"Ch-ch-changes"

As many of you know, I HATE change! Like seriously hate it! It is the unknown, it is scary, it is new and when things change, I am not in control. And we all know that is a VERY hard thing for me. I am a first born and teach for a reason... ha! (Like I had ANY control of being a firstborn!) 

But with that being said, changes are definitely happening in my school next year whether I like it or not. And since I have signed my contract for another year, I am along for the ride! So I am doing my best to embrace the new changes. We will be a small school. Like less than 350 PreK through grade 12 students. Yep, that small. But I think it will be a great year for me to embrace things around me, step out of my comfort zone and grow. I am ready for take on what comes!

I also found out officially today that I get to change grades. Yes, this time I asked for a change! Asked! Can you believe that?! I am going back to the grade where I left my heart. I am going home (grade-wise not back to NC). I am going back to first grade! I was over the moon when my principal said that is the grade that was open! I was blessed to teach first grade for seven years and loved it! It such a special grade where you to get watch so much change happen- students learn to read (amazing to be a part of), students become writers and students learn to solve math problems. It is a life-changing year and I am so grateful to be a part of it! It will definitely have its challenges but I am so happy to go home!

Morning Walk

Today is Revolution Day in Tunisia so I do not have school. Zoe and I decided to go out and take a walk on the beach this morning because the weather is beautiful. I wanted to take the opportunity before winter sets in (cold and rain) and rumor has it, it is coming this weekend! :) So we walked on the beach in La Marsa and it was beautiful! These views of the Mediterranean Sea never get old. Great way to spend a day off!

Guest Blogger

This summer I reconnected with my very first best friend, Olivia and soon discovered she too has a blog (and wrote an amazing book you must read)! It has been wonderful catching up with her and reading about her life now with her husband and two sweet boys! 

Here we are as sweet babes stylin' in my dad's favorite rocker!

Olivia asked me to guest blog for her to tell about my experience of teaching in Tunisia. She asked me some questions and I wrote up my answers. Click here or on the picture to learn more about what I do in Tunisia!

Fun in NC!

When I wasn't traveling, I was spending time with my friends and with my family! I did not get many pictures of the friends I got to spend time with but I treasured all the time I got to spend with them! My time in the states is always short but I try to spend as much time as I can with those I love!

Mom, dad and I went to see the new Star Wars movie. I am not a big Star Wars fan at all but I got hooked! It was a great movie!

Dad had too much fun with his light saber he made when we got home!

My very best friend got proposed to on December 12th and she is getting married in July 16! I am over the moon excited for her and cannot wait to stand beside her on her special day! :)  I was blessed to go dress shopping with her and her parents while I was in town. What a wonderful and special day!

She did find her dress that day but this is not it... somethings have to be kept a secret. ;) She looked beautiful in every dress she tried on! 

My other dear friend, also named Brooke, and I spend a LOT of time at our favorite store... Target! We loved to close the place down!

I got to spend some time with the Smith kids too! Love them dearly! This picture was taken when I thought I they were doing their homework. HA!

My visit was not complete without a trip to Waffle House with Ains and Mads! Cols had a basketball game but we brought him dinner afterwards! :)

I also had a check-up and a gamut of tests with the cardiologist.

They tests were not fun but they did show my heart is healing wonderfully and she is very happy with my progress!

Before I got back, Brooke comes over and helps me pack! Every time without fail! We always have fun and she is amazing! This time we played around with the selfie stick!

Mom had to join in too!

My trip was a whirlwind but I had a wonderful visit! I love you all dearly!

Birthday Weekend Getaway

This month my wonderful mom turns 60 years old and a milestone that big needs to be all out celebrated! :) So that is exactly what we did! And it was full of surprises (which is always a challenge when you are not a good secret keeper)! But we managed to pull it all off! Dad, Paul, Ellen and I have been in contact for the past two months trying to plan it all and it was so excited the weekend had finally arrived! Mom knew we were going to "The Chef and the Farmer" for dinner! It is a really nice farm-to-table restaurant in Kinston, NC. Then she thought after that we were going to spend the night at Paul and Ellen's house for New Year's Eve and then head back home the next day. But that is not what happened! Read below to see how it all unfolded... ;)

Outside of the restaurant, "The Chef and the Farmer"

The five of us at dinner

The food was absolutely amazing!

The neat restaurant

Best dinner ever! Stew with Cornish Hen

Panna Cotta for dessert (along with 4 other desserts but I thought I would save you from the many food pictures). 

Such a wonderful restaurant with the best food I have ever had and the best service! Everyone was so kind and really cared! What an amazing experience! You must go if you live in NC!

 After dinner, we stopped by to see the Livingston family who own a Jamaican restaurant in Kinston. They catered Paul and Ellen's rehearsal dinner so we wanted to stop by and say hello! We love this family!

After dinner, we followed Paul and Ellen to their house (or so mom thought). But instead we went to a cabin on the coastal waterway we rented for the weekend! She has NO idea! She didn't realize anything was off until the end when we couldn't find the house and she didn't understand why Paul didn't know where he lived. She was so mad but once she realized what was going on (which took a while ;) she was so surprised and so excited! After looking around the cabin, she had some of her coconut birthday cake we brought her!

Here are some views of where we were staying the next morning once it was daylight.

The other surprise we had for mom was her book! All of her friends and family sent in letters to her and pictures that we put in a photo book for her! She treasures this book and reads through it daily!

We had such a nice and relaxing weekend! 

The boys played Legos

Mom continued to eat her cake (we happily helped her too!)

We played Heads Up

What a fun game!

We also went to see the movie "Joy". In my personal opinion, I do not recommend it- too depressing.

The next morning, mom, dad and I woke up early to see the sun rise! It was still quite overcast but we could see some of it peaking through. How beautiful!

The three of us watching the sunrise

Afterwards, Dad warmed us up with a fire in the fire place :)

After breakfast, we headed to downtown Beaufort to walk around and shop. What a beautiful area!

We then came back to play in the yard before the sun went down!

Paul also tried to catch some fish with the net he found... he managed to catch a snail. ;)

After a yummy steak dinner, we made fruit sushi! It was harder than it looked but was a lot of fun! It was like crafting with food!

Not quite sushi when it was all said and done but still very yummy!

The rolling process was the hardest part!

Success!

The next morning, we had a church devotional and then packed up and headed on our way! What a wonderful trip with the people I love the most! :)

Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you to the moon and back!