The Time of My Life

Day before yesterday, I graduated from college. I now officially have a BA in History with a certification in Secondary Education.



It was one of those days in my life I know I will never forget. It was amazing to have my whole family there to support me and I certainly couldn't have made it this far without their support. Nothing in the world compares to knowing that my parents are proud of me.





I also would have never made it without my AMAZING husband. He has put up with so much of my complaining and stressing and he never stopped encouraging me and telling me how proud he was of me. I am SO blessed to have him.


I had some amazing professors who were not only great teachers but also awesome advisors and friends.


I made some great friends who came to show support for me and made me feel VERY loved.


Overall it was a great day and I am VERY proud to be a college graduate! :))

I am thankful for...

...my salvation.
Everyday I am so blessed to have been given this beautiful life and I'm so thankful that I have chosen to walk in the light of the Lord. Josh and I are still struggling to find a home church where we can plant our lives and it has been discouraging to say the least but we are going to continue our search because we know that God has an amazing future in store for us somewhere. :) In the meantime, I'm just thanking God for my salvation and for the salvation of my family.

...my husband.
I never dreamed in a million years that I would have such a fairytale romance. It truly is the most amazing blessing and I am SO thankful that he loves me and takes care of me and puts up with all of my crazy. ;) I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect person for me. He truly is my soulmate. I know that its true that God made us for each other.

...my family.
As an adult, I have learned just how many people do not have two parents who love them. I don't know what I would do without my amazing family.I have amazing parents and beautiful sisters who I adore. I know that no matter what happens in this life, I have TONS of people who love me and want whats best for me.

...my home.
I am always wanting something done to my house... I have a LONG list of things I want but at the end of the day, I know I have a beautiful home that I am SO proud of. I am so thankful that my husband works so hard and we have this beautiful home to show for it. :)

...my education.
I have been working on my degree for a long time and I can't believe that this Thanksgiving I am officially done with it. DONE. FOREVER. I have a B.A. in History. Wow. Amazing.

...my job.
Even though its not the job I would choose (because obviously I would rather have a teaching job lined up) I am very thankful that BAM kept my spot waiting for me and they are so glad to have me back. I couldn't ask to be treated better in any job and its a blessing that I not only have a job but I have a job I like and I get to work with some really great people that I've grown really attached to.

my life.
I am SO happy in this life. I am SO blessed beyond my wildest imagination. I thank God for every single blessing everyday and I look forward to my future. I have SO much to look forward to and a beautiful life ahead of me. I'm SO thankful this Thanksgiving.

Countdown

4 days til Regionals.

10 days to go in my internship.

2 and a half weeks til I go back to my old job at BAM.

3 weeks til Thanksgiving.

4 and a half weeks til I go back to the mountains with my sweet husband and some great friends.

6 and a half weeks til my graduation.

7 and a half weeks until Christmas.

3 months til Nationals and DISNEY WORLD! :)

Here's what you've missed...

Well, I haven't blogged in a long while but I have a good excuse. I have never been SO busy in my ENTIRE life. I'm exhausted ALL the time. Here's a brief run-through of what you've missed.

1. I started my internship. In fact, its a 75 day internship and I've only got 21 days left! :) It's going well but its been VERY overwhelming. Let's just say I've had to do my fair share of soul-searching AND reminding myself that I have endured 5 LONG years of college to get to this point and this is REALLY what I want to do with my life.

2. Cheerleading has taken on a life of its own and have hardly had a day go by where I didn't spend hours with my girls. I LOVE them. I LOVE the job. I'm VERY tired. It's great though. We have an AMAZING routine that we are taking to Regionals on November 6th. West Blocton has NEVER competed before and we are currently $6,000 into our $11,000 Nationals Fund-raising goal. It's been ALOT of hard work but our girls are AWESOME and its ALL going to be worth it when we get there! Regionals are in a couple of weeks at Sparkman High School in Huntsville and Nationals are in Disney World in February. :))

3. Josh got a new car a few weeks ago. It's a 2009 Honda Civic. It's white and really cute and sporty. He is loving it and I am SO happy for him. No one has ever deserved a new car like that man did. He's the best husband in the world. I'm VERY blessed and couldn't be more appreciative of that blessing from God.

