Maybe this will work with an app!

Well, I haven't done this in a long long time but maybe an app can help with that. Although I would like to use it for more classroom accessibility, it's nice having a place to muse and write. If students read his, tell me what you think about his medium for writing. I enjoyed it for a long time.

Did I say consistent?

Nothing wrecks running consistency like a small virus. A weekend of promise. Of motivation.


And one gets that twinge of achy skin. The feeling that you are too tired for it to be 4 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. Your eyes get the achy feeling of two days going to be spent laying on the couch with intermittent water/bathroom breaks and the spotty ibuprofen checks. It is what can turn the most encouragable of runners into pudding. And this is exactly what happened to me this weekend.

So I lay on my couch, with only the energy to type a quick entry to keep myself from drifting into the land of the dying, and to type for no other reason as to remember that I made a commitment. To not give up.

Mother's Day Musing

As I sit here with my sweet children, two of which are on Facebook, I appreciate the gift of motherhood. I've been reading some other blogs of friends who are raising toddlers and it makes me think back on the other Mother's Days I've had. The ones where Grant, Ella, and Molly run to me with their Sunday School art projects with beaming eyes saying "I wuv you, mommy!" Molly even brought me one from school this year with a coupon for a mani-pedicure. I looked at her and said, "You would really do this? She replied, "I could at least try???..." I think I may let her off the hook on that one. It would make me queasy to have that hanging over my head, knowing at any moment I could pull a coupon and the next 2 hours would be scraping, filing, massaging, moisturizing, and painting on my mothers hands and feet.


This year, the children gave me a Mother's Day card with a girl sitting on a bench in a white skirt and hot pink Chuck Taylor's. They thought this reminded them of me (funny what your kids really think of you). Grant wrote his sweet sentiments about loving his "momma", Ella said that "I rocked",but the one that made me grin like a Cheshire Cat was Molly's saying. It read, "Mom, thanks for teaching us like you do...like how to shop!" I know, deep down, I have taught her more than this. How to properly tri-fold a towel. How to defrost a pound of meat in a microwave without cooking it. How to maintain proper breathing during running and stay relaxed in your torso. I know there is more I'm passing on to the next generation. But I am written about for how I shop. Ironically, I don't shop a lot. Groceries, yes. But Molly hates that! So, I am assuming it is the immediate break-neck speed I take to the clearance racks for the best deal I can find on last season's styles. Or the way John and I brought home amazing lawn chairs we found in a dumpster and then spray painted to "look" like new. Yes, these are the skills that Mother's Day 10' will be remembered. All to the contemporary tune of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" playing beside. My kiddos rock!

In other news, I went on a quick two-miler yesterday in an attempt to start the consistent routine. It was good. Not great. But good. Again, loving running is a bittersweet gig. Maybe the weight training will help the running along. At least the Kelly Rippa image I want will be in my head, even if it isn't on my body...

a recurring theme in life...

Looking back at the lack of blogging I've done just shows me the life I am living is an ever growing, ever changing, recurring one. Isn't it so true that we just let things slip in our lives and then get the friendly reminder that one needs to remember what brought you joy and gives you peace.

Well, in saying that, I have taken a year to graduate college and get my first teaching job here in Richmond, but realized I have let myself slip into a foggy haze of neglect. Neglect of what truly brings me joy. And that, ladies and gents, is exercising. Weird. Maybe sadistic. But nonetheless, i LOVE exercising. I miss the consistent feeling I have of running on a 4-5 day routine. I miss the social of friends when we are on the road and talk the first mile about nonesuch and then listen to the rhythmic breathing of each other as we get through to the end. Now, in saying this, I am not good at running. NOOOO, just the opposite, I am really bad at it. I cry, I whine, I say to myself, "you are crazy for hurting like this. why would you do this? you need to be doing laundry. you need to spend time with your kids watching them do laundry. you pee when you run, go do yoga..." Honestly, I might be the most negative runner I know. But when those miles are done, when I pushed through that hurt...ahhhhh, it brings me a satisfaction only a cold Peppermint Patty after a hot Mexican meal can :)

So I write this today, looking out a a beautiful breezy cool Saturday afternoon, in pledge that I will start the recurrence of consistency. To not do the things that bring you joy is pitiful. Even if they hurt a little. I need to a race to run and a goal to obtain. My empty calendar needs to be full of daily reminders that I am doing that which is hard, but I can do. An unset goal is a goal hit every time. So if anyone has a suggestion to get this runner off to a good start, please comment. Maybe you could goal set with me? Annnnndddddd go...

Hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name?

Hey! Hey there? Remember the time when i used to blog often? Since my last blog was when Ella turned 12 and she is 3 months shy of 13, needless to say--lots has happened. WE moved to a new home, I graduated from college, got a new job as a 3rd grade teacher, and I am attempting to learn my way as the leader of this special group. I would love to put there pictures up, I don't as a respect of confidentiality. But trust me, they are awesome. Teaching them is a great gift. I am learning much and finding that I am inadequate in so many ways. What matters is I am loving them in ways only I can (like making them own problems, be responsible in our school community, and chewing gum in our room is totally ok even when the school community won't let us :)

I have found that living in a new house is a great and wonderful thing. Now what is not so wonderful is the limited amount of time I have to make this home "ours". What does that mean really? New paint, new furnishings, new drapes? You know its your home when you come home to find Ella's boots in the foyer, her coat following her in the living room floor, and she is sitting in the kitchen already into her 2nd bowl of Reese's Puffs cereal after a long day of being and academic genius (well, for middle school that is). Those are the times I breathe in a sigh of thankfulness--then tell her to be responsible and get her stuff up.

Grant played his first season of freshman football and came out all the better. He is a lean, trim version of the unsure Grant we once knew. I applaud how courageous he was even when he was so mad at us for making him do "this". He has often said, "I don't know what i would be like if you hadn't made me play football." I know what he would have been like and I'm glad that I made him push himself. I'm glad when he was begging me not to make him go back to camp, I told him to "suck it up" and get in the car. I'm glad I got to sit in the bleachers and watch him from the sidelines as he was passed over to play, while his friends won game after game, and I got the pleasure of watching him congratulate them genuinely. He learned the game of football, yes. But the best teacher of the semester was the master of looking outside yourself and being part of the team. He was part. Not a significant part this year. Maybe not even next year. But he had joy just being in the game. Part of the team. One of the guys. And they boys on the team loved him. Were encouraged by his resolve. Were cheered up by him "good gaming" them when they came off the field. Were helped when mom gave them rides from practice and he never complained about not playing. Isn't that how we should be in towards service to the church. Rooting on one another with no complaining? Cheering those who are seemingly "more" in the game than we. He learned much from the semester sport, but was an example to me of just being in the Lord. Growing on the sideline. That is a sweet lesson only taught by patience and perseverance.

Ella is 12!

Today we celebrated our middle child turning 12. This celebration has actually been going on since Friday with shopping, dinners, grandparent parties, homemade cakes, movies. It ends up being birthday week. I'm glad Ella doesn't know what a half birthday is yet. John's camera is in his car and since its 10 degrees outside, I'll get it and post pictures mabe Thursday (the next day I have a "break")

Super excited about Thursday, though. Julie is coming over for supper, all new episodes of The Office, 30 Rock, and the new Amy Poehler show. John and I are stoked! I haven't run since last Wednesday, so Summer, you cannot be running either. Its team slacking!!!

Ms. Bolin, here's your reply

I got all of your things from your mom. I was working and she walked in and just held up this envelope that said, Flat Stanley for Jennifer Martin. It was like I was in an airport. So here are some anwers to your questions...
1. I like to eat most foods, I don't like okra
2. I would love to come there, but not any time soon.
3. I was born here in KY
4. I like the Bible and one of my favorite children's books is Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.
5. I Love Cat in the Hat
6. I like to play tag at recess
7. I do like sports like running but the only team sport I've ever played was one season of Co-Ed Dodge Ball with a church I once served.
8. I like to sleep a lot and its my favorite thing to do when I am home.
9. My eye are blue
10. I did celebrate St. Patricks Day by running a race where I placed 7th in all the girls aged 30-35.
11. I've never seen a volcano but that would be cool! I've seen a waterfall.
Tell you students I "miss" them too and its sweet that they want to ask me so many interesting questions. One more question for them...If they could take me anywhere in Brazil and show me,where would that be and why? This should be a fun response! Talk to you soon and thank you for the timely return of the Stanley's...

