Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end ...

Wow.  What a year in Room 220.  I finished up my first year of teaching this past Friday on June 8.  It was an incredible year ... challenging, rewarding, tiring, and inspiring.  I continued to learn about the teacher I want to be and I learned about the woman I am becoming.  All in a place I was not expecting.  I did not think that I would be teaching at a school like St. Paul when I graduated from MSU.  Then I found myself on the last day of school leaving a place that I now proudly call home.

On top of finishing up my school year, it is now only 6 days away from mine and Bill's wedding!  When I started school at MSU I was not in search of a serious relationship, let alone a husband.  But then I met Casey, Leah, and Mary, I started going to St. John's, and I then met the man that I will spend the rest of my life with.  I never thought I would be 24 and getting married but nothing in the world seems to make more sense than what I have with Bill.  Bill and I were sitting in our backyard today talking about the upcoming week and the wedding.  I told him that I am so at peace and content with everything.  Instead of feeling stressed this week, I feel like I am on a cloud.

God has brought me to such an incredible place in my life.  I am not where I expected to be but if I had it my way, instead of God's plan, I know I would not be as happy.  Life is beautiful (well, a beautiful mess) when you seek God and try your damnedest to follow his plan.

Thank you for all the love and support this school year.  It means everything to me!

xo Kait

It's the little things ...

I don't know why but every year, I seem to forget how busy the month of May truly is.  Softball season, end of the school year, birthday's, Mother's Day, weddings, concerts, etc etc.  May is full of good things but these good things never seem to end!  This past week, my planner was exploding with appointments, end of the school year to-do's, softball games, and wedding planning shenanigans.  At an early morning softball game, I was wearing sunglasses because the sun was just a little too bright and I was a little too tired.  A dad, who is my assistant coach, thought I was hungover ... Ha!  I only wish I was hungover because then I wouldn't have gone to bed at 10:30 pm on a Friday night!

When the schedule is packed and when it seems like there is little room to breathe, I have come to greatly respect "the little things".  The little things are the moments that make you laugh, cry, and sigh with relief. Even at the same time!  Here are some of "the little things" that are getting me through the busy month of May ...

• Birthday's.  My fiance, three of my students, and one of my best friends all celebrated birthday's this week.  I LOVE birthday's.  I LOVE celebrating the life of the people I love.  
• Michael Symon's Roast Burger.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I took Bill to Roast in downtown Detroit for his birthday.  We decided it will be our "special occasion" place and to try something new every time.  It is the most I have ever spent on a meal and it is the most I have enjoyed a meal since I studied abroad in Rome.
• Daisies.  I went grocery shopping yesterday and I walked into Meijer to see a massive display of daisies for Mother's Day.  I purchased a bouquet to remind me of my Mom for my apartment.
• Ice cream breaks with Bill.  After cleaning, running errands, and putting wedding things together all Saturday, I was craving ice cream. Bill, who is preparing for his 4th CPA exam (say some prayers!), was well in need of a break as well.  We tested out a new ice cream spot in Royal Oak and it magically relaxed me after a long day.
• Packages.  My parents sent me new running clothes with a lovely card.  I cried when I opened the package because of their kindness and their ceaseless ability to take care of me.  One of my best friends also sent Bill and I a book by Pope John Paul II for a wedding gift.  Seeing her handwriting on a little package in my mailbox made my heart soar.  
• NBC Thursday night comedies.  Community and Parks & Recreation are true genius to me.
• Coaching 5th and 6th grade softball.  I am madly in love with my softball team.  We have two games left for the season and I am so sad to see it end.  I love coaching and I love my team.
• My 6th grade teaching partners who are two of the most tenacious educators I know.
• Laughing.  I began training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon this week.  For my training, I have to do "tempo" runs which are also known as "fartlek" runs in Swedish.  Yes, "fartlek" and it is pronounced "fart-lick".  This made me laugh my whole run on Wednesday morning.
• Red Hot Chili Pepper's I'm With You album ... only 2 weeks to go until the concert in GRap!

