Zebra

As you know, I don't really do the dating thing down in Missouri. However I managed to give out my number the other day just to get a guy kind of off my back.

There was a basketball game, the first one of the season for the 4th-6th grade. I went because they are my students. I was sitting in the front row...cheering them all on game after game. There are 2 referees and they should be watching the game. I don't know how the bald guy found out my name, he has seen me at high school games, but still. any who....
He came over and sat by me during a timeout and asked if I was single...I"m not up to lying about things..I told him yes, but I was a first year teacher....lol He then said that the other ref. thought that I was attractive and he would probably come and sit by me later....I moved up after the 6th grade girls got done to sit by Mr. J's wife. Trying to avoid the situation...and to make a guessing game of the ref's age. We were guessing upper 30's???? Well I thought that moving would do the trick, they couldn't stop mid game to talk to me....man was I wrong. The ref (with hair) sat by the 6th grade girls on the bench...(they were cheering on their classmates) then the bald ref. came over....next thing I know the 4 girls are running up the bleachers to tell me that the "spiky haired ref. thinks your beautiful" Wow was my face red...not at the comment, but the fact that they said it incredibly loud with a gym full of people.

That was all over, I thought I could leave when the game was done with no problem....well I walked out as soon as it was done...walked quickly ;-) and almost made it when the bald ref. came running out of the gym.....yelling my name. I stopped (I don't know why) he kept asking for my number...to give to Dave the shy one....I finally gave in.

Dave ended up calling me 4 times that night...I didn't answer and they didn't leave a message. The next day he called me over lunch...and left a message....

What should I do? I know that he is too old for me and I have no interest, but I don't want to be a bitch...mean you know.

Nothing like a man in uniform...lol...do zebra stripes count as a uniform.

Trout DAY???

Well no interview for me tomorrow...I hear the roads are closed to get into Iowa. My friends and family aren't enjoying the little ice they have, the bunch of snow, or the blustery wind.

Today is Trout Day. I'm sure that with the storm that his us last night and early this morning there weren't a lot of people camping out a waiting the release of the trout. Today the winds are strong....I can't even imagine what fishing is like in wind this strong.

I have been home all day, sleeping (cause I didn't do much of that last night....I don't like tornados) I didn't even go to the school today. I have my lesson plans done for a sub for Friday and Monday just incase....and now I don't even need them. What a waste of 3 hours. I hope that I can still go up and interview, but I guess my childlike voice on the phone will have to do.

I hope all of my friends enjoyed a day off of school today and didn't spend the whole day scooping out their cars in Iowa......

Day in passing

I don't know when it happened, but I received a call from a friend in Ames. Dr. Staley has passed away. All I can think of is driving up there and giving Dylan a big hug and just sit with him. I really had faith that Tim would come out of this and be ok. I didn't really know the whole extent of what was wrong, but I had my prayers. I have an interview on Friday and doubt with this up coming Iowa storm if I'm going to make it up there. I hope to make it up for that and the funeral...but who really knows. I pray that the Lord takes care of Dylan and that he is provided for and comforted. I wish I were in Ames today....

Today was district basketball, I have never been in such a beautiful school. It had a stadium like dome for their basketball court or gym. They had a real theatre with a ticket booth just like the movies....it looked like a hotel from the outside. The team lost by the way...78 or something to 22. Hey at least they did when their last home game...to a really large team.

I'm now in bed I have one day of school...half day really and I'm just hoping it goes well.

Request of Prayer

Well today was the first day of a new 6th grade teacher. All went well. My day was pretty easy (reading, and math test)

Hope to have an interview on Thursday (skipping Trout Day), we don’t have school any way.

Then heading up to Ames, I forgot how much I missed it. I went up this past weekend and went to church and caught up with people. Tonight I realized why I really missed it. I miss the families that I watched grow for years. I had a friend call today and tell me that she received an email on a prof. that I know at ISU that was found in his office unconscious. This man has a grandson that I have watched for over three years. His wife passed away two years ago and it is just the prof., his son, and his grandson. He is at the hospital in critical condition and I just pray that all will be well with him. I wish I could be up there and taking care of Dylan in his time of need. I know he needs a friend, he needs an adult that can take care of him and pray with him. Please help me pray for Dylan and his grandfather.

Shocking News Flash....

“You know those stamps you get on your hand when you go to club that lets you get back in without having to pay. That it is like love you don’t have to pay.” Quote from Dirt

How true is that….Love is just something that is just given sometimes things happen and you have to step back for a while and then because of love you forgive.
Today was a long day tomorrow shouldn’t be as hard. The 6th grade teacher left today…took most of his stuff and left the rest. Kids were a little shocked much of the staff shocked….can’t wait to see what parents have to say later. I talked to the principal this morning and nobody knew for sure what was going to happen, but Mr. H and I didn’t have to move up. I guess things are going to workout. I managed to help the new full time sub that will start tomorrow…did get home until about 9 but I made it and now am heading off to bed.

Home

Did you ever notice how many different homes you have. I always say I'm headed "home" That home could be Ames, it could mean my parents house, it could mean Iowa, or it could mean the place I live in Missouri.

I'm now home from going home??? I had dreams of heading up to Ames Friday night to go out dancing with Ciara and Shannon (planning it for over a month) Left on time after school....got outside of KansasCity and then the snow came...you couldn't see infront of you nor could you see the road or the lanes. I just followed a car in front of me so I knew I was on the road...and held on to my steering wheel for dear life. After making it out of the little blizzard it seemed to slow down after I got out of the city. Snow started up again when I got close to DesMoines. I didn't make it to Ames that night. I made it to my sister's house at 11. Man what a night. I headed DesMoines shopping for dresses and shoes. Then I got to babysit. Sunday I headed up to Ames and went to church, lunch at the Mandrin, and then to the movie Bridge of Terabithia, then sledding...(fun, beautiful snow) I drove and met Shannon for a steamer and then it was home to my sister's were little john was still awake. Awake...yeah 10:30 at night poor little one isn't feeling well today either. Fever and a cough. I met Eberly for an early lunch, and Anderson for a late lunch before heading home to Missouri. I have my resume done so I had to stop and get it printed off (i like mine to be special...so when they pick it up they know I take the time to pull out all the details and that I'm organized)
I got crickets and new Age of the Emires game...so I'm going to try it out and go to bed...I'm not going to think about school until 5:00am tomorrow. It is going to be a long week with the 6th grade teacher quiting..middle of the year, middle of the week....oh the stress...who knows by the end of the week, I could be in a new classroom with 5th grade or I could be in a new classroom teaching 6th grade...

dream sweet

Valentine's Day is Coming

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?…the question that has been asked more than once and it is days away. I respond, “ What I do everyday” Valentine’s Day is a reason to look at my singleness as a blessing because this is a cheap holiday for me. I look at it from another perspective a really sucky one being single and nobody to ever share this freaking lovey dovey holiday with. As I look back upon the years I found a much better thing for celebrating the holiday that is soon approaching:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2005
Love
February 14…otherwise known as Valentines Day. Most of the time people think about candy, flowers, love. (highly over rated) I think about it being another day that passes just like the next. The other day I had written, “what is unconditional love?” Maybe I’m just bitter because the only valentines I received were from 7 year-olds, not really what I expected for my day, but that is ok. I guess lately I keep hearing the same verse over and over. 1 Cor. 13.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
How true is this…where would we be without love, love from God, love from our parents, love from our friends…. love is such an important part of who we are. It is the greatest way to show others that we know and trust in God when we can share love with them and all around us. God first loved us!

Peace, Love, and Groovy,
Kristy


5days and counting until I head to party with my friends!!

Not soon enough

The weekend couldn't have gotten here soon enough. This week felt like the longest one ever. I was more nervous for this week than the first week of school.

