my latest favorite songs...

Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean

Mean by Taylor Swift

http://youtu.be/1CPrzNr1b14

Heart Like Mine by Miranda Lambert

http://youtu.be/1CPrzNr1b14

Week update

Ok so Wednesday was too far away to tell you about what happened. I'm just going to give some highlights of the week and then hopefully next wednesday I will have a "real" wacky wednesday post...

* the past whole week was wacky. I was subbing for pre-K in Salem at Queen of Peace. It's probably one of the nicest schools I've been to. The staff is incredibly nice and so are the parents and kids.

* I worked pretty much every day at the boutique I now have a part time job at AND I got my paycheck yesterday!

* I got my paycheck from silver falls for subbing. yup. I'm excited. paychecks are pretty exciting :)

* I am LOVING country music. I always have loved country music but there are so many songs out there that I love.

* I LOVE the candles the boutique just got in. they smell AMAZING. I am buying 3 of them today after work!

* I get to housesit and animal sit next week. I always look forward to that!

* and I get to see my favorite kinders and first graders at sunday school on Sunday!! It's been a week since I've seen them and I miss them :) I can't believe May 22nd is the last class.

That's it for now. hopefully next week my blog will be a little more structured. haha that was so not my life this week. very random like this post. :)

Andrea :)

FYI

okay, so I've had a really busy week and as much as I'd like to update you all on what's been going on in my life, I am totally exhausted and I'm going to bed soon so stay tuned. by this weekend I should have this blog updated :) thanks for hangin' around!

Awkwardness and Awesomeness

AWKWARD:

• Thinking of something funny randomly and not being able to hold back the laughter. people look at you funny.
• being one of two people in a doctor's office waiting for the nurse to call you back. no one talks to each other, but they both smile awkwardly at each other as if to say..."hey, you too!"
• Listening to a father yell at his child in the middle of the store as the child is clearly upset and can't stop crying. (he eventually stopped once he realized he was making the situation worse...not his kid...well, that and a lady told him to stop yelling at the poor kid)

AWESOME:

• Getting emails telling you that your applications were received the the interview process will begin after easter!
• Getting a huge deal on coffee when you don't know Dutch Bros. is having a promotion! yippee for cheaper coffee :)
• Part time jobs-I have retail experience and I recently started working at a little boutique in downtown silverton called whimsy Etc :) one of my friends from Lane Bryant is the store manager, the owner is a character and I love everything and I mean everything about this shop! finally. more financial stability
• good work outs. it's amazing how an hour and half or so of working out will clear the cobwebs and release tension.
• a personal relationship with Jesus. No one else knows my heart like HIM, therefore, no one can judge me BUT HIM :) that brings me an inconceivable amount of joy to my heart.

Holy Thursday

As we get closer to Easter approaching, I like to reflect on the past season of Lent. To me, Lent is a time of spiritual renewal and new life. It builds character if you give something up that you love or work on something that will bring you closer to God each day. Some years, I give something up for Lent. Instead of doing that this year, I decided to find a time each day to journal and find God in moments, people I met (even if they weren't the nicest people) and for me, that can be really tough. Not really sure what that says about me...

Maybe it's because I've been paying so much attention to God and making my relationship with him better that I feel like my life is finally coming together. I have applied for 4 teaching jobs, 3 in Portland and one in Mt. Angel. I have heard back from 2 of those and I will know after Easter what comes next...interviews, etc. I have a part time job here in silverton at a boutique downtown that I absolutely love and I am working with wonderful people there. Since all this has happened, I can't help but feel much calmer. I have always known that Jesus works in mysterious ways, but I don't think I've put much thought into it as I have during Lent this year. Wow. :) God is so good.

I can't wait to see what else God has to offer me in the near future.

Andi :)

It's Wednesday again....

What I'm loving...Easter edition!

* Easter dresses-I love going to church and seeing little girls in their easter dresses already. brings back memories to when I was that age and how much I loved going to the store and finding the perfect dress for easter :)

* Creative ways to decorate eggs--seriously, I have seen so many ways to decorate eggs this year than ever before. back in the day, we only used vinegar and that coloring stuff. now, kids can use stickers, and fabric! wow.

* Easter basket...stuffers?--there are so many cool things to put in the plastic easter eggs besides candy. I believe if you google it, it will give you TONS of alternative fillers.

* He is risen!!! yes, the real reason we are celebrating Easter is because Jesus has risen. As I have gotten older, Easter has become more emotional for me (don't worry, in a good way). As a family, it has become a tradition to watch the movie "The Passion of the Christ." We cry because this man gave his life for us and suffered so much to take away the sins of complete strangers. In church, I even tear up a little as the songs are sung, some scriptures are read and the stations of the cross are done...It's my favorite time of the church year. I can't believe Jesus loves us this much.

One of "those" weeks...

We have all had "those" weeks.. you know, the ones where one day you are totally elated with joy and then the very next day you are just downright frustrated and all you want to do is yell and scream and give up with whatever you are doing...well, apparently this was my worst "those" weeks yet...AND it's only Tuesday! haha! I was frustrated with the job search (as usual) and I just wanted to complain...I don't normally do that, but I just wanted to and everyone I talked to told me "don't complain" or "don't worry"...no offense everyone, but sometimes a girl just wants a little sympathy and to be told "it's ok, you'll be fine." thank goodness I got that response from my momma! Moms just know best :)

So after I got that lovely moment out of my system, I found more hope to look for and apply for jobs in Oregon. A couple of months ago, I applied for a job in Beaverton at a private school for a 4th grade position. unfortunately, I did not make it to the "next step of the hiring process" darn! o well, I said that it would be a learning experience and it was. So I moved on. Literally 2 minutes later, I checked facebook (not predictable at all, huh?!) and I had two messages. one was from a friend in my cohort who informed me that a job had opened up in Mt. Angel at the Montessori School and that I should apply. So I did....

