Ways My Life Has Changed Since the Last Post...and How You Can Keep Praying!

• I graduated college!
• I passed my Praxis test, most unexpectedly. I thought that I did absolutely horrible on the essays, but I was wrong.
• I finally got rid of my car! While it is a huge blessing to finally be free from "Miss Beatrice," it also hurts to have that part of my independence gone. Thankfully, my sister is willing to share her car with me for the time being. I've decided that I'm not going to buy another car until I can afford a decent one. Until that happens, I will be relying on my sister and the bus.
• I started searching and applying for a variety of jobs. I don't have my teaching license yet, due to the fact that I need a job just to afford the application fee. I've applied to 6 or 7 retail openings in the area around my home. My goal is to get a job that pays the bills for right now and then figure out my career later.
• I finally got an interview! I was getting a little down about the fact that no one had called me back. Two days after I submitted my resume to a bridal shop, the manager called me back! So, I have an interview 10 AM on Tuesday. Yay!

Ode to The Car Which Was Hell-Bent On Its Owner's Devastation

Miss Beatrice, my time with you is finally done.

Because of you, my dignity was overrun.

For ten long months you sought my demise;

I know now that purchasing you was unwise.

The oil-burning engine left a putrid aroma.

The carbon monoxide could have put me in a coma.

But all of your attacks I have survived

Though, of oxygen my brain was deprived.

Pushing, sliding, cracking, jumping

Why were you so intent on abusing?

Since March, you’ve run up a bill quite nice,

More than thirty-five times the trade-in price!

Now I’ve gone and sold you to the junkyard

Still, my budget and existence are truly scarred.

Though your existence I surely abhor,

You won all the battles, but I won the war.

It hasn't quite hit me yet...

...that I am graduating in five days! Nearly four months ago, I began what seemed like the longest and most intimidating semester of my life...but I came out on the other side alive!

I was so blessed to work with some of the most generous first grade families I have encountered yet. At the end of my last day, yesterday, the class had a root beer float party to celebrate and then sent me home with a tub full of more teacher stuff than I know what to do with!

I just started thinking about life after college. My primary focus all these weeks was just getting to the end of student teaching. More recently, my focus was on getting a job to pay next month's bills. I just realized that there is a life on the other side of college, and I will soon be entering it. On that note, please be praying!

• That God will provide a job in His timing that not only pays the bills, but also is something I can enjoy
• That God will provide the transportation for whatever job I get.
• That I will settle in to my post-graduation life and figure out what I'm supposed to do!

Finally, you're invited to a Christmas concert on Saturday the 19th at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville. It is put on almost entirely by Northwestern alum, including myself, and it is going to be great!

Why yes, I do graduate from college in just 23 days!

Target's generic Cocoa Pebbles is my new favorite cereal.

After this 12-hour parent-teacher conference day, I will board a plane at roughly 6 AM bound for the gloriously warm and Disney-fied land of Florida. I may be broke, but I have no regrets. :)

My Life in Numbers...

30 days until graduation

23 days until the end of student teaching

23 first graders I teach every day

20 gallons: the depressing capacity of a Ford Explorer's gas tank

9 phone calls/emails/notes home since yesterday

7 days until THANKSGIVING BREAK!

3 days left in my lead week

2 days to spend in Disney World next week!

1 parent volunteer who did not show up today

1 exhausted student teacher

The Countdown has Begun!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will be a college graduate in exactly 37 days!

In 30 days, I will be done with student teaching!

In just 13 days, I fly out to Florida for Thanksgiving break!!!

First grade is going so well right now. I've had nothing but good feedback from the beginning, and everyone is so supportive and helpful. I am so glad to be where I am! My behavior management skills are getting a workout, however. This year's first graders at this school are a challenging group, and I started right in the middle of it. They love to test my boundaries, and some days getting through the lessons is like pulling teeth! They are exhausting, but I'm trying hard not to give up on them.

My sorry excuse for a car finally pulled its final stunt last week. I refuse to drive a car that is jumpy and accelerating by itself. I also refuse to fix a car that caused a mechanic's bill for 20x its trade-in value. Ouch. Unfortunately, no car and no money is not a good combination, especially during student teaching! The Lord was quick to provide however, and I will soon be getting a spare vehicle from a professor's farm to use for the rest of my student teaching.

I would love it if you would continue praying for me! Pray that:

• I would have continued endurance and wisdom in managing my class.
• God would continue to provide for my needs during the rest of the semester.
• I would finish strong and find a job soon after graduation!

The Joys of Preschool...

I finished my week as the lead teacher, and it was a complete success! I'm still not entirely sure how it happened, but I have earned back the respect and trust of everyone at the center. One comment that my supervisor wrote in her observation notes was that she had never seen so much improvement from a student teacher within one week. I think I even surprised myself!

I am especially proud of 3 things that I did this last week that I think really "enriched" the lives of the preschoolers:

• For three days, I had bubble wrap in the sensory table, and now the entire preschool class knows the joys of popping bubble wrap.
• I put three of my favorite books, by Doreen Cronin, in the reading center: Click Clack Moo; Thump, Quack, Moo; and Giggle Giggle Quack. Love them!
• During one group time, I played clips of two Bach pieces, the Flower Duet, and Agnus Dei.

I feel that, with the addition of these three pieces in my unit, my work at preschool is done. ;)