GRADUATION

What a crazy week it has been.  Last Thursday my parents drove to Arizona for my cohort’s celebration party and recognition at the Paradise Valley School District School Board Meeting.  Then Friday we headed to California for a few days before turning around and coming back to Arizona for GRADUATION!!! 

Thursday's Party
I will forever remember these last 18 months and am blessed to have had the BEST mentor teachers in the program! 

Monday, I OFFICIALLY accepted an offer and announced it to my friends and family members using the theme “Ropin’ the Dream.”

We got into town Tuesday evening and meet my grandparents at my apartment where we talked about what the plan was for GRADUATION DAY.  The first thing on the list for Wednesday was to pick my brother and grandma up from the airport, both of whom were flying for the first time and Phoenix Sky Harbor is no small airport.  After getting them we had an early lunch then got ready for the BIG evening ahead.  

After arriving at Arizona State University, I checked in and waited for the rest of my cohort for our group pictures.  Then it was show time and we walked into the Wells Fargo Arena (our Basketball arena) where graduation would take place.  A few different individuals spoke then it was time! I was personally a nervous wreck thinking about falling and honestly an emotional basket case thinking of the trials I overcame during the last couple of years.  

GRADUATION MEMORIES

Thank you to everyone who has believed in me and supported me through my SEVEN years of college.  It is hard to believe now that I even entered college as a Law Major, but I know it has only prepared me for my future degrees.... yes, I am already thinking of my masters and doctorate.  Without those who have surrounded me with love and prayer I wouldn’t be sitting here typing this as a GRADUATE with a JOB!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

And I’ll leave you with this Throw Back Thursday.... Four years ago come memorial weekend, my parents and I visited ASU for an information session and took a few pictures around campus.  Today, we took some pictures in the locations to close out my chapter at ASU.  Couldn’t be more proud to be ASU Alumni, a Sun Devil forever, and a graduate of the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education! 

Here is to the next adventure.....

Colorado

April 29, 2013

** Few things repeat just because I am THAT excited about them!!! 

I am down to single digits now until graduation and starting to feel a little overwhelmed with life decisions.  After a week of Colorado skype interviews I flew out to meet with principals AND teach a lesson! Here is how it all fell into place...

Thursday I wrapped up my interviews and about a hour after my last interview, I got a phone call OFFERING me a position AND asking if I can come teach a lesson.  I asked for time to process the offer AND started looking at flights so I could get out there and teach.  By Thursday night the flight was booked and the lesson time was set up.  Saturday morning I took off way to early and as I landed in Denver I learned I needed to prepare a lesson on mammals. After a quick lunch at my cousin’s food truck, we went home so I could map out my thinking, then headed to the library.  Well, Grandma and I were out and about we drove past the schools in town that I had interviews at on Thursday.  One of the schools was even down the street from Enstroms (the BEST fudge EVER)!!  Teaching with in walking distance could be deathly or rather fattening!  Since we had an early morning we also called it an early night after the Supercross race ( I am addicted to sports).  

The school that had an offer on the table...

Sunday we had a nice brunch in downtown at a cute little cafe and then headed up to Rifle to see the schools up in that area that I got the offer from and the one I would be teaching the lesson at.  After our quick drive byes of both schools we adventured over to say hi to my aunt Becky and uncle Chris only to be greeted by almost the entire clan.  Since my cousin Jenny and her family were over we didn’t drive into Glenwood Springs to see them and decided to just hang out with everyone most of the afternoon.  It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend with perfect weather!  After a few hours with the clan we headed to my final stop of the evening at my aunt Cristy and uncle Carl’s place.  My grandparents hung out there with me and waited until my aunt and uncle got home from moving my cousin to the new town she would call home to start her next adventure.  It was another early night but of course I was anxious and unable to fall asleep until the clock showed 11pm.  

This is where I taught my lesson

My lesson was scheduled for 10:30 in the town west of my aunt and uncle but it was a nice 20 minute drive rather than a hour east from my grandparents.  The lesson went great, but as any good teacher I was able to pick out different parts that I could have done better.  I was evaluated by 4 individuals during my lesson and they all said I did a great job with the kids and quickly picked up on the two boys that would be a handful.  After my lesson, I was given a tour and told that they will let me know in a week.  As 2 o’clock appeared on the clock I was walking into meet with another principal.  This is a different opportunity working with students who have behavior problems and are at a school away from their peers.  I did a placement at a school like this and throughly enjoyed it, so I was beyond excited for this opportunity.  After speaking with part of the team who interviewed me Thursday, I was given a tour, and told that they have recommend me to HR for hire! Like usual though, nothing can be official until HR makes the call!! 

