home

So we're leaving to go home today. I can't wait. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday of the year. It's hard to beat the food, the football and the family.

We're leaving Simla right after school and driving to my Aunt's house tonight. We pick up Heidi from the airport Wednesday, then Mom and dad and Lis will get in Thanksgiving day. Sarah and I leave after we're done eating on Thursday to head to Arkansas. During this time we will see friends and do some wedding stuff. We leave to come back up here on Monday. The 6 days off of work will be amazing. The driving not so amazing. If anyone is curious between now and January 18th Sarah and I have more than 5000 miles on the road. It should be fun!!

Thankful

So, despite resent circumstances, I still have a lot to be thankful for. Sometimes I forget how much I have to be thankful for until things start going downhill. So, here are some things that I am thankful for today.

1. Being Healthy- granted right now, I'm not healthy, I'm sick. But it reminds me that everyday that I wake up healthy, I need to be thankful for it.

2. My job- though not always pleasant, I have 17 precious children that I have the privilege to educate and shape their lives. It also pays the bills.. even though a teacher's salary is by no means generous, I live comfortably.

3. My family- This year, I not only have my own family, but I have Jamie's family too. And they are wonderful. I couldn't have asked for better in-law's. They love me and support me and have welcomed me into their family with open arms.

4. My fiance- Jamie is more than I ever could have imagined in a husband. I was flipping through my journal the other day and I had written down things that I wanted in a future husband, Jamie goes above my expectations. He loves me for who I am yet, he encourages me to be a better person each day. He supports me, encourages me, listens to me, understands me. He
has already become the spiritual leader of our future household. I am so blessed by him.

5. New Friends- The people we have met here in Colorado have already blessed our lives and I am looking forward to getting to know them more and more.

So there are just 5 of the MANY reasons that I'm thankful today.

i am sick.

VERY sick. since 3 o'clock this morning.

I was going to go to school quickly to get things ready for my sub... couldn't even make it out the door.

it's bad. very very bad.

Friends and Homesick

Tonight Jamie and I went over to a couple's house from church (where another couple joined us too) and we had a blast! Dinner was great, conversation was great, we played games. It was wonderful. It's nice to have friends finally.

Thanksgiving is coming up soon. I'm excited. And I'm not (which I feel HORRIBLE for saying). You see, I've finally gotten over this homesickness thing because in some ways I suppose I've forgotten what home was like. But going back home will just remind me all over again of why I want to be there and thus bring the homesickness back. Jamie and I talked about this tonight on the drive home... he said that I'll cry when we leave and it'll be hard for a while, but I'll eventually build tolerance.

I just know how miserable I felt the first month we were here... I don't care to experience it again. (Jamie said he didn't care to experience it again either since I cried pretty consistently everyday). :)

Apparently, it's winter... I didn't get the memo

So, it snowed roughly 4 inches today (give or take). I was not aware that November is considered winter these days, but apparently it is. I was in the Springs most of the day today running errands and dr. appointments and it sprinkled rain while I was there but as soon as you hit the outskirts of town... watch out! It was a bilizard! (at least to my Arkansas eyes, it was a bilizard). The roads really weren't that bad. It was just snow... no ice so it wasn't too slippery unless you hit your breaks too fast or turned the wheel too fast. They had snow plows out at 4:00 or so. BUT let me tell you that snow on a dirt road is a different story. I have never experienced this phenomona... it was exciting.

I stopped off at my school on the way home to grab some stuff to do tonight. Our parking lot is dirt. I was very thankful that no one was there. Much more slippery than I expected. Then you also have to consider that the roads that Jamie and I live on are, in fact, dirt. Turning isn't the most pleasant thing I've ever done on a dirt road. Let's just say I prayed a LOT while on the dirt roads today.

Jamie and I have debated back and forth if we will have school tomorrow. If we were back at home in Arkansas, we wouldn't have school for 2 or 3 days. We figure we'll have school tomorrow. I guess we'll find out in the morning!