4. Unfortunately there are NO history jobs posted in the state of Alabama for December that are remotely close to home. :( I was truly hoping for someone to retire just in time HOWEVER I have a back-up plan. When I left the bookstore in August for my internship, I remained on the payroll so that I could come back when I was done. I am going to start back to work at BAM the week of Thanksgiving and I am moving up to a managment position which will pay more and give me more hours. I have kind of missed the bookstore so I'm looking forward to being back before Christmas this year. I am just going to PRAY my heart out that a history job will come open here at the high school for next year and that I will get the job. I wouldn't mind if you want to drop a prayer for me too! :)

--That's really all that is new with us right now. I am graduating on December 18th at 2:00. I have NEVER been more excited in my life! It is a feeling like I've never had before. I will update you again soon! :))

My life, my blessings

Happy August! :)

It's finally time for my internship! Yay!! :)

I start on Thursday. AAH! I am SO freaking excited! Can you tell? Ha :)

I have been working on planning the semester, starting with the course of study and pacing guide. Let's just say, I already have SO much more respect for teachers like my sister who really put their whole heart into planning it the right way and making sure that the kids are learning. The planning process is SO time consuming. But I am loving every minute of it! I promise to post ALL the details after my first week! :)

Well, things at BAM have been getting kind of rough. It's not that the job is hard, the job is great, actually. It's just that my boss is wanting me to work all the time. Last week, I closed every night and it was SO hard to be away from my husband like that. Then, last Friday I went to Athens for my Internship Seminar where they gave us all of the details about what is expected from us and all of the assignments that we have to turn in. Well, after that, I went home and talked to Josh and he told me that he wants me to quit the job. He said that he's tired of me never being home and it's not worth it. SO, Saturday morning I called to quit and came away with a really good deal. I told my boss that I would work out a 2 week notice and he asked me to remain on the payroll so that if I don't get a teaching job in December (Although we pray daily that I will) then I will come back to BAM as a manager and make some good money until I get a teaching job. :) So, it worked out really well.

Now I can focus on the internship and still have the evenings to spend with my husband. AND I can focus on praying that I will get a teaching job! :)

I am SO thankful for everything that I have in my life. First and foremost, my GOD. I am so unworthy of the salvation and daily blessings that he gives me and I am SO thankful for all that He has done for me. I am also SO thankful for my amazing husband. I love him so much and he loves me. There's nothing like that feeling in the world. I am also SO thankful for my family. My Mom shows me unconditional love and sacrifice daily and I don't know what I would do without her. My sister is my rock, she is always on my side and I am SO thankful for her. My Dad is my hero. I only want him to find peace and happiness. And my two little sisters are SO sweet and innocent and bring me so much joy and happiness. I am SO thankful that I get to have them in my life. :) Thank you Jesus...for it all.

BAM / Internship

I started working at Books-A-Million about a month ago. I am working about 25-30 hours a week. It's retail, and we don't close until 11pm. I open a couple days a week and close a couple of nights a week. It has been an adjustment, just because it's been a few years now since I have worked retail, and the working part is easy. The being away from Josh in the evenings is the hard part. But, nonetheless, I am adjusting and I know that we need the extra income. It's a good job. I like the people. However, I am SO ready to just be a teacher!

I did get my actual internship placement this week. I am going to be with Mrs. Heer teaching 10th grade American History and Psychology. I am SO excited with this placement. First of all, I LOVE Mrs. Heer. She is so awesome and sweet and I am already close to her which will make it comfortable and easy. Second, I really wanted 10th grade. They are a great class and I am just so ready!

I am really praying for a job in December. I graduate at the first of the month and there is one coach at the school who is supposed to be retiring but it could just be a rumor. That's really my only shot at a job this year though. If I don't get a teaching job, I am just going to stay at BAM and work until next school year. I'm really praying for it though. I don't know if I can wait an entire year to become a teacher.

More Disney Pics

 

Disney World Pics

 

Sunday Six

1. I just got a job at Books-A-Million. I start on Tuesday. I am excited to work at the bookstore because I LOVE books but I will be sad to have to work in the evenings when Josh is at home. Maybe I will get mostly daytime shifts.

2. I found out that I will be interning with in the fall under Mrs. Heer. I am really excited. I like her a lot and also she has great classes. AP 11th grade U.S. History and Civil War. :)

3. Josh has decided to start college. He is trying to choose between a sports medicine degree and an athletic training degree. We are both really excited about that.

4. Cheerleading is going great. We have camp with UCA in a couple of weeks. The camp is at the University of Alabama. We are really thinking that our girls could win Home Pom. They have a killer routine (fabulously choreographed by yours truly and Tiffany) and they are really good at it.

5. I am praying hard for a job in December. I feel like I have been waiting forever to be a college graduate and I don't want to have to wait 8 months after I graduate to be able to have my first job. Not to mention that it would help us financially. It's in God's hands.

