Positive Reflection

I have had a hard week. For tonight's blog, however, I decided to try something called "positive thinking" (if you have had a hard week, like me, you may need to look up the definition--www.dictionary.com).

Two things saved my day.

The best thing about my day: lunch with Jarom.


The second best thing about my day: having a whole bag of chocolate kisses in my backpack. All to myself.One more bright thing: we finally received our practicum placements (practicum starts on Tuesday). I am going to be in a first grade classroom at Barnett Elementary! Whoo...wish me luck--I'm gonna need it!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T BLOG ABOUT THIS

(Sidenote: Lately I have been loving the use of random, capital words. I know, I know, it's like yelling. Sorry.)

I can't even remember when this happened--sometime toward the beginning of this semester? I went to Lagoon with the Vogel's (it was so fun, by the way) and (are you ready for this?) I actually went on roller coasters. Yes, it's true. I, Natalie K Murray, went on Wicked, the white old one, and the Samurai! I can't remember if there were any other scary ones. AND I didn't even cry (although I was close to tears right as Wicked started to move down the track).

It felt great, not because I love the thrill of roller coasters, but because I faced a fear.

That's two fears I have faced within the past few months. I rode on an airplane without having a panic attack (I actually loved it) and I went on some scary rides! My life is seriously changing, because now I realize that I can do hard and scary things. Yes!

Waiting in line for Wicked!

8 simple rules for dating my teenage daughter.

This family:

Is actually very similar to my family (in terms of personality):

And we love them almost as much as we love each other. I can't even describe how much I love sitting with my family, watching the Hennessys. The best similarity is my dad and Paul Hennessy. Oh boy.

Paul's final article: "Okay readers, today we're having a little pop quiz, it's multiple choice, so sharpen your number 2 pencils and put your thinking caps on. Ready? Here's a quote: "Dad, you're an idiot." Now, contestants, this was said to me because of which of the following transgressions? A: Coming to the breakfast table wearing pajamas and black socks? B: Asking my oldest daughter if that guy I saw her talking to yesterday at school was her boyfriend? C: Referring to rapper Fiddy Cent as "Fifty Cents"? or D: Entering the room? Okay, pencils down. Actually it was a trick question. The answer is all of the above. Now do you know how many times I called my father an idiot? Zero. Why? Because I feared him. Back then we didn't share our deep personal feelings, our deepest conversations usually revolved around the tigers bull pen. But my kids, I can't get them to shut up! There's not a feeling that my kids are afraid to express over and over and over. And my wife reassures me this is a good thing over and over and over, and she's always right. So do I wish that my kids feared me? Well my house would be quieter, and I'd spend a lot less time in the bathroom, but no. Because I know that whenever they insult me whether it's a "You're an idiot," "You're a geek," or an "I hate you," an "I love you" isn't far behind. And it's the knowledge that my wife and kids love me that makes it safe for me to wear pajamas and black socks to the breakfast table."

A funny story about a caterpillar

I don't know why the sound gets off. It bugs me. But you should still watch the video.

OH my day.

So, due to personal reasons that would probably be TMI for most of you faithful fifteen, yesterday I had a killer headache. No, seriously....it was bad. I get headaches a lot, but every once in a while I get this awful migraine that varies in intensity but is always super bad. Yesterday wasn't one of the worst migraines, but it was bad enough that I felt like throwing up all day and by the time I got home from work at 8pm, my eyes couldn't focus anymore.

SO doesn't it sound lovely? Like I said before, I got home at 8. I still had to do a lot of reading for my class and write a paper, but I could barely stand I was in so much pain. I decided to go straight to bed, and told myself I'd get up at 4 to finish (but first start) my homework.

I went to bed at 8:30...woke up at 2am, tried to go back to sleep but couldn't. I finally got up at 3, did my readings, and wrote a 3 pg. paper (it took my like 30 minutes, which was fantastic. Inspiration about classroom rules apparently just flows at 3am!). Then at 4 I was miraculously finished with my homework, so I took an hour nap, got up at 5, showered, and did last minute preparations for my 8 o'clock class.

Then after work today I took my math test. Not even kidding...today has felt like a very long day.

Happy birthday, Jarom!

He's the best. Seriously.

Belated Special Guest Vlog!

Don't you wish you'd go on forever?

And you'd never stop? Oh...Curly!