Good morning and happy Sunday!

It is 10:55, and I woke up.. 10 minutes ago. Got a good 10+ hours of sleep and I'm loving that. Analisa and I just took shots of our cough medicine. We both have been under the weather the past few-five days.

Used our best judgement accordingly in planning our halloween fiasco.
Yesterday she and I went on a shopping adventure at the valley mall. Got my first real job pay check on Friday and decided I needed to invest in more professional clothing. Got 2 skirts (each were on sale 50% for 6 dollars at oldnavy!!) A pair of black pants, and 3 shirts from Nordstroms Rack, which my friends just moved from Northtown to the valley. By the end of our shopping experience we desperately needed a snack so we stopped at Aunties pretzels for the "but 2 get 1 free" which we werent able to finish. Anyways, we finished off at Claires and bought our halloween costumes: cat ears, a tail and mittens. Pictures on Analisa's to come.

We couldn't figure out what we wanted to do for halloween, but the local radio station was having a party so we decided it might be interesting, so Analisa Joanna and I headed down! We were contemplating it when we got there but then we saw BOBBY HUGHES and his 3 friends so we decided it would be fun. Had a really fun time with those boys. Super fun and super respectful like I have never seen at a bar/party. And! Billy was bartending so that was fun too!

We only stayed til about 12, made a mcdonalds run and were passed out by 12:30.

But what I wanted to show you was my classroom! I was inspired by Lindsay's office pictures post.

FUN FUN SATURDAY!

I think yesterday was a day that we all need every once in a while. Here is a brief timeline of the day Analisa and I had.

10:00 AM Wake up, go to yoga class.

11:30 AM Make delicous salads.

12:00 PM Keith comes over.

12:15 PM We all go to winco, buy ingredients for our amazing day.

1:00 PM Carve pumpkins, I made pumpkin bread, Analisa made bran muffins, Keith made pumpkin milkshakes AND pudding, and we roasted pumpkin seeds. While watching Nacho Libre!






4:45 PM Keith leaves for work. Goodbye Keith!

4:46 PM Analisa and I rest, do some homework/watch online TV shows.

6:30 PM Decide all we want in life is to watch hocus pocus.

7:00 PM The search begins to find Hocus Pocus! Go to Walgreens (no luck) Redbox (no luck) Fred Meyer (no luck) Red box (no luck) Target (no luck) Best Buy (LUCK LUCK LUCK!!!) Analisa screamed and I started crying. (Took us an hour to find it. We were ready to drive to canada.)

8:00 PM We celebrated by going to Burger King... don't judge...

9:00 PM Went home for about 15 minutes, and decided we wanted to go to Value Village

10:00 PM Leave value village with childrens books and fairy wings in hand.

10:30 PM Keith returns. Hocus pocus starts. Hot cocoa drank.

Who can beat our saturday?

what will this week hold?

I am constantly reminded how blessed I am.

This week, and weekend have been busy, but wonderful ones.

Highlights of the week:
- Working out with Analisa at OZ
- The boys made us dinner :)
- Reunited with a student who was taken away
- Lunches and breakfasts with wonderful co-workers/fellow kindergarten teachers
- Was given an award at our school staff meeting
- Visited the farm

Highlights of the weekend:
- Ande and Claire coming from Seattle
- Going downtown
- Picnic at Manito Park
- Wonderful church service
- Felicia's baby shower

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us, and if our God is with us, then what can stand against us?

Bring them home.

I had by far the toughest day as a teacher, and scariest day of my entire life Thursday morning. As i'm brushing my teeth, listening to the radio as I am going through my normal morning routine, Positive life news comes on. I hear a blur of words including "low income family" "amber alert" "three boys" and then the names. My student. My beautiful blond hair blue eyed 6 year old kindergarten student's name is on the radio. The moment the "amber alert" was spoken, I knew it was my boy. Hearing his name was so unreal. I completely lost all control of my emotions.

With this being the internet, that is about all I can say. The next 2 hours were pure hell as I talked to school and district officials, showing recent pictures and answering questions.

We are still praying for Kyron Horman back home in Portland who also got abducted.

The whole week has been pretty rough in that aspect. Being in the lowest income school in the district, I am daily faced with CPS reports, broken families and tears of fear coming from my students. This week I have noticed more and more families in Spokane in despair.

It is such a hard reality to face, knowing I am 23 years old, a graduate of a prestigious university, I have a family who backs up every single thing I do,best friends who are there for me through thick and thin, a steady job with a salary and benefits, the list goes on and on. I walk into winco to buy treats for my kids, and I am surrounded by broken families. Checkers that can't get a job anywhere else. What makes me so special to have all these priveliges?

This week has also reminded me to completely and fully dedicate all 6 hours of my hours to my kindergartners and all students I interact with, with unconditional love. My opportunity begins at 9:00 and ends at 3:01 to make a difference for that day. Those may be the only 6 hours in my students lives that they will experience that unconditional love. The only peace of mind I have is knowing that B is safe, and I know I did all I could while he was in my class to keep him safe and protected, and know he was loved and valued in our classroom. Praying safety for him to come back to our classroom in God's time.

Make someone's day.

Highlights of the past week:

- Got contracted, as a full time employee of Spokane schools as a Kindergarten teacher (get to keep my K job.. so happy and relieved.)

- Analisa and I are joining a gym. We are testing OZ out right now and are liking it.

- Jackie (Analisa's friend from home) came this weekend to visit. Lots of fun Target and Value Village shopping trips! Laid out in the grass, until the sprinklers came on.

- Paul came up for the weekend to drive back to CA with Zach. Didn't seem real saying goodbye to Zach. Excited for his adventures ahead and to visit the sunshine :)

-Saw despicable me again at the garland with Jimmy Bill Analisa and Jackie. BE QUIET FISH. IT'S SO FLUFFY!

- West Central tonight. Pretty rough getting back into it after being away. Really great to see our fav family but huge reality check and pretty hard watching them deal with things no one should have to deal with.

I'm excited for a new week, to sign insurance papers, go to yoga class, and house sit the farm!