responding to tragedy

I am not one to post about politics or controversial subjects.  I don't make much of a habit of commentating on current events.  I try to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself and those who are close to me - offline.  I feel that posting things online only opens up cans upon cans of worms.  But here I am...

I remember Columbine.  I remember being in junior high, and feeling nervous at times during school.  I remember having a conversation with my dad while we were on a walk about what had happened.  He told me that if I was ever concerned at school to not be afraid to tell someone.  I remember 9-11.  I we watched the news at school, and we were scared of where terror might strike next.  I remember my mom being thankful my dad was in town that week - he had visited the Twin Towers just a few weeks before.  I remember Virginia Tech - and going to a candlelight vigil at the University of Arkansas to honor and pray for the victims' families.  As horrific as all of these tragedies are - and let them never be forgotten - what happened on Friday in Newtown, Connecticut has left me shaken.

A student told me about what had happened.  I was able to push my thoughts aside and not pay the news much attention.  Our principal sent out an email later in the day reminding all of us to be safe - keep our doors locked and remember to follow procedures.  Finally after school let out, I read a news article about the shooting.  I was tutoring a student at the time, and so I again tried not to think too much of it.  But on the way home I cried.  I could not stop thinking about those babies.   I could not stop thinking that while we were having a crisis drill at school - a devastating crisis was taking place.  I could not help but think of those kids saying the Pledge of Allegiance earlier that morning, not knowing what terror they were about to face.

Like a lot of us, I've struggled with my views and beliefs on many hot topics the past few days.  Gun control, mental health and school safety are all buzz words on my Facebook newsfeed.  Maybe we need better firearm restrictions or mental health care.  Maybe we need safer schools.

Or maybe we just need a little more Jesus.

Friday's tragedy reminded me of just how evil our Enemy is.  He is out to kill and destroy.  And to turn us on one another over issues of gun control, mental health care and safer schools.  And he is succeeding.

I don't know why tragedies like this happen.  I don't think we will ever know the answer to that.  But what I do know is this:  it got me thinking.  Thinking about how I treat my students.  About how I talk to them.  About how on some days - like most days last week - I was rude... or short... or confrontational when I didn't need to be.

On Monday I talked to my Algebra II students about what I had been thinking.  About how I cried.  I told them I was sorry for being rude or short or confrontational.  I told them they were important.  And I told them they were loved.

Please know that you are loved, too.

12/12/12

December 12, 2012… 12/12/12.  The last repeating number day I will see in my lifetime.   I could not let this day pass like any other.  I had to remember it somehow… so I decided to blog.

I was thinking this morning about all of the other repeating number days that I’ve experienced and what my life was like on each one of them.   I couldn’t help but think of how much time changes things.  To commemorate 12/12/12, I have decided to take a look back on the last 12 years of my life.   Enjoy.  J

01/01/01 - I was 14 years old and a freshman in high school.  I felt much better about Y2K and computers and the end of the world, since a whole year had passed since that craziness.  I probably had a slumber party the night before with my best friends – Megan, Becky, Kelsie and Jaclyn.  I was doing my best to make all A’s in school, and stay away from the scary senior cheerleaders.  January 1, 2001

was my Grandma Lansdown’s 78^th birthday.  We will be celebrating her 90^th next month.  She is the strongest woman I know, and I look up to her so much!

02/02/02 - I still could not drive, but I had a countdown on a whiteboard in my bedroom.  I could not wait to drive.  Two of my friends could already drive, so I liked to ride around with them as much as possible.  This is about the time that my dad bought my first car – a 1997 Suzuki Sidekick.  The Sidekick taught me some valuable lessons:  how to drive a standard – and power locks, windows and steering are a luxury!

03/03/03 - A junior in high school, and my first real Spring Break vacation.  Yes it was with my mom and dad... but being an only child I got to bring a friend along.  Kelsie and Sarah do Gulf Shores, along with our first Flat Stanley adventure.  We wanted to get awesome tans for our upcoming Prom, but ended up freezing our butts off to get sunburned.

04/04/04 - Days earlier I had toured the University of Arkansas campus.  I thought the students were crazy to be so excited about their Hogs.  I had no idea a few months later I would become one of them. I hadn't decided on a college or a major... but I was enjoying the last few weeks of my senior year of high school, and still doing my best to make those straight A's.  

