Thoughts for the day...

This week marks the end of my college career! Its really hard to believe!! Sometimes it feels like just yesterday I was dragging my stuff up the Veil staircase to meet my new roommate in our lovely new home...but then there are moments like today where I think of all that has occured in the past 4 years and I'm blown away! 4 years ago at this time I was sitting in my beautiful home in Mississippi writing a graduation speech and preparing for my senior mission trip with my class, with not a care in the world other than what to wear for graduation...3 years ago at this time I was packing up my room to send some of it to my grandparents house in Mississippi, some to my parents in Virginia, and a large suitcase to head with me to Camp Ozark in the middle of no-where Arkansas where I would spend most of the summer...2 years ago at this time I was packing up to head to Virginia only to get there in time to help my parents pack up and move to Memphis....1 year ago at this time I was quickly packing my room in order to get home and take care of my sick mommy (thankfully at that time, I did not know what all would be in store for that summer!), and now, as I sit in a half empty room, I am once again packing...packing to move out of college and into a brand new phase of life...MARRIAGE and MINISTRY...the ministry of being a wife, the ministry of (hopefully) a teacher, and the ministry of being a minister's wife (say that 3 times fast!) It all seems so surreal sometimes and despite feeling a little overwhelmed at moments of all the uncertainties that lay ahead, I am extremely grateful for this next new phase and looking forward to the rest of my life as Mrs. Stephen Foster Short!!! :)

Its been an interesting and exciting 4 years with LOTS of challenges and blessings...makes me wonder what I will be writing the next time I stop to look back.......

Easter in Ohio with my new family!

Although the weekend was extremely short, I enjoyed spending Easter with Steve's family in Ohio! They gave me a beautiful and fun shower on Saturday where we were blessed with so many gifts! They were beyond generous!!

Plus it was great to meet our new little nephew Jacob...he is precious and I definitely got my 'baby fix' for the weekend!! He was only 2 weeks old and I know he will be so big next time we see him.

And I have to admit that being called 'Aunt Ashley' by 7 cute neices and nephews was pretty fun. It was really hard to leave (in fact I cried two or three times before Steve even drove me to the airport). Its so hard being that far away from his family but I'm glad that we'll get to have another brief visit when we head to Cleveland to do some mission work this summer!

Easter morning! :)

Our invitations! I loved them!

Engagement Pictures on the square!

Beach Bliss!

We got to spend Spring Break in Gulf Shores and enjoyed some beautiful sunsets, a little sunshine, a little shopping, and LOTS of yummy food! :) It was really nice to take a break from wedding planning and school work!!! Well I guess we didn't completely take a break from wedding planning but a little bit. It was a wonderful week!!

Dad's awesome photography skills! We love that he takes pictures of the sunrise every beach trip cause none of the rest of the family is every up earlier enough to view it!!

WE LOVE DINOSAURS!!!

This week I started a Dinosaur Unit and the kids LOVED it!! Since my kids love to sing, I found a dinsoaur song and taught them some motions to it. I loved hearing them sing it at centers, at lunch, and 500 times a day!! I even found myself singing it in the shower one morning - kinda catchy!!!

Welcome to Kindergarten :)

Although my first two weeks of teaching was a little rough, I now am sad it is almost over and soon I will be off to 3rd grade. My sweet kids are wonderful and I have learned so much!!! I can definitely see myself teaching Kindergarten - keep praying for that job!!! :)

Here's a glimpse from my Dr. Seuss unit - we had LOTS of FUN!!!

Horton Hatches the Egg!

Dr. Seuss's Birthday!

Favorite character day!!

Such a sweet class!

Cuties!!
Working hard on our letter hunt!!

I love nap time!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

STEPSING - saving the best for last!

No we didn't place this year (some could and have said we got robbed....no pun intended) but our show was pretty good....I'm not biased or anything!!! There were days I wasn't sure I would survive, up at 5:45 school til 4:30, practice from 5:30-10:00...it left little time to get adjusted to being away from Steve and the loads of lesson plans and back into the routine of dorm life. But the Lord did help me through - not without many tear fests sitting in the 'date room' (mine and my roommates bathroom that has recently become the hot spot for a good coversation with the men in our life). Neadless to say I love StepSing but kinda glad the hectic schedule has passed - now I can focus on student teaching and wedding planning!!

Here's a few pics from the weekend....