expert

My sister, Emily, is an elementary school counselor.  She is so smart and creative!  Emily has a huge heart and is the most organized person I know!  She is great at her job and loves spending time with the students at her school! 

We just celebrated her birthday!  Happy Birthday, Em!  I love you and I am so so so thankful for you!

She was asked by a friend, who is a writer, to answer some questions for a magazine article she was writing about kids going to school for the first time.  I thought this would not only be a great time to brag about my sister but to also share with you.  She did a great job answering these questions, and it is perfect for those parents who might have concerns about their children going to school. 

Check out the article here.

Can I just say I cannot believe I go back to school in 6 days....I don't think I am ready for this!  I have not allowed myself to go to school because I have wanted to enjoy my summer....and I think I have enjoyed it too much!!!  I have been staying up wayyy too late and enjoyed not setting an alarm in the mornings.  I just got back from the beach with my parents for a couple of days.  It was a great time to relax and enjoy time with my parents.  We spent the days on the beach and spent the nights eating!  Calories don't count when you are on vacation!

These last 6 days I am going to a concert, running in a 5K, spending as much time as I can with friends, and laying out by the pool!

new!!!!

Yesterday was a big day in my life! 

 I purchased a NEW car!!!!!!!

I could not have done it without my Dad!

I am so thankful to have a job for next year so that I can now make payments on it! 

I am thankful that God allowed me to be patient and wait for the right time to buy a car. 

I am just thankful that God has blessed me!!!

2011 Toyota Corolla

She is quite the beauty!!



a life of loving

Tuesday my Grandmother went to be with Jesus.  She had Alzheimer's for many years and had been in a nursing home for a little over 7 years.  Today we had her memorial service.  It was such a sweet service in memory of her.  Her life was ALL about love.  She loved her husband, her church, her friends, her family, and most importantly she loved Jesus.  

This is one of the very first pictures of grandma and me!

My grandmother was such a wonderful woman.  She was so giving.  She wanted to serve people. 

My grandmother loved to cook for us when we came to visit.  She always fixed us homemade pizza, pancakes, biscuits, cookies.  She always had ice cream in her freezer and would fix Cheerwine floats.  One of the best memories I have of my grandma is of her in the kitchen cooking.  

My grandmother loved her grandchildren.  My mom had my grandma fill out a special memory book for each of us girls.  She filled it out with her special memories about her childhood, my mom's childhood, and things that she loved.  This week is the first time that I have really read the book.  I was 7 when she gave it to me.  I didn't appreciate it then, but now I do.  I have loved reading her handwriting and have pictured her sitting at her kitchen table writing in the book.  I was able to share a couple of favorite things from the book at the memorial service.  One of my favorite stories is that an aunt of hers had come to visit when she was younger.  She gave her some advice that I agree with and love!  She said, "Lina, every morning, wear earrings, they brighten one's face!"  I love wearing earrings and like to think that grandma told me this at a young age and it has stuck with me.

My grandmother was a teacher.  She taught home economics and Sunday school.  I know my grandmother would be so proud of my teaching and she would have been my number one blog follower if she could!  She supported us in everything that we did.  She would always take time to come to awards day, our piano recitals, and birthday parties.  She would play with us, color with us, and even sit in the bathroom with us while we took care of our business.

My grandmother always smiled.  My sister and I made a slide show of pictures of her childhood, my mom and her sisters growing up, and the 7 grandchildren.  I have loved looking at the pictures and remembering her smile and her laugh. 

Today I am smiling for my grandmother because I know she is smiling.  She is smiling so big because she is with my granddaddy and Jesus. 

I am so happy that my grandmother can now walk, talk, eat, sing, and smile.  I rejoice that she has a new body and a new mind.  She doesn't have to depend on others to wheel her around or feed her.  She now gets to sit at Jesus' feet and worship him like she always longed to do!

I can't wait to be there with her, worshiping and praising Jesus!

We will miss her, but I am so thankful for the 25 years I was able to spend with her!



new york, new york!

Last weekend I went to New York with my sisters.  We had this trip planned since last November.  I have been looking forward to it for a long time!  Appalachian State University, where I went to college, has a loft in NY.  Students and Alumni can stay for CHEAP while visiting the city.  It was so much fun.  I had never been to New York.  We had so many things we wanted to do and see.  We flew in Friday night, got settled in, and then got up early Saturday to get tickets for Jersey Boys.  It is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

 

 After getting our tickets we walked around Times Square.

