Hawaii

Hawaii was amazing! The picture above was taken on our last night in Honolulu. We had a great time in Hawaii! We went to Pearl Harbor, the Big Island, drove around Oahu, and just relaxed on the beach. The weather was perfect. It rained a little while we were there, but not enough to make it miserable. From what I have heard, we picked a pretty good week to go on vacation. There was no humidity on the part of the island that we were on, which made it really hard to come home.

I am glad to be home, but I also wish I could go back to Hawaii. There are only two things I can think of about vacations that are "bad": the first thing is that I miss the puppies a lot while on vacation, and the second thing is that you have to leave the place you are visiting. Hawaii was absolutely gorgeous, and I was very sad to leave. I had such a great time. That was probably the most relaxing vacation I have ever been on, and that made it REALLY hard to come home. I missed home and the puppies, but I wasn't ready to leave. I was in paradise, and I want to go back.

Yesterday I had an interview for a part time English position at the high school I currently teach at. I found out this morning that I did not get the position. I kind of figured I wouldn't get it. I didn't go to school for English Education, and the other candidates did.

Despite not getting the position, I am proud of myself for taking the chance. I had the feeling all along that I probably wouldn't get it, but I went into the interview with confidence.

I'm a little disappointed and bummed, but I still have a job. We won't have to worry about money as much because I will be full time, instead of part time.

Alaska Pictures

I have been trying to find a way to put some pictures up so that I could share them with a couple of people and I have finally decided to just put them up on here. These are pictures that were taken during Spring Break 2008 in Alaska. Brian was in Anchorage for a rotation and his Spring Break was the same week as mine. He decided to stay there during Spring Break so I decided to head that way so I could see him. I am so glad I did! Everything was beautiful!

The day after I arrived we decided to drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks. We saw many amazing sights along the way including Mt. McKinley!

We went to Fairbanks in the hopes of seeing the Northern Lights, but we were not successful in seeing them. Even though we didn't see the Northern Lights we saw many other awesome things. We attempted to drive to the Arctic Circle and we would have succeded in that if a gas station would have been opened right after crossing the bridge going over the Yukon River.

As we made our attempt to get to the Arctic Circle we also saw the Pipeline!

When we stopped in the hopes of finding an open gas station we were actually stopped underneath the pipeline!

While we were in Fairbanks we went to an Ice Sculpture park! It's amazing how much detail can be put into the sculptures! My favorite one was a phone booth that the phone ac

tually worked!! There were all kinds of sculptures. Some you were only allowed to look out, but there were some that we could actually climb around on and in. They even had slides. We were just like big kids!

I will post some more later. That way I don't bore everyone in one post. :) Seriously, if you ever get the chance to go to Alaksa, GO! It's beautiful!

YAY!!

Our albums and dvds came in today!!!! We went to my parents house and looked through them and watched the dvd. I must say that Karin and Roger of Starry Eyed Studios did an AMAZING job with everything! Thank you Karin and Roger for being a part of our special day!

Is ignorance really bliss?

I find it extremely funny that some people are so against something they don't understand. Is ignorance really bliss?

I know that this post contains debatable subject matter. Feel free to leave your comments. Note that I am not trying to persuade one's opinion to be like mine. I am merely stating my opinion on the matter, that's all.

I saw that a friend on facebook had posted something about Congress possibly passing a bill allowing conceal carry on college campuses. This particular friend is VERY against conceal carry. I have no problem with someone being against conceal carry, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Now I don't know how much research she has done on the matter, but I have a lot of friends who are very against anything gun related and they don't know much about guns.

I shoot guns. Yes, that's right folks, I shoot guns. Judge me if you want, I'm proud of it. I was part of the first girls trap team at my high school and we did extremely well. I don't understand what all the excitment is about with guns. I know some people use the argument that guns kill people, well doesn't a person have to be operating the gun in order for it to kill someone? People kill people. Not everyone who owns a gun is a homicidal maniac. A lot of people who own guns use them to hunt or go to a gun club and shoot. Are there people who will abuse having a gun? Unfortunately there are, BUT not everyone is like that. My family owns several guns and we use them at a gun club. My husband goes deer and bird hunting every now and then. I would never use a gun to harm another human being. I simply like to go to a gun club and shoot at clay birds.

