i have no idea what i'm doing

i started training for my new teaching job on the 9th. the whole first week was just for first year teachers and the second week was at our campus with all teachers. i sat through countless meetings, training sessions,, and participated in many activities. after all of that, you would probably think that i know exactly what i'm doing and exactly what to expect. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's all been a bit overwhelming learning everything we have to teach and the little time we have to do it. also, in the midst of all of these meetings, i have had to get my room ready (from scratch) for meet the teacher which was last night.

overall, it's been stressful, overwhelming, confusing, and exciting all at the same time. last night meeting my students went really well! it made everything a little more real and got my really excited! kids come monday and i sure hope i'm going to be able to sleep sunday night!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M A TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

letters

Dear Husband,

Night time is my favorite when we have silly and serious pillow talk. You make me laugh. Laughing is my favorite!

Until night time,

Brenda

Dear Routine,

I miss you! I am ready for you to return to us. I'm going to go crazy without you much longer.

Trying to figure my life out,

Brenda

Dear Kitchen,

I'm sorry I have neglected you this summer. I promise to start spending quality time with you again soon.

I'm still the cook,

Brenda

Dear Job,

You are a blessing from God! As overwhelmed and clueless as I am because of you, I know I'll be ok because God gave you to me for a reason!

So Blessed,

Mrs. T

Dear Mr. T,

I know teaching isn't what you want to do forever, but you will be GREAT at it. Your students will love you! I'm also excited to talk about "teacher" stuff with you all year:)

Proud to be your wife,

Brenda

Bless The Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalm 103:1

a lot going on

the weekend of july 11, we had wedding festivities galore. some of our very best friends, Ben and Natalie, got married and we had SUCH a blast the whole weekend! Landon was the best man and I was a bridesmaid. Now Ben and Natalie live 15 minutes from us and we have already had lots of fun together!

the very next weekend, we went to see my family for our family reunion. all of my dad's brothers and sister, their kids, grandkids, my grandma(dad's mom), and my mamurmer(mom's mom) all went to the lake, stayed in a friends lake house, ate delicious food, and spent hours on the lake enjoying each other's company.

Landon and my nephew, Cash

we got home from the family reunion on sunday and left for vacation with Landon's family on wednesday. we went to Colorado Springs and went white water rafting, pikes peak, and garden of the gods. it was a fun first vacation with the in-laws!

All of the Turrubiartes

We have fun together:)

while we were on vacation, my mom sent me a text friday morning and said that my sweet Uncle Mike had passed away (her oldest brother). He had cancer that had pretty much spread all over his body. While we are sad that he is gone, we also know there is no more suffering, and no more pain. I'm sure him and my P (his dad) are up in heaven having the time of their lives! Please continue to keep my Mamurmer (lost her husband and oldest son in a month and a half) in your prayers, as well as Mikes wife and 2 boys. One of their boys is getting married in 2 weeks, so that is bound to be difficult.

Uncle Mike

The next Tuesday, I had an interview for a 4th grade position. it was the first interview all summer, so i was nervous about it, but i had subbed at this school AND in the 4th grade for a whole week last year so i was feeling pretty good about it. I interviewed with the principal first and then the 4th grade teachers. the principal said he would call and let me know either way no later than thursday. Tuesday afternoon he called and OFFERED ME THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am beyond excited/blessed/overwhelmed/nervous/ecstatic!!! I start orientation and teacher stuff next friday so i don't have a lot of time to prepare, but God is so to provide for both Landon and I over the last year and now with both of us having full time jobs for the upcoming year! I'm sure I will get everything done that i need to get done!

Anyways, The End:)

my attitude stinks

i haven't exactly had a good attitude lately, my attitude about my job situation that is. here it is almost the middle of july and i've emailed principals until i'm blue in the face. i have been getting really frustrated and irritated with the situation and with God because i thought i had given it to Him, and he just hasn't been answering my prayers.

well, it seems that He has been trying to get my attention lately, and i'm so thankful i have been listening. This is one thing that I love about my Jesus. He could have ripped me a new one (especially with the way my attitude has been). He could have not been so gentle and patient with me, but he has been.

My attitude transformation/my "gentle whisper" started on Sunday. Landon and I were talking about a purchase we wanted to make, but i made the comment that we couldn't because "we didn't have jobs." He very kindly reminded me that we do actually have jobs, good jobs, and we have been blessed with these jobs that we have. The Israelites wondered around in the desert for 40 years because they had bad attitudes about their circumstances. I do NOT want to be "wondering around" for 40 years!

