Finding Krissi

Do you ever have moments where you slap your forehead and think, "DUH!"? Those moments when you think, "I have been here, I have done this, and I know this does not turn out good." Followed by the thought, "WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING?" I have those moments frequently. In fact the frequency of them is a little scary. I often wonder if at some point in my life I'm going to finally understand how to avoid those moments. Recently, I have become a little obsessed with the TV show, "The Big Bang Theory." Have you seen it? I think it is slightly awesome and have a secret desire to be Sheldon. One of my favorite phrases used in the show is, "The human experience." Sheldon is often confused by the human experience. I laugh at how he doesn't get it and how he struggles. Poor Sheldon. However, I often have my own forehead slapping duh moments and I can totally relate to Sheldon. Life is full of lessons. We as humans are never don...

Yesterday I met with the person taking over my old job. I think he is going to do an awesome job. He seems like a very nice person and more than qualified for the job. My kids, (his kids :( ) are in excellent hands. That all being said I am trying to understand why I am so sad. I am thriving in my student teaching experience. Everything is going great. I am happy to be making this forward step. It is all very good! Yet, I feel sad. I'm not quite sure where to put my emotions. I'm thinking they need to be filed under, "pointless to feel this way."  Maybe, it is just normal to feel sad walking away from what you know. It is a little like how I felt when I realized I no longer had little people in my house. For a long time my heart felt sad and I just wanted my life with little people back. It was a little insulting that they all dared to grow up and become big. This post is kind of turning into a pour me post. I guess every now and then we have picked on mo...

After every Christmas I make myself a promise. I promise that next year will be different. Next year I will have a plan. Next year I won't try to do everything in December. Next year I will be prepared. Like I said every year I make this promise. Which means I have not followed through, yet. As I look forward to next Christmas I realize that, fingers crossed, I will be working full time as a teacher. I will have a daughter turning 16. I will have a son turning 14 and one turning 10. On top of Christmas!  Next Christmas season is going to be an event! Additionally, this year we worked hard to get presents mailed on time, sent them priority, and they still weren't delivered until after!!! Christmas. To say I was frustrated, stressed, and upset would be an understatement! Which brings me back to the promise I make every year! Next (this) year I will have a plan. Step one of, "Let's Fa La La without Stress." Make a plan. Step two, follow the p...

After a long day at "work," I'm still in what we will call the processing stage. Meaning, I don't really have an opinion about how all of this is working stuff is going. There was a lot of good points about today that I will be writing about soon. That is as soon as I am done processing the million things running through my head. A million little thoughts zinging around inside my brain, and I would be lying if I didn't admit to a doubt or two. Doubts are just kind of status quo for me. This is usually when I give myself the it is all going to be great lecture. I think I will get to that later. What I would like to talk about is the home and family. Returning to work has not been without its challenges. On one hand I have to be thankful that my husbands job slows down in January. WAY DOWN! I can't believe I am actually thankful for his lack of hours. However, it is helping as we make this transition. He has been super helpful, but no matter wh...

My youngest son is in our school district’s full time gifted and talented program. I should be honest and let you know that he is not gifted. He is however talented. I have been asked many times what the difference is between gifted and talented students. Gifted and talented are often thought of as the same thing, but they are not the same thing. A gifted student is gifted. They have strengths above average in one or more academic areas. Often gifted students don’t quite know how to be children. Their brains are on the go, they are thinking twice as fast as you and I, and they probably know twice as much as you and I. Probably even more. A gifted student will correct you when you’re wrong. A gifted student will struggle with what is considered normal behavior. Talented students like my little guy are usually bright. School is fun for them because it isn’t hard. When learning a new concept they will usually catch on pretty quick. Talented students get how to do school. They know h...

