What happened to first semester??

Wow...the school year is half way over. What the heck happened to the first semester? It has flown by that's for sure! I have learned more in the last semester then I did in a combined 4 years of college that's for sure. I haven't loved every minute of it, but that's how it is with any job. Overall, I am loving it more and more everyday.

I applied to an on-line Master's program for Adapted PE, the only one in the US, and I got it. But wait, it gets better! I was able to get a grant/scholarship and my tuition and books is going to be totally paid for. Isn't that sweet?!? I am way pumped! It's cool how the Lord just keeps reinforcing the fact that I am where I need to be. Change is always so tough and uncomfortable, but that's when we grow the most. I feel like I have grown more in the last 6 months then I have in a long time. It's great.

3 more days until Christmas break! I must admit, I'm looking forward to having a few days off, but not really looking forward to break. The tonsils are coming out on the 20th...so that is how I will spend my 2 weeks of Christmas break, but hey, better now than ever.

This Christmas I find myself blessed in more ways than I could image. My health is something that I have taken for granted. Sure, I have had a few health issues, but nothing major. I work with 7 year olds fighting cancer, students who were abused as infants, and a handful of kids who are nonverbal, and can't communicate with their families and friends. Yet, they are some of the happiest, loving kids I know. Wow...I'm just blessed. And I don't know why.

Merry Christmas to all...may the Lord bless you and your family this holiday season.

Just another day in paradise

I am updating my blog to avoid homework. Some things never change :)

School is going well. We added 4 kiddos last week, so our number are growing. My guess would be that I will add at least 5-10 more by the end of school. We are starting to creep up on 50! Friday I was asked what grade I was in at one school and then later the afternoon asked if I was a girl's mother. Both of which I just shook my head and laughed.

I think I have found a church home. I have gone a couple of times to Journey Church journeylive.org . I really like the worship and how many different ways there are for me to get connected. The people are really friendly..so we'll see how the next few months go. I was driving to church today and saw the Fred Phelps people on the corner with signs. I had seen them on tv, but this is the first time I have seen them in person. You've seen the signs about God hating gay people and how the war is because of our sins and yada yada yada. I wanted to roll down my window and yell at them, but I just kept driving by. As a Christian it just made me angry. How could you read the bible and claim to be a Christian and tell people that God is full of hate. I'm pretty sure that's not found in any bible I read.

Other than that, life is pretty much the same. Still just livin the dream, facing the giants, and trying to make a difference. Keep loving!

small victories

October?!? Really, where has the time gone? Things have been busy around here with master's classes, school, and keeping up with paperwork. 4 IEP meetings in 3 days, and it's just going to get even more crazy.

I am learning to celebrate small victories. Today one of my kiddos who all I could get to do for the last month and a half is walk, finally sat on a scooter and we rode around. He smiled for the first time today, and seemed to love it! I pulled him for a while, and then once he got the feel of it, he started pushing himself. It was awesome! The SpED teacher was taking pictures to show his mom, and everyone was so excited he was succeeding. Small victories!!

We went to the Nascar race in KC this last weekend. It was great. We had pit passes and watched the race from a suite, we had the hook up! Jimmie didn't win, but ended up moving up to first in the standings. We were in the pits and in the garage before and during the race, which was something that was awesome and a side of it I hadn't seen before. Makes me love it even more!!

The Aflac tire...they made me laugh :)


The big man on campus!


Victory lane!


Jimmie's race car. It was sweet to be up close!

thankful..

paddle boat fun


love these girls.





Well one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. One of those where you would like to just stay forever. We were sitting on the dock of a little lake in the middle of Minnesota, and I would have given anything to freeze time. The weather was beautiful, the lake was amazing, and I was sitting with 3 of the best friends a person could ask for. Let's just say I'm ready to go back!

School is going well. We're a month in now and I would say that each week is getting better. We definitely have our ups and downs, and there are days I leave loving my job, and days where I wonder what the heck I'm doing. The kids are starting to get more comfortable with me, and I with them. It's exciting to start building the foundation for a program. We are starting from the beginning. I'm not sure what this will look like in 5 years, but I hope we've made progress. Each day I spend with them I am thankful. Thankful that I have a job, thankful for my health, thankful that God has put me in a place where hopefully I can make a difference.

