Friday's Letters

Dear Summer,  I am so sad to have to say goodbye to you, but alas the school year is upon us.  Hi Ho Hi Ho it's back to work I go.  Dear Furbabies, you are super cute and cuddly.  I think you sweeties were the best decisions we have made in our marriage.  Dear husband, I can't believe this week we celebrated our second anniversary.  It feels like just yesterday was our wedding day.  So much has changed over two years and I love you more and more through it all.  Dear Ice Cream, I really miss you now that I am on this hardcore diet.  Maybe we will have to have a rendezvous soon.  Dear students and your parents, please be nice to me and my educator friends this year.  We would greatly appreciate it in advance.  Dear Brandon (again), thank you for helping me hang pictures in my office today.  You know my head is crooked and your measuring skills are genius, so you were the perfect man for the job.  Dear Fall, I can now open you with open arms since I bought my new boots.  I can't wait to wear them!  Dear blog friends, I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!  For those of you going back to school or who work in school or who have kids in school hope you have a wonderful school year!

Pintastic

It has come that time of year where I will be heading back to work soon. Last year being my first year on the job, I really didn't have a whole lot of time to decorate my office. This year I am starting early and trying to put my personal touch on it. I want it to feel warm and inviting for the students, so I wanted to use quotes and bright colors. I am a big DIY fan and found a great way to showcase a quote on Pinterest, so I decided to use it. I found the inspiration here.  It was a fun and easy project.

What you will need:

Canvas-  Mine was 16X20

Staple gun

Fabric a little larger than your canvas

Letter stickers

Acrylic paint in your favorite color

Paint brush

A favorite inspirational quote

 

1. Staple your fabric to the cavas.  Make sure it is snug and the corners are flat. 
 

2. Use the letter stickers to put your quote on your fabric covered canvas.  I had some dead space so I used these flower stickers as well. 

3. Paint over the entire cavas, stickers included.  Also paint the edges of the cavas.

4. Let your paint dry.  Once dry, peel the letter sticker up.  The letters will be in the fabric now. I didn't pull up my flower stickers because they were too delicate, so I left them for texture.

There you have it!  Your very own quote wall art.  Some of the paint did bleed up under the stickers, but hey, it shouldn't be perfect :)  This will go in my office next week.

How I Make That Money Honey Link Up

   

Today I am linking up with Lindsey over at The Bargain Blonde for the how I Make That Money Honey Link up.  This link up is all about what you do for the daily grind, your real life job.  I love getting to find out about the girl behind the blog and about everyone's actual "real lives".  So here you go.

Growing up in youth group at church I had the opportunity to travel on several summer mission trips to work with kids.  We traveled to places like Jacksonville, FL, Charleston, SC, West Palm Beach, and Memphis, TN.  I found a passion for working with underprivileged kids and knew that I wanted to help others when I grew up, specifically kids.  For me, it just clicked that this was my calling.  That paired with my passion for helping and encouraging others pointed me in the direction of some sort of counseling.  

I ended up graduating as valedictorian with a BA in Psychology and minors in Spanish and Sociology.  This catapulted me into my career path.  In order to be a counselor you have to have a Master's degree.  I ended up getting a fellowship to study School Counseling at UNC Charlotte, my hometown where Brandon just happened to get an Engineering job after we graduated.  It was meant to be. 

I finished my Master's in School Counseling in May of 2011 and began the job hunt.  I ended up getting a job as a middle school counselor.  I just finished my first year counseling and I absolutely love it.  I get to work with students on academic, personal, social, and emotional concerns.  I speak to kids about issues ranging from friendship to suicide and self-mutilation.  My job is never boring and I feel like I am making a difference on a daily basis.  

I never thought middle school was the age group for me, but I love them.  They are in their own special world with unique issues.  Plus, a perk to working in the school is that I get summers off, Praise Jesus!  After working with middle school issues for 10 months, I definitely needed a break.  I am looking forward to continuing to grow my counseling skills and make a difference in kids' lives. 

Happy Week!

