May the 4th be with you

I love today! I was seriously hoping that all the Star Wars movies would be playing on tv and that I would be able to convince Adam to watch with me, but sadly no dice. However, Jurassic Park is on so there's that :) Happy May 4th friends and family! May the 4th be with you! Make sure you look out for that crazy revenge of the 6th! ;)

It has been a ridiculously busy and action-packed month of April! April was a very good month:) It began with me starting work with Oregon Child Development Coalition, which included many hours and days of training including meeting my new classroom of 19 kiddos ages 3-5. Within the last four-well technically three weeks since I was in the Bahamas for a week, I have been planning, teaching, assessing and training for my new teaching position. So far, it has been only a tad overwhelming at times, but I think this may be a good fit for me for awhile.

The second weekend in April, my awesome brother Josh made it possible for Adam and I to join most of my family in Tucson, AZ for a fun, quick getaway. We flew out Friday afternoon and spent Saturday and Sunday enjoying time with my parents, brothers Caleb, Josh and his new girlfriend Lauren, my sister Sunshine, her new husband Matt, my nieces Liv and Addy as well as getting to meet my three new nieces Ally, Maddy and Ashlyn. We laughed, lounged and drank out by the pool soaking up sun and listening to music. It was such a perfect weekend away with family and I'm grateful that Adam and I got to be a part of it last minute. It was great to get to see and spend time with Josh too seeing as he left for Afghanistan just two days after our visit and will be gone until September for work.

 siblings and special others :)

 nieces pieces!

 just hanging out...together :)

 two of my fave fellas

 love these guys!

 Livy!

 Addy girl!

 underwater fun

 beautiful sunset

my main squeeze <3 p="">
I jumped right back into a fast, four and a half days of teaching before Adam and I jumped a plane to our Bahamas vacation! We have been waiting (well mostly patiently) to go to the Bahamas for over 4 months so we were ready! It was such a fantastic week away together, just us. Mostly it was wonderful to just have time together seeing as our work schedules are pretty opposite presently. Stay tuned for another blog post dedicated to the Grand Bahamas :) Here is just a taster of our trip though..

 view from our room on the 9th floor

 smooches!

not an easy place to leave

 

Adam and I got home from the Bahamas on Thursday night, I went into work Friday morning for four hours then came home and unpacked, did laundry, cleaned up and got sorted back in real life mode and sadly, out of vacation mode. We did decide that The Grand Bahamas makes our list of possible destination wedding venues though :) Also, you better believe we are already planning our next awesome vacation! ;) I love you babe, that you for such a fun-filled, relaxing and amazing vacation away!

 

That weekend was crammed with seeing our parents, visiting with some friends and Mo's baby shower. It was fun to see Mo, Alicia and Keli while celebrating baby Brundige, who will be here in only a few short months!

Can hardly believe it is already MAY! April flew by like a bat outta h-e-double-hockey sticks, but it was full of some pretty amazing adventures and memories. Cheers to a new month :)

Just keep swimming

In the past two weeks, as previously stated in my last post, two WONDERFUL things happened in the world of Rachael:) For those of you keeping up on my "daily" blog posts, you already know my first piece of awesome news, that I will have the opportunity to be a Beta reader for Lauren Walker's book four in her series The Secret Watchers. This almost trumps my other fantastic news...almost ;)

Pretend for one second that I am that little duck climbing the curb in the picture above. I feel that this picture almost perfectly depicts what my struggle to find and get hired for a teaching job in Portland, OR over the past three years has been...but in a cute, little, fluffy duckling kind of way :)

 