Now, here I sit at the Denver airport... waiting for my flight to Phoenix to finish my last 3 days of student teaching!!!!!!! Graduation in 9 days.... then it is back to finish out the school year with my first graders and my AMAZING first grade team.  Couldn’t be more blessed. 

Interviews, Offers, Oh MY!

ALL of my interview notes... Better to be prepared! 

Today was the day I had been excited for ALL week!  My morning started with a 7am (my time) interview which went wonderfully and I am in phase two of their interview process now.  This job is for an ED self contained alternative placement teaching position.  I really enjoyed learning the information from the interviewers.  After interning in an ED program last year, I wanted to student teach with the teacher; however, ASU wouldn't approve it because of the unique program.

Then I had a 11:30am interview for a general education position- my first and ONLY general education interview.  Again it was a great interview, I got to chat with the principal and one of the kindergarten teachers.  At the conclusion of my interview they told me that for round two they would have the candidates come in and teach a lesson to a class.  I was pretty nervous yet excited when they said that and decided to not over think it and move onto thinking about my third and FINAL interview for the day.

After my second interview I had about a hour before my last interview of the day, this one was for another special education position.  I SERIOUSLY felt so stupid second question into the interview when they asked what I knew about their school.... ummm..... I know NOTHING!!! Note to self: When HR calls ask what position AND school they want to set up an interview for.  But the ladies were great and at the end of my interview they told me it sounded like I had observed their school because all of my talking points lined up with all their curriculum.  What a relief!

Not long after these interviews I received a phone call OFFERING me the position I interviewed for on Monday! I asked for time to reflect and decide AND as I was talking to the principal, I received a phone call from the principal I interviewed with at 11:30 asking me to come in and teach a lesson!

All of that to say....... Saturday I am hoping on a plane to go teach a lesson to the Kindergardeners at the school that maybe MY future first graders!!!

Excited, anxious, overwhelmed, nervous.....

Always BELIEVE something WONDERFUL is about to HAPPEN

Unknown

Interviews, Interviews, and more Interviews

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the lord with all your heart

My life is all about interviews right now and counting down the days until GRADUATION! 

Tuesday of last week as my students were doing the state test and I was just hanging out I decided to apply for a few more jobs that had popped open in Colorado.  On those applications, I also decided to add another reference- a friend who is also a superintendent.  Within a couple of hours I had a phone call from them wanting to interview me.  And by the end of the day I had three interviews lined up all for schools in Colorado.

Thursday, April 18th, I had a WONDERFUL interview in Phoenix for a resource position.  I spent 40 minutes sharing my love for children and teaching with a panel of interviewers.  The ladies and I laughed the entire time and I felt stress free.  Friday, I also got a call to interview for a position in Phoenix but turned it down because I already had an interview via Skype for a position in Colorado and the Principal was admit with the time and day- oh well.

As the excitement grew for the opportunities that awaited me, I got a phone call from a position in Phoenix saying they were recommending me for the job.  I was full of mixed emotions after this phone call.  Excited for the first unofficial offer but still wanting to give the interviews a shot for the positions in Colorado.

This morning I received another email from a principal in Grand Junction asking me if I would interview for a special education position she has open- of course I told her YES! So I now have THREE interviews on Thursday ALL for positions in Colorado!!

Today was my first Skype interview for a special education position in Rifle and it went great.  It was strange to do it all over Skype but I feel that I showed them that I have a heart and soul for the education field.  Should know about that position by the end of the week to beginning of next week.

Thursday my interviews go like this:
Special Education Self Contained Classroom
General Elementary Education Classroom
Special Education Self Contained Classroom

Excited and energized to see what comes from all of this!

The BEST is yet to be

Wow, has it been a while since I wrote!! Last time I wrote I was just beginning student teaching and now I am DAYS away from GRADUATING!  First let me catch you up on where I have been and then for the BEST part where I am going.

I spent 2 months with my first graders as the student teacher and enjoyed every minute of it.  I quickly took over the classroom and made the daily routine my own.  For my student teaching course, I had to develop and implement a Unit Plan, so I did “Cinderella Around the World.”  The students and I enjoyed reading different versions and comparing the books to the Walt Disney Cinderella. Having a few friends who work for Disney, I thought it would be neat for each student to take home an “autograph sheet” of Cinderella at the end of the lesson; however, my amazing friend Tara went above and beyond just a simple autograph sheet!  Disney artist Stacia Martin drew and personalized a Cinderella drawing just for my students and I.  My lucky students each got an 8x10 of the drawing and the original will be hanging in my future classroom!  I am blessed beyond belief to be able to have this one of a kind piece of art!

