Happy Anniversary my love

Did you know that 5 years ago tonight Mike and I started down the path that has led to our marriage?  On January 1, 2005 Mike and I officially started dating each other.  In the last 5 years I can't even start to imagine the adventures we'd embark on.

Started youth ministry at Good Shepherd Oct. 2004
Drew's first wedding October 2005
Student teaching Fall 2005- exhausting for both of us!
My ASU graduation December 2005
Started working in Madison as a long term 3rd grade sub April 2006
We both resigned from Good Shepherd May 2006
Mike spent the summer at NAU to finish spanish 2006
Moved into the Swando with E and A (if you don't know what that means, then you aren't super cool)
First year teaching at Camelview August 2006
Mike's ASU graduation December 2006
Christie's wedding August 2007
Scottie died November 2007
First white christmas in Colorado 2007
Resigned from teaching January 2008
Recinded my resignation from teaching April 2008
Moved in with the Hunts May 2008
Started teaching 7th grade science at Park August 2008
Mike started with JCFS March 2009
ENGAGED!!!!  April 2009
Married June 2009
Moved into our first home together Oct 2009
5 years with the man that God designed just for me January 2010

Love you babe.

Elf Yourself

So funny!!!  You have to watch this and then make your own :)

Elf Yourself

We moved!

Mike and I are finally in our first place as a married couple.  For me it still feels like I am just staying in a hotel for now and will go back home soon.  I'm guessing the feeling will change.  Our place is still a disaster zone so no pics yet but stay tuned...they are coming.

Called to the be the Gate Keeper of my Home

Background- not too long after marrying Mike this summer, God seriously started digging into my heart about being a Godly wife.  I've felt him grooming me in this way for a couple years but the ring was there, the vows were exchanged and God said "Leah, get busy and be intentional about it." 

Amen!

In my pursuit I prayed for a mentor...a women whose marriage I admired and whose heart had the same desire as mine.  God brought Diane to my mind and I asked her to come along side me in this journey to being the wife God designed me to be.  She invited me to Grace North Church in Anthem for a series that their women's ministry was starting.  The ministry is called the 10/10 Connection and is based on the principle that every woman should be mentored by someone ten years older and be mentoring someone ten years younger.  The series is all about the home and how God describes the woman's role in the home.  (Now let us really set the feminist movement aside and embrace the precious truth here).

The first week was about dignity and peace.  Whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed, a teenager etc, you have a responsibility to be THE GATEKEEPER OF YOUR HOME.  I love that!  I knew that God was telling me I am responsible for making my home a place of rest, relaxation, peace, restoration, forgiveness, order, truth.  Out of these homes come families that seek the Lord first in all things.

Enter second month:  The Also Principle/Priorities.  In our home, the also priniciple doesn't imply to just do more, it implies being intentional to go the extra mile especially when it's not convenient.  My common excuse not to apply the also principle is "I'm so tired, I don't have time."  Really, that's called laziness, also more commonly known as procrastination.  An example of the also prinicple for me that God has specifically put on my heart is

Do the laundry...and ALSO fold and put it away. 
Clean the toothpaste out of the sink...and ALSO remember to put the toothbrush and paste back in the drawer. 

Priority Management:
This is not time management or multitaking.  I am talking about putting the life in order.
1.  Fear of the Lord- 
2.  Husband- (if you're married, if not it's relationship with God)
3.  Home- what came first, the home with your husband or the children?
4.  Children- children come after the home and husband because they need to be taught that they fit into the fmaily; they are a part of it, not the center of it.
5.  Private Life
6.  Public Life

We tend to get these all mixed up.  We aren't making time for the Lord, our home is in shambles, we aren't communicating with our husbands, but we are making sure our children make it to the playground or soccer practice to keep them happy and feeling loved.  That's not right.  God came first in your life (or should since He created you).  You husband was given to you, you care for him above all things and God will honor that.  Typically, a home is started with your husband so your responsibility should be to maintain a sanctuary of love and a haven of peace.  The usually come children, they are special but they are not more important than your husband and your home.  They are a part of that unit, not the focus and center of it.  Then take care of you privately, then worry about what you do outside the home- serving at church etc.

