Thanksgiving Holidays Update

This is my first "teacher holiday" to experience and it has been a BLAST! Before I left Houston I got to spend some quality time with Kristi, MM and Michelle. I also got housekeeping things completed - like changing out my summer clothes for my winter clothes (which required 2 trips to the storage unit).

I have been in Livingston since Sunday night. It has been the longest amount of time I have spent here since I was in high school. I always had to work in college, so I never spent this much time at home. I thought I would go crazy, but I have kept myself busy and had a great time.
Sunday night - FBC Priase Banquet
This is an annual tradition that I have not attended in 8 years - strange but fun!
Monday - Lee Ann, Mason and Megan = 1 happy Aunt Kristin
Tuesday - Mannafest and Calobe's Basketball game (his team kicked tail - it was fun!)
Wednesday - Dinner with the Wood family women
Thursday - Wood family Thanksgiving and great night with old friends (Alice, Chris and Calobe)
Friday - Breakfast with the family, Christmas tree shopping and Jones family Thanksgiving

Tomorrow I am going to help my parents decorate the tree and then I am headed back to Houston. I have had a lot of fun, but I must have a day to get ready for reality. I have several things that need to get done before school on Monday.

I have been worried about making it through Christmas holidays, but I think I'll be ok!

I am thankful for...food, clothes and shelter

This morning I worked at the local shelter to help them prepare for the holiday madness. The work I did was pretty low key - I just packed up boxes to be shipped out on Thursday to shut-ins. Although I didn't have social interaction with people needing assistance, I did have time to think about the blessings I have. One of the things we packed up was water bottles filled with powdered laundry detergent. Little things like that get taken for granted so easily.

Two things from today:
1) I need to be more grateful for the "things" I so easily have in my life.
2) I need to spend more of my time and energy helping those who don't have the luxury of running to the store to get anything you want much less need.

So far it has been a GREAT Thanksgiving holiday and I have a lot to be thankful for!

I am thankful for...2008-2009

I am certain I will miss thousands of people/things I am thankful for, but just to name a few.....

• I am thankful for my (constantly growing) family and the support and love they give me.
• I am thankful for my education and the freedom it gives me to try out new things.
• I am thankful for Deani Quick and the countless hours of her life she spent helping me get a teaching job.
• I am thankful for Sarah Hale and the constant support she gave me at UBC as a friend and as a faithful volunteer. I am also thankful for her heart for preschool families and willingness to give so much of her time to the preschool ministry.
• I am thankful to UBC and their generosity towards me as I changed jobs with very little notice.
• I am thankful for my new friend at Bay who have helped me learn the ropes and taught me so many new things....especially: Cathy, Carolyn, Nelda, Amy, Erin and Kristina.
• I am thankful for friends and their love and support this past year....especially with my job change: Michelle, MM, Kristi, Lee Ann, Alice, Shawna, Sarah, Melissa, Colette, Jenny and many more....
• I am thankful that my new job allows me to spend even more time with my family and friends.
• Last, but definitely not least, I am thankful for Robert and the love and support he showed me this past year. It was difficult with the stresses of interviews, let downs, job change and being sick so much. I couldn't have asked for better support!

I am thankful for...Michelle (Will, Madisyn and Megan)

My first week of work in June 2006 was incredibly scary for me. I moved to one of the biggest cities in the world and didn't know anyone. This small town girl was a little bit overwhelmed. After a couple of weeks of cold sholders from the girls (Courtney, Julie and Michelle) we finally broke through the awkwardness and became friends. These are friendships that I will be eternally grateful for.

The years past and people moved - life situations changed - but Michelle and I have stayed great friends. There is very little about my incredibly complicated life that she does not know - and she still loves me. :)

We have had plenty of times being insanely silly together and times where we just cried together. She has been with me through good days at work and bad months at work, plenty of relationships, nights of OGKL, and crazy nights with Krystal.

The past year has been busy for both of us. She got married, is having a new baby and changed jobs. I well.... I guess all I did was change jobs - but I must be a little more dramatic than she is. Anyway our new jobs took us away from spending the days together at work. It was a sad thought. The even worse news was that Dave Ramsey required us to make plans with the new salaries we would be dealing with (both less than we were making before). Michelle, Will, Madisyn and Megan graciously allowed me to move in with them. YEA!

We don't get to see each other much, but I am so thankful for the time we do get to spend together. I can't imagine how little we would get to spend together if I didn't live in the guest room. Because of their generosity, I am still able to plan vacations and go out to eat. More than the money they save me I am thankful for the friendship we have!

I love you, Michelle!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for...The Blazines and The Wilsons

When I moved to Houston 3 years ago I had the hardest time leaving College Station behind. I had developed wonderful lasting friendships, had an unforgetable college experience and had spent countless hours investing in the lives of small children. I seemed to miss the kids more than anything especially the family I used to nanny for.

