We spent some time at my uncles house a couple months ago. It was so nice being out in the fresh air. And of course, it's always fun watching my niece and nephews catch fish. The are always so amazed.

I'm not scared of spiders......

This was another crazy thing we did that day. We got off the trailer and Susan told us we could go play in the hay. We all kind of looked at her and laughed. We thought we were too old to be playing in the hay. Well, 2 minutes later, we were all climbing. I climbed to the very top. It was actually quite fun. Susan also, suprised us all by reaching into a spider web and grabbing a spider. She told us they were harmless and were good for her farm because they ate the bugs. Then she asked if anyone wanted to hold it. And of course, I wanted to be the "show off" so I volunteered. It does make for a pretty cool picture, don't ya think? My husband would have been 20 feet away from me if he was there. He hates spiders!

Did you know cow's can read???

So I forgot to post this one a few months ago. Our mentor teacher that is over all the Mesquite interns had us out to her house. She lives on 150 acres. We went on a hay ride and I did lots of "firsts" that day. This is one of them. She said a couple of years ago, one of her students wanted to take a picture with a cow. When she got a teaching job, she did a lesson around cows and showed that picture to her kids. They loved it. So ever since, Susan tells us all to bring a book and take a picture. It was pretty silly seeing all 42 of us trying to get a picture withe a cow. I think he looks like he likes the book. What do ya'll think?

Holiday Cheer

Well, it's everywhere you go... the good ole holiday cheer.... and not to mention the great crowds everywhere you go. I have to tell a funny story. My dad loves Christmas time. It was always kinda a thing with me and my dad. I always wanted to help put up the decorations and the Christmas lights. I always wanted to pick out the Christmas tree with the family (which they did without me this year for the very first time. They broke a 26 year long tradition) Well, life gets busy and it seems that Christmas always just gets here way too fast. I came home last week so ready to just sit down and eat dinner. I was at my elementary school all day and then went to my class in Commerce at night. It was after 8 and I was tired, hungry and definately not in the mood for Christmas. Well, I walked in my house and my mom is putting up the lights on the tree; my dad was putting up garland around our front door. His stereo is blaring Christmas music. I kinda rolled my eyes and attempted to get something to eat and turn the tv on. I say attempted because it was only on for about a minute. My dad just couldn't believe I would rather watch tv than listen to Christmas music. Then he said "Weren't you always the one who begged to help us with Christmas decorations". So I was reminded that I should always make time for putting up decorations and more importantely to be in the Christmas spirit. So I turned the tv off and helped (a little).

As my semester winds down, I am looking forward to so many things. Spending more time with my husband, shopping for Christmas gifts, sleeping more, and not worrying at all about school or tests! Tomorrow is my last day until January 14. So I have a whole month to do nothing. Well, nothing meaning, only working and not going to school. I'm not sure what I'll do with my time. I just keep thinking about graduating in May. I can't believe I only have one semester of school left. I've gone to school for 9 years. I really don't know what I'll do when I don't have to go to school. Well, college anyway. I hope everyone is starting to get into the Christmas spirit even if it's taken a while as it has for me.

A different perspective

This is the lyrics to a song that I've heard before but never really listened to. It brought tears to my eyes and really made me think about what this day would have been like for a little girl. The song is called Real to Me by Nichole Nordaman


We rode into town the other day, just me and my daddy. He said I'd finally reached the age and I could ride next to him on a horse that of course wasn't quite as wide. We heard a crowd of people shouting and so we stopped to find out why. There was that man that my dad said he loved but today there was fear in His eyes. So I said daddy why are they screaming? Why are they faces of some of them beaming? Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe? I think that crown hurts him more than He shows. Daddy, please can't you do something? He looks as though he's gonna cry. You said He was stronger than all of those guys. Daddy please tell me why? Why does everyone want him to die? Later that day the sky grew cloudy and daddy said I should go inside. Somehow he knew things would get stormy. Boy was he right. But I could not keep from wondering if there was something he had to hide. So after he left I had to find out. I was not afraid of getting lost. So I followed the crowds to a hill where I knew men had been killed and I heard a voice come from the cross. And it said "Father, why are they screaming? Why are the faces of some of them beaming? Why are they casting their lots for my robe? This crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows. Father please can't you do something? I know that you must hear my cry. I thought I could handle a cross of this size. Father remind me why. Why does everyone want me to die? Oh, when will I understand why." "My precious Son. I hear them screaming. I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming. But soon I will clothe you in robes of my own. Jesus this hurts me much more than you know. But this dark hour I must do nothing. Though I've heard your unbearable cry. The power in your blood destroys all the lies. Soon you'll see past their unmerciful eyes. Look there below, see the child trembling by her fathers side. Now I can tell you why... She's the reason you must die. "

What a great reminder of what was done for us and the ultimate reason for thankfulness. Hope everyone can count their blessing and know that God is the reason for all of them.

