One Year Later

I can't believe it has been over a year since I posted last.  Things have been pretty crazy the past year, but I have a goal of posting at least once a week the top 5 highlights again.  Life has changed a lot and I guess the biggest one is my best friend is getting married in a week!  I also have a special someone in my life as well as my brother.  Speaking of, my brother also has a puppy!  She is adorable and I cannot wait to meet her.  Needless to say, things over here are quite interesting and I can't wait to see where God takes us this year.

Top 5 Highlights from Memorial Day Weekend:

1. Spending time with family

2. Beautiful weather allowing us to be outside

3. Painting a bookshelf and spending all weekend together

4. Seeing former neighbors

5. Feeling refreshed for the last 3 weeks of school

Oh how I need You

2013...a year of life changes.

God's Creation <3

My new job is fantastic.  I love it, have a great group of colleagues and am very supported by my principal.  Three of the new teachers (including myself) have really started to bond and we are even included in the 5th grade team outings.  God is really showing how he has taken my life and moved it to where He wants me.  I am rehired for next year and will be taking over the choir and writing the curriculum for all 4 grade levels for general music.  I am looking forward to the challenge and can't wait to start growing another choral program.

In the end of January my family had a major emergency.  My father, who suffers from mitrovalve prolapse, went into a-fib and ended up having surgery.  It was serious to the point that both my grandparents and my brother drove up to Jersey to be with the whole family.  Since I had just started my new job I was hesitant on seeing if I could have a personal day for the day of his surgery, but as soon as I said my dad was having surgery my principal said get sub plans together and put in for an emergency personal day.  Everyone was so supportive and my mom, who is the strongest out of all of us, was very grateful to have both me and my brother home for the weekend.  The surgery went over really well and he is back at work almost full-time now (3 months after surgery).  Dad looks great, much better than he was looking prior to the surgery, and I thank God for protecting him through surgery and being with my family the whole time.

Since then, life has been pretty crazy with trips out to PA, trips back to Hackettstown and all over Jersey, and school is winding down.  I unfortunately will have to say goodbye to my youth group girls at the end of the school year because I will not be able to continue with youth group come the fall.  As much as I wish I didn't have to make that decision, I know it is in the best interest of both the kids and myself.

All in all, 2013 is turning out to be a pretty good year so far.  I can see the blessings in disguise with my father's surgery and with everything going on at my grandmother's house.  God works in mysterious ways, and as much as I would love to just have Him tell me the answers...keeping it mysterious and seeing the payout afterwards is always worth it.

Out with the old...in with the New

The girl cousins at Christmas

Here we are...New Year's Eve.  Another year is coming to a close and I am looking forward to 2012 ending and 2013 beginning.  2012 has been a year of ups and downs for my family.

All the cousins

The good memories: 8 weddings (2 of which were close friends of the family), traveling to Florida for Thanksgiving, traveling to Dayton to see my brother perform, meeting new friends in grad school, starting grad school and having a 4.0 GPA after 3 semesters, cousins graduating, running my first 5k, Christmas with the whole family at our house, finding an apartment to move into before the end of the year, having a job lined up for the new year

My new living room

The not so good memories: Mark's robbery, losing my job, mom leaving her job, friends/students families deaths, not being able to stay in the apartment, Mark leaving the band (also a good thing)

My bedroom

Kitchen

Looking back...I guess the good memories out number the not so good.  The not so good memories just out weigh the good.  I know my family and I are welcoming 2013 with open arms...Happy New Year everyone!

Bathroom

Dining room and entryway :)

Christmastime is here

The family at Thanksgiving

Mark, Grandma, and I at a free concert in Ocala

The family at Thanksgiving (minus Mom who was taking the picture) 

Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids

LVC Music we sang at a friend's Lessons and Carols concert

It's Christmas Eve...2012 is almost over...and I haven't posted in over a month.  A lot has gone on and reflecting back on the past month, this has been the highlight of the year.  I had my last wedding of the year in Pittsburg, visited my grandparents for Thanksgiving in Florida, and I finally GOT the job I interviewed for the beginning of November :)

My keys to my new place!

