Last post of 2011!

There is a great future in front of you,you can leave your past behind.- Joel Osteen

Wow. What a year this has been. 2011 has been a crazy adventure. so much has happened both good and bad. of course the good outweighs the bad (as usual) but it just seemed to go by so incredibly fast and life got insane. I miss the times as a child when times were slow and i didn't have to worry about bigger things in life. don't get me wrong, i love the way my life has turned out...it's just a little crazier and more chaotic than i thought it would be. Here's to hoping 2012 brings me new adventures. I am so blessed to have all that I have in my life. Thank you to my friends and family for making my life so amazing. :) Love you all so much!

~ANDI~

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

- Peter F. Drucker

Andrea's Timeline--2011

I thought it would be fun to go back in time and think about what has really happened in my life this year. I feel like a lot has changed in my life. I am so blessed....

January--I just graduated so I took a break from school and relaxed...about mid January I started contacting schools and districts to get onto sublists

February--I waited and waited to get my first sub job...felt like forever but alas, at the end of February it happened!! :) I also got my braces on....

March--Subbing really started picking up and I was super busy.

April--I found a part time job here in Silverton at a little boutique. I am so happy to have found this job because it was just what i needed. they are flexible about my schedule as a sub. honestly, it's the perfect situation...

May/June--needless to say, these were my busiest months as a sub. I was working almost every day along with working at the boutique regularly. in the middle of June I had surgery and it was a very important surgery for me to have. It has changed my life and I am so much happier.

July--i was housesitting, working at the store and just keeping busy applying for teaching jobs across the state

August--I got my first teaching interview. i didn't get it but i was soooo grateful for the chance and experience.

September--school started up again. I was eager to get my first gig as a sub. it happened mid/late month.

October--in addition to working again, i was now teaching sunday school and am still enjoying it. i have 3/4/5th graders. they are so wonderful. i think that age is my ideal age. i can't put my finger on what it is i like about those ages so much, but it's perfect for me. My brother proposed to his girlfriend (now fiancee) on their 6 year anniversary. I finally get a sister. Love those two! Wedding is in August!! :)

November--Thanksgiving!! still subbing...I am an on call person for the store, sunday school is keeping me busy, i am a tutor for a 5th grade girl and she is a sweetheart. so smart, funny and eager to learn. :) not to mention, it's nice to get a little extra money. I will probably have 3 more kiddos by the time break is over. yay! for thanksgiving, i spent it with family. duh!

December--so andrea's list of "jobs" : sunday school teacher, substitute teacher, house/pet sitter, boutique worker, tutor. phew! Christmas-it was so special this year. different, but special as always. I think part of it is because my brother is getting married in august so holidays from here on out will be different but still great. I love my life and my family.

I can't wait to see what blessings 2012 holds for me...

Christmas Favorite Things...

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree
is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
- Burton Hills

Alrighty...I am a slacker. I have been working and getting stuff ready for Christmas. So I'm going to talk about some of my favorite things that have to do with Christmas. I look forward to these things EVERY year so i apologize if I seem a little crazy...it's probably because I am ;)....SO here we go!!!

Eggnog Latte---ummmm my favorite coffee drink of the season. no contest

Peppermint hot chocolate--my mom makes this cocoa mix every year. it has mini chocolate chips and marshmallows...this year, we got crazy and genius and added 12 peppermint candies (crushed) to the mix and OMG!! IT WAS AMAZING!! yes...it has to be 12...not 11, not 13...12, 12, 12!!!!!

Christmas Eve--we host christmas eve every year at our house and it's always fun. I love my family

unwrapping presents--ok it sounds materialistic, but it's the best feeling ever to spend time together opening presents and seeing the joy on each other's faces. nothing compares. :)

decorating the tree--always a blast in my family.we are goofballs, but it makes it fun.

having my brother home--he's getting married in august so this christmas season has been super special to share. don't get me wrong, i love sierra (his fiancee) but it's just going to be different once these two are hitched. different in a good way, for sure, but different none the less. :)

the music-i love christmas music. the end :)

baking-i made 10 dozen cookies and a pan of fudge. if that doesn't give you the hint that i love baking/cooking i don't know what will.

cooking--i love helping my mom make dinner for christmas eve. :) mom/daughter time is so special to me :)

Merry Christmas Everyone!! Love to you and your families!

The holiday season promotes

a heightened sense of community.It draws our chins up andhelps us look above and overthe limiting fence of our own events,activities and preoccupations.The opportunity for a heroic gesturecan tap you quietly on the shoulderin the midst of a holiday bustle.If you are attentive,you will notice the gentle touchand will be able to respond. Remember...There are no small acts of kindness.Every compassionate act makes large the world.- Mary Anne Radmacher

~Andrea~

"I'm Christian, unless you're gay"

OK odd title, I know. Recently (2 hours ago) my best friend Angela posted an article on my facebook page. It's about treating others with respect regardless of their background and how as Christians, we get that muddled...why? no clue...anyway, take a look. this article moved me so deeply. It says everything I wanted to say surrounding the issue of homosexuality/homophobia in our society but what it doesn't do is be offensive towards any one group. The man who wrote the article did so in a very professional way and conveys a lot of emotion on the topic (mine, his, angela's, a lot of people's) so without further blabbering, here it goes!! enjoy :) (copy and paste the link in your browser---promise you won't be disappointed)

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html