I went out last night for the first time ever down here. It was nice to go grab a bite to eat and relax with a beer or two, listen to music, and chat with a friend. I don't have that a lot down here and I appriciate the things that I have. It still cracks me up to see a bunch of lack of clothing wearing >40 year old women grinding on each other to really bad 80's music. *I hope that isn't me some day..... I claim to have skill now, but will I still have the skill then? I hope! (I like to wear all my clothes tho)

I got up this morning...after sleeping in until noon!! I needed sleep. Went and did lesson plans (forgot to do earlier) oops!

I haven't accomplished a lot this weekend so far, guess I will work on stuff tomorrow.
Attempt to work on stuff tomorrow. ;-)

The biggest thing for this week is I just got my MO license to teach. Early Childhood degree was on it...lol who knew that is what I went to school for?
One more thing this week if I haven't said it already. I have a yard...a yard you can see with out all the branches. A company came and fixed my tree, it looks like it will grow back ok.

This week is homecoming week :Theme is under the sea! Another busy week, but 6 more days until I go back to IA!!!!

I made it!

I made it through a 15 hour day at school yesterday...not just being there, but the going going going mode. I felt like I was being put under a magnifine glass...a burning little ant. People came in and out of my classroom, read page by page of student work. Took students out for an hour at a time and interviewed us for over an hour and a half after school.....I'm trying to get caught up on everything...

it is almost eleven....i'm getting up at 5 so I can be at school just to finish up what I haven't had time to do. homecoming is next week. I'm not ready for it.

they took away my break on the 16th and now they are thinking about taking away the 19th day...why can't they take Trout Day away. We don't have school on a thursday because people go fishing for trout? who does that ?

STRESS...Makes me sick! I can't wait until FRIDAY !

dream sweet

The snow is MIA

Well it got up to 42 degrees today. Which hopefully means that everything has melted on the gravel roads and there is no doubt that we have school tomorrow. I just finished my lesson plans…am watching the Super Bowl, but the commercials are very good…or not as good as everyone anticipate them being. In my mind I was thinking over and over again..what are the things I dislike most in life.

1. doing dishes by hand
2. shaving my legs
3. doing other people’s jobs
4. cleaning my house
5. umm I’m sure there is more, but those are the top this list
on the list some where is searching for new jobs, redoing resume, and writing full, really long lesson plans I don't read later.

I was doing my dishes for the first time in a while…I don’t eat a lot and so I don’t do the dishes that often…it uses up too much water.

Random question after seeing the Disney Cinderella III movie preview, coming out soon.

Why can’t they leave well enough alone and classic stories left in the past? I love Disney movies, but making sequels for every single one seems to be ridiculous. They need to be a little more original and come up with another character or two.

Sequels I didn’t like were things like Lion King 2, Lion King 1 ½ for some odd reason that is the only one that comes to my mind that has just went blank.
Aladdin I loved their sequels…but it was a continuing story line anyway.

Praise you in the Storm

I know that I haven't been focused on my faith life. I don't take lightly all the blessings I have in my life. I still look to the Lord for help through all the troubles in my life tho it is torn in many directions.

How often do we find those "storms" in our lives and forget that we are not walking alone..that no matter when there is no human form around us that the Lord God is with us and all we need to do is pray.

Number one form of communication: prayer

"Are you in good hands?"

Once again…flipping through channels (what do you expect on so many days off?) Well I was watching the commercial from (All-state insurance…I think?) The one that says “ You’re in good hands” they have the people driving or sitting in traffic reading a news paper, putting on make-up, even changing their pants….and it got me thinking what kinds of stuff have I done in my car that aren’t the safest things to do while driving? What kinds of things have you done is a better question?

I’ve eaten, talked on the phone, written on a birthday card, read a map, put on make-up, (always singing)…um gone through bags, changed my shoes, ( I don’t recall changing my clothes, but I may have) I have taken off an extra shirt/coat. Oh the best is shaving…yes I said shaving, one of the top ten things I hate doing in my life. I always forgot which days were pool days…for work. You can’t go with unshaved legs. Electric razor is a women’s best friend, you don’t even have to look at your legs and they don’t end up all scratched at the end. (it wasn’t a short drive to work) I think that about covers it.

My normal thing is just singing…I don’t normally eat a whole lot in my car, who really needs maps? J/k I do, but I normally read them while sitting in my car, not driving. Talking on my phone…YES I do that…more than I should, normally with an ear piece in. I haven’t shaved in my car in like 3 years or so.

I know I’m a little random………..but I have no life but school so what do you really expect from me? ;-) 2weeks and counting and I get to see my nephew!

What is too skinny?

I was flipping through channels the other day and saw a really big picture of Tyra. I stopped to listen and the whole topic for the show was about being too skinny...what is healthy, what is our society focusing on.
Well I'll be the first to admit, I have goals of being smaller. I don't have an eating disorder or the erg to be skin and bones. I want to be a healthy tone. I remember my first year in college second semester I made the goal for myself to gain weight. There was a blood drive coming up in school and I wanted to give blood. I was taking a weight training class and we all had to set goals for ourselves. I set that as a goal and lifted weights as much as possible, but in the end managed to loose about 10lbs because I got pneumonia.
I think that there is a healthy size for people. I think that some plus size models are healthy, people are just built differently. Do I think that most of America is obese, you bet to the point where it is leading to more heart conditions. It can be just as unhealthy to be too skinny. I think it is disgusting to see just bones, that isn't beauty. Do I think that how much they weigh is an issue...a little but some times the weight on the scale doesn't mean healthy/not.
Take me for example...I'm not stick thin, meaning I'm not all skin and bones. I have natural curves and weigh under 110lbs and am 5'4" That my appear to be under the BMI for what is normal, but I don't think I'm under weight and I don't think I'm over weight. I think I'm just out of shape (two very different things)
There was this girl on the show that was like the same height as me and she said at that weight she wanted to kill her self....I was like oh my gosh...This girl looked like death, she kept defending that she was healthy and that she was eating and keeping it down...but man was she so tiny and pale.
I feel for those with eating disorder and understand that it is a mental disability.
When I was in high school, my parents thought I had an eating disorder because I never came home to ask for a lunch card and they weren't home for breakfast and I was never home for dinner...they never saw really eat. I did eat, I would go down town because we had open campus, and then went to grandma's for dinner (frozen pizza was always a plus) I never had time for breakfast at home but at 6:30am the bagels were always fresh at the bakery.

I think society puts more of an emphasis on being skinny and not being healthy. Women's curves are natural it is what happens when our bodies mature and tell us that it is prepared to reproduce and have children.

I know that I'm not healthy. I’m not fat...but I could do a better job at watching what I eat. I sometimes just get too lazy to make dinner, or a complete dinner. I eat school lunch almost everyday…..and I normally try to eat a little something for breakfast or my stomach starts to growl during silent reading time in class.

Be Healthy!

Psychotic...Gonna B

I'm going to go nuts...crazy...psychotic.... another day tomorrow at home. Why you may ask, there is about 1/2 inch of snow on the ground still. Oh my. When my principal called tonight to tell me the news, I told her this was insane. I'm going to go in to school in the morning regardless; I need to finish up on work and I don't get anything, but nothing done at home. Lack of motivation, mind set of laziness, day off type thing can you blame me. I do have goals for tomorrow. Finish up redoing my resume and then do my dishes and write out lesson plans for next week. I have to write them out as if I were in college again. I normally write out lesson plans that are just one liners or at least fit into a small box. For Tuesday I have to plan all lessons every subject just incase that is the one they walk in and see...the state is coming to check out our school and I'm getting a little nervous since we have missed 2 1/2 days of school now and need to make up the work in some form...grrrr
I can only stand being by myself for a little while before I find ways to entertain myself like cut my hair or doing more girly things like my nails and shave... who does that stuff...lol

I'm so excited for all my friends and family members that are getting married soon. I have weddings piling up...Andrea in July, Ciara in August, Kendra in September, and Casey in October. Out of the 4 I'm in 3 of them and truly honored. All of it makes me truly happy, but also kind of sad...cause here I am single and no where close any of that...maybe at least being in a wedding is a good sign that there is one of my very own in my future???? It is wishful thinking so please don't make a sad comment in reply. When I was in high school or jr. high I was one of the girls who had a plan...shouldn't have made a plan it only leads to disappointment. What plan you might ask...the plan to get out of school, have my first job, marriage, and first kid...which in my plan should have all happened before I hit 25. High expectations for myself I guess. I guess my plan isn't the same as God's and I just have to wait for his to kick in, cause right now it doesn’t feel like a very good plan in play.

