Shutterfly- 50 cards for free

Don't know if you have heard, but Shutterfly is giving ALL bloggers 50 free holiday cards if you post about them on your blog. Go to this website for more details: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

Their stuff is so cute!

Happy Holidays! :)

Classroom

Since the school year has officially begun, I thought I might post some pictures of my classroom b.c. (before children..) :) Enjoy!

Back to School

Every year, new children come into my classroom on the first day and I can only compare it to Forrest Gump's quote, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." I don't feel like the first day is ever a good visual of what it's going to be like because we are all nervous and excited. Time will tell what sort of personalities have been put in your room. This year, after two days, I can tell it will be a good year.

The biggest task of any teacher's first day of school is putting up the monstrosity that is the school supplies. They always have so many school supplies!! My class was preparing our 5th grade binder for organization on Thursday with my instruction. We had come to a difficult task: labeling the dividers. I guess I just don't realize that at this point in their life, most 10 year olds have not had to put those little white strips into the dividers. At some point during this process, I hear a boy from the back say, "MAN, 5th grade is SOOO much harder than 4th grade!!"

I hope all teachers have had great first days of school! :)

Research Paper

Okay, I'm going in! I am going to try to get a good start and maybe finish on my graduate research paper. Luckily, it's about prayer in schools, so I can just pray my way through it!

Where has the time gone?

I have done a very poor job at updating the blog this summer. Let's Review:
In the past month:
* Jim and I participated in Relay for Life. Yay for his first time being a survivor! (See picture above)
* We went to Libby and Steven's Wedding in Lexington. It was wonderful to see some missed sorority sisters!
* We had a blast on the Fourth of July with Hannah and Michael at Lake Barkley.
* I spent some time in class.
* Jim went to a wedding in Pittsburgh without me for a family wedding. (I was in class) :(
* I started to set up my classroom for the year. Pictures to come when I am finished!
* I found out that I will have a new principal next year.
* I discovered that I will be re-planning my graduate project for the year.... ugh....
* I visited my Aunt and cousins in Knoxville! That was so fun and relaxing.
* I have read 6 novels. Silly, fun, chick-lit reading!
* Jim found out that his schedule will be changing! YAY!

Currently, I have a 8-10 page paper due on Saturday and I can't find the motivation to complete it. If you happen to come across any good articles about student led prayer in schools, just let me know! ;) Also, I have about two weeks left until summer is over. Wow. I can't believe it! I guess I should now start working on that paper.....

In case you haven't noticed....

It is summer! Lately, I have spent my days sleeping in and then considering options for what to do during each day. I have decided that I have a lot of time on my hands. Therefore, I have time to get into shape. Every day during the week I am making it a point to do some form of exercise. The past two days have been successful. It definitely gives me something purposeful to do each day. That is nice. I am exploring options for classes at the rec center for July. They have a great deal for county employees.

Today after working out, I went to the library. I must say that the Spring Hill library does not compare at all with the Brentwood library, but it will suffice. I have two new reads and I am excited about having the time to read!

On Friday begins my school law class. Ugh. I am thinking it will bring a lot of homework. Here's to hoping that I am not right!

End of Another School Year

Normally at the end of the school year, I am elated about summer. I am normally sad to see my students go but still elated. This year was quite different. I have had quite the crew in my class this year and I have to say it is the first year that I thought to myself... "YES! They are leaving!!!" Please don't judge me. I did have a few students who I will really miss. I still don't have elation about summer though. Crazy? Right? Well, my teammate Amy is moving to Chattanooga. That really makes me sad. She has been like my big sister for the past two years and she knows basically everything about me. It will be so weird to start a school year without her next door. Also, I have a huge graduate project looming over my head. Until today, I still wasn't sure of the parameters of my project. That was stressing me out.

Now I am back to feeling positive again. I have one more week of "work" stuff to do and then Jim and I are heading to Atlanta for the holiday weekend! I can't wait to get away. I think that is what is needed to make me chill out.

Enough blabbering for me today! Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Relay For Life

Please visit the following website to learn about my husband's cancer and to donate to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Any amount is a step in the direction to helping others fight and survive this horrible disease.

THANKS!

Relay For Life!
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/kate.carland

Happy Easter!

