What's Your Word

So the last week or so I have found myself listening to KLOVE on my way to and from school because my favorite local personalities have been out of town.  Lisa and Eric are on in the morning and they have been talking about finding your word for the year.  At first I thought, na I have my fitness goals and that is enough for me.  I loved the idea and just thought that I would do it next year.  But, of course, God had other plans.  On Thursday I was driving home from coffee with a friend and a word popped into my mind. It was a word that spoke to my heart and something that I think I was unconciosuly working towards already.

What's the word?!  My word for this year is balanced.  I really feel that it is something I often struggle with.  I think that all too often I let my life get out of balance.  I feel it is a word that will carry into every area of my life.  I am going to live life balanced in my work, my work ethic for grad school, eating, exercising, my walk with God, time for others, time for my husband, time for myself, etc.

I know that it is going to be a challenge, but I think that I am already off to a great start.  I will keep you posted.

Thoughts on Running

I know that you are probably shocked to see another post from before at least a month has passed, but due to school being canceled again today because of "in-climate weather" here I am posting again.

I have been thinking a lot about running lately, probably because of my lofty goals that I have set to achieve this year.  It has been really hard the first two weeks to get myself motivated to run.  I have been following my training schedule, but grudgingly, and if I didn't have my sister or Cammie doing it with me, I probably would have been a lot less committed.  In my mind I know that it is not so bad, but once you get out of the habit, it seems like a very daunting task.  Often over the last two weeks my legs were sore and tired, and I just didn't know if I would make it through that day's workout.

Then on Sunday at church something the associate pastor said struck a chord with me.  He was talking about how he gave our lead pastor some advice about running in the snow, and how after his run our lead pastor shared with him what a great time with God his run had been.  During the message I felt like God was saying to me that committing my time to running can be a part of my daily time with Him.  It is a time for me to reflect, pray, or just be.  God has created our body to be a temple from himself to reside in, so this week as I thought about each run, I have looked forward to it because I have shifted my mindset to making it an act of worship and taking God out with for the miles I have to go.  I want to take good care of my body because it is something God created to be healthy and discipline, not something to indulge in its every desire or craving.

Yesterday after my run I felt so refreshed.  My heart felt lighter, and I looked forward to what the rest of the day had in store.  I can honestly say that I am excited to continue training and building up my miles to achieve the goals that I have set, and I am looking forward to seeing how God uses this time in my day to refocus and teach me.

It's a MIRACLE

No I did not win the lottery or find $100 and NO I am not pregnant, or anything close to a real miracle, I just thought I would get more of your attention with that title, did it work?!  I have been gone way to long to write about everything that has happened over the last few months, and I know that you really don't want to read about it all.  I will post some pictures of things happening around here over the last few months to catch you up.

I thought I would start my return to blogging by telling you about what I hope 2011 holds for me and some highlights that re to come. Here are a few things that I hope to complete by the end of 2011.

• Run the Olathe Wickedly Fast 1/2 Marathon in April (just started training, let's just say I wasn't as horribly out of shape as I orginally thought)
• Run the Hospital Hill 1/2 Marathon in June
• Train and compete in my first triathlon in July
• Run the Kansas City full marathon in October
• Eat healthy throughout the year to keep my body well fueled for all of this training
• Help my baby sister have the wedding of her dreams
• Be better at reconnecting with old friends
• Be open to the ways in which God will begin directing Stinson and I's path and future
• Finish my masters degree
• Continue to find new ways to connect with my students as well was way to support them
• Cherish time spent with family throughout the year
• Get back to blogging at least a couple of times a month

Well, I think that is enough writing for now.  I will let you enjoy some pictures!   If you still read this thing,  thanks!

My mom came to Kansas City for my birthday and go me my first pair of Uggs!  Love them both, but obviously I love my mom more.

At the beginning of December I headed to Detroit for a weekend to see my dear friend and college roommate Angie and her husband John.  Here is Ang and I in Ann Arbor in front of the University of Michigan student union

We spent Christmas in Seattle with my family.  Jennifer came to spend some time with the Fosters and enjoy the Nutcracker in downtown Seattle.

