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!