Another nostalgic post

I think Pilgrim Pines is my favorite place on earth. Last week, while on a trip to visit my parents and brother's family in CT, we took a day trip to the Pines. The nostalgic part of me gets emotional every time I am there. It is a place that has been a part of my life pretty much longer than any other. I remember the first time my mom coaxed me to go down the waterslide. Catching frogs in the pond. Cleaning of sandy jolly ranchers in the lake(gross in retrospect). Then, there was the time that the Pines became unfamiliar again, after 10 years in Nebraska. I went with KVP in late high school when my dad was a speaker. We didn't know anyone, so we just stuck together and played monopoly and the color game all week. I remember my very first day as a staff member in 2006. I was so bitter that I wasn't at Cedars and so nervous. Little did I know that several of the people I met that day would become some of my best friends. That summer was one of the most fun times of my life. Having deep conversations with Juli on the lifeguard stand, watching the Office (for the first time) with Kristin, and playing silent football, signs, and catchphrase (most specifically with Alissa). My second summer was much more challenging, but I grew a lot. Even though leading the junior high group was tough, I had a great team, Kiera, Peder, and Anna. And although Nick has never spent much time at the Pines, he was very much a part of that summer for me(& part of the reason that summer was so challenging). It was so fun to go to camp last week and show it to my niece and nephew. I gave Halli some swimming lessons at the lake, and they ate ice cream at the snack shack and even caught a frog.

You've Been Flocked!

A few months ago, my 8th graders were asking me about fundraising idea. I told them that when I was in high school, our youth group did a fund raiser where we put plastic flamingos on peoples lawns and made them pay us to take them down. After that, they kept asking me for my address, because they wanted to do it to my house. They never found where I lived, but they did the next best thing. The "flocked" my room. I came to school on Tuesday morning and opened my door to a room filled with over 100 pictures of flamingos. I laughed so hard. I am going to miss that class so much and even though it was a prank, it meant so much to me that they thought I was worth pranking and knew I would love it. Then, during class, they presented me with a stuffed flamingo with their names on it. Good luck, class of 2011, you will be missed!

Joyful

Ah, back to real life. This week and next week, I will be working more than I have in a long time. I have several extra school events, plus more than usual work at the Gap. Despite the heavy workload, I feel like I can handle it, because I have one amazing week behind me.

As most of you know by now, I heard last week that I got my dream teaching job. I would have been happy to get any full time teaching job, but I am so excited about this. When the principal called she said, "I think you are the perfect fit and I can't wait to work with you!" It is at a school I love and an environment that I know I thrive in. I will also get to work closely with the woman I am replacing for the next few weeks and get ideas of what she has done, but also to discuss new ideas. I feel like getting this job is one of my biggest accomplishments to date. I feel like I really had to work hard to get it and it paid off.

The other wonderful thing that happened last weekend was my family was in town! I got to spend a ton of time with my brothers and sisters in law and my wonderful niece and nephew, Halli and Miles. They were so cute and so much fun. Halli is at a great age. She would just snuggle on the couch with me and let me read books to her forever. It was awesome.

I also can't forget tha I got see KVP this weekend and spend some quality time with Kristin. It was great to get to celebrate at Erin's wedding and see some Omaha friends.

So, when I complain next week about being tired and miserable, please, someone remind me that life is good.



Miles watching water pop out of a machine at the children's museum



Shopping with Halli at the Children's museum. She loved being a cashier.




Guess where aunt mary bought their Easter clothes?




Discovering the bean.

Today is a very good day

A much needed rest

As much as I am sad seeing Kristin's blog and knowing I missed out on a good time and seeing Christine, I had a wonderful weekend. I worked at the Gap, graded papers, and worked on my portfolio, but I got to rest. I just took some time to slow down, which I really, really needed. Nick and I spent this morning grading papers at Starbucks. It was wonderful. The next few months are going to be a whirlwind. Starting with tomorrow, which a is big, exciting, but nervewracking day. Wish me luck!

Run like the wind

I ran 4 consecutive miles today. I have never run that far at once in my entire life. Plus, the sun was out. God bless vitamin D. I feel like a million bucks!

Cheesy and Nostalgic

One of my biggest flaws (or maybe its not so bad) is my nostalgia. Up until a few years ago, I was always unhappy with whatever was going on in my life, because I was too wrapped up in the past, and wishing things could go back to a simpler time. For example, I spent my entire freshman year of highschool wishing I could go back to Junior High (which I hated). And I pretty much missed what was going on around me my entire year at NPU, because all I could think about was how much I missed Nebraska. This afternoon, I let a little part of that personality run wild. Out of sheer boredom, I began looking at old facebook albums, which eventually led me to look at websites of places that have been important to me, like Central High School, Covenant Cedars, Pilgrim Pines, Covenant Harbor, and of course North Park. As I was looking at the pictures, news, and websites about all of these people and places that have meant (and do mean) so much to me, I found myself not wishing I could go back to those times, but being really grateful that those people and places really and truly did shape me into the person I am today. And despite the fact that life is (and never will be) perfect, I am so thankful for the places, my experiences, and my relationships that have brought me to this point.


Nothing like a philosophical epiphany to liven up a boring Tuesday afternoon.

Some of my favorites that I stumbled across:



From 4th-12th grade, Allison was my closest friend from Cedars.


I wouldn't have made it through freshman year without her. We were supposed to be studying for finals.


We didn't win a single game that tournament, but that weekend changed my life.


Pilgrim Pines was the last place on earth I wanted to be that summer. Best decision I ever made.


If you were there, you know.




I love him.


One of my favorite places on earth.


One of the most difficult summers of my life, but I learned a lot about myself


I laughed more in this weekend than I can remember ever laughing in two days.


Best day ever.