What are some of the little things you have enjoyed this past month?  I hope you are all enjoying your May.  Make sure you stop to look around and smell the daisies.  :) 

xo

Kait

Sheroes

This past Saturday, I had the humbling experience of being showered by some of my favorite women. My dear family friend, Kate, hosted a neighborhood and family friend wedding shower for me at her lovely home. As the shower began, I was filled with joy and excitement as the women who have shaped my life filled the room.

I have been raised by a powerful woman. My mother is a true force who is filled with immeasurable grace and love. I thank God every day that I am blessed to have this indescribable woman as my mother. Because of her, I have been doubly blessed to have sheroes in my life. Maya Angelou often uses the phrase "sheroes" to describe our female heroes. For my entire life, I have been surrounded by women who are my heroes and who have made me into the woman I am today.

As I sat in amazement at my wedding shower, I was overcome with bliss. God gives us glimpses into his glory and into his kingdom. At my wedding shower on Saturday, I saw a true glimpse into his glory. Every single woman at that wedding shower had taught me something and had created me in some way. They each hold a piece of what God means to me. To see all of them in one place was truly humbling and overwhelming.

Between laughter, champagne, tears, delicious food, and presents, I felt a great sense of love. I know the love I felt at my wedding shower needs to be carried forth and I need to show that love to the world. When I woke up on Sunday morning glowing in the aftermath of my shower, I found myself wishing I could give my future daughter the same gift. The gift of powerful women, sheroes, and never ending love.

So, thank you.

Thank you for teaching me to love, to care, to cry, to chase after my dreams, to teach, to learn, to feel joy, and to laugh. Thank you for 24 years of beautiful memories and thank you for being a part of my womanhood. I am blessed. I am humbled. I am grateful. Alleluia.

xo

Kait

What Teachers Make and Updates

I know it's been awhile ... sorry that I fail so miserably at updating blog posts. I promise that this blog will be well worth the wait.

What Teachers Make:
As a teacher, there are days that you feel broken down. Like all professions, teaching has ups and downs. I am constantly asking for God's mercy, grace, and patience so I can make each day positive. The past two months have really allowed me to grow as a teacher and I feel like I am learning something new every day. I have opened myself up to the challenges of teaching because that is the only way I can learn to be a better teacher.

Recently, I revisited Taylor Mali's "What Teachers Make" speech. Taylor Mali is a slam poet and is an advocate for the teaching profession after serving time as an English teacher. Mali's "What Teachers Make" reminds me why I teach because it expresses the joys and sorrows the profession brings. Just like my favorite book, food, or album, I like to watch Mali's "What Teachers Make" to fuel my soul. If you have 3 minutes, I encourage you to watch Mali's "What Teachers Make" and relate it to your profession, whatever it may be.


Miscellaneous Updates:
Although Taylor Mali is a riveting and inspiring poet, I do have some updates in my life.

I cannot believe that it is March. So many things have happened since my January Resolutions post. I am now 24, I feel very comfortable at St. Paul, I began tutoring at SOAR, I am coaching 5/6 grade girls softball (stories to come), enjoyed Winter Break, and celebrated my wedding at my first shower.

My days are busy and I constantly have something going on. I feel like I am in my apartment to just eat, sleep, and address wedding invitations - which I enjoy! I love being busy and I love being on the go!


xo
Kait

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."
- Mother Teresa

New Year, New Resolutions

I usually do not make New Year's Resolutions. I've never really understood their hype or wanted to get caught up in making declarations I was afraid to keep. This year I feel differently and I know that there is room for improvement in my life right now. So, here it goes ... these are my New Year's Resolutions for 2012 ...

