Miracles embodied.

I don't blog nearly as often as I would like to. Life has been going by at the speed of light, it seems, and by the time I think about posting a blog, I'm wiped and ready for bed. I have some extra time right now during my planning period, so I thought I would hop on and let you all know that I'm still alive and reading your updates!

First things first, this little guy.



I think you all know him, and I'm confident that you've been praying for him as hard as I have. Last night, I felt a sense of calmness when I was praying for him. I started to understand the word miracle the way that MckMama was talking about it in this post. Stellan is a miracle. Audrey is a miracle. Olivia is a miracle. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, or in the next hour, or in the next minute, these little lives are miracles in their most basic forms. That I am given the opportunity to know them, through their mother's blogs or through my sister-in-law and brother, that I was somehow chosen to pray for them, that is a miracle. Of course, I pray that Stellan's heart is healed. I pray that God chooses to bring him out of SVT, to cure him, to get him to the point where he can go home again. Lord, please hear us.

Beyond that, there are things both big and small going on in my life at the moment, but I'm running short on time. I will update soon. But for those of you that aren't following me on Twitter, I do want to say that I got the Houston job and that I plan on moving this summer. More details to come.

Stellan needs us!

I'm about to rush out of here to go home for the day, but for those of you who don't already know, Stellan is in the hospital and needs our prayers. Please visit MckMama's website, read what's going on, and then drop to your knees in prayer. Baby Stellan needs us now!

Betchya Didn't Know...

Barking Mad is having a Twilight prize package contest. To enter, all you have to do is make a post telling your blog friends something they don't know about you, link their blog in the post, and then enter your post in Mr. Linky. Simple and fun!

Betchya didn't know that I feel half-naked without earrings.
Betchya didn't know that I might not get the new phone I've been looking forward to because I can't afford it.
Betchya didn't know that I'm addicted to the show Friends and have all but two of the seasons on DVD.

Join in if you feel so inclined!

Not Me! Monday

Join in this carnival of fun by going to MckMama's blog and checking out the rules. You can also find a list of other fellow bloggers who are confessing what they did not do this week.

Yes, I'm posting early this week because I have some time tonight and I don't know that I will have any tomorrow to make a post. How did everyone's week go?

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My sister-in-law's welcome party for my niece (did that make sense?) was on Saturday. It was a blast! It was the first time I was home since Christmastime and it was great to see everyone. The weekend was not relaxing and virtually tension-free, which is not half a miracle with a 21, 16, and 13 year old girl under one roof!

I didn't cringe when I saw that a cupcake-cake was chosen and immediately think of Cake Wrecks. It was a fine cake, really, but CW has me conditioned!

I am also not still tickled PINK that they are naming the baby Hailey, a name that I suggested. Given my obsession with love of baby names, I'm weirdly excited about this.

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Last Friday, my CT and I took six of our students to a county-wide writing tournament. I was not thrilled and so very proud when five of those students placed in the top ten. And I wasn't jumping with joy when one of those students was awarded first place!!

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And, just so we're clear, I would never eat a cupcake, ice cream, chocolate eclair cake, and cherry pie all in the same day, thanks to two family parties in a row. Never!

Insert title here.

So, I'm officially old. I've gone to sleep by 10:30 the past two nights, which were Friday and Saturday, mind you. I used to be such a night owl, so wanting to go to bed so early is unusual for me. This morning, I awoke at 7:30 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, even though I could have slept until 9:00 if I wanted to. And I did want to, I just wasn't tired anymore. Instead, I got up and worked on lesson plans before getting ready for work and hopping on here. What is wrong with me?!

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I made the mistake of telling my sister about Texas, who in turn told my sister-in-law, who texted me like a crazy person telling me I'm not allowed to leave. It's good to feel loved! I told her to just move herself, my brother, Ben, and Hailey down there too. She didn't agree. :P Now that those two blabbermouths wonderful sisters of mine know, it won't be long before I get calls from grandma, Aunt Ronda, my cousins... you get the picture!

