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

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!!