6. I am SO blessed. I have the most amazing husband and wonderful family that anyone could ever ask for. I thank God for them every day. I am so happy with everything in my life right now. I have no complaints. Everything is wonderful.

Joshua 24:15

So... I got a tattoo. :)

Josh and I have been talking about it for a while but I was just always undecided. It's a big decision to permanently change your body and I wasn't taking that lightly. But, after A LOT of consideration. I finally did it. It's a cross in the middle/top of my back. It is just under my neck but you can't see it when I'm wearing a t'shirt. Its a beautiful cross with the bible verse Joshua 24:15. This verse means a lot to me and I chose to place in on my body with a significant purpose.

Having a relationship with God is what makes me who I am. It's the largest part of who I am and have always been. I grew up in church, going with my Maw maw, and watching her relationship and commitment to her faith helped me to become who I am. I became a believer at a very early age and my faith in God has never wavered. I have always known that there is a God and that Jesus Christ lived and died and rose again to save me from my own sin. I know that I know that I know. It just is.

Believing in God and being involved in church has always been a part of who I am. That's the easy part. The hard part is not conforming to the ways of the world. I know that no one is perfect but I can only focus on my own struggles, because mine are the only ones that I am accountable for. I have so many questions for God. I feel like we live in a time where people truly believe that going to church and not drinking or cussing makes them a "Christian". I don't even like the term. I am a believer. That's what God wants from me. Not my church attendance record. Don't get me wrong. I love church and I think that it's a vital part of a strong and healthy walk with God. I just know that it takes a whole lot more than that to be in a truly committed relationship with Jesus.

I live in a judgmental world. Church goers are the worst to judge others. I judge people all the time. Believe me, I am pointing no fingers here. I am talking to myself. I want my life to be a living sacrifice to God. I know that God has a great purpose for me and my husband and our future family. I know that Josh and I will raise our children to know and believe that God is the Alpha and Omega. That nothing else matters in life. Serving God is their purpose in life. I just pray that God will lead us to where he wants us. That he will use us and allow us to be vessels for Him.

Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."


God gave each and every one of us the freedom of choice. We are allowed to choose for ourselves who we will serve. Some choose idols of vein ambition. Some choose other people to live for. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

A-m-a-z-i-n-g

So, blog friends...

Today is an A-m-a-z-i-n-g day in the life of Crystal...

Today I took my LAST final for my bachelor's degree. I am officially done with ALL of my college course work! It is one of the MOST amazing feelings I have EVER had! I got my grades and finished with 2 As and 1 B for the semester. :)

Now the wait is on to see what's going to happen at WB. I am already registered to intern there in the fall no matter what. BUT, Mr. McGee from the middle school mentioned trying to get me a job in the fall there if they had any openings and Dr. Milligan from the high school recently mentioned the same thing to Tiffany about me. I REALLY want a job at the high school but I don't know right now if anyone is leaving or what is going to happen so I guess we'll wait and see! I just hate the waiting part. I am just putting this whole thing into God's hands and praying alot for a job in the fall.

In other news, We leave for Disney World in less that three weeks AND we got plane tickets! So we don't have to drive! Yay! I was dreading the looonng drive but now I get to ride on a real plane (real meaning not the rinky dink one I jumped out of last September) for the first time and we won't be tired or anything! I'm SO excited! I've been waiting 5 whole years to get to go back! It's going to be SO amazing!

That's really all that is new for me right now. I have SO much going on with cheerleading and subbing and everything else but it's such a relief to know that I don't have to squeeze in time to study or write a paper... Like I said, A-m-a-z-i-n-g!! :)

Jury Duty, Disney World, and a Monestary...Welcome to my totally random life...

Wow, I haven't blogged in over a month. I have been SO busy these past couple of months. Here's a quick update...

I only have a few weeks left of school. I have 2 big papers to write and several tests to take and then 2 big finals but by this time next month I will be done with classes for good! :) I will have the summer off of school for the first time in several years. Then, I will intern in the fall and graduate in December. It wasn't my original plan but it's good enough for me.

My anniversary is in a few weeks. Josh and I will be married for 3 years. It feels like our wedding day was just yesterday but at the same time, it feels like we have been married our whole life. I don't remember what it was like to sleep alone or come home to my parents' house. I feel so blessed everyday that I have this amazing husband who adores me and takes care of me. I couldn't ask for anything more. He's the best man I know.

