160

So yet again, I have fallen off the bandwagon of Weight Watchers...Last week I gained 3 pounds-holy crap! I chalked it up to the Pickwick weekend catching up to me-that's what I am going to say. I am setting a goal for myself-160 pounds by Spring Break!

TheHappiest5KonthePlanet!

Drew and I completed something TOGETHER today...a 5k!  We participated with thousands of other people to "run" (Drew and I walked ;) a 5K today, not just any 5K, but The Color Run!!  It was so freakin amazing and I can't wait to do it again next year-maybe more than once!!

 

WIT (a day late...)

So I have missed the last two WIT because I missed out on the last two WW meetings. I was under the weather and then was out of town last week. Over fall break I went on two different "road trips" and hate HORRIBLY! I also drank WAYYYYY to many points while at Pickwick (cough cough) so to be completely honest, I was not expecting a good number AT ALL, I was totally expecting a gain, but in all actuality, I lost! Now granted, it was only .2 lbs-that's still a loss and to think if I hadn't drank so many of those points, then where would I be???? At the WW meeting last night we talked about planning and keeping track of EVERYTHING, when you go out, look online and make choices BEFORE showing up and that is what I am going to try to do! Drew and I are going to Memphis this weekend and are going to Old Venice Pizza Co and I have already started looking at the menu to decide what I want-I am trying!!!

Chatty-Chatt

Drew and I went to Chattanooga for a quick weekend vacation.  This past summer was very hectic for us and we never got away so we packed up for a long weekend and the beginning of my fall break.  We stayed at the historic (and haunted-via GhostHunters) Hale's Bar Marina.  We stayed in one of their floating cabins and that was fun!  We went to McKay Used books and got rid of a bunch of books.  I have always wanted to See Rock City and I finally got to do that-it was SO much fun walking and hiking with Drew!  Drew wanted to go to the Aquarium and I have to admit-it was fun and interesting-well worth the money!!  The weekend was short and quick, but it was very nice to get away!  Now it's back to the grind stone and work-oh boy! 
 

Not Again...

Back in the Spring a very close family friend (basically family) went through a VERY traumatic time-the sudden loss of a husband, son, father, brother, friend, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ. God called Tim home, according to our time, much too early. Tim left behind a beautiful wife and two gorgeous children and a whole slew of family and friends. Well, this past weekend, God called home another husband, son, father, friend, and faithful follower-Matt Turner. Now I have never met Matt Turner or anyone in his family, but I have followed his wife, Julee's blog for a long time. Matt and Julee lived in AR and had a beautiful baby girl just a while back. I think the daughter is about the same age as Tim's daughter when Tim passed away. I know the pain their friends and family are going through-but I could never imagine the pain that Julee is going through right now-just like I had no idea what Jessica went through (and is still going through). Please send up the entire Turner family, their friends, and all who know the family in that community. Here is the link for Julee's blog with the story and updates.

Patience Please!

Lord, teach me to be patient - with life, with people,and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my ownand to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan. Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein. Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds. Amen. 

Prayer Source: Unknown. http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2006/05/prayer-for-patience-in-accepting-gods.html

 There are so many things going on right now, family, school, work, and everything else...I can feel my patience meter is running VERY low, I am tired and get frustrated SO easily...Tonight is YADA at church and I FINALLY get to go-the past several times I have worked in the Nursery.  I am beyond excited!  I have also had to make a very difficult decision and to step back form working in the Nursery.  Right now, with so much going on, I have to work on my priorities list and with everything that I have going, I had to make some cuts somewhere and working the nursery was one of them.  I have had SO many weekend commitments that I have missed several of my days in the last few months and with my schedules this semester would miss more before Christmas.  I had to step back and re-evaluate things.  I want to get back in my routine of going to church when I am in town.  I need this for my Spiritual growth (and my sanity).  I also need this for my relationship with Drew.  This semester is going to be rough on us, we are both taking classes (me-2 online, and Drew-3 on campus classes) and he is on the next Chrysalis flight as an ALD so this means, lots of time apart this semester and I feel like that we are going to need our Sunday morning church time to keep our relationship strong!  I really hated to step back from the nursery, but I have to learn how to say no when no is the appropriate answer!  The prayer that I posted at the top was one I found this morning...I feel like I need to pray this about 15 million times a day right now.  Like I said before, my patience level has plummeted and I need to work on it!  

