This post again has nothing to do with our wedding but I'm so excited about the news I got on Friday I just had to share! As most of you know my students took their Social Studies SOL test on Thursday. I was so nervous because several of my students are so unpredictable when it comes to taking tests. They are a bright group and if they actually TRY and take their time I know they could all pass everything! I have to say though when it came time for their test on Thursday they were all very focused and took their time! They even double and triple checked when they were finished! When we got the results yesterday morning I was over the moon! Every single one of my kids passed their Social Studies! 100% baby! Not only did they pass but they passed advanced! Of those advanced scores 6 of them were perfect scores of 600!! I am so proud of them! They were super excited when I told them the news at the end of the day--we are talking ear piercing screams and jumps for joy! Of course I was jumping with them! :) Granted the Social Studies test is typically the easiest of the 4 tests we take...the hardest one is next...reading! I hope these results will give them all a confidence boost for the rest of the tests.
This year we are trying something different and taking the reading tests on 2 days instead of just one. We hope this will improve their scores b/c we typically lose them after the first part of the reading test b/c we have to take a break and when they come back from the break they have lost all concentration and just want to be done. By having it on 2 different days HOPEFULLY they will be more focused on the second part! Which will lead to higher scores!
I know they can pass if only they put their mind to it and focus the whole time! This next week will be one major review session for reading, science, and math! Our next test is the day after Memorial Day--which could be bad coming back from a long break....but maybe it will be good for them to have a break to relax a bit before we finish up the testing! Only time will tell....so please just say a prayer for them and me! :)
Oh and I have to give a shout out to my third grade girls! All their kids who took the test online this week also passed! So right now we have 100%! We have to wait for the 6 paper/pencil tests to be graded before we know the official results for the entire third grade! Congrats girls! We are off to a good start! Let's keep it up!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Copycat!
I'm going to copy my friend Erin on this post...and I know she won't mind because she copied hers from someone else! :) Her post was about what it would be like if she woke up tomorrow and couldn't remember the last 3 years. So this is what I would not remember if I suddenly woke up one day and couldn't remember the last 3 years of my life.
*I would not know Justin and I would wonder why there is a beautiful, shiny diamond ring on my left ring finger!
*I would not know that I would be getting married in about 2 months or who I was marrying!
*I wouldn't know that I'm going to be marrying into a wonderful Christian family.
*I wouldn't remember Heather and Jamie setting Justin and I up on our first date!
*I wouldn't remember our first date...or any date for that matter!
*I would think I still lived in Blacksburg with Erin in our cute little townhouse and not my own house!
*I would have to go though the pain of losing "Momma Susan" again.
*I wouldn't remember my amazing trip out west with my Grandma, mom, and dad.
*I would have to go through the pain of losing Justin's Papaw again.
*I would wonder why Patti is so big--and would be very surprised to learn she's pregnant and due in July since she just got married!
*I wouldn't have met the sweetest babies: Landen, Jake, Owen, Brenna, Addie, Jacob, Brady...and I'm sure there are a few more!
*I would think I just got home from amazing trip to India with Erin where I met Jonathan, Kelley, and sweet baby Kiran.
*I would wonder who Lisa, Sara, and Jessie were.
*I wouldn't remember fishing trips, lazy days on the lake with Paige, Thursday night poker, my poker boys, Rockband, or boardgame nights!
*I would wonder why Paige lives in Charlotte and is so far away!
* I would wonder why Peighton is in Kindergarten when she's only 3 years old!
*oh, and I would be really SHOCKED to learn that I was 3-0!!! How did I get that OLD?!
I would be confused about all the changes, but I would be so happy to see how my life has turned out! I have been blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I'm so excited to see what the rest of my life has in store for me!
*I would not know Justin and I would wonder why there is a beautiful, shiny diamond ring on my left ring finger!
*I would not know that I would be getting married in about 2 months or who I was marrying!
*I wouldn't know that I'm going to be marrying into a wonderful Christian family.
*I wouldn't remember Heather and Jamie setting Justin and I up on our first date!
