Last Monday Emily and I went to the radio station for a birthday party for the afternoon DJ. We had pizza and cake, sang happy birthday, met some fun people, and got to even talk on the radio!! :o) I didn't realize the difficult job that DJs actually have! They deal with a lot of technology, editing, and staying on schedule so things go smoothly on air. Turns out, I could not be a DJ, not just because I don't have a voice for radio. I would get too distracted and not be able to stay on task most of the time, I'm pretty sure... It was a great experience. And doing it with my sister made it even more amazing!! :o)

So, I am starting to think about next year and what I want to do in regards to teaching. Ultimately I still want to do high school. But an opportunity has come up that I am having a hard time passing up. There is a chance that I could go teach for a year in a little Christian school in Taiwan. My good friend Jessica went last year to teach for a few months after she graduated from college. She is getting married in February, and she and her husband are hoping to go back next August so Jess can teach and Terry can take some college classes. I am thinking about going with them... Jessica mentioned that I would likely get a job quite easily based on my "teaching in a Christian school" experience. Cost of living is really low there, so most of what I would make could be saved and used to help get me out of this hole of debt I can't seem to quite get out of... The experience would be amazing! The hardest part would be being away from Charlotte, Petey, and the rest of my family and friends for so long... But if I don't take this opportunity now, chances are I'll never get it again! So, if you are reading this and want to offer a prayer for me, pray that I will know how to go about this. I want to do what is right. I think I really want to go!

Hey! I have written two blogs in less than two weeks!! That is amazing! Maybe I'll get a third one done in the next few days!! :o)

birthdays, weddings, and more.....

This past Friday I turned 26. That's 4 years from 30. Whoa. If I think about it that way, it freaks me out a little bit. However, I'm taking it as it comes and am very grateful for every day. In a little reflection time, I came to the conclusion that I am living a life at this age that I never would have imagined I would be living. If I were asked when I was about 10 where I would be and what I would be doing when I was 26, I am certain I would have said, "I will have at least 1 kid, will have been married for a few years, and will be living in a house with a white picket fence." (Come to think of it, I would have been living Karen's life!! ;o) hehehe...Just kidding, Karen....) Instead, I'm teaching at a preschool, have zero kids (which is totally OK with me, btw), have no prospects for a boyfriend let alone a husband, and rent an old house with two wonderful friends... And to be perfectly honest, I couldn't imagine it any other way right now!! Good thing my 10-year old self didn't have ultimate control of my current life!! :o) It just proves to me yet again that GOD knows best, and I have absolutely no clue about anything, as it turns out... :o)

I went to a wedding yesterday. It might have been one of the most incredible wedding experiences I have ever had in my entire life! The couple is my roomie's brother and his new wife. They are so obviously in love... The impression I got from this wedding was that they were having a wedding and reception not for the tradition and formality but for the simple fact that their highest desire was to honor God, each other, and their friends and family by displaying the beauty of their love with a fantastic celebration! Yes, the event was fancy, sparkly, magical, and thrilling... But I took so much more away from that wedding than just about any other I have ever been to or in (and if you know me, you know that has been quite a few.........). I was shown joy in its purest form in the way Dan and Jami looked at each other. I was blessed by the way guests were honored and appreciated. I was brought to tears by the "wedding favor" for the guests: a large donation in our name to an orphanage in Belize. I'm not going to lie...I am becoming more and more jaded when it comes to weddings and all they seem to be about. This beautiful ceremony and celebration gave me a little hope...It is possible to do a wedding without completely destorting the beauty of marriage and true love. Ahhh...my inner hopeless romantic feels pretty happy today...

Tomorrow my sister got me and herself invited to a "birthday party" at 92.5 The Wolf's radio station. It's the afternoon show guy's birthday, and he is throwing himself a party with people who have birthdays around his. I get to leave work early tomorrow to go to it! I have no idea what to expect, but it should be fun. I'm excited to hang out with Emily. Perhaps I shall blog about my experience another day... Also, if you're in the Denver area, tune in to 92.5 around 4:00, and maybe you'll hear me talking to you!

One more thing... I got to chat with Karen for a while today, which made me really happy. I love that woman so very much. :o) She told me I was in trouble because I haven't been very consistent with my blogging lately. Her sweet Grandma Ruth reads our blogs and requested that we write more often. So, Grandma Ruth, I want to apologize and let you know that I will try to do better. :o)

Ok. That is all for now...
Have a wonderful week! :o)

Snapshot of Perfection

My inner poet decided to step out and say hello last week. It was inspired by my preschoolers... Enjoy!! :o)

"Snapshot of Perfection"

Verdant hills
Soft valleys for landing
Superstars-in-their-own-eyes kids

Sparkling eyes beaming life:
Lived.
Being Lived.
Yet to Live.

Bubbling laughter
Piercing shrieks
The occasional cry of unjustness

Friends
Holding hands
Taking toys
Sharing memories, if just for today.

Teacher sits
above them,
among them,
with them.
Watching.
Caring.
Smiling.

"Look what I can do!" they implore.
A floppy cartwheel
A clumsy somersault
"Watch me!" they insist.
A wiggle and a twist
A roll down the hill
To many it's impressive.
Some are sure they can do more.

Teacher knows something beyond
this moment,
these tricks,
the incredible feats.

It is just as it should be:
A joy, a blessing,
A snapshot of perfection
When all is well.

And as the superstars grow
Teacher knows
The best is yet to be.