From a distance

My senior year I had the privilege of going to New York twice in three months. Once with my uncle as a graduation gift and another on my senior class trip. This gorgeous cathedral caught my eye both times. Here is the beautiful structure from a distance.   Oh how I wish I could go back to NYC soon! Newsies, one of my favorite movies, is going on Broadway and I would love to see it!

~Rachel

A Childhood Memory

So I was thinking... how happy Christmas makes me! It brings some of the greatest things together: the celebration of Christ's birth and the reminder of what He did for us, the joy of giving to others, and being surrounded by all my family.  When spurred by the topic of "Childhood Memory" from my sister's photography challenge I immediately thought of the angel that we put on our Christmas tree every year. This was a huge tradition for us. When we were little every year LB, Z and myself would all beg to be the one that would get to put the angel on top of the tree. It was fantastic getting to climb on top of our dad's shoulders and complete our lovely tree with the angel on top. We shared this responsibility, having to take turns, so my chance came around every three years. To this day I still get excited when topping off the tree with the same angel we have used for the past 27 years. I was excited when I went home for Thanksgiving because this was my chance to capture this great childhood memory. However, our tree did go up, but our lights have yet to adorn the tree and so the angel and ornaments were still boxed up when I left to return to my AU home. Realizing this fact mid-drive home I started to think what else was a great memory.

We all know how much Santa loves cookies and our crew should be credited for some of the lb's that Santa puts on on that all night flight. When we were little we would 'decorate' these cookies: well pour as many sprinkles on as we could before they were taken away from us. As we got older we started to be more meticulous in our decorating sessions. For the past 8 or so years when cookie decorating time commences LB and I pull out the rolling pin and our tweezers. (Yes I said tweezers, and yes I promised that they are clean!) We very carefully decorate our cookies to make them as real-life as possible. Here are a few pics from two years ago at our decorating session.

 Our cousin B, came up to join. I mentioned that we spend lots of family time, but 

did I mention it is because they live two houses down?

 Taking a try at Good St. Nick.

The sis, trying out icing instead of sprinkles, a new addition to our decorating session. 

Hope you are getting excited about celebrating the reason for the season with your family and childhood memories.
~Rachel

Someone I Love

So I was thinking...how blessed I am to grow up in a two parent home. Being surrounded by teaching and school systems my whole life, I am sadly realizing how common it is for children to come from a divorced home. My sister's photography challenge this week was: Someone You Love. I had many choices that I could choose from, however living two hours from family it was hard to take one this week, so I went to my albums to search for someone I love. Here is what I found:

This is my dad, taken on a mission trip that we went on together after my senior year in high school. For this challenge, we had a trailer that was tilted (visibly uneven) well with a lot of hard work we were able to completely level it and added some insulation siding on the bottom.

Pretty proud of our results!

But back to the topic, of someone I love. My dad is a pretty quiet person, well compared to my mom, sister and me who can talk enough for all of us; but when he talks, you listen and learn. There are many things that I have learned from this incredible person. 

1. Family is important. Be there for them in whatever way you can.

2. Follow the Lord, he will direct your path. Spend time in His Word and make sure your decisions and actions reflect this. 

3. Give with everything you have: your time, money, prayers, and love. My dad is one of the most giving people that I know. Giving most of his vacation days to go on mission trips and help out in literally WHATEVER needs to be done, he is the first one there and the last one to leave.

4. Do your best in everything, don't leave a project if you can do it better. (If you know me, this is where I get the perfectionist gene)

5. Love for the Auburn Tigers, War Eagle!

And so much more! 

I am continually shown how blessed I am and I am thankful to the Lord, my heavenly Father, who has blessed my family in the tough times and the celebration times, all glory and praise to Him. 

~Hope you are finding many things to be thankful for in this season of Thanksgiving. 

~Rachel 

Oh the places your go and the shoes that go too

So I was thinking...about Dr. Seuss's wonderful book Oh the Places You'll Go and it reminded me of my family. We are the kind that will drop everything, get in the car, drive through the night to make it to an event or special occasion. Ten hour drives are nothing for our crew. This past weekend was one of those memorable events however, the drive was a nice and quick two hour one.

Our destination: Atlanta

Event: Brother's(in-law) first and possibly last MARATHON!

Reason: to be his paparazzi and cheering squad. 

