What Next?

Hi Internet,

Can you believe October is almost OVER?! I can't! Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and then Christmas, and before you know it... 2013.

So, I've been thinking and trying to figure out what next.

(This might be long, I feel a need to get somethings off my chest, apologies in advance.)

I went to my 10 year class reunion this summer. I was really dreading it, but a few good friends convinced me to go. I'm glad that I did. On graduation night we had a poster where we were supposed to write where we would be in the year 2012. It was painful to read what my naive 18 year old self wrote 10 years ago. I'm supposed to be married to a wealthy lawyer with 2 kids.

That has not happened.

It's been hard to mourn what I thought was going to happen. I still very much would love to be a wife and a mother. That goal is still first and foremost in mind. I have an overwhelming desire to be in the PTA and make Mickey Mouse Pancakes and go on dates with my husband to the Nutcracker.

But for whatever reason, that hasn't happened in my life.

For a long time I was angry and hurt that I haven't been blessed with those things in my life. I finally realized that I couldn't sit around and wait for those blessings to come to me, they may not come right away and waiting would be a waste.

So, I decided to go back to school. I found something that I love to do, that I'm great at, that consoles that hole in my heart that wants to have a family. I really love my job and my students.

But I've almost finished school, and now I have to figure out what next. I honestly never thought I would be in the position that I'm in, having to make the choices that I do. Remember, at graduation, I thought this would all be behind me in 2012. :) 

I wish I could say that I know exactly what to do. Have a plan. I always need to have a plan!

I'm fortunate in that I have limitless opportunities. I could pursue graduate degrees, I could teach in rural Alaska, I could teach in Fairbanks, I could teach anywhere else. (Except Georgia and Utah, cause they don't accept my teaching certificate.)

But none of those options feel 100% right.

And maybe that is because it's not time to make any decisions. I really hope that's the case, because I graduate in May and I'm going to need to make SOME decision. haha

So, right now I have to have patience and exercise a little faith.

I'm so bad at that.

I'm an instant gratification kinda gal. I like instant streaming on Netflix and instant pudding.

So, I've been trying to wrap my head around what having faith looks like. How do I put it into practice in my life. 

So, I'm gonna keep moving, and trust that the Lord has a plan for me.

Because I Love Those of You Who Don't Live Across The Pond

Hi Internet,

My nose is healing well. I think I'm gonna make it out without any major scarring. WHEW!

I've been meaning to post this, but I keep forgetting/run out of time.... So, here it is.

Remember how I LOVE Downton Abby? 

 And it's like my favorite show?

 And we've had to wait SOOOO long to see what happens to Mary and Matthew?!

Remember how you thought you'd have to wait til Janruary 2013 to find out? 

WRONG! 

It's playing right now in the UK! YES!! I've been watching with my friend HERE, and it's GOOD! 

You're Welcome!

You may send your thanks in the form of well wishes, prayers for me finding a husband and naming first-born children after me.

You May Call me Humpty Dumpty

Hi Internet,

Remember that one time that I posted yesterday, but had a little accident so I decided to post twice in one month. Yes, today is that day.

So, this morning, I slept in, as I usually do and my mom came to wake me up. (Because she's a good mom like that.) Well, as she was walking downstairs she slipped and screamed, so I lept out of bed, covers all over the floor to help her. I got to her, had her bend her leg to make sure nothing was broken, grabbed her hand to help her up. The next thing I remember, I was waking up with my head on the floor and my feet on the stairs asking my mom "am I asleep?"

Apparently, I got up too quickly, passed out, fell down a flight of stairs and broke my fall with my face. And in the process broke my nose. 

This would be me, shortly after the incident.

Lovely huh?

The irony of it all was JUST last week I was telling my friend how paranoid I am of breaking my nose (after he threw something at my face) I must have jinxed myself. 

On the plus side, I think the boys in my class might find my battle scars to be extra spooky/cool for Halloween, no?

Questions AND Answers

Hi Internet,

Here's your blog post for October. With the rate I'm blogging, I hope you savor it and make it last until November.

Life has been crazy. Being a teacher is hard work dude! Especially 1st grade. And while you are taking classes.

A few people have asked me what the difference between a student teacher and a student intern is, so I decided I would enlighten you all. (You are welcome in advance.)

In most teacher education programs your last year of university you spend half of your time learning methods of teaching. You learn methods of teaching math, social studies, etc. The second half of your year is spend student teaching.

Well, at the school I attend, they have combined those 2 semesters into a 1 year internship. It has its pros and cons.

Pros:

I get to be in the same class for an entire year.

I get to build relationships with my kiddos.

I get to see what the first days of school actually look like.
Some states require a year of student teaching to be certified. CHECK!

Cons:

I can't work.

I have to go to school AND be in the classroom and do homework AND lesson plans. UGH

I have to pay to work for free.

So, I am in university classes 2 days a week and with my kiddos 3 days. I really love those little guys. Even though I've had a cold for like a month straight and some days I'm too busy to go to the bathroom.

And since a post without a picture is boring... here's a gratuitous Grandma Krystal Picture of me and my grandkids at a wedding this summer.

And now, off to bed so I can try to recharge my immune system.