SCHOOL to SCHOOL Where do I go?

I'm so confused, I know that they are going to most likely offer me a contract to work where I'm at next year. The question I keep asking myself is should I? I would love to go back and teach in Iowa...Do I go back to my home town...save some money...go back to teach for a few years in a town super small? I don't know. I think I would be ok?? I enjoy teaching down in MO but there is so much emptiness in me...I don't think that my home town will help fill the void but I'll be closer to my family only an hour and a half from my nephew and my friends compared to six hours. What do I do? I need to update my resume..oh will that take a while.
Does it look super bad if I teach at a school for one year leave and then do it again...if I take the job in my hometown and don't want to stay?

Snow day number 7

GRRR home from school again today! No school another day of being bored. At least there is snow!

Wipe out

Well today I remembered my pants! We always have a late start on Wednesday so kids don't start school until ten. Well today we did DOL, centers, lunch, recess and 15min. of math...then I was told through the grape vine (not announced to everyone....) that we are getting out at 12:30 because of the snow..grrrr. We better have school tomorrow. Nothing has been passed by the state saying that we don't for sure have to make up the days that were missed because of ice. We were told this morning that we are making up one of 6days on Feb. 16....that really pissed me off because I have been planning to go to Ames then for 2months. I'm still going just not as early as I want to! I really don't want to go to school on in to June.

On one hand I don't want the snow because it makes us miss school, but on the other it is really pretty. The snow almost looks fake it is laying on the ground in little round bead like matter.

Well I'm off to be lazy and take a nap...my bum hurts....i took off my tennis shoes because I wore them in the gym (played basketball against freshman boys and mr. J instead of heading home) I stopped at WalMart to get some stuff and walking out to my car...I fell backwards...so my bum hurts.....i don't remember the last time I feel on the snow like that.

OOPs: Forgot my pants

Today is one of those days that I wish I could have started off better. 7:30am I went to go change…and realized I forgot my pants. Wow, what a way to start the day. Then behavior problems all day. 3 o-clock rolls around and school is out, I find myself having to go to the bathroom because during a break I was dealing with those behavior problems and having to observe my mentor (have it done before the state comes to pick our school apart) It doesn’t say how long you have to observe…5 minutes is all I the time I had and that is all she had to watch me. I found out grades are due in the morning…grrrrr talk about a little stress. A good note of the day is my financial advisor is not coming tomorrow so I didn’t do my dishes tonight…what a relief. Well Dirt is on, got to go.

FYI: I had pants on don't get me wrong I leave the house with them on...but I had cheerleading first. I had pj pants on not something I would teach in. I packed clothes....I put in an extra sweater and left my pants on the floor. It took me a while to remember that I had extra clothes on behind my desk.

Body 101

I had to watch the puberty movie with 30 girls today...and help the school nurse answer questions...who knew I was so knowledgeable. lol It was a little awkward, but there weren't a lot of giggles and the movie was new...not a 1970's thing that I was told we would be doing. The girls asked questions for a good 30mins. the male teachers were tired of the boys asking erection questions in the other room so we end our session before all the questions were answered. It didn't go like I thought it would, which was good....it is a little scary. The health talk really throwed off the day for all the men. I had questions from 4th grade girls on and off all day. Do you think 4th grade is too young to do this health talk too?

My weekend will be spent at school, get ready for a review board to visit....and get ready for centers(ideas anybody)

Is it just another school day: Self Mutilation

I’m a little nervous about our MSEP review coming up in just two week….that means a lot of people walking through the school and into my classroom watching me and my students…checking out everything… I have to go back to writing lesson plans full out like in college…(I haven’t done one since student teaching I hope it is like riding a bike!) I am going to be spending the weekend getting ready for it and catching up on everything I can’t get done during the week. They are people from the state…mucho importante and I don’t have my license to teach in Missouri yet…it is in process>>> Oh the nerves<<< The first 2days back weren’t bad my students pulled out some great reports about racism and they managed to get wonderful water cycle projects after their long break. However…the boy girl I’m going out with her I don’t like him…(stuff I hate to hear) has been going on since Monday in full swing.
I have a student who is using self-mutilation because he/she is bored. I saw it today. I didn’t know what to tell him that wouldn’t sound like a sermon. I tried to get across that it can lead to death and why it is important to find other ways to express himself…like instead of writing his name on his/her leg he could draw all over it. It reminded me of high school ( if you haven’t read previous posts…I think I have written about it) I use to cut myself …not deep I don’t have any scars now…I cut myself shaving the other day…and it brought back memories of what I use to do to myself…and now this! I feel like I accomplished something by getting through all of it on my own (my faith helped me out…GOD) I didn’t do it because of boredom…I didn’t it out of anger, pain, selfishness I guess. I did the drawing thing to help me get past it…I wore long selves all the time and I look back and am kind of ashamed of what I did, but I’m getting past the shamefulness and moving on to why I did it and how I’m a stronger person for making it out without too much fuss or trouble. I learned not to judge those who did it, but learn to find out the reasons why. I claim that cutting is like a drug or alcohol.. it is hard to stop it is addicting much like chocolate cake…you know you shouldn’t eat it because it isn’t good for your body…cutting is the same way…but at the time it felt good. Well there is me spilling my guts. I’m off to bed. Dream Sweet

Be kind…I love comments…but don’t look at me with judging eyes and think of me a freak…I was 15, the over achiever, over active, loner, that was feeling a lot of pain and anger. High school was the time that I wasn’t home, wasn’t out going to parties…I was out doing things all the time for school, work, the community..4-H this 4-H that, I missed out on so much because I did too much. I loved being busy most of the time, but felt pressure from everyone that I had to be perfect had to please them and do everything. That isn’t any way to live and I figured it out after I started taking out my pain and the pain I felt I was causing and others. I made that pain into a physical reminder. I am grown, matured, and have been inspired to get through my pain in other ways. I really want to help this student….but I’m not sure what I can say (I don’t think I’m going to tell them my story…not appropriate) I haven’t even told the parent because I couldn’t get a hold of them…grrrr any ideas on how to deal with this…?

Ok now I'm off to bed...a repeat of Dirt is on...no fun watching it twice in a row. Night

Warning: Monthly Woman Vent (males may not want to read)

I don’t think you know pain until you are curled up at your desk and almost to the point of passing out, retaining so much water it feels like you could float like an oil tanker. Today was just one of those days….I wish I was a guy or I wish I could just stay home and not teach in front of 23 students when it was that time of the month…because it is really hard to look like you are enjoying what you are teaching when you want to just fall over on the floor or take a nap(passout) in the book corner.
I needed to vent: Sorry if you read it and you didn’t mean too.


Cramps SUCK and they won't go away no matter what meds. I take grrr

Ice storm the Meltdown

Today is another day at home except it is now over 40degrees outside and sunny. A company came and cut down branches on the tree outside my house. I can now see my driveway!!! I still have a cable line down but I can work around it. Everything is melting more branches are falling. I have had electricity all day except for a little time this morning. (not bad) The trees are dripping as if they are crying tears of joy, but have a heavy heart as more of them break into pieces because of the weight. The town I live in is a mess, much like the surrounding area it truly is a shame to see all the trees broken and not able to be fixed, many will need to be cut down when this is all done and others will look a little naked waiting for years of regrowth to correct it’s unshapely appearance. I know that there is snow in the forecast for the upcoming weekend, but for the sake of my sanity I really hope not. Once again here are some more pictures of the meltdown in Missouri.

