a day in the life of a substitute teacher..

Luckily, kindergartners and first graders haven't quite figured out how to play pranks (YET...) However, subbing these little ones has definitely kept me on my toes. So far, I have:

-subbed a bilingual kindergarten class (clearly they forgot to request a BILINGUAL sub) and I had to dig deep to remember Senor Navarro's vocab lessons....
-had a 5 year old boy tell me, "I told my mom you were so cute that I was going to marry you. I told her I'm gonna marry my substitute teacher!"
-been called every variation of my name possible (Miss Garrison is clearly too complex)
-had a girl wet her pants because she "forgot she had to go to the bathroom."
but my favorite.....

"We wish you were our real teacher, Miss Garrison!"

......prayers every day for my own classroom next year :)

Baby, just say YES....

TO BUYING ME T.SWIFT TICKETS FOR HER CONCERT IN DALLAS MARCH 11TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Taylor, (my taylor!) I need to go to this concert. I know, I know, you NEED to go? I can just hear him now: "Don't you know the difference between a need and a want, Rachel?" YES I DO. and I still NEED to go.

Don't let my pretend quote from Taylor fool you, he is also a T. Swift fan. Do you even know how many road trips we have spent jamming out to her albums?? Too many! I, however, have been listening to her long before her awkward moment with Kanye stunned America. I secretly feel like (if we, you know, met) we would seriously be best friends. (Well, that's not so secret anymore....) Her first album captured my heart and I am sure Taylor Swift MUST have dated the same boys I have...... and gone through every teenage experience just like I did. See, soul mates!

I just watched my DVR'd Oprah from yesterday (hello, my girl was on!) and I cried. I CRIED! You have to go and watch the show--it tugged on my heart strings. Are you listening, Amanda??! She is such a well grounded, inspiring little lady and I HAVE to see her live. I don't care if I am surrounded by 12-15 year old girls with T.Swift shirts on. I have to be there!

ps-The Monday after Taylor proposed he sent me this text:
"I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress. It's a love story, baby just say yes." :)

See you March 11th, T. Swift.....

Monogram

I have been doodling monograms for months now (on paper, napkins, school work, etc...) and finally sat down and tried to work on one on the computer today. Look what I came up with:



I would like to find a way to incorporate some green in the monogram, but for now, this will do!

Wedding update

Guess what's going on 10 months from now?! OH no big thing, just my WEDDING DAY! Can you believe it? I can't.... On October 11th, Taylor and I will have been engaged for six months....six sweet, sweet months.

Having said that, I should really be rocking and rolling with wedding planning! So here are the updates as of late:

WE HAVE BOOKED OUR DREAM BAND!!!!!!!!!! Taylor and I went to a wedding in Longview back in July and absolutely fell in love with the band that played at their reception. And what do ya know? They're Houston based! So naturally, I was convinced this band was made to play at our wedding. They play so many genres, it is sure to be a good time on the dance floor. For a sneak peak at Dry Water, visit their website!


And also, WE HAVE BOOKED OUR DREAM PHOTOGRAPHER! Thanks to Megan Goforth, we found Brooke Ogilvie out of Abilene and I KNEW we had to have her. She is truly talented and we cannot wait to have her photograph our wedding. I was a huge stickler about picking the perfect photographer, which is why I have been researching them for four months......... Luckily, persistency pays off! Brooke will be capturing moments of our special day next July 31 and I am beside myself excited. She will also be doing our engagement shoot (in November!) and my bridal portraits next spring. Check Brooke out!

If you can't tell, I am super excited about the recent vendors we have picked out and booked for THE BIG DAY. In my mind, the band, photographer and videographer (in the works!) are the most time sensitive elements in wedding planning. Florist and cake extraordinaire to come!


On a side note- The AGGIES are playing Arkansas at Cowboy Stadium this Saturday! We will be out there tailgating ALL day (even roasting a pig!) and then the big game is at 6:30. I am SUPER pumped to spend the day with all of our Dallas Aggies. BTHO ARKANSAS!

case of the mondays.

"Two are better than one.
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
If two lie down together, they will keep warm."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

I am so very thankful for my sweet Taylor. I don't know why I am so deserving of a love like this, but I am certain that this kind of love is Heaven sent. Taylor has taught me that love doesn't have to be difficult- that when it's meant to be, it comes easily. Ah, what a lucky lady I am! Sorry this is a corny post-but I had such a rough day, and Taylor completely turned it around (and he's at work!) I can't wait to marry this man!

beautiful love.

So maybe I am a good week late on posting this, but better late than never.....

Last Saturday (8.8.09!), Ivy and Troy were married! It was absolutely magnificent. In fact, I don't know if there are enough beautiful words to describe their day, so I am going to post pictures. I will say, however, it exemplified this wonderful love they share with one another, and could not have portrayed their personalities in a better fashion. They are such remarkable people and I am honored to know them both. I cherish Ivy and her family dearly and enjoyed watching them soak in those happy moments on Saturday. Such wonderful people.

A glimpse into Ivy becoming Troy's WIFE.....

sweet peace.

"Pain throws your heart to the ground,
Love turns the whole thing around...
No, it won't all go the way, it should,
But I know the heart of life is good."
-John Mayer

My mom always tells me to "pray for peace within yourself; for when you are at peace, there is not much else you need." So that's what I do. I don't pray for a job, I don't pray that my heart stops missing my home so dearly, I don't even pray for answers to all of my questions. I just pray for peace. I pray that God's love and strength will consume my entire being so completely that peace will occupy my heart. Without doubt and worry and fear and anger, I have much more strength to believe--strength to believe that everything is unfolding just as it should. Sometimes I just want to scream at God "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?! DO YOU EVEN HEAR ME??" and so I do. And He reminds me that faith in Him is a mighty, mighty thing. He reminds me that my timing is not His timing (does he not know I'm a control freak?) Ah, yes, He does. What a wonderful, peaceful feeling...