DISNEY WORLD is in less than 2 months! I can't wait! We haven't been in 5 whole years! I have been dying to go all this time but it has finally worked out where we are all getting to go and I'm SO excited. It's going to be Jack and Wendy, Jake and Heidi, Me and Josh, Mallory, and Jackson. Just like last time! :) Yay!

This past week I experienced something totally new and different and interesting and scary. Jury Duty. At first I didn't want to go because everyone says its boring and long and all of that. But, I had no choice so I went on Monday morning like I was supposed to. The first day was long and boring. But, at the end of the day I finally got assigned to my case and chose as a juror. The process is the long and boring part and most of the time people get picked for lawsuit cases which are super boring but I got chosen for a criminal case. I won't go into all of the details but we had court all week. It was long but very interesting. This young guy (25ish) broke into the home of a family with a gun and robbed them and tried to shoot the man who lived there (but the safety was on). He was being charged with Burgulary, Obstruction of Justice (Because he lied about who he was when he was arrested), 2 counts of armed robbery, and attempted murder. It was really interesting to listen to all of the witnesses and see the entire case from start to finish. Anyway, we found him guilty on all counts and he had several priors so he is now going to (more than likely) get life in prison. That was a big thing for me. I just thought of our kids at West Blocton and how easy it is for them to go down the wrong road. THey just don't understand real consequences like that. I honestly think that every kid should have to see a trial like that before they graduate from high school.

I guess that is all that is new for me. I'm about to clean the house and then when Josh gets home from work we're headed to Cullman to go out with my friends from Athens. I'm excited for Josh to meet everyone and we're touring the monestary because one of the guys from my department is a Monk. Seriously. :) So, that should be interesting. I'm always up for something different.

Grad school possibilities

Today I went to Athens to take a test in my foreign policy class and to take Bella to Kayla. It was a really good trip. It just made me miss my college friends alot. I did get to see Kayla and Miranda though. I saw Kayla when I dropped the cat off and then Miranda and I had dinner at Logans. We stayed there talking forever. It was nice to catch up. Oh, I also checked out 7 books about Watergate from the library. I'm working on my Vietnam class paper now and I'm thinking that I picked a very interesting topic.

In other news, I am checking into grad school. I have the GPA requirment for UA's history program and I emailed the dean who is in charge of my program to ask if early entry is an option for me. Since I'm not interning until the fall, the summer would be the perfect time for me to start the grad school program and get a feel for the classes. However, I'm not sure if they will accept me considering that I won't technically have a degree until the fall... We shall see... I am also trying to decide if I want to take the thesis route or just take two extra classes... I'm leaning toward the two extra classes...

I'm working at the high school next week. I really love working over there and I can't wait to get a job and be permanant. I LOVE working with the cheerleaders and I just know that this is where I belong. I feel like such a part of the community and I feel so loved by the kids. It's a great feeling.... Now, if I can get a job teaching history there next year then I will be all set!

Well, I guess I better get back to my Watergate book.... I have 7 huge books including Nixon's memoirs to read in the next couple of weeks...

Mountains

First of all, we had a fabulous time in the mountains this past weekend with Dave, Lindsay, and Jacob. It was so nice to get away from everything for a few days and relax. We slept late and ate ALOT and just had a great time hanging out together. Me and Lindsay totally kicked the husbands' butts in some Monopoly and they got us hooked on House. Both couples spent around $35 on candy in G-Burg. We had the BEST breakfast ever. Jacob had his first "big-kid" throwing up episode. (Which wasn't too fun for anyone...but he was fine.) AND we drove to the top of the mountain and spent a few hours playing in the deepest and prettiest snow I have ever seen. It was a great getaway and I am SO glad we went!

I got my first few grades back from school. I made a 95 on my first Vietnam assignment and an 88 on my first Foreign Policy test. So, I'm doing well right now. I just hope I can keep it up.

I have signed up to sub for Tiffany every day next week while she gives the grad exam. This is really good because we need the money! Having our mobile home in Arley on the market instead of rented out is costing us $450 a month in income. Yikes!

We're having a great time with the cheerleaders so far. I really believe that they are going to be a great squad. It's so much fun working with them. I can't wait to start my internship in the fall and really be back to being involved in the everyday routine.

I think that we have found a new home for Bella. I really love her and wanted her to have a new family that I really knew would take good care of her and love her. My friend Kayla from Athens said that her mom wants her and wants her to live inside. Josh is VERY happy because Bella ripped up a very large section of our nice carpet in the guest room and it's now having to be replaced. Not good.

I guess that is all that is new with us for now.

