Stocking Stuffers

Looking for a great idea for a stocking stuffer? Check out Joe Paulson's CD...This Fine Evening.

It has some fantastic tunes and you can even get 3 free downloads at www.noisetrade.com/joepaulsonmusic.

Fall Fondness

It's been while, blog world, but I'm avoiding the laundry to write this post after drowning in school work and house chores...

I love Fall. I love pumpkins, hay rides, bonfires, football, Fantasy Football, the start of a new season, the crisp air, the cool rain, and the way the sunshine warms you up instead of overheats you. I love getting out jeans and sweaters/sweatshirts again, drinking hot chocolate, reunions with friends, students who are starting to get in the routine of school, and fun field trips.

Above all of these wonderful attributes of Fall, I mostly love the memories I have during this season. From memories as a child of Grandparent's Day, pumpkin patches, trick or treating, and mom's determination to make everything memorable, to memories of college. Apple picking pick-a-dates, flag football, pumpkin patches, tail-gates, bonfires, and countless smores. Finally, memories of my relationship with my husband are near to my heart this time of year. Two years ago, we started dating around this time of year, and two years ago in November, we got engaged...when I blog again (probably in November), I will share this story. Here is a picture to commemorate the start of our relationship:

The Golden State

Amidst the craziness of setting up a classroom, having meetings, and wanting everything to be perfect for my firsties this Fall, I flew to California with my cousin and sister this past weekend. We had a blast visiting the beach in San Diego and Coronado Island, shopping, eating (of course!), and exploring the Island on surreys. I'm so thankful I had this 3-day reprieve before starting a new school year on Tuesday. I am so excited to meet my students, their parents, and their families and partner with them this school year. Working at a Christian School is such a blessing and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to pray with students and parents, teach, and LOVE on these kids. Anyway, here are some pictures to commemorate my weekend in The Golden State:

Classroom update!

It's been a busy week setting up my classroom for my students. Working in a Christian school, we share the classrooms with the Sunday School kiddos on Sundays, hence my desks shoved against the back of the room. They will be moved with nameplates on prior to the start of school. The "Look At Our Best Work" wall will be updated with student pictures and projects during the first week of school.

I love working with such an encouraging staff who want to glorify the Lord with their work. I am so excited to get to know my students and teach them academically and spiritually, though I know I will probably learn more from them. Our class verse is Phillippians 4:13 which states that "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength." My prayer is that this will be an encouragement to my students when they are struggling and that they will see the MIGHT of our God this school year. Please leave comments/suggestions if you have any. Enjoy some pictures!

New York City!

The hubby and I just returned from a week "getaway" to NYC to celebrate our anniversary. It was the perfect week before heading into school tomorrow to begin setting up my classroom! :) Thanks Joe for an incredible week, for being a Godly husband, and for making the past 365 days flat out awesome!

Here are some pictures to commemorate our trip.

Joe purchased tickets to go up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty which was an amazing experience. We saw Wicked on Broadway, stayed a block from Times Square, visited several museums, and took walks in Central Park. Oh, and saw Taylor Swift and NeedtoBreathe in NJ! What an amazing trip!

4th of July

We spend the 4th of July with Joe's best friend Seth at a baseball game. It was VERY hot, but we had a great time! The rest of the weekend was spent up at my grandma's lake house and was full of sunshine, boating, tubing, and eating! Enjoy some pictures from our long weekend.

Our New Place!

We finally have internet :). Silly AT&T promised it would be up last Thursday...at least they were only 8 days off! Here are some pictures of our new place. We are loving it!

New Place!

We moved!

We are living in a brand new apartment and are loving it...pics will come Thursday!

My Man

was on TV today with his band!

Check it out!

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/indy_style/arts_and_music/joe-paulson

We love your feedback! :)

PS--in the process of moving...will post pics of the new place soon!

I'm TaxdeDUCKtible!!

Last week, my incredibly intelligent husband found out he passed the CPA exam! He had to study for four 3-4 hour tests and pass all of them within 18 months. I am so proud of him for passing each test on the first try and for putting in soo much hard work and perseverance into his studying. Way to Go, Joe!

