So it's been a while...

...since my last post. When I last wrote, I still had a month of school left. I now am on the downswing of summer break and have been enjoying every minute of it. I've hung out with friends, played with my nephew, and laid by the pool...what more could I ask for??? (maybe a bit longer to my break ;)

I am officially 30 now and went in with a week long celebration. I got together with friends for a meal at my favorite restaurant, PF Changs, and then on to see Letters to Juliet (movie #1). Through out that entire week, I had birthday dinners with my family, Stephanie, Emily and Amanda, John, and people from school. Then on Friday, it was planned to go to the Willard to celebrate with the girls from college. So I'm getting ready and dad is here at my house and I need to run to Kohls. Well he says he wants to go with me (weird). I get partially ready and just throw on a t-shirt and jeans, do my make up and dry my hair...still need to straighten it and figure out what I'm wearing for the evening. We go shopping and then he tells me that I need to drop him off at mom's work. Okay, whatever and asks that I come in with him. I did not want to and kind of throw a fit over it. Mom comes out and convinces me to come in and see some ice sculpture that somebody made (what bs line is that and who falls for crap like that) and SURPRISE, it's a birthday party for me. What fun!! I had no idea!!

So far, 30 hasn't been too bad. Not that I expected it to be life changing or anything but it's just been the same life so far.

Down to 33 days

After Monday, my 8th year of teaching is down to 33 days. I can't believe I've been teaching that long!! The weird thing is, I always imagine the kids staying the same age. I stay in 2nd grade (well most of the time I have) and they keep going up. On Friday I went shopping and saw this girl when I walked in. She was working the cash register. I knew she looked familiar but could not place her. When it was time to check out, I looked at her name tag and realized she was in my 5th grade student teaching class. WHAT?? Those kids graduated last year. I couldn't believe it. Then I started thinking about the kiddos I had my first year. I taught kindergarten that year...5 year olds. Those sweet little innocent 5 year olds are now pubescent, hormonal 7th graders. HOLY COW!! I wonder if I would even recognize some of them. My first section of 2nd graders will be high schoolers next year.

Who am I kidding...I'll be 30 in just fifty days!! I was 22 when I started teaching and I'm going to be 3-0. I remember when I thought that was old...heck I remember when my dad turned 30. Oh, the things I was going to have accomplished by then. I just knew by the time I was 30, I would have been married for a while and have a couple of kids. I'm not quite sure what else I would have accomplished but those were the main things. Who knew the things God had in store for me. I never would have thought I would have been able to travel to Ukraine, Mexico, Poland, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and the Bahamas. I've gone on countless youth group trips. Bought a house...by myself I might add. I have my own dog who after 2 years is still alive and kicking (usually a little too much). I have a great family especially my adorable nephew. I have a car that I own (woo hoo)! Plus I get to have all the great experiences of falling in love with the man that God has in line for me and the kiddos that I'm hoping to have.

Holy cow, where did that tangent come from?? Anyway, I'll stop rambling for now. Time for bed so I can get up in the morning and get day 33 over and done with.

Ashley

I Love Spring Break

Spring break is one of those perks you get for teaching. I love knowing that for the next 9 days I get to wake up when I want to, sit in my pajamas all day (if I want to), read as many books as I can, go where ever I want to go, and just enjoy life. Not that I don't get to do that while school is in but it's just that freedom. It's the counting down the days even though I'm not going anywhere this year. It's getting to see my nephew during the day and not just out to eat at a restaurant. It's getting to hang out with people because I can. I LOVE IT.

The whole week before, I get to listen to my kids tell me all the places they are going and all the things they are doing and it reminds me that there parents are going to have them for the next nine days, and not me. At those times, I want to go somewhere but then I remember I get to wake up in my own bed every morning, get to shower in my shower, and I don't have to recover from my week long travel the day I go back to school.