Ms.Bolin's Class, I love you!

Dear Mrs. Martin and 4th grade,
We just have a few questions.....
What do you like to eat? What food to you like? Are you going to come here? Please can you come here? Where were you born? Which book do you like? Do you like The Cat in the Hat? What do you like to play at recess? Do you like to play sports? What are some things that you like to do at home? Do you like to sleep? Do you like to play? What color are your eyes? How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Have you seen a volcano? Have you seen a waterfall?
We wanted to ask you these questions. There are a lot of them and you can answer the ones that you would like. If your students would like to answer some of them, that would be great! My students also said that they "miss you" because they know that that is a kind thing to say to someone in a letter. (haha-they made me write that). Something funny that happened.Nicolas told me the other day that God was so big that He could eat His lunch in one bite. We colored Flat Stanley and made some clothes of our own. They should be in Kentucky on March 31st. I will talk to Mrs. Martin about this. Also, we bought some postcards from Brasilia. Stanley will be bringing those to you.
Your Friends,
Caleb, Nana, Thales, James, Nicolas, and Ms. Bolin

I will answer you as soon as I get finished with a SS lesson plan, math critique, and studying for BIO. soon, i promise...

with pictures!

one more, i know its three but i'm waiting around in the library

i have to watch Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" in the next two weeks for a conservation assignment.

here's an inconvenient truth, its freaking freezing here Al. FREEZING! Global warming needs closure.

ok, no more for tonight...

addendum

all righty, that was a little negative so I'm going to lighten this up immediately with some good news. i found out I got one of two teacher's scholarships and will be getting my little bit of money on the 21st for my student teaching semester. that's awesome. and God is in control. which makes me know the only real thing i need is Him.

and that helps closure.

Time keeps on tickin', tickin', tickin', into the future...

i hate being so busy that i cannot do the things that i like to do. like nothing. i'm pretty much the best at nothing as anybody doing nothing can be. i've talked to julie and ginger in 15 min. segments that only lead to open ended questions about our lives and for people who need closure,this, my friends is no good. speaking of needing closure, (i'm thiking this is a fallacy made up in the minds of psychologists that need work) if this semester doesn't end soon it will kill me. here's what i keep telling jeanne when we run, "why am i doing this, there are no jobs, and i'm old and in college. doing this with the anticipation of no work is very demotivating. oh, go do something fun, no, i can't I have a dramatic presentation of the life of Fredric Douglass to complete after I get off of star bucks at midnight" did i say there are no jobs here?

closure: to finish a bachelor's (for no job) only to be told you're not really certified until you finish your masters. Sighhhhh. really.

really. amanda, i'm flying myself to Brazil to work. maybe that will bring closure to my life...

Ms. Bowlin's Class, Flat Stanley is on his way!!!

Hello Class,
I'm so excited to be sending you a friend from Richmond, Kentucky, USA. If you want to know where that is, then you can click here.

or you can paste this link in your web browser:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=40475&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.821085,78.310547&ie=UTF8&ll=23.241346,-69.609375&spn=77.549924,156.621094&t=h&z=3&iwloc=addr&iwstate1=saveplace

My friend is Flat Stanley. He likes to spend a lot of time traveling to different places learning about all sorts of things. I think he is really going to enjoy visiting you all in Brazil. He will be arriving in about 10 days, but I wanted to introduce him to you so he's not a stranger. Here are some things we did right before he left...

Kentucky Fried Chicken is a favorite here in our state! A man made his recipe for frying chicken here and started a business.



I really like to eat the white meat!


Quilts are an Appalachian tradition is our state and some even represent stories. This one was hand made by a woman who lives on the farm I live on.



We get our local news through a newspaper called the Richmond Register. Stanley likes to read lots of different media.




Stanley wanted to ask you some questions about your classroom and activities you do in Brazil.