Easter was a wonderful day this year. We got to have lunch with my brother, Melinda, Amy, Michael, and of course our favorite 4 year old, Maddy. Good times included chasing Maddy around the kitchen island all while she is screaming in delight and just hanging out with some of our favorite people. Then it was time to head to dinner with the in-laws. We were so full from lunch, we had to wait awhile before we felt like eating again. It was fun to hear all the updates about Sarah's wedding. Also to get a confirmation about whether I should wear a short or a long bridesmaid dress. I need direction. Good news is that it needs to be short! I might actually wear it again.... I guess people always say that, but I mean it. I am a practical person. It is not practical to buy a dress for 100 dollars and then never wear it again. I do understand though, that some bridesmaid dresses are not so cute. P.S. Melinda, if you are reading this, I loved your bridesmaid dresses and if I had one, I would wear it again! HAHA! :) For Sarah's wedding, I am allowed to pick my style of dress. So hopefully I can pick one out that will be dual purpose. hehe.

Anyways, the whole point of this blog was to say that Easter was a fabulous day this year. We really enjoyed spending time with both of our families. We are so thankful that they live so close to us.

Hope everyone else enjoyed the holiday weekend!

First day of Spring Break

It's finally here! I have waited so long for a break from work and it's here. Today has been a very successful first day. I slept in. Went to go pick up a baby gift in cool springs. Then went to Barbara's to pick up some rolls for Easter dinner. On my way home, I drove with my windows down. It was a BEAUTIFUL day outside. I took Sophie for a long walk and then came home to rest. Fabulous.
Yes, I do think the next week will be fabulous! I hope the weather will continue to cooperate.

Happy Easter!

New Attitude

If you don't want to hear a blog about my self discovery and how I am going to change it, please don't keep reading.

I have noticed, and been told by my husband, that I have been Negative Nancy in the past couple of months. I especially noticed it this past week. I have had so many happy things happen to me lately that you would think I would be in a stellar mood. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I have allowed the negative things take over my life. That is certainly not my personality and I know my mother would be shaking her head. Usually I am "PollyAnna" with a great attitude about life. Instead I have allowed, cancer, work stress, and just a depressed state to over take my mind. I could tell you about all of my stress at work but that would just be complaining and I don't want to complain. Trust me when I say that I have done this to my friends and co-workers enough. I have one or two friends- plus Jim- who have listened to me complain about everything in the past week (and more than that, I am sure) ! So to them, I say I am very sorry.

I say no more! With this new wonderful understanding of how I have been, I want to change it. My sister in law told me to try to understand that what I have been through has not been easy and that I should understand that my moods are somewhat understandable. However, when my mother died, I promised myself that I would not allow that tragedy to take over. I can't allow any tragedy to take over. I can be sad for a short while and then it is time to lift my head up with the grace of an adult (not the grief of a child) and find my motivation and strength from God. That's certainly what I did in November/December of 2007 and it is certainly what I need to do now. Plus, what do I have to be sad or frustrated about. Here is a list of things that I am praising God about. They are in no certain order.....
1. Jim is in remission from cancer!!!!!!! I could shout it from the roof tops!!!
2. I just received tenure from Williamson County Schools.
3. I just turned 26 and I am on my way to becoming a much healthier person. I have recently lost 11 pounds in an effort to get myself healthy and I am still on that track.
4. I have a wonderful husband that is my very best friend.
5. My dad is happily married to Pam (who I like very much!). I know that this is something I should be VERY grateful about because I know that he is being taken care of.
6. I have fabulous friends and co-workers (who I consider friends). They listen to me and build me up when I am down. Special shout-out to Hannah, Deborah, Kelli, Amy, and Alyson for putting up with my complaining.
7. My boss respects me as a teacher and we have a good relationship due to the fact that he was once my teacher. He gives me very good advice about my future.
8. My brother and sister in law, Melinda, are my rocks. (Besides Jim of course) They have been there for me when I have been in the dumps (when Jim was going through cancer, or when mom died) and I know that that will never change. I am very thankful that they live so close by.
9. Even though my job is tough at times and sometimes I feel like it changes so much all the time, I know that it is a blessing. Being able to touch the lives of children is a gift and I get to do it each and every day. I really need to rethink my attitude at school.
10. My dog thinks that I hung the moon. This in itself is wonderful.
11. This seems weird but.... One of Jim and I's best friends are expecting a baby in August. I can't explain my happiness for them. They deserve the best and I can't wait to meet and spoil their little girl!
12. Jim and I are finacially stable. Our only debt is our house and I do have to say that it is a pretty nice one.
13. I am fortunate to be able to take classes for my masters. As of right now, I am halfway to achieving it. M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision..... HERE I COME!!

