Resolution Recap

You can find the whole post here, but for now here's just a small recap.

1. Stop planning so much. I'm a planner and organizer at heart and that will never change, but I still need to find some time to do fun things with life.
 
I did really, really good with this up until my school year started. Then I had to go into planning overload. The part of the year that I did do this really helped me slow down and take life in hops and skips instead of leaps and bounds. I don't plan NEARLY as much as I used to, but I am still guilty of filling up my weekends every now and then.

2. Get Healthy. I'm a foodie, but I need to set my sights on more fruits and veggies and things from the earth rather than things in packages and bags.
I did pretty good with this for a short while, even exercised 3 days a week this summer! But once school started, it was hard enough remembering to pack a lunch, let a lone a healthy one.

3. Teach art to someone...somewhere. I really, really need for this to happen.

I taught Khyber twice a month this spring and this summer and helped with two art camps at the high school! I was off to a VERY good start and was really proud of myself for being able to mark that one completely off the list. Now I teach art to 150 someones EVERYDAY!

4. Focus on making art I like. I'm going to work on not focusing about the materials I'm "wasting" but on the experience and skill I'm gaining.

Eh, this is one that I didn't do too well on. I started out good and made a huge elephant painting that hangs in our living room, but after that we moved into my parents house and everything was mostly packed. Then, you guessed it, school started and I had no extra creative energy in my body. Hopefully this year will be better!


5. Plan my 1st years worth of teaching curriculum. I might as well be prepared to to teach if I actually think that's what's going to happen with my life. It's like praying for rain without carrying an umbrella. Just downright silly!
I'm really excited to be prepared for the next step of my life!
I was slightly forced into this one. I got to plan my first semester-ish this summer, but there was no way that I could've been prepared for how I was going to have to teach and write my lesson plans. However, at the end of may I will have a years worth of ideas to pull from for next year!


All in all I think I did pretty good. Definitely better than years in the past! I really think my game plan helped out a lot and not having a gazillion resolutions.
Steven and I will be making our new years resolutions tomorrow on his birthday! I can't wait to see what we challenge ourselves with for 2013!

2012: Change

January
Just the usual. Cold, dark, laziness, and work. Nothing too exciting, but just being married and loving each other!

February
This is the month that put our plan to buy a house into motion. Our neighbor got robbed (even with all of his bars over the windows and security doors) The next day we had our bed and some necessities moved into my old bedroom at my parents house. It took us about a week to get everything packed up and put into storage. There was no way I was staying there one more day. This adventure turned out to be a very interesting and kinda fun time!

Our lovely living arrangements. So. Much. Stuff.

March
I quit my very easy and relaxed job at the city, said goodbye to some great girls, and decided to start subbing full time to get my foot in the door somewhere. This was a super scary decision, but when God wants you to do something you just have to do it! I miss those sweet girls and the fun we had in the office, but I needed to see where God would take me. And since we were living with my parents, this was the perfect time to change our financial situation.

This is also the month that my grandpa passed away. I can't believe it's been almost a year... my heart still aches for things to b e the same, for him to be watching sports in his chair or reading the paper at the kitchen table. But it's God's timing, not mine.



April
I started subbing full time. I had every single day booked. I absolutely LOVED subbing! Everyday was new and different. New kids, new ages groups, new lessons to teach ( that I did NOT have to write) It was such a blessing to be able to sub and learn different things about each school district and teacher. I am so grateful tot Steven for letting me do this!

We also signed a contract on a house that took way too long to fall through... 3 months of excitement and disappointment. Silly house. After i realized it might be a while before we lived somewhere, I reorganized all of our things and tried to make our space a little more bearable. It helped

May
Steven got offered a job at Boeing. This was such a huge thing for him! Being 23 and working at one of the companies on his top 5 list. Lots of prayer and thought went into the decision to take the job. It was more money and closer than the FFA, so we were very excited!

I also got offered a teaching job at a charter school in OKC where I had subbed a couple of times. But more on that adventure later!

Since we both had some time off between jobs, we decided to make the most of it and hang out with our friends and go to a couple of play off games!

June
Steven officially starts working at Boeing and I officially become a jobless bum. School was out and my teaching job didn't start until August. I got to help with an art camp that was being put on by my mentor teacher at the high school. I loved it so much!

July
Oh July...
Some of my friends planned a river trip for a birthday celebration and since mine was at the beginning of July we decided to tag along! This was also the month that Steven dislocated his ankle playing basketball, making the next few months very interesting. I am so glad we lived with my parents and had their help with dinner and just keeping Steven off his foot.

