Countdowns.

High family vacation in Hilton Head, SC - 12 days

Our first wedding anniversary - 20 days

Can I wait? NO. 

It's in the ABC's of growing up...

These past few weeks have been exhausting. School ended, work at LearningRX really picked up, and a million things had to be done. Frankly, I reached my limit when it came to commitments, meetings, and responsibilities.

In addition to all of this, my dear sweet friend Linda Walter passed away. Linda was the Assistant to the Director at my school this past year. I don't really like using that title when describing my relationship to her, because really, she was so much more than that. Linda was the first person I ever met at Coram Deo. Her dry, sharp sense of humor took me off-guard, and I really thought she didn't like me. In time, however, I learned to understand her and the unique way that she loved others. 

Over the course of this past year she became one most influential people in my life at school. As a first year teacher, I had my moments of cluelessness and probably really got on her nerves. If I did, she never showed it. Her sarcastic comments and fake hate always made me laugh. I found that once I really understood her, those gestures made me feel so loved and accepted, not put down or unwanted.

In early winter Linda went in for tests because of stomach problems she had been having. It turned out that she had a tumor. In late February, at a tear-soaked faculty meeting, she informed us all that the doctors had given her only 6 months to live. Her peace and faith in God were astounding. She didn't want chemo. She knew it was inoperable. She trusted that the Lord knew what He was doing and would carry her home when the time came.

The following months were filled with grief and confusion for me. It was so strange to me to already be grieving someone who was still living and an active part of my life. She knew how much I loved hearts, and one day brought me heart earrings and a heart necklace. "They were very inexpensive and practically right in front of me. Don't feel too special." :)  

Even in her last few months she found a way to lessen our fears and sadness about her leaving us. On the last day of school, she came around with her dog puppet "Spike" and said goodbye to the students. She knew it would probably be the last time most of them would see her. They all joyfully greeted her as always, and after a year of teasing me in front of them about how I'm a mean teacher, she told them to be thankful for me. She told them they were her favorite class and that she loved them. I kept my guard up, smiled, and laughed. I waved as she walked out of our classroom. That was the last time I saw her alive.

I really cry at the thought of not seeing her in the hallways next year. I will miss her sassy attitude, love of donuts, and the way she called me "Thibodeau." She really made such an impact on me and I will never forget her. It's easy for me to question why God would put her in my life and then take her away so quickly. I can only be thankful that I had the privilege of knowing her and benefiting from her witness. She loved the Lord unwaveringly and trusted his plan for her life. I am so proud to have called her my friend.

I hope I go with that kind of grace and dignity. And I definitely hope that I leave the kind of legacy that she did. 

 

Mother Goose Festival

Kindergartners are way fun! I know me and Jennifer look like witches, but we're supposed to be Mother Goose... both of us.

JDRF Gala

We had so much fun!!

More pictures here.

I LOVE THESE!

Thanks Jamie!

1. First thing you wash in the shower?

Hair!

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Gray (grey?)

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? 
Duh!

4. Do you plan outfits?
Rarely. Sometimes I have EUREKA! moments while I'm at work or driving or something. I put things together in my mind and try them out asap.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Comfy 

6. What's the closest thing to you that's red?
My toenails

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I was pregnant and really happy about it... not sure if that would translate to real life right now!!

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No

9. What are you craving right now?
Sweet tea

10. Do you floss?
Not really... I should though

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Green

12. Are you emotional?
Well yes

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Well one time me and my students tried to during recess... eventually everybody just kind of wandered away

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Combination

15. Do you like your hair?
It's tolerable

16. Do you like yourself?
Some of the time

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Yeah man! He's our neighbor now. I should invite us to their house for dinner.

18. What are you listening to right now?
Food Network

19. Are your parents strict?
Selectively... but for the most part yes

20. Would you go sky diving?
Oh definitely

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
COLBY FROM SURVIVOR SEASON 1!

23. Do you rent movies often?
Netflix baby

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Like glittery? No

25. How many countries have you visited?
Mexico, Brazil

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
Innumerable

27. Ever been on a train?
Yes 

28. Brown or white eggs?
I like the brown ones because they make me feel Martha Stewart-ish

29.Do you have a cell-phone?
Who DOESN'T

30. Do you use chap stick?
Every single day

31. Do you own a gun?
I don't know, do I?

32. Can you use chop sticks?
If I'm not ravenously hungry

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
Pat

34. Are you too forgiving?
I used to be... nowadays I tend to have the opposite problem. Now that I think of it, is there such a thing as "too" forgiving?

35. Ever been in love?
Currently and foreverly

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Well I have lots and telling you their schedules would take a while

37. Ever have cream puffs?
No

38. Last time you cried?
A few days ago

39. What was the last question you asked?
I don't know!

40. Favorite time of the year?
Fall

41. Do you have any tattoos?
Not yet... ask me in a couple of weeks

42. Are you sarcastic?
Always

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
Oh my gosh YES and it was on TV last week. I had forgotten how good it was. 

44. Ever walked into a wall?
Naturally

45. Favorite color?
Red 

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Yeah lots of people!

47. Is your hair curly?
Naturally wavy

48. What was the last CD you bought?
I bought a patriotic song off of itunes for my kids' end of the year program. Sooooo cool.

49. Do looks matter?
Well as much as I wish they didn't...

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
That's a verrrrry complicated question

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
No

52. Do you like your life right now?
LOVE it

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
Not unless I accidently take an afternoon nap

54. Can you handle the truth?
Usually

55. Do you have good vision?
20/20 baby!

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Dislike is a real possibility...

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
Depends on the day. Some days a ton, some days not hardly at all.

58. The last person you held hands with?
Pat!

59. What are you wearing?
PJ's

60.What is your favorite animal?
Cat-- minus the litter box and shedding and bad breath

61. Where was your default picture taken?
Addison Park

62. Can you hula hoop?
Awkwardly

63. Do you have a job?
Two

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?

Awesome lotion that smells like summertime!

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes... like the one time when I was 9 and I "ran away from home" to my grandmothers house two streets away, found she wasn't home, and walked all the way back expecting everyone to be freaking out looking for me. No one had noticed I was gone...

Enjoy the music or press your mute button!

Our new ride!

Well... new to us :)

Thanks, Bill and Lori!

I may be biased, but in my opinion Pat is the most awesome guy ever. I constantly find new reasons to love him. Lately, I've found myself loving him for his creativity. If you haven't yet checked out his Flickr photo stream, DO IT! I am so proud of him and the way he is using his gift to complete his 365 project.

This week has been absolutely insane. I feel like have been going 100 mph since Monday morning. Tomorrow is the big Barnes and Noble event for Coram Deo, so I won't OFFICIALLY begin my weekend until about 1:00 p.m. 

Tomorrow is also the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala. The Bendas kindly invited us and I am SO excited. Pat and I haven't been to a formal event in a really long time so it should be fun. 

Paula Deen is making some kind of muffin right now and she just said, "We don't need to grease this pan because there is SO much butter in this. These babies will NOT stick." I love her.

I can't believe my first year of teaching will be over in a week and a half. I also can't believe I'll be doing the EXACT same thing all over again next year. So exciting. No planning, and I actually know what I'm doing! IN ADVANCE! Such a great feeling.

High Family vacation is in 36 days (had to check the calendar for that one). I CANNOT WAIT.

Check out my new playlist! Some of my favorites.