05/05/05 - Through so many ups and downs, I made it through my freshman year at the University of Arkansas.  I'd passed all of my classes, survived living in the dorm and I was thinking of switching my major from business to... MATH?!?!  I thought teaching sounded fun.  May 5th also happens to be one of my dear friend's birthdays, and I can't think of this date without thinking of all of the trouble Amy and I got into when we were little. 

06/06/06 - In June 2006 my Grandpa Gipson went to be with Jesus.  The weekend before he passed away, we spent the weekend with him in Branson for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary.  He laughed and laughed as he kicked my shoes away from me - and I am so thankful my last memory of him is his laugh.  He was a good man who loved the Lord.  He was a self-taught mathematician - and was the best at his trade.  

07/07/07 - The day before my 21st birthday.  I drove down to Fayetteville to spend time on Dickson Street (the only appropriate thing to do!) with my friends.  I was allowed to go into a bar one hour before midnight - which I thought was pretty fantastic.  It was on this day I found a new love - the amaretto sour.  

08/08/08 - By this date, I had met my husband and knew I was going to marry him.  I'd graduated with a degree in mathematics and had started graduate school to become a math teacher.  I spent the summer working at camp, attending weddings and going to summer school.  In August I started student teaching, which lead to my first almost-first-time job.

09/09/09 - Engaged!  Planning a wedding!  Buying a home!  Starting a new job at a new school!  Most stressful time I'd had in my life in 23 years.  Three years later, I would probably do things a lot differently.  But at the same time, it's all led me to where I am today.  And I can say that I am an H1N1 Survivor.  Boom.

10/10/10 - Four months into my new job at JB Hunt and tackling the project of "fixing" the Anheuser-Busch publication (for the first time.)  I've had a new desk partner for about a month, and we get along pretty well.  Little did I know she would become such a great friend.  My friendship with Kendra is such a testimony to God's plans and His timing. 

11/11/11 - I remember looking at the clock at 11:11 on this day, and thinking "11:11 - Make a wish!"  We said it all the time in middle school for good luck, and I have no idea why... can anyone remember?  Speaking of school, I was starting to think that I wanted to teach again.  I would spend the next several months checking out leads, sending emails and filling out application after application.        

12/12/12 - Today.  It's a Wednesday.  A pretty normal Wednesday.  The first semester at my new school is wrapping up, and I am exhausted, but really happy that I decided to give teaching another try. I have so much support at my new school, and I know God placed me in the right place at the right time.  Tonight I got to have dinner with Megan.  I haven't seen her in nearly a year, and our time together was so good for the soul.  I have an amazing husband, who works so hard each day to become an even better person (and he is already great to begin with.)  I am so proud of him.  I am so fortunate to have two loving, supportive parents.  And am blessed with the best in-laws a girl could ask for.  Not to mention the best pup-cake around.  Life would not be the same without Hamilton.  

I wanted a reason to celebrate today.  To be a number nerd... but writing this blog has allowed me to look back on my 12 year journey.  Although I will never again see a repeating number day, I do look forward to the next twelve years - and beyond.  And that is a reason to celebrate!

Plus... I've still got two consecutive integer days to go!

teacher life - "tails" of cafeteria duty

Hello long lost friends!

Although I am not a very consistent blogger, I feel like this past stretch has been extremely long.  I have officially been sucked into the vortex known as the "teacher life."  I am too pooped to whoop, and I am seriously loving it.  I have poured myself into work about as much as I can, and am having to schedule days where I leave early (read:  on time.)  I can always find something to work on... something to grade... something to organize... a lesson to plan.  At times I am just worn out, and I know "worn out" has the scariest potential to lead to "burn out."  And I am refusing burn out.

One of the best/worst parts of my job is Friday morning cafeteria duty.  I work at a school with a student population of 4,000.  We have two buildings, each with their own cafeteria - or commons area.  On Friday mornings I head to the South Commons to stand guard and make my presence known.   I am pretty sure most students think I am one of them.  It's key to wear my teacher ID on these days.  Even then, they probably just think I am a student who has hijacked a teacher ID.

This is one of the best parts of my job because I get to spy on a bunch of high school kids in their element.  I am fascinated... especially by the clothes they wear.  When I was in high school, I made a fashion (under)statement by rocking WAY too many graphic tees, a pair of Pumas (which I still own) and a pea coat (which I also still own, but don't wear with the Pumas anymore.)  I had a super-short flipped out Flying Nun sort of haircut, that I thought was cute.  I wasn't highly fashionable, but I didn't leave the house with a tail or looking like one of Snow White's seven dwarves.  My parents would have put the damper on that pretty quickly.  It was almost a battle when I left the house in a spaghetti strap top to go to a Sugar Ray concert one summer.  (This just keeps getting better!)