 

We also celebrated our 1 year anniversary! It flew by so fast and our first year was absolutely wonderful! I couldn't have imagined a better year. So many adventures together and learning about each other!

I used this time to start focusing on my curriculum and classroom decor. At the time I wished I would've had more time to plan and get ready, but nothing would prepare me for the teaching semester ahead.

August
In service for new teachers began on the 6th and school started on the 23rd. In service was two weeks of being overwhelmed and realizing I had no idea what I was about to do. But I did get to decorate my classroom!

The day school started I had my out fit all picked out and ready to go, I showered the night before so I could get there early, I got to my classroom and waited in fear for the first bell to ring. Someday I still dread that bell. That just means my day is about to get crazy!

I successfully survived my first day, got a speeding ticket on the way home, and was welcomed by fresh first day of school flowers. I was ready to retire and was super sad I had to go back the next day.



We also closed on the second house we had a contract on. And after two weeks of intense remodel and painting and moving, we were officially moved in before the first day of school!

We're home owners!

September
September was filled with figuring out how to be a teacher, memorial day, and trying to convince myself I could make it to fall break. I was really excited when I had all my plans thought of for the weeks leading up to the glorious first break.

We were loving our first home and spending time with each other.

October
My first official break as a teacher! I work really hard the week before so I wouldn't have to take work home with me over the break. We went out of town with my parents and was away from technology, the demands of being homeowners and seeing every little thing that needs to be fixed, and most importantly children. It was such a beautiful weekend with adults!

We both have crazy hair, we were lettin' loose! ha!

We also had our annual Halloween party, which sadly enough, I don't have very many pictures of.

November
Josie rose came into our lives one Friday evening and we have fallen in love more each day! She is a complete brat, but still has polite manners. Why have something if you can't spoil it a little, right?

 The day I brought her home, She was so little!

After fall break I was on the count down to Thanksgiving, 5 whole days off from school! I can see myself becoming better at teaching and dealing with the everyday of being at a charter school. But things are still tough and I am still exhausted. We are both just trying to make it to Thanksgiving without having a mental break down. I am happy to report that we made it! I went black Friday shopping for the first time ever and I am really hoping my girlfriends and I have started a new tradition!

Steven also decided it was time for a new car. So one night we went to look at them, and surprise surprise we came home with one! It was one of the biggest decisions we've ever made, but the security of knowing we will always have a running vehicle is priceless! 

We have house insurance, our own health insurance, and 3 vehicles on auto insurance, I think we are grown ups now!

December
December all I could think about was...you guessed it, Christmas break! This meant I had survived my first semester of teaching ( although I'm not sure how well I survived it, but that's not what's important)

We decorated our home for Christmas, but up and decorated the tree, and had lots of snugly nights watching t.v. and playing with our Josie Rose.

We are having a fantastic 2 weeks off from school and work. Just lounging around and being lazy/productive at the same time. We have loved spending time with family and friends and not having any real plans. We rarely just get to wing it and It really has been nice! I think that will be one of my new years resolutions again. We have even done a few home projects! My favorite one is the new craft station Steven made me... I'm in love!








As I write this the snow is falling, Steven is lounging, and Josie is fast asleep curled up in my lap. 2012 has been quite a year for us and we've been through so many changes with our lives. I couldn't imagine what I would do without the love and support of my husband, my family, and my real friends.

I am interested to see what 2013 has in store!

Verse of the Week

I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

Heart to Heart

Josie Rose Stone. 

She came to our family a week ago and we are absolutely in love!

Warning: Long, Drawn out post ahead. If you just want to look at this cutie and stop reading I would totally understand!

_____________________________________________________________________________

 Sometimes there are those days where you just have to get everything out, you just have to write and write until things make a little more sense.

Today is the first day in, oh about 4 months where I had the day completely to myself and no agenda whatsoever. Thinking about this makes me realize why things have felt off lately. Not necessarily a bad "off", just off.

There's something you need to know about me. I am an only child. This means that I require so much alone time to reconnect to myself and sort out things I think are important, things I personally want to accomplish ( not what others tell me I need to accomplish), and get re-inspired to be creative and be an artist. This is why I haven't blogged regularly or at all lately.

