Walk By Faith

From the time of my 1st Lola disaster this fall, to my run-in with the deer, literally, and then gabbing about the weather ... I have been very aware lately.

I don't have a tattoo, and have lost interest in pretending I want one, but in college I had thought about it. I wanted to get, Walk by Faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), on the arch of my foot. Over time in college, I continued the walk and forgot about the tattoo.

Lately I have been aware of how God is walking with me. Did I lose you yet?

Last night, I got a call that my meeting in another town was canceled in the morning. I'll be honest, I was bummed. I would have gotten to sleep in an extra hour, an extra hour! I grumbled and groaned and went to work on time. I rescheduled my reading time with my students, who I had previously canceled for the meeting. And in the first 2 minutes of working with my student I realized that God had canceled my meeting for a reason so that we could take a walk.

Without revealing too much on the internet, my student revealed to me some abuse in his home. After talking with my mentor teacher and the student's classroom teacher about his revelations, I contacted our Social Worker. She contacted services and steps are being taken to protect the student and siblings.

My heart broke for the student this morning who was brave enough to open up trust another adult, and I am so aware and thankful of His mercy and compassion. Remember, He is walking with us.

Compassionate love and all of mine!

You Know What He Did?

I love that part. "You know what he did...?"

Warning: Unless you want a conversation with Little Ears about privates parts, you might want to watch with Little Ears out of the room.

Ok, so that was a terrible attention grabber to transition to deep thought, but I love that part, "You know what he did...?"

Enter transition.

Mama and I despise Winter.

Well, see the problem with Winter is that it lasts for so long. Take last year, it started early in October and hung around well into March. Much too long if you ask me. Also, Lola has already begged and pleaded with me to move South, she hates Winter even more than I do! Snow plows, hail storms, 14-point bucks... The Big Guy must know this about us, and He must know that I have been struggling with many parts of my job and I didn't need to worry about commuting all Winter 40 miles in snow and ice one way for 5 months.

"You know what He did?"

He held off Winter ALL THE WAY UNTIL JANUARY! And warmer weather is in sight! I know this is a rare mild Winter and I couldn't be more thankful that it fell this year.

Go ahead, watch that clip one more time. That little boy is too cute not to.

Warm weather love and all of mine!

Coveting

Uncle PB Kisses taught class Sunday morning and we talked a lot about coveting.

Coveting (or lack thereof) is easy to explain in Sunday school when you don't want your kids to covet a new bicycle or Barbie or something.

I'm currently battling my coveting of a new job: namely a Kindergarten job for my alma mater. Every morning I drive by and imagine pulling into the parking lot (even though the sun hasn't even come up because I have to leave so stinkin' early in the morning) and unlocking my classroom door to prepare for day with 5 year olds. Thanks to Daddy, I have an overactive imagination that no reality could ever live up to.

Contentment > Covetousness

Wish me luck.

Contentment love and all of mine.

On a scale of 1 to 10.

Mama plays these sick mind games, like: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how are you feeling?" We grunt and groan, and play along.

Thursday, I was low like a 3.4 or so. Friday, I handled the personnel conflict I had been avoiding all week so I was sailing at a 7.35. I don't totally regret taking my job because I have finally realized that God has a plan and I was meant to learn from this opportunity so when something better comes along, I can appreciate it for all its worth.

Other realizations of the week:
-Avoiding conflict makes it worse. Handle it professionally and move on.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1.

- I am learning to literally take one day at a time because that's all I can do.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34

Teaching love and all of mine!

Day 1

Sonoma Diet Day 1 starts today.

Oh, woe is me.

Did you know that I can't even have FRUIT until Phase 2? If I have to say no to fruit, then saying no to that plateful of graduation cake and cupcakes is going to be a slap in the face.

I don't even want to step on the scale after this weekend of celebration! What did I eat coming up this evening! Check out Auntie J and Mama's blog for the wonderful graduation celebrations with pictures to boot!

On a more positive note, Gardener Guy and I started moving into the house yesterday, picked up our new bedding at Kohl's, came home empty-handed from Petland's Puppy Days and I got to play house all evening.