The second message was from a friend who I had worked with in retail a little while back and she was asking if I would be interested in a part time job at a boutique she manages in downtown silverton...ummm duh! :) So I gave her a call and told her that I would LOVE a part time job. (let's face it folks, I love subbing, but it's not consistent. extra income helps a lot). I got in tomorrow to fill out an application and stuff (taxes) and then I get to work for a couple of hours (get used to my new duties). I'm excited. I haven't worked in retail for a while, but I love the shop that I will be working at and I'm excited for a little extra $ :)

Since I was in a much better mood, I decided to go on to the archdiocesan website and see what positions were open. I saw that 2 kindergarten positions (one full time one part time) were open and that one preschool position was open. They are all in Portland. I haven't lived in Portland since I was 13, but I think it would be a fun place to go back to and work. Definitely nervous about this whole thing, but I just want a job and mostly to be happy. I'm finally getting there! yay!

Good thoughts are appreciated. Love you all!

Andrea

Reflection...

For the past week or so, I have been doing a lot of reflecting. Reflecting about teaching jobs, the economy, government and people I have lost who were very dear to me and had a huge impact on my life. It's funny how the memories of those people come up when you least expect them to. The person I have been thinking about the most is my nonna. She was the matriarch of the family and was always there for us (cousins and her children). Ever since graduation, I have missed her and wanted her back more than ever. I keep her memory with me wherever I go. I remember having long talks with her about Italy and funny family stories. I know she would be proud of me having graduated from college and now working and searching hard for a full time teaching job. She would also be proud of the woman I have become since her passing. I just wish she was here physically to share these times with. My family is amazing. yes, i know, i've said it a bazillian times before...BUT they are and I am so incredibly blessed to have them as my support system.

Wacky Wednesday...

Another edition of Wacky Wednesday....Today I'm going with What I'm loving...

* looking at magazines and finding all these ADORABLE spring dresses and shoes. In case you didn't know, I am a spring clothes junky...especially spring dresses...O. MY. GOODNESS. :)

* Bath and Body works scent Warm Vanilla Sugar. I've loved it for years and it's my absolute favorite scent. They are also releasing a new scent called Country Chic. so going to try it when it comes out! yay!

* Being a goofball. I don't know what it is. Spring is in the air and I always get giddy and happy when it's here....only thing missing is the SUN!! I want it to come and stay for longer than 5 hours.

* Purses. enough said. again, a junkie...

* historical books. yup. I, Andrea Kester, am a nerd. I recently picked up a book about Abraham Lincoln's killer (John Wilkes Booth). anyway, it's about the 12 day chase (manhunt) to find him. I am sucked in...I even found more by the same author to read later. like I said, nerd. :) I LOVE LOVE LOVE history. who doesn't???!!!! OH! and did I mention, the book was written from information found in real documents? if you're interested, let me know and I can give you the title.

*music. I am constantly amazed at the songs that are out there. whatever I am feeling, I can find a song that fits my mood :)

Ok that's all this week! join me next time for Wacky Wednesday!! :)

Andi

Wacky Wednesday!

It's time for another Wacky Wednesday topic. This week, I've been thinking a lot about how blessed I am. here are some of my blessings:

* my friends-they love me no matter what mood I'm in. seriously, I can be angry, crazy, happy or plain silly and I know no matter what, they will still love me for ME.

* my family-I've said this a lot, but I honestly have NO idea what I would do without my family. they have supplied me with unconditional love and support through everything and I mean everything. I am not always the easiest person to get along with, but for some reason they put up with me through it all.

*my car-sounds silly, but my faithful car has gotten me from A to B since my mazda was totaled :( my hyundai elantra is my "baby." I take care of it religiously. I love how long it has lasted.

*books-I have always been a reader. no matter what's on T.V. sometimes I would just rather sit with a blankie, curled up on the couch and read for hours. it's something that (thankfully) I've been able to pass on to students who I was student teaching with. amazing feeling....

*teaching-there is no doubt in my mind that it's my calling. it's tough, but it's so amazing knowing that you are making an impact in a child's life. just today, I was told by one of my 4th graders at Butte Creek that she wanted to be a teacher and I "encouraged her to become one"....wow. without me even thinking about it. this girl and I never talked about it in detail, i just let her know that whatever she chose to do in life, she would be great at it. and I mean it, I don't say things I don't mean. so flattering.

* my job(s)--I sub, house sit, baby sit, animal sit, clean houses, etc. I am so thankful for the income and experience these jobs are giving me. hard work is so important. sometimes I complain about my jobs, but they give me peace of mind.

*last but certainly not least, My relationship with God-it's a personal one, and I can't describe it. God loves me and I know that by how he has blessed me each and every day. He gives me so much that I feel I don't deserve and he challenges me but never too much to make me doubt myself. HE IS AMAZING.

I am sure that there are more things that I am thankful for, but i am going to leave my list at this. :) until next time....

Andrea :)