a highlight of 2012

I'm not much of a Superbowl fan, yet somehow this year I found myself in Indianapolis watching the game.  My roommate is from Indy and so we spontaneously decided to drive down to watch the game wherever we could find a TV.  We were able to park at her house and avoid the $100 parking prices being asked downtown.

Artsy photos on the drive to Indy...

...and then we found ourselves surrounded by all things Superbowl.

The roommates and I in the middle of the chaos

Yes, ice sculptures.  Ridiculous and amazing.

Odd thing was, someone forgot to tell the locals that the Colt's weren't playing.
There were more Colt's jerseys than anything else.
Though it did not take me long to learn that Colt's fan = Gian't's fan

A pic of someone on the zip line through Superbowl Village

The zip line loading dock.

We found some TV's  at a little place called The Ugly Monkey.
and here he is THE ugly monkey!

As one not much into football I spent my time taking pics...

End of the game pic before going home...

one of those days...

Today was one of those unexpectedly wonderful days.  

I love it when that happens.  

Last night I ended the day sharing with my mom how I was not looking forward to today.  There were many unknowns, it was a different schedule than my normal workday, different kids...different challenging dynamics between kids...ugh.

I left the classroom with my older kids at 9:30 this morning trying to decide how to kill half an hour.  A game of Chutes and Ladders later we walked back into the classroom to a Hawiian party in full swing!  Lei's were properly draped, blankets wrapped around as "grass skirts", and a dance contest happenin.  Everyone, including my older kids, were enjoying our time on the beach.  

My biggest moment of praise was being outside at the park and watching two of my kids who do NOT get along play "pretend" together.  They are both older, big and they regularly get in some mean fights.  Today they not only played "pretend" together but I also caught them having a regular ol' conversation while we walked down the hall.  Not a single fight between them all day!

I think I'm amazed because so often I think I know what the day will hold.  In my job now when I think I "know" I'm usually fearful of having a terrible day.  Yet today was one of those days when I had many "I LOVE my job" moments.  Amazing.

Just a little shout-out and thanks to God for being so much bigger than what I think I "know".  Walking by faith - it's for the faint of heart.  :)

My fellow Hawiian teachers 

  

Childlike Honesty

The other day I wore eyeliner to school, which is not totally out of the ordinary.

A very sweet 3 year old named 

Joanne asked: "Ms. Bethany, what's on your eyes?"

Me: "Makeup.  Why?"

Joanne: "It's ugly"

End of conversation.  

I did tell her mother, and we both laughed.  

12 Things...

As it is almost January 12th, I thought this in order.  

My Personal List of 12 Things to Do in 2012

1. Become a more confident city cyclist

2. Read a book by N.T. Wright

3. Buy a new computer

4. Go to Lincoln's Presidential Library in Springfield, MO

5. Start and finish a craft on pinterest

6. Visit Kelch's in Wooster, Ohio

7. Karaoke

8. Go to an opera

9. Join a running club

10. Go camping with friends

11. Turn 30

12. Run the Chicago Marathon

And four belated pictures of our grand New Years celebration.

You see, it all started because I have these two friends who had these beautiful dresses,

and this is how we celebrated.

Milano via Beatkitchen

This past weekend I went to a show.  It's been years since I attended a good ol' rock show.  Not much had changed, there was still an awe of the people on stage, too many people in one small hot room, not enough people dancing...I loved it.

There was something about being little me trying to see over the guys in front; watching the chubby Asian in the hipster glasses tap his toe to the music...I loved it.

Here is my miniature attempt at documenting the event.

My Little Marathon

This morning I went for a little run.

I listened to this little cd.

A man on the corner stopped his day to cheer me on.

I was (kinda) hit by a car.

(No major injuries to report; just a greater awareness cars coming out of alleys)

I ran through a major minor wind storm for a few blocks.

And I wound up home refreshed for the day.

Feeling one run closer to my desire to complete the Chicago Marathon in 2012

Chicago

Whenever I leave Montana I cry.  It's inevitable.  As I walk through the Bozeman airport I am filled with anger, sadness, and all things grumpy.  I make no eye contact with the pleasant security officers checking my carry on's.  I wipe my tears as the ticket agent takes my boarding pass on to the plane.

Once on the plane I'm not much more pleasant.  I don't want a drink.  I don't want to talk.  I just want to sulk.  So I bury my head in my sweatshirt and drift in and out of sleep.

This particular trip I had a layover in Salt Lake City.  Walking crankily through the airport I glanced outside and saw the mountains surrounding the airport.  To add to the beauty there was a pink sunrise pouring their color over the horizon.  I felt a little dumb for being so cranky, but I was not quite ready to let go of being sad.  

On the last leg of the journey I quickly put in my earphones and selfishly never even said a word to the lady sitting next to me (then again she did sleep most the trip).  I drifted in and out of sleep as I watched the clouds go by.

Once we were landed in Chicago, I gathered my luggage from the plane and walked into the airport.  It was in that moment - walking through O'Hare- that I thought, "Chicago's not so bad...I really do like it here..."  And from then on my spirit's were lifted.

The next morning as I was sitting at my little local Starbucks enjoying a soy misto and blueberry scone, I was reminded that I do like it here.  I actually love a lot about where I'm at.  The challenges, the familiarity, the friends...sometimes in the midst of pouting it's hard to see the light on the other end of the journey.  I'm glad the Lord gave me the grace to see the joy of what I have here, where He has called me.