To Miss Schmidt's Class~ Wherever your journey takes you
Remember to be home by midnight! Love Cinderella

Also, well I was in first grade I had two performance assessments  (evaluations) by my supervising professor.  I taught the students about balance, balance points, and counter weights and then they discovered how to balance a REAL pencil on its balance point using counter weights.  It was a great lesson overall and I scored above and beyond what ASU requires me to score.  A few weeks later, I had to do another performance assessment and this time the students were going to use Oreos to create the moon phases.  Little did I know that the day before I would have a curve ball thrown at me!  My supervising professor’s supervisor was sending a camera crew from ASU to tape my lesson in order to evaluate her.  My kiddos did a wonderful time just going with the flow or maybe it was because they wanted the Oreos, but they did great and I again got high scores.  The news from this last performance assessment did stop there though, I learned at my post meeting that this video will be used throughout the summer at trainings for the supervising professors, cooperating teachers, and shown to future iTeachAZ teacher candidates.

Fast-forward a few weeks and I was off to my special education student teaching at a different school and saying see you in 40 days to my first graders.  I found myself in a K-6^th grade resource classroom where we push in half the day and pull out the other half.  By the second day in my new placement I had my caseload and my cooperating teacher had hers.  My time in this placement is winding down but I have witnessed growth among some of my students already in the short amount of time that I have been here with them.  For example, my little first grader who couldn’t count to 20 a couple weeks ago counted to 120 yesterday with only a handful of mistakes.  I couldn’t have been more proud of him!  This week my students are testing and I am bubbling in the answers the student with the broken arm tells me to bubble- oh what a joy!

And now for the WHERE I AM GOING………

I have been filling out a million applications and praying that the perfect job is offered to me.  Well, I have had three interviews to date- one that I knew wasn’t for me before I even walked into the interview and the other two interviews went extremely well.  My cooperating teacher also received an email from a district asking if she would recommend me for a third grade general education position, so excited to see where I end up! 

For the two interviews that went well, here are the details:

Special Education preschool

-       Arizona

-       School District I am currently in

-       Already know half the team

Moderate Elementary

-       Colorado

-       School District by my grandparents

-       Second chance at going to Mesa

-       New adventure

The Colorado district is the first district I applied to and I have been praying that I get an interview.  Four years ago I chose to go to school in Arizona for a boy rather than attend school in Colorado.  I feel like if I am offered a position in Colorado that it will be my second chance and I need to take it.  I am now waiting on emails and phone calls from principals to schedule interviews with them but after yesterday’s interview with one of the heads of Special Education in the district, I am confident that Colorado may just be my new home after a summer in MALIBU!!

A summer in Malibu, YES that is exactly where I am spending my summer, every year my mom sends me an email about a summer camp counselor position at Bloomfields (a summer camp for the visually impaired).  This year everything worked out and I get to put two of my passions together and teach kids with special needs about horses. 

TODAY, Tuesday 4/16, I just got a phone call for another interview in Arizona on Thursday at 4:30.  I truly am BLESSED! 

Seven Days of Student Teaching

Last week, it was great to see my students after the break.  Our first day back went a little different because we wanted to allow the students to get some of their talking out, so we went around the room and talked about what we did over the break.  Many of the students also shared what Santa brought them. (Can I tell you how much I love first grade and that they still believe! It makes the holiday that much more fun!)  Seems like Santa brought a lot of my students bikes for Christmas.  Mrs. G and I also shared with the students what we did over the break.  Once everyone had an opportunity to talk, we started off by reviewing our classroom management and classroom routines.  Surprisingly the students didn’t forget as much as we thought they would have over the break.  

We took Monday rather slowly by just doing a fun project that talked about their goals for the year.  It was a nice way to get them back into our routine.  On Tuesday, I took over the morning portion of the day and loved every minute of it!  I made a couple simple mistakes that the students didn’t catch but of course I caught it in the wee hours of the morning when I was asleep.  Wednesday was an extra special day for me because it was my birthday!  Loved hearing the kids sing happy birthday to me like they were "under water,"  wish I would have gotten a video of it.  

My momma made me this to wish me a Happy quarter of a century! Thanks Mom!

Wednesday and Thursday, we had the same routine I taught all morning until calendar and then Mrs. G taught math and we team taught science.  Before we knew it Friday rolled in and it was a day of assessments on what we have learned during the week.  I taught most of the day again and by the end of the day I was TIRED.  This week was my first full week in the classroom with these kiddos and it was everything and more that I thought it would be.  I was also reminded this week that I am right where I am supposed to be.  

Monday through Thursday in outfits! 

After a late Friday night in the classroom, I had a relaxing, crafting, and planning weekend.  I worked on bulletin boards and studied up on some up coming lessons.  

