fun with zappers

 i don't know what the formal name is, but john and i just love playing with "zappers." we have used the past two weekends here in chesapeake to register for everything we could ever need for our new home (apart from furniture!). we didn't take any fun photos while we were in macy's, but we did in target! i guess the atmosphere in target is, well, a little more laid-back and in tune with random photo-ops. so enjoy goofy us!

okay, so i didn't register for this trashcan.

but isn't it cute?!

the boys have to have something fun, too!

decisions, decisions

me with a scanner at target?

scary! :)

productive weekend, but no pictures

hi everyone!

so i think i should rename this blog "the life of a first-year teacher, blessed with the incredible duty of teaching 42 kindergarteners, trying to plan the wedding of a lifetime and making the most important decisions that will decide the rest of her future, in 5 short months!" yipes!

so last weekend john and i went to blacksburg to meet with lots of vendors for our wedding. we met with the wonderful bakery who will be doing our cake, our daily bread. we even got to take a yummy poundcake home with us, compliments of the wonderful owner, karen!

we also met with the caterer and made our final menu decisions for the dinner. one of the many things i am so excited for is the fact that we get to-go boxes made for us so that we can enjoy the food later in the night! how neat! (everyone says that you never get to eat at your wedding. that's fine with me, as long as we get to see all of our wonderful family and friends!) :)

next we went to rent the china for our reception. since the german club doesn't have stock china on hand, we decided to rent it to make the reception a bit more special. the print is b-e-a-utiful and i think everyone will enjoy!

on sunday, we checked out the church we were counting on. the pastor was wonderful, the people were welcoming, but it's about 75 people too small. :( bummer! so we're still busy looking for a church that will accept two students who are not members and not local. we are continuing to pray that the Lord will lead us to the perfect place and open up the heart of the pastor there so he will let us use his services/facilities.  please keep us in your prayers!

now for the sad news,

no engagement photos! the freezing cold temperatures, in combination with rain and nasty clouds, pretty much surrounded the entire day we were supposed to do our engagement photos with christi austin. so we have rescheduled for march 1st. pray for good weather, please!

sorry i don't have any fun pictures. john and i are spending a weekend together and not doing a lick of wedding planning this weekend! (okay, well maybe just a little bit, but not a whole day!) have a super friday, ya'll! :)

 

off to the 24060

hi everyone!

just wanted to share some exciting news...

this weekend john and i will be 

doing our engagement photos! :)

we are meeting our photographer, christi austin, sunday afternoon in roanoke for a fun session. we are so grateful to her as she fits us into her already hectic schedule! hopefully we'll have good weather (rain is currently in the forecast) and a great time. our first wedding-ish photos, plus a fun-filled weekend of wedding planning should equal a great weekend together in blacksburg! enjoy your weekend, ya'll! :)

(this is one we took-- self-timer style-- the day after we got engaged!)

wedding attire, take two!

so let's try this again!

for the bridesmaids:

a simple, strapless tea-length dress in our primary color: blue!

click here if the picture above doesn't work!

and for the groomsmen:

(click here if the picture above doesn't show)

a classic, black Calvin Klein suit...

(click me if the picture above doesn't show)

...with a coordinating vest and tie to match the girls dresses

i know this is not as exciting to look at for most people as it is for me, 

but i wanted to share! 

have a super day! :)

some wedding stuff

hooray! i'm finally home for a weekend and relaxing enough to blog! :) 

i thought i would share a picture of some wedding attire that we had finalized this past week:

my dress

....is white! that's all ya' get til' july 12, 2008 :)

the bridesmaids

a strapless dress to match mine (hint, hint!), tea length, in our primary color- blue!

too bad this image is a little bit brighter than the real dress color

*image taken from www.davidsbridal.com

the groomsmen

a classic calvin klein suit 

and a coordinating vest & tie to match the girls dresses

*images taken from www.menswearhouse.com

now john and i are off to the mall to create our macy's wedding registry! so fun! :) have a super sunday! 

overwhelmed

after crying the past 3 out of 4 days this week, i thought i would share my frustrations with the blog-verse to vent a little further! :) teaching has been so consuming, so frustrating and so demanding these past two weeks. i want to do everything i can to make each one of my 42 kindergarteners successful, but sometimes the demand is all consuming. the workload this month is killer, not to mention the stress of my yet-to-be-planned wedding and our future after july 12, 2008. how is one to plan the most important day of her life when 42 young minds need to be shaped, molded, & taught the basic skills of life? 

after deep breaths, hugs from coworkers and reflection, my best advice came from the Bible:

"don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it's own worries. today's trouble is enough for today." -matthew 6:34, nlt

i remember driving to school back in the fall and listening to kLove (the christian radio station) one morning. the announcer/dj lady reminded those listening that we are all called to service. well it struck home with me and as soon as i got to school that morning, i jotted this down on a post-it note:

"you are anointed. you were called to love and teach these children. be an instrument of Christ's love to everyone of His precious children. be filled with grace in all you do."

this daily reminder of my amazing opportunity as a teacher is now beaten up, taped together and still falling apart (just like me!) however, it's still on my desk. and i plan for it to stay. i'm still putting my all into these children. time spent teaching is never lost, right? 

thanks for listening. i feel better now. :)