I could go on and on about the wonderful things and people in my life and I am sure I have left important ones out. As anyone can see though, I have NOTHING to complain about. I understand that people don't want to be around complainers and I want every one to know that I am making a concious effort to not be that person any more. I know that I will still have a bad day or two but starting a new day needs to be my new beginning.

I have made my list so that I can refer back to it if I ever feel that I am getting back into this rut. I hope that my friends/family are reading this so that if I do get to this awful spot again, they can remind me of all the great things in my life. It is Jim and I's plan to try to start having children in the next two years and I certainly don't want to be a negative mommy. I will never forget the wonderful days I spent with my mom. She had a wonderful attitude most of the time and I guess that's where I get (got) it from.

Sorry if this post bored you.... (HA! look at me assuming that people might actually read this!)
I needed to put my thoughts into writing. I hope that my friends that have stayed with me will continue to do so as I go through this journey of re-learning my personality. Thanks to all that have helped me through this very difficult year. I would have drowned without you. I do feel like I was barely hanging on.


Phl 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Remission

Jim is in remission. I can't even explain my excitement. There are still many PET scans and CT scans to come, but he is in remission. Cancer is gone. What a wonderful birthday present! I am going to spend the rest of my day relaxing and hanging out with Jim!

Dear Tennessee Education Department,

I understand your want for higher level thinking skills in our schools and I can truly appreciate that as a teacher. However, as I was looking through my math standards tonight I felt there were some things that could definitely be changed. They are as below:
* Can't we just have one list that says what is assessed? Instead of three different lists that are all assessed (aka grade level expectations, checks for understanding, state performance indicators).
* Could you make the math standards a little more specific? I need to know if my kids are going to have to convert meters to centimeters and pounds to ounces. I don't however have enough information to know what will be asked.
* Could we make the tests less like a Halloween trick? Why are we trying to trick them with extra information and extra steps?
I know I am not the most important teacher in Tennessee, however I feel that these changes would make a big difference in students learning what they are supposed to learn.

Thanks a lot!

Kate

Dear Mom,

I miss you.

Love,
Kate

I've never had a parent not like me...

...until this year. Sadly no matter what I do, I cannot seem to please this one parent. I know this is part of life and that I should just let it go. I know this won't be the last time either. However, I have always prided myself in impressing parents that are skeptical or that have bad impressions of me. I always strive to have good communication with parents so that I can get them on my side.
Parents should know...... I come in each day to do an entertaining aerobic exercise making sure that each one of my students can multiply, divide, and understand fractions, among other things. I just want parents to know that we are on the same team. I am at school to see their child learn and succeed academically/socially. I am not the enemy.

I just needed to vent. That is all.

A successful day

Do you ever feel like you have accomplished everything in one day (well maybe not everything...)? It hardly ever happens for me, but today was the day. I went to grad school this morning from 8:30-12:00. I then came home to complete 4 of my assignments/papers. I only have one more and I can't do that one because I have to go to a board meeting for that. Then, Jim was called into work and I got to work on the house. I dusted, vacuumed, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the bathrooms, and finished all of my laundry. Simply put, I was effective. Being ADD, this is a great accomplishment.

I also have been able to enjoy more Olympic games! I am so excited that Apollo Ohno was able to come out with a 7th medal.

The only regret I have is that I was not outside more today. It was the prettiest day Nashville has seen in awhile. Alas, there is always tomorrow. Happy weekend!

Things I have appreciated lately

* My snooze button
-Pressing it each cold morning for half an hour is a blessing. I used to not think this, but obviously that has changed.

* Snow days in general
- Although, I will be super depressed if we have to go extra days in the summer.

*A student
-Today, this particular student came in from the cubby room and yelled, "MRS. CARLAND, IT SMELLS LIKE KETTLE CORN IN THE CUBBY ROOM!!" I responded with an, "I'm sorry?" He then joyously announced, "Oh, but it's WONDERFUL!!"

