It's funny that when I started my blog a year ago, I was spending the first week in R apartment. Now, a full year later I'm sitting in Ebay's (old room) on my bed about to spend my last night in the apartment. Ebay took off early for an interview so I am spending my last bit of time reminiscing on the amazing year that I had in R apartment and Spokane. I couldn't think of a better way to have spent my first year post-graduating.

As I said a year, while it is hard not to think about what was, there is a lot to get excited about for what is coming. God has ALWAYS provided wonderful opportunities for me (and everyone else) and it has always worked about for the best. This week I could find out if I'll be teaching at Chief Leschi Tribal School in Puyallup...I have my last round of interviews on Thursday with the Superintendent. If it's part of God's plan, I'll be moving to Puyallup by myself mid-August. If it's not part of God's plan, well then more doors will open.

So here is goodbye to a life-changing year but a welcome to the new chapter in my life. I have no complaints because each day I am reminded that time is so short, so you might as well spend it loving life!

One of our last nights in R apartment :(

Junion Reunion!

Nothing much to post here because I'm sitting in my living room with THE CORNER HOUSE GIRLS. Couldn't be happier :)))

Overwhelmed...by BLESSINGS!

Wow. What a special and memorable weekend I just had. While most people would think the highlight of the weekend would have been graduating with a Master's degree....that is not quite what made me feel so overwhelmed with blessings. The highlight was realizing how extremely lucky I am to have such amazing friends and family in my life. While I did not expect anyone (but my parents of course) to come to graduation or even acknowledge it, every single friend somehow found a way to congratulate me and show support. This meant more than anything in the world. Claire, Jackie, Keith, Ebay and Joanna made an amazing appearance at the actual graduation which made me feel so loved. Nothing was more special than walking up on stage and seeing the waves and smiles from you guys :) Emily and Lindsay surprised me with special congrats via mail. Em, the flowers are beautiful and bloooming bright! Linz, I'm so excited for the Barnes and Noble giftcard! And the rest of you have offered congrats in other amazing ways! So it wasn't graduating that was the highlight, it was realizing how many amazing people I have in my life that will always be there offering support. Thank you to all who have been praying and offering encouragement throughout this journey. I wouldn't have done with out you all. My hope is that I can continue to show support in everyone else's accomplishments -- because the truth is, everyone is doing the most amazing things. I swear between all of us, we could change the world.

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend so special. I love you all so special and please know that I am constantly praying for you in every endeavor :)

Re-Entering Back into BlogWorld

Hi friends!

So I have not written on my blog for almost 2 months which is so UNLIKE me but I have loved reading everyone else's and keeping up with what is going on in every one's lives! Since I last blogged a lot has happened...

I have completed my 12 weeks of full-time student teaching. Last week was my last week being at Willard everyday :( Now I only go on Monday and Tuesdays while I spend Wed, Thurs, Fri back in the classroom at Whitworth. As with any transition it is bittersweet. I LOVED teaching my 2nd graders and it is hard to give them back to my mentor but at the same time, I am looking forward to not spending hours planing lessons and feeling nervous about being watched!

Ebay and I made a trek to the Tri-Cities last weekend and stayed with Lindsay and her family. I ran the Walk Home with her family to help support Linz and her efforts to raise money for a house. It was so special seeing her in her element and made me realize how much of a difference she really is making :)

I got to spend Mother's Day with Keith and his family and enjoyed lunch at Thai Food :) I am getting to spend lots of time with them on the weekends he is home and it has been great getting to know them! Saturday night the four of us (keith and his parents) curled up on the couch and watched a movie together. Great bonding.

This coming weekend is my graduation. Mixed emotions for sure! I can't believe it has been a full year since we all graduated from Whitworth. My graduation is the same at the undergrads so part of me feels like everyone should be graduating with me! I still have a month of class after graduation too! I'm looking forward to seeing Jackie, Claire, Joanna and the family for graduation weekend...maybe you can all help me figure out how the hood goes on my grad gown :)

Love you all and hope wherever you are you are getting to enjoy some SUNSHINE :)))))

Our salmon meal we cooked :) Our new house!?

As usual life seems to be going by way too fast. Let's see...since the last time I have posted a blog a million things have happened!

