Annie are you ok....are you ok Annie

I'm watching the Michael Jackson "Glee" episode (even though I missed the first half).  I'm a tad lost, but am catching on very quickly.  Today was such a glorious day and a day to take in God's creation.  It was warm, the sun was shining, and just a great day to take a look around. Did you do that?

Top 5 for the day:
1. Enjoying God's creation walking to the music building
2. Seeing the 8th grade 1950s time capsule items
3. Singing worship in chapel and hearing the drummer take charge :)
4. 5/6 choir and the American Experience students singing in one language
5. Getting a table before class to eat and do some work

Speechless

Today was another day of whirlwind work and it never ends.  I always tend to be the overachiever when coming up with goals, but am terrible at following through or making them as good as I want them.  I'm working on two big projects for the middle school and I should have only chosen one to focus on.  I haven't touched the one project and need to have a good portion of it done before the end of the year.  Well, it's off to do school work while I wait for my laundry to finish :)

Top 5 for the day:
1. Doing laundry at my place for the first time
2. Successful lesson with the 8th graders...even though they're chatty
3. "The Bachelor" to finish out a stressful day
4. Talking to mom
5. Seeing previews for "Breaking Dawn Part 1" out on DVD February 11!

All of my life in every season, You I stand by

Just sitting down to get some more work done while watching the SAG Awards.  The day was pretty good, but I ended up not going to small group tonight because I have a lot of work left to do and have not been feeling good.  Church was good and am definitely feeling comfortable where I am.  God is definitely moving in me and all I can do is listen and wait to see what he has in store.

Top 5 for the day:

1. Gorgeous morning to celebrate the day

2. Worshipping the one above who loves me more than anyone ever will

3. Entering the last week of the fast and ready to see where God takes me

4. Talking with friends

5. Clean dishes to start the week

We are the dreamers of dreams

What a day.  I had judging all day for Junior High Honor Choir and just sitting in a chair listening to CDs made me exhausted.  I have a lot of work to do tonight, but I don't know if I have energy to do the work ha.  I'll wait to see how I feel after I make dinner haha.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Gorgeous painted sky and land while driving in the morning
2. Catching up with a friend while judging
3. Hearing some really gorgeous voices for honor choir auditions
4. Warmer weather for January to enjoy walking outside in the early morning
5. Movie night :)

The end to another week

Well, it's finally the end to another week.  I felt like this week has just dragged on and on and the past two days I have been constant go, go, go and no time to really sit down and breathe.  As I sit here and think about all I did today, I can't believe I did it.  This weekend will be extremely busy and with that I will have to get a lot of work done today so I can come home from judging tomorrow and not have to think or listen to music since I'll be listening to the same tapes all day.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Hula hoop competition with my 8th graders
2. Laughter and encouragement from the 8th graders
3. Seeing the bigger screen finally up on the wall and seeing how big it really it
4. Using Keynote Remote to teach...finally using my phone for teaching purposes
5. Finding a card in the mail to start my morning :)

Why?

That is a question I've been asking a lot lately.  Why do I have these dreams?  Why am I so tired?  Why can't I stay motivated to work?  Why am I here? Why do I feel this way? And I've been asking a lot of other questions like: What do these dreams mean?  How can things like that happen to great faithful people?

Do you ask questions like that a lot?  I have a feeling a lot of this is coming from the winter doldrums.  We have had a lot of rain the last few weeks (and some snow) and today was another rainy day.  I feel like January and February are the hardest months to get through.  We are inside a lot due to the cold weather, we want to eat to keep us warm, and weather is always unpredictable. I have discovered...God knows what my desires are and slowly but surely he is revealing his promises to me in the most...inconspicuous ways like He did in the Bible....through dreams.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Starting the day with Kindergarten kiddie giggles and laughter at music and animals
2. Trying a new style of teaching...semi successful
3. Dinner with Mom
4. Hearing her concert went really well and much better than yesterdays :)
5. Youth group :)

