Introducing...

As summer comes to a close, it is time for another update. This time I get to announce a new addition to our family. The picture below shows little Giroux Watson. He is our new 5-month-old Siberian Husky. He is a wonderful, mild-tempered, smart puppy. We love him so much already, and he has quickly jumped into the hearts of our family too. He has even learned to do his business outside and to sit! If you haven't met him, you SHOULD come meet him! 

In addition to getting the home ready for the dog, I have been getting the classroom ready for the students! Ah! They come tomorrow, and I am filled with nervous excitement! I know most of my students pretty well already, and I am so pleased with the class I have been dealt. I'm sure there will be millions of fun updates with stories from my little cherubs. Stay tuned....

Now the sad news, I currently know 3 wonderful, wonderful, fabulous women who are battling cancer. I learned of their battles over the summer, which is a LOT of bad news. The good news is they all believe in a God who is sovereign. I am praying for their healing and peace. Please join me in praying for that as well. 

Until next time....

Movin' On Up

Things move fast in the Watson household.

In my last post, I introduced you to our new house, which is quickly becoming a home. In this update I introduce you to our new car.

We traded Mike’s skateboard Saturn in on this beautiful Chevy Cruze. We absolutely LOVE it! It gets great gas mileage and runs like a gem.

Memorial Day came. It was a 4-day weekend for both of us, but it sure seemed short. We enjoyed a birthday party, four BBQs, and a wonderful parade in Yardley. Between spending time with Grandmom and Grandpop and enjoying some relaxing time with friends, the weekend turned out to be quite nice.

We got a few things for the house over the Memorial Day weekend. My favorite is our new doormat. It makes me feel like I'm really arriving at home, before I even open the door.

In other news, I only have a week and 1 day of school left. That’s right, I’ve almost made it through my first year! Although I’m sure 5^th grade will come with its own challenges next year, I am excited that my first-year jitters are under my belt. I’m ready for a homeroom of my own and a classroom to make as Louisiana as I please! Don’t worry, I’ve already picked out some very Cajun/redneck additions!

Lastly, I painted a little masterpiece yesterday. Here is my newest creation:

That’s all for now. Geaux and be merry in the Lord, y’all!

The Holidays.

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays.

Now that I no longer live in the Bible belt of the conservative, southern states, I have seen “Happy Holidays” from a new light. Teaching at a school with a large Jewish population (students and teachers) has made me realize that people didn’t just start saying “Happy Holidays” to be politically correct. It is a form of respect and understanding.

One of my students practices extremely orthodox Jewish beliefs. His mother did not want him exposed to Christmas at school. She said that religion is not a school matter; it is a home matter. Despite my very conservative, Christian views, I agree with her point of view. If my child was the student of a Jewish teacher, I would not want her to expose him/her to the traditions of Hanukkah before I explained religious differences in my home. It is the job of the parents to raise and direct their children in the way of the Lord.

I’m sure many of you are thinking that, as a Christian, I should want to show my students the love of the Lord, no matter what their beliefs. That is true, and it is needed in more places in this world that only school. I am 100% dedicated to glorifying God in my career. However, I think that I can show my faith in the one true God without shoving Christmas trees, red bows, and reindeer down my students’ throats. I think it is more important to show them the love, compassion, and faithfulness that the Father intended for us to exhibit as His children and heirs to the throne.

It’s not about “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” It’s about a JOY that Jesus brings that shines through the holidays, the regular days, and all the time.  

Life.

Thanksgiving came and went with no post. I thought about writing some long, detailed explanations of the many things for which I am thankful this year. The truth is, if you’re enjoying life along the way (which has been my focus in this blog), everything is a blessing. Instead of a list of all those blessings, I will give you an update on what is going on in the Watson household.

I have jumped into a new class. The Cambridge School has a wonderful 4^th grade teacher who is going out on maternity leave in January. I have been chosen to try to fill her shoes. I am extremely excited to take on the challenge, but I am also nervous. As I said, Mary is a fantastic teacher, and I absolutely do not want her students to be dealt a disservice by inheriting me in her absence. Pray that God leads me in attitude, patience, creativity, and heart over the next few months as I learn the 4^th grade routines and become an integral part in executing them.

In other Cambridge news, my very favorite student is planning to transition into a new school soon. Keep my heart in your prayers, because I am seriously going to miss this kid.

In addition to some new beginnings at school, Mike and I are planning to open some new doors in our marriage. We are looking into purchasing a home within the next three or so months. Though we love our little rental condo, we think it is more logical in the long run for us to go ahead and buy now. Of course, it has made us much more aware of our future as a couple. We have had to already think about a school district for our children who do not exist yet. It’s kind of weird, but also very exciting. We are trusting God to open the door to the right home and provide stepping stones for us to follow to that door. So far, He has provided us with an excellent realtor and loan officer, who have both been very involved, understanding, and helpful.

It has been a while since I shared a prayer request with you, so I’ll toss another one in the mix of what I already wrote. I mentioned this adventure before, but just to remind you, my friends Lesley and Camille are teaching English in China this year. They graduated with me (twice) from LSU, and they are absolutely beautiful women inside and out. Please check out their blogs (by clicking their names above) and prayerfully support their journey in China.

Oh yeah, and Christmas is soon. That means that snow is probably coming soon…but we are not going to talk about that just yet. Instead, I’ll share some pictures of our decorations! We have our first Watson tree and our little condo is full of Christmas cheer.

This is our sweet Christmas tree. It was a unanimous #1...just like my LSU tigers!

I found this guy at the Christmas Store and fell in love.

My new Grandmom gave me this last summer. Now, I need to make cookies!

