I finally got a wi-fi connection! Woohoo! If you can't tell, Drew and I are out in Colorado this week. Drew is speaking at a college aged conference called Best 8 Days....and me, well, I'm just tagging along to enjoy this beautiful state and hang out!

Perhaps you saw the picture on Instagram or Facebook that I posted earlier today. One of my two class troublemakers came up to me with this little bouquet of "flowers" and said, "Here, Mrs. Thurman. I picked these for you."

At that moment, I felt my heart melting, but I also felt a second emotion. This second emotion struck me as a little strange because it wasn't a typical reaction. The second emotion I felt was shame.

I felt ashamed that I had written off this little boy as "out of control, crazy, unmanageable, etc." I had often joked with my aid saying things like, "I need to warn whoever gets him next year in kindergarten" or secretly letting out a sigh of relief on the days he was absent.

In that little moment when he handed me the flowers, it didn't matter how many times he had been to time-out, how many times I had to take away his chair for not sitting in it the right way, or how many times I have scolded him over this past year. All I saw was this little smiling face looking up to me expectantly with a little bouquet of freshly picked dandelions especially for me.

As I thanked him, I couldn't help but think, "What if God wrote us off in the same way that I wrote off my difficult students? Using phrases like...."

"Can't change...."

"Unmanageable..."

"Will never to be able to be like the others...."

But I don't think He ever does that. NOT EVEN FOR A SECOND. I think every day when he paints a beautiful morning across the sky, he thinks of us and says these sort of phrases....

"Today will be his time to shine..."

"She will make a little more progress today..."

"I hope they just keep trying..."

How beautiful is our Father who accepts our bouquets of "weeds" and sees us made perfect by his grace every time.

XO Bre

It's graduation season! I'm sure Drew and I aren't the only ones receiving what seems like an invitation to a graduation, party, or open house every day. Of course, Drew has worked with youth in a couple of different states, so we may be getting more than average. Ha anyway, I decided I wasn't going to break the bank sending out grad cards this year. I had a packet of scrapbook paper and stickers that I found at Wal-mart for like $4. So, I put them to good use!

I basically just folded a sheet in half twice and got a standard "thank you" card sized card. I then used the stickers to spell basic things on the front like "congrats", etc.

They are nothing extravagant, but I was then able to write whatever I wanted inside. The part I really loved was the envelopes made out of scrapbook paper! Why would you want a white envelope when you could have these?

They were also fairly simple to make. I used my card to measure out the paper for the envelope, keeping in mind two side flaps and the top portion. Get some double stick tape and you're good to go!

Hope I inspired you to get creative, but still show love to the graduates in your life this season!

XO Bre

I'm mixing up my usual "High 5 for Friday" post by giving you some ideas for your weekend!

1. Try a cucumber salad! May is the perfect time to start getting in shape for your summer vacay. But more importantly than exercise is diet (not that I always utilize this bit of knowledge)! I followed this recipe, but also went ahead and added some mandarin oranges and cilantro as well because why not?

2. Do yourself a favor and go see The Great Gatsby. I know I am going at least once. This english major may or may not jump out of her seat with arms outstretched toward the TV every time the trailer comes on...

3. Volunteer your time! I am helping a friend with a project for a conference that we will both be at shortly. It always feels good to help someone out and get to serve alongside great people in the process.

4. Go on a date! It is Drew's turn to plan our date this time. We'll see what he comes up with!

5. Call your mom! Hopefully, you will be with your mom physically on Sunday. Drew and I, unfortunately, will not be able to be with either of ours, but we will definitely be calling those beautiful women!

Have a beautiful weekend!

XO, Bre

How old does that make you feel?? 2026 is the year my prekindergarten class will graduate from high school. But for now, they graduate from preschool in a week from tomorrow. Tear.

I seriously feel sad that the school year is ending. They are my babies and I feel like we are some sort of crazy, giant family. Don't get me wrong, I have some egr (extra grace required) kids in my class (i.e. I got kicked 2 days ago), but they keep me coming back from more somehow.

I guess this teaching thing is a calling.

So, welcome to Kindergarten my little babies. Go get 'em.

