Zach and Nathana

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Aubrie, Happy birthday to you! Uncle Zach and I want to tell you some important things on your 4th birthday! First of all, you are our favorite niece! ; ) Second, we love you and your sweet, funny personality so much! Uncle Zach loves the cadence of when you pronounce his name, "Zach-uh-ry," instead of Zach. I love that one of the first words you ever said was a variation of "Zach!" : ) You love your Uncle so much, and I love to watch how much he loves you! We love that you never forget to pass out your mooches when you leave, even if we have to bribe you into giving them to us sometimes! : ) You don't remember it, but one time down at Granny and Papaw's farm, Zach rocked you to sleep in the rocking chair. You were faking sleep, so then I got to hold you and rock you all the way to sleep! It was a memory of the three of us I will never forget. It was just sweet. I love that I am your Aunt and

That is actually on a Thursday! 1. My work load feels like a heavy burden that has been lifted since I completed and submitted my portfolio Sunday night! It was my last undergraduate assignment to turn in, and let me tell you, it felt wonderful, amazing, relieving, any word you can think of for "good," that's how it felt! 2. I am praying that I get more interviews so I can find a job! 3. Since I'm on a "me" kick, I would like to continue my countdown to graduation. It's only 10 days away! 4. I only have 6 days of student teaching left. This leaves me bewildered and astounded that it is has flown by so quickly and befuddled because I have a constant voice in my head saying What will you do if you don't get a job? Then I remember that I am not supposed to worry: Cast all your anxiety on him for he cares for you.- (1 peter 5:7) I like that voice in my head much better than my own thoughts. We, or should I say, I, need to fully put it in His hands so th

because I just couldn't fit it in to my Thursday! 1. First of all, some very exciting news! I have a job interview for an elementary position this Monday! I am simply thrilled that I even have an interview! Please pray for me on Monday! 2. Zach didn't have to go to work today. Lucky man! He did deserve a day off though because he has been working so hard! 3. Nellie enjoyed having her Daddy home so much today! Much better to her than staying in her crate all day. 4. We went to IHOP with Ryan and Kayleigh tonight. It was soooooo yummy. 5. I now have two weeks until graduation! It doesn't seem real to me, not yet. I'm not even sure it will feel like reality when it's going on. I'll just have to see. Oh, by the way, everybody is invited. USI had invitations, but they weren't pretty, and I had the brilliance to think that everyone who was invitied would know it. I guess I'll find out on May 8th, huh? 6. I sang "Jingle Bells" in Latin to my kids toda

It's the goal of everyone. We all have different things we are trying to make it through. Some of us struggle through work, some through school (cough, cough.. me!), and some even through everyday life. I've been thinking lately "Goodness, there have been so many bad days. I am never going to get through this." I forgot in my simple "human-ness" (Silly human ways that are much too worldy) that God gives those incredibly bad and difficult days so that we can fully appreciate the splendor of those great days. This weekend was just plain bad with all of the work that I was doing, I thought there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Then it occured to me that Easter was this next Sunday, and that I get the celebrate the Light! : ) That thought brought me so much pleasure and I can not wait to celebrate Easter with our church family. So whatever surviving you are up to this week, whether it is school and finals, work, marriage, or just plain old life, remember

1. It was craaaaaazy at school today, with a side of insanity. The kids were slow to liven up, and then I wished they hadn't! (Or at least not as much as they did!) 2. This weekend is the ever so "classy" tri-fest in Henderson. We can't wait to get some Philly Cheesesteaks and Gyros! 3. We are babysitting tonight, which will be fun because we haven't seen the kids in over a month! 4. Nellie got into brush and tall grass this weekend and came out with over 25 ticks on her. I just pulled off three more that had bitten into her! So gross and I hate to do it! Ticks are one of the creatures that I wonder why God would create them. They really serve no purpose! 5. I graduate in 20 days! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? This has gone by so incredibly fast. 6. My load for school is massive. I have to finish my portfolio for student teaching, lesson plans for all of next week (when I will be teaching everything), a paper evaluating my own interview I had to record online, and two r

For my sanity's sake, I can't do a ten on Thursday tonight because I have 500 things on my plate at the moment. I will try to get something up on here tomorrow or Saturday! I just wanted to make sure ya'll knew I wasn't a slacker or anything! ; )

Wow, this week has been a blur! 1. My first field trip with my 3rd graders was yesterday. We went Ag day out at the 4-H fair grounds. The kids got to see all kinds of farm animals and tasted things like fruits, vegetables, cheese, and fresh-churned butter. They seemed to really enjoy it! They even had enough energy for an outdoor recess when we got back to school. Mrs. Daub and I were exhausted, though! 2. My birthday is now 2 days away. I can't believe it. Seriously, how can I be almost 22? I know it will be a fun day though, and I am eager to see what Zach got me! 3. Our lap tops from college are ka-put, so last night we bought a new one. It's an hp something-or-other and we really like it! 4. Zach goes next week to register for classes at USI! (So glad I don't have to this time!) 5. One month from tomorrow, I will graduate from college! It is so crazy that it has been 4 years. I can definitely look back and say college went by much faster than high school! (Thank you, L

Many of you know that my family has a busy time in April with birthdays! I like to call it "Birthday week!" Yesterday was my Mama's birthday and tomorrow is my Daddy's birthday. I am doing a post today to cover both and it is perfect that it is a day between both! God has blessed me with the best parents ever created. (Although, let's be honest, and I am shamelessly biased. Zach also happens to think that he was blessed with the best mother-in-law and father-in-law ever as well.) They have taught me so many things, and I know they aren't finished yet. They are the example of the parents I want Zach and I to be someday. I want us to always love our children unconditionally even when they color on the walls (like Suzanne) or cut their baby sister's curls off (Okay, that one was me.) They have never let me live in the assumption that life is all easy (even though my childhood pretty much was) and they have taught me to work hard for the things I want. They to

Today is our Nellie Girl's 8 month birthday. As I type she is lounging around, going from chair to chair, and laying on Zach. She seems to know that she is the little queen bee around here, especially since her surgery. She even thinks she is entitled to laying on our laps at all hours of the day! Her 8 month stats: 20 lbs on the dot when I took her to the vet last week. So incredibly long from head to tail! She has figured out how to jump into the chairs in the kitchen. Her first victorious consumption was the crust of an apple pie! She was very impressed with herself! Especially more so that her Mama. We are still working on the command "Roll over." We haven't been working on it due to her sore belly after surgery, so I'm going to start back with her on it soon. For those keeping track (haha, okay it's just me) she now knows sit, stay, lay down, get it, drop it, shake, and (almost) roll over. I think she is building a pretty good repetoire! Nellie is incredi