Growing up...or NOT growing up!

I was thinking today about how much I have grown up in the past year and a half since I graduated from A&M. A few things have happened and a few things haven’t happened. Here are just a few:

1. I have moved 5 times—yes I said FIVE times! Ridiculous! I have lived in 3 different places in Lewisville, TX and two places in California. (And maybe a new move soon???)

2. I have had 5 different jobs!!! Are you ready for this??? I have worked at: (in this order)
-Imperial Beach Coffee and Books (Barista)
-Marcus High School (student teaching)
-Flower Mound High School (Chemistry teacher)
-Young Life’s Mountain Lodge (Program Intern)
-Starbucks Coffee (Barista)
-The Academy of Irving ISD (Chemistry/IPC Teacher)

3. I have been on a cruise. (With Sarah—the bunkmate!) Very fun, but would be SUPER fun with all six of us!

4. I have broken my first bone and had my first stitches—my middle finger, what a fiasco!

5. I have learned the importance of clinging to the Lord in the Valleys, praising Him for them, and rejoicing on the Mountaintops.

6. I have learned how much I really do love teaching and how much technology can help me instead of hinder me!

7. I have not broken my camera since the last incident when I got my Aggie ring (remember girls?)!!!

8. I have gotten a new car. I have a car payment and everything! Yes, of course, Keith and Renee (my parents) helped out quite a bit on the down payment—thanks mom and dad—but I do have a monthly payment. Now, I’m not saying that I like my payment, but it does make me feel like a grown up!

9. I have not stopped singing! Now, most of you are thinking to yourself, “Self, I didn’t know Claire was a good singer.” Well, you are correct in your thinking, I am not a GOOD singer, but I LOVE to sing! Those of you who know me well, know that I can turn anything into a song, and I have not stopped doing it. I like to think of my life as a musical. In fact, today in class I was telling one of my students to shake something and just started singing, “Shake it like a Polaroid picture.” Yes, maybe not appropriate, but you know they loved it! I’m so relevant to my students!!!

10. I have not grown up! I have realized that I have a grown-up job and I pay grown-up bills, but I still do not do grown-up things. I would still much prefer to throw the Frisbee than go to a fancy club, I still do not dress up very much for work, and I don’t really think about or plan for my future financial situation. (Sorry dad!) Maybe it’s because I am dating a younger man, but I just refuse to grow up!

So, although time has passed since graduation, much more will have to pass for you to really see a "grown-up" Claire. Or, maybe I'll just move to Neverland and never grow up!!

My Brother, the star!!

Go to www.lsu.edu and you'll see my little brother, Kevin, on the homepage.

In case it has changed, here's the picture...

Winter Break Recap

Being a teacher, I am blessed with a wonderful 2 week vacation. When I begin to be frustrated with my job, I just remember my 2 weeks for Christmas, my spring break, and, not to mention, my 2 1/2 months during the summer. If you know me at all, you know that I cannot stand to just sit around for 2 weeks when there are so many other things I can be doing with my time. So, here's a recap of my 2 weeks off...

As you can see from the previous post, I spent a few days back in Lafayette with my family.
Here I am with my cousin's youngest, Ava. Sometimes it's still crazy to me that Aimee is old enough to have kids!


December 29th, was Joey and Emily Dunnebacke's wedding, as well as the declared Six Chicks reunion. It was such a blessing to be back with my best friends for the first time in 19 months! We went to to the wedding and then rented a hotel room for the night and picked up right where we left off. It seriously was as though no time had passed. Here are some pictures from the night:

The Chicks live on...

All of us with Joey and Emily.

A couple of days after the wedding/reunion, I packed up my bags to spend New Years (and a few days after that) with MY Joe. We celebrated his best friend, Ryan's, birthday and then went up to Truckee for a couple of days to hang out with the Thomsens and th rest of the interns from last summer. In Truckee, we built a snowman, went snow shoeing, and went sledding. I was able to cross 2 more things off of my 30 before 20 list! Wahoo!!! Here's some pictures of our time in Truckee.

Joey and I at Lake Tahoe

All of us with our snowman

All the girls snowshoeing

Crashing with Emmeline on the sled

Having fun with my snow shoes!

Joey and me in our favorite city

It truly was a great break, but it is good to be back to routine. Thank you, Lord, for family and friends, and here's to Spring Break in...(you'll have to stay tuned to find out my destination)...

I really am from the South!

As per usual, I went home to Lafayette, LA for Christmas.*

I was thrilled to be able to relax with my great family.

Little did I know that Kevin (my brother) and Patrick (Kevin's best friend) were going to remind me what my roots truly are.

Kev bought himself a handgun for Christmas and we just had to try it out, so we went out to some rice fields and had some fun. Enjoy :)

And for your viewing pleasure, here's the video of my first shot with the handgun!




*The only reason why I could go home is because of my new amazing teaching job! Praise the Lord!!!

talk to your kids about cooties

Long Overdue

I should have posted this about a month ago, but I must thank my dear friend, Mr. DeeOh, for creating the awesome header for my blog. He even made three so that I had options. Thanks Mr. DeeOh. You're a good friend!

Busy Rest

I am a restless person. Resting is so hard for me. I am always looking for the next adventure.

Looking for the next rush.

I have never had a job for over a year. Since I graduated high school, I have moved 8 times.

Eight.

Are you kidding me. My parents have only moved twice. And they have been married for over 30 years.

I should get a prize for that.

I am a wanderer. A dabbler. I leave at the peak of my stay so that I don't overstay my welcome.

I guess my heart just yearns for something more--so I just move on. And I leave everything else--and everyone else--behind.

Don't get me wrong, I have great friends all over the country and stay in great contact with most of them. But as for me--I leave. I move on to what I think are bigger and better things.

And so the cycle continues.

I mean, I just started my teaching job (yes, I got a teaching job in Irving teaching Chemistry and IPC) and on my first day I was already thinking about what I could do next year instead of teaching at this school. What is my problem?

But, what if this whole time, the thing that I have needed most is rest?

And, maybe I just have that nature about me. Maybe I will be a wanderer for the rest of my life. (Although I hope not, because the idea of being "settled" sounds so great!) Maybe I will, though, always feel the call to move to a new place.

But what I need to learn is how to rest while I am wherever I am. I need to be all here. This is something that I have known for a long time, but have to be reminded of.

My new teaching job is very stressful and overwhelming so I am very busy, but I am learning how to be all there. I am learning how to be completely content with THIS job, in THIS city, with THESE people. Although I am very busy, I feel very rested. Very stable. Very content.

We'll see how long THIS will last!!!