Insert deep breath...

Well Friday rolled around and I took a deep breath after realizing I survived my first official week of school! I think I learned more in the first week than I did in 4 1/2 years of college :) I saw quite a few of my kiddos, didn't get to see all of them because with our scheduling we have to be in 2 different places at once.

I have around 38 kids (this will change after some more testing) and they range in age from 5-19 and range from non-verbal, very low cognitive level to verbal and able to participate in PE sometimes. I have kids in wheelchairs, kids with braces on their legs, kids that wear helmets, and kids that will take a swing at you. I have kids who love movement and even though they are non-verbal, when they sit on the scooter they smile and make noises and look at you in a way that makes you feel like a million bucks.

Everyday is different...oh so different. Things that work on Tuesday with a kid probably won't work on Thursday. We plan, but about 90% of the time that plan will change. Overall, I would say I'm loving it. I love the creative part of my job. I said coming out of school I wanted to teach and coach. Well I'm teaching and will probably help coach the Special Olympics. Not exactly in the side of education I thought, but then again, if you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans.

This week will be baptism by fire week. I have 5 meetings and thus starts my interaction with parents. Of course the first 2 have to be the ones that everyone says, be warned, these are tough ones. Might as well jump in and hit the ground running! Here's to week 2 of school :)

Round 2

Well things have certainly picked up around here, and I have a sneaky feeling they will only get busier. But I'm not complaining, it gives me something to do :)

Its kind of hard to see in this picture, but that was the sky the other night. Dark stormy clouds, then some pink, then blue skies. It was pretty crazy. We have had some intense storms since I have been here. They are pretty fun to watch!





School has started, although I officially start with my kids tomorrow. We have the schedule figured out, for now at least, so tomorrow starts the real job. I'm excited, a little nervous, but mostly excited. Hopefully things go well. I'm learning that the teachers just want consistency, because I guess last year there wasn't any. So my goal is to set a new standard, a higher level of expectations.

I am currently going through round 2 of antibiotics for tonsilitis. I'm not sure if I ever was completely over it, or if it just came up again. I'm learning that not having insurance is not very much fun. You plan and budget and then all of a sudden when things are pretty set, life throws you a curve ball. But that's part of it :)

I have decided that there is nothing better than watching someone discover Christ. I am blessed to be on the other side of it now, watching a young friend find Him. Helping her discover things, answering what questions I can, and just being here. It's cool to see the Lord move, to completely change someone from the inside out. He's pretty good at that.

Other than that, things are going well here. Enjoying being busy everyday. :) But here is to round 2 of school, round 2 of antibiotics, and round 2 of a new life in and new start in Christ. Cheers!

A few highlights...

So this post I decided to bullet-point the blog for an easier read :)

- Found out I have a classroom in one of my schools. This is the school I will spend most of my time at, so this is VERY exciting.

- I am finally getting over tonsillitis for the 3rd time. Yep these babies are probably coming out Christmas break or Summer.

- Skype. On my top 10 favorite things. I skype with my parents about 3 or 4 times a week. They love it too.

- Figured out things for my Master's classes. I have to take 2 classes now, which will be busy, but now I'll qualify for loans!

- Trip to MN is coming up, where I get to hang out with some of my best buds! aka ET, Kirbster, Mel-shine

- DVR. I get to watch all of my shows that I miss during the day. It's great.

- I was told today at school that I can't wear a skort. This one made me laugh out loud, a lot. It's kind of a long story but I was told by someone I work with I can't wear shorts....hello I'm a PE teacher!!!.....then she said skorts. But don't worry, we're getting this figured short thing figured out.



Well there are a few updates. I started full-time teacher meetings this week and kids come next week, although I won't have kids until I get scheduling figured out. Welcome to the school year!

A little patience...

