Packed and Stuffed

Well this is my second day of Holiday Break. YAY! I have never wanted a break more than this one ever before.

My classroom should have been delivered to the new school. I had 78 boxes, and many, many tagged odd shaped items. Everything was completely done by 3pm on Friday. The kids really pitched in, and the last day was the least stressful of the week. This break is different for many reasons but the biggest is I literally have NOTHING to do for the classroom. The new school will open Jan. 2nd, and until then everything I have for the classroom is literally off limits. This might be the most relaxed break I may have ever had. I literally have NO school work to do. I am still a little bit in shock.

All of the puppies, and momma dog, Ginny, are gone. We are back to just our two girls, and two cats. It almost makes the house seem HUGE, and a little empty. I am writing this while in bed surrounded by my two dogs, and Earl on my lap. I think everyone is happy to have our house back to normal.

My car broke down Tuesday evening, and I had an utter mental breakdown. With all of the stress of puppies, then getting the puppies homes, then getting the house back in order, then packing my classroom up, then the car breaks down....that was the last straw. I sat in McDonald's parking lot just sobbing. Sobbing so hard that Jacob couldn't understand me. After about 20 minutes of uncontrollable crying I felt so much better. The couple that picked me up in the tow truck were the best people and I realized on my way to the dealership that God probably just needed me to slow down and enjoy what I have in life. I found I have great friends who came to my rescue, and helped me get rides to and from school. I am truly blessed. The car is fixed and I am back in action taking life a little bit slower.

I came down with a cold on Monday, and it is still sticking around. I am pretty stuffed up, but have taken the last two days to rest, and sleep. Today was our Christmas service at Buckhead Church, and it was amazing! I am in the reason for the season and feeling great on the inside.

Jacob and I leave the 23rd for our Christmas Cruise with Dad, Gary, Trisha, and Rob. It is our Christmas presents from Dad and Gary. I could not even think about it until now, but I am READY. With no school to think about I am so ready to relax in the sun. I have about 10 books to choose between, and hope to get through at least 3 of them on the cruise. I am going to plan nothing, and do nothing. The best kind of trip I could ask for. It will be great for Jacob and I to get away together too.

I want to wish you all a wonderful holiday, and a happy new year!

Out of TAPE and BOXES!

Well life is what life is at this time of the year. Mine is slowing down a little bit. Happy about that.

So at school we have built an entire new school that will hold grades 3, 4, and 5. Then we get word the church that we have our Kindergarten in will not let us re-sign the lease, so the kindergartners have to be out at the end of Dec. So where do we put them? In the building we are in now, and that means we have to move classrooms out. So why not move the entire school....during holiday break? So that is what we are doing! So for me and my classroom that means we are moving 5 minutes down the road to a brand new classroom.

CONS (because then we end on a positive)
We are packing ENTIRE classrooms - text book, desks, everything the school owns on top of what I own in the classroom
We are still expected and need to be teaching during this time. So planning became just so much more important
The boxes are SUPER small. They fit 10 textbooks. We can only use the boxes provided to us from APS
Anything that does not fit in the tiny boxes....we have to move....perfect
We are moving EVERYTHING...including file cabinets, wall screens, and wall maps. But no one to take those down...that is up to me to take apart....good thing my step-dad insists I keep a tool box in the classroom
I stabbed myself with a screwdriver while taking apart my file cabinet. This happened while children were in the room...and I bled a lot....also would have yelled a lot louder had children not been there. I then had to look up my immunity records to see if I had my tetnus shot recently...
We have kids on the 18th of Dec. But we are to be completely packed, all desks, chairs, and bookcases moved out on the 18th...so what do I do with the kids?
The rooms are smaller in the new building
There is no parking...well strike that. There are 14 parking spots, but 56 staff members.....
I will have to unpack and have a fully functioning room when the kids come back Jan. 6. So that means lots of hours during my break.

PROS
I get to start off a new classroom
All of my desks will be the same kind and same size....and all my chairs will have all of the bottoms so no chairs will rock
Rumor is that we will get Smart Boards which is AMAZING in the teacher world
We have big windows!! Lots of natural lights

Now, I can see the pro and con list. I understand one is bigger than the other. I am trying, trying, trying to stay positive in such a crazy time. But my favorite email of all time was received in my inbox today. It read....
We are out of boxes and tape. We have asked for some more but unsure of when they will arrive.....



perfect....

Sometimes Life just hits you.....

The majority of this post will surprise many of you. I started this blog not really to help me with what was going on with life, but to keep people posted. Well the reasons for staying tuned have ended, and I think it is time to start writing for me. I started a diary on the first day of sixth grade and continued one all the way through my Freshman year of college. And can you believe it I have every one in the basement....my mom had saved every single one. ;) Well now we all write online and seriously I can type way faster than I can write anymore. So here goes my first blog of really just stating ideas about life.

FIRST lets get a few facts out of the way...

* All the puppies but Rose have been adopted. Ginny (mom) has been spayed so she is ready to go. Jacob and I hope that at the adoption open house tomorrow they find fabulous homes. It has been a real relief to just have one puppy to take care of. So much more manageable.

* It is true that my school is moving school buildings over Holiday Break. I am in the mist of packing my entire classroom, and then will be unpacking it at the beginning of the year. Just to add a bit more stress around the holidays.

* We will be on a cruise over Christmas so Jacob and I have decided that we will not be decorating for Christmas. SHOCKER I know. But the way we see it is that it is one less thing to be placed on the to do list, and one less thing to stress out about. We are working on getting our house back in order after having 7 puppies in the house, so we will focus on that right now.

NOW....onto my thoughts about life in general. KIDS.....

Not the kids in the classroom, but what the word family means to Jacob and I. We recently just turned 26, and have been married for 3 years ( 5 if you count eloping), and the question on every ones lips is " so when will you be having kids?" I understand people just poking fun, and joking, but there is a bit of truth from that question every time it is asked. First off it is weird to see people get married just because they love each other and not because they already have kids together, or have kids soon on the way. And it is just assumed that a teacher of kids should want kids of her own. SO WHEN??

Truth be told this has been more and more on our minds. MANY of our friends from high school are pregnant with their first, second, or for some third. People who were married the same year as us are working on their own families. So we have to think about what that means for us. Do we wait until we are ready? What if we are never ready? When is too young? When is too old? How many? How many years apart? Then come the serious question: Will I be able to have kids?

The word family comes with so many addition issues for me personally. When I was 20 years old, I was told I would have a high risk pregnancy, and possibly be bed ridden for months because of my low blood and the fact I am anemic. Well that was a whole year before I was diagnosed with ITP where I was told I could would not be able to carry a child to full term. WOW! Hit in the face when you are 21 years old. However, I was lucky because Jacob was open to adoption, or no kids, so we still eloped months after I received the news. So for my early 20's I knew I couldn't carry children. No ifs, ands or buts.

Then came chemo and remission. I turn 26 and the doctor says as long as I am in remission, and am in constant communication with him, I could try to have my own children. WHAT?! Now there are options. Great....this just makes life a bit harder.... The doctor says I could carry a child, and the chances of passing on ITP are very, very slim. I would be bed ridden but probably not until 8 months. I would be more likely to have a C-section, because I would lose less blood. The stress on my body could bring on ITP again, and I might have to do chemo after I gave birth.

So at what cost do we want a baby? Now that I have been given the option of having my own child...it kind of sounds nice. It would look like both of us. But then come all the consequences we have to consider. Am I willing to take a chance on giving an innocent child a blood disorder? Can I spend a month or two in bed? Do I want to be cut up, and know that natural child birth is not an option for me? And then the big one....can I deal with giving birth, and then doing some rounds of chemo and hoping I am placed back in remission? WOW! So much for one brain to consider and think about. Yes, the miracle of medicine has done amazing things, I have the option of having my own child, but there are so many other ifs that it makes my head spin.

So there you have it. This is what is going on in my head, almost daily. At this age there are so many people have babies, that it is a common conversation. And it is bound for the question to arise..." When are you going to have children?"

As I roll my eyes I think "Well.....where do I begin?????"

Puppies up for Adoption

Click on the link to see the most recent pictures of the puppies. If you know of anyone looking for a puppy (maybe for Christmas) please give me their name and a way to contact them. I will be happy to do the leg work. The puppies are really great! They do well around other dogs, cats, and children. Talk them up! Lets get them a home before Christmas ;)

PUPPIES FOR ADOPTION

Self-Proclaimed Superwoman

After this past weekend I will proclaim myself as a SUPERWOMAN! I have done AMAZING things this weekend. At least to me I seem to be doing SUPER things!

Many people who have known me for a long time, know I have always placed a lot on my plate. After tuning 15 years old I got my first real paying job, and ever since then I have been employed. I went to high school during the day and worked after school, and on Saturdays. While in college I took 20 credits (5-6 classes) during the day, and worked 40 hours a week, most of them third shift. I was also a Big Sister to Yanni, and was in Marching Band, or Pep Band depending on the season. How I did all that I still don't know.

So now, if you have been keeping up with the blog you know how I still like to pack my days full. Well this past week was no different. I am now tutoring two different kids, taking master classes, I am part of little kids church, and a small group Bible Study, and then of course my day job teaching. Lets just add all of those resposibilites with becoming the care taker of 7 puppies. Jacob had drill this weekend and left on Thursday. I was the only human in a zoo with 10 dogs, 2 cats and a tank full of river fish. I thought I had found my breaking point. But I tackeled this weekend like I do normally....

I talked out a plan of action, and then broke that plan down to small steps. I assigned each task to a day and then a time. I made the lists, and the day layouts. And I am proud to say I not only survived this weekend but got done way more than the average weekend. Here is a list of my favorite accomplishments:

* All seven puppies have collars and matching leashes. They have been walked using the leashes, and all of them hate it.

* The puppy pen has been throughly cleaned and re-organized. I moved it out into the dinning room, and began potty training them on potty pads.

*All seven puppies are potty trained to use the potty pads. Because there are seven of them I have to change out the potty pads pretty often, but they are all using the pads! Which makes daily clean up much easier.

* I found a cleaner that gets the mold off of the front porch. I am halfway done with cleaning the entire porch - steps included.

* I am in the process of steam cleaning the old puppy room (office). This will take the longest amount of time, but all the poop is cleaned off of the walls. Yes for anyone thinking about puppies...don't do it...well maybe I should say don't do 7 of them ;)

I have made it to Sunday afternoon, and have not completely had a mental breakdown. Jacob will be home and then we can enjoy our last 3 weeks with the puppies. Because of the over the top accomplishments I think I deserve the title of SUPERWOMAN this weekend ;)

ANYONE WANT A PUPPY????

Honestly...where to begin

I know...I know....I know.... It has been way, way, way, way, way too long. This post will literally be the major highlights, but even when you see the highlights I have a feeling you will understand why I have not had time, nor felt the energy to get a post up. So here we go....

Hannah (first foster dog) was adopted. She was adopted by a family that lives in Buckhead, and has connections to a family that attends Sarah Smith (where I teach). They have four kids, and have sent us pictures of how Hannah is doing. She is amazing! It was a great success story!

We have a second foster dog named Ginny. Ginny, however, came with some baggage. Two weeks ago she gave birth to seven, yes the number 7, puppies. We have 5 boys, and 2 girls. Mom and puppies are healthy. We had the first puppy, Marley, open her eyes yesterday. They are two weeks old today, and already ready to get out of the box. They squeal and Luke almost has a bark down. They are super cute, and haven't been too much work, until they most recently started escaping the box. We have them in our office/3rd bedroom at this time, but it will only be awhile before we have 10 dogs roaming the house. We are hoping they all get adopted and fast. 6 more weeks, and they will be ready. Click to see Ginny and her pups!

Then lets throw in that I had my first triathlon on Oct. 4!!! It was amazing. I had some Get-Fit Atlanta team members out there, and of course Jacob, and our friends Jeff and Sarah. It was great. I wanted to finish in under 2 hours and I made it in at 1 hour 59 minutes! I have done my first one, now I know what I can work on, and plan to do a lot more.

Jacob was so in love with the triathlons that he is now a member of the triathlon training group Get-Fit Atlanta! We will start hard core training next week. We were both swamped with life this week. It will be exciting to be doing this together.

Jacob also quit his job at PetSmart. It was a long and hard decision but it came down to the fact he couldn't continue to work for a company that didn't fit with his morals. I have supported this decision. He is looking for something maybe part time, but because he is in school full time...he is taking his time looking around. We know God will show up when we need him. We will go along for the ride for now.

This week has been my teacher/parent conferences. Here in Georgia they do not give us time during the day so everything has to be after school. I have had late nights at school. I have a great group of kids this year, and it seems great parent support too. The conferences so far have gone great! I am also finishing one class this weekend. Which means studying for our final, and writing our final paper this week. Then we jump right into our next class next weekend. So I have been getting ready and prepared for the switch. Jacob has drill this weekend. We are also right in the midst of our birthday weeks. We have 11 days between our birthdays so celebrations all around. :)

I really think after this week life will start to slow down. At least until holiday time. Jacob and I are signed up to run the half marathon (13.1 miles) here in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day. We will work hard to train for that. My hope is to run the whole thing. NO WALKING. We will see ;)

I do hope I can keep up with this thing a bit more. I hope this post finds everyone enjoying fall. I hope your lives have been as blessed as ours have been the last month or so ;)

We are foster parents

Meet Hannah!

As stated above....we are fostering Hannah. After a crazy....semi ridiculous....afternoon we were lucky enough to be able to pick up Hannah. Hannah's story begins with the fact that she was going by the name Lola. We already have a Lola, and she (Hannah) was not answering to Lola, so we have changed it to Hannah. She was placed in Cherokee Animal Shelter after her owner was foreclosed on. She seems to be in good health, and good shape. She is a major lover...so cute, but very timid.

This organization called "Angels Among Us" let us know today about a Beagle, Honey, who was going to be euthanized tomorrow morning at 8am. She was in South Carolina, so we would get her tomorrow. Then at the very last minute she was adopted, so they called Jacob and told him. We figured it just wasn't our time to get a foster dog yet. Then at 3:30 they called and told us about Hannah. She was in a town 20 minutes north of Atlanta, and we had to get there by 5:30 because that was when they would be euthanizing her. Well it was north of the city, during Friday's rush hour....but we took off against the odds. We hit three different stand stills, and got held up in many congested areas. Literally pulled into the animal shelter at 5:15, ran through the parking lot.....and made it of course. But the lady at the front counter was not very nice, and she almost seemed upset that we were taking Hannah off of her hands (or out of her hands).

