Trading YME for a KMS

Well in keeping with tradition of this blog...it seems I am due for a blog post. Gosh I am bad at updating this...maybe this year I will do better. If only I had a good reason...maybe one will come. But anyway I wanted to update you all on my job.  As many of you know I was teaching at Yellow Medicine East High School in Granite Falls, MN this last school year.  The school itself was/is awesome. I absolutely love the students and staff that make up YME.  However, due to budget cuts they had to cut the short man on the pole. That was me and a few other teachers.  Sparing you a super long story, there was a possibility that I could get rehired at YME but at a part-time status which is not at all what I wanted so....

Resolution Update...

Well it's the end of February and I haven't gotten around to updating the world on how our "New Year's Resolutions" are coming.
January began with the Town of Granite Falls, MN holding their annual Ole and Lena Day's Festivities (only in Minnesota right...) The town had various activities planned out including a Medallion Hunt and ended the week with a Buck Euchre Card Tournament. So we thought it would be fun to search for the Medallion and maybe try and win the prize. We had done such events in college so we figured "What the hey." One after noon later of searching (well about an hours worth actually) We found the first Medallion worth $100 Granite Dollars. It got our picture in the paper too, Check it out!!!!

 As you know January's resolution was to read a book together. We chose to read
The Resolution: for Men and Women the book is based off the movie Courageous which came out last year. Check out your local movie shop for a copy or Family Christian Stores. Anyway, I learned one thing from reading this book during January and it was never try to read a book during the school year because you don't have time if you are a teacher. Between the prepping for classes and the grading. I read probably two chapters out of the book.What I read I liked and will definitely pick up the book this summer and re/read it.  Jos got a little farther than I did but she also was unsuccessful. Hey now we all know most people forget about their resolutions by February anyway so we are still doing good.

February's Resolution: Knit/Create Something was a little more of my style anyway. I also had the perfect opportunity to "create something" while attending a teacher in-service day at school. It was our "wellness" in-service meaning the topics discussed centered around being healthy both physically and mentally while at school and helping students do the same.  The day for me was broken up into 5 segments, we began with a speaker from Washington D.C. who is an actress who helps get the message across that students come to school with a ton of "baggage" and we as teachers need to help them through some of that "baggage." Next came my favorite part. I chose to take a mini-art class from the art teacher and create three drip paint tiles. It was so fun and kinda cheap too. We first started out with three white tiles you can find at a Menards and then took oil based paints and dripped them onto the tile. You can use all sorts of variations to create these pieces. First one (in the middle) was just a drip only method and then scratch it around with a paper towel. Second I use a paint brush to achieve a different texture (green) and finally the last Mixed the two together and came up with the last creation.

The One in the Middle is my personal favorite.

Joslyn's project for February on the other hand is still a work in progress as you can see:

Still in the plastic....maybe by March she will have something Crochet'd up.

January Resolutions

Like many other millions of people this year Joslyn and I decided to make a few resolutions for the year. Putting them on here will like anything you put on the net...will force you to make sure you stick with them. We chose to go with twelve small goals that could be accomplished in a month or so. I'd like to say in advance thanks to our friends who did an excellent job at modeling this idea last year. You did it...we liked it...so we're doing it too. :)

January:         Read a book together

February:       Knit/Create Something

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:            Visit Colorado

September:

October:          Carve a Pumpkin

November:      Make a whole Bird to eat

December:

Other Activities yet to be Decided:
-Take a boat cruise
-Visit a historic site
-Complete a 5k
-Stay at Wisconsin dells
-Go to a Broadway musical
-Go on a picnic
-Go camping    

Here they are for all to see. Some are big tasks others are small but all in all they are meant to create times for Jos and I to have fun, be creative, and try some new things.

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 has been interesting to say the least. First of all it's December 29th and there still hasn't been a legitimate snowfall to warrant a snowman.  But I'm not really complaining on that part. Only thing better would be to be able to play some disc golf. I'm all for extreme sports but playing disc golf at 32 degrees is not my ideal situation.

Here in Granite Falls, Jos and I had the opportunity to host the Kurtenbach's and Anspach's on Christmas Day. It was so great to see everyone. We even got our fire place going although it was 49 degrees out. (DK was looking for something to fix, Thanks btw.)  So much food was eaten...laughs were had...and presents coming out of the woodwork not to mention the bats screeching in the walls. Yea long story about the bats...we have new roommates for the winter.

Kitchen Aid Mixer!!!!

Nephew Axten got an activity walker from us. He's Pumped!!!

Christmas Highlights Include: 

               *Jos getting a kitchen aid mixer

               *Axten getting an activity walker

               *DeWayne fixing the fireplace

               *Christopher getting a Dynamic Discs Shirt

               *Macy getting an ugly sweater

                                                                                                                                                                   

So Much To Say...Too Many missed Blogging opportunities

Since the last post I thought I should clear the air. We did get moved to Granite Falls, MN. In fact we are both living under the same roof now too. It was hairy for a bit with Jos still working at NYL Insurance in the cities and I was here in GF teaching. I learned a lot about myself, long-distance marriage relationships (I don't know how some people can do that,) and that there isn't a disc golf course within a half an hour of this place.

We are settled in a nice rental house in a quiet neighborhood...well besides the kids next door that rip-stick, skateboard, bike ride, and leave their trash out in the yard only for it to blow over the fence and into our yard. Don't get me wrong...I love kids..infact I will probably teach those kids in 2 or 3 years. But how hard is it to put your giant dog food bag (that can fit a small child inside) in the big blue rubish recepticle that is next to your house. I'm ranting again...shoot.

Ok back on track. Yea we are all moved in and slowly adjusting to small town life. I'm liking it, Jos tolerates it. She is continuing to look for employment around here applying to any office job that appears in the area newspapers or weekend flyers. When not applying for jobs, she enjoys hanging out with her sister and being around the house.

I have survived the first nine weeks of school and am already looking forward to the Thanksgiving break that is only 8 days away now. This weekend YME put on the musical "Anything Goes" and I helped out by using technical skills (sound & lights) to make the weekend a success. The students were great and it was a good time had by all. Especially partaking in the after "non-highschool students" cast party. Jos was able to meet some of the teachers that I work with and was glad to put names with faces. They are a fun bunch of people.

Well I hope this is the start of a few more reoccurring blog posts in the near future. I leave you with one of my favorite lines from the musical this weekend.

"Just remember...it's always darkest just before you turn on the lights."

Big News, Big Moves = Smalltown Life

Well if you haven't heard. I got a job in Granite Falls, MN teaching Social Studies at Yellow Medicine East High school.  So Jos and I had to say goodbye to the beloved Twin Cities....for now.  We truely have to thank God for this one. It has all worked out according to His good and perfect plan.  It happens when He says and not a minute earlier. I'll make a post describing the whole experience later. But for now I will leave you with a photo of the moving truck. Any guesses as to how long it took to pack? Unload?

                     

Busy,Busy Weekend

Last weekend was one of the busiest weekends that Jos and I have had in a long time. It all started with a celebration of goodbye to our boss at the Community Center. We were invited to La Casita Mexican Restaurant. It looks like a dive from the outside but once you get inside it’s huge. They have an appetizer bar full of yummy nachos and hot, hot salsas for you to munch on while waiting for your food. We visited the bar quite a bit because the man of the hour didn’t show up until almost an hour after the party officially started. All in all it was a good evening of reminisces and fun.

Saturday brought Chelsie and Ryan to the cities. We were so glad they were able to stay with us. We had a great time watching Tron: Legacy, laughing, eating at Red Robin, and just hanging out. In the middle of Chelsie and Ryan being here, Jos had to work Sat night and Dan and Peter wanted to hang out. Torn in both directions I invited Dan and Peter over to also partake in Tron: Legacy. It was great to see them. The movie was good, especially in Blu-ray format. After the movie we played a couple games of Settlers of Catan. I didn’t win any games (but I was close).

Sunday saw a lazy morning at Bedside Baptist where Pastor Larry Pillows preached a good sermon. Joslyn made muffins for our guests and me! They were amazing. Wild berry I think. After getting ready and watching the classic movie, “Little Rascals’” we were ready for lunch and we were “thinking Arbys!” So we ate there, using coupons of course. A little Shopping at Marshalls; then an unexpected phone call from my best man Doug who was in town.

Doug wanted to hang out and play some disc golf. It was great to catch up with Doug as I haven’t seen him since November. We both were a little rusty on the course but it was all great fun. We were very excited because we are planning a trip to High Bridge, WI later this summer for Doug’s Bachelor party.

Overall, I’d say that it was a great weekend full of laughter, excitement, and relaxation.