on the eve of a new school year

Tomorrow begins a new school year. My 5th year of teaching! It's hard to believe I am 5 years into my career already. When I tell people that I'm entering my 5th year, they assume I know what to expect and can just whip out my old lesson plans and do it all over again. There is some truth to that, but even after being a second grade teacher for several years, I still have many emotions going into the first day of school.

I'm sad to say good-bye to the sweetness of summer.

I'm excited to get to know 15 new students and help them grow this year.

I'm eager to see how this group of 9 girls and 6 boys will interact together.

I'm anxious about all of the small details I need to remember on the first day.

I'm hopeful that the first day will go smoothly, even without the extra set of hands of a student teacher (what a blessing last year!).

I'm grateful for a small class size, an always positive co-teacher, and an amazing aide.

I'm nervous about our low enrollment for this school year, and what that could mean for the future of our school.

I'm not sure how I feel about getting back into routine. I typically enjoy and thrive in a routine, but I'm fearful that I will have a hard time sticking to it. I'm afraid of overcommitting my time and energy.

But aside from all of my mixed emotions, the one pressing most on my heart for this new school year is feeling chosen by God to be the teacher for this particular set of 15 children. Of course, I feel this way every year to some extent, but this year is different. Perhaps it is because I have a few children in my new class that come from heartbreaking family situations. I know these children are loved by their families, but they have been through so much grief in just 7 short years. I'm feeling the responsibility of making sure that all of my students, but especially those that have experienced brokenness, know that I love them and will be there to support them, no matter what life brings. I want to be a model of Christ's love for them.

The problem is that I'm not exactly sure how to do that. There are no curriculum manuals with step by step directions for growing in love. I can't do it on my own. Will you pray with me that God will give me the grace and patience I need to make a difference in the lives of my students this year? Pray that my words and actions are not my own, but God's. Pray that my relationship with God will be my first priority, and that evidence of this will overflow into my daily interactions with students. Pray that they will see Christ in me and want their lives to reflect His as well. 

Even if these children forget how to add 3 digit numbers, count coins, tell time, spell high frequency words, or write a paragraph, if my students grow in their love for God and others, I will be one happy teacher.

It all begins... TOMORROW!

summer is slipping away

I recently heard a quote that rang true for me: "For teachers, the month of August is just one long Sunday night." While of course I have been enjoying every bit of summer to its fullest potential, it's true that with the turn of the calendar from July to August comes the pressure to start thinking about school again. I have spent several days in my classroom now and happy to say it is just about ready for the kids to arrive! I've also begun to think about those first week lesson plans, along with copies I need to make and projects I need to prep so that I'm all set for what looms beyond Labor Day.

But don't think for a minute that I don't love my job. I do! There is definitely a part of me that is excited to get to know my new class and have fun learning with them. Summer is just oh-so-sweet that it is hard to let it go.

I had high hopes and dreams for the summer. I always do! With nowhere to be everyday, the summer always appears to have so much potential for my own hobbies and projects. Earlier this summer, I made a list of goals (am I type A or what?!) to accomplish. Let's check in and see how well I did:

1. Earn the 11 professional growth credits I need to become a "Senior Teacher"
Check! Spent 9 full days in trainings, learning more about an established phonics program and how to incorporate it into my teaching and tutoring. Also, did some mapping and reflecting to see how well our curriculum connects to the new Common Core State Standards. Lastly, I read a book about reciprocal teaching to investigate better ways of teaching comprehension. I certainly worked hard, but it should (literally) pay off!

2. Tutor at least once a week
Six out of ten weeks isn't bad! Was able to use some of the strategies I gained from my phonics trainings.

3. Learn more about photography
Check! This summer, I learned to edit photos in Photoshop. Though it seemed overwhelming to me when watching others edit, I now know that I am capable. It is a time consuming project, but makes all the difference in photography! This will certainly prove helpful to me on a personal and professional level.

