new year!

2012 is here!  times seems to go so fast these days.  here's a short recap of the last few months!

i've enjoyed putting my masters degree to use as i've just finished up my first semester as a counselor at an elementary school.  it has been an amazing new challenge and i'm daily learning new things.  i'm thankful for the staff at the school who have graciously welcomed me into their school and as a new counselor.

i love to spend time decorating and redoing things around my house.  over thanksgiving, peter helped me build a mantel for my house.  it's so perfect and makes it fun to decorate and change up my living room.  i'm in the process of making the living room/kitchen have more of an 'anthropolgie' feel.  absolutely love that store, but can't afford it ... so i'm doing things as i can on my own or after saving a little money up to venture into the store!

christmas was a blast as we got to spend a week or so at home first, then traveling to new jersey to see family.  we always have a good ole' time with the italian side of the family - never a dull moment!  for new years eve, i went to see les miserables with my family ... SO great.  we really enjoyed it and it was a nice change for a twist on the typical parties on new years eve.

over the last few weeks i've been working (ever so slowly) on a couch to 5k plan.  i'm doing a lot of walking ... especially since i'm still dealing with this random joint/tendon pain i've been experiencing for the last two years.  the pain is not fun & frustrating, but i am loving the exercise and hope to be able to keep it up!  we shall see how that goes.

looking forward to the things the Lord has in store for me in the new year!

summer.

it has arrived.  the end of summer.  i'm so thankful for the time off in july i've had to rest and relax!  here are a few things that i have enjoyed...
-visiting friends who are home during the day (meeting up with them for cupcakes, lunches, etc!)
-time by the pool
-sno cones.  yum!
-road trip with mom
-houston, kemah, shopping, and amazing food with the guenthers
-great conversations with sweet friends
-reading my brother's blog while he's away in guatemala
-hearing dad talk about his mission trip and his new BFFs
-escaping the heat and getting to visit with daniel and explore denver
-shopping and getting pedicures
-time to work on crafts and redo my living room
-teacher supply stores and new themes for the schoolyear

i could go on and on....but the point is this: i'm so grateful for time to recharge and prepare for a new year.  let the fun begin!

changes.

it's been awhile.  i guess life just gets busy ... and this whole 'taking time to write' thing often gets pushed to the side.  i'm not so sure i'm really a 'blogger', but i love reading about the happenings in the lives of others.

over the past year or so many changes have come about.  and i like change.  mostly.  change is hard at times, but normally ends in a good result.  sometimes change is moving to a new place and having the chance to make new friends, or change could be dealing with a year of firsts after the loss of a loved one.  change can be challenging, sad, fun, uncertain, but always seems to stretch me to evaluate values, desires, goals, etc.  i'm thankful that in a life of change, Christ is constant and His love for us never changes.

this summer i'm changing up my normal busy schedule.  i'm taking time to rest!, sit by the pool with sweet friends, eat chocolate cow sno cones, visit the local farmers markets from time to time, stay up late, work on crafts, take road and plane trips, learn new things from the Bible, and blog a few more times.

change is a comin' for me at the beginning of august.  i have the privilege of putting my master's degree in action as i become an elementary school counselor!!  this change is tricky because i loved the classroom, school, staff, principal, etc ... but i'm really looking forward to using some of those same skills as i love on and care for a new campus.

change ... ready or not.  it's comin'!  no matter what kind of change we face, i'm learning is has a lot to do with our attitude and how we respond to/accept these changes.

here's hoping the way i handle change will encourage others.

classroom chaos

it has started.  the before school freak out.  it happens every year, but this year seems to be different and i'm not really sure why.   i left my classroom fairly organized in june.  

yesterday, when i walked into my room, i quickly realized that wasn't still the case.   in fact, i pretty much walked in, turned in a couple circles, felt like i could lose it, and then walked out.  today, i walked in, didn't know where or how to start, and then found myself tackling the filing cabinet.   made some progress, but not enough.

i wish it didn't feel creepy to just stay up there late and get it done, but it does.  tomorrow, game on.  i hope!!

today. 7.7.10

today is one of those days.  even in the midst of joy, a deep hurt and sadness.

today a dear family lost their mom, grandma, and friend.  a mom who loved Christ, her family, and friends well.  a mom who continuously opened up her home, refrigerator, & pantry to our gang at a moments notice.  a mom who let us do crazy things, build crazy things, and engage in crazy adventures.  a mom who listened, shared advice, and unique perspective.

today i hurt for and feel sad for her family.  i hate the pain they feel.  i selfishly hate the moments she will not spend with them on earth.

today, however, i know that God is still good and sovereign.  i'm beyond thankful for the way she (once again) has fought the good fight and suffered well.  i'm beyond joyful that she is with her Savior.  with our King.  with Jesus.  resting in the Father's arms.

today, i was able to witness her legacy - her kids and kids-in-law - as they now will carry on her legacy of faith, family, & friends.

love you, bleakley (& extended) crew!

loving well.

well, it's happened again.  blogging is fun ... relaxing even.  makes me kinda stop and think.  i love it, but recently haven't made time to sit and write.  it has been a crazy, fun, hard, and reflective few weeks.    brace yourself.

i want to love well.  what it looks like, sounds like, feels like, etc. to love someone well til it hurts.  to really care for people.  it's always special when you get opportunities to put that desire into action.  three sweet family friends are all going through trying times ... may i learn even a glimpse of what it means, feels like, looks like to love them well.

i was honored with the 'teacher of the year' award in early april from school and felt super loved on by my precious friends and family.  what a humbling experience and a privilege to represent the school, staff, & kids.  later in the month, i got to celebrate some b-day fun with sweet friends at the ranger's game.  beautiful night.  lots of fun!

as i finish up this 11th day in may, i'm thankful to say that i have completed all my classwork for my masters degree!  i went last night to my last class - kinda felt like a little kid at christmas.  so completely thrilled to turn in my last assignment and internship hours.  crazy that i've been able to finish that.  thankful to close that chapter!

even though it has seemed like i had a thousand things to do all at once, i'm thankful for the big and small reminders i've had to ponder what it truly means to love others well.  the next step: putting this into action!

jan. feb. mar.

well...keeping up with the blog hasn't really happened.  oh well!

the last two months have really flown by - i'm making progress on the masters degree, had a bit of a "hitch" in the walking/jogging deal, but hopefully will get back up to speed, and have been able to manage plenty of fun with friends (and words with friends!).

spring break was a just that ... a great break from the crazy routine i've had lately at school and with school.  during that week, i went with the family and some friends to an allen americans minor league hockey game.  apparently dad filled out an entry form for a drawing for a suite at a playoff game.  randomly, he won!  this weekend my parents were out of town, so the brother and i (and some friends!) enjoyed the game in a suite.  here's a couple pics from the 'suite action'.

on another note, we've had snow this year ... more than most years.  one day, it snowed a lot (well, a lot for around here!) and i took my kids outside to play in it.  they were dying to get outside... and honestly, who doesn't like a little snow?!  snowballs, snow angels, warm jackets & mittens.  they loved it!

that's it for now!  :)