Book Barn

The Book Barn... let me just say this is one of my all time favorite places to go. This started as one building where books were stored, bought and sold. Now there are multiple structures and multiple locations. There are a total of three locations. There are so many different kinds of books and it makes a bookstore look puny.

My mom had some books she wanted to get rid of and the Book Barn is a good place to go. They can be pretty picky about what books they take but, they give you a fair price for your books and its better than just giving them to Goodwill, as you actually get something for your books. After all was said and done, my mom was offered a little over $16 in store credit or just under $16 in cash. We decided to look around and see what we could find for my classroom.

We were able to find about 30 books for my kids that are small chapter books on their level. I can't wait to get them labeled and onto my new bookshelves. These books will be a great way for my kids to have something just for them to read and with only having a part time librarian in the fall, it will be more important for me to have books for my kids.

My new bookshelves? Well, they are a work in progress and will need some work, but I will post all about them when I have them more completed.

Updating

I know I have been slacking on the blog lately, I am currently working on some posts and can't wait to share my newest projects with you all!

Visiting My Elementary School

One of the most fun experiences yet has been being able to visit former teachers of mine. This is partly because my parents still live in the same house I grew up in but also because I know how much it must mean to former teachers of mine to know they have made a difference. There is something to be said about being a teacher and I have a greater appreciation for just how much these people who were like another set of parents really did for me. They cared so deeply about me as a person and saw that I could turn into something. My teachers impacted me so much.

One of the most influential people was my first grade teacher. Walking into her room today, although different in many ways, not much has changed and it was like stepping back into time. She touched me and brought out my love for reading. Stepping into her room, I was transfered back to learning to read and all of the fun things we did. She truly loved me. Not just loved as a student in her class but loved as the person I was and would become.

While being home, I have found old school projects and remembered completing them while in her class. We completed this "All About Me" book. It was a HUGE undertaking. We spent the entire year working on it and growing with the book. I now appreciate just how much effort something like that can take from a teachers perspective. You have to really be organized and invested in your students. I was blessed to have her as a teacher of mine.

Another thing that my 1st grade teacher did was to give out books throughout the year. We got books at Christmas and for birthdays, and I'm sure for other reasons, but we were given books of our own to take home and have. She still does that today.

This teacher cared so deeply enough that she made sure my sister and I made it safely out of the building and to the car and waved as we drove off. She was just so thrilled that we had come back to visit.  I guess the whole point is, what little way could you touch a teacher that you had or someone who influenced you and just let them know what a difference in your life they made? I think if we did more of that, the world would be a much better place.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Last night, after I got back to my parents after hanging out with my best friend, I decided to go through a box of memories I had been keeping and just stashed away for some odd reason. Perhaps so of the best moments were when I found notes written back and forth between myself and a boy in 6th grade... Those were some funny notes, "Why do you like me?" kinds of things filled my memory.

I was also came across a paper that my two best friends and I at the time had made. It said, "We promise to be best friends forever" followed by our signatures. This made me chuckle at how much life has changed since I was 12.

One of the best parts of this excursion was that I found letters the hubs had written to me when we were engaged and I was living at home. These made me smile and I kinda fell in love with the hubs all over again. It's funny how certain things just spur memories and bring back the feelings you had with them.

One of the bloggers I follow (Crafty Healthy Mommy), just posted a letter to her 21 year old self. After reading the random letters I had, I thought that one of these days it might be fun to write a letter to my 12 or 15 or 17 year old self. Perhaps even a letter to my 22, right before I got married self. It doesn't seem like it has been too long but life has really been showing me a lot lately. I have grown up and have moments where this whole 'adult' thing doesn't seem so bad now. I mean, really are we ever fully 'adults'? What does that even mean!?!?!?!

All of this to simply say, memories and moments in life do help shape who we are and make up the thread that holds us together as cloth, but we are not limited or confined to our memories. I am thankful after re-reading those letters when I was 12 that I am not forever stuck as my 12 year old self. That would have been awful!

Another thing that I have done since being at my parents, is kinda look at some old bikes that were in the garage. I had thought that maybe one or two would be salvageable to bring home so the hubs and I could ride off into the sunset together... I mean ride around town for fun, but the bikes may be more work than they are worth and it might be better just to save up for a new one. Well, that's what the guy at the bike shop said. Anyone want to buy some old, need some TLC, bikes?

Today I will leave you with this:

The Drive

Today I woke up early to drive to my parents. This is about a 6 hour drive and I knew I had to wake up and leave so I would miss traffic. If there is one thing I can't stand, it is traffic. This drive I was not looking forward to because I don't have any recent music and I am stuck to the radio for the most part. Do you know what is on the radio at 6, 7, 8 in the morning? PEOPLE TALKING! That is one on the most annoying things to me. I decided once I was through Baltimore that I needed to get a CD out. I found a CD a friend had made me in college and I was singing to every song.

The thought occurred to me that some of my favorite music is from when I was in college. I don't know if it is because there were so many memories in college or if it is because that music kept me company on my 14 hour car rides back and forth from school to home. There is something to be said about music.

One of the things I am most looking forward to is reading. I can't wait to just sit around and read. My Nook charger is now fixed :) Thank you Barnes and Noble for being so easy. I also am looking forward to simply sitting and drinking coffee with my mom. Some of the best conversations happen in pajamas with a cup of coffee. This week is full of promise and I am just so glad to have this time to recharge before the rest of summer hits.   What are you looking forward to this week?

End of the Year

With the school year ending TOMORROW having ended on Friday...!!! I have been busy finishing last minute paper work and getting things in order for next year. I have found ways to get things more organized and have been already thinking of the schedule for next year and how we can get that to work more smoothly. With all of that said, I have been struggling to keep up with the blogging...

I am leaving tomorrow morning to head to my parents for a week and am THRILLED to have the time off. I hope to do some blogging and get caught up on my to do list of wants, versus the needs to get done things. Sorry I have been so lax lately. New and exciting posts coming soon!!

Family

With the end of the school year only days away, I have been able to enjoy much more time with family. I married into a great family and a few decided to move closer to us. It works out well, as we see each other fairly regularly. Memorial day was one of those days.

We decided after we ate to take the kids to the park. There is a park pretty close to our apartment and it is a decent size so it is perfect to keep the kids busy. While at the park, we were watching the kids play, and talking to each other. While standing and watching the kids, a little boy came up to me. He started to grab at the camera I had. I bent down and showed him how to take a picture. His parents came over and were very apologetic, not that I cared, and he left. A few minutes later, he came running back. It was really cute. Again his parents were apologetic.

Later that evening, the hubs made a comment to me that got me thinking. He said, "What did that kid want? He must have just known you love kids."

The reason this got me thinking was because that is really what I want people to see. I want people to see my passion for kids and my passion for them to learn something. I hope that is something that is always visible to others. Here are some pictures from that day.

Discovering Honeysuckles with mom :)

Playing baseball. He LOVES baseball.

The picture my new friend took.