• Become a better friend.
• Make friends and form a community in Detroit.
• Run 26.2 miles.
• Cook a 5 course meal for my family and friends.
• Find my purpose at St. Paul. Challenge myself at St. Paul in order to become a better teacher. I need to find what will make me the teacher God has called me to be.
• Explore Detroit. I need to accept the fact that I now live on the East side of the state. I need to accept that I no longer live in the best city in the world (Grand Rapids) and explore the city that I now call home. This will help me accomplish Resolution #2 (friends and community in the D).
• Read 5 books. I know this seems like a low number but with teaching, planning a wedding, and living in a new city, 5 seems strenuous.
• Volunteer. Actually volunteer. Not just say that I am going to volunteer and then say I am "too tired" or "too busy" on the weekends. I am going to volunteer.
• Enjoy planning my wedding and not become swept away in all of the planning.
• Find peace of mind. I sometimes let myself get carried away in questioning where I am in my life. I have nothing to be anxious or worried about (Philippians 4:6). I have a beautiful life and I am surrounded by beautiful people.

Alright, that's ten New Year's Resolutions. So, here it goes. Bring it, 2012. I'm ready for ya!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Unknown

xo

Kait

Class Meeting, December 6

Our homeroom holds a class meeting once per week. Each homeroom class at St. Paul does this so we can give our students leadership opportunities, discuss issues at St. Paul, and set goals for ourselves to improve. The class meetings are completely student run and I sit back to observe while once in a while adding my opinion. My students had some good ideas that I wanted to share ...

Things we are doing well:

• Respecting each other
• Recognizing and stopping bullying
• Improving behavior in special classes (gym, art, music, computers, Spanish)
  

Things we could work on:

• Helping each other
• Including all our peers
• Less talking out of turn
• Stop saying pass ... volunteer more!

Goals for this week:

• Respecting all teachers and students (even substitute teachers)
• Boost our creativity and humor
• Recycle
• Be more productive
• Watch our conduct (behavior) at all times

After reading over the classroom notes, I realized that these ideas and goals not only apply to 6th graders but also adults. Just some things to think about and to work on as we journey through our days.

xo

Kait

p.s. 16 days until Christmas Vacation (not like I am counting or anything)

Marriage Prep

Bill and I went to our first marriage prep workshop yesterday. I was giddy and so thrilled to be at our first workshop to prepare for our marriage. The most comforting feeling was knowing I was there with my best friend. There was no moment where I was nervous or hesitant or second guessing myself. Yesterday's workshop fulfilled even more the feelings I have for Bill and knowing we are supposed to marry one another.

However, the workshop did raise new questions and new thoughts to ponder ...

What do we do for holidays? How do we trek across the state to see both of our families? When do we set up our Christmas tree? How much will the Tooth Fairy pay?

How do we operate our finances? How do I make sure that I am paying off my student loans and not Bill? How do we begin saving for our future children so they may go to college? How do we control our love for concerts, vinyls, and book sales?

Bill and I are very used to spending time together but we also need our independence. How do make sure we correctly balance our need to be together and our need to have "me" time? Will we ever be "sick" of one another?

How do we want to raise our children? What type of school will they go to? How will we discipline them? Are they allowed to go downstairs on Christmas morning before they wake up their parents?

Bill and I need to spend time with our families. We both depend on our families for so much. How do we ensure that we are both seeing our families equally? Even more so, how do we bring both of our families together?

Do we buy Detroit Tiger's select package season tickets? Do we buy MSU football young Alumni season tickets? Do we decide between the two or just go for both? (seriously, suggestions?)

When we move in together, how will we organize all of our things? Where will put ALL of the books?! Or ... a better question before we worry about books ... WHERE are going to LIVE?

These are questions that I am consumed in when I am not lesson planning, trying to make new friends, laughing with 6th graders, or wishing I was with my loved ones. They seem overwhelming but also exciting. I feel that everything right now with Bill is "so right". I am completely comfortable thinking about all of these big new steps and I know that I am supposed to be thinking all of these things over with him. We just have to jump into the abyss together.

xo
Kait