I still to this day remember what a principal said to me back in 2006 or 2007, the years of interviews blend together...I was interviewing for a job teaching elementary (insert random grade level here) and at the end of the interview she left me with the, for lack of better words, blunt statement that I should expect to go on over 100 interviews before I get hired on. Um what??? I couldn't possibly have interviewed that bad was all I could think. I also, perhaps, thought some choice words. At the time I thought she was just being a bit harsh, but now that I look back over the last few years of my teaching position search, I realize that she was being realistic and honest. However blunt it seemed. I never, EVER expected finding a teaching job in my chosen city to be a difficult task. I figured that if I applied myself, studied hard, focused and was a truly passionate educator-all things that I indeed did during my college education that I would be hired immediately. In truth, my big problem was waiting one too many years to decide that I was ready to settle in Portland and start teaching. I opted for traveling and furthering my cultural education, which by the way I regret in no way, shape or form, and by the time I was back and ready to teach in Portland in 2009 the cutbacks were upon us, the need for educators slim to none. Life is all about choices after all and it seems silly to regret any that have helped to shape me into the person I am today.

That being said, I applied a month ago to an ad I found on Craigslist to teach preschool for the Oregon Child Development Coalition out in Hillsboro. After reading the posting and exploring the agency I honestly felt that I would be a great fit for this dual language education establishment with my background and work teaching younger ages. Two weeks had passed without a word then two weeks ago I got a call from the HR rep asking if I was still interested in coming in to interview for the position. This was a Thursday and I had Friday off so we set the interview for Friday morning. The HR rep was even kind enough to fill me in on more of what was expected as well as curriculum information, hours, pay rate, etc. I went into and came out of the interview with a positive vibe and an overall good feeling about the OCDC. I could actually work here :) They would let me know my Tuesday at the latest and sure enough, I got a call saying that they would like to proceed with me and offered me a full time teaching position assuming all my references and background check checked out! I was thrilled, but also had that familiar feeling of the rug about to be swept out from under me. It has been a long three years full of interviews and let downs after all. To make matters more tricky, the job starts March 31st and barely three weeks in on April 18th-25th Adam and I have our Bahamas trip scheduled. I let them know about the trip hoping and saying tiny prayers that they wouldn't call me back and say they changed their minds or that we would have to cancel our trip. To my surprise and excitement, everything worked out great! I gave my two weeks notice last Friday to my two families, a difficult, yet necessary thing, and will be starting with OCDC at the end of the month! I am super excited to get back in the classroom and teach!

 

There were certainly times where I got down on myself about not being able to get hired to teach, but in the end it came down to remembering the goals that I had set for myself, how hard I have worked, how much time I have dedicated and how much passion I have for educating kiddos that I realize all I really had to do was just keep swimming until I get where I need and want to be :) If you refuse to give up, you are bound to get where you want to be eventually right? ;)



Go ahead...make my day. Oh snap! You seriously DID make my day!

The past two weeks have been a bit of a blur for a few different reasons, one of which I will share in today's post and the other I will save for the next :) Since I wrote about becoming "involved" ~ and yes, I use air quotes to signify a relationship sense of the word ;) in the wonderful, fantastic series of The Secret Watchers back on March 1st, I have been offered the chance to be a Beta reader for the next book of the series (#4) from my fellow colleague and friend!
For those of you like myself who have no idea what a Beta reader is: Beta readers are non-professional readers who are asked to read a (generally) fiction book with the main goal of previewing material in addition to assessing grammar and spelling. Beta readers may make suggestions for improvements to plot, story, characters and setting before the book is released for the public. Basically, I will get the amazing opportunity to not only preview the manuscript for the next book in the series-something very few people are able to do, but also to contribute my thoughts regarding the book! It feels like Christmas!!! :) I can hardly wait until April, which is when I believe the Beta reading will commence. Having friends who write for a living is such a treasure! I feel so lucky to be a part of something so spectacular. Shout out to author and friend Lauren Walker, keep living the dream Lauren, keep living the dream! :)

 

I put a spell on you....and now you're mine

I have been a non-existent blogger as of late. Publishing one blog post every week or so is lack luster for my standards at best. If you read my posts regularly you would know that I am currently consumed with a new book series and that all of my free time at work-where I usually do my writing-and even at home has been spent with my nose buried in The Secret Watchers: books one, two and now three :) I'm barely a two weeks in and almost finished until the next is published in May. I am (already) mentally preparing for withdrawals after I read the final page of book three. I will need chocolate that day, I'm sure of it.

