Clues!

Here are the clues Mr. R found today. Can you guess where we are going?

On a completely separate note:
I think a little bit of the south is rubbing off on me. I just finished reading my new Rachael Ray magazine and I am feeling the need to host a few dinner parties, game nights, and cookouts. Those glossy pictures and weekly menus get me everytime. More party ideas to come...

Can you believe it? I have one day of school left!

When I was younger I loved summer. It signaled long days at the beach. Nights spent roaming the boardwalk eating Mac & Manco pizza and riding roller coasters in the warm salt air. Summer meant weeks spent in sunny Florida visiting my grandparents and endless car trips up and down the east coast (seeing every historical town and battlefield I-95 had to offer).

This year my summer officially starts on Friday June 12th. My days will be filled with afternoons at the beach (making sure 18 middle schoolers remain safely above the water), nature hikes and cast net fishing, and early morning training runs. (Let's cross our fingers and say a prayer that I actually manage to get my lazy butt out of bed early enough to run!) I cannot wait!

Marriage: figuring out a way to spend time together even when you have no time to spare.

Today signals the start of my last week of school! YAY! I honestly believe I am more excited than the children. Grades are in, report cards are sorted, and my classroom still looks like a tornado hit it.

This week Mr. R and I seem to be running in completely opposite directions. Mr. R has meetings on Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday of this week. I have meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We are having dinner together tonight (Monday), but I think that is the only time we will have together (besides the 7 hours we sleep) until Friday. To help keep us connected and up the romance factor I am planning a little surprise getaway for Mr. R and me. We leave Friday! For awesome ideas for the couple on a budget check out Cher's blog Love, Actually.

I made a few clues for Mr. R with details and pictures describing our trip. I hid the clues around our house (in a few places he visits frequently). And I plan to hide a few more throughout the week. I would love to post more info, but Mr. R reads this blog too. Check back on Saturday for the final reveal!

If you want to play along with Mr R.

Clue #1: We are traveling to a city

Clue #2: See the opening picture puzzle piece.

Have you figured it out yet?

Weekend Update!

Friday: 12 hours in Sea World. Rode Manta, got turned upside down and then backwards while screaming my lungs out and praying to God I would not have a heart attack. Had fun girl time with Danielle followed by an uneventful bus ride home. New iphone is now up and running (to be honest I still have no idea how to use it).

Saturday: Kayaking with friends while getting paid. (I know, I live a charmed life!) Learned how to hook up a trailer to an SUV, figured out how to tie kayaks to said trailer, became a master at boy scout sailing knots.

Saturday Night: Dinner in Orlando, Drinks @ Hard Rock Cafe, and Jim Gaffigan! Hot pockets, bacon, sea cow, bed... I love him!

Sunday: The alarm went off for 7am church too soon and was quickly followed by the snooze button. Second day of kayaking, today we actually made it to the inter coastal. The weather cooperated! (Don't you love how we say that. As if the climate and humidity should accommodate my plans instead of nature's). Early bird dinner with the hubs at Carrabbas. (What can I say I was hungry at 4:00pm)

It was a fantastic weekend with hours of quality time with Mr. R. I know this sounds very unliberated of me but the time I get to spend with my husband is the highlight of my week. This coming week is my last week teaching the 2008 - 2009 school year and I am ecstatic!

Amazingly blessed!

So much has changed in one day... I went to work yesterday planning to spend my summer taking courses and pinching pennies. I didn't check my email yesterday morning and by lunch when I dared to open it I had 23 messages. Hidden in between notes from parents, staff notices, and junk mail was a letter from the marine science director asking me back! So it turns I am a workin' girl this summer. This means instead of having to "make it work", to quote Tim Gunn, with the funds we have. We will be a little more comfortable and be able to do a few of the house projects we have been planning.

Today I will be chaperoning my class on a field trip to Sea World. I almost think I am more excited than the kids! I have wonderful students this year who I can honestly say I will miss as this year comes to an end. I hope the rain holds off until tonight so we can all have a fantastic, sunny, rollercoaster ride filled day. I'll let you know how I make out on manta. (I am trying to be brave, but the idea of being strapped on my stomach while going through corkscrews scares me to DEATH!)

Tomorrow is still to be decided, than announced.

I was given the opportunity to take a certification class in gifted ed. (I teach so MANY gifted students in the advanced classes and I am without the necessary classes) The class runs from 10am to 4pm. At the same time I need to practice setting up and loading the kayaks for marine science (my summer job). I will be taking the kids kayaking twice a week to a new location that I am unfamiliar with. This means I need to step it up and be prepared. I am hoping there is some way I can to accomplish both tasks. (Cross your fingers).