We spent New Year's Eve in downtown Seattle with my family.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with a view of the Space Needle and got to enjoy the fireworks show that they set off.  Here were are ready to start the new year.  We had a blast in Seattle.  I have tons more pictures, but you'll have to check my facebook to see them!

I promise from here on out to put more effort into this blog and keeping you up to date!  I am off to snuggle with the dogs!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!

Well, school has begun and so has football.  Needless to say life in this Dean household is whirlwind.  This has been my first football season experience the full extent of what it means to be a football widow.  I think for Stinson and I it is even worse because of our classes and other things that we are involved in.  Time together has to be intential and unfortunately most of the time we spend together is spent catching a few zzzz's. 

So far after a few kinks thrown into the starting line up a week before the first game, MNU is 3-0.  They are looking great and Stinson's running backs look awesome!  He is loving every moment of coaching.  His guys are lucky to have him as their coach.  MNU faces the #2 team in the coutnry next week, Lindenwood, at home.  It will be a great test of hwere they are at.  Here are me and some of MNU friends hanging out at the game.  Oh yeah, I dyed my hair brown, just in case you can't tell which one I am.

Janae and I

All of the Girls

Last weekend I spent my entire day watching football.  I went to all three boys games and had such a blast.  I just love these precious things.  They all played so well.  I got to have dinner/lunch with them on Sunday too.  I don't have the words to describe how much I love them!  Enjoy these pictures!  (This day was 100% football.  I went to 3 little league games and 1 MNU game, it was quite the day!)

Andy's Game Face

My Bud Andy and I

The Really Cool 7th Grader and I

Adorable Carson!



So with all of me "extra time" I have been leading my mother-in-laws bible study Live a Praying Life.  We are two weeks in, and already it has been amazing.  She really puts a whole new perspective on prayer.  One of my favorite things she written so far comes from the end of week one's study.  She is talking about finding a new purpose of prayer when she shares this verse and says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." (Ezkiel 36:26-27) Before I desired such a thing, God had make it available.  He had already promised to reproduce His heart in me, shaping my desires to match His.  He promised to take my  self-centered heart and fasten it on Him.  And He who worked in my until I desired to reciece what he desired to give."

My heart fills with joy just typing those words.  It is so awesome to know that God has already arranged everything so that I can have this.  That He would take my heart of stone and soften it and fill it with Himself. I am already excited about the changes in my attitude towards prayer and the way I have been praying.  I will keep you updated on how things are going.

The dogs are doing great.  I am so glad that I have them to keep me company and to keep me enterained on all my nights home alone.  They are so much fun and Mia is so entertaining.  She loved to play and I could watch her bounce around for hours.  Jake is huge, but so cute!  He has the sweetest face that melts your heart and make you want to give him everythign he wants!  Maggie is doing good and is always waiting at the door to great you when you come home.  She love to have her belly rubbed first thing!  Here is how I found Maggie and Mia one morning.

 School is going awesome.  I love my class.  There are a few challenges, but in general, I think that they are my best class yet.  I know that I am better as a teacher this year and I am so excited to try a few things out this year that I started last year.  Friday and Saturday I was at workshop called Picture Perfect Science.   It was such a wonderful two days and I cannot wait to go back and beef up my science instruction.  It was exactly what I was looking for!

I think that is all for now.  If you live near by or need to come visit, I would love some company.  I have lots of alone time, so don't feel like you're imposing!

Part of the Family

Many of you probably remember me talking about the boys I watched last summer, well this summer was no different.  It was a summer jam-packed of good 'ol fashion fun and lots of testosterone!  These boys have become very dear to me and even though they like to push their limits, they are wonderful!  This summer was full of trips to the neighborhood pool, pools around town that have awesome things like high dives and water slides, a trip to the blueberry farm, and lots of friends.  

Not only do I love these three rascals, but I also adore their parents.  They have welcomed Stinson and I into their family with open arms, and we love spending time with them.   We would definitely call them dear friends, and they are even somewhat like parents to us with ours being so far away.  I am always excited to go back to school, but sad to have to leave these precious faces too.

