Feelin' a bit girly.

After doing laundry because I had no more clean underwear, scrubbing the gross dirt slime of my tub, and making my bed after a month, I just manicured my toes.

Lately, I've been feeling a bit, uh...contaminated. Dirty cups next to the bed, purse full of receipts, bushy eyebrows, and seriously neglected toes; I finally fed my personal life some attention. Embarrassing enough, it's done now so I can express the abundant feeling of femininity. To all my ladies, why didn't you tell me I needed to trim, shape, and shave?!

Well well well, for those interested, Luke graduated!!! yay!!! Three years long distance, and we did it! I'm so proud of him!!! Cheers love!!!! <3

Things have been busy busy ever since Luke moved home. He started selling shoes at nordys (we just can't get enough, apparently) and I've continue to maintain the emotional and stressful Katie that i've been the last um....... 8 months. I'm now in my second practicum in a third grade class. It's interesting. Ha. I have one student with Tourettes Syndrome, and one child with Autism. They d o n o t l i k e e a c h o t h e r. It's a handful to say the least. HOWEVER, I am learning a great deal and have come to laugh and absolutely love both of them. It's quite fantastic actually.

I'm still adjusting to having my parents gone.... i miss them damn it! Life just isn't the same :/ It doesn't help that I'm jealous that they watch the sunsets 4 times a week and I'm sweating as soon as the sun sees me. On the contrary, we have developed a alternative forms of communication. Since my mother and I are obsessed with weddings she emails me these super creative/amazing wedding blogs. No, I'm not engaged.... yet. But I can still dream and plan for one day, right? If you are getting married, come to me, because I have some GREAT ideas and since I can't plan my own right now, I'll plan yours! BUT I won't give you all my glorious ideas. I'm saving them for myself. Just sayin'.

I'm fully engrossed.

Other than trying to budget my money, I'm getting very excited for the future. There are thousands of little blessings all around me and I enjoying watching them mold me and those around me. See life through a different lens, it's awesome.

Anyway, I'm not feeling witty or like I have too much else to say. I think i'm going to extend my girly day and go have one of these!!! Ciao ciao!!!

feeling flirty, katie.

Thursday, at 1:00.

New job, new home, new beginnings. It's been a crazy semester but it's only temporary... right?

I've been so busy I haven't even had time to do laundry, dishes, pluck my eyebrows, or catch up on my guilty pleasures (maybe that's good!). My lunches consist of string cheese, granola bars, and anything else packaged. hurry. quick. gotta go!

However, it's thursday, at 1:00. nothing due tomorrow; no work tonight. just me, cafe rio, red box, and my keyboard. convivial.

Yesterday was my last day with my first graders. It was so bittersweet. A little more on the sweet side than the bitter. Their tender little voices stood in front of me and one by one and read me a card they made. Need I say more? I lost it!!! It was extremely humbling; it confirmed my decision to become a teacher and gave me the courage to remain patient while trying to finish school.

While wrapping up finals and classes, my professors have all left us making the statement about teaching. "It's not a profession you choose for money; you're choosing to make a difference". It's hard to feel like I'm making a difference, but, I do know that those little faces are changing me and altering my inner core. Instead of helping, I'm being helped. It's a great feeling to recognize that everything I'm working towards can and will have a large impact on my life. Here's a youtube video that my professor played in class today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpog1_NFd2Q

Watch this video, you won't regret it!

Anyhoo, Luke moves home in T minus 16 days! I can hardly believe it. I remember when we first started dating and we were non-chalantly discussing future plans. We knew that we would spend three years long distance if were serious about dating; it just didn't seem possible. Then we fell in love and haven't looked back! I'm so proud of him for graduating and so very excited to FINALLY have him home. hooorayy!!

I recently went to Reno to surprise Jessica for opening night of her Grease play. She was amazing!! I'm not just being biased, she was incredible! I was just like a proud parent! I was choked up the whole time! She was glowing!!!!

Looking past the stress, this semester is coming to an end. 5 years down, summer/fall to go. Graduation, here I come. hayyyyy now.

Flights are being booked, plans are in the making.

sayonara,

KATIE!

running = best stress cure

This it totally unedited, completely raw; un-cute. I just ran and feel completed rejuvenated and felt the need to just write.

