A good chuckle...

You paid attention during 80% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

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What did I get myself into....

Okay folks... it's getting close. I officially start at my placement on the 4th and I'm seriously freaking out. I'll be taking over three different course: Film and Lit (12th graders), Critical Writing (10th grade honors), and Sophomore English (CP2). I've never read any of the texts I'll be teaching and at this point I don't know what my schedule will be like in terms of teaching lessons or planning units. It's very much up in the air and I hate that! Here are the texts for this semester:

F&L:
Dracula
The Color Purple
The Princess Bride
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

CW:
Merchant of Venice
Brave New World
Animal Farm
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

English 10:
Unit on Poetry (authors not yet selected)
Slaughterhouse Five
Macbeth

So that's the update for now. It should be a challenging and interesting semester to say the least. I'm hoping to make it through and not only been successful but also get hired. Those are my two fears right now and its stressing me out. I feel so jumbled and all over the place but I'm sure it will get better as I go along...

Simple things...

Quick update:

I started back at college this week for my pre-student teaching seminars. We are learning even more about what this semester will bring and how to be the best teachers we can be. I finally step into the classroom on Feb 4th and go until May 10. How exciting!!!

Also, I received a letter this week stating I am a newly nominated member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Education Honor Society. What a huge honor it is! You need to have a 3.6 GPA to be consider (for graduate students) and I obviously have it so I am so pumped. I'm still getting more information about it and I will update as I know more.

Dougie left for Florida on Thursday so I'm a single chick this weekend (lol). He went down with his Dad to celebrate a family friend's retirement from the Army. I miss him so much and can't wait to have him back. We pick him up Sunday night at 9pm.

Last night was fun as well. Ashley, a friend and my favorite Alpha Sigma Tau sister, spent last night at my house. We rented two movies, had 99 takeout, and curled up on the couch. It was such a nice relaxing night with her. She is a fun person to hang out with plus she is working on her teaching credentials (elementary ed) so we share that love too.

Today I'm having tea with my old boss, Sarah, who is having a baby in May. I can't wait to see her. I haven't seen her since she's told us about the news so she must be showing by now! How exciting :-) We are going to a cute tearoom in Londonderry called Antiquiteas.

Anyways, that's my update. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I know I will :-)

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

From January 18th until January 25th, the Catholic church celebrates a week of prayer "that the family of Christ all over the world might come to one accord...[For] Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant churches... to remember that we are one family" (Amazing Days publication).

I find this interesting because just yesterday I sat down with someone who has a different religious background than myself and we both talked about the things that scared us, that we don't understand, or that we just don't agree with. This was the first person I've done this with so it was a little scary at first but we both came to the same realization: That we both believe in Jesus and that our differences don't matter in the long run. We all have that one principle and the rest is just frosting on the cake. I enjoy the structure and rich history of the Catholic church while someone else may be turned off by all the "rules". I enjoy hymns and traditional church music while other people might not use music during their religious service.

I want to remind people that I speak in general here and understand that there is more to it than those things listed above. There are reasons why there are many different denominations and I respect those reasons. For example, the Catholic church believes in the infallibility of the Pope.

I guess the reason for this post is to highlight that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that we should celebrate our differences instead of fighting about them. Because truthfully, does it really matter? If we are following the 10 commandments, the golden rule, and believe in the Trinity, aren't we, at some basic level, the same?

Prayer for Christian Unity (from Amazing Days publication):

Almighty and eternal God,
you keep together those you have united.
Look kindly on all who profess you
by one common baptism.
Make us one in the fullness of faith
and keep us one in the fellowship of love.

God our Father,
your Son promised to be
with all who gather in his name.
Pour out on us the spirit of understanding,
truth and peace.
Help us to strive with all our hearts
to know what is pleasing to you,
and when we know your will
make us determine to do it.
Grant our prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.


On a side note: This morning after Mass, I had a cup of tea using my Scripture Tea bags and this was the bible verse I got this morning (very fitting): "Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it" Psalms 34:14 (TLB translation).

Third weekend of the month...

Just got back from adoration.... what a great feeling it is. To spend one hour with Jesus, to give back in some small way for all he has done for you. What a gift!

I've been having a tough month... two deaths between middle of December and January, school up in the air, friendships in peril, health concerns... Just a lot to deal with.

I almost didn't go to adoration this weekend. There wasn't a sign up sheet last week and I didn't go out of my way to find out about the hours available. It was today, while I was making my toast that I thought, Hey, I should go to adoration. Literally, five minutes later, Anna (the lady who coordinates the hours for adoration) calls my cell phone. She wanted to see if I was interesting in signing up for an adoration hour. How amazing is that? Ask and you shall receive!

And you know what, I actually feel better. I poured my heart out and laid my troubles at Jesus' feet. I know he will lead me down the right path. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart". I may not like the outcome, but I know that things happen for a reason and that He wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle.

What a wonderful gift our faith has...

I heart bulldogs

When I feel down in the dumps, I like watching a funny movie or a funny youtube video to lift my spirits. Today I wanted to post a video I watch from time to time that really makes me smile. I do want to warn my readers (all three of you) that this video is from a late night talk show so its not for our younger viewers.