*I wouldn't remember our first date...or any date for that matter!
*I would think I still lived in Blacksburg with Erin in our cute little townhouse and not my own house!
*I would have to go though the pain of losing "Momma Susan" again.
*I wouldn't remember my amazing trip out west with my Grandma, mom, and dad.
*I would have to go through the pain of losing Justin's Papaw again.
*I would wonder why Patti is so big--and would be very surprised to learn she's pregnant and due in July since she just got married!
*I wouldn't have met the sweetest babies: Landen, Jake, Owen, Brenna, Addie, Jacob, Brady...and I'm sure there are a few more!
*I would think I just got home from amazing trip to India with Erin where I met Jonathan, Kelley, and sweet baby Kiran.
*I would wonder who Lisa, Sara, and Jessie were.
*I wouldn't remember fishing trips, lazy days on the lake with Paige, Thursday night poker, my poker boys, Rockband, or boardgame nights!
*I would wonder why Paige lives in Charlotte and is so far away!
* I would wonder why Peighton is in Kindergarten when she's only 3 years old!
*oh, and I would be really SHOCKED to learn that I was 3-0!!! How did I get that OLD?!
I would be confused about all the changes, but I would be so happy to see how my life has turned out! I have been blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I'm so excited to see what the rest of my life has in store for me!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
First Bridal Shower
On Sunday, May 2nd Justin and I had our first Bridal shower. My cousin/maid of honor Paige and my sister-in-law/bridesmaid Whitney threw it for us. It was beautiful. They had it at Nesselrod on the New (a B&B in Fairlawn). It was a windy day but luckily the wind settled down during the shower. Paige and Whitney did an awesome job decorating and the food was wonderful! I could go on and on but I'll let the pics speak for themselves:
Patio at Nesselrod on the New
Mother of the Bride
Yummy and beautiful cake!
It was almost too pretty to eat!
3 generations
Patio at Nesselrod on the New
Mother of the Bride
Yummy and beautiful cake!
It was almost too pretty to eat!
3 generations
My bridesmaids (except for Erin)
Beer mugs for the couple who don't drink!
Justin is smiling b/c they are from his mom--they are the one thing he added to the registry!
The beautiful quilt my grandma made! 
We are so blessed that so many people came to the shower and gave us such wonderful gifts.
We really do appreciate everything!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
moving along
It's been awhile since I blogged last but there isn't really much to report on the wedding planning! Most of the big stuff is booked/confirmed/etc. I ordered the invitations and they arrived a few days ago. So the next big task will be addressing, stuffing, and stamping all of them! That should be fun....
Justin and I had our engagement "photo shoot" the Saturday before Easter. Luckily we had beautiful weather! Mary Stafford took the pics and did a wonderful job! I highly recommend her! :) I chose to have the pics done at my Grandmother Miller's house, down by the creek, and at my Grandma Talbert's house. I wanted to do the pics outside and at places that I have wonderful memories. I'll post a few of the pics here for you to see. If you want to see them all then you'll have to look at my FB page.
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I have my first shower coming up this weekend. My cousin Paige and sister-in-law Whitney are throwing it for me at Nesslerod on the New in Fairlawn. It's a B&B that is rented out on weekends usually for weddings and showers. Since the wedding season has begun the only day they could get the place was on a Sunday afternoon. Over the next 3 months I have quite a few showers planned. This one will mainly be my mom's side of the family and a few of my close friends and my bridesmaids. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone b/c it seems like the only time I see a lot of my mom's extended family is at our annual family reunion, marriages, and sadly deaths. It should be fun!
