Father's Day, A new Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love father's day because it helps me reflect on all the wonderful fathers out there. Although I only got to talk on the phone with my dad, it was still great to chat. I know that although Matt is not technically a father yet, he will be an outstanding one. After church Matt made a batch of his amazing vegetarian baked beans and we headed over to his mom's. For dinner with the family. Luckily enough, even Grandpa White and Ginny ( long time his fiance) were there too! It was a larger group than usual and it added a lot of fun.

My NEW JOB!
Yes, I was offered a position as a 1st grade teacher at a charter school, and OF Course I accepted! I am so excited to get to teach 1st grade and to try something new. I get to have a new challenge and add to my skills as a teacher. This school is very urban, so it will be very demanding and difficult in ways I can't even imagine. I couldn't be happier about it and I will enjoy a new challenge!

So I'm not good at keeping in contact with friends. I'm sort of an introverted home-body who would rather hang out with my husband. But I want to be better at keeping in touch with people in my life so I'm trying to reach out better. Matt and I had lunch with the Pangallo's a friend of mine that I taught with at my last job. It was fun to see their new baby and to catch up. Hearing all the stories of my old school and job, reinforce to me that although it was hard, it was also a huge blessing getting away from many of the poisonous people and situations at that job. It has become a high-school like environment with petty teachers, rumor mills, and gossip. I am so glad to be away from that.

Today I went to the thrift store and bought about 50 children's books for about 7 cents each. I need more 1st grade level books and thought this was a great way to stock up! I plan to go often and try to find good deals so that I have tons of books to enrich the students lives with.

The garden
Yes, its my baby, so I take lots of pictures of it. This green pepper was the first thing we picked. We also ate a delicious cucumber yesterday!!! We expanded our little fenced in area to twice the size since many of our plants are spreading out of control, its much easier to walk around and water things now. It also gives these plants more room!!! We have a watermellon the size of a ping pong ball!! I know I'm pathetic, but if I'm this excited about my garden, can you imagine how great of a mom I'll be!!!!!!!

lov

30-30-30 The Golden Birthday

Yes, June is almost here, and bringing with it is my 30th birthday. This is the birthday that I have dreaded, feared, ignored, tolerated, accepted, entertained, and now embraced. I have decided that since this is my golden birthday (when you turn the age of the number the day your birthday falls on) I decided to celebrate. I will celebrate for 30 days, till June 30, when I turn 30. Hence the 30-30-30. I am really excited for my birthday because, I like any reason to celebrate, but also its just fun! To celebrate I decided each day I would do something to make myself happy, I am very happy when I serve others, so I hope to serve a different person or people every day. It can be something little or big. I am very excited to challenge myself to do service for others and keep track of it everyday. I know this will bring me happiness and make my 30th birthday the best ever!! (I don't say this for bragging, I say this for journal purposes.)

I used to dread turning 30 but now I'm really glad because I can finally be the age that I feel in the professional world. When I was teaching, all the 20=something aged girls would drink and party, sleep around, and do all manner of crazy things. So now that I'm older and wiser, I don't feel like I have to be clumped in that group of people anymore. Everyone always thought I was older because I didn't do those things. I got dubbed as the "loner" because I didn't go out drinking with the young girls and I didn't talk about babies and kids with the older ones, so at least my age is a little closer to the more mature professionals. Too bad I'm not even working now so that doesn't even matter. Oh well!

Speaking of working, I'm still trying to find a job: and any prayers are appreciated. I just really need to find a teaching job. The market is fierce and I've tried so hard, but its just saturated with teachers. This economy really needs to turn around!

Matt got accepted to the new school he applied to and we are thrilled. He starts in the fall. Right now his major is power systems management. I have no clue what that is exactly, but something to do with power systems, like electricity I think!! He's completely nervous because he might have to quit his job and do some sort of coop or internship along with the program and he's been doing the same thing for so long, that change seems quite daunting to him right now. We are so excited!

Summer Time

This picture was taken from my phone at my seat at graduation. Too bad I forgot my camera, but at least I had my phone.

So lately Matt's been back at school twice a week night while continuing to work at 4 every morning. I have been working on finding a job. Some days I work a little harder than others. If anyone ever needs a job, talk to my dad, he's pretty much the king of how to find a job period, let alone the tough economic times. I am grateful that he has been so helpful and inspiring. He has helped me learn how to network and reach out to people so that I can find a job. I have had a few leads as of late and I'm now trying to follow up on them.

I am also trying to loose the graduate school pounds i gained by eating healthy and exercising. I am still feeling stress because of not having a job, so the pounds do not want to leave. How is it fair? I bought a "raw" recipe book from a used bookstore and have tried a few out. I made raw "bread" more like a cracker, but very good. I made raw brownies, they were wonderful!!!

Raw Brownies:
1 cup pecans
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp agave nectar
1 cup dates (pited of course)
1 tsp vanilla

Grind them up in the food processor and then press then into a small container.

They made a great treat that is healthy, we especially loved it with other things. We put it with ice cream and had brownie sunday. I also put some with whipped cream and it was great. It was great plain too. It takes a lot like the Laura Bars you buy at stores.