House News + Teaching Stuff

News on our house: we are closing tomorrow!! Amazing. It has been so surreal to go through the process of looking into buying a house and then actually being able to buy one! Looking at houses I was never really sure when a certain house would work out, and I am just super excited that the Lord was able to lead us toward this house! I love it, and I can't wait. Praise to God, the giver of good gifts :)

Our house has 3 bedrooms upstairs, downstairs it has a kitchen, living area, and sunroom! We are excited about the yard and possible future dog :) The house has 1.5 bath and is laminate flooring with new windows and paint! Pictures to come!!

In other updates, teaching has been quite the adventure. Every single day I thank God for being able to have a job in which I feel is my calling and I feel so lucky to have a job that I love going to every day. I know that the Lord has gifted me and placed the calling on my life to minister and love on middle school kids, and I know that God is going to provide ministry opportunities because He already has!

Some things I am learning about teaching 1) it is physically exhausting (standing all day + talking + being trying to be excited and energetic about what you are teaching), 2) it takes PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE (I have students who ask me questions I have already explained several times, students who are disrespectful, etc, etc) 3) it is AMAZINGLY REWARDING. I love seeing my students learn, grow, and get excited about what I am teaching. Most of all, and so much more than seeing them learn science, I love that I work at a school where praying, sharing scripture, and encouraging my students in the Lord is something that is expected. It has been such a joy to see my students grow in the Lord, to encourage me with their stories, honesty, and questions. I have already learned so much from my students. Something I love about middle school kids: they ask challenging questions, they are still interested in what you have to say (for the most part), and they are able to grasp complex concepts and are teachable. 

Here are a few pictures from my teaching adventure:

This is Miss Frizzle, our class hamster. In sad news, after 4 weeks in our class, she died :( :( 

My students are still recovering, but I am hoping to purchase a new hamster this week!! RIP Miss Frizzle.

Some "After" shots of the classroom! Lots of lime green, purple, and black/ white :)

Front of my class!

This is one of the best labs we have done this year- it is basically a science lab where you look at the densities of different liquids, and pour them into a graduated cylinder based on the most to least dense liquid. 

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/density-tower-magic-with-science

Link to the explanation of the science experiment!

Also, another super fun science experiment we have done that I have loved is the edible cell lab. It is basically where you create a cell out of edible items so the students can eat it! 

I used: graham crackers for plant cells and cookies for animal cells. But this picture below has a graham cracker for a plant cell, vanilla wafer for nucleus, green m&ms for chloroplasts, and licorice for the cell wall. 

Hope you're having a great week! Thanks for checking into my world for a bit :)

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House Fun

So, buying a house is VERY involved. We found a place we really liked (3 bedroom townhouse, yard, sunroom, garage) and made an offer, which was accepted, but now, we found out it may need a new roof which we weren't anticipating with our offer. 

So, we wait. And, we pray. And see what the Lord has. We are trying to make wise financial decisions and are not yet sure if this is the right move. But, I trust the Lord. And have had so much fun walking with Tony during this time. 

But, a girl can dream about her future home right? 

I took my favorite Pinterest ideas to get myself excited about the future :)

Love these colors + the collage of pictures

Right now, our bedroom duvet is gold and I have some reds + browns. I like the idea of taking away the brown and adding more white plus the pretty gold frames.

Don't know why, but I love collages of pictures and quotes. I particularly like the framed word.

Loved this idea for a cute guest bedroom or office.

I have a lot of reds and golds in my living room + kitchen and was looking for ways to jazz it up. I like the pillows here.

Love the pillows here and the headboard.

Found these pillows on Etsy I thought were very similar: 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/119320556/moroccan-quatrefoil-pillow-black-and?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_query=moroccan+pillow&ga_ref=related&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_view_type=gallery

I am excitedly waiting what the Lord has in mind. Even if I have to wait to use my ideas :)

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Sweet Momma Time

So, in case the WONDERFUL surprise of my sister, Joe, and cutie baby nephew Brannon wasn't enough, my beautiful MOM surprised me in Alaska :) :)

JOY, JOY, JOY. My heart is so happy when with family.

Over labor day weekend, I was camping with Tony's family at Eklutna Lake, and my mom just strutted out walking by! Took me a second glance until I realized it was my sweet mom!!

Tony was in California over the weekend for a softball tournament, so my Mom and I got to spend some time camping with the Luikens, then spending the rest of the weekend together. We went biking, made salmon, snuggled up and watched movies, and mostly just had good mother daughter time together. 

I also got to show her the house that Tony and I made an offer on and we went furniture shopping which was fun! I miss my Mom. It is hard being away from her. But the sweet joy when I see her is indescribable. Love this incredible woman of God who has such a servant hearted personality and loves to give and give. 

First pic together

Luiken Camping Time.

We hiked independence mine, even in the rain!

Beautiful Alaska Fall.

Enjoying the colors of autumn.

Mom hugs.

Got to show my mom my classroom!! What a wonderful experience. She also helped me grade some papers :)

Love Alaskan Fall colors.

Of course, my mom had to try out my new bike!

We took a trip to the Alaska State Fair! Got to see some giant pumpkins.

We made some cookies and cream ice cream together with my ice cream maker attachment! 

Love my Mom.

We enjoyed our last day by the ocean! :) Love you momma.

Proverbs 31:26-31 "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive , and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

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Fitness Friday: Weeks 34-38

So, in the sake of honesty. I will let you know that working out has NOT been a priority for me. Teaching has been super consuming of my time! Also, Tony and I are working on some budgety things and realizing that our gym, the Alaska Club, may be too expensive. Right now, I would like to work on focusing on working out at the Alaska Club until the end of September and then looking into new gyms.

Hopefully, this will be a boost in my motivation! Will keep you updated on my fitness journey. Pin It