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MOVED. I won't be here anymore. Adios Amigos!

Moving...

Not houses silly. I am currently setting up a new blog home and moving on out of here, into a new & improved hood. I will share that link here in a few days when all of the loose ends are tied up. Until then...

I mean how cute can a class be? Let's be honest. This year has been a really GOOD year so far and I'm feeling very blessed for that. I know it's good when I leave for the weekend, refreshed and revitalized, already wanting to go back and teach those sweet kiddos as soon as possible. They make my day so fun and so meaningful. Today I really want to praise God for giving me such a great career. My paycheck may be chicken feed, but you can't put a price on true happiness. Enjoy your weekend!

I lift my hands and praise a God who gives, and takes away...

Yesterday was a day that made my heart heavy, but the sun is shining brighter today. My dear friend lost her sister yesterday, to a life long battle with CF (cystic fibrosis). This dear friend and I have lost touch since the early college years, but the memories we have shared throughout the years keep her ever so close in my heart and prayers always. As soon as I heard the news I was saddened, but really numb to it all. When I got home though, another great friend called me to tell the news that I had already heard and she shared her CarePage. After descending on her site, I immediately lost it and had to read every entry, all 22 pages of her journey through the final days of what was her earthly life. I went to bed feeling bittersweet, because she is leaving behind one of the most amazing families I know, along with a husband and two young baby girls. That was the bitter part. However, after spending time reflecting, the sweet part is really, very sweet. She will no longer have to live in pain here on earth, dealing with the toll CF had been taking on her body for too many years...she will get to be with the Lord, breathing deeply, smiling, and praising everyday. Because her days in heaven are and will be SWEET. And because they are so sweet, they will go by in a snap and sooner than she can realize, those very dear people will be walking down the streets of gold with her, as if time had stood still since she last saw them. How blessed are we to have such a hope as this?
What just seems like yesterday, were the days right around this time several years ago when we were losing my dear Gram, also like Katie, an angel here on earth. Someone who just oozed with the love of Jesus and was a true testament to all things good. It was beyond bareable to see someone suffer at the cost of a horrible disease and it still seems as though sometimes it can't be real that she is gone. And sometimes I even still feel bitter. But more often than not, I feel sweet. Because I know where she is and I know who she spends her days walking beside. How could I ever feel anything but joyful about that?
My heart is truly with this family right now and I feel as though my life has been put into perspective very quickly. I thought I would leave you with a letter her husband wrote today, the day after her passing, to reflect on. How poignant. I stand amazed.

Dearest friends and family,

When the prince kisses sleeping beauty she doesn't always wake up...

Our first real date was ten years ago. We went to the Ren fest because she was volunteering for the CF fundraiser wine auction. The weather on that day was almost exactly the same beautiful, crisp, sunny, hopfull weather that filled the air on the day she died.
The night before we had attended my friend Conor's birthday party, and had gone on a walk together that paused on a little bridge overlooking a pond. We felt a connection and a comfort in each others company that allowed her to share with me that she had CF (not something she really shared with people). After that walk when everyone had gone home I retraced our steps to that little bridge and wept because I knew I was falling in love with a girl for whom tomorrow was not assured...

Our 8 years of marriage held moments of deep heartach and soaring love. She changed the very fabric of my being, and challanged me to be more then I ever thought I could be. She fills the air around me with memories of her great beauty. There are NO words worthy of honoring who she was so don't worry about trying to find them to offer us comfort as we morn her. Because she touched your lives I KNOW you feel a peice of this great loss, and the greatest thing felt must go unspoken.

Those who knew Katie personally would aggree that she had the ability to focus your life, like a lens, on the only things that REALLY mattered. God... family... and friends.
She told me that the days in the ICU lifted a veil between her and Jesus, and that she understood Him more then she ever had.

All things pass in this life. Taking the time to know the only true God who sits on the throne of heaven and sat by her bed in that hospital is the most important thing you will ever do. What you way not realize is that those things that you really loved about my wife Katie, her kindness, hope, joy, peace, fierce defence of truth, love, acceptance of others right where they were, humor, PEACE IN THE VERY FACE OF DEATH, and willingness to challange each of us to grow, came directly from what she had learned while walking with Jesus. She was not a preachy person, but if you wish to know how to have the joy and peace she had look to the way she lived her life. Know that she rests in her Heavenly Fathers arms, and breaths deeply as she waits for those of us who know Him to join her someday. REST IN HOPES ARMS, AND CLOTH YOURSELVES IN JOY,

LOVE ALWAYS,
matthew robert wingard

I'm alive. I swear.