Friday through Tuesday

Monday rolled up way sooner than I wanted it to but I was ready to go!  We started our weekly spelling test of sight words.  We’re using L to J for this, which is all 120 words that the students should know at the end of first grade are in a bucket and five are randomly picked every week.  At the end of the test the five that were picked go back into the bucket, so students never know what words they will be tested on.  Our goal is that all students will get all five right for a class total of 105,  we got 42 for the first week.  We have a long way to go, but we have faith that we will meet our goal.  I taught on and off through out the day, I think I had a case of the Monday nerves.

Today marks my SEVENTH day of STUDENT TEACHING!!!!  I taught every subject, every lesson, every hour, every minute, every second of the day!! It felt so good, I can’t even explain it.  Today fueled the fire that has been burning since I was a little girl. 

 113 days until GRADUATION!!!!!

A look back

What a year 2012 has been!

To start off 2012, I moved back to Arizona to finish my degree after being in California because of my health.  I started the 18 month teaching program offered by ASU for my dual degree in Special Education and General Education.  Because of the fast pace, I took 22 units and interned two days a week.  My first internship was in a functioning non academic first through fifth grade autism classroom and my second internship was in a first/second grade emotionally disabled classroom.  I enjoyed both of these internships very much.  In March, I relapsed with my RPS but because I knew the signs I was able to start treatment before it got as bad as it did the first time around.  We started my weekly shots, doctor visits, and parent switch off; so I wouldn’t have to miss any class.  I did miss a few weeks of my internship; however, I made them up after my classes ended and I was feeling 90% better.  

I decided to go back to California for the summer and nanny for a family I met when their daughter was a few months old.  I had a great time taking the kids to the park, reading, and working with the daughter on her numbers and alphabet to help prepare her for Kindergarten.  When I was in California I was also able to spend time with all my nursery babies and their families along with my girlfriends and family.  Summer ended to quickly and I was back to Arizona to start my SENIOR year!! Hard to believe I have been at ASU for four years!  When I got back to Arizona I was joined by a girlfriend from church who moved to AZ because of her job and my youngest cousin started his freshman year at ASU! 

Concert with my California turned Arizona who left me to go back to California girlfriend

The fall semester started and ended just as quickly as the spring semester.  For this semester, the program had us taking 19 units and interning four days a week until our classes started and then we dropped down to our two days a week.  This semester I was blessed to intern in a first grade general education classroom, where I work a long side of my master teacher and two other wonderful ladies.  I couldn’t have asked for a better team of teachers that offer me so much help and support.  The semester seemed to fly on by with all the hours I was clocking in my internship class and my ASU classes. 

Fun as a Sun Devil 

As great as this year was, I didn’t imagining saying good bye the way I did.  One week prior to Christmas, two weeks prior to the New year.... I said good bye to my gallbladder as it had me in some serious pain!  Thankfully, once surgery was over I was back to myself and it was off to California for Christmas break.  I was excited to go to Colorado for Christmas and have a white Christmas; however, I was reminded why Arizona was a better choice for me when the weather never got over FREEZING!! 

I am now preparing to return to Arizona for my FINAL semester!!!!!! I will be student teaching starting January 7th in my first grade placement from the fall semester for eight weeks and then in March I will start a new special education placement, which I am nervous about!  Looking forward to spending 5 days a week with the kiddos that have stolen my heart; however, I am not looking forward to telling them good bye in two months.  

Let the journey continue and 2013 be the best journey yet! 

The last 4 months

As 2013 rolls in, I am finally remembering to update my blog!! 

September:

Intern hours in my first grade classroom,19 credit hours,  baby sex reveal party, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan concert, friends getting engaged, bridal showers, helping a friend prepare for Miss Rodeo California, and so much more!

October: 

More intern hours in my first grade classroom, still taking 19 credit hours, baby shower, friends wedding, seeing old friends, Fall festival with my first graders, family Disneyland trip with 21 of us, friends having babies, and best of all lots of time with those who matter most! 

Brittany's baby shower beautifully decorated by Rosie and Kim of Save the Date Events

The Fall festival with my first graders was a great first experience for a class party.  All the teachers at my school dressed as book characters, I dressed as Judy Blume from the Lunch Room.  It was a fun day! Us teachers switched classes and read our books or a chapter of our book to the classes we switched with.  At the end of the day, we had three different activities for the students to do and then we turned on the Magic School Bus “Amazing Bats, since we just finished learning about bats and allowed the kids to have donut holes and apple juice.  It was the perfect fall festival for our class. :)

Oh what a weekend I had between Disneyland and a family friends wedding.  Eighteen of my family members from Colorado took a trip to California and scheduled a day at Disneyland, so my parents and I decided to join them for some fun at the happiest place on Earth.  This girl will always love Disneyland no matter where she lives! I enjoyed riding some of the little kid rides with my second seconds that range from first grade down to a year old, what fun we had! After a day at Disneyland, my parents, grandparents, and I jetted off for dinner at our favorite hang out in New Port Beach- Crab Cooker!! It was the perfect California day!  