Here's to a renewed sense of patience and priorities! 

 

WIT

So...this week was NOT as positive and exciting as last week...I weighed in this week and actually gained 2 pounds-UGH! I know it's because I drank at the shower and at crappy food but it's still frustrating! Here's to next week-tracking EVERYTHING and NOT GAINING WEIGHT NEXT WEEK!!!!

Come on Fall!!!

I absolutely cannot wait for fall to get here-it's quite possibly my FAVORITE time of year...Growing up, I loved winter, but since Drew and I have been together, fall has started to creep right on up there as my favorite season! I love the colors, I love all of the holidays, (plus fall break!) I love the time I get to spend outside...I just LOVE fall!! Drew and I have a mini-vacation planned for the very last weekend in September to Chattanooga and I absolutely CANNOT WAIT! The anticipation for fall has also gotten me in the mood to change the layout again...so all-in-all, I am VERY excited for the seasons to change and fall to get here in full force!!

 

Thankful Thursday

I am so incredibly thankful for so many things-my job being one of those things, however; today is Parent-Teacher Conferences at the middle school and that means that I will spend more time away from the house than I will spend at home today...left at 6:40 this morning and won't get back until after 8:00 p.m. tonight-LONG DAY!! But even with the extremely long day ahead of me, I have to be thankful for the fact that I do have a job and it's a wonderful job with benefits and a future. I am thankful for the people I work for-in both buildings, I am thankful for my bosses at both buildings, I am thankful for the opportunity to grow and learn new things, I am thankful for each one of my students. In a time where a ob is a precious thing, I am blessed to have a full time job that I (most of the time) enjoy! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "Give thanks in all circumstances; for it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

WIT-Weigh In Tuesday

It's Tuesday, that means that it's time to weigh in at Weight Watchers again...we'll see how well I do today. I DID get up and walk this morning! I got up a little later than I wanted BUT still got in a good 10 minute walk and a nice long shower. I am still tired, but know that I will feel better knowing that I am trying. Drew and I have canceled our membership with SNAP and are rejoining the YMCA...in hopes of getting into this early morning routine so that I can go work out there in the mornings maybe 2 days a week and then I can get ready for work there! It's a further drive BUT they have a shower so that I can go in the morning and then shower and get ready for work-plus I can get a lock and keep a locker there if I want. I would love to be able to take a class but the schedule they have online (from March?) doesn't have one that starts early enough for me to be be able to do and then get to work on time...Without further adue...My weigh in information from this week-- HOLY CRAP- I lost 3.4 pounds this week, that makes 6.6 pounds lost in 2 weeks!!!! WAHOOOO!

2 Years

2 Years ago I was sitting in a hospital waiting and praying for one of my best friends.  She was going through something so scary and terrifying and she came through it with flying colors!  Dani, I know you don't read this, actually I don't think that anyone reads this, BUT Dani, I am so proud of you and so thankful for the progress you have made!  You have finished your masters, graduated, moved into your own house, and gotten yourself into great shape!  You look wonderful and I am so glad to call you my friend!  Plus you are much closer now-like grocery shopping together closer!  LOVE YOU!

 

It's FRIDAY!!!