Venus Vs. Mars

Last night I was watching Oprah…they were talking about how men don’t understand women and women don’t understand men. Why is that?

One line that stuck out was “women keep crazy in a bottle for 6months while dating a man and then slowly opens it and lets the crazy seep out.” I was thinking…wow that sounds ridiculous at first…and then whoa isn’t that the truth? Isn’t it weird how man and woman are so different? How often do you keep some secrets from a person until you get more comfortable around them? This in my opinion goes for male and female. There are things you don’t want the opposite sex to know until they have known you for a while. That way they can’t just judge you on one incident. (that is why I wait to bring people home to meet the family…when you meet some you meet a lot of my family ‘cause it is a small town) What kinds of things do you keep from the other half of you? Hmmm For me it is being around them when I’m sick (really sick) or not wearing my glasses around them. It is a comfort thing. I’m not sure about the craziness part, I’m sure I get to be more talkative, more out going, more relaxed.

Men claim that women don't say what they mean. Well I’ll be the first to admit sometimes (not often I may go around saying what I mean) I’m not always straightforward and blunt, but 98% of the time I say what I mean like most women. Even if we say what we mean…. men don’t understand or end up reading too deep into what we are saying making it something new and meaningless or better yet they just tune us out.

When I ask for a man to pick something out to do or an opinion on something I’m looking at them participating in decision making, I don’t need them to make the right choices, just pick something or be involved in it. Like should I wear the black dress or the brown dress to dinner…doesn’t really matter to me which one, but I want participation from the man I’m dating. The question they asked to men on Oprah was if your girlfriend or wife was on a diet to loose 25-30lbs and you catch her digging into a chocolate cake what would you say or do? I don’t even know what I would do…my guess is I would give my man a stern look and take the cake into the other room and eat it myself or better yet split it so they weren’t eating as much.

Why is it that when hanging out with friends that are female you talk about guys and when hanging out with guys majority of the time all you hear about is sex related topics? If men were to write about what is important in a relationship…the main chapter would be what? *** Most women may have mentioned sex, but would have talked more about the verbal aspect of a relationship and then break that into smaller complicated parts.

Why is it women feel like they can’t eat in front of men? I know I went through that stage, but it was in high school ( I didn’t eat a lot any way) I don’t do it so much any more…I got pasted the “oh he might think I’m a pig stage” Don’t get me wrong sometimes I flat out can’t eat everything they put on a plate…most restaurants are giving double the serving size of what we should be eating. My stomach isn’t that big. Do men mind a girl who takes home a doggy bag?

Why is it that men don’t like to be challenged by women? If a women is better at something naturally over a man then the man gets a little stuck up and reserved or just all out claims they let you, the female, win at something so it wouldn’t hurt your feelings? I’m not good at a lot of things take pool for example I suck. Foosball I can kick a guys ass on if I’m in a bar and the table isn’t iced over smooth (I need friction and control). Men normally get uptight if they don’t have things their way when in comes to competition. (generalization)

What can I say on this topic…I’m not going to claim that women are more organized and generally cleaner than men…because lord knows I know that isn’t true. There are soooo many generalizations made and imbedded in us as we grow. For instance as a baby you are normally wearing a lot of pink as a girl and blue as a boy…you are playing with dolls and interested in beauty, and cooking as a girl and cars, dirt, and machinery as a boy. Those are things our own society markets as we are children. Every culture has its own ideal identity for the gender roles in their society. Times are changing...I'm not a big fan of pink (i'm trying to change it up a bit) I was the little girl who liked GI Joes, Legos, dirt, and bugs...I stilled liked Barbies, dolls, and dress up. I enjoyed having tea parties with my grandmother and gram'a Jan, but enjoyed playing on mounds of dirt a work sites of my dads.....I still don't fit any type of cookie cutter mold society would like to use on people. What kind of person are you? Are you a star shape cookie, heart, or maybe that holiday bell shape?

Well I’ve bounced around a lot in my typing today…keep in mind most things are just random.

BREAKING NEWS

Another day at home…with not a lot to do and BREAKING NEWS tomorrow is another day at home..... day 5 of missing school and day 7 of spending it alone. I want to go to school; I want to go back to work. I hope that we still get breaks that are scheduled and make up an extra week in May.

Yet another day of no school...

It was a little chilly this morning when I got up and didn't have power. Keith came down and took me to Wal-Mart (the only place that was open, the only place with electricity in the whole town, it has been closed for days) We got some clippers and trimmed the tree so that I can move my car. Today was the first day I had left my house since Friday. I was shocked at the damage all over town. This town was hit hard and I can't imagine how long it will take to clean up or where they are going to put it all.

No School AGAIN....

I'm so bored and still can't get out of my driveway...the school that I work at now has heat and power....but a water line broke so no school again tomorrow until they can get the high school cleaned up. I just got the internet to work about 5minutes ago and have been on the phone with electrical company and the cabel company...grrrr why do they always play such bad music when you are on hold, is it so people don't sing on the phone? I still have heat and water (i'm blessed) I'm just bored...going crazy from not leaving my house since friday night. Here are some more pictures!

No School

No School...I have nothing to do, but at least I have heat. Last night was a little chilly...the whole town was black...really black and I curled up in my bed with lots and lots of blankets. I'm not sure that we will have school tomorrow. If we do more branches have fallen and I can't get my car out to go there because of all the newly fallen branches.
I remember as a child ice storms weren't much fun either, I don't remember the year. I was young and it was October (right before Halloween) My sister and I were playing monopoly on her bed when the electricity went out. I remember going out to the shed to tell my dad, my mom was at work. When the electricity went out that also meant that we didn't have water either, because at that time we had well water (take electricity to pump up the water)
I remember mom bringing home pizza for dinner. When it got dark we lit the kerosene lamps all over the house and played Win Lose or Draw and 20questions. I remember not having school and the town canceling Halloween because of all the ice, snow, and cold temperatures. Well knowing that the town had already bought all that candy I remember walking a few streets with my cousin Josh and his mom. He was a lion just a mask and a tail I was some type of animal I think a peacock mask. We were both as bundled up as we could be. (we got a lot of candy that year) Ice storms...just meant that you couldn't get a glass of water from the sink...and you had a lot of time to spend playing games and playing outside. Now it is sleeping.....checking papers, and sleeping, catching up with friends on the phone.

ICE....ICE...and More ICE

I'm so glad to finally be able to get online. I haven't had cable or the Internet since Friday night and have been bored out of my mind. I can't really go anywhere and there isn't anybody to talk to. If you didn't know an ice storm has hit the lower Midwest. I've been in an ice storm before, but never have I heard or seen the damage being done (and it isn't over). I'm fortunate to have electricity most of the time, which means heat, and my tree out front hasn't gone through any windows or hit my car (so things aren’t all bad) Earlier I said I could hear the damage. Well just lying in bed you could hear the trees break and limbs fall to the ground it is an eerie feeling to hear such a sound and question where it came from. Well I don’t think we will be having school tomorrow, but who knows? I placed some pictures on here. The first one is off a bush from the first ice storm back at the end of November and now look at the bush. This is it melted.....week later!

ICE Pictures

....more pictures of the storm

What is you status?

Oprah, yes I watch it on occasion (because it is on later now) I was watching it tonight and they were talking about class…. It totally got me thinking.
What class are you in now, what class do you hope to be in some day, what class were you in as a child, does class matter? Does the “ American dream” seem real? Does a work ethic change for each class? Does your class have to do with luck, just the way you were brought up, or your parents? Questions on my mind.

