Weekend Recap

I had a whirlwind of a weekend. It was full of family, food, and great music.

My sister and I drove up to Portland to see an Ingrid Michaelson concert put on by Kink.FM. We had a blast! My sister L.O.V.E.S. her music and could not stop smiling while we watched the show. We both loved her new song Blood Brothers. Look it up on YouTube. We ended off the trip with a quick stop at Hot Lips pizza. It is my favorite place to grab a slice of pepperoni alongside their delicious homemade fruit soda. Delish!

My whole family headed to the beach on Superbowl Sunday to celebrate my brother's 19th birthday. I made the strawberry poppy seed cake which turned out even better than I expected (I'll post the recipe soon!). We ended off the night with a bonfire on the beach, then danced the night away to Just Dance 2.

Overall we had a wonderful weekend. Check back for the Strawberry Poppy seed Cake as well as our Homemade Calzones!

Have a wonderful week!

Here's to Reality

I am proud to announce that Jake and I graduated! I have never felt so proud of any other educational accomplishment. After four fun, difficult, growing, long years, we finally made it to the end and get to experience marriage without homework, student teaching, and finals week.  We are both looking forward to the rest and new experiences we are about to face.


Yesterday was the day I was dreading for the past couple months. Yesterday was the day we started our "grown-up" lives and started to embark on life without the title "student". It was filled with excitement and fear. Our families went back home, the caps and gowns were put away, and the books were put on the shelf. We now are dedicated to finding the professional jobs we have been looking for. And while I sometimes enjoy a little change, I often cringe at the thought of big changes.  I also hate looking for jobs.




In spite of all of this, I have found great comfort in some of my favorite verses.


Jeremiah 29:11- "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."


Matthew 6:28-34-“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."


Throughout my life these verses have brought great comfort to me. But in times like this where the future is very unknown to me, I can't help but view these verses as more of a praise than a prayer. I am thankful God has the future planned and He will reveal it to us as we need to know, and I am excited that I do not have to worry about tomorrow because God will take care of us.


If you are in a similar situation, I hope you feel the same excitement that I have knowing I have little control over the rest of my life and that is ok. God will reveal something Jake and I never imagined, and I can't wait!

Just Yell Louder (and other advice from 4th graders)

Thursday was my last day as a student teacher. It was a bittersweet day as I realized I had made it through a very large part of my education, but also that I am now no longer the "fun college kid that gets to come in and teach fun things".

As part of a thank you from my teacher and the students, all of the kids wrote a goodbye letter to me explaining things they liked about me and what I taught as well as advice for when I get my own classroom (please let that be this year!).

Throughout this school year I have been collecting hilarious quotes from my students, but these letters brought some of the best. This post is dedicated to my lovely fourth graders.

(Note: some spelling and punctuation have been fixed so you could understand what they said)

Dear Mrs. Zufelt,

"you were very nice to me. And it's funny when you roll your eyes."

"What advice I have for you. 1. Discipline kids if being bad. 2. If kids are good reward them. 3. Make sure to call parents if really bad. 4. Don't call parents if really good. 5 Give them a break."

The next two are from a student who apparently thinks yelling is the best way to handle students:

"Just for some pointers if they are yelling and screaming yell at them and say 'Stop or you will have detention'!!! One more thing before I make a new paragraph, tell them about us"

"If they yell at you yell at them. But don't push it too far, okay, try"

"I hope you have a huge classroom, lots of supplies, and a wonderful class just like us (good luck with that)"

This next bit of advice came from a "good" kid:

"Now, if you ever have bad kids in your class here's how to deal with it. Let the good kids do something fun when the bad kids do assignments"

"If you keep this note I know you will be the best teacher ever"

"When you become a teacher you have to do a art class using clay. I don't know why but kids like to play with clay"

"I still think it's really sad that you have to leave. But also good because your finishing college. But also sad because you'll be gone."

"I have some advice for you! I can give advice because you know I've been in school for five years."

"P.S. Kids can smell fear. Do not get scared like some teachers do. They get inside their heads and the teachers start to yell at them and lose their cool. Just do not get scared"

I'm not sure if that was advice or a warning

Finally, one of my students was very hard to reach. Throughout my time at this school I only saw him smile once (it broke my heart). I was sure that he probably did not even care that I was teaching him, but after I read his letter I realized that I was completely wrong about him.

"I will remember you for a long time. You will just be a good teacher so much. I can't change anything about you"

If this doesn't make you want to be a teacher, I don't know what could.

Subliminal Messaging

{Source}

My birthday is in a week.  That's only 7 days from this very moment!  I don't know why, but I have been so excited about turning 22.  I really did not care much about 21, maybe it's because I was planning a wedding and was an RA with other things to think about.  This year is different.  I have made a point to make sure my husband knows that I am really looking forward to my birthday this year.  I don't ask for a lot... really, I just want to go to Cold Stone. Instead of just telling Jake this, I somehow decided I needed to send him subliminal messages.  Our conversations have looked a little like this:

It all started when  Jake asked me what I wanted for dinner. I told him, "Ice cream."

I have also resorted to Googling random pictures of Cold Stone ice cream while he is sitting next to me.  It's really terrible, I know.

This is my favorite. As we were driving to the store the other day we passed a lady eating a HUGE ice cream cone.  My eyes widened at the delicious site, and I quickly exclaimed to Jake (without thinking), "Wow, look at that lady eating that yummy ice cream cone! It must be her birthday."
"Subtle, Teesha."
"It just came out. I didn't even think about it before I spoke, I promise."

Maybe this post is yet another subliminal message... but who am I to know? I'm just the almost-birthday girl...

Ok.  This is getting out of hand.

Chai Tea and Chinese Checkers

Today I had a great lunch with one of my best friends.  We have been friends since childhood.  It all started in first grade.  I spent extra time cleaning my room and made sure my mom made my favorite hamburger helper meal because I was going to have my first friend spend the night.  When I arrived at school I ran inside to find Chelsea to make sure she could still come over.  As we were talking we bent down to look at something on the floor.  Chelsea happened to move her head up very rapidly and smacked me straight in the nose.  Needless to say my cute white shirt didn't stay white.  While it may seem like our friendship started off on bad terms, our head-banging accident didn't keep us from spending every weekend alternating between each other's houses and convincing our parents we should spend the night even on a school night.

Every time I drink a chai tea, I think of Chelsea.  We used to drink chai tea and play Chinese checkers... we thought we were pretty cool and sophisticated back then.

Love Ya, Chels!

P.S. Don't judge our current appearances by these pictures... somehow I could only find the weird, awkward pictures.