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I have finally figured out how to set this thing up to notify you by email when there is a new post (I think!). All you have to do is type your email address into the box on the upper right-hand corner of the screen under "Subscribe via email." As long as I did everything correctly, new posts should be automatically delivered to your email account after you submit your email address.

Let's hope this works....I know it will be easier for you than checking this website all the time!

Six Years and Counting

Today Jason and I are celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary! I can't believe that six years have gone by since we got married. In some ways it seems a lot shorter than that, in others it seems like we've been married forever!

In honor of our anniversary, here is one of my very favorite poems:

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

I love you x3 Jason!

Keeping busy...for now.

Ok, so now school is out for the summer. I'll try to do a little better about posting more often. I really have no excuse not to write now, since I have very few things on my calendar for the next few months!

I've been keeping busy this week doing things that I didn't have time to do before:
-Cleaning out the cars really well
-Going to the dentist
-Applying for jobs (well, I did that before, but now I can do it anytime!)
-Took the recycling to the recycling center
-Cleaning out closets, drawers, cabinets, etc
-Cleaning up goo that exploded from my shower drain and toilet (yeah, how's that for excitement!)
And lots of other equally exciting things!

Let me just say that I am very upset about the recycling situation here in Mount Vernon. First, there is no curbside pick up, which I think is ridiculous. I would pay for that if it was even available. But it's not, so I have been saving all the recycling to take to the center. This has become a problem though, because the center is closed, and has been closed since January. Now their phones are even disconnected, so I'm beginning to doubt their reopening. I drove half an hour to Centralia to take the stuff to recycle. There are some places here in town that take a few things, like cardboard and plastic, but what about everything else? A lot of people here know nothing about recycling...it's weird. I just don't understand why there isn't more available. I feel guilty just throwing the stuff away.

I would like to do something about it, but I don't even know what to do. Obviously there wasn't enough support to keep the not-for-profit center open. Maybe I could write a letter to the editor or something. It would help if I actually knew some people in town!

Anyway, that's my rant for this week. I should probably try to do something more productive with my day now.

End of the Year Madness

This school year is winding down quickly. Next week is our last week of school already. I've learned a lot this first year. I have tons of plans for next year; ideas for improvement. If I end up staying in the same position I'll be able to start the year with a plan and some experience behind me. I'll even know about half of my students already, since my little ones will still be in my class. Right now I'm going down my checklist, trying to finish everything that has to get done before summer. It's a long list, but I'm making steady progress and I think I'll get it all done just in time!

On Thursday my kiddos will have a little graduation ceremony. Everyone gets a certificate of completion, and we are making some special awards for each child too. They're going to sing some of the songs we've been working on in class, which is always cute. One song we're going to sing is called "Rock and Roll Body Parts," which involves a lot of dancing, and playing an air guitar of course! It should be a nice little program. It scares me a little to send off some of the kids...a few of them aren't ready for kindergarten. I know I did my best, but I still worry about them.

After the program, all I have to do is turn in my files and final paperwork on Friday. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself all summer, but I think I'll manage to occupy my time somehow!

A work in progress...

As you may know, we recently got new furniture for the living room, since our couch was damaged in the move to Illinois. We're still working to get things set up the way we want, but I thought it was decent enough that I could take a few pictures.

The view towards the hallway.

From the dining room. See how we mounted the TV on the wall?

Looking in from the garage door.

(Yes, our DVD player is currently sitting on a box in front of the fireplace. )

View of the sectional from the front door towards the garage.

View from the hall.


Our old TV is still sitting on the floor in the living room.

We don't have anywhere to put it yet!

You can see that we still have some finishing touches to take care of, such as hiding all the wiring to the TV and removing some old stuff from the room, but I'm very happy with all our purchases thus far. It sure beats me and Jason squashed together on the love seat for all those months!

(Oh, and don't worry Michelle. That super nice TV stand is still in the room, next to the sectional with the cable box on it. We just couldn't part with it so soon! Ha!)

And Two Shall Become One

Jason and I were lucky enough to visit El Paso for Ben and Danielle's wedding. I was a bridesmaid, which was a blast. It was great to meet up with our old friends and see how the Sun City has changed since we were there last. Here are some pictures from the wedding events:

Us at the rehearsal dinner at Cattleman's Steak House

Me and Danielle at the rehearsal dinner

Getting ready for the wedding ceremony

Ben and Danielle in St. Mark's

Jason made me dance in front of everyone!

Enjoying the last of my dessert from the chocolate fountain!

Me with the bride

Me, Danielle and Lauren at the reception

Me, Jason, Ben, Danielle, Lauren and Julio after the reception

As you can see, I was not having a very photogenic weekend! Nevertheless, the trip couldn't have been better! Congratulations Ben and Danielle!!!

May All Good Things Be Yours

By Joanna Fuchs

Your happiness begins

With your wonderful wedding day.

You’ll share everything together;

Through it all,

your love will stay.

Congratulations to you,

As you begin your happy life.

May all good things be yours,

As new husband and new wife.

Blogs to come...

I have several things that I need to write about (and pictures to post) on here, like our trip to El Paso, Jason's new truck, our new furniture, our office makeover, my kiddos Easter egg hunt, the AAR concert on Thursday, and our trip to Missouri this weekend. But I simply don't have time to write about it tonight. Or maybe until next week.

Hold on a little longer...things are just too crazy around here at the moment!