how about a little reality check...

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught" ~ Oscar Wilde

I began pre-school sometime between 1988 and 1989.  

First day of 2nd grade I declared that one day I would be a teacher.  

I finished sixth grade in 1998.

Promoted from middle school in 2000.  

June 17, 2004 I graduated high school.  

December 20, 2007 I graduated with my AA from Cypress College. 

I received my BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders from CSU, Chico on May 23, 2010.  

June 5, 2011 I began the journey towards my Education Specialist Credential and MA in Education.  

August 10, 2011 I had my first day as a teacher (student teacher, but it counts!)

And now, in less than one week, I will walk across a stage with friends that have become family and be recognized as a newly credentialed teacher...a few short days after that I will have my first interview for a position in a school district with my very own classroom.  

How did this happen?  

Where did the time go?

Is it possible to be in this place and still feel completely prepared yet unprepared all at the same time?  

I've learned so much in what feels like a little amount of time.  The least of which being what I was actually studying in school.  I feel like I'm continuously learning to trust and walk each day out one step at  a time.  

It's funny how the most important lessons have been the ones about loving well and living with purpose.  I've learned that the friends God put in my life in this season are so crazy invaluable and that the future is so unknown that it's insanity to try to get ahold of what it might look like.  

As I prepare to leave school for the last time as a student, I know for a fact my learning won't ever stop.  I'm so incredibly blessed.  

learning...

We are continuously learning. As we grow up the world around us teaches us new and amazing exciting things every day.  We learn who loves us and we learn what decisions we should and shouldn't make.  Being a teacher, learning is even more so on my mind.  As I sat alone in my room today after a long day at work I realized what God has for me to learn in the season I'm in.

Contentedness 


I'm learning to just be.  To be content when I'm alone and when I'm surrounded by people.  When I'm with one friend to enjoy just being with that person.

What I really wanted today, was to see a friend.  To get a hug and be told that I can do it.  What I got was some "me" time.  something I don't do well.  AT ALL.

My initial, internal response was to be grumpy.  To feel the woe is me "this isn't fair" feeling and to wallow until I got my way.  Not to say I didn't do a bit of that.  Once I left my personal putty party though I cuddled up in my amazing bed with a cozy blanket and just was.

I will see people I love later tonight.  I will get that hug, and could probably even finagle some much-needed encouragement.  But for now.  Right now.  I'm going to enjoy this time.  My blanket, computer and glass of good wine.  Maybe even a bit of homework.  Either way, however uncomfortable being alone with myself is, I am learning minute by minute to be content with me.  And I think I'm going to like this.

What is God teaching you this week?  My search for contentedness seems to be lasting longer than just a week, so really what is God teaching you this month or year?   He's got some good things in the works; I can just feel it.

loving break...

As of December 16th,  I am on winter break!  Christmas is coming and life is mine again (for a limited amount of time).

Santa drives a mercedes convertible...
and he hangs out in Irvine

My first day off I went to farmers market and then to coffee and the covered bridge with Kevin.  Such a good reminder of how simple and beautiful fall is.

I'm excited to spend some time home in Southern California with friends and family.  I'm also excited for some good time to clean up and organize my house and get ready for the craziness to begin again.

Getting ready for looking at Christmas
lights...cousin time!

My posts haven't been very regular so I figured I'd say this now...

the tackiest house we saw on
our walk

Merry Christmas!   I hope you have an amazing holiday with the people you love!

more to be thankful for

day 19
Music!  I've been singing and performing since I was small.  I was blessed with a decent voice and parents who encouraged me to follow my dreams and passions.  I haven't done much singing lately but I'm still just as thankful for music.  I love singing in my house, dancing to it in the morning, west coast swing-ing to it and just listing to it.  It's another of the simple pleasures in my life and I'm oh so thankful I can enjoy it.

day 20
Flowers.  Sunflowers, gerbera daisies, smell-good flowers, pretty pink flowers; I love them all [except roses].  When my friend and I went to the pumpkin patch I got to take some sunflowers home from the sunflower labyrinth, when those died I got some more to keep the flower happiness in my house.  At Andrew and Emily's wedding I caught the bouquet; well really, it came straight to me which was weird, but I got some great flowers out of the deal.  I really am so thankful for flowers.

