Thoughts here and there...

I have several things I wish to write about, each of which could be a separate blog post of their own. I have been putting off blogging because lately I've been quite wrapped up in reading these other blogs I have found. Amazing craft blogs, thrifty blogs, and sewing blogs have found their way into my bookmarks folder making it all the more tempting to read and set out on a creative craft adventure instead of using the time to blog myself. Tonight I will attempt to type all that I've been meaning to blog about and to do so in a concise manner, I think I'll post a photo and write briefly about each. With my almond cookie tea by my side (definitely a good purchase on my journey to acquiring a taste for hot tea), I'll begin.

This is me and my wonderful mom! She came to visit me a few weekends ago. Mom was able to come in and spend a day with my class and what a big help she was! She took down winter things in the classroom and helped put up my spring items. Mom also worked with my students, met other K teachers, and the kids loved having her there. It was amusing to them to have their teacher's mother there that day. It was special having mom come see and experience my very first classroom! The weekend followed with some relaxing, Sonny's BBQ, and shopping. Boy do I love and miss my momma :)

Remember the scrapbooking software I mentioned? MemoryMixer arrived the other week and I eagerly set to the task of scrapbooking our first year of married life. This photo here is only of the first page. Yes, it may be plain but I'm only a beginner ;) I'm working on understanding the software and sorting through page selections and embellishments can be quite a task itself! With so many options I tend to take a looooong time sorting through and deciding what I'd like to use. I told my husband I'll probably change every page I make a hundred times before I decide to get it printed. Actually, looking at this one now I think I've decided what needs to be tweaked a bit. Anyhow, it's quite exciting and I look forward to creatively scrapbooking future photos.

These two photos are our latest garage sale finds. The neat lanterns were $1 each and I'm still looking for good place for them. Apartment space can be a bit low. The pretty glass made them unique. For $2 we found this plant stand that we bought flowers for the next day. I love having color outside our apartment door. I also found a rolling chart stand for my classroom. I've been wanting one of these for a while so I can hang poems, songs, etc. that we've learned throughout the year and the kids can have easy access to it during centers. This lady had one for $8 and it works great in the classroom!

My middle sister Hillary and dad flew back to NC today. Dad happened to have meetings here in town and Hillary came since it was her spring break. It was great seeing them both! We went out to dinner, saw Alice in Wonderland (a bit strange), and went out to Inlet Harbor - a great restaurant on the coast. This is us on the jetty at Ponce Inlet. Notice the windswept hair? The weather was quite awful while they were here and that particular evening the rain had finally subsided but the wind was still blowing. I'm glad Matt & I were able to spend time with them both. Now all that's left to visit is my youngest sister :) We'll see...

North Carolina here we come! Well, not for a few months anyway. It is official - the Taflans will be relocating to NC this summer :) The what-ifs, hows, and wheres are numerous, but we know God will surely provide. We feel at peace about moving there to be closer to family. Our prayers are for guidance and job-seeking. I'm in the process of getting my teaching license in NC and he's already made contacts in the Raleigh area here and there. I got side-tracked tonight looking at apartments online. Thankfully, if no jobs turn up by the time our lease is up here in mid-July, my parents have graciously opened their home to us until we are able to locate jobs and get back out on our own. I can't wait! Family will be close again and his family will be only 7 1/2 hours away as opposed to 17! I just need to continue praying and remain patient.

I think this is all I'll write for now. It's getting late and my mind is not focusing so well - probably due to our squawking bird... poor little guy had to have his wings clipped today after a not so nice flight into the closet door. It was then that we said we'd had enough and didn't want to risk injury. I think I'll go get him and sit with my hubby on the couch as we wind down before bed.

Overdue Photos

I am catching up on the photos I wanted to post a while ago. Above is a picture of Rose's Girls Night Out when they came to our apartment for a Valentine's/True Love Waits evening. It was a bit crowded :)

Here are a few of our garage sale items... the $1 chandelier, the window pane hanging with a collection of our seashells, and our photo collage.

In Sickness and in Health...

Yes, it's been over a week since my last post and there's so much to share! First, I must tell you my excuse... I was quite sick. It came as a surprise to me as we were walking around at an art festival after church last Sunday. The fever and aches lasted off and on for five days - leaving me with an unpleasant cough and sniffles. Thankfully, I am much better and can actually eat full meals and walk without becoming exhausted :)

Picking up where I left off last, Matthew and I went shopping at garage sales last weekend. Our first stop found us with a $1 chandelier - we figured why not pay a $1 to see if the thing worked. Now we have a unique overhead light above our dinner table and it's quite exciting! We didn't have one before because our table is in what the apartment complex calls a "sunroom" - we thought it made a nice "eating nook" instead. The last house we went to (I think 6, total) had some odds and ends, and we walked away with two wooden frames with glass panes. I don't really know how to describe them, but we had some creative ideas for both of them and only paid 50 cents for each. One wooden frame is hung from our ceiling, displaying all the beach shells we've collected over the years together. The other frame uniquely displays a photo collage we created. We took many pictures of bark, leaves, etc. and ripped up the photos - then put pieces together again to create one giant picture of a tree. It was our first time every trying anything like that and it's not complete yet, but we do like what we have :) I just tried to post pictures but it was taking way too long so I'll have to try again later.

The rest of the week went by quickly. Monday I rested, determined to be better by Tuesday so I could substitute. I took a subbing job, woke up Tuesday feeling miserable, but went anyways. I didn't want to call in sick on my first day! Thank goodness for medicine! I subbed for a first grade class and it went well. There was only one terror ;) and he refused to say Mrs. Taflan. He called me Tiffany...not sure why...then settled with Mrs. T (weird because that was the name of my bus driver in high school). The day ended with me tutoring, then going to bed extra early. On Wednesday Matthew and I were asked to speak to the youth for their Purity/True Love Waits night. We met with the youth for an hour and a half and it went great! We wanted to give them something different and we did this by bringing in lamps, low lighting to create a different atmosphere. The youth pastor asked us to also share our video we had created about love that we played as an introduction to our wedding ceremony (we hope to post it online to Matthew's website soon). Matt & I want God to use us and Wednesday night was a great opportunity. Thursday and Friday I rested and caught up on cleaning the apartment. I stayed out of the schools because my fever was still coming and going.

Valentine's Day was Saturday! It was our first as a married couple and we began the day by sleeping in. My wonderful husband made me blueberry pancakes (with fresh blueberries!) and sausage <3>

Sunday was a big day - especially for Matthew. He had been asked by the youth pastor (he's the guy the married us) to assist in constructing and leading the contemporary service that morning. The contemporary service is a new thing we've been trying and lately it's had no direction. Matt and Jim dissected the parts of the service and over the next three weeks are trying out different ideas to see what works and what does not. I was quite proud of him :) He lead the worship band that morning too, so needless to say, he worked hard this past week and will again for the next two Sundays. Our prayer has been that God will use and speak through those handling the service. That afternoon was the youth group's first meeting on a Sun. night instead of a Wednesday. Matthew and I were asked to lead games (my favorite!) and we showed up with silly ideas and enough energy to get us through the evening. It was fun and looks as though we'll be back again next week to help out some more.

Well I'm off to small group. I hope to have a sub job tomorrow!