I'm stepping off my soap box now. Thank you for listening.

Motivation, or lack thereof

I am really lacking motivation for some reason. I got up this morning with the intention of getting on the treadmill for 10 minutes and instead have spent my time on the computer. My lack of motivation extends from exercising, though. I have no real motivation to go to work at all. I'm so tired of feeling like I don't know anything because of the way some people treat me. I have been very down on myself lately and the way people have treated me in the past few weeks certainly hasn't helped any. I have begun to shut down, and that's not a good thing. I did this last year around the same time, so I'm hoping it's just a phase and once the exhaustion kind of wears off I will feel better. Unfortunately this is one of those situations that require time to know how things will work out. So for now I am going to go get ready for work and make the best of my day.

SWEET!

I just received an email from our photographer letting me know that she has all parts of our albums and DVDs now and will be mailing it out TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to see everything!!!! We will have everything before our 10 month anniversary!! WooHoo!! I had to share the news!

Not a patient person...

I'm so not a patient person.

I got an email from our photographer last week. She informed me that our albums and DVDs will be in the mail sometime "next week" (remember...this email was sent last week...). I have been checking my email what seems like every 5 minutes. I want to get the email that says our stuff has been shipped and to look for it in the next few days. I can't wait to see what our albums look like and how our DVD turned out! Our photographer was amazing and I have been so happy with the pictures, but I want the dang DVD! (And the albums!)

If I was talking to one of my guard girls or students I would tell them to be patient..."Patience is a virtue." I really need to learn how to take my own advice. HA! I am trying, but it doesn't seem to be working out very well so far...

On another note, I found The Pet's Ten Commandments as I was browsing through some other blogs and thought I would share it with everyone.

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Have a great day!

I had to laugh...

So I was in one of my CWC classes (that would be class within a class) and one of the students in there asked me a question...and was VERY serious about it. She very seriously looked at me and asked, "Are you pregnant?" At first I was stunned that it was asked. Once I got over the shock of the question I replied to her with, "No. Why do you ask?" Her response was that I have been a little grumpy lately and she was just wondering. HAHA!!!! I explained that the reason I have been grumpy is because it has been a tough couple of weeks at school and that I haven't seen my husband in almost two weeks because he is at Officer Training in Virginia. She was very concerned about why I hadn't seen Brian and that it had been a tough couple of weeks at school. It took all I had to not laugh after the conversation was over. She was genuinely concerned. That's what makes teaching worth the stress...the genuine concern a majority of students have for their teachers and the "AHA!" moments. I needed that.

New Technology Obsession

I feel so behind in technology right now, but my new obsession in the technology world is a Blackberry Curve.

I am currently looking at getting a new cell phone becuase my plan will be expiring soon. The phone I have now, while not horrible, is not the best. My phone has decided to not charge all the time. I had it plugged in all night and I thought it was charging, but it didn't charge last night. I left the house without my charger, thinking my phone was fully charged, and had to make one bar of battery last over twelve hours. Anyway...I don't know why I all of a sudden had the urge to get a Blackberry, but I have decided that will be my next cell phone.

Thinking and showing my appreciation

Letting my mind wander where it will and as my mind wanders freely it stops. I begin to think about the things going on in my life and I come to the conclusion that I have a wonderful life. My husband is amazing, my friends are always there for me, and my family will always help me out when I need it. My mind begins to wander a little more and stops at the stresses of my life. The more I think, the more stressed I get. I think and think until finally I come to the conclusion that I have had enough of being treated the way I have been. Today is a new day. Today starts a new chapter in my life, the chapter entitled "Finally Standing Up for Myself." The chapter has only just begun. Where will it go from here?

Only one person knows and I am leaving it all up to Him. He will guide me through these tough times and lead me safely through them. I am putting my life into His hands now, I am merely a passenger in this ride we call life. My goal from now on is to sit back and enjoy the ride. This is going to be tough for me to do, but I'm going to do my best.