It doesn't get any better than that! Well maybe with a vanilla cupcake and new puppy it could be better, but why go there?

Today, I am heading down to meet with my new principals, students, staff, and... paperwork...

Wish me luck, buttercup!

Dieting love and all of mine!
(Ok, that was an all out lie but I'm trying!)

The To Do List

Life to do list.
(Don't be confused, this is not a "bucket list", but rather a survive before you can thrive list. )

-Find a job. Check

-Find a home. Check

-Finish Student Teaching, successfully. Check.

-5 year anniversary with Gardener Guy. Check.

-Dinner with sorority friends. Check.

- Pedicure with HayBee. Check.

-Graduate. Almost check.

I feel like I have been looking forward to May 7th all year, honestly. That was to be the last day of Student Teaching, my 5 year anniversary with Gardener Guy and prepping to graduate. I haven't had time to reflect on this semester, year or college experience to really let it sink in that I will be moving on to adulthood. Real adulthood, with bills and a paycheck (!!).

Tomorrow, I get to go home to work in the garden and get it ready for the wedding with Gardener Guy's direction. When planning for the wedding, I always thought to myself, "Self, the wedding soiree will sink in when it is close enough that you can plant in the garden." Yippee it is here!

***
This just in. (As is just popped into my mind!) In my midst of getting out Save the Dates, Wedding Invites, Graduation Announcements and passing the word about Showers, I have not had the time or creativity to create Graduation Party invites. If you would like to come out for the festivities, you are MORE THAN WELCOME!
***

Who: You and your family!

What: Graduation Celebration

When: May 15th. My graduation is at 11am, GG's is at 2:30. We will have light lunch in between and BBQ after his.

Where: Manhappy: Bramlage Coliseum and GG's house

To bring: A lawn chair for each rear that would like a place to sit! Your presence is gift enough!

RSVP: If you can plan in advance, that's great. If not and you show up, we'll be around back of the house! :)

Graduation love and all of mine!

No time to blog...

...because I have a job!

I was offered a position at Prairie View School District as their English as a Second Language Program Director for 2010-2011 school year!

(Sounds so official right? I'll need business cards or something!)

Thank you, thanks, gracias, merci for ALL of your warm thoughts and prayers for my job search! God is good!

Mama -- I think you have a Thankful Thursday topic!

Teaching love and all of mine!

Vintage Chic

More from Etsy!

How adorable would a set of these be to name each table? We won't be using seating arrangements but I think that one of these on each table might add to the vintage feel of the center pieces.

Which is your favorite?

Numbers


Alphabet

Animals


Nursery Rhymes

All flashcard sets found at Pretty Little Studio shop!

I'm thinking I could use these in a corner of my classroom for decoration or use in a nursery one day. What do you think, are these too vintage?

Flashcard love and all of mine!

Peachy and Perfect

I love this gallery on Joy Thigpen's site.

Peachy.

I can't paste any pictures onto this post but you should jump on over and check it out!

I love the delicate peach, cream, yellow and pink hues of the feminine flowers up against the rough, hardwood tabletop flanked by the silver pieces. This is what I am going for in the wedding decor. I think if I look at these pictures everyday, I will be able to achieve this look at the wedding!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Our 2nd graders watched Dumbo today at lunch recess because of the rainstorms.

Is this too feminine? (Please say it ain't so!)

Just Peachy love and all of mine!

Please leave a message at the beep.

Beep.

I am productive today.

I am being patient after my interview for the ESL Coordinator job at Prairie View.
I emailed a few principals to keep my name out there in the job market.
I washed my car inside and out. I had a bug cemetery on my front bumper.
I ran a load of dishes.
I made chocolate chip pancakes and cheesy scrambled eggs, for one. Don't ask me about my diet.
I am working on addressing envelopes for invitations. It's going to cost more, and not look as nice, but I'm a "M" so I'm doing it myself.

Tomorrow night, I am going to stuff all the envelopes with those lovely invitations from Auntie J.
Friday they will be in the hands of the United States Postal Service. And, I will be in the hands of my favorite ladies treating me to a bachelorette party!

