Don't let the blog bite you!

A glimpse at our weekend.

I am feeling so torn with this whole blog thing.  Now that I am teaching, I feel that it may be too risky to continue sharing.  And if I were to continue sharing, I almost feel that I couldn't be as real as I like to be on my blog.  I already have co-workers asking me to be friends on Facebook and allowing them in on my Facebook would eventually lead them here.  And while I am not the least big ashamed or embarrassed of anything I have ever blogged about....I just don't know if I want them that close. 
I have read of too many teachers losing their jobs and ruining their reputation because of blogging--or what was said on the blog.
It's always been my policy to not blog about my students or work--at all.  And I think that I've held up to that.

But let's face it, Google "teacher fired for blog" or "teacher fired for facebook" and the results are numerous.  It's just scary. 

I would sure hate to have my beloved blog be the one to bite me in the end.  And when you work as hard and as long as I did to get this job....you surely don't want to risk losing it.

So what is a girl to do?

I have hope

Jealousy sure sucks, doesn't it?

I even hate to admit it sometimes because it makes me feel so pathetic.  I mean, jealousy is not a good thing to feel.  Nothing really good comes from it. 

I can't help but to feel some sort of jealousy when I see people that have "done it right."  They were "most likely to succeed" in high school....or were just really good students.  They then graduated and went to a great school where they finished, with honors.  And then they landed a super great job and earned an awesome salary. 

A few years later, they marry the person that they have been with since college.  And, as if it were clockwork....two years later, a baby comes along.  To complete the whole picket fence idea, you know.

People that just seem to have done it right.  The way that it was supposed to be done.

Am I the only one that sees things like that?  maybe.

I got things done....  I have the marriage, the perfect daughter, the college degree, the great salary and good job....but I still feel myself saying that it's not enough.

And I guess that it's a good thing that it's not enough...because it keeps me reaching for higher and brighter stars.

I just wish that I could be content/satisfied with the choices that I made and the paths that I took.  It may not have been the right path or the best path, but it was the one that I paved.

I have so many "coaches" in my corner these days.  We have our marriage counselor that we're seeing, like, once a month.  We have a parenting coach.  I see my personal counselor.  And now, a financial coach. 

How can I fail?

We met our financial coach last night.  Talk about amazing.  I found her from the Dave Ramsey website.  If you remember, we took the Financial Peace University class at our church.  We loved what the program taught.  We loved the plan.  We loved the idea.  But we took it no further that the class.  We didn't know what to do next.  We have irregular pay because of my husband's job and that makes budgeting very difficult.

After speaking with the financial coach, we feel on our feet again.  She's going to work with us for six months to get us on the up and up.  She will write our budget and give each dollar a name.  Everything we bring in, will have a purpose.  I can't wait.  She thinks that we'll be out of debt, including my huge student loan, by December 31, 2013. 

Honestly, I don't see it. 

But if she does....I am with her!  Even if she can get us close, I'm with her.

And two months later...

I finally get to enjoy my birthday present.

I asked for this necklace for my birthday, back in November.  It came in and was too short.  :(  I have a thick neck, I guess.

Luckily, it was an option to exchange because that is just what I had to do.  But it took me weeks to actually get it rewrapped and shipped back for the exchange.

Yesterday, I finally got my birthday present.  Two months late.

Show Off!

I'm giving a new meme a test drive.  We'll see how things go...

Introducing:  Show Off!

Each week (or so) I will be asking you to "Show Off!" something in particular that you may not normally mention in your regular blogs.  Sound fun?  Let's get to it!

If you'd like to play along, just grab my button (I didn't have a special button made...yet) and enter your link below.






This week, Show Off! your 9-5.  What does your office/cube/workspace/classroom look like?  Where do you spend your days?  Are you a working mom?  A SAHM?  A work from home mom?  Do you keep a neat and orderly workspace?  Do you adorn your walls with pictures of your loves or do you keep a professional space?  Do you have a swank corner office?  Show Off!

This is my 9-5--or more like my 7:30-5:00 space.  My classroom.  And while it's my classroom, it kind of isn't.  You see, I was hired on a half year contract.  I am covering an extended maternity leave for a teacher.  So this is her room but with my touch.  There are things that I would do differently if it were my room.  But that's a whole 'nother post in itself. 

But for the meme's purpose, this is where I spend my days.

Does that chair look familiar?

Your turn!  Show Off!

My Baby Ballerina

I use the term "ballerina" very loosely, as it is far from what she performed today.  Ugh.

I had the crying one.

The one that wouldn't unlatch from my leg.

The one that made her mom come into the class with her.

The one that sat on her mommy's lap for most of the class.

Ugh.

Why is she so rotten? 

Oo,ohh, oooo!  I know!

Because I made her that way.

Have I mentioned that we see a parenting coach?!  Did I blog that yet?  I can't remember.

So today was her first ballet class.  And while her father caused more of a scene than I think she did (because he was embarrassed of her behavior--and he's yet to figure out that a two-year-old's tantrum is much more socially acceptable than a 31 year old's tantrum)....I still say it was semi-successful.

She did participate for about half of it.  So that's not too bad for the first class.  Or so I tell myself.

And yes, ballerina's get time-outs too.

Up for the challenge?

It's totally not a challenge for me, because I already do it on the daily.  But, it may be just the challenge you need to start your year off on the right foot.

Not everyone can get K-Love where they live (and what a shame, what a shame) but the challenge isn't just about K-Love but about giving Christian music a chance for 30 days.  Listen to it for 30 days and see if it brings any change into your life.

I know that it's changed mine.  I remember the first song that I heard on K-Love that really opened my eyes.

I believe that it was almost a year ago that I made the change from country music to Christian.  Not saying that I don't occasionally "stop by" at my old stations just to hear the latest, but 99% of the time, my car station is set to K-Love.  It's my own private worship and I think that it helps me survive my two hour daily commute. And life, in general.

A couple-few that I just love to hear are:

So that's it....are you up for the challenge?

Ma Bling

Joining in the fun with a little link-up!

Bling, Bling, Share Your Ring!

Here is my bling:

And I loooooove it.

To read a blog about my "bliggin' issues," click here.