Coffee Break. . .

It's been one of those days. I'm starting to wonder if this congestion will ever go away and if my voice will come back and sounds like normal. Of course it will, but I feel like I've been sick forever! And what's up with the weather? It was spring yesterday, but today its all gloomy out. That's Colorado weather though, I should be used to it by now. I'm wondering if there will be another snow storm before spring REALLY gets here. Last year, we had a huge blizzard on April 17th! I sure hope we're done with snow and that there will be lots more sunshine in the days to come.

I'm sitting at Durango Joe's right now, working on a huge project that will determine if I graduate or not. It's really not that hard, it's just a lot of typing mostly. Anyway, I needed a break so I thought I'd write a little something. Better get back to work. . .Hope everyone is having a great day!

P.S. I love Durango Joe's Coffee (-:

A Classic "Jessism"

Last night, I made a very important discovery and this discovery, led me to unfold probably one of the biggest, classic "Jessism's" I've ever had or in this case, made. I'm sure most of you know or can probably figure out what a "Jessism" is, but just in case, it is a pretty much a blonde moment, which my friends and family have proudly named "Jessism". A "Jessism" is a SERIOUS blonde moment. . .a regular blonde moment times 5 at least. Does that make sense? That description was probably a minor blonde moment in itself.

Anyway, I thought I took the English as a Second Language (ESL) PLACE exam, a couple weeks ago. While I was taking the test, I noticed that there weren't very many questions regarding English Language Leaners, and that most of the questions were about social studies, science and math. That probably should have been enough to make me wonder if I was taking the right test, right? (Duh, Jess, Duh!) Well. . . that was not the case. I had heard from other people who have taken the ESL PLACE test, that there are several irrelevant random questions. . .so naturally, I didn't think much of the random content questions that I was coming across during the test.

Then last night, I had recieved my test results and noticed on the top corner of the page that it gave a different test name that clearly wasn't related to ESL. So, I contacted a few of my fellow ESL Elementary friends, and made the big discovery that I had paid $95 to take the wrong test! I took the elementary content test. Good God, Jessica Lynn! I have never felt so stupid in my entire life! You would have thought that I would have been angry, but to tell you the truth, I really wasn't and in fact, I was very amused. I went to bed and just started laughing so hard that tears started pouring! This is definitley one of the stupidest things I've ever done and although it is quite embarrassing and did I mention stupid?, I'm glad to say that I've been blessed with a good sense of humor and was able to get a good laugh out of the situation! As a matter of fact, I'm still laughing about it!! Guess I better go register for the CORRECT test now. . .

Being Home in Durango = Nostalgic Feelings

I took Jake on a long walk earlier today and couldn't believe the nostalgic feelings that I felt. Everywhere we went and everything I saw, seemed to have some kind of memory attached to it. I saw high school kids sitting on the grass with their guitars, little kids at soccer practice, parents showing their kids how to ride a bike, kayakers getting ready for an after-work boating session, middle school and high school couples making out down by the river. There was even that same group of misfits under the same tree just off of the high school grounds, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes.

I think back to when I was in high school, or middle school for that matter, and its as if nothing has changed. Today, I saw the same things that I saw then. I guess some things never change, huh? Its funny because for some reason for about a minute, it made me want to be young again. I mean, I am still young right now at 22, but it made me want to go back to the days where the livin' was easy and the only cares I had in the world were meeting the deadline for my newspaper article, and making sure that I was home by 8. I absolutley loved growing up in Durango and I think that today when I went on that walk, it really hit me that I don't live in Durango anymore and this summer will be the first one that I won't be spending in my beloved hometown. Durango will ALWAYS be my home and I was very blessed to have grown up in such an incredible place. On the other hand, I'm very content with where I'm at in life right now and I can't wait to see what non-Durango adventures are in store for me after graduation.

Wee Ones of the Foothills

It is March 27, 2010. Wow, that is crazy to think about. . .it seems like I just came to college! I can't believe that in 6 weeks from today, I'll be graduating.


This final semester has definitley been the best part of my 4 years at UNC. I am absolutley crazy about my 2nd grade students at Kyffin Elementary! I couldn't have chosen a better career for the kind of person that I am. I'm in my element when I'm with these kids. Not one day goes by that I don't think about them. Sometimes I ask myself, is it okay that I have such strong feelings and love these children as much as I do? Yes, I've decided! I've been told in the past by teachers who have been in the field for a number of years, that you really shouldn't become attached to your students because every year you'll get a new batch, and every year you'll have to say good-bye. I totally and COMPLETELY disagree. Come on, you spend 30 hours a week with these kids. . .how on Earth can you not become attached? I wake up in the morning and no matter how I'm feeling, thinking of their faces keeps me going and I can't wait to get there and be the best teacher that I can be. They don't deserve any less than that from me.

I'm on spring break right now and school doesn't start again until April 6th. Once school starts again, I'll only have 3 more weeks with my kids. . .this is definitley starting to sting at my heart a little bit. I know I'll have other classes in the future that I'll love just as much as this one, but these kids are extra special to me. They are the first real class that I've ever taught and really spent a lot of time with. There are so many things I'm going to miss. . the way they argue with each other, the way they beg me to let them write stories together during writing, moanin' and groanin' when we are about to start math (I can relate, as math isn't my thing either), the hugs they give me at random times of the day, they way they cling to every word that comes out of my mouth. . .I can go on forever, believe me. Oh and I forgot to mention how much I'll miss their special way of boosting my confidence by telling me things on a regular basis like, "you have a really flat forehead" and "you look pregnant when you wear the fuzzy sweater." I'll miss exchanging made-up ballet dance moves with them at the end of the day on Fridays. . .they enjoy watching me make a fool out of myself with my unique dance moves :P If you ever want to see these dance moves for yourself, I expect to see you do something as equally ridiculous and humiliating in return, deal?

You get it. I'm going to miss my wee ones. I always call them "wee ones of the foothills" and they call me "adult of the cereal bowl." Where they came up with that name for me, I haven't a clue! They didn't even know that I liked cereal at the time they came up with this name for me.

Every day with these kids is a good day, even the bad days are pretty darn good. I'm sure this isn't the last blog that I'll write about the wee ones of the foothills, but one thing is for sure. . . I'll need a hug or two come April 30th. It will be my last day as their student teacher )-: Of course, there is no way they can get rid of me that easily! I promised I'd come in once a week during May and be there on their very last day in June. After that, I'll just have to pick up the pieces and move on with my life. . .I'm kidding! I know I have so much to look forward to after graduation both related and not related to teaching, and I know that there are many more kids coming my way, that need my love (-: