So after much hiatus from blogging I am back again. I cannot believe that last time I posted I had just come back from Italy. Let's just say a lot has happened since January. I'm not exactly sure why I never made the time to blog during the last 8 months. Yes I was busy, but not to busy to watch tv and spend countless hours on social media. I guess I sort of wasn't in a very much of a writing mood due to all the writing and reflecting I was required to do for novice teaching. Although again I will be required to reflect and blog (link to that later) for student teaching there was just something about starting this new chapter of my life that I made me want to come back to blogging again. Starting school always gives me the inspiration to write again. 

As I sit in my comfy bed after my first day of student teaching orientation I am tired, excited, nervous, and very ready to start my adventure into taking full charge of a classroom. While I know of my students and sort of about what my senior seminar will be like, I cannot wait for Wednesday to come and for classroom 12 to be filled with energetic 2nd graders. I have been anticipating this day almost since my freshman year of college. It seems crazy to think that the day has almost arrived. While I am excited to be a "real" teacher soon, I also find myself sort of at a loss on how fast college has gone by. I stayed at my old roomie, Sarah, and friend Victoria's apartment this weekend and it hit me how "real" our lives have become. Those girls have their own apartment, have to make their own meals, and take care of things like buying groceries. Someday not to far away that will be me. But for now I will spend my time living at home and taking advantage of the freebies that it provides. Don't worry Mom, I know the freebies are over in December. 

Living at home will be quite the bittersweet experience for me I believe. 

While I love having my own room with my big comfy bed, there will be no walking down the hall to hang out with some of my best friends or having pillow talk before we fall asleep.

I am so excited about the school I am placed in, but I am not with or close to any of the other schools that my fellow teachers are at. 

Hanging out with Kristen and my cousins, swapping teacher stories and attending football games (I am so excited for fall because it means I get to watch high school, college, and pro football) will be awesome, but I will miss going to soccer games and eating with my friends for multiple meals per day. 

One of the biggest things I think I am going to miss is being part of the Trin community and going to Outcry. Hopefully I'll get to make it to at least a few this semester :)

Even though right now I am sad that I may not be living on campus, I made this decision for a reason and I know that their is a purpose for this season of my life. (if only to save a good chuck of change... HA!)

Despite everything I am feeling very encouraged about the current semester! I am excited to get to be known as Ms. Karlock (Getting called Mrs. seems to me a long way off for me #singlegirlprobs) again and get to teach my kiddos about all sorts of fun things. So here's to the great journey my fellow teachers and I will embark on this semester. As my friend Josh reminded me today God's got our back and as long as we stay grounded in His word we have nothing to worry about :) 

-A

Andiamo My Friends

I went to Italy and it was simply fantastic! I am so blessed to be able to spend this time with my wonderful friends Sarah and Victoria and the rest of the Trinity Students. Our group had such a great bond that is pretty much describable in words. With all the struggle bus issues and running through the airport we handled it so well. I loved my time there and can't wait to visit more places in my further :)

Today was a Fairytale

Over the past few weeks I have finished many things. 

I finished my finals. 

I finished my junior year of college. 

I finished wrapping Christmas presents. 

I finished celebrating Christ's birth. 

And now another year has come to a finish. 

The past year has been one of the fastest of my life. I feel like I use that phrase quite often these days, but it is the only way that I know how to explain the feeling. I can't believe that I am sitting here beginning my senior year of college and last semester of actually taking classes. The feeling is surreal to say the least. Part of my longs for the day that I get a classroom to call my own and the other half of me is content with staying in college indefinitely. But ready or not in less than a year I will be graduating and facing whatever it is the real world is all about.

I have learned more things than I could write in 2012. One of the main things that has stuck with me is that nothing matters except my faith in God. He literally never fails me. With all the evil in the world he still reigns. He is true to his promises period. He has given me another healthy year, another year filled with great times with my family, beautiful friends inside and out who would do anything for me, and opportunities beyond belief. For that I am ever grateful  : ) 

Things to look forward to in 2013:

God's continued blessings 

Going to Italy

Standing up in one of my best friend's wedding

Nashville

Student Teaching

Graduating college  

And so much more....