2015

As the year winds down, it is hard not to find myself in a reflective place. Things lately have been tough in every sense of the word. Life has come at me full force and the future is unknown... but maybe that's what is so beautiful about it. I have all of the options in the world, and this has been a reminder. Take a look back with me at this year: two-thousand-fifteen.

JANUARY: Izzy's first birthday party, Celebration of 1 year of marriage

 

FEBRUARY: Valentine's Day, Alli visiting Chillicothe (hadn't seen her for 6 months!)

  

MARCH: Aniston Eileen Richardson was born, Fun times with Chiefs family at the Zoo

 

APRIL: Aunt Kim, Chiefs schedule release, Carl D'Anthony Cundiff was born

  

MAY: Purchased our first home, AE was blessed in the church

 

  

JUNE: Road-tripped cross country (visited the Pro-Football HOF)

 

JULY: Marissa's wedding in Columbia, 4th of July in Bagley

 

AUGUST: Chiefs training camp for the first time, 27th birthday

 

  

SEPTEMBER: Chiefs season begins, KC sight-seeing, Unexpected trip to the ER

   

 OCTOBER: Fun at school, Surprise 60th for Mom, Chiefs, ALDS series clincher with big brother

 

 

NOVEMBER: Royals win the World Series (!!!), Thanksgiving

 

  

DECEMBER: Girls night, Work party, Christmas, Life-long friends

 

 

Thank you to everyone who is on this ride of life with me. This year I have made amazing, new friends, re-connected with people I've missed, cut ties with toxic influences, and continued to harvest the relationships with the people I love most. Your support and love mean the world to me; I'm sorry I don't say that enough.

Inspired by an article I read recently, here are my 2016 REVOLUTIONS:

• Put down my technology more.
• Call my grandmother more.
• Send real-life, snail-mail birthday cards to my friends.
• Say no when I need to.
• Say yes when I really should.
• Take a girls trip.
• Save for something I really want.

I pray that 2016 brings each and every one of you happiness. I also urge you to remind yourself that if you are UNhappy, you have all of the opportunities in the world to change your circumstances.

Cheers!

RECIPE: DR. PEPPER PORK

If you're like me, you're constantly on the look out for new, easy recipes to feed the family. As I was perusing Pinterest a couple of weeks ago, I found this simple recipe and it was DELICIOUS! Here is what you need:

• 4-5lb of pork roast
• BBQ seasoning
• 1 bottle of BBQ sauce
• 12oz of Dr. Pepper

 

Directions for the recipe go as follows:

• Season all sides of your pork roast with BBQ seasoning
• Place in crock pot with 12oz of Dr. Pepper
• Cook on high for 7 hours
• Cook on low for 1 hour
• Drain most of the Dr. Pepper, add bottle of BBQ sauce
• Shred pork for serving

 

EDUCATION: CHS CHRISTMAS

Earlier this year, I raved on the blog about how wonderful my coworkers made my birthday for me even though we had an in-service day. One of the things that I love about Cameron is the lot of genuine people that I get to be surrounded by every single day when I go to work. Between my co-teachers, the rest of the English department, the SPED department, admin, other staff... I feel truly blessed to work in a place where real friendships are developed and people genuinely care about each other and what is happening in our lives.

This year, Christmas came with no disappointment. Together, with the admin, a few of us helped put together a holiday party at our Assistant Principal's house with food, white elephant gifts, and some fun.

 

 

Aside from the CHS party, our superintendent hosted a holiday banquet where we were able to go get lunch and enter into raffles (I won a Cameron Dragons mug!!). The charm of a small town is strong.

What most blew me away though, was the generosity of the people I'm surrounded by in Cameron. Between Secret Santa, co-workers, and students I was showered with love and presents that I am over the moon about. I was able to capture shots of the gifts that I was given - what a truly great Christmas. I feel blessed as an educator.