3 class indicators: (according to the man on Oprah)…I just happen to agree with this.
weight, teeth, dialect (local means not as educated)

Well I personally feel like I grew up in lower class, we didn’t have a lot as children…bargin hunters were we, playing in the mud, going to work with dad. I didn’t know any different, and I didn’t feel like I stood out in school until like jr. high. In jr. high girls started wearing name brand jeans that cost $100 and I knew that that wasn’t an option…nor did I think that was a smart choice. Still to this day I’m the same way (favorite store is the Dollar Tree everything is $1.) I don’t like to pay more for a swimming suit with less material than a pair of jeans. My parents worked hard, they always worked at owning things…they own their house, they own their land…they aren’t in debt to anyone…they are on their own. They worked to graduate college and I feel that they are in the upper middle class now just looking at the amount of money that they bring it. I am in aw that they have always had a strong work ethic and spend money with the intent of bettering something and not just to be spending it.
I personally feel like I am middle class, because I have more than others material wise, I am educated (meaning I have a college education)….but financially because I’m just out of college it would appear that I’m lower class based on the $ or lack their of.
I hope to own my own house someday…and be out of dept and be rather happy just to be in middle class.
I don’t think I would want to be upper class, I want to make sure that work ethic, pride, and education is all apart of my future child’s being and knowing many people in all sorts of class levels…the upper class loses a lot of the ideals that makes America great. The gap in the U.S. is so great….there are really poor and really rich and not so many in between…I want to just be in the middle.

Frustration

Frustration of the new year…I have so much house work it is unreal, my classroom wasn’t even clean when I got back to school (janitor quit the first day of Christmas break) and then my computer crashed on the full work day we had yesterday, the day I needed to put grades in, the day I needed to make the newsletter for the new year, the day I had all day to work and research things…grrr. Today was ok. Late start day, I treated it like the first day of school review each rule and going over our positive goals in our class. I started new “club” more like tricking my students into making goals for themselves this semester. They are really getting into it. I hope they keep it up.
More frustrations….a teacher that can’t do things with their own creative spark…since the beginning of the year (he/she) has to copy everything I do, which normally won’t bother me to take an idea an run with it…but that isn’t what is going on. It is like they are lacking in the ablility to teach and no matter how many ideas I through their way they don’t truly listen because their class is just out of control and there is no going back….grrr I don’t want to say no you can’t use this or that….but when they don’t take it upon themselves to research and get ideas or what not it pisses me off. This was me venting…sorry. All I have to say is if you think that you are or wanting to be a teacher...then work towards it...set goals....it isn't all a natural ability thing...it isn't just the love of kids that makes you what you are.

Happy New Year

Bringing in the New Year, Did you A) Watch the ball drop on TV B) don't remember much of New Year's Eve because you were to trashed C) spent it with a group of your friends D) spent it alone or a sleep because it is just another day?

I was watching the ball drop on the tube and the first thing that popped into my head was, I hope that you wouldn't have to go to the restroom during that time. How do you walk through a million people on the street saying excuse me, I'm going to pee my pants, while doing it politely? The color of the night seemed to be red (was there significance around that?)

New Year’s resolution to myself: read a book (personal not for any other reason than reading it for entertainment) work on a six pack (I would be ok with a 4pk, I can dream can’t I ;-) ) I’m not saying the loose weight thing (just being sick week after week or so it feels) ummm oh I have another one. I plan on getting published or working toward that! I think that about covers it.

Have a Happy New Year

John John

He is going to be such a lady's man!

Happy Holiday

The cards were signed, sealed, stamped, and sent. Christmas parties were in full swing at school and there are cookies everywhere. It is the time for the roads to be filled and cars to be filled to the rim with gifts and luggage. Christmas is a wonderful time for most, sad times for others. I personally like the traditions that Christmas brings. In our family we start out by going to Christmas eve service and then opening one present before going off to bed. My mother now, still to this day, waits until everyone is ready for bed and puts things in our stockings. Christmas day we always get up (not so early any more) and open gifts and have a large lunch that normally includes ham and noodles. Christmas in our home use to not be about material items per say. We normally only got things that you have needed all year long like new socks, pajamas, and all that kind of stuff. I only remember getting the unnecessary things like dolls, blocks, and games from my grandparents. Money normally came in envelopes that are placed in the tree resting on the branches. Every year we use to get my grandfather a Budweiser holiday stein that is only issued once a year, since he has passed I have continued to pass that tradition on with my father. When he built the addition on the house he built a shelf to display the steins. Those are my Christmas traditions not counting the way that I decorate my tree after Thanksgiving and all of that jazz.
I have traveled home for break, spent time at my parents, joined my friends for a little girly gathering with games and holiday drinks. Managed to get the flu Christmas Eve, (come to find out like many of my other friends…bla) Christmas day I spent in a chair, eating little, and sleeping as much as I could. John (nephew) fell on a pan and had to go to the emergency room to get staples put in his chin. I came up to my sisters after that, did the sale shopping after Christmas in Des Moines and met up with Mr. Hopper for hot chocolate and a stroll around the mall. I went to Ames and saw some of the formative year gang, lunch with Leah, met with Pastor Osslund and Pastor Mark, then for ice cream with Phil at Cold Stone. I hung out with Anderson and his parents whom I haven’t seen in a while and with Eberly. I was in a room full of too many Josh(es).
I’m heading home on the 31st to Missouri, skipping RUSH, because of the fear of getting stuck or having it take forever to get home on the 1st and having to be at school on the 2nd all day. Without going to RUSH I feel a little empty right now, like I’m missing out on something special. This is Pastor O’s last time before he retires from ministry and becomes a full time grandfather. I miss out on Jason’s birthday and seeing his family, filling up the box of transgressions and lighting them on fire out at the point on New Year’s Eve. I miss the devotions and the game of mafia that we sit around and play out of tradition and fun. I miss the worship and the feeling of renewal of my spirit.
How is your new year starting off? Do you have ambitions, goals for yourself. The typical “I want to loose weight, eat less” doesn’t apply to me and I normally don’t set a new year’s resolution. I do have goals for myself like writing a book or two, getting published in magazines or with a book company, another goal is to redo my resume to get ready for a decision that I will need to be making soon about my future in education…where will I teach? Another goal for myself is to find a new friend or two, to find a companion. That leaves the door open for meaning a dog or a man.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas Card

Dear Friends and Family,

Tis the time of year when the stores are filled with Christmas items, decorations, gift baskets, and everything in-between. The televisions have holiday shows one after another and radio’s fill the airways with holiday music. Most of us are sitting inside away from the cold, but secretly wishing for a white Christmas.
The last few days I’ve to enjoyed snow-days, when school is closed and the roads are packed with ice and snow. It is a wonderful time to scoop the drive, sit by the warm heat with a cup of my favorite hot chocolate, and make my very own snow angels in the backyard.
The year is going by quickly and I start to think about holiday plans and even plans for the upcoming year. School is wonderful, for those who don’t know, I’m teaching down in the Ozarks in southwest Missouri. It is taking a lot of time to get use to the area, but my fifth grade students and cheerleaders are magnificent. All is well. Over Thanksgiving my sister, brother-in-law, and my nephew John (14months of age) came to my parents’ in southwest Iowa. The weather was breathtaking; we spent a lot of time outside soaking up the fall air. We will all be joining together at my parents’ again this Christmas season. Being farther away from home makes me appreciate the opportunity to spend time with my family, friends, and all the things I feel I left behind to go on to the next stage in my life as I start my career in education.
Christmas is a great time to bring families together, many people focus on the gift giving and the real spirit of Christmas has faded in to the background. Suppose you could give a gift to Christ, what would it be? I caught Red Boots for Christmas, a children’s Christmas cartoon on television just yesterday. An older shoemaker has been visited by and angel and told that he going to be given a great gift from God. In return he wanted to give something back to God. He went all over town to find the best gift he could. When he couldn’t find it he decided to make the best pair of shoes with only the best materials he had. On Christmas he was prepared to give that gift to God, the best gift he could. God didn’t come to him like he thought. There was a little girl, homeless, cold, and wearing a hole filled pair of shoes while walking through the snow. The shoemaker ran inside to get the boots from the window. He gave the red, spectacular boots, the best he has ever made, to the little girl.
How could you possibly select a gift for the One who not only has everything, but who made everything? The Wise Men did. They, like the man in the movie, can be an example to us this holiday season and all year round. In addition to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they gave the Savior some gifts we can still give him today: hope, time, and worship. The wise men came to seek Christ, to give their gifts, show their presence so that we can do the same. You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Christmas has taken a turn in the wrong direction. The reason for the season isn’t a jam-packed stores and gifts overflowing under neither the tree. It is a birthday celebration to share with the world. Think of the gift you want to give to each other out of love and friendship, but also think about the gifts you can give because of the love of Christ to those you don’t even know. The reason for the Christmas season is Christ.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,