She is getting along with the Larkin Zoo so far. She is really timid, and doesn't know how to take Lucie and her crazy, hyperness, but she is relaxing more and more. They think she is about a year old. She is a Boxer/Hound mix. She is a gorgeous red color, with pretty white and brown markings. She is a super lover. She just wants to cuddle and relax all the time.

Now as I said we will be fostering her. We are in hopes we can find a nice house for her really soon. We have never fostered before, so I know giving up the first dog will be the hardest, but I also know that by truly fostering we can help many more animals than if we kept them to ourselves. So we are really really really really really really saying we will be finding her another home. But as I type this she is laying across Jacob's lab watching TV. Look who she has wrapped around her paw already. As we get more pictures of her and zoo we will place them here. Make sure to check them out every now and then!

Well needless to say I will be doing puppy duty tomorrow, so no long run. I have to admit I am excited to sleep in a bit, but will miss my run. I will probably try to go out after Jacob gets home tomorrow night.

If you know of anyone who is interested in our beautiful Hannah please let me know. She is doing great with other animals...no idea about how she does with kids. Let us know if someone is interested. We want her to be placed in a wonderful home :)

Something I am good at

This blog might end up being a bit random...but it has been awhile. Oh course I can use the excuse of starting school with the kids 2 weeks ago. It is more the truth than an excuse I guess. We had to get PTA meetings, Open Houses, and of course all of our pre-test data graphed and redelivered out of the way. I have been pretty busy.

But what is on my mind today.....I have found something that makes me SO, SO happy, and complete. And it is this tri training. I ran 10 miles this morning. I have never run 10 miles before. And I mean RAN it all. NO walking. This is a HUGE accomplishment for myself. And I LOVE IT! I feel so great after these long runs, and I feel amazing during the week. And lets be honest I am good at running. I ran sprints for my high school and I earned my Varsity Letter by my sophomore year. I know I am good at running, I have a runners body (or so I am told). This comes very naturally to me, and I am so happy. I haven't felt this great in a really, really, really long time. Can we just give a shout out to God for creating medicine that can heal a person's immune system?! YEAH! So honestly since this 10 mile run happened this morning I am still on a HUGE high from it. Now if I could get my swimming up to this same par...the tri will be easy :)

Other things on my mind.....

**I have been really into Taylor Swift lately. Being a teacher of 10 and 11 year olds I hear a lot of the "tween" scene. One of my girls gave me the Taylor Swift CD to play during group work time. I ended up borrowing it, and putting it on my iPod. I really like it. Upbeat, positive message, a bit girly, and it brings me back to my country roots. Can't go wrong with that right?

**I have been feeling really "balanced" lately. I use this word that my friend Cara in my Bible Study has been using...."balanced". I am able to make sure each morning I am up and spending time with God. Right now we are doing the 40 Days of the Jesus Creed (amazing by the way). This is my third year teaching the same grade level, so for the most part I know what I have to teach and when. I also have many different resources to use. Also with my tri training I am forcing myself to leave school by 4:30 at the latest to make sure I make it whatever training that might be. So I have a life outside of school, which has taken me a really long time to get. Then I get home and spend some time with Jacob and the zoo, and of course wind down a bit. Just to get up and do it all over again. I am not tired like I used to be, and I feel like I am a better teacher because I am NOT spending all my time at school. I am not burnt out and able to keep everything "balanced"

**Jacob has his 4th section of finals next week. He figured out he can start his internship next spring. Time is flying really fast for him too. He is still sporting a 4.0 GPA and I couldn't be prouder! He will graduate with a BA in Spring 2011. Crazy.

I think that is about it for what is on the mind of Amanda Larkin. I am just feeling really thankful for everything right now, my health, my family, my daily routine, the warm August weather in Georgia. I am loving this feeling. I am hoping that it keeps up.

My First Triathlon!

Good night NURSE! I can not believe what I did this morning. First thing I was up at 6am (on a Saturday) and was out of the house by 6:30 on my way to meet my running group. Then while running our 5 miles (with a good friend who has taken me under her wing, Marietta) she talked me into signing up for my first tri! It will be Oct. 4. I am still in shock. Here is the website with a bit of information. I have 2 months to get in shape and do my thing. This is the smallest kind of tri, called a "sprint tri" I am looking just to get a feeling of a tri, and to, of course, finish one. I will not be thinking about speed, or time, just to get across the finish line. Still in shock, but feel great I have a goal.

My training schedule is pretty much as follows:

Monday: Off - they do sprints but I have my Bible Study Group so I take Monday's off

Tuesday: Run 4-5 miles (this will increase as I become stronger) through the hills of Buckhead

Wednesday: Swim - right now I am working on my breathing drills, but I swim about 800 meters

Thursday: Spin (stationary bikes drills, lead by a coach) for 60 min, and then a 2 mile run (appr. 20 min)

Friday: Social night for Get-Fit but I am doing 2-5 miles on my own (Jacob normally joins)

Saturday: Mornings are LONG RUNS. This could be 5-15 miles right now. I am only up to 6 miles. Sometimes starting at 11:00 we will bike on open roads....this will start up again in Sept.

Sunday: Off - The tri group does open water swim (in a lake) but it starts about 11:00 and I can't make it and do UpStreet. I am talking to a couple of other people who do church in the mornings, so we might be able to do a later group. So if I don't make it to swim...I try to run on my own.

That is my life right now. I start school on Tuesday and I am ready. I am feeling like I am ready to take on another year. I am very proud of myself, and feel weird by saying that, but I have shed 35 lbs, built an amazing amount of muscle, and my body is SUPER toned. I hope to keep this training up during the school year. I think it is very manageable.

When I started this blog it was to help me get through ITP, which I am through. I think the idea of the blog will start to change to a "running" blog. I will talk a lot about this, but it is becoming a wonderful part of my life. I need this first tri to really sink in I think. WOW 2 months to GO!!!

Blog issues....but I am back!

Everyone! I am back! I had some issues with the blog. I tried posting at least 2 other posts, but to no avail. I am still confused about what is going on, but alas I will try to do a really quick re-cap of the past two weeks!

Lucie (our youngest) ended up in the animal ER because she thought licking some Goo-Gone would be amazing. She ended up throwing up 4 times in the house, and so off to the ER we went. She got some fluids, and some anti throw up meds. We took her home that night with some meds that she had to take every four hours. She loved her meds, which was nice. She is totally fine now!

Then Earl ends up going to the vet, to find out he had a urinary track infection. He also was given two different meds. He, however, hated, HATED, his meds, and getting a cat to take meds is crazy. But he is doing much better. His meds are almost gone, and I hope his infection is too.

I finished my second and last summer class. It was super, SUPER easy, so it was a nice break to have right before I go back teaching. Next summer I will still be in my Masters, but I will be interning so I won't have any classes. Crazy! I graduate in a year and 4 months. Man, seems like it could take a long time, but it will come and go before I know it.

