Smiles and Tears

Time for another round of....

Day 6: What are the 5 things that make you happy? 

• Spending time with my 3 favorite guys: my husband and our pups. I mean, just look at these fuzzy faces! 

Danny & Squirt and some brotherly sniffing.

• Adventuring...whether that's traveling to new places, trying new things, or just tackling a new recipe in the kitchen, I love it. It's just so hard to sit still! 
• Coffee coffee coffee!!! But seriously, a day without coffee is probably a day with a grumpy Michelle. 
• Creating things. Writing, capturing something on my camera, cooking, making cards, decorating my classroom, crocheting...it's all so fun! I LOVE having more time to do this stuff right now! 
• Music. I listening to pretty much any and everything, but it's usually based on my mood. I love country music, especially the older stuff, but sometimes I like to rock out to Journey. I might listen to Matt Maher one minute and Ke$ha the next. I often put on instrumental stuff like Piano Guys when I'm doing schoolwork, and sometimes a girl just needs to belt out some Disney or musical numbers. And let's face it: a little *NSYNC or S Club 7 are necessary, too. Let's just say that sometimes my iPod is outlawed on road trips because it's a little too random for people to handle. :)

Day 7: List 5 tear-jerking movies you've watched. 

1. Lone Survivor

We just watched this one the other night, and it was intense. 
Part of me wanted to turn it off or fall asleep because it was so emotional and some parts were so violent, but let's face it: even thought I knew I was watching a movie, it was based on a true story. This is what went down. And it is just one story of many where people face this. Watching it was horrific and terrifying and hard, but we are blessed to be sheltered from this most of the time. There are people brave enough to go out there and LIVE this to protect other people like you and me every day. I can't complain about seeing it for 2 hours of my life. At the end they gave blurbs to follow up on the people involved, and they also have pictures of the real people who lived this story.
It definitely had an extra punch watching it the day after we celebrated the freedom these men were fighting to preserve.

2. The Notebook

I know, I know. This one almost seems obvious.
I didn't cry just because of the story by Nicholas Sparks, though.
I cried because this story reminded me so much of my grandparents.
They loved each other so deeply and were devoted to each other.
They died a week apart.
My family watched the most amazing love story happen in real life,
and this movie parallels that love and devotion
and the beauty in finding that kind of love with another person.

3. Pay It Forward

This movie.
The twist I didn't see coming.
The beautiful outlook the little boy has.
The dedication of the teacher to open his students' eyes to the world,
to look beyond themselves,
to do more than just spit back answers to test questions,
but to problem solve.
The faith the little boy has in his alcoholic mother.
The impact of caring for other people.
Watch it if you haven't. Seriously.

4. Cyberbully

Social media.
We can keep in touch with friends after college and high school,
reconnect with childhood friends,
share life happenings with family across the country,
and kill time when we can't sleep or while we're stuck waiting somewhere.
But for some people it becomes a nightmare.
Bullies have 24/7 access to emotionally scarring someone.
Even making "jokes" about how someone looks, acts,
or just is. 
This is a bigger problem than people realize sometimes,
but it's a problem that causes young kids to harm themselves
and some to take their own lives.
Again, watch it if you haven't...especially if you are a parent or someone who works with kids.
We need to know what today's kids are up against so we can help them
and hopefully fight back against this kind of bullying and pain.

5. Dead Poets Society

**SPOILER ALERT!!!**

We watched this movie in high school for Lit class senior year.
A friend of mine was in a different class and asked if we'd gotten to the part where the kid killed himself yet. I freaked out about it because NO, we hadn't, and ohmygosh, he KILLS himself?!?!
Somehow he convinced me that he was just kidding so I was blindsided when we did get to that part!!
[Thanks, Josh! Hahaha.]
But it also makes me cry when I watch this movie and see the bond these students form with their teacher, and the way Keating loses a bit of himself when he has to leave his students.
Any teacher who tells you that they don't leave a bit of their heart with each class they have is either a) a liar or b) someone who teaches for the wrong reasons.
I love this movie for capturing that bond,
for having Robin Williams,
lots of literary references,
and A Midsummer Nights Dream. 

So there you have it. Your next movie night is all planned for you. Stock up on your popcorn and tissues, folks. 

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. :)