Visited Toys R Us and rode the Ferris Wheel!

Did a LOT of walking around the city from Ground Zero, Chinatown, Little Italy, SOHO, NOHO, and 5th Ave. 

Saturday night we saw Jersey Boys and walked around Times Square.  It was so neat to see how alive Times Square is late at night.  I had never seen any thing like it!

Sunday we spent the morning at the Statue of Liberty.  I loved walking around the museum and learning about how Lady Liberty was built and other interesting facts about her. 

We spent the afternoon walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and shopping on 5th Ave.  I loved shopping at H&M!!! 

One of my favorite stores we went in was Dylan's Candy Bar. 

The store was so fun.  My favorite things were the cupcake booth seats in the cafe and of course all the candy!!! 

That night we ate dinner at the Shake Shack.  It was a little restaurant in a park near the loft.  We noticed the day before how crazy long the line was.  We knew it must be good so we had to try it out.  We were starving and waited in line for an hour, but it was very good!  Loved experiencing eating hot dogs in the park!  Felt like it was a New York thing to do!

Monday we walked MORE!  We went to the piers because it was Fleet Week and we wanted to see the boats from the Navy.  It was neat to be there on Memorial Day.

We walked to Central Park and then visited a couple more stores on 5th Ave. that we had not had time for on Sunday.

Tuesday back at school, I told my students all about my trip.  I showed them on the map where North Carolina is and where New York was.  I showed some pictures that were on my phone and also shared some candy with them from Dylan's Candy Bar. 

Video highlights by my sister!!!

It was a great trip with my sisters.  We made so many great memories that will last the rest of my life!  I am so lucky to have such fun sisters to go on trips and spend time with.  I am so glad that we were able to experience the big city together. 

I am already planning my next trip!  Who is in????

my twin

I am so glad that God gave me a twin.

I am glad that I get to share a birthday with her! 

Amy is THE funniest person I know.  She always makes me laugh.  One time she got mad at me and said she was not going to talk any more and she also added that I would not laugh any more.  She was right. 

I love her laugh and I love laughing with her. 

We have shared everything.  Clothes, birthday parties, cars, 1st day of school, college apartment, bedroom, and pretty much every thing else! 

I would not trade being a twin at all! 
People have always asked about being a twin, but it is hard to answer because I do not know any different.

We were born an hour and a half apart.  She was ready...I was not.

We are so different, but so alike!    

Amy is so beautiful.  She is so fun to be around.  She loves life and makes sure to have a good time no matter where she is.  

She loves Jesus, youth, and ME!  

She is the one I always call first with good news and the first one I call when I am sad and need someone just to listen and give advice!  

She is going to Divinity school and she wants to be a youth minister.  She is going to be a great one because she has awesome qualities.  

I can not say enough good things about her!  

If you know her...your life will never be the same!!!!

  

Amy, Thank you for being my best friend and a great sister.  I am so glad that I get to share so much with you.  You are such an inspiration to me and to so many other people.  I am so glad that we have each other.  Thank you for always listening to me and letting me cry even when it is for stupid reasons.  Thank you for loving me no matter what!  Thank you for supporting me and encouraging me. 

I am so proud of you and where God is leading you. 

I know He is going to do BIG things with you. 

I love you wombmate!!!!

25

I remember thinking 25 was going to be so old!  Well today I turned 25, and I don't feel too old!!!  I had such a fun day!  There were some great surprises and lots of hugs from my kinders!  I am so glad I was able to spend the day with them.  I got really cute cards and sweet gifts. 

My assistant and kinders had a little surprise party for me.  It is so fun to watch and listen to them as they try to keep a secret!

Another surprise is that my sister came!  I got a phone call in my room that there was a parent who was insisting on coming down to my room to talk to me who was not very happy.  I was really confused about who was so upset with me and why, but I went to the door and it was my sis!  I was so excited to see her. 
She brought me some beautiful flowers, and she got to join our party because it was her birthday too!!!

Tonight we celebrated with our big sister and parents.  We had a fun night going to dinner and playing putt putt!  I enjoy family time and this was a perfect night!

Thanks for the birthday wishes, and I can not wait to see what God has in store for me this year!!!



things we do for the students!

Test week is here! 