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February is over in a week. Where does the time go?!

Texas, an update.

Well, I found out last night that the recruiter wants to do a phone interview. You may or may not know how much I hate talking on the phone! Ick. But, I'll do what I need to do. I've never done a phone interview before, and I've only done a handful of interviews in my life, none of those being for a teaching job. Advice would be very appreciated, if you have any!

Backtracking just a bit, but my friend Brittany and I called the recruiter, who happens to be a graduate of my college, and after talking with him a bit, he made the comment, "Looks like I'll be giving two more (my college here) girls letters of intent!" How uplifting!

I also spoke to my friend Summer a couple of days ago. She is currently living in Texas but was planning a move back to her home state of Maryland sometime this year. But she's now staying in Texas, and moving in the same county I would be living in! Is it a sign? Could be.

So, being the impatient girl that I am, I poked around looking for a house to rent in the area. Wow, their prices are very decent. I could be living in a three bedroom house with my friends (and a nice house, at that!) for less than I'm paying now for my one bedroom apartment. Renting a house! When did I turn into such a grown up?

Don't you just love how I jump the gun this way? I haven't even interviewed yet, and just look at me!

Following my head heart?

An opportunity might be headed my way, one that is going to take a lot of deep thought, prayers for guidance, and looking into my heart. My friend Katie was just offered a job at Aldine Independent Schools near Houston, Texas. We have the same major (middle childhood education, science and language arts) and she was offered a middle school science job. They need teachers very, very badly, to the point where she was offered the job before he even looked over her resume. I actually have an interview scheduled with this district at the teacher job fair in April, but Katie says that I should apply now if I'm thinking of working in this district because they are building three new middle schools, and the first people hired will be given first choice of where to work. Now, I live up north, almost as far as you can go before hitting Canada, and know nothing of the district save for what I can find on their website, so I'm not incredibly picky about which school I end up at.

I could be worrying about this for nothing. They might not even offer me a job. And the weird part is, I'm not even that worried just yet. I know I get homesick sometimes, and I know it would be so difficult to be away from my family, but I also know that this could be my chance to see parts of the world that I might never see otherwise. To become part of a brand new culture that I might love. To be brave, take risks, be a good teacher in a district that really needs it, to help kids learn and grow in a place that is desperate for quality teachers. I've said that I will work anywhere and that if I have to leave this state to teach, then that's what I'll do. And I'm even excited about starting a whole new life. But it's a scary, scary thought. So much rests on such a decision! (Keep in mind, I haven't even applied- this is more hypothetical than anything at this point).

The thing is, this is my first year of teaching. It's not going to be perfect no matter where I go. I'm learning. I'll always be learning, and it's going to be hard and challenging and wonderful regardless of where I go, because I love middle school students, I love teaching, and I know this is where I'm supposed to be. This is what I am meant to do. And if I hate Texas, it's just one year. I feel like I could seriously regret not going if I let fear and the feeling of obligation to stand in my way. Maybe this is something I'm meant to do for myself, even if it's just to say I had the guts to take this chance.

I might be posting about this a lot in the next couple of weeks. Katie told me that the interviewer she was with will conduct phone interviews and even come back up here to interview because they prefer our school for hiring, and because they are looking for good, quality teachers no matter what it takes. A district that is so bent on finding the best teachers they can find is so appealing. I feel like it could be a really good environment to teach.

And one of the best parts is that I wouldn't be alone. Katie will be there, and my best friend Brittany is considering Aldine as well. It would be wonderful to be able to take a piece of home with me like that.

I am putting my application in tomorrow. I mean, what's the harm in applying, regardless of what I decide? Maybe this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. And maybe not. I know that He will guide me.

Thank you for listening to my thoughts. So much is going through my head about this. You'll probably hear from me again sooner rather than later.

Not Me! Monday

Head on over to MckMama's blog to join in this carnival of fun!

This week flew by! I feel like I have very little time to blog right now, what with teaching and job hunting and trying to keep up with life.

