The month of December flew by in classroom 222 and apartment 212. I apologize (again) for not being a better blogger! After a whole month I struggle to even remember what has happened since I last blogged. The kiddos were wild with excitement leading up to Christmas, but it was SO FUN to watch them interact and especially to read their journals. At 7 and 8, they are just so sweet and so pure of heart! Many students brought in gifts for me... which was crazy and awesome. My kids (and parents) were so thoughtful. I was honestly overwhelmed with gratitude... and with writing thank you notes :) ha! Break has been nice, and while I'm not exactly looking forward to working, I can't wait to get back to school and hear all about the kids' Christmas break. I know mine was wonderful! After a couple of crazy, crazy days filled with Christmas activities and one heck of a party (thanks to awesome parent volunteers) it was finally time for a much needed break.
Break this year was filled with bonus cheer and Christmasing for two reasons. The first reason is that I have bonus family to celebrate with! Fiancé and I rotated through our families, eating, drinking, playing cards, and being oh-so-very-merry. Crazy to think that this time next year we will be celebrating our first Christmas together as officially married! AHH!
The second reason that break was filled with bonus cheer is because my best friend and LDR (Long Distance Relationship) Kat came to visit. It was crazy awesome to see her after a year and a half... it's hard to believe it had been that long! Kat and I were roomies in college... unfortunately we could no longer be roomies when she graduated and moved back to Nevada. However, we maintain a loving long distance friendship filled with random text messages, lengthy late night phone calls, and the highly anticipated pen pal letters between our second grade classes. Needless to say, our week together was filled with love, laughter, puns, glitter, naps, movies, cuddles, late nights, wedding planning, and other best friend shenanigans.
One of the super awesome things about having Kat home for the holidays is that she got to spend some quality time with me and all the important people in my life. She's pretty much an honorary sister in my family and greeted everyone with smiles and hugs. She also (finally) got to meet Cody. Words can't explain how happy I was to see two of my favorite people in the whole entire world get to know each other. There was never a dull moment. Between LDR, fiancé, my family, sisters, and friends, we were BUSY. You might have seen us...
Around Y-town,
At a Skyforce game,
At Starbucks,
Golfing (in playing card version),
Cuddling on couches and beds,
Snowboarding (or at least attempting to) at Great Bear,
At Hobby Lobby... covered in glitter and crafting for the wedding,
Trying on Bridesmaid dresses,
Eating out downtown,
Bar hopping for NYE,
Wandering around Old Market and Dundee in Omaha,
Looking incredibly homeless and/or dressed to the nines.
So did you see us? If you answered mayyybe, I wouldn't be surprised!
So now that we've caught up on the past, it's time to look forward to the future. I know it's totally cliché to post reflecting back on the year that was and looking forward to another bright, shiny year. Now is the time that most are forming in their minds (and many posting on social media) new goals for 2015. So here's what I've got to add :)
2014 was a tremendous, huge, and challenging year filled with big highs, lows, and changes for me. A quick recap... I finished my last indoor track season by competing at NAIA indoor nationals. I applied, interviewed for, and accepted my very first teaching job. I completed my last semester as an undergraduate student and as a track athlete. I moved and said goodbye to some really amazing friends who held my hand throughout 4 years of growth and maturation in college (aaaand cue the tears here!). I worked the summer away. I became a first time renter after looking for an apartment. I cleaned out, organized, and planned my classroom while starting to train for teaching. I took graduate classes (just when I thought I was done with that stuff for a while!). I, we :), got engaged! We set a date (July 18th), booked the church, reception, rooms, DJ, photographer, wedding party... What an absolutely crazy year. I thought I was honestly going to lose my mind for a while there, but 2014, we did it! And I couldn't have done it without YOU all... that's right, friends, family, co-workers, random supporters and readers. You too weigh into this equation of my life, so thank you!
As for life in 2015... of course I have some goals.
High on the goal list is happiness. And I know that might sound silly, but that's what (I think) everyone truly hopes and works for. Whether that happiness comes from losing weight, buying a new car, forming new relationships, or whatever, happiness is always the goal. And while I really can't complain about the overwhelming happiness of 2014 (seriously, so awesome), I am looking forward to more happiness in 2015. I don't want to bore your with my in-depth, 12-step, miracle-plan... because let's face it, I don't have one. But I hope to become a stronger, happier person in all aspects of my life; especially through faith, fitness, and communication. I believe that road to success in this goal of happiness will never end. Of course, I also expect to encounter road blocks, bumps, and bruises, but nothing that can't be overcome with faith, family, and friendships.
Another goal of mine is to embrace change. Change has never been easy for me... and it's something that I didn't recognize in myself until my mother pointed it out to me. (Thanks, Ma.) Anyway, 2014 brought many changes and with our marriage on the horizon the future is bright but unknown, and change is inevitable. I hope, pray, and challenge myself to embrace change this year.
So say a little prayer for me and keep me in your thoughts blog readers. I hope that positivity fills us to the brim throughout this year, even in the dark times. May each darkness hold a silver lining, a lesson, a positive change and growth.
That's about enough for tonight I think. Until next time...
Peace, love, and high hopes,
Jayna