The same student also somehow managed to get himself stuck in TWO swings on the playground yesterday. It kinda made him look like a beached whale. Poor thing was yelling for help as all the other students were lining up. :/ How does one get caught up in two swings??

*All students
- love my job!

*The Olympics
-They only come on every 4 years, folks. Get on the bandwagon!

*My trip to Gatlinburg
- My sister-in-law and I, while on vacation in Gatlinburg, made our pilgrimage trip to the Tractor Supply Company in Sevierville, TN. We acquired t-shirts from our adventure. (Mine says, "LOVE YOUR TRACTOR." - fabulous!)

*My husband
- Fun fact: He drinks ALOT of milk as of lately.

Now for my short list of things I don't appreciate so much.....

* TCAP!
-33 school days until I am supposed to have these kiddos ready for testing? WOW! (Wish me luck!)

Snow Day # 7

Tomorrow is snow day # 7 and I am thrilled about it. Another day to lounge around and go to lunch with my teacher friend, Amber. At some point, I am going to need to teach in preparations for TCAP but why fight getting the days that are built in?

I do believe that Jim is finding it hard to live with a teacher at this time of year. He always has to go into work when I have snow days. Poor him. :(

Off to enjoy the Olympics!

Super Bowl

I must say that I am very pleased to see the Saints win the Super Bowl.... Not just because my best friend lives in New Orleans, either. It seriously made my heart smile to see a community that has gone through so many bad things, come together over such a fun and wonderful success.
Who dat?!?!

Jim and I had a fabulous night on Super Bowl Sunday. It was filled with friends and laughter. Most importantly laughter. We haven't seen that in each other very much lately.
I went to work feeling like I was back to my normal self and that was a nice feeling. Now I just need to get through Valentine's weekend. Gatlinburg, here we come!

In other news, Jim is making tremendous growth in the eating department! Slowly but surely!! :)

P.S. I am certainly not complaining about a day off tomorrow, but I think the director of schools seriously needs to consider being more careful with snow days. We are only in mid-February and historically, we get our really big snows in march. Just sayin....

Thoughts on cursing...

I found this on a friend's blog and thought it was worth sharing.

"I have three things to say today.

1st: While you were sleeping last night 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition.

2nd: Most of you don’t give a shit.

3rd: What’s worse is that you are more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night. "

– Tony Campolo, a well-respected Christian author and speaker

SNOW DAY!

Yesterday afternoon, Carol Birdsong called my cell phone to let me know that school would be closed today. I was thrilled! So, what have I done with my day? I slept in until about 11:00 a.m. I have watched TV, watched the snow, and facebooked. I have been very busy.... ;) Relaxing on a snow day is the best thing ever. Have I mentioned that it is like a mini blizzard outside my house? WONDERFUL! I think I may go get some hot cocoa now. I will be good and do a workout @ 5:00.

Just in case you didn't know a teacher's thoughts on a......

Middle Tennessee Snow Day
Trey Duke

It is 5:30 A.M, and I have been up for nearly 45 minutes. I have showered, eaten breakfast, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and watched my good friends Aaron Solomon and Tim Ross tell me about the news and weather of the day. This morning, however, I will not be rushing out the door as normal to my wonderful job. I will not be checking to make sure I have copies, sending emails, finalizing lesson plans, or going through the mounds of papers that I have strategically placed on neat piles around my desk. None of this will occur because in Middle Tennessee it is a snow day.

For all you adults out there who don't work in the school system, I ask you to go back into your childhood for a brief moment. Step back to the days when you were a lad in school. When you would run to the window then to the T.V. and wait patiently for the Snow Bird report. Do you remember the feeling? The feeling of glee, the feeling of excitement, the feeling that the world was yours for the
taking and nothing could hold you down. I can tell by the smile on your face that, yes, you do remember. Now take that feeling and multiply it by 25. This is what a teacher experiences.

The buildup for teachers begins days ahead of the predicted storm. I accredit this mostly to the fact that, unlike students, teachers usually watch the news on a regular basis and therefore understand how the seven day forecast works. Today being a Wednesday that the schools are closed means that talk of what they were predicting began on Monday during a faculty meeting. The prior knowledge
of what could happen sets in motion what I like to call "The 7 Stages of a Teacher Snow Day."