How lovely is this bridal bouquet?
Via Kiss the Groom.

Random love and all of mine!

Ambition

For being a young and, moderately, healthy adult, some days I lack ambition.
Some days I feel exhausted from the past 8 years.
School, church, activities, working, planning, friends, fiances -- oops just one of these!, family. This list is in no particular order.

Some days I look back and think, "Why did I almost kill myself running around like a crazy lady trying to accomplish everything and ......my newest revelation...... make everyone else happy?"

Why?

Today, I am feeling ambitious.

I interviewed with a very nice principal yesterday but was told I would have to wait almost a month to hear either yay or nay. In the meantime I have been scouting out other opportunities. One of which would be in a different school district and would be English as a Second Language Coordinator for the district. From everything that I have been told, I have the qualifications to do this. I have the justifications to try -- and a three year contract with the State of Kansas to remind me in case I forgot.

Do I have the ambition?

I think that I do. I have been thinking about this opportunity lately and think that it would be a great challenge to put my knowledge to work! I, of course, am still interested in any classroom teaching job, but am keeping my options open.

Ambition.

Will I get burnt out? Will I be qualified? Will I have help? Is it worth the extra work that would be needed?

Ambition.

I am clearing these insecurities out of my mind and hoping to hear back for an interview.

Teaching love and all of mine!

PS. This positive attitude may stem from an afternoon with Student Teachers at Dairy Queen and an afternoon off! :)

A Wise 8 Year Old

A wise 8 year old in my 2nd grade class told me something today. You should know that I have two favorites in my class, (I didn't birth them so it is ok to have favorites). Plus, everybody knows that I am Mama and Daddy's favorite.

One reminds me of a young Me in 2nd grade, so of course I love a Teacher's Pet. The other student reminds me of those munchkins down the road that I miss so much while I'm at college! This boy would be Bee Effs with my cousins because they share creativity, imagination, the fix-it spirit and a sense of humor! Plus, they share an ornery hair, but boys will be boys and they're good for comic relief. Ok I love all my students but these two are who I am blogging about.

Back to teaching today:
Our class discussion started with farms: do you live on a farm, what do farmers do, what animals live on farms? This boy, "Sam" replied, "My Grandma and Grandpa have cows on a farm but they don't live there, my uncle takes care of them, the cows." I said, "Me too!"
To which he calmly replied, "My grandpa has a brain disease and he is entering the 6th stage. He won't know who I am or what my name is but he will still love me."

To which I replied to myself, "Me too."

My Gramma S has a "brain disease" and soon she won't know who I am or my name, but she will still love me." This is a cruel disease, Alzheimer's, as it progresses quickly, but some days seems that you have had the same conversation, uh 473 times. Right Mama? On the other hand, you only need to know one good joke.

My parents are amazing role models that take care of my 4 grandparents and have tricked me into watching so that I will know how to take care of them. One day, I too will have my children help care for and respect their grandparents.

After getting a phone call from Mama this week that Gramma did a load of laundry of one sock, I had to stop and think, "If I have this disease, what if one day I will I not know My Guy or what his name is? I don't know. But, I will love him. And he will love me." And then I will wash his other sock.

Backyard Chic connection:
In lieu of favors, the Bride and Groom are making a donation in the name of their guests to the Heart of America Alzheimer's Association & the Heartland American Cancer Society. Along with the Alzheimer's Association, we also wanted to contribute to the American Cancer Society as both My Guy and I have GranDaddies that have suffered from cancer and GranDaddy J lost his battle last Fall.

Please say a prayer for my Mama as her 6 o'clock phone call has not yet come tonight.

True love's love and all of mine!

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10

This next week and a half will be about being still and having faith. I always think of my mom when I hear this verse and today it has been ringing throughout my mind. I think that it has to do with my upcoming interviews with a few school districts around the Kansas City area.

