixer-upper - I am not handy. No, I don't think I'll buy a house." Flash forward a couple of months, and I saw a foreclosure in the neighborhood of one of my really good teacher friends. I thought I could afford it, but it sold the day I inquired about it. I then asked said friend to keep her eyes open for other foreclosures in the neighborhood. She offered to do that, but then mentioned that the neighborhood was running a deal at the moment and it might actually be cheaper to build a new house rather than buy an existing one. Sounded like an interesting (yet not believable) option, so I checked it out.

She was right! For about $100 more than I am paying for rent, I could be a home owner of this brand-new home! I initially qualified for way more of a loan than I could have ever hoped to get by myself, and so, with the support of my wonderful parents and boyfriend, I jumped on this great deal! I mean, this house is on the market right now for about $40,000 more than what I paid for mine, and is the exact same as what I am building (only it does have a few extra things, like a screened in porch and a fireplace). Mine will be brand new with my own decorating style, which in my opinion will look waaaay better than this house! (I think it looks really boring!) I get to pick out all of the "stuff" and make it just the way I want it. How perfect is that?!

To make it even MORE perfect, they had a deal on one of the lots that took the price down an extra $5,000 from the original cost. Guess where the "discount lot" just happened to be? Three doors down from one of my best teacher friend's house! Our dogs are buddies, and she is the one that introduced me to the best guy ever! ;) God really was looking out for my best interest - He even picked the perfect neighbors out for me!

This is just one example of how God's plan is far better than mine. I am so glad that I have "let go, and let God." I can't wait to see what else He has in store for me!!!

I am grateful for...
1.) Buying a house by myself!
2.) God's plan.
3.) My support system (family, boyfriend, friends, co-workers...)

Daniel and the Lion's Den

If you know me, you probably know my religious background - Catholic. This included Catholic grade school (K-8), Catholic high school, and if I had been given the chance from my parents, probably a Catholic college as well (I am glad I ended up at OU though - GO BOBCATS!!!). I know most every Bible story, and I can follow Catholic Mass procedures to a tee (kneel, sit, stand, kneel, stand, sign of the cross, shake hands, get in line for Communion, kneel, sit...you get the gist...). I like my religion. Sure, the Masses are long and a little traditional, but I am thankful that I had a religious background growing up. God has always been an important part of my life, and I know that the values I learned from my Catholic upbringing have helped shape the person I am today.

That being said, my only complaint is that I don't always "get something out" of the Catholic Mass. I was always taught that Mass is not meant for US to get anything out of it. It is a time to devote to God and worship Him; it is about Him, and not about us. I get that, but sometimes I do want to walk away with some "real life" advice from Church. So, I decided to get a little adventurous and check out a new type of "Church." I had heard about Crossroads from a very good friend of mine, and she had always invited me to join her to check it out. I always turned her offers down because I knew it wasn't what I was used to, and I wouldn't feel like I was at Church at all. However, after hearing about more and more people going and some of the "lessons" that were taught there, I finally jumped on the chance to check it out with my friend and her fiance. I am so glad I ventured out and tried something different!

Picture this - Super Bowl Sunday. This "Church" (or whatever it is!) is passing out free popcorn, hot dogs, pop, coffee, etc. to enjoy DURING the service! (This is after I passed people tailgating in the parking lot - cornhole included!) They had the "Super Bowl of Preaching," funny commercials, and even a local high school band perform for "half time!" It was hilarious and very, very cool. With all of the spectacles, I wondered, "Will I get anything from God out of this?!"

