what to do

next week is my first spring break - as a teacher. I'm pretty thrilled about the idea of one whole week to do whatever i want. (sleep in, take short trips, hang out during the week day!)

summer is also fast approaching. how exciting!!.. there is only one thing i'm worried about: death by heat stroke in my car?... the driver's seat window of my car gave out a few weeks ago and no longer rolls down. hence, i might die this summer while in it. honestly, my car becomes this mix between sauna and steam room.. ( what's a girl to do? )

other than that, things will be wonderful :)

oh, to speak of many things

i want to grow a collectable source of conversation topics...

here are some things i already know how to talk about: foods, traveling, the beach, wishes, feelings and thoughts, personal events and memories, the Bible and things I read, running, things outside e.g. trees, sky, plants, time, plans...

here are some things i'd like to better know how to talk about: currect events - local, national, global, interesting facts - about people, animals, nature, and social organization... i want to know more about how the human body works, as well - in regards to exercise and diet, i've always found that fascinating.

anyway, one obvious conclusion would be to start reading more. i'll set a goal, something like - read from 2 sources (articles, books, adds, blogs) a day... then, I suppose, I should also start conversing more. practice, practice, practice!! so, 'have at least one interesting conversation with at least one person every day.' hah!

if you have any interesting topics for conversation, post it here. lets get this show on the road. :)

my sister and me

oh, what a beauty she is.

my, i'm sleepy.

heaven forbid, the night starts here.

goodness me :)

I'm grateful that the weekend starts tomorrow. God bless it.

also, i realize this particular post really has no purpose. i simply felt like it was time to put up something new. so bombs awaaaayyyyyy.....

bluffton

this was taken over the christmas holiday in ohio. in bluffton - where my parents live..not to mention where my eldest sister, sarah, her husband, and her two children live, as well.
I used to live there, too - in sixth grade, tenth grade, and for several summers after highschool graduation. actually, you may notice a sort of 'dot' in the lower right portion of the photo.. this is my bird-friend. gnarles. he says, "greetings from the midwest."

on another note, it's just slightly past 9:15 and i'm about to go to bed!! i must say - this teacher business that i've been involved in - for about 2 weeks now - is pretty tiring. or it's more that I need to become better about getting more sleep - namely I should go to bed at a decent hour and/or such. I've been enjoying the job, though, so far. :) my particular goal for the rest of this week is to lovingly interact with my students... yes, amen. that is what it will be. for me, this means to: smile, converse, and laugh with them, keep a never ending bowl of patience, support their learning successes - emotionally, socially, cognitively..., provide and show interesting lessons to them, and listen to them. i'm sure there's a lot more i could do. so, if you have suggestions, do tell. :)

ultimately this source of loving interaction comes from God - hopefully, at least, on my part. that said - as always, i need to be mindful of his presence and power! ra. :)

what's outside.

Blue skies and bare limbs. Room for warm growth. :)

the 12th

hmm, what a week. last week was. i barely worked which meant I had ample free-time to go here and there, to and fro. here's a picture from a mini-midweek-adventure. wooo :). it's taken from the inside of an old church.

Also, something exciting - I officially have my first real career job. i am now a career woman!. it's a teaching job and i'm thrilled. it's wonderful how God provides..in his time. in his time for my life, your life, our lives..

anyway, it starts on thursday! so, this week will be my last week working at starbucks-where i have currently been employed for almost the past two years. wow.. i'll miss it.

new years resolutions

my darling friend amy has challenged me (and YOU) in her latest blog to write down several new years resolutions.. so here:

*some of these have been inspired by others. so thankyou if you recognize something similar to your own resolution(s)...

-always be mindful of God
-be more thoughtful of others, both when with them and not with them
-read more - Bible, literature, articles
-travel somewhere i've never been - and stay there for at least a few days (maybe by myself, or with a friend. that would be nice)
-figure out how to pay school loans online and start paying them
-learn to be more confident/assertive in appropriate situations

well, i will now go to bed and chew on these resolution morsels. mmmm. :/. sorry, again, no photo. good thing i didn't make that a newyears resolution... bah ha ha.