A Cinderella Story

It's a Cinderella Story night.  I have a lot of work to do but am trying to figure out where my motivation is. I am just tired and have added more performances to the Springtime for the 7/8 choir.  I've been doing pretty well on the Facebook fast.  I think the problem is I have tended to spend more time on Pinterest and think of crafts and my wedding day and just a lot of ideas.  I've been having some really weird and bizarre dreams lately and am looking forward to these dreams coming true or as promises as to what is to come.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Meeting for a new benefit concert for the 7/8 choir and spending some time with my PIC
2. Phone call with a friend
3. Talking with a friend to calm her nerves about new adventures
4. Spending time in devotions with MS staff and reminding to check our "heart" condition
5. Fun texts about dreams I have

He's Everything You Want, He's Everything You Need

Currently listening to a great musician Ethan Blake on Soundcloud.  He's doing a cover of "Everything You Want" and it's so good.  I'm stalling doing school work and I have a lot to do.  I feel like the quarter just started and am already up to my head in work.  The second half of the year seems to go by faster with more work.  Does anyone else feel like that at any point during their working year?

Top 5 for the day:
1. Sunshine and "warmer" weather
2. Getting a lot of work done on the extra prep I had
3. Talking with new classmates at grad school
4. Listening to great acoustic music to get work done
5. Student excitement playing a game with the 8th grade

Korean Night and a new quarter

Korean kids introducing themselves

It has been a very whirlwind day.  I wasn't feeling good this morning and fought a headache all day until I got home.  The 7th and 8th graders were off the walls...but expected since it's a new quarter, back to a new class, and the start of another week after a short week last week.  Tomorrow is my grad class and I'm just hoping I understand it better this week...hopefully.

Tradition with the host family

Top 5 for the day:

1. Hearing about Korean culture from the Korean students I've been teaching

2. Dinner and hang out with a friend and her son

3. Heytell conversation with a college friend

4. Seeing my name written in Korean by one of my favorite Korean kids

5. Seeing students interacting with the Korean kids

Traditions

Love for the host families

Super proud student who knew how to write his name in Korean

American and Korean kids dancing

Another Sunday

It's been a very busy Sunday.  I've been trying to do school work, but have no energy to do it.  I think my cold is back or just not going away.  My whole body is achy again, but my nose isn't stuffy anymore.  I've had a headache most of the day today also.  The great part is when I was at church or at small group tonight I didn't have a headache and felt better.  I'm hoping I can feel better tomorrow since it's a new quarter.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Great talk at church
2. Seeing my brother's band perform impromptu on Youtube at the NAMM conference
3. Meeting new people at small group
4. New thermostat that I can program to save money
5. The calm in the air driving to church with great scenery of snow on mountains

If you're a bird...I'm a bird

"The Notebook" starts in a little bit.  I'm looking forward to watching it and the nice part is that there are commercials since I'm not watching it on DVD so I can get some work done at the same time.  It's been a busy day and I got a lot done.  Tomorrow is another day and another busy one at that.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Crafting and girl time
2. Home cooked meal and brownies
3. Healthy breakfast
4. Clean apartment and organization in the closet
5. Movie night

My crafts

Half Day/All Day

Today the kids had a half day and the teacher's had a professional work day after they left.  I was able to get all my grading done and work more on the IDE for my 8th grade class on Monday.  I'm starting to feel better today and already the judging has been postponed to next weekend.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow with some crafting with a friend.  We haven't had a girls night in awhile and have a lot to catch up on.  Since it'll snow most of the day tomorrow we have plenty of time :)  My goal for tonight...get some grad school work done and some school work done.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Making a friend's day by calling them for their birthday
2. Getting grades done before leaving school
3. 1/2 day for students providing time to get work done
4. Starting to feel better after being sick
5. Making plans for the weekend

Post 300

Instead of going to youth group I'm home....being sick.  I'm hoping to sleep it off tonight and feel better tomorrow so I can enjoy the end of the quarter tomorrow and work on grades.  I feel if you are sick everything just moves in slow motion and you don't want to do anything.  The kids definitely notice and sometimes they try to take advantage of it and it makes me more angry with them.  Oh well...of to make some dinner and try and feel better.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Hearing good renovations about the apartment
2. Home made chicken noodle soup for lunch from a colleague :)
3. Kindergarteners being sympathetic to me being sick and staying as quiet as possible the whole half hour
4. Pictures of opera from kindergarteners
5. Spending some time with a friend after school making plans

