The smallest things bring the biggest joys!

Hello fellow bloggers and followers! Fall is upon us and winter is just around the corner, can you believe it?? Time flies when you're having fun! I know, I really stink at keeping this up, BUT for another quick update since August (that's only been a few months ya know)...

1. I've been keeping busy substitute teaching and loving every second of it. My favorite is when I get to teach in Douds... seeing "my" past students, having students pass me in the halls saying "hi Miss Taylor!" (students I don't even know), getting SO many hugs from students, and having a posy follow me around the playground when I'm on duty. It really is the best medicine... if you're having a bad day or week.... just go visit a classroom full of first graders! I will bet you anything you will smile AT LEAST once! (and if you don't smile more than that, you probably need a counselor :p ) This year in Douds, they try to have the same substitute for when the teacher is gone. I have had the opportunity to work with first graders when their teacher has to be gone. It has been a blast! After subbing for 2 days, today was the last day for awhile to be in the classroom with those kiddos. The sweetest little boy came up to me to give me yet another hug (he gives me a hug every time he comes in the classroom)... it was the end of the day and here comes *insert students name*. I was expecting the quick hug (quick, but so sweet)... this time *insert students name* gave me a hug and hung on for awhile longer. Now, because of confidentiality, I can not tell the boys name. But I have learned that this boy has had some very hard times in his life lately. I know there are many other students that I am not aware of that are having hard times as well. This has been a very rewarding and valuable lesson to me. To be one person, he feels comfortable enough to give a hug to, and be the one to give that hug back... I almost wept in tears as I drove home after school thinking about it. I am so happy and so blessed to have that little boy in class, even if only a few days a month. It's truly the smallest things that bring the biggest joys!

2. I celebrated my 23rd birthday October 9th. Not surprisingly, I was very spoiled yet again. I am very blessed to have such a great family and extended family! I received new boots, sirius radio, clothes, a paid hair appointment, slippers, hat, shoes, gift cards, cards with precious messages I will treasure, and many wishes! The weekend after my birthday was my family get together on my moms side. I loved getting to see family from out of town and out of state and all young kids that are growing up so fast but so fun to watch! (Even got some snuggle nap time in!)

3. My cousins had their precious baby boy!! And man is he ever precious! Lots of dark hair and the tiniest little fingers and toes. I was able to go up to MN to visit them and catch up... looking forward to going back soon!

4. Hunting season is upon us! If you know my family at all (especially my brother), you know I have a brother who would fish and hunt for a living if he could! I'm a pretty lucky girl because of this. I have my very own bow that I go out hunting with and I really enjoy the time spent with nature and my brother. I had the opportunity to go out this weekend with my brother... we put up a couple trees stands (in a slightly not so safe way), sat in the tree together on pretty chilly mornings, and best of all, had some giggles and laughs through it all. That's my favorite... making someone laugh and laughing with them over small things. It's truly the smallest things that bring the biggest joys!

5. Landon and I have been together for just over a year and 4 months. If you follow baseball, you know October is very stressful for baseball fans, and to be more specific, Cardinal fans! Basically, if you date or are married to a Cardinals fan, you will be replaced during the month of October, just a fair warning :P Really though, before meeting Landon, I could care less about baseball. See, that's one of the joys and adventures of dating someone and getting to know them. Through their interests, you are pulled into some of those things (maybe not ALL lol) and become interested in them yourself... and you may even find yourself staying up all night watching the game, holding your breath! Okay, yes that was me... partly because yes, he's suckered me into enjoying watching the game and on the other hand, things tend to go a lot smoother when the Cardinals are doing well. So, knowing how the game went, I can prepare myself for future conversation and moods, if you catch my drift :o) I really have enjoyed the time spend with Landon, memories made, and interests shared. I look forward to learning more about each other and sharing more interests with each other. Just to add to the long list of things that make us smile, give us things to visit about, and enjoy doing together. It truly is the smallest things that bring the biggest joy!

All in all.... I'm enjoying life. I'll be the first to admit, my life isn't perfect. I'm still working on finding a permanent job, and finding my own place and life. But hey, IT TRULY IS THE SMALLEST THINGS THAT BRING THE BIGGEST JOY! I'm continuing to grow in my spiritual walk everyday and I am very excited for what my future has in store for me!

Catch up!

"So come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned. Just think of happy things and your heart will fly on wings in never never land." -Peter Pan

To all my family and friends who haven't heard from me since my last post in January. Or maybe you have and just haven't maybe been informed on EVERYTHING going on. I can't promise you that I can get you up to date completely.... but I can try to get you up to date on some of the events going on in my life.

As far as my career goes.... I started student teaching in January, finished in April, and graduated from Buena Vista University with my Bachelors of Arts degree in Education in May. My plan for now is to get some experience through substitute teaching around home for a while until a bigger opportunity arises. I have applied for my MN license and just waiting for that process to be complete. That will open more doors for me and also get me closer to Landon.