On a side note Justin and I have some sad news to share. As most of you probably know Justin's papaw has been diagnosed with cancer (again) and he is not doing very well. We went in last weekend to visit and he recognized us at first then began talking about odd things. He hasn't been eating or drinking much either. It was very hard for us to see him like this. Justin is very close to his papaw and thinks the world of him. I lost my poppy 3 years ago to cancer so I know what he's going through. Seeing his papaw brought back memories of the last weeks I spent with my Poppy and it just broke my heart all over again. I know there is nothing I can say to Justin to make this any easier on him, all I can do is be by his side and let him know I'm there and I love him. Papaw has had a good life and we know when he's ready that he will be better off than all of us. I've only known him a little over a year, but he is a strong Christian man that many people in the community and their family look up to, especially Justin and Josh. I just pray that when the time comes that a sense of peace will come over the family and comfort them. I hate to see people suffer with cancer. I have lost too many people in my life to this horrible disease. We need to, no we HAVE to find a cure. Please keep Papaw and the Jones family in your prayers over the next few weeks.
Justin and I had our engagement "photo shoot" the Saturday before Easter. Luckily we had beautiful weather! Mary Stafford took the pics and did a wonderful job! I highly recommend her! :) I chose to have the pics done at my Grandmother Miller's house, down by the creek, and at my Grandma Talbert's house. I wanted to do the pics outside and at places that I have wonderful memories. I'll post a few of the pics here for you to see. If you want to see them all then you'll have to look at my FB page.
.jpg)
I have my first shower coming up this weekend. My cousin Paige and sister-in-law Whitney are throwing it for me at Nesslerod on the New in Fairlawn. It's a B&B that is rented out on weekends usually for weddings and showers. Since the wedding season has begun the only day they could get the place was on a Sunday afternoon. Over the next 3 months I have quite a few showers planned. This one will mainly be my mom's side of the family and a few of my close friends and my bridesmaids. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone b/c it seems like the only time I see a lot of my mom's extended family is at our annual family reunion, marriages, and sadly deaths. It should be fun!
On a side note Justin and I have some sad news to share. As most of you probably know Justin's papaw has been diagnosed with cancer (again) and he is not doing very well. We went in last weekend to visit and he recognized us at first then began talking about odd things. He hasn't been eating or drinking much either. It was very hard for us to see him like this. Justin is very close to his papaw and thinks the world of him. I lost my poppy 3 years ago to cancer so I know what he's going through. Seeing his papaw brought back memories of the last weeks I spent with my Poppy and it just broke my heart all over again. I know there is nothing I can say to Justin to make this any easier on him, all I can do is be by his side and let him know I'm there and I love him. Papaw has had a good life and we know when he's ready that he will be better off than all of us. I've only known him a little over a year, but he is a strong Christian man that many people in the community and their family look up to, especially Justin and Josh. I just pray that when the time comes that a sense of peace will come over the family and comfort them. I hate to see people suffer with cancer. I have lost too many people in my life to this horrible disease. We need to, no we HAVE to find a cure. Please keep Papaw and the Jones family in your prayers over the next few weeks.
Monday, April 5, 2010
More Planning
Happy Easter Monday! Last week I met with the florist and came up with ideas for the church and reception. I also showed her a picture of a bouquet I liked. I think it's mainly going to be Gerbera dasies, with some other flowers mixed in. This is the picture I found that I showed her:
We also met again with the caterer and finalized the menu! Finally one thing that's completely done! :)
Saturday we had our engagement picture "photo shoot" with Mary Stafford. She took a TON of pics. I hope there are a few that good! ;-) We started off down at my grandmother's old farmhouse then went up the road and stopped by the creek in a couple place and then we ended up at my Grandma's house. I'm super excited to see how they turn out! I should have them back in a couple weeks.
Today I plan to order the invitations and enjoy this beautiful day!
We also met again with the caterer and finalized the menu! Finally one thing that's completely done! :)
Saturday we had our engagement picture "photo shoot" with Mary Stafford. She took a TON of pics. I hope there are a few that good! ;-) We started off down at my grandmother's old farmhouse then went up the road and stopped by the creek in a couple place and then we ended up at my Grandma's house. I'm super excited to see how they turn out! I should have them back in a couple weeks.
Today I plan to order the invitations and enjoy this beautiful day!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Punta Cana here we come!