Wednesday....Busy Day

This morning my body did not want to get out of bed.  My cold was just terrible this morning and all I wanted to do was sleep.  I did start to feel better throughout the day, but now that it's evening and I'm starting to wind down my cold is back in full.  I feel like Wednesday should be called Windy Wednesday since it flew by along with being windy and cold outside.  It's nice to be sitting here at home relaxing a bit.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Starting the day with a Proverb I can try to apply to my life today
2. Home made chicken, baked potato, and corn
3. Talking with my neighbor and catching up
4. R+R time with a great friend...rubrics and recipes not rest and relaxation :)
5. Getting more prepared for the new quarter that starts on Monday

Grad school has begun

I need to blog a bit.  I get home from a 2 1/2 hour class (that let out early) and not being home all day to a flood of e-mails from students asking me to e-mail them an assignment that I have sent to them back in November/December.  This is also the 4th time I e-mailed to remind them about it.  Ugh...and on top of that I don't feel great and haven't all day.  Ok...done venting...thanks for putting up with that.

Anyway, besides the rain and snow and ice we had between last night and today the roads are a bit tricky.  On my way home I had to pass an accident but I only saw two cop cars and an ambulance...it reminds me of how quickly our lives can be taken away.  There are a lot of accidents happening, but only God knows when and where you and I will be taken from this world.  Personally, the thought of living forever with God in Heaven is both exciting and a tad unnerving.  I'm excited because I know I will be with my Savior and be able to worship Him all the days of my life.  It's unnerving because I think about things I want to accomplish before I die...get married, finish grad school, have a kid or two, see them grow up, have grandkids...the list is very personal and my goals in life.  I know God has a better plan for me and is showing me his plans every day.  I am grateful that I can live in an apartment, have wonderful friends, a loving family, a job I enjoy, and a healthy life.  That is really all I should need and sometimes there are days I just want more....more money, better friendships, healthier life, a boyfriend...you get the idea.  I know I'm only human and only God knows how to fulfill the void in my life right now and reading a Proverb a day because of the fast is helping me see what God is trying to teach me.

What is he trying to teach you?  What are you filling your void with?

Top 5 for the day:
1. Starting grad school and getting back into "student" mode
2. Coming home to an e-mail from a parent just to say "I hope you're having a great day"
3. Texts, hugs, and "good luck" from coworkers, friends, and family for grad school
4. Seeing and hearing the American and Korean students sing a Korean song in chapel
5. Catching up with a former "small group girl" on her new college life

The end to a very fast weekend

It's the end to a very quick 3 day weekend.  Here's to hoping this 3 1/2 day week with the kids will be quick.  It was nice to be at my parents house for the night last night and spend some time with mom this morning.  Being day 2 of the Facebook fast I am enjoying the extra time I have.  I have been working more on Pinterest to get some more craft ideas which makes me real excited for my crafting day sometime before the end of the month.  It's been nice to be able to pack up and clean out some things at my parents house out of my bedroom to make room for Nan and will have to make some room for a lot of books.  Well, it's off to get my school things together and get ready for my first day of grad school :)

Top 5 for the day:
1. French toast and grilled cheese on a cold day
2. Getting two new laundry hampers to have the clothes divided already :)
3. Shortening pants to wear with flats
4. New wiper blades before the rain tomorrow
5. Surprise visit from Dad in the middle of a lazy day on his way to the other store :)

Let the fasting begin

Today is the first day of a 21 day fast for the church I go to.  I'm hoping over the next few weeks that I won't give into the temptation to go on Facebook.  I need to go into this with an expectancy of what God wants to reveal about me and Himself, not an expectation.  I'm very grateful for the Christian women God has placed in my life to talk about struggles and life with.  I have come to the conclusion that age at this point is not a factor....whether they are older than me, same age, or younger they all have an important role in my life.  I'm ready to take this journey and know that I'm not alone.  Are you willing to fast for 21 days? What will you give up?  What is God asking you to give up to spend some more time with Him?

