My thankfuls...

I know that title is not right, but I liked it. Anyway, I know that it has been quite some time since I have put a post out there, so here you go...for the 3 of you that may read this. I am thankful for so much in my life, but my top ten is as follows...

1. Family that loves me unconditionally...my family is there for me, no matter what. I was lucky enough to be able to spend Thanksgiving with both my mom and dad's extended family. My mom's mom is not doing very well healthwise, so it was great to be able to see her with her kids, grandkids, and our newest addition, her great grandson, Jack. He makes me laugh, which is the sweetest thing ever!2. The amazing housemates: Kristy, who is the most amazing best friend/sister a girl could ask for...she puts up with me and loves me despite my bad days. She is the best shoulder to cry on, ear lender, and pick me upper...all grammatically correct, which she will be thankful for...right, Kristy? :) She also allows me to be a housemate for a little while longer...until one of us meets the man of our dreams. Megan, who is fun to share a floor with in the house. Although I don't see her much, I love it when I do. We have lots of fun cooking together! She, too, is a great listener and encourager!
3. Lola...the cutest dog in the world!! She has brought me so much happiness!! I just adore her, well, most of the time. It was quite exhausting at first, kind of like having a child, but the house training part was really hard. She has only had 1 accident in the last 2 weeks, so I would have to say that is pretty good. She is teething, though, which is quite an experience. It is hard not to get frustrated with her when she doesn't get it...don't bite anything except your toys and food. We are getting there, though.
4. Great class: My students really are amazing!! We have challenging days, but all in all, they are quite a blessing to me. I have such high expectations, but this bunch really has taken it to the next level of being nothing short of amazing! I hope they are learning as much from me as I am learning from them. (Here are 6 of my kiddos...dressed up in their 80s outifts...aren't they cute?)
5. Job: I have such an amazing job! I get to go to work every day and teach kids that I just adore. I also get to work with some of my best friends. I love building new relationships with new people each year. I am getting to know new friends this year. They are great teachers, but more than that, great friends! Also, my job provides me with the funds to pay for my bills every month! 6. Photography/Camera: My passion, after teaching, is to take pictures! I absolutely just get all giddy when I get to take pictures of my friends and their families!! It just thrills my soul!! I hope to really be able to get good at it in the Spring when I take a class and experiment more!7. Internet: The internet allows me to be in touch with friends back home and across the world through Facebook, Blogger, and e-mail. I am very thankful for this and many other ways to use the internet. Another way is looking up great recipes, photography tips, news, etc...

8. Church: I absolutely love my church! My pastor, Matt Chandler, is the most amazing teacher I have ever attended a church under. (Currently, Matt is undergoing brain surgery, since a spot was found on his frontal lobe. They do not know if it is benign or malignant yet, but we should know something soon. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.) I also just love Michael Bleecker, who is the worship leader. He writes a lot of his own songs, but then performs some familiar ones. I love that because it really makes me think about the lyrics. He also displays scripture along with the songs, which makes me connect the lyrics to the Word, which is very powerful!

9. iPhone: I know this seems lame, but I truly am amazed by it. I am very attached to all it can do. I can keep up with my daily schedule, text messages, phone calls, games, sports, e-mails, music, photography, movies. and directions. I also have a workout plan on it, which is helping me keep track of my eating and exercise. I am just thankful to have all of that in one gadget.

10. Salvation: Thanks to this, I am able to have or be apart of the others. I am so thankful that God, the King of the world would save a wretch like me. I am a mess a lot of days, but more than overwhelmed by His unconditional, forgiving, grace-filled love that He gives me daily. I hope to make sure that others around me know that Jesus is at the center of my heart and is the reason for living!!

There you have it...my top ten list...I could have gone on for days, but these are the biggest blessings in my life currently.

My new love...

I adopted a new puppy about 3 weeks ago. Her name is Lola and she is just adorable!! She is almost 4 months old. She is a terrier/beagle mix and just melts my heart! I never knew that I could become so attached to an animal so soon. I have never been much of a pet lover, nor the biggest fan of dogs, but here I am...a new dog owner. I have really been struggling to get her housetrained, but she is getting better. I feel like I am a new mom who is exhausted from taking care of a new baby. She is quite the investment, but totally worth it! You will for sure fall in love with her if you meet her, but if you never meet her, maybe these pictures will give you a glimpse of her cuteness. She just makes my heart happy!!

Does anyone have any advice on the housetraining part? She chews on everything and doesn't always make it outside to use the restroom.

The 123's of the school year so far...