But that's what I see on Friday mornings... tails and Seven Dwarves/Smurf hats.  Sometimes I see tiger tails.  This makes sense to me... the high school mascot is a tiger, so a tiger tail is fitting on spirit days.  But I have also seen wolf/fox tails.  Just hanging out the back of some pants, like they have belonged there all along.  Don't get me started on the Smurf hats.  Apparently this is a legitimate fashion trend right now.  All I know is, no matter how great the girls have bobby-pinned them to their heads, "no hats" means "no hats."  Not even if you are wearing it as a quasi-hat.

Let's not forget the morning where I saw a young lady in a Catholic school-girl get-up.  I immediately started singing "Hit Me Baby One More Time," and wondered if these kids even remember that music video.  I have seen a return of the 90's with two separate occurrences of acid wash jeans and one flat top hair-do.  I see a LOT of two-toned hair.  Black and blue... purple and blonde.  Really any color combo will do the trick.

But the thing that baffles me the most are the sagging skinny jeans.  This is popular with some of the young gentlemen right now.  I really don't care to see the 6 - 8 inches of boxers hanging out the back... just call me crazy.  :)

Friday morning cafeteria duty is one of the worst parts of my job because it's like life-guarding 2000+ sharks.  They do have the potential to bite back.  Thankfully it's only once a week - and gives me an incentive to get out of the house early enough to swing by Starbucks for a Friday morning treat.

I have almost made it through my first semester - just 12 school days left, and it's time for Christmas Break!  I am still so thankful for this amazing opportunity, and truly feel blessed... tiger tails and all.

stuff: the depreciation of the beanie baby

Today I am having a yard sale.  It's cold outside, so I'm taking the stay-inside-with-the-blinds-open-to-see -if-anyone-will-stop approach.  It's currently 47 degrees, which is quite a bit warmer than the 29 degrees I started with at 7:00 a.m.  This is my second yard sale.  The first was about a year and a half ago, and was much more profitable than today's sale.  Perhaps it's the chilly wind, or the fact that the neighbor hood yard sale was last weekend (oops), but all of my lovely treasures have only netted us about 43 bucks.  Ten of which came from my beanie baby collection that was going to pay for my college education.  I let 13 of the little boogers go to a good home, but couldn't help think, "in 1999 these would have cost about $80."  The upside:  the kid looked like Napoleon Dynamite and bought all my beanie baby cats.

 Not the Beanies!

A man just walked by and let his shih tzu pee on my box of free hangers.  They're free, and the only interest I can get is some shih tzu pee.  Why someone doesn't want a box of dry cleaning wire hangers is beyond me...

It's hard to watch people look at your stuff... your stuff... with such disgust.  I can't help but think of how much money was spent on all that stuff - by either David, or me, or our families - that I'm hopeful to get a couple dollars for today.  It's really quite sickening.  How do we get to the point of putting everything we once loved - or just had to have - out on our front yard with a sticker that says "$0.25?"   

Needless to say today's yard sale is teaching me a few lessons:  

1.  Don't be a hoarder:  I keep so much stuff - like the hangers... or the magazines that no one wants... thinking that I'll eventually use it or find someone who can.  But no one needs it and neither do I.  Instead, I need to get rid of it.  Recycle it... throw it away... anything but let whatever it is sit in a closet or on the floor in an unused room taking up space.

2.  Think about purchases:  I am the queen of impulse buying.  Usually with clothes, but sometimes with food items and other random things.  I need to start thinking to myself, “Is this going to end up on my front lawn within a year?” before purchasing.  If the answer is yes, then I probably don’t need it.

3.  Purging is good for the soul:  It feels good to get rid of clutter.  I truly delight in neat, clutter-free, organized spaces.  Somewhere in the last three years, this delight has been completely lost in translation.  I need to keep the momentum from the past couple of weeks going, and not let the bust-of-a-yard-sale get me down.  Our house can – and will – be an organized, simple space… one of these days!

Although today’s sale isn’t quite what I was hoping for (our neighbors made over $800 at their sale a couple of weeks ago!), I won’t let it stop me from having another one!  It’s fun to meet new people and watch their kiddos play with Hamilton.  He definitely gets the best deals of the day!  