This is such a mouth full and I know so many people will probably disagree but I've seen the fruit of being an intentional wife who strives to fear the Lord in all things, honor and serve her husband before herself, and maintain a home of dignity where children are obedient and others are served.  I'm still working on these things but I know women who have these priorities straight and it's a beautiful thing.

Moving

Mike and I just found out today that we are moving into our first place as a married couple!  I'm excited, you have no idea.  We are moving in exactly 2 weeks on Oct. 24th into Mirador Apartments on Thunderbird between 7th st and Cave Creek on the golf course.  Here are some pictures

Kitchen

view from golf course

living room

floor plan...can you say walk in closet?!



Now we get to start looking for furniture... woot!

I am officially highly qualified!

For those of you who know, I have now taken a test that costs $105, 5 times!  You do the math.  But as of today, I passed and am now highly qualified.  It doesn't mean anything monetarily and there is no badge of honor or prestige...it just means that I am allowed to legally teach the subject matter I teach.  It was my own personal Goliath and now I am parading his head around for all to see!

Test Date:  08/22/2009
 
LEAH A JENKS
PHOENIX, AZ 85022
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Test:  039  Middle Grades General Science
Status:  Passed
 

RIdiculously crazy dream

So many people know about my new job teaching in the highly gifted program this year.  What some people don't know is that the REACH (program name) parents are extraordinarily generous people.  They use a lot of their own personal money for the benefit of their childrens' learning in the classroom.

WELL!!!  I n my dream last night I walk up to my classroom door and the whole outside is decorated with pumpkins and leaves (that magically no one is touching, which wouldn't happen in any middle school in America).  When I go inside, my classroom has been transformed into a fall wonderland and I can only guess it was the REACH parents because I didn't do it.  Every inch of my room looks like a street straight out of the midwest with changing leaves, all new red, orange, and yellow color schemes.  It's AMAZING.  The colors on my walls even changed.

It was like this all over my room.  I remember jumping up and down and screaming like a little girl.  I was in fall heaven!

This will not happen of course because that is just madness but what a FUN dream.

Crazy with editing

So I've mentioned how much I love this new photo editing website. Well, this has to be the weirdest one yet. So much fun
Before

After

Sticks out like a sore thumb...or toe

So on Sunday I decided to reorganize and declutter my life per Kathy's blog post and did not clear the doggy stairs when stepping over them. I didn't clear them because I was holding clutter. The result was the most painful event I can remember in my adult life. It was the "I want to throw up" and wish I was 5 so if I cried like one it would be okay.

Who knows if I really broke the toe because getting an x-ray would be such a waste of time. If it's not broken I spent too much money and they'll send me home with nothing. If it is broken I spent too much money and they'll send me home with nothing.

I ignored every person's advice to tape it to the next toe however because that just hurt too bad. No thank you. The bruise yesterday was pretty bright but today is fading while it spreads across my foot.


Oh yes...the dots are me measuring the spreading bruise for my science class. They love when bad things happen to me because they get to investigate it.

The one thing that is forever

I was thinking about how many things in my life won't be forever.

My job- I can go to professional development classes and get a masters to be better at my job but that is likely going to change numerous times in my life.

My home- I can improve my home over time and redecorate but I'll probably move many times during my life and have to start over each time.

Children- I will have children and I want to make sure I am a great mom but someday those kids will grow up and move out and everything will be different.

My body- I can work out and eat better to get the best body ever and be healthy but that will eventually fade as time takes over my body.

My friends- I love them and hope I am friends with them all forever but friendships always change, even if you keep them the dynamic changes.

My husband- that's forever. Until I'm not here he is constant. He's the one thing that God has hand picked to stay constant in my life forever. Improving myself as a wife and working on my relationship with him will always produce the longest term results, it'll never be fleeting. Short of growing in my relationship with God and being more Christlike, my next and top priority should always be my relationship with my husband.

That's just what's stewing my heart.

This year compared to last

I was taking an inventory of my first week of school...

