I have high hopes for today, in the realm of productivity.


I've completed my field experience for the week (yay!), which included teaching a lesson and administering an assessment (among many other "teacher" duties). It went very well, thank goodness. The kiddos loved getting to look at miniature gourd-squash-ugly pumpkins (whatever they really are)...they also loved touching and smelling them. Yes, smelling. Apparently one of them was getting a little moldy, and that was a huge deal. One kid told me it smelled like frosting...or werewolves. When I asked what werewolves smelled like, he replied "cupcakes." Hmmm. This is new to me. 


So yeah. I got that out of the way! Now grooveshark is playing and I'm putting a dent in the mountain of clothes I have to yet iron. Oh. I'm also blogging in between all of this. Multi-tasking at it's finest...uh-huh!


Once my room is spotlessly clean (HA!), I'll be leaving shortly for Lexington. For my ESL night class, we are visiting the high school/middle school to talk to some ESL professionals. This should be a good break from sitting in a classroom. THEN we get to go downtown and experience true ethnic food, possibly even Somali food. I wonder if they eat monkeys. I'm up for most anything once...not sure if this is good or bad!


*sigh*


It's just a day in the life...


A good (and hopefully productive) day. =]

I love little surveys like these! I got it from my friend Chelsea, who is just beginning to blog. Her site is here: Currently Chelsea

1. What time did you go to bed last night and were you alone? It was around 1 am...much too late! I was with my roommate, Caitlin.                                                                                                                               
2. If you could be given ANY gift what would it be? Children's books!                                                                                                                                        
3. What was the last film that really moved/disturbed/thrilled you and why?  Not really sure...the last movie I watched was "How to Train Your Dragon", although I can't say that it moved me.
4. What is your favorite TV show of all time if you've seen them all, can watch it over and over again and quote lines from it? I'm kind of ridiculous. It's either Arthur (yes, from PBS), or Christy (made in like 1994). I think Christy is what really inspired me to be a teacher, even though I didn't realize it until not long ago.                                                                                                                                                    
5. What's your favorite way to wake up and what's the first thing you do? My favorite way to wake up is without an alarm! The first thing I do is lay there, and possibly read a little. Ahhh yes. How wonderful!                                                 
6. What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name? I think Kimberly or Kimber suits me just fine! But not Kim.                                                
7. If you had to do a bush tucker challenge (you have to eat insects/grubs etc) what would be the worst thing you had to eat? I guess if I had to...the worst thing would be something venomous, like a black widow spider. Does the venom still affect you if it's absorbed through the stomach??                                                                                                                    
8. What's the worst/most embarrassing CD/Album you've ever owned and do you still have it? Michael Bolton. It's currently in my iTunes collection.
9. What would be your dream vehicle (bikes, cars, boats, bat car and millennium falcon is allowed!)? My dream vehicle? A hot pink Hummer! Or a batmobile.
10. What's your favorite fantasy people sandwich? I don't get it.                                                                       
11. What characteristics do you dislike in yourself? I tend to worry. Not a fan of that!                                                                                 
12. Your favorite item of clothing and why? Honestly...underwear. I love it. It's guaranteed to be a boring day if you're wearing boring underwear...                                                                                               
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be and who would it be with? I would go to Russia, by myself. It might get a little scary, though...I wouldn't want to get mugged. So maybe I'd take someone who could protect me. They would have to be up for troika rides, exploring Moscow and St. Petersburg, going to the Russian ballet, and everything that goes along with the culture.
14. If you could have any animal/creature, what would be your ultimate pet be? A river otter! I've wanted one since 5th grade.
15. What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be? I wanted to be a champion figure skater. I won't ever be one in that sense, but it's the little victories that make you great, right?
16. What's the next planned event you're looking forward to in your life? Going to sleep? I really want a nap.                                                                 
17. What were you doing before you started this? Getting lunch from the Union. How exciting!                                                                                   
18. What was the last thing you ate that you really shouldn't have? Gummy worms. 
19. If you were an ice cream/haagen daz/ben and jerry's flavor, what would you be? Cookies 'n' creme. Nothing beats that!
20. Who was the last person you spoke to that you didn't want to talk to? No idea...probably someone who tried to talk to me as I was in a hurry to get somewhere. 
21. What was your favorite toy as a child  . . .and now? That was probably my little cassette player/microphone. I have countless tapes of myself recorded being weird...are you surprised? I still love that thing.                                                                    
22. When was the last time you cried laughing and why? Well. I know it was with Kady. But I can't remember which occasion...                                                                    
23. What is stashed under your bed/mattress? Skates, kitchen supplies/utensils, Barbies...                                                                                          
24. What did you dream about last night? I don't remember at all.                                                                                              
25. What are you really afraid of? Needles. And also the unknown. I think that's why I worry about the future as often as I do...something I am gradually learning to stop doing.                                                                                                            

There is freedom in...

I'm not sure if I have anything significant to say in this post.

I guess...I guess I just feel the need to express myself and be creative. To reveal beauty. Writing is one of many ways I am able to do that.

