This Is Real

This Is Real....

I am no longer employed by ANYONE.  January 9th I said good-bye to A.T. Still University and on January 12th I started my first day of student teaching at the Kirksville Primary School in 1st grade.

This Is Real.....

I have NEVER been so HAPPY.  I have fallen in love with 18 1st graders and now know what my purpose on Earth is!  To teach little people about how to tell time, count money, read, learn about our state and town information and to treat others the way you want to be treated!

This Is Real.....

May 2015 I will GRADUATE! WoooHooo.  It has been a road worth traveling but not always an easy one.  Juggling 4 kids, 1 husband, 1 dog, 1 cat, a full-time job, a household and my sanity hasn't been IDEAL, but I am never so thankful I made the plunge back in June of 2011.

This is Real.....

I will be looking like a CRAZY women for a job!  This by far has been the biggest "Leap of Faith" Brandon and I have ever taken.  I am trusting in the ONLY person that I know has it all mapped out for me...and praying fervently their is a classroom somewhere in the area that will have Mrs. Wood on the door come August :) 

This is Real....

The girls are good, Brandon is good and I am good.  We survived the holidays, a recent snowstorm, and the NEW "normal" here at the home front.

We have our eyes peeled on a FUN summer ahead.

This is Real...New Adventures, Big Changes and still a house full of LOVE!

It's Getting Real

I am on the FINAL countdown to my last day of work....16 days to go!

A chapter in my life is soon to be closing and a new one is opening and it seems UNREAL that it's really happening.  

January 9th will be my last day at ATSU & January 12th will be my first day student teaching!

After a long 4 year haul I am near the end of reaching a life goal of mine.  Being a teaching and having a Bachelor's degree.

Soooo our family is taking the BIGGEST leap of Faith yet.

Trusting I will get a job by August and Living off LOVE for 6 months.

I have reminded myself daily of this verse for the past few weeks as we transition into a new NEW, "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways honor Him and HE will set your paths straight" 

Proverbs 3:5

As a wise or crazy person once said.....HERE GOES NOTHING!

A little of this and that

I LOVE This!

Daddy getting ROYAL treatment from his 3 little ladies.

Foot Rubs Anyone?

We rounded out another AWESOME weekend at state Cross Country in Jefferson City!

Camrie finished 55 spots and 1.32 minutes faster than last year!  FUN to see those summer miles pay off!

Go Cam Go

....and just a short 12 months later.....Camrie is heading back to district Cross Country tomorrow, hoping to qualify for a repeat trip to state in Jeff City.  

She has had a GREAT season and has improved her times, strength, endurance and overall racing strategies from last year.  

It is so FUN to see the improvements and her dedication to such a tough sport.

Lace those shoes up tight tomorrow Bulldog and show them what you got GIRL!

Missing You

I've been wanting to post pictures and a brief update about our PaPa Maury.  

As most (or all) of you know Maury went home to be with Jesus on August 22, 2014.  It will be a day forever engraved in mind as one of the saddest days of my life.  Still today, I miss him dearly and at times still can't believe he is gone.  I think of him SO often, I catch myself wanting to send him an email (like I often did) asking him a random question that I knew he would know the answer too, or a text with one of the girls pictures attached hoping to brighten his day.

This past weekend we celebrated and honored our HERO at Purplestrides in Iowa.  Through so many generous friends and family members we raised $3,000 for Purplestrides....where the money goes to research, helping cancer families in need, and advocacy at the state and national level.

I had the privilege of briefly sharing during opening ceremonies:

1 year ago our HERO Maury Smith stood on this stage describing his journey with Pancreatic Cancer. Just 36 days ago our dad, grandpa, husband, son, uncle and Pancreatic Cancer survivor WON his battle and went home to meet the Lord.   For 3 years he fought the fight with an abundant amount of GRACE teaching all that were watching him to act justly, love mercifully and walk humbly regardless of the trials that are set before you.

Our family walks today to bring awareness to pancreatic cancer and in memory of our own Pancreatic Cancer HERO!

B's

 How in the world did the month of August go by so FAST?  Gosh, I will never no.

September brings, Birthdays, Ballgames and the Beanfest!

Kohyn Dovie is now officially 8 years old!  A girl that can do anything she sets her mind too, can read with the best of them, and loves to sleep for hours upon end.  I love watching her transition from a little girl to a big girl....her determination will take her places and I can't wait to see where!

The Beanfest was nothing less then a HIT this year at our house!

Camrie got 2nd runner-up in the queen contest

Kohyn 3rd in the hula-hoop contest

Kail Roma 1st in the dog show (dress-up division - her and KC went as cowgirls)

The Wild Wood's 1st in the Cowboy/girl Olympics

.....and now it's onto Softball games and Cross Country meets.

  

Back to School

August is such a bittersweet month.

I can't believe that these 3 are back in school and the school year routine is back in full force.

Summer has treated us well and I'm a bit sad to see it end.

So here's to a GREAT Preschool, 1st grade, 2nd grade and 10th grade year!