I know I have been quite absent on here lately, but I have been super busy.  I hope you all haven't forgotten me!  The reason for this post is simple.  Happy National School Counseling Week!!  If you know a school counselor please take a minute to give them some encouragement and affirmation.  I am so incredibly blessed to be a school counselor.  I get to build relationships with students that are different than any other adult in the building.  I love being able to serve students and be there in their times of need.  The down side of the job is that sometimes the work we do goes unnoticed, but today I received some affirmation from my students and the teachers I work with.  It is so nice to feel that that the work you do is making a difference.  So, for all the school counselors out there, I appreciate you and am so happy to share this wonderful profession with you!!  You make our world better!

Friday's Letters

 

Dear Elevation, thanks for being an amazing church and for investing in the women of our church last night.  I am so blessed to be a part of such an uplifting church.  Dear Christmas Break, please come a little quicker.  I love my job, but I am in need of rest, relaxation, and a non-middle school drama holiday.  Dear Charleigh, you are so stinkin' cute when you run sideways like a monkey.  Do that more often, k thanks.  Dear Kitchen, I think I need to hire a maid just for you.  Your dirtiness is out of control.  No matter how many times I clean you, you are dirty again 5 minutes later.  Dear Christmas shopping, how about you take care of yourself this year.  Finding gifts for all of my family members, who are some of the hardest people to shop for in the world, proves a difficult task.  Dear husband, thanks for running to the store last night at 10:00 when I realized I forgot to pick up my breakfast items for a work party this morning.  You are the best.  

She Works Hard for the Money

As most of you know I am a working woman now.  I got my first school counseling job and have hit the ground running.  I have been crazy busy and have had little time to even stop and eat lunch, much less relax.  The kiddos start school tomorrow and I am looking forward to meeting all of them.  We have 1300 kids at our school and only two counselors.  It is going to be an interesting year for sure.  So if I am not posting as often that is why.  I did want to show off my office space though.  I am still in the process of decorating, so any fun ideas that would be good for a middle school would be appreciated.  I have one big blank wall and I am trying to come up with something fun to put on it.  I want my office to be an inviting, warm, and safe space for the students.  I think I am getting there slowly.  

 

Notice the duct tape holding the arm of my chair on, haha

Happy August

Can you believe it is August already? I certainly can't because it's our ANNIVERSARY month.  I am baffled to think we have been married almost an entire year.  So many things have happened over the last year, but that is for another post.  August is sure to bring some wonderful memories here in the Brown household. There are so many exciting things happening this month.  I will give you a short preview of what this month has to hold, but there will certainly be more detailed posts as the events unfold.  Let's take a look at what August has in store for the Brown family: 

1. My sister-in-law (Brandon's sister, duh) is going off to college!  Of course she is following in our footsteps and going to the best school ever!  We will be moving her into her dorm room in 10 short days.  Such a bittersweet moment, but we are excited for her to have the college experience.  

2. I am thrilled to announce that I got my first big girl job as a Middle School Counselor!  I am super excited, but also pretty nervous.  I will start in the middle of August.  I'm excited to have my own office and get to decorate it!  I just pray that the skills I learned in graduate school don't fail me now and that I can  make a difference in the lives of the students and in my school.  

3. I get to celebrate with the love of my life and reminisce about the best day of my life.  We also get to try our wedding cake for the first time, seeing as we didn't get to eat any at our wedding (besides the icing that went up my nose when he fed me).  Did I mention that I just adore my wedding gown and wish I could get married every August just so I can spend the day in it?  I mean how often do you find an article of clothing that makes you dance for joy in the middle of a clothing store?  On another note, we will also be taking a short vacation for our anniversary, so be on the lookout for those details a bit later :)

August is sure looking to be a pretty eventful month.  I'm sure it is going to continue to be HOT, but I would not trade this month for anything.  So happy August everyone!  What does you month look like?

P.S. send me those posts for the Footprints series!  I want to hear from all of you!

A Little Randomness

I have a hodge podge of little things I want to share, so here is a little randomness. 

I have my first big-girl job interview tomorrow.  It is for a high school counseling job and I am nervous, excited, blessed, terrified, unsure, confident, praying, optimistic, hoping, anxious, waiting, preparing, etc, etc.  It is so intimidating to enter an interview with people you know are judging you, but I feel confident that if it is the right place for me then it will all work out.  So any prayers would be greatly appreciated.  I just pray that I can be myself and let my passion shine.  I know the Lord has the perfect place for me. 

