It's FRIDAY and that automatically puts me in a great mood. I love the end of the week- it is the day that I'm most likely to let the students play a game at the end of class for a reward, so they like me best on Friday, too. Excellent news #2: It's a QUIZ DAY!! I looooove giving quizzes! I mainly give open-notes quizzes where kids can use their notes or work from previous days to help. I was always such a careful note-taker in school and I hated when I felt like that was all for nothing. So, I reward the hard workers. The more detail you put in your work, the more likely you are to make an outstanding grade. It's funny how this one little aspect of how I teach my class makes such a difference, though. Another teacher I work with came to me recently complaining about how "kids these days" never do any of their work- they just don't care to even try... blah blah blah. I, of course, nodded grimly and made some comment about television and video games, but really I just wanted to say "WHY SHOULD THEY?? You have to give them a REASON to do the work!!!" When I start writing something down, nearly everyone pulls out paper and copies it. Sometimes to my dismay: like when I recently was checking over some notes in which students had copied quite literally everything including my name at the top of their paper. oops. Anyway... all that is to say that I can't wait to give my quiz today- especially knowing that 90% of my class will do great on it. :)
I have officially entered a phase that I really wasn't looking forward to: "sneakers" only at work. (It just looks like I put all that effort into hair, makeup and clothes only to say "oh well" at the end and threw on the first shoes I came across... or that I just ran to work instead of drove- but we know better). So I guess I will just be absolutely thankful that I work in a job that embraces quirkiness and count my blessings that my mom has donated shoes to me that DON'T have paint, mud or dog poop on them. :)
Baby E has continued to kick and squirm. She loves wiggling around at night time especially (when I'm going to bed). It really makes me want to go to bed even earlier so I can feel her. I can't wait to meet this little girl and see what her personality is like: Will she like listening to Jason play music? hearing us reading? Will she be picky about her food? her schedule? almost everything else? (like me) or will she just go with the flow like Jason? I just can't wait to start learning it all! Okay, well, time to hit the road and head off for a day of work.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
24 Weeks!
Life has been such a whirlwind during this pregnancy. It is so funny how my focus has changed over the last 24 weeks and how overwhelming/exciting this whole time is. Things I have learned so far:
- I am so in love with my husband and I can't wait to see him be a dad.
- When you get married everyone wants to talk you into having a baby, but when pregnant people suddenly feel like they should talk you out of it.
- Just stop and count blessings. Be Thankful.
- My job isn't my world. It's okay to step back sometimes and say "it'd be great if I could do that, but I can't and that's alright too." There are days when this type-A girl just has to settle for the "B". (And it's funny how most of the time no one even notices the difference.)
- I am suddenly aware that my house is actually a death trap. Must handle this asap.
- I need to learn to be okay with saying no because I hate letting people down. As I find myself literally falling into bed at night and racing through meals to get things done, I just need to stop and take a deep breath. This is a lesson I'm really struggling with.
- Everything is poisonous. Everything has chemicals that will turn my baby into a mutant. Weed out the really bad stuff and just say a prayer for the rest. (Prime Example: the large amount of literature I received about why I should feed my baby using only glass bottles... which common sense says seems pretty dangerous, too)
In spite of all of the growing pains (physical and otherwise) and I am so excited to meet this little lady. I can't wait to learn her personality and see what she likes and doesn't like. I always try to picture her coloring or reading or playing with the puppies. I can't wait!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Big News!!
So by now most of you know may know the big news... Jason and I are expecting a baby girl in February (leap day to be exact). We are so thrilled about it and I am really thankful for such a blessing!!!
I want to post about the pregnancy now that everyone is in the loop, but I thought I'd start by just sharing a few things that have been on my mind throughout this experience so far. To start at the beginning, you should know that Jason and I haven't had the smoothest road to this point. Before this sweet baby girl, we received a positive pregnancy test that wasn't meant to be.
"God's Will won't take you where his Grace can't reach you"
Little did I know God was preparing my heart for this loss well before it ever occurred. I had gotten one of those annoying fwd. emails at work in April that I chose to open for some crazy reason. (Those really drive me bananas... so I don't know why I even opened it) Inside was this quote in bold letters. It wasn't sent from someone that is super religious- in fact we spend most of our time together drinking margaritas. It really struck me and so I copied it on a post-it note and hung it on my computer. Soon after finding out through a blood test at the doctor's office that we were pregnant I went on a beach trip with some work friends. While on the trip a friend who didn't know me very well opened up about a really rough experience she had recently. Among the things she said to me was that "[Her experience] wasn't a punishment, but something really sad that God knew she and her husband would be strong enough to handle. If anything, she should feel honored that God had such confidence in her strength and the strength of her marriage and faith to withstand that event."