Kris

school site

i haven't had time to edit my side pannel or switch blogs so here is the site to my school site!

www.exeter5grade.blogspot.com

snow days

Well I have been shut into my house now since Thursday! We had a little ice/ snow storm. Teachers enjoy not having school just like the students do. I did get out to shovel my drive, went a while without electricity for a few hours, and had one tree broken into 4 smaller pieces because of the weight of all the ice. My neighbor said that this is the most snow they have gotten total in 3 years….I must have brought that Iowa weather with me. I was going to be sad if I missed all the beautiful snow!
My small break wasn’t all it was cracked up to be the only thing I have done is sleep, eat, sleep some more and today I got ¾ of my Christmas cards ready to send out.
I hope all is well in the world, I don’t get out much in it any more. I went home for Thanksgiving break and spent time with my family, went to a lighted parade, played in the park with some beautiful children, and met the girls for doughnuts and drinks down on main street. Before that was my birthday…someday it is hard to remember how old I am, the older I get the more I have to think about it. 24 that is my age….it is young I know, but some days it feels very old. For my birthday some of my co-workers and friends went to the new bond movie (would love to know what people thought of it) and went what was suppose to be ice cream end up at Applebee’s for a drink and chocolate cake. Well I’m off to bed…little up date on my life it is hard to keep up with so many small writing tasks. I hope everyone is in the holiday spirit!
God Bless

Ps sorry if this makes no sense and has many errors…I typed and didn’t reread any of it.

Talk about the Weather

“Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value.” ~Albert Einstein

Last night I went through a box to find my old poms. If you didn’t know I am coaching cheerleading (again J ). I found a quote in a box along with many fine memories of high school; it is amazing how times seemed not so good then, always stressed and all that jazz….now I look back and wish some days I could have it just that easy.

School is almost to a break, which is great. Thanksgiving break, a great time to go back home and spend time with my family and a girly get together. Oh and a break so I’m not so grumpy with my students would be great!

I know my students are trying or attempting to try to listen and behave, but I haven’t really been feeling well since last week. Friday I lost my voice and it isn’t fully back yet. I have bronchial infection of some sort. We had a carnival on Friday too, talk about stress level at an all time high. My classroom was awesome. Pitch black with student traipsing around scaring people, livers, worms, and bloody eyeballs, cob webs everywhere.

So back to my quote above….why did I type it? Well today in a meeting we talked about Ruby Pyane and her books written on poverty. Talking about rules that we have in middle class, upper class, and in lower class. I thought about what class level I fall in. I thought about the things that are important to me…and what are important in other class levels. To me success is important, not just success today…but in the future as well. Sometimes working towards that success is blinding and I feel like that takes away from my value as a person cause I don’t always focus on the goals in front of me and making the full connection with people around me. As much as I want to be successful in my life I want to be excepted in many different lights as a hard working person with good values. What are your values...that may define values in the class that you place yourself in society?


Sorry for the ramble…it was either this or the rainbow I saw on my way to school this morning even though there was no rain. ….or I could talk about how it is suppose to be 80 tomorrow…it is fall…80 degrees blows my mind!

Yeild Sign

Ever feel like life is at a dead end? I’m not sure I’m there at a deadend, but I just feel like I’m driving down the road and I’m stuck behind a really slow vehicle and there isn’t any place to pass them. You know it is possible, but there is on coming traffic. Well that is what life feels like….I have things coming at me…I can deal, but I’m hesitant, I’m at a slow down…not quite a yield. I can’t wait until coming to Iowa! School is going great, I get called the over achiever because I don’t have a life outside of school yet. I get my grades done on time, I decorate my classroom. (spider webs for October, how very fun) I pray that my life gets a jump start I don’t like yield signs.

Baby John

Guess who took some steps!!! I can't wait to come to Iowa one week!!!

5 Years of Remembering

5 years ago today my grandfather passed away. I sit here in my living room and it feels like it was yesterday…911 was called at 2:08pm they said my grandfather suffered from a heart attack. He was dead when the ambulance arrived. My grandma tried to save him. I remember being at work after a long day as a freshman in college. My parents were suppose to meet me in Clarinda for dinner something we hadn’t done since we were all so busy. We had planned it all week. I was outside on the playground with some 3 year olds when my boss Shirly came out and said I was to go to Corning as soon as I could. I knew right then something was wrong, but didn’t know what. So many things flashed in my mind. I ran and got my stuff and started driving. It is a 40min drive to Corning from work and the whole time I just kept trying to get a hold of my parents and anybody else I could. I finally got a hold of my sister as I hit hwy 34. By that time the tears were steaming down my cheeks. My sister didn’t know what was going on but would keep calling to find out. 5min later she called and told me the news. I had just reached corning and stopped at my other grandmother’s store to collect myself, because of so many tears and shaking so hard I couldn’t drive.
I had seen him the day before and he was fine, he looked so good. He had just got back from being in the hospital with some blood infection and pneumonia. I was going to be seeing him that evening before a game. ( I was coaching at the time) He had just come back from a little vacation with my grandma at the clay county fair in spencer. Since 9/11 he had been stressed and worried about things. I feel that my grandmothers thinks it may have been too much for his heart. I never thought his heart would go, I always thought it would be his lungs (one lung and didn’t quit smoking until about 6months before his death)
I remember rushing to hold my grandmother. His face looked like he hadn’t shaved in days. His skin was blue and purple tent. I couldn’t stay at the hospital. I left soon after and went to the church and cried for what felt like eternity on the altar.
I made it back before they took his body away. I touched his right hand and left the room so my great grandmother could spend a minute alone. She out lived both her children and her husband.
I had never cried so much.
I remember staying at my grandma’s that night, she slept in his bed and cried all night. I don’t remember going to class that next day or work. I went to SYAP at the high school I coached for and ended up in tears while Josh held me up and gave me a tight embrace.
My grandpa and I were really close, we were sooooo much alike. We are very rational thinkers, most often like to eat the same food…like bacon. He stood me and listened to me. I saw him almost every day. When I was born they moved to Colorado to live with us and then came back to Iowa with us. I miss him and it is hard to know that he never got to meet his great grandson or to see any of his grandchildren get married.
Here is the end of my little saga of remembrance.
“ To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O Lord.” Psalm 25: 1,2

Gas Prices

Can you believe the gas prices? Honestly I didn’t think I would see the price go under $2.50 in my life time again. $2.09 I remember when I was 14 and just started driving gas was $0.98 then I remember when it got over $1.50 wow what a leap…then it hit $3.00.
Grades are due by Wednesday…..wow the pressure of perfection and not procrastinating. All through college I worked well under pressure paper after paper. I think I can do the same here…even though I haven’t been procrastinating anything.

I went shopping today, got a nice bottle of wine to start of the next episode of nip/tuck!

Oooo and Today was the ISU vs. Iowa game. Sad day L I can’t wait to come up and go tailgating for the ISU vs. Nebraska game! Dancing in Ames will be a nice treat too!
Hoping by October my little nephew will be walking???
This is just random thoughts!

