Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I was robbed!!

So...today pretty much sucked! My wallet and checkbook were stolen out of my purse. My purse wasn't left out in the open. On the contrary, it was LOCKED in the cupboard behind my desk in my LOCKED classroom!! I come and go out of my classroom all day...to go to the bathroom, eat lunch, plus I have 2 other classes in another room. Apparently, whoever stole from me knew this and decided to use a key to get into my classroom and cupboard.

They were able to charge up some stuff at about 6 different places before I realized that it was gone around 3:45. I talked with security at the church and I will be filing a police report within the next few days. I also have to get a new drivers license, change my direct deposit at work, change my account at the yoga studio, and that doesn't count all of the phone calls that Layton has made and will make over the next few days.

I've never been stolen from before. It really is an AWFUL feeling being violated like that, especially in a place that you work in and feel so comfortable and safe at. While I was on the phone with my mom telling her what happened, she asked me this question, "What is the silver lining in this situation?" She's really good at asking me questions like that that make me think :)

Today's blessing/silver lining: Getting to replace my HORRID drivers license picture where I look about 15 years old...Getting a new wallet...Seeing how much my sweet husband cares for me. He ran around all evening canceling our account and cards while I got a much needed massage. He truly does love me!!

I AM BLESSED!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Be Content and Be Blessed...

I started this blog awhile ago to count my blessings. I decided to do this because I had started reading other people's blogs and I noticed that a lot of people use blogs to rant, to talk about what they don't like about the world or complain about what sucks in their lives. I've learned over the last few years that life isn't fair. Life often sucks. It often doesn't go the way that you want or plan.

Over the few years many people in my life, including myself, have had absolutely horrible things happen to them. Life hasn't happened just how they'd planned. My life hasn't unfolded just how I planned. About 2 years ago I was thrown for a loop in my marriage. I've also had very close friend leave my life. Those of you that know me well know the stories...I don't need to go into them. All of that to say that I've come to a realization in the last few months. LIFE IS NOT FAIR, especially when you compare your life to a life that someone else leads. Someone else's life is always going to look better. God does not want us comparing our lives to those around us. He wants us to be content with the trails that he has chosen for us. He wants us to learn from the decision and mistakes that we've made and to become a better person because of those decision and mistakes.

Today's blessing is my yoga class. I didn't know 5 months ago when I joined a yoga studio just how much it would change my life. It has helped me become a more spiritual and introspective person. It is helping me learn how to take care of MYSELF!! It has helped me pay attention to what's going on in my life and it is helping me learn how to be happy with ME! It's helped me not to compare myself to those around me, but to find MY EDGE.

I leave with today's very long quote. It's all about being content with yourself and with who GOD MADE YOU TO BE!!

"Someone will always be prettier. They will always be smarter. Their house will be bigger. They will drive a better car. Their children will do better in school, and their husband will fix more things around the house.

So let it go, and love you and your circumstances. Think about it: The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart. And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children. And the richest woman you know -- she's got the car, the house, the clothes might be lonely. And the word says if I have not Love, I am nothing.

So, again, love you. Love who you are right now and let God be your barometer.

Mirror Him. Look in the mirror in the morning and see how much of God you see. He's the only standard and even when you come up short; He will not leave you or forsake you.

You are too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.

The one who kneels to God can stand up to anything.

Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen.

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world."


Be Blessed!!

Monday, August 17, 2009

5 years...


Today I started my 5th year of teaching. It is always a bitter-sweet moment to see summer go; knowing the blood, sweat, and tears that are going to come in the next 9 months of work. I usually get a little depressed at the beginning of the school year because I have so enjoyed the relaxing nature of summer.

I've decided this year to have a different outlook on my job starting this
year. I've decided to have joy in everything I do. I've decided to look at the bright side of things. I've decided to enjoy the talent and the gift that God has given me in being a teacher. I've decided to enjoy the little rug rats that He's placed in my care every single day. I've decided to look at my students as a gift from God, young adults that I can actually learned from.

I had a fabulous day today and it was so great to get texts messages/emails/messages from family and friends that care about how my first day of school went, that care about what goes on in my life each day. God has shown me so much over that the last few months that people care about me!

Today's blessing: Getting a huge hug from a former student and seeing a big smile and her face when she saw me. Those are the moments that really remind me why I'm a teacher.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Mom...


Today's blessing is my wonderful mother! As usual, the first week back to work is quite an adjustment for me. It's difficult going from sleeping in and not doing much to getting up extremely early and using my brain non-stop all day!! Yesterday was also a really stressful day for both Layton and myself. I didn't sleep great last night either, so I am really exhausted today.

I had been in a meeting all morning and I got into my classroom around 11:00 and there was a card on my desk for me. I immediately recognized my mom's handwriting. She'd left me a cute card and a Startbucks gift card. She also wrote on my white board that my classroom looked great!
It was a nice little reminder right in the middle of my VERY LONG week that I am extremely loved by my mom and that I am thought about.

LOVE YOU MOM!!