I have literally been sucked into another world of fictional awesomeness. As a reader, I have never been one who enjoys reading a novel a little every day, say...before bed, but instead I am a reader who becomes consumed in what I am reading or else I honestly don't see the point in spending the time. I often read books more than once for the simple reason that sometimes I read a new novel too quickly because I can't put it down and thus I like to read through it again to gain more from it. Sure, I read a little everyday, here and there, but for me to spend time, no, for me to forge a relationship with a book it must speak to me. When a book weaves it's magic on me (if you are indeed a fan of reading you will totally understand the craziness that I am uttering presently:) it becomes difficult for me to put anything ahead of reading and finishing said book. It's a love/hate relationship that I have with a really good book :) Mostly I LOVE reading a new book, but a part of me is always trying to pace myself and try to drag out the adventure so it never has to end. Some may not understand the relationship that I have with a truly fantastic novel and that's ok. Fictional reading is not for everyone, but for me it is a wonderful way to immerse myself in a new world where I become attached to characters as if they were my own family and friends and experience things right along side them. Yes, I am one of those people who will cry over characters in a book while reading :) I have no shame at sharing this fact.

My blogging hiatus will not last forever :) I enjoy writing almost as much as I do reading. I'll be back writing again in no time seeing as I will probably finish book three in a day or so and book four is not scheduled out for a few more months...I may be too preoccupied on missing my Secret Watchers to delve into another book or series before then, but who knows :)

Putting fingers to keyboard

Over the past week I haven't had too much on my mind worthy of writing about. I have also finally gotten into the book series I received for Christmas from my mom so much of my free time that would be spent writing/blogging at work has been consumed by reading Book one of the Secret Watchers: Visions. I'll admit, I am officially hooked on finding out what lies in store for the main character Owen, his family and friends. This three book series was written recently by a teacher friend and colleague. I wish I had a novel/book series hidden somewhere in me! I would love to write a book series!! Talk about a dream come true :)

Something I have been able to make time to do over the past week is see more of my friends faces, live and in person. It has been wonderful :) The month of January was a bit crazy and overwhelming with Adam and I finding an apartment and moving abruptly. We were pretty determined to get settled as quickly as possible seeing as our place isn't huge storage wise and we (okay, mostly me:) didn't want to be tripping over boxes for weeks, months or gosh forbid...a year. It was a process that was only extended due to our conflicting work schedules, but we got it all sorted and are loving it so far. Like really loving it :) I couldn't have pictured a more perfect first place for us.

 

Amongst the moving hoopla, I missed seeing my friends. Quite a bit I must say. I have been harboring some angry, hurt feelings as of recently and had to find a way to let them go in order to feel happy with certain aspects of my life again. Thus, having the opportunity to grab a drink with Carmen, have an hour long conversation with Keli, enjoy dinner and some laughs with Mo, Keli and Merissa, have coffee and chat with Alicia and see some of our favorite people to warm and fill our home with laughter last Saturday night really made all the difference. Family and friends are everything to me. My heart hurts when we are at odds. Some issues are easier fixed than others. The winter was rough with Adam's work schedule changing from days to swing and our friendships suffered a bit from misunderstandings, miscommunications and missing out on some activities. Adam and I are determined to do our part to remedy certain things and last week was a great first step.