Little did I know, those words would be what I would hang out to get me through my own painful ordeal. As I sat on hold with the nurse and sat at work trying to calm myself down so I could drive home safely, I kept picturing that sticky note and hearing my friend's voice in my head. I knew that it wasn't a coincidence that those things were running through my thoughts. It was such a comfort to see so clearly God's words of comfort and to feel his comfort through a friend who just held onto me in a tiny office until I could pull myself together.
I felt so much healing when friends, coworkers, and people I barely even know would approach me and tell my about their own disappointments and successes in having children. I have a strong belief that everything in life can be used for good- and if this sad event can comfort anyone else the way the words of others comforted me, then it is worth it to go back there and share it all with you.
BLESSED!
I came away from that time feeling closer to God because I recognized my own feebleness and just how much I needed to be able to give over control and know that something bigger was in control. I know faith is supposed to mean you don't have proof, but I can't look at all the things that happened (the song that came on the radio at just the right moment, reading just what I needed to hear, an unexpected phone call right when I needed it... so many more) and doubt that it was all beautifully orchestrated for me. (Or maybe that is just a little egocentric, but oh well). I just don't think it is a coincidence that in the two saddest moments of my life rain fell on me while I cried.
It was only weeks later that Jason and I left for our church mission trip. Halfway through the trip I started having some suspicions that something was up. I didn't even know if it was possible, but on our way home I decided we needed to find out. Sure enough we found out the day we got home... PREGNANT! This pregnancy has been so much more focused around God and our family relationship. I'm so excited to meet this little lady... she is certainly coming into a family that understands what a gift and a blessing she is!!
I want to post about the pregnancy now that everyone is in the loop, but I thought I'd start by just sharing a few things that have been on my mind throughout this experience so far. To start at the beginning, you should know that Jason and I haven't had the smoothest road to this point. Before this sweet baby girl, we received a positive pregnancy test that wasn't meant to be.
"God's Will won't take you where his Grace can't reach you"
Little did I know God was preparing my heart for this loss well before it ever occurred. I had gotten one of those annoying fwd. emails at work in April that I chose to open for some crazy reason. (Those really drive me bananas... so I don't know why I even opened it) Inside was this quote in bold letters. It wasn't sent from someone that is super religious- in fact we spend most of our time together drinking margaritas. It really struck me and so I copied it on a post-it note and hung it on my computer. Soon after finding out through a blood test at the doctor's office that we were pregnant I went on a beach trip with some work friends. While on the trip a friend who didn't know me very well opened up about a really rough experience she had recently. Among the things she said to me was that "[Her experience] wasn't a punishment, but something really sad that God knew she and her husband would be strong enough to handle. If anything, she should feel honored that God had such confidence in her strength and the strength of her marriage and faith to withstand that event."
Little did I know, those words would be what I would hang out to get me through my own painful ordeal. As I sat on hold with the nurse and sat at work trying to calm myself down so I could drive home safely, I kept picturing that sticky note and hearing my friend's voice in my head. I knew that it wasn't a coincidence that those things were running through my thoughts. It was such a comfort to see so clearly God's words of comfort and to feel his comfort through a friend who just held onto me in a tiny office until I could pull myself together.
I felt so much healing when friends, coworkers, and people I barely even know would approach me and tell my about their own disappointments and successes in having children. I have a strong belief that everything in life can be used for good- and if this sad event can comfort anyone else the way the words of others comforted me, then it is worth it to go back there and share it all with you.
BLESSED!
I came away from that time feeling closer to God because I recognized my own feebleness and just how much I needed to be able to give over control and know that something bigger was in control. I know faith is supposed to mean you don't have proof, but I can't look at all the things that happened (the song that came on the radio at just the right moment, reading just what I needed to hear, an unexpected phone call right when I needed it... so many more) and doubt that it was all beautifully orchestrated for me. (Or maybe that is just a little egocentric, but oh well). I just don't think it is a coincidence that in the two saddest moments of my life rain fell on me while I cried.
It was only weeks later that Jason and I left for our church mission trip. Halfway through the trip I started having some suspicions that something was up. I didn't even know if it was possible, but on our way home I decided we needed to find out. Sure enough we found out the day we got home... PREGNANT! This pregnancy has been so much more focused around God and our family relationship. I'm so excited to meet this little lady... she is certainly coming into a family that understands what a gift and a blessing she is!!
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