30 Days of Thanksgving: Colleagues

Today, I am thankful for my colleages/coworkers. They are simply amazing. One of my associates even went out and got me lunch today!

I am truly blessed to work at Horizon. Everyone is so welcoming and loving. I have been in schools where people dont even say "hello" as you are crossing paths in the hallway...this is NOT true at Horizon!

I was able to engage in some good conversation with our dean of students, Shannon, today. She is a wonderful person and I cannot express how GREAT she is at what she does! I am thankful for her constant concern and listening ears. I also admire her task completion. You can always count on her.

I am thankful for other friendships I have made this year, also. I "share" special education students with multiple teachers, and this year the group of teachers I get to work with are wonderful! I enjoy their personalities and helping hands in genuinely wanting the best for our students. I have also really enjoyed getting to know Miss Shermer this year as we have worked very closely with the students we share. She is really a dedicated teacher and works her tail off to meet the needs of all students in (or not in : ) ) her classroom.  This year has been the most challenging in all of my teaching career and the student we share has brought that on for us. Even though it is a challenge, I am ready for that, but am so thankful that I have a "village" to back me up! I am also SO thankful for Mary and her allowing me to vent constantly!

Last, I am so incredibly thankful for my associates. I think I could do a whole day of Thanksgiving for them. I would be unable to do what I do without them. I have been overly lucky to have been "given" them. They have the most patient hearts and truly, truly, have the best interest of my students in their sight. And most of all, they love the kids. Trust me, I have experienced associates who have not been like this, and I can say with the most confidence that they are the best around.  They are open to feedback, always willing to raise a helping hand, and best of all...they keep me sane :) Whether its a simple story about something our students did, or just talking about "monkey balls" (hehe...Lynne and Chris will get that) its so nice to have their help..educationally and emotionally!

30 Days of Thanksgiving:Sundays

When Sundays are played out like their **supposed** to be...they are most beautiful! This world is spinning faster and faster with each passing day.  I think a problem we have is that we dont take advantage of what Sundays should be about. Today, I was able to do that..it was wonderful!

First, I got to go to church...Then, I came home..enjoyed some conversation with my hubs. I got to take a two hour nap, clean just a tid, take Rye for a walk, and closed the night by having supper with family. 

I tend to forget  how awesome Sundays can be when they are played out like they are supposed to. God intended the day for going to church and rest.  When iI get the chance at it, I see why He intended that. I am rested up for school tomorrow and had a mini vaca from reality :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving:Health

Today, I am thankful for my health! It is something that I take for granted 100% of the time. I am thankful I can feel my toes, move my fingers, walk, talk, even just sit up, breath on my own, etc.

Typically we as humans do not notice or appreciate our health abilities we have until we get injured or sick. Then it becomes the problem.  Like most things, we don't realize what we've got until it's gone. 

I have this huge fear of getting injured in a car accident..or whatever..and losing those skills, but even still, I do not thank God enough for being mobile.

I am also thankful that I am generally a healthy person through each school year, etc. Of course, Im always good for one bout of strep a year, but other than that I am pretty healthy!

And last, I am thankful for the health of my family. There are so many families that I know with physically disabled family member of some sort. I also know many people who are experiencing cancer and other illnesses within their family. Everyone is alive, healthy, and well.

Praise the good Lord!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 2-Country Music

Today, I am thankful for country music and the way it moves my soul. There is nothing like it. I dont know of any genre (and maybe I am partial) that can pick me up, change my mood, or relate to my life like country music can.

The reminder for why I love country music came last night as we watched the CMA awards. It was so great to watch how "real" all of the musicians were at the awards show. I have never felt so connected to any awards show as I do when I watch them. I also think there is no "fluffing" it in country music. Country artists have raw talent like no other. They can play numerous instruments and there is no margin for error in their pitch.

 Luke and I have spent hundreds of dollars on concert tickets, music downloads, and albums on country music. And, even our satellite is always tuned into the "Highway" every night when we get home making supper!

My country music history started when I was a little girl, listening to "King George Strait" when bailing hay with my dad and cousins (I have very vivid memories of this)...or I remember being jealous when my mom and sister went to Garth Brooks in concert when I was just too young to go.  There is something to say about how you can relate to the lyrics...mmm...its just hard to even explain sometimes! And, I like old country...Luke thinks I am crazy...but there is this AWESOME station 107.9, that plays new and OLD country..I love the simplicity of the melody in the "old" music. It brings me back to the time when life was just..simpler..

Here are some of my all time favorites:
*American Honey-Lady Antebellum
*Lay You Down-Conway Twitty
*Crazy- Patsy Cline (written by the great Willie Nelson)
* My favorite of all time--Chicken Fried-Zac Brown Band
*Hey Good Lookin-Hank Williams
*Cross My Heart-George Strait
*Rodeo-Garth Brooks
*Small Town Southern Man-Alan Jackson (Reminds me SO much of my dad :) )

And some of my favorite artists at THIS moment:
Brad Paisley (this man has some mean guitar skills)
Keith Urban
Carrie Underwood
Luke Bryan
Martina McBride
Scottie McCreery
George Strait
and of course--many, many more

So, I leave you with these song lyrics by Brad Paisley that seem to be ever so true...

