• lazy afternoon by the pool, providing the opportunity to chat with a friend
• compliments on this week's "photo shoots"

• intense craft session
• enjoying some silence, and the laughter it can bring

• thinking ahead, while also learning to live in the here and now
• "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp

• flexible summer jobs
• squeals of excitement
• enjoying dinner out with my family
• Parenthood episodes
• teamwork
• 2 more willing and good-looking models - it is so fun to see a best friend so happy!

• delivering cookies and a card to a family in need
• scoring some deals at the dollar store
• purchasing 2 cute dresses for $10 at ditto!
• sticking to my goal (at least so far!) of getting some school to-do's done each week
• shopping with mom - not such good deals, but at least we had coupons!
• my first "photo shoot"/practice session - what a privilege to capture the joy of these adorable twins

They are too cute for words!

• a day of relaxation at the lake
• sunshine after several days of clouds & rain
• finishing one book and starting another
• baking m&m cookies
• my mom joining in on girls' Monday night get-togethers
• my dad & brother helping to fill in on the chores that my husband would normally take care of

• prayers from my church family
• weekly phone update with E
• the sequel to my latest read - "Something Blue" by Emily Giffin
• overhearing heartfelt compliments from my grandpa
• delicious family dinner, topped off with Snickers ice cream cake
• discussing wedding plans with my recently engaged cousin & friend

absolutely gorgeous "Happy Anniversary" flowers

• waking up just in time to make my important Skype date
• a sweet love note from my husband
• thinking back to what I was doing on this day last year
• completing 4 more pages in my wedding scrapbook
• celebrating a couple who will share our anniversary
• my first experience as a photographer at a wedding - I still have a long way to go, but it was fun to help out with posing and get a feel for what my role will be next month as a 2nd shooter!
• no rain
• out to dinner with mom & dad

• MOI! a blog post that made me feel special
• becoming more familiar with my own camera
• instant messages from my love
• family dinner around the table
• breaking out my scrapbook gear again, reminiscing on our beautiful wedding day
• scrapping with fun ladies, and having an exceptional helper!

• helpful bank employees
• discussing new ideas with my mentor
• watching Tangled with a friend
• being an assistant! 
• delicious berry smoothie
• more time to practice on the camera, and getting some professional advice on my photos (will post my practice shots soon!)

• designing an engagement album
• being able to help out at ditto when needed
• practicing on the camera
• competitive game of Scrabble
• laughing with old and new friends

• first official day of summer!
• finishing one of (hopefully) many summer reads
• photography lesson
• impromptu Skype conversation
• getting my many school worksheets in order
• getting this e-mail from my husband to start off the day: "In class today, we had to speak for a couple minutes about an important person in our childhood/life.  So, I chose you.  This is what I said (in Arabic, of course!): 'An important person in my childhood was a girl named Jenna.  I met her in elementary school.  She has a small family, she has 2 brothers, a father, and a mother.  She likes photography and singing.  Throughout her whole life, she has enjoyed working with children, so now she is a teacher in an elementary school; the same elementary school in which we met.  She is, naturally, beautiful and fun to be with.  She has blonde hair and green eyes.  In high school she became my girlfriend, and one year ago we got married.' After I said that we got married, my teacher was very excited and started clapping, and then the whole class was clapping!  It was pretty funny. So, I think about you everyday, even in another language!"

• seeing cousins 2 days in a row!
• enjoying the night out and not having to rush home to bed
• getting my one school meeting of the summer done and over with
• a good conversation with mom & dad
• seeing my hubby, even if only through Skype

• going to church as a family for Father's Day
• celebrating the wonderful dads in my life, and remembering those who have left us this year
• imagining a beautiful Father's Day celebration in heaven
• surprising a student in church today
• e-mail from my love
• gorgeous day at the lake, and lots of family members to enjoy it with

• quick and painless CPR refresher course
• early morning walk with Mom
• booking an overnight getaway to enjoy with my love when he returns, and telling him about it over Skype
• enjoying a day at the lake with no work to accomplish
• reading for fun!
• "Something Borrowed," by Emily Giffin
• playing cards and cracking jokes with family
• first boat ride of the season

• one last day at school, with empty classrooms and silent hallways
• laughing with teachers who have become good friends
• partnering up with a special 1st grade teacher to rearrange our classrooms for a new year
• weather clearing up in time for a great party!
• both sides of my family and some life-long friends, all in one place
• so many supportive and caring people in my life to ask how my hubby and I are doing in our time apart

discussing wedding ideas with my soon to be sister

family gathering to celebrate yesterday's graduation
(we missed you love! the picture is not complete)

all kinds of presents at the end of the party!

A lot to celebrate!