Heart Breaker... Deal Maker

goals

Goals… I have a lot of them.  Some are big, others small.  I have housework goals, teaching goals, personal goals,marriage goals, career goals, and the list goes on.  I am extremely goal-oriented.  I always have been, and I think I always will be.  I am coming to realize though, thatbeing goal-oriented and actually following through with my goals are twoentirely different things.  Why ithas taken me 26 years to realize this is beyond me. 

I’ve been struggling a lot with this concept lately atwork.  I feel like as a teacher Ialways need to be improving.  If Iexpect my students to make goals and follow through with them, shouldn’t I bean example?  My top teaching goalright now is to give feedback in a timely fashion.  It’s tough to realize that yourself as a teacher would have drivenyourself as a student C-razy… with a capital “C.”  I have all the best intentions in the world of grading andpassing back my students’ work. But all of the best intentions in the world mean nothing if there isn’tsomething to show for it.  Mystudents – whether they like it or not – are embarking on a new goal offinishing their homework assignments. And I am determined to succeed at my new goal of giving them feedback ina timely manner.    

Whether he knows it or not, my husband David sort of sparked this whole thought process on goals.  On Wednesday morning this past week, he walked into the kitchen as I was getting ready to leave for work and said as kindly as possible, "Honey, I've got a goal for you this week."  I asked him what that might be, and he responded with, "Put your clothes away."  

David is the laundry master in our home.  Actually... he's the trash master, the recycling master, the mowing master and the dish-putter-upper extraordinaire.  I can't say it enough:  our house would not be a home without all David does for us.  He is the biggest blessing in this area of life.  I knew that my laundry situation must really be getting under his skin for him to say something about it.  I let him know that it had been driving me a little nutty also, and promised to take care of it this week.  That's when I started realizing that all the goal-setting in the world doesn't mean a thing if I don't actually work toward completing them.

Sometimes I put so much on my to-do list... I fill my plate to it's fullest.   I am overwhelmed and don't know where to start.  That's how I sometimes feel about grading papers.  Or about laundry.  Or about cleaning out a room so that my friends don't nominate me to be on Hoarding:  Buried Alive.  It's taken the past couple of weeks - 26 years in the making - to realize that I have to start somewhere.  Completing goals actually requires action.  Imagine that.

Today's goal...

...completed.  And Ham is a happy camper too.

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This past week had a very special date.  10.11.12... a day that counts.  I am a super-nerdy math teacher and shared this fun fact with my students.  They think I am weird.  But in honor of consecutive number day, I thought I'd share a little from this past week at school.

behind enemy lies

It's finally Friday.  Thank goodness.  I have made it through the first four weeks of school... a little more gracefully at times than others, but I've made it nonetheless!  My once perfect colored pencils have been jammed into the pencil sharpener and the books for my seminar class are no longer in alphabetical order, or even placed neatly on the shelf.  Teenagers have invaded my classroom and my life, and I am learning to let go of having to have things "just so."

I'm also learning (and striving) to let go of a lot of lies that I have been tempted into believing in just four short weeks.  "You can't do this."  "You made a mistake... and you think you can teach?"  "They think you are weird."  (That one might be true.)  "You aren't organized enough."  The list is endless.

Lots of doubts.  Lots of lies.

The first two weeks of school I was able to ride the high of school starting... of getting back in the school groove and all of the things that go along with the beginning of the school year.  Then reality started to set in.  I had troubles with the copier.  I had troubles with the printing center.  I discovered that Friday morning breakfast duty is like trying to lifeguard sharks.  I've graded a lot of bad homework checks... and am constantly wondering if it's just me and if I'm cut out for this.  I'm battling scheduling changes and time constraints... and feeling like I've failed.

If you know my story, you know I'm not where I am by mistake.  God has given me this opportunity in His perfect plan for my life.  I know this deep in my heart, and I am so thankful for His blessings.

But the lies and the doubts I hear daily are SO LOUD.  It's true:  Satan attacks.  He is a ruthless thief who has come to steal my joy.  And if I am not vigilant, I begin to believe these lies.  I begin to believe I am not capable, and that it's only a matter of time before someone figures this out.  

Pair these doubts with every feeling I have regarding being a wife and a housekeeper... and I'm toast for the day!  I have to keep reminding myself that the Lord has such great plans for me... to give me a hope and a future.  That one day I will have an organized home.  One day I will learn how to budget and plan shopping trips.  One day I won't rely on Sonic or boxed mac and cheese to feed David and me.  A time will come when I will have it "more together."  