Well I was looking for a picture for this update, because well, everyone likes a picture. Not just words all of the time. And after some researching on google images of the garden of eden, I decided it best not to post one of those. So I chose my favorite flower, my happy flower. And decided to post it.

So here is my post, I know this is happening more often than not now, but what I can say, I live by myself and get bored!

I was reading the other day and came across this ever-so-popular passage about Adam and Eve. You know the story, Even eats the apple, then shares with Adam, then the fall of man happens and we have painful childbirths. That's the gist of it. But as I was reading through it I noticed this convo with the snake...

The snake is talking to Eve about eating the apple and says,
"You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what is really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

This is what I realized...Eve had good intentions in eating the apple. She just wanted to know what was going on, she was curious. She wanted more knowledge, to become more aware of the things around her, to know the plan. And then I thought, ding ding ding, that would be me! If I would have been Eve, I would have done the same thing. I have great intention in knowing what is going on, I just want to be able to plan things, to protect people, to prepare myself for God's next step. But that's not how it works. Even with Eve's good intentions, it wasn't her place to know.

So I know that I'm not always going to know what's going on, or what's supposed to be happening, but it's comforting to know that even since the start of man, people have felt the same way. So that's where my thoughts end today. In wanting to know, but knowing that for centuries we have all wanted to know, but it's not really about us, or our timing.

A few pictures

Here are a few pictures of my new place. I don't have much on the walls yet, but it's a start!

The washer and dryer might be my favorite..just because I don't have to go anywhere to do laundry!

Every new beginning is some beginnings end..

Well here's to a new beginning. I have officially been in my new apartment 1 week, which is just crazy, and it's been quite a week. I have experienced all sorts of new things. Which doesn't take much coming from a town of 1500, but I must say that the change is going well. I finally found a place to park at the Capital today so I could get my drivers license address changed and when I walked out, I was able to find my car again. A good sign :)

We interviewed a para today to work with me. Hopefully he will accept, he sounded really interested. He is actually from Bethel and a Health/PE major. I officially have 43 kids on my case load for the year, so a para will be a great help! My first official meeting is Aug 3, but I will probably be doing school work from now until then. I have a lot of research to do and things to learn, I have a feeling this year will be a year of learning. More so even than when I was at Sterling. On-the-job training I guess you could call this. However, I feel like this is where I am supposed to be. Everything has fallen into place so easily, from the job to the apartment to hopefully the new para. I've been told it's never this easy, so I think that there is a big guy who has a hand in this one :)

I took some pictures of my new place on my camera, but I have to find my camera cord in order to put them up. I guess that's part of moving, finding where you put everything! I'll get them up soon hopefully. Happy Friday!

New Job, New Town

Well here I sit in Topeka in my new apartment. Wow, that's a little strange to say. I'm not sure it has really sunk in yet, some of it did when Mom and Dad left this afternoon, but the reality that this is my home now, nope pretty sure that one will take a while!

To update you a little, I signed a contract to teach Adaptive PE with the Auburn-Washburn School District on Monday, found an apartment that afternoon, and then moved in Friday. It has been a whirlwind of a week, however it has been great to see how things have fallen together. It was a fluke that my apartment was open, normally they don't have any, and at the start of the week I had pretty much nothing to move out with, and then by the end, our friends had given me a couch and a recliner along with many other odds and ends needed in an apartment. I am amazed at how the Lord has pieced this all together, and I'm excited to see how he continues to work.

I have never lived in a town of more than 2000 people, so moving here is a big change. However, I have already found a few things around to make it feel like home. About 2 miles East of me there are a bunch of cornfields. A mile South there is a huge grain elevator. I live on the north side of Topeka, it's acutally outside of the city limits about 4 miles, but is a perfect little place for me. I'll try to upload some pictures when I get them.

I'm sure I will be writing more often, because I have a feeling living by yourself can get kind of lonely. For now, I guess I'll head to the mall!

