Say "I am"....Wonderful!

I am not one for New Year's Resolutions. I feel that people always set unrealistic goals, that will never be met. We set ourselves up for failure. So in years past I have not made resolutions. This year I have one goal. That goal is to not be so hard on myself. I am my worst enemy. I will admit I have some OCD issues (who doesn't), and I want everything to be PERFECT. We all know perfect doesn't exist....So I am going to try and relax and see the good in others and more importantly in myself.

Last year my best friend introduced me to a song titled "Wonderful" by Gary Go. This song has a lot of power. (as most songs do!) I love this song so much I play it in my second grade classroom. My students cannot get enough of this song either. It makes me so happy when they all start singing! Here are the Lyrics to the song:


The person that you were has died
You’ve lost the sparkle in your eyes
You fell for life - into its traps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you want that person back

And all your ammunition’s gone
Run out of fuel to carry on
You don’t know what you wanna do
Cause what you want does not want you
If what you want does not want you
And you’ve got no pull to pull you through

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful"

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful"

If what you’ve lost cannot be found
And the weight of the world weighs you down
No longer with the will to fly
You stop to let it pass you by
Don’t stop to let it pass you by
You’ve gotta look yourself in the eye

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”
Oh you are

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”

Cause we are all miracles
wrapped up in chemicals
We are incredible
Don’t take it for granted, no
We are all miracles
Oh we are

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”
Oh you are

Don’t take it for granted, no
We are all miracles
wrapped up, yeah we’re wrapped up
Oh we are wonderful

My goal is to realize I am wonderful, and not be so hard on myself! May the new year bring you happiness and health! Cheers!

Tis the Season...

My favorite girls on Christmas Morning at Grandma's! I think we have a picture taken just like this every year. I love them both...

My mom's BEAUTIFUL tree...She may have had buyer's remorse, but it was worth it!

Kenlee's first Christmas...all though not the greatest picture of us!

Ice Candles for the cemetery, I struggled this year because it wasn't cold enough to freeze them before Christmas....however they always turn out in the end. :)



It doesn't even feel like Christmas has happened. Which is so weird because I did everything that we usually do as a family every year. Perhaps it feels like it didn't happen, because I am just going through the motions. All though it all went by so fast I did enjoy the time spent with family and friends. I am truly blessed with all that I have.

I also enjoyed some time off of work. I spent a lot of time at home in my jammies, and sweat outfits! It was so great. On Wednesday after Christmas it snowed ALL DAY, it was so nice to not be able to go any where for the day. A break is exactly what I needed most!

Christmas Festivities!

Hadly and Tyler's gingerbread houses!

The Dirty Dozen-minus half of them...slackers. We may have been few in numbers, but we were large in spirit! Love these girls, can't imagine life without them!

Here is my gingerbread house, it may not look good to you but I am pretty proud of it! I spent a lot of time on it. I usually don't have the patience but this year I did...I think the patience came from 23-7 year olds that I teach! :)

Wow. I can't believe it is Christmas Eve! This week has been filled with all of the usual festivities with friends and family. This year I was spoiled by my students. It took two garbage bags to pack it all out of my classroom. They are too good to me. I am always getting sweet notes, and presents from them. I love them.

Hey Baby Let's Go to VEGAS!!!

This year I told myself that I was going to the NFR no matter what! For the past couple years, I haven't been able to go because of school, but this year it was going to happen and it did! I flew down to Vegas on Friday night after school and stayed til Monday. It was so much fun to get away for a few days and not have to worry about anyone but myself! Our days went like this....

Sleep in

Shop

Eat

Shop

Shop some more

Go to the rodeo

Eat

Play

Play some more

It was wonderful! My mom and I found lots of cute trendy "cowgirl" clothes that I love! We were also able to meet up with some friends and family for dinner after the rodeo. So glad I was able to go! Can't wait til next year...Thanks mom and dad!

Bed

Giving Thanks

So Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I have the day off today and I have to admit I am somewhat bored! I never thought I would say that, but my life is go, go, go and I forget what it's like to have downtime! Yesterday with my class we make the cutest little thankful turkeys. (I wish I could post a picture but it isn't legal!) They each had to write four things that they were thankful for, and let me tell you they were so sweet! Some of them were thankful for the worldly things like their wii, or xbox. But every single one of them were thankful for the food they had, or the house they live in. I love my students! They make me excited to go to "work" each day. They reminded me that I need to be thankful for the small things in life too...so here is my list of things I am thankful for-one for each day in November:

1. My Family
2. A warm house
3. Food in the cupboards
4. A job, with a steady income
5. Friends-old and new, young and old
6. Cafe Rio :)
7. Warm clothes to wear during the winter "blizzards"
8. A reliable car
9. A sense of humor
10. Diet Coke
11. Music
12. Great Movies
13. My Health
14. Skype-so I can see my cute niece, and brother and sister
15. Facebook- lame I know! But it keeps me informed!
16. Summer- playing in the sun all day
17. The Gospel
18. those who serve me
19. Jesus Christ
20. My intern coach- Steph
21. My 23 students
22. A place to call home
23. SLEEP
24. A wood burning stove
25. TV and DVR
26. Weekends
27. Snowy days-when I can stay inside all day long
28. Sweats- I love them
29. Cabin Rummy with the Family
30. Being able to travel

Well there is my list...It could go on forever...I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. Take the time to be thankful for all you have!

We can't help ourselves...

I can't hold in my Christmas excitement any longer! Yesterday my mom, my cousin Lana and I went to the wood connection and picked up a bunch of cute Christmas sayings, and so today was a day all about crafts! We watched lots of Christmas movies too! Gotta love this time of year... I know I sure do!

November = Time to Be THANKFUL

I am aware I am behind in my blogging but I just wanted to quickly blog about a few things that I am thankful for...

1. I am thankful for my job...I never thought that I could love 23 students as much as I do! They are so cute, crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade any of them. They make it worth it. It is weird how so quickly I became attached. I don't look forward to the end of the year. I am also thankful for a great work environment! I love my job!

2. I am thankful for the weekends....I now understand the value of an empty Saturday and Sunday! I would lose my sanity if I did not have my weekends. I need at least one day I can wear my sweats all day! :)

3. I am thankful for friends, who know when I need an out. It is easy to just come home and not go out, but luckily I have friends who drag me out! :)

4. Last I am thankful for my family. Not only my immediate family but also my extended family. I really am so lucky to have a large amount of family so close! I realized how lucky I am as we all piled into my grandmas for homemade chili and scones on Halloween, a tradition that has been alive as long as I have. I don't ever want that too change!

It really is easy to get caught up in all of the negative things taking place, and I forget to look at all the little things I have in my life that I really am thankful for. That is all for now. I am sure there is more to come! :)