There are so many things that I enjoy doing. Lots of those things are creative outlets for me: art (drawing, painting, collaging), origami, doing weird voices, skating, organizing my closet, playing piano, singing, picking out my outfit each day. All of these things allow me to be creative! I love being able to take the things God has initially created, and to put them together to reveal beauty. 

Even with as many doubts as I have about being a teacher, I think I will ultimately enjoy my job very much. Teachers have the freedom to be creative, to be silly and outrageous, to try their hardest to motivate kids in every way they can. (It's the standards and requirements that are limiting...to those I say, oh bosh). 

Yes. I find it very reassuring that no matter what kind of a day I am having...no matter what is going on in my life...I still have the ability to be creative. It is such a feeling of freedom! No cookie-cutter lifestyle for me, no sir. Uh-uh. I love the freedom and ability God has given me to surround myself with beauty, no matter the circumstance.

Change of season...

I'm taking the time to blog.

Finally.

It seems autumn has nearly slipped by, and I haven't recorded any of it! But ah, it's been splendid. :)

First of all, I had a simply wonderful birthday. It was filled with surprises...Russia...cupcakes...otters...roses...poetry...art...friends...laughter...love. So many of my favorite things. 

Hmmm, let's see. This fall has been wonderful because it's been full of traditions. 

Pumpkin carving (and painting).

Dressing up for Halloween.

Being outside...wanderlustin'. Marveling at the line of trees on a street- some are bare bones, yet some are still full of crimsons, tangerines, and saffrons. 

Finding a tree that is absolutely glowing with color. (Like this one, although the picture was taken through my purple-tinted car window!)

Enjoying the crisp, fall air that invigorates you so.

Fall fashion. Boots, and scarves, and military-style jackets. (Wishing I could spend more money on clothes...but something called college expenses gets in the way!)

Having the perfect scents to complement the season- especially a Creamy Nutmeg Wallflower from Bath & Body Works :)

And going out of your way to step on that extra crunchy looking leaf. It has to happen.

**************************************************************************************************

I think fall is spectacular.

Wild Olive Tees!

I have been wanting to buy one of these super neat-o t-shirts for quite some time now. I've had my name entered in their drawings several times, but have had no luck at winning. (I should have bought one with my birthday money...why did I just think of it now?!) But anyway, they are super cute aaaaand have bible verses...not something you find at the mall!

Here's the link to their newly revamped website:

Wild Olive Tees

Check it out!

Just some thoughts...

I guess I haven't posted anything in a while! Not that I have many faithful followers to keep from being disappointed...

Lately I've really been contemplating my future. It is a tendency of mine to start to wonder and plan and eventually fret and become anxious about the unknown state of what is to come. I think it is a very natural and human thing to do! But I know this is not what God wants me to do. I've been reminded as of late by several sources that I need to stay in the moment and focus on the present. I need to enjoy the time I do have left here in college and not focus on how that time is slowly dwindling.

I have also been worrying about becoming a teacher. The time is drawing near where I will enter the work force full-time and that is kind of scary! I feel like I am soooo not ready to grow up, at all. I've sort of been analyzing all areas of my life to think about in what ways I need to mature to become that teacher I'm preparing to be. There have been so many things made clear to me, which I am thankful for! (A certain someone has challenged me to examine my life like this, without even realizing he did it!). I am seeking to mature in a lot of ways, but also to keep my child-like wonderment. I don't want to lose my flavor of personality...oh, no.

Another thing I've been pondering is the complexity of life. It is impossible to define life, to wrap it up in a neat little package with a nice sounding explanation. Life is beautiful. Life is messy. It's tough. It's worth it. I cannot express how many instances have solidified these truths to me. Especially in this past year. I feel like I've learned more than I have in any other time in my life. I really just want to keep learning like this at an exponential rate- to be a life long learner not only in the way of knowledge, but of wisdom.

And finally, some quotes. I have really been inspired by a professor of mine as of late. She has worked hard to be where she is today and imparts a lot of wisdom to our class. I don't know if many other students have paid attention to the quotes she has shared, but I certainly have. These two really sum up the area in which I wish to grow in the time I have left being a college student.

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our own disposition." - Martha Washington

"It's up to us to determine our happiness. No one else is in charge. No one else is to blame. No one else gets the credit. Our happiness is tied to our willingness to be responsible for our own moods. That's a certainty- one of few in this life." - Karen Casey

I know growing in all of these ways will not always be comfortable or welcome, but something very necessary and ultimately very satisfying. Just some thoughts...

Currently frustrated...

For a few nights now (seems like forever, actually) I've been stressed out. It's not really a big deal...but...it is.

Our showers here in the dorm are freezing cold at night. Why do I still have hope of hot water? No one knows...

Every night I've been testing it, and then I get in. And it's warm for 20 seconds and then it's like ice. I cannot handle it!

The shower is my place of solace at night. It's where I unwind, clear my mind, think out all the thoughts that need to be thought out. A nice, hot shower calms me, readies me for bed, where I can fall asleep quickly and soundly. I just do not know what to do when this lovely time is taken from me...gah!