In the Fog

Do you ever feel lost in the Fog. Hidden from things? How think is the fog really? This morning I drove to school in the thickest fog I have seen in a long while. For most of the drive I sat in silence. (not normal for me...singing is the only way to get to school) Back to the fog...the thickness really made me think about how think everything always feels to me in my life. That may sound ridiculous...but My life is so full of stuff that fogs my judgment on everything else. Since I moved I have tried to focus on finding a church, getting along with my peers at school settling down with my career. I am struggling on finding myself...I don't feel like myself...I'm all foggy. I don't want to say depressed, cause I'm not...a little nub, confused...sure. I know that the foggy drive I can make it through and with God's mighty hand the fog always clears. In the back of my mind I can't wait to go back home to see my family, my friends. I have none of those things where I'm at and people are either way to old or way to young and in grade school...there isn't much in-between. I have been contemplating going to the Y just to me people....to be social (to me that is just sad) I don't really look forward to much at the end of the day, I just hope that I get better at leaving my school work at school and not letting my career take over my life. Any ideas for some low cost hobbies?


ps school blog http://exeter5grade.blogspot.com/

How or What do you remember?

Monday, September 11, 2006

We started reading about volcanoes today in reading. There seems to be tons of questions on the topic. English we are focusing on nouns. Today team one (the left side of the room) won by a land slide with a game of Name that Noun. We had buzzers and everything. The math test didn’t go as well as planned. It appeared people are forgetting all of the divisibility rules: 2 goes into the product if it is an even number, 5 goes into the product if the number ends with a zero or 5, 10 goes into it if the number ends with a zero, and 3 goes into the product if the sum of the digits is divisible without a remainder. Ex 123 is divisible by 3 because 1+2+3=6 and 3 goes into 6 evenly. The rule is the same for 9 except the sum of the digits must be divisible by 9. The last rule we learned is that 6 is a factor if the number is divisible by 2 and 3. We got brand new journals the other day. We write normally for 3-4 mins. Without stopping everyday before lunch. Today we talked about the students feelings of remembering 9-11. “Where were you when the airplanes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?” Most replied in kindergarten or preschool learning. They said they remembered seeing it on the TV a little bit and heard it on the radio. “How has this event effected your life?” It hasn’t? “What about those you know in the Armed Forces?” Response was Oh Yeah! “ What has changed in our country since that day?” 1 replied airport security has gone up….there was nothing else said. They were asked to go home and ask this question to their parents….and how did their parents feel, where were they when 9-11 happened? If not that situation have them think back to when JFK was assassinated. Teacher: I wasn’t alive when JFK was assassinated, but 9-11 I remember clearly. I remember I was a freshman in college leaving my parents house and commuting to school. I was driving when information came over the radio and no one was clear as to what was going on. I felt shocked and scared. I knew we had been in red alert. I remember trying to call my dad. He is in the service and I couldn’t get a hold of him. I was crying all the way to school. I walked in to my first class with a solemn look on my face. No body new what was going on and we found a tv with cable and turned to CNN. All morning not a TV was off, nobody attended classes hoping to do work. I remember not going to work that day because I couldn’t get a hold of my dad. I have family friends 3blocks from where the crash took place, I have friends and acquaintances in D.C.. I feared for their lives. I remember the days after 9-11 with SYAP a students’ right movement of prayer outside my old high school and a moment of silence that following week. My grandfather entered into the hospital after being glued to the TV. The thought of my father having to go off to war was setting at the back of his mind and was ultimately stressing him to the point where his heart gave out. He died later following the tragedy of 9-11.Question of the day: Where were you when the 2 towers fell, when people gave up thier lives for those of the unknown, when the side of the Pentagon was hit? How did if feel? How will you remember?

Running in the Rain

Can you believe what a beautiful day? You may think what in the world is she thinking…it has been raining all night….not just a little sprinkle, the full down pour. I am in Southwest Missouri now and they are just as dry as every other part of the mid west. This rain is a delight. I woke up this morning to a bird running into my bedroom window…(didn’t die) My windows aren’t clean like the Windex commercials so I don’t know what its deal was…lol After the rude awakening I decided…it isn’t 100 degrees outside so I should go for a run. What a run it was…nice and cool. I came back extremely soaked, but it felt wonderful. The whole time I was running I was thinking that people sometimes say that the rain is God crying…I would like to think of each drop as an answered prayer at this point in time. For those of you who love rain go take a run!
God Bless

school days

Wow I made it through the first week of school. I got kids in my class on Wednesday. Most are the same size as me, but they still call me ma’m. I am enjoying the idea of teaching….but scheduling my time and making sure that everything gets covered in the day sure is tough. I find myself thinking about what I need to get done for school even out boating this weekend. I can’t wait until I get in a stedy rutine. I can’t believe that the next break I have is Labor day weekend…Oh and I’m looking forward to coming back to Ames for Amanda’s wedding in Oct. and staying for 5 whole days! Little John didn’t recognize me and I was only gone for a few weeks….so sad. I miss not being in college I will admit. I miss seeing my friends. I get along with my co-workers and hope that I can build on that relationship with all of them. I am longing to find a church down south still. I hope things are going well for you, the reader. Well I’m off to work some more.

First Day Jitters

Tomorrow is my first day with kids....please pray for me......not sure I'm ready!

All Move and nothing to Do

Well here I am….sitting in my house way down in southern Missouri. I went to set up part of my classroom. It is huge…as far as classrooms are concerned. I’m excited to start school and get on with the whole new step in my life.
The move down here didn’t start of so smoothly. Friday it was raining in Iowa all morning and in fear of getting my favorite couch really wet we didn’t get on the road until like 9am 3 hours later than planned. Then the lights kept going out on the trailer (which was packed full….I know I have a lot of stuff) We got to my new house that I am renting for now. Got everything unpacked even though it smelled like know one had let air in the house for years. (nice and musky)Not too mention really BUGGY. The pink bathroom is ok, meaning I’m getting use to it. I planted some greenery outside in front to make it more homey for me, but I’m not sure they are going to live cause the soil down here is hard and there is little rain right now. I went to the lake tubing on Sunday, managed to get a good upper body work out and feel the burn as well as the burn on my body…nice and red. Oh did I mention that I’m feeling alone down here and a little different. I know Keith is helping a lot, but I miss my family and friends back home. I can’t even go for a walk around here without the strange looks and honking. People are a little scary. At least my neighbors are really nice. There is this older couple that lives across the path from me that seem great. The people at my school are nice, a little scatted right now but nice. I hope everyone keeps in touch and knows how much I miss them.
God Bless your day~Love Kris

Moving Day

I successfully passed my Spanish classes with flying colors if I do say so myself. Taking two years worth of Spanish in 35 days isn’t bad….don’t think I would ever do it again. I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything this summer because I was in class everyday for two months. I haven’t been working any where or at least not enough to do any good financially. I have spent the last week in my home town or at my parents’ house I should say. I got to watch my nephew all week (which is more tiring than one may think) He is almost 9 months…but is very intelligent has is close to standing on his own. He has a wonderful recognition of everything and responds well to things. Fine motor…great…throwing ability is massive. Give the boy a beach ball and a bos and he is set for the day. I came home yesterday with a bunch of stuff to pack….my sister was nice enough to help me and it was still late when we went to bed. (not past midnight)…but I was up at 4:30am with her son so I was “hitting a wall” it is starting to sink in that I may not see a bunch of people ever again…and how drastically my life is about to turn. My dad came up and we loaded all of my stuff up filling a whole trailer nice and tight in just under an hour. Now it is cleaning time. I’m going to spend my week visiting people and saying some good byes and see ya laters. I want to make a memory page for a scrapbook from some of my favorite places in Ames so I will do that some time this week if anyone is up for a walk give me a shout out. Don’t let this 100degree weather get ya down! Well I’m off to nap and then get cleaning. Hope all is well in the world…I’m moving ONE week from today…..wow….where does the time go. Missouri can’t be that bad can it. I was given a lot of advice…I’m not sure I want to follow example: knock out a few teeth…get some flannel…forget a few letters here and there when I talk, grow a mullet….find a cousin that I know and date him instead of my boyfriend…..I could go on with other helpful advice but I don’t think I’m going to take any of it because it all scares me.

PS Side Note:if you have moved and I don’t have you new address please send me a little postcard so I can write it down or just message me via email.

