So....I'm very behind on my blogging. In an effort to both pick it back up, catalog my memories, and consume my time at the airport here is my attempt to do a brief overview of my life for the past few months.

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST

JULY

JUNE

MAY

Good things can come from unexpected places

I've been waiting for this moment literally for what seems like the entire year.

Ya see, I have this one student. Well, actually I have many many more than one student, however this one in particular I probably see the most and try to help the most. This student has tons of potential and when he works hard, he gets work done and is able to accomplish his goals. The thing is he doesn't like to work hard every day. His work ethic relies largely on his friends and how they are working in the classroom,  the teachers in his classroom and how excited they appear to be teaching, and lastly his lack in confidence in himself. He ,like many of the other students we serve, has become 100% pleased with reaching meritocracy.  He doesn't feel the need to excel above his peers. He doesn't see the point in doing work for a class if he already has above a C.  He tries to be the funny guy in his classes. 

But...

For some reason when I think I about this year, he will always be the student I remember. He gave me the hardest time, but I'll remember him the most. 

I tried so hard to motivate him to want to excel in school and push himself to do better. I went out of my way to help him with his work. I nagged him to do his homework every week. I encouraged him to talk to teachers he was having trouble with.  I made homemade muffins for our behavior leadership lunches. I still smiled and was kind to him even when he made fun of me in Spanish or mocked how I talked with my hands. I helped him type up a paper when he was slow at typing.  I even made a positive phone call home to his parents when he did well. As I'm thinking about it, I really poured a lot of myself into this kid. And all year I never got a  voluntarily thank you that I didn't have to pry out of him.

 Even at Christmas time all my students wrote me cards and some how he was able to skate by without turning one in.

Then the last couple weeks of school, Lindsay,  the MOST AMAZING TEACHER,  whom I work alongside everyday had the students do a lot of reflections about the end of the year. On Monday I was absent, and she asked them to reflect on how I had been beneficial in the classroom  When they turned their work in this Friday, I was VERY pleasantly surprised to see this from this student, and  it made me very happy!

He could have been rude and made a joke. He could have not done it and not turned it in, but he actually answered it truthfully. It's like he finally gave me the recognition I had been waiting for all year!

It's so strange which people end up standing out to you. There are so many wonderful kids I've met this year. Kids who work well, have big dreams and aspirations,  and I can see greatness in their futures. Then, there are others who need people like city year in their class rooms cheering them on the rest of their lives because they aren't getting support at home.  I'll remember those kids too, but I'll never forget what it's like to give so much of yourself in one year and finally be appreciated by the people you would least expect.

Redwoods!

Per usual every time I see my friend Anne Marie adventures are to be had. This weekend was definitely no exception as we headed to a friend's cabin a little outside Santa Rosa.  It was beautiful, relaxing, and we even got to see the redwoods on our way back home!

The California state flower!  The Poppy! 

We can do it!

 My team leader took some really cool shots of some of the ladies on our team this week to promote a Women's Banquet coming up! Inspired by Rosie the Riveter. 

#HerImpact

Mmmmmm....

Today my downstairs neighbor very kindly brought me finger lickin', fall of the bone, hot off the grill, SUPER tasty BBQ! It was wonderful and made my whole day.

That is all.

When three Texans get together in San Fran!

Great weekend! Full of Giant fun! Started off my my weekend right by taking a half day Friday and heading to San Jose!

I took the train with Stephani and my new friend Sarah to the Giant's stadium, where we watched the Giants play the A's! Being at the game was fun, but mostly everyone around us was very entertaining. Between the conversations we heard of the train and then at the game, we didn't even really need to talk, just listen. haha

Then Saturday we ventured into "The City"! And even though it was raining and my phone wasn't working, I did not let that keep me from having a great day. We went to the ferryboat market and had a delicious breakfast, many samples, and yummy, strong coffee. Then we headed to the painted ladies. And last, but certainly not least, WE WALKED ACROSS THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. Okay, so we only walked like 1/4 of the way across the bridge (because of the rain) BUT IT WAS FABULOUS! I love that bridge.

Help! I'm locked in my own apartment!

Today is the day my roommates and I got locked in our apartment. Yep. You heard it right. We go locked IN our apartment. Ya see, the thing is, our door has been giving us some trouble lately, and I think today was the day the straw broke the door's back.

We kept trying to open it, and it just wouldn't budge. Luckily, we don't have to climb through the window to get to work tomorrow because our landlord came to our rescue.

Run or Dye!

Here's a really grainy picture from Run or Dye this weekend. It was so much fun! Will update more later.

Aren't I LUCKY to be living so close to San Fran? :)

San Fran with my Best Fran

Between getting to see Stephanie over the weekend and Jeanan the past couple of days, I really cashed in on UT's spring break! Best two days I've taken off, hands down. I had so much fun with Jeanan these past few days, and am so glad she got to come to Cali and we got to have adventures! And we even got to see Jamie, which was fabulous! I love life!

Lake Tahoe; Skiing with the Smallings!

Lake Tahoe is so BEAUTIFUL! I don't know why it took me so long to get up here! Only an hour and a half from my house!