25 roles to play in one day--from nurse to teacher to mom to counselor...
24 missing homework assignments in one day
23 children in my classroom
22 days in school so far
21 different ideas running through my head in one minute
20 minutes taken out of the afternoon to make sure we are at the buses on time
19-number of times I laugh with my kids on a daily basis...Kids do say the darndest things!
18-age of the 2 mentors that come to my room every Wednesday
17 e-mails received daily from staff and parents (I get more, but this is a number I couldn't think of anything...so, there you go.)
16 minutes of game time earned last week (I know, this isn't much...that is all they earned and the lesson was learned.)
15 minute commute to school every day
14 questions asked by each child daily
13 questions asked by other co-workers in day
12 stations for language arts
11 students turn in work on a regular basis...the rest, well, I am having to be patient right now.
10 worksheets done in a 2 week time slot...instead of one...I am stretching my thinking this year!
9 new papers from the office that have to go home each week
8 co-workers as new friends
7 kids with dyslexia
6 days to get lessons plans prepared each week in 6 different subjects
5 amazing third grade teachers on our team
4 computers for the children to use every day
3 main rules...Be respectful, be responsible, and be honest
2 liquids to consume at school daily--Chick-fil-A sweet tea and strawberry-flavored water
1 teacher that will love, discipline, and believe in her kids daily

>>I absolutely LOVE what I do!! I hope the above countdown not only lets you have a snapshot of the first 3 weeks of school, but also lets you see that there is a lot that goes into the teaching profession. I hope to update again soon with some fun stories!!

ABCs of summer

Okay, my new neighbor Tiffany challenged to do this entry, so here you go. I am pretty much overwhelmed with the idea that summer is coming to a close this week, since workshops and training take place next week.

Alabama-I got to go home and see friends and family a few times this summer. It is never long enough, but so good to take it all in each time.

Beach-I went to Destin, Florida with my mom and her 2 sisters a couple of weeks ago. I have never been on a trip with just the sisters, so it was interesting to see them bond as sisters and tell stories of growing up.
College classes-Our new housemate, Megan, had many tasks this summer as she was trying to tackle a TON of hours in classes. We all pulled together to help her get through them without being completely overwhelmed at all times.

Dream BIG-I have had the amazing opportunity to attend so many Mary Kay events this summer, including the Shine On! Seminar. The main focus of the seminar was to "dream big" and work to achieve all that you so desire.

This is my director...isn't she just gorgeous?? She is beautiful on the inside and out!!

Exhibit-Mary Beth, Michael, Kristy, and myself got up at 4:00 in the morning in order to go to the King Tut exhibit in downtown Dallas. It was quite an experience, and believe it or not, we were not the only ones who were there at that hour. The place was packed! It blew my mind that every description had the phrases "could be", "may be", and "possibly" as it was describing the details of King Tut and all the details.
Family--I was able to spend some time with my family this summer, as I went home a couple of times. It was nice to see my dad on Father's Day, even if it was for just a little while. My younger brother, Hunter, got his first real job and Brock, my older brother, is still working hard in New York. My brothers and I gave our parents a cruise for their anniversary. I am so happy for them to have this amazing trip to celebrate 36 years of marriage!! I love them and the way they demonstrate their love to each other and to us, no matter what!! My amazing parents came out to Texas to help me move into the new house.

Goal setting--I have not been too good at setting goals this summer, but the ones I have set, I have slowly been achieving. I am a goal/list maker, so this is one thing I have to be persistent in conquering. My newest goal is to become a Mary Kay director by Christmas!! I am working to see that dream become a reality!!

Hot weather--This is an obvious one to those of you who are in the south in the summer...it has been so hot, but I am so thankful to have had a pool at the apartment and now a pool at the new house to be able to jump in to cool off.

Ice cream--I have always been a yogurt girl, but this summer I have discovered I really like ice cream with toppings. :) I have been a really big fan of Dreyer's Slow Churned Caramel Delight ice cream with more caramel and chocolate syrup on top...yummy!! I am also a fan of Marble Slab's Birthday Cake ice cream with cookie dough and caramel mixed into it!! :)

Jackson--He gets the cutest kid in my neighborhood award!! I just adore this child. I love the way he smiles as soon as he sees me and then runs into my arms and just giggles. I love the way he just laughs until I can't hear him because he is laughing so hard when he hits something. I love all of the expressions he makes when trying new things or meeting new people. I love that he has no fear of water and loves life just the way it is...he pretty much rocks my world!!