All in all not too much happening in the life of Rachael :) Just redirecting negative feelings and looking to surround myself with as much positive as possible for the time being as we are fast approaching my least favorite season...the season of applying for teaching jobs. Who knows...maybe this year will be my year :) What's that saying? Fifth time's the charm? ;)



A chasse', back ball change into my heart

This month marks numero cinco of my attendance at Jazzercise Portland on SE Burnside and I could not be more thrilled with the choice I made to join in on the fun once more! Jazzercise has become an hour for just me, that I both love and crave, and am guaranteed to have every day that I choose to go, which for me has been 5-6 days per week It has become the perfect after work-push aside all daily stresses-workout to get my blood pumping, muscles moving, sweat pouring, brain focused, and face smiling :) I am definitely in love ♥ and invested :)

Since starting back in September, I have had the opportunity to take classes from all of the instructors at a variety of class times and have pretty much settled into a set class schedule with some wiggle room that accompanies my weekly changing work schedule. I attend class so frequently that I am actually missed when I'm absent, which is a wonderful feeling and part of what was lacking in my fitness motivation. Not only am I keeping myself accountable, but other jazzers are helping to keep me accountable too! "We missed you in class Rachael!" Hope you are feeling better and that we will see you back in class tomorrow!" The extra personal touches that the instructors at Jazzercise Burnside have shown truly mean more than I can say. And the people...oh the people at jazzercise :) They.are.FABULOUS! Females and males, ages young to old coming to class to do one thing...DANCE. Everyone that I have met has been so kind, friendly and welcoming, which in a new workout environment can be pretty unheard of. I remember when I started being nervous that I would stick out as the new girl and that people wouldn't be friendly, that it would instead be more like the atmosphere of a class at the gym...stand off-ish with the air of, "I don't want to chit chat with strangers...I just came to workout, don't even look at me." Jazzercise is simply not like this. We are a family. You know what they say about the family that smiles, sweats and shakes it together?" :) WOW that sounds terrible as I re-read it!! HAHA! You know what I mean, dirty minds! ;) We stay together! I have a workout family now and that's an amazing feeling :)

So for those of you out there who are like me and enjoy dancing, singing, sweating and laughing with a double bonus of getting in both a cardio and strength workout in an hour long class aaaaaannnnnnd burning up to 600ish calories depending on how hard you want to work (there is always a way to do each jazzercise routine at a less intense level :) come try out a jazzercise class! It sounds like I am promoting for them doesn't it? :) I'm a fan and I can almost guarantee that you will be too after a class or two! What have you got to lose? Except your dislike for exercising and fat that is ;)

Snowpacalypse adventures

Much to everyone in the city of Portland's surprise...the weather dudes were actually right when they forecasted snow in the NW! I went to work Thursday morning to the tune of dry, chilly weather and by the time I left work at 3:30 p.m. (I got off work early since Sarah's clinic closed early due to inclement weather) it was snowing pretty consistently and Facebook had been absolutely bombarded with people cautioning travelers. I left West Linn, where honestly it hadn't even started sticking yet because of the wind and headed to Clackamas to deposit my check at the bank and make a stop or two before going to jazzercise only to find that the road conditions required me to exit early in order to put my jeep in 4wd so as to not continue to slip along the roadways! I did, however, slide into a hidden (under newly fallen snow) curb and could have sworn that I popped my tire as it looked low immediately. What rotten luck! I was just down the street from America's Tires-where I purchased my tires, and drove (carefully) to get it checked before the weather got much worse. My parent's, living just five minutes away, offered to come pick me up so I didn't have to wait the hour in a half in the packed, cold tire store waiting room. They are pretty great :) Hot cocoa, time with puppies and parents is time much better spent than in America's Tires' waiting room. Turns out I had picked up a nail and my tire was fixable! Yay! Good news for the start of snowpacalypse!