4. Enjoy the lake with a friend at least once a week
Check! How could I not?! :) My parents' lake house is my favorite place to be, especially with a friend to enjoy it with!

5. Spend daily time in God's word & prayer
I have no excuse for not following through on this goal. I wish it wasn't so hard for me to make this a priority! I have been good about sticking to my schedule for reading through the Bible in a year. It is amazing how God provides the right passages at the right times! But, I wish I had spent more time in prayer. I was off to a great start early on in the summer, but somehow even summer gets busy. Hopefully as I transition back into routine, my prayer life will become a key part of it.

6. Catch up on my scrapbook
Ha! I cut some photos, and it stopped there. I still have weddings from 2010 and 2011 to work on! I'm not sure when, but s-o-m-e-d-a-y I will catch up. Though I did plenty of crafting for others through a.j.e.less designs and for my best friend's upcoming wedding events! 

7. Exercise 3 times a week
Almost! I'd say I was consistent with exercising twice a week. I enjoyed attending more morning classes through Mandy's Underground Fitness, many of which were outside at the park! I love working out with friends, especially when we can be outdoors on a beautiful day.

8. Try a new recipe once a week
Not sure if I managed to do this every week, but I loved cooking/baking when I was able to! Most recipes were a big hit, including zucchini parmesan, monster cookies, quinoa stir fry, bumbleberry crisp, one pan pasta, quinoa burrito bowls, and garden vegetable pasta.

9. Read, read, read!
Check! I rarely have time to read for pleasure during the school year. If so, it's about 10 pages before bed at night so it takes me months to read 1 book! So summer is my chance to read books that others have recommended. My goal was to get through the Harry Potter series (I have never read them all the way through!). I'm hooked! I am just starting book 7 so I doubt I will finish before school starts, but I made great progress! I also read some other great books in between Harry Potter novels. Here were my two favorites- I would highly recommend both of them! I read both so quickly - couldn't put them down!

10. Relax

Glad I can say - check! I thoroughly enjoyed my summer. In between all of these goals, I spent many relaxing weekends at the lake, a week in the Adirondacks, a day down the shore, and a weekend in Syracuse with great friends. I will soak in every last minute of relaxation on this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Though school will certainly make my life busier again, I am going to work hard to keep Sundays free for rest & relaxation.

All in all, it was a GREAT summer! 

weekend away

Just got home from a weekend in Syracuse, NY with great friends and their adorable 9-month old baby boy! Most of our weekends together are fairly unplanned and low key, but if the weather is nice, we love to get outside and check out a new location together. This past Saturday was the perfect day for exploring Chittenango Falls State Park and of course getting lots of great pictures! You'd hardly even know this little guy wasn't feeling 100% -- he was such a trooper! Like the rest of us, he loves the great outdoors and the fresh air seemed to help him feel better! 

So excited that the next time we see each other will be in sunny Florida!!

Counting down the days til our vacation with friends...

my day

Saw this idea on a friend's blog -- thought I would try it out!

Outside my window: rain pouring down, thunder cracking in the distance

I am thinking: about what time my husband will get home, when to start making dinner

I am thankful: for quality time with a great friend today, after not seeing each other for weeks

In the kitchen: unwashed dishes from this morning's breakfast and yesterday's movie & ice cream night

I am wearing: the summer usual -- flip flops, shorts & t-shirt

I am creating: wooden signs for my best friend's wedding

I am going: to worship practice at church tonight (looks like we will be driving instead of walking this time!)

I am wondering: what plans tomorrow will bring -- in the summer, I can take it "one day a at a time"

I am reading: the Harry Potter series, and loving them!

I am hoping: for better weather this weekend

I am looking forward to: seeing family from out of state on Saturday, possibly berry picking with my love on Sunday

I am learning: to edit photos professionally, and to be slow to speak

A favorite quote for today: "Love never fails." -- 1 Corinthians 13:8

One of my favorite things: ending the day by curling up on the couch next to my husband and watching a funny show

A few plans for next week: phonics training Monday-Thursday, then off to Syracuse to visit our soul friends!