I think (and hope) our encouragement helped! 

The sweet 3rd graders brought us thank you notes and cookies on Monday!  What a nice thank you!!!

 

Tuesday started our tests.  They test for 3 days!  My mentor asked me to dress up like a cheerleader with her.  She has told her students all year that she is their biggest cheerleader.  I dressed up to encourage them as well. 

My students and I went Tuesday morning to cheer them on!

A couple of my kinders made up some cheers for them.  So stinkin' cute!!!!

My favorite, "Go 3rd grade. You are the best. Never give up on your sparkle test!"

Before we left we shared some of our brain sprinkles with them.  As we walked out the door I heard a 3rd grader say that he already felt his brain growing!!! 

This took a lot for me to wear this uniform because I did not go to this high school.  I went to another one in the county so of course we were rivals!  I never thought I would wear something from this high school! 

I did it for the students!!!!! 

I owe a BIG apology to my alma mater!!!

mama-licious

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom is such a wonderful and beautiful person.

I am so thankful that she has shown me the love of Christ.

I am thankful that my mom is one of my very best friends and that I can talk to her about anything!

We enjoyed lunch out and the company of family was just what we all needed!

To all you Mom's...thank you for all you do! 

Thank you for the love that you show your children and the role that you play in their lives.

The role of a mom is so important.

When my students call me Mommy, I take it as an honor because as a teacher to my 24 kinders I want them to know that I am always there for them and that I love them.  They are each so important to me!

So even though I am not a mom I still feel like a mom to 24 kindergartners! 

giveaway!

My sister makes aprons, pot holders, and oven mits as a hobby!  She loves to sew and has an eye for cute fabrics and has a pretty cute model!  She has a shop on Etsy.  Her shop would be a great place to check out ideas for Mother's Day!  AND she is giving a discount this week too!!!  So for all those summer wedding you are going to and birthdays and teacher appreciation gifts you want to get...now is the time because you get 10% off.
The whole point of my posting this is that she is having a giveaway on her blog.  All you have to do is go to her blog and leave a comment.  It is super easy and you will have a great set of pot holders to give to your sweet Mama on Mother's Day!

Here is a link to her blog.

Go there now and add a comment! 

sb '11

Spring Break 2011 has been great!  It has been a quiet week.  I have really enjoyed hanging around my little town.

I enjoyed babysitting my "niece!"  She is just the cutest thing EVER!!!  She loves her Aunt La La!

I enjoyed 2 nights of slumber parties with some girls from my bible study!  I loved being silly with them and having much needed girl time!

I shopped and found some super cute spring things!

I cleaned my room and replaced all my winter clothes with my spring and summer stuff.  I love getting out all my summer stuff because I always forget what I have! 

I got and HIGHLY enjoyed a pedicure!  I am loving the color I picked too!!!  I must buy some ASAP!

I also enjoyed catching up on some movies and TV shows.

I had good intentions of working on school stuff, but I found too many other things to take up my time doing!  I have done a little bit, but I got sad when I realized that I only have 33 more school days with them. 

This week was much needed, but I have really missed my kinders!  They have been on my mind a lot.  I have been wondering what they have been up to for the past 6 days.  I hope they have enjoyed their time off and ready to come back and learn, learn, learn!

.....and last of all I picked up our local newspaper to see my debut!



you know you are a teacher when...

Kindergarten! 

I love it!!!! 

I loved it when I did my student teaching and I still love it now!  So thankful for this year with my kinders!

You Know You Teach Kindergarten When.....

• Dr. Jean songs are constantly stuck in your head!
• You do whatever it takes for your students to love school.  Even if it is dancing crazy, singing, and dressing up! 
• You read stories with so much emotion and come up with voices you never knew you could do.
• You get kid meals at Chick-fil-a and pass up the ice cream to have free prizes for your treasure box.
• You can always find stuff at Target's dollar spot to use in your classroom.
• You buy things and think about what letter it starts so you can incorporate it into part of a lesson or theme.
• Your students treat your drawings like they are masterpieces!
• You get 200,000 hugs a day!
• You have run out of room for your book collection, but continue to buy more!
• You dream about your students.
• You stay at school late, get to school early, and continue to think of ideas and work on school stuff at home.
• Your students call you Mommy and Grandmommy and you don't worry about correcting them.
• You consider yourself part doctor, hair stylist, and dentist!
• You spell phonetically!
• You enjoy going to your students' sports games on Saturday mornings.
• Students can ALWAYS put a smile on your face.

