2008

Ok so many of you know my feelings about New Years Eve. But in case you dont, let me refresh. I dont really like New Years Eve. I'm typically a really sentimental person and the end of a year usually makes me really sad. During the countdown to midnight I always get this anxious uneasy feeling. Like I dont want that year to end. I feel like I need to be doing something during that last 10 seconds. Something great, something GRAND. Something to make that year memorable. Well this time I feel... different today.

I can't WAIT for this year to end. It had ups and downs but Im ready for 2009! This year I realized I did a lot of great things even a lot of GRAND things. So I feel content leaving 2008 in my memory bank as I procede to 2009, the year I am forced to be an adult.

Some things that were accomplished in 2008

1. Lived in a different country
2. Traveled to another state (I have a goal to go to all 50)
3. Became a Delta Gamma Alum
4. 4.0 all semesters of 08
5. officially started my videography/production business with brother titled "Brother and I Productions" The website will be up soon :)
6. Became a lover of Iced Tea
7. Discovered a new appreciation for my love of hot tea by adding milk and sugar
8. Jumped in to all the fountains on Texas A&M's campus

9. Met some outstanding people

10. GRADUATED! WH08P!

I LOVE to travel and I did quite a bit this year

Florida


South Carolina

Illinois

Oklahoma

Scotland


London

Liverpool

York

Wales

Ireland

Egypt

Amsterdam


Prague

Galveston


Things to look forward to in 2009
1. Getting a real job (WAHOO!)
2. Start paying off my loans. Typically this wouldn't necessarily excite the average person but im anxious to pay these bad boys off
3. FINALLY doing a triathlon
4. Family reunion in June
5. New Orleans and Nashville trips
6. Chicago/New York for spring break
7. Taking piano lessons (hopefully)
8. Writing a book (im eventually going to do this)
9. Turning 23??? (how did that get here so fast?)
10. Moving out of Dallas (thats the plan as of now)


So looking back on this post 2008 was GRAND. 2009 has quite an act to follow. But I have faith in it. I think 09 can prove to be even better (even though I'm not traveling the world).
People came in to my life, became ever more present, and some unfortunately left (Grandma Cathy) in 2008 but the memories of 2008 will forever be filed in my personal memory filing cabinet.
2009, you ready? LETS GO!

Loose Cargo

I dont know who drives 70 on central expressway lugging styrofoam boxes with no tailgate that are not secured WHATSOEVER....oh wait. I do. My tire met the boxes' 6 faces as it slammed against my precious Berididita (03 Saturn Vue) at approximately 2 pm this afternoon. Not only did the driver not stop as my tire blew to shreds but he failed to return to clean up his mess as several cars were unable to avoid the styrofoam explosion that one could even mistake as a sudden and rampant snow storm. He probably had no idea. No idea that he would cost me $150 that I did NOT plan on spending nor do I have to spend.

So Berididita crawled and wobbled to the side street which thankfully landed us in Highland Park. We conveniently rolled to a stop on even ground in front of our new pal Bobby's house.

Bobby and his dog Mayo came to our rescue. Offering just as much knowledge as Elisa and me we all tackled the feat together.

Because of my looks they nominated me supervisor, to which I took offense. "Wouldn't want to mess up your manicure" To which I responded "Hand over that jack"

So indeed I did raise the jack......until Bobby told me I was going too slow and he took it back. 

I let him...he retired from the FC Dallas Soccer team in October...and then I just admired his calves :)

Photographer vs Videographer

Ok I know that the videographer is not the most important person on the wedding day. I dont demand a lot of time and I definitely dont waltz around like I own the place. In fact I try and stay out of peoples way. But guess what! I'm getting paid to be there too!

This is why videographers hate the photographers

Thank goodness brother was there with another camera with a different angle :)

22 and adorable

oh yeah. also this weekend in Austin we were video-ing a wedding. Well as the videographer I like to have a little fun and create fun skits with the wedding party. However I need to have a semi-quiet area to film to eliminate background noise on the tape. This church was beautiful but teeny tiny, and there was NO secluded area that we could film the wedding party interviews. So I am on a mission. I wander around the church looking for our prime location. Well the groomsmen basically were designated to change behind a wall. All were changed and I was wandering around back there (ligering if you will) scoping out that part of the church. There were lots of random doors so I am opening them in exploration. One was a closet full of printers (quiet but cramped and poorly lit) The other was like a janitor closet. Well I get to the third door and I open it no big deal. EXCEPT......

There may or may not have been a GROOMSMAN SITTING ON THE TOILET going number 2!!!!

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

ummmm.

heh(awkward laugh)

the other groomsmen have fallen off their chairs laughing. Almost in pain of laughing so hard.

and I LINGER. 

