Sleepy week

For some reason I have had no energy this week! I have so badly wanted a "pick me up" but it just hasn't come. I usually get up about 5:30...this morning I hit snooze 4 times!!!! I can't figure it out...there isn't anything out of the ordinary in my schedule....same stuff. I got to the gym tonight and felt a little better. Am I the only one who has weeks like this? (I hope and pray it only lasts this week!)

one of my favorite pics

Something about this picture that I love...maybe two things: my husband and watching him lead two other people into something so sweet, so divine...more importantly because he's such a stud.

1/2 Marathon Training Week 5

Monday:Rest
Tuesday: 6miles
Wednesday:Rest
Thursday: 7miles
Friday:Rest
Saturday: 2 miles
Sunday: Rest

A Bouquet of Newly Sharpened Pencils

One of my all time favorite movie lines:

"Don't you just love New York in the Fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I new your name and address."

I just love the thought of a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, I love Fall and I love, love, love New York:)

Incase you still don't know what movie this is...shame on you! It's You've Got Mail at the beginning when Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) is writing Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan). I have gotten on one of my marathon kicks with this movie lately...watched it way too many times in the past two weeks!!

The woven parts of life...

Went to an informational meeting this morning at UGA to see about being a part of the Red Clay Writing Project for the month of June. I usually try to find one professional learning event to go to in the summer to keep up with new stuff. Let me just say that the people I met came from all walks of life, were EXTREMELY intelligent (my insecurities kicked in a little bit and I was a little intimidated)....but more than anything else...these people could WRITE. We all wrote about every 10 minutes and shared within our small pod groups. Here's one of the prompts we were given: "What has writing meant to you in your life?"
Here was my response:

Writing for me begins with the pursuits: Christ, a family, college, teaching, friendships, ministry, life. All of these pursuits, for me, have one God-given thing in common: the passion of writing. Writing about the people who shaped me....who loved me, writing about the friends I laughed with, writing about my grief, writing about my tears, writing about the world...the things I didn't understand, writing about my dreams, writing about my insecurities, writing about wanting to get married, writing about falling in love with the one I married, writing about ministry...dreams for ministry, writing about the greatest Pursuit of my life..... It is this thing...this Divine thing that I have found in the Pursuit that stirs me and calls me two or three times a day.

Professor: "Times up! Pencils down."

In the span of 4 minutes I felt as though I wrote this tiny paragraph filled with the large canvas painting of my life journey. Even in writing this post I want to be a better writer and write metaphors like "the large canvas painting of my life." What about you? I feel like writing is uniquely woven into every area of my life. What is it that you see woven into your pursuits?

White House Scavenger Hunt

I just love that Sasha and Malia were welcomed to the White House by a Scavenger Hunt where the grand prize was a Jonas Brothers concert. How much fun for these two sisters:)

Free goodies at Macy's:)

Went to Macy's today because they were giving away free Clinique moisturizer. They had lots of stuff not just the moisturizer. They are supposed to be doing this all week ....when I was there about a hundred women were in line (this was at 8:00 on a Tues. Night). My sister went where she lives and Brooke is going in Texas....the women of America have gone crazy! We just love Free goodies:) Here's a pic. of the setup at Macy's.

1/2 Marathon Training week 4

This week is kind of a break. I only have to do 10 this week...which is very convenient since it is FREEZING in Atlanta! Brrrrr.
Monday:Rest
Tuesday:Rest
Wednesday:2
Thursday:3
Friday:Rest
Saturday:5
Sunday:Rest

Wheatgrass Juice

Brett and I made a New Year's goal to be more healthy in our eating habits this year. We've done really great so far....eating all kinds of veggies, fruits, and organic stuff. I think I took it a little far on Saturday. Went to Smoothie King and had a shot of Wheatgrass. 1 ounce of this wheatgrass= 2 lbs of vegetables! 2 POUNDS! So I sucked it down with a quick drink of my Carribean Way Smoothie to wash it down. I've never tasted grass before...this is as close as it gets. All that to say, it was pretty gross. Not sure if I will keep this habit up, but I enjoyed trying it out.

What about you? What's the grossest thing you've shot down in your attempts to live a healthier lifestyle?

Jewelry at Chattahoochee Mama

If you want a chance to win some free jewelry that's very chic and vintage go check out Ainsley's blog post today.

On being transparent

So, the blogs I read the most are the ones where the writers are very transparent and open about their lives, their joys, their faults, etc... Here is my attempt to give you a small glimpse at what God has been working in and out of me over the past month.

