Where I'm From Poem

For my Literacy Methods course, we were asked to create a Where I'm From poem (original idea was from George Ella Lyon-who we got to see a few weeks ago). Let me just tell you, I do NOT like poetry! I am not good at writing poetry and I do not prefer to read poetry. HOWEVER, I really enjoyed this writing process and the results of this poem, thus why I am sharing it with all of you!

Where I'm From

I am from ten years of test tubes and Mama's answered prayer
Iam from beautiful blonde curls and zerburts, giggles, and big cheek smiles
I am from white picket fences and "supper's on the table"
I am from elaborate Easter gowns and bows as big as my head
I am from Daddy's at the pulpit and we're sleepin' in the pews

I am from Monday McDonald's and Saturday morning donuts
I am from basketball game side lines and Friday night lights
I am from extravagant Sunday dinners and an extended family of concregants

I am from “belly buttons and butterflies”

I am from Grandpa's pennies and Grandma's chewing gum
I am from Daddy's little girl knowls who's in charge
I am from short sheeted beds and stolen toys
I am from "Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name"
I am from Lone Star summers and Cowboys on Thanksgiving
I am from bluebonnet photography and hummingbird feeders
I am from sweatin' bullets - "but it is a dry heat"
I am from America by birth but Texas by the grace of God

I am from oversized portions and Mama's weekly feasts
I am from late night snacks and after school meals
I am from Daddy says I'm beautiful but people's looks don't lie
I am from images in the mirror of an overweight teenage girl
I am from images in the mirror of an overweight teenage girl
I am from counting the numbers on a scale, praying they are in the right order
I am from running water to hide the sound - it doesn't taste as good the second time around
I am from wiping tears and hiding the evidence
I am from looks aren't everything but it's not always that easy
 
I am from a broken heart and a hospital bed
I am from "you had me at get lost" --ummmm, let's just be friends
I am from Easter Sunday kisses and dead battery delieveries
I am from Yogurt Story breakups and yep, it's a sign
I am from P.S. I Love You ending fifteen times
I am from counting the days and handwritten letters
I am from crumbly cookies and "You must be Tiffany Joy!"
I am from Marine Corps birthdays and ball gown dresses
I am from "let me see your ring" to sparklers at the getaway
I am from living evily hafter apper with my personal Prandsome Hince

I am from where I've been, but nowhere near the end -- riding into the sunset with my very best friend

Happy birthday, Miss Marley!!

I am so excited and shocked that Marley has turned 1 today! It seems like just a few short months ago that I was jolted awake at 4:30 in the morning to phone calls, text messages, and the excitement of another baby on the way!! Rushing to the hospital and walking into the room right after she was born was such an excitement for me! I've enjoyed my nephews (Eli and Isaac) so much and yet it was such a joy to welcome this sweet little baby girl into the world!

Seriously, this child is the happiest baby on the planet! Even when she is sick, she is so joyful! She's smiley and full of laughter all the time!

She has just grown so much this year!

Marley, I am so blessed to be your Aunt Kiffidy! You have filled me and the rest of the family with such joy and happiness with your laughter and cuddles! I cannot wait for another year, more smiles, more growth, and more hair bows! I love you!

What's up with the Sewell's!?

Things have been absolutely crazy around our house lately!! Trevor is somewhat shifting gears and preparing for flight school. He's begun to read the books and try to get ahead of the game. I'm so excited for the adventure about to begin. I have a feeling I will have a difficult time adjusting, but this is the Lord's will and He never leaves us!

Trevor has also begun working for my brother, Ben! This is somewhat of a shift since he was working nights for Party Animals. HOWEVER, because of the horrible allergies that he has this time of the year, he is beginning to do real estate recruitment for my brother! I'm excited for this opportunity for him and thrilled that they get along so well!

My focus right now is ONLY ONLY ONLY on school. I am in my school two days a week (which I love! I often miss my kids when I'm not there!) and I am at UNT the other two days. I've been subbing on Fridays or working on lesson plans and projects. Truly, if I can survive this year and my first year of teaching, I'm pretty sure I can handle anything!