The answer was "yes!" One person started talking about the Bible story Daniel and the Lion's Den. I knew this story well (go Catholic education!). However, I never had a personal connection with it. This person went on to share a story about a time in his personal life when God had put him in the "lion's den" and he was left to trust in God's plan. We were asked to close our eyes and think about one thing that is our "lion," that we hold onto. He said that often times our lion is our plan - the dreams we make about what our lives should be. I immediately had a connection with this. I am a planner - I have always mapped out my life according to what I want to be doing at each age, and get very frustrated when things don't go according to my plans. Therefore, while we were sitting there, picturing our "lion" and giving control up to God, I found myself crying. Here I was sitting in a new environment, with complete strangers, and I had tears streaming down my face. It was scary to let go of "my plans," and instead trust in God's plan for me. But I came to realize that God is looking out for me, and has plans for me far more perfect than the ones I have for myself. I left Crossroads feeling better than I had when I entered, and I did feel like I had "gotten something" out of the service (I will not call it "Mass," because it really didn't seem like a Mass!). I felt a little guilty. I felt like the service had been about me (at least a little). But in all honesty, I do think it was about God. It was about God speaking words to me that I really, really needed to hear at the time; it was about His words touching me so much that I was brought to tears.

So I am officially letting go of "my plans" and putting my trust in Him. If God could protect Daniel from the lion just because Daniel had trusted in Him, surely God will protect me and make everything turn out okay if I simply put my trust in Him.

My challenge for you is to do just what I had done:
Close your eyes (after reading this, of course!). Picture yourself in a lion's den. What lion are you battling? What are you worried about that you should give up to God? Try to trust fully in His plan for you, and feel the huge load lifted from your shoulders. If you feel comfortable sharing, please post a comment and let me know if this has helped you in any way! I share my personal experience in hopes that it can touch someone out there in the same way that I was touched.

I am grateful for...
1.) Talking with my "teacher friends" after school, even though I had a lot of work that needed to be done! Haha.
2.) Alone time.
3.) Going "outside the box" and trying something I never thought I would.

I Saw God Today

I know, I know...I have been a Blog procrastinator yet again! Have no fear...I had some inspiration today!!!

On my late drive to work today (LOVE snow days and two hour delays!), I heard the song, "I Saw God Today" by George Strait (click the link for the full song lyrics). It really got me thinking. While most of the song is about babies (which I do believe are gifts from God, of course!), the part that really struck me is as follows:

"I've been to Church,
I've read the good book.
I know He's here, but I don't look,
near as often as I should.
Yeah, I know I should.
His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just slowed down to stop and stare,
Opened my eyes and man I swear,
I saw God today."

I am fortunate to see God EVERYWHERE. Sure, I don't often stop to realize it, but He really is everywhere. I should be thankful for everything He touches and everything He has blessed me with. Here is how I saw God today (Friday, Jan. 30th, 2009):

*In the ice coated trees
*In the smiles of "my kids"
*In my friend that helped me clean off my ice-coated car for a few minutes before she left for home
*In the greeting of my dog
*In the sun I saw driving to and from work (boy, have I missed it!)
*In the "light bulb" moments of learning how to read
*In the kiss from my boyfriend as I arrived home
*In the 2-hour delay and the school day that FLEW by!

How did you see God today???

Anyhow...

You all know I love Alisa's blog "Project Happily Ever After." Well, she's having this contest and the prize is a Wii! She has a list of all these ways you can get points towards winning the Wii, and one way is to link your blog to hers. Well, you all know I have already done that, so that's an easy one for me! I'm not doing it for a Wii though...you really should check out her blog. She's a great writer. I know I've already gotten my "little" addicted! ;) I love her advice, and crack up while learning things in the meantime. Therefore, I can't pick just ONE of her blog entries to share as my "favorite." But check out her "I'm Thankful For..." entry, because I think we should all start our own gratitude projects!!! Happy Reading!!!

On that note...

I am grateful for...
1.) Seeing my kids today, even when I didn't really feel like leaving the house - I missed them!
2.) Free laundry courtesy of my boyfriend! Haha.
3.) Seeing God in everything and being grateful.

Advice for a Future Daughter

Okay, so I know this sounds totally corny, but hear me out...

