All Wrapped Up

I finished my first year of teaching in the USA!  Whoohooo!  Summer is here :)

I will begin my masters classes on July 1st.  I'm getting pretty excited about that.  Also, I am tutoring one of my students each week of the summer.  Then of course the wedding planning!

My computer died last week, which was a bummer.  On the way back from Waverly this weekend we went to a computer store and Josh and my dad helped me pick out a new computer, similar to my old one.  We chose a refurbished computer (which I now know why it was refurbished!).  It worked great in the store but when I got it home, the mouse pad didn't work!  Ugh...  Thankfully I can return it in Detroit and not have to drive to Ohio.  So, today I spent the day driving to Staples, Office Max, Office Depot and Best Buy, in order to get the best deal.  I got one!  Whew, two computers in two days.  I'm glad to have it ready to go now when my classes start!

I Got My Job Back!

Great news!  Today my principal informed me that I am placed back in my same position for next year!  Another teacher is moving, so I get to stay! :)  I am so excited that I don't have to pack up my room and start fresh at a new school again!  It's so nice to have that off my chest.  Here are a few pictures of my kids working with their 3rd grade reading buddies:

Wedding Dress...check!

This past week was my birthday!!  When I walked out to my car, it was stuffed with balloons, so full that I couldn't even get in!  Haha!

Then at school, Josh surprised me by coming to meet my kids at school to bring cupcakes! :)  They loved it!  The girls said things like, "Miss Hornback, you get to marry him!?  He's so cute!"  They were funny!

Then, I went wedding dress shopping with my mom and bought a wedding dress!  Whoohooo!  The only hints that I can give are that it is white and long.  Not too helpful, I know ;)

Well, only 2 1/2 more weeks.  Yay!  So close to the end!

Importance

Last week Josh's grandfather passed away...  It was a crazy week to say the least.  I went to spend time with his grandpa in the hospital a few late nights last week.  On one of the days, Josh and I were alone with him and got to spend time, talk and sing hymns to calm his spirit.  He was conscious and even joking with us.  Though he was extremely uncomfortable with tubes, wires and machines all hooked up to him, he enjoyed our time together.  It was really special to me.

He asked us, Josh in particular, to not leave.  I suppose like anyone he was afraid to be alone at such a scary time.  He also fought sleep because he wanted to stay awake  as long as possible.  Josh was the perfect grandson and stayed all night long both nights, even when it meant sleeping on the floor or in a hospital chair!

On Friday, we have no doubt that his grandpa went home to be with the Lord!  Josh was able to talk to him the last few months about Jesus and Heaven!  What an opportunity!

This has made me think a bit differently about my students.  It's moments like these, as well as the school shooting earlier in the year, that remind that life is so fragile.  Today could be their last...I cannot let a student leave at the end of the day thinking I'm upset with them.  In the grand scheme of things, a student's tendency to talk a little too much or lean back in his chair is not important.

Getting Close

I was at a conference yesterday afternoon and my mind wandered.  I thought about the beginning of this school year...

In the beginning, I was shocked.  I had no idea what I had gotten myself into!  My class was academically low, many behavior problems, I didn't have many resources, and I had to jump in the day before school started with no plans.  Chaotic is not even the word!

Not a lot has physically changed, but my attitude has!  I have learned so much through prayer, other teachers, and trial and error :)  Even though there are still a ton of behavior problems, I view it a different way now.  I have become so much more patient, consistent, intentional and my days rely on prayer. 

Though it's been a really tough year, I have learned so much and become better for it!  I do really love those kids!

Four more weeks!!

Beginning to Wedding Plan!

On Saturday I went wedding dress shopping for the first time!  I really had no idea what I wanted, so though I didn't find "the dress" it was nice to just get an idea of the style and what I like!  I will probably go again this weekend :)  Did you know it takes about 6 months to get a wedding dress!  They have calendars and everything to let you know how long it takes to order and do alterations.  Woah...

Then my mom, Josh and I went to look at reception halls.  We looked at three near us.  Two were pretty good, but we're going to look around some more.  Most checklists are telling us that things should have been planned 12 months ahead....well, we only have 7.  Our date is December 14 :)  I have always had a dream of a Christmas wedding!  We're a little overwhelmed but are so far not stressed.  It's a fun process!

I'm engaged!!

My dream came true yesterday!  Josh Andrews asked me to marry him!!!

He is a co-leader for our young adult group at church.   The group's name is Engage.  Because we had met through this group, he wanted them to be involved in the engagement.  Soooo, he planned an event based on the show Amazing Race, except called it The Engaging Race (yes, I completely missed the pun!) 

All week he had been working on the event stuff and frankly I was frustrated because we weren't getting a whole lot of time together.  Thinking back on it, I was kind of a pain, hah!  It turns out all the planning and time was for me!  Boy did I feel bad!

So, all five cars started off the road rally, matching group t-shirts and all.  We found clues that led us to our next destinations, all of which happened to be dates Josh has taken me on.  Once again I was clueless, even though all of the other cars had figured out what was going on!

The last clue led us back to the church, to find these puzzle pieces and fit them onto this huge board.  After the points had all been tallied up, they flipped the board over and on the other side were pictures of him and I and a poem he had written for me!  The last line asked me to marry him!

Unfortunately, I am a slow reader and was only half way through the poem when everyone else started gasping!  I didn't even finish reading it (the part that asked me to marry him!) and in shock looked over and there he was on his knee!  He'd faked it a couple times before as a joke, but this time there was a ring!!

The ring is beautiful, simple and elegant, exactly what I wanted.  He did such an awesome job planning all this and I truly had no clue!  I am so lucky to be engaged to someone who is so thoughtful.  Ahhhhhh, so exciting!  He is perfect for me and I've never been more excited! :D