Saturday evening we watched a family friend say “I do.”  Our families have been friends since our parents for younger.  It was truly a beautiful day of shades of blue and fun to see many of our favorite people that we haven’t seen in a long time!

November:

Football games (all season; however, went to two of them this month), more friends having babies, more time at my internship, doing homework and classwork, ASU beats UoA,  Thanksgiving in California with the family, good MRI results from the doc, girls weekend in Arizona with Sara and Jess, LOTs of FINAL projects for classes, lives taken too soon, and days to be thankful for. 

ASU beats Wash State! 

December:

More time in my classroom with my first graders, more time in class learning how to be a teacher, more FINAL projects, finals, National Finals Rodeo, Miss Rodeo America pageant, hospital stay, Christmas in Colorado, and ASU in a bowl game!

My semester in first grade has came to an end and I have fallen in love with my kiddos and the teachers I teach beside.  I have be blessed beyond belief by these individuals who are willing to teach me all they know about the field of education. I cannot wait to return to the classroom in January, I’ll stay with this group for two more months officially student teaching!! And then in March, I will student teach in my special education placement, I am so excited to almost be done with my bachelors degree and have my own classroom.

As finals came to an end, I started feeling sick and had a lot of pain.  After an observation, I decided to go home and rest for awhile before a Christmas party; however, I never made it to the party because I drove myself to urgent care and told mom she needed to make the drive to Arizona because something was wrong.  Saturday, December 15th, I was admitted to the hospital and had my gall bladder removed Monday, December 17th.  What a crazy weekend that was! I was released from the hospital Tuesday and mom and I drove back to California Wednesday.  Everyone but Brant packed up and drove to Colorado Friday for a white Christmas with my mom’s family.  We had a fabulous Christmas with all of the family out here and are excited to head back to California tomorrow where it is above freezing! 

Hope everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS and here is to a blessed and healthy 2013!

Forever Loved

Tuesday afternoon, my heart broke when I received the news that a lady I have looked up to since I was a child went home to heaven.  Not only was she a woman of God, she was an AMAZING children’s pastor.  I will always remember my “It’s great to be a kid at PFB” shirt and talent factory.  It was during talent factory, that she taught us children about our spiritual gifts that the Lord blessed us each with.  I was the only person who signed up to look after the early childhood children on the playground on Sundays, so she switched it up and placed me in the three year old Sunday school class as a helper, that year was the best year of my early life.  The following year, I was co teaching the new three year olds with my mom.  I cannot thank Ruth enough for believing in me and my spiritual gift.  She has been such an inspiration in my life and my walk with Christ and I pray daily that I too touch lives of children like she touched mine.  Today, I cried with others as her brother spoke about her life- never being down because of her cancer but living for God every day.  Speaking on how much she loved teaching Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, I know when I think back to my memories of both of those she is always included in them.  I rejoice in knowing that she is no longer suffering and is now in heaven with our God Almighty.  

Sadly missed along life's way,

quietly remembered every day...

No longer in our life to share,

but in our hearts, you're always there.

 

Ruth Arlene Carroll
Dec. 1, 1962-Sept. 11, 2012

Obituary

First 10 days

With butterflies fluttering, the school bell rang, and I met nineteen students that I would have the joy of teaching.  The students were so excited to be “big kids” and play on the “big kid” playground! During the first three days of school, the students did a number of get to know you activities and we read a number of books that involved the first day of school.  By the second day of school, we had twenty one students in our classroom.  I have already started to discover what students will pull at my heart emotionally and physically, but I can’t say enough how much I love these kiddos already.  I left not long after the kiddos did on Friday and got to spend the weekend with my parents.  

Monday marked the first full week with students and to say by Friday, I wasn’t tired would have been a lie.  We have been having random storms that start just as I am going to bed and I haven’t had a good nights sleep all week.  The students were calmer Friday then any other day, we have decided it is because the district tacked on an extra thirty minutes to each day and their little bodies are taking a while to get use to it.  During the week, we worked on phonics, writing our numbers, taking a math pre test to see where the students are, comparing and contrasting Kindergarten and First Grade, and some geography.  It was a busy, fun, and exhausting week.... Yet, I can’t wait to repeat it all over again with my own course work thrown on top of it!!!