I cant shut the door fast enough. In fact I am frozen! I cant even move my arm. Its like my body was purposefully not functioning so that I could soak up as much embarrassment as possible. 

My jaw drops with my left hand on the door knob and my right hand covers my mouth. 

I burst into uncomfortable laughter and shake my head while saying "I am so sorry" over and over and over. 

It doesnt help that the groomsmen were asking me "Is he sitting?" "HAHA I bet he is sitting!"

"PLEASE TELL ME he was sitting" coming at me from different directions.

EVENTUALLY the signal is passed from my brain to my arm and I shut the door. Slowly I turn my body 90 degrees to the left and stare at the groomsmen in shock of what just happened.  Their faces are all scrunched up and red from laughter- water even secreting from their eyes. 

And that was the day I walked in on a groomsman (22 yrs old and adorable) going number 2.

Brother and I

Brother and I had some bonding time this weekend 

We went to Austin to video a wedding. I decided to stay at motel 6 in order to get the most profit from the wedding. NEVER again will I be staying at a motel 6. 

Thank goodness brother was there. 

It looks fine and dandy during the day. No big deal. So its not the nicest place I've ever stayed. I expected that. But past 10 pm it turns into Mexico's whore house. People partying, going in and out doors, slamming things, shouting mexican phrases right outside our room. 

SO we are terrified, eyes open, wide awake in our two separate double beds. Its 2 am and the phone rings! This next conversation takes place in a matter of 15 seconds.

"Alex! Should we answer the phone?"

"AHHH I dont know!!!"

"Alex! Answer the phone!"

"Ahhhhhh!"

"AHHHHHH!" I pull the covers over my head

"hello?" 

I peek around the sheet and all I can see is brother's facial expressions. and he looks confused.

"no im good"

"no i think you have the wrong number"

"No ma'am. Like I said. You have the wrong number"

brother hangs up and immediately starts laughing.

"What did they want?" I immediately question

"She was trying to .......talk dirty" 

"AHHHHH WHAT?" I sit straight up throwing the covers halfway across the room in the process

"She wanted to....have phone sex"

OMG. we are staying at a motel 6 in little mexico and the phone rings AT 2AM from a dirty hotline!

SO I made brother come sleep in my bed. He is my protector. :)

Dating Advice

just in case you wanted to know.....

Today, Gap makes my heart happy

Today I went to the mall and left with MORE money than I came in with. How does that happen?

First off, I managed to not buy anything. Something very rare for me. Especially because I needed some shopping therapy after this morning.

But last week I bought this super cute coat from Gap for $88. Today it was on sale for $20- something. I got a $59 price adjustment. SAWEEEEEEEET!!!

ALSO Shannon and I were walking around Nordstroms. In the midst of browsing the expensive section we see a mannequin in the aisle posed like this.

I don't know who stands like this. But we found it amusing.

The Graduate

I graduated on Saturday!
WH08P! (its an aggie thing)

WAHOOO!
.............right? isn't thats how Im supposed to feel?
Shouldn't I want to throw my cap and take off running?
Running until I can't run anymore? I have the world to make mine.
Shouldn't I feel exhilarated wanting to conquer anything and everything?


Why then do I feel....over-emotioned?
Its not that I don't feel anything. I think I am just feeling too many things to decipher any of them. So that is why I am going to go with the term "over-emotioned".
I feel excited, sad, sentimental, proud, not sentimental, scared, broke, uneasy, adventurous, complete, in complete, empty, satisfied, unsatisfied, hopeful.

GEEZ! After looking at those, most are negative. Thats expected right?

I sat in my cap and gown on the floor of Reed Arena Saturday waiting patiently for my name to be called and for that moment that I would officially graduate. I felt nervous/anxious. Kind of like how I feel on New Years Eve. Like I only have x amount of time left in 2008 I need to do something to make it grand. The same thing happened on Saturday. I thought to myself "I only have x amount of time as a college student! Hurry up and make the most of your remaining minutes!"
Guess what I did in my final minutes. I sat there. I sat there and did nothing. Because that is what you are supposed to do on graduation. I had 4 1/2 years to make college grand. I had 4 1/2 years to live laugh and love. I had 4 1/2 years to make memories and mistakes. I had 4 1/2 years to live life in transition mode. I had 4 1/2 years to learn everything I was supposed to, to prepare me for this moment.....and in my final minutes as a college student I did what I was supposed to do. Sit there.

I sat there looking at Texas A&M's seal (or crest or whatever it is) hanging front and center above the podium. I have looked at it a thousand times, but I saw it in a different light. Not only did I notice little things, like the vines on either side of the star are completely different, but that I felt pride. I felt proud to be graduating from Texas A&M University. No longer was I proud to be a fightin' Texas Aggie class of 2008....I was proud to now be a member of The Association of Former Students, the greatest network of alumni in the world! :)

So I sat there in my last few minutes as a college student anxiously sitting patiently with only my thoughts to entertain me. Memories starting freshman year played like a movie trailer on speed. I covered the most memorable events from years 18-22 in about 5 minutes flat.