As I write this, a third grade girl is sleeping in my guest room (AKA "Sadie's room"). She was a former student of mine that I have nannied over the summers, and she has been begging to have a slumber party at my apartment! So I agreed, and we did all the girly things...watched movies, popped popcorn, wore our PJ's, and chatted. It was fun - for her and for me! This got me thinking about the future and how much I would love to have a daughter someday. Technically I want one of each, but I feel like I would know "what to do" more with a girl than a boy. Hopefully my future hubby could handle all the "guy" things - sports, dirt, wrestling, farting/burping (haha), and all of that!

So as silly as this sounds, I have been thinking about some advice I would want to offer my daughter someday. Things I have learned along the way that I think would be beneficial for her. I share them with all of you because maybe some of these might be applicable to you as well! :)

Advice for my Daughter

*Think about what makes you happiest and pursue those; follow your passion.

*Never forget about your girlfriends. Boyfriends will come and go, but those girls will always be there for you. Even when you do settle down with a boy someday, you will need good girlfriends in your life!

*Live by yourself for at least a year. You will learn a lot, and it's not as scary as it seems!

*See if you can picture the guy you're dating as a good dad. Why? Because good dads are kind, giving, protective, patient, and compassionate - a lot of good qualities you'll want for your future kids and for yourself!

*Wait until you're engaged to move in with a guy. You know the whole, "Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?" thing? It's true (I would say 99% of the time...).

*When you do move in with a guy, expect the first year to be hard. It's an adjustment. He's a roommate, but probably a messier, less organized version than your female roommates were. But that's okay - ask for help, and be willing to compromise.

*You're never too old to sing and dance by yourself, in your car, or out in public. Have fun!!!

*Don't be in a rush to grow up. Things will happen for you when they are supposed to. (This is a hard one - I know!) Live in the moment and enjoy every second!

*Talk on the phone and have conversations that last for hours. I have learned a lot about my friends, family, and myself by doing so. (Be sure to remind me of this piece of advice when you are older and I am upset about the phone bill! Tell me to buy you the unlimited plan.)

*Learn how to cook. I never did, and I wish I would have.

*Go to college and be sure to live in the dorms. You will meet some of your best friends there. By the way - college is not a place to meet your husband, but where you will meet many of your bridesmaids!

*Keep in touch with at least one or two friends from each stage of life (grade school, high school, college, career). These people will help tell your life story, and great friendships never fade!

*Be sure to say "I love you," "I'm sorry," and "Thank you" on a regular basis.

*Take lots of pictures. You will want them to look back on!

*When you are sad, frustrated, or upset - cry! There is nothing wrong with it, and it makes you feel a whole lot better!

*Don't get caught up in petty fights. Let the little things roll off your back. However, if an important issue comes along, stand your ground. Voice your opinion in a strong yet calm manner.

*Help others. Hold the door for people. Smile and say "hello" to the people you pass. If someone asks for help, say "yes." It is better to do good than to do nothing.

*Before you have a baby, get a dog. You will learn the amount of patience, love, and work that is needed to care for something that seems "cute." You will also learn how to put something else and its needs ahead of your own.

*Put 10% of your paycheck into a savings account. Try not to touch it, but I understand that sometimes you need a little extra cash. If you take some out, put it back in when you can.

*Invest in a 401K or some other retirement savings program. You will not notice the amount out of your paycheck each month, but it will add up. And since you can't take it out, you won't be tempted to touch it! :)

*Even when you're married, keep some things solely in your name (a credit card, bank account, etc.). You will need this to keep your credit score on the high side. Even though you'll want your marriage to last forever (and I'll want it to last forever, too!), sometimes things happen and you'll need good credit to move on financially.

*Try everything you are exposed to once. If you don't like it, don't do it ever again. But you'll often regret the things you didn't do more than the things that you did.