Kristy bought a house, and I am renting a room!! I am so proud of her for this accomplishment!! She has purchased a phenomenal house with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths with a pool!! It is just beautiful, and now it is time to get settled before school starts.

Lessons (from my dad)--I enjoyed spending some time outside with my dad in Alabama learning about the different parts of my car. It was great information and I am so thankful he took the time to teach me so many things about automobiles. I love the practical lessons he gives me when I go home!

Moving--This has been the most anticipated event of the summer, but has really paid off. I am so excited about all the home decorating that can now be done. I can't wait to put some of the HGTV watching lessons to use. :) I will post pictures of the house once everything is settled and decorated!!

Neighbors--Tiffany, Josh, and Jackson are our new neighbors. I am so thankful to have a co-worker and friend around the corner. It was fun to think that we have an engineer, cook, and cute kid around the corner!! Dinner was fun tonight, Tiff!!

Over--The summer is coming to a close, and I am so not ready!! I feel like I am just getting started with the fun, and now the stress of getting the classroom ready and lesson plans written is back. I love my job, but the grading part is one area I am not looking forward to this year!! I have learned many new ways to help with this, but it will take a lot of trial and error to make it happen.

Photography--I have been playing with the camera even more this summer!! I still long to learn how to manually adjust the camera to do what I want it to do and edit pictures well, but that is going to have to be a process.

QTIP--Quit Taking Everything Personal...a saying I am trying to really conquer!! I love this saying!! Being the sensitive person I am, it is hard for me to not take things personal, but I am really trying hard. I promise I am trying...I fail often, but try again the next time.

Rangers Game/Casting Crowns--Casting Crowns performed before the Rangers game. It was incredible to see all the people who came out not only for the game, but the amazing concert before. I was able to spot Megan across the stadium with my amazing camera lens. :)
Swimming--not just swimming, but going underwater for the first time in 8 years!! My doctor said to give it a whirl, but he said no oceans, rivers, or lakes. I was totally cool with this as I was easing back into the whole idea of going under the water I have grown to fear. I LOVE swimming and being in and near the water...just like I used to...it is so relieving to be able to go under!!Tan--I am totally working on this one now that we have a pool in the backyard. I love it when I have more color. I am determined to be a couple of shades darker before going back to school!!

Unorganized--The move was so unorganized for me. I did not have my stuff together, nor was it labeled. I have become so unorganized lately, and it is producing a bit of anxiety within me. I am slowly getting back in the swing of things, so this too will get better. For those of you who know me, you would be shocked at the lack of organization I have had lately. Don't worry...the organized gal is on her way back!!

VistaPrint--This is a website that has been discovered by many this summer. It is a website where you can get address labels, business cards, postcards, self-inking stamps, etc. for FREE!! Yes, you read that right...FREE!! All you have to pay is shipping, and that is not a bad price, either. I don't know how they make money, but they know how to take care of business people!!

Workshops--I have been in workshops all summer. I started off the summer by going to a curriculum writing workshop for Math. After that, I attended a workshop for Technology, which was AMAZING!! I learned so much and was able to see how easily technology can be integrated into the classroom. I also got to go to another technology workshop, and then to Debbie Diller's Language Arts workshop. For those of you who are not in the education world, just know that this woman is the most amazing educator, who now writes books and presents workshops. She gave me permission to befriend her son on Facebook...I did. :) She is super sweet, and full of knowledge. I look forward to learning more from her in the future.

Xerox--I have started remembering the beauty of fresh, colored Xerox copies, as I have been getting many colored copies made for Mary Kay.

Yard Sale--We are having one this Saturday. I will post the results once it carries out. I have been looking forward to this event for quite some time!! I hope to make some good money, so that I can pay off the rest of my debt and be able to move forward without the burden of debt.

Zeal--I have a lot of zeal or zest towards accomplishing many things in the coming months. I am so excited about the coming school year, in addition to the things I will accomplish with my business, Mary Kay. I will continue to snap photos, but not get too bogged down with that outlet of interest, as I need to focus my attention on my relationship with Christ, church, school, and Mary Kay.

What a phenomenal company...