So now what? I crossed that stage. The line between irresponsible adult and responsible adult. And now I don't know what to do or feel. Seriously, they should set up some exit counseling or something!
I have been thrown into this world like I've been pushed off a moving train. Stumbling to my feet and trying to catch my breath. What if I wasn't ready for it? Ok? I need a "one, two, three, JUMP!" NOT a shove without warning!
I guess you could say that my whole college career has been baby steps toward the inevitable. But ever since England I feel like my life has been stuck in fast forward! I needed time to catch my breath.
That is why I think I feel so "over-emotioned"

What's next? I'll update you once I figure that out....
One thing is for sure, I'm getting the heck out of Dallas!

Taylor Swift

I always kinda liked Taylor Swift. She was alright... To "radio" for me but if I listened to the radio, I guess you could say her music sounded pleasant. Her curly hair is cute despite the fact I think she looks like a cat. A little too skinny, but she's adorable in her dresses and cowboy boots. Because if I were to be a famous musician, I think that would be my style. I mean..my name is Taylor. There must be something about the name :)

Well I bought her new cd "Fearless" and now I'm obsessed with it. I am feeling every emotion on almost every track on the record. There are songs where the meanings are completely opposite of each other.  So basically.....that makes me a big ball of confusing mess of emotions.  

Sometimes I just want to hug her and say "Girl...I getcha!" Other times I want to rock out with her. But moral of the story I want to be her friend. She is writing the script of my life at the moment. Ps. she DOES write all her songs.  But here is a snipet of her album booklet of why she chose to name her album "Fearless"

This album is called “FEARLESS”, and I guess I’d like to clarify why we chose that as the title. To me, “FEARLESS”is not the absence of fear. It’s not
being completely unafraid. To me, FEARLESSis having fears. FEARLESSis having doubts. Lots of them. To me, FEARLESSis living in spite of
those things that scare you to death. FEARLESSis falling madly in love again, even though you’ve been hurt before. FEARLESSis walking into your
freshmen year of high school at fifteen. FEARLESSis getting back up and fighting for what you want over and over again...even though every time you’ve tried
before, you’ve lost. It’s FEARLESSto have faith that someday things will change. FEARLESSis having the courage to say goodbye to someone who only
hurts you, even if you can’t breathe without them. I think it’s FEARLESSto fall for your best friend, even though he’s in love with someone else. And when someone
apologizes to you enough times for things they’ll never stop doing, I think it’s FEARLESSto stop believing them. It’s FEARLESSto say “you’re NOT sorry”,
and walk away. I think loving someone despite what people think is FEARLESS. I think allowing yourself to cry on the bathroom floor is FEARLESS.
Letting go is FEARLESS. Then, moving on and being alright...That’s FEARLESStoo. But no matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in
it. You have to believe in love stories and prince charmings and happily ever after. That’s why I write these songs. Because I think love is FEARLESS.



deep huh?

A Reason to Love

The weekend in Galveston with my girls is JUST what I needed! I'm glad to be back!

ouchie waa waa

Traveling with a cold hurts!

I got a cold the last week I was in England. I have never traveled on an airplane with a cold before..but I can tell you one thing....DON'T!

It was the most excruciating pain! The pressures on the plane played games with my ears the whole time. I couldn't get my right ear to pop! I did everything in my power to alleviate the pain. 

I just wanted to scream!

Dont worry my right ear still hasn't recovered. I feel like I'm on Charlie Brown and everyone is talking in muffle. Including myself. Ouchie Waa Waa!!!!

Thanks students...

Home!

So my 3 months abroad has come to an end. I am officially home. The trip back took forever. Layovers and plane delays consumed my day on the busiest travel day of the holiday weekend, but I made it out alive. Thank the Lord. Really.

After leaving the gate in New Jersey our plane started having mechanical problems and we returned to the gate for maintenance to take a look. Fumes started to fill the cabin and we had to evacuate immediately. Then by the time that excitement settled down we had to get an entire new crew because the one we had became "illegal" because they had worked too many hours that week.  So we made it to Dallas just shy of 24 hours after we began our travels the morning before. 

Now my blog posts are going to go back boring. The most exciting thing that happened to me today was that I drove a car for the first time in 3 months. That felt......the exact same. There was only one point in the mall parking garage when I had to double check what side to drive on. Other than that....I figured it out quite easily. 

umm lets see. what else happened.

I got my hair done. VERY pleased. I got highlights and a cut. Refreshed

I saw my best friend in the whole wide world and she let me workout at her gym that she manages for free.