Later that evening, we were hanging out with some friends, certified teacher friends, some of who have jobs and some who are still looking. One of the girls who is in the same situation as I (graduated May 09 and still looking for a teaching job) were talking and i mentioned how, while i was trying to be excited, it was frustrating that all these alternatively certified teachers were getting jobs and we, who went to school for 4 years to do this, were not getting hired on. She agreed, but also said "but I know God has it in control, and he knows exactly where he wants me." OK God, you have my attention.

I recently started following Max Lucado on twitter. If you don't, i encourage you to do so. On monday, his twitter said, "No struggle will come your way apart from God's purpose, presence, and permission." There is a purpose i am going through this, but the best part about it is that he is and has been with me through the whole thing. Haven't I been taught this my whole life? Yet why is it so easy to forget? It seems that getting frustrated is so much easier, but it is so much more miserable. I'm so thankful that my God is patient with me when i'm frustrated, understanding when i'm down, comforting when i need comforted, and provides Joy in the morning:) Don't we serve an awesome God?

So my attitude is changing! I have already felt a peace beyond my own understanding about my job situation. I keep thinking about the students/people i will be in contact with in the job my God is going to provide for me. And i keep thinking about how the Lord has set out those specific people that I get to minister to/surround myself with. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store and who he is going to bring into my path to fulfill his purpose for my life.

upholstered headboard

I'm looking to redo my bedroom, get new bedding, make it my escape. right now, it's just kind of thrown together. the bedding we have was just what we got to make do because we didn't get what we registered for when we got married. now that we have moved into a 2 bedroom apartment, i have been looking for new bedding so i can move our current bedding into the guest room. i've been looking at a couple different blogs, and i have been motivated with some new ideas. upholstering a headboard is one of those ideas.

this headboard looks simple but elegant, and that's just what i'm looking for. has anyone upholstered a headboard? on HGTV and the blogs i have been reading, they make it seem so easy, but i need to hear it from someone else! if/when i make my own, i'll post pictures!!

lucky me!

yesterday, my husband proved how wonderful he is, once again! First off, he ordered me Chinese food for dinner, which he doesn't like to eat chinese food very often, but he knows i love it, so that was the first thing.

When I got home, Landon had to leave to go to a meeting. My phone was plugged in in my bedroom, so I went in to check it. I had a message from landon that said "will you please make the bed before I get home?" my first thought was 'that's really weird, 1. because it was 7:30 pm. we were going to get in bed in the next couple hours. 2. he never really cares if the bed is made or not. But he asked, so I wasn't going to let him down. So I immediately took my pillow off the bed and laying underneath my pillow was this dress from Target I had mentioned I liked and a sweet card.
I'm so lucky!

My Favorites of the Summer (so far)

These "favorites" aren't anything new or anything extraordinary that I didn't know I liked before (well most of them). They are simply things that I have rediscovered that I enjoy, and it's because of the summer that I have rediscovered them.

listed in no particular order:

1. Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty. You can never go wrong with some good old Flinstones. I am nannying this summer, so we watch a lot of cartoons in the morning. Flinstones is one of my favorite that we watch. Sometimes I wonder if the kids even realize what's going on in each episode because there is so much adult humor (which makes it a lot more enjoyable to me)!!

2. Flowers. This is nothing new to me since I worked in a flower shop one year of college and loved every minute of it, but it wasn't until last week when I walked into a flower shop that I realized how much I miss/love flowers. You just can't walk into a flower shop with a bad attitude or a frown on your face. There is just something special about this beautiful creation that puts a smile on my face. God is SO creative!

3. Sports. DUH! Why wouldn't this be a favorite, ESPECIALLY with the World Cup AND Wimbledon going on right now! I played tennis in high school and just love the game and love watching people who are REALLY good at the game. I watched Isner win finally win the match that will go down in history. 138 games in one set is just mind boggling to me! Congrats to Isner! Also, the world cup! This one is a "new" favorite. I don't really know anything about soccer. I watched my first soccer games when i went to college and still didn't really understand the game, but yesterday, i will admit, i jumped up and down AND screamed in my apartment by myself when USA scored to win the game! I never thought I would have that kind of reaction!

4. The Pool/laying out. I always forget how relaxing this is until I do it one time, and then I'm hooked. Thank goodness for kids who want to go to the pool every day!!

5. Market Street Grocery Store. There is just something about their produce section that reminds me of the farm, home, and family!

Ok that's all for now. I'm sure there will be more discoveries seeing that it's only June 24.