Summer Blues

Wow it has been a long time. My internet hasn’t wanted to work fast enough to do anything so I apologize for the long awaited side notes of my life.

Well things are going well. I’m overwhelmed and stressed out. The story of my life….but at the same time anxious and excited to be moving on in my life.
I am currently taking some fast track espanol. Which I will tell you SUCKs. I don’t think I have ever studied so much in my life and that isn’t even a full effort. I had a finally this past Friday and am starting the second round of what is going to be a hard, long, boring 4 weeks.
I started back to work at Formative Years…last resort to making money that and Target didn’t want to hire me to work for just a month. Ggrrrrrr o-well. Ciara and I have hit up a lot of garage sales on early Saturday mornings (I have found a lot of really good stuff for school!) I realized garage sale-ing is only fun if you go with lots of friends, you can talk people down by ½ the price, and you can drive all kinds of crazy.
John (my nephew) now has 6 teeth 4 on top and 2 on the bottom. He is full of drool so some more are bound to come in this week. 7 months old…wow where does the time go? He can sit up, army crawl everywhere….and pull himself up on things as well as walk everywhere using walkers and your fingers. I get to see him every 3 weeks or so, but soon it will only be once a month or every other month depending on what is going on.
I am moving to Monett Missouri in a month. Starting school the first part of August. I’m so excited and over planned for before even getting there. I have talked with some up coming 5th graders I know in the area and they have given me the inside scoop on what to expect. I will miss so many people here at ISU and in my home town…and state. I will return. The school I am at doesn’t have a spring break instead they space it out amongst the different months there aren’t holiday breaks and create seasonal breaks using 4day weekends! I have lots of weddings coming up so Congrats to Amanda (October) Taylor &Ann (July) Jen (August) and my cousin Josh E. (this fall?)and another cousin Kendra getting married next fall! Oh and who could forget Luke (July wedding) I can’t believe that people I babysat for as young children are getting married too….wow! (I’m getting old)
Well I’m off to get some packing started. I don’t want to feel to rushed when moving, I’m already freaking at so many other things in my life….I want to take my time on what I can.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer. God Bless.

college graduate

College Grad am I.


Now what am I giong to do? I have interviewed at several schools and I have been praying that I can figure it out soon so I can plan the rest of the year. Am I going to teach 5th grade....kindergarten....grrr the frustration. I currently have 5 job offers on the table and another interview today. All are in Missouri. The other day though I got the erge to teach in Iowa...but I don't think that is going to happen.

Congrats to all those who have finished their student teaching and for all my friends that graduated college.


I realized that a lot of the people I know and have enjoyed spending the last three years with I may never see again. :-( That makes me sad, it makes me want to stick around ISU. I don't like huge changes all at once they kind of scare me.

Waiting Game

Playing the waiting game…
It is almost my nap time…my eyes are getting heavy. Yesterday I spent all day in my car driving….I could probably tell you how many times I sang the same exact song over and over again. I managed to fit in 3 interviews in all different directions in to one 8hour school day and still make it back home so that I wouldn’t miss the farm field trip my kindergarteners have been looking forward to.
I’m playing the waiting game….sitting and waiting so I can go on to the next step of planning where I’m going to live, what grade I have to prep for, what role I have to take on next. I have had three interviews and another school (4) that offered me a position straight up—which I turned down. I have heard back from one school today….and still want to hold out that better offers that may arise. I’m still waiting, I have more interviews that I’m lining up as the phone calls come in this week. I’m not stressing out yet, heck I didn’t even prep for my interview…(thought that might be a little to nerve racking for me)

I'm just waiting....what is next?

Direction

Today pastor brought up how most of us are looking for direction in life. I know I’m not the only one. I will say that things seem to be fitting into place. I don’t have a job yet, but I’m not worried. I’m not sure where I’m going to be living come July, but I’m not worried. I am more excited than anything. I can’t wait to have my own classroom, teach thing that I want to teach (following standards J) I can’t wait to be some where new…taking that next step in my life. I know that it will be hard going somewhere and not knowing anybody. I promise you this…I’m not going to be hanging out with parents and teachers all the time….I need to find a hobby maybe something athletic that I can find some friends. I guess you could say I’m concerned with teaching consuming my life. I don’t want that to happen…I know it has for the most part now. The only time I have seen my friends this month is when I had to call them to come help me jump my car this week. Graduation is like 5 weeks away, I can’t believe college is almost done.

Can you believe that March is over and April is here? Last year I played some great April fool's jokes...not one trick this year :-(

God Bless, have a wonderful week!

Spring Break

Spring break is here. I am enjoying my time to sleep in, lay around doing nothing, play games like fooseball, air hockey, and quiddler. I am eating a bunch and enjoying every minute. Tomorrow I meet up with my parents for some quality time for the next few days before heading back to their home and visiting some friends. I get to see my nephew on Sunday....and then head back home to sleep in my very own bed....right before heading back to kindergarten. Oh and amoungst the sleep and eating I'm writing lesson plans and applying for jobs and all that fun stuff too.
I hope everyone is enjoying a little break. Please pray for the memorial group that went to help rebuild down south and for a friend who is in Africa who has malaria. God Bless you on this Tuesday.

DAY 1

18 kindergarteners will make any sane person tired. Today went well some quotes that I will walk away from this experience is: “Cheesy Easy” “Meatball and Spaghetti Space” “Flew out of your head” “Kiss your Brain” Not only did I hang out observing in the classroom today, but I also observed in a K-3 resource room. It is a little weird knowing some of the students in the school that I am at. (haven’t had that feeling the last 3 schools I have been at)

I am doing devotion on Wednesday night I’m going to sit everyone down on the ground and do a read-aloud. It is the teacher in me what can I say. lol I am reading You Are Special by Max Lucado. I am focusing on how each person has their own talents and gifts we don’t always show them at the right times or we don’t use them for all that they could be used for.

What is new in my life….well not as much drama, the soap opera has come to a close…JBD hasn’t been out in over a month. I have managed to be ill for almost 3 weeks now. Student death center hasn’t really been much help. Spring break plans involve me riding down to see Keith and catching up with my parents for a little vacation while still trying to apply for a job. Oh and I get to see my nephew (who is getting so big)

Being in college I know that it is hard to keep in contact with people, but I’m trying hard. If I haven’t talked to you for a while don’t feel bad, I’m just really busy. Drop me a hello tho and I will reply back asap.

I hope everyone is doing great and I pray for blessings to come into your lives.
God Bless

Student teaching

Well done with the first 8 weeks without getting lice. Now I'm off to teach kindergarten, I'll need your prayers.
I haven't posted anything in a long time because I have been sick and my computer hasn't wanted to work...sorry for those who read these posts.

Color My Mood

I'm working on a poetry unit currently the one for tomorrow is having them fill in the color words to match them...so I thought I would share mine.

Color My Mood
By Mary Sullivan and _______________________

Colors name the way we feel.
When we’re angry or we’re sad.

I’m blue when I’m lonely.
I’m red when I’m mad.
I’m green when I’m jealous.
I’m orange when I’m glad.
I’m purple when I’m good.
I’m black when I’m bad.

And I made up a new name
For when I’m feeling mellow.

I think I’m gonna call it:
Lemon Jell-O yellow!

John and Me on an early Saturday Morning!

so big, big smile

Sister, Me, Kendra just like the good o'l days

best thing to do ever...sleep

Me and Kyra

Kendra (cousin) and the shocking look of meeting her for the first time

Soooo Pretty

Most of the Gang

Baby Shower for Casey (Friend) and her little new born Kyra

direction

My prayer tonight is that I find direction. I have been offered a job in Washington to watch three kids for a week, they would fly me out and everything. However it is my first week at Gilbert. I don't know what to do. I would love to go out and not have to pay for the entire trip...I would love to watch some kids and get a feel for a new area.

Also direction in life as a whole, my prayer is for where do I go from here...graduation is around the corner.