The honeymoon is booked! We decided to go though Christian Travel to plan our honeymoon to make things easier for us! They are wonderful to work with! Our travel agent, Charlotte, told us some stuff about each resort we were interested in-- both the good and the bad! We did some research and talked to some people who had been to a few of the places and we decided that Punta Cana sounded like a dream! It is found in the Dominican Republic and it out of the "hurricane belt" which is nice since we will be traveling during hurricane season! The resort is all inclusive--that means food, drinks of all kinds, activities like snorkeling and horseback riding, are all part of the price we pay. We won't have to carry any extra money unless we want to buy gifts, etc.
We will be leaving Monday after the wedding and staying until the following Monday. Several people told us not to travel the day after the wedding b/c we will be very tired and not up to dealing with the stress of airports. The plan is to stay in Charlotte Sunday night and fly nonstop to the island Monday morning. I don't know all the details yet but we put down a deposit on the trip and the final payment is due in June. I'll keep you posted as we get more details! If you want to check out where we will be staying here's the website:
http://www.excellence-resorts.com/all-inclusive-resorts/caribbean/punta-cana-dominican-republic/punta-cana-overview.htm
We will be leaving Monday after the wedding and staying until the following Monday. Several people told us not to travel the day after the wedding b/c we will be very tired and not up to dealing with the stress of airports. The plan is to stay in Charlotte Sunday night and fly nonstop to the island Monday morning. I don't know all the details yet but we put down a deposit on the trip and the final payment is due in June. I'll keep you posted as we get more details! If you want to check out where we will be staying here's the website:
http://www.excellence-resorts.com/all-inclusive-resorts/caribbean/punta-cana-dominican-republic/punta-cana-overview.htm
Saturday, March 20, 2010
I have the best friends!
Today is the first day of spring and the first time I've been out with just a few of my girl friends in a long time! We couldn't have asked for nicer weather for the road trip! Paige, April, Erin, and little miss Brenna, and myself headed to Roanoke to go shopping and to meet my sister-in-law. The mission-to find a bridesmaid dress!
Since I've been in 7 weddings I know this is no easy task and can become a bit overwhelming when everyone in the wedding is a different body shape! I went in with the color I wanted and just told the girls to pick out what they liked and just try them on and we could decide. I even told them I didn't mind if they got different dresses (same color) as long as they looked nice standing together. They ended up trying on several different dresses but we found one that they all liked. I think it's very pretty and will look good on all of them. I hope my two bridesmaids that couldn't make it today agree! We missed you Sarah and Karen! We also found my niece's flowergirl dress and got it ordered too!
After ordering the dresses we headed out to get something to eat. It's so nice to just sit and chat with your best friends. I don't know what I would do without these girls. They are all amazing women and I'm so blessed to have each of them in my life. They didn't have to be in my wedding but I'm so thankful they wanted to share the day with me. I know the dresses weren't cheap girls and if I could afford to buy a dress for each of you I would have! Thank you girls for being awesome friends.
I think our mission was accomplished and everyone seems to be satisfied with the dress. Here's a pic of the dress in the "Lipstick" color.
Since I've been in 7 weddings I know this is no easy task and can become a bit overwhelming when everyone in the wedding is a different body shape! I went in with the color I wanted and just told the girls to pick out what they liked and just try them on and we could decide. I even told them I didn't mind if they got different dresses (same color) as long as they looked nice standing together. They ended up trying on several different dresses but we found one that they all liked. I think it's very pretty and will look good on all of them. I hope my two bridesmaids that couldn't make it today agree! We missed you Sarah and Karen! We also found my niece's flowergirl dress and got it ordered too!
After ordering the dresses we headed out to get something to eat. It's so nice to just sit and chat with your best friends. I don't know what I would do without these girls. They are all amazing women and I'm so blessed to have each of them in my life. They didn't have to be in my wedding but I'm so thankful they wanted to share the day with me. I know the dresses weren't cheap girls and if I could afford to buy a dress for each of you I would have! Thank you girls for being awesome friends.
I think our mission was accomplished and everyone seems to be satisfied with the dress. Here's a pic of the dress in the "Lipstick" color.
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