Sam In The City

Sunday, December 31, 2006

A New Beginning

This past year has had its' ups and downs, just like all the years before it. I am looking forward to following the new ambitions and self-challenges I have set up for myself for 2007. I'm really excited about working more on my music and spending more time with my family, friends and most importantly, God. ;)

Short and sweet, just wanted to tell all my internet friends, thank you so much for sticking around to read a year's worth of my random posts. God bless you all with a very safe and Happy New Year. I look forward to blogging next year! ;) I'm off like a dirty shirt.

Monday, December 25, 2006

Feliz Navidad, Prospero Ano, Felicidad!

I seem to have skipped all of November and most of December in regards to posting a new entry. The thing I love about this blog is that it doesn't require a stressful load of writing. I can hop on the computer whenever I have time and write. :)

(The below pic was taken at my dad's firehouse...we visited him with Donna because he was working today. Ryan and her beau surprised him, too!:)

My inspiration for blogging today is Christmas. The holidays are always a very busy time, but they're fun, busy time. I love going from one family's house to the next to visit with such a beautiful array of people. Right now I'm at my "in-laws" house and they're playing a game. Our beautiful new little niece is resting and I hear the fridge opening, so food must be on its' way out. ;) When my husband and I leave here today, we'll spend some time at our home, and then be off to visit more family members. The holidays are tiring, but truly rewarding and something I always look forward to.

I'm being called to play "Deal or No Deal"....write more later! ;)

Same day, 12:25a.m. now and I still have the Christmas spirit...I'm just gettin' a little tired. Right now my sisters Donna and Ryan are over, and Ry's bf Jason, is playing video games with my adorable husband. I know it probably sounds redundant, but I truly feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. I am grateful for every day I wake up and all the opportunities and memories that are made in twenty-four hours. ;) My little sister, Donna, who is not so little anymore is patiently waiting to use the computer so she can "My Space". Don't judge her...because I have an account too! :o) It's fun. Anywho, I hope you all had a GREAT Christmas and that you enter the New Year surrounded by loved ones. I'm off like a dirty shirt-peace out homies. ;)

-->The above picture was taken on Christmas Eve at my groovy parent's house. Dan is so handsome! ;)

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Back In The Saddle Again

There will be no excuses on my behalf this time to explain by blogging absence of over two months. Am I sorry for neglecting my internet social life and reading some wonderful blogs? Absolutely. But I haven't written in the past two months because I was having a hard time accepting things that were going on in my life, so how could I publicly write about them? Nevertheless, I've always enjoyed blogging and I feel good about posting a new entry today.

It only feels right to begin this entry by first talking about the death of my dear Auntie Debbie. She passed away last month, as I'm sure many of you are already aware of from Frema's blog. My Auntie Debbie struggled with a vicious case of cancer that she fought for nine and a half years, when the doctors told her she only had six months to live. Bottom line, Auntie Debbie was the bravest and most courageous woman I have ever met or known throughout history. She could have very well given up or succumb to her cancer years ago to rid herself of the excruciating pain this disease inflicted upon her and her family, but she fought with an unstoppable will. Auntie was only forty-nine years old when she died, she would have been fifty the day after Christmas. Knowing that Auntie was terminally ill did not cushion the blow of her death, despite what many would think. Just because you know that someone you love is sick doesn't mean that you're ready to lose them to heaven and never see them again.

When Auntie died, I was became depressed, unknowingly to myself though. During the wake services, I kept myself busy cleaning the community kitchen and engaging in nonchalant conversation with compassionate family and friends. After the services resided, my behavior did not seem to improve, in that I was CONSTANTLY finding a new project to keep myself busy. I must have rearranged my classroom and apartment about five times until I reached a personal level of satisfaction. Long story short, I began neglecting people that meant the most to me because I was so concerned about keeping busy, I didn't filter in the fact that I was ignoring the people I loved the most. My husband had compassionately approached me about my busy agenda and behaviors, but I took offense and told him it was my way of dealing with the loss of one of my best friends, Auntie Debbie. Poor Dan was only trying to help me and I was not responding to any of his sincere concerns. Luckily Dan had it in him to approach me a second time, and for some reason this conversation really hit home. He was able to reach me in a way that no one else could and I really feel that he literally pulled me out of my depression. Words can't do justice to how thankful I am to have Dan is my life. I would have never known the extent of my sadness had Dan not pointed it out to me and had enough courage to tell me the truth about my everyday behavior. I could go on and on about this, but the point of this entry is not sadness, it's about a new beginning.

