What A Blessing

I was awarded the Excellence in Education Award in the Blue Valley School District for the month of November. I felt so honored to be chosen by my principal as the winner. I love my job almost everyday for several reasons, too many to really name. It is just an amazing feeling to be recognized for what I think is fun. I work in a great building full of wonderful teachers and students, it is truly G-d's work that I am even there to begin with. Many blessing have occurred in my life since He gave me that job. I love trying to be a righteous teacher for an Awesome G-d! 

Here are a few pictures from the night.

My certificate and my engraved school bell

My family

My Hero - Charlotte Marlin

My amazing mother who helped raised me right

My fantastic dad who helped raised me right

6860 REPRESENT

My principal

My brother 

My shortest roommate

Funny

A tragic example of an in-bread dog!

September Update

I am super behind on blogging and updating my photo of the day. I am sure I could come up with lots of reasons on my lack of blogging, but i won't bore you. Anyways here are some updates - in bullet form - to keep my readers happy!

• school is in full swing, progress reports go out Friday - which means that 1st quarter is almost over...FAST!! 
• I am coaching 8th grade girls volleyball right now, we are 1-1, we recently just beat up the Oxford Knights, my roommate Leah went to school at Oxford so it is ALWAYS fun to beat them. The girls like to beat them because Oxford also feeds into the same high school where my students will go...so they can rub it in for 4 years. :) 
• I help co-lead a group called FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) at my school. We meet on Friday mornings at 7AM. We have had 2 meetings and 50 kids have showed up both times. It is so fun to watch middle school kids talk about G-d! 
• I am going to a coaches Bible Study on Wednesday mornings at 6AM. It is a great way to fellowship with coaches around the district. It is early but always a great time. Tomorrow one of my new volleyball coaches is going to go. I am excited for that, plus that will bring the female number up to 4. There are usually more guys at coaching type functions in case you did not know this. 
• In the photo business: I have 3 family photo shoots lined up for October so that is fun and great news for the photography side of my life. I would like to do more but people just aren't signing up, which is fine. Whatever happens-happens.  
• I've been reading a few books lately: Covenant Relations and Captivating. I am doing a Bible Study with some freshman girls on Captivating - super great to be with them. Covenant Relations is a great book, if you haven't read it you should. 
• My roommates are going to Israel soon(ish) - most likely for 3 years! Whoa! I am excited to for them. BUT I will miss them all a TON. Skype is an amazing thing and I will be using that often. 
• I can get on blogger at work now - which is great news on days I don't have much planning to do or meetings. 
• I am still working out - however I am not doing as much as I was this summer. I am still not at my goal, however the lack of motivation is not as strong as it was this summer. I am hoping that changes soon. 

Lots going on here in Michigan/Ohio/a trip to NC. I have done some fun things throughout July while I have been away from Kansas. I have added the best photo of each day to the POTD section, I will also add some on this post for those of us who like photos and words. I have gotten lots of quality time in with my best friend which is the main reason I come to Michigan/Ohio. We have gone to the pool, gotten pedicures, watched some movies, eaten out at some fun restaurants, gone to her mothers house, gone to 4-H Camp, gone to 2 beaches in North Carolina, been to an aquarium, fed 2 horses, played with little girls, moved out furniture so carpet could be ripped up from water damage, played some games, ate ice cream, and lots more. I will be here for about another week which is packed with fun already which includes some pudgy pies, cedar point, cowboy boot shopping. 

Here are a few photos...in no particular order

quick one

Okay so I finally updated my POTD Page!!
I know! I know! I was far behind.
I am also working on a real post about some things that we have done in Michigan so far. You can look at Big Cassie's page to see a little of what has been going on!!
Thanks for checking out the photos.

Who Is Diving in....

The answer is Big Cass and Angie Welton! 

Here are some full process-diving-in-shots...

Summer 2011

Well I believe that lots of people wont read my blog if there is not any pictures to grab the attention first. Let's be honest pictures are more fun than words! Anyways so here is a picture of two of my friends diving into a pond, can you guess who?

