Thinking Lately, With a Ring on My Hand

     Ever since I was a little girl, I knew marriage was a big deal. I think as kids we just know because we hear grown-ups talk about it. I watched as Ariel fell in love with Eric and Cinderella fell in love with Prince Charming. I saw how they looked at each other and how they would do anything to be together. I also knew that a wedding was a big deal. Honestly, for the longest time, the three things that stuck out to me about weddings were: everyone dressed fancy, the bride and groom kissed, and they ate cake. I guess as a kid, it’s normal for those things to stand out.

     I also had a slight large obsession with Barbie dolls. I was one of those kids who had the whole town set up in my playroom and bedroom and I knew each of their names and what they liked to do. I was also pretty picky with my Barbies. I only had 3-4 guy dolls (except when I would take my brothers GI Joes because they had more muscles).  So needless to say, not all of my Barbies could get married. They had to fall in love first, which usually meant they would spend some time driving around town in their pink convertible going to get ICEEs, or going to the pool for a swim, or just hanging outside on the back porch.  Of course, as a child, I really had no idea what it meant to fall in love. I knew that I loved my mom and dad, but I also knew that I loved chocolate ice cream and kittens and riding my scooter. But ever since I was a little girl, I knew that when I grew up I wanted to fall in love and get married. I knew that boys had cooties and things like that, but I was pretty sure that they would outgrow those by the time they became adults. I mean, my mom and dad were married, so I figured he had to have outgrown them.

     So, I grew up. Yes, there were several heartbreaks throughout the years, but I knew that if God wanted me to be married, He would place that man in my life. In high school, I heard so many people say, “pray for your husband; pray for his heart; pray for where he is right now.” So, I began to do just that. However, it really wasn’t until the summer before my sophomore year of college when I really began to pray for the man I was going to marry. I had been praying over the years, but it wasn’t until then that I began to pray more specifically. I would pray things like, “God, I pray that you would watch over my future husband tonight,” or “God, I pray that you would protect his heart from the enemy and that you would guide his words and thoughts.” I would even pray, “God, I pray that my husband will want a big family like I do and that he will want to adopt one day.” I cried out to God and I promised Him that I would not date again until it was the man I was going to marry.

     Sophomore year rolled around and what do you know, Dalton came around. He had actually been around freshmen year, but we started to take interest in each other and started hanging out more and more. I thought I had freaked him out when I told him that I wasn’t going to date someone until it was the person I was going to marry, but thankfully he felt the same way. Whew! What an answered prayer! Over the next four and a half years, my prayers were answered and God even surpassed what I could have ever imagined. He brought a man into my life that loved and admired Him. He brought a man into my life that loved and respected me. He brought someone into my life who was goal-oriented and a hard worker. He brought a man into my life who loved people and loved serving others. He brought someone into my life who I could talk to for hours and laugh with until we could hardly breathe. He brought a man who believed in me, encouraged me, and prayed with me. He brought someone into my life who wanted the best for the both of us. And, as a huge plus, he brought a man into my life who wanted to have a big family AND wanted to adopt one day. God showed me just how incredibly faithful He is.

      I have known that I was going to marry Dalton for the past 4 years. Some may think that is crazy, but I knew after just a few months of dating, that he was the one. (And he’s probably the only person on this planet that can and will listen to me ramble on and on for hours). A month ago, when he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife, I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I’ve dreamed of that day ever since I was young. It was more than anything I could have ever imagined. In the beauty of it all, being together and being so in love, I thanked God for hearing and answering my prayers. 

     We have grown so much together and have grown so much alike over the past couple of years. Yes, we have differences and we both know that neither of us are perfect. We disagree at times and get into arguments. However, we do know that God’s grace is abundant and that He continues to remain faithful to us. We know that marriage is a commitment and that we have to work together. Of course, this whole marriage thing is new to us, but thankfully we’ve got some pretty awesome people in our lives to look to for encouragement, prayer and advice. Most importantly, the Lord is apart of our relationship and soon-to-be marriage. My prayers continue for my future husband, who now has a name. I not only pray for him, but I pray that I will be the godly wife that I need to be for him and for our marriage. I’m writing all of this to share how God has been faithful and how He is continuing to work, but I’m also writing this to ask for your prayers and we begin a life together. We can't wait to start a life together!

