My Crowded Mind

I follow two different blogs that share their random thoughts every once in a while, and thought I'd do the same. I love to read these sort of posts! My mind feels crowded, so this should help!

* I cannot believe Avery is about to be one! Wasn't she just born?!
* I love my new job, and the people I work with!
* We are renovating our living room. John took out our brick fireplace so we can mount the tv and have less wires for Avery to play with. It's been a huge process, and a pretty messy project.
* My mom will be in for two weeks the middle/end of October! I always love when she's here to visit!
* My dad called two weeks ago and surprised me with some fun news- he's going to fly in for the weekend of Avery's birthday so he can be with us to celebrate! How cool is that?
* I'm doing a devotional with a bunch of women on-line and really love it! I feel like it's making me more aware of my marriage, and the kind of marriage I'd like to have.
* I love to listen to the radio in the morning on my way to work, but cannot stand it in the afternoon. I have to drive home in silence.
* I work will all grade levels (K-5) and the funniest kids are the little ones- they crack me up everyday!
* Why do I always have my mouth open when I put mascara on?
* I've been trying to eat healthier, it's going ok. Some day are really good, and other days....well, not so much. I have made myself a salad almost everyday the last 3 wks. I miss having a warm lunch.
* I'm ready for this rain to be over with. Our grass needs to be mowed, and it's impossible to do it when it's so wet.
* John meets with his best friend every Wednesday morning to do a Bible study and they are currently reading a book together called, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters. He said he really likes it, and looks forward to applying what he is learning.
* The conversation of church came up in the lounge the other day and I was able to invite someone to Waters Edge. That's always exciting for me!
* I have child drop off duty in the morning and see the inside of A LOT of cars every morning. Some people keep their cars so messy! I think I've seen it all!
* When Avery laughs really hard she sounds like a man. It makes me laugh even harder when the old man laugh comes out.


I'm sure there are more thoughts than listed above crowding my mind, but that seems to be it for now.

11 months of Avery Paige

Avery all prim and proper!

Now just look at that smile- adorable!

No- this is not happening...we are not one month away from Avery turning 1, are we??!! Ahhhh! Well, it's going to happen and I'll have to wrap my mind around it over the next four weeks somehow. People are so right- it flies by! She is such a doll, and become quite the little lady. She walks (while holding onto something), can stand on her own for 10-15 seconds at a time, and chats all day...no really...alllll day! She has developed a beautiful personality, and knows how to light up a room with her sparkly eyes, and warm smile. No doubt she has me and her daddy wrapped around her chunky little fingers! We feel so blessed to be her parents, and can't wait for the rest of her childhood to unfold.

Who is Jesus?

Our church is doing a series called Jesus, and today's talk was all about who Jesus is. The main point was to make much of the name of Jesus. The more we focus on him and his strength, the less we focus on our problems and our weaknesses.

They sang part of a song at the end of the service. I cried the whole time- not only b/c it's a great song, but because it brought me back to Grace Chapel, the church I grew up going to in upstate NY. It took me back to the band singing this song with a piano or keyboard, one guitar, and a drummer- so simple. When our church did it, the men had one part, and the women had another part and then when we'd sing together in a round it could combine both parts. I miss my old church- the simplicity of it. While singing the song, the faces of so many old friends came to my mind and I thanked God for putting all of those special people in my life over the years I lived in NY.

The song is titled, You Are Holy (Prince of Peace) by Michael W. Smith. Here is the chorus (the part we sang in church together today):

He is Lord of Lords
He is King of Kings
He is mighty God
Lord of everything

He's Emmanuel
He's the great "I AM"
He's my Prince of Peace
Who is the Lamb

He's the living God
He's my saving grace
He will reign forever
He is ancient of days

He's the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End
He's my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend

He's my Prince of Peace and I will live my life for you.

Rainy Tailgate

I just love her!