The last thing for the night before I go to bed is a small note of appreciation for my husband. He is a great guy and I don't know what I would do without him. He puts up with a lot from me...late nights because I'm upset about my job, lots of worrying because I'm upset about something (usually my job), and taking care of me. I don't understand why he puts up with me sometimes, but I am very grateful that he does. He helps me through everything. I am so glad our paths crossed and brought us back together after we had both graduated from high school. He is my best friend and the love of my life. Brian...if you're reading this I want you to know that I love you with everything that I am. I am so proud to say that I am your wife. You have made me the happiest girl in the entire world. You're the best!

Vacation decision

We finally made a decision on vacation! We are going to Hawaii for our one year anniversary! We booked the hotel and flights this past week. I am so excited to go! It seems so far away right now, hopefully time will go quickly. I need a vacation after the school year that I have had.

Thinking

I have found myself thinking a lot about things the past couple of days. I have mostly been thinking about next year and what I want to do. I don't know anymore...I really don't know. I had the day off yesterday for my mom's surgery and I didn't really think about my students at all. That makes me feel like a horrible teacher. Last year I was always thinking and worrying about my students. I was wondering what my students were doing and if they were behaving for the sub...this year I have barely done that. My classes are good...maybe that's why I haven't worried about them as much. I have been asking myself a lot of questions since I got home yesterday evening. The questions I have been asking myself are questions that I don't have answers to. I'm not even close to having any kind of answer to most of them. All I know is that I now feel like an awful teacher and person and I don't know what to do anymore.

I needed to vent...thanks for allowing me to do so.

2 weeks

I have the feeling that the next two weeks will be long. Brian is at Basic Officer Training for PHS. He was excited and nervous as I left him at the airport this morning. I, of course, was in tears walking back to the truck. I wasn't ready to spend two weeks without him, but I knew it was coming. He also has a three week training that he will have to go as well. Again, I am not looking forward to that, but I knew it was coming. The time spent apart is well worth it because he has found a job that he loves. He is excited to go to work...plus he has great stories to tell when he gets home. I am so proud of him.

On another note...I ordered a new camera last night! It is an Olympus Stylus 1050SW 10.1MP Digital Camera. Nothing fancy, but I'm excited! It's shockproof and waterproof!! I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new camera. I had a camera that Brian got me for Christmas in 2007, and somehow I broke it within 2-3 months of owning it. I waited too long to get it fixed...dang me and my procrastination. Anyway...Brian and I were talking about the camera yesterday and happened to see one like what I bought at Wal-mart. I came home and researched it a little and ended up finding the one I bought. It took some convincing on Brian's part for me to purchase it, but in the end I did and I am so glad! I have been using Brian's camera lately, while it's nice it isn't one that I can just put in my purse and go. I want one that I can just keep in my purse...and now I have one! (again)

"Let's Roll!"

"Let's Roll! Finding Hope in the Midst of Crisis" by Lisa Beamer


I found this book thanks to one of my guard girls. This book is the story of Todd Beamer, one of the Heroes on United Flight 93, the flight that went down in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. It is written by Todd Beamer's widow, Lisa Beamer. It is a touching book and I would highly recommend it to anyone. In the book, Lisa Beamer talks about Todd's childhood and his college years, as well as her own childhood and college years. She tells of how they met, fell in love, got engaged, got married, and started a family of their own. She also talks about the relationship she and her late husband had with God. She tells the reader how her faith helped to get her through some of the toughest times in her life. Those times included the death of her father when she was only 15 and the loss of her husband in 2001.



Since finishing this book, I have found myself examining myself and my actions. I have started to think about things in a different way, and it's all for the good.



So...long story short...this book is a MUST READ if you haven't already read it.

Challenge and vacation plans

So the challenge ended up being a bust....Let me explain. My partner and I were talking this past week and we decided that neither of us really had the time to work out the way we needed to in order to stay in the running to be able to win the challenge. After talking about it for a couple days, we decided to pull out of the challenge.