Brett and I have been married for almost 3 years now. I know...long time right? There's so many new things just in that first year....getting used to each other in a whole different way, Brett seeing me without make-up and smelling my morning breath, etc.... One of the new things that at the time I didn't realize was going to be so "new" for me was being the wife of someone in ministry. Now I knew when we got married that Brett was going to be in ministry and that he had so many dreams and visions of ministry. I didn't think this would be that big of a step for me because I had worked at a church, volunteered in church ministries, and basically just been in church and loved anything and everything to do with the church since jr. high. But...I was a little naive to this and to be honest I have spent much of the past 3 years trying to figure out what this role looks like...what am I supposed to do? What am I not supposed to do? I began to feel a little lost because unlike most things in my life I couldn't read a book, get training, or take a class! They don't exactly offer classes on ministry wives 101 or have tons of books in this area. I am a borderline perfectionist...wanting to be the best wife, best friend, best teacher, best EVERYTHING and my perfectionist tendencies sure weren't making my life any easier in this role.

Over the past month God has taken me on a journey to help me begin to make more sense of what it is He has called me to. It started with a "conversation" with Brett in which I probably wasn't the most encouraging person of all time. After this conversation I really felt God speaking to me and challenging me to encourage Brett like never before...so I gave myself a goal....."Encourage him for 10 minutes everyday for the next 31 days." I know...some of you are probably like, "geez....do you not do that?" Well, life gets busy and if I'm not intentional about it sometimes it just doesn't happen. Brett and I both go 90 mph some days and if I'm not intentional it just plain out doesn't happen. Well, I'm sure you can guess what happened? I began to see our marriage and life in ministry together catalyst to something I have never seen.

I began to read Lori's blog and learn about how to really support Brett. I have gone through a prayer journey for Brett at the Ingram blog. And here's what I have figured out so far about this role: 1. If you aren't intentional nothing gets done. 2. If you think you pray for your husband a lot-pray more. 3. God has called you to be his wife and did so for a very specific reason. 4. If you are afraid -it will only keep you from blessing. 5. You can learn from people who have been doing it longer than you. 6. You can encourage him for MORE than 10 minutes and definitely for more than 31 days:)

Life is good and I love learning.

rental car please?

Think I would have gotten a rental car after this.

Instrumental Music on the iPod and the Church?

Had one of those days where everything on the iPod was some kind of piano, movie soundtrack, or instrumental music. B. and I both really enjoy instrumental music. Listening to the "August Rush" soundtrack on the way home from work (violins, girl belting out the tiny notes so that she too sounds like an instrument, piano, trumpets, etc), I remembered a small snippet of conversation between Brett, myself, and a friend at 12Stone who too shares a love for music: He said, "Don't you think it's incredible and just crazy that God gave and gives humans the ability to take single instruments....alone, nothing else and put them with a group of instruments to make a beautiful sound...a sort of beautiful chaos?"

I thought of this small bit of conversation and thought this in return:
Yes it is sort of a beautiful chaos...much like the church. People(the instrument)...all alone, nothing else coming together with other people(other instruments) and creating a harmony...a sort of beautiful chaos together.

It's good stuff. Anyone else listen to the instrumental movie soundtracks on their iPods? What's your favorite?

Pregnant friend

Katie has been one of my closest, sweetest friends since our move here to Gwinnett. She's one of those people you just instantly love and are instantly friends with. We have so much fun together and I always, always look forward to our adventures. All that to say, my dearest friend is PREGNANT! That's right! She's having her first little one in August. She will be such a great mom!

This is a pic. of us on our Boston adventure Summer 08:) So much fun!

Husband's New Blog-Get Vision

My husband has a new blog that he just started. Get Vision. Can I say I think it's an amazing idea and awesome concept and if I didn't know him I would love to read it without sounding biased because he is my husband? Probably not but I really do think it's good stuff and I think you should check it out:)

1/2 Marathon Training Week 3

Monday-Rest
Tuesday-5 miles
Wednesday-Rest
Thursday-2 miles
Friday-Rest
Saturday-7 miles
Sunday-Rest

Hillsong Conference Opening 1/2

B. and I love this. It's the first of a two-part opening to the Hillsong Conf. in Sydney. We already love "Bittersweet Symphony" so it's really cool they opened with it. Check it out.

Gas Prices in the Atl.

