Overwhelmed.

I can't even formulate a blog posting right now. I'm just so overwhelmed.

If my head is still attached to my shoulders after the craziness that the next 72 hours will bring, I'm going to be very impressed!

Location:Overwhelmed.

Just trying to keep my head above water.

Sometimes, all you can do is try to keep your head above water.

I find this comparison a little ironic considering I can tread water for longer than most of the human population, but the metaphor still stands.

This semester, I'm just trying to stay afloat. An education majors methods semesters are known for being harder than student teaching. Not only do we right lesson plans that are 8-10 pages long EACH for a 30 minute lesson, but we also take statistics where the professor thinks that she can post a 5-hour module at 4:00 on one afternoon and expect us to have the module complete, homework done, and quiz finished by 3:30 the following day. Maybe that's reasonable for some people, but frankly that involves me dropping everything else to devote 6+ hours to this class on one afternoon, without warning. This semester also involves two sets of observations: one full day observation at the elementary and one morning observation in the ESL classrooms on A&M's campus. We also take an online ESL class which is not hard, just time consuming. And a reading class which requires us to read 4 chapters a week and also has extremely long time consuming modules.

I didn't even TOUCH the group projects, because that's a whole other set of issues.

That's what every method student is dealing with this semester.

Let's add trying to figure out how I'm going to get 24 people to Austin this weekend in one piece, then find restaurants that will accomodate for such big groups.

Oh, and a job? Yes, I love my job. But it does take out extra time that I would normally have devoted to other things... like stats.

Then of course my body HATES the bipolar weather so I've been battling the typical runny nose/cough/achiness that 99% of the student body currently has.

I don't think I will EVER be caught up this semester... but as long as my head is above water and I keep breathing, I will get through it!

Lessons from Observation Field Trip

Today, A&M bused about 30 of us to Aldine ISD for a field trip. These are the lessons I walked away with:

1) Even a good pair of shoes don't stop your feet from hurting after 9 hours.

2) Cafeteria lunches are actually in fact as bad as I remember. I will be bringing my own lunch from now on!3) Two hour bus rides are not enjoyable, unless you fall asleep for a vast majority of it.4) Never underestimate pre-k and kindergarteners -- those kids are smart!5) Introducing myself as "Ms. Suddendorf" is just weird.6) I'm definitely in the right major. Can't wait to spend more time in the classrooms this semester and to meet my 4th graders next week!

SNOW DAY!

All week the weather apps had been teasing us by putting little snowflakes on Thursday and Friday. Little glimmers that represented more than just cold weather. These little snowflakes represented a possibility of cancelled class, the opportunity to build mini snowmen, the chance to go "ice-skating" around the apartment complex.

And boy, did the weather cooperate! We got a 2-hour late delay on Friday which turned my 6-hour lecture into a 3-hour lecture because the 8-10:50 prof decided to just cancel class altogether. I did go "ice-skating" every time I would go outside -- you didn't even need skates to go sliding all over! And although I didn't get to build a snowman because all the snow was covered by a thick sheet of ice, I definitely had my fun in the snow!

And yes, I loved that the temps got back in the 60's today so that I could be out in shorts and chacos again!

Answered Prayers: Meet Dani!

When Rachel and I found out that Maddie was planning on moving out and living elsewhere next semester, we both knew that there was no way that our apartment complex would let us stay in a 4-bedroom apartment by ourselves - they would assign another pair of roommates to move into our apartment. Last night when Rach and I were talking, we both decided we needed to pray about the situation and ask our Father to show us the woman we should live with next semester.

So often God's timing does not line up with ours, so it seems like forever passes before we receive an answer from God. And as rewarding as those experiences are, isn't it neat whenever we receive an answer immediately?

Tonight after practice, I get a text from Dani. Dani plays water polo with me and has had classes with Rachel. She often hangs out with Myriam, Jen and I when we all do something together. She has a passion for Jesus, an enthusiasm for summer camp, and is a lover of people.

Here's the conversation that went down:

Dani: Are you by chance looking for a roommate for next year?
Me: YES! Rachel and I are staying in our apartment but Maddie is leaving so we need a third!
Dani: OMG can I live with you?
Me: We would love that!