It's Friday-end of the work week and I could not be more excited-this week has been an extremely long one even though it was a 4 day work week. Drew and I don't have many plans this weekend other than working on the house and the yard. We are hosting a wedding shower next saturday and need to get the backyard cleaned up (it's a couples cookout shower that will turn into a hang out session-i'm quite excited!) Last night I had regional meeting for adult ed in Huntingdon and that was LONG...went straight from work to the meeting and had the meeting until almost 8 last night and still had to drive an hour home. PLUS it started to storm again and the wind was AWFUL on the drive back on HWY 70. I have lots of homework to get done, lots of housework to get done, and lots of time with the husband to spend...I miss being able to just hang out with him and hopefully we will get to do some of that this weekend.

W.W. (Sort of...)

I miss these women so much!  Looking back on my days at Lambuth I wish that I had taken FULL advantage of what my sisters had to offer me-unfortunatly I did not and I regret this.  These women are my sisters and will forever be my sisters and I miss them greatly. 

 

Labor Day Lovin'

Labor Day fun at Pickwick with the ENTIRE clan! So many people in a smallish house, but full of so much love!

tugging at the heartstrings

So last night, Drew was on his way home from the bank and saw a little puppy walking on the side of the road-no collar, nothing. So he drove around for a minute and the puppy was still there with no one out yelling or looking for him (that he could see)so he went back and picked the puppy up. He said that as soon as he walked up to her, she rolled over on her back for him to rub her belly! AHHHHHH-so Drew calls me and is like, "um, I have a dog in my lap" I looked around for Darla (even though I knew he wasn't talking about her) and just told him, to come on home and we'll make fliers to put up. He walks up holding this little adorable yorki puppy-like full blooded, pretty looking yorki! We left to goto dinner with some friends so we left, listening for someone to be yelling for her and put up signs as we left the neighborhood...went to dinner, left her in the truck (it wasn't hot at all) then went to the pet store to get a tiny leash so we could at least walk her to take her potty...So far, no calls. Drew was taking her to our vet today just to get her checked out so we can let Darla get to know her. I have already fallen in love with her and so has Drew! Here is the cutie-patootie sitting on my chest last night while we watched t.v....

Drew has already told me that IF no one claims her that we can keep her, so I hope that if her owners love her and are looking for her, that they find her, but if not, I am SO HAPPY-I get my lap dog! We'll see, trying not to get my hopes up...

rambles...

So much for being consistent with this...GAH! I want to keep this up so bad, but I am just so bad about doing it! The school year has begun and my routine is pretty much set. My fall semester of 2 graduate level on-line classes has begun and Drew has started his fall semester as well! Drew took and passed his National EMT boards the FIRST time-which is apparently very difficult to do! I have been so proud of the work he has put in and now he can say that he HAS accomplished this, not it's looking for a job, and finishing up the prerequisites he needs to start Respiratory Therapy school next fall! Summer came and went VERY quickly-way too quickly! I was able to do both camps at Lakeshore, along with the preschool VBS at church and many other things-I just feel like my summer zoomed by and I missed it! I have started by with weight watchers but have not done a very good job so far-it's just been very difficult with the new routine, having a HUGE spot of plantar's warts on the bottom of my foot and pure laziness on my part. I hope that since I was just "released" from the podiatrist that I can get back to working out so that I can shed these pounds! I have gained almost 40 pounds in the almost 3 years since our wedding, and really just over the last few months-I feel like crap because I know that I am not healthy like I should be! I did my BMI the other day and just about had a heart attack-it was HORRIBLE!!!!!! Last time I attempted Weight Watchers I posted my weight on here and actually did a pretty good job, maybe I will try that again and see if it works-I'll think about it and if I decide to, that will be a completely different post! Some awesome news from this summer-one of my best friends-Sarah-got engaged! Wahoo!!!! The wedding is planned for November and I am a bridesmaid and Katie and I are throwing them a couples-cookout shower for September, could not be more excited for these two! Working at the middle school and adult ed is such a roller coaster, I LOVE AE, but was told that next year the funding won't be there to keep me 1/2 and 1/2 so basically I can either keep my AE position and only teach part time, or I can start looking for a classroom position for full time-I have to look at the full time positions-money and insurance is key right now! BUT-my AE boss has already offered me the night class teaching position for next year, so I will get to stay with AE teaching 3 hours each Monday night-pretty pumped about that!! And both, my AE boss, and principal at the middle school have both told me and or made hints that it won't be a problem finding me a classroom position next year! MY AE boss is even going to talk to the principal at Alamo elementary for me-her sister teaches there and i did a month long sub position there and LOVED the school-that would be amazing if God opens that door for me! But for now, I am going to take this school year one week and one day at a time and just trust that God will give me what I need! Now that I have rambled on FOREVER with no paragraphs or anything-whoops-I am going to end this for today-expect more posts, expect updates, I am going to try and make this a priority for me-however i have to do it!

