Year in Review

I love looking back on all of my pictures that I took during the year and reminiscing on all the events and things that happened. This year has been amazing. Absolutely amazing. I met so many amazing people and made so many new friends.

Here's last years 2014 review. No doubt this year was 1000 times better!

January: 

I brought in the New Year with my closest high school friends. It was an amazing end to 2014 and I brought in 2015 with lots of laughter.

Then I got my January 1st photo with Baby Girl Wren.

I mean take a look at the transformation from January 2014 (left) and January 2015 (right).

Then I met this guy! Our first date was January 25. :) I can't believe it's almost been a year. 

February: 

I spent a lot of time with the fella. We got some "snow" days. But hey when Gwinnett County calls a snow day you take it and relax! 

We went and did some shooting.

March: 

Spent a nasty, rainy Saturday with my sisters. 

Then my first trip to Charleston with the boy. I love that city!!

We took our first picture together :) 

I went to my first Hawks basketball game!

April: 

Spring Break at the Georgia Moon, of course! This was my first time paddle boarding. 

We had a surprise visit from Casey. 

We love going to Top Golf. We went with a big group of friends and it was awesome. This is still my favorite picture of us.

May:

Lots of Braves Baseball

We survived our third year together! I wouldn't be able to survive teaching without these two people!

And another trip to Charleston. 

June: 

More baseball (Gwinnett Braves)

This guy's big 2-4.

Random Top Golf with the bestie

July: 

More baseball... duh!

More shooting! (Oh and I fell down the stairs and got a grade three severe sprain. I had to wear this lovely boot for over two months.)

August: 

The big 2 -5 for me! How did we celebrate? BRAVES BASEBALL!

Birthday celebrations with family

September: 

Another trip to Charleston

The Gwinnett County fair came in town and I had to take Michael since he had never gone before. The swings were and still are my favorite. 

October:

It was our first Halloween together and we carved this awesome pumpkin. I free hand drew it and he carved. 

November: 

Mustache Monday at work to raise money for United Way. 

These girls are my heart and they came into my life at just the right time.

And then another trip to Charleston. I always tell MG we never go.... But clearly we go all the time! Michael ran the bridge while I sat and looked at this gorgeous view! 

December: 

I finally got my new teaching blog up and running! I am in love with how it turned out. 

We attended a ton of Christmas parties this year. But this one was my favorite! 

Christmas with my family!

And we are headed to Maryland tomorrow morning to have Christmas with his family. 

This year has been absolutely the best, I can't wait to see what the future holds. 

Currently November 15

Hello strangers! Linking up with Farley again this time! I haven't done a currently in a long time!

We went to a cute little restaurant in Grayson this weekend called Graft and their pimento cheese is to die for! I got the graft burger and it was absolutely heaven on a bun. 

Looking Back

I seem to be so busy and have so many ideas of what to blog about but I never have a chance to. 

I wanted to blog about how my class remembered 9/11. I wanted to blog about my dreams for TpT and Insta. I wanted to blog about my life and everything happening. But life is just happening too fast. My weekly calendar is completely packed every single evening and on weekends I just want to relax, but I also have the mindset to just keep going. I'll just go to bed early another night, but I never do. Life is happening. It scares me not knowing what is going on with my future. But it's happening. 

I started this blog in hopes to make it something big. But over the time I have learned that I need to blog for myself. I know I have said this before, but it just is something that is true for me more now than ever.     For example: Today Michael and I are going to the Gwinnett County Fair. He didn't understand why I wanted to go at first. I explained to him that Papa took me to the fair when I was a kid. Sometimes we would just go and walk around and other times we would go and eat the food, people watch, and leave. But every time we went Papa always would wait for me while I rode the swings. I would wave down to him as the swings began to rise up and as I was flying through the sky I would carefully look down and see Papa still waving from the bottom! The swings are my absolute favorite ride at the fair (and they are definitely in my top 5 rides at Six Flags). But anyways back to my story... thinking back to all the trips to the fair with Papa made me really miss him. He's been gone since 2008, but the memories of him are still remembered today. This morning I looked at my blog post that I posted on January 22, 2015-- the seven year anniversary of him being gone. I will always remember the memories we had with him, but me blogging about it that night allows me to look back and laugh about some of the things that crazy man did.


Life is crazy and I love it!

xoxo

Lizzie  

End of summer rant: AND GO!

How in the world is summer vacation almost over? I can't handle this! I have LOVED my summer, it was so relaxing. I am NOT ready to go back. I know once I get into the groove again I'll be fine....but until then I might be a Negative Nancy.      :( 

Sadly I spent Thursday night in Urgent Care because I fell down the concrete stairs. After that three hour visit and then a visit with the orthopedist, they came to the conclusion I have a grade 3 severe sprain and I must stay in the boot for a couple weeks. Doc said to use crutches if I'm up walking a lot. And in two weeks we will meet again to look at my progress before turning to the MRI. 