Top 5 for the day:
1. Wonderful worship and talk at church
2. Having conversations with wonderful women
3. Helping Nan clean out her house...anticipating the move
4. Warm mashed potatoes, roast beef, and corn for dinner on a cold night
5. No school tomorrow :)

A freezing Starbucks

Today I spent some time getting work done in a new setting...Starbucks.  So it wasn't a new setting, but it was nice to sit with a friend and talk while getting work done.  We were there for awhile and as I people watched there were some pretty interesting people.  Today I also started keeping track of what I eat so I can start on a healthy kick and see what my patterns are.  My goal...to tone my body, lose some weight, and feel great inside and out.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Spending time with a friend in Starbucks
2. Getting work done for the week
3. Listening to instrumental music to focus
4. Trying my Zumba video game
5. Getting rid of Facebook on my phone and preparing for no Facebook for 21 days

The end to a really long week

As I sit here on my couch thinking back about the day and I can't believe I made it.  There were times I felt like I was just going to break down and I needed a break.  This 3 day weekend came at the perfect time.  I'm going to need 3 days to recover from this week.  It feels like the longest week ever and I don't know why.  The end of the quarter is one week away and I still have to wait for a couple more projects.  I was hoping to get them in before this upcoming week since grad school starts Tuesday but that's not happening.  I'll probably get them Friday and have to grade them that day.  Well, it's off for a night of movies and starting to take the ornaments down so I can take my tree down tomorrow.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Staying on top of grading to bring no grading home
2. Seeing it flurry (and their excitement even if it interrupted my lesson)
3. The sun shining through the dark clouds this morning to form a gorgeous picture (if only I had a camera)
4. Seeing both the American and Korean kids play basketball and act like they've known each other for a long time
5. Talking to friends I haven't talked to in awhile.

Demons and Spiritual Warfare

Youth group tonight we discussed demons and demon possession.  We had a really intense conversation about how demons work, is it possible for Christians to become possessed, are seizures possibly people possessed, and other hard and thought provoking questions.  A lot of it has to deal with what you believe and how you interpret things in the Bible.  I take comfort in knowing that Satan can't be everywhere and God can be everywhere.  It's a hard topic to discuss and a lot of it does not have a definite answer until we see Jesus face to face.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Great discussion with my small group
2. Surprise gift from a student's mom due to audition help
3. Dinner with Mom
4. Student excitement about different instruments and cowboy songs
5. A warm bed on a cold night

Three days left

In three days I will be done with Facebook for 21 days and tonight is the first night I am looking forward to it.  There are just things I think I need a break from and need to refocus my thoughts.  Lately I've been thinking: What's wrong with me?  What do other girls have that I don't have?  Am I too serious?  Do I not know how to have fun?  It's just frustrating once in awhile.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Having a Korean student ask to try writing one of the symbols on the board and KNOWING IT :)
2. Grocery shopping being under 100 dollars
3. Clean sink tonight
4. Getting the 4th grade musical papers out
5. Wednesday night TV

One week from today...

One week from today my life is going to have new priorities.  I will already be fasting for a couple days (starting Sunday taking a break from Facebook) and I will be starting grad school.  I am anticipating being tired the first few weeks, but will have to monitor how I'm feeling.  We will also be at the end of the semester and getting last minute grades in.  What are you doing a week from today?

Top 5 for the day:
1. Visitor for dinner
2. Getting the 7/8 choir seating done (for now)
3. Having an extra prep to run and get the honor choir CDs mailed
4. Home cooked meal for dinner
5. Keeping up with some goals for the new year :)

Mondays will not beat me

It's 7:30 and my head is spinning.  I have so much to do, so little time, and the weather being warmer than usual is causing the headache.  I'm looking forward to seeing "The Bachelor" tonight and getting done with the honor choir auditions.  This year has been mass chaos for auditions and it has gone on too long.  I need to make sure I get to the post office tomorrow to mail the audition tapes.  Well, it's off to take some medicine, get under the blankets and start on some work.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Being done with honor choir auditions
2. "The Bachelor" as my saving grace for Monday
3. Having great friends and mentors to talk to
4. Seeing that one student FINALLY get it :)
5. Listening to new music :)

Fasting thoughts

I checked out a new church today...The Plant.  It was very different from what I am used to.  It was in a school, small congregation, very personal, and the church will be fasting for 21 days starting next Sunday.  Best part, I loved every minute of it.  Everyone was so friendly, I could listen to the pastor every day, and the pastor and his wife made sure they either talked to me or waved to me before the service.  The nice part about a small church is that it allows the church to try new things and see if it works.  Starting next Sunday I will be fasting for 21 days...I'm giving up Facebook.  Let's see how well I can keep up with this while starting school the same time.