Pageants and the mountains

I have been so busy lately. SO much has happened that there is no way I can cover it all in one post. I will hit the highlights though. We had Varsity try-outs last week. It was also Josh's birthday. He got a new Iphone which is making me totally jealous. I can get one in September for my birthday though. The pageant was Monday night and it went great. I got SO may compliments on how great it was. This morning several people told me that it was the best pageant they had ever been to. They told me that it was well organized and very entertaining. Mission accomplished. :) I had a great time doing it but I have to admit that I am SO glad it's over and I can get back to my life. I am now working hard to study for a HUGE midterm that I have to take tomorrow at 4:00 in Athens. I will leave home in the morning and get my car cleaned and oil changed. Then I will head to Lindsay's house and pick up her and Jake. Then we will load their luggage and go pick up the husbands at work at 2:00. We are leaving from there and heading to Athens. I will take my test at 4 and then when I'm done we will head for Gatlinburg. We are staying the weekend in Lindsay's parents' cabin in the mountains. I can't wait! Although, I do have another book due Friday night and I will have to work hard on it on the way there. But, after that I'm going to relax for the weekend and enjoy myself. Today, after school, we are having out first cheerleading practice. We'll see how that goes. I was supposed to go meet the sweet new baby (Andy and Tj's) but I have to stay home and study. I made Josh promise that we would go back next week. They have named her Ava Drew and she will go by Drew. SO CUTE! :) I can't wait to meet her. Oh, Sydnee and Gracie's pageant was last weekend. They both got Top 10 and Gracie won Photogenic. I must admit that regardless of my own bias, I thought they both deserved to win. I was so proud of them. Anyway, they had fun. Olivia is going to be in the Little Miss Gardendale pageant this coming Saturday. I will let you know how that goes. She is going to perform talent for the first time, she will be singing "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. Which is so adorably cute because she thinks the words are Julio and Juliet. SO CUTE... :) Anyway, I gotta go cause my class is about to leave.

Quick update

Well, February is about halfway over. This week has been CRAZY for me. We did do cheerleading tryouts yesterday afternoon. We kept 14. They are going to be a really great squad I believe. I am really excited to get started working with them. Our first practice is Tuesday. The pageant got postponed until MOnday night, which is fine because I have everything ready and I got to spend today resting and relaxing, which I seriously needed. Tomorrow is Sydnee and Gracie's pageant at Curry. I will be leaving home tomorrow morning at 9:30 and meeting them for lunch at Cabo. Then we'll go get their hair done and then go back home so that I can do their make-up. The pageant officially starts at 4:30. I think that they will both do really well. I haven't even thought about my schoolwork this week. I have my second Vietnam book (The Quiet American) due on Friday of next week and a HUGE midterm in 19th Century America on Thursday. Also, I will be leaving from my midterm, Thursday, to go to the mountains with Josh and David, Lindsay, and baby Jacob. We'll only be gone for the weekend but it should be a nice little vacation. I just have to go do the pageant on Monday and then spend Tuesday and Wednesday totally cramming for that big test. It's been really great being so involved at the school again. It gives me such a great purpose to have so many sweet kids surrounding me everyday. They make me feel like a celebrity, which is always nice. I can't wait to graduate and get to spend everyday doing to the job that I love. Just 2 and a half months left of studying and then I get an entire summer to myself. I CANNOT wait! Maybe I will be able to keep my house clean and my laundry caught up. That seems to be getting the best of me these days. For now, I'm going to go do some laundry and curl up in my bed to watch Grey's Anatomy. Josh is going to be home soon and we're going to finish a movie that we started on Tuesday and then clean up the house a little. That's about all for me for now. :)

Happy (BUSY) February

Today is February 1, 2010.

I love my life. I am busy and I like it that way. I also LOVE days when I get to stay home and do nothing. ALthough, as a college student, I have learned that even when you have days where you stay at home and have "nothing" to do, there is always something you should be doing. (i.e. studying, working on a paper, etc.) AND as a substitute teacher, you plan these days of staying home and you look forward to sleeping in late and then at the last minute someone calls you to sub. Bummer.

As of right now, I have three days off this week. I am working today and Friday. BUT, I am off Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I am SURE that will change. I won't be too sad because we need the money but I will be a little sad because I LOVE to sleep late, especially when the alternative is getting up at 5AM. That's never fun. I do have to be off on Thursday though because I am going to take a couple of tests at Wallace.

However, I am thankful to have a job that I enjoy (somewhat)and have the free time to work on my school work. I'm not complaining. Really.

Tomorrow night is our parent meeting with the cheerleading hopefuls. We are going to just explain tryouts and what to expect after the girls make the team. Josh is going to get our taxes done by himself. He's going to a lady close to his office that everyone from his work has been talking about. They have all said that they got big returns because she has special powers because she used to work for the IRS or something like that. We're keeping our fingers crossed for $10,000.(That's a joke, by the way.) However, considering that we had to pay in last year, I'm not very confident. Just hopeful. :)

Tonight Tiffany and I are going to Zumba. We really love that class. Josh and I went to Academy Sports and I bought some cute workout clothes so I won't feel like a fatty in the oversized pajama clothes that I usually wear to the gym. In that room with all the mirrors, wearing big baggy clothes can do bad things to your self-esteem. I have now lost 16 pounds.

Pageant stuff is coming along. I ordered trophies. We got the decorations and crowns in. I have laid out the order of events and figured out that I am going to use the theme song from FAME for the opening number. That song is AMAZING and I LOVE IT!! It's got a really good beat too so I'm thinking it will be a really good one to use. I am excited about getting to start working with the girls next week. I'm picking up the general walking-out music from Mr. Hayes today and Josh is going to burn it all onto one CD that we can just play continuously. I have our M.C. but no judges yet. She is going to try to find some of her pageant friends to come do it. If not, then I will find them. I need to call and order our flowers and find the materail for the sashes. I keep forgetting about that. Oops... There's alot to remember. I am so nervous that I will forget something important...

Financial Peace is going good for us. I am going to go this week and open up our savings account with our emergency fund money in it....and we don't have any credit cards so we are already ahead of the game on that one.

Our trailer is going to be officially on the market this afternoon. We are praying hard about that. It hurts us financially to not have any rent coming in but we are just praying that it sells quickly. We aren't going to make any money off of it but we just want to get rid of it so we're selling it for just above what we owe on it plus the realtor's commission. Charlotte Pugh is selling it for us and she's a family friend so she's giving us a great deal on the commission. She's been really great to us througout the whole experience.

Sunday six plus a little crazy in between

1. We just got in from our first session of Financial Peace University at church. It was good, very informative. Now this week for homework we have to fill out a budget form that is supposed to help us plan how we are going to spend our money. If you know me, then you know that I am 100% OCD about planning and lists. So, this budget planning is right up my alley.

2. My diet has been going pretty well. We rejoined the gym and Tiffany and I discovered Zumba (which is amazing) and Josh taught me how to do some other exercises that really feel (because of ALL of the soreness) like they are working. So far, I have lost 12 pounds. My jeans are seriously falling off already and it's very exciting. I want to keep going and tomorrow starts month #2 for me. Wish me luck!

3. My schoolwork is, well.... NOT going well so far. Can you say P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-O-R?? Yep, that's me... I have had my first book assignment for my Vietnam class for a month now and am yet to really start. It's due Friday. NOT GOOD! It's going to seriously take me all week to get this done. (ALSO NOT FUN!) I also have a couple of tests that I have to take next week but then I should be caught up and I am seriously going to attempt to not fall so far behind again.

4. The pageant is starting to come together, which is good. I need to make a few phone calls tomorrow but other than that I have done almost everything that I can do before the week of the event.

5. February is going to be crazy for me... Josh's 21st birthday is February 9th. The weekend before we are going to have a birthday get-together/Super Bowl party for him at our house. Then we are going to go do something special together on his birthday evening. The next night we are going out to dinner with his friends from work. Josh has worked in the same office with the same people for two years now and I have never met most of them. That should be interesting. Also, this same week is cheerleading clinic and tryouts for our Varsity squad...AND Friday is the pageant and Saturday is Gracie and Sydnee's pageant.

So....

I will start on Monday going to the middle school to practice with the girls for the pageant. We will have two seperate practices (one for 5th-6th, one for 7th-8th). Then after school I will have clinic with the cheerleaders. I will leave there on Wednesday to have dinner with Josh's work friends. Thursday is the actual cheerleading tryouts. After tryouts we will be staying to decorate the gym for the pageant. Friday is going to be a SUPER crazy day for me. I am the sole sponsor/director for the pageant so I pretty much do everything myself. (I'm not complaining, I don't like for people to help. --But, on that note, I don't even work at the school this year and am doing this event out of the kindness of my heart. SO, when that same special someone from last year comes to me to tell me how crappy of a job I did (which she will) I plan to tell her that I would be glad to come by any time and tell her just how bad I think that she is at HER job.--I know that you know (if you know me at all) that I NEVER stand up to people who bully me because I am quiet and nice. I usually just smile and nod and then go stand in the corner and cry (which is exactly what I did last year when she cornered me during the event to tell me that it sucked but maybe I could learn from my obvious mistakes and do it better next year). However, I sincerely hope that God gives me the courage to stand up this year and defend my un-paid work. :)

Sorry about that rant. I know it came out of nowhere. I have a lot of pent-up emotion. Letting people run over you never really gets you anywhere. I will learn that eventually.