Stage One: What?....Really!
The initial rumor of snow ignites a momentary glee that cannot be contained within the soul of a teacher. Much like the feeling you get w hen you win a raffle, you are excited and can't believe that it could actually happen to you. You smile, skip around, and begin thinking of what chores and errands you will catch up on if you are so lucky.

Stage Two: The Decline
In stage two the educator, still excited about the possibility, thinks back on all the times forecasters in Middle Tennessee have been wrong. This begins to make him or her ask more questions about the report. How much are the calling for? What's the anticipated high and low temperature? How warm will the ground be? This is immediately followed by the checking of various long range weather
reports on-line and speaking with other teachers to see, "What have you heard?"

Stage Three: The Professional Emerges
Somewhere after stage two, reality sets in, and the old school marm that lives in the depths of every teacher begins to show her face. The fact that they have a very serious job to do comes to mind, and they are reminded that there are state test quickly approaching for which their students are not yet ready. It is during this stage that teachers lie to their co-workers and families and tell them that it would be better if they had school. This way they won't fall behind schedule or have to redo plans. Please note that this is purely a self-preservation stage just in case school is not cancelled.

Stage Four: Excitement sneaks back in.
It could not be suppressed for long. You are now closer to the anticipated wintry mix, and the forecast still looks promising.

Stage Five: Anger
This is a very common stage. Once again the enthusiasm has been snuffed out and replaced with the thoughts that there is no way we're getting out of school. You are then reminded of the 13 built-in snow days that we don't get paid for and loose if we don't take them. You begin to get angry at the transportation director for being willing to risk the safety of our students, the school board
for not being willing to compensate us for unused snow days, and that blankety-blank weatherman for getting our hopes up to begin with. I am warning you to stay clear of any educator you may believe is in this stage.

Stage Six: Cautious Optimism
You are preparing for bed the night before what could be a day off. To the common observer everything looks normal. Lunches have been packed, clothes laid out, and alarms set. You avoid discussing it with your spouse, and you tell your children to go to bed at their normal time. Everyone knows that the slightest bit of hope could jinx the whole thing and you will wake up to sunny skies with a high well above freezing. You slip in your bed say a last silent prayer. Being prepared for the worst, you very quietly to yourself hope for the best.

Stage Seven: Uncontrollable Enthusiasm.
You spring from your bed and race to the T.V. You find the first local news channel and look for those wonderful county names scrolling across the bottom of your screen. You flip from channel 2 to 4 to 5. You even take a look at Fox. Your mission is to find the channel whose scrolling ticker at the bottom is
closest to your county. Finally, you find one that says Robertson County...you know yours is coming up. There it is....Wilson...and....and...and WILLIAMSON! Thank you, Jesus, YES. YES, YES!!! You jump around your living room as adrenaline shoots through your veins like a bullet. You smile, you dance, you thank God for his unbelievable kindness to you. However, in a moment of sudden panic you are jerked back to reality. You begin to think they got it wrong. It could be a mistake, you say to yourself. Quickly you search for the remote which went flying out of your hands earlier. Finding it behind the sofa you look for another station to verify in fact you do not have to go to work. Once again you see it, and the ecstasy and elation starts all over again.

You think about going to get back in bed, but if you are like me you are now much too awake to even dream sleep. Besides how could you waste even one second of this glorious day off? Instead you pour your coffee into a real mug instead of a travel one. You slip on your house shoes, grab a blanket, and once again soak up the delight of knowing you are a teacher, and it is a snow day in Middle Tennessee.

Sunday

Any time I have stuff going on on Friday/Saturday, Sunday becomes my "cram all my chores into as few hours as possible" day. All I want to do is lounge around and sleep. Unfortunately, adulthood is calling my name. Laundry, grocery shopping/planning, and grading papers here I come! :(

The ramblings of my week...

