Riding the Struggle Bus

    As I sail through the ever-changing tides of life, there are moments when I find myself firmly planted on the struggle bus. Whether it's trying to keep up with the whirlwind pace of the school year, striving to reignite my kitchen mojo, or simply seeking that delicate balance between home and work life, the journey can often feel like a bumpy ride. As 2023 turned into 2024, it seemed like the bus was hurtling forward faster than ever before, leaving me scrambling to catch up.

    In the midst of this chaos, I also find myself grappling with personal challenges, such as rediscovering my kitchen mojo. Whether it's experimenting with new recipes, honing my culinary skills, or simply finding the time and energy to cook amidst my busy schedule, the kitchen can often feel like a battleground. Yet, it's in these moments of struggle that I often discover my greatest strengths and resilience.

    Finding balance between home and work life has become an increasingly elusive goal as the days whizz by. With demands from both ends pulling me in opposite directions, it's become imperative to carve out moments of tranquility amidst the chaos. Whether it's taking a leisurely stroll in nature, indulging in a favorite hobby, or simply spending quality time with loved ones, finding that delicate balance is a paramount priority.

    Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, I also find solace in simpler pursuits, such as raising chickens and reading more books. There's something inherently therapeutic about tending to a flock of feathered friends or losing myself in the pages of a captivating story. In these moments, I find respite from the trials and tribulations of everyday life, reconnecting with the simple joys that bring meaning and fulfillment.

    So, as I continue to ride the struggle bus through life's twists and turns, let me remember that it's not the destination that defines me, but rather the journey itself. In the face of adversity, let me draw strength from my resilience, courage from my struggles, and hope from my dreams. And remember, even on the roughest roads, there's always beauty to be found if I'm willing to look for it.

New additions to the flock!

Alex and his entourage of hens.

Spring break reading.

New Beginnings

Goodbye 2023, and hello 2024! It's surreal to think that four years have passed since I embarked on my student teaching journey at Hoffmann Elementary. Third grade – that was the sweet spot. I remember the joy of connecting with my students, the thrill of helping them learn and grow. Fast forward to March 2020, and the world as we knew it unraveled. Virtual teaching became the new norm, and sadly, I never had the chance to say a proper goodbye to those kiddos.

So much has changed since then. In the face of the pandemic, people came together, united against the common enemy that was Covid-19. Neighbors supported one another, and there was a tangible sense of kindness and solidarity. But here we are today, and it feels like that sense of unity has faded away. The world appears more divided than ever, and I can't help but feel a deep sense of loss.

I find myself questioning the purpose behind the choices I've made. Why did I start blogging back in 2008? What was the driving force, the spark that led me to share my thoughts and experiences with the world? As I reflect on these questions, I'm confronted with the realization that perhaps, over the years, I've lost sight of that initial purpose. It's disheartening to witness the current state of affairs and wonder where we went wrong.

As we step into 2024, I yearn for a return to the sense of togetherness that once defined us. I hope to rediscover the purpose that fueled my passion for blogging in the first place, and in doing so, contribute to rebuilding the connections we seem to have lost along the way. Here's to hoping for a brighter and more united future in the year ahead.

Three Years. What a ride...

 I feel like I'm going into confession... Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been three years since my last blog posting. 

To say it's been a wild ride would be an understatement. Wild. Crazy. Up. Down. 2021 started with a bang. Life circumstances changed drastically for me. I don't have the stamina to go into details about what happened; however, I will say that the outcome was better than I could have imagined. 

We sold our house on Pitcher Road in 2021, and we lived a minimalist life for eleven months. My MIL passed away in October 2021. We went to Mexico in December 2021. In April of 2022, my husband and I took the trip of a lifetime: a Viking river cruise from Paris to Prague. In June 2022, we went to Italy, Greece, and Croatia. In August 2022, I got my first teaching position as a 7th Grade ELAR teacher at Sam Rayburn Middle School in San Antonio. In June 2023, we went to Spain, France, and Italy. In August 2023, I started my second year of teaching. 

It's Christmas Day 2023, and I am feeling blessed. I'm moving forward and enjoying life.

Reset. Perspective. And other things I tell myself to get through.

 As I sit here with my coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer, dog snuggled on my lap, Christmas lights all aglow and my youngest lovebug drawing anime, I reminisce about the year that 2020 has been. What a year. I know. So many people are saying the same thing. This isn't new, and I have no true insight that's going to be magical for others; however, I do have a different perspective for myself. That means everything to me in this moment. 

If you had asked me in March what my biggest struggle was, I would have told you "making it through Demonstration Teaching in one piece" because that was my biggest struggle. It's not so much that it was "hard" but it was time-consuming. I loved it! It is the greatest experience of my WGU scholastic career. Amazing host teacher and amazing third-graders. It pretty much became clear that third grade is where I wanted to be. On March 6, 2020 I taught my last lesson of my Teacher Work Sample unit: Area and Perimeter. We did some fun things because it was the Friday before Spring Break and we were all ready to have a break! January and February are long months with very few breaks. In the world of education, a lot of data happens during those months. It can be exhausting. I said good bye to my students, wishing them a great Spring Break, thinking I'd see them in the classroom on March 16. 