Back to my crazy February, I will then be doing make-up for Gracie and Sydnee the following Saturday (that's two pageants in a row, but who's counting?) for their elementary school pageant. The next week I have a midterm on Thursday and we are leaving from my midterm to go to the mountains with David, Lindsay, and Jacob. They invited us to come spend a weekend in Lindsay's parents' cabin in Gatlinburg and we accepted. That will be a nice getaway from all of the chaos. ....AND I think that's all of my crazy February that is planned out so far...

6. Since I seriously have no idea what God has in store for us in the future, I am attempting to just focus on the present and stop putting so much pressure on myself to plan everything out. Again, I am a planner, so this will be hard. We'll see how that goes. :) Although, with all of the crazy chaos that is coming up next month for me, I don't think I will have much time to think about anything at all...

Oh so random

I have had a pretty busy week and have still not managed to get much of my homework done at all. It is freaking me out because now I am working on a very limited time schedule and I have LOTS to do if I want good grades. (not really an "if" situation.) So, I worked on my calendar this morning to try to get organized for the next week or so. I have a really busy semester and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed that I won't be free until April.

Today I am going to do some laundry and clean up the house. Then I'm going to settle in and start working on my outline and study guides. For the next week I will not be able to do anything with my free time but study... Tomorrow we're going to Jasper in the morning to watch Sydnee and Olivia's Upward game. They play at 10 then Jackson plays at 1. We're staying in town because Mario has a game tomorrow night and we're going to go to the high school to watch him play too.

I have definately found an MC for the pageant and am working on judges. I have ordered the crowns and decorations but I still have to call about the trophies, flowers, and find ribbon for the sashes.

Tiffany and I have decided to take over Varsity cheerleading at WB. It's a big decision considering that I am not actually employed there yet but I am definately interning there in the fall and then hopefully will get a job there after that. Tryouts are in just a couple of weeks and then we will be doing that pretty much full time after that. I'm very excited about it and ready to get started.

We have oficially (well, almost) put our trailer back on the market. Charlotte Pugh (White Pepper Real Estate) is listing it for us and she is amazing. We have talked about putting our old furniture in there to sell and getting new stuff but now I'm thinking that we might not do that. We still have so many projects that we want to do around our house. I am just excited for it to go back on the market and praying that someone wants it VERY soon! I know that it's the right timing and I'm praying that someone has been driving past it every day thinking I wish that place was for sale (like we did). It's such a cute place and is so quiet and comfortable, I don't know why anyone wouldn't want it!

Uncertainty

Decisions, decisions.

Some have been made.

Others are hanging in the balance.

We are trusting God. Things are good. I am thankful.

In some ways I am so ready for the future. In other ways I am scared.

Uncertainty. Oh, uncertainty. I am not a fan. I like sure things. I like concrete.

We shall see, I suppose. God has our trust. It is in his hands. His ways are greater than our ways.

This week...

This has been a pretty good week for me. I have subbed two days and signed up for several more days in the next couple of months. Most people like to just call at 7 in the morning but I can't do those days because I live too far away to have time to get ready and get to the school. I am really loving being at the school though. I get bored during the day if the teachers don't leave me any work but I just do my homework and study, so it's not so bad. It just makes me want to be a teacher so much more though. It is hard. I have not been too committed to my school work either. I have really got to get going and just do it. I guess I have just been discouraged about it and let it keep me from doing what I know I need to be doing. I have my first big assignment due two weeks from yesterday and a big big test that week too. I have resolved to just commit myself to working on it everyday. I will be glad when it's over. Just about 3 more months and I will be done with all of my classes...for good....for sure...this time.

There is a very big maybe coming up in our future about my job/internship situation. Mr. McGee told me that he is going to look into getting me hired in as a first year teacher for next year and that my internship can also be my first year. However, that comes with a very large amount of "ifs" and it's quite scary. So, Josh and I have been talking alot about what we will do if we do get it and what if we don't. Everything is truly in God's hands for us right now and we are just trying to enjoy our life just as it is right now and not focus so much on the furure. After all, we are VERY blessed and have NOTHING to complain at all about.