Over the weekend, I studied up teacher edition books, went to main campus and sat in traffic (freshman move in) to buy ONE book because that was all they had of the ones I still needed to buy, and got my folders ready to go for Thursday.  During this weekend, my youngest cousin on my Dad’s side moved into his dorm at ASU!!  What are the odds that the two youngest end up at the same college- one as a senior and one as a freshman.

Some of my boards in the classroom... it is about time to do some new projects :)

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.    Harriet Tubman

Life in the slow lane.....

Since being back from my quick Colorado trip, I have started my summer life- babysitting, working at church, preparing for the AEPA, WALKING, hanging with friends, and just enjoying life.  

On Sunday, I returned home from my trip and went straight to the beach with my parents for a yummy lunch at our favorite place, Crab Cooker!  The Arizona loaner car is enjoying this cool weather as much as I am enjoying driving it.  

Tuesday, I meet with the momma of the two kiddos I would be spending two days a week with until the end of July.  It was wonderful to catch up with her, I haven't seen her for about four years. Everything was great and I was ready to start Wednesday.  

I was greeted by Lisa and her little girl when I got to the house on Wednesday, her little girl (5 years old) is not the little 5 month old I would rock in the church nursery.  This little one and I had a bond from the start at her early age and I was thankful to see that the bond was still there.  The little guy woke up not to long after and took some time to warm up to me. We had a great day coloring, reading,  watching a Strawberry Shortcake video, A lizard show, and some schooling.  Now, I need to start planning some crafts for us to do at least once a week and maybe a park trip on the other day.  It is going to be a fun time with these two! 

After spending my morning with the two fun kiddos, I was off to church to spend it with my little love; however, I was WRONG!  I got to spend it with a bunch of wild kiddos whose parents were at various activities at church. Our numbers were crazy- it felt like a wild Sunday morning but it wasn't.  I enjoyed being back with my fellow Wednesday workers and loving on all the kiddos that I left.  But the best part about the evening was just having some much needed girl time with Rebecca; however, I'll be more excited when she is done with school for the summer! I need my Rebecca time!!!!!

It wouldn't be Thursday without spending the morning with the beautiful babies that belong to some of my favorite moms at our church.  It was a crazy morning but nothing our crew could't handle.  I was able to hold some of my little ones and get hugs from some of the mommas I hadn't seen.  Just a perfect morning and to kick the morning off, I walked two miles with three kiddos, their momma, and Rebecca.  Now that was something I could get use to! Have I said how much I love walking with TWO legs and NO crutches!  Then it was lunch with a girl friend and back to watching three of my favorites; the cutest twins and their little brother.  I just love these three and their parents!

Today, Friday, started with a 6 mile walk with one kiddo, my little love, out of the bunch and the momma.  It was a walk that include lots of fellowship and words of advice- perfect and just what I needed.  The best part of TODAY is that I got my grade and teacher for my internship for the Fall!!!! I am excited to announce that I will be spending August to December with a bunch of first graders!!!!!!!!  If everything goes as planned, I will stay with them until February, for my STUDENT TEACHING, which would be perfect!  I am beyond excited for this next adventure and can finally see the light at the end of this very long tunnel to my Bachelors of Arts in Special Education and Elementary Education; with the possibility of a Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood.  The possibilities in a year can be endless. But for now its time to get ready to go watch some cute kiddos, so their parents can have a date night with friends.

Only 363 days until GRADUATION! 

Flying Home on Sunday

I am seating on the plane typing my blog post up with my camera seating in my lap, so I can take some pictures from the high skies.  Right now, I am somewhere between Colorado and California- last time the pilot came over the radio he said we have about 400 miles to go and are running about 5 minutes late. From all of this travel and partying, I am one tired girl and am looking forward to sleeping in on Monday.  

** Currently flying over the Grand Canyon, but of course I am on 

the wrong side of the plane to take pictures**

I have a few things planned for my first week back in the Golden State.  I am excited to be back and jump right in with all my babysitting jobs and loving on all the kiddos that help brighten my life.  Tuesday, I meet with the mom that I will be watching her kiddos twice a week to start.  I am really excited about this job, I had their little girl who is going into kinder now when she first came to church as a new born.  She is actually the first child to get me as I was changing their dipper.  Since then, they have switched churches, one closer to their house and had a little guy too. We are going to have a fun couple of months (my summer) together.  Of course, I am also going to do all my random babysitting jobs and get back into the swing of working at church.  It is so nice that I can leave and the minute I am home parents are calling me to watch their little ones.  All of this time with the kiddos is going to make it pretty hard to leave for my FINAL year at ASU.  

The other great thing about being home is that I get to spend countless hours with Rebecca, Jessica and my other friends.  Rebecca, her boyfriend, and me have endless fun planned to help me be as stress free when I return to Arizona.  There will also be plenty of Jessica time- Jessica graduates next weekend with her MASTERS degree from San Diego State, so we will be celebrating her next weekend and I get to finally meet the guy who I have heard a ton about.  It is so nice to see my best friends so happy.  