That being said, I still plan on maintaining the eating habits I had formed while we were in the challenge. I do not have an official weigh in for this past week. I will be weighing in on Friday mornings on my home scale, so I will still be keeping up with my progress. I still want to get in shape and feel better about myself. I have kind of volunteered Brian to keep me in line and stay on track for my progress. It also helps that we are planning a vacation this summer.

Speaking of vacation...we aren't sure what we are going to do. We talked about Hawaii...but when looking at plane tickets we have decided to look into something else, as well. Hawaii is not completely ruled out, we just want to look at other options we have before we decide what to do.

Enough rambling from me...for now anyway.

7 months

Today is the 7 month mark for Brian and me as a married couple. It doesn't seem like we have been married that long. Time really does fly. The past 7 months have been great! I have had some stressful times because of work, but I have been able to come home to my husband and he has comforted me and helped me through those stressful times. Well that's all I have for now. It's early and I still have to get ready for work.

Weigh-in Results and randomness

I lost 2 pounds this week. I didn't really exercise very much, so I was pretty happy with the results. I have lost 5 pounds since starting the staff challenge on January 5! I have noticed a few pairs of my pants fitting a little loose!

On another note...I am extremely excited for tomorrow night! Two of my favorite bands will be in Springfield and Brian, Matt, Jenn, and I are going! I can't wait to go!

On yet another note. Brian and I are planning a trip for our anniversary in June! I am super excited! I think we may try to go to Hawaii!! YAY for paradise! He is going to check on what he has to do as far as applying for leave, and then we will probably try to make reservations sometime this weekend! I am so excited!

Doctor's Office

I went to the doctor last Friday, and of course the doctor I go to is in an office where A LOT of people take their children. Friday was apparently the day for all the cute babies to go see the doctor...I'm talking cute. Not the ones you say are cute so you don't hurt their mom or dad's feelings...these babies were all about as cute as this...

The babies weren't dressed up like the little one in the picture, but man...they were just about as cute as this little one. Talk about not helping with the baby fever I am experiencing right now. We have talked and we are wanting to wait for at least another year before we start a family. We want to get a few bills out of the way before we have a baby. I guess I will have to "cure" my baby fever by looking at cute baby pictures on the internet...

Challenge

At school we have a staff challenge for those who want to participate. We are in teams and we weigh in each week on Fridays. The team that reaches February 27 with the most weight lost (in percentage) will win new warm up suits. Not the best prize in the world, but at least there is some motivation. I decided to participate in this challenge with one of my lunch buddies. Last week we lost a total of 7 pounds. She lost 4 and I lost 3. Let me say this...we weighed in on Monday after school and then again on Friday before school. I was pretty proud of the two of us for what we lost. We didn't really work out very much, we walked together one day after school. We both changed our eating habits though.

Some may be wondering why I am writing this for the whole world to see, although I'm not sure there are many people who read my blog. Oh well, I will give my reason anyway...I want to be held accountable to more than just my partner at school. I have been saying for a couple years now that I want to shed a few pounds and I want to be more fit. I'm great at talking about it and what I will do to achieve this goal, but I am also really good at putting off getting in shape. I am not happy with myself right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely unhappy. I just want to be more in shape than I am right now. I want to be able to get into a bathing suit and not feel as self conscience as I do. So...from now until at least February 27, if not longer, I will be reporting how many pounds I shed on Fridays. I will weigh in in the morning at school and update with a post at some point on Friday or during the weekend. Maybe this will help keep me motivated once the school challenge is over.

Busy, busy

It has been a busy couple of days. School started back up on Monday, which means winter guard practices have also started. After practice yesterday, I have mixed emotions about this season. I was excited, but I'm not sure now. The girls are great. They are getting along really well and they seem to want to work hard, or at least they did during camp in December. I'm not sure what happened yesterday, but a majority of the girls did not seem to want to be there. They weren't putting their best effort into the practice. I'm hoping it was just because they were all tired from the start of the school year. Hopefully practice on Thursday will be better.

Hello 2009

I can't believe it's 2009. It's amazing how quickly time goes by. I have seen a lot of posts about New Year's Resolutions. I don't know that I want to make any resolutions. The main reason I say that is because I don't want to feel like a failure if I don't follow through with one. I may change my mind later, but we'll see.