I have been dieting and the first week I did amazing! :) However, this is the end of week three and these past two weeks have just been trying to maintain. I have lost 10 pounds but I am ready to get back to losing! It is just really hard!

This week I am going to be really busy. I am staying home Monday and Tuesday to do school work, then I am working Wednesday and Thursday. I am thinking that I will schedule my first big test for Friday. (One of my classes is an independant study and I get to schedule my own tests.) So, this week I have to do three sections of my book (crazy detailed outlines) and study for test 1 of 6. Ugh...school...

New news

So many updates for the Odom's this week...

Ok, so, first of all.... I have accepted the whole internship issue and I am currently moving on with my life. I have resolved to make all As this semester and to be super productive around the house. I still believe that its going to be a great year for us and I know that God has a very good reason for this setback... I have started my classes. They are a lot of work but I am going to stay on top of things...

Our rental unit is back on the renter's market...I had it listed in the newspaper this week and picked up the keys from our last renters yesterday. I am praying that God will give us some amazing renters that always pay on time and take good care of our little place. Maybe even that he will send someone to us that wants to buy it! (My fingers are crossed!)

I signed up to substitute at West Blocton and I really think that I will probably be working almost everyday. I'll be glad to be in the school and to be getting paid again...and also a good chance to use my new teacher wardrobe that I got for my internship.

Josh and I are starting Financial Peace University tonight at church with some of our couple friends. I have semi done it before with my Aunt Tina but Josh wasn't there and I missed some meetings and kind of gave up so I am excited to get back to it and get really dedicated. There are some really big projects that we are thinking of starting at our house (after much debate and deep consideration) and it will definately take some good saving and budgeting...

Well, I do suppose that is all that is new/different with us right now. We're going to probably go to Lowe's and start pricing things for our new and amazing kitchen/livingroom/bathroom/backyard fence... (Certainly not all...just still trying to decide...)

Sometimes God has other plans...

Sometimes God has other plans.

I am learning this lesson right now. Without spilling all of the long and boring details about yesterday being the absolutely worst day of my college career (and there have been several bad ones) I will just say that as it turns out I will not be doing my internship this semester after all. I was informed yesterday that I will have to retake 3 of the history classes that I had previously taken (and passed, I know it's crazy) in order to meet the requirments for internship and graduation.

SO...

I am now registered for 3 history classes: American Foreign Policy, 19th Century Europe, and Vietnam.

I will take these three classes this spring. Then I will intern in the fall and graduate in December. I did everything that I could to get them to cooperate with me so that I could still intern this spring. They would not budge. So, what I am left with is 6 more months of not being a college graduate. I'm dealing.

Tomorrow I am going to West Blocton to sit down with Mr. McGee to explain to him what has happened and that I will not be his intern. Then, I'm going to the Bibb County Board to become a sub. I have been applying for some managment positions in different retail stores but let's face it, I hate retail and if I can't intern, then I can at least sub and still be in the school. Since I know all of the teachers I will probably work a lot. I guess if I can't teach, and I can't intern, I might as well sub.

I have been very depressed and I have cried alot but I am going to try to find the positive side of this setback because I know that sometimes God has other plans for us that we can't understand.

A blessed life

Last night, when there was one minute left on the countdown clock, Josh and I turned to eachother and talked about everything that we would experience this next year. A lot of new things are coming for us. I will do my internship, graduate, and then start my career as a high school history teacher. Josh will begin his college career and we are going to Disney World and back to the mountains, once for sure, maybe twice. It's going to be a great year. Josh turns 21 next month and I wll be 25 in September.. :( Where has all of the time gone since I first met him when I was 18 and he was 14? Oh, and we will also celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary in April.

God has blessed us so much with eachother and our future. We talk all the time about where we will be in 2 years or 5 years or 10 years. We talk about having a big house and lots of kids. It's exciting to think that our life together is only going to get better and better. But, for now, I don't want to rush our time away. I love our life exactly the way it is right now. To be honest, I would live in this moment of my life forever. I have an amazing husband who loves me and whom I adore. I have great parents and three amazing sisters. I am on the brink of beginning the career that I always knew I wanted to do. Everything is perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more. I get excited sometimes to have a baby and stuff like that, but for now I just want things to stay the way they are. I'm not in a hurry for anything to change at all. I pray everyday that my life will always be this happy and blessed. I did nothing to deserve it and I don't know why God chose to bless me with it, but I am ever grateful for it.

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we may recieve the promise of the spirit. Galatians 3:14