So being the un-athletic person I am, I never once thought that I would pay any kind of money to do a 5k or any kind of walk/run. Due to my very unhealthy habits from last semester (because of stress-go back to my year in review, if you want a full explanation), my doctor has told me to diet and exercise more. So far, so good. My sister-in-law even convinced me to walk in a 5k. (I don't run very well!) I asked her to figure out what her favorite 5k was and then we would go from there. She decided that the Nashville Zoo Run Run was her favorite because of getting to see all the animals. So we signed up! (Another New Year's resoluton!)

Fast forward to this week. It was a 4 day week, which is always fabulous for a teacher because it means that we just had a 3 day weekend! Although I must say that this 4 day week was a very stressful one. I had to leave right after school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday so that I could go to a doctors appointment, pick up stuff for zoo run run/pick up dog from groomer, and go to grad class. Due to the leaving right on time every day, I didn't have a lot of after school time to do a good job planning for next week. I tried to cram it all into the school days.... Friday I did all these fun science projects around my room and so as you can imagine, it was a very hectic day.* Somehow, I managed to get my basic plans down and get all my copies to the aids. (In all the chaos of Friday, I must say that I was EXTREMELY pleased to watch the IT guy bring a SMART board to my room!! I did a happy dance!) Once I left school Friday, I felt good enough to come in Monday morning ready to roll. Grad class was interesting due to the fact that some one high up in my county has joined my class to get their license renewed... (HELLO SENSOR!)

* You know you are an elementary science teacher when you walk around with green food coloring all over your hands because you have a mad a "mystery slime" that has properties of a solid and a liquid....

Once I left class, I called O'Charley's togo to place an order for Jim and my dinner. Jim had requested a shrimp appetizer and broccoli cheese side because he can only eat certain things right now. I got a salad. Needless to say it was a pretty random order. The lady on the phone told me that it would take 20 minutes and then it would be ready. Well, 5 minutes later I get there and just decide to sit and wait. Almost immediately someone comes out with a bag and I mention that I was super early. She told me that it was ready any ways! (I thought, well it was basically just a salad) So I pay the 29 dollars (which I feel like might be too much) and drive on home. At this point it was 7:45 and Jim has to leave work by about 8:45-9:00. I get home and unload the bag only to realize that I have gotten the completely wrong thing. AWESOME! I call them to complain and they ask if I would mind greatly to come back and I said sure.... Why not? My day has been crazy all day any ways. I got back to the store and they refund my 10 dollars and get me my correct order. Personally, I think I should have gotten at least a free appitizer just for having to come back. No such luck. I basically passed out once I ate dinner and said goodbye to Jim. I did have to get up at 6 the next day for a continuation of grad class.

I won't bore you with the details of my grad class but I will tell you that I learned a lot from that lady from the central office!! I had to leave grad class early to get to Nashville in time to pick up Melinda and get to the Zoo. At the zoo, we put on our numbers and I started to feel a little athletic... (or at least I looked it!) We decided to stand in the back because we definitely didn't want to run with the crazy, hardcore people! As we were waiting to start, I saw a former student of mine. Always a pleasure to run in to them in the real world. At least in 5th grade, they do understand that I don't live at school and that I do have a life outside of school. Soon enough the race started and I was off like Forrest Gump to start my first 5k. Except it was more like "Walk, Kate, WALK!" haha. This was a really exciting 5k and I would recommend it to anyone. Being my first, I don't have a lot of experience but getting to stop to look at the animals and walk around the parts of the zoo that are not open to the public was COOL! I am so happy to say that I completed the 3.1 miles in a little less than an hour. I don't have an exact time yet but I feel like that is pretty awesome! So Melinda and I have decided we will do a couple each year. We will make the Zoo Run Run annual as well as some others. The next definite event will be the Relay for Life in June. I always walk wayyy more than 5k at that. This year's will be a completely new experience for me because cancer has really affected my family in the past year. When I get my fundraising site, I will post it here. :) I guess that is all I have to say for this week. I am now going to enjoy the rest of my week end!

A Family Christmas in January...

Yesterday, I had all my side of the family come over for Christmas. We never get to celebrate during the actual holiday so it is always extended afterward. It was so good to see everyone, if only for a short time.

This past week at school I worked two other new year resolutions. I worked out and ate healthier as well as worked really hard to get ready for this next week's school. Lately I have been flying by the seat of my pants during my classes. I am doing a good job of it, but I feel better when I have everything planned out. So Friday I stayed till 6 working on my lesson plans, grading papers, and just tiding up my desk. I left feeling very accomplished.

