Everything I've Ever Learned

Sooo tomorrow morning I take 2 of the 3 teaching certification tests that I must pass in order to become a teacher. These tests are called Praxis II tests, and they are standardized tests. One of them is the PLT (Principles of Learning and Teaching), one is Teaching Middle School Social Studies, and the last is Teaching Middle School English. These tests are very expensive, and if you fail you have to pay AGAIN and take them AGAIN until you pass. So, needless to say I have MAJOR test anxiety and have for pretty much this whole week. I mean it has been bad, the worst ever in my life.

I went on a wave for a while where I was confident that I would be fine. Then CofC organized a study session for us Wednesday night, and I went and got some info about the PLT and the Social Studies test (the two I am taking tomorrow). I'm not lieing when I say tears literally formed in my eyes when I read all the stuff I am suppose to know for the Social Studies content test. SO yesterday I studied all afternoon and took practice tests. And to put this in perspective for you... the social studies content test is basically about everything I've ever learned in history. It's got geography, economics, wars, regions, Indians, world history, us history, anthropology, government and on an on and on. It is tough!!! I feel like I know a good bit, but not EVERY single detail of ALL of history!!! I am confident I could teach this content, but not confident at all about these tests.

I could use some prayers on this one. I will be needing lots of it and praying myself too!!! So here goes nothing... tomorrow I will be tested on everything I've ever learned... that I've literally EVER learned. :)

Ahoy Mates!

Well I wasn't going to blog for a few days because I feel like I have blogged a lot lately... BUT Chad and I went downtown last night on a date and I had to share about this restaurant we ate at. It is called The Buccaneer Charleston. It is on a little side street off of East Bay very close to Waterfront Park and we loved it!!! It was a little pricey but we had a coupon so that worked out well, but in the future we will most likely go there for lunch because the prices are about half at lunch time. We got some crab dip as an appetizer that was AMAZING!! It was the hot kind and they had homemade baked crackers to dip. And then we shared a Shrimp and Grits entree which was great as well! Anyhow, I think the best part of it is the inside. Its actually a mini museum and it has lots of pirate decorations and actual artifacts in glass cases. I felt like we were out of town tourists or something. I love trying new places! Another interesting thing was that our waiter was a guy in Chad's Tax Accounting class at CSU. He was really nice. Afterwards we walked around in the brisk air (I was wearing my pea coat it was so cold!) and then we went to Kaminski's for dessert (also with the use of a coupon). Below are some pictures from The Buccaneer:

Crazy Animals

Homecoming, Lady, and the Zoo

This weekend was full of events. For starters, Friday night we went to the Northwoods Homecoming Football game (as alumni of course) and had a good time. Afterwards we went to Applebee's for half priced Apps with some good friends. It was really fun! Someone kindly paid for our whole table's meal too. It was a secret! Too nice :)

Then Saturday I did homework and laid around all morning until we went to the fair with Carly, Hunter, Jordan and Mallory to see Lady Antebellum in concert! They were amazing! The lead guy singer is VERY good live and it was fun to sing along. I got right up close to the stage to get a few good pictures too!

Then on Sunday we got up early and caravanned with Jordan and Mallory back to USC and stopped at IHOP for breakfast and then went to the Riverbanks Zoo. It was chillier and rainier than we expected but it was sooooo fun! Everyone but me bought some nectar cups to feed the birds. (I don't really like birds so I decided to film and take pictures instead) but the pics turned out really good!!!! We also got to get inches away from a giraffe and FEED it! It was soooo cool! Kinda gross too because of their long tounges. Then, my favorite part of course was the GORILLAS!!! When we entered the exhibit one was just sitting indian style right in front of the glass. We just sat around him and looked at him. It was amazing! The other one finally turned around and he put his hand on the glass and I put mine up to it. Pretty neat picture. We had soo much fun with our family! It was a great memory. I would go back to the zoo tomorrow if I could... lol! Here are some pictures from the weekend. Videos to come!

