Blogger's Ball 2012 and a Happy New Year 2013

I love Jessica at Jessica Who? So, when she invited us to do her first annual Blogger's Ball, I was excited to attend. :)  What is it all about you ask?

I couldn't decide what to wear, but I knew I wanted to wear red.  So, this is what I came up with :) 

I hope you decide to join in as we close the 2012 doors and open the 2013!  I can feel that 2013 is going to be a good one yet!

1. What was your best part of 2012? 

My daughter's 21st Birthday Vegas trip was by far the highlight of 2012!  My entire family went (minus my brother and his wife).  We had a ton of fun!  

2. What was your favorite song/book/movie of 2012? 

Favorite song right now is "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes.  I love all things country, so most country songs are my favorite.  

I don't have a particular book that stands out besides Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright.  I loved the story.  It is about a husband who wrote his wife letters every Wednesday.  Their children stumble upon the letters and find out their parents deepest darkest secrets along with some treasured family moments.  

I have two favorite movies that stick out that I watched in 2012....Courageous and Fireproof.  I have to admit both of these made me tear up lots!  I don't think I've ever cried so much during a movie.  Both of these movies have some good lessons in life.  Must see.  

3. What was your biggest accomplishment of 2012? 

My biggest accomplishment of 2012 was to complete one whole year in the new job.  It was a stressful year and made me think twice about the move.  All in all, I survived and was ready for the new year to begin.  

4. What are you looking forward to the most in 2013? 

I am looking forward to paying off my vehicle!  I am also looking forward to moving forward on our dream home.  Right now we are browsing areas on where we would like to move or build that dream home of ours. 

5. What are your new year's resolutions? 
What is a new year's resolution without a health kick one right?  So, I will include being more healthy-eating and exercising-yeah...let's try that one again. :)
I also want to bring myself closer to God, read more, write more, and spend time on the things I have a passion for-doing things that make me happy!  Read, photography, writing, and spending time with family.


Wishing you all a wonderful New Years!  Wishing your 2013 is as great as you plan for it to be!

Thanks Jessica!

Christmas Memories

Christmas has once again come and gone.  Again, the memories made are priceless.  

We started our Christmas weekend with a trip to Santa's Wonderland.  We all went including my kids, parents, nieces, nephews, etc... It was a road trip to a town near College Station in Texas.  It was a lot of fun!  My only complaint is the long lines for everything.  However, we did go the day before Christmas Eve so I couldn't have expected anything different.  Next year, we'll plan better.  We did have a great time in this little country town.  Makes me wish we lived in a town like this all year round!  

Below are some snapshots from our time there.  

The "snow" that fell felt super cool! 

  

The hayride to see all the lights definitely topped the night.  

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Our family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.  We visit with all the family and enjoy each other's company.  Here are some snapshots of our time.

 These are just some of the precious memories made this season and the reason I feel so ever blessed and grateful for the life I have been given.  Now to enjoy the rest of my vacation with movie nights, house cleaning, cooking, baking, and maybe a little spa time.

Merry Christmas to all!

Unimaginable

The events of last Friday are unbelieveable, uncomprehensible, and just plain unimaginable.  When I received the news alert text Friday morning, I was a bit taken back.  As an educator, this had a big affect on me.  It seemed like one of those events that happens elsewhere and not close to home.  Although the physical location is not close to home, the fact that it happened in an elementary school did hit home for me and it hit hard.  I could not believe that 20 innocent children lost their lives to a senseless person.  To add to that, teachers and other staff including the principal also lost their lives trying to protect these children.  I never like to ask God why things like this happen.  But on Friday, I was asking why?  I kept up with the stories throughout the weekend through FB, news reports, websites, and tv.  With each new update, I began to picture my campus and thought-what would I do if it were us.  What would WE do if it were us?  The overall safety of my campus crept my mind all weekend.  I always want our students and staff to feel safe on campus.  I always want them to feel secure.  Is there really any way for us to be completely safe in any place?  These things happen everywhere-schools, malls, movie theaters....Are we really safe anywhere?  Can you actually go on living fearful of everywhere you go and everything you do?  You can't.  We all have to keep living our lives with faith.  We must pray away the evil and continue living not in fear, but in hope and faith that all will be okay.   

My deepest condolences to all those families affected by the events in Connecticut.  May God help ease their hearts from this lost.  May the staff of Sandy Hook Elementary find the strength to get through this together.  May they know that they are not alone and that we are all here praying for them.  God bless the 26 lives lost that day.  May they never be forgotten.   

Faith and a smile

More and more each day I realize that life is quite short and every day is a blessing.  Sometimes when you think you have problems, there is always someone else who may be going through just a bit more than you.  We know this right?

I have a close colleague who is battling a tough fight with cancer.  She continues to keep the fight each day.  This woman has been an inspiration to me.  Not a day goes by without a smile from her. Even when she was at her toughest time, she still smiles and has a tremendous amount of faith.  She still lays in her room with lots of faith in her heart.

I first met my friend almost 6 years ago when she became a teacher at my campus.  She had this energy about her.  She was always smiling, even when she was upset.  She has a loving husband and 3 precious boys.  She found out about her cancer about 3 years ago.  She went through chemo back then.  She suffered quite a bit during that time, however she maintained her faith.  Miraculously, she bounced right back to work and all was well.

Recently, the cancer came back.  Things are not looking the best, but many family and friends are still praying and having faith.  I've always known this woman to be a strong willed faith-filled woman.  I can only admire her for her continuous strength.  

This past Sunday, a benefit was held for her and her family.  They sold bbq plates, concessions, held a concert as well as have raffles and auctions.  Our campus hosted a garage sale.  Many community members along with family and friends came out to support her.  The turnout was overwhelming!  This picture is just some of our campus group who came out to host a garage sale to raise money for the cause.

I didn't write this to be sorrow.  I wrote this to give me a reminder of how precious life is.  How when we think things are tough, they are not.  Last, but not least, I wrote this to capture this moment of a friend who I look up to for her strength, for her faith and for her wonderful smile.