Thursday, August 29, 2013

A Glimpse Into My Classroom

Many of you readers may not be teachers, so you may not understand the combined excitement and stress that comes in preparing a classroom for a new school year.  Just imagine remodeling a room in your house every August...it's a lot like that, except you would have to make room for 20-24 people in the room.  Like I mentioned in this post, I have taken a new position as the K-3 music teacher this year.  So it has been crazy wrapping my mind around teaching a whole different area of content.  I decided in preparing my classroom this year that I would not go out and purchase a ton of music decorations.  I mean, have you ever looked at the prices at teacher stores?!?!  As for a theme, I just stuck with what I had a lot of decor for already...apples.  Starting next Tuesday, this is where I will spend all of my time...pouring a lot of information & inspiration into a lot of little brains.  We hosted an Open House this past Tuesday evening, and just seeing the eager faces of past and future students has me excited to get this year rolling.  So here it is, my 2013-14 music classroom.  On a side note, I wish I could take pictures of all the classrooms in our elementary building.  They are something amazing!!!  The amount of time and energy my co-workers put into their rooms makes me very proud of the team I work with. :)












 Here's to wishing you a happy, long weekend! :)





Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Alaska Just Got A Lot Better

My best friend left today.  From as far back as my memory will take me I have known my best friend, Vicki.  We have been by each other's sides through thick and thin...as cliche as that sounds, it's true.  Today Vicki and her adorable family put aside their own desires to follow God's higher calling to become missionaries in the state of Alaska.  In case you were wondering that is around 4,000 miles away from Ohio and would take about 3 days to drive there.  So, I cannot deny the overwhelming sadness that I am feeling.  Our little kiddos that love to play together will no longer be 5 minutes away from each other.  I won't be running over to see her new shower curtain or see her garden work.  Our late nights out to grab a bite to eat won't be happening.  Yes, I am sad.  But so much greater than sadness is an immense pride and happiness.  The Myrick family has the chance to share the love of God to people that may have never experienced it.  They are going to fulfill a dream that God has placed in their hearts.  Sure, it is not the easiest to leave "life as you know it"...family, friends, a comfortable home, etc.; however, I am confident that God will bless them in so many aspects.  I read this quote the other day and realized the truth in it,
"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."
-Elizabeth Foley
I know that no matter how long we are apart, Vicki, we will always, always, always be best friends.  Best wishes and many prayers for you!

^^^Some pics that we've taken over the past few weeks at many goodbye celebrations.




Thursday, August 22, 2013

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Back-To-School and Such

Matt has been back to teaching since last week and I've been back to working on my classroom for the past 3 weeks.  It's hard to believe our summer break is over and it's this time again!  We love our jobs, nevertheless it is always difficult to say goodbye to summer.  I have had a big task in school prep this year, because I took a new position and a new classroom.  I will be the K-3rd music teacher (which you probably already figured out if you follow me on Pinterest...I'm afraid I'm a pinaholic).  I go from being super excited about teaching music to being extremely nervous.  Jude has been my "helper" as I organize, clean, decorate, shop, etc.  Today after working for 3 hours, I took him outside to play on the school playground.  Most of the equipment was too big for him, but he's been looking so big lately I was secretly kinda glad. ;)


 ^^^Thrilled about being my assistant...can't you tell?!?! ;)

 ^^^Slacking on the job.





 ^^^When you realize you are up really high and not sure how to get down.
 


Friday, August 16, 2013

A Fishing First

Sometime back...a few weeks ago...we took Jude fishing.  We love giving Jude the opportunity to get out and explore nature, especially since he and the outdoors are best buds or something like that.  We went to a creek that we had never visited before, and it was little bigger than Jude was ready to explore.  Nevertheless, after feeling safe, secure, and throwing about 50 rocks into it, he was ready.  We showed him how to fish and he gave it a go, but when a one year old doesn't get a reaction after about 10 seconds they are onto something else.  Jude found the live fishing bait and the tackle box to be a lot more entertaining.  We ended our fishing trip without fish, but who's to say it was about catching fish anyway?!?! ;)










^^^Because when a man is in the wild, he must flex his muscles a lot. ;)