Breaking News: Thanksgiving Break

Not that I don't have anything better to do with myself (I actually have homework I'm avoiding) I decided to update about my Thanksgiving Break.

Thanksgiving Break was actually not that bad. We did eat at a restaurant so I missed out on the homecooked meal. However, the food was good and the conversation went well at our table. After the meal, we went to my aunt's house. We played Trivial Pursuit...one round was really enough for me. But then my mom made us play it again. I really wanted to play a different game but she didn't go for it. I tried to stay positive but I was kinda annoyed. We came home that night and the next day my mom and I traveled to Pittsburgh. I love that city! We watched my high school alma mater play in a W.P.A.I.L champianship game. They lost by 3 points but it was a good game. We actually did some shopping in the afternoon of Black Friday. The crowds weren't that bad and I scored a new pair of boots!

We did some more shopping on Saturday and I got pretty car sick from the backroads of Western Pennsylvania. I've lived in the same place for the majority of my life (excluding my college time) and I still have a hard time with those windy, curvy, hilly roads. On Sunday, I came back here and enjoyed food from my favorite Mexican restaurant.

Being home wasn't that bad. I tend to over-dramatize things. Yes, the house was cold and I had to layer a bit but that is handleable. Mom and I sill have awkward moments. It's like we don't know how to communicate well anymore. Part of my wonders if things will get better. I know how much she wants to be a part of my life but at the same time, having all of my dreams, thoughts, and ideas shot down in some fashion is less than pleasant to hear. Maybe for some having a constant opposing opinion isn't bothersome. However, words of affirmation ranks high on how I receive love from others. I know without a shadow of a doubt that my mom loves me. She has sacrificed so much for me. A wise woman once told me that this period in my life is generally a hard one between parents and children. She said that because in one sense I am considered an adult but I'm still dependent on her in other aspects. Perhaps one day, we'll stop butting heads on so many subjects and get beyond surface level stuff.

Question of the day: What's your favorite word?

Me: Beautiful. It's not a high and lofty word but I truly enjoy putting this word in sentences. Sometimes I think I don't use it enough.

The Soundtrack of My Life

Ok, so this is one of those silly things but sometimes they prove to be entertaining.

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool..

Opening Credits: Little Star- Madonna

Waking Up: Super Girl- Krystal Harris

First Day At School: Spirit in the Sky- Norman Greenbaum

Falling In Love: The World I Know- Collective Soul

Fight Song: Swing, Swing- The All-American Rejects

Breaking Up: Take the Lead (Wanna Ride)- Bones, Thugs-N-Harmony & Wishin & Yandel

Prom: I'm Just a Kid- Simple Plan
Life's Ok: Let it Ride- Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Mental Breakdown: Pure- Superchic[k]

Driving: Somedays- Meredith Brooks

Flashback: Fishin' in the Dark- The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Getting Back Together: What is Love- Haddaway

Wedding: Grease- Frankie Valli

Birth of a child: Heart to God, Hand to Man- Geoff Moore & The Distance

Final Battle: That's What Makes You Strong- The Judds

Death Scene: Counting Blue Cars- Dishwalla

Funeral Song: Better Now- Collective Soul

End Credits: God of Wonder's- The Guarantee

Heavenly praise song to Jesus: The Sound of Silence- Simon & Garfunkel

Today, I have to take a PRAXIS test on Principles of Learning and Teaching. It is a paper test...gag me. I had to spend a lot of money (when there is 3 numerals before the decimal point, I consider it to be a lot). I really would prefer to pass but it's out of my hands. I can perform to the best of my ability and if it's not good enough this time around...I can pay to take it again. I have prepared and studied. YES, I studied on a Friday night.

My Thanksgiving plans are not exactly what I desire them to be. However, it is not about me and there are others who are more in need than me. It won't be that bad but, I was really looking forward to a home-cooked meal. Not so much...we're going to a buffet. And it will be nice to be home for a few days. I haven't been home since August.

Question of the Day: What's the Soundtrack of Your Life?

Me: See Above!

Questions for Heaven

This picture is related to the title of my post. Even though I've used this before...it was one of my favorite merged photos.