1. Are you from Brazil? What is the language there?
2. Where you born in Brazil?
3. What are some of your favorite things to do while in school? How long is your day?
4. What fun things do you do at home when you get out of school?
5. How do you get to school?
6. When are your holidays and how do you celebrate?
7. What is you favorite place to eat in Brazil? Is it at home or at another place?
8. How does your country get its leaders? Our president is Barak Obama, the first African American president. Here's his picture...



I look forward to receiving Stanley back in the states and seeing what he did while he was there with you in Brazil. Have fun!

Mrs. Martin
EKU/Waco Elementary

I NEED YOU AMANDA BOWLIN!!!

I have an assignment to do for methods that involves you and your Brasilian classrooom! Can I get something mailed to you fast and you have it returned by April 1? I'm going to have Marie facebook you too, but needed to know if the mail turn around is fast enough for this assignment. Its taking a paper doll and dressing him in native dress (or maybe doing pictures) and letting my class know what you all do...

Soo cute...

if you can call me that would be great. isn't blogging awesome

and high winds hate me

NO POWER! Again. I'm sitting at CiCi's in the barren Richmond Mall checking my email and complaining on blogger. Thank you Sarah for the invite, tell Jason that we could play mega-chess on that pink tiled floor! I'm going to eat another brownie whilst I wait for power...

dear sarah guin

I have been informed that I can no longer read your blog. I missed something on your blog but now I'm being shunned. I think you can fix this. As a matter of fact, I know you can. Blogger informs me that I need an invitation, sooooo...I'm waiting on that invite.

Nothing new is going on except full swing into practicum. I will be graduating on Dec. 19, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. I found out this week, or that's when its been planned. I don't think I'm going to walk for graduation. They are never fun to go to, so I'm really just thinking about all of you who read this. I'm sparing you, really. What a sweet friend I am :) What I most want for graduation is a job. Those make great grad gifts, so if any of you sweet friends I'm sparing will get on a site based council and give a sista the heads up, I'll buy YOU a gift certificate to the teacher's store instead! I should have majored in problem solving cause obviously I'm really good at that.

John and I are closing on the house Friday in Chattanooga and visiting Jerry Seinfeld next Friday night! As John and I were walking through Wal-Mart last night I asked him if it was ok that we not celebrate "Valentine's" and just live it up for Seinfeld weekend, to which he spoke a resounding "YES"! I'm really hoping I get to randomly run into Jerry while we're there. The first thing I'll say is "HELLLLLOOOOOOO" (love this episode)

I'm avoiding homework right now at 11:11 P.M. so I need to focus. yeah for warm springy weather and let's hope the storms coming through don't blow our power out again.

P.S. A warm congrats to Angie Hatterick on her newly expected. Babies are a great thing!!!

ice storms hate me

we came to chattanooga to get away from the iced storm 2 days early. Granted, we had to move but having electricity and water is a huge deal when you don't have any in your home. Tyler, Marie, Joe, Laura, and Julie all came with to help, so we will be up tomorrow moving the rest of our stuff home. Or to our current place until we buy a home. That's another blog though. see ya'll!

Ding, Ding, Ding, Da, Da, Ding, Ding (Ice Ice Baby-Too Cold Too Cold)

Pine needles surrounded by ice! John's camera is so awesome...




Isn't Ella pretty! She acts like a model when its icy outside.


I'm sitting in John's dad's animal clinic because we have no power in KY due to the incredible ice storm/hurricane that is blowing through. Its raining continuously and that keeps heaping the ice on our trees, our cars, and our much needed power lines. Right now Jeanne is the only one I know with power, so I'm pretty sure I'm hanging out with her tomorrow if the no-power thing continues. I have some pictures of my glorious time dealing with mother nature for some of you to enjoy.



I had to move this limb to get out of our long driveway.





I also got to celebrate Laurie, Aaron, and Marie's 21st birthday after church with them on Sunday. Its so neat to get to hang out with people who you invested in when they were just babes...

I remember when Justin asked me about dating Ashley, and look...an old married couple...


I've also known Whitter since she's been a 7th grader at Red House in the youth group!


I've known Marie since she's been 15. Now she's on old lady.