WOW! This week has to be the best first week of school I've had in the four years I've been a teacher. Most of my 8th graders I knew from last year but the rest of them are all new. Since I'm teaching 3rd through 8th graders, I have quite a span of ages throughout the day. It's funny though because I start with my 7/8 group first and slowly drop in age until I get my 3/4 group last. The speed of my words slow and the pitch of my voice gets higher as the day goes on. I feel grateful that I spent two years teaching 3rd graders so my classroom management techniques are already there. I've had several parents already email and tell me that their students are enjoying science so far. That's the desire of every teacher's heart... to know their students are enjoying what they're learning.

I was taking an inventory of my first two months being married...

It feels like it's been more than two months but in reality, our two month wedding anniversary is Aug 19th. I've been asked quite a bit "so, how's married life?"
1. Wonderful! So far my fav part is waking up next to my husband and falling asleep next to my husband.
2. Challenging. I find I have to be more accountable to my spending because it doesn't just affect me.
3. Exciting. I never quite know what else I'll learn about Mike next.
4. Similar. Although I'm around Mike much more we still lead our own lives quite independently of each other. We still spend time with our individual friends and enjoy our own pasttimes.

Very different than this time last year.

Wedding Pictures

Mike and I are back from our honeymoon but haven't had time to upload any cruise photos. We have put up the wedding photos however. If you'd like to see the abbreviated version I posted on facebook, click here:
facebook wedding photos (135)

Or if you'd like to browse the whole set you, you can check out the album my photographer created on shutterfly at:

shutterfly wedding photos (403)

There are many photos of friends.

Guitar Hero with the Hunts

These are the times that I will miss the most when Mike and I move out. I can't imagine not living with Hunts. They are such wonderful people...we have so much fun.




I <3 my roomies

Married Life

I can't believe that I have been married for two days. It seemed like months ( well 2 months) of planning and stress was over in a blink of an eye but it was all amazing. It's overwhelming to look next to me and see my husband sleeping peacefully. It's almost too much for my mind to take in actually.

There are so many details of my wedding I can't even remember right now although I'm sure that my photographer captured them all beautifully. What I do remember is the people. I remember seeing my friends and family and being so blessed that they shared this day with us. Our wedding party was amazing. The groomsmen looked so handsome and the bridesmaids were breathtaking. A friend told me that weddings can really bring out the truth in your friendships and if that's true, I have the most phenomenal friends ever.

As soon as I get pictures I will post them to shutterfly and facebook for everyone to see. Thank you for celebrating this day with Mike and me.

Left to do

Sunday: eat the fish that Mike caught with his groomsmen
Monday: figure out where pictures will be and finish the itinerary. Place Costco order
Tuesday: print itinerary and email to needed parties.
Wednesday: get ring cleaned

I am sure there a million other little things I'm forgetting but geesh, this list is finally getting smaller :)

Lunch in Tucson

I went to Tucson on Sunday to have lunch with my family to celebrate my upcoming nuptials. I'm awaiting the pictures that my sister took but until then let me just say, my step mom and aunts know how to get a girl ready to be married. :) After having a fantastic lunch, we finished off with tasty dessert and gifts at my aunt's house. What a great day in Tucson.

Amber's bridal shower

Yesterday Krista and Katie helped me throw a bridal shower for my best friend Amber. Here are some of the highlights

Here comes the bride!








All in all, good times. I can't for my best friend to get married!!!

Isagenix Day 1

I actually tried my first shake last night but today is the first day I'm starting. Basically the shakes taste like chocolate flavored saw dust with some extra grit thrown in for good measure. To get full benefit you are supposed to finish it in 10 mins. So I hold my breath and chug. I don't have a weight goal in mind but I do have an endurance goal:

I will complete this program for 5 weeks (wedding) and I will work out with Moose during the week. I yelled at him through Taebo last night.

Leah: (panting and crunching) "I hate you Moose"
Moose: (panting and crunching) "DO IT!"

Great work out partner!!!

Tonight is tanning and walking with Moose. Kathy, we're not in a fight anymore.

Kathy, we're in a fight

What muscle in my body does not hurt right now? Tonight, I went with Kristy to join Kathy in her Salsa Pump class. I have muscles hurting that I don't think I've used in years. I did learn some basic salsa steps but let me just say one word...bear claw walking (or something like that). Ouch!

This class made me realize that more than anything I need to work on my self esteem. It stinks right now, which is not a great thing going into my wedding the honeymoon after. :( I wish I could have that hot size 8 but I just don't and if I did lose too much weight before my wedding, I'd just have to pay for alterations on my dress again.

Grrr.... my doctor said "Leah, if you would do an hour of vigorous exercise a night, you'd drop so many pounds." Many of you know me. Do I strike you as a vigorous hour worker to you? Isn't laziness one of the seven deadly sins. That's my problem, my vice, my addiction- laziness. I need help to stop being lazy, I just can't be motivated.

I'm going to slop my lazy and exhausted muscles into bed...

Honeymoon Cruise

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!

Mike and I booked our honeymoon this morning. 7 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera. We are going to take the Royal Cruise line to Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

I've never been on a cruise, any advice?



This is our room. Holy smokes...I don't even know what to think :)

Twilight Poses

Although Mike had to suffer through these, I love them! They are all taken
from Twilight poses

:)

Engagement photos

Mike and I did our first set of engagement photos tonight! Mike's dad Glenn took the pictures. He's an amazing photographer and you can see more of his work at www.frglennphotos.com

For now check out our first photos. I love them!!!

Which wedding shoes should Leah buy?

Check out the link to the right. Please vote, I want feedback.

So blessed

About a week ago I was overwhelmed with this new process of planning a wedding while still teaching and getting ready for my new job next year etc. etc. etc.

Yesterday, God started to remind me of how blessed I am again. I think he gets tired of listening to me whine about what I don't have so kicks me in my tush. Let's be honest, some encounters with God are not flowers and roses, sometimes there are thorns.

School is winding down but really going successfully. I am teaching with an amazing intern and I really think she is going to be a fantastic teacher. I am getting support from all avenues with teaching REACH next year, even more than I could have possibly anticipated.

I have had so many friends offer to basically take over planning my wedding for me, which in such a short time is so helpful. My friend Dana in Tucson is basically acting as my wedding coordinator, my bridesmaids have each picked up tasks to help me with, the girls and guys in my small group have all offered to help how they can.

Okay, okay, I get it God. I am blessed, you have me taken care of.

I love all of you who I am blessed by daily.

I will do whatever for you whatever you ask Ruth 3:11

On Friday morning my dream came true. The man that God hand picked for me asked me to marry him. If you would like to read about the story of how he proposed, check out our wedding site at http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/LeahKoch&MichaelJenks

I will post pictures of the ring soon. We will continue to update our website as we get closer with more details!

REACH for the stars!

I just found out that I will in fact be teaching REACH science next year to grades 3-8. I have prayed about this months now and have grown so excited. I know that God has something great planned and hopefully through me will impact the students I'll be teaching next year.

This was an answer to an expectant prayer. We talked in my small group about praying with the expectation that God will answer and instead of just praying the vague "whatever your will is God" I prayed "Lord this is the desire of my heart. I believe I should be teaching REACH and I know you have placed this before me. Please open this door." I prayed expectantly and he answered.

It will be very new but I am excited!

AIMS week coming

This upcoming week is AIMS testing at school. It's a low pressure week for me and a high pressure week for students. That means that students are just a little more uptight, a little more frustrated, and coincidentally, they tend to be just a little more touchy, which results in a higher level of talking back.

My goal this week is to be a calming balm for my students, to inspire them to work harder and believe in themselves. I of all people understand how frustrating and stressful standardized testing can be.

Quote of the day

I don't typically do this...although my good friend Krista does, which is why when my roommate Kristy said this, I had to share. First watch the video clip, then see what Kristy said to make me record it. It's one of the those WTH moments (pardon the inappropriate language there).



Kristy- "why are we watching a guy pick his speedo wedgie?"
Moose, Mike, Leah- LOL "what?"
All turn to the TV to see what Kristy is talking about.
Leah- "omg, wait, pause that. Let me get my camera. That's going on the blog."
Leah runs to her car. Thump, thump, thump. (flat footed running)
Leah- "Moose, rewind that."
Moose rewinds and we all watch while I record.

Absolutely terrified

This is one night that I desperately wish I was married because the wind like this utterly terrifies me. Thunder and storming and wind when I'm trying to sleep is almost more than I can deal with. "Hurry up Michael and make me your bride so I can hide next to you."

