Going with the flow.

One of my life mottos: Go with the flow.

In student teaching, I have to just go with the flow. I have to be flexible. One thing at a time. I am human. I am not superwoman.

Most days I am wishing there were an extra two hours so I was able to get more accomplished. I finally don't feel completely far behind from what I need to do during student teaching. Things are slowly fitting into place. Mind you, I still have plenty of things I need to do on a regularly basis like grade papers, formulate tests/quizzes/rubrics/powerpoints and other odds and ends, I am at least trying to stay on top of planning for the coming weeks. I am doing this for my kids. Yes, they are MY kids. I have grown to become soo protective of them. Like a mother hen and her chicks. Sure, during the day, some of them drive me a little crazy with their random outbursts and side-conversations, but at the end of the day, I would still keep all of them.

Last Thursday, I participated in the Running Club with my students. Had such a fabulous time. I ended up walking with six of my students for about thirty minutes. I really enjoyed seeing them outside the classroom. On Friday, one of the students that participated in the Running Club with me raised her hand and said, "Ms. Griffin, I had fun yesterday with you in Running Club." That made me feel good :)

Life outside of student teaching is going well. Three weeks ago, my mother came to visit and we had a WONDERFUL time together relaxing and shopping. Last weekend, I went to visit Benjamin and we had a great time going to a football game and spending time together. This weekend, I worked the desk a bunch, worked on halloween decorations, worked on lesson plans, and slept. It has been very low key weekends, which is exactly what my body needs after long weeks at school.

Looking forward to another four-day week! I hope you have a great week as well.

Much love,
K

Lent Challenge: Day 44 (Maybe??)

O my goodness! I don't know what has happened! I didn't realize how long ago it was since I last posted something for Lent Challenge, well actually, posted anything at all! This calls for a MAJOR OOPS on my part. Sunday I will be able to post pictures up of what's been going on in my life. Unfortunately I haven't taken as many pictures as i would like. I go through these phases where I take alot of photos and then I don't take much at all. I could make this a super long post about what has happened in the last few weeks but I will try to focus on the main points:

1. My dad and older brother came to visit last weekend. It was great to be able to hang out with family!

2. This past week I had FOUR projects due. Got them all done and turned in on time!

3. The week before, I gave a speech in Public Speaking on BRAIN FREEZES. I will post my speech at a later time. My teacher said she never heard a speech on brain freezes and seemed to really enjoy it. Yayyy for hopefully an "A"!

4. This past week was my last full week of classes...EVER. (Until I go back for graduate school).

5. I FINALLY finished Girls Gone Wise. I will write a post about it later on (just realized I already sent the book home), but it is an AMAZING book.

6. Right now, I am reading The Case for Faith (Student Edition) by Lee Strobel and Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Both of them I have started before but never actually finished them entirely. I am hoping to get through them before my trip.

7. I have recently been a little "down in the dumps". I don't know what this negative attitude and thoughts are due to, but it needs to change ASAP. I am praying that God softens my heart to whatever it is that is causing this.

8. I go to Argentina in about THREE weeks. I don't feel completely prepared for it, but I don't think I will completely feel ready until I get there. So thankful for this opportunity!

I hope you are doing well. I hope you have had a chance to rest and enjoy God's love this week. Take time these next few days to really look at what God has done for you. For me. For everyone. What God has done through Jesus Christ.

Until next time,
K

Lent Challenge: Day 6 - Garen's 18th Birthday

Garen's 18th Birthday was this past Wednesday. I was fortunate enough to be on Spring Break and was home to celebrate with him and the family!

My dad and I got up early to go over to Garen's high school and paint the school rock:

Some of Garen's friends came over the night before his birthday and painted his car:

Garen requested a "cookie" cake for his birthday. Basically, I just made regular cookie dough, greased a baking sheet, evenly spread the cookie dough on the sheet, and baked it at its normal temperature. I think I shortened the bake time some, but I tried to stay in the kitchen until the edges were evenly browned (crunchy on the outer edges and chewy in the middle...best kind!)

I did have some "helpers" in the kitchen, while I was making the cookie cake:

James (cat) was "helping" me by repeatedly attacking my apron strings and clawing at my legs and Daisy (dog) was "helping" me by cleaning up the floor just in case I dropped any food ;)

I decorated Garen's cake using buttercream icing. The idea to draw a pair of "Ray Ban" sunglasses popped into my head randomly, and I decided to go with it. Garen loves his Ray Ban's! The black icing came out a little gray, but I wanted the icing to still have good flavor (the more dye, the less it tastes good). I used a gel food coloring for the lense part of the sunglasses. I am pretty satisified with how it turned out. It tasted good too!

I hope you had a great birthday, Garen. I love youuu!

Until next time,

K

Lent Challenge: Day 5 - Sunday Songs #6

For those who haven't been reading my blog for very long, click here to view my first Sunday Song Post.


This week I am dedicating my post to my wonderful, older brother, Adam.

Adam is older than me by 3 years, four months, and 6 days.We have been pretty close throughout my entire life.  In elementary school, we would ride the bus home together and then spend the rest of the time until our parents go home watching VH1. I spefically remember Adam and I switching off between who got to watch what during every thirty minute intervals. For example, I would get to choose what to watch from 3 until 3:30 and he would get to choose what to watch from 3:30 to 4. However, if the Top Ten Countdown or Pop-Up Video was on, then we would be sure to be watching it! During the summer of 1997, I remember watching the Top Ten Countdown with Aerosmith's "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" were in the race for the number one stop. I would always root for Celine's, but Aerosmith always go it. Love me some Celine :)

Another memory I have about Adam is car rides to school. From seventh grade until 9th grade, I rode to school with Adam. I LOVED his music selection. My favorite times were after school and we would ride home with the windows down with the music blaring. Good times.

