Where did May go?!?

Happy Sunday to everyone! I hope that all of have been doing well! It is so hard to believe that May is just about over! It has been a bit of a whirlwind. The month started with my parents coming in to town for a week. During that time I was hooded for my masters degree then my brother and sister-in-law came in to town then I walked the stage and received my masters degree! My aunt and cousin that live in Tulsa came in to celebrate graduation! Then I had to go back to school and finish up my 15th year of teaching!

My parents came to town for like a week and we had a great time! I am fortunate that I have administrators that understand and support us, so I was able to take off the time to spend with my family! We spent time together, laughed and ate lots of tacos and ice cream! haha My dad was baffled by the number of taco shops and donut shops that were everywhere! My parents fell in love with Braums we went almost every night that they were here! haha While they were here my dad fixed my mailbox, it had fallen over in a wind storm, he and my brother fixed my kitchen light and helped me make holes in my couch. My mom and I stayed up talking about life and just spending time together. It was a good time!

I have taken so long to write this blog because I have had a hard time finding the words to express how much I appreciate everyone. While my parents were here a group of friends got together and threw me a surprise graduation party. I was so overwhelmed with the people that showed up to celebrate my accomplishment. My science department threw me a surprise party under the pretenses of a data meeting! Not to mention all of the text messages, facebook messages, and comments that everyone sent me. My friend Carlee (If I have said it once I have said it a million times, if you don’t have your own Carlee you need to get one! She is amazing!) put a giant graduation cap on my car one evening! It was so cute! The next morning when we were leaving to go somewhere my dad and I were walking to the car and he said “Kid, you have a lot of people that love you here!” I could not agree more! I am sorry if I don’t show it enough but I am for sure grateful and thankful for all of you!! I know that completing a masters degree is an accomplishment and don’t get me wrong I have enjoyed celebrating it, however it doesn’t seem real since I am starting the PhD program in the fall.

So on top of graduating this May I also finished my 15th year of teaching. It is so crazy to think I have been doing this 15 years! In 15 years I have been in 4 classrooms in 2 buildings. I have had 4 principals, 6 assistant principals, and even if I only had 100 kids a year that is more than 1500 students that have come through my classroom door. I have made amazing friends with some of my coworkers. We have been through a lot! The first 15 years have had some ups and downs, I have learned a lot and I have grown as a person and a teacher. Each year comes with a different set of challenges but it always comes with smiles and positives. I started my career at a 6th grade center. I loved it, but there were things I was missing that I had no idea I needed in my life. Even though my kids can’t play sports it is kinda nice to go to sporting events. I didn’t realize how much I would like when the older kids stop by and say hello in the hall. The thing that I didn’t know I was missing was the senior walk. It has been so cool to see the seniors that we had 6 years ago walk through the halls with their caps and gowns. It brings a tear to my eye every time!

Since Graduation I have basically just been lounging around in my spare time. During that time I have read 4 books and started another one, I am working on an afghan that I have been crocheting for YEARS, rewatching Law and order SVU from the beginning, and taking naps! I almost feel guilty like I should be doing something! Doing nothing is exhausting! haha I am going to head to bed. Everyone stay safe at the lake or pools or however you are celebrating memorial day! Here are some pictures from May!