I slept in

I went to On the Border for MEXICAN food with my dad, my best friend and her dad. Tastes just as great as I remembered it. 

I know I know. Its no camel riding by the pyramids or Scottish man flashing us under his kilt, but I might be able to come up with an interesting story every now and then. I don't know....we will see. 

Thanksgiving

Never ever EVER have I wanted to teleport myself back to America more than right now!

Thanksgiving is my absolute FAVORITE holiday and I am in a country that is the reason we even have a Thanksgiving! If it wasn't for these crazy Brits the pilgrims wouldn't have wanted to leave, which means they wouldn't have landed in America and needed to give thanks to the Indians for a successful harvest so they could survive the winter (the second time around). Oh the irony.

I yearn to be home with family. To smell the array of foods being cooked. To be re taught how to make the green beans (you'd think I would have it down by now) To work on a puzzle with my cousins in the back room. To munch on M&M's all day that some how still doesn't spoil my appetite. To load my plate with mashed potatoes because we only get the "good kind" once a year! To watch the Cowboys game in their throwback uniform and the lonestar showdown the next day. Go Aggies! Then of course it wouldn't be complete without a game of football outside with the family afterwards. It is very difficult to explain the importance and obsession of "american football" to these "soccer" fans. They don't understand how great of a sport it is!
I yearn to eat my grandmothers double fudge cookies and even to have some pumpkin pie. I have never wanted pumpkin pie before until now! I think it's the whole, "want what you cant have" idea.

I just want to be home on my favorite holiday......

Now I have to wait a whole YEAR before it comes again :(

But since I am obsessed with the holiday I thought I'd share some interesting facts about this joyful season

1. Abraham Lincoln was the one who declared the final Thursday in November to be a national day of Thanksgiving over 200 years later

2. Congress didn't make it a national holiday until 1941

3. Minnesota is the top turkey producing state

4. In 1939 Franklin Roosevelt changed thanksgiving to the 3rd Thursday of November to make the holiday shopping season longer which in turn would stimulate the economy

5. Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States


And this thanksgiving, I am thankful......to be AMERICAN

Fairness

“Fairness means everyone gets what they need, not everyone gets the same treatment.”

- Lawrence Colberg


I like this quote and plan to use it in my classroom. I also think it applies to other aspects of life.

He has called and I have come

I don’t really like to share too much of my personal life through my blog. I include just enough to give you a pretty good idea on who I am but a lot of things are personal and should be kept that way. However I am making ONE exception because I feel like you need to know the whole of it in order to understand this post.

I came to England thinking I knew what was up. That I had everything set. I was going to graduate, get a job and more than likely marry that kid that stuck around for so many years :) I was comfortable and I’ll be the first to admit that my spiritual life was at its lowest in years.
God had a different plan. He moved me miles away from home, took away any means of support from family and friends, made communication back home difficult with limited internet and expensive phone charges, terminated my relationship, drove a cement wall between a long-standing friendship, tested my professionalism, added some drama mammas to spice things up and even threw in a death in the family (my grandmother last Friday).
God does it not matter to you that I was PERFECTLY happy before?!? No. And I’ll tell you why. Because what I think of as “happy” doesn’t even compare to what God has for me. Not even on the same page. So I mosey on to England acting like I owned the place and here God comes along to knock me down a few pegs. Shake things up a bit.
Because honestly he’s been screaming at me for a while now. How else was he going to get my attention? Take away “everything” so that all I have is to rely on Him! To find comfort in Him! To find support in Him!

And His plan worked…psh! Of course it did!

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5

And even though things look miserable from the outside. I'm happy. Because the sequence of events needed to happen for me to get it. to understand my path was selfish.


But I find something so interesting. Before I left I prayed for my mentor teacher and my students. And the funny thing is, those two things have been my saving graces. My only point of sanity. All my worries go away and I am completely happy. Prayers are answered :) Thanks God :)

A Reason to Love

Why I love my job!
The other class pictures are yet to come. :)

SNOW!

IT SNOWED IN WINDERMERE!

Waterloo

England has a national charity and annually raise money for children in need. Schools, organizations and work places all over the country put on fundraisers for it every year. Friday my students put on our fundraiser in the form of a talent show. It was a movie mimic and each 6th, 7th and 8th grade homeroom put on their own performance to be judged. Well the teachers had a surprise performance following the last act. Mamma Mia, Waterloo. I immediately volunteered but quickly regretted it. I got SO nervous. Like almost kind of nauseous. My palms were sweating, my heart racing! I'm not used to this. I haven't been on the stage since high school and now I am about to visit the invigorating pulse of adrenaline and make a complete FOOL of myself on stage in front of the whole school and staff.
Sounds like no big deal right. NO! The thing is my school includes high school. So when we are performing in front of the whole school that means I am performing in front of HIGH schoolers. I'll be the first to admit....SCARY! Those kids are intimidating! Which is why I am a MIDDLE school teacher. I can only handle 11, 12 yrs max.

