$MONEY$MONEY$MONEY$

over the last (almost) 2 years of marriage, husband and i have been trying to figure out our money. our first year was a bit rough seeing that we both only had hourly jobs. we wanted to be on a budget, but we felt that we didn't even make enough to have a budget. we simply just tried to survive. it was rough, but we did survive!

now that we both have full time jobs and are nearing the end of our second year of marriage, we have started looking into the future. we have talked about things we want to happen in the next year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years. we have talked about buying a house, buying a new car, and starting a family to just name a few. all of these things require money, and more money that we have right now. together we have finally been able to come up with a budget in order to make these dreams of our reality one day. this first month is kind of our trial run. we just made up some numbers and are both doing our best to stay within that budget. we might be WAY off, but at least it's a start.

the way i viewed our money was like a hole. i felt that each month we started at ground level. as we spent money, we dug a hole. at the end of the month, when we got paid, we simply filled the hole back up to the top, but there was not ANY extra. we were right back where we started, ground level. now, i'm hoping to see a little mound at the end of the month. i'm hoping the mound of dirt gets a little bigger every month until it's Mt. Everest (ha just kidding), but really.

a few things we have started doing to save money is:

1. cook more. i have started cooking more, and when i cook, i cook big meals so that they last us for several meals. i'm so thankful my husband doesn't mind left overs!

2. i have started couponing. it's very new to me, and i'm still not completely sure of what i'm doing, but i do know that i saved $36 last week on my grocery trip, and that's enough to keep me going at it. i follow www.couponcloset.com and get a lot of ideas from her.

3. use cash. husband and i never used cash. we only used our debit cards. for me, when i use my debit card, i'm not seeing the money, so it's not as big of a deal to me. now, i am using cash for groceries, clothing, and entertainment. the rest goes on the debit card. cash is easier to manage.

what are some things you do to save money? i'm open to more ideas!!!

christmas sweaters, tacky or not?

last week, one of the fourth grade teachers was talking about her daughter's high school, it was "tacky christmas sweater" day, so this got us on the topic. We were talking about how there are some pretty hideous ones out there. One of the teachers finally spoke up and said that she has a closet full. The only problem is that she doesn't wear them as "TACKY". She wears them because she really likes them. oops! It's funny to see the people who wear them because they genuinely like them, and the people who only wear them to christmas parties and to be funny.

Last night we had a "tacky christmas sweater" party. I have decided that I am going to wear the sweater I wore to school next week. I can't WAIT to see how many GENUINE compliments i get on it:)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

all in a week's work

Work Work Work. It has it's ups, it has it's downs.

We'll start with downs just so I can end on a good note!

1. I gave my first office referral. I'm pretty sure I turned apple red in a matter of 2 seconds, and if you looked closely, there was probably steam coming out my ears. That's how mad I was at this particular student. Don't mess with me!

2. I'm suffocating this week with everything I have to do after school, AFTER the official work day. I guess being a teacher is really a 24/7 job.

3. I feel like my 2nd year of teaching will be so much better. Right now, I'm just trying to survive. Next year, hopefully I'll be out of "Survival Mode" and into "Awesome/Creative Ideas Teacher". I'm doing what I can!

4. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ (that's me falling asleep because I'm seriously that tired all the time!) I feel like I could fall asleep in the shower, eating dinner, driving home (5 minutes away), etc

UPS:)

1. I have a student who raises his hand almost every day and says "Ok, I have 2 questions. One about what we are talking about and one that's not." He has asked anything and everything from Santa Clause, to ET, to Adam and Eve, to God, to anything else you can think of. I seriously just have to stop and laugh! LOVE. THAT. KID.

2. JEANS are a teacher's best friend!!! This week, we got to wear jeans on Monday if we worked a special event that night (which of course I did), We got to wear jeans Tuesday if we payed $2 (I could barely afford that one on my teacher salary). We get to wear jeans on Friday because it's Friday. WE GET TO WEAR JEANS EVERY DAY NEXT WEEK BECAUSE IT'S THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!! Can you tell how excited I am about that one?

AND BEST FOR LAST!!!!!!!!

3. Monday, I walked around the corner from the library to see my principal carrying a vase of 10 brightly colored GERBER DAISES (my very favorite flower!). Jokingly I said, "Oh, I'll take those." He handed them to me, and he WASN'T joking! My sweet, wonderful, romantic, thoughtful, loving husband sent me flowers just because he loves me! These absolutely made my entire week!!!!!!! He is the most wonderful man I know!

Life

Why is it so hard to truly live your life as though it is a gift that could be taken at any moment, but so easy when that gift is taken away from someone and we realize how precious life is? By then, for some, it's too late. On Saturday, I found out that a sweet friend, who I went to church with in high school, age 27, took a nap and did not wake up. She left behind a husband, a 3 year old little boy, and a 3 week old baby girl. As I write this, my heart is so heavy. My heart aches for the husband who only had a few short years with his love, her little boy who loved his mommy, a baby girl who will never know her mommy, and her sister and her parents who have lost their precious daughter and sister.

