Life is Good.

Although I live to far from my family and friends and Missouri drivers REFUSE to use their turn signals when they change lanes/pull out in front of you, I must say...life is good.

Kansas City always has something going on, we have great friends down here and during the summertime, the pool cures all. School is underway again and this semester I'm officially in 'the first professional semester.' This means I'll be in a classroom observing and teaching already! I was assigned to Turner Elementary in KCK to a 4th grade classroom and I couldn't be more excited. I love working with kids, I love being around kids, and I love making a difference. It sound cheesy but I really feel this is what I was meant to do.

Deren has his annual review next week so cross your fingers that good news is coming his way :) He's great at what he does and still enjoys his job. What more could a guy ask for??

We're headed to Minnesota/Wisconsin for labor day weekend. We'll spend a few nights in Woodbury and the other part of the weekend will be in Madison, WI for my brother's annual memorial golf tournament. I'm excited this year because Meghan is coming back and she's going to GOLF with us!! Don't worry, I'll take pics. This might be one for the record books.

Lastly, if you all have recommendations for good children's books for about 4th - 6th grade please send me a message or leave a comment. Whether they're classics or new books I haven't even heard of yet. I want to hear what you all have to say!

[lifetime] reflections

Since my grandma past away last Tuesday I've had some time to think about life. Sometimes I feel like I deal with death in an 'odd' way but I feel like I've had the worst of it and from here on out death is suppose to happen. Grandma (Harriet) Lidke was my last grandparent. I never met my Grandpa on my mom's side and the memories of my Grandparents on my dad side's are very few. I do know that sometimes when people offer their sympathy it's hard for me to take because I don't have many fond memories of my Grandma. No family is perfect but I knew from a young age my Grandma was not a healthy person and she didn't treat my mom well. It wasn't until I grew up that I just came to realize that she's family and she's needs us just as badly as we need her. From then on out that's the relationship I had with her. I am grateful that she was able to attend our wedding this past May. She didn't socialize much or stay long at the reception but she enjoyed herself and that's what mattered. She was loving yet critical, helpful yet needy.

I'm not trying to down the life of my grandma because she lived a full and long life. I have learned through this loss that I know that I want my legacy to be that of happy memories and when people compile my eulogy I want it to be nearly impossible to fit the good times into a 3 - 5 minute speech. That's it now, enough family losses for this girl for a while, huh?