So much fun getting so see my sweet friend Stephanie and her family! 

 Then when I tried to leave this morning, this is what happened lol

It all melted by noon :)

Such a fabulous time! 

CY blog link!

Awesome article one of the teachers I work with wrote about City Year

I love working with both Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Harding! They have enhanced my City Year experience and taught me so much!

Great day!

Today was my sweet sister Andie's birthday! I'm so proud of her and all she's accomplished this year! She's growing into a beautiful, faithful, confident young lady!

Then tonight I got to skype with my favorite parents! ...And it's friday! Great day!

and Scooby too! 

Black History Program

Our Evolution of Rhythm and Soul Black History Program tonight was awesome! I am tired though, after a 13- hour work day!

WINE NOT? Birthday fun at Wine Tasting!

When in California, do as the Californians do...? Right? Go to a winery? I thought, what better way to jump start 22 than go to a wine tasting!  It was a gorgeous day outside, beautiful drive, and we had so much fun! I found a groupon  for Winery By the Creek, so that's where we went. It could have been called Winery In The Middle of Nowhere. haha Seriously, if we had been traveling in the dark along this small windy road, it would have been the perfect location for a horror movie. However, because it was a perfect, gorgeous drive into the mountains, everything was glorious! 

We arrived at the winery and were taken to this really neat cavelike tasting room, full of set tables and barrels. The flight of 6 wines were paired with fine, fancy cheeses, and a piece of chocolate. Both were to be consumed clockwise. The man leading us in the tasting was the owner and founder of the winery, so he really knew what he was talking about! Before sampling every glass, we would hold it up to the light, check the red for brilliance, get a good three or so whiffs of the wine, then finally drink! Along the way everyone would tell stories and after it was over we went to a pub next door for pizza and macaroni! It was a fabulous end to a perfect birthday! 

Feelin' 22 never felt so good!

Despite my efforts to stay FOREVER 21, I have to say that if this what

 FEELIN' TWENTY-TWO is like, then I'm all in! 

My birthday started with texts from Texas friends around 10pm here, midnight TX time. This was fabulous, and also confusing, when was my real birthday? Then at midnight, California time, my roommate, Jocelyn, surprised me with "Happy Birthday" cupcakes all lit up and ready to be blown out! I thought she was baking for her class, but it was for me! :)

The fun didn't end there, in my 5:30 AM cycling class, after it was over, I went up to my instructor to let her know that cycling was the perfect way to start a new year, then she got everyone left in there to sing to me. That's not all, next, the lady who controls the music found the audio happy birthday, and they played that for me too! 

At work, my friend brought me balloons, so all day everyone knew it was my birthday. 

"Miss, why you got balloons...it's your birthday or something?"

"How old are you? 32? 18?"

"Gimme a balloon, I want the helium!" 

Some of my students sang to me, and one of them even got in front of the whole class in sixth period and sang the "Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to Ya" song solo! It was wonderful! Then in our final circle for work, they brought out a cupcake for Jackki and me (her birthday is tomorrow) then they smashed them in our faces! 

I got home to find a sweet package from my parents, perfect timing! My mom send me a giant birthday card, cute invidiudally wrapped goodies, and even put in a gift for Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's day with instructions to wait to open.  I got so many sweet calls and texts too! Lastly, for dinner a bunch of friends from work met up with Jackki and I at this really good Italian restaurant! 

A LOT happened today, and I'm so thankful for every bit of it!

Being away from home, I wouldn't have expected to have such a great birthday, 

but honestly this was one of the best! 

Let's make History!

We put on a history fair for our after school kids today! Everything from The Secret War, Native Americans, Japanese Internment, Annexation of Hawaii, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, The Holocaust, Mexican Immigration Reform, and the experiences of 9/11 from our very own former air force vet! 

Many day after school is a struggle. We're tired. The kids are tired. No one is 100% excited about being there, but today's event made the hours go by fast and I think everyone had a good time and learned a lot! 

Totally 90's Duh!

Even though our students at President's Day off, we had to "work". But, luckily today "working" meant getting to spend quality time with our team, corps members from other schools, and ended with a 90's themed talent show! 

We started off our morning being treated to breakfast at a near by coffee shop by our program manager. It was a good time where everyone got to talk about some favorites and some struggles. To say that working with such a diverse group can be hard be an understatement, but after talking to everyone today, I realized it's also one of our team's biggest attributes and what I love most about our team. We are there for each other, to laugh, complain, vent, rant, inspire, and sometimes keep each other in check. I'm so grateful for my team and this City Year. 

Pixar!

Another great weekend with my friend Annmarie and Zach! 

My new friend Zach works for Pixar, so I got a personal tour! It was so much fun and there was so much to see! 

• break room with every cereal imaginable, and milk too! 
• cool artwork from different Pixar movies, especially Monster's Inc. 2 because it's the most recent
• Theaters galore- big ones, small ones, medium sized ones 
• sand volleyball court and pool, for when you just need a break

Starry night!

Beautiful starry night with  my Capernaum friends!