UMM... HELLO! I'M A TEACHER! AND MY SCHOOL IS FREAKING HUGE. 

Needless to say I'm seriously stressing out about preplanning and the first week of school. I keep seeing everyones posts on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest about their classrooms and it makes me a wee bit stressed. The first few weeks are already tiring because you aren't use to that much standing and walking (and talking), but this is gonna be rough. 

Here's to enjoying the last few days of vacation! 

xoxo

Life Lately

Life lately has been nothing but amazing. I literally have spent most of my summer just relaxing! (and going to every doctors, dentist and eye appointment possible). I realized I haven't posted any pictures of life lately in a while! (Mainly just so I can look back and remember everything). But if you follow me on Instagram you have seen all of these! So here goes...

Gwinnett Braves game 6. 5. 15

M's surprise birthday dinner 6. 11. 15

The group at M's surprise birthday dinner 6. 11. 15

World of Coke 6. 12. 15

Top Golf with Katelyn and her family 6. 19. 15

Atlanta Braves Game 6. 20. 15

Little brothers helping me move 6. 25. 15

Overall we LOVE baseball and will be back at the field Saturday with our crew! So excited!

Oh July, my love.

How in the world is it already July!? But that only means one thing... time for a Currently. Linking up with Farley again!

Listening
DUH! I love me some Stabler and Benson! Even the really old episodes where Benson looks so different. 

Loving: 
Tomorrow is Friday! Which means M comes home.  :)  And we have plans with our friends for the 4th of July! Pool. Grilling. && Baseball. 

Thinking: 
HOW IS IT ALREADY JULY? I am so not ready to go back to work. I have enjoyed this time off so much. It has definitely been dedicated to resting and relaxing this summer. Since in August I will start classes to get gifted endorsed and next summer I start grad school. So I have really enjoyed doing just about nothing during the day. 

Wanting: 
Next Wednesday I move into my new apartment. But next Thursday I will wake up in my own bed again. I'm so excited.

Needing: 
Speaking of moving.... I need a free moving company//friends.  I will buy pizza after, I promise! 

All Star: 
Laughing. I love it and can easily crack a joke and make you laugh.... you might be laughing at me, but hey!

Nothing Can Compare

Bryan and Katie Torwalt sing a song on their album "Here on Earth" called Holy Spirit. I have heard this song so many times by many different artists, but just today I have stopped to really listen to the words. 

There's nothing worth more
That will ever come close
Nothing can compare
You're our Living Hope
Your Presence
I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undoneYour presence Lord
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory God is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence Lord
Your presence Lord
There's nothing worth more
That will ever come close
Nothing can compare
You're our Living Hope

I get so bogged down with life that I don't just stop and listen. Things don't go the way I want them to go and I want to give up. I'm so guilty of listening to others opinions and thoughts before praying about it. Continually waiting on one thing to be said or done and not just praying about it.  I forget that it's not my plan, but it's His. Like the song says, "Nothing can compare, You're our Living Hope." He is my hope. He is our hope. There is nothing in this world that can compare to his love for me. My heart longs for his love and to be overcome by him. I want more of Him. 

June Currently

Woah! It's been forever! I'm linking up with Farley for this months currently. 

Listening: Spotify is my new favorite thing here lately. :)

Loving: Summer is here. And in full swing. I spent the first week sick and this week I'm trying to catch up on missed doctors/dentist/hair appointments. 

Thinking: I really want to get my TpT account up and better this summer. I haven't had time to really devote to it recently with work. I have only been adding what I have made with my own class and team. I just don't know where to start or how to start! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Just shoot me an email! 

Wanting: Seems like every afternoon/evening is brought with thunderstorms :(

Needing: Well woah these white legs need some sun! I did a terrible job spraying myself yesterday and the tan lines are just terrible. I'll hopefully be fixing this tomorrow!

Summer Lovin: RELAX. Simple. 

Let God

Friends. Testing is OVER. OVER. 

O. V. E. R. 

Well standardized testing is. We still have the end of year testing for my data to do. But the Georgia Milestone is done. done. done. done. done. done. 

Anyone you talk to in the state of Georgia who has a relation to a student taking the test or a teacher administering the test has a strong voice about it. I'm not going to give my voice here on this blog, but the stress that was placed on the students and on myself was almost too much to handle. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me and I can somewhat relax...... (until I look at my other to-do list). 

Then in addition to the testing stress I'm still waiting on my grad school application to be approved. Online it still says "In Review for Admission". 