I got a little bummed this week due to gas prices rising again....but then I read in the paper this morning that one year ago today gas cost $3.07 in Atlanta. So I'm happy with $1.67:)

Eyebrow Wax

So I get my eyebrows waxed once a month. I have friends who tell me I can do it myself or just pluck, but I beg to differ. I have tried plucking and every time I do it my eyebrows I end up looking a little bit like Vanilla Ice and the thought of waxing them myself...scary.! So I pay $7 a month and go get them waxed. I went to a new place this weekend across from Mall of GA, which brings me to this post: The sweet lady waxes my eyebrows then she proceeds to massage my entire head for 10 minutes! It was amazing and totally unexpected! I think I fell asleep half way through! I don't know if this is normal or not or maybe they just really want to keep their customers! Whatever the reason, it was wonderful and it was a nice little surprise:)

What about you? What "little surprises" do you love? Mine was a little random but I'm just wondering what little treasures and surprises you love during the week?

Confession

Confession: Over the past few weeks I have become a blogging addict. I made a New Year's Resolution to blog daily.....I think I've taken the resolution a little too far, but I've realized that blogging involves 3 of my favorite things: writing, learning, and people.

I'm going to do my best to not let it become an addiction while still contributing to something I think is awesome....as always the word "Balance" appears in my life:)

What's your favorite part about the bloggosphere?

Miley or Brittany?

Just started our Persuasive Writing Unit this week:

Had a great activity called, "State Your Position" to get students in the "persuasive" thinking mode. I called out two sides and students had to go to the side of the room they liked the most. Then they had to write 3 reasons trying to persuade the other side over...Examples:chocolate or vanilla, McDonald's or Burger King, Football or Soccer, Writing or Reading.

Here' s a picture of "Brittany Spears or Miley Cyrus. " Team Miley is writing their responses on the right side while Team Brittany is writing their response on the left.

It seems as though Miley has won the hearts of the young generation.

For my generation(well when I was 14 and 15) it would have been: are you Team Backstreet Boys or Team Nsync?

I was def. an Nsyncer

This was a great persuasive activity to get them ready for our new unit! And it was a lot of fun!

B.

i just love this guy. This is Brett at Rock 4 Love, the event High School and Middle School did together this past Fall. People at church ask me a lot...Does he just go all day long? Does he ever stop? Man, your husband has a lot of energy!

Yeah..he does have a lot of energy, but it makes life really fun and crazy at our house:)

Coldplay

And here's another post I have been meaning to post for a while. B. and I got to go see Coldplay back in November perform at Phillips Arena in the Atl. Truly....no words to describe. One of the best performance shows I've ever seen. I love their new Album but I really wanted them to play stuff from Parachutes and X & Y....they did! All of my faves were played! They were such great crowd performers too. The lights and tech behind it were unbelievable! I can't imagine putting all that together! Needless to say, great show. If they are ever in your town...it's a must see.

Not amazing pics. but that's just how the iPhone cam works.

Top Chef Fanatics

Top Chef is one of the only shows Brett and I have watched consecutively for 4 seasons! We LOVE it! I don't even know why we love it...I'm certainly not an amazing cook! However, we do love to eat some good food! I think just watching these chefs prepare this amazing thing out of so many ingredients fascinates us. My mom is a caterer so I grew up watching her always, always creating and experimenting with food....this could be another reason why I love this show. Anyways, we were a little bummed that our guy Richard came in 2nd last season but right now we are Team Jeff. Although I must say, Fabio is quite funny to watch on television....but he just never pulls out all the stops in the challenges.

I realize we might be some of the only people hooked to this show but I'll ask anyways....any Top Chef fans out there? If so, who ya pulling for this season?

Good Visuals

Tonight we had PRIME with all of our Middle Schoolers at 12Stone. It was the first one since the break! In Brett's message he used a visual to help demonstrate. My small group of 8th grade girls and I talked about the "rocks" in our lives thanks to the awesome visual! I don't know if it's just me, but I can remember almost anything if a visual aid is used! I can think back to messages I heard in my high school days at church all because of some crazy visual! So yeah I'm a classic "visual" learner.

What about you? Do you learn through visuals? Or maybe you just have a photographic memory, auditory, etc...?

Today in Mrs. Moore's class...

Want to share something that happened in my class today...it's a little lengthy but I had to write it out:

(Just before Christmas break Brett came and took a few minutes on a Friday to come and read to my class.)

