Hanging onto summer...

As the end of August approaches and thoughts of school flood my mind, I find myself feeling a mix of emotions about summer coming to a close.  I am so excited to meet a new group of second graders.  I am so excited about trying out the new teaching strategies I have read about over the summer.  I am so excited to rearrange and reorganize my classroom in attempt to simplify my school year.  And in the midst of all this excitement, I find myself struggling with the thought of being back to the work grind...working way over 40 hours a week...feeling the stress...dreaming about school...waking up early... (you get the picture!)  In an effort to hang on to these last couple of weeks of summer, I have made myself a promise that I will take advantage of the time off that I do have left with my family.  Last night was a perfect night at the cabin (our summer home!).  I was able to capture a few snapshots from our evening together.  Life is GOOD!

Summer Snapshot

I am very GUILTY of not blogging on my personal blog this summer!  This snapshot was much too cute not to post though!  To celebrate my mom's birthday, we all went out to their home, enjoyed a nice lunch, played a few rounds of beanbags, went swimming, and finished off the day with a pontoon ride.  Molly was really excited that she got to sit on the table and drink her mama's pop!  I just couldn't say no to that sweet face...yes, I paid for it later! 

Photo #67

As I sit here after finishing my second to last day of school, waiting for my family to come home (school had an early dismissal today), I find myself reflecting over the last year of my life.  I am flooded with a variety of emotions.  These emotions have motivated me to write down my thoughts so here it goes…

One year ago today I admit that I was feeling frustrated, scared, nervous, anxious, angry, excited, and doubtful.  One year ago today I was packing up my classroom in Bemidji in anticipation of our big move back to the Frazee area.  Each box that I packed, I had wondered if I was making the right decision.  One year ago today I was saying good-bye to my students that I had over the past seven years and wondering if I’d forget about them, their names, their families, and their unique personalities.  One year ago today I was shedding tears with my colleagues as I was receiving numerous hugs and well wishes.  Questions would fly through my mind…Would I meet new colleagues that I loved as much as them?  Would I be missed?  Would I be accepted at my new school?  Will I ever come back?  Would I ever be hired back if I did want to come back?  Am I going to like it at my new school?  Am I going to bond with these new kids and families as much as I have in Bemidji?  Am I going to like the curriculum and grade change?  Will I be an outsider in a small town that is, ironically, my hometown?  Now, one year later, I sit here reflecting this past year of my life and I can confidently say that it has been a tough year but filled with a lot of professional and personal growth.  

As for those questions that would go through my mind…I wish I could say that I have answers to all of them but I honestly don’t.  Does that mean I am unhappy with this new chapter in my life…absolutely not.  What it does mean is that I have more growing, learning, adjusting, and living to do.  I have done a lot of praying that the good Lord knows what he is doing with my family and me.  It is certainly freeing to know that I can put all of this in His hands and let Him take care of it for me. 

Today I am feeling anxious, excited, proud, eager, passionate, and loved.  I love that I can come home every night to a husband and daughter who love me unconditionally.  I love that my family is just a short drive down the road.  I love that my students have grown into little learners who enjoy school and have developed a love for reading and learning.  I love that my daughter enjoys her daycare.  I love that I have met new people in my life.  And I love that I have people whom I care about in Bemidji that I am still able to keep in touch with and see from time to time.  Change isn’t always a bad thing.  There are two roads we can choose in life- positive or negative.  It is up to us which road we want to travel on.  I am determined to choose the positive road through life.  It’s not going to always be easy but that’s okay.  Easy isn’t always better either.  Life is good...it’s not easy but it’s good! 

Photo #66

Track and Field Day...here we come!

Tomorrow is the highly anticipated, favorite day of the school year...track and field day!   There was a lot of planning going into this fun day and I think we are all set to go!

Team name chosen...check!

T-shirts ordered and ready to go on their desks for the morning...check!

Handkerchiefs in several colors...check!

Bright sunglasses to match...check!

Team poster to use at the parade of athletes...check!

Bring on tomorrow!

Photo #65

We FINALLY have some weather to get excited about!  Did you get out and make the most of this spring weather that has decided to visit?  Let's hope that the visit is here for good!  We certainly embraced the beautiful evening as a family.  First order of business...rain boots!  We put our rainbboots on and walked in the puddles.  Molly jumped and ran through the water...giggling the whole time!  Our evening also included some guitar playing on the patio and a bike ride through our future neighborhood (at least I hope that is where we get to build)!  I'm looking forward to tomorrow's weather!  It's supposed to be even nicer outside!  Stay tuned for some more pictures!

Photo #64

It's official!  I found this lovely letter waiting for me in my mailbox at the end of the school day.  Nice to have some relief today!  Thank you Frazee schools!

Photo #62 and #63

 It's time to get motivated people!  I'm tired of giving myself excuse after excuse.  I have the summer ahead of me and I don't want to be self conscious anymore.  I've just come to terms with everything and I need to get my butt to the gym and follow a well-balanced diet lifestyle.  I joined Weight Watchers about 6 weeks ago and have lost 11 pounds.  My goal is to lose 50 pounds and I know that I can do it because I have done it before.  I am excited because I have people in my life that are motivating me and some don't even know it yet.  I have an aunt and a friend from Bemidji who are also doing Weight Watchers that are checking in with me every week so we can share the amount we lose (this helps to hold me accountable)!  And now after having coffee with another friend on Saturday, I just found out she is interested in joining me at the Weight Watchers meetings.  I love how everything is falling into place.  Cheers to a better me!