I know that many of you have been waiting to see pictures from our North Carolina Trip, but there won't be any of my pictures, probably just ones that I steal from other people because I lost my camera our last day there. :(      I know you are probably just as sad as I am, but my wonderful nanny family surprised me with a new camera!  (They're amazing and did way too much I know! I am one lucky girl!)  So now I can continue to take thousands of pictures of my dogs and my new students!  Here are some pictures of our dinner with my new camera.  Enjoy!

The oldest, and the one who tried my "parenting skills" with his ever changing mood swings!

The youngest and middle boys.  How could you not fall in love with those smiles?!

I am so thankful to be a part of this wonderful family and am looking forward to our get togethers until next summer.

Classroom Gone Wild

This coming school year I will be in a new room, in a new addition to our school building.  As a result, I decided that I need to find a theme for my room.  Last year I bought these name tags and fell in love with them.  

Now my whole room is based off of them.  Here are some pictures of my sewing projects and how my classroom is coming together so far.  Enjoy!

I thought the space above the whiteboards needed some color!

Area behind my desk.  Still needs a boarder around it.

Reading Corner #1

Library/Reading Corner #2

Zebra Curtains (I only sewed the zebra onto the bottom)/Reading Corner #3 and I sewed the big pillows!

Cafe Table

Artsy Cafe Table Picture

Home made valence

I can't wait to be here everyday!  I think my students will like it too!

Whew.....I survived!

I am sure that you are wondering what exciting and dangerous adventure I have been on lately, and I am sorry to tell you that it is not nearly as exciting as what you are probably thinking.  It has to do with a wedding that I helped plan/run where the bride struggled to be organized, despite my best efforts, and some how wound up with a list of 100 things that still needed to be done one day before the wedding!

One of my loves in life is weddings.  I decided after our wedding that I might enjoy doing some wedding planning/coordinating on the side of teaching.  I won't be one of those people you see on TLC who is able to design everything, but I enjoy helping the selection and organization process of it all.  My friend Janae was kind enough to let me test my skills at her wedding and rehearsal, and things went well.  So, when a friend asked if I would be interested in helping from the start with a cousin's wedding, I was excited, and said I would do it for free (crazy I know) since it was my first one from the start.  Little did I know she would change her mind a thousand times and end up being so unorganized.

Some of you are probably bored, so let me just get to the day before the wedding.  Keep in mind that she and I had already met and planned for 20+ hours over the last 6 months.  I show up Thursday to begin the set up process for the reception expecting to see some strong young men, boxes that were labeled and organized, and possibly more than five people, including myself, but that expectation ended up being unrealistic.  Despite the unorganized state of the set up and the overwhelming list of to-dos we got it knocked out.  I was very frustrated because I checked in with her frequently to see if she had questions or needed anything from me, and she repeatedly told me no.   Some of our set backs Thursday could have been prevented has she told me she needed help, and I would have gladly taken care of them.

Trying to move this post along because I can sense your bordom, let me just tell you to envision anything that could go wrong before a wedding, and it probably did.  Including things like having to buy flowers at 8:00p.m. the night before the wedding, the groom getting so drunk the night before his big day that he doesn't remember how he got the huge scratches on his face, half of the wedding guests showing up 15 minutes into the ceremony, finding out 30 minutes before the wedding that the bride decided she needed to run to Wal-Mart, discovering the groomsmen and groom drinking IN THE CHURCH before the wedding, and the list could go on, but I think you get the point. In the end they were married and things turned out nicely.  Here are a few pictures of things I helped do at the reception.  If you want more details feel free to ask.

One of the center pieces I made

Close up of the other center piece I made.

Candy Favor Table

Delicious Fruit Table

Guest Book Table

And that is the end of my pictures, I was too busy doing other things to snap any more.

The first part of this week was spent with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law in St. Louis for the ICRS convention.  (click ICRS to learn more about it).  Sara and I were there to help Jennifer out with whatever she needed.  It was so much fun to spend time together, and it reminded me just how blessed I am to have such wonderful in-laws.  God gave me one of the huge desires of my heart when He gave me Stinson's family!  Anyway, Sara and I met lots of authors, picked up way too many books, and even got ourselves into a little trouble with the ICRS police!  I think you may recognize the people in the picture with us.  

Well, I am off to work my way through my piles of new acquired books!