Third time has to be a charm!

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Year

Thankful for Thursday Thanksgiving

What am I thankful for in no particular order -

1. My BOSE speakers in my car, so I can listen to my music extremely loud

2. For all my friends

3. My good health
4. The luxurious food options I get to choose from
5. Gummy Bears
6. My apartment

7. For my job I had at EWN

8. The team of teachers I work with

9.  Navigation
10. Family support I have
11. House shoes
12. Wine

13. Birthday celebrations

14. Coffee

15. My job

16. My college degree
17. Games
18. My car

19.Impromptu outings

20.Sunshine
21.Jason

22. My Hair

23. Flowers

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24. A good quote

25. Jaxon

26. US

27. The Spa

28. The money I have in my account

That is a wrap and cheers to next year. I love you all. Sincerely, Ms. Burkley

28 years in the making

Following your dreams can be daunting, but I am doing it and the whole experience feels surreal. It has always been my dream to be a teacher, but due to financial and fear I opted to withdraw from the program and get a B.A. instead. After graduation I made a pretty nice salary and never thought twice about the choice I had made to change degrees. However, after a few lays offs, getting fired, quitting and then winding up at a place that I enjoyed everything about I somehow found the courage to apply to a teacher certification program.

The idea of applying was pretty easy to decide, it did not cost very much and there was always the chance that I would not be accepted. Finding what program I was going to apply to served me a challenge. I finally decided to get over it and just do it. I applied and a few days later I was accepted. Then I had to sign up for that hefty 4500.00 program fee that had actually talked me out of doing this in the past and then the classes begun.

I barely got one class completed when I realized I had a state exam to study for and pass as soon as possible. This test would have five domains (English, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Theater/Arts/Health) and 47 competencies divided up in each of the domains. The actual test would be 140 questions, five hours long and each group would be weighted on a different scale. I was terrified, but there was no turning back. 

I studied every free moment I could find. I had Ruby come over and chitchat politics with me, so I could learn about Social Studies since this is her passion in life. I had Jason spend a weekend teaching me the child like Math equations that I had forgotten or never really learned in the first place. I listened and watched more you tube videos than I ever have to learn about phonetics and phonology.  I poured my heart and soul in it for three solid weeks.

It was test day, I got lost (go figure) and thought I was going to miss my arrival time and they would not let me in. I managed to make it in time and was ready to go. I really enjoyed taking the test because I had worked so hard to know everything it was fun being able to understand all the questions. Then I looked up at the clock and I was on questions 62 and only had two hours to go. Needless to say I freaked out and walked out of that exam just knowing I had bombed it. I did not even look for my test scores to come I was that certain I did not pass. I was discouraged. I had no idea how I was going to find something to motivate/inspire and lift me back up. I have never worked so hard for something and felt like such a looser for not doing well. I would have 60 days and another 120.00 to take it again, but if I did not have the drive to study for it then that option was not going to do much for me.

I checked my email and noted I had one from TExES and thought that was strange. Then when I clicked on it I realized it was my score from my test and that I had passed. I was so shocked I had to have someone else look at it to make sure I was reading it correctly before I would think about sharing the news. I would be so embarrassed if I did not really pass. What a sigh of relief and moment of joy.

I log on to my online certification program to work on my second class now that I have that test done  and I see that DISD is still hiring for teachers, so after deep discussion with my Aunt I decide to apply. I get a reply and they want to interview me immediately. I am not able to make it that day, but they settle for a phone interview the following morning. That goes very well, so they want me to come in and teach a class discussion. I am freaked out. I have never been in the front of a real classroom. I do not know the first adult thing about preparing a lesson plan. They seemed pretty easy to come up with when I was a child.  There were no rules and the cabbage patch dolls did not talk back.

The principle emails me some guidelines on what I needed to teach on. The subject is Science and the section is over Energy. I am going to discuss the lesson over insulator and conductors. Jason and I go over to my Aunts on Sunday to get some help from her and my cousin Laura. Everyone works on getting an idea/plan together.. Jason and I head head back to Dallas to hopefully make it work. We were up until 3 a.m. preparing for this.  