My mama arrived on the afternoon of March 6 and we were so ready to have her! We had been anticipating her visit for weeks!

Spring Break started with a competition on March 7. Winter Guard performed their "No Strings" show and received a fourth place finish. We came back from that competition ready to do what it took to improve and make it to State again as we did in 2019. Plans were made to chill and rest for Spring Break. Hubby went to visit his mom in New Mexico to take care of some things. Life was pretty good, all things considered. None of us had any idea of what was coming. Spring Break was extended a week. What a bonus! We still didn't have any idea of what was coming. We knew it was called Covid-19. We knew it was highly contagious. Beyond that, we knew nothing. School went virtual. 

Life moved forward but I could not. I focused what energy I had on completing my DT and preparing for graduation and licensure. I did everything that I could to make my daughter's seventeenth birthday memorable. I could not escape the fear of the virus. There was a lull, we all got complacent. Took a trip to see family. Yet, I wasn't fully embracing life and the process of moving forward. I kept telling myself, it's okay to feel this way. Reminding myself that this was new, and it was okay to process it however I needed to because we'd never experienced something of this proportion in my lifetime (that I remember at least). 

Those are the lies that I told myself to get through. That I just needed a reset and then everything would be fine again. I just needed to change perspective and appreciate the good things that I have in my life. Pandemic fatigue is real. Disillusionment with the American political system is real. Don't just tell yourself that you need to suck it up. Don't tell yourself it's weak to feel afraid and overwhelmed. We are in unprecedented times. There isn't another way to explain it. 

How has my perspective changed? I went through something life-altering in November. I got sick. And it was scary. And I still feel it. But, now I have an experience to share and I don't think that I could have gotten through it without my faith. I have a renewed sense of hope. I believe that we will get through but I will never again tell somebody "suck it up" and that "everything is gonna be okay." I think we all know that but we need to be able to feel what we feel in that moment. And that's okay. 

The Longest Year Ever.

 Where do I begin? Um. Yeah. I don't even know. I haven't blogged in over two years. No shame here. Sorry. Life, school, marching band and a lot of other things happened during that time. I cannot even begin to comprehend how I managed. No lie. 

Here's a brief recap of the last two years: marching band, cruise, school (Mom, Dad & kiddos), Christmas, Hockey, Winter Guard, marching band, school, family cruise, Christmas, Hockey, Winter Guard, COVID-19, quarantine, demonstration teaching, distance learning, virtual band camp, EPIC road trip in brand new travel trailer, stockpiling of hand soaps, graduation and teacher licensure, senior pics, senior year... Holy smokes... We were busy in 2019/2019 and confined for most of 2020. Yikes. 

2018

Summer Band Camp

Marching Band

2018 Marching Show: 1,001 Nights

Sophomore Homecoming Mum

Sophomore Pink Out Game

2018 Carnival Valor Western Caribbean Cruise with Honey Bunches

2019 Winter Guard Show: Statuesque

2019 TCGC Scholastic AA State Champions!

HAMILTON! (2019)

Twenty One Pilots Concert (2019)

Whew. That's not even all of 2019! I'm taking a break, and I'll add more to this post as time permits. I'll publish as is, not sure if this blog is frequented anymore but it's great reference for me. Hopefully it'll preserve my memories. 😂😂😂

Okay, now for the rest of the pictures? Maybe. We will see how that works out. 

Labor Day Weekend Trip to Kemah, TX 2019

2019 Marching Show: 07 December 1941

USBands National Champions at The Salute to Veteran's

November 11, 2019 

Best Color Guard

Family Cruise to Grand Turk

November 2019

Winter Guard Show 2020: No Strings

And then the world descended into chaos...

COVID-19

Rainy Days and Mondays.

It's another Monday here in the Lonestar state and we're in the middle of a thunderstorm. I am very thankful for the rain it's bringing because we had such a dry spring. We need the rain to bring green to the brown grass. We're also in Stage 2 water restriction so I am hoping that the rain we are getting will help alleviate the stress on the Aquifer.

Summer break is in full swing and this summer has been a doozy! I can't even begin to wrap my brain around all that has happened this summer. We took a family vacation and Bug was able to go with us which is awesome. It doesn't usually happen that way. Of course, it's still been a busy summer and Band Camp starts in two weeks. UGH. And before you know it, it'll be time for school to start again.

I am enjoying the time with my love bugs but I am feeling more stressed this summer than I normally do. It's most likely the combination of having all of the kids home and trying to get my coursework done. I wanted to accelerate a bit this summer but I don't think that it's going to happen. I am trying to make peace with that.

So, as I sit here enjoying my coffee, I am thankful for the time that I have been given. And I am trying to get my kitchen mojo back. There's a lot of things that I'm trying to get back. It's going to take some time. 💛 but that's okay.

Wordless Wednesday