Freakin' Exhausted Friday

The past week has been so exciting, but SO exhausting. Not only did we become homeowners on Monday, I also started wedding planning, I had to administer TAKS for 4 days, and my car had to go into the shop because the brakes were acting up.

I wish the upcoming weekend meant lots of rest and relaxation... BUT it doesn't. Matt's parents are coming out to help us finish painting (we have been painting ALL week) and work on our landscaping. My parents will also be in town this weekend for my mom's surprise 50th birthday party. Well, it was supposed to be a surprise, but someone ruined it (I'm not naming any names). Tomorrow, mom and I are getting our hair done, which is much-needed for me. My roots are a mile long. On a side note, I am thinking about growing it out for the wedding... And by growing it out, I mean, growing it a couple of inches. My hair grows SO slow. Anyway, after we get our hair done, if there is time, we plan to make our first stop to look at wedding dresses. :) Sunday, we have a wedding shower for Hillary's brother. Like I said, crazy weekend.

Now, if you're wondering why I have already started wedding planning and why we're already looking at dresses since I just got engaged a week ago, I will tell you. We are getting married this FALL. So, in the middle of fixing up a new house, me teaching summer school, my mom being in Midland, we are going to throw together a wedding. I can't wait.

House and Wedding

Unfortunately, Matt and I did not get to close on Friday. However, they did let us "temporarily lease" it so that we could start painting and mowing and what-not. It's no secret from my previous blog that I had a LONG and emotional week last week. Friday came, and we found out around noon that we wouldn't be able to close because things just didn't fall in to place in time. BUT, since we have an amazing realtor, she spoke with the seller's realtor and got them to work with us. We were SO thankful.
So, after work on Friday, I got the key to our new place. Matt met me at the house and we began to walk around talking about the many things we want to do with the place (when/if we ever have money again). AND, skipping all the fabulous, yet mushy details... He proposed. I know what you're thinking... "It's about time!" You're not alone. :) Oh, and for those of you who had a false sense of concern for "POOR Ally," you can move on with your life. I am happy. Life is good.
So not only am I a new homeowner (we FINALLY closed yesterday), I am also a blushing bride-to-be. I am incredibly overwhelmed, but thrilled for the future. I love my life.

Closing time.

This day has been long. This week has been long. Heck, it's been a hellaciously long month! I am whipped.
Yesterday, I had to take my last (hopefully) certification exam. Please pray for me that I at least pass the dang thing. I am not sure why, but I am not overly confident about it. Fingers crossed. After the test was finished, I did get to rest, so that's a plus.

Today, we got our TAKS scores for our kiddos. Naturally, I skimmed through the failures first, thinking "I can't believe he/she didn't pass" or "Dang, he/she worked so hard!" Then I realized, I hadn't taken the time to look at my hardworkers that HAD passed. Isn't it funny how we lean toward the negative before looking at the positive?! I looked back through the list and was overwhelmed with a sense of pride. I am SO proud of these kids. SO proud and SO blessed to have been a part of these kids' lives. God put me here for a reason.

Tomorrow, we are supposed to close on our house. We are still waiting on the final word from the bank, but everything SHOULD be A-ok. So, at either 1 or 3 tomorrow, Matt and I will be HOMEOWNERS!!!!!!!!! I am so excited... Welllll, I will be when the papers are signed. Please pray that everything will fall in to place.

As of right now, I am one big stressed, excited, happy, frustrated, exhausted mess... But I wouldn't change it for the world. I am blessed.

Wordless Wednesday

Fun Times

Before my Wordless Wednesday post/pic, I must tell you about our crazy weekend. We went to Midland for my mom's bday. Well, we were supposed to leave by about 6 on Friday, but Matt's schedule is so dadgum unpredictable that we didn't get to leave until 7. With no stops (let's be honest, that wasn't going to happen), it takes a full 5 hours, putting us into town around midnight. So, we set out on our way. About halfway there, it started pouring on us... Not sprinkles, not even moderate rain, but an all out storm. I was so thankful that Matt was driving. That obviously slowed us down. By the time we got close to Midland, it was closer to 1 a.m. We missed our exit thanks to the stupid Garmin and ended up driving down a very dark service road... Then BAM, we hit a pothole. YEP, it popped my tire. Popped it!! Grr. Poor Matt had to change it out in the rain. We didn't get to my parents until 1:30... Exhausted.

However, after a very rough start, we had a great weekend. Matt and Dad played golf and Mom and I did a little bit of that shop therapy that I love so much. Midland has FABULOUS little boutiques everywhere. We had some wonderful quality time together. I love my family so much!

