24 more days...

Until the Shamrock Half!! I'm honestly a little worried that I won't be ready for the race. It's really been difficult to train the way that I want to with all the rain that we've been blessed with over the last few weeks. I have been trying to take advantage of all the sunny days, but that still leaves me with only 4-5 days of walking or running a week. AND I'm not able to really get my miles in since the sun is still setting pretty early. Last time, I was walking at least 6 miles once a week this far before the race. Can't say the same about this time. I'm lucky if I get 6 miles in every 2 weeks. Oh boo.

But on a positive note, I have been running more! This week, I ran 3.21 miles WITHOUT STOPPING!! Wahoo!! I'm going to try and focus more on walking from now until the race, maybe I'll give myself one running day. Since I'll be walking Shamrock, I should probably make that my focus for the next 2 weeks.

Wish me luck, friends! :)

Tuesday's Teaching Moment

So everyday, I give my first graders a picture to write in their journals about. Last week, I gave them a picture of a spider web. I always make a list of questions that they must answer about the posted pictures. And here is one of the journal entries I received:
It says:
"This is a picture of a web. A spider makes a web, not me. I can find a web in my mommy's bathroom. They bounce around and POOF, there's a web."

Oh how I heart first grade minds!!

i need the off button!!

So for the last few weeks, I continue to hear icky things about budget stuff in my district and my heart sinks each time. I am almost positive now that I will be getting laid off and it TERRIFIES me. I DO have a higher chance of getting a position back, since I'm higher on the seniority list at my district. But seriously, the thought of not having a job frightens me to no end. And I can't seem to shake the sinking feeling. What's wrong with me?!?

I love what my husband said to me though. He lets me cry through all my fears and listens to me rant and rave...and he tells me,"It's not the end of the world, babe." And he is totally right.

As scary as it is to not be employed, it ISN'T the end of the world. As hard as it will be to find another job, I still have my health, my husband, and my family. It could be worse.

So for now, until I receive the dreaded pink peice of crap paper, I will say this prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..." Hopefully this will bring me some peace until May. :::sigh:::

workout update!

So I've been tracking calories and working out on a regular basis for a whole month! Wahoo!! :) I'm feeling GREAT, though I'm a bit more tired now. I think that may be caused by work stuff, since I am usually getting my 7-8 hours of sleep each night. I've discovered that working out is actually enjoyable, and it's so awesome once it's made a part of my daily routine.

Tim and I have decided that Monday's are our weigh in days. I've always worked out, but this month I've really tried to stick to a schedule and log what I'm eating just to see! I've been walking or runnings about 4 days a week, and I've also been doing yoga twice a week. I've been trying to stick with my shred workouts, but lately I've been having knee issues so I've put those aside and I'll do one when I can't get outside to run (sorry, kara!).

My main goal was to firm up and tone, not necessarily lose weight...but, da dada dah!! I lost 3 pounds! I'm kinda proud of myself, mostly because all I did was work out more and eat better foods. So yay for me! :) But I'm sure I'll gain all of it back in muscle...my legs are starting to get crazy with all the running...and with Shamrock just around the corner, my training is going to get more hard core. Hello, huge thighs!! LOL

My 2010 Handbook

A dear friend of mine sent this to me in an email earlier this month. I am the type of person who always looks within and is always trying to improve. I figure, if there's nothing to improve...well, something's wrong! LOL

But seriously, after reading this list, it really got me to thinking that I have control of all these things. These are things that I can do to make my year a little healthier and a little happier. I sometimes get into my little ruts...I'm not successful enough or fit enough or pretty enough and kind enough. So when I read the personality part of this handbook, it really spoke to me. Take a look...

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

So excited for what this year will bring. :)

What would I do...

if I couldn't teach? Those of you who know me personally know how crazy passionate I am about what I do. I L-O-V-E my job. Even with it's crazy ups and downs, temper tantrums, potty accidents...whatever. It is SO very rewarding to have a child who couldn't read be able to pick up a Dr. Seuss book and read it to me, cover to cover. Tears seriously well up for me when my little low preforming babies can write a sentence by themselves. I am one who gets emotionally attached to my classes, but I personally think it makes me a better teacher because they KNOW I care. I don't let a day go by where they don't hear the words, "I love you" come out of my mouth. I love what I do.

With that being said, you can imagine how torn up I get when I hear about anything involving education. I try and stay as neutral as I can, politically. But education is top on my list. I get so angry and frustrated when I hear about cuts being made to education. I think of all the kids who are losing out because of the economy. Yes, it's the real world and yes it sucks. But this is THEIR future.

Today, I found out that, once again, I have to be concerned with the fact that I may get laid off. The chances are slim, but I probably will be getting pink slipped at the least. SCARY. I probably won't get to stay at my current school....I might not get to stay in first grade...and in the absolute WORST case scenario, I might not have a job next school year.

Here's what I hope for:

I hope that there are lotsa people looking to retire.
I hope that the district figures out another way for us to save money so we can keep teachers.

I think that's really all I can hope for right now, realistically.

But let's look on the bright side. Hubs and I have prepared for this; and we will be okay, financially, for a year with only one salary. So that's good, I guess. It could be worse.

But what on earth would I do if I didn't teach? I suppose my other option is to sub (but I DESPISE subbing). Or maybe I'll just have babies and stay home. Oh wait...they cost money too!!

At least it's almost Friday!! And tonight is Grey's and Hamburger night! Wahoo!!

Happy Anniversary

to my wonderful friends, Stacy and Tyson !!

Hope that you had a wonderful day today celebrating your first 2 years together!! I miss you guys oh-so-much! Love you both!! :)
xoxo, Bean

AND

Happy anniversary to Heather and Dennis!!!
(Heather doesn't like pics posted of her, so I'm not allowed to put one here). :)
Love you guys!!