I...Love...every...everything...about you...

I love:

apples dipped in caramel sauce, my big brown eyes, wood wick candles, dryer sheets, Chandler's line from Friends, "you know what they say...elephants never forget!", finding what I thought were lost things or people, greasy food on vacation, hugs that never end...the kind you feel like you could fall asleep in, icicles glistening in the moon's light, Jared & Jacob, slow kisses with sighs of happiness in between, listening to people say good things about me :), Lifetime movies, Mom's home-cooked meals, pretending like I have nothing to do on rainy days except lay around & be lazy, calamari! yum!, watching/playing/loving on Puppy, quiet mornings, running towards the things I know will lift me up & away from the things trying to bring me down, seeing the light bulb go off in my kid's heads, suprises that make me go aaww & make my mind wonder how could I ever say thank you while out-doing them ;), talking about myself: which includes talking about the people who make a difference in my life, understanding other's feelings, The One Where Joey buys the V Encyclopedia, floating in the pool at my old roommate's house while listening to Dad's tunes & catching up with Mom, being excited over things people wouldn't expect or normally get so excited about, making others smile or laugh because I am smiling or laughing so much, the youth & innocense of the young children I teach & interact with, my memories from SFA with my Chi O sisters & Julia Gulia suite mate, wearing my add-a-pearl necklace on special occassions & feeling especially special when Daddy adds one more...

Just to name a few...

Today is your birthday! The day you were born!

Tilt the cake, raise your glass, and be sure you have on your fanciest, most creative hat. You are invited to a Mad Hatter Tea Party to celebrate Angela turning a quarter of a century! That's 25 for those who aren't much of a math guru.

The most recent yet the most exciting party I had was my 25th birthday party. 99 Red Balloons were requested for many reasons. The song is a killer classic of mine that I love. Four close friends brought 25 balloons because duh, I was turning 25! Ok, the mathematics of the 4 maybe 5 readers I have know that makes 100 balloons. 1 was used to make my birthday wish, and released from the window of a highrise sky scraper. On a side note, I do have to say that my wish is coming true--happiness!

What a way to ring in a "new year"! I wasn't born on January 1st so why should that be the only day I celebrate a new year? My wish is like a resolution...

Goodbye Summer, Hello School

Goodbye Summer, Hello School
Goodbye Pool, Hello Students
Goodbye Puppy, Hello Grades
Goodbye Friends, Hello Lesson Planning
Goodbye Trips, Hello Football Season
Goodbye Shopping, Hello Supplies
Goodbye Sleeping In, Hello 5 AM
Goodbye Tan, Hello Professional Dress

My Rock

I remember driving that long, empty highway back to the sand storms of Lubbock starring at my rock glistening in the sunlight.

He gave it to me the night before. The night before a day of class & the rushes of the world. We couldn't wait any longer. Our eyes full of tears, our hearts full of love. This was our promise to love each other forever.

The day I broke his heart he took my rock back with him. I was without it for a couple of years until his Savior took him. I was thankful his mom hung onto it this long.

I now keep my rock in a box with his rock. A symbol of love continues to circle the diamond I call my rock.

We both polished each other until we shined like the diamonds we are underneath....he continues to polish me...

What is it? A good thing...

WATCH!

What's a good thing you may ask?! Well...the things going on in my classroom...

Monday was one of the worst days. THE worst day...I ended the day crying to 2 different people. I started crying the first time because my feelings were so hurt from so many people telling me that I didn't need to be a part of the Lose and Win class that RISD is offering. Well I know I should take that as a compliment, but I know they're thinking that I took one of the free 20 spots of somebody who "really needed to be there."

And then I was crying because I honestly care so deeply for my students that I don't want to see them struggle. I want to see them succeed. And when I feel like I am doing EVERYTHING I know to do it's frustrating, and makes me question my career path...

And then I get a new student on Thursday after having an unexpected weather day on Wednesday...of course that was a tough day for both of us because we were both getting used to somebody new. And then Friday she is admiring the DREAM thing sitting on my desk, and says, "this is a dream come true, Ms. Born." MELTED MY HEART! She went on to tell me in more detail what was such a dream come true...my classroom (which means a lot since I do spend a lot of time making it look nice), the students (how friendly & inviting they are...I take small credit for that ;) plus they're just good kids!,) me (a nice, caring, good teacher). That just really made me feel good.

And then on Saturday night while at a Slumber Party, sitting next to our cafeteria manager who is also the grandmother of one of my students. She brought happy tears to my eyes when she told me what a difference I have made in her granddaughter's life. How she has never had a teacher who paid attention to her, and really cared about her. I hear people say, "you know if I can make a difference in at least 1 life then I know I have done my job." I believe that to be true, but I'd also like to make a difference in each of their lives.

And then on Sunday when I get an email from a parent who tells me she is so thankful I am her son's teacher. Even though I give him a hard time for behavior she is really glad I am his teacher.

Those things just made me feel better about what I do so I look forward to a new week in education this week. :)

Life Coach

Somedays I feel like I could be one. Most days I feel like I need one. I would just like somebody to motivate me to do the things I REALLY don't want to do. I like it when they're done, but just cannot do it!

Like:
Keeping a clean apartment.
Managing & budgeting my money better.
Grading papers every day instead of waiting until the night before they're due.
Not calling or texting somebody who doesn't want to be bothered.
Go grocery shopping.
Do laundry.
Read a book.
Cook dinner.

So yeah those are things I would like to do, but just need that person to motivate me! My BFF lives 300 miles away. My other BF lives 3 hours away. My MOH just moved back so that's nice...

We'll see what happens :)

Expecting the Unexpected

I expected that to happen, but I guess you just get so wrapped up in the moments that you don't fully prepare yourself for the expected because it starts to seem like the unexpected...

Does any of that make sense?

I just wish I knew how to be more prepared for what I expect to happen, but the unexpected comes...Things turn out to be so different than I thought they would be.

I resolved to blog every day. Well you see how that goes. I'm just not so sure who all is reading so why would I waste my time telling you about my days. But then I like blogging because it's a good outlet for me. I can say the things I'm thinking, and want to say, but don't or can't...

Today's Super Bowl Sunday. Supposed to be Super Sunday Funday, but oh well. I have spent most of the day sitting in my bed, waiting on laundry, watching movies on TBS. I'm only watching the Super Bowl now so that when people ask me if I saw that commercial I can say YEAH WASN'T IT HI-LARIOUS?! But this day has not been so fun.

I'm getting ready to move into a highrise apartment in Downtown Dallas. I am excited about the location & the apartment, but I am worried about the space. I MUST clean out my closets, and get rid of stuff! I also need to take a trip to the container store. And I need to find a REALLY good carpet person to help me fix the carpet Ryder has destroyed at this apartment. It wasn't smart to get a puppy in a new apartment. At least at the new place the carpet is burber so it'll clean up easier, JUST IN CASE!

I'm worried about him peeing on the elevators though...we'll be living on the 7th floor with a pool view...I know, it's so kick A! haha! But when I take him out in the morning he's going to have to wait on the elevator while we go down to the 1st floor...I don't know if his p-pup bladder can make it.

I didn't bring home any papers to grade this weekend even though I know grades are due Tuesday morning. I'm going to be busy tomorrow night & I'm going to be complaining about it & saying I am not doing this next time! I say that every time...I have become such a procrastinator. It's like I don't see the point in getting things done on time. haha!