Why I teach....

I am sure that each and every one of us has woken up and dread the thought of having to go to work. For several years I was that person. I hate my job! I would spend most of my day at work looking for a new job- ANYTHING other than what I was doing.

Now, I wake up and smile because I GET to go to work! Teaching is such a rewarding job. I sure don't do it because of the pay and I don't do it for the wonderful hours and having the summers off (however, it is nice- I am not going to complain), I do it because of the lives I touch. It is so amazing to see the child who finally understands a concept that they have been struggling with for a long time. It is the card that you find on your desk just because you are loved. It is the letter that comes in the mail from a student that you had two years ago that still misses you and loves you. It is the children who make my job so amazing! I am so fortunate to be able to touch their lives as much as they touch mine.

Here are some of the many reminders of why I love my job:

Happy Birthday!

It's funny as a child I remember thinking- Wow 50 is so old. Maybe it's because I am not that far away from turning 30 myself, but I have a new found view for age. I look at my father who just celebrated his 50th Birthday on the 12th of this month. However, he does not act old and he sure doesn't look it either. In fact, I think he looks better today than the day I was born, and that was over 27 years ago. I honest believe that you are not old until you start to act it. Maybe that is why when I look at my Grandpa Monte I do not see someone who could possibly be old enough to have a 50 year old son. He, like my father has lived life to the fullest!

Last night was my Dad's 50th Birthday Party. It was an amazing night (beautifully planned by Debbie) filled with family and friends. I really enjoyed listening to my Dad talk about the all things that he knew at 50 and the things he still hoped to do throughout his life. He has lived an amazing life, one that I would be blessed to live myself. I hope that I am as accomplished, as knowledgeable, and as LOVED as he is today. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing Father! Happy Birthday Dad!!!!

How the time flies...

Once again, I find myself amazed at how long it has been since I last blogged. I normally at least find time once a month, but apparently August slipped right on by. So I figured I would update everyone as to what I have been up to for the last month or so.

I finished up my LAST summer course at Rockhurst with an A in the course. It was a technology course to teach us how to incorporate technology into our classrooms. Very interesting!!!



I also had to take the Praxis exam back in July that I was EXTREMELY nervous about! It is similar to the ACT, but for pre-service teachers. For those of you who know me pretty well know how much I struggle with standardized testing. Not only do I have horrible test anxiety I have no self confidence and typically go back and forth between answers and always seem to manage to pick the wrong one. Well, I found out last week that I successfully passed it on the first try!!! I had already signed up to take it 2 more times assuming that I had passed it. So I am quite excited to say the least!



The same day I got my results back from the Praxis, I found out that I got asked to join the Education Honors Fraternity- Kappa Delta Pi. I go this week to begin the process. Invitations are only extended to students in the top 20% of the program. Again- very excited!

Outside of school, Chris and I have been traveling almost every other weekend to Omaha for wedding showers, parties, and a wedding. Here are a few pictures from the party and the wedding.

Last but no least, I have also started working again! I am now working at Pembroke Hill, which is a private school in Kansas City, Missouri. I am a kindergarten assistant and absolutely LOVE it!!!! I work with a fantastic teacher and have a great group of kids. The picture posted is a picture of all of the kids with their gold medals that they got just like the Olympians for an outstanding quality that each one of them possesses.

Update...

I am not really sure where the time has gone. Since I last blogged so many wonderful things have happened. First off, Chris and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary. We had a nice dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants called V's. It was fantastic.

I also completed another semester of grad school! Even better, I found out that I got a 100% in the class. So for all of my classes my average grade has been a 97%. Why couldn't I have done this well in school all my life??? Oh well!

I also was able to find some time to go out with my friends. One night I went out to dinner with some of my friends from school. We went to a sushi restaurant downtown called Nara. They said it was really good, but I am not a fan of sushi therefore I wouldn't know. Then later we went to the Power and Light District. While we were there we even ran into Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite.

Then a few weeks ago I met up with some of my old coworkers and we decided to go back to the winery in Odessa, MO. It was great to see them and couldn't have asked for better whether to sit next to the beautiful pond.

Now, back to the present. Last week I started another grad class. I am taking Technology in the classroom, which I think will be quite interesting. After this I will only have one more grad course and 1 undergrad math class- then I am DONE!!!! I am also going to be extremely busy over the next few weeks as I prepare to take the Praxis exam, which is a test comparable to the ACT that I have to pass in order to student teach. I am a little nervous, as I am not good at test taking. I will keep my fingers crossed! So back to studying. :-)

Halfway there!

I am almost halfway through the 1st semester of summer!!! I am taking a research course and it is very demanding! However, the first assignment I did was a cultural autobiography which allowed me to find out so much about my heritage. I was so amazed with how much information I found out about the Pearson side of the family dating back to the 1700's. Julie Ann has so much great information that was so beneficial and extremely fascinating!

Last weekend Chris and I went to Lebannon, MO, for a float trip. We got there on Friday afternoon and woke up on Saturday morning ready to float and then they told us that we couldn't because the water level was going to get to high. So, we spent the day hanging out on the edge of the water. Some of the braver people decided to just float down part of the river with nothing. I enjoyed watching from the edge of the water. :-) No thank you!!!

Back to school...

So, tonight is my first day back to school in a few weeks. I sure could get used to that life style of doing nothing, however, I did find myself rather bored at times.

Well, last Friday I went in for my interview at Pembroke Hill and was offered the job after only being there for 15 minutes. I am very excited!!! I start orientation on August 11th and will be the assistant to the Kindergarten teacher that has been there for 25 years- so I will have a great mentor! If you would like to check out there website the address is: http://www.pembrokehill.org/index.cfm

On Saturday, Chris and I joined Grandpa Monte, Sue, and Kevin at the Heartland Summer Nationals Drag Races. It was incredible!!!! I thought I was prepared for what was going to take place until the Nitro Dragsters and Funny Cars came out and the literally moved me. Therefore, it made it quite a challenge to take pictures. However, being someone who loves loud and fast cars- I was in heaven!!!! Then we went over to Nitro Alley (the pits) and met a few of the drivers. The first person we met was Rod Fuller from Rodgers, Arkansas. Grandpa Monte actually knows his father. Then we headed over to see the Force Family. We got autographs and pictures taken with my favorite driver- Ashley Force. Overall, it was a fantastic day, even with the heat. I can't wait to go back next year.

Time to breathe

Once again, I have done a horrible job of updating this thing. It was pretty crazy up until last week with school, but I am finally DONE for the semester!!!! I am so excited if you can't tell. However, the best part is that I just found out yesterday that I managed to get all A's in my four graduate courses! So as of right now I am sitting at a 3.92 GPA, however, I am going to see about making it a 4.0. I took a class last summer where the teachers grading scale was different than any other professor I have taken and in any other class I would have had an A so I am just going to see what I can do. I am still pleased with a 3.92!



I also celebrated my 27th birthday a few weeks ago with my friends from school one night and my friends from my soccer team another night. Both nights we went down to the Power & Light District here in Kansas City. One evening we went to "Howl at the Moon," which is a dueling piano bar and the other we spent at McFadden's. We had a great time. Here are a few pictures from both evenings.

So during my free time I have done a whole lot of nothing. I can't remember the last time I did that. It felt great for the first few days and now I am getting a little sick of it, but I better enjoy it while I still can.

Last night Chris and I went to see Wicked at the Music Hall. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed it! It was absolutely fantastic! I think it is now one of my favorites. I loved the story and the woman who played the "Wicked Witch" was incredible! I definitely recommend it- it is not just signing- it was very funny too!