day 21
JetBlue.  I really am thankful for the airline that gets me home for the holidays and whenever else I need/want to be home.  With exception of a few delays the past years they've done an amazing job of being warm and welcoming and on time.

day 22
I'm thankful for dancing!  When I moved to Chico I started getting involved in the dance world.  Chico has an amazing dance community with so many fun themed dances and great friends.  Dancing has brought so much to my life since 2008 and I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn as well as the wonderful additions it's brought to my life (in terms of music and friends).  So thankful!

day 23
On the coat-tails of a wine night with friends for Brent's birthday, I am thankful for wine.  It must be said as well then, that I'm thankful for wine with other people.  Good wine and cheese and dark chocolate.  It's the simple things, right?

Thankful catch-up...

I've been slacking a bit on my 30 thankful posts so I think today, on Thanksgiving, while watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade I will do a fast update of the days I've missed 

I'm thankful for:

day 14

Long talks with good friends.  Some of the best nights are so simple.  Sitting and chatting over tea or coffee and just sharing life.  Not much is better.  

day 15 

Photography.  It's a gift my parents gave me; their love of photography and cameras.  In high school I got to use their Canon AE-1 and I learned to process my own film and develop my own pictures.  Over the years I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring with my Rebel in hand and capturing some beautiful pictures of the people and places I love.  I'm thankful for a talent and passion I will be able to use for years and years to come.  

day 16

My mama!  We have our differences, there's been a lot of times we haven't even been friends but I know that my mom always loves me.  She is a strong, amazing woman who has taught me so much about work ethic and staying true to God.  I've learned about bargain shopping and sewing and on some occasions even how to not take myself too seriously. 

 She really is one of a kind and I'm so blessed and thankful she's mine.  

day 17

My dad!  Even more so than with my mom, my dad and I have had our definite ups and downs.  We're starting our relationship over and learning more about each other and for the first time in a long time; actually getting along.  He really is an amazing man who loves our family a lot.  He works hard and is becoming such an amazing man of God and spiritual leader in our family.  God's been doing some crazy miracles in our family and for that I'm thankful for God's miracles and for the dad that has come from those miracles.  

day 18

My bubba!  My little brother Ian came into our lives when I was 6 years old.  I haven't always been so thankful for him but as we've gotten older I am so thankful for someone to talk to at times and a friend to laugh with when I'm home.  He's 19 and still too cool for me sometimes but he really is an amazing kid and I know he's going to do big things with his life.  We may not look much alike but if you were around us our sense of humor and laughs are dead giveaways that we belong together.  I'm so thankful for who he is.  

Sunrise...sunset...

Newport Beach sunrise 2010

I've been seeing more of sunrises and sunsets these days.  I get to drive south to Oroville every week day and get to enjoy the beauty of the morning and the tail end of the sunrise and it never ceases to bless me.  I love seasonal shifts and really like that each day is met with a sign of newness and each day closes with beauty.  I've been working on finding joy in the simple things in life; the sunrise and sunset are proof that God is good and He has good things for me.  

Butte County sunset 2010

I'm thankful for...

My hair!  and the wonderful woman who helps it look amazing...


The wonderful woman who I trust with my hair. She works at an Aveda salon in Chico and she is amazing!  My hair and I have always had a great relationship, I've loved changing it: light, dark, short, longer, straight, permed, even bald for a short time.  I had an amazing girl who did it in So Cal so when I moved it was hard to think of "cheating" and getting it done somewhere else.  About a year ago I went to Giada and met Anna.  We discovered that we both moved to Chico in 2008 from the same general area in Southern California, I even know her nephews from one of my jobs in the school district.  I love everything she's done with my hair.  In the past year I've had blonde hair and now dark hair and she's talked me into bangs and out of shaving it again.  I know it's another something kind of silly and superficial but I'm so blessed with good hair and a fantastic woman who helps it stay looking good.