I found out I'm going to be doing my practicum in 2nd grade at Mayfield Elementary this semester and I won't get to meet my cooperating teacher until next week due to the no power in KY thing. I know I'm exaggerating this a speck, but I just want to be home in bed and can't be due to no electricity. I'm totally ok with going to bed at dark. I love sleep. LOVE it! But the no water thing blows.

I also missed Biggest Loser tonight which really motivates me to exercise. I love watching Bob coax his team on to victory and knowing they all work out 8 hours a day...Ahhhhh...I love it. I love the challenges. I love the ads they show. I started buying those steamer zip loc bags because of Biggest Loser. In this theme of writing, I think I'm going to run the Nashville Country Music 1/2 in April with Summer. Jeanne and Marie are pretty sure they are running it too. Its the money commitment that's tough to make right now, but I went on their website and got the marathon cold chills again, so maybe I can ask Star Bucks to sponsor me or something.

The power has gone off like 9 times and this blog has officially taken me over an hour, so I must quit! Stay warm and safe Richmond.

To Every Season: Turn, Turn, Turn

In every life there are many seasons. Bad ones, good ones, did that really just happen? ones, i wish this wouldn't end ones, you get the idea. I can honestly say, our season of house selling is finally (insert anything that is victorious sounding to you: (i.e., Rocky themed music, angel choirs, the beginnings to "Teenage Wasteland"...) OVER!!! We had a successful bid come to us this week on the house, John told the realtor to wait about 12 minutes before he called the couple back and say we'd take their offer. Ironically, they mentioned we would be closing on the next important day of my life coming up, the Jerry Seinfeld show in Louisville. I was floored. Is this a cruel joke? I'm going to be sitting in Chattanooga closing and MISSING the Seinfeld show? I was awestruck. Immobilized for a second. I got my bearings while I talked to myself in my head saying, "Jennifer, this is a good thing. Selling the house is so good!!! You've been waiting 18 months. You have no choice, you have to go. It will work out, Jerry will understand you not coming. He'll be around again soon..." Needless to say, we are currently working on getting the closing moved up, but I might have some good tickets for sale if anyone is looking for a great night out...

My methods block is in full swing. With too much information at one time, a proff that is currently in the hospital for a brain issue that has taken her out of our block, and the much dreaded info that I absolutely cannot student teach at Waco (Heather Taylor, I need you to help me here and ask if a K-4th or 5th would take me so I can request that before the second week of February) I am now 17 weeks away from methods being over. This semester is going to prove interesting in that I'm in a block group that has every non-trad student in the elementary program for this semester at the same school. I'm trying to figure that out still. Is Mayfield that ghetto that it takes all the oldies who've been parents to attend to the needs of their after school program? We'll see, we go to the schools this coming Friday to meet with the principal and get the low down. One good thing about the school I already know, snack everyday at 9:30! Score!!!! Me likey already...

I've been picking up the New York Times from Star Bucks and it automatically makes me feel smarter because its such a big paper with small font print to read. I know these journalists are really important and write about national and international news that will affect my world, thus I read it. Here was my favorite thing from Friday's Times:

Kids from an after school tutoring program in NY write to Obama about what should be the first thing he does when he gets to the White House.

1. Dear President/Mr. Obama,
The best thing about living in the White House would be running around like a maniac. The thing I would like the least is the work. Holly Wong: age 9

2. Edwin Jara: Age 9 Good job on winning! I heard about area 51. I wanted to ask you if there were any U.F.O.'s there. I think you should tell people in public the truth about Area 51. Just say, "We will take care of it" and do it.

3. My favorite one (all you teacher are going to love this one): 10 things you should do as president:
a. Make everyone read books.
b. Don't let teachers give kids hard homework
c. Make a law where kids only get one page of homework per week.
d. Kids can go visit you whenever they want
e. Make volunteer tutors get paid (I'm for this one in particular)
f. Make universities free (not so much for this one since I want to teach higher ed.)
g. Make students get extra credit for EVERYTHING
h. Give teachers raises (like this one too)
i. If No. 4 is approved, let kids visit the Oval Office, but don't make it boring.