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In other, more joyous, news, David and I were able to spend yesterday with friends at the Razorback game and tailgate.  Despite the rain and a terrible Razorback loss, I had a great time catching up with my great friend Kelsie!  And today and tomorrow we are celebrating David's birthday with more football and more friends!

labor day for the laborador

Just a quick photo-blog of the water dog:  Labor Day 2012.

just keep swimming...

...and climbing...

swimming, swimming...

cool dog ladder built by bill.

water dog!

two weeks in: flexibility.

I thought I should take a moment to share an update on the first two weeks of school.  If I had to pick a word to sum up the past two weeks, I'd pick busy.  Busy learning so many new things.  Busy trying to keep all of these new things together.  Busy trying to stay organized... busy just trying to stay an hour ahead of my students.  I think I've stayed late every day.  And the moment I think I am caught up, I am actually still behind.  But I am really enjoying it.

I haven't met a single person that hasn't been helpful.  Whether it is to refresh my memory about a certain math-related subject (the left-side of this brain is a little rusty) or to show me how to use the copy machine, I have been blessed with people who are willing to lend a helping hand.  I am still in the mindset of watching out for myself... something that had been ingrained in me for the past couple of years, and I am looking forward to contributing to a group that has already been so supportive.

The past few weeks has forced me to embrace flexibility.  If you know me well, "going with the flow," is not my biggest strength.  In fact, it's not a strength at all.  I love a good plan.  I am a to-do list kind of girl.  Yet in the past three weeks I've had to do my very best to just roll with the punches.  My class schedule has changed at least three times... the latest being yesterday.  I am beginning to realize that nothing is set in stone, and doing my best now means being able to teach whatever group of kids may come through my door.

Today I am currently teaching two Algebra 2 classes, one Pre-AP Algebra 2 class and one Geometry inclusion class that meets daily.  I am slowly but surely learning names, but with all of the schedule changes (both mine and the students') it's been difficult.  I will get there, and luckily, the kids seem to be giving me grace.

All in all, the past two weeks have been great.  I have had doubts, but I know they are planted by someone other than the One who blessed me with this job.  It feels good to be back!

new chapter: fresh start

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

I've been thinking about this blog post for awhile now.  It's been at least five months (if not two years) in the making, I just didn't know if or when it would happen.  But here we are... it's happening.

Last Thursday (August 2nd) was my last day at JB Hunt.  It was really hard to say goodbye to so many great people, but I know I made the right decision.  On Monday I began New Teacher Orientation with Bentonville Public Schools... I am officially back in the classroom!

And I really am so excited.  And.... nervous and anxious and really just trying to get all of my thoughts organized... But really just so excited.  And so thankful.  I miss math.  I can't wait to "nerd out" in front of about 150 kids.  

I actually started looking for a teaching position in February of this year.  There were a lot of doors opened - or at least doors I thought were open - that were closed before I could even make contact.  There were a lot of emails sent that never saw a reply.  A few "thanks but no thanks" were given.  I finally decided to apply for a few positions within the Bentonville school district mid-July.  Eight days after finishing my application I was offered a position to teach math at Bentonville High School.  Wow.  

I cannot express how supportive all of my coworkers and managers at JB Hunt were of this opportunity and transition.  It was incredible to see, and solidified even more that this is the right time for this transition, and that this school district is the place I am supposed to be.  When God decides to make His move... each piece falls perfectly into place.

This past week has been so weird.  There has been a lot of information to process.  My brain is officially on overload, and I don't see that lessening for quite awhile.  I just found out today exactly what classes I am teaching (ALGEBRA II - YESSSS) and that I have a classroom.  I thought I would be a "floating" teacher, but it looks like I will have a permanent home.  I am sure I will have a classroom makeover blog within the next couple of weeks. :)

I am so thankful for this opportunity.  For a fresh start.  When I left Saint Paul, I wasn't sure if I would ever teach again.  I am grateful for that experience, and have spent the past two years reflecting on my time there.  JB Hunt has given me a great real-world experience that I hope to convey to my students this year... and many years to come.  

So as always... stay tuned.  There will be more blogs coming! 

ham swam and other ramblings

(Please note this is from September of 2011 - I just realized I never posted it!  Hopefully there aren't too many typos.  I did not check!)

Hello friends!