Other exciting news: We bought my wedding ring this weekend! It's beautiful. It's stunning with my solitare diamond. Here's the link:

http://www.helzberg.com/product/engagement+%26+wedding/new+arrivals/1-3ct+tw+diamond+solitaire+ring+wrap+1687603.do

Yep, it's winter. And it's November. And I need snow shoes BADLY.

Change

I was thinking about what a different place I am in that I was just a year ago. There are SO many changes it almost boggles my mind. There are the obvious, I'm in Colorado rather than Arkansas. I'm a teacher rather than being in college. I'm ENGAGED to an incredible man.

But I'm also more confident in myself. I really believe that I'm worth something. I'm an adult. I'm an almost wife (I take care of Jamie's house like I'm his wife). I'm a teacher. I'm just so different. But it's such a good different. A lot of that I have to thank Jamie for (especially my confidence and self-worth). It just really boggles my mind though to think about what a different person I am now.

I used to think that I hated change, but this change I like, a lot.

History

I saw history last night, probably the most historical moment of my life.

I voted yesterday. For the first time, I actually voted and participated in the system, and my vote counted. I voted for a candidate that I have supported and followed for 4+years, I voted for a mine who has inspired me, and inspired others. Last night, watching the coverage, I found hope again in the political system and the country. I know I'll get flack for this for falling prey to a pretty speaker, but I don't care. A lot has been said and written about how we as a country can elect a black president just a few decades after the civil rights movement. I am proud of that country. I am proud that race wasn't a big issue in the actual vote. I am proud that for once the majority of people looked past their bigotry and elected the man that they thought would do the best job.

We elected a candidate last night who, if nothing else, inspires the crap out of people like few before him. Watching and listening to his victory speech last night, I saw a million people full of emotion, many their eyes filled with tears. At McCain's party there were maybe a 1000 old grumpy white men. I feel that my generations voice is finally being heard. I feel that a candidate that relates to me has finally won. I'm inspired, and I'm excited.

I'm disappointed though, still by the ignorance I hear around me. I expect adults to have a certain degree of intelligence.. What I have heard since last night was how quickly the country was going to go down the drain, how disgusted people were with the new president, how he was an evil man and the anti-christ. I expect this out of my kids, their kids, but I expect better out of adults, and that disappoints me. Is it too much to ask for people to examine the man and his policies and not believe the propaganda. God forbid we elect a man who's middle name is Hussein, he hast to be a terrorist. God forbid we elect a man that can string together 3 words competently! He speaks well!!! He must be the anti-christ!! Grow up. Gain intelligence, get beyond your partisan bickering. The world will not end, if John McCain had won we would have been fine, he didn't we'll still be fine.

I'm inspired and I'm hopeful, but we still have a long way to go.

Idiot of the week (well month really)

As you all know I teach 8th graders and some high school kids, as you also know, or at least I hope you know, today is the election. Being the brave and idealistic young teacher I decided to tackle the election the issues and the candidates head on. Wow! While I heard the usual Obama is a terrorist, a muslim and was born in Iraq (that was a new one) I do have a new all time favorite. One of my students who is by no means dumb, said without pausing "If Obama gets elected he'll give free cheeseburgers and health insurance to the lazy people sitting on their couches, and I'll have to pay for it" without skipping a beat ADD boy responds in all seriousness "Wait! Does that mean they'll take my Xbox?" to which Makeup girls responds "No Muslims don't play Xbox."

I love the eigth grade, and please vote.

Update from a freshman: Michelle Obama hates white people, and John McCain is keeping P.O.W.'s in Vietnam and not telling us.

Doomed.

I feel like I've been doomed by all Christian women.

You see, every woman I seem to know (especially Christian women) seem to get this great pleasure out of cooking and cleaning and doing "house wifey" things. I, however; do not. And I have this great guilt because of it. Sometimes (and I mean a great once in a while) I enjoy BOTH. I generally enjoy cooking (but not always) and RARELY enjoy cleaning. Despite the great dislike I manage to cook everyday (generally homemade stuff at that) and thoroughly clean once a week.

humph.

Surely there is another woman who feels the same?