One other article in the Times that was pretty funny to read was this journalist who was moving from NY to LA and decided to stop in Gatlinburg, TN with his girlfriend for a respite stop. The article has pictures of the downtown strip and he referred to everything being "Kitsch". I was just talking up the Dixie Stampede to one of my fellow Baristas at Star Bucks the other night and this article made me feel like a total tool. Do I like Kitsch? Have I no intellect to distinguish great entertainment from mindless drool? I'm in a quandry. I really am fascinated with some pretty ridiculous stuff. I mean, who doesn't enjoy the occasional Billy Bass singing, Amazing House of Pancakes, or lest we forget, the shrine of Dolly Parton encompassed in Dollywood Theme Park. Don't even get me started on Dixie Stampede! If this is Kitsch, then maybe I am a little. I have standards in this, don't get me wrong. I will never enter the AS SEEN ON TV store unless there products make it to larger commercial stores like Walgreens or Rite Aid (Go Ped EGG!) Anyway, the times also says that economic bailout is coming again and Ethan Hawke is on broadway playing in Cherry Orchard in case you want to know that too.

I'm off to bed. I will be posting some pictures soon, as John has been taking a lot. Of the cat. He's a weirdo :)

Summer, this is for you.

Summer is my sweet little running friend who is in the bunny suit down below in our 5K. I love her sense of humor and working with her. (actually all I do is watch her teach math since she has her act together so much, and I mean that) I am posting these in her honor since she will think this is funny and it will give her something to do. P.S. Summer, there are new cards on wrongcards.com. Go there now.




Ouch...





I want to post this at Star Bucks...


You need this dog...


Let's make a pack never to run track...


Oh Summer, I hope this fills your blogging needs a little more. Two in one night. Off to do laundry...

I've got one hand in my pocket and another one is...

I've been listening to Jagged Little Pill a lot lately. And I always get the order of this song in the wrong order, EVERYTIME! Everytime! Its dumb, but I kind of want to study the chorus of this song to have it right because I think its going to impress somebody, but know full well its not impressing anyone, but I will have accomplished that and can mark it off my list of "Amazing wastes of time but somehow feel like a better human being" list. Back to what's been going on...

John's birthday was Friday! He's 39. 39. One year to 40, which sounds a lot older than he makes it seem. We both talk about how we feel as young as we did in our 20's. He looks as young as he did in his 20's too. (give it up for weight training!!) We went to his mom's for a pre-birthday party where he got a great camera and then we went on to The Melting Pot in Lexington. Its a fondue place. Weirdly, I still ended up cooking our supper even though we went out, but much better cause, no dishes! He has taken a lot of pictures since Friday, so I will need to post a bunch of the kids when he will load them on the computer.

After a 2 hour night of fondue!




The kids are getting so big. I mean literally "BIG". Its hard to believe Grant will be a freshman in 6 months. Looking at Becca's sweet pictures of Kate makes me miss those sweet years and it doesn't take long for your own kids to be taller than you and able to pick you up at his leisure.

I love how Sarah is posting about her blog friends and how she knows them. Here's a picture of when I first really hung out with her and all the Chattanooga crew. This was us a couple of years ago playing spoons (one of my favorite group games because all can play at the same time and everyone still remains friends when its over...) I thought this would bless your soul, Sarah. If only I had a picture of you coming to my butts and guts class at The Rush! For those here in Richmond who don't know Sarah, you need to read her blog. She is one of the warmest girls I met in Chattanooga. She laughed a lot and has the gift of encouragement like none I know. I miss you Sarah and am thrilled for the time we did get to spend together.

Aren't you all cute but would so take you out if need be!!!


My methods/practicum start tomorrow. It's been a quick Christmas break, but only 2 semesters left until graduation!!!!! I'm not looking forward to the hectic schedule again, but am encouraged that what's happening in this semester is not really different from my actual work in Title 1. Oh yeah, the house showed twice over the weekend, so please pray for that to sell. We are anxious for this, as its been almost 18 months. Waiting can be so hard, can't it?...

One more hilarious pic of Mr. 39. He will want to kill me for putting this up, but I think John is one of the funniest people I've ever met.



More soon...