New Year, New Beginning

Well it's 2009! Wow that's hard to believe...

I'm definitely welcoming the new year this year. The past year has been up and down, mostly more downs. But I really am happier now, and I'm looking forward to the new year & what's to come.

I start student teaching on the 12th. I'm excited, and a little bit nervous, mostly excited though. I'm just looking forward to graduating, getting a "real" job, and moving out.

As for resolutions, well I'm not usually one to make resolutions... sure as I say I WILL do this or that, it lasts a week if you're lucky. But nevertheless I came up with a few...

1. Be frugal/Save as much money as possible - this probably should've been at the top of last year's list but oh well. I'm only working about 10 hours a week at the Y during my student teaching semester, if I'm lucky, so that means my paychecks will be more than cut in half. I'm hoping to be able to pay for almost everything. I have my car paid up till February now, I'm going to try and pay at least February's payment with my last decent paycheck from the way. So hopefully I'll only have to scrape together enough to pay for 2 or 3 months. Then my next goal is to pay my car off a year early. It's a 3 year loan and I've been paying on it for a little over a year, I only owe about $3000 on it so I'm going to try and save money over the summer to pay it off before next Christmas.
   
2. Pay more attention to my health - I don't neccessarily want to lose a lot of weight, I've done pretty well throughout college. I've gained about 10 lbs since I graduated high school 5 years ago, which though not great, is definitely better than some of my peers I graduated with. My eating habits just suck. I eat out too much, I skip breakfast too often, and I don't eat enough fruit & veggies. I know that, so I want to try and eat better. I also have a free YMCA membership I seldom use. Now that I'll have weekday evenings free (or semi-free, aside from lesson plans & grading and all that) I don't have an excuse not to go exercise. I still clog, and it's great exercise but I don't do it enough. 2 hours, one day a week isn't what I should be doing. So that's one goal I have, to get in better shape, and eat better. My family genes suck so I hopefully can get into some life-long habits this year.
3. Stop feeling guilty about being happy - That's one thing I've been dealing w/since Seth & I broke up. I know it's stupid but I can't help feeling guilty that I am happier since we've not been together, especially since he hasn't reached that point yet. I KNOW it makes no rational sense because the choice to end our relationship and everything was mutual. But because I care about him, I sometimes feel guilty that I HAVE been able to move on to greener pastures and be happier when he's been struggling. But I know I shouldn't... I need to keep looking to the future with no regrets and trust that God has plans for both of us, and be truly happy.
   

Well that's about it... we'll see where I am a year from now on those ;) lol.

Now I'm going to go get ready to babysit... so adios!

Christmas time's a-comin...

So it's been a while since I updated... things really are going great actually. I think I'm finally feeling happy again.

I'm super excited for Christmas! :) I have all my Christmas shopping done now and after singing w/the WV Orchestra, and going to my alma mater's choir concert (and of course singing O Holy Night- the alumni song) I'm in the "Christmas-y" mood.

I'm also excited to start student teaching in the spring. We have like a meeting thingy at the college tomorrow night.

Its been nice being off school. I'm glad I don't have to go back for a while... it's nice to actually have some time to do something other than schoolwork or work at the Y. Thursday night I'm going out w/Nicole, Levi, and Brew so I'm pretty pumped about that as well.

Well I suppose that's pretty much it... I'll leave you with a couple recently taken pictures...

















My dog Chewie laying on the back of the couch...he spends most of his time here when my parents aren't home...



Our Christmas tree this year

student teaching placements

I got my student teaching placements!

I'm at Lubeck Elementary for 1st grade
then, Neale Elementary for 5th grade Social Studies!


Annnd... I would totally write more but it's late, I'm tired, and I have to get up at 6:30 so that's all for now!!!

OK so I haven't updated in a while... things have been going better for me. So yea things are looking up.

Of course not that I've had a whole lot of time to think about anything but school. It has kept me busy to say the least. I'm fighting senior-itis big time. I am more than looking forward to Thanksgiving break. Though I know I'll just end up working on stuff for my online class and other assignments that week.

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving... then after that Christmas will be here before you know it... I'm most looking forward to finding out my student teaching placements. My teacher said we should know by Thanksgiving, so I'm anxious to find that out.


Alright well that's all for now...

I PASSED!

So I got my scores for the Praxis back!!! (For those that may not know-its the test for a teachers license) I PASSED! Actually by quite a long shot... I got one point higher on each test than the average range. I wasn't sure what to expect my grade was on it, but I was really happy when I saw my scores :)

Now if I can just do the same when I take the Social Studies one in November....




And those pictures...haven't forgot just haven't had time. Thats another thing is that this month has been insane. I have so much due and to do in the next couple weeks its not even funny.

But right now, its still kinda early but I'm pooped and I have to be at work at 7am so I think I'm gonna head to bed!

Leaves are Changing...

Well... I got a new layout, like it? I thought it was pretty, and good for my favorite season, Fall.

I went to the football game in Morgantown yesterday and had a lot of fun. I think I needed it. It was really great anyway, and it's getting to the time when the leaves are beginning to change. Its definitely the most beautiful season, especially in the hills of WV. It's also a reminder that change is inevitable, it happens every year. And while the cold harsh months of winter follow that change, in the spring the sun comes out and life begins anew. The flowers bloom and the weather warms, everything is OK. It's a comforting thought especially considering all the change that has happened in my life as of late.

But speaking of the game, I did take some pictures but I haven't gotten them off my camera yet. I'll probably just wait till after the Bob Evans Festival next weekend and put them all up at once. So stay tuned...

Looking Up...

So I'm completely *excited* about the mountaineer game this weekend!!!!! I'm going up to the Rutgers game! Yay!

I'm really starting to get to a point where I feel like everything is starting to work out. It's a wonderful feeling. Seth and I are really an oddity in that we've managed to keep our friendship and honestly it's really not weird. I'm so thankful for that though because I really do care for him so much, even though things aren't the same between us, I'm glad we can be friends.

Not to mention some other things have gotten resolved and straightened out that I'm particularly thankful for. It's like a huge weight off my shoulders.

This roller coaster has been pretty crazy but I feel like it's straightening out some more. :) And that's like a huge sigh of relief.