There's a song called "Questions for Heaven" by Chris Rice. I heard it for the first time in chapel a couple of weeks ago. The song got me started thinking. If I had the opportunity to ask God anything, what would I ask him? Would I even be able to speak to him first off...I could see myself in awe, trying to talk. Supposing that I could actually make my voice work here are some of my questions for heaven.

What are your thoughts about me?

Why are there 4 seasons?

Do the actions or choices of your people ever surprise you?

In moments of death there is life. In moments of pain there is also beauty. But there will come a time when there will be no more death, pain, or crying. (Check out Revelation 21:3-5). Your word never claims that our lives are going to be pain free. God is it hard for you to watch your children be in pain?

Despite how busy this week is going to be for me (I have a lesson plan due, a paper, a unit analysis due, a test on Thursday, and a Praxis Test on Saturday.), I am challenging myself to not lose focus on God. Typically on a week like this...I get wrapped up in it and lose focus. We'll see how it goes. For those of you that like to pray, please keep my mind in prayer on Saturday. I had to pay $125 for this test and not getting the proficient score that I need to "pass" means I have to pay again to take it at a later date.

In other news I am quite blessed. I am surrounded by people that truly care and love me. From my "mentor" to my small group that meets on Saturday nights. And many other examples in between. If seasons of weather could be compared to my faith walk, I would say that I'm in a season of Spring. I'm growing, learning, and feeling incredibly blessed.

Question of the day: If you were a crayon, which section of the crayon box would you be in? The earth tones, pastels, metalics, flourescents?

Me: The bright ones...I've always been attracted to bright, bold colors.

Whoaness!

This week deserves a whoa! It started off nice, the middle got a little messy, and the school has ended on a high note.

Monday: Usual busyness but no practicum this week (this is cause for great joy!). I test ran an idea to help someone else out (There needs to be some tweaking for this to work...like scheduling/timing) but it worked out well. At least I think so. I made my own salsa on Monday too. We don't have a processor so I hand diced/chopped everything. I learned that I need to have a barrier on my hands when working with jalepenos. My eyes burned so much taking my contacts out and putting them in the next morning. I did wash my hands multiple times but it didn't work out for me. I also had a friend make me amazing coffee too. Oh, and my mom sent a holiday care package!

Tuesday: I enjoyed my salsa and I stopped by two Halloween bashes. I got some candy and the same friend made me some more amazing coffee! Writing this reminds me that I still have to return the mugs to his apartment. Let me tell you how amazing this coffee was. It was a white chocolate mocha. The milk was steamed for me, the espresso was freshly made, and the white chocolate was melted white chips not syrup. Plus he made whipped cream with a kitchen aide mixer! I don't want to know how many calories were in it but, it was quite tasty

Wednesday: This would be the downfall of the week. I failed a test I thought I had passed. I'm quite annoyed because I knew the material. I didn't blank out. My rationale didn't match up with the professors...and that's where the majority of my missed points came from. That and I wasn't specific enough apparently. I almost freaked out but, I figured out what I have to get on the final and still be good to pass the class...and I'm feeling like that's an obtainable goal. Then I was told that I couldn't be in timbrels for the Christmas drill. Also annoying because unless I can do timbrels and student teach next fall, this is my last chance to do timbrels for Wilmore Old Fashioned Christmas. I spent the night working diligently on more of my work sample stuff for LPA (Learn Performance Assessment) and for my Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum class (RWAC).

Thursday: I butchered an assignment for RWAC that I turned in on Tuesday. I completely had the wrong idea...probably because my mind was swarming with work sample stuff. That and in this class we've been talking about similar writing types (portfolio pieces, essay, open response, writing prompts, and on demand writing)...you can see how I might have gotten confused. But I am able to fix it! I wasn't feeling too hot about my work sample stuff that was due today either but, I did better than I thought. It was just a draft and I have to fix a few things. Overall...I'm thrilled. I really have no desire to teach in a school however, there are really usual things for where I am headed in the near future. Corps activities were fun as usual. I love hanging out with the kids and helping out there!

Friday: I slept in and woke up because my supervisor called wondering if I was Ok. I'm never late for work. I rushed a bit this morning but I got there in one piece. And the gracious supervisor didn't write me up for being late. I received a chocolate bar in CPO today too! Tonight, I'm spending q-time with my pal Morgan!

I'll end this post with another photo.