What’s Up February

    Happy Wednesday Thursday Friday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. And yes, I do realize it’s actually Friday. Oops. I kept meaning to post either before or after school each day Wednesday and then Thursday. But nope… Kept forgetting. So here we are :)

Anywho, on with the post…

Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

Nothing terribly exciting… I did earn a free footlong sandwich from Subway via their app, though. So I got that on my way to a training off campus today. That was nice. 

What am I reminiscing about?

Mardi Gras fun with my family :) 

What am I loving?

Lately, I’ve been leaving work right around the time that the sun is starting to set. And the other night, I got this shot right when I got home. Isn’t the sky so beautiful? I love it!

What have I been up to?

Work. That’s about it.

What am I dreading?

Next week starts my busiest 2 months at work, And while I do definitely love working with all of our sweet kiddos and while I also know that I’ll get it all done and I’ll get it all done very well too, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dreading just a tiny bit all of the super late nights/weekend work sessions I know I’ll have the next couple months since there’s most definitely no way possible to get it all done during the school day.

What am I working on?

Remembering this prayer...

 What am I excited about?

I found out that the musical my nieces have been rehearsing for is going to be during my Spring Break, which made me super excited! I knew there was no way possible I could’ve asked off for that, knowing it’s our busiest time of the year with state testing and IEP meetings and all going on at the same time. So I was feeling so sad/disappointed to know I’d be missing it. But they just released the dates and I almost cried when my brother told me, knowing it’ll be during my school’s Sprimg Break 🩷

What am I watching?

Not a thing.

What am I reading?

We’ll be reading Pancakes Pancakes By Eric Carle in class today, as part of a joint Reading/English/Science lesson. Then we’ll make a pancake craft and then taste pancakes too. Most of our people LOVE crafts of any kind so I think little project will be fun. Plus, the lessons we can get out of that book (which go right along with what we’ve been learning in those 3 subject areas) are going to be fun/engaging as well!

What am I listening to?

Same answer as last month actually… I've still had the song, Good Day, by Forrest Frank stuck on repeat. I love it!

What am I wearing?

The weather is so crazy. It was starting to get a bit warmer. Then we had two really cold days this week. And now it’s getting warmer again. So I’m wearing layers typically.

 What am I doing this weekend?

My mom and I are going to a market happening this weekend. 

What am I looking forward to next month?

March is going to be the start of my 2 busiest months at work. But we do have some fun planned for my people in between all the busy-ness. So I’m looking forward to all that.

Favorite recent Amazon find?

I bought these for our students in both classes for Valentine’s Day. We have quite the budding artists in our rooms so I thought this was the perfect little gift.

What's new this month?

Nothing much 

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

What's Up January

   Happy Thursday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. However, I’m actually a day late… At any rate, it’s still hard to believe this is the first post for 2026. How is that possible? 

Anywho, here we are :)

Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

Y'all... I bought this Chef Woo brand ramen on a BOGO offer at Publix a few weeks ago and finally ate it the other night. It was delicious. However, it was only AFTER I ate the thing and drank the soup at the end that I looked at the Nutrition Facts and about died at the sodium level. It was so insanely high! So, delicious or not... I most definitely will NOT be eating these anymore. Wow!

Past that... I've been on a Greek yogurt kick. I rarely have time to eat a real lunch these days. There's just no way with the level of support my people need. And that's fine... But anywho - I'm finding if I don't eat something, I'm starving by the end of the day when I'm driving home and as my wallet can tell you, that's not always the best (or healthiest) thing. So, on the days I have time for it, I eat a bowl of yogurt with some kind of fresh fruit added in the mix. My latest obsession is coconut flavored yogurt with fresh blueberries mixed in. So good!

What am I reminiscing about?

There was a thing going around on social media at looking at life in 2011. So I went digging through my photos on Facebook and found these... In January of 2011, I was in Senegal, visiting Goree Island with a group of missions colleagues in town for our West Africa Missionary Retreat.

Then in July 2011, I was back in the US, wrapping up a quick visit to raise more missions funds, and got to attend my family reunion. It's hard to believe since that time, two of my favorite men in the world (my dad and my Papa) have both passed away since these photos were taken...

What am I loving?

I'm still loving my daily morning photos. 

I started taking a photo of the sky or whatever my morning view was each morning during a particularly stressful time while in Senegal. The Lord had laid Lamentations 3:21-23 on my heart as a reminder that every morning is a new chance to start fresh, but at the same time, it's still a guarantee that His love, mercy, and faithfulness will be there to meet me each morning. And that was so comforting at that point in my life, that it stuck. So yeah... Even though I'm feeling quite overwhelmed/stressed at my ever growing To Do List and quite often anxiously wonder how I'll get it all done, I still take those daily pictures each morning because I love the reminder that they leave on my heart and mind.

What have I been up to?

Work - It's pretty much all I do or think about these days :)

What am I dreading?

I would always rather be cold than hot. I hate sweating. I could live without these super high temps/humidity that we have here in south Alabama. But y'all... This extreme cold we're experiencing in south Alabama is kicking my tail. Oh my word, it's so painfully (literally - hello arthritis) cold!

Also, come on Mother Nature... If you're going to make me be this cold when I go outside every day, at least let there be some snow, which would be so pretty. Just sayin' :) Anywho... See these fun pics from last year when we got out of school for a full week. That was fun!

What am I working on?

Remembering this goodness...

 What am I excited about?

My brother and his family are coming to visit next weekend. We'll catch a Mardi Gras parade and enjoy time sitting around the house, hanging out. I can't wait! I love it when my people are all here!

What am I watching?

Not a thing.

Seriously... Y'all, I realize that's unheard of in this day and age, to not have a TV or TV service. But it's actually pretty nice. Just saying. I am looking into getting eventually. …just for news (even though it's horribly depressing) and the occasional show/movie/ball game. But for now, I'm enjoying not having it.

What am I reading?

I’m still reading The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. And yes, I realize I've been reading it for a while. But let's be honest... I've barely read it for the last month. Not due to the book, itself. It's good and I really like it. No, I haven't read it because I've been so exhausted after work every day that I would have fallen asleep if I would have tried to read it. Ha :)

What am I listening to?

Lately, I've had Good Day by Forrest Frank stuck on repeat. I love it!

What am I wearing?

All the warm clothes and almost always sitting under a blanket when I'm at home too. Y'all... It's so cold!

 What am I doing this weekend?

I'll have to do a little grocery shopping and secret Valentines/Mardi Gras goodie bag buying for my two favorite humans who, along with their mom and dad, are coming to visit us the following weekend. I can't wait!

What am I looking forward to next month?

Mardi Gras and Valentines fun crafts with my students

Mardi Gras fun for myself

a visit from my brother, sister-in-law, and nieces

Mardi Gras Break (3 days off + 2 days of PD - so 5 days with no teaching)

Favorite recent Amazon find?

I actually haven't bought anything off Amazon in a while. But I'm thinking about buying a cute Valentines gift set for my students that I saw the other night. It's not terribly expensive and there would be enough for both classes in the set. But I'm just not sure. Hmm... Decisions, decisions :)

What's new this month?

I got my hair cut. I'd been debating for a while. But I finally decided one day to just go for it. Y'all, it's so much cooler (temp wise) and lighter too. And thankfully, I found a hair stylist who listened to what I wanted and it's easy to style as well. 

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

What's up December

  Happy Wednesday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. Somehow this year has gone by and we’re now on the last day of 2025. How is that possible? 

Anywho, here we are :)

Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives.

So let's get started...

What am I eating?

My mom’s cooking - I mean, I eat her cooking more than my own usually anyway. But the holidays bring on all the traditional family favorites. So that’s been a nice treat lately :)

What am I reminiscing about?

It was such a special Christmas this year, being able to host my family in my own home for the first time ever! But of course, it made me reminisce and think back to memories of these two, (not so little anymore) ladies from over the years. What a blessing it is to be their aunt!

 What am I loving?

Christmas Break and time to relax :)

What have I been up to?

Have I mentioned that it’s Christmas Break and I’ve enjoyed being able to have time to relax. I was tired, y’all. This break came at a great time! Just saying :)

What am I dreading?

I love my students but I’ve so enjoyed NOT having to set an alarm clock, drinking all the ice water I want without fear of not having the chance to go to the bathroom, and actually having time to sit and eat my lunch every day. So while I do love my students and will be happy to see them again next week, if I’m being honest, I’d have to say that I might be dreading losing all of the perks of Christmas Break. 

What am I working on?

I actually haven’t been working this Break. Shocking, I know. So unlike me… Anywho, I will be taking Friday as my day of work. I figure if I devote the entire day to work and combine that with the Teacher Workday we get our first day back, I might get everything I need to get done done. We’ll see.

PS - I saw this sticker on Etsy marked down for a Christmas sale and I grabbed it. Isn’t it cute?

 What am I excited about?

Have I mentioned that it’s Christmas Break and that I got to have my family here at my house for Christmas? :)

What am I watching?

The theater here has shown a few different Christmas movies at like half the price of a regular ticket during the Christmas holidays. I went and saw The Grinch last week and then I’m taking my mom to see Elf later today. So fun! 

What am I reading?

I’m slowly working my way through this book. I like it. And while I’d normally not take this long to read a book, I figured I’d take my time and really soak it in. 

What am I listening to?

I’m still listening to Christmas music. I suppose I should stop. But it’s still December. So it’s ok. Right? :)

What am I wearing?

I’ve basically lived in Christmas/winter themed pajamas and warm slippers this whole Break. I’ve been all about comfort/coziness because y’all, it’s just so cold!

 What am I doing this weekend?

I got this beautiful Bible cover/case from my brother, sister-in-law, and nieces for Christmas. So I’m planning to fix it all up and start my 2026 Bible Journaling/Reading Plan. I’ll also be doing the usual… Working one day (Friday), grocery shopping, church, meal prep for the week, and hopefully maybe one more Christmas Break nap thrown in the mix as well. :) 

What am I looking forward to next month?

Getting back to school and back into a routine again… With a few fun January/New Year’s activities thrown in the mix too :)

Favorite recent Amazon find?

I found this cute Adopt a Christmas Animal package on Amazon a couple months ago and added it to our class Christmas Wishlist. I was a little worried when I saw they were so tiny, but they all loved them. And those, added to the books we had on the Wishlist (or that I purchased myself), as well, helped us make a nice gift set for our sweet kiddos in the two classes I work with. I so love this time of year with our kids! It’s so much fun!

What's new this month?

I got placed on a new medicine. Ironically, the first one he prescribed contained a med I’m allergic to. 

* Side note: Always read the paperwork that comes with your prescriptions just in case the doctor’s office and pharmacy both miss an allergy because yep, that happened. 

Anywho… Today’s only Day 2 of taking it but here’s hoping for less headaches, among other things, and also to feeling more like myself again. 

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?