Jacob is doing well. Back to his crazy busy life. Work, school, and army. This weekend is one of his reserve weekends. He hasn't been since June, because he did some airshows, that took place of his weekend drills.

I have been back in the classroom trying to get it back in order. It is getting closer. We (the teachers) go back on Aug. 4th, and then the kids are back Aug. 10. I get excited about having a new class. It seems like forever for nine months to pass, but their graduation date will be here before I know it.

Jacob was able to get two days off in a row, so we took off to Savannah. We fell in love with it when my mom and Duane were down here, and we are just so IN LOVE with it. We stay in Savannah, and then drive to Tybee Island. We are actually considering looking into what they call a fractional share. Where we would pick weekends we want to rent out a beach house, and then we pay for those days, on a discounted price. Our last quick trip was documented with a few pictures. Click here to see them.

Okay I think that is a quick update. I hope whatever happened to those mystery posts, never happens again, and therefore I will be back!

In Training

It is official. I am now training for a triathlon. I am going to be training with a group called Get-Fit Atlanta. I had been considering this since April, and I knew the sign-up date was coming close. So I emailed the director, Dana, late last night. For some reason when I woke up for my run this morning I checked my email first...something I rarely do. In there was all the information for a sign up today at 9am. I had 30 minutes, and I felt God had placed that email in my inbox for a reason that morning. So I got ready and I signed up. The triathlon group is swimming tomorrow and they invited me to join but we have plans to hang with the Burdens :) I should start Monday if they can get me in the system fast enough. Tuesday for sure. I can't believe it. When done my goal is to complete an Olympic Distance Triathlon: 1 mile swim, 26 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile running. WHOO! I will keep you posted!

3 Years Ago

This blog will be relatively short as when it comes to writing about my love for Jacob....believe it or not I become quite speechless. Three years ago today we tied the knot in my childhood church in Zeeland. The day was perfect. I joke a lot that I want to have another wedding because the day was so fantastic.

Jacob and I have been a couple for almost 10 years. We have been through many trials that some couples will never face. I feel that we were lucky to go through the trials we have. I have no doubt of Jacob's intentions and know he will truly be there when I really need him. I never have to question where his heart is.

This morning I woke up to my phone letting me know I had a text. I reached for my phone and on top of it was a black box. I got my senses back and opened the box. Inside was a Journey Necklace (photo below). I was so happy. Remember we have had family with us for the past two weeks. When did he have time to get this? The Journey Necklace is to represent the past, present, and future. To me this necklace really resembles all of that. Our past has made us strong for the present, and what we are doing in the present is setting us up for our future.

I am completely blown away with Jacob's gesture. We had not talked about this, and I honestly had no idea. What a way to wake up three years later next a guy who I really want to spend a long time with. I feel blessed, and giddy on this special day for us.

Family-Family-and MORE Family!!

The biggest news of all! Thursday June 25th my doctor claimed me in long term REMISSION! I feel as I have for the past 6 months, and hope to feel this great for a long time!

Trisha arrived soon after the doctors appointment. While her and her boyfriend Rob were here we got a lot in. We went to the water park, played a lot of Mario Cart on the Wii, and visited the Coke Museum. Click HERE to see the pictures of our doings!

Mom and Duane arrived Saturday night. They were here for the long haul. While they were here I was baptized on Sunday, the family (without me because I had class) went to Stone Mountain, Duane and Jacob worked on some major home improvements, we visited Savannah and Tybee Island. Click HERE to see the pictures of all those doings!

The Fourth of July had crept up on us, and our friends Shane and Diana drove up from Florida to spend the weekend with us. Our good friends the Burdens met us downtown Atlanta for once again the best firework show I had ever seen. Click HERE to see those pictures!

Everyone had left by noon on Sunday, and Jacob and I were exhausted. It took me until this point on Tuesday to become caught up and not feeling tired.

I hope to catch back up with the blog later this week. I wanted to get pictures up, as some people have been asking for them. I love having my family visit. I miss them so very much. It was a great week and a half, and wish it could have lasted longer. But back to reality Jacob and I go.

Jacob hates naps...

I am over half way through my first summer class. It has been super tough. My prof totally tore up my first paper. I was so SO upset. I have always been a decent writer (when I try pretty hard), and my profs have always graded me decently. It was a total smack in the face. I became very self-conscious, and I really almost wanted to drop the class. But I stuck it out, found out that only one person had received a better grade than me, and it wasn't drastically better. Misery loves company...so I felt a bit better that I was still sort of in the top of my class.

Trisha comes on Thursday and I am super excited. I am still trying to stay ahead on my paper writing and hope I will be able to enjoy the time she is here. My big doctor appointment is Thursday too, and I am super excited!! I am still feeling great!

So it is Tuesday night and Jacob and I normally walk the girls on a nearby trail. But Jacob has fallen asleep on the bed. Now he HATES taking naps. He can't wake up, is real drowsy, and grumpy after he wakes up. He would say all these things, I am not saying anything he would be mad at :) So now the questions becomes...do I wake him? Should I take the girls by myself? Should I just not walk tonight? Oh dear. Jacob really hates naps, and I am left with the MAJOR decision with regards to walking the girls. Oh dear....

Feeling Productive

I am taking two summer classes. The first one (the one I am in right now) is about Problem Solving. LOVE THIS! Back in April when the syllabus became available I went ahead and printed it out. Now I am in a cohort (small/same classmates) situation so we have had our dates for each class since last November. I (being the planning person I am) planned on getting baptised during the two week break between my classes. When I looked at the syllabus the dates were different than I had written down. I contacted the professor, who happens to be the dean of my Masters Degree, and commented on the discretion. He notified me that the dates had been changed, and the dates on the syllabus were the ones that we would be going by. Normally I am somewhat okay with date changes...but this date change changed everything...

My sister flies in Thursday, and then my mom and Duane will be driving in next Saturday. Then next Sunday I get baptised, and then I have two last days of class. I will be in class all day while my family is here. When I first found out I was really mad/sad. I haven't seen my sister in 11 months and my mom in 9 months. I hate thinking about the fact that I will be in class. To top it off my sister flies back to MI on that Tuesday, the exact day I have my final. So not only will I have class, but it will be my final. Needless to say I was a bit disappointed.

However I have come to terms with the fact that I can't change it. Then being the planning person I am, I got my life in order, mapping out exactly what I needed to finish in order to have nothing to do while my family is here. That way at least I can hang out with my family with any spare time I have. I have my two case study papers written (one already turned in). I have the outline for my final paper (research/10 page paper). I have my visual aid (a brochure) complete, and then I just need to copy and paste some powerpoint slides together. That is it. I am SO SO proud of myself. I still have all day Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings, and all day Wednesday to get my final done! I am so so HAPPY!

Other doings:

Jacob and I are upping our running distances. We are up to running 4 miles. We hope to add another mile or so within the next week! YAY!

My step-brother Chris came down last weekend. We were able to hit up Six Flags and just chill. It was a great time. I am happy he was able to visit.

Jacob and I have been hitting up Six Flags and White Water (water park) as often as we can! We love both parks, and love having season passes.