*Be spiritual. This is not the same thing as being religious. Try out different places of worship if you want to. Believe in a higher power and understand that your life has meaning. You are on this Earth for a very important reason.

*Decorate your room, apartment, home (wherever you are living!) with pictures of those you love and those that love you. Surround yourself with good people.

*Never be afraid to love. Yes, there is a chance you'll get hurt, but love anyway. If you do get hurt (which you probably will), know that you'll be okay.

*Know that your mom wanted you and loved you long before you ever existed. :)

I am grateful for...
1.)My own mother, because she is a great one!
2.)My little "slumber party" tonight.
3.)My boyfriend - he is amazing and I am lucky to have him in my life! :)

Happy New Year!

Sorry for the lack of posts...you would think that I would have countless amounts of hours to sit and write over break, but I haven't! I have really enjoyed the lunches/dinners with family and friends, shopping, holiday festivities, sleeping in, and fun outings that this break has included! I won't go into all the details, but just know that it has been very busy and a lot of fun!

Speaking of which, 2008 seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye! I think about all that has changed in my life this past year. A new place to live, a new guy to love, some new friends to spend time with, and quite the different social life! While there have been many ups and downs this past year, I am so happy with how things have turned out. I have no ill will toward anyone, I am surrounded by kind and loving people, and I have learned so much about myself and the wonderful life I am living. What more could I ask for?!?!

I know I should probably come up with a New Year's Resolution or two, but there isn't a whole lot I would change about my life. However, I have come to learn that one can ALWAYS better oneself. So here is a "Top Ten" list of things I hope to do or continue doing in 2009:

1.) Make sure the people I love know that I love them. Life is way too short, and tomorrow is not guaranteed. In my opinion, you can never hear or say "I love you" too much!
2.) Make time for friends by organizing more get-togethers. This will include girls' nights, couples' dinners/get-togethers, and other fun activities (I will be brainstorming!).
3.) Dedicate one day a week to stay after school to catch up on planning, grading, and the like. Why do I feel like I have gotten so far behind all of a sudden?!?!
4.) Continue being grateful for all that I have been blessed with, and taking time each day to reflect on my gratitude.
5.) Do one thing alone a month - shopping, bookstore, movie, SOMETHING!
6.) Try to savor the last 6 months I have with my students instead of eagerly awaiting the summer months. Summer will come soon enough, and I need to realize that once my students leave in June, I will more than likely not see most of them again. :(
7.) Live in the present. I need to stop looking forward to the future and trying to plan my life out the way I think it should be. I should be happy with where I am in this present moment.
8.) Work out more. Boy, have I gotten bad about going to the gym! I need to go AT LEAST once a week. More would be great, but once a week compared to never is a start! Haha.
9.) Cut down on my soda intake! Yes, I don't drink coffee, and Coke is my "wake up" in the morning so that I can handle a room of six and seven-year-olds. But I need to cut it down to one or two sodas a day instead of what I currently drink!
10.) Put myself first. This sounds easy, but it is not for me. While I should take other people's needs and wants into consideration, I need to remember that I will never be happy if I always put other people's needs before my own. I saw on Oprah or Dr. Phil or something a comparison between this and what they tell you on the airplane - "Put your oxygen mask on yourself before anyone else, because if not, you may not be able to help others." (Or something along those lines!)

I hope everyone takes some time to sit down and think about New Years Resolutions for 2009. I know it can sometimes sound a little corny, but what a great opportunity to look at your life and pick a few areas to improve upon!

Check out Alisa's blog about her marital resolutions for 2009: http://www.projecthappilyeverafter.com/2008/12/new-year-new-marriage-12-marital-resolutions-worth-keeping/.
I know I am not married, and some of you reading this probably aren't married either. However, she makes a lot of good points as to what we can all work on in our relationships, whether married or not. My personal favorites are numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 11. But that is just me - you may have your own favorites! ;)

Cheers to a fabulous New Year!!! 2009 will be DEVINE!!!