It's been two weeks since I've updated (oops!) and a busy two weeks it's been!  So... it's time for a recap!

David and I went to my parents' house over Labor Day weekend.  We always have a great time when we're with them.  They've recently retired and moved (permanently) to the lake.  David and I have visited a few times this summer, and it's really just such a neat place to relax.  My parents are about an hour and a half from Branson, so on that Saturday David and I took the opportunity to hit up the outlet malls -- Banana Republic was having a 40% off of EVERYTHING sale... so I couldn't resist!  About the time we got back to my parents' house, I had a text from my mom:  "Ham Swam!"  We couldn't believe it!!

If you've heard much about Hamilton... you know he's a water dog (a lab!) who is NOT fond of the water. We made a very large mistake of tossing him in the water when he was just itty bitty, and it did not go so well.  Earlier in this summer, we tossed him in off of the dock, and that didn't go so well either.  We decided after the second experience we were done trying to make him swim.  He'd splash around in the shallow water, but as far as picking his paws off the ground, he wasn't having it.  One weekend he got in the paddle boat with me, but would only get in and out from the shore.  We had just accepted the fact that we did not have a swimmer.

However, upon receiving the text from my mom, we had to check it out.  We immediately went down to the dock, and sure enough Hamilton had learned to swim.  My mom had decided that she was going to teach him, and spent two hours throwing sticks in the water until he would swim out to get them.  Needless to say, we were impressed and very proud of our furry baby.

In other recent news, our church community group has re-formed for fall, and we are excited.  We have an amazing group, and couldn't be more blessed.  We met last Saturday to watch the second Razorback game of the year, cook out and catch up.  David and I also went to our first rEcess session of the year last Friday and had a blast.  (There will be another post dedicated to rEcess at some point, but for now just know it's awesome.)  And of course Chicago Bears football has started with a win against the Atlanta Falcons... what a great game!

Today I got home from a mini work trip to Saint Louis.  My manager, partner and I went to visit a few customers, and we had a great time.  We even made time for a little shopping.  :)

This weekend is David's birthday, and I'm just so excited.  I can't wait to celebrate such a special person.

Back in the Groove

I am not even apologizing for how long it's been since I've blogged.  I do that way too much.  So I refuse.  I am recommitting myself yet again to blogging.  It may only last a week, but I'm doing it nonetheless.  :)

Life has not slowed down a single bit since my last post nearly three months ago.  Yes... nearly three months ago.  I think since it has been oh-so-long since I have posted, a quick highlight reel is necessary.

• David and I have a nephew - I think I have mentioned this - but his name is Will and he is awesome and just so cute.  We got to meet him at the end of March, and I really can't wait to see him again. 
• Hamilton had his second birthday.  We took him to the dog park along with his three best doggie friends - Manning, Wilson and Bella.  He had so much fun he laid down after about 10 minutes.
• I read the Hunger Games series.  I will blog about this.  
• The Fayetteville Farmers' Market opened in April and we have been three or four times.  Hamilton is a fan of pooping at the Farmers' Market.  Sometimes in the middle of a crowd.  We now carry biodegradable poo bags when we are going to the Market -- just in case.
• David and I are one of four couples competing in our very own Bachelorette Fantasy League.  We have "drafted" bachelors and gain points by all of the silly things they do on the show.  Very cheap entertainment and it's great to spend time with friends.  
• I took a trip to Nashville over Memorial Day weekend with my mom.  We went in search of a huge flea market.  Unfortunately, the flea market was a bust, so we filled the day with outlet mall shopping and going to the Grand Ole Opry!  On the way home, and in desperate need of Starbucks, I decided to utilize technology and route us there via iPhone.  We did find the nearest Starbucks, but sadly, it was inside the Nashville Airport.  Mickey D's it was!
• I got to hang out at the lake on Memorial Day with mom and dad.  Dad decided it was time to purchase a wave runner... so I had a lesson and took it out for a spin.  I don't have a great need for speed, so when David came to meet me on his way home from Indy, I insisted on driving the wave runner topping out just short of 30 miles per hour - and screaming the entire time.
• I finally caved and started reading Fifty Shades of Grey.  Oh. My.  I will not be blogging about this.
• David and I invited our friends James and Silvy and their two boys to the lake last weekend.  David does have a need for speed, and got the wave runner up to 50 miles per hour - without screaming.  It was so much fun!