Jacob and I will be swing dancing tonight. Georgia Tech hosts swing dance lessons, and a dance once a month. We did it last month and had a blast. It is a social dance so you go and dance with a bunch of people. It is great. I am looking forward to it.

That is all. Doctors appointment on Thursday right before I pick up Trisha! I am so excited to see her! I CAN'T WAIT!

No Doctors Appointment

Well I know I said that today would be my BIG doctors appointment. But my blood doc is not in today, so we had to reschedule for two Thursdays from now the 25th. I am okay with this. I feel that my health is top notch and two weeks will make no difference.

So nothing too big to report. Life goes at it goes here. The picture is of Jacob's newest hobby the aquarium. It of course is not complete (he wanted to me to put that in here) but it has been A LOT of work. Jacob promises me it should be set now. Now we just keep adding more fish. I will check in later!

About Anything

My sister-in-law also has a blog. The difference she is a real writer, so her blog is much more interesting. So when she started out her most recent entry, I was almost in shock. She had stated that she had tried writing in the blog many times, but then felt that what she was writing about just wasn't what she wanted to put up.....ME TOO. I have had plenty of time to write, plenty of ideas....and then....I just never publish them. I have no real reason. So here is an entry trying to make up for lost time.

The first full week of summer was, without any other words that come to mind, amazing. I am feeling really relaxed, my house is in order, and my life is really coming together. I have read 4 books, 2 magazines, and 2 chapters of my text for next class. I have enjoyed having very little to do each day.

Jacob purchased a 55 gallon fish tank. This has honestly taken up most of our free time. Jacob has wanted one for a LONG time so here we are with a huge fish tank in our dinning room. It has been a bit of an issue for me; the water everywhere, fish materials all over my table, no organization, or time table to get fish in there. But Jacob has taken care of it for the most part. We now have 4 fish in this HUGE tank. I hope this venture will no longer be a stresser to me.

On to a topic I am not sure if I have talked about on here. Weight Watchers. I joined WW on the last day of my chemo last July. Since then I have lost 34 pounds. I have made my goal, which is something you set to achieve towards. That means I am a Lifetime member through Weight Watchers. Well at my last meeting they asked me to write my story and submit it to the organization to win (the big prize) of becoming a WW honorary spokesperson. I felt really honored, and plan on completing my essay and submitting it soon. I think that was nice of my meeting members to think of me.

On to the topic of health, my big doctor appointment is Thursday. The one where the doc will claim long term remission. I have no reason to think he will say anything else. I feel great, and very healthy! Jacob and I also hope to get some set answers with what we call the "future family". There are so many complicated situations with this darn ITP, that we need to get some more answers so we can start planning accordingly. DO NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS. This is not saying we are going to have a baby ANYTIME soon. It just means we will be making sure we completely understand all of the options.

The picture at the top was of me in the outfit I wore to my baptism video. Looking pretty good if I do say so! :) The baptism video is what they will play to the congregation before I get baptised. To become a member of our church they would like you to get baptised as an adult (to show it is a choice that you make). At Community Reformed (the church I grew up in) we did Profession of Faith. So my video was a bit different. I am lucky enough to have accepted Christ into my heart in 1996, so I just touched on a few of the hard times God has helped me through. I will be baptized June 28 at the 9am service. My sister, mom and Duane will all be here. I am excited to have family here very soon.

Well most of this post was just as boring as any of the other stuff I tried to write. I hope to come up with some better stuff. :)

First Day of Break

Well I can't believe it. Another school year is over. I had 22 beautiful angels who walked across the stage and greeted me for their diplomas. I was a very proud teacher (mama) :)

Earlier this week I had to report for post-planning, so today is officially the first day of my summer break. I have to admit I am a bit nervous about this summer. This will be my first summer not having a "second" job, and I am really going to try and relax more. I have already read two magazines, and started some of my class work. My class starts in two weeks. I have quite a few books to get through this summer. I am excited and nervous all at the same time for this "new" summer!

Jacob and I are watching Jeff and Sara's two girl dogs, Callie, and Eva. We seriously are running a zoo for the next few days. The girls all get along and we call them each others BFF's. They should keep me entertained for a week :)

I will continue to try this whole 100 things...but will have to do just a couple an entry.

#21: I love dancing throughout the house and do this regularly (80% of the time with a cat in my arms)

#22: I cry at commercials, songs, T.V. shows, and occasionally shows like Maury....I have no idea why I have so much compassion, or empathy towards every situation

#23: I need to be busy...I need to have to-do lists! Hence why this summer is going to be a difficult one for me :)

Random #11 - 20...here we go!

Alright I survived the first 10 things about me, so here we go :)



#11: Jacob wants me to add that I have the best husband ever....agreed!!!



#12: I love putting poka-dots on my toe nails. However when I went in for a pedicure the lady asked if I did it, I said yes, and she laughed and rolled her eyes.....sad....



#13: I HATE cleaning up puke. This is no good because I have two cats that don't have hair balls, they throw everything up.....



#14: I gag when I have to clean up wadded up paper products. This can be a piece of paper, paper towel, or the worst....Kleenex....



#15: I am what is considered a clean freak. I like things very orderly and clean.



#16: I grew up in a town called Zeeland. Many people have never heard of this town...seriously you aren't missing too much



#17: I hate clothes shopping. I have a normal torso, and then super short, muscular legs. Most petite pants are too long

#18: I love scrapbooking. I am very behind....lets say I am still working on my junior year of undergrad...oh dear

#19: I am a tomboy at heart. I still don't wear makeup, and hate spending more than 10 minutes getting ready. I am most happy in some comfy pants and sweatshirt.

#20: I talk to my mom every day, and my dad probably every other day. I LOVE THIS!

**until next time** (it is getting harder!)

Whoops...it has been awhile

Well as the title states, it has been a bit since I have written. Mostly because I have actually been busy. Nothing much to report just normal day to day things.

I have 22 little babies who will be graduating on Friday. I bought a new graduation outfit, as my one from last year does not fit at all (not complaining)! My kids tests scores were amazing, possibly the best in the fifth grade! PERFECTO! I am so proud of my kids. They (we) worked really hard this year!

So a few fellow bloggers have started doing 100 Things About Me. I have considered this a bit, and figured I could probably do 10 random things a post. So I will try it out here:

#1: I have really thick hair. Most people don't believe this, but seriously...my hair is amazingly thick

#2: I love warm weather! The warmer the better! I love Florida in July!

#3: I am honestly 5"3', but have size 8 feet. Crazy right?!

#4: I love chewing gum in the shower. This is an amazing, refreshing feeling to me

#5: I really love being a teacher. I feel that it is completely a rewarding career.

#6: I met my husband (Jacob) when I was 11 years old. I told my mom I would marry Jacob when I was 12 :)

#7: I do not have many close girl friends. I find them catty and gossipy. However, my best friend, Shane, who is a guy is both catty and gossipy :)

#8: I have been employed since I was 14. Never once during that time have I not had a job....now that is either crazy or extremely blessed.

#9: I love both of my short haired dogs shaved. I just love the look. Neither needs it, just a preference by their mom :)

#10: I miss playing in a marching band. Oh Bronco Band how I miss thee....

**Until next time **

A Peaceful Heart and Mind

Well this will be a post with a couple different topics. But overall these past few weeks have really left me with a peaceful heart and mind.