So leading up to my interviews on March 1st, I thought that I would give myself a bit of a homework lesson to research each district and let you know about each as well. An extra prayer for my job search would be appreciated :)

Paola USD #368: Ensuring Success for All Students.
Elementary Schools: 3

Spring Hill #230: Building a Foundation for the Future
Elementary Schools: 2

Olathe #233
Elementary Schools: 34

Gardner-Edgerton #231
Elementary Schools: 6

Blue Valley #229: Education Beyond Expectations
Elementary Schools: 20

Shawnee Mission #512
Elementary Schools: 35

Ottawa #290
Elementary Schools: 4

More to come this weekend!

Everyone else on the mountain feels the same way you do!

I finished up Parent Teacher Conferences today and Blake took me out for cheap burgers and fries to celebrate! This evening we are taking it easy and watching the Winter Olympics because The Office isn't on this week.

Lindsey Vonn just crashed on one of her skiing runs and it takes me back to a place that I don't like to let my mind wander -- Spring Break 2006 skiing in Colorado. My family, along with a group of other families, and Blake went skiing in Colorado in 2006 for Spring Break and I was excited to ski there for the first time. After the first trip down a blue run on the first morning, I was over it.

I couldn't ski.
I couldn't "snow plow".
I couldn't stay up on my skiis.
I couldn't work the mountain like I was able to in Westin, MO.
I was not a happy kid.

After a few hours of trying, I sent Blake on with the rest of the group and I figured I would hike down the mountain if I had to. Blake had tried to help me, Haley tried to help me, even Zach tried to help me, that's right Zach tried to help the Boom. I ended the day on the slopes with sore muscles and a worse attitude. As I turned in my skiis, the rental man said, "You must be a great skier, these are pro men's skis." No wonder I couldn't ski.

I tried the second day with a fresh attitude, beginner skis and sore muscles that I had never experienced in 6 years of competitive sports. Day 2 = Not much better. I spent the rest of the day "smiling and faking it" and trying to keep up with Blake and our friends Taylor and Katie. I ended the day early sipping hot cocoa at the lodge.

The third and final day, my parents took pity on me and we worked over the green slopes. Towards the end of the day I had reached my emotional breaking point and had a meltdown. At this point I got a "Come-to-Jesus" talk from my dad that went something like this:

"You're a Madden, and Maddens don't give up, they succeed; always. You gotta get through this, no matter what. EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE MOUNTAIN FEELS THE SAME WAY YOU DO!" I look over and can see someone who I think was Shaun White doing back flips off the half-pipe next to our run and exclaim through my tears, "HE DOESN'T!"

So the moral of this story isn't about getting back on the horse, no way. The moral comes down to when Blake and I are raising kids and decide to take a skiing trip, their mama will be at the lodge with snacks and hot cocoa, not on the slopes. Not even close.

A special thank you to the Winter Olympics for bringing back that traumatic experience every four years; see you in 2014!

"Smiling and faking it" at Rabbit Ears Motel.

Valentine's Day!

I am very excited for Valentine's Day this year for two reasons!

The first is that I'm Student Teaching in 2nd grade and so I will receive 21 lovely Valentine's cards from my rascals, (and an afternoon off of teaching for a Valentine's party!). I'll post a pic of the party next Thursday!
Miss Madden's Valentines: "Happy Valentine's Day Smartie!"

The second is that I don't have to think hard for a present for my guy. I always get him a necktie because his closet is lacking nice clothes. This year I'm keeping my eye open for an ivory, paisley tie that he could either wear for the wedding, or at the least the rehearsal or the honeymoon. I'll post a pic when I find one!

***Update! I ended up not getting a paisley tie for Valentine's Day but I'm keeping my eye open for his groom's gift. Instead, I got a purple tie from Target (pronounced tar-shay.) I really like the deep plum color and it might be perfect to wear for graduation: countdown is hovering at 3 months!


Can't go wrong with Target.

We exchanged gifts early today and here is what Blake treated me with after dinner with Aunt Joyce and Mike at Famous Dave's (which is a present within itself!)

A dozen coral roses and a BlackBerry! :) My poor old Samsung phone had been through the wringer! Love you!
Valentine's love and all of mine!