Life on the Lake

It's only Wednesday, but I am looking forward to the weekend.  I am hoping it is full of relaxing, a trip to the Farmers' Market (hopefully sans poop), crafting time and maybe a little work around the house.

PS - If you would like to check out my inspiration and renewed love for blogging, look here to check out my friend Kelsie's blog about her two dogs.  Hysterical.  

march madness and a note about pi

It's already March?  Where did the time fly?  I would love to point out that I did get to this post within a month of my last!  Now there is progress.  :)  (Okay... barely, but who is counting?)

We've been busy bees around the Camp hive this past month.  Camp hive?  Wow... that's too cheesy not to keep, right?  Before I type anything else like that, let's get onto the post.

This week has really been an exciting one.  On Monday morning, David and I became Uncle David and Aunt Sarah.  My sister-in-law Katie and brother-in-law Doug welcomed baby William into the world at 1:27-am!  We are so excited for them, and absolutely cannot wait to meet him!  With each new picture I see, I fall even more for the little guy.  He is pretty stinkin' cute.

Today is a big day in the nerdy math community.  Today is Pi Day.  Since I am such a math nerd, I must first express pi mathematically before I go into the explanation of why today out of all days is Pi Day.  Most of you probably already know... but I really just can't help myself.  Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference (around) to a circle's diameter (across).  Pi = C/D.  What is sooooo cool about pi is that it is a constant... so you can take any circle's circumference divided by it's own diameter, and you get pi.  Big circles, small circles... always pi.  Math.  Is.  Cool.  When we do the math, we get a number approximate to 3.14.  I have to say approximate for this reason... Pi does not equal 3.14.  It is greater than 3.14.  Pi is an irrational number, whose decimals go on into infinity and never repeat.  Have I already mentioned that math is cool?  You can see one million decimals of pi here.

I'm (a little) sorry for the math lesson, and do ask that you forgive me, because this is where it gets fun.  I learned today that 3 years ago the House of Representatives actually recognized March 14th (3.14) as Pi Day!  So... today is the day I'm allowed to be a super nerd.  And a super nerd I was.  Could. Not. Help. Myself.  Just could not.  I had to make mini pi(e)s!

Mini Pi(e)s!

I have no idea what they taste like.  But they are kind of cute... not as cute as Martha Stewart's, but for my first pie-making attempt, I think I did alright.  I had to share my excitement with my co-workers, and another woman on our team brought pie too.  David said we were kindred spirits, and I had to agree.  Hers were very cute too - key lime pies complete with a 3.14 on one and the pi symbol on the other.

 Not-So-Cute Pies

Crafty Pi Day Sign

Today I also filled out my first-ever March Madness bracket.  You'd think that being around David Camp for five NCAA Tournaments, this would have already taken place!  I'm kind of excited about it though.  I have no idea who most of the teams are, but let's just say that this Arkansas Razorback couldn't help root for her home state.

So along with Pi Day and my first March Madness bracket, I started the Hunger Games today.  So far it's entertaining, and I know I will be sucked in.  I am always a little skeptical of starting series like this, (you know, the really popular young adult novels?) because I am such a Harry Potter fan, and in my mind, nothing will ever compete.  I am showing my true colors today, aren't I?  Sheesh.  Nerd-y.  But I do want to see the movie, which means I should really read the book first.

This weekend will be the first in many months that David does not have to work on Saturday.  We are very excited.  Hopefully the weather will continue to be so awesome, and we can spend some time outside.  While I am loving the weather, no one is prepared for the sight of these pasty white legs.  A date with the sun must be in my future.

Thanks so much for stopping in and reading this rambling post.  Have a wonderful week and weekend, and know you are loved.

happy crafting and the book of james

Dear friends,

Well by now it shouldn't be a shock to you all that it's been yet another month since my last post.  What can I say, time just sneaks right on by me.  But while I had just a few minutes to spare, I thought I would share a few fun things going on at the moment.  

February has gotten my creative juices flowing!  Ok... creative isn't the right word, since I've "borrowed" most of my ideas from crafting blogs and friends, but we'll just say that I've been a mini crafty machine!  (Still not as crafty as I'd like to be, but it's a start.)

At the beginning of the month, my friend Hayley and I decided we needed to get together for some craft time.  Now let me just say, Hayley is a great crafter!  And we have a lot of fun crafting together.  In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we decided to make some hand-stitched felt heart garland for our "mantels."  There is no fireplace in the Camp household, so we use the entertainment center.  I found this idea from a link to a blog on the Tatertots and Jello website.  Used some funky colors, and overall I was impressed with myself.

heart felt!