Y'all. How good is our Father that He takes the stress and off of our shoulders of finding another roommate, and provides us with Dani? I guess you could say we are all quite a bit excited!

Typical Conversation with Rachel

Let me walk you through today. It's 11:10 and you are just getting home for the first time since you left the apartment at 7:15 this morning. You are finally able to think about supper when you realize you don't have bread to make a peanut butter sandwich, and had the leftover mac'n'cheese for lunch. So, you throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

Rachel: "That's NOT all you are eating for dinner"
Me: "You're right, I'm putting M&M's in the bag too!"
Rachel: "Um, protein?"
Me: "I said I was having M&M's..."

Yep. This is my life!

Thankful for Girls Nights.

Tonight was such an incredible night. Jen and Myriam came over for supper and we made steaks, pasta and bread. We then spent a good two hours talking and enjoying a variety of sugary goodness with Rachel while baking cookies (only about half the cookies got baked, the other half were eaten before they made it to the oven... whoops). We decided to play Just Dance on the wii, but needed new batteries, so we made a run to HEB in our PJs and had our own concert in the car on the way. Once we got home we made complete fools of ourselves for a long time while we "just danced", before getting to Skype with Katie! It was 12:30 AM our time, so 8:30 AM her time! It was the first time since early December when we were all "together", well, as close to "together" as we will be for quite some time. I sure have incredible friends!

Ms. Suddendorf

Got this little nametag today! Looks like I'm turning into my mother!

LOVE My New Job!

Y'all. I LOVE my new job! So far this week I have introduced myself to my class, taught a mini-lesson on the University's grammar module "MyCompLab", wrote the classes first quiz, created/imputed that quiz into their classes online learning system, checked off rosters for senior methods, wrote out an email and an announcement that was distributed to all the writing intensive classes, as well as had the chance to start a really good book entitled "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio.

I get to work with some incredible girls. We are all education majors, so essentially are all taking the same classes which means we are able to bounce ideas off of each other for projects and assignments. We are able to relate to each other. This is a way to be involved in the education world, but also have a break from the mundaneness of classes while being able to put our teacher skills into action. Once the semester gets rolling, I will be spending a lot of time working one-on-one with students to help them improve their writing skills. I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity!

Aggie Ring: ORDERED

Today I got to order my Aggie Ring! Only 87 days until I will have my own little piece of Aggie GOLD! (I guess you could say I'm just a bit excited!)

Cool Y'all. Keep Leaving Me!

So Kole gets home at 2:50, then leaves at 3:00 for an ortho appointment. He gets home at 4:00ish, and then turns into his hermit-crab self.

Mom gets home at 5:15 or so, then Dad gets home at 5:45. We eat at 6:00, then by 6:20 everybody is gone again to go out and hit baseballs or going to the neighbors or going back out to run errands. So guess what?  It's just KJ and me hanging out again! Thanks family, I LOVE being stuck here by myself, really, don't worry about me!!

--I do think that sarcastic writing is a secret talent of mine... :)

Puppy Sitting

I feel like I have been taking care of a baby all day, the only thing is, this "baby" is actually my puppy!

Goodness, she has been needy. I woke up this morning to her laying on my head. Yes, the puppy with a bummed leg jumped up on my extremely high bed and laid on my face. Cool KJ.

We have been having somebody working on our fence today which means KJ can't go outside by herself and without a leash. So, the dog is spoiled and has gone on 5 walks today. FIVE.

And she has been crying/whimpering. I think she might be scared of the guys working on the fence who have been extremely loud, but regardless, the poor girl has not left my side all day. And if there is anyway that she could be ON my lap, she made that happen. But seriously, if I walked from our dining room to the kitchen, she would follow. I finally drug a blanket into the dining room hoping she would just lay on that while I worked -- NOPE, she insisted on sitting on my lap the entire time I worked on stuff for school.

Goodness, good thing I love that girl!

Skype 'Ya Later, Katie!

Tomorrow Katie leaves on her journey to the Middle East to spend the next year teaching English in a local Tunisian school. Although I'd love to say "see 'ya later", none of us know how realistic that phrase actually is. Even though Katie's contract is only a year, we all know that there is a VERY good chance Katie permanently decides to move over to the Middle East. So we decided that "Skype 'ya later" is more appropriate! I am already looking forward to our Wednesday afternoon Skype dates!

Officially Eligible

It's official! I will get sized for my ring on Tuesday, January 14th and will have that little piece of gold in my hands on Friday, April 11th!

In 2014, I Will

In 2014, I will:

-Finish my last semester of classes at A&M
-Receive my Aggie Ring
-Celebrate the Big 2-1
-Lead the polo team through the spring semester
-Spend 13 weeks at Cho-Yeh as a part of leadership
-Feel extremely old as Kole becomes a legal adult

There is obviously a lot of big things that will be happening in 2014 that I already know about. The fun thing is, God always blows our expectations out of the water. Who knows what He has in store!

In 2013, I...

In 2013, I

• Started the New Year off with a trip to Honduras with Camp Cho-Yeh where we built houses and loved on children.
• Was offered and accepted a position on Cho-Yeh's 2013 Summer Leadership Team as the Activities Coordinator.
• Took three writing-intensive courses in one semester. A&M only recommends you take one at a time because of the work load required.
• Signed a lease to an apartment with Maddie & Rachel for the 2013-2014 school year.
• Went to my first (and probably my last) pilates class.
• Ran my 1st 5K which benefitted orphanages in Honduras.
• Attended leadership weekends where we planned out all of what Summer 2013 would look like at Cho-Yeh.
• Had PLENTY of movie nights with Myriam, Jen & Katie.
• Surprised both sets of my grandparents when Dad and I went up to Iowa for Spring Break.
• Read 13 novels in a 2-week span for one of my classes.
• Learned how to break into a car whenever you lock your keys inside. Disclaimer: I wasn't the one who locked keys inside my car, but Myriam did and we were caravanning down to Houston together.
• Was apart of the A&M Water Polo Team that won our conference and received a Nationals Bid!
• Was elected as the 2013-2014 President for the A&M Water Polo Team.
• Flew to Minneapolis where I was surprised by my entire family as we played in the National Tournament.
• Spent my 20th Birthday on Mother's Day at an Astros Game.
• Witnessed one of my beautiful friends get married -- congrats Mrs. Kasey Crawford!
• Spent 13 weeks at Cho-Yeh where I was blessed to be apart of a team of 6 incredible guys. I learned more life lessons that summer than I would have ever guessed.
• I was offered a full time job at Camp Cho-Yeh that is ultimately my dream job, and I had to turn it down in order to finish school. It was the hardest decision I have ever made, and was the start to a very tough semester.
• Received a scholarship through the education department at A&M.
• Moved into my new apartment!
• Began my year as President for water polo, and realized I got myself into WAY more than I bargained for.
• Went to 7 out of the 8 home football games and fell in love with Aggie Football (and college football in general).
• Broke my foot.
• Went to a Kelly Clarkson concert with Laura.
• Set off fire alarms in not only my own apartment but in Katie's as well. What we were making? Oh, we were just boiling water.
• Participated and hosted many craft nights.
• Went to an A&M Ice Hockey game!
• Fell in love with First Friday's in Bryan.
• Ate way too much raw cookie dough.
• Tailgated with Laura's family on game days, which turned out to be more fun than I was expecting!
• Hugged Dr. Loftin -- WHOOP!
• Bawled at A&M's last home football game when I realized it would be my last football game with Jen and Katie.
• Saw the beginnings of Kyle Field Renovations when I was cleaning up Kyle Field after the last football game.
• Was surprised and felt so loved when my best friends decided we were going to celebrate my 20 1/2 birthday on November 12th.
• Took 14 girls to Atlanta, Georgia where we competed in a water polo tournament. How did I measure our success?  By the sheer fact that we didn't miss any flights and brought 14 people back to College Station safely and soundly.
• Visited Centennial Park in Atlanta and learned that I love fall leaves that crunch when you step on them.
• Survived the fall semester of my junior year, and passed economics.
• Finished enough credits to be eligible to receive my Aggie Ring in the Spring!
• Spent Christmas in Iowa where I got to see both sides of my family.
• Met my newest cousin, Evan!

2013 was a roller coaster of a year, but our Father was faithful through it all. Here is to 2014!