My gift wrapping scheme.

LOVE this wreath! It took me 3 tries, but it was so worth it!

 

I made these from burlap and cardstock, and I think they are adorable.

The wreath over our mantle. I'm less proud of it, but Mike loves it. He keeps saying, "Be merry" really randomly.

Full shot of the mantle, including our sweet reindeer stocking holders. We have ordered stockings from Etsy, but they have not come in, which is quite frustrating.

Bottom line: we're ready for Christmas! Oh, and GEAUX TIGERS! 13-0...sweet!

Overwhelmed.

School is going absolutely wonderfully. I can honestly say that I would not rather be at any other school.

Now, with that being said, I’m a little overwhelmed. Of course, I’m still learning the ropes of a brand new school, but that’s not too rough. This week, I started training in one of the biggest programs used at The Cambridge School: The Wilson Reading System. From what I have seen at the school and in the initial training, I can definitely say that I believe the program works in the classroom. However, the span of a one-year program with an online course and a practicum is a little overwhelming! I have two students who will be receiving Wilson instruction with me, one-on-one. That’s a lot of pressure for a trainee.

Also, I found out yesterday that I will be given my own Level III math class on Monday (Actually, Tuesday. We have a field trip Monday). I’m so excited to get to teach an extra period (in addition to my 3 computer class each week) of the day, but I’m nervous about taking over a class that has been together for two weeks already. Between the training and the new class, I am a little overwhelmed.

The best part of The Cambridge School, though, is everyone’s amazing willingness to lend a hand. Although I’m a little fearful, I know that every teacher and administrator will do anything they can to help me out. This is what makes working at Cambridge so enjoyable. So…let’s do it!

There is JOY in the midst of it all

Oh, geez! I’m already falling behind on this blogging thing. To catch up: class has started, teaching has started, and work has begun.

The point of this blog is to find the JOY of life along the way. Sometimes that takes real reflection on situations. Recently, I have done a lot of reflecting in an effort to do just that, enJOY life along the way.

The past couple of weeks have been more than overwhelming. First, I stepped into my last semester of student-teaching. My class is made of seventeen fourth-graders, and my teacher has been teaching for more than 15 years. The adjustment from 27 adorable 1^st graders to “almost teenagers” has been quite difficult. The social and academic atmospheres are very different, not to mention I am at a new school. Tough.  However, JOY can be found in it all. The benefits of having a teacher with so much experience are innumerable. The feedback and encouragement are so wonderful. Also, the students are old enough to have normal conversations and crack jokes. They are fun. Though it is different, there is JOY in this new adventure.

Of course, I am also looking for a teaching position for next year. Uncertainty stresses me out immensely, so this is a really big deal. In addition, I will also be moving: maybe to a new apartment complex, maybe to a new town, or maybe to a new state. God is so good though. In the chaos of all of this, I was given something solid, unchanging to rely upon. Something vastly special to me. The JOY in this uncertain future is King’s Camp. God provided me with that refuge and certainty. This summer I will be safe, refilled, and used at one of the most amazing place I have ever been able to visit. I look so forward to growing in my relationship, while leading volunteers in a spiritual experience regarding service and worship. It is an opportunity that gives me unbelievable JOY!

It may be a stressful time, but there is JOY abounding. Thank you, Father for the wonderful blessings each day!

P.S. Megan Hawkins leaves for Prague on January 31^st. Check out her blog (http://meganinprague.weebly.com/) and support an amazing woman of God.

Blessings yesterday, today, and tomorrow...

 

Yesterday, I spent the evening at Leo's. Mike (my boyfriend) plays hockey there two nights a week. Yes, ice hockey...like, the Canadian game. I have really enjoyed getting to watch him and learn the game at the same time. I was athlete in high school, and I really miss the competition. As a result, I'm beginning to really like this game. Mike plays and referees games at Leo's, so I spend a lot of time there. The last three times I went, I heard some gossip about my boy. Mike claims to be pretty good at hockey. (He played in college in Pennsylvania for a couple of years.) Of course, I always thought he may be exaggerating. However, I have had the privilege of overhearing numerous recent conversations to support his claim. Everyone knows him. He led the league in points last season. LSU invited him to play on their team, and he started his second game with them. He has been asked to play in three recent tournaments. He scored all four of his team's goals in their 4-0 victory over the #2 team in the league. He scored three goals the following night (yesterday). Needless to say, he isn't boastful. He is correct. He is a fabulous ice hockey player, and I really enjoy watching him. You should come watch too: February 4th and 5th LSU vs. Alabama. Geaux Tigers and Geaux Mike!

Today was the first day of my LAST semester at LSU. In May I will receive a Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, along with thirty-four amazing future teachers. After six years at LSU, I will be certified to teach all subjects in 1^st to 5^th grade, as well as 7-12 grade mathematics. It has been a long journey, but one well-worth the time. LSU has made a great home for me to experience many new things and grow in ways I never imagined. There are so many things that I could say about the community here, but there just isn't time to cover it all. Jesus blessed me with the best college experience I could have asked for, and I look forward to the endeavors the future holds.

Tomorrow, I will step into a fourth-grade classroom at Parkview Elementary. I met the students in December, and I am excited to be working with them this semester. There are 17 students in my class. The teacher is an Auburn graduate (I know, I know). She has been teaching in Louisiana for many years though, so she is probably broken in (hopefully). Either way, I am excited about the experiences this classroom will bring. I hope to learn as much from Mrs. Stevens and her students as they will learn from me. Although I will Ms. Johnson’s first grade immensely, I am looking forward to the new challenges in fourth grade.