EMPLOYED!!! (well almost)

Well, I decided the next time I updated I should have a job. Well, hopefully as of Monday I will be officially employed. Not my dream job, but at this stage, I'll take anything I can get. I had a couple of different part-time options, and after putting hashing out the numbers, finally decided on one. I am a Mt. Hope Mustang! I will teach PE .6 time, so basically part-time, and be the head middle school basketball coach and the assistant middle school track coach.

I am going to look at apartments in Maize tomorrow, I think that if I budget and pay close attention to it, I can afford to live on my own. I'm looking forward to making adult decisions, although ask me in November and you might get a different answer :)

I'll update more when it becomes official, but for now, I'm just going to hope and pray that it works!!

Summer is here!

After he threw me off going about 30mph.



He was floating away, so I was trying to pull him back to hook him up!



Taking the jetski out for a spin


Well, summer is officially here! Mom and Dad bought a new jetski. Well not brand new, but new to us. I told them multiple times that we didn't need it, however after driving it and being pulled on the tube, I decided maybe it was a good purchase after all! I had it going 53 mph, but when Grant and I were both on we had it going 54...which is plenty fast on the water!

It proves to be a busy month around here. I leave Wednesday for a few days to North Carolina to see Audrey. Can't wait to see their new house and the big city. Oh yeah, and we're going to the Nascar Hall of Fame..which I'm pretty darn excited!!

Other than that, no new updates on the job. I'm still unemployed. I may have a few leads though, so hopefully those will turn out into something. I'm helping with the summer strength and conditioning program here at the high school, and then knocking things off my mom's to-do list :) I don't mind though!

Hopefully my next post will include a job!

I'm back..but no promises!

Here are a few Dallas Nascar race pictures...it rocked

I am not making any promises to keep this updated, but I figure why not give a quick update :)

Only 2 days left of teaching my 5th graders. Oh what a ride it's been. All 5 of them...we have learned a lot. Well I don't know if they learned a lot, but we've had some good times. Tonight 3 of them were in detention, I know, I'm a mean teacher, but they deserved it.

I am currently on the job hunt. I have sent my application out to about 10 different places, and haven't really heard back from any of them. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that one day I'll be employed and able to move out of my parents house.

Well I've been thinking about my bucket list, you know, the list of things I want to do before I die..and here are a few..

1. Go to Maine

2. Move out of my parents house

3. Take a cross-country bus trip with a group of old people

4. Ride on a train

5. Visit every Nascar track

6. Go to Ireland

I have a lot more, but that's all I can think of for now. So until next time, keep on keepin on!

start of summer '09

3-peat conference champs baby!!




a night of karaoke!




a mud wrestling night..





a night on the town with a few of my favorites!



well i decided that since it's summer now, I had better update so people know what is going on in my life and i can keep up with everyone else. Quick recap...We won conference for the third year in a row and went to nationals, Grant and I graduated college, I am living back at home working at the high school, and then I am helping coach high school volleyball in the fall. So there is an update. It's been crazy, but awesome!

I'm excited for the summer and promise to keep updated!!

a new year..

Well I have officially started my last semester of classes. I have officially started playing basketball again. And I am officially sore :) but in a good way! We are currently ranked 6th in the nation, which is great, and the most exciting part of that is that we still have a long ways to go, we haven't even come close to reaching our peak yet.

It's definately a blessing to be back playing again, I knew that in His timing I would be, and now even if I play 5 minutes a game, thats 5 mintues that I thought I would have never gotten. My Jesus is a healer thats for sure!

Here are a few pictures from Christmas break. We got to be home for 10 days, which was great. It was good to see family and friends. Reminds me of just how blessed I am!


grandpa and grant




the new bird I got my cousins



grant and i hunting

Life in the fast lane..

The last few weeks have been a race. Between Christmas parties, finals, projects, basketball, and Florida it has been crazy! But now I am back home for 10 days, which is the longest I have been home since, well for a really long time! It's so good to spend some time with the family, especially since it's the holidays.

Basketball is going well. We are 10-2 and undefeated in conference. The girls are getting better every game, which is exciting. The foot is coming along well. We are working on running now, which is awesome. They are hoping that I can play after the first of the year. We still have a long ways to go, but are getting better all the time. Definitely an answer to prayer!!