Today I was a total ball of stress. I woke up at 8! I was supposed to wake up at 6 45. I was late to my school to teach. Then one hour after being there I realized I forgot summer registration was today. I ran home, tried to register and ran into issues with the college of education. surprise surprise. I ran back to the school finished teaching about leprachans and rainbows for St. Patties day and tried to catch a break. I came home to an email from my dad that was so sweet, so incredibly thoughtful. My dad is an amazing man and he has a tendency to make me cry.. happy cry. This time it was happy but the tears just made me break down! I've been completely overwhelmed with school, work, the move, scholarship letters, deadlines, and life. Out of exhaustion, stress, and possible PMS I just broke.

That's when I put on my running shoes. Three miles later and some black eyed peas I was a new woman! Its a beautiful day outside and here I was whimpering over nonsense. Now i'm well, cured.

That's all, nothing valuable to the outside world.

just me,

K.

park it.

Lately, there have been so many little blessings that I fail to really, genuinely appreciate. Usually when they occur, my heart softens, and my brain immediately translates feelings to terminology on scraps of paper. I babble. However, lately, I have had lack of effort and time to really park myself, ponder, and assign the little moments of gratitude to others. Some things aren’t sharable; particular thoughts are boring to those attempting to listen to Katie’s babbles. But lately, many rather cool changes have occurred; it’s time to park it.

My parents are moving to San Diego. I should punctuate that sentence with an alternative mark called an exclamation point, but it would be inconsistent with the way I’m feeling. That’s rude. The blessing is that my dad said many prayers when he lost his job in December. Watching my parents survive, thrive, and persevere has been medicine for me. THAT is a blessing. Sadness overwhelms my selfish side because it leaves insecurity about the stability in our family. However, they are so happy to live in their favorite city, so happy to be in love, and so thankful that God answered prayers better than expected. BLESSING.

This semester has been a massive blur of commutes, cute voices and little hands, rubrics, and children’s literature. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been completely overwhelmed, exhausted, tired, bushed, and did I mention fatigued? Still, I’ve seen the glimpse of graduation/Ireland approaching. The blessing in the tiredness is that I’m learning. I’ve been in a first grade classroom this semester and I can’t explain the little joys those young devils bring me. For example, I was teaching a lesson on the 100^th day of school. The creative workshop was to draw a self-portrait of yourself as if you were 100 years old. A cute little devil raised his clammy hand and with wide blue eyes and concerned trembled voice asked, “Ms. Jozsa, will I go to heaven when I am 100 years old?” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, cry, or just marinate in the moment. So, I did just about it all. BLESSING.

An unmentionable name about an unmentionable topic has really made me laugh lately. This friendship is unswerving, authentic, and extremely agreeable… forever. Thanks to YOU for all the phone calls and fun adventures. BLESSIN’ ya’ll.

Although the entire globe knows I’m mad about Luke, it never seems a sufficient amount. That’s just the way I wanted love to be when I dreamed about it as a young woman. I wanted to scream to humanity on the top of a cliff so the entire universe could be informed. Even if that were scientifically achievable, it wouldn’t be adequate. We’re not perfect; yet it’s irresistibly ideal. Valentine’s day was just what the doctor would have ordered for a bad case of stress. It wasn’t because of the flowers, notes, dinner, or presents. Those materials were just the cherry on top of a handsome man who knows how romantically articulate his emotions on an ever so often occasion. It’s like my dad towards my mother. A true anecdote of romance; a true vivid and wildly imperfect BLESSING.

There’s one more. My senses. While recently visiting Santa Monica Pier, I took a moment just to appreciate my senses. What I heard was soothing. What I saw was magical. What I smelled was welcoming and powerful. What I tasted was salty. What I felt was tenderness. It’s the little senses that we take for granite each and every day. Although I’ve taken the time now to sit and appreciate, I spend the majority of my time letting stress and frustration get the better part of me. It’s revitalizing to share, energizing for the soul.

Psalm 67:1-2
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Really,

Kates.

PS: Andy and Nicole's 80's birthday bash this weekend. so exciting!

What are your blessings?

share.

quick visual update

Luke and I did it! The anticipated 1/2 marathon was amazing; difficult, yet incredible.