Jacob: As I stated previously I have been really, really proud of him lately. Well another reason for me to fall head over heels in love with him is that he now jumps for Air Shows. His first air show was last weekend in Warren Robins (South GA). It was my first experience to see him jump in person. I was so excited, and our friend Sara went along with me to see it. She is the one who maned the video camera for the video below. Man did I get nervous right before the jump. His plane circled the air field for almost a half hour before the jump. That made me SUPER nervous. But it was amazing, and GREAT! Below is the jump. He is the second to last and Sara zooms in after he jumps out! I am so proud! :)

Also this weekend Jacob is in Key West, FL, where he was supposed to jump into the ocean. Only their plane broke down, so no jump. He was sad at first but now he is on a paid vacation. That makes him very happy. I am just so proud of all that he has accomplished. Jacob is back in form, and taking life by the horns and really making his mark in this world. I am just such a proud wife :)

5th Grade World: Well last week was the big overnight camping trip with my fifth graders. It was a new camp that we had never been to, and it was really nice. We had a couple of accidents like kids who had to go to the ER...just a boy chasing girls and he fell down a rocky embankment. SERIOUSLY...KIDS.... Then we have our big final 5th grade project called Exhibition. My class chose their action to be better our playground. Over the past few months we have planted flowers, painted and de-nailed a bridge, cleaned out dugouts, cleaned litter, and pet waste, raked our make shift track. Now the kids have to get a presentation together to show the school and community what we have done and learned. The big idea is that the kids do all of this on their own, and do most of the learning on their level. I am proud of my kids projects, and feel they have done well. It just takes up so SO much time. Only 10 more days with my 22 angels.

Amanda: Today I officially put in my two weeks at Huntington where I tutor. I have been unhappy there for a while, and with everything else I am doing it is time to just take a break. They let me know I would be welcomed back anytime and they will only have good things to say. That makes me happy. Then I have been researching a new workout routine, and I think I have decided to start Triathlon training. There is a group that trains right here in Smyrna, but their open enrollment ended last week. Man bad timing. But they have another open enrollment in July and I am going to shoot for that. I need a little more motivation in my working out and I think this will do it. So until July I will keep working on my 3 mile time, as that is what places us in our training group.

Well that is about it. Click here to see some of the still photos of Jacob's jump. Seriously so proud!

Let's Roll

Okay so I have been really REALLY proud of Jacob lately (more to come about that on a later date). But below is an essay that Jacob wrote, for college, about one of his experiences while in Iraq. After a long time of thinking about "releasing" this story, he finally agreed to let me place it here on the blog. I am amazingly proud of the service that Jacob has done for this country, and continues to do. Please read and enjoy a first hand experience to the war in Iraq.

“Lets Roll”
by Jacob Larkin

The stifling, dry heat of the afternoon was finally giving way to the cool refreshing air of evening. The dull, flat horizon turned to brilliant rays of red and yellow then slowly to a gray, dark abyss. I sat leaning against the cool hard metal, the armored side of a great beast. Like the beast was whispering, I could hear the chatting of the driver and truck commander inside. My hand rested on my one true companion, without whom I would be nothing, and without me, would be nothing but plastic and metal. My weapon made me who I am, a protector of peace, a dealer of death, a soldier. My weapon was now attached to the top of the great beast on which I sat, and soon we would sneak through the night to protect against those who would seek to destroy us. The convoy stretched ahead of and behind me like a snake lying in wait, quite and calculating. But this snake sought to bring life to others, delivering needed supplies miles and miles away. Soon I would hear the words I have heard so many times before, words that tonight would take on an entirely new meaning. A feeling of quiet resolve and anticipation came over me as I saw the chief step out of the lead gun truck at the head of the snake. Through the growing darkness I heard him yell those fated words. “Lets roll!”

We slithered and snuck through the warm, dark desert. Moving fast so as not to present ourselves as a target to the many predators lurking in the night. The wind struck at my face, my upper torso exposed outside the top of the gun truck. The mind does an odd thing after hours on the road. Hostilities begin to emerge between two thought processes. One side is driven crazy by the monotony and boredom of the flat black horizon, wanting to withdraw and become complacent. The other is ever vigilant, ever watchful, and paranoid even to the dangers and threats surrounding you. One battles the other for control of your main thought process, but you cannot give in the weakness. Too many lives, including your own, depend upon your keen awareness of your surroundings. So you watch and wait for the smallest hint of a threat, the black desert able to hide many of them.

An intense brightness slowly started to appear far in the distance, like a tiny sun breaking over the horizon. It broke the monotony of the surrounding darkness like an oasis in the middle of a desert. The light grew larger, more intense. It came to life, small movements and flickering becoming visible. As I got closer, the smell of it filled my nostrils, the smell of burnt metal, rubber, and gasoline becoming nauseating. The tortured, broken skeleton of a tanker truck lay burning in intense hellish flames. Its unnatural, eerie presence filled me with an uncertain feeling. As we approached the burning mass it seemed like the sun had zoomed to the middle of the sky and was bearing down on me. My skin burned, it felt as if the hairs on my arm would be singed off. I was forced to retreat in to the bowels of my truck, shielding myself from inferno outside. What happened here? I could easily guess what had mutated the tanker truck into a mass of burning metal. How long had the unnatural device been sitting on the road, waiting to choose its target and pounce? A crudely made explosive device, planted on the road for the sole purpose of bringing death and destruction. How many had been hurt? Or worse? My thoughts were interrupted by the crackle of the radio in my ear, the chief’s voice came jolting through the headset. “We are getting word that there is a lot of hostilities in this area, two convoys have been hit in the last thirty minutes.” A pause, then he continued, “We are pushing through, keep your eyes open and your heads down guys.”

My eyes traced the lines of the side of the road, searching for anything other than the gray darkness of my surroundings. They moved to the distant horizon, where the thin gray line was barely distinguishable from the black of the sky. They wandered to the stars dancing in the sky, so many stars I have never seen in my life. They traced their way down the truck we followed, focusing far too long on the bright red of the tail lights. They moved to the left, following the pale white lights of oncoming traffic sliding past and out of view. Something was wrong. A pair of headlights stood out like a pair of cat eyes glowing in the moonlight against a black background. The headlights were no longer on the road; they were cutting through the median heading straight for my truck. My mind suddenly became united to one purpose, one drive. My instincts rocketed me to one course of action, my pulse erupted into a rhythmic mayhem, adrenaline coursed through my veins, my muscles tensed. My thumb swiftly moved to the safety, my index finger to the trigger like the arms of an old lover. My weapon happily blazed to life. Fire and metal erupted from the barrel, the bullets piercing the night sky, flying towards their target. The oncoming car swerved and bumped through the dirt of the median, the distance between us was closing very fast now. Only a handful of rounds left my weapon, and even less hit their mark but seemed to do nothing. Then it was too late, the car was upon us. I was rocketed to the left as the driver swerved our truck to the right to avoid this oncoming predator. The general smoothness of the pavement gave way to a catastrophic chain of bumps. I was flying off my feet, and being clunked around the truck like ragdoll. Then I saw it, my heart stopped; a huge mound of dirt, merely feet in front of us. In an instant, I threw myself to the floor of the gun truck. The driver cut back to the left, but it was too late. Bumps now turned into a tornado, a whirlwind of steel. Anything that made sense in my current situation was gone. I was caught in flurry of metal, plastic, and cloth. Bullets flew around me, canisters and a backpack hit me before continuing their flight around the truck. I felt no pain. I felt no awareness. It did not occur to me at that very moment that I was rolling violently through the night desert. Then it all stopped.