WW

I know it's Wordless Wednesday but, if you follow this link, it will lead you to a family blog, Lucy is one of their daughters whose battle with cancer is back and it doesn't look good...Prayer please!

Camp Agape

So this time last week Hannah and I were starting on a brand new journey at camp. We were the first ever deans of a BRAND new camp designed for 8-17 year old campers with developmental delays. We have planned and prepared for this week for months and were ready to go! We had 14 kids registered and 14 campers showed up and it was pretty amazing! Just like any other new camp there were ups and downs, things that we added and took away, things that we figured we would have to improve on for next summer...all around it was a pretty amazing week! There were over 1500 pictures taken of these 14 campers, here is just a small collage of a few pictures that start to sum up the week!

Summer Bucket List

So summer is about to officially begin-well, sort of.
    [Let me explain-today is our last 1/2 day at the middle school but I still have to work Adult Ed another week-but I don't consider it work, I like being there too much ;)]
OK, back to my summer officially beginning...There are so many things that I want to do/get to do this summer...Here is a list of some of the things on my "bucket list" for the summer.
    *Dean Youth DD (Camp Agape) May 27-June1
    *Dean Elementary #2 June 24-30
    *Director of Preschool VBS at NUMC July 9-13
    *3 2 Graduate classes this summer through UTM (2 online, 1 intensive on campus)
    *Spend time doing NOTHING with my husband
    *Go camping at least 1 time
    *Loose 15 pounds
    *Organize the closet in our extra bedroom (Darla's bedroom)
    *Clean out/organize under the sink in the front bathroom
    *Organize all 3 freezers
    *Complete 5 pages in our honeymoon scrapbook
    *Help mom clean up down the street
    *Organize pantry area
    *Home command center for side of fridge (calendar for bills, etc...)
    *Cook 15 freezer meals to use during school year busy-ness

And just for excitements sake-here is how I am feeling right now about the last day of school!!

 

Get Away

So the end of the year is drawing near and Drew and I are in need of a "get away" of sorts...we were going to go camping with his family but that pretty much fell all the way through, so were going to do the next best thing (well, sort of-the next best thing would be Disney, but financially that ain't going to happen) go to his family's lake house at Pickwick. It will be a lazy and relaxing weekend and I cannot wait! I was going to plan on laying out quite a bit, but since I got sick earlier this week and am on antibiotics, I won't be spending much time bathing in the sunlight as I had planned...boo!

So it's getting so close to the end of the school year and I am now sick...I feel like CRAP!!!

I took this picture while sitting at my desk at the middle school...waiting for first period...BLAH!!!

 

So for the first time EVER, I have linked up with Kelly's Korner. So if you are stumbling on my blog from there, welcome. I have this blog for a while but I am not the best at updating-wanting to change that!