So Saturday morning I headed that way to the big city to meet up with the fam. My parents and III's parents were meeting us there for some weekend fun. Luckily for III he was able to sleep peacefully the night before because our beloved Auburn Tigers pulled out a victory. 

Race Day

Early Sunday morning we all rose and bundled up to go and face the 30 degree weather. We met Trey at mile 6 and he was looking at a champ!

High Fives all around!                                                                        Off he goes, 6 down, 20 more to go

Ugh, the first hill!

Our mission was not complete, so we hopped back in the van & navigated our way to mile 15, where he was still holding up strong. Impressive! We were very proud. We also met some friends along the way. 

Birthday marathoner





                  Star Wars Marathoner?
Yes, he ran the whole way with  the light saber!

He came and went. 15 miles down, 11 more to go. Back into the car we went, we were off to mile 21!

Mama G proud of her son! Everyone love LB's awesome sign!

 

LB cheering on III w/ my Forest Gump inspired sign.              LB waiting to spot III coming at mile 20. 

Look at his spirit, high-fiving the crowd!

The final stride to the finish line!

 Guys, I'm not moving from here!

 The lovely couple, LB checking on her man.

 Christmas card?!

 Marathon finisher!

We were so proud of III and his success in checking off a goal on his list! 

In other news, I was super excited when I was able to buy three pairs of shoes for only $36! That's $12 a piece, which is great for my teacher budget! These are a little summery, but at $9 I could not pass them up. Linking up for the sis's photography challenge!

~Rachel

Photography Challenge Time

So in the rush of getting ready this morning, I took the time to complete my photography challenge for the week: What I wore today. So here you go, brown dress, green sweater: the complete teacher look. What I like about this picture though is my vanity. It was my great grandmothers and after traveling around the family I finally ended up with it in my house, thanks to a great graduation gift from my sis!
Well, I'm off to mold young minds, till next time!
~Rachel

Family Memories

So I was thinking...how its the little things that remind me throughout the day how important family is.  I am blessed to have an amazing family, like I have mentioned before. Today, I have been thinking about my Peg Peg alot. Its not her birthday, or her favorite holiday, or the anniversary of her passing but she has been on my mind because of the small things in life that remind me of her everyday. Peg Peg was a passionate woman and a self-less person who taught us how important it is to give to others. I strive to be a giving person just like her everyday. My stroll down memory lane started today with a challenge from my sis's photography challenge. The challenge was to see things from a low angle. I thought I had my picture picked out early, a first for me lately, normally I am taking my camera to school the day of the challenge and snapping something I find there. However, while cleaning my vanity I found something that was a reminder of my Peg Peg's spirit and perfect for a low angle: an angle that looks up to the object just like I looked up to Peg Peg. Peg Peg loved jewelry and my PJ(her husband) loved to give her the things that she loved, so when she asked for something with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, & diamonds she got a ring with matching earrings. The tradition started when LB graduated HS Peg Peg turned one of the earrings into a ring for her, and the other was to be mine when I graduated four years later. However, shortly after Peg Peg was diagnosed with cancer and got to go see her Father in heaven a short six weeks later. I was able to get my special gift early as one of her keepsakes, and I thought it was the perfect object to look up to from a low angle. Hope you think so as well.

This ring is a little reminder of my Peg Peg that brightens my day, but I'm always surprised by the things that remind me of her: 

cooking eggs(always add milk, it makes them better), diet Pepsi, jewelry,  

Christmas time, StienMart, ginrummy, bows on presents 

just to name a few

~Rachel

Welcome to Hollywood

 So I was thinking...that school is about to start! I am working hard preparing a classroom for my little first graders. Here are the promised pictures from my classroom!

 View from my door

 Welcome to Hollywood: my backstage area, script writing station, and reading rehearsal loft

 A day in Hollywood would not be complete with PopCorn, or in my class's case, warm fuzzie holder.

 What will you be having for lunch today?

 Listening center sign

 Miles and miles of bulletin boards

Something that makes me smile...Open House is the 8th and I finally get to meet my students that I have been praying for all this summer. 

With only four days until I meet my students and six days until we start school, I am running around like crazy trying to make sure I am prepared. My nerves have been getting the better of me lately, but I am praying for a smooth transition into this next stage of my life. I hope you enjoyed my classroom tour, please keep my class and myself in your prayers for a great school year. I pray that I will be able to show God's glory each and every day to these children that He has blessed me with this year. 

~Miss Anderson