Now it is your turn to join! 

Click here and have fun!!!

 The Inspired Apple

happy birthday, mama!

Like mother, like daughter!

I am such a mama's girl!

I love my mom so much.

Today is her birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

She is my biggest fan.  She is my best friend.  She is my prayer warrior.  She loves me no matter what.

She has loved my sisters and me with her whole heart and much more. 

She has given up so much of herself for her girls. 

We are the girls that we are because of her.  I know that she has prayed for me every day of my life and even before.  I know that she will support me and be by my side no matter what I do. 

She used to tell us that we were stars, and we picked her to be our mommy.  But I know that God picked her to be my mama because He knew that I would need her...BIG time!

I love her so much, and I know that I would be so lost if it were not for her.

p.s. Thanks Mama for always reading my blog and fixing my typos and grammar!!!  Another reason I couldn't live without you!!!

Meet the Teacher...Miss Brown!

I love reading other teacher's blogs.  I love to read the stories and check out the super cute ideas of other teachers.  Mrs. Carroll at The First Grade Parade has started a blog link party!  I decided to join for the fun of it! 

This is me!  Laura or LB or Ra. 

I am a 24 year old from North Carolina.  I am a first year teacher and loving every day.  I am teaching Kindergarten in the same school system where I grew up.  I have the sweetest group of Kindergartners who love to learn and have so much enthusiasm for school.  I love teaching Kindergarten.  I feel like it is a perfect fit for me!

I graduated from Appalachian State University!  While in college I joined the sorority Sigma Alpha Omega. 

 I loved going to football games, dancing at formals, and spending time with new friends.

I now live back at home with my parents.  I have a twin sister and an older sister. 

I love Jesus!  I feel that my classroom is part of my mission field.  I hope and pray that my students can see Jesus in me every day.  

I am involved in my church with teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, and leading a youth girls' Bible study.

I love the beach, summer, shopping, being lazy on Saturdays, and spending time with friends.

I want to get my masters but I am having a hard time deciding what area to get it in!

 

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?

A: This is a hard question for me because I have always wanted to be a teacher, and I love it.  I guess if I could be anything I would want, it would be a photographer!  I took a class in college, and I loved it!

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: I like doing arts and craft things.  I like to scrapbook and paint and make little crafty things. 

Table I decorated for a church fundraiser!  I painted the cat myself!

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: I have always wanted to be a teacher!  I can remember playing school with my sisters and dressing up like my teachers.  I would even put on high heels and play teacher.  I had the same jean jumper as my teacher in 5th grade.  She played a large role in my wanting to be a teacher!

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?

A: Brownies, cake, and just junk food in general!  The Bachelor and Bachelorette! Singing Taylor Swift songs as loud as I can!!!  Chick flicks!  Fun nail polish colors!

Q: What is your biggest fear?!

A: Snakes and mice!

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?

A: As long as there is sand, water, sun, and warm weather I will be a happy girl.  I love the beach.  I am dreaming of going on a cruise.  I want to go somewhere tropical!  I am going to New York in May for the first time with my sisters, and I am pretty excited about it!

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: Always to just be myself and know that God is always going to take care of me.

Q: What do you value most in others?

A: Being honest and true.  I also value when someone says he is going to do something he actually does it!

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?

A: I am a "doer."  I like to get things done and finished.  I guess I want my kids to have determination.  I also think I am a very thoughtful person.  I like to do stuff for people and make people feel special and loved.  I hope my kids show love to their family, friends, and even strangers without expecting anything in return.


Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?

A: Taylor Swift, Karen Kingsbury, and my Grandfather.


Now tell us one random thing about yourself:
When I was 11 the band Hanson became my favorite band.  I loved those boys and remember jamming out to their cassettes with my sisters.  I loved going to the grocery store with my mom so I could read the teen bop magazines about the boys.  Many people don't know that they are still around, but they are, and they are still great!  You should check out their music!!!  I have seen them 3 times in concert.  One of my best friends from high school is family friends with the Hanson family, and all of my friends including my twin sister have met them...except for me!  I hope to meet them next time they are in concert in Charlotte! 

  Hope you enjoyed getting to know me a little bit more! 

Your turn to join the fun!