My stress level is rising...

Classes start a week from tomorrow and I have yet set up a meeting with my teacher for student teaching. The current stumbling block... my CORI form. The results aren't in yet (or no one has mentioned they are in yet) which means I can't step on school property. I didn't get anything done that I hope to this semester break... observe some classes, get a head start on what I would be teaching, and start my reports that are due the first day back at Framingham State College. I feel like I'm spinning out of control and don't know which way is up.

On top of that, a personal issue I've been dealing with since the end of last month is still unresolved and that person hasn't said a word to me, even though I tried to communicate with them. Perhaps that is the answer to my question, but was still hoping for some sort of response from them.

I just feel like life is all over the place right now and I'm not in control of what is really important. Add the unknowning-ness to student teaching (another thing I'm freaking out about) and I just feel so lost.

Maybe once school is back in session, things will be better.

Keys to a better life

Everyone knows that I am obsessed with commericals. I've been known to "shhh" a room just for a 30 second spot, especially if it is school or puppy related. Last night (and the past couple of nights), I've noticed these awesome commericals that are based on things like friendship, marriage, compassion, and many others. Here are a few spots that are my favorite:

Winter wonderland

With a estimated 10-12 inches of snow on the way, I'm very glad I'm still on winter break and not student teaching. But then again, most schools are closed, including my student teaching district so I guess I wouldn't have to worry about driving today anyways. As I was watching the news last night and the names of the school systems that were closed, I had a surreal feeling. I'm actually going to be a teacher. I felt so warm and happy... my dream that I've had since I was a very little girl is finally coming true. For me it won't be "official" until I have a job, but I'm on the last leg of the journey and couldn't be more happier.

On a final note, my husband just left me the cutest and sweetest note ever:

"Do you have enough movies and books to keep you occupied and warm and happy today?"

I'm the luckiest gal in the world!

A few ups and and a few downs

It's been another one of those weeks... Its only Wednesday but I feel like its been a roller coaster.

First, my hubby's other grandmother passed away Saturday. Doug was a lot closer to Grammy so its been a little harder on him. Also, there isn't going to be any type of ceremony or Mass so I feel like there isn't any closure (at least for myself). She died the same way Doug's other grandmother passed away (infection which led to kidney and heart failure). So please keep the Seeds and Grammy in your prayers.

Then Sunday-Monday I had some sort of bug (high fever, chills, sweats, headache, and my skin sore to the touch). This is my third time in 6 months having this 24 hour thing and it bites. I hope it doesn't come back!

On a brighter side, I have two close friends who are having babies in 2008. James and Kristen Gleason are due in April while my friend Sarah is due in May! All I can say is Yippee and I can't wait to babysit (crosses fingers).

In addition to babies, I voted in my first primary yesterday. I never really fully understood the whole big deal-ness of the NH primaries (I'm new to the state...moved here in 2006) so it was cool having the opportunities to meet the candidates and casting my vote that helped my candidate in their run for the White House. Although they didn't win in NH, they are still in the game and look forward to following them as they continue on.

Finally, yesterday I had to run down to my student teaching school to fill out my CORI form and as I was driving home, I was thinking I need some sort of re-vamping since I'll be working again and I have to look decent. So on top of my new wardrobe I've been working on, I've added some fun hair accessories to the list so I don't have permi-ponytail from Feb-May. I bought some headbands and a fun hair tie thingy so hopefully I'll look the part.

Back to my housewife duties: laundry, decluttering, and loving my puppy!

I can't seem to escape King Arthur!

I had mentioned quickly that I got a tea set for Christmas from my mother-in-law. I wanted to elaborate on that a little today since I love tea parties and I'm super-excited to have my very own tea set (and my first!) First, here is a picture:

It's called Guinivere, which is funny since I just devoted my life last semester to the King Arthur legend (he marries Guinivere, who in turn falls in love with Lancelot, Arthur's best friend). It's by Royal Patrician which is a British company (another cool detail since my family is extremely English).

I'm anxious to throw a tea party, but understand that this time of year is just as busy since people are winding down from the holidays and trying to catch up with housecleaning and the such. My last tea party went very well and I'm excited to try a new tea and some different sandwiches (I learned a lot from the holiday tea I went to right before Christmas).

Now I have to remember to write 2008 on everything....

Happy 2008, everyone! So far, so good I think. Today I signed up on a message board/group through yahoo.com that will help me greatly this year. Check it out: flylady.net

I saw this today on Kristen (Kiki's) blog and thought it was a fanastic idea. I think it will help me keep things in line here while I'm so busy in school and when I'm eventually a teacher. I already completed the first task: Shine the sink. Here is a few pictures of our "new" sink.

I forgot to say, put on your sunglasses before looking at the pictures... the shine may blind you (lol). Anyways, that's it for now. I have to do some grocery shopping today and spend some quality time with my Rosie. Right now she's sitting at the door, falling asleep sitting up. I love my bulldog!