 You're not supposed to say  

The word cancer in a song 

 And tellin' folks Jesus is the answer

 Can rub 'em wrong
It ain't hip to sing about tractors, trucks 

 Little towns and mama  

Yeah that might be true  

But this is country music and we do

 
Well, you like to drink a cold one  

On the weekend and get a little loud 

Do you wanna say I'm sorry or I love ya 

But you don't know how?
Do you wish somebody had the nerve 

To tell that stupid boss of yours  

To shove it next time he yells at you? 

Well, this is country music, and we do
So turn it on, turn it up and sing along 

 This is real, this is your life in a song 

Yeah this is country music

 
Are you haunted by the echo of your mother  

On the phone? Cryin' as she tells you that  

Your brother is not coming home?
And if there's anyone that still  

Has pride and the memory of those 

That died defending the old red, white and blue 

This is country music and we do

 
So turn it on, turn it up and sing along 

This is real, this is your life in a song 

Just like a road that takes you home 

Yeah this is right where you belong
This is country music 

 This is country music

 
You Stopped Loving Her Today (This is country music) Hello Dolly (This is country music) God Bless the USA (This is country music)
Amarillo by the Morning (This is country music) Stand by Your Man (This is country music)
Take Me Home Country Roads (This is country music) I Walk the Line (This is country music) Country Boy Can Survive

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Last year, I decided to do a 30 days of Thanksgiving leading up until the holiday. I posted it on Facebook, then my amazing sister had a better idea to do it to her blog, so she could look back someday and see what she was thankful for had changed. So, following my wonderful sister and guider's footsteps (like I usually do) I decided to do that also. I think a lot will change, and a lot will stay the same. Right now, Luke and I are working toward our 2nd year of marriage and I am sure those things will change after we have a family, move, etc.

So....

30 Days of Thanksgiving:

Right now, I am coaching this fabulous drill team in the down we live in Panora, IA. This year there is alot of mixed talent, but I am thankful for that. I am learning so much from them.  And, even when things aren't so easy..(like getting up at 6:00 am for practice) they still have a way to make me laugh! They are a wonderful set of girls and make getting up for practice fun. There are some very unique personalities within the team, but overall they seem to get along wonderfully. This year just seems to be going to smooth.

I feel so thankful that I can not only wake up at 6:00 am and be happy...BUT that I am able to continue my dance experience by coaching high school girls. There is SO much that is happening during the high school years and I hope I can be an inspiration (in some way) in their life. But, what they dont know, is that I am so thankful for them, their awesome attitudes, and that I get to watch them experience that LOVE for dance that I have had embedding in my soul my whole life. Girls--Thank you for just being who you are :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving

So----This time of year, I typically post on my facebook status each day what I am thankful for. My awesome sister gave me the idea to blog about it, so I can look back someday and see what I was thankful for--and she what has changed:)

Day 1: I am thankful for my job. Not just to have one, but getting to go to work each day and do what I absolutely love to do--shape the minds of young children. It is so rewarding to see the small gains they make each day that it brings tears to my eyes all of the time! They are such great kids and I love teaching kids. Especially those iwth special needs. I never pictured myself in this position--maybe Kindergarten or something--but God definitely called me to be here for a reason. And, for right now, my heart is content!

Day 2: Today I am thankful for my "home". Not just the house and its warmth, but more importantly, the love and joy that fills it. Today I gave Luke the usual kiss goodbye, and I just looked back as I was walking out of the room at him and Rye laying in bed. What a beautiful picture :) I love to come home to them and am so thankful for having a place to live. There are so many people in this world who do not have homes or are living month to month to have a home. I am so blessed to have shelter especially as the weather grows colder!

Rye-13 Weeks:)

Lots have happened in the last few weeks! I have gotten to go visit my ADORABLE niece Adelyn. She was fabulous! We went shopping all day on Saturday for some post-baby clothes for Tasha! Addie was AWESOME and we had such a blast! It was such a blessing to spend time up there with them.

It was also nice to get some one on one time with my crazy little brother Dillon and live through him and reminisce my college years! He is having a blast and seems to make us think he is actually working hard this year...haha ...I know he is!!

Last week we were also blessed ot have our Swedish sister Helena and her daugher Magdelena come home! It was awesome to spend time with them too!

I have to write about Rye's latest! She is getting bigger, barely fits her kennel, AND is finally ringing the bell to tell us she needs to use the bathroom! What a pumpkin....we absolutely love her and would not trade her for the world...even though she is giving us a small dose of what having real kids is like (mostly responsibility):)

The above is a picture of Rye "driving" to find a big buck on our nightly drives lol