This will be a new exciting job.  I'll be teaching general music and band lessons to middle school students.  I'll be moving after Christmas down to that area and I can't wait.  It's a new adventure and a new year.  2012 has not been the best year...in fact talking with my mom we think this may have been the worst year for the family to date.  We're praying 2013 is a better year and it's already looking to be promising.  I have a job and an affordable apartment, my mom has a new job she's excited for, and my brother may have a full time job.

Tony, Me, and Steve at the Youth Group Ugly Sweater Party

I'll post more later, but I'll leave some pictures over the past few weeks :)  Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Aaron, my date, and I to Holly's wedding :)

Holly and Jared's wedding :)

A candle lit for the Newtown shooting <3

Back in the Interview world!

So it's only been a week since I last posted...shocking I know ha.  Today I had an interview with a school district that I am very excited about and hoping to hear good things after Thanksgiving :)  I also had wedding #7 this past weekend.  It was a fun time and the bride was absolutely beautiful.  It was good to see the crew again from college and see our dear friend the groom marry his wife :)  This week is extremely busy and then next week we're in Florida for Thanksgiving with my grandparents :) I can't wait to see them and spend some time away from the cold weather...although today was quite warm :)

My friend Hunter and I...we always take pictures together at every event since 2005 :)

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Morrow!

The gorgeous bride and handsome groom

Beautiful centerpieces and the tables were musical styles

3/5 of the crew: Me, Jason, and Beth..missing Ryan (the groom) and Molly (who arrived just before the wedding)

Hurricane and family

Here we are in November...and the clocks were turned back today.  October was nothing less than busy once the last two weeks hit.  I ran my first 5k in Hoboken and Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Coast.  The devastation is sad to see across Jersey and NYC.  My family and I were without power from Tuesday night to yesterday afternoon.  Luckily for us the tree that fell in our front yard missed the house and pulled the wires and the conduit off the house and a power company from Ohio came to the rescue :)  There are still a lot of people without power and I am so blessed to be able to invite them over to warm up or take a hot shower if they need.  Some schools are still without power and will still not have school tomorrow.  The kicker...we have a Nor'easter headed our way this Wednesday.  We just finished cleaning up the yard today...who knows what this one will bring...here are some pictures from the last few weeks :)

Hurricane Sandy's mess

"My tree...look what you've done to my tree"

Warming up in the car and traveling between houses with the puppy :)

The half of the tree that fell in the back...just dented the pool, no major damage

Amy and I after running my first 5k

I finished my first 5k in under 40 minutes :)

Another month almost gone

Here we are almost to the end of October!  I cannot believe how fast this year is going (I feel like everyone says that every year).  Maybe the older we get the faster time goes...or maybe time just always goes by fast and we refuse to admit it :)  Either way..it has been nice being at home now.  Most of my things that needed to be unpacked are now unpacked.  I have some small things I need to try and find and will hopefully get that done this week.  Since my last post I have had another wedding, a concert, seen family from out of state, and even got my hair recolored :)  A quick recap:

My 3 brothers at the wedding

Mr. and Mrs. David Rucki

View from the 19th floor

The wedding this past weekend was absolutely beautiful.  It was in Center City Philadelphia and the whole family went to this one (first one in 3 years!)  The reception was at the Belleview and if you have never heard of it or been there...it is gorgeous.  There is a restaurant on the 19th floor called XIX (of course) and it overlooks the city.  Breathtaking views all around.  The bride and groom were so happy and she was absolutely gorgeous.

My brother and I 

My date and I :)

Last week my brother, his best friend, and I went to the Gungor concert at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.  Seeing a good friend from college work as the guitar tech and even getting to meet some of the guys on tour working lights was just a great night.

Gungor on stage

Mark and I at the concert

Matt the guitar tech and I :)

I also got a chance to see my cousins who live in Pennsylvania with the whole family.  It was a surprise for me to go see them and it was nice to catch up.

My cousin and I at dinner (new hair color too)

October is just flying by and with 2 weddings done..I have 2 to go in November.  I feel November is going to be a quick month with a lot of traveling :)