My flickr mosaic

1. leah + mike wedding, 2. dreaming of their favorite sushi... ~.~, 3. Washing in an amphitheatre, 4. un classico che non passa mai di moda, 5. Daddy and Nessie, 6. a cosmopolitan trinity, 7. New Zealand Safari, 8. Darth Vader's Sweet Tooth, 9. writer's teeth, 10. Amics per sempre - Amigos, heura y jordi cabeza con cabeza - Friendships, tete a tete, 11. Simple, Honest, Passionate and Forever, 12. Pensive Georgie

want to make one of your own?

step 1: go to flickr.com
setp 2: in another window open http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php
step 3: choose 4 columns, 3 rows
step 4: answer the following questions in the search bar of flicker. pick your favorite one on the first page and paste it into your mosaic

1. What is your first name? (Leah)
2. What is your favorite food? (sushi)
3. What school did you go to? (Amphitheatre)
4. What is your favorite color? (pink)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Edward Cullen)
6. Favorite drink? (Cosmopolitan)
7. Dream vacation? (New Zealand)
8. Favorite dessert? (banana cream pie)
9. What you want to be when you grow up? (writer)
10. What do you love most in life? (relationships)
11. One word to describe you. (passionate)
12. Your nickname. (Georgie)

Reasons for me to praise God

1. I have a place to live with wonderful, Godly roommates
2. I can afford my rent right now.
3. I have a car that more than adequately gets me where I need to go.
4. I have a job and the opportunity to impact at least one person everyday at that job.
5. I can go to a church and experience corporate worship without fear of persecution.
6. I can name enough people to fill up all ten fingers that care about me deeply.
7. There was food in my house to fix for lunch tomorrow and in my tummy to fill me up right now.
8. I've had medicine to take to help me get through my cold.
9. I'm in a relationship with someone that loves God more than me and me more than I can comprehend.
10. I may have to wear glasses but at least I can afford to buy them so I can see.
11. I may feel stressed about upcoming events but that means I have something worth working towards and fighting for.
12. I get to hold God' most precious miracle in my hands everyday...a baby.
13. family...many of them

There are so many more but I'm tired...another reason to praise God, that he gave us the ability to recharge and serve him another day.

Going to Rent

Friday night I saw Rent for the I think 9th time. I went with a group of girls, two of which are the same girls that I saw it with 10 YEARS AGO the first time we all saw it. This will be the last tour and it was extra special because the actors who played Mark and Roger originally on Broadway were back again.

After the show, you could donate $1000 to Broadway Cares (an organization that provides supplies and aid to people suffering from AIDS and HIV. When you made that size donation, you were allowed on stage to meet the cast, have your picture taken, get autographs etc etc. I can't tell you that a couple of us didn't wonder if we could pool together the money. Eventually sanity sank in and it never happened.

Hunt Brother Birthing Days

Yesterday was the first celebration for Payton and Logan's birthdays. The Hunt side of the family (Moose's side) celebrated together and the beginning of the video is what I forsee to be many attempts at getting all the cousins together to take photographs. Poor Mylie will have to hold her own amongst all those boys.

Then the second part of the video is Payton and Logan enjoying their cupcakes. I think my favorite part is Logan pointing at the frosting on his mouth saying "oh no!" It was good times.

Liz's wedding

I went to my friend, Liz's wedding on Saturday. It's the first of 3 weddings in 3 months. Whew!

There will be a video of the wedding shortly to follow so stay tuned.

I walked out of my first movie

Yesterday Mike and I were in the mood for a thriller. We haven't seen a scary movie in a while and we thought that it might be fun to have some things pop out at us on the screen. We decided to see Last House on the Left (or as I affectionately called it: Last Door on the Right).
While we were waiting for the show to begin Mike looked up a synopsis on his iphone (which if we had done that beforehand, we could have saved $15) and told me that it seemed like our movie was more of a slasher type rather than play with your mind type. I started to prepare for more of a Friday the 13th type movie.
I WAS SO WRONG. It more of a serial killer, let me watch inappropriate things happen to teenage girls type movie. Mike and I looked at each other and said "I don't think so." We jumped the bar in front of us and left.
What bothered me the most was the number of people in the crowd (packed house) who didn't leave and especially the number of teenagers. I couldn't believe that anyone could watch that happen to a girl and be okay staying there.