So anyway the curtains are closed and the music starts too early! I do NOT do well with improvising. I was on a precision drill team. The curtains open late and the first thing I see are my adorable students sitting first row smiling back at me cheering me on. All of a sudden like Super Hero Taylor came out. A second personality in a way. I am always fun and crazy but can be shy in situations like this. I dreamt I would just stand there laughing not being able to sing and dance. NOPE the complete opposite. I was able to hold a straight face and MAN did I get into it. I don't know where this burst of energy came from but I think it had to do with my students first row :) Apparently, I was the cheesiest one up there. But oh well my students said things like "Ms Terry you ROCK!"
After coming off the stage we were chanted to come up there and do it again. Which of course made me happy.
But the best part of it all was my precious students. They did Hairspray and won first place! I am so proud of them!

10 days

I don't think it is a secret to most of my avid blog followers and closest friends and family that my experience over here hasn't been smooth sailing like we would have hoped. Rough waters has created waves in many areas of my life during these past three months that I hope no one would have to dive into. I have 10 days left to soak up the incredible scenery and life as an independent international traveler and make the most of it.

I have learned so much this semester, many things were unexpected.

1. My students. Kids are kids, no matter where they live. Even in this "posh" private school, they still don't listen, don't turn in their homework on time, are late to class, giggle during the lesson etc. Spending this time with my students everyday has brought clarity to my career and I am thankful for it.

2. My role as a teacher, professionally and inspirationally. I have never felt so prepared and confident that this is my purpose.

3. My trust. There is much beauty in trust and although my unconditional trust is scary, I'm not afraid to keep trusting :)

4. My faith. I found myself turning to God during hard times of homesickness and other situations that created doubt and fear. While these things made me stronger, my faith has carried me through.

5. My forgiveness. Who am I to not forgive, when I have been forgiven? Colossians 3:13

6. Me. I have learned so much about me. I am about to start a new life adventure when I get back and I feel like I'm standing on solid ground. Without these three months of memories and exploration I don't think I would have been able to say that. I can tackle transportation systems in major cities of different (language) countries on my own. I can travel to Egypt and survive the hasslers trying to sell you stuff (its a feat!) I can navigate my way around the UK, Europe (maybe Egypt, but I don't really want to) on my own. I can move to a new school and professionally find my place and offer ideas and input to my colleagues.

7. But most importantly I have learned to cherish the small things in life that make me happy. For example, autumn, my favorite season. I will NEVER find an autumn that compares to the colors of Windermere. The cups of hot chocolate that I found in Wales that are to DIE for. I had two. Warm tea during morning break. I look forward to 11:00 am because I know I can go to the staff room and relax for 20 minutes, just me and my cute little tea cup. Men in scarfs. Men in scarfs make me smile. Thanksgiving. Mexican food (is it bad that a lot of my examples involve food). My students in their white scientist lab coats and googles. Long-standing friendships. wintery smelling candles. Dancing and singing with my students to High School Musical. Videographing. A fresh, new, unwatched episode of Gossip Girl...just to name a few.

So overall, my time in England was time well spent. :)

only 10 DAYS till I'm STATE SIDE! WHOOP!

A Reason to love

If I could have this cup of hot chocolate every day for the rest of my life...I would be the happiest person alive. I promise.

Happy Birthday Shannon!

Fast friends. I'm lucky to have you.
Happy 22! and good luck on the ring dunk? (if that's still the plan)



love you! Can't wait to see you soon!

There once was a bouncer named the cell membrane

We have moved on from parts of the microscopes and are now looking through them. Onion cells and cheek cells are much more interesting. After looking at some slides we began talking about the cell itself and what it is made up of.
Cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplats....any of it ring a bell?

Me: "Ok class, I want you to draw a circle like this on your notes" I go on to draw a cirlce on the board.
"This is called the cell membrane. Have you heard of that word before?"

The class responded with yes and no answers.
Me: "ok lets all say it together. Cell membrane."

class: "cell membrane"

Me: "Raise your hand if you can tell me what the cell membrane does."

Kevin: "It holds the cell together."

Me: "Im looking for something else." I search the room for other hands. "Ok it's new information so I will just tell you. The cell membrane controls what goes in and out of a cell."

I got blank stares. I thought to myself...QUICK! hurry up and come up with an example that relates. umm. ummm. ummmmmm.

"s-sssorta like a bouncer!" I blurted out! without thinking like word vomit. then looked around the room in shock that it actually came out of my mouth and then I silently mouthed to myself "what?"

Class: "AHHHHHH! yeah like a bouncer!!"