Below are songs that remind me of Adam and the good times we have had:

Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down

Counting Crows - American Girls

Fastball - The Way

Goo Goo Dolls - Slide

Goo Goo Dolls - Iris

Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue

Until next time,

K

Lent Challenge: Day 3 - The Foxtrot

This past Tuesday, I went to a dance class with my brother, my daddy, and my friend, Garrett. We learned the FOXTROT!

Surprisingly, it is very simple and only has three, basic steps to it. I was going to post a video of the Foxtrot, but the only good ones I could find was from Dancing with the Stars, and let's just say, they don't make the dance look very basic. Haha.


In case you didn't already know, I love dancing. I think it so much fun, it is a great workout routine, and it is definitely a good date idea (**hint hint to all your fellas out there trying to impress the ladies!).

I would love to take dance classes to learn more of the basic steps of class dances (Waltz, Foxtrot, Shag, Swing, Salsa, etc). There is so much that can be done with dancing. There are no limitations. I wouldn't mind taking some class here in Charleston, but I stay so busy it is hard to find the time for it. Once I graduate, I hope to take dance classes regularly. It will be a fun past time and definitely a great way for me to de-stress after being with a bunch of adolescents all day!

Everytime I go dancing, there is ALWAYS one or two older couples there. I want to be that when I am old!! I want to still be active and dancing with my sweetie :) I guess now, I just need to find my sweet/dance partner. He is probably working on dancing to get ready for me. Haha.

Until next time,
K

There is a time to dance! (Eccles 3:4)

Wonderful Wednesdays #2

It's Wednesday! Which means it's two more days until the weekend. I realized as I'm writing this why it is soo important for me to have a positive outlook on Wednesdays.  Wednesdays are my longest days for school.  I go from 12 until 10 will a few small breaks. It's basically like being in high school again with an eight-hour day, but just starting later. "Wonderful Wednesdays" help me to not get overwhelmed with the thought of how long my day will be, but instead focus on the joys from the previous week.

This Wonderful Wednesday will be about MY WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

I had an amazing weekend! Why? Because I got to spend time with my family. I went home on Thursday evening after my class around 7 PM.  I had been planning this since Monday and had planned on surprising my mother. Now usually when I try to surprise her, somehow she always ends up finding out.  But this time it was kept a secret all week!

So when I got home, my mother was already in bed, but my dad woke her up and told her something was wrong with James (the newest pet addition to the family since December), so of course she gets up.  Of course there was nothing wrong with little James, so when she gets downstairs, I am there waiting for her. :) My mother is not one for holding in her excitement so she was overly zealous about seeing me.

This past weekend was just what I needed: a break from the routine of school life.

I got to relax. Sleep in my comfy bed. Watch television. Play with my Daisy dog. Shop. See my church family. Workout. Go Samba dancing. Spend time with my family.

That was the best part of the weekend: spending time with my family.

I love my family. I will admit that I have missed them these past few weeks. It really has only been a few weeks since I saw them last, but it seems much longer.  Since Adam moved back home, I don't get my weekly family hangout time anymore. I think that accounted for alot of the homesickness this past week.

But the weekend was just what I needed. I'm back in Charleston. Refreshed. Ready to continue on this week and face any of the challenges that each day brings.

Until next time,
K

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

Sunday Songs #2

Right now I am on Fall Break. Yayy!! I came home for the weekend, and it is so nice to get away for a little awhile. On Saturday, there was a Fall Festival at my church. I enjoyed seeing all my church friends as well as making/eating cotton candy. The weather could have not been any more perfect for the event!

Well, if you didn't read my last Sunday's post, I have started a new topic called "Sunday Songs".  Basically, I pull together a few songs I like and talk about them.  I am still working on the details of how everything should flow so stick with me!

I thought about making this week's topic a little special.  I know it's only the second week of doing a Sunday Song post, but I felt inspired.  Inspired by what or whom you may ask? MY LITTLE BROTHER.  Also known as Garen, Mr. G, or G-Dog.

I love my little brother. He is awesome.  If you don't know him, well, you should get to know him because he is that cool. There are so many little things he does that are hilarious to me. He is not one for talking on the phone, so I can always guess what he is going to say (which is usually one word responses).  He asked me if I wanted to get ice cream one time, and then expected me to pay.  He has a pet cat, Rosie, that he loves wayy too much. We enjoy wrestling from time to time (me, Garen, and Adam).  He is a good workout buddy.  He is a pretty tough cookie as well.  My older brother, Adam, finally admitted that if he and Garen really got into a fight, Adam would lose against Garen.

However, Garen has such a kind and caring heart.  At times, he will do something, and I will think to myself, "I can't believe this kid is 17 because he is acting so much more maturer!"  He really is a thoughtful person and has a growing heart and passion for the Lord.

Within the last year, Garen has been working on acquiring a new skill that many people may not know about: Piano Playing.  He started lessons this summer and has progressively gotten better.  It seems like every time I come home he has learned a new song.  When he first started playing, he seemed to play the same songs repetively.  I love it though! So, the following are some of the few songs that whenever I hear them, I think about Garen playing them:

1. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
2. Faithfully - Journey
3. Hey Jude - The Beatles
4. Let It Be - The Beatles
5. Titanic Theme Song
6. Fur Elise Beethoven

PS - Love you little bro! You are the greatest <3