Ask Him

I am currently doing a Beth Moore bible study called Living Beyond Yourself: Exporing the Fruit of the Spirit. A friend and I are going through it together and this week is about the fruit of Kindness. Beth uses a day in this study to reveal God's tender heart and nurturing Spirit toward us. She says, "We must learn to let God love us as His children".

It seems kind of funny to say that we must learn to let Him love us. It seems like that would be totally easy. If someone is loving you it isn't that hard to let them... it is wonderful! But how often do we really let Him love us as His children? She says, "Dear Ones, let Him soothe your feelings when they're hurt, your fears when they're raging, and your spiritual knees when they're bleeding. You'll never grow in Christ to maturity and wholeness until you do."

But this is the big part that got me. This particular day's study concluded with this excerpt:
"Next time you are hurting, or fearful or anxious, don't call your husband or a friend, and don't take it our on your children- go to the Father! Immediately! Tell Him how you feel and all that has happened. Ask Him to quiet you with His love. Be bold- and ask Him to reveal His love in some obvious way. Ask Him to minister to you and HE WILL."

What a wonderful reminder of His great love for us and His desire to minister to us! How amazing to know that our names are written on the palm on His hand! He is waiting on us to ASK HIM to minister to us and then BELIEVE.

Thank you God for your tender heart and nurturing Spirit. You are amazing!

Be Our Guest

Sooo we are excited because we officially have a Guest Bedroom set up now. Well, we kind of did before, but the bed was a twin sized bed, and now we have a QUEEN sized bed in the Guest Bedroom. We have had a twin in there for the past 2 years (since we got married) and then Chad was helping his aunt move the other day and her family was in need of a twin bed. She offered to trade us a Queen for a Twin! How nice was that?!?!

So tonight Chad and I went to Wal-Mart to buy a comforter/sheet set for the bed. And it is all set up now and awaiting guests. I will forwarn our guests however, that our Guest Room is very dorm-like and kind of a man cave. But at least there is a big bed now! I posted some pics below. One of the pics is the sign that is hanging above the windows. We bought it before we got married to put in the man cave. It has been up there for almost 2 years now... can't believe it!

Here are some pics of our man cave/office/library/guest room:

Vent Therapy

{Disclaimer: The blog you are about to read is basically me venting, if you dislike these types of posts discontinue your reading now}

I think I am going crazy. I was venting to Carly today about how I think I am losing it for real! Yesterday I wore brown shoes (because I thought they were black) with black pants and black socks that showed. In the light, it TOTALLY clashed. And the sad part is, I didn't even notice until like half-way through the day. Then not only that, but my zipper was down for like 2 hours yesterday and I was totally oblivious. Where was my mind?

And after the karaoke thing at Genesis last night, I decided that I am done being on stage for a while. After the Grease bust at Genesis Got Talent a couple weeks ago, and then doing karaoke last night, I am so over it. I always feel like such a loser afterwards, lol. Don't get me wrong, it is fun in the moment, but then after I'm like wow, now everyone KNOWS without a shadow of a doubt that I am a cheeseball (hahaha I lol-ed at that word).

And on top of all that, I have been a little insecure lately because before this past week I had not been on my regular running routine because of school craziness. And for that reason, I have noticed what was once muscle is being replaced by... well you know. SO that has got me feeling a little out of it. Just being real here.

Good news is though - since last Thursday, I have been running regularly again. And although I won't see results for a couple weeks probably, I am slowly but surely feeling better about the situation. I laughed because I looked back at my last year's blog posts around this time and I was ranting and raving about gaining 3 pounds around my 20th birthday, hahaha. October must be weight gain month. Or as Carly mentioned maybe my birthday makes me subconsciously worry about my metabolism slowing down... hahaha.

I must admit, venting in this blog post has helped me, and I feel even more motivated. So here's to matching clothes, quitting the stage, and RUNNING AGAIN! Wooohooo! :)