• Ebay left me for the weekend and went to Portland


• I started dating someone ;)


• I drove over the mountains and visited my family


• I went to a career fair at Tacoma Dome


• Visited Jackie in Ellensburg


• Have had parent-teacher conferences and half days


• I'm planning a Poetry Unit for Writing and Sensory Image Unit for Reading


• Organizing my Research project that I will start after Spring Break


• Applying for Jobs

So now that Conference week is almost over...Spring Break is coming near! Here is what the next couple months will hold:

• Drive to Portland on Friday


• Fly out for Vegas on Saturday


• Enjoy well-deserved relaxation at the pool in VEGASSSS


• Trip to Tumwater


• Seattle trip and possible SOUNDERS game and celebrating Jimmy's Birthday


• The last four weeks of student teaching


• Bloomsday


• Habitat for Humanity Run in Tri-Cities


• Ummm...graduation


• Corner House REUNION!

A quick, top 10 update!

1. Unfortunately the International School of Moshi is done with their recruitment process so there are no more openings :( Applied at Braeburn International School (where Moses's daughter goes) and will hear back after March 25th about interviews!

2. Got observed by my Supervisor and MIT professor on Monday! Getting observed by my Principal tomorrow!

3. Boys (Keith, Bill and Fronk) are perfecting their tree-fort building skills in R apartment. Last week, it involved using my box spring, Christmas lights, posters, stuffed animals, two couches and a fan. We'll see what they plan for this week...

4. Ebay and I have literally watched 30 + hours of Desperate Housewives in the past week! It's our break from our wonderful little children. Is it bad that everywhere we go, we think we see Desperate Housewife characters...?


5. I'm obsessed with peanut butter and apples, peanut butter on sandwich thins and peanut butter on wheat thins...and sliced oranges. Ebay is obsessed with Life Cereal.

6. Going home next week for Seattle Job Fair! Excited to see the family, visiting Liana at Dairy Queen, teaching in my mom's class and just spending time in TumH20.

7. Ummm, yeah I'm about ready for some sunshine. And no more rain. Today I wore flip flops just to boycott the weather.

8. St. Patrick's Day is Thursday and my kids are bringing in their Leprechaun traps....they will be so cute!

9. Got to go on a motorcycle ride this past weekend!

10. Misses everyone that is not within 20 minutes of me :(

Trying to remember that it ALWAYS works out

This is one of my favorite pictures of my host family. We taught them how to make cookies and they were sooooooo excited. My mama was the most

I'm not exaggerating when I say that the first thingI do every morning at 5:45 am when I wake up is open my computer praying to see a response from the International School in Tanzania. I'm also guilty of constantly checking the "job opportunities" page numerous times a day to make sure the page has not been updated and the positions are still open. And yes, I purchased Skype credit so I could attempt to contact the school (which means trying to get through at about 9:30 pm my time). It is safe to say that I have become a little wrapped up in the idea of moving and teaching at the International school. Maybe too wrapped up?

Since I have been back I imagine myself getting off the plane in Arusha, moving into my boarding house on the Arusha campus, having my classroom full of diverse international students, spending weekends at Rehama's orphange and weeknights having dinner with my wonderful host family. I can see myself there. It seems so real and honestly I can't see myself anywhere else. But its been two weeks since I've sent in my application forms and after failing skype attempts and follow-up emails, I have still not heard anything. Maybe I'm stressing out too soon and not giving it enough time...maybe they gazed at my stuff and thought why would we hire this 22 year old to teach our ex-patriot families? Am I kicking myself for not visiting the school while I was in Tanzania (passing it literally everyday on my way to St. Margaret's)? Yes, I am deeply regreting not doing that.

In the midst of all of this unknown and frustration, I'm remembering that everything has always worked out. Last year when I had my heart set on Teach for America and was devastated when I didn't get in, the door opened up for the MIT and I could not be happier. So maybe while I think that it makes the most sense to be in Tanzania teaching next year, it might not be God's plan and he might have something better for me. I'm constantly praying for peace of heart in this situation and to not freak out too much about the future. I am young and there are endless opportunities. If God closes a door, he opens a window.

Thanks for listening to this vent session! If I do move to Tanzania, the next Corner House reunion will have to be there...DUHHHHH. If I don't move to Tanzania, well then I get to see more often :)

Oh yes, and student teaching is going amazingly well (another thing that worked out). I love my second graders. I love teaching them and I have no doubt that this is my life calling.