A peek into my day: this morning's workout at the park with friends

block party!

My husband and I, along with my brother and sister-in-law who live downstairs, are trying to be more intentional about reaching out to our community. We believe God placed us in our neighborhood for a reason, and we are doing our best to seek out His mission for us in our town. Of course, the first step in embracing our community is to get to know our immediate neighbors. Having lived here about 3 years now, we are already friendly with some of our next door neighbors. Yet there were still several homes on our street that we didn't know much about -- who lives there? What are their names? What do they do? Do we have anything in common aside from our address? We wanted a friendly way to meet more of our neighbors and get to know them better.

We decided to host a block party! A few weeks ago, we went door to door handing out invitations:

YOU'RE INVITED TO A 

BACKYARD BARBECUE BLOCK PARTY!

Sunday, July 28 from 5:30-8:00 P.M.

Come to meet & hang out with your neighbors!

Can't come the whole time? That's totally fine!

Feel free to stop in! Bring a lawn chair if you can.

Hope to see you there!

Just by knocking on a few doors, we were able to meet some of the neighbors we didn't know. Though not everyone answered the door, we were glad to see that the people we spoke to seemed receptive to the idea of a block party. We left invitations in mail boxes for those who weren't home. 

Then it was time to prepare for the party! It was hard to judge how many people would come. I'll admit that there were moments when we wondered if it would just be the 4 of us eating a burger in the backyard! But we went to BJ's and stocked up on food in hopes that would not be the case! 

On the day of the party, we had no idea what to expect. Even the weather was up in the air! Hourly forecasts changed by the minute. We debated all day long whether or not to postpone to a rain date. But as we stood in the driveway debating what to do, our neighbors remained hopeful and expressed excitement for the party -- how could we not go for it despite gray skies? The sun peeked out at 3 PM so we began the preparations. So many people (neighbors, family, & friends) wanted to pitch in to make the barbecue a success:

• Mom baked chocolate chip cookie bars
• Grandma made fudge brownies
• Leslie lent us a party tent
• Pete carved a watermelon fruit basket
• Arlene provided a table, cooler, and pound cakes
• John & Diane made pasta salad
• Lauren & Evan brought cookies
• Dave & Marco came with wine
• While we were at church that morning, Edgar even scraped and repainted our side of his fence to make sure our backyard looked its best for the party.

We got everything set up and looking great by 5 PM and told our neighbors to head on over to beat the weather! 

But of course, as soon as all of our guests arrived (20 of us all together!), the clouds gave way. It rained ... hard. We huddled under the tent and opened the garage for protection, hoping it would be a passing shower. After about 10 minutes, the rain was coming down even harder, so we told everyone to grab something and we headed inside. Though it was a bummer to spend the rest of our party indoors, it still seemed that everyone had a great time enjoying food and getting to know one another. Our neighbors even suggested making the block party an annual event!

I went to bed so happy that night. Despite the rain and change of plans, our first block party exceeded my expectations. It was a lot of fun to bring our neighbors together and made me excited to think about other ways to reach out to and spend time with our new friends.

family vacation at the lake

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then I'm just going to let all of these pictures tell the story of our fun and relaxing family vacation at the lake last week! We are already booked to go again next summer!

a.j.e. weekend

What better way to spend a weekend than with two great friends? Our time together over the last few years has been limited ... so many times when we were together, we were crafting for a.j.e.less designs (which we love!) ... but it's also nice to have "down time" together too. Especially when the money we've worked hard for by crafting can fund our vacation time together!

We spent 2 nights on Long Island -- shopping at the outlets, wine tasting, enjoying delicious food and great views! Of course, there was plenty of girl talk and laughs too. Can't believe we've been friends for 12 years already! At times, we lived just minutes apart. But for the past 8 years, at least one of us has been in a different state. Though we kept in touch despite the long distance between us, you can just imagine how glad I am to have them both in NJ again. Hoping this is just the beginning of more and more time together!