Summer Highlights...

It has been a long time since I have blogged and a lot has happened this summer so I guess I need to get caught up before it is another 3 months! The break has really gone by fast. It seems like just last week I was packing up my classroom and now I am already unpacking it!

Our first big adventure for the summer was a mission trip to Birmingham, Alabama. Josh and I went with the youth from Elm Springs United Methodist. The week was amazing and we got to experience many neat things. The group I worked was able to spend 2 days working at a Kids' Club in an inner city neighborhood and 2 days working on a house for Habitat for Humanity. I think I was better off at the Kids' Club because I'm pretty sure I am not cut out for construction! I am no good at hanging siding!

We didn't plan any big vacations this summer since we went to Florida over spring break, but we did take several weekend trips. First we went to Tulsa with Josh's brother Daniel and sister-in-law Amanda. We always have a great time hanging out together and this weekend was no different! We found a Dave and Busters when we first got there and the boys had a blast. Amanda and I got a glimpse of what it must have been like to be around them as kids and lets just say that I have a new appreciation for my mother-in-law!

The next weekend we went to Branson with my dad, step-mom, and my sister. The trip was very low-key and we spent the weekend eating and shopping. Surprisingly my dad and Josh did great at the outlet mall! I think it was because we let them play golf the next day! Ha!

The biggest news of the summer is that Josh and I found out that we will be having a healthy baby girl in January. I have a lot to write about the pregnancy so far, but that will have to be a different post. Needless to say, we are very EXCITED! I am still nervous, but I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders after each appointment.

So that about catches me up. Although I love summer break, I am ready to get back into a daily routine. I don't think I have even gone to the grocery store this entire month! My poor husband (don't worry...he isn't starving!)

Alyson's Graduation Weekend

Sorry it has been awhile since I have updated. Things have been pretty busy around the Worthy house. This weekend was my sister's graduation. I have been so emotional all week about this...it has been ridiculous! Anyway, I actually held it together pretty well on Saturday.

The ceremony was great (and not too long considering there were 450+ graduating). Afterwards we went to eat at Powerhouse and then I came home and crashed. My graduation present to my sister was a party. I have been planning this for awhile, but the procrastinator in me waited until the last minute to get all the decorations together. Despite the fact that I was finishing the decor up to the minute the guests started arriving, I think it turned out really cute.

All in all it was a great weekend. I am so proud of my sister and everything she has

accomplished this year. I can't wait to see what exciting things God has in store for her future!

Mother's Day

I knew this day was going to be hard, in fact this entire week. May has always been by far my favorite month. My birthday is in May, our anniversary is in May, and I just love the entire month because I know that summer is just around the corner. When I found out that I was pregnant back in August, I was so excited when the nurse told me my due date was May 1st. I would be a mother by my 27th birthday and Mother's day! Well, the good Lord had other plans for me and even though I have made a lot of progress in the grieving progress, there are still some days that really hurt....like today. I'm trying not to focus on the gigantic hole in my heart, but instead look towards the future. I know that God has great things in store for Josh and me this year.

I do have to say a big Happy Mother's day to my mom and my mother-in-law. Without them, I truly don't know how I would have made it through this year. I love you both very much!

Happy Birthday Ms.Ellison!

Today is my high school band director's birthday. As I wrote on her wall today wishing her a happy birthday, I was in awe of the amount of past students that had posted her birthday wishes. I lost count after about the 5th page! Ms. Ellison was an amazing teacher. She had some very unconventional methods sometimes, but she touched my life in a way that I could never fully explain. She believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. She saw something in me musically and encouraged me. Without her, I would not have had the wonderful experience of college band or the scholarship.

Now that I am an educator, I hope that I am touching my students' lives in the way that she touched mine. Thank you Ms. Ellison!

It's OVER...

the benchmark that is! :)

So another year of benchmark is over and I am SO glad. I look forward to this time every year because there are so many fun things to do in the springtime without the stress of testing.

I know I have mentioned this before, but the group of kids that I have this year I have had for two years. They are a very special group of students to me...more so than they will probably ever know. We truly have become a family over the past two years and I am pretty close with several of their families as well. I'm pretty sure I am going to need some therapy when I have to send them on to 5th grade...just kidding...but it is going to be sad! :(

Anyway, one reason that I love this group is because they are very creative. I knew I wanted to do something fun tomorrow since it is the end of the week and testing is over. I wanted to show a movie, but I hate showing a movie just to show one. SO, I always try to connect it to something. I picked the Princess and the Frog. I checked out every version of the book I could find and the kids did a poster project which they LOVED. Well, my very creative kids decided that we needed to have a frog-themed day. One kid is bringing his pet frogs from home so we can "observe" their behaviors. They planned "frog" games to play outside like lily pad hop (with hula-hoops) and frog races with burlap sacks. We are also making some frog crafts. To stick with the frog theme, I decided to make some "frog" sugar cookies and "crowns". Josh and I had so much fun tonight decorating the cookies. I am looking forward to the fun that is to be had tomorrow.

Despite the stress that it sometimes brings, I KNOW with all my heart that I am in the perfect profession for me. I am very lucky!

Monday Musings

Not much going on with me tonight, so here is some randomness...

1. Benchmark started this week, and although it makes for a LONG day, I am very proud of my kiddos. I have learned that you really can't tell how they do while they are taking the test and it is better to not stress yourself out and just wait for the results in May.

2. Josh and I went to a meeting yesterday for a mission trip we are going on in May. We will be going with some youth from my home church, Elm Springs United Methodist, to Birmingham, Alabama. We are traveling with a group called YouthWorks. The best part is that my sister will also be going...I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before, but I think she is pretty cool! ;)

3. Okay, this one is more of a vent...does anyone else find it really annoying when girls on Facebook complain ALL the time about their pregnancies? Now, I know that when I am LUCKY enough to be pregnant again, it isn't going to be great all the time. I know you get tired, and crampy, and swell up (just to name a few)...but SERIOUSLY, complaining all the time is so annoying. Anyway, I didn't mean to offend anyone....just please remind me of this if I start complaining too much next time!

4. My awesome sister-in-law and I are going to start to train for a 5k this Sunday....yes, you read that correctly...me, running! As funny as it is going to look (I have a waddling problem!), I'm going to give it a try. Amanda sold me when she told me the training schedule is called "from couch potato to runner". We will see how this goes!!

Anyway...enough randomness from me! Have a great week!

Back to life...Back to reality

Spring break has come and gone and boy was it WONDERFUL! Josh and I had an amazing time at Disney World. It was so fun to see Josh's reactions since it was his first time going. We had a very busy 7 days and I think we came away seeing almost everything. I am pretty sure it is impossible to see it all in one visit.

I have to admit that in the back of my mind I couldn't really believe that we were there. I had originally planned to spend spring break putting the finishing touches on a nursery and preparing for our baby. I know that God has a bigger plan for us and I just need to keep reminding myself of that.

So, now the dreaded benchmark test is next week and let me just say that I am SO ready for it to be over. I will say that I haven't been stressing myself out over it. If I have learned anything this year, I have learned that life is too short to stress out about things that are out of my control.

Anyway, that is about all that is new with me. Hope everyone has a great week!