• last day of school for the year!
• picture slideshow of fun times in 2JB
• singing praise songs (complete with motions, lots of jumping, and even some air guitar) that we learned as a class this year
• hugs & high-fives as we said good-bye
• "Oh the Places You'll Go," by Dr. Seuss
• gifts and sweet notes from students and their parents
• "I'm going to miss you" from a particular student who will forever hold a special place in my heart, despite the frustrations we both faced this year
• enjoying happy hour at Blue Moon with fellow teachers to celebrate another successful year

a bittersweet shot - my empty classroom - not for long!

more to celebrate, at the ECMS graduation!

giving encouraging words and smiles ahead of time,
listening to my brother give his valedictorian speech,
and catching his eye to give a thumbs up after

way to go buds!

my not so little brother

proud parents

• end of the year video, complete with singing, cheering, and even hugs
• class moms to help control my antsy kids and celebrate our year in 2JB
• making festive t-shirts and signing the backs
• coming "home" to see my future sister-in-law (also the first time I was able to see her ring in person - my brother did a spectacular job!)
• talking to my husband 2 days in a row
• a considerate male teacher in the school to lift the heavy bins in my room into storage
• making cookie brownies to treat my students one last time tomorrow
• 2nd grade picnic, a chance to be outside on this beautiful day

• watching my students smile and cheer as they received PE awards
• getting 2nd grade help to pack up my classroom - we made a lot of progress!
• Bible Jeopardy
• Skype date, with no tears this time
• craft and catch-up time with a long-lost friend
• "You are Special" by Max Lucado

• spending some time outside to write spelling words in chalk
• wonderful class moms
• "mentoring" my mentor with organizational advice
• turning on some tunes and packing up another year
• finally coordinating schedules and catching up with a friend, even if it only means over the phone
• Monday night TV
• e-mails and pictures from my husband

• talking to my love on Skype
• Mom's home-cooking! (I will be eating good the next couple months)
• listening to a powerful speaker in church this morning
• finding out how our church can get involved with the ministry of Love 146
• making time for a walk
• planning my last week of school for the year - only 3 1/2 days to go
• congratulating my cousin on her engagement, looking forward to her wedding!

• volunteering at ditto with mom
• designing a collage with beautiful photos
• hearing that my husband made it safely to Irbid, Jordan
• making progress on report cards
• listening to my brother practice his valedictorian speech (so proud of him!)
• coupon for 25% off everything, even sale items, at Michaels
• reading notes my love left for me

• savoring last hugs and kisses from my love
• family party to celebrate my Grandpa
• changing the Netflix queue to a line up of chick-flicks
• moving in to my old bedroom for the next few months
• phone conversation with the hubby before he departs
• prayers & support from loved ones near and far

• enjoying one last date night with my love before his journey to Jordan
• http://jordantrip2011.blogspot.com
• warm enough to wear my honeymoon clothes again (I think it is actually warmer here today than in Antigua last June!)
• large iced tea from Dunkin' Donuts
• a third fan brought to my classroom
• finding cool rooms to take my class to for periods of the day

• a cold beverage delivered by my favorite aide
• spending my break in a cool place
• seeing so many of my students participate in today's violin chapel - they did a great job!
• reading to my class in the hallway to keep cool
• promptly picked up by my love, who had the A/C turned up high for me!
• enjoying dinner and conversation with my hubby's side of the family

• checking a few more things off my school to-do list
• reading and discussing Rob Bell's "Love Wins" with my hubby
• an encouraging conversation with my boss
• extended story time
• enjoying a delicious dinner, complete with strawberry cake, and conversation with my side of the family

• helping my husband design a blog to keep family & friends updated while he is away
• beginning to check items off my "end of the school year" checklist
• finally watching The Bachelorette with cousins again
• intentionally leaving work at school this week
• lounging around in summer comfy clothes
• remembering back to September when I taught my students how to write a paragraph and what an overwhelming task it seemed to them at the time; today we flipped the scenario to have them teach me (pretending to be a silly beginning 2nd grader) to write a paragraph and they were great teachers!

Weekend Recap

• meeting our niece, Melody, for the first time
• spending time with family in VA

• helping the new mom & dad in any way possible
• having a mini baby shower outside

• tiny booties and adorable onesies
• little fingers & toes

• helping decorate the nursery
• giving and displaying my craft project for the baby

• having no where to go, simply staying at home with Melody
• taking too many pictures of this beautiful baby

•  already anticipating the next time we can see her! 

• walk through Ridgewood with the love of my life
• a Starbucks grande vanilla latte delivered to my classroom (maybe I am finally developing a taste for coffee?)
• working with a smaller, and more manageable, group of students for a little while
• cooler temperatures, feeling a beautiful breeze in my classroom
• assisting family members with important projects
• packing for a weekend in DC, getting excited to meet my niece!

• end of the year praise chapel - amazing to hear so many young voices worshipping God!
• my class doing a great job of leading motions in chapel
• an additional fan donated to my classroom by our gracious aide
• most definitely dress and skirt weather!
• crafting for a special, little loved one
• help with the craft project from a great friend
• having my friend and mentor back in the building to chat and grade with