So a little information about who I am...
-25 year old educator
-Married for 2 1/2 years to Drew

 -Mom to one fur-baby, Darla

 Things I love...
-camping
-scrapbooking
 -teaching
-school supplies
 -being outside
-Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly
-Lambuth University
-playing sports
 -being barefoot
 -thrift store shopping
Thanks for stopping by, hope you keep stopping by!
 

love of my life

 

*Samuel Andrew Goldsby*

-Husband

-Best Friend

-Son

-Brother

-Uncle

-Son-in-Law

-Comedian

-Lover

-Helper

_Son of God_

I have had this wonderful man in my life for almost 9 years now.  This man has made me a better person.  I am beyond proud to call him my husband and on days like today I just can't be grateful or thankful enough!  

Earlier I posted about a family that has lost so much this week, a wife lost her partner, a son lost his father, a daughter lost her father, a family lost their son and brother, and so many people lost a friend.  I can't hug my husband enough, I can't tell him I love him enough, but he knows.  

Please be in prayer for the White family as they say good bye and bury Tim tomorrow afternoon, the road is long and will be dark, but with the love of God and the light of God shone through their friends and family I hope and pray for peace and comfort. 

Meal Plan Monday (on a Tuesday)

Well, if you read my previous post, you will see why MPM did not get posted yesterday. So today I will catch up and update...
Monday (yesterday)
 -Subway (I was still in CC and wasn't going to waste gas to drive home and back)
 Tuesday
-Freezer something (Drew has ride along until 7ish)
Wednesday
 -Poppyseed chicken (I have really been craving it!)
Thursday
-Freezer (Drew will be taking his test again and doing a practical so he won't be home)
 Friday (really, just digging through freezer)
 -Crabcakes
 -Green Beans -Corn on the Cob
Saturday -Date night, going out somewhere
 

Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and excitement and devastation. Last night was one of those devastating times. I had been gone from the house since 6:40 yesterday morning, worked all day, went to little george's baseball game and just gotten home around 7:50. About 8:15 I get a call that no one wants to hear, so and so was in a car wreck and killed. Drew was away, taking his EMT final test and waiting on the scores and I was exhausted. My MIL called and said that one of our good family friends (Drew grew up with them), her husband and father of their 2 kids, was killed in a car accident earlier this evening. The only thing I knew to do was drop everything and head to the hospital. It's such a hopeless feeling to see a wife and mother in such a state of despair, and her son who has battled his whole life with heart problems, to be going through this. Then an infant who knows something is up but who has no idea what is really going on. I can only ask that you lift this family up in your prayers, their strong relationship with God and prayers from believers will be the only thing to get them through this difficult time.

Meal Plan Monday

OK, so last week I planned a week of meals but Drew and I didn't do a very good job of sticking with it. This week, I tried to plan based off what we have in the pantry/freezer so that the only thing I need to buy this week is milk and bread for lunches...so here goes week 2 of mpm.
Monday
 -Hot dogs on the grill (left over from our foiled camping trip)
-Corn on the cob done on the grill (as long as it is still good)
-Chocolate Chess pie (given to us)
Tuesday (Drew has another ride along)
 -Grilled chicken breast
 -rice
-butternust squash fries
Wednesday
-something out of the freezer Thursday -Eat out (Anna and George will have games in Alamo that we will drive to)
Friday (Drew has time at the hospital ER)
-Tacos
-Spanish rice
Saturday
 -Grill out of freezer (burgers or chicken)
Sunday
-Leftovers out of freezer
Nothing too out there, pretty easy...this week is TCAP at the middle school, Drew has like 3 tests, and he is doing 2 ride alongs this week...Oh, and I have a final today and Saturday...

Lazy Weekend

Drew and I have had a wonderfully lazy weekend. We had planned on going camping with a group of friends for Drew's birthday at Lakeshore, well, the forecast called for rain ALL Friday evening so because of that, we canceled the trip. We went on an impromptu double date to Jason's Deli for dinner and then a lazy evening at home. Went to bed with the plans on not setting an alarm and sleeping until we woke up, plan was successful! I didn't wake up until 10:30ish-oh how it was WONDERFUL! We spent yesterday doing absolutely NOTHING, eventually I showered and we went to dinner with Drew's brother and his kids, oh how I love spending time with my niece and nephew. Today we were going to get up and go to church, well, Drewby didn't get out of bed in time so we spent the morning cleaning and picking up the house. This afternoon we rode down to the lake house to take some measurements for an addition that Drew's parents are adding on to the house, it's going to be fabulous! Tonight will be spent stuyding-Drew has a test and I have a final exam tomorrow so we're cooking chicken nuggets and then will have a chocolate chess pie for dinner. Oh the exciting life we lead...