Every Sunday Michael and I go to small group at his church and then head to 12 Stone for service with my family. One Sunday, a couple of weeks ago, both of the messages lined up completely and I truly felt like The Lord was speaking to me. I can't recall the scriptures, my notes are at home, but it was about worrying. I know God has a plan for me and it will all be okay. I just need to not stress about what I have no control over, which is exactly what I was doing. Anxiety attacks were happening nightly and I felt like I was going to fall apart. The stress leading up to this testing, my apartment issues, grad school and my students were tearing me apart. I struggle with handling my stress and anxiety, always have, but since that Sunday I have placed it in God's hands and let him have control. Anxiety happens when we think we have to figure everything out. Turn to God. He has a plan. 

Things are getting better though. I'm letting go and letting God. 

16 days left of school with kiddos. I'm gonna try and enjoy it and not completely wish away the year. But this teacher is READY for summer vacation!

xoxo, 

Lizzie 

This has been my phone background for a couple weeks now. It is a constant reminder to myself to just breathe, everything is wonderful. Not perfect, but it can be wonderful. 

Change

People don't always leave out of hate and anger. Moving creates change. Moving on is a huge step, a huge step of faith. Something that takes prayer and focus. Moving can be big or small. Moving houses. Moving schools. Moving rooms.  Moving churches. Moving cities. It's all the same. Leaving behind the memories and people in hopes for a better tomorrow. 

In the past two or so years I have moved on more than I ever imagined. I left my parents house, left my home church, left all my friends there and just moved. It's been eye opening for myself to see what I can do and who really matters. 

Depending on others became a norm. I knew my plans every Sunday no matter what. My huge group of friends would meet after church for lunch and hangout at someone's house until evening service began. It became the regular. Moving on from that takes trust in yourself. I had a comfort knowing that I had people there for me. When you leave and move on people change. Thinking you're mad and they don't speak. Is that right? No. Am I guilty of it too? Of course. Friendships lost because I live 45 minutes away now? That's craziness. People I always thought would be there for me and love me I never hear from anymore. 

I'm not writing all of this to make anyone feel bad, I'm really writing it for myself to see that change is okay. Change is good. Even though change closes doors, it opens them at the same time. I was somewhere I didn't belong. I wasn't changing for myself. Nothing is as painful as staying somewhere and not changing. I have become a stronger and more independent person because of these changes. I have learned about others, but most importantly about myself. 

Maybe I had to let go of who I was in order to become to I am. Old ways won't open new doors. 

Extra! Extra!

Last week my students' had a homework assignment to write about their favorite subject in school. From a class of 24 about 9 of them wrote about Social Studies being their favorite subject (this made my heart smile). Their reasons made me laugh, only because they were 100% true. 

Social Studies is my absolute favorite subject to teach.

 Absolute. Favorite.

I get loud. I get excited. And I use silly voices to teach my students the material. If it helps them remember it, then BAM I'll do it. 

This week are are learning about Franklin D. Roosevelt. Yesterday we rapped about him and today he went MISSING! We had to post our newspaper ad's in the hallway to help search for him. My kids did excellent on this assignment and I just want to brag for a minute! Check it out below! I got this from Ashleigh's Education Journey

xoxo, 
Lizzie

Seven years

This morning I woke up knowing it would be a difficult day. Seven years ago Papa passed away. I knew this day was coming and I made sure to keep my work day super busy. I tried to keep my mind off of thinking about Papa and the events of this day seven years ago, but it was way too hard. I remember the night I got the phone call that he had passed. I remember exactly where I was. I remember who I was on the phone with. I remember the gut wrenching feeling I got when I saw my mom calling the house. 

Brain tumors suck. They took the life of a loved one. And it sucks.  

Today at lunch I stayed in my classroom and sat in silence. I thought back to all the memories I had with Papa. I thought about when he came to see me at senior night in high school. I wanted him to make it to my graduation and see me walk across the stage so bad, but having him see me walk across the field at senior night with my mom and dad was just as good. I know he sat at the top in his wheel chair smiling and I know he was proud of me. 

I thought about all the beach trips our family took every summer. One memory I distinctly remember is when him and Nana were dancing to Copacabana in the living room of the beach house. He was dancing around the room with nana. I saw the love he had for her as he swung her around and they sang along with Barry Manilow.

I remember the day when I introduced him to Polynesian sauce at Chickfila. We sat in his truck at the Chickfila on Hwy 78.  He liked the sauce so much he used a straw to drink what was leftover.

Or when he came over to the house for Halloween and sat behind the door and every time someone knocked he would scream really loud or make scary noises. 

Or whenever nana would cook and he liked the meal he would get up and say "Enjoyed the suppa".

I remember the day a friend came over to the house and I didn't introduce him to her and he sat me on top of the ottoman and taught me how to properly introduce people. He even made me practice a couple of times. 

I remember how he taught me that you can tell a lot about a person by their handshake. 

Or the time when he "taught" me how to change the color of the text in an email. His favorite was green. 

These are all memories. Every time my family gets together we share more and more. New stories that I haven't heard before. 

Papa, you told me to never give up on my dreams. I hope I'm making you proud.