Next weekend, Melinda and I are walking in the Nashville Zoo Run Run (5k). I am so excited about it. Apparently the route is through the zoo so that you can see all of the animals while you are walking/running. When I told Melinda that I wanted to do a 5k she recommended this one because it is her favorite.
This blog is very random with blabbering so I will stop now. I hope everyone enjoys their 3 day weekend!!

Education Reform?

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100113/NEWS04/1130373/1970/Bredesen+urges+unity+on+school+reforms

Here is a recent article about Bredesen's plan to "help" our schools in Tennessee. All because the federal government is dangling money over their heads. UGH!

2009 in review

So I have kinda sucked it up at blogging at all this year. In fact, blogging for me has been non-existent. So... one of my many new year's resolutions is to try to at least blog once a month to keep a chronicle of what is going on in my life. First thing is first, though, I must recap 2009. It started great. In February, I finally made a sincere decision that I would FINALLY start grad school. By May, I was deep into the process of filling out admissions information and by August I was fully enrolled into a Administration/Educational Leadership Co-hort group that would meet in Columbia (about 20 minutes south of Spring Hill). Awesome. In May, I was really sad to see my class of 5th graders leave as well. (I really learned I was sad to see them go, when I met my new group)... haha It is like a box of chocolates at any school with students, you just never know what you are going to get! This summer I spent relaxing. How wonderful to not have to have a job during the summer. I spent lazy days looking up new recipes, working on my wedding scrapbook, and just simply enjoying the quiet time that I had.
In July, Jim and I were very lucky to find some time to go visit Wilkes (my step-grandfather) in sunny Florida. He lives in The Villages, which if you have never been, is a millionaires retirement community. I have never seen so many golf-carts in my life!! It was a good relaxing vacation for Jim, but for at least 2 out of 4 days, I felt like I was at work going through my grandmothers things trying to decide what to keep. She was a phoenominal chef and I have now aquired 40 of her cookbooks as well as a a huge filing cabinet full of recipes. Wilkes was a bit disappointed at this. My grandmother probably has close to 1,000 cookbooks and I took 40. He felt that I should have taken WAY more. However, Jim and I just don't have the room. I took every Nashville cookbook she had knowing that I would want them at some time in my life. I also went through all of her "costume" jewelry. This took hours. I did get some pretty quality 80's things for random 80's parties!! Anyways, it was a nice week away from home and as usual it was wonderful to see my grandfather. I wish I could just channel his brain because he is so brilliant.
As August approached, I started to dread going back to school. When we did finally go back to school, I found myself in a true panic. We had lots of new changes for the school year and that combined with the fact that I am super anal threw me for a loop. Then came grad school. For the first semester, it was not bad at all. However, Jim and I were soon hit with something that neither of us were expecting. He had gone to the doctor for a lesion on his tongue. Soon, we came to find out that this sore was for sure the unthinkable, cancer. Our next step was to have the tumor removed through sugery. This happened on September 21. We spent a week in the hospital as he healed from the surgery. When we did finally leave Vandy on the following Saturday, we were so excited to be done with this chapter, or at least we hoped. Now we just had to wait for the labs to come back about his lymph nodes.
In October, a new visit to the doctor revealed that only one lymph node had been invaded with cancer. Great news! However, the doctor wanted to make sure that everything was gone and so began the 6 week (more like 10 week) process of radiation and chemo. Radiation once a day, five days a week. Chemo once per week. I will never be able to describe fully the months that followed. I can just say that I have a new respect for any cancer patient who is going through this process. He finished his radiation/chemo on December 8 and we were so excited! Little did we know that healing was going to be a much longer process than expected. He is finally feeling better to help ring in the new year!
During the year of 2009, I have learned many things. I have learned that there are more important things in life than a house, car, job, or new clothes. I have learned that being patient and calm is very important. I have also learned that I love my husband more than anything in this world and I could not ask for anyone better. I certainly am a planner but I never planned on the events that transpired over the months of 2009. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful family and to be so close to my brother and his wife. These relationships have proved to be very important to Jim and I as we have gone through this difficult year. All of this revealed, I am SO happy to put this year behind me and to start a new chapter in my life!