I haven't been working on any crafts lately simply because I have been so incredibly busy, however, here are a few of the projects to come! :)

Since I'm in the mindset of my classroom, we'll start with this one! Who knows what classroom I'll be in, where it will be, or when it will be, BUT I absolutely must make this and it must be displayed there!

Eli and Isaac made works of art that were vary similar for their playroom! They really enjoyed it so I may have them help me with this! I'd love to have two or three of these! :)

I'm also wanting to make a couple headband holders because I have SO many headbands and bows! I'll probably do somehting similar to this with a teal motif similar to our bathroom style.

I am in major need of a cookbook! I haven't decided if I'm going to make one similar to this like I did for my mom a few Christmas's ago or if I'll create a book on shutterfly. Because I am trying a lot of recipes often, I may start out with something like this and work my way up to printed books!

I also have a few big painting projects coming (baskets, table, chairs, and a console table), but that's probably going to be saved for Thanksgiving or Christmas break.

I also have another wreath planned but I'm keeping this one a secret!

Our "S" Wall

Practically since we have moved into this house, I've had a vision for this "S" Wall. We decided from the very beginning that if we were going to have our initials around the house, they would have to be all in one place! Thus the "S" Wall! I found the letters all over the place and we also painted some. I had Eli and Isaac each finger paint one and they did phenomenal!! We love how it turned out!!

P.S. If you read my blog, please hit follow! I'd really appreciate it!

Quick Updates

I have been so crazy busy with school and spending time with the love of my life that I have not had a lot of time to update my blog! :) Soon and very soon, I'll be making some changes to the blog-there may be some construction, but I'll keep everyone posted along the way! Here is a quick update on our lives:

• Student teaching is going great! I find myself passing the school when I have class days at UNT wishing I was at the school with the kids!! So far I'm loving the younger grades. I really think it all depends on the mentor teacher though. 
• I'm working on my certification now! Practice tests start in a few weeks! Prayers please!
• Trevor is loving his work with the lawyer and for Party Animals! I think he is getting a little worn down though because it is such long hours. He took a few days off this week to recover. It was super nice to have him around. 
• We started a new Sunday School class at FBCD-Nearly, Newly, and Beyond! Everyone meets together at first for breakfast and then we split into Marriage and Parenting. We are just loving it! We love our leaders and are excited to make new friends!
• My house looks like a junior high student's room...BUT instead of cleaning, I'm blogging!
• I've started Christmas festivities! :) I've got all sorts of new plans and I'm ready! Christmas in Cowtown is coming and I couldn't be more excited!
• Our "S" Wall is almost done! You should be seeing a reveal in the next day or two! I can't wait!

Looking to the Future!

In nine months, I will be graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in Early Childhood through 6th grade education. I've known since kindergarten (or earlier) that I wanted to be a teacher just like my favorite kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Nicholas! When I was ten years old, God called me to Deaf Education. Though I have run away from His ultimate plan several times, He always brings me back to His will for my life.

At the moment, my plan (and the Lord's plan as I believe it to be) is to graduate from UNT and go straight into my masters through a distance learning program at TWU for Deaf Education. As I've been doing my student teaching, I've been thinking about how excited I am to get into my own classroom (I haven't always felt this way)! Trevor has mentioned a Christian K-12 school in Pensacola a few times to me, but this last time it really stuck in my head. Today I got online and looked at the school. Not only do they follow the same program that I was taught with at Liberty Christian, but the creators of the program are the founders of the school! I'm just getting more excited about the idea!

The thought of being a school environment surrounded by other Christians is so uplifting and exciting to me! I've decided to go ahead and begin the process of preparing a portfolio and resume full of recommendation letters!! It's time to begin praying for this job as well! AND praying for the possible children that I may be responsible for eleven months from now!

Please join me as I seek the Lord for direction in this adventure! I'm so excited at the possibility of working at Pensacola Christian! It is Your Will, O God!

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for Denton ISD! I am so thrilled that I got to spend my first day at Evers in first grade! I had such a wonderful day. It was quite busy and my feet are beginning to tell me just how much I did today! I'm still not sure what I really want to do and what the Lord is calling me to do, but I do know that this is going to be a great year!!!

I do realize that I haven't posted in awhile. I'll try to do better, but for now! I have to balance my new 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. work schedule!