I went to the Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas last Wednesday and had a blast! I was just blown away by the group of fantastic women and leaders in this company. I feel so blessed to have been asked to join this company and then to be coached and taught so much that I could not have ever learned myself. I am saying that I am learning so much about who I am by being a part of this company and taking on a small business of my own. I have amazing dreams and goals set and am walking by faith and confidence to see them achieved. I am going to be a director by this time next year!!!!! I am looking for women who want a flexible schedule, financial freedom, focused priorities (God first, family second, career third), servant's heart, and fun centered!! If any of you readers out there are interested in knowing more about this amazing opportunity, please leave a comment and I will get back to you. I cannot tell you what this company has done for me already, but what it is going to do is even more exciting!! I love serving others and being able to pamper new or pregnant women, young or old women, tired or lively women, and friends or strangers. It is just fun meeting new people and being able to make them feel better about themselves instantly!! The product is number 1 in the country and the corporate leaders are just fantastic.
I will post pictures from the seminar in the next post, as well as a little bit more about the summer wrapping up. The big news right now is Kristy bought a house!!! I have moved in for the most part and Megan will move in on Saturday!! It is going to be so much fun having us all here!! More to come...

Traffic

Does traffic puzzle anyone else out there?? I do not understand it at all, honestly. There is always a point in traffic where you get to this breaking point, and then everyone seems to know how to drive at a nice, steady pace again. I understand it when there is construction or a wreck, but not for just normal everyday commuter traffic. It has always been and always will puzzle me in a big way. If we would all just keep moving, we would never have to worry about stop and go traffic all the time. Does anyone else feel the way I do?? Okay, enough of my venting about that...

The summer is flying by!

I feel like the summer just got going, but then I look at the date and realize that it is flying by before my eyes. I have to really get to tackling the tasks on my list. By the end of this month, I will have all but 1 credit card paid off. This is such an exciting thing for me. For those of you that know me well know that I have really been working hard on this part for several months. Hopefully by the next month I will tackle the last one. Keep me in your prayers on this one, as it will relieve a ton of stress in my life. By the end of the year, I hope to be done paying off my car, too. I don't know about any of you out there, but thinking about getting out of debt has to be the biggest relief imaginable. Anybody else know what I am feeling in these last few months of crunching numbers??
In addition to crunching numbers, I am eager to start jumping into a couple of outlets for making money, such as photography and Mary Kay. I have 2 Mary Kay parties in the next couple of weeks, which is so exciting to me! I also think I have come to a photography name...what do you all think of "Don't Blink Photography"? It has 2 meanings, and can remain the same when I get married, since it doesn't have my last name in it. And no, there are not any prospects currently, but eventually I feel God will bless me in that area. No worries until then. I would totally love input in the name. Feel free to give me feedback. My goal with Mary Kay is to add 3 new team members this summer. I really want to go on target for my first free car this summer, but need to believe that I can do it! If any of you know people that would be interested in hearing about the amazing opportunity Mary Kay has to offer, please let me know.
I have also been enjoying some time in the sun and hanging with friends. Megan has been hanging with us a lot, and it was been so much fun having her around. I have been cooking a bit, trying to avoid eating out, since it is much healthier that way. I am trying to lose weight and then manage it better. I have been swimming...yes, UNDERWATER, too!! I have not been underwater in 8 years, and it feels so amazing! I will post pictures of the initial dunk in the next post. I am hoping that my tan will come together soon. I am going to Florida next week, so I will be taking in the beautiful sun there as an extension of being poolside in Texas. I have a few pictures to share from the last pool visit. Isn't he just precious?? He was using complete sentences all day. He said things like, "I go away," "I want my duck," and "I did it!" Right, Tiff? ;)

The summer so far...

Well, I do not feel like the summer has really gotten underway yet because I have been in workshops or out of town. During the first week of summer, I attended a workshop for Math curriculum writing. This was a very informative, learning experience for me. The second week, I attended a technology workshop where I learned so many new applications to use next year. I get really excited when I learn new ways to integrate technology in the classroom. If you talk to any of my teacher friends or current roommates, they can verify this quickly. I am hoping that me, Tiffany, and Laura get granted 15 laptops to share in the upcoming year. We applied at the end of the year and are awaiting the response. After this workshop, I headed to Mississippi for a wedding. This was the wedding of Kristy's old roommate, Meagan Ellis. It was a fun, yet hot evening. We had a good time dancing and laughing while watching the celebration go on.

After this, I went home to see my dad for a few hours on Father's Day. He flew in from deploying 200+ of his men to Iraq, and then he had to turn around and fly out the next day for summer camp with the guards. I just love my dad!! He is such a fabulous dad, husband, brother, and friend!! I was honored to be able to see him for a few hours on the one day a year that honors fathers. Then, I stayed the week at home, catching up with friends and family. I loved having the downtime to see everyone without feeling so pushed.