Reflections

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be very happy teaching adults and middle schoolers I would have looked at you like you had 3 noses! Around this time last year I was slapped in the face and told that I would no longer have the job that I loved so much! I have fallen in love with the Adult Education aspect of my job right now, maybe it's the freedom, maybe it's the lack of lesson plans, maybe it's the independence, maybe it's the people I work with, maybe it's just my students...whatever it is, or whatever the combination of the above mentioned things, I love it.

In a perfect world, I could teach Adult Ed full time while I finish my Masters in Special Education and then I could move into a special education classroom setting and continue to teach Adult Education classes in the evenings (currently they have 1 night class). I still have a passion for the "normal classroom setting" and still want very desperately to get into a Special Education classroom, but right now, this is a great way to continue my education, support my husband while he is in school, get my marriage as strong as possible, and just gain some experience. For my entire life I have not been very patient, I know what I want and I want it NOW kind of mentality, but right now, I am perfectly happy staying where I am at-making a difference, and waiting for the next door to close and one to be opened for me.

Again, if you would have walked up to me and said how happy I would be right now, I just would have looked at you and walked away. God truly does open something when a door closes, it may not be what we think we want at the time, but when we allow Him to do His work, things do work out in the long run!

Meal Plan Monday

Monday
-Grilled Chicken Breast
-Pasta
-Kale Chips

Tuesday
-Traveling this evening, dinner out

Wednesday
-Butternut Squash Fries
-Panini (Grilled cheese with some kind of lunch meat)

Thursday

from http://www.alamodemaven.com/2012/02/crockpot-honey-chicken.html

-Crockpot Honey Chicken
-Brown Rice
-Green Beans

Friday(Camping...no clue what we will eat tonight!)
-
Saturday (Still Camping!)
-Buffalo Ranch Burgers!!!!
Sunday
-Fend for yourself!

Total Slacker

I have been a total slacker on this whole blog thing, I really, REALLY want to use this as a journal for our lives but right now, I just can't seem to keep it going. I am going to try again for some consistency and maybe if I set some specific things I want to write about then maybe I will just keep it up!

Weign In Wednesday

So with the whole new year, new me thing, I want to keep up with my weight loss so here is the first weigh in...this is probably going to be very depressing and I am not looking forward to posting it on the internet for everyone to see, but hopefully it will be a better motivator for me!

So here it goes

Starting Weight 1/4/2012 : 176.0 lbs

Day 3

So today was the first day in the middle school building with kids...now, we didn't have kids in the lab since we are still putting kids in the system and still working on short term goal sheets for each of the almost 300 kids...It's been great getting to know everyone and it's going to be a fun experience I do believe! Today was also my first day back at adult ed-it was just "in service" or just working in my office today but I got quite a bit done! My adult ed students come back tomorrow and that will be great to see them-Of the handful that went to test before Christmas break I had 2 pass the whole test and one to pass all but one section, and one to pass all but 2 sections-GREAT news! Today started off rough...I woke up at 6:50, I have to leave my house NO LATER than 7:00 to make the 30 minute drive to Alamo, needless to say I went to work with my hair in a pony tail and my glasses on, I did get my teeth brushed but that was about it!

Tonight I also made it to SNAP and worked out for 40 minutes, did 3 miles on the bike, some weights, and then 6 minutes on the elliptical. I will work myself up to longer on the elliptical but tonight that was it...small baby steps!