Today: On the way back to class from lunch for indoor recess:

Isaac: Juan! Tell Mrs. Moore what you said.
Juan: Awww...man. Ok. Mrs. Moore, I think the Devil is bigger than God because I think that's what it said in the Bible but I don't know if I understand correct.
Me: Oh
Hector interrupts: Mrs. Moore! What does your husband do?
Me: He is the pastor of Middle School students at our church 12stone.
Hector: Oh...I knew he was Mrs. Moore..he's so cool!

end of conversation

5 minutes later we are having indoor recess. Myself and another student are cutting out some stuff for math. I see Hector, Isaac, Juan, Edgar, and Everett in the back corner. I'm cutting my stuff for math and listening in. Here's what I heard:

Hector: Guys, you just need Jesus. That's what my pastor says and I believe it too. In Romans it says "For the wages of sin is death but God gives you eternal life. Dude you need Him.
Juan: How do you get Him?
Hector:You just pray. We could pray together.
Juan: Ok.

Then I watch Hector lead Juan and Everett and Isaac in a prayer asking Christ into their lives.

Walking them out to buses:
Hector: Mrs. Moore, those guys are Christians.
Me: Hector, that's so awesome.
Hector: Mrs. Moore, I so glad you are Christian.
Me: Me too Hector.

Hector to Juan:Juan man, I pick you up for church tomorrow...ok?
Juan: Ok. What do I do now?
Hector: No worry Juan...I pick you up for church tomorrow.
Juan and Hector hug.

Me-I have tears in my eyes.

Here are some dynamics of my class:
20 students total
19 English Language Learners from Central America
1 Vietamese
1 Special Needs
3 Newcomers (speak little to no English)
2 Students in RTI
2 Gifted
All are on the free-lunch plan provided by the state
*All are created by a good God.... and today I watched a bold and precious 5th grader share his faith the best he knew how to his friends.

Have any of you ever seen children act out their faith? What happened? Did you get misty-eyed watching such sweet faith in action?

Sweet niece

This is my niece, Kennedy June. I wanted to post this picture because...well...look at her! Wish we could see her more, but I love getting all of these adorable pics:)

1/2 Marathon Training Week 2

I'm going to be posting my training schedule each week just incase there is anyone out in blog world who wants to train for a 1/2 marathon and also so I will hold myself accountable. Runnersworld.com is where I am getting my training schedule. It's an awesome resource for beginning runners.

Week 2
Mon-rest
Tues.-short run 2 miles
Wed.-rest
Thurs.-Tempo run-5 miles
Friday-rest
Sat-Long run-6 miles
Sunday-pilates/yoga video

Rules by Cynthia Lord

This is the book I am using as my read aloud for the first month back at school. I'm excited because I haven't read this aloud to a class before. It's about a little girl and her brother who she makes all the "Rules" for because he is autistic. I think they are really going to love it. Some of the lingo in the book is very "5th grade." Although...just before Christmas we finished the classic Edward Tulane, which is always the favorite read aloud. We'll see... If you enjoy young adult fiction you might enjoy reading "Rules" by Cynthia Lord. It was one of my summer reads and I loved it. Teachers, this book is great for teaching questioning, inferring, and beautiful language! I'm going to launch it with my figurative language unit in Reading Workshop. I'll give a later post on how well my class receives it.

The break is over...now back to the everyday routine

I'm a little sad tonight because it's the last Saturday of my Christmas break from school. To say that this break was needed and well-timed is an understatement. Please don't misunderstand....I enjoy teaching and love to inspire my students, but I have been in grad school full time this year and teaching full time...it's been a little much needless to say. So instead of being a downer right now let me say the things I have loved over the past 2 weeks:

-cooked dinners
-time with my favorite people
-late night talks with B.
-not hitting the snooze button 5 times
-reading books for pleasure
-blogging
-catching up on all my favorite blogs
-naps anytime
-running
-learning about a gracious and kind God
-watching Marley & Me
-dreaming about our family
-watching my niece learn how to say "bye-bye" and give a kiss
-New Year's Resolutions
-Catch Phrase with friends

It's been a great 2 weeks. I feel rejuvenated and I feel ready for Monday morning....(I think) How about you? What things did you get to do if you had a break from the everyday routine? or what do you do to keep the craziness from becoming too much in the everyday routine?

I'm really going to do it!

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to run in the Music City 1/2 Marathon in Nashville this Spring. I have tried to train for 1/2's before but this time it's for real! I ran 9 today at the gym! Most I've ever ran! Every part of my body hurts right now but I am going to do this!!

Faith story in Christianity Today

Thought this was a beautiful testimony of this man's faith journey to Christ.

bringing in 2009

This is what we did for New Year's. Got to see some of my sweetest friends over at Leslie's house in Kennesaw. We had an awesome time bringing in 2009! I love these girls so much and love how silly we are together:)