Dear Friday: Snow, Spring, Softball

The sun showed it's face!

Dear Friday, today I will take a picture for the newspaper of an event in which I grew up participating.  Very cool.

Dear Snow, I like you, but I'm hoping when I return from my mini-vaca that you will have melted.

Dear Springtime, please hurry up and arrive!  I want to wear sandals.

Dear Thursday, you were awesome.  I got to go to the Holy Week service, reminisce a little, go to Michael's game, and (the biggest surprise) watch Bath Co. play softball!  I loved getting to see all the students.

Dear Subbing, you are such an awesome job.  I am paid to do something I love--hang out with students and try to share some of my excitement of life and learning!

Dear Council Meetings, you gave me a doozy of a week.

Dear NC and SC, prepare for me to visit!  WooHoo!

Dear Duck Dynasty, you are so awesomely hilarious!  So quoteable, so funny, and so clean.

Dear Homes, I love having multiple of you.  I have many places to rest my head and many places where I am loved.

Dear Trey, I had fun with you the other night.  I like sharing "sibling moments" with you.

Just a Snippet

I know it's fuzzy, but it was so pretty the other morning.

Tomorrow my students are in for a surprise : )

I'm pretty excited.

Snow is supposed to grace our lovely mountains this week.
My feelings are mixed.  I don't want to miss my students, but snow is so pretty.

Growth hurts.
But, I'm thankful (sometimes) for the process.

I've realized, I am content.
I love being in BC.  I love subbing.  I love writing for the paper.  I love the friendships I'm cultivating.

I love spending so much time with the Shaver's.
It's been a long time since I've spent extended lengths of time at their house, but I'm family.  It's another place I call home.

I got to take Lindsay to school this morning.
I used to babysit her...and now I am driving her to HIGH SCHOOL!

I"m so glad I don't know the plans God has for my life.
Frustrating as it may be sometimes, I enjoy the adventure and surprise.

Have I mentioned I love my students?  They are funny, smart, encouraging...and gems.

My Funny Valentine

Kitty Love from Rillian < 3

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you found joy in the day in surprising ways!
(Wow, that sounds cliche...but I'm being sincere!)

On this Valentine's Day, I had no expectations, other than not expecting it to be a big deal.  I didn't view it as Singles Awareness Day.  In fact, even when I have a boyfriend/fiance/husband, I want it to be special and unique, not a day to celebrate love commercialization has created.

Anyway, I sleepily awoke, made a cup of tea, and enjoyed catching up on the most recent Downton Abbey. It was a wonderful.

The final (partially eaten) product! Yuuum!

While making breakfast, I commented on three cookie looking things to my Grandmother.  She said, "Well, they were supposed to be a surprise."  I told her I didn't see a thing : )  But, she let me scrape the icing bowls that decorated all the cookies!

Happy guy! I am aware he looks like a giant.  At 6'1", he's not far off ;)

Michael's (my brother) new cell phone arrived.  I found a giant bag of Starbursts for him.  I hid the phone in the Starbursts (Mama's awesome idea).  So, when I handed him the bag, he thought it was awesome.  Then he kept asking about the phone.  I kept avoiding it.  Suddenly, the bag started to ring!  Crazy, right?  Ha, he got this goofy, surprised look of realization on his face.  Surprise=Awesome.

My surprise, special Valentine moments:
-Daddy texted me.
-The FedEx delivery man turned to walk away, and then said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"
-I texted Pastor Steve, telling him I hoped BCHS beat PMHS tonight.  He replied, and added "Happy Valentine's Day."
-Mr. Orr called me to check in, see how I am doing, and to update on AMBEX stuff.  As we were hanging up, he said, "Oh, Happy Valentine's Day!"
-Grandmother gave me a giant sugar cookie covered in peppermint icing!
-Mama brought me loose leaf Earl Grey tea (i.e. practically impossible to find in these U.S. of A).

For part of high school, I kept the books for the JV and Varsity girl's basketball teams.  One Valentine's Day we had an away game.  I was staying with the Shaver's that week, and got home very late.  I checked the kitchen table for any notes they may have left me.  What did I find?  A Valentine's card from Pastor Steve.  So sweet that he had thought of me.

Open Season for Surprises!

I am unpacking and trying to settle in.
It is hard because I know I want to move to England, Germany, France, or anyplace in Europe.
But, I sorted clothes today and measured a space for a mattress.
No bed for me.  Instead, I want to make a tiny room with three walls.

In case anyone is thinking of taking a trip, it is always open season for surprise visits to Kirsten's.
Not being in college proves for some lonely days.
And, not being employed full-time leaves lots of hours to idle away time.
Routine is coming slowly.  I need to speed it up, though.

I will do a before, mid, and after post of my area when it is complete.

Until next time, friends!