About

"Five foot nothing."

 That's how I'll answer the question "How tall are you?" which I am asked more often than you'd think. The question should really be "How short are you?" because that's what everyone is really wanting to know when they ask it...to which I reply: "Five foot, nothing." I am five feet, zero inches tall...or short. At least that's the easy answer. Much easier than responding with the honest truth: "Four foot, eleven and three-quarters of an inch (or something like that).

I am a wife, teacher, dog-lover, and amateur writer, a mere "nothing" in this grand world of ours. That is to say I am nothing out of the ordinary, nothing truly spectacular. On the contrary, I am much more than my mere five feet because I have the hope and the assurance of my maker and Lord, Jesus Christ. I am a bible-follower and believer (I prefer this title as opposed to the term "christian," which is a term that has several different interpretations and definitions). I love Jesus and I believe every word of the bible (although I should read more of it more often). But I don't always fit into the Christian mold. I don't always vote Republican, I hang out with non-believers, and I struggle with hard moral concepts and I ask a lot of questions. I fail over and over again, but I know that when I run to my merciful creator, I find grace and forgiveness.

I am 29 years old...(how the heck did that happen?) and I have been married to my highschool sweetheart since 2006. We've been together for a total of 12 years--save your ooohs and ahhs for someone else, please. Twelve years is a LONG time and marriage is WORK. We have plenty of stories, and not all good ones. We have learned in recent years that our relationship is truly joyous when we allow the Lord to be the center of our marriage and when we surrender to Him first and foremost. Though the road of marriage has been long and hard, I deeply love Greg with my whole heart...not necessarily because I am a loving wife, or that he is an amazing husband, but because God provides me with a love that only comes from Him, an love unbound by conditions, unnattached to what is deserved or not, but a love that is freely given. This love allows me to see my husband for who God created him to be, even when he is at his absolute worst. This love forgives over and over again, and decides to love again even through fear, doubt, uncertainty, and pain. Greg is my best friend and true companion and adds much laughter in my life.

My job is so much more than a job. I am a passionate elementary teacher at a low-income, high-risk school where I face new challenges every year. What does that mean? Most of my students (by most, I mean 18 out of 20) are on free or reduced lunch and many have parents in jail, that have been in jail, or that will be in jail very soon. They come with behavioral issues, emotional problems, disrespect, entitlement, and more.These kids test my emotional, mental, and at times physical capacity, daily. And did I mention, that I love them? I don't know why or where it comes from--acutally I'm lying--it totally comes from the Lord, but I absolutely LOVE these kids. You think you're having a bad day until you hear what they are going through and then expect them to ace a standardize state test. And oh yeah, I like to start sentences with "and" because I am the teacher and I can if I want to. So there.

My husband and I have two beautiful dogs, a faithful golden retreiver who is exactly what her name implies, and a spunky, snuggly Bernese Mountain Dog. Mabel and Delilah are my babies. Yes, I am one of those people. I know, I know, they are not little furry people, they are dogs. Just wait until you hear more about them though. 

On the subject of kids, I do love kids but I have NEVER been a "baby person." I think they are like little freaky aliens and I hate when someone asks me to hold one. (So sorry to those with children, especially the cute ones.) I have no idea what to do with a little him or her. Okay, they are not THAT bad. I am just not one of those ladies who talk about how cute and sweet babies are. BUT--there's a "BUT"--after six years of making sure that I DIDN'T get pregnant and debating if I ever wanted a child, I decided that I DID. How crazy is that? Suddenly I have found myself feeling like the last married person my age without a baby in my belly or in my arms. This new-found realization has caught me off-guard and I have discovered myself cooing at little kids and pregnant women on the street! Eew, gag. What is that? I don't really know what to do with that...or a baby for that matter. Or two babies! Yes-I found out late in July that I was pregnant and then in October that I was carrying TWO babies! Does God have a sense of humor or what? There will be many, many lessons to learn as I venture into parenthood with my twins!

As far as writing goes,  I am no professional and I don't consider myself to be highly intellectual or full of profound wisdom.  I have enjoyed writing since I was a little kid. It is my favorite subject to teach at school, although not for the reasons the higher-ups would like to hear. I have wanted to start a blog for quite some time, but told myself I had nothing important enough to say, nothing that someone would care to read. (See there it is again: "nothing"). And perhaps I don't and I need this blog simply as an outlet for myself, as a way of making sense of my experiences, as a reason to practice writing. So let it be, I will write for the sake of writing.

Though I am usually the one teaching lessons in my lovely third grade classroom, more often than not, I find I am the one who is in need of being taught. These are the lessons I am learning in marriage, in teaching, in christianity, eventually in motherhood, and in life. I am fully grateful for what the Lord is teaching me, all five feet of me.