It's been a while...

Well, the last time I posted was in 2008, so I'd say it's time for an update. Enjoy!

*Christmas was great! We enjoyed spending lots of time with my family. I'm sure things could have still been better if we'd had the chance to spend some time with Aaron's family. Things happen the way they do for a reason, though, I guess. We did get to see his sister and bil the day after Christmas before they made the trip back to Alabama. Looking forward to seeing them again!

*We are now within 9 months of the wedding day. I am so very excited! I found my wedding gown last week and BOUGHT IT! As it happens, it's the first dress I saw that I loved and it was the first and last one I tried on. I cannot wait to wear it. Other plans are coming together...we're working on finding a photographer now [Thanks so much to the awesome people who have sent me links and names over the last couple of days!], have decided on the location, and are planning to meet with the lady who will be making the cakes pretty soon. The bridesmaids are (hopefully) going to begin looking at dresses pretty soon and I'm ready to find a dress for my precious flower girl, Princess Grace! :) I am enjoying planning the wedding! Maybe one day I'll teach and do some wedding planning on the side. [Key word: maybe.]

*School is in session once again. Over winter break, I slept way too much! It was really hard to get back into the swing of things once the kids returned to school. They have been slightly on the weird side since we've been back, so I think it's about time for "the teacher talk" to present itself. My students have done really well this year. I'm impressed that this is the first time I've really had to think about having a talk with them about attitudes, behavior, and other such things. They're totally awesome, and I'm confident that after we have a small discussion on the situation at hand, they will return to their normal "awesomeness!" Can't wait for that!

*I really want a dog. I know this isn't an update really, but I do. I see pics of other people's dogs and I just want to visit them and play with the dog. Wonder why I'm on a dog kick. Could be because our cat hates me! (She's currently laying beside the heater in as much of a relaxed position as I can imagine her in. She'd eat my hand if I touched her though. Sigh.

Back to the updates...

*I'm taking the semester off from Grad School (I had initially typed Grade School...not so sure my principal would enjoy my taking the semester off! hehe) so I can focus on the last half of the semester and do some major wedding planning without having to worry about classes. Aaron, on the other hand, started Spring semester classes Friday. He is taking classes at weird hours this semester, so I doubt we'll see each other very often [read: as often as I'd like]. He is getting several classes behind him this semester though, so that's great! I'm really excited about that. I am so very proud of his drive and determination toward achieving his goals! He's such an inspiration! Lucky me! I get to spend the rest of my life with him! YES!!!! :)

*I have been reading some great blogs lately! I, somehow, managed to stumble across the blogs of great women in our country! I won't post all of them that I read ~ you'd get really tired, I promise! I'll post links to a couple of my favorites:
Angie Smith over at Bring the Rain will make you laugh, cry, want to hug someone, and get up off your behind and do something for other people! I love reading her thoughts!! Then there's BigMama, also known as Melanie. I'm new to her blog, but she's quickly becoming one of my favorites! Visit her; you'll like her! I also follow several different adoption blogs. Adoption has been on my heart for a long time now, and it's a blessing to read the experiences of others around me! One of the adoption blogs I read is Brea at The Adventures of Breagirl. I actually grew up close to her husband's family, so they're a little more "close to home." From any of the blogs I have shared, you can find links to other amazing people out there! I love reading (and connecting) with people from around the country! It helps me to see what things are going on in other places and how other people struggle in the same ways as people right next door to me. Connect with someone today!