Complete silence. There was no crackle of the radio, no chatting between the driver and truck commander, no loud roaring of the truck, no sound at all reached my ears. Had my worst fear come to fruition? Would my wife have to get that phone call and succumb to despair and loneliness? I could hear the phone call from the Red Cross, my wife trembling as she heard the news. My mother’s cries joined in with my wife’s, one of the most difficult calls she would have to make. I could see my comrades walking by and saluting my boots and upside down weapon with my dog tags hanging around it. The commander would give his speech about bravery, and the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Another soldier’s life unnecessarily claimed by the terrorists and insurgents, another lost.

Something was pulling on my foot, shaking it. Suddenly sound returned to my ears, feeling returned to my limbs. “Larkin!” I heard, I could not see where it came from. I could not gain my bearings, I could not tell where I was. “Are you ok?!” came the voice again. I managed to mumble some sort of answer. I tried to move but was unsuccessful; I felt very awkward. Then the pain came, first in my head pounding and rhythmic like an enormous drum then followed by my elbow; then my knee, a dull constant pain. I was finally able to figure out where I was. I was upside down, my head resting on the desert ground through the opening in the top of the gun truck. My body tangled awkwardly with the contents of the truck, a backpack curled around one of my legs and stuffed in my face. Before I had time to realize how much time had passed, I was being pulled out. There was much pain as I squeezed through the opening in the top of the truck and the ground. Much pain, but I was alive. As I slumped into the seat of another truck, the chief turned around and gave me a concerned look. The his face shifted, with the slightest smile he said “When I said ‘let’s roll’, I didn’t mean it literally.”

New Glasses

Yup...me...new glasses. The last pair of glasses (well frames) I purchased my Junior year of high school. I had replaced the lenses (as my eyes continue to get worse) but again that was my junior year of college. Oh dear. So off I go with my tax rebate...it was time to purchase new glasses. I hate getting new glasses. The whole process. Try them on, do they look good, yes, no? What color? Smaller frames, bigger, darker colored? Should they stick out or be like you can't see them? TOO MANY QUESTIONS!

So I drag Jacob in there, and we find the pair I have on my face in the picture. I of course had to pay extra to get my coke bottle lenses "reduced" so they didn't stick out past the frame. These glasses are something different. Not like I have ever done before. They are square, darker, and thicker than I have had before. The change will need to grow on me.

The eye doc continues to tell me I need to wear my glasses more than my contacts....again something I haven't done since I got contacts in 8th grade. If the glasses grow on me, then I will be seen around town in them, a little more often. I will definitely have them at night class!

Well that is about it. My kids are taking their big test that will decide for them if they will go onto 6th or not. I am nervous but know they will be amazing! Have a great week!!!

I NEED A TO-DO LIST!!

I made it to the weekend. Barely....but I made it. We got power back in the classroom on Wednesday and the week just took a long time to get through.

Fifth grade towards the end of the year gets to be rough. The kids start talking about liking girls, and boys, and who is dating who. Then of course there is the pre-teen attitude that starts. It is hard after spring break because the have had a week to get back into bad habits, and some of the kids just run all over their parents...so they forget they don't get away with too much in my classroom.

So I have been looking forward to the weekend for a while. But now that it is here I have little to do. I should be excited, but I am the kind of personality that LOVES to have her day planned out to the exact hour. Jacob left for drill for the next three days so I don't have him coming home on my schedule. I have some organizing to do, but it is all at school. I know I should clean, but the weather people are saying that it is going to rain on Sunday. So I have planned the grocery shopping, and cleaning to take place after church. So that leaves me where for tomorrow? I have NOTHING on my to-do list.

My to-list is something I live my day/month by. I pick out my planners with careful precision. I am very picky, and then everything is color coded. I have paper clips, and sticky notes all over. LOVE IT! But over Saturday for this week....nothing. I should be happy and excited. But my type of personality just doesn't know how to take such a low key day. We shall just see what I can get on the list by tomorrow!

In the Dark

Here in Georgia we have been experiencing some weird weather. Honestly I think the bad weather started Good Friday (night) and has just continued to be crazy. The tornado alarm went off in Smyrna 5 different times throughout the night last Friday. Then it was just rain and really dark clouds. Then Monday morning MAJOR thunderstorms very early, and then just pouring rain. It was pitch black as I drove to school.

We got the day off to a pretty normal start. My kids were a bit crazy mostly because some of them went on the fifth grade French Trip. The wind really started whipping up about 8:30. One side of my classroom has four big windows that face a small wooded area. The trees are super old, and very tall. The wind just continued to pick up, and the trees seemed as if they might just smash through my windows. We were in the middle of our Social Studies lesson, about 9:15 am, when the lights just went out. Without any sunlight, our room was just pitch black.

Now losing power has happened before. Before we just went on teaching. The lightest part of my room was by the windows. I moved a few of my students to the farthest part of the room that had light in it, just because I was so afraid the wind would chuck a tree through the window. I kept teaching, and kept waiting for the lights to come on. Around lunch time I finally got to talk to some other teachers, and we were told that the wind had gotten up to 65 mph and pretty much all of Buckhead (north Atlanta) was out of power. The trees had completely knocked out power.

As the day wore on, the clouds lessened and we were able to do some classwork from the drops of sunlight that the trees were letting in. We made it through the day and of course as soon as 3:00 rolled around I was out of there. No computer, no phones, no light, I was not being productive so I just headed home. Getting home was a mess. Roads closed, trees blocking lanes, and downed power lines made my normal 20 minute commute, to almost an hour.

Then last night we had another round of thunderstorms. The wind was still blowing this morning. I had thought that the roads would have been restored, but boy was I wrong. The damage from these storms is massive in Buckhead. Roads still closed this morning. As I pulled up to the school I knew it was not going to be good news. Teachers were all gathered in the front by the emergency lights. We still had no electricity.....and the worst news they are saying we might have power back by the earliest tomorrow. I have been teaching in the dark for 2 days, and now it might be even longer.

The kids have been pretty good, but it is rough. We are using flashlights in the halls, and bathrooms. I have to write on the board then step back and hold the flashlight up to it. There have been a few classrooms that are running on the schools generator. Because of this all of the rooms without light have been on rotation and are mobile classrooms. I had my kids pack up two subjects worth of materials and parked them down in the cafeteria where four other classes were also relocated.

According to the weatherman he says the crazy weather should be over for now. Which does mean that Georgia Power can begin working on fixing the damage. I will go to school tomorrow assuming we will be in the dark at least one more day....

Okay one more....

Okay well one more means a few different things. One more day left of what was my Spring Break, one more post that will classify my animals as my kids, and one more alien bump left!