Here is to a fun summer that will be made up of memories....                              

Graduation Day

(This is a couple days late in posting)

 I’m here in the Beautiful State of Colorado ready to celebrate my little cousin’s achievement of receiving her Bachelors of Arts degree from Colorado Mesa University.  

Saturday morning started extra early because Grandma and Grandpa’s house was extra packed and GRADUATION started at 8:30am. Seriously, do they think that these college students, soon to be GRADUATES, want to wake up that early.  Thankfully, I travel with my handicap plaque and we didn’t have to arrive at the stadium to early to ensure a good parking spot.  Once, we got there with our car full we meet up with the other group, who happened to come across some pretty nice seats.  

Graduation started and after about two and half hours, 1300 college students became college graduates, including my little cousin Cydney who GRADUATED with her Bachelors of Arts in Kinesiology-Exercise Science and  Kinesiology- Adapted Physical Education. The family couldn’t be more proud of her and her accomplishment. 

After graduation, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to gather everything for the party at the park, thankfully the day couldn’t have been more beautiful; even with the crazy winds.  Before the party, Cydney was able to open some of her presents that included a student dictionary as a joke; however, the joke was on her when she thought it was just a dictionary and then decided to take a look inside and found  another box that held a necklace.  Then it was time to head on out for the party.  Family and friends gathered to help Cydney and her parents celebrate the ending of this chapter and the beginning of the next.  During the party, I got to see some of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and great cousins that I haven’t seen in a couple years.  It is always great to stand around and catch up with those that gave you piggy back rides as a child. It was a great get together and one I am sure Cydney will remember.  

During my time in Colorado, I also got some baby fixing since I haven’t seen my kiddos yet since my move back to California.  So, it was nice to hold Cydney’s friend’s little guy.  I just loved how he would reach for me to hold him.  Then my little great cousin, Chloe, started fussing so I just took her from her dad and started walking around with her and song to her until she calmed down some.  Her mom then got me a bottle for her and not soon after she was done sucking it down, she was asleep in my arms.  There is no better place to be than with a sleeping baby.  Then, my aunt (Chloe’s grandma) Becky took her from me so I would have to eat some of my uncle Chris’ amazing BBQ pork.  It was so yummy that I was stuffed full and took a little nap in the sun.  

Friends and family began to leave and those who were left at the park went back to the house and chatted on the back porch for a while.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

SURPRISE!!!!

A little over a week ago, my mom booked me a ticket to Colorado to celebrate my little cousin’s graduation.  Once, everything was in place it was decided that my visit was going to be a surprise to her.  I have never been one who is good with surprises, so I immediately texted one of our other cousin’s and asked what the weather had been like before informing her that I was coming out for a visit.  As the week led up to my departure, I would write little hints on my facebook status’ and share my excitement for a fun few days I would be having. 

My view from the plane...somewhere between California and Colorado

So, the day finally came for me to hop on the plane and surprise my cousin!  I took off from LAX about 11am California time and landed in Colorado at 1:56pm Colorado time.  Grabbed my luggage and headed off to my grandparents house where I was greeted by my Grandma’s AMAZING Apple Pie, Jenny- one of my cousins, and her two little girls.  Her oldest was talking to my grandparents earlier in the day and would say “do you know what Cydney’s surprise is?” and when they would ask what, she would reply “Jessica!” Cydney had to work, so we met up with her for dinner and as she came walking into the patio area of the restaurant she gave me a funny look and I just smiled at her. Then all she could get out when we hugged was “You’re not suppose to be here!” And of course when things settled down, she had to ask if the story that revolves around my car drama was true...ha, yeah pretty sure I wouldn’t be kidding about that one! :)

We had a nice dinner then parted our ways, so everyone could get ready for the big weekend ahead. The grandparents and I watched our Thursday night shows and switched off who was dosing during the commercials.  We then decided to go to bed and now here I sit WIDE awake! Maybe I should go back into the kitchen and have a little big piece of pie..

A simple Thank You

With all my summer packing and finishing up my placement, I forgot to take the time out to say “thank you” to Margaret, Jane, Barb, Erin, Nicole, Alisha, Kari, Cindy, Ilene, Sue, Katye, Xray Man, The Reserve, (Yes, I do not know their names and those are the names I have given these two gentlemen) and all the others that I have been blessed to call my nurses.  Without them, I wouldn’t get checked in, have pre op, my shots, or have a post op- they are the one who make the surgery center run smoothly and care for all of the patients that the doctors treat.  Over the last year and five months, I have seen some ladies leave and have helped train some.  I can recall Nicole’s first day of the check in procedure and telling her I know what and where I need to sign, so I’ll make this real easy.  Then there is Katye who just started during my relapse period and warned me before I even had the chance to warn her that she is well aware of the fact she needs to stay away from my right leg.  They cheer the small steps of success with me and are saddened by the down hill slopes.  I honestly do not know what I would do without each one of them- they make my entire time at the center as fun as it can be.  

