Random Thoughts...

There are those who are very good at keeping journals and there are those who are just not as consistant... can you tell which group I belong in? :) Anway, it's been a while since I've written last so I thought I should visit and write a little something.

Yesterday was my final day doing my clinicals at Webster-Stanley Middle School. At first I was not quite sure how to feel, I mean, I only spent three weeks with them. I think it hit me when some of my favorite students came up to me with cards and hugs and begged me not to leave. One student even threatened to strike so I wouldn't leave! It really didn't hit me until the ride home. I got a little teary-eyed and all I could think was that I hope I bump into them somewhere while I'm still in Oshkosh. I've realized that there is only so much a student-teacher can do to make his or her experience great... the rest is up to the students and I had four classes of awesome students who I will miss greatly. To show my appreciation and to ease some of the tension yesterday, I baked (successfully!) 100+ chocolate chip cookies for the students and bought my cooperating teacher a really cute pink-flowery over-sized coffee mug and a Caramello bar. I wrote up a card for my teacher as well and left her a card to read to the class the next day... when I would not be there. All in all, it was a terrific experience that has given me some true closure that this was a good career choice, and something that I am definately good at and will enjoy immensly.

In wedding news, I found my dress! I tried on this 'diamond in the rough' at David's bridal, and, actually, it was a designer gown that had been set aside on a 'nicer' rack that had been over-looked and was going to be discontinued/taken out of stores in 12 hours from the time we checked out! I think it was ment to be! It's very pretty and I love it! I can't say too much about it because Jim reads these blogs but I can say that it is ivory... I looked like a corpse-bride in the white/champane I was so pale!... and was actually two sizes too small when I tried it on! I really crammed myself in that dress! In fact, I couldn't even zip it up entirely in the back and just to take pictures, the lady said to breath everything out and then she quickly zipped me up... Well, we took a few pictures as my chest, neck, and face began turning red... but I remember turning to my mom and saying 'this is the one' and beginning to cry without reason. My crying, started my mom to cry, and our crying made Nikki, our dress woman, begin to cry! Then a woman next to me found her dress and began to cry! Wow. We also found the bride's maids dresses and have begun to get all the girls' measurements in so that they can be ordered because they take 3-4 MONTHS! to come in!

Jim has been doing GREAT! He has been running everyday for a little more than a week now and he just informed me that he didn't even realize it, but he ran 5.2 miles this morning! So a BIG WOOT! and KOODOS goes out to Jim for doing so well! He also met up with the Superintendent for our district/Methodist churches and received a few options that I think helped settle his mind on some things. The option he is most excited about (as am I!) is that he can actually go to school part time and commute while being a full-time student (?) pastor! Which means that he would be able to do all the normal things that pastors do and it would give him a great deal of experience as well! I'm excited about this because neither of us were too thrilled in possibly having to move to the Chicago land area and instead can stay in WI near our friends and family! In addition, I can also teach in Wisconsin although I will be researching how to obtain a teaching license to teach in Il.

Otherwise, my fingers are tired from typing so I will retire until another time! :) Signing off...