Susan, me, Kristi and Avery, and Jess

Me and Jess, and the girls- Avery and Rosalie

Kristi, Avery and Alli

The Dorr Family

Danielle, Angela, me and Avery, and Heather

Best Cookies EVER- pumpkin cookies, of course!

This girl was slap tired after the tailgate!

Our church appreciates its volunteers and likes to recognize them throughout the year in different ways. This year, our church had a volunteer tailgate party in the parking lot of WEC Hampton. There was a band, lots of people, people tailgating with food, and rain...lots of rain!

John and I (and Avery) almost didn't go because of the yucky cold/rainy weather, but at the last minute decided to...and we are so glad we went! It was great seeing old friends from over the years, and visiting the different tailgates.

Wide Open Spaces

A view of the 5th grade pod.
Another view of the 5th grade pod.

One more view of the 5th grade pod.
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A view of two classrooms within the 1st grade pod.

Another view of two classrooms in the 1st grade pod.

Another view of the 1st grade pod.

Welcome to my new school- Dutrow Elementary! I started here as the Reading Interventionist about two weeks ago, and I love it here! The people are really friendly, the students are well behaved, and I feel like I've adjusted well to my new position.

Dutrow is a very different school than most, and it's been hard for me to explain the physical layout of the school in words, which is why I decided to take pictures. The classrooms do not have walls dividing them up. Each grade level has their own 'pod' and then there are 3-4 classes within each pod. Most teachers usually divide the pods up with either a bookcase, or a cubby. This was a foreign concept to me, since both schools I have previously taught at had walls dividing classrooms and doors to close. But I must say- it's not as weird as I thought it was going to be...it totally works! There is no chaos, and no madness...instead, there is learning, productivity, and creativity! I'm sure this set up is not for all teachers, and all students- but for the students and teachers who are at Dutrow, they make it work and make it look easy!

This set up allows for a lot of things, and does not allow for others. Here is what I mean: each pod has a very inviting, community type feeling to it. It allows for different grade levels to work together seamlessly. It does not allow for teachers to yell at students, or for teachers to speak harshly to a student because other teachers, grade levels and students are all sharing the same space. It does not allow for students doing incomplete work/time out in the hallway.

It is a very unique set up, and I'm glad to have the experience of working here. I'm looking forward to the rest of the school year to unfold :)

Sap of a mother

Time flies when you're having fun...and we sure have been having fun with Avery Paige! I cannot believe that in about 5 weeks, she will be 1 year old!!! It blows my mind! People are so right- time flies by, and no matter how hard you try to hold onto things, moments slip past you and memories start to fade.

For instance, I know that I held her a lot, took a lot of pictures (understatement of the year), and captured milestones on video, but I still feel as though I can't remember certain things about her when she was a little bitty baby. No matter how close I held her, how many times I prayed over her before putting her to bed, how much I starred at her, how much I soaked her in...it will probably never be enough for this sap of a mother! It is so true what they say about a mother's love for her child...endless, protective, and at times overwhelming.

If this first year is any indication of what the rest of motherhood will be like...I am in for quite a ride with you Avery Dorr! You are fun, energetic, dramatic, feisty, cuddly, curious, and most of all...adored by me and your Daddy!

September 11, 2001

I know you remember what you were doing the morning of September 11, 2001. Everyone does.

It was my freshman year of college and I had just started classes at HVCC in the Early Childhood Education department. The college I attended was in Troy, only 10 minutes from, Albany, NY- the capital of the great state...needless to say people were freaking out. My professor released us from class, and told us to call anyone we knew who lived in the city to make sure they were okay. I made sure to call my dad who travels to NYC a few times a month for meetings- thankfully he wasn't in the city on that day.

My heart breaks for the victims, families, and survivors of 9/11. My heart breaks for people left without answers. My heart breaks for our nation.

But then I'm reminded that even during our darkest hours, God never leaves us. He is faithful, protective, and loving.