     Oh, and like I said earlier: I guess all it took to fall in love was a ride around town in a pink convertible to get ICEEs (but I guess riding around in a grey Altima to get Frosty’s works just the same).  

The First Year of Teaching

     Growing up, my play room was filled with white boards, markers, transparencies and make-shift overhead projectors, calculators, red pens, and a "classroom" full of make-believe children who had their names in a grade book and everything. When anyone would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always answer with, "a teacher." Of course, throughout the years I changed my mind a few times, but eventually during my sophomore year of college I knew that I was meant to be a teacher. Fast forward to senior year when I began student teaching and thought to myself, "I could never teach below third grade." Then as a student teacher, I got a group of first graders that proved to me that I really could and really would love to teach first grade. After graduation, I was a long-term substitute for a few months. I continued to pray that God would open an opportunity for me to teach in first or second grade. I interviewed at several places, and then I received a phone call that led me to where I am today. I started this time last year and finished up the two and half months of the school year with a group of first graders. Then this year, I had my very own classroom with my very own students. This is where it all started.

Let me recap some of my thoughts going into the first day of school:
1. Wow, this is my classroom! Wait, this is my classroom, it has to look good for the first day.
2. Will their parents think I'm too young to be their children's teacher?
3. What do I do if they cry on the first day of school?
4. Wow, I am responsible for these little humans and expected to teach them what they need to know.

Those are only some of my thoughts as the day began. Let's now fast-forward to where we are now, in March, where I only have about 50 days left with my little 'firsties.' I have learned a lot over the past 7 and a half months-- some things that I expected and some things that completely caught me off guard. I learned that college courses can't really prepare you for all of the things you will learn by being a first-year teacher.

I've learned that having a cute classroom with a fun theme is a good idea, but that the students will
soon look past all of that.
I've learned that getting to work 25-30 minutes early a few times a week will really make your day go smoother.
I've learned that going to colleagues for advice is always better than just figuring things out on your own, but that I'm also capable of making good decisions for my classroom.
I've learned that it's good to share ideas and ask for help, and that it's not a sign of weakness.
I've learned to fully appreciate my assistant in all that she does to make my classroom the best that it can be.
I've learned that staying after school for 2 hours only makes you more tired the next day.
I've learned to set high, but attainable, expectations for my students.
I've learned that if you give a child a pair of scissors that he/she will cut more than just paper with them.
I've learned that the task of sharpening pencils is a coveted task amongst children, and you've seemed to let them down if you didn't choose them to do it that day.
I've learned that kids notice any slight change to the classroom (a new clock, a new poster, a new word written on the board) especially if it's added while they are at recess.
I've learned that kids want to be either the first in line or the last in line.
I've learned that just a simple look can calm them down and get them quiet.
I've learned that you're the best teacher in the world if you let them work problems on the board.
I've learned that grading with a red pen is my least favorite thing to do and that all papers should be graded with pink, blue, or purple pens.
I've learned that kids watch their teacher's every move and they pay attention to what you wear to work.
I've learned that it's good to change the seating arrangement every other month or so.
I've learned that is's okay if you didn't do that cute "Pinterest" activity of the month that everyone else did with their class.
I've learned that it's good to challenge kids.
I've learned that kids should learn to be responsible at a young age.
I've learned to show them respect and to show them that I trust them with things.
I've learned that kids are going to be mean to each other, and that they have to learn what it means to truly apologize and forgive.
I've learned that some children will act out for attention because they don't receive any at home.
I've learned that kids come to school cold, hungry, and sick and that I have to meet those needs before ever trying to meet their academic needs.
I've learned to pray for my students every morning on my way to work.
I've learned that I will be called "mom" on accident, but that each of them will become like a child to me.
I've learned that sitting on the carpet with them and playing a game makes me relatable.
I've learned that making up silly songs to learn new skills makes learning more enjoyable.
I've learned (and I'm still learning) that kids have to move around sometimes in order to learn.
I've learned that I can't fix every problem, but that I can do my best to love them and teach them each day.

I've now come to that point where I see my little 'firsties' as soon-to-be second graders, and it's hard for me to believe. I've learned so much in this first year of teaching, and I know I'll continue to learn as the years go on. Nobody could have ever completely prepared me for what I would learn and experience as a teacher. I'm thankful for those many years during my childhood where I pretended to be a teacher and I'm thankful for my own teachers who loved me and demonstrated how to be a great teacher.