My personal recommendation, if you want a horror film, DO NOT see Last House on the Left.

Linking church to personal bible reading

On Sunday, Brad emphasized the importance of confessing sin to one another so that it doesn't create a stronghold in your life like sin has a tendency to do when it remains unconfessed. I felt convicted that it was important for me to do that. Then tonight I was reading Psalm 32 from the Message Bible (because all the others are in my car) and here's what it started with:
Starting with verse 2
Count yourself lucky-
God holds nothing against you
and you're holding nothing back from him.

When I kept it all inside
my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans

The pressure never let up
(now for the cream of the passage)
all the juices of my life dried up.

The idea that sin bottled up could literally suck the life out me was another fantastic reminder of how important it is to confess the sin that we know God has already forgiven. I can't wait to start posting little tidbits like these on One Tuesday Night (our bible study's new blog).

I am also posting a little video of Jackson last night. I had the chance to hang out with him a bit before Bible study. I love the little guy.

Dinner with friends

Tonight April and Destin came over to have dinner with Moose and Kristy and I was invited too since I happen to live here. April is a fantastic cook. She made Hawaiian chicken with squishy, tasty morsels or something close to that as Moose called the chunks of pineapple. It was funny, like most of what Moose says. He's just naturally funny.

Dinner followed what can only be a frustrating, depressing meeting at my district office, where we were discussing the proposed cuts next year. I am trying so desperately to trust in God when he says in Jeremiah "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a future."

The future is so unclear. Please pray for my upcoming exam... it's the key to me keeping my job next year. I know that regardless, God is good and he has never left me unprovided for but I feel like the devil could have such a foothold here.

Bowling Neighborhood Group

Last night I went bowling with some of the people in my neighborhood group from church. Mike was there along with my roommates Kristy and Moose (plus their little Jackson) Moose's brother and sister-in-law Stephen and Kelley, Diane and Jeff with their daughter Kaylee and then the people who put the fun night out together, Kathy and Daniel. We played two rounds (is that the correct terminology) with lots of fun and antics. Jeff was impressed with Mike's bowling ability and decided to blow us all away with 3 strikes in a row on the 10th whatever it's called (round?).

In general good times. We missed everyone who couldn't make it but we should do it again soon!

March $ Schools

Yesterday there were thousands of people that showed up to the state capitol to protest the cuts being made to public education. It was amazing to be a part of such a movement. Even though we only have 8 schools in our district, we were third largest represented district at the march, which makes me so sad. I can't tell if people don't know what's about to happen to their schools, jobs and children, if they think they can't make a difference or if they don't care.

This affects absolutely everyone regardless of political party, if you are a teacher or educator, or if you have kids. It is going to increase our statewide unemployment rate dramatically. These are cuts are bound to devastate the life of at least one person you know...already know more than I can count on both hands and it puts a nasty knot in my stomach because our state legislators are just letting it happen. That's why events that happened yesterday is so important.

Today our district released the proposed cuts for next year. Some of the hardest cuts to see was eliminating all school nurses and librarians. No more counselors at elementary schools. Teachers can't have more than 4 days a year with coverage from a sub. After that, they will start pulling other teachers to cover your classes, which eliminates prep time for everyone during the day. They are cutting our mechanics so if the buses that our students are on break down, they will stay there for a while until someone can fix it. They are putting 25 resource children in one classroom and cutting up 18 teachers and aides in special ed alone. They are increasing all class sizes so we will have up to 35 students at the middle school level. It goes on and on and on. You should find out what is happening in the district you live in, work in, or send your children to school in.

Big wammie! They are cutting full day kinder in our 3 non-title 1 schools and offering it by tuition only.

Below is a link to live news footage of the March where you can see a ton of people from my district plus I posted the videos I took while we were there.

I know God is sovereign and in control and I have to be honest...it's all I can hold on to right now.

http://www.azfamily.com/video/geaz-index.html?nvid=338406&shu=1

my frequently occuring blond moments

My students are studying the phases of the moon right now so I hooked a light bulb inside a vice basically from the ceiling, far out of my or my students' reach. My dilemma was not wanting to climb up on the table and then on a chair on top of the table to turn it on and off 7 times today so I decided to leave it on all day.