Monday, August 10, 2009

School starts again!!

Today was my first day back at work. Being a teacher is definitely an interesting job. It almost feels like you quit on the last day of school and then start a totally new job again 10 weeks later. New students....and after 5 years I'm still not teaching the same subjects!! I'm making lesson plans and creating assignments for 2 new classes this year! Sometimes I wonder why I was crazy enough to take on Advanced English for 8th grade and digital photography...PLUS helping out with Student Council. I need to be challenged though!!

I got up at 6AM and read my Bible as I ate my breakfast. I'm hoping to do this all school year! I sat through some meetings today and worked in my classroom a little bit. I got some interesting news from my boss, and I participated in a 3 hour student council meeting. By the time I got home I had been gone for more than 13 hours. I still had laundry to fold and my blog to write. All of that is definitely an adjustment after doing hardly anything for the last 10 weeks besides hanging out with my dogs and talking with Layton; however, my WONDERFULLY AMAZING husband surprised me with a Hoops and YoYo card...my FAV...and a nice bottle of bubble on the counter when I got home. We sat for about and hour and discussed our day and played with the puppy. He sure knows how to take care of me :)

I have vowed to myself this school year to NOT complain and to take on the challenges that God has placed in my life. I DO NOT want to become a complacent Christian, friend, or person. I want to grow in my spiritual walk, in my career, and in the relationships that God has placed in my life. I want to make a difference in the people around me and in my student's lives. I want to MATTER!!

Today's blessing: Having an amazing job and working with amazing Christian people. Being blessed with people in my life that challenge me to grow and make me want to be more like Christ!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Eight is great!










Yesterday Layton and I celebrated our 8th anniversary. As the saying goes "Time flies when you're having fun!" 
Looking back on the last 8 years of our marriage, I realize just
how much time has flownby.  We've bought 2 houses, traveled A TON, I graduated from college and started a new job, Layton started his own business, etc. Life has been fun with Layton by my side. I thank God every day for the incredible, intelligent, handsome, caring, ethical, giving, funny, sweet, generous, quirky man that I married.  I truly have been blessed to grow up with him over the last 8 years.  We were babies when we got married.  We really didn't know what we were getting into.  But we have made it work and we are committed to making it work for the next 50+ years.  

I was laying in the tub last night after our fabulous day of picnicking at a winery in Placerville and then having dinner at our usual anniversary spot, The Slocum House, when a little analogy popped into my head.  I can kind of relate our marriage to the tandem bike that Layton and I rode on our recent trip to Cape Cod.  That tandem bike was not easy to maneuver together. Sometimes we were quite wobbly, sometimes one person gave a little more than the other, sometimes the effort was equal, sometimes we had to get off of the bike and walk it for a ways because it was just too difficult, sometimes to road was VERY bumpy and sometimes is was smooth sailing; however, I look back on that bike ride and I remember the utter JOY that I felt when we were cruising along TOGETHER with the wind blowing through our hair and laughing. There have been many times over the last 8 years that have not been easy, but looking back I am grateful for EVERY SINGLE moment of my life with Layton.  I am grateful for the moments that have caused me to grow and I am grateful for the amazing man that God chose for me as my life partner.  

Here's to another 50+ years with Layton by my side.  

Obviously yesterday's blessing was celebrating 8 years of marriage to the man that I am 
SO VERY PROUD to call my husband.  He makes me feel special every day and I am SO BLESSED!!

Enjoy the 8 pictures from each year of our marriage.  

Sunday, August 2, 2009

A Wedgie family trip

The Wedgeworth family took a little day trip to Lake Tahoe today.  For Father's Day we bought my father-in-law an hour kayaking trip on Lake Tahoe and most of the family went with him. Margaret and I saw the rest of the family off-Layton, Colby, David, Bridget, Magen and Josiah-and then we sat at a great restaurant on the lake called Captain Jon's.  We enjoyed some french fries while the rest of the fam enjoyed an hour out on the lake.  It was great getting to talk with my soon to be sis-in-law about life, love, and marriage.  After everyone went kayaking we hit up a yummy pizza place for lunch and then we hiked up to the AMAZING look-out point that gave us great views of the entire lake.  

When Layton and I first got married, we used to take a lot of vacations and trips with the Wedgeworth side of the family.  Over the last few years we haven't gone on a lot of trips or vacations with them.  Today made me realize how much I miss that.  It also made me realize how much I am TRULY blessed with an amazing in-law side of my family.  They love me deeply and accept me for who I am.  I am able to have fun and laugh with them and I REALLY enjoy being with them.  We had an AMAZING day together.  

After we got back from Tahoe, Layton and I bbq-ued and then sat and talked at the table together for awhile.  I love that I have a man in my life that challenges me to think, to questions, and to attempt to understand and not just to accept blindly.  

Today's blessing:  THE WEDGEWORTHS!!! I love them so much! 
Everyday's blessing:  The man that God blessed me with...
Layton Jaret Wedgeworth!!