Tomorrow is my first day of student teaching. A whole day in a classroom. I was able to do a few hours of observations last week so my nerves are calm. Now it is just a matter of becoming a full time working mom, minus the pay, for the next ten weeks. That has me a tiny bit nervous and worried how it will all work out. However, last week while I was in the class I was relaxed and ready for this adventure. I'm sure that I have some challenging days ahead, but I'm in the naive stage and I believe that everything is going to be perfect.  

Blogher is asking the question, "How do you plan to create happiness for yourself in 2012?" I love this question and before Blogher even asked I had spent a lot of time thinking about this question. Really, this is what this blog is about finding and creating happiness. What I have discovered over the past few years is happiness is something you have to create. Happiness just doesn't happen. If you are waiting around to feel happy you are probably going to be waiting for awhile. Feelings are funny because we ultimately choose how we are going to feel. Angry, sad, happy, joyful, blessed. Each one is a feeling we seek after and embrace. Don't get me wrong, sometimes life sneaks up on you and dumps a whole lot of not happy in your lap. Sad things happen, bad things happen, unfortunate things happen, things that make us mad happen. However, do we take those moments and foster those feelings, let them grow into something ugly, or do we reach for something bette...

First thing Tuesday morning I was scheduled to meet my student teaching class. Monday night I went to bed excited and a tad nervous. Then I spent the entire night tossing, turning, and working myself up. By the time my alarm went off Tuesday morning I had myself seriously worked up. I am talking walking on an electric wire worked up. The morning seemed to dissaper in a blink and it was time for me to leave. I can't really tell you exactly what I was thinking as I drove to the school. I know I was trying all kinds of positive thinking. Only for every positive statement I made a nasty little negative comment would sneak in. For example: Positive Thought! "Calm down you already met the teacher and she seemed really nice. You are going to be just fine." Negative Thought!! "Well at least you thought she was nice maybe she isn't really nice maybe she is going to be totally evil, and she was just on pain meds the first time you met!" Positive ...

A few months ago I had the opportunity to attend a job hunting seminar. The women conducting the class was this tiny, little, spit fire, corporate, head hunter. She was kind of awesome and by the end of the class I was actually looking forward to job hunting. Crazy, right? One of the things that she shared with the group is that each morning she listens to music that lifts her up, gives her energy, and makes her ready to take on the day. She didn't share the songs she listens to because she wanted us to find on our own songs, or method of infusing our day with positive energy. However, she did mention that she could do a mean Tina Turner impersonation. Given a choice, music is going to be the method I turn to for a burst of happy energy. This morning, before leaving to  meet with my soon to be students, I was listening to my favorite Pandora station and the below song came on. It was a perfect song for the day. I wake up in the morning and it's 6 a clock. They ...

We have been in vacation mode around here. Which basically means staying up late and sleeping in. Sleep in is such a wonderful thing. I really wouldn't mind a few more days/weeks of vacation. Oh well, like they say all good things must come to an end. Vacations have to eventually end, and in order to thrive we must be productive. If it sounds like I'm trying to talk myself into being happy about our winter break coming to an end you would be correct. The normal crazy business of our lives returns in full force today. I get to go and meet my future students today and I am nervous. Belly ache I don't wanna go do I really have to do this nervous. Sometimes I kind of wish I could crawl under my covers and not come out. I guess that isn't really an option. If you too are joining back with the real world today have a wonderful vacation is over we can do this day.

I find it kind of funny how much a new year feels like a do over. It is as if we get this single day each year to wipe the slate clean and try again. It doesn't matter if you agree or not the world around you is full of people making resolutions. It is kind of awesome. I love how I have this day to reflect on my life, what is working, and what is not working and resolve to make it better. I also love the feeling of optimism. I have heard several people say that this year is going to be "the year". "The year" for what I'm not quite sure but they all seem pretty excited. I know the last few years have been full of a lot of ups and downs for us. I'm not sure that this year is going to be "the year," but I'm positive that this year will bring us a few giggles, successes, disappointments, tears, excitement, and blessings. I just have to say, that no matter what this year has waiting for me I am thankful for the brand new, shiny, do o...