SPRING BREAK is over....sad. Tomorrow is Easter which is a great way to get pumped back up and ready to finish out the last 6 weeks with my kids. Well this week I ended up being pretty productive, a lot of it got done with Jacob's help. We got the lawn mowed, and then sprayed for weeds. Which now means we have no yard because apparently what we mowed was all weeds. HAHA! The garage is cleaned out and reorganized so Jacob's car now fits inside the garage. It is pretty sweet! We have hanging plants, the whole house is cleaned. Jacob and I went through our closets and got some new spring clothes. My big deal was I didn't have any clothes that fit. I do now which is super exciting. I am just not a shopper so I am glad I got that done. I tutored today and tomorrow will end with doing some laundry and grocery shopping.

ANIMALS = KIDS Above our bed is now four blown up portraits of each of my babies. Jacob (who is an amazing photographer) has been taking pictures of the animals all along. We picked out our favorite of each and had it blown up to 8 x 10's. We found matching black and silver frames and they look amazing! Earl's picture is the best I think. We hope to keep taking more and more photos so they will always be changing. WOW! I just can't get over how great it all looks!! (Photos Above)

ONE MORE ALIEN BUMP Well the bumps that mysteriously appeared (so Duane nick-named them alien bumps) have since disappeared. Well all but the last one to show up (the one on my right arm). The doctor is sure it had to be some kind of infection, but now the issue is why did my body react that way. I am just happy they went away, and we have some meds that will make them disappear again if they ever show up again. So crisis averted! YAY! Health back to 100%

I wish everyone a Happy Easter! Remember Christ died for us, and he has risen so we can be in contact with God, and have a relationship with Christ! To wrap my brain about it, it is still awe-inspiring. God is AMAZING!!

One Year Ago....

Well believe it or not one year ago (technically yesterday) was my first 8 hours of chemo. At this point I was so tired I could barely get out of bed, and had no energy to do anything. I think I had only gained about 18 pounds at this point ( I ended up gaining 30 pounds total by the end of all of the chemo). Mom and Dad Larkin had come down to make sure I (and Jacob) survived the first round. I remember thinking how cool the chemo room was. It was brand new, even the TV's weren't set up yet. I was given the three different pre-chemo drugs, then I just fell asleep. I woke up with the machine went off to tell the nurse (nurse Kathrine who I had through all 8 chemos. She was absolutely amazing!) to try a new speed. Because I was so tired the nurse checked my bracelet, to make sure I was Amanda Larkin, and then began the new speed. Within minutes I felt awake enough to ask for a snack. Before taking a bite I knew something was wrong. I could feel my throat literally beginning to close. I could hear my phone ring (which later I find out my dad felt something was wrong and tried calling). Jacob reached for the phone, and I grabbed his arm. All I had to do was look at him, and he ran to the nurses desk telling them something was wrong. Three different nurses came over immediately but by that point I felt as if I were breathing through a clogged up straw. My blood doctor was called out, and they immediately choose to stick me with the antidote. My throat quickly began to reopen, and as my mom-in-law said color began to return to my face. The antidote is a strong narcotic and man was I flying high. Jacob and Dad Larkin had to go get me another vile of the antidote, in case of another reaction, and I just floated off into dreamland. The rest of the treatment is a blur. Well make that the next two days. Chemo wiped me out. I was exhausted.

Now one year later...I am feeling better than I have in a long time. I am still in short term remission and hope to be placed in long term remission in June. July will make it one year since my last chemo. I took a total of 8, 8 hour chemo treatments. They did get easier as my body got used to the meds, but it was still a time in my life I was so tired, mentally and physically exhausted. In a year I have been able to lose 35 pounds (30 of it I had gained in three months from the Prednisone). I am healthier than I have been in years. I feel like a normal energetic 25 year old. I have been able to bring a new energy to my classroom of 24, 5th graders. I feel like I am finally the wife I was meant to be, and the mother to all four of our animals. I know the girls appreciate the many walks I have energy to make now. I can't believe it has been a year. I can truly say "what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger". This was an experience in my life I will never forget, and truly be able to learn, and grow from. Below is a recent picture of me and Simon!

Spring Break!

Well I have been officially on Spring Break for 4 days. I have truly enjoyed every last minute of it. I will give you a short run down. I thought long and hard about doing this because a good friend recently wrote in her blog about how self centered blogs are...and that is so true. I began this blog to help update people on my health....which I am still doing but not too much going on in the health realm, so I am boring y'all with boring, non-exciting, life items. Please know that I am now blogging just to blog, and if you do not feel like knowing anymore about my day to day motions please feel free not to read. You will not hurt my feelings. I think I just blog now, like I used to keep a diary. Just to do it. So continue if you would like :)

Saturday: Had class from 9-12. It was our last class until June, and the prof told us he would let us out early. Dr. Fuller was an amazing man and a great professor. However that said I was extremely happy to be done with class at 12. Then I had a parent-teacher conference scheduled (yes this mom had been avoiding me since Jan. so I met her when it really worked for her). The conference went fine, annoying, but the weather was so nice I did not mind reading at Starbucks for most of the afternoon.

Sunday: I was the security (greeter) at UpStreet with the little kindergartners. We were super busy, and I am reminded how much I miss my partner in action Ashley. I then got some fantastic news from a friend. I never thought I would be as happy as I am for this friend, but it feels like prayers have been answered, and this couldn't have happened to better friends ( I will say no more as this person would still like some privacy) :) But still super excited. I made sure I went grocery shopping, and then read on the back porch. I tried to get some laundry done, but feel asleep until 5 instead. HAH!

Monday: I woke up and had to close the bedroom window because it was so cold (50's). Because I have become a warm weather brat I could not force myself to run outside. I ended up driving to the gym and ran on the treadmill. Then I got home and went into homemaking mama machine. I began deep cleaning everything. I worked three straight hours and got the two other bedrooms, and the extra bathroom completed. I am talking window sills, baseboards, and closets were thoroughly cleaned. Then I went to tutoring and then to Small Group Bible Study, which is always a great way to end the day.

Tuesday (today): Well Jacob had this morning off, so we forced ourselves out of bed and went to kickboxing class this morning. Jacob and I bought a few items we needed to help make our house a home. This week I am trying hard to work on house things that Jacob and I have put off. As I type this in the bedroom we have hanging curtains over both windows. I am so SO happy. I continued cleaning and five hours later I have completed the whole upper part of the house. I even old school mopped the floors. The house smells so GREAT! I love a super clean house! Oh how wonderful. I also put together a Cat Jungle Gym for our kitties. (pictures above) We both worry that the cats get bored through the day. The gym has been in use since the cats have gotten sight of it. I am so happy they are loving it!! Jacob left for a class awhile ago, so I am here alone for a while.

It is SUPER cold today...snow flurries were seen in Buckhead. The news just told me. So sitting on the back porch, reading a great book is out of the question right now. I might light a fire to read the book. But this is Spring Break...I'm not going light a fire. GGRR...

I hope to be just as productive the rest of the week. I have two more days I will be tutoring, and that is all that is on the schedule right now. I would love to clean the gutters, and leaf blow the back yard, but I guess the weather will help me decide how much of that I get done.

If you are still reading I hope you found something new and exciting. I will try to write more and more about others, or maybe issues going on with the world. But I can't promise... :)