I also got to have dinner last week with Katie and Candice and Madden. I swear, she is getting cuter and cuter every single day. I love being Aunt Ally. :)

My Music Monday

After a long, but wonderful weekend with my family (more about that tomorrow), I am exhausted. I have a feeling this is going to be a LONG week.

Anyway, in the spirit of my new blog, I have come up with another fabulous song. Many of you have heard the song, "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode and even Marilyn Manson. Now, I know what you're thinking... "Ally, that song is not exactly about Jesus. It's idolization. It's demonic. It's dark and depressing." Yeah yeah, I know. BUT, you have to hear this version. It's by a girl named Lisa Hannigan and she is FAB-U-LOUS. She opened for David Gray when we saw him in November and Matt and I fell in love.

So, although the song isn't ideal, I hope you can come to respect such a talented artist.

Reach out and touch faith.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mom's 50th birthday. This is a big deal!! So, in order to celebrate, Matt and I are driving to Midland to see her and my dad. In fact, I am waiting on him to get home as we speak. We need to get on the road... Gonna be a long drive!!

Anyway- Because I have the most incredible mom in the world, I have to tell you a bit about her. She is awesome. I mean it. Absolutely wonderfully incredible and beautiful. She would do anything in the world for me and my brother.

We have been close for a long time... In fact, over the years, she has become more of a friend than a mom. I can only remember having a handful of arguments with her in my life (and I'm sure it was because I was a normal moody teen). When things got rough in high school, she was there. In college, when my world seemed to crumble around me, she left work to pick me up. We drove straight to the mall, where she taught me the beauty of shop therapy. She has always treated me as a human and never expected me to be perfect. She taught me the love of Jesus that I hold in my imperfect heart. She never judged, always saying "There are worse things in the world." Because of her humility, we were able to build a very unique mother/daughter trust. She is always on my side when it really matters, but is never afraid to tell me if I'm wrong. She loves me for the person I have grown to be and tells me often how proud she is. She has supported me in my best and worst times. She is everything to us.

Happy Birthday Momma. I love you so much!

Wordless Wednesday

Gun Totin' Rebuplican

Yes I was raised in a small town.
Yes my dad hunted and has always owned guns.
Yes my brother had a BB gun at an early age.
Yes I am pro-gun.
No, I had never really shot one up until about a year ago.

This is all thanks to my gun happy boyfriend. He decided a while back that yours truly needed gun training. Although all of the above statements are true, I was hesitant to go to the gun range. Once he got me there, though, (and after my hands stopped trembling) I wasn't too bad. I even hit the bullseye a time or two. Woop! So, after making myself very familiar with his Beretta (we all but made out), I now keep it in my bedside drawer. Hello, I live in Dallas!

Is it weird, though, that as comfortable as I am with the gun, I am still intimidated by the idea of being the "protector?" I mean, I am all for handing it to Matt if someone were to come in when he's there with me... But if he isn't, am I capable of protecting myself and my roommate? I would like to think so, but let's be honest, I don't really want to shoot someone. I guess I would if I had to. Wouldn't I?

Anyway, all this to say, yes, I am a very proud, yet maybe a little timid gun totin' Republican. That's all.

My Music Monday

I have finally decided to use my Mondays wisely. Because I love music so much (if I could carry a tune in a bucket, I would have tried out for American Idol), I am dedicating Mondays to music that I think everyone should know about.

While my students say that the music I listen to is sad and depressing, I am hoping that you will think otherwise. Besides, you can't really trust the Jonas Boys generation to give you good suggestions. C'mon now. Back in the day, songs had substance.

Case in point: "Blame It On The Rain" by Milli Vanilli (Marisa, that's for you). :)

**If that's not sexy, then I don't know what is.**

Blame it on the rain that was fallin', fallin'
Blame it on the stars that shine at night
Whatever you do don't put the blame on you
Blame it on the rain yeah yeah

HELLO?! Am I the only one who sees the deep-seeded significance here? If you don't want to take the blame for something you did wrong, BLAME IT ON THE RAIN. Yessssssss!

Anyway, back to my newly created Music Monday.
So, my roommate makes fun of me because I love love love the show, "Being Erica." Yes, she has a therapist that sends her back in time to re-live certain regrets. No, it's not realistic. No, I don't care. Yes, I still love it! I was watching the season finale last Wednesday and at the very end, she and her boyfriend broke up and the most incredible song was playing the background. I grabbed my laptop, googled away and found this:

"Ghost" by Robyn Dell'Unto
Anyone who has ever gone through something that left an emptiness in their heart will understand this song. It's nothing short of phenomenal. Okay, so I exaggerate a bit, but isn't it great??