Florida was awesome. We were able to spend about 4 days at Disney, and then played 2 games. I am amazed at how blessed I have been to travel with our team. It is not something that most people have an opportunity to be a part of.

Crazy that in 4 months and 5 days I will be graduating from college. I will student teach at Buhler in the fall next year, which is scary, but exciting. I can't believe that I'm almost out in the real world. Here I come!!

Disney castle with a few fireworks

Mickey and I

The leadership in Evans :]

A little Evans Christmas party

2 shoes...

Yes you would be looking at 2 shoes on my feet, for the first time since March!! I can only wear 2 shoes for a couple of hours a day, but we are getting there. And yes, my right shoe is a lot whiter than my left one, and my right calf muscle is still pretty small, but we are getting there. It is so weird to walk again, definitely an answer to prayer. Thanks for all of the prayers that have been said, we still have quite the road ahead of us, but we are making progress! Hopefully in the next week or so I'll be in 2 shoes all the time, which I will celebrate for sure!

Now I just have to continue to be patient. Now that I can start kind of walking, its really easy to push it a little too far, because I just want to walk around and keep moving, because it has been so long since I have. But if we push it too hard, we will just be back to where we were, so I'm praying for patience, and praying that this time is different!

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit...says the Lord of hosts" Zechariah 4:6b

a few pictures..

oh man, I just love these girls





Well basketball season is in full swing. We are 4-2. They played really well this weekend, it was good to see them click and get things figured out. It should prove to be an exciting season. We are off until next weekend, when we head to Washburn which is an NCAA Division 2 team, so that will be quite the test.



the seniors...





jacci and i

(this was our mug shot)

The foot is coming along, slowly, but coming. I gained a half and inch in some spots this last week, so we are getting there! Life the last 3 days has been absolutely crazy, which makes me more and more excited for Thanksgiving. We get to go home on Thanksgiving day, which is great, because I'll get to see the family for a while.

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Make sure and count your blessings, because I know I am blessed beyond belief!

A Break....

I have decided to give my brain a break for a minute. I have been working on homework going on 19 hours this weekend, so I decided to take a break and update the blog :]

Tomorrow I have 3 papers, 2 lesson plans, a big fitness program, and a 25 minute presentation all due....wow, yep that's what I thought. So 19 hours later, I am getting close. Probably only a couple of hours left. In between doing homework I managed to watch a few basketball games, go to a wedding shower, make a trip to Hutch (with a stop at Starbucks of course), go to chapel, a meeting, and catch a few hours of shut eye. But when I walk across that graduation stage in April, it'll all be worth it!!

The basketball girls lost both this weekend. Most left discouraged, but for some reason looking on the outside in has changed my whole outlook on things. They saw missed shots and turnovers, bad calls and missed opportunities, but I see the opportunities ahead. This is a starting place, every great team has to start somewhere. We can't expect to pick up where we left off last year, because it is a different team, yet at the same time, I see glimpses of great things to come. There is a lot of work to do, but it's also the first part of November, not the first part of February or March. I look at our team, and think of how good we could be come tournament time, and it makes me really excited. I feel blessed to still have the opportunity to be a part of this team, I love going crazy and cheering on the bench, and providing any support and encouragement I can. If there is any way that I can help this team, that's what I want to be for them. I don't care what the coaches say, or in this case don't say, I am there for my teammates, not my coaches, I don't play for them, I play and cheer for my girls.

I have realized how protective I am of the girls on my hall. Man I just love them and want the best for them, and when other things start getting in the way of that, mama hillary starts coming out :]. It's cool to see how the Lord uses the things that you have gone through, all the junk from freshman year, and everything else, how he uses that to help other people. To show them that there is a way out, that there is a reason to strive to live by the higher road, to live the life that the Lord has called us to, not a life of being content or comfortable, but a life of being stretched and pushed and pulled. If I endure something just so that down the road I can help someone else, then I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Am I not trying to win the approval of men, or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10