Lemme tell you, finishing that dang thing was one of the best feelings I have experienced. For those interested in running one... do it! It is well worth the training and all the other challenges. The entire experience was extremely rewarding and actually quite emotional.

December was a great month! Luke was home for 5 weeks which = happy Katie.

We celebrated his birthday "Old Vegas" style on Fremont Street. It was a blast!

Beard, no bueno!

My parents were in San Diego for Christmas so we were with Luke's family the whole time. Although I missed my family, I feel so blessed to join another. We fed the homeless christmas morning... it was the best (freezing) morning in a long time. We dined at the fabulous IHOP after...

Following Christmas was New Year's and Katrina's 21st Birthday bash... coming home at 7 am. NICE.

View when we got home. opps!

my best friends!

Huskers Game, go Mikey!

My Birfday.

Work.

School.

Work.

School.

Firstgraders.

whoops, there she goes.

With a mixture of buffoonery, selling apparel for legal tender, and a life consumed of lesson plans, I have

regrettably put blogging on hold for um…. 4 months.

There has been much to say and little effort on my part to exploit the thrilling details of routine. Lets explain. I work, I go to school, I run, and I skype. In between I drink a beer out of a frozen golf bag mug, obsess over twilight, and miss the love of my life.

Um let's do a quick visual recap:

Luke and I went on a cruise to the Caribbean! We went to Florida Keys, Cozumel, and Belize. INCREDIBLE.

Fall favorites:

phew.

That's a wrap.

ps. Were running the Las Vegas Half Marathon. Say a prayer.

It's one of those days...

well hello world. Sorry it has been so long since my last post, I've been all around lately. Just a brief over view of things in february and march: Well first, i CELEBRATED three years of life on February 24th. It was the anniversary of the shooting; a very exciting, fulfilling, miraculous day. Every year, my emotions and thoughts have changed. This year, I was nervous yet thrilled. Waking up that morning was evidence that Jesus loves me more than I could ever imagine. One word stuck with me..

Purpose.

Then came Valentine's Day. Of course I spent it with lukey! We went to Disneyland. We were such little kids and enjoyed every second.






School, school, school, then Spring break! Unfortunately, it was not spent in quite the chipper mood. My Uncle Pancho, was killed in a motorcycle crash while racing. It was instant; he went the exact way he would have wanted to. However, we miss him dearly. Since, we have learned wonderful things about his life and the kind of person he was. For me, I learned a great deal about trust. There is a powerful message in trust. Fully trusting God, is very difficult to do. Many say they do, although many really do not fully understand. After having a relationship with God my whole life, spring break was the first glimpse of full, lasting trust. Rest in Peace Uncle Pancho, I love you so.







I had a girls weekend with Julie and her mom in San Francisco.. it was perfect! Shopping, food, face masks, wine, and sauna.. um hello!!! It was great! The only thing missing was Katrina :[





It seems I have hardly caught my breath since spring break. March went faster then it came! I spent some weekends drinking wine, tanning with my pi phi girls, and having many sleepovers in Ash p's bed. It was been wonderful spending time there. I only have a few weeks left of Pi Phi... crazy!

This past weekend though, I spent the weekend with my boo! As always, I fall more and more in love with him everytime I am with him. He's been my missing puzzle piece for years and it so refreshing everytime I spend time with him. We went camping in San Diego.. it was incredible! We drank our favorite beer, cooked campfire food, and laughed the whole time. (Were camping here so don't judge!)

Now, I am stressing about summer jobs, my future career, and my math test tomorrow!! ughh.. i'm soooo over school! I'm trying to take a different approach this time though. Usually, I would be a wreck ball. Welp, the wreck ball has expired!!! I go home for Easter this weekend, woo hoo! I can't wait to spend time with the family. I also have my advising session at UNLV. So, I will finally know my exact graduation date, figure out all my transfer stuff, and be on my way!

I don't really know what else to say. I'm at a transition stage right now. Finishing up this semester, saying goodbye to UNR and Pi Phi, and counting down the days until Luke moves back to Vegas. I'm very happy and finding peace in simple things.. Until next... ciao.

"I will never forsake you"

-Jesus