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!

Photo #61

Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:13

 

God is good!  My grandpa, whom has been in the ICU for the past two weeks, is now off his life support and breathing on his own.  Just one week ago, his future was bleak and the doctors told us we needed to decide whether or not to pull life support or perform a tracheotomy.   Through many prayers, visits to the ICU, and lots of tears, he is pulling through yet another hurdle!  God is so good!  Selfishly, I admit, I am so thankful to be able to spend some more time with my grandpa here on Earth.  Let this be a lesson to me that I need not take anything for granted.  Life is fragile and can be taken from us at any given time.  Let this also be a lesson to treasure time that we have with our loved ones and take advantage of all the moments with them.  I plan to be more proactive with sharing in life's experiences with him.  

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  

Psalm 118:24

Photo #51-#60

We took a family trip to Bemidji this weekend.  Of course one of our first stops was our former daycare lady's house.  We love Julie so much, especially since she loves Molly as much as we do!  We are very blessed to have had her in our lives.  Molly hasn't seen her in almost a year and she still remembered her.  Of course Julie took her in immediately, sat her down at the table for a snack and lots of kisses and hugs!

              

Another stop that we had to make this weekend was at Northern Elementary.  What an amazing staff and group of kiddos!  I walked in during their lunch time and the kids were shocked to see me.  It was so sweet...it was as if I was a famous person!  I heard..."Is that really Mrs. Olson?"  "Look, there she is!"  "I can't believe she is back!"  "Can I give you a hug?"  "Did you come back to teach here again?"  There's truly not a better, more rewarding profession than that of a teacher.  The picture you see above was taken last spring with my final class that I taught at Northern. 

And here we have little Miss Molly.  She was such a good little girl this weekend...and I think she loved the special time that she got to spend with her mommy and daddy.  This special girl has blessed our lives in so many ways...she has changed our lives forever.  We never knew nor could have expected the impact that one life could leave on us.  Here she is feeling pretty special with her tv tray and snack on the bed at the hotel.  

 

Time with friends was one of the many things that we go to do this weekend.  Above is a picture of my best friend Sarah and her sweet son James.  Molly absolutely adores James.  The way that Molly watches over and protects James just makes my heart melt.  This picture was taken at the Home Sport and Travel Show, which is the reason that brought us up to Bemidji in the first place.  (Brandon had to work at the show for Dynamic Homes/Zetah Construction). 

And finally...there was the POOL TIME!!!  Molly is at such a fun age right now.  She LOVED the water as you can see from these pictures.  She took many trips down the frog slide, swam with her parents, and practiced kicking her legs while mama floated her on her tummy.  So much fun!!!