After I realized I was depressed, I began analyzing my life and thinking about the many people and blessings I have to be thankful for. I started to build inner strength and reach out to my family and those who I trust dearly. I began thinking about what a full life my Auntie Debbie lived and started to think about the gifts God has blessed me with. Rather than being sad, I started to look at life and appreciate it in a way I had never done before. Instead of avoiding the ringing of my phone, I began excitedly answering it. Instead of always finding new projects to begin, I gave my husband back the wife he spent so much time with. I began playing the piano again and practicing harder than I ever have before. My music became such a wonderful outlet and sign of peace for me that I started to appreciate it and love it in a new light. I brought my passion for the piano into my classroom and began teaching my students about Beethoven and Ray Charles. Together my students and I began an unending learning journey that originated from the death of a loved one. After bringing music to my classroom, I reached out to a few students who displayed an extraoridnary talent and interest in the piano. I am now teaching private lessons to four students after school during the week.

I can't stress enough how thankful I am for my Auntie Debbie and husband Dan. Auntie's death and Dan's encouragement brought me to a new and exciting place in my life. Of course I miss Auntie and all the beautiful and sincere things she brought into my life and the lives of many others. However, as my mother reminded me, Auntie Debbie would not have wanted me to stop living my life. I have learned so much from this tragic experience, but most of all I have learned to be thankful for each and every minute of my life. Prayer has always been an important part of my life, but now it's such an integral part of my life that I feel connected to God in a way I have never felt before. I feel so blessed everyday I wake up and look at my husband in bed next to me. I know now that God works through all of us, even when we're not paying attention.

Thank you all so much for sticking with my blog and continuing to check on my writing. I love you all and hope that you're doing GREAT! I hope to be a better blogger again in reading about your thoughts and daily lives!! ;)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Creepin' Like A Wedgie

When I say creepin' like a wedgie, I'm referring to the first day of school for my Kindergartener's this upcoming Monday. Since the middle of last week, I've been making frequent trips back and forth to my school to set up my classroom and prepare for the little people that I will be teaching. :) Although setting up my classroom before school starts can be fun, it is also a GINORMOUS pain in the rear.

Sunday afternoon I went to school to finalize the furniture arrangement for my classroom. The hardest part of setting up is making my small classroom spacious enough to accommodate five large tables, which serve as the student's desk, four book shelves, one large manipulative shelf, a reading center table, block shelf, overly large teacher's desk and student mailbox shelf. I'm sure I missed a few pieces of furniture, but I'm sure you get the picture. Anywho, when I got to my classroom Sunday, I found a long rectangular table pushed against one of my blackboards where the students have their "Morning Meeting". (Morning Meeting time in a nutshell is where the students learn and review their letters, sounds, numbers, days of the week, months of the year and a many other concepts.) Whoever put the desk there moved my mini-chalk board and a few other items that are essential to our "Morning Meeting time". I knew the table was put in my classroom because each class is supposed to get more computers and a table is needed to accommodate them. Anyway, I moved the table to a different spot to create a computer center and didn't think too much of it. Moving on...

Well, Monday when I went back to school, and to be on the safe side I asked my principal if the table HAD to be in the specific spot it was placed. I explained to her that it was put in my "Morning Meeting" spot and it messed up the arrangement I had worked SOOO hard on in my classroom. To make a long story short, the table HAD to be left in that spot. :( Okay people, most of you are probably thinking I'm making too big of a deal out of having to move a rectangular table to a different spot in the classroom. Early childhood teachers out there understand how many painstaking hours it takes to hang up educational decorations/posters, personalize name tags and a zillion other things, and especially arrange the furniture. To make this already long story short, everything worked out. After a long time of moving several shelves and rehanging decorations, I finally came up with a new arrangement. God bless my little sister Donna who has been helping me set up my classroom ever since I became a teacher two years ago! If she wouldn't have been with me when I have to rearrange everything, my head probably would've popped off!