I decorated the apartment with streamers and balloons and we picked up some FANTASTIC pizza to celebrate. Here's to no more studying, no more 4 hour tests, and some perks at work! :)

Fire and Rain

Joe and I attended a Mat Kearney and Owl City concert last night and it was fantastic! Mat Kearney always plays a fantastic show and is quite entertaining. I've gotten so used to going to 21+ venues, that I think Joe and I were some of the older people at this show...it's interesting to spend the evening with high schoolers who are all on their Iphones.

Anyways, it was a great night spent with my amazing husband. Here are some photos to document the evening:

Do you ever think about me? Do you ever call my name?
Ask me now I'll give you the reasons
My love will not fade
Through the fire and rain, the fire and rain

Love you, babe.

My New Classroom

I am so humbled and feel so blessed that the Lord has blessed me with a classroom of my own for the 2011-2012 school year! Here are some pictures of what it looked like before I touched anything...I'm sure in August I will post the final product...

Parenting

Though we do not have any children and thus have not practiced any parenting skills on our own yet, it is very intriguing to learn from other people. While attending a "knee injury" appointment with Joseph today, I observed various parenting habits. Consider this a "note to self" of traits and practices I prefer to evade (in several years when this is applicable).

1. A lady told her daughter to stop acting like her. (As in to stop acting like her mother...whose fault is that? Interesting how our children reciprocate our actions and language...)

2. Same lady is playing games on her phone, paying no attention to her 2 daughters who were running in circles around the waiting room. Shouldn't the kiddos be the ones playing games? (IDEA for later use: have a "doctor bag" full of coloring books and games the kids can play while they wait.)

3. Kids were told to be patient many times. (At three years of age, they don't know what that word means...without being modeled or shown.)

4. Genuinely pay attention to and give your children the time of day. It saddens me to see families like this where the children are doing what they want and the parents are too busy or too wrapped up in themselves to nurture and love their children.

5. It is so easy to see someone parenting their children and be critical (How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:4)...so I pray for this family and ask that God bring them together. I ask that the Lord would give Joseph and I strength, patience, discipline, and LOVE for our future children and a desire to parent them in the way of the Lord.

Family

My husband (Joe) and I (Amy) were married last July. It's been a busy, but wonderful year (almost) together and I have decided to start writing things down to remember what our little life was like in the beginning. My hope is over time to see a development of character, love, and selflessness from myself and my husband as this blog continues. We'll begin with a little story...

For Valentine's Day this year my husband, Joe, bought me a kitten. She is no ordinary kitten. When we first looked at her, she kept pawing through the cage trying to reach us and when finally let out, she loved being held and pet. When it was time to go back in the cage, however, she hid underneath the cages and had to be drug out by the PetsMart employee. We bought her at 6 months of age because she already had her shots and was spade (basically she was on sale). Her name is Lacy and she has already made her mark on our little family. I really still wanted a kitten, and Joe promises me someday I will have a little calico. (I'm writing this down so he won't forget).

1. She LOVES to cuddle. Especially on top of computers, books you are trying to read, or on your face if you are sleeping.

2. She can jump ANYWHERE. 3-foot tall counter=no problem.

3. If you aren't looking, she'll drink the milk of your cereal bowl. Or try to eat leftovers from your plate (sometimes she thinks she is a dog).

4. She is obsessed with her ball on a stick and will chase it for hours on end.

5. She has killed and eaten 2 spiders this week alone.

6. She tries to attack bugs and animals on the other side of the glass outside, most namely a chipmunk and a flying insect.

7. She's not afraid of much (except storms and the vacuum).

8. She loves to hide in small places...under the bed, under a dresser, in the dryer...it's not hard to find her in 600 sq. ft.

9. She is constantly talking to us with her sometimes obnoxious "MEOW"s.

10. Finally, she loves us and we love her. Even is she wakes us up 6 times/night because she wants to play with our hair or lay on our faces.

Case and point...just this afternoon: