More House Pics

A few more recent pictures of the house as it becomes more like home...

Pretty roses from Mom and Dad to welcome me to my new home after my trip with Grandma.

My bedroom....before hanging things on the walls.

Dresser and window for a stained glass window...hopefully soon.

First time having friends over just cause, without making plans ahead of time.  Teaching them 5 crowns was an adventure!

Table set for lunch with Kristina with my awesome fiestaware.

Downstairs...living room and dining room. 

Reality of owning a home still has not set in, but I am enjoying my home....friends have been over regularly and it looks like it belongs to me.  What a fun summer of new adventures!

East Coast Adventures

12 days, 6 states, lots of family and lots of adventures...

From New Mexico to Illinois for a plane change, landed in Newark to see the New Jersey family.  We spent one day in New York City.  Then we road tripped across Pennsylvania.  On the plane ride home there was a short stop in Texas.  Lots of travel for the time we were gone.

Some highlights...
The first leg of the trip was in New Jersey to see my cousin, Nikki, graduate from high school.  Between graduation events, Grandma, Matt (my other cousin in NJ) and I played a lot of card games.  Aunt Laura and Uncle Mark also took us to an Italian place for dinner that was quite yummy.

Nikki and Grandma after Nikki's graduation.  Congrats!

 Saturday, Uncle Mark took Matt, Grandma and I to New York City...

Times Square in New York City.

Times Square....Grandma and I proving we were there.

Taking a break from walking NYC

The view from Rockefeller Center, looking toward the Empire State Building, Freedom Tower and way in the background...Lady Liberty.

Grandma and Uncle Mark

The next portion of our trip was through Pennsylvania...Road tripping with Grandma and Great Uncle Jim.  We stopped briefly in Renovo to see where this part of the family grew up, then headed to State College for the night.  The following day we finished our drive across PA to Pittsburgh, where we met up with Great Aunt Grace and Uncle Bill. 

Some Renovo pics...

Swedish Church

Gullborg Family home (Grandma, Uncle Jim and Uncle Bill)

Methodist Church

Great Grandma Attig's house

The church Grandma and Pop-Pop married in.  Aunt Grace and Uncle Bill too!

Pop-Pop's childhood home.

Some shots from Pittsburgh...
Dinner at the Country Club with eleven members of the family.

Grandma, Amy and Mark

Amy, Grandma and I in the entryway of the Country Club.

The whole crew!

 Heading to the River Boat Cruise in Pittsburgh.  This is from Mount Washington, which is a look out over the city and rivers.

Amy and Mark

Silly Julie...I had to take Amy's sunglasses...way to bright of a day.

Great Uncles, Aunt and Grandma

All glass building, Mark's favorite.

Lots of adventures in a short time.
That's all for now!
Julie

Condo

Many have asked for pictures of the new place...well here are a few of the living room, dining room and kitchen.  All of these are on the bottom floor.

The focal point of the living room. (Faces away from a large window)

Looking from the dining area into the living space. 

Living room.

Fiestaware in my cabinets.

Kitchen

Dining area...my table for now, decorated with El Salvadoran placemats.

A different view of the kitchen, see my Uganda flair in the corner?

I am not finished moving in, but for now the bottom floor looks pretty good.  I did some work upstairs in my bedroom today, moving books and music and things.  Here comes a new adventure and new chapter!

Julie

Summer has come!

I haven't been too great about blogging lately...

Since February:

- I have completed two more graduate classes with a 4.0 GPA. I have three classes left (2 summer, 1 fall) and will graduate in November.
- I completed my first year of full-time teaching in 5th grade and LOVED it!
- I have become involved in a great young adult Bible study group at Sagebrush Community Church, where I have made many new and awesome friends.
- I have an awesome part-time job at Sagebrush working an awesome lady in the Illuminate Book Store.
- I am a home owner...yes...I now have my own home. :)  Today, I started putting together the kitchen.  Grandma and I found places for all my fun kitchen goodies that we have collected of the years.  The dishwasher is full and ready to unload, which will basically finish the kitchen. Next, furniture and other items I will not be using soon.

Well not much else happening at this point.  God is doing great things and I am so blessed by the family and friends that have prayed and supported me in my 25 years of life. 

Cheers! Happy Summer to you and your family!
Julie

February has come....ALREADY!

January has quickly passed and we are well on our way through February. It's hard to believe that Valentine's day is on Thursday!  This year, I get to have a date with a good friend and her four boys, my adoptive nephews.  Who could ask for a better date?  Four handsome boys and their beautiful momma will make for a great evening out.  My sister in Christ and those sweet boys bring me great joy and smiles, with their kindness and love.

February is always a fast and busy month.  Is this because it only has 28 days, or because everyone tries to make plans in February?

I have just completed my 7th of 12 graduate classes.  Thus far, I have a 4.0 in my graduate degree program, but I await the grade for this class.  I will be taking two classes online for the Spring session, which starts at the end of this month.  With two classes, I will have a very concise study schedule for getting things done, so I am enjoying my two weeks off with friends and other adventures.

I have joined two small groups at Sagebrush.  One is a women's group studying Revelation.  The other, is the young adult group which is fun, as we will now share a meal, play games and study God's word while having a time of fellowship with one another. I am loving volunteering in the Illuminate book store, as those ladies and the couple that runs the store are AWESOME!  I have learned so much about myself, our church and grown in my walk with God over the past three months, as I become more involved at Sagebrush. 

Teaching is also going well.  We just finished the second round of district testing.  Most of my students had increased scores, which is encouraging.  I had to say good-bye to one student this week, which was hard on the class.  We will miss him and wish him the best in his new school.  My staff continue to be very supportive and encouraging on the journey through  my first year of teaching.  I pray that God makes it very clear to me that I am to stay at this school or apply at other schools, so I can spend my summer knowing where I will be in the fall. 

Life is busy, but full of fun new adventures.  God has blessed me with wonderful friends and family. 
May God bless you as February continues.
Julie

Happy New Year...a little late...

Welcome to a New Year! 2013 promises to be a full year for me.  The highlights of 2012 were such blessings...

A recap...
- I began my Graduate degree program at Wayland Baptist University - Albuquerque, in Literacy Education.  I am currently taking my 7th of 12 classes.  If all goes at planned, I will be done next February, possibly before.
- I took a seven week long-term substitute position in 3rd grade, learning a ton about teaching, organizing, lesson planning and so much more.
- I spent my summer applying for jobs in APS, beading, knitting, taking three graduate classes and spending a lot of time learning more about myself and growing in my walk with Christ.

 A six strand glass bead necklace...turquoise and purple beads.  This one is mine, and I love it!

 Turquoise seed beads with Amber. Grandma found an Amber necklace that she didn't want and said I could come up with a new creation.

 A six strand glass bead creation for my awesome sister.

 Angels...a new favorite to make and give as gifts.

 Knitted hats...it's hard to believe I have been making them for over 8 years now.

- Two days before APS began the school year, I interviewed for a job at Governor Bent Elementary School in a 5th grade class.  I was placed in the classroom as a long-term substitute, until paperwork and the hiring freeze were finished.  The first Saturday after school started, I received my call to fill out paperwork and sign my full-time contract.  I love my class, staff and school.  This has been a great first year teaching placement and I hope to stay next year.
- I reconnected with some old friends from UNM.
- I became a part of the Sagebrush Illuminate Bookstore team.  Two weeks before Christmas I volunteered for the first time.  I now volunteer twice a month, sometimes more, depending on scheduling needs.
-I read the ENTIRE Bible in just under a year.

I am sure I am missing a few key events, but graduate homework awaits.  I cannot wait to see where 2013 will take me.  I look forward to the blessings of serving at my church, joining a small group and continuing my Bible reading adventures.  This year, I am working on reading the Old Testament in the Archeological Study Bible. The adventures never stop. 

May this year be filled with blessings for you and your families!
Julie

My Classroom

After about thirty applications, I interviewed for a job in APS two days before the school year began.  The interview went well.  The principal submitted my name to HR, then found out the next morning that APS was on a hiring freeze.  She decided to put me in as a long-term substitute for the first four weeks of school in the class I had interviewed for.  It was such a blessing to be starting off the school year, with promising prospects for a full time job.  At the end of the first week, HR called, on a Saturday, to hire me. 

I am a happily hired 5th grade teacher at Governor Bent Elementary School. (My name is even on the website now. :)

What a ride the first two weeks of the semester brought.  Now we are in the middle of our sixth week of school.  I have 23 awesome students, who make me smile each day as we learn together.  I am getting better at keeping a routine, staying organized and being confident while teaching.  The learning process will never end and I LOVE this journey as it begins. 

Some pictures of my classroom for curious minds...

Classroom Culture Quilt - Students were asked to make a picture describing their culture and family.  Many students made flags of their heritage country. Below the quilt are some of our leveled book baskets and the shelves with our reading and math textbooks.

Classroom Word Wall.  Thanks Mom for helping get my headers together! Below the word wall are more leveled book baskets and my large blue book shelf with math manipulatives.

Behavior chart and CAFE reading board.  My beautiful red chair as well, thanks Mom and Dad!

The front of my room.  To the left of the picture is a sink, to the right, my desk and a window.

Door to the classroom, covered with Miss Gnerich's Super Star students.  To the right of the fire extinguisher is the Mail Box job chart, below are the individual book boxes for my students when they Read to Self and Read to Someone.

My desk...looking mostly organized. :)  Some days it looks much better but often it is quite messy...still a work in progress.

The adventure begins...I love it!

Graduate school is going well too.  I am taking one online class and spend a little time every couple of days doing my own homework.

I am also beading like a crazy person...soon to be knitting like a machine again too.  My new favorite piece...

God has blessed me.  I am so grateful for all of these new experiences.  May God bless you as fall comes again!
Love
Julie