Last year I went on a cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman, which I loved! This year it's just more lowkey. I'm going to IKEA (one of the best places ever) to do some shopping for bedroom decor...gotta get working on one of my 30 things when I'm 30. I'm going down to Mammoth Cave...never gone there before. And I'm also hoping to get to hang out with people I don't get to see very often and maybe even some I do see ;).

I'm also realizing that this will be my last spring break in my 20's...gasp!! On Thursday, I will be 2 months from the big 3-0. I'm not at all panicked about it...it's just weird to think that I'm "that old." I remember at 16 thinking how long it seemed until I would be 20 and now I've flown by that. I'm not one of those people who is just so dreading turning 30. Life goes on, it's all in how you act not how old you are...right?? I guess I'm just feeling nostalgic in my old age ;)

So, here's to spring break and getting older!! Hoping for nice weather, plenty of sleep, plenty of time spent with friends, and safe travel for everyone!!

Ashley

just a little feel good moment

I found out from one of the 3rd grade teachers yesterday that the 3rd graders were given a prompt to write about a person who made them feel special. Two of my kiddos from last year decided to write about me. I could have cried reading these. They were so sweet. One of them said I was full of energy ( he apparently doesn't remember me yawning everytime we sat down to listen to the story for the week and when I had to listen to the kids read the same paragraph over and over 25 times). The other little boy said that I always have a smile on my face and that I always went to his baseball games. This just reiterates to me that all those times I got up a little bit earlier than I wanted to or spent just a little extra time away from doing things for me, I made a difference in those boys' lives. Sniff, sniff...

just another story from one of my students...

Yesterday the "human encyclopedia" in my classroom decided to share an interesting piece of information with some of my kids. All I overheard at first was "...and that's why it's called the crapper." I quickly turned to the encyclopedia and asked what in the world was he talking about. He said..."it's not bad Miss Cook. I found out that the person who invented the toilet was named Sir Johnny Crapper. That's why they call it the crapper." His parents told him this by the way. So today in while we were in the library....I'm sorry, the media center, I decided to do a little teachable moment. He and I got the actual encyclopedia out and looked up this bit of information. For any of you who were actually curious about this, this is not the person who invented it. That would be Sir Johnny Harrington. Sir Thomas Crapper just got the patent for it.

Overcoming my fears

I'm on this big journey right now on overcoming my fears and anxieties. For some reason I've been really struggling with letting unreal fears overcome me. The book Jesus Calling was recommended to me. It's a yearly devotional and covers overcoming anxiety. There have been several things that I have read in it that has been extremely helpful.

One thing is when I feel my fears taking over my thoughts, try saying "I trust you, Jesus." This helps with just refocusing my mind on Him and remembering Who it is I trust. At first I was really bad about remembering to do this but slowly it has entered my brain as a mainstay.

Second, the scripture that they have listed are great reminders for life. I've grabbed a journal and started writing them down and just some thoughts on them. Then when I feel anxious, I can remind myself quickly of some of those verses.

Last, the author (who I can't remember the name of right now), recommends when you pray for something, pray once for that request and then when you are praying about it later, thank God for working on the answer to your prayer. I know if I continually ask for a certain request to be answered, I'm always focusing on the negative whereas if you are thanking Him for the answer, whether it's something you want to happen or not, you are allowing Him to answer it the way He knows is best.

I may be posting some of the verses that have been a big help to me lately and I'll also give the author's name in case you are interested.

Ashley

These darn kids...

Here are a couple of new stories from today.

We read a story about Helen Keller this past week and we were finishing up the discussion this morning. We realized that her death was on June 1st which is my birthday. I mentioned this and one of the girls said..."So, are you having a Helen Keller birthday cake for your birthday this year?" And what kind of birthday cake would that be my dear??

Number 2:
This one is from the little girl from China...

Little Girl: Miss Cook, do you have a lot of friends.
Me: yes
Little Girl: How many?
Me: I don't know
Little Girl: Like a billion??
Me: Sure
Little Girl: How many are boys??

This little thing must have a goal of getting me married off this year!