My Favorite Summer Moments

Today I'm linking up with Andrea and Erika and sharing some of my favorite parts of this past summer.

So here are 11 of my most favorite summer moments (in no particular order)...

1. ...getting to spend so much time with my nieces.

2. ...getting to spend so much time with my mom.

3. ...my trip to Senegal!

4. ...our mini roadtrip to Scottsboro, AL.

5. ...going to Florala, AL.

6. ...visiting so many farmers markets.

7. ...celebrating America's birthday with my family.

8. ...going to Mobile, AL.

9. ...stopping by the beach at the end of our Mobile trip.

10. ...decorating my classroom.

11. Oh, and did I mention getting to spend so much time with my nieces :)

Dear 16 Year Old Me

Dear 16 Year Old Me,

Stay young. Enjoy life with little to nothing to care about.

FYI - Grades do matter.

Heartbreak is inevitable. Trust me. It'll happen again (more than once). 

Don't keep your emotions all bottled up inside. It's a lot easier to just let it all out.

The word, "friend," means something. Don't just throw it around.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. It's how you learn to be better.

Forget about the idiots who have nothing better to do than to tease. They're idiots.

Broaden your worldview. There's life outside of Alabama.

Think "where's home?" is a hard question now? Just wait a few years. It'll get even harder.

Spend more time with your brother. When he gets married and leaves home, you'll miss him a lot!

Your parents are a lot smarter than you give them credit for. 

Cherish time with your dad. You've only got 14 more years with him.

Realize you can't fix everything. And that's okay.

Quit worrying about what everybody else thinks. 

In fact, quit worrying so much altogether.

Stop thinking you can't. You can.

Believe in yourself. If you don't, who will?

Spend more time in the Word.

And one more thing...

Enjoy the ride.

Sincerely, 

Your 30 year old self

ABCs

I added some ABC magnets to the side of my desk. Who would've ever thought that something that small could make some of my kids so incredibly happy?'

The Bible shouldn't be sugar coated. Why are so many Christians afraid to share the truth?! Why are so many Christians afraid of offending someone and sugarcoating/watering down the Gospel?!

Choosing happiness can be hard at times, but it's so worth it. 

I drank milk with my supper. The best part of it? ...my American flag cup :)

I so enjoy coming home at the end of a long day and seeing this view. 

I saw the funniest meme the other day on Facebook. What do y'all think? :)

My small group table is one of my most favorite spots in my classroom. It's also one of the most commonly used in my classroom.

I hate when people, in response to your sadness or grief, say "it could always be worse." Ugh!

I love the ice at Sonic. It's the best!

A teacher's job is most definitely not an easy one. Is it worth it, though? Yes! ...most definitely so!

I kind of miss singing hymns...

I leave for work so early. I hate driving in the dark. But hey... I'd rather that than driving home at night in the dark.

I say ma'am or sir at the end of my years and nos if I'm speaking to an older person. Where I'm from, it's a sign of respect.

Apparently it was National Dogs Day yesterday. Here's a picture of my favorite dog :)

I have a small obsession with cute cups. Well, my brother and sister-in-law gave me this one for my birthday. Isn't it cute?! I love it! And I also love having a co-worker who's super creative and put my name on it for me :)

I'm a pillow flipper. I flip my pillow back and forth all during the night so my head is always touching the cool side. 

I quickly realized last year that I needed something better to cart home the paperwork, assignments, etc. that I bring home from time to time because using my tote bags were great. But they would cause me to inevitably bend or rip papers. So when I saw this box at a Big Lots store this summer (for only $6!!!), I quickly snatched it up!

I received a sweet text from my brother earlier today. He wanted to check on me. Aww :)

Saying I'm sorry in front of a criticism/hurtful comment really doesn't make it any better.

I tend to talk with my hands a lot. I hadn't noticed that until just recently. 

I'm usually not a fan of pictures of myself, but I actually like this one that I took earlier this week...

I vote we ban the word "bae." I mean really... Is it that hard to say baby? And it doesn't even sound that cute and endearing...

I wonder if I'll ever get used to all the paperwork I have to do at work. Like seriously... It's almost never ending!

I was eXcited to see I'd gotten a card in the mail when I got home today. Mail = awesome :)

I love this youngin's facial expressions. She's so cute!

I love the zeal for life these two girls have. What a refreshing blessing they are in my life!

 

What's up August

Can y'all believe it's already the last week of the month?!

Today I'm linking up with Mix and Match Mama, Pinterest Told Me To, and The Larson Lingo for the end of August's What's Up Wednesday post.

The questions for this monthly series are always similar, with a few tweaked from time to time, depending on what's going on.

The only different aspect of these is that there's always one last question that is significant to the month at hand.

So if you want to join along, grab the "button" below and the questions above and go for it! :)

What am I eating this week?

I think leftovers are awesomesauce. Side note... Is awesomesauce one word or two? :)

Anywho... My mom's church had a fellowship potluck dinner on Sunday and my mom can't just make one or two small dishes like most people. No... She makes enough for an army. So now we have enough leftovers to probably last us most of the week. Oh and FYI... I am so not complaining. Why? 1) My mom is an AMAZING cook! 2) I have absolutely no desire to come in and cook after a ridiculously long day at work! :)

What am I watching?

Well, as I type this, I'm watching the Duck Dynasty wedding special. I missed it when it first came on, so I was happy to be able to catch it tonight. 

What am I reading? 

...just a little light reading on one of the biggest "hot topic" words in American education today. And considering teaching with rigor is such a big deal, I'm hoping this book will help me do a better job at incorporating it into the teaching of my students.

What am I listening to?

I've been listening to the radio more on my way to/from work. I love 93.7, our local contemporary Christian station!

What am I dreading? 

Honestly... I can't think of anything :)

What am I excited about?

...losing weight! Little by little :)

What am I looking forward to in September?

Labor Day = no school = A Happy Me :)

What am I reminiscing about?

I like Facebook's new thing where it shows you things you've posted on this date over the past however many years. Well, on Monday, it wanted to remind me that I'd been Facebook friends with this lady for 5 years. So I spent a little time reminiscing over the past 5 years of getting to know this former co-worker turned friend turned best bud :) 

What a blessing this lady is in my life!

What am I wearing? 

I've been wearing a whole lot of purple recently. I think it's my new favorite color to wear. Oh and p.s. I totally love this selfie :)

What am I loving?

    

...these pictures of my nieces from this past weekend :)

What have I been up to?

Oh nothing much. Just being a super teacher :) 

What am I doing this weekend?

My mom and I are going to replace the flowers on my dad's grave this weekend. We've been putting it off for a while. After all, the cemetery isn't the most wonderful place in the world... But we've put it off long enough. It's time.

What else is new? 

I've lost 4 pounds since school started! That's 2 pounds a week. I'll take it :)

And now for the August question...

What's my favorite back to school tradition? 

...that awesome moment at the end of the day when I can finally climb into bed after a long day at work :)