But today was a good day for taking some time for myself. By yesterday I had already put in 40 hours in my classroom and another 5-7 hours of work at home, just working on lesson plans and getting things ready for what's coming up. This is a normal week for me. So, even with it being so close to Thanksgiving break, praise the Lord, I decided I needed a mental health day. Since my kids were well into their projects and about ready to finish them up, I knew a sub could handle them. This is the first time I've ever had a sub in my class before and honestly the thought terrifies me, for multiple reasons. But they will live and the school won't shut down just because my students may try to be off task for one day. That's what sub days are for right?

Since my parents are at the lake and the person I was thinking about having lunch with is out of town for a conference, I had to actually be with myself, without plans, without a list, without anything to occupy my time and brain. When I realized this last night, I was a little scared. I thought, "what will I do?" "Do I even know how to be by myself anymore without working?" "maybe I'll go into work anyways..." That's when I knew I had a problem.

So here I am, on my bonus day off. Still in my comfy pants. I've cleaned (which sadly might be my new hobby), I had cheese and crackers for breakfast, cookie dough and milk for lunch. I've made some salt dough and started making ornaments for our tree this year, thought about christmas presents, and hung out with Josie all day.

I've had time to actually feel something besides exhaustion.

Teaching is something I truly love to do. There are lots of days when I just want to pack up all of my things and tell them I won't be back. But I'm not a quitter and I couldn't go back to work at a place where I didn't get to brainstorm and collaborate with other teachers and even students. I know I won't always do this in a school setting, public or charter, but for now I am learning and trying to be the best I can and trying to find the balance between my life and work. I know it's out there, it just has to be.

I just want to be surrounded by pretty, happy, colorful, handmade things all day. Is that too much to ask?! I just want to inspire someone to make something beautiful and unique and see them come alive through their art. I want to be surrounded by people who feel and believe deeply and passionately. I don't want to be the only one who cries over commercials, or who just needs to have days where I can think. I need to not feel weighed down by so many random unnecessary responsibilities. I need to feel open and free and I need friends who need these things as well.

I am so completely thankful for my husband who is truly my best friend. I would be a sad workaholic without him! He fills my days with laughter and love more than I ever thought possible.

Picture Perfect Tuesday

Here's a little secret... I didn't take this picture. Gasp! I know right, shocking. But I do really love the feel of it. I want to be here, wandering down the road, no responsibilities, maybe no other person. Just wandering, taking in the colors, the smells, the crispness in the air, the moisture. Just wandering...

Verse of the Week:

Spirits aren't exactly crushed, more like exhausted. Praying He hears my calls and rescues me from what I think are my "troubles." Because honestly, I have a warm roof over my head, a wonderful husband, fantastic parents,  food in our cabinets, and more than enough to make it by... what do I really know about troubles?

Looking forward to this shortish week at school and then a much needed relaxing weekend with my favorite man. ( Yes, I'm already looking forward to next weekend... don't judge.)

Picture Perfect Tuesday

This is what I love about fall. Everything is just so colorful and clean. I need more of that, lot's more of that.

While my Tuesday wasn't exactly "Picture perfect," I'm super glad it's over. And I hope yours was much better! On to Wednesday!

The new line-up

When I first started this blog i wasn't sure exactly what direction I wanted it to go, and to be honest I'm still not. One thing I have noticed over the year I've been blogging is that I am way more interested in the pictures in posts than I am the actual content. Now don't get me wrong, there are a certain few blogs that I follow that I like to read, but for the most part I just scroll through the pictures. With that being said, I'm going to start modeling my blog off of what I like or find interesting in other blogs.  (Genius right?!)

When I started blogging I had way more time to sit and think up posts or to actually write things that were happening in my life. Since I'm left with less free time in my day and the need to blog more regularly for my creative outlet I've decided to revamp my content and try to do a few regular weekly posts that will be short and sweet, and hopefully still encouraging and inspirational!

Here's the line-up so far!
>Sunday-Verse of the week where I get to find just the right verse to help me stay strong for the week ahead

>Tuesday- Picture perfect Tuesday where I get to exercise/challenge my creativity via photography

>Friday- Friday lovin' where I get to celebrate my favorite day of the week and all the things I'm loving or find inspirational

>MISC- "Coffee dates" where I get to pour out my heart
                "Snapshot" posts where I get to overwhelm you with photos

So, as you can see, nothing too fancy or special. Just some things to keep me blogging, creating, and on track. ( I'm a list person so if it's not on a list... it just doesn't get done!)

Happy Sunday!