I hestiantly go on with my example. They seemed to be getting it.
Me: "Right! just like a bouncer stands at the door of a club and allows some people to go in and tells you 12 year olds you can't go in, the cell membrane does the same!"

The class responded in excitement and I swear the room got brighter with all the lightbulbs that switched on in their tiny little heads.

John: "So what does it allow in and out?"

Me: "well it allows nutrients in and waste to go out"

John: "So does it allow the illegal immigrants in?"

He asked in the most serious face possible. The class and I bursted our smiles into a full blown laughter and he kept his face as straight as possible. As a teacher I didnt know how to respond. Was he for real? If so I can't publicly laugh at his question! The laughter went on and he didnt crack a smile. Then the laughter reached an awkward lull.

Me: "Umm, what do you mean John?"
John: "I mean does it allow the waste to pass freely in and out or are their restrictions?"

..........ummmmmmmmmm....what do I do?!? The class is busting out laughing and my student just made a stereotypical racists comment. double you-tee-eff?

Me: "well there will be no illegal immigrants passing to and from a cell. Infact there will be no people at all, because cells are microscopic and we need a microscope to see them"

That shut him up.

So lets recap on Taylor's teaching strategies
1. I make them wear their lab coats when we aren't doing practical work
2. I make them sing and dance to High School Musical around the room.
3. I said the word "knobbie" when referring to the focusing knob on the microscope which really means penis.
4. I compare the cell membrane to a BOUNCER!

uh............

Philippians 4: 4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


...and i'm workin on it.

"Did you just Waldorf her a**?"

For those of you Gossip Girl fans, I am coining a new term.
Blair Waldorf is a teenage popular Queen Bee in the Upper East side of Manhattan on the show Gossip Girl. I love Blair not only because she is beautiful but because she pulls out moves that none of us would even consider doing. She is our inner b*tch. But when it comes to her friends, its time to get down to business. She usually plans conniving attacks to humiliate the person at fault, kill them with her death stare or just simply sends them to shambles with her quick, witty and oh so articulate comebacks and lectures.

We all wish we could stick up for ourselves at some point or another but we all know nothing would be as effective if we didn't do it Waldorf style.

So giving someone a piece of your mind= you just "waldorfed"

For example.
"Man that girl was giving me looks, so I just waldorfed her ass"

"GRR, this person is irritating me, I can't wait to pull a waldorf"

OR
when your ex boyfriend is completely incompetent as a human being and needs setting straight
"yeah my best friend just waldorfed his ass!"

Thanks Danielle.

How to do Just About Everything

I was given this book to look at in the staff room and found my self seriously addicted to it. It even says on the cover "this book is seriously addictive". It is a How to Book on basically any and every topic you can imagine. Example. How to plant a lawn, replace a light switch, prevent show odor, add vegetables to your diet, find out if you are pregnant, brush your teeth, write a love letter, cancel a date, the list goes on and on.

So I was caught up on the "How to kiss on a date". I thought I'd share, just incase you dont know, verbatim the book's directions.

How to Kiss on a Date
1. Look for positive body language, such as eye contact, uncrossed arms and head tilted towards you.
2. Do it. Waiting just makes it awkward.
3. Maintain eye contact as you close in. Try not to close your eyes until after making lip contact.
4. Tilt your head slightly to one side to avoid bumping noses
5. Press your lips gently against your date's. Try not to suck his or her breath away just yet.
6. Release. Look into your date's eyes. If he or she isn't look back at you the same way, then you probably shouldn't continue.
7. Kiss your date again. There's more flexibility to this kiss.
8. Explore- softly kiss your date's neck, ears and eyelashes. By this time you'll never have a better feel for how and where to kiss your date.



HOLD ON! EYELASHES??? I could see that potentially being the most AWKWARD unromantic move any guy could make!!! I would think to myself "is he?.....oh. what....is he...KISSING my EYELASHES?!?!
Did I just miss the boat on having my eyelashes kissed? Is it secretly the most attractive move that no one filled me in on..or is everyone on agree-ance that the EYELASHES are one of the last places to kiss. I could see someone going in for it and then I accidentally open my eye (because I can't see he is about to KISS MY EYELASH) and then he instead kisses straight on my eyeball which in turn ruins the night and a possible chance for a second date. No one wants that.
So guys, to avoid the feeling and humiliating thoughts that will play on repeat for the next week "Did I really go in to kiss her eyelash?" Yep! you did! My advice- stay clear of the eyelash.
Not once in my 7 year long relationship did I think to myself. "Man, he would be so dreamy if he would just kiss my eyelash"

High School Musical 3

Ok. It's official. I think I could very well be the biggest 22 year old loser on our good planet Earth. As many of you know I am an avid High School Musical fan partly because I wish my life was a musical and because I secretly want to be Gabriella and dance around with Troy (Zac Efron) the fictional high school male that Disney created that doesn't exist, nor will he ever exist.
With the negative conotations attached to a 22 year old liking High School Musical, I will let you know that my obsession has helped in my career believe it or not. My knowledge of the songs and embarrassing iTunes library to prove it has actually boosted my reputation as a teacher and even helped establish a relaxed and trusting relationship with my students. Because my students liked the new HSM motion picture and continued raving about it, the suspense heightened to a level that couldn't wait. I HAD to see it.