For the rest of the week I'll be at school making the finishing touches in my classroom. I just recently found out that the Kindergarten teachers will not be getting aides this year, so I'm trying to really work ahead to keep up with the work load I know will hit come Monday. I'll truly miss the much appreciated and needed help a teachers aide offers, but there's nothing I can do about it. Plain and simple, it's going to be me and my twenty-two little learners.

Well, I could probably blab on and on about school forever so I'll stop. Thanks for reading about what's been filling my days and evenings lately. Much love to those of you out there who continue to read my blog. You guys are the best! ;) Have a great evening friends-I'm off like a dirty shirt.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Summer Daze

Yes people, I am alive and have not fallen off the face of the internet world. This is my latest entry in over a month and I have no good excuse for that, except I've been too lazy to haul my ass three feet from the couch over to the computer. When I come home from work or physical therapy (for my knees), I'm just not in the mood to share much of anything these days. However, with school starting up again at the end of this month, and classroom preparations in the mix, I'll probably get caught up in the Back To School madness. I'm actually looking forward to the set routine and classroom environment. Working with the day campers hasn't been too terrible, but it's not like the structured environment of a classroom.

Since my last entry not too much has been going on. Dan and I took a trip to Indianapolis to visit Frema and Luke, and had an absolute blast! Their apartment complex is beautiful, with a groovy gated pool and large pond of cute little ducky wucky's!!! We spent some time in their apartment, but also went miniature golfing, explored downtown and the Canal, in addition to dining out a few times. It was a really fun time and Dan and I hope to plan more trips to visit Indy in the future. We're also going camping with Frema and Luke the weekend after next, and I'm really looking forward to it! Yay for summer fun!

I can't believe the summer is going by so quickly. In just a few short weeks Dan and I will both be in the swing of things for Back To School. I hope that you've all enjoyed your summer thus far and continue to live it up. I don't plan on skipping an entire month blogging again, (sorry July), so be sure to check for new entries. Thanks for sticking out my lazy stretch with me and continuing to read friends! Have a groovy day and stay cool! ;)

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

A Current Affair

Although I've steadily neglected my blog up until this past Sunday, I've been cheating on blogger with My Space. Yes people, I am aware that it's more "kiddy-like" compared to blogger, but people actual visit my page and comment. So, until I get back into the blogger swing of things, I'll continue to comment on your entries, but I invite you all to check out my My Space page. If you're having a hard time clicking on the link, just type it in the URL address. In the meantime and between time, I'm out like a fat kid in dodge ball. ;) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

S-L-A-C-K-E-R!!

Yes it's true. I am true slacker when it comes to blogging. Although I do enjoy sharing my thoughts and life snippets with the internet, I am nowhere near as dedicated to posting as my amazing sister Frema. Maybe it's because I don't really know my limits as to what I'm comfortable sharing with the internet. I love to write, but it's different when you're keeping an on-line journal, rather than a private one. I get a little apprehensive about getting possible negative feedback from strangers, and loved ones publicly. In the mean time, I hope those of you who have continued to read my blog enjoy my entries. I sincerely appreciate my readers and their comments.

Since the last time I posted, I've been to a few family parties, Dan's brother's wedding and welcomed my beautiful Brooke's new baby boy Michael into the world! ;)

Michael Alan and me on June 9, 2006, his birthday! ;)

Dan and I at his brother Mikey's wedding.

This past week I also had my training for my summer job, which I have done for the past eight summers. The training was soooooooo boring and redundant, but I had to go. I work as a seasonal recreation leader for the park district day camp, which begins tomorrow. It's an easy job that requires no planning on my behalf, so it's a nice change from teaching. :) Besides working over the summer, I hope to be motivated enough to update my teaching portfolio so I can market myself better when I decide to apply at other schools. Near the end of the summer, Dan and I will be going camping with Frema and Luke at Indiana Dunes. Other than that, I've been spending a lot of time with my siblings and family, which has been a lot of fun. ;) Well, to those of you who actually still read my blog, mad props to you all! Have a GREAT week and be on the look out for the next post. ;)