I also had a Mary Kay party on the day I left Tuscaloosa. It was good practice for me, as I am trying to push through the fears of not being successful in this business. I know it is a fabulous company and amazing products, but I get really nervous about being pushy and/or not successful sharing with others as a servant. I am working through this, as God continues to push me in directions I am not very comfortable in but serve as life lessons learned.

After the party, I headed back to Mississppi where I attended the wedding of one of my college friends, Haven Hale. I just think she is fabulous, and the wedding was nothing short of entertainment. From the music selection to the "Do you have the ring?" to the fun slideshow to friends serving as the bridesmaids, the ceremony was so sweet. I was so glad to be a part of this day. I know that college came and went so fast and I often long for those days back so that I can do things differently. One of them being really investing in people more and being a more vibrant part of their lives. As we know, those days can never be gotten back, so I am really trying hard to be a part of as many of my college friends' lives as possible. I have missed several weddings and baby arrivals, but am making it a true effort to be a part of as much as possible from here on out. I look forward to the journeys ahead with each and everyone of my Masker sisters, as well as many Lockhearts and friends from high school.

I am now back in Texas where I have been enjoying time with the new roommate, Megan, pronounced M-A-gen. :) She is so much fun and has truly been a blessing to me and Kristy. I have been trying to cook a few dishes this week, which turned out to be edible, and pretty tasty. Megan will have to let you know more on these, but I think she was just being super nice when she said she loved it all. Anyway, Kristy was not here until yesterday, so Megan and I were hang out buddies. We have since caught up Kristy on all the fun! We all have so much fun together! God truly had a hand on the piecing together of our friendships! I am so blessed!

27 things to do by 28

Okay, so Kristy has challenged me and Megan to make this list, since she made one last week. I am keeping my end of the deal, but Megan, well, I am not sure she has started. :)

1) Come up with a photography business name
2) Go on target for my first car in Mary Kay
3) Be credit card debt-free (1 more to go!!)
4) Be 3/4 of the way to completely debt free (paying off the car)
5) Take a ballroom dance class
6) Have 2 yard sales to help with the getting out of debt thing (I have had 1...awesome turn out, I think...$265 for me and $290 for Kristy!)
7) Go visit Debbie and Ashley in Florida
8) Get back into tennis
9)Be in charge of cooking at least 3 times a week...Megan and Kristy can split the rest. :) (Almost there with this...the menus are always planned and the groceries are purchased, but the follow through is where I am lacking...working on getting set to a schedule.)
10)Take a photography class to not only learn how to take better pictures, but to learn how to edit pictures
11)Help Megan get through her summer classes...right, Megan?
12)Level the books in my classroom
13)Get back in shape (running, swimming, etc.)
14)Attend a Dallas Cowboys game (Does going to the stadium for a tour count?)
15)Get a real massage
16)Help my body's color out--get a TAN!!
17)Volunteer at the church
18)Get in the habit of sending birthday cards to friends and family
19)Encourage Megan to get a blog (I had to steal this one from Kristy.)
20)Learn how to season foods when cooking, so I will eat some of the foods I have not been too fond of trying...take a cooking class (I am totally loving olive oil, jalapeno, and Tony's.)
21)Update my blog weekly (I also had to steal this one from Kristy.)
22)Hold at least 2 parties a month for Mary Kay I (So far, so good...need to do more with it, though.)
23)Go to Austin
24)Go through and clean out the college stuff that is just taking up space and organize the stuff t4at is special
25)Write 5 songs (Almost done with 2)
26)Get a passport and start a travel fund
27)Make a better effort at being in touch with friends all over the country

>>There you have it...27 things to do...I better get busy, huh??

Photography Name?

I am wanting to venture off and try to do some photography for income, but I need a business name. I want something catchy, yet making a statement of faith. Any suggestions??

A few I have considered: 1) Faith Filled Photos (I can't quite make that photo with an f...it would just be too cheesy.) 2) Through His Eyes (or lens) 3) Inspired by Him

I would love any input on a business name. Thanks to all in advance!!

An Update

I have been going non-stop lately...until the swine flu came to town. I was going, going, going, and then they canceled school for a week, so now I am just taking in the downtime. No, I do not have the swine flu, but am enjoying the paid time off. I have been busy preparing my kiddos for the state Math TAKS test, administering the test, venturing on a field trip, playing street hockey, brainstorming classroom ideas, attending birthday parties, playing with my camera, attending MUW Homecoming, and writing some songs. I have been having fun doing it all, but it has worn me out! I am posting some pictures that will show some of the events that have been going on recently. I will add more detail in the next post. I am off to pack for my unexpected trip to Alabama, due to the week off because of the swine flu.