So after casually suggesting it to the roommates, I was quickly shot down resulting in a quiet evening by myself at the movies. Honestly I was kind of excited about it! Time to myself is treasured and a rare gem in our tiny, thin walled, cramped cottage. So I put on my new jacket, bundled up in my scarf and gloves and set off on my peaceful walk down to the cinema. The air was a cool crisp, something we never experience in Texas.

I got to the theatre, purchased my 10 dollar ticket and made my way to the "concession stand". I chose salty popcorn over sweet. Yes they have a choice. A decision I soon regretted but then fixed with the addition of peanut M&Ms. YUM! I trotted myself up the steps of the tiny local cinema into a door with no label. I entered the theatre to find it completely empty with the drumming of video production noises in the background. The screen looked like a puppet stage. Curtain and all. I turned around in confusion. It's a Friday night!!! Where are all the 9 year old children? In doing so I almost ran smack into a 30 year old male.

"Have you come to enjoy High School Musical alone?" in a male British accent

I look around from side to side "Yep! Looks as though!"

"Right. Then I'll go put it on for you"

YES! I am at a movie alone on a Friday night AND ITS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL!!!! I have reached a new low.
Well it didn't faze me. I continued to eat my popcorn mix alone in the theatre. I thought my embarrassment and humiliation was going to make it unseen until 3 minutes in to the previews. Two teenage girls walk in. About 16 or 17.

They stop dead in their tracks. "Ms Terry? Is that you?!?!?!
Crap! I've been spotted. I sunk further in my chair.
"Yes?" I debated whether or not to admit it.
"Cool" They walked to their seats directly two rows in front of me.
Phew! I was in the clear. No more embarrassing confrontation.
EXCEPT I don't doubt that they will go back to the 6th formers (junior/seniors in high school) and tell them they spotted Ms Terry, the American teacher at HSM3 by HERSELF on a Friday evening.

A reason to love

I love my friends. They are my pulse, and the cement that keeps me together. I am blessed to have them.

Autumn over Windermere

Why I love Autumn

Microscopes and Knobs

So today my adorable children come to me with bright and smiling faces ready for another Science lesson. Today we are learning about microscopes.
So I go to the back of the room and pick up a box and bring it back to the front.
I said "What have we been talking about these past couple of lessons?"

"Living and Non living" the class responded in unison

"So what does this box have anything to do with that?"

"Ms TERRY!!!!! is there an animal in the box?!?" Charlotte asked intrigued
With that the kids back away from the box as if it were a contagious disease.

"I don't know. What do you think is in the box?"

"Something living!" someone shouted from the back of the room.
"Jars with non living things that were once living!" I heard from the left.

At this point I HAD to play with them. They really set themselves up for it. The box just contained the microscope but this opportunity was too good to pass up.

I walked to the desk pretending that I almost dropped the box due to a sudden shift of weight uncontrollable by me within the box. The children screamed due to the unexpectedness and probability that their guesses could actually be correct. I set the box on the front lab table where all the kids could see.

"I don't know. It feels as if something is moving in there! Charlotte, girls..feel the box. Is it moving?"
7 tiny hands reached for the box
"Yeah? Yeah. Yeah! I think it is!!!!" the girls responded.

I tried to hold back my sudden burst of laughter and I did a decent job with the only result being a mischievous smile on my face.

"I don't know. Lets take a look" I opened the box as if I was trying to shield the creature from making a mad dash for it. "I have to corner it first to get a good handle on it" The kids are peeking around at this point, curious as to what I have captured in my box.

I screamed when I whipped out this microscoped and they children did too! AHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA they wanted to hit me. They were legitimately scared. Am I mean? Forcing them to wear lab coats and pretending live animals are in a box about to pop out at them? Yes.

Ok but then we go on and discuss the parts of the microscope. Being the goofy person I am I point to the focusing knobs and ask
"So what do these little knobbies do?"
The class bursts in to laughter
"Whats so funny?" No one responds.
"Ok back on task. What about these knobs?"
They could NOT hold themselves together. Ms. Heron my awesome cooperating teacher interrupts "Ms Terry, you know knob is a dirty word right?"
"No! Omgosh! What is it?" I say in disappointment that my students are more hip on the times than I am.
"It means penis"
BAHAHHAHAAH the class is rolling on the floor.
Yeah so I said knobby and they thought little penis.
"Ok class get it out of your system...Let's all say penis"
"Penis" they responded in unison.