When I started my job at UBC I immediately bonded with the Blazine family. They had triplets AND Kristi is an aggie. We had an instant connection. The best thing was that they even let me babysit their kids, so that I could get a little triplet fix! They helped me feel at home! On top of the personal connection we had, Kristi AND Bruce volunteered in Preschool!!!!!

The next summer the Wilson came into our lives and it got even better. I worked with Kyle at the church and it was nice to have a new friend on staff. He was always available for a venting session or a laugh at work. He also helps me with dad type stuff like fixing my car, moving refrigerators and stuff like that. Mary-Michele is just plain fun! She is always willing to listen and laugh!

Throughout the past two years I have become GREAT friends with Kristi and Mary Michele. Even though they are busy with husbands and they each have four kids, they are always willing to take some time to hang out. I always feel like I am important in their lives and someone special to them and their families.

I am in the process of getting ready for a "Girls Night Out" with them before we head off for the Thanksgiving holidays. Tonight is a great example of how special they are to me - they both have plenty on their plates with packing for the holidays and were willing to come hang out with me. I was in desperate need of some girl time and they never questioned it.

I love you girls!!!!!!

My hats off to people in retail....

Several months ago I went to a wine tasting with some friends. I noticed the store needed extra workers for the "Nutcracker Market", so I signed up to help for some extra holiday cash. Translated this means I must have been a nut on some crack. This was the worst idea I have EVER had. The people seemed very unorganized throughout the training and getting the scheduling done, which was also the case on Thursday morning. Unorganized and grippy would be the two words I would use to describe them. On top of the chaos that filled the air I had to deal with everything else. Grumpy customers, snobby rich women and my feet feeling like someone was driving stakes through them. It was AWFUL! I was scheduled to work today too, but at 11:00 pm when they called to change my schedule for the 3rd time I just told them to count me out. I was a quitter! Instead I got to enjoy the day shopping with my mom and sis-in-law. I will take the walk of shame next Friday to pick up my giftcard. This money was intended to be spent for Christmas presents, but instead I have determined I will buy myself some goodies for a long days work!

In return I gave my hairdresser extra tip last night! I tip my hat to people who deal with that on a daily basis and I have learned to appreciate my job just a little more!

Wrinkles

I woke up Monday morning with the nastiest wrinkle I have ever seen in my life right there on my face. I swear it happened overnight. I have never seen even a hint of a wrinkle and then the deepest most distinctly aging thing appeared. I am frankly incredibly bitter about this new addition to my appearance. Why did it happen? Why so drastic? What caused it?

Aging women are never considered attractive. They do everything their budget allows to keep looking young and flawless. Well I am everything but flawless and this new addition is not helping matters. When men start aging and have the glimmer of grey sprinkled throughout their hair it is considered sexy. It makes them look sophisticated. Nothing about wrinkles on a woman's face is considered sexy! I am bitter about the expectations society pushes on women and what this means as I deal with this "thing".

I realize this is a stupid blog, but does anybody have any "wrinkle cream" suggestions. UGH!

Vitamins, Caffeine and One Loooonnng Week

Anyone who knows me in the least bit is well aware of my disinterest in taking daily vitamins or medicine. In high school and college I kept a huge sign on my bathroom mirror reminding me to take my medicine. I would read it every morning and at least 3 days a week say to myself "I don't want to". It is like a control issue - saying "I don't have to if I don't want to - Ha!"

Although this year has been super fun and obviously the right change for my life, I have STAYED sick now for a record breaking 10 weeks. It is really getting a little bit ridiculous. Back in September, after several weeks of antibiotics, mom mailed me a package full of vitamins and instructions. I laughed in her face and said - Ha! No vitamins for me! I ended up compromising the next week - I was ready to feel better. I decided taking that many vitamins wasn't necessary. I would take a "One A Day" Vitamin. The search was short, but I was proud of my selection "One A Day Energy" vitamin. I was good to go.

I faithfully took the vitamin every morning along with my other billion antibiotics, cough pills, etc. It became a ritual. Wednesday morning I forgot to take my vitamin and for the first time I chose not to run in the house to get it - I vowed to myself I wouldn't let this become a pattern, but I really need to be at school early. By 10:00 am I had one of the worst headaches I have had in my life. Headaches and my job don't really go together very well. Especially since one of my precious babies plugs his/her own ears because he/she screams so loud (confidentiality). After two doses of Excedrin Migraine and bed at 6:30 I was finally able to shake the pain. The next morning I checked my vitamins and I realized that it has the same amount of caffeine as 3 Diet Dr. Peppers. WoW! That was the issue - my body was going through withdrawals.

I am still sick and now working on my 5th round of antibiotics. UGH!!! I decided on Thursday to go with the vitamins mom sent. I carry one of those old lady pill organizers, so I can have them handy and take them at the appropriate times.

I look forward to the day I feel like myself again. I also look forward to the day when my coworkers get to meet Kristin sans kleenex and smoker's cough! :)

Now back to test taking and writing!