And tomorrow night is GAFFIGAN! A few months ago Mr. R surprised me with tickets to see our favorite comedian Jim Gaffigan. (Bacon!) Mr. R has been watching him since his Conan days and I discovered him on the TV show My Boys (which I love and watch religiously!). He is playing (is that the appropriate word for a comedian?) in Orlando and I am super excited for some quality time with Mr. R and a great date night. (I am hoping we can get drinks at Margaritaville before hand!). Hint! Hint! Mr. R! (if you are reading this.)

It's getting close to 6:00 am and I need to hit the showers and prepare for a 13 hour day in the land of Disney. Wish me luck!

Another wedding?

Three years ago this month I was busy counting response cards, finalizing wedding details, picking out dance music, and praying my dress still fit. I loved every second of planning our wedding from designing our invitations, to dress shopping, cake tasting, and organizing the welcome bags and favors.

I discovered how much I loved to plan events and from then on I have relished every party, family dinner, and game night we have thrown. I love writing the invitations, selecting the perfect graphics, creating menus, and arranging the house to create cozy seating areas.

Mr. R recently decided to host a large even this fall for Marco Rubio our new Young Republican senatorial candidate. (He is running against the incompetent education shunning Charlie Crist, so you know who I am rooting for!) He will be speaking here in Saint Augustine and we are hoping to host around 250 people. Mr. R, not being a details man, asked me to help in the planning and of course I said YES! (Another wedding! Well, almost). I may not be saying "I do.", but I still get to select a venue, dinner menu, dessert selection (almost a cake), music, and invitations.

I made a quick to do list tonight with a few things I need to nail down before the end of the month:
1. Find venue (needs to seat at least 150 -250)
2. Find caterer for venue (if necessary)
3. Come up with theme that is not too election-ish
4. Create mock invitation/ticket to present to fellow YRs at June 8th meeting
If you have any ideas you want to share my ears are open!

***Photo taken from Rubio for Senate 2010***
http://marcorubio.com/

Trust, faith, comfort, STRESS!

My attitude always matched my state of mind. Unfortunately I am not the type of person who can still look cheery or sunny when her house, life, or work life is in shambles. I have never been good at hiding my feelings and to be honest my poker face is horrible. Mr. R swears anyone who has known me for more than 5 mins can read me like a book.

For the past week I have been stressed about school ending (only 6 more days!), grades due (I still have a few tests to grade), our summer plans (we need to visit family and squeeze in a vacation), money (I am always worried about money), and our home renovations plans (which suck up large amounts of both time and money). I also haven't been feeling so hot (mostly due to stress) and I haven't been holding up my share of household duties (which means our house may look clean, but please don't look in any closets or under our bed!).

I find that when I am most stressed, I end up harboring my worries until they overtake me and manifest themselves in the form of a migraine, cold, or stress eating. As a Christian this approach to stress is crazy and yet I do it time and time again.

A few months ago I subscribed to a daily devotional blog. I read it every morning with my coffee as I am getting dressed for work. While I read the passages and message daily, they have never spoke to me like they have today.

Today's post centered around Psalm 23, which I could quote since the age of four. It's one of the first scriptures they teach up pentecostal kids in Sunday school. As many times as I have read and said the words "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." I still doubt that I can rely on God for my prosperity, my comfort, and needs. God is constantly providing for me even as I stumble around looking for ways to take care of myself.

Today and for rest of this crazy week I am going to remind myself that it is not my job to fix and change my circumstances. It is my job to rely and trust my Shepherd to guide me, comfort me, and take care of my household. After all, its much easier to be faithful then to be stressed!

Changes...

I have been trying to make a few personal changes lately.
1. Eat more fruits and veggies
2. Cut out soda (even my precious coke zero)
3. Work out daily
4. Save $
5. Keep house clean

While I am constantly trying to do all of these things I am failing miserably.

Today I actually ate Doritos for dinner? Who does that? My fridge is stocked full of delicious fruit, fresh cut vegetables, and all the fixings for a healthy dinner and I choose Doritos?

I plan my daily workout for the afternoon, lay out my workout clothes, and upload a playlist on my ipod and I find myself here on my couch at 7:30.

Mr. R and I are trying to save up money for a kitchen remodel and yet I find myself getting annoyed with him when he asks if I really need a new dress for school. (Yes, I do realize we only have 6 days left).

And while I am very conscious of how great my house looks when everything is put away, I choose to be a slacker and postpone most of the pick up and cleaning for the weekend.

What is wrong with me?