"Ok now say focusing knob" They couldn't do it without laughing. I told them I would award them a merit for the first person who could say focusing knob without laughing. It was an impossible feat. Finally little Alex was able to hold a straight face which then quieted the laughing fit for the time.

Then I went on with instruction and set myself up for more failure unintentionally.
"Ok so what I want you to do is play with the knob and see how far down it goes before it hits" (hits the slide on the stage of the microscope)
My little 6th graders have dirty DIIIIIIIRTY minds.
Anyway it made for another fun and interesting day with my students that I absolutely adore. I love teaching :)

Many the Miles

"There's too many things I haven't done yet.
Too many sunsets,
I haven't seen.

You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down,
You would've thought by now I would've learned something"

I made up my mind when I was a young girl,
I've been given this one world,
I won't worry it away"

Sara Bareilles
Many the Miles

Proverbs 29:25

For the next two weeks Laura and I will be gallivanting the world popping from one place to the other searching for fun and independence. As excited as I am I can't help but feel a little nervous treading in unknown waters. We are traveling outside English speaking countries and naturally I'm nervous about the language barrier and how to handle scary situations. I found comfort in this verse.

"The fear of man will prove to be a snare: but those who trust in the Lord shall be safe. "

Why should I fear the man who can do no eternal harm?

So for the next two weeks please pray for safe and smooth travel and all that encompasses. period. And get ready for some exciting blog posts with pictures. Because we are going to have the TIME OF OUR LIVES!!

Our itinerary
Sat- Sun EGYPT
Mon- Wed AMSTERDAM
Wed-Sat PRAGUE

Best School Day...EVER!!

Yesterday was one of my favorite days at school. My school is part of a program called Round Square. This is a separate department within the school that plans activities for the students that include the 5 IDEALS (Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership, Service). For the whole day, my 6th graders got to go on a field trip. Although, this school is so activity oriented that they don't have to go through the same procedures of permission slips and what not. It is pretty much assumed that if you allow your child to go to this school you are giving permission to do fun activities all over. I didnt even know my students were expected to be out for Round Square until two days before!

Anyway, Laura and I tagged along as 2 of four chaperones on this trip. We strapped on our "wellies" and put on our waterproofs" eager and ready for this adventure and it was pretty magnificent. Yeah we just went on a field trip...hiking up a mountain, overlooking the most incredible view of the lake with the mountains behind it, and the leaves turning colors....no big deal.

We first went to this Footprint Building, made out of all renewable, recycled and local resources called the "Footprint" for two reasons. It is shaped like a footprint, but also to remind us about our own carbon footprint on the environment. The children were able to think about their effect on the environment as well as the residents of Windermere. They did a field sketch on top of the mountain of the lakes and I was just taken back. This is what they get to look at everyday. This beautiful, wonder of God! Ugh...Im so jealous! It will be hard to go back to Texas :(

Then they were broken up into groups and participated in a mock city council meeting debating the construction of a train station through Windermere. Each group acted as a different population of Windermere (farmers, tourists, families, celebrities, the elderly) and voted according to what their character would. SO FUN and SO good for them! It really got them thinking about the issues and how to deal with them democratically!

After lunch we went on an adventure tour of the forest where we pulled tiny Beech Tree sprigs from the ground before they get big enough to chop due to overpopulation in the area. Too many Beech Trees reduce the amount of Oak Trees in the area because of their expansive leafs and quick growth rate, leaving fewer Oak Trees and the habitats and insects that come with them.

Then we got our hands dirty and created little habitats out of logs, leaves, twigs, brush, fern...anything and everything. This was a lot of fun and I was working with the perfectionistas who wanted to cover all the holes with mud and leaves, create a veranda, and make a door out of bark.

I love being at a Round Square School where they encourage outside the classroom learning and stopping for a day to do something completely different.
Overall, GREAT DAY!

(Cutest little Sam after pulling out his Beech twigs)

Also today
-our students found out our first names because Laura and I have a hard time calling each other "Ms. Terry and Ms. Anderson" (whoops)
- I answered more questions about America, than I think I ever will
- they think obese people are as common as Mc Donalds
- Brook asked out Emily
- Emily asked Ben to the ball that is in DECEMBER
- the other Emily wants to ask Matt to the ball
- and Ben wants to marry me

Happy Birthday Jessica and Elise

Two of my best friends have birthdays 10 days apart. I will be out of town on Elise's birthday so this post is dedicated to the both of them, even though it is Jessica's birthday today.
Cheers to turning 23 and 9 years of blessed friendship.

Love you Boops....