So it's summer - my favorite time of the year! It has been my favorite part of the year my whole life not just because I am a teacher. I use to play lots and lots of softball games in the summer and spend all day at the pool with my friends - -loads of fun!

Lots of people have been asking me so what do I during the summer or all day since I don't work. To be honest my first reaction is usually I RELAX! Mainly because during the school year I work 50-55 hours per week during my non-busy seasons (August-February) and I work around 65-72 hours per week during my busy season (March-May). So relaxing is something I don't do much of from August-May!
Other than that here is what I have going on this summer: (bullet points to keep you focused)

• relaxing with my roommates
• some pool time
• updating and enhancing my photo business
• working out - I have been told I am working out a lot and I probably am but I have a goal and I will not have the use of a fitness center in July, so I need to get my time in now. I have reached some of my short term goals so that keeps me motivated. But I still like drinking cokes! I will probably have one this week. 
• reading books (currently Covenant Relationships)
• working 2 softball camps (one for BVNW and one for FCA)
• doing a small group/Bible study with some of my students that are now technically freshman girls 
• going to Michigan for the month of July to see my best friend Yoh (this is always super relaxing and fun for me) 
• maybe playing a softball game or 2 while in Michigan with Yoh's sister 
• going to North Carolina for a week with Yoh's family
• staying up late 
• sleeping in 
• going on some photo taking trips

Best Friends

TCTWWMD

So April 28th was National Take Your Child To Work Day (TYCTWD - what teachers use for this day), well as you know I do not have a child, however I have a fantastic 4 year old roommate so we made it Take Cass To Work With Maasen Day (TCTWWMD)!!
Words really cannot tell you how much fun we both had - that is why I am going to post pictures too. All my students wanted to talk to her and wanted to know how I knew her, I had to let them know that she was not my child, but my roommate who I love dearly, she is one of my most favorite people on earth. She had fun too she was giving out high fives and hugs like it was her job! The students loved it, she even hugged a few 7th grade boys - super awesome to witness that. Most of my students could not get over how cute she was!
We ran and played a game called gladiator and Cass jumped right in after she woke up and played with the big kids. I think she had a great time - I am pretty sure her favorite part was the size of my fridge in my "study"(which is really my office but she kept calling it a study - like Papa's) "The fridge is just my size Maas", she kept saying. It really is the little things in life!
Here are some pictures of the day - too bad I didn't take a picture of the fridge! ENJOY!

Eating breakfast together at my desk 

 A quick stop to pick some flowers

Getting her ball ready for Gladiator 

 8th grade girls she played with

 She had to test out the pencil sharpener

 Adding some lessons to my calendar for me

 Eating lunch with some 6th grade girls

 Two cool chicks at lunch

 Talking to the 6th grade girls while stretching

Playing Gladiator like a champ! 

MUD-D

Well softball games have started. The following pictures are from our first game, it was so muddy that we could not even get in both games. It was also super cold - I was wearing gloves, a stocking hat, several layer, and using hand & foot warmers!! We have played 5 games, only have won 1 game however the other games we have played pretty decent. Some errors and leaving runners on base have kept us from winning in my opinion. Enjoy the muddy pictures, some of the pictures you will notice are of the girls being silly - mostly because there is someone with a camera close by. :) 

Spring Break - Part 2

Here is the spring break photos that I promised my readers. I had a great break and got lots of rest and watch some serious college basketball. Both of those things made me very happy. It always feels great to rest and relax especially with my Best Friend Forever On The Planet!! Now I am back in the swing of things and softball games start up these week - I am praying for some warmer temperatures and some sun!!

Nayah and AJ - can you name the movie?  

Brynn and Gabby  

The Rodriguez Family and their Pastor 

Nayah and Me 

Nayah 

Brynn  

 Brynn got a little sleepy hanging out with Maasen and Aunt Bobby

 Joey

Barn cat at Pat Yoh's (1 of 40) 

Mason Thomas Yoh