This summer has been filled with many ups and a few hardships along the way. I am so blessed to have Landon by my side every step of the way. We've made tons of memories this summer that will go down in the scrapbook and fun to look back on. We've been swimming, golfing, attended a concert, graduation, celebrated our One year together in June, shopped the Mall of America, attended a wedding, Fishing, horseback riding, bonfires, Fairs, tractor pulls, the zoo, St Louis trip to see the arch, river boat ride, and Cardinals game, Hannibal stop to see Lover's Leap, races, and of course a lot of time spent together with each other and family. This summer we have also been spending as much time as possible with Grandpa Poge who is still battling cancer. The hardest part of my summer was saying "see ya later" to my uncle Jeff who passed away expectantly from a freak accident. His son Luke and his wife are expecting their first baby boy to arrive September 1st.... that little boy will bring joy, the whole family needs. I think about him often and miss him very much. My uncle Harold also passed away about a week after Jeff this summer. He was in his 90s and lived a very fun life. I'll never forget all the games he build, taught, and played with us at family get togethers. It has been a very eventful summer!

St. Louis Arch!

Bonfires!

Iowa State Fair!

Cardinals Game!

Iowa State Fair!

Mall Of America

Celebrating our one year together!

Painting Jamie's Demo car in memory of Uncle Jeff! 

Landon's Trophy and "trophy girl" at the tractor pull!

MN zoo!

Welcoming in the New Year!

Well, it is officially the new year. Although the Greenfield family and I didn't ring in the New Year on the GREATEST note ever, it was still nice to be able to be with them, which is all that matters. Grandma Poge passed away so they had a beautfiul service for her New Years Eve. Although it wasn't on the best of circumstances, I was able to meet more of Landon's family and get to visit with Grandpa some! Grandpa Poge and the rest of the family would appreciate prayers as he continues to battle cancer and now the loss of his wife. I am very sad I didn't get to meet Grandma, but I know from all the wonderful, funny, and sweet stories she was an amazing lady, just as the rest of the family is.

I am very excited to see what this year will bring. I start my student teaching in just a few days, on Monday!!! Eeeeekkkk!!! I'm so excited and nervous all at once! I will be teaching 4th grade, which is older than what I hope to get my "job" in one of these days but this will be a good experience out of my comfort zone! I have not met the teacher I will be teaching with but we have exchanged emails and I can already tell she is going to be awesome to work with!! I am very relieved about that!

Highlights of year 2012

• Spring Break vacation in Florida with my mom and Grandma and Grandpa England. I was able to lay by the ocean and swim with the Manattees!
• I moved back home from MO the end of April and started school at Buena Vista the beginning of May.
• I met Landon's family for the first time at the end of May.
• I made my first trip to Chicago with the company of Landon's sister Marissa. I enjoyed spending the weekend at Landon's apartment and having my best friend take the train out to come see me and stay with us! We visited down town and had a blast! It was my first cab ride, train ride, and water taxi ride, along with of course my first visit to down town Chicago!
• I became the luckiest girl ever the next weekend on June 16th when Landon took me to Kip Moore and Hunter Hayes concert and asked me to be his girlfriend.
• I was able to witness beautiful Marissa become fair queen the end of June.
• I took the Praxis July 21st and PASSED!!
• I also met Landon's Grandpa Poge the afternoon after my Praxis test and fell in love with tears of happiness streaming down my face! (as I have describe in previous posts)
• The next weekend I took another trip to Chicago and was able to attend my first Cardinals game in Chicago with Landon and his friends!
• Somewhere in there I attended my first tractor pull.
• I attended the Races with Landon and his father which was an honor because I felt like I was crashing Father-son time!
• Marissa made us all proud as she competed in the Fair Contest at the Iowa State Fair!
• My sister-in-Law had her wedding showers and bachelorette party which was also a first for me!
• Dad and I were able to have some bonding time at a cattle sale together for the weekend.
• My oldest brother got married and had a beautiful wedding!!!
• I attended my First IOWA FOOTBALL GAME with Landon!!
• My best friend got engaged!!! and I am honored I will be standing up with her at her wedding! eeek!!
• I went to Chicago with the Greenfield family and was able to see TSO for the first time!! It was AMAZING!!! Had such a fun trip!
• The following weekend I was able to go to Chicago again with my mom and Brother's girlfriend and we visited downtown and got to see The Grinch on broadway. That was very kewl!
• I've done a lot of babysitting and spending time with my cousins which I always enjoy.
• Lastly, I was able to end the year with some awesome quality time with Landon which spoiled me very much and I enjoyed every minute of it!!

Some highlights of what the new year is going to bring:

• I start student teaching Monday!!!
• Marissa is graduating high school a week before me!!
• I will be graduating in May!
• My best friend is getting married in July!!

That is all I know for now, but I am extremely excited to see what else comes of 2013!! I will hopefully be finding my first job and getting out on my own. I am sure I will also have other "firsts" to look forward to with Landon!! Here's to 2013, Bring on the new year!! :o)