At any rate, what did I not do this week?

I did not get someone to take my shift for today because I've been looking forward to a day off for weeks now. I did not almost cry when I saw I was scheduled. And I am not very thankful that someone was nice enough to take my shift!

I did not take a 3-hour nap TWICE last week, on two different days, and then sleep completely through the night. This does not convince me that I've been sleep deprived!

I am not still counting down the days until I get my new phone. I am definitely over that by now!

Well, my life was so monotonous last week that that's all I can come up with right now. Hopefully I'll think of more and be able to add. I'm sure there was more that I did not do!

The old man is snoring.

I bet, if you took a look at these pictures, you would think I went to visit a nice marsh.



Or perhaps a backyard pond.



But if you were to guess that, you'd be wrong. These are the fields I drive by on the way to school every morning, and they were almost all this flooded. With the snow melting from warm weather (in the 60s on Tuesday, it was glorious!) and about 2 inches of rain last night, the poor fields just couldn't take it. It's just crazy.

Not Me! Monday

Want to join in MckMama's carnival of admitting what we didn't do this week? Head on over to her blog and find out how!

It's been a few weeks since I've joined in the fun. So, what did I not do this week?

I did not become addicted to using Twitter from my phone. And speaking of my phone, I have not become obsessed once again about getting a new one, and I am not counting down the days until March 31!

I did not get mad at the Grammys because people always win for songs I've never heard of. That would be completely unreasonable! They shouldn't earn awards based on whether or not I've ever heard their songs!

I was not bored and disappointed by The Dark Knight.

I did not dream about the octuplets born in California. That would be weird!

Have a great week, everyone!

Forgot to add...

Do you Twitter? Would you like to follow me on Twitter? And would you like me to follow you? I would love to add you all to Twitter if you're a member. Just shoot a comment my way and I'll add you.

(:

Lacking sleep

I have not slept through the night in a week. I wake up at about 3 AM, shivering and ridden with the chills, unable to fall back into my slumber. This fever of mine is terrible! I finally picked up some Tylenol PM, and I hope that it can get me a good night's rest. I'm afraid I'm close to crashing, and probably will if I don't sleep well tonight. This weekend is already going to be a bit rough, what with working and lesson planning and applying for jobs, and doing so on less than 4 hours of sleep will not be a good combination.

In other news, my students dissected squid today. It was a blast! Didn't stink nearly as badly as you might think. They really loved it- it's so awesome to see them engaged that way. I took lots of pictures. I'm going to miss those kids horribly when the school year is over and I have to move away. ):

I have also been considering a tattoo. I've always known that I wanted one, and I'm pretty positive that I want it on the top of my foot. I've just never been able to find something I really love. I decided recently that I want something to do with "grace"- the middle name of my nieces and a virtue very important to me. I know I don't want the word "grace", and a Google search turns up nothing. Any suggestions?

Happy Wednesday, all. The week's half over! (:

Wordless Wednesday.

No creativity here.

Blah. I'm sick. It's not normal-sick, either (is there such a thing as normal sick?). My only symptoms are a bad, bad headache and a fever that has me in chills unless I'm medicated with ibuprofen. And have I mentioned that I'm always cold as it is? This fever business is not helping!

In other news, I'm already stressed about finding a teaching job. And interviewing. I hate interviewing- I get so nervous! And how in the world am I supposed to narrow down the entire USA to school districts that I would be willing to teach in? It's so very daunting.

Baby Kylie is home and doing well. Again, I am so grateful for all your prayers. I was sent a few new pictures of her on my cell phone- I'll have to remember to upload them here soon.

And lastly, SNOW! It's back and it's here to stay for awhile. I'm ready to move to the tropics!

Edit: I just realized this is my 100th post! Yay!

God is Great!

Thank you all for your prayers! Baby Kylie is breathing on her own and should be released tonight or tomorrow. I pray that she will be able to stay out of the hospital this time around. She is still pretty sick but almost well enough to go home with her family.

I love you all, thank you again.