Sometimes I wonder why? Sometimes I don't understand, and I'm not even in the middle of this tragic event. I can only imagine what her sweet family is thinking right now. I can only pray that they have the peace of God that surpasses all of their understanding. A peace to not only accept, but embrace God's love, power, sovereignty, and grace. A peace knowing she is now worshipping her Jesus.

My challenge to myself and others is to enjoy life like you never have before. Truly enjoy and appreciate EVERY SINGLE day. I am going to do my best to live each day as if it was made just for me. I am going to love my very best. I am going to to my best to let go of the small things that irritate me. I am going to do my best at enjoying my students. I am going to love my husband more. I am going to do my best to call my family and friends who I don't get to see more. I am going to do my best to be a light in my workplace to those who may not have the peace of God like I do. I am going to do my best to appreciate the smallest things that are so easy to overlook. I am going to do my best to love.

Please pray for the family of Cassidy "Hicks" Meyer.

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14

HaPpY MoNdAy!!

Reasons why Monday was so great!

1. husband picked out my outfit for school this morning. i wasn't too sure about it at first, but ended up being more than satisfied! he's good at stuff like that! i even got several compliments at school. (don't worry, i gave him all the credit!)

2. early release at school/parent teacher conferences. i was able to get caught up on grading, get some other work done, and just hang out this afternoon.

3. tennis with landon. he's a great partner! i'm thankful he is willing to try/play anything with me! my favorite part is when he "strikes out" (as he likes to call it) and turns around with the best smile ever!

4. texas roadhouse. the roadkill does my tummy good! chopped steak+sauteed mushrooms+sauteed onions+jack cheese= deliciousness

5. Jett Nolan Hand. My sister had my most recent nephew almost 2 weeks ago! She sent me two pictures today, and i can't believe how big he has gotten already! His 2 older brothers adore him, but my sister definitely has her hands full with 3 boys now! (I have a story about that that i will save for it's own post!) I love them all so much!

6. walk with my husband in the perfect fall weather! after we played tennis, we went on a nice little walk. the cool breeze felt amazing! i could just smell fall in the air. over the last few months, i have tried a few different ways to really love my husband. I have gotten some ideas from this awesome blog! tonight i asked questions. i asked fun questions, informative questions, and questions just to get to know my husband a little bit better. my favorite question and answer tonight was this: Q "What animal do you think best describes you?" A "Probably a tiger because tigers are cool, and i'm cool. Oh, and I like cereal!" This is why I love him:)

life of a teacher

there are so many things that happen every day that i wish i could just take a "time out" to write down, but being a teacher to 19 sweet little 4th graders does not allow for that!! I feel blessed every day to be doing what i am doing. i know God has put me right exactly where he wants me with the students he wants me to teach and the teachers he wants me to teach with.

this year started out a little challenging when they decided to make me the 4th grade "inclusion" teacher. what that means is that i have the majority of the "special ed" kids in my classroom along with a co-teacher who comes in for around 2 hours each day to help support. while this has been a difficult adjustment, and definitely not something i was prepared for, my special ed students are some of my sweetest, funniest, and hardest working students. they may not make the grades, but they try their best, and they put a smile on their face while trying, which in turn puts a smile on my face!!

i have already grown to love each one of my students very much (i just may not "like" all of them every day, ha) in their own little unique way. i have students who have a dry sense of humor (we get along great), students who love to talk about sports, brilliant students, students who just want to help, students who have already improved tremendously, students who have cute little laughs, students who care about each other, students who care about me, students who love to learn, students who forgot to bring their homework but promise me that they did it because they don't want to let me down, and students who just love.

while this year has already had it's challenges and i have come home crying SEVERAL days, i strongly trust and believe that God has a purpose for where i am and for the people i get to see every day. at this time in my life, i am understanding 2 names of God, Provider and Rock!

letters

Dear August,

Thank you for leaving us. Your miserable weather was, well, miserable. I'm sure in March, after all of the snow, shoes that won't keep my feet warm, and my pasty white skin, I will miss you, but until then, So Long!

Ready for Fall,

Brenda

Dear Labor Day,

Thank you for my first real paid vacation day. It has been nice to not think about how much money i'm NOT making on my day off.

Relaxing,

Brenda

Dear Dinner,

Why are you such a difficult time of the day? You always seem to cause more stress than anything. I wish you were already planned for the rest of the year!

Begging for New Ideas,

Brenda

Dear Perfect Khaki Coverlet/Bedding,

You are next to impossible to find. I feel like i'm looking for Waldo in the largest book in the world. I really would like to get everything finished in my apartment. You are holding up the process. Please make yourself known. Oh, and a good price would be nice too.

Still looking,

Brenda

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me. I'm trying to be more like you. I want to show Jesus everywhere I go. I love you,

Brenda