Videos and More

Okay, I'm making this challenge more like a "Blog Every Other Day"...my bad...so it's another two for one day. [Not gonna lie, I was having too much fun cooking and lighting off fireworks with my hubby yesterday.]

Day 4: Share a video you are loving at the moment.

Oh my goodness, I HAVE to post more than one. 

These just make me laugh so much. 

You should probably put your drink down now so it doesn't come out your nose, especially for #2.

Day 5: What do you miss?

It's hard to believe I'm getting ready for my 4th year of teaching, but whoa, here we are. I'm so thankful to be doing something I love as a career even though it gets pretty crazy sometimes trying to balance all the roles a teacher takes on AND trying to have a life outside of school. I'm beyond thankful to be working in a job where I get to talk about Jesus each and every day with my coworkers and my students. It's awesome, and it makes even the "bad" days ones I can be thankful for. 

And you know what else is awesome? Our little family. I love getting to take care of my sweet husband and our two dogs, and I am so blessed by the ways they love me each day. I love that we've taken this house and turned it into a home as we've worked to put our own touch on it and fill it with memories. It's pretty awesome to have a roommate who is also your best friend and love of your life...and knowing you're stuck with each other for good. :) 

One thing that I do really miss, though, is the sense of belonging that I used to have. Being with my family often was comforting. And you know those good friends you had in high school and college, the ones you could just be yourself with? Things could get real without getting weird. 

I'm talking laughing 'til you cry over nothing that makes sense to other people, deep conversations about life, advice and hugs to get you through the tough times, and brutal honesty. 

I'm talking fighting like siblings and being so mad that you are in disbelief over how much anger is flowing through you but apologizing and being closer for it in the end. 

I'm talking the people you could call up because you want to go shopping but you don't want to go alone and you need an honest opinion about how your butt and thighs look in those skinny jeans before you make a choice you'll regret.

I'm talking the ones you can whine to when you know you're being a baby about something but you just have to be frustrated about something anyways for a while, but later you know they will tell you that you need to get over it.

 I'm talking the ones who can point out your flaws or your wrongs without you getting mad because you know they mean it with genuine love.

I'm talking the ones you could watch movies, play board games, and cook homemade pizza with. 

I'm talking the ones who could admit you're afraid to when you're at a point where you have to act like you've got it all together but have no clue how to act like an adult at the moment. 

I'm talking about the ones who wouldn't blink twice if you invited them over for dinner before realizing you really don't have much in the house to cook and you haven't put on any make up on and you are wearing the comfy hoodie that goes down to your knees. 

I'm talking the ones who are your family outside of your family.

We've made some friends since moving here with the neighbors across the street and with my coworkers, and I know we'll make more as we get more involved at church and even in doing some volunteering in town. It all comes in time, but change is hard. Starting over is hard. Comfort comes in time with familiarity, and we are getting there.  

I'm thankful for the technology like blogging, Skype/FaceTime, and Facebook that make keeping in touch with our family and friends MUCH easier than it used to be. I don't know that I would have been able to do all of these things since graduation without it. 

Music Speaks to the Heart

Yup, you get a second helping today...and now I'm all caught up. :)

Day 3: Tell us how your blog got its name.

I don't know about you, but I tend to have a soundtrack to my life. Well, to the different phases of life. 

The Judds will always take me back to being little and helping Mom clean, riding in the car with Pops, or when I was rocking with my momma in the rocking chair because I couldn't sleep.

Outkast's "Hey Ya" is definitely sophomore year of college when we were brave enough to be leaders, crazy enough to dance like there was no tomorrow in front of many colleagues and professors, making our own fun when necessary, and comfortable enough to just be ourselves together.

Bon Jovi's "Halfway There" takes me back to the laughter and carefree feelings in car rides between Lincoln and Seward in the Tank, karaoke at CIT, a roadtrip to Denver, and an Alaskan wedding reception (accompanied by the most epic air guitar solo in the history of air guitar solos). 

"Savior Please" by Josh Wilson got me through the nerve-wracking night before my first official day as a kindergarten teacher with a class of 24 kindergarteners. 

"Here Come Those Eyes" by Chris Rice puts me back at the end of an aisle with my mom and dad at my sides, tripping over my dress on the way to meet my husband-to-be, laughing for joy and thanksgiving, proud to share this all with family and friends.

"What Does the Fox Say?" was the anthem of the entire first semester of this last year of school...until it was replaced by "Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie and then "Let It Go" from Frozen. All 3 songs went from annoying to endearing pretty fast.