Top 5 for the day:
1. The Plant for church with a great message and a challenge
2. Spending time with a friend and her family
3. Meeting new people
4. Hugs from students at church
5. Deciding, thinking, and praying on what to give up to Fast for 21 days

Let the graduate school begin

Today was Montclair's Graduate School Orientation.  It was nice to walk around campus, and the weather was perfect.  It was warm for January and sunny.  I learned some helpful tips and information about starting graduate school and I am super excited about it :)

Top 5 for the day:
1. Walking around campus on a gorgeous day
2. Helpful tips on managing life and grad school
3. Relaxing day
4. Feeling like a grad student with my ID card
5. Warm day in January

My ID card :)

End of a very long week

It's finally the end of a long week.  So far I have been good with a couple goals of mine.  I'm going to focus on a few more goals next week.  It's going to be a busy night since I need to do some work and get ready for orientation tomorrow.

Top 5 for the day:
1. Using my Mr. Coffee for the first time :)
2. Strong harmonies in choir after one rehearsal
3. Home cooked meal for dinner
4. Being able to leave at 3:15 since I didn't have bus duty  :)
5. Warm January day

Spiritual Warfare

The talk tonight started our study of Spiritual Warfare.  This topic both interests me and scares me because it is real and happening.  We need to be prepared and a lot of the things we discussed got me thinking about timing and events that happen in my life.  Are you aware of the spiritual warfare going on for you?

Top 5 for the day:
1. Starting some grading for 5th grade
2. Seeing how creative the kindergarteners are
3. Getting my Mr. Coffee set up in my kitchen ready to use in the morning
4. Having wonderful teaching friends <3
5. Youth group with wonderful people :)

Getting ready for a new set of students

In one week the middle school will be hosting Korean students for a month.  This will give them the opportunity to learn about American culture, experience our classes, and experience God for the first time (for many of them).  I'm both nervous and excited about this because I love encouraging students and seeing how they grow and with these kids comes new challenges.  I have some extra thinking I need to do to help the students understand just a little bit of what is happening in the class, on top of getting ready for a new style of teaching I am trying with the 8th graders.  Here's to hoping my brain doesn't hate me too much this weekend :)

Top 5 for the day:
1. Motivated with ideas after a meeting
2. Seeing my students play in their basketball game
3. Finding out tomorrow is a jeans day for the MS :)
4. Warm apartment on a cold day
5. Enjoying my Christmas tree for the last week :)

You gotta keep your head up, and you can let your hair down

It's not always glamorous, the job of teaching, but it is rewarding.  I have to keep reminding myself that.  I'm exhausted again today, but some interesting things happened.  I was able to wake up at 6 and start my day...maybe working out in the morning will eventually happen if I'm good with getting up earlier.  The worship team for chapel was student lead (I didn't have to sing at all) and Josephine didn't sing either.  Somehow I was overcome with a lot of energy for the end of the day (don't know how that happened at all).  Now I'm just waiting for Meaghan to come over so we can have some dinner...I can't wait for her to move down to this area and hang out all the time :)

Top 5 for the day:
1. Students stepping up to the challenge
2. Getting choir grading done...finally
3. Starting the day spending 15 minutes with God
4. Last minute decision for dinner :)
5. Fun conversations via Twitter

In with the new...out with the old

Center pieces

Well yesterday was the big wedding day...my "little sister" from church got married to her best friend.  I'm so happy for her and it was an absolutely gorgeous wedding.  It was all book themed..from the invitations and envelopes to the programs and center pieces.  Everything flowed so well and she was so happy.  It was a great way to start the new year...but with fun there is always a price to be paid.  I definitely paid for it this morning when I got up to go to school.  I have been dragging all day and exhausted.  I'm looking forward to watching "The Bachelor" and doing some grading.

Menu, place card, and favor

Top 5 for yesterday:
1. Seeing two great people get married
2. Seeing old friends and catching up
3. Dancing the night away
4. No traffic and no lights on the way home
5. Spending time with my brother

Me and Ash

Piano girls

Me and the bride

Top 5 for today:
1. "Happy New Year" all day at school
2. Coming home to a warm apartment on a cold day
3. "The Bachelor" starting tonight!
4. Receiving Christmas presents from students
5. Having awesome parents to go to Kohls and spend their Kohls cash to get a Mr. Coffee for me :)

Place card up close

Me and my dad