Tis true, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Just the blog earth. I promise I will be back here soon, because it is fall and I love this season and will have much to discuss. I already bought two pumpkins for my porch, because this weekend it was just screaming fall to me...even though I know the true start date of fall isn't until later this month, I know, I know people. I got all of my fall decorations out on September 1st because I decided why would I wait until the end of the month, when fall time is truly my favorite? So as a result, my Halloween things are out, fall-ish things are out and I love it. Psssh to the naysayers! We enjoyed a quiet weekend with my parents and Howard's parents yesterday. Due to the cooler temps we were even able to open the windows AND have s'mores by the fire pit. Lovely.

I don't have any new pictures to share really, but I will share some photos of my classroom that my Mom took on her phone (these aren't photographer quality or anything, so don't judge). So I'll entertain you for a brief moment. If you're into school-ish stuff and bright colored thingys that make Kindergarten, Kindergarten. I am really loving Kindergarten this year and am very thankful for how busy it keeps me. My days go by in a snap and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time. The kids are a hoot and I'm loving my new room.

Me and Papa Shellz in my classroom...

Colts curtains...Oh yes.

A view of the tables. Word wall soon to go on the blank cabinets and their pictures in football helmets to soon go in the banners at the top of the cabinets.

My classroom library. Lots of books in this hood. But it is sure amazing to see such little ones turn into such great readers and truly utilize this space.

And because no Colts classroom would be complete without a football lamp. Right?

Our computer area. The classroom quilt will soon be hung in the blank white space...

Our circle area. See what I'm saying about the brightness? Whew. I hope you have your shades on!

Hope you've been decorating for fall! Enjoy your week!

Hot Mess

Life is crazee right now and I'm just trying to keep up, hence the no blog posts in decades. School is now swinging into week 3 and I can say that's going well, but keeping me busy. I come home and try to keep up with chores, but in reality I'm lucky to get a few things done and dinner made before I go into crash mode. So that's where I'm at people. No time/energy for the blogging until I get things into some sort of a groove. I did visit our new Hobby Lobby store this morning, as Howard was off at Bass Pro doing manly things, and I came home with armfuls of greenery and foam balls. I made several faux plant decorations which turned out fabulously. Pictures to come...computer is at school right now, along with my cell phone charger. Luckily Best Buy was able to hook me up with a 99 cent car charger that saved my life, because apparently Verizon stops carrying accessories such as cell phone chargers to go with your phone when it's OLD...aka only a year and a half old. They weren't even able to order me one, not that I wanted to wait to order one either. Come on Verizon, get your act together, I mean you don't even have the iPhone. Gee whiz. Better watch out or I might drop you like you're hot when I can renew my contract here in March. Not much else is new besides I'm pretty excited that Howard is bringing home PF Changs. Against his will. But he knows he owes me whatever I do please since he was gone all day at Bass Pro, doing manly things involving buying weird things to lure deer to them so they can in turn shoot them with a bow and arrow. Plain cruel if you ask me. However, I was pretty excited to order PF's online, I had never done that before. Of course, Crispy Green Beans are coming my way. I'm pretty sure they lace their food with some sort of drug, because I'm hooked. It could also be because I'm slightly delerious due to my hunger factor. I had to literally pull over after shopping at Hobby Lobby this morning to the nearest Chik-Fil-A, which was at 10:30 am mind you, and grab lunch to go because I was so hungry. That's what eating lunch at 10:30 am like a Kindergartner will do to you. Oh for the love.

Anywho, just wanted to check in and let you all know (or like probably just my Mom who reads this) that we are still alive and kicking...just so alive and kicking that my computer time has been slim to none as of late. Here's to hoping things settle...before it is FALL (please come soon, my hair is sick of being put up in a ponytail. Thanks.)

Back to School Blues

Well, my classroom is mostly ready and now I have met most all of my new Kindergarten parents...all that's left now is to meet the kiddos and get started! I am sad to see summer come to an end, but also very ready to get back to a normal schedule. I feel very unproductive and that I get virtually nothing done during the summer months. My to do list which was a mile long, has barely been crossed off, but what can you do? Oh well...

Things are getting crazier around here and I've been gone more, and someone is starting to notice...Hey Mom, why are you so busy on your computer with school work...Are you done yet?

Mr. Oliver is seeming to want lots more attention as the school days draw nearer...I always feel a little pang on my heart when I have to go back, leaving them all day. It is so nice to be home most of the day during the summer months with them, they love having someone to follow around and get special treats from (ie: strawberries from breakfast, apple slices from lunch, PBJ crusts, and salad leaves from dinner). I feel so much better now that they are able to go from the garage to the backyard all day long...they have the sweet life, but I will miss being with my buddies all day when Monday rolls around.