25 Things About Me

1. My Kindle is my lifeline
2. I knew every single person I graduated High School with
3. I only ever remember being grounded once—My brother and I snuck out to toilet paper someone’s house
4. I miss my great-grandmother every day
5. I started gymnastics at age 3 and competed until age 8
6. In High School, I used the alias “Bentley” when I met new people
7. I love all things Christmas
8. My favorite type of candle is anything that reminds me of Christmas
9. My boyfriend’s middle name is the same as my great-grandmother’s maiden name (Key)
10. I don’t enjoy manicures because I hate spending an hour not having the use of my hands
11. I think being alone is both invigorating and frightening
12. I have acid reflux, but drink wine like it’s water – Correlation much?!
13. When I was four, my brother super-glued my eye together
14. I get ingrown toenails like nobody’s business
15. I ask lots and lots of questions when I'm nervous
16. I am buying a house!
17. I hate getting dressed up for work, but love dressing up to go out
18. I am not a big jewelry person simply because I lose it way too easily
19. I do love big earrings though
20. I despise the hiccups
21. I am writing a book
22. I used to write poetry
23. I didn't want kids until a few years ago
24. I drink coffee through a straw (my roommate got me doing this)
25. I have a faint white line running down my stomach-- No pigment

TAKS

This week has been LONG. Long long.
My students took the Math TAKS on Tuesday-- For those of you who are around my age, it's just like the TAAS test that we had to take when we were in school.
I am telling you now, there is NO way our tests way back when had the material that we anticipated on this test. They are so much more excelled than we were! And they are under so much pressure! Heck, WE are under so much pressure. Not only do they have to pass Math TAKS, they also have to pass Reading, Science, AND Social Studies.

On top of the stress of pushing kids to pass my FIRST TAKS, I ended up catching some kind of nasty stomach virus on the DAY of the test. So I sat in the "so quiet you could year a pin drop" classroom silently wondering if I would throw up at any minute... And if I did, would it be a "testing irregularity." Yes, this is what teachers think of. We just want to get through the day without having any major mess-ups. It's intense.
After the test, I high-tailed it to my car, drove quickly (but safely, mom) home and got right in bed, where I pretty much stayed the rest of the night. Today, I am finally feeling much much better. So that is my week so far.
TAKS prep, TAKS test, sick sick, TAKS test, sick... Boo.

PS- I know it's called Wordless Wednesday, so I'm not supposed to talk about my picture below, but I have to tell you why I love it. It's a picture of Matt's mom and all of her "kids:" her two sons, daughter, son-in-law, and yours truly. Sweet, huh?? :)

Wordless Wednesday

Easter Weekend

I love love love Easter. Love it for about a millions reasons. Of course, I love that we get to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is such a wonderful reminder of what He did for us. I can never get enough of it. I also love family time. It's like Christmas, but with much better weather!

We had a great weekend. Saturday, I went shopping with my mom and then we went to an Easter/Brent's 30th birthday party at Matt's parents. They always have the best parties! His family has become such a huge part of my life in the last 4 years (and then some), so I naturally had to sit in awe of how incredibly blessed we are. We did an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos... They bought 500 eggs for only 8 kids!! They had so much fun and we had just as much fun watching them. I love this picture of Matt and his brother Brent. Olivia in her bunny mask. Me and Lisa. My love, always and forever.

Sunday, we went to my grandparents' church and had lunch. It is always nice to have some family time! My mom took all of those pictures so I don't have any!

On another note-- Please keep my babies (and me) in your prayers. They have to take the Math TAKS test tomorrow and they must pass it to move to 9th grade. They're under so much pressure, but I have faith in them!!

My brother is a ROCKSTAR.

I am a proud little sister today. My brother was named to Fort Worth's "Forty Under Forty."

The Fort Worth Business Press is honoring individuals under the age of 40 at its 40 Under 40 event May 27 at the Fort Worth Club. Professionals honored at this event are shaping the future of Tarrant County through their business and community involvement.

“The 40 Under 40 honorees exemplify the best and the brightest in Tarrant County,” said Richard Dixon, publisher of the Fort Worth Business Press. “When you look at the accomplishments of the class, it’s truly impressive. The Business Press is honored to recognize these individuals in the 40 Under 40 Class of 2010."

They only name forty people in all of Tarrant County. PLUS, my brother is only 27! Two words... BALL-ER. What an honor for him. What an honor for me! I am the lowly teacher sister of a Fort Worth celebrity!!! I love it and I love him!
Congrats, Brad. We are SOOOO proud of you!!