Here is one of the cutest videos ever.  Our little Piper gets the hiccups quite often and it is so adorable.  She is the master of puppy eyes too, they will melt your soul.  This little video showcases both of these adorable qualities.  So enjoy!  Also, Brandon is seriously wanting to adopt a second puppy.  I can't decide if this is a good idea or a bad idea.  I mean I love dogs, but two in our little house, I don't know about that.  p.s. Piper is becoming way too much like a child to me, it's pathetic, but endearing at the same time.  

 

This weekend was full of mild injuries.  My mom and I drove down to the beach to visit my sister for the weekend.  Now, I am a redhead so sunscreen is a must.  Therefore, I slathered on the SPF 50.  FIFTY!  I still managed to get a miserable sunburn on my chest and belly and an odd-looking sunburn at that.  Oh the joys of being a redhead.  Then on Sunday, I had my weekly softball game.  First play of the game a lefthanded batter steps up to the plate.  I was playing second base, so I knew he was going to pull it to the right side.  Next thing I knew a super hard hit grounder comes speeding my way.  I couldn't get my glove down fast enough and POP it hits my ankle at full speed.  The picture doesn't really show the bruise too well but my ankle is swollen and a nice shiner has developed complete with the seams from the ball.  Such is the life of a softball player.  It was all worth it though because the next time he stepped up to the plate I backhanded his line drive and he was OUT!  I also randomly pulled the muscle behind my shoulder blade.  Standing on the field all of the sudden I felt it tweak.  Has anyone else ever pulled this muscle?  It stinks. 

                                         

Here is my only picture from the beach because I forgot my camera at home, so this is a phone picture.  Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my Monday morning randomness.  And, remember to send me your posts for my guest series Love and Marriage.  Have a lovely Monday!

I'm a Master

Yesterday I officially received my master's degree in school counseling!  I have been waiting for this moment for two years.  Two years of countless literature reviews, projects, papers, journal articles, and hours of professional practice.  It is a very surreal feeling and I do not feel any different or more distinguished.  The ceremony was quite boring and impersonal and my actual paper degree will arrive in the mail; however, I do know that this is a crossroads in my life, a turning point.  I am very proud of myself for this accomplishment and cannot wait to put it to use.  It was wonderful to be able to share this achievement with my family and to know that they are proud of me.  This degree and process allowed me to grow in ways that I would not be able to otherwise.  I have become less critical of myself, more trusting in the process, and more comfortable with who I am.  It is very bittersweet though because school was always my safety zone, where I felt comfortable and felt like I was achieving something.  Now, I am in limbo, with no job and really no commitments.  I have never reached a point in my life like this.  After high school I knew I was going to college.  After college I knew I was going to graduate school.  After graduate school...?  This is a time when I truly need to have faith in my God that He will come through for my next step.  I pray that the Lord will place me into a position where I can use my spiritual gifts and make a difference.  I have been extremely blessed thus far through my education and have been afforded many opportunities to succeed.  I was blessed with a full-tuition fellowship to graduate school, had wonderful professors, supportive classmates, and a passion for the subject.  My God is faithful and never lets go of His promises.  He has a plan for my life already set into motion and graduation was just the next step in His plan for me.  Remember, whenever God closes one door, He always opens another.     

Please ignore my heinous hair...it was humid and rainy

Privileged

Have you ever been somewhere with someone and you feel this intense feeling that God put you there for a purpose?  Well, I feel this way with my career.  Even though I am not a hired counselor yet (come on dream job!), I still have the amazing opportunity to work with students in my internship.  Today, I had a realization that this is what my calling in life really is.  I love being a counselor.  Not many people can say that about their jobs, but I truly feel that this career, this path allows me to use my spiritual gifts to impact people.  

While sitting with a student today I realized that I am in the position to make a direct and lasting impact on lives.  I have the privilege of sitting with young people in their pain and challenges.  Yes, that's right, I said privileged.  Sitting with someone in their pain means they trust me enough to hear their story, to be there when they are vulnerable, and to work through it with them.  Once, someone said to me (in a very condescending manner) "how are you going to share Christ when you can't talk about God in school?"  Well, here's my answer.  I am sitting with those in need when everyone else may leave.  I am showing them unconditional positive regard and genuine care.  Isn't this what Christ does for us on a daily basis?  I may not be able to talk about God, but I can show Christ's love through my actions.  I am privileged to be a counselor and I want to remember that each time I enter the room with someone.  I am privileged to be a counselor.