I also decided to get crafty with David's Valentine's gift.  I definitely "borrowed" this idea from Hayley, and used another link from TTJ to help me out a bit.  It's a date jar with 12 date ideas (can't tell you because each month is a random surprise!)  Each month David will open one of the date pouches, and I'll plan the event!  Our first date is a road trip to Kansas City!  

 "love you"

"let's date"

Now... onto the Book of James.  In my first post of the year, I'd mentioned strengthening my relationship with Christ.  It's still no where near perfect, and never will be, but I've been so encouraged lately.  I signed up for the Women's Bible Study at church right before it started a month ago.  We're studying Beth Moore's, "James:  Mercy Triumphs," and let me tell you, it is awesome.  Having never done a Beth Moore study before, I didn't know what to expect.  But she gets right in there and touches on some wonderfully deep stuff.  We've spent the past four weeks learning about who James was, as well as diving into the first chapter of the epistle.

The part of the study that has stuck out to me the most the past few weeks revolves around James 1:2-4.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

So often when trouble finds me, or I find trouble, I pout or mope or react in anger.  I think, "why is this happening to me?" or "why today?"  I rarely see it as an opportunity to build my faith and rely on Jesus, but James pretty much says that's exactly what I should be doing!  

Consider it joy.  Consider it joy.  Consider it joy.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

new year... new me?

Hi friends!
Well it has officially been nearly two months since I've posted last.  I remember promising that I'd try to post every week.  So in the past new months, I've broken that promise about eight times, and I'm really sorry about that.  But now that we've had our math lesson for the evening, let's move on to the update.

Since it's been so long, I won't go into a lot of details about each of the major events rounding out 2011, but here are the top 10 in the Camp household:

1.  Had an awesome Thanksgiving with David's family at Camp War Eagle.  Lots of people, lots of dogs, lots of fun.

2.  The Indiana Hoosiers beat Kentucky... believe me, that was a BIG deal.

3.  Went to the office Holiday party where David got to meet my work wife, Kendra.

4.  Celebrated Christmas with Bill and Tracy with a trip to Silver Dollar City.  Hot Chocolate and the Saloon show... need I say more?

5.  Made the trip to Indy to spend my first Christmas with David's family.  It was a great Christmas morning.

6.  Got to spend Christmas afternoon with my grandma in Indy, along with Linda, Gary, Dan, Collin, Mary and new baby Taran.

7.  Went to my first NBA game -- Go Pacers!

8.  Got to visit Ben at his new place and meet his new best bud Danny.  :)

9.  Took a quick tour through southern Indiana, driving through the home of the Hoosiers.

10.  Celebrated two years of marriage to a wonderful man.  Dinner at Theo's and spending NYE with friends!

Now... on to the new year... I know January is already half-way over, and I'm just now getting around to posting my New Year's - let's call them goals - but I figured late is better than never!

I'm constantly thinking of new goals for myself, so this is a big time of the year for me.  This year I tried to break my new goals down into certain categories.  The big one:  Health.  I want to be committed to improving my health.  I know I'll cheat at times (I already have!) but overall, I just want to do things better.  I want to eat healthier foods - choosing fresh and organic ingredients whenever possible.  I want to exercise... nothing crazy... just get my heart healthy and tone up some areas I've been blessed with by sitting in an office chair 9 hours a day.  :)  And drinking more water!!  I never get enough... my goal is to be drinking at least 2 bottles by the end of the year.  For all of you camels out there, this is huge.

Second on the list:  Organization.  David and I moved into our home over two years ago.  It's time to clean out the three rooms we don't often use in our home, our closets and our garage.  Believe it or not, small strides have been made in this area -- we put the Christmas decor in the attic!  Hooray for progress!  This category also includes budgeting and learning how to coupon. 

And finally... always on my list is growing in my relationship with Christ.  I'll be honest here, I'm not great at so-called "quiet times."  I don't know where to start when it comes to reading my Bible.  And a lot of nights I fall asleep during my prayers.  However, I know that a huge part of my stress and anxiety I feel day-to-day revolves around trying to do too much on my own and not giving enough to Jesus.

I am excited for this year.  I can't wait to see what it will bring, and where it will take David and me.

And it's January for crying out loud... I'm excited for SNOW!  (Which is no where in our forecast.)

Until next time...