I was a junior in college preparing to go to a new college 9 hours away from home. Being a homebody by nature, I was terrified of living so far away. I listened to "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks to gear up for the adventures awaiting. It wasn't the voices or the music that got me: the lyrics defined the beginning of a new chapter. 

A young girl's dream no longer hollow

It takes the shape of a place out west

But what it holds for her she hasn't yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces

Room to make a big mistake

She needs new faces

She knows the high stakes

She knows the high stakes

Yes, I'd journey somewhere new. 

I'd be on my own with my family so far away. 

I would make my own choices.

I would make some mistakes. 

I'd grow to be wiser and stronger with each step. 

It would be tough, but it would be great. 

This blog became a place where I could share the moments that shaped me. I could wonder, marvel, hurt, explore, and just be here. 

We need to have adventures in life, and we need to embrace the good and the bad that come with our journey. It's risky to go out and try new things, but if we don't then we won't grow. The world is full of wonders, but we have to be willing to step out into the big, scary world to find them. 

I'm not done making messes yet. 

I'm not done growing yet. 

I'm not staying in my comfort zone.

I'm still venturing into all kinds of wide open spaces.

Throwback Thursday

Day 2: Selfie Time! A Favorite Photo of You

Technically I'm late posting...oops. So that makes it a Throwback Thursday and not just a selfie! 

[It took FOREVER to find this picture!]

This was my user picture for a long time on here, and it's the one that come to mind as soon as I read this prompt before jumping into the challenge. 

I love this picture because it reminds me of a lot of things. This was taken the day after I turned 23...and the day after I got my nose pierced. I was home for the summer, and I faced an upcoming school year of methods classes and student teaching before GRADUATION. Many, many adventures were coming my way, and I was feeling really optimistic about everything. I was so sure of myself because I knew I was ready for it after 4 years of working for this,

after 2 preschool jobs,

after years of babysitting experience, 

after being reminded so many times of how awesome kids are. 

This picture reminds me of when I was practically fearless. I'd get an idea, go with it, and I really didn't care what people thought. 

People don't expect a little Lutheran school teacher to have something as radical as a nose piercing. Sometimes I think that people don't believe anyone with piercings or tattoos or crazy hair colors or an occasional drink or a smoking habit or anything outside a stereotype can love Jesus as well as they can. This was a small, safe stand I took to try to break that mindset a little bit. 

I don't have a nose piercing anymore. I had to take it out last year for a surgery. I put it in a container for safekeeping at the hospital, but it wasn't in there anymore by the time I got home. I didn't stress out too much about it. I was sad, but I didn't put anything else in. I just would have taken it out for our wedding a few months later anyway.

I certainly didn't aim to preserve these things when I took this -- I just wanted to show it off -- but it's funny how we inadvertently attach memories to little things like selfies.

This Week's Goals

Once upon a time I participated in a challenge to blog every day. While my total ended up being 288 posts rather than 365, it was a great experience.

Time for another challenge!

I learned about this from my friend Emily (and her blog is awesome, btw, so you should stop by and check it out!). She found it through another one of her blogger friends. The details can be found here, but basically there is a prompt for every day in July. I may sub in some of my own ideas here and there, but it looks like there are some fun prompts so here we go.

Day 1: What are your goals for today? (Or this week, month, year, etc.)

This week I would like to...

• Write a blog post every day
• Tame the cilantro in the garden and the weeds in the flower bed in the front yard
• Catch up on a few phone calls
• Upload/edit pictures from the Dallas World Aquarium last weekend [Sidenote: Awesome place. Go check it out if you get the chance!)
• Finish a project that's been in the works for about 2 weeks now
• Research some ideas for my classroom
• Enjoy a Date Night with my hubby 
• Look up how to crochet a "magic circle" so I can start a new project
• Try out a Bible study at church Thursday night
• Make chicken enchiladas for the first time (a.k.a. attempt to successfully disguise leftovers from the chicken tacos we are also having this week)

There you go. A glimpse into my To Do list for the week. I'd love to hear about the endeavors you're hoping to take on this week, too! 

Throwback Thursday

**Update: If you checked this before and the picture wasn't there, I'm sorry! You should be able to see it now. Live and learn. And thanks, Matt, for pointing it out to me. :) 

You know that #tbt you've been seeing so much of?

No?!? 

Really??? 

Just kidding.

But seriously...

Just in case you didn't know, it stands for Throwback Thursday. 