The teacher next door to me stops in front of my open door on her way to her classroom and asks me if I'm trying to start a fire having an open light bulb against metal and fiberglass. I started to complain about my predicament with climbing on the table when she simply looks at there the lamp is plugged into the extension cord hanging directly in front of my face. "Just unplug it Leah."

What do you say at that point except "oh"

Her reply as she walked out of my room shaking her head "nice talking to you this morning Leah."

I can't even defend myself here...it was just dumb

New layout site

I found this cool new place to get blog backgrounds. try it out if you're looking for something new.
http://simplychicblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/other%20patterns

Judging the Science Fair

Today I helped judge our science fair and it consisted of all the REACH kids (the most gifted kids in our district). As I was listening to these amazing presentations and reading writing that some college kids couldn't produce I couldn't help but think...omg these kids are all smarter than me. I stood there feeling like a moron and wondering how in the world I am supposed to offer them anything next year when I myself couldn't explain half of what they were doing. But wow, was I impressed! They were creating hover crafts and testing amounts and causes of mold.

Pray for me hard...I have accepted a huge challenge!

Early in the morning

Someone told me once when I started being a teacher that I would get used to early mornings after just a few months but that didn't happen. So I gave it a year, wasn't used to it. After 3 years of getting up at 5 am, I've learned that it doesn't matter if I get a full night of 8 hours sleep or a mere 5, I still never wake up before my alarm and when it goes off, I'm dead tired.

So I've concluded that I will never actually get used to very early mornings. Who told me this blatant lie? We need to have words.

Guitar Hero

Tonight Glenn played Guitar Hero on playstation 3 for the first time. Although I took about 4 different videos, this is the only one I kept. Mike and I went out to dinner with his dad to Z'tejas tonight to experience their ever popular margaritas. I did not actually get a margarita because I have no desire for them but Glenn and Mike said they were pretty tasty.
Afterward, we played guitar hero for a while where Glenn eventually started jamming on the drums with Michael on guitar and yours truly backing up vocals.
Finally, we ended the night with Half Price Books, one my of my favorite bookstores in phoenix.

Liz's bridal shower

Today my friend Tami and I went to a wedding shower for our friend Liz. She's getting married in two weeks to Carlos...there I can say it now that I won't have my clothes pin taken from me.
Highlight of the shower was when Tami introduced herself and said that she met Liz her sophomore year of college in hell otherwise known as human anatomy and physiology. That was so accurate!
There were some seriously tasty chocolate dipped strawberries. I'll have to remember that.
The video is of Liz opening the gift from me and Tami.

Two weeks and our little Liz will be Mrs. Gonzalez with a baby on the way.

New video of Jackson

I am just so smitten with this little guy. check him out hanging with his brothers


And this one with Payton

Only 82 left

We only need 82 more people to join the cause I started on Facebook before we go from a guild to a tribe! I can't believe how many people have jumped on board, although I'm a smidge frustrated that people are blaming Napolitano for our state's budget deficit. I'm not sure if that person truly understands what role she played in helping our education. However, I want to stay neutral.

If you haven't joined yet, you shoud because Arizona is quickly dropping to the 50th worst state with the budget cuts that our legislature wants to make for the 09-10 school year. Say bye bye to full day kinder for starters.

The most important thing to do is contact your state legislators every single day!

Holding baby Jackson!

tonight I held Jackson for the first time and oh my is he precious!

Starting a blog

I feel like I have recently spent so much time creating new websites. I finished my first complete web quest, which turned out pretty good actually (you can view at www.teacherweb.com/wq/middleschool/constellations). I also created a website just for the members of NJHS and now am working on my blog, which to be honest, I'm not so impressed with yet but trust me I'll get it there.

Tonight we had bible study but I just couldn't go. I feel like such a child because there are people around me whose lives are so much tougher and they deal with set backs so much better. However, I couldn't put a smile on my face nor did I want to be Debbie Downer so I chose to hide. Not the best option I grant you but for tonight it felt safer. You can take so many of the "get over yourself looks" before you crash.

However, now I can start keeping people in my life better up to date with my goings on. Stay tuned...