I read somewhere that you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Yikes! If that's the case, I'm off by about...A LOT of ounces. Ha. So today, I'm trying to do this challenge! Maybe if it goes well, I will start doing this every day. So, I'm going to need to drink about 2 of these bottles today. You can see how far I've gotten. This is my first bottle. Lol.

Wish me luck! You should try the water challenge, too!

XO Bre

I thought it would be kinda fun if I shared a little bit about myself. I actually hate talking about myself in real life (which is weird since I don't mind doing it on my blog). :-) Anyway, let's pretend we're having a coffee date and I'll answer some questions!

1. If you could do one thing differently in your life, what would it be?
I think I have wasted a lot of precious moments worrying. I can never get those moments back and they robbed me of joy in the present at that time. I would go back and be braver. I would be confident in my decisions and have faith that God would see me through...because He was there all along anyway.

2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Yikes, I'll be 30! I would say 7 years into a wonderful marriage....probably with a baby. I'd like to still be teaching in some sort of capacity. I think I'll still be blogging, but probably with a different purpose for doing so by then.

3. Do you honestly want kids?
For as long as I can remember, I've known that I wanted to be a mom.  One that is selfless, fun, creative, and always willing to play.  Now that we've been married a couple years, I still feel that way, but I'm less sure on the timing.  I love my life with Drew, just as his wife.  I love our one-on-one time and spontaneous date nights.  We just have so much fun.  There is fear around loosing that, but the good news is, I don't have to fear timing. God will add to our family when he knows we are ready and until then, I get to enjoy the sole title of wife. Not to mention, I have 16 little 4 and 5 year olds that I get the privilege of loving every day.

4. What has been the best moment of your life so far?
Finding Drew. Hands down, the best moment so far.  I loved my life before him, but it doesn't compare to my life with him. He is teaching me about love and I couldn't be happier.  I'm a lucky girl.

5. What is your life theme song?
Michael Buble anything. His music makes me happy!

6. What is one thing you have yet to accomplish that you want to do before you die?
I hesitate to say this because I don't want people holding me accountable now if I don't do this! Ha, but I would like to write a book.

7. If you could choose one thing to be known for, what would it be?
Joyful. I want to be known for being joyful for life, love, and my faith in Christ despite the changes, interruptions, or speed bumps. Life is breathtakingly beautiful and I am blessed to be here living life despite having so many things (blessings if you will) I do not deserve.

8. If you could do anything you wanted to in this moment with no fear or consequences, what would it be?
Probably spend all of our (small) savings account! Ha on what? I don't know! A trip somewhere?

9. What has been the most challenging moment in your life so far?
Probably moving from Arizona to Indiana. Having to leave behind my family and friends to come to completely unknown territory was scary. However, I've also received some of the biggest blessings in my life because of this move. I've learned how to trust God in bigger ways than I thought possible. I feel like I am in a job that was designed exactly for me. I also believe this move has brought Drew and I closer together.

10. Summarize yourself in one word.
BLESSED. Undeservedly blessed.

Thanks for listening!

XO Bre

It must be because Teacher Appreciation week is coming up, because a lot of my favorite blogs have been posting awesome teacher stuff! I found this today on Love Laughter and Happily Ever After and knew I had to share. I can vouch that these are all true for me. :-)

Here's how you know you're a teacher:

You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.
You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.
You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Mrs. ___ and know you have been spotted.
You have 25 people who accidentally call you Mom at one time or another.
You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.
You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period. You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
You believe the Teacher’s Lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.
You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.
You believe chocolate is a food group.
You can tell if it’s a full moon without ever looking outside.
You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, “Boy, the kids are sure mellow today.” You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own home.
You can’t pass the school supply aisle without getting at least 5 items.
You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.

Am I right or am I right? :-))

XO, Bre

That was our project this weekend! That's all I have for today!

XO,
Bre

Listening to: Colors by Amos Lee

1. My class officially has up their countdowns to summer! Doesn't it make our room look sort of magical?
2. I got a new MAC lip pencil in cherry. I'm loving it. I've been using it as all over lip color and it lasts for sooo long.
3. My Birchbox came with some new teas this month. They were delightful.
4. Wednesday was our last Well service until June. We had a bunch of our students over for After Hours at our house. It was a great time. We had fun looking for all the hidden boxes of Drew's cereal around our house afterward. ;-)
5. Strawberries and oatmeal for breakfast. Mmmm.