I think this is the first time I've participated in this, to be honest. But have I ever the gem for you! 

Today's is in honor of my brother...because this was the runner up for what Facebook birthday picture I would post for him. 

Polaroid- true throwback style

I can't decide what I love most about this picture: 

1. The awesome Dinosaurs shirts we're wearing. I think my shirt said, "I'm the baby, gotta love me!" (If the shirt didn't, I know I did ALL THE TIME because I am the baby, and my family does "gotta love me.")

2. All of those bags we're carrying for who knows what reason. Don't we just look ready for adventure?

3. The fact that I am bawling my eyes out and Dave's got his "I didn't do it!" face on.

4. My brother rockin' the sideways hat. (It's totally a Chicago Bears one, too.)

5. Mickey Mouse sunglasses. Yes.

Happy Thursday! 

Name Change?

I love, love, love summer break because I can catch up on doing some of the things that fall to the wayside when school is going on. I feel like a lot went on the back burner this school year because it was more demanding than my first two years of teaching. I had a longer drive, more meetings, and also had more going on in my personal life with Tim and I being newlyweds and homeowners with a long list of projects. (Yup, there are plenty of things I'd like to share from those adventures that will probably make it onto my blog at some point.)

I rejoice in having time to sit back and think about things. Of course I sometimes think while I'm standing at the sink doing dishes or poking around the garden rather than sitting or catching up with dear friends again, but nevertheless there is uninterrupted thinking going on. I don't know about you, but I find it really disheartening when life is happening so fast that there isn't enough time to digest what is going on. I get restless sometimes when I am rushed into processing things so I can move on to the next thing. 

One thing I have been contemplating is what needs to happen here. Sure, some writing about adventures from school, and probably some stories about what we've been up to, and maybe even just some musings about stuff...but what else? 

I look back at all that this blog contains and am amazed at how much has happened and changed since the beginning. Guys, it's been over 6 years since I started this blog. 6 years?!?!?  I am definitely not the same person I was when I hit "publish" on that first post. 

I feel like such a beautiful time was captured in the posts that are here, though, and I'm sad to have fallen away from blogging and chronicling further chapters in life. I'd love to get back into that. I am reconsidering the title of this blog, though. I named it for a specific purpose, but I think that moving into a different chapter in life means that it's time for a new title.  After all, I changed my name in real life to reflect a new chapter in life, so perhaps it's a natural point to change the name of my blog as well. I have a few in mind, and I'll continue to think about it.

Anyways, it's been good to post again. I hope that if you've enjoyed reading before or you've liked what you've read today that you will venture back again in the future to read more. :) 

The Crane Craze

I have been in Nebraska for a handful of years now but have been missing out on some really amazing things. I've learned, for instance, that there are markers for parts of the Oregon Trail that you can still see in various places. There are even some spots where wagon wheels made such deep ruts that they are still preserved in the hills and such.We also have Chimney Rock, a Willa Cather museum (she wrote My Antonia, a great book), some forts that were part of the Oregon Trail, and the great sand hills. We can get so comfortable in one spot that we begin to believe it's boring. That's really just because we stop seeking the adventures the areas we live in have to offer.

Turns out we are also in a prime location for the migration of sand hill cranes. They love the wide, shallow areas of Platte River and the nearby fields with leftover soy and corn to snack on during they day as they prepare to migrate to Northern Canada and Alaska. That's where they love to make their nesting grounds.

I looked online to get more info, and I chuckled at all of the events and tours and such. I always thought bird watching was boring.

I started looking up more and more, though, and found out 80% of the word's sand hill crane population comes through here.

EIGHTY. PERCENT. 

Mind=blown. 

My morning commute provides great chances to see these birds take flight in the morning as the sun rises, and sometimes on the way home they are resting and eating in the fields.

Friday on the way home I happened to have my camera with me because we went on a field trip to sing, and good thing I did! I was 15 minutes away from school and thankful I took the back roads instead of the interstate so I could see a field full of them!! I felt silly pulling over at first to take pictures, but it was worth it to stop and admire them.

 Just chillin' in the field, snackin' on corn. 

 More cranes coming to join the party.

It was nuts to see such a crowd of them just hanging out nearby!!! 

If you want to join my crazy bird watching craze, tune in to the live cam at the Rowe Sanctuary. The best time is around 7:30, and you should watch for at least half an hour to really get an idea of how BIG and BEAUTIFUL this spectacle is.

God has most certainly put so many amazing things around us; we just need to remember to take the time to admire them sometimes.