 

I made it home safe and sound in 4wd and spent the evening watching the snow continue to fall, a trek made to Fred Meyers down the block for rabbit litter and zip ties as my exercise for the day since jazz was undoubtedly cancelled. I don't mind getting bundled up though, it felt nice to be out enjoying a type of weather we rarely see in Portland :)

Friday morning Adam and I woke up to a snow dusted wonderland and spent the morning together with a nice breakfast just enjoying the lovely winter scene unfolding outside:) He still had work on Friday so we parted ways around 1:00 p.m. while I attempted again to deposit money and change my address at the bank. They had closed early the previous day and I was unable to do so. I had called to see if my bank would be closing early again and they said maybe around 3:00 p.m....they were closed by 2:00 p.m. *sigh, failed again. I went to visit with my parents and shred some old bills and such instead :) I actually thought it was pretty fun to drive my jeep along the snowy roads. I spent the rest of my Friday afternoon and evening (jazz classes were cancelled again) finishing the skeletal construction of Falcon and Panda's new bunny condo, which was a task in itself! Adam got home from work around 11:00 p.m. and "convinced me" to walk down to Tanker for a beer to start the snowy weekend off right. I was not super excited to be woken up from my couch nap, but in the end he won out and we had a good time snow wandering for an hour or so.

 

Saturday morning brought oh so much moooooore layers of soft, fluffy snow!! Holy moley was there snow! I couldn't have been happier to have only a few things planned for the day, one of which was postponed due to weather until the following weekend and the other-going out to dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday in the evening. Jazz was (sadly) still cancelled due to the snow:/ I'm actually starting to grow anxious without my dancing workouts! The ONLY downfall to this snowy weather. With nothing to do until the evening, Adam and I had a lazy morning then headed out for some "supplies" also known as beers, more bunny cage zip ties etcetera :) We stopped at Hawthorne Hophouse for a beer and treat of deep fried cheese curds-yep, you read that correctly and YES, they were amazing, on our afternoon walk as well. YUM!

                                                                                      

Such a nice afternoon out enjoying the snow and just wandering around our new Hawthorne neighborhood, something we haven't really had the opportunity to do since moving in a few weeks ago. Big kids playing in the snow all around :) I know Adam was excited to bounce around and have a beer or two! Thank goodness he had this weekend off from work. I probably would have been tooooooo relaxed (and bored) all on my own :)

 After calling around and around restaurant to restaurant for open establishments, my mom's birthday dinner was spent at McGrath's Fish House :) My mom, dad, Adam, myself and even Caleb was back in town for the celebratory dinner! We were the only ones in the restaurant as many were reluctant to brave the snowy and quickly turning icy roads so we had the place to ourselves. Happy birthday to you mom!! We love you bunches! Below is a picture of the 'magic' mug I gave my mom for her birthday :) Starts off plain, black mug, add a hot beverage and a fun picture appears!



With not a thing planned for Sunday with my jazzercise and Adam's basketball cancelled as well as postponing our family meet and greet dinner with my parents and Adam's parents since the driving conditions were sketchy at best, Adam and I had another lazy morning (not complaining, honestly:) watching some Olympic events searching for cheap Vegas weekend getaways :) In fact the only thing we decided to do was walk down to the Bagdad theater to watch the Lego movie at 1:50 p.m., my choice ;) It was funny and worth the $7/each plus the cost of a couple beers, slice of pizza and popcorn for our Sunday afternoon entertainment! Adam even laughed a few times. That's how I know it was funny since I literally laugh at everything :) The late afternoon consisted of a couch nap for yours truly while Adam watched the OSU basketball game. Kasey, Carmen and Chris braved the thawing, still semi-icy roads to meet us for dinner and a couple brews. It is always nice to see their faces, especially on a special, snowy day:) All in all I would say that I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend winter wonderland that landed itself in the NW. Such an unexpected treat! I love everything about the snow...the look, feel, bundling up against the cold, snuggling up and just the calm that it brings. That is unless you are attempting to drive in it without prior snow driving knowledge of course, then it is just plain stressful! Or if your jazzercise classes get cancelled...this may cause a bit of stir craziness. Otherwise, an unexpected snow forces a slow down of life and reminds us how to enjoy and take pleasure in the little things including the silence and stillness that is often around us :)