I went in to what will now be my classroom of students that I will now be teaching at 8:30 a.m. that 21^st day of October that also just happen to be my 33^rd birthday and I nailed it. There were teachers and staff watching me from the hall way. The principle was observing me in the back of the classroom and recording me with her ipad. However, I managed to not get nervous. It was just me and those 4^th graders. My desire to try and keep them focused blurred everything else out. 

I left that morning with no idea if I got the position or not, but I knew I did a superb job on my lesson. As soon as I got home and parked the car I just starting crying like a little baby. They were hard, happy, heavy and very heartfelt tears. I could not believe I had actually taught in front of a classroom to a group of real children. They even sang me Happy Birthday and were sad to see me leave. It was a dream and now a reality.

The principle called me later that day to let me know I got the job! She wanted to make sure to deliver the news to me on My Birthday! 

Hello, my name is Ms. Burkley and I will be teaching 4^th grade Science and Writing starting Monday, November 4^th. ;-) More to come.....

Weddings - East Coast First

Whirlwind of love from East coast to West in consecutive weekends. They were two beautiful events that I felt special to be a part of. I met a lot of people and got to know some others better than I did, so time well spent.

July 12-14-2013 Lisa and Will's wedding @ Sea Island Georgia - The Cloister
http://www.seaisland.com/accommodations/luxury-hotels/

J and I spent our weekend @ St. Simmons Island http://www.stsimonsguide.com/ it was equally as fun to venture out on, but a lot less exclusive. There are places and things I would have never experienced if we would have been all tucked away on the island @ The Cloister.

Typical Kristina desire I wanted to get to the beach as quickly as we could, so we got all checked in to the hotel, had some amazing sashimi/sushi and then off to the beach. It is just what I vision it being like in The Hamptons or on Cape Cod. I have not been to these places, so I must place my reason for comparison of this to those is strictly from the movies. We walked along the shore line, seeing so much wildlife in the water and on the beach. I couldn't get enough of it, but Jason eventually made me put my shoes back on and make plans for dinner. We went to our trusty Trip Advisor app to check out some reviews on a local joint. It treated us well enough and we enjoyed our dinner at Crab Daddy's.

 The one and only full day means rise, shine and get to the BEACH! We got our stuff together and headed to the wharf to hit some shops, get some food and then to the almost overly crowded beach. We met a nice fella sitting next to our blanket that assured me that we would find a sand dollar. After several hours of the hunt and lost time, I was sad to say good-bye with no sand dollar in hand. Next time perhaps, I smile and thank him for taking time to explain the sand dollar searching rules and helping to try and execute them as well. We had a wedding to get to.

This place was so fancy. We had to check in with the attendant before we could even cross over on the island. There was a rather large number of attendees for a destination wedding. There were over 220 to be more precise. The room the ceremony took place in was one of the original parts of The Cloister, so it was a non air-conditioned room that we were all lovingly fit in to. The ceremony was very sweet and well put. The little cricket tucked away was adding some humor and noise to the prenuptials as well.

There was a bag pipe that lead us from the ceremony to the reception. The walk was in good company with the people sitting next to us, that we had just met. It was right at sunset and the trail could not have been more perfect. It was so beautiful. We made our way over to cocktails and snacks while waiting on the Bride and Groom to make the grand debut. Then it was dances, speeches, dinner, dancing, cocktails, cake, dancing, cocktails, send off and well there were a lot of cocktails/dancing that was done. This band was amazing and the crowd participation was amazing. We had so much fun we did not want the night to end, but our sleepiness had other plans for us. No after parties for these old fogies, off to bed we went.

I am relentless and convinced we have plenty of time to go to the beach one more time, make our place in the sand, search for sand dollars a little more, go back to the wharf area to eat a lunch outside/beach view and make the trek over to this Jeckeyll Island we have been hearing about all weekend. Oh and did I mention our flight does leave on this day as well?

Do you think it all happened? Absolutely and really wasn't that rushed. BAM, what an awesome weekend.

I kept reading a little statement throughout the islands that said, once you get some island sand in your shoes you are sure to be back and I certainly believe it. I fail in love with all these little island and places in Georgia. I will definitely be back one day!

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day and we wish Will and Lisa a lifetime of happiness!

#stsimmons #weddingweekend #jekyllisland #lisaandwillmurphy #sanddollar