Take my quiz

so this is fun. Thanks Tiffany for the quiz website. It would be interesting to know how many people know me really well. So click on the link and get started. It's only 10 questions so it won't take long. Good luck!
Here's a Quiz for You on QuizYourFriends.com
CLICK on the link below or PASTE it into your browser.http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=071123011054-209166&

I PASSED!!!

So I can sigh a huge sigh of relief today. I got the email with my score. I got a 266 out of 300. A 240 is passing. So yea!!!! I'm so relieved I can relax now. Well, mentally I can relax. We are moving this week. We were gonna move this weekend but we're trying to get it done before the weekend so we'll be able to relax (physically) this weekend. So needless to say, I'm sore, tired and thinking I'm gonna hire someone next time to pack for me! I just think about this time next year when I'll be settled in a house and not working the day before and after Thanksgiving! Well, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! I especially will since I know I passed my test!

The Test

Well, I really wish I had great (for sure) news. But I don't. The whole reason I took the computer version is because they give you a print out of how many questions you got right. And i tried to figure out before how many I had to get right in order to pass. But there's some weird formula that nobody knows. So I got 76 out of 100 right. My friend got 84 right and made a 279. A 240 is passing. So I'm hoping that 76 questions is passing but can't be sure. I really thought I'd have a for sure answer today. But I guess I'll have to be patient and wait for the results. So thanks for the prayers. I'm sure God will take care of me.

Say a prayer for me

It's been a while since I've posted. Things have been going good. Nothing new really. I'm getting close to the end of the semester. I'm taking the state certification next Monday. So I hope everyone will say an extra prayer for me. I'm really nervous. Everyone keeps telling me I'll do fine but that really doesn't make me feel any better. I told Jared we'll either be celebrating Monday night or I'll be depressed. After I get this test behind me I'll be so relieved! We are also about to move. We don't want to sign another year lease here cause we want to buy a house in May. So we're moving in with my parents until we find a house. That should be fun. But it will save us some money. So after the test is over, I have to start packing. It's gonna be a busy week! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

So, not a whole lot is going on in our lives now. I just transferred jobs. I am so much closer to home. I can actually go home for lunch. And i'm just a teller. I love just being a teller. No manager responsabilities. It's so less stressful. I'm still loving school. I'm interning in 4th grade now. It's a huge difference from from 1st. But they are still so cute and sweet. We are about to go out of town for a family reunion to Kerville, TX. That's about all that's going on in our lives. Hopefully we'll have something more exciting in the near future.

I was the teacher today

So today I got to be in the classroom all by myself. My program requires us to do two days a semester by ourself. It's kinda a reward to our mentors so they have a day off. It went great. The kids weren't complaining at all about MaryAnne not being there. They were pretty good. Of course some of them wanting to be the teacher and tell me what do to every 5 minutes. But it went really well. It was just a taste of what it will be like a year from now when i have my own class.. I just hope they're sweet little first graders like I have now. I'm real sad because I only have one more week with them and then I'm off to 4th grade. I'm not sure how I'll like it but I'm keeping an open mind.

My week

I just want to say that I love being an intern. I love my teacher. I love the kids. I love my mentors and liason. They're all so great. I cannot wait to graduate in May. A part of me wishes I would have gotten it over with a long time ago. But now I think I will appreciate my degree even more because it's taken FOREVER to get it. So Jared got back from DC. He had a good time. I had fun hanging out with friends while he was gone. This weeks been great but I hate going back to work on Thursdays!!! Hope everyone's having a great week.

Life is great for the two of us. I am loving finally being in the classroom. I wish I didn't have to still work at the bank part time but I don't have much longer until I graduate. Jared is about to go on a "baseball trip" with my brother and dad to Washington D.C. He's really looking forward to that. That's about all that's going on in our lives right now. I'm posting a few pictures from labor day weekend with the fam.