Today, we celebrated the improvements I have made over the last two weeks (I took two weeks off from shots to allow my back a little rest).  I was able to make them proud by walking in without crutches and show them that both feet are the same color. As I sat in pre op, all the nurses came over to check out the improvements and give a little cheer.  They sure know how to put a smile on my face.  Again, I say “THANK YOU” to each of these individuals and they each know how thankful I am to them- after all, I take them treats often and express to them weekly how thankful I am to have them taking care of me week after week.  

Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.

  ~Val Saintsbury

This week is also one of my favorite weeks because it is a time to reflect and thank the wonderful TEACHERS that I had through out my schooling and in life that have influenced my life.  Without these individuals, I wouldn’t of had the experience in school/life that made me want to go home every day and “teach” my stuffed animals.  Yes, I have some very smart stuffed animals that even completed their homework weekly ;)  From those experiences at a young age to standing in front of a class and teaching a real lesson, I know that I am going to be graduating with the degree that I was meant to get.  I don’t regret my time spent as a law major but who was I kidding thinking I could do that for my entire life.  372 days from now, I will be graduating with the degree that I was meant to achieve- Bachelors of Arts in Elementary and Special Education!!! 

Now to the teachers inside the classroom that made a difference in my life.  Mrs. Hoppy, Miss Hill, Mrs. Carter, Mrs Whitney, Mrs. Savhn, Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Scroggins, Mrs. Batterton, the entire PRIDE team (my 7th & 8th grade teachers, it was a loop group of teachers, so I had them both years- they were also Brant’s teachers), Mr. Hopper, Mr. Kantner, Mrs. Mcnaul (Miss Miler :-P), Mr. Fullerton, Sara, Cec, Tamara, Dave, Rebecca, Gena, Anne, Karl, Deria, and to a handful of other college professors- without each one of these teachers, I wouldn’t have the love for education and teaching that I have.  I couldn’t be more thankful to them for helping me out when I was having a bad day or encouraged me to go after my dreams (even when they knew it wasn’t the right dream).  A special thank you to my professors from Spring 2011 and 2012 for being flexible during my RPS. 

Just because they weren’t my teacher in their classroom, doesn’t mean they didn’t teach me in some form and help build my foundation for my future.  Mrs. Barkdoll, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Worch, Mrs. Lambert, Lee Anne, and Stacy- all of these ladies are teachers who have touched numerous lives and I am thankful to them for allowing me to spend count less hours in their classroom.  I can recall the days of playing school in Mrs. Lambert’s class as I waited on mom to finish up in her classroom.  Or hanging out in the science room with the rats as I waited to start the morning news with Mrs. Allen.  Mrs. Worch and my mom are the ones who showed me the field of special education and opened up a whole new world to me.  I was often in Mrs. Worch’s room being a buddy for the blind- an experience I cherish.  And then there was always just hanging out in Mrs. Barkdoll’s class as the third grade teachers went over their lesson plans for the upcoming weeks.  I have some fond memories of that school with the blue roof.  

Then there are the teachers who welcomed me into their classroom after I graduated high school.  I met Lee Anne when I started dating her son and began helping her in her classroom shortly after.  She has not only helped me in the teaching field with sharing endless references with me but also has been a teacher in life.  I always enjoyed the time we spent in the classroom together sharing stories and laughing and getting some work done.  I was blessed to meet Stacy one afternoon as I was helping Lee Anne.  Stacy was Lee Anne’s fellow 5th grade teacher, as I spent more time helping in the classroom I was able to learn from Stacy as well.  I am so thankful to these ladies for opening their classrooms to me and sharing all of their teacher knowledge.  

Of course, there is the one teacher who is not only a teacher to others but also to myself; however, I call her mom.  Without her I wouldn’t have learned life lessons or have the knowledge in the field of education that I have.  I wouldn’t of had fake homework to assign my “students” or books to read during read aloud.  Little did I know back then that all of that would help me in my future career.  Thank you to my mom for allowing me to spread my wings and take a stab at being a law major and when I switched to education thank you for never saying “I told you so” even though we were all thinking it.  

Also, thank you to the individual teachers who are continuing to help me  and the ones that will be opening their classrooms up to me in the next 372 days. 

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.  

~Author Unknown