Timeline of Events

January 30th, 2011: I wake up for the day. It's a Sunday. I go to church for the first time in probably 3 months. I have a pit in my stomach. I am slowly inching through the day waiting for bed, but dreading it. Because tomorrow, on January 31st, I start student teaching high school students. I don't like change. I hate having to walk into situations where I am new and feel like I don't fit in. I secretly go to my room and cry because I feel alone and completely unsure of myself. My boyfriend is living in Florida. My self-confidence is low. I pray to God that he will be there with me, although at the time I feel like my faith isn't at its best. I'm completely nervous and force myself into bed at 9 p.m. Surprisingly I get enough sleep and wake up the next day at 6. Day 1. Pick out an outfit- Black pants, cream colored shirt with a t-shirt sweater over it. Wearing my new boots that I got for Christmas. I hit the road, it's freezing cold. But at this point, I have to go. I feel like crying again. Did I mention, I really really don't like change?

May 13th, 2011: I wake up for the day. It's a Friday. I quickly turn on E! as I get ready for my last day of student teaching (the Royal Wedding festivities are still creating a buzz). I have lasted three months as a student teacher of 105 tenth graders. I really feel like I fit in. I love the people I work with. I love my students. I love what I did for three months, without pay. I pray to God that he will help me not to cry because oddly enough, I feel a sort of emotional attachment to this place where I have been a fixture for so many weeks. I pick out an outfit- Jeans (hey, it's my last day, plus a Friday!), and a short sleeved t-shirt (it's getting pretty hot out these days). I'm wearing my new Toms shoes that Dusty got me for my 22nd birthday. Did I mention, he was home now? Moved back in March, much to my surprise and happiness! I'm almost done with college. Did I mention, I really really don't like change?

June 23rd, 2011: I just completed a site visit for a youth organization I interviewed with after graduation. It went horrible. The interview had been great. I loved the people I interviewed with, and I felt like this just might be a great fit. The site visit was awful. The people I met with weren't relational and I felt like a complete outsider, unwanted and not really needed. It's a 95 degree day in hot Minneapolis. I am sweating profusely through my clothes. I burned my neck on a curling iron and so it looks like I have a hickey. I can't throw up my hair because how would that look to a group of young troubled youth to have a potential new leader with a mysterious red mark on her neck? This sucks. I am interviewed unknowingly for a second time after the site visit. I'm completely unprepared. The director doesn't shake my hand as I leave. I pray to God... why didn't this work? Why did I set my hopes so high on working here? Why haven't you opened up an opportunity for me to be a teacher? Why do I feel like I have no direction? I'm done with college. I'm not married, far from it. I feel like I'm going nowhere. Did I mention, I really really don't like change?

August 22nd, 2011: I just spent the previous night at the wedding of two close friends. I couldn't enjoy myself because my mind was on this morning. First. teaching. job. interview. Yikes. I feel completely unprepared. I'm wearing a new outfit- a navy blazer with black flats and pants. I try to look as professional as possible, although the people I am interviewing with are people I know. I am lucky to have an interview at the school I student taught. I know this job is part time, but it's good experience. I can't decide how I feel about it all yet- am I really ready to start teaching again? Is this really a good fit for me? Am I cut out? What questions are they gonna ask me? I pray to God that he will speak through me rather than disappear when I need him most. I've been a regular attendee of my church- people there know about this interview and are praying for me daily. I feel like this is it- if I don't get this job, than I am giving up. I'm not cut out for teaching. I don't know what else I'll do, even if I don't get the job. Did I mention, I really really don't like change?

October 23rd, 2011: I am currently laying in bed, writing reflections on those past 3 dates. I feel great. I got up this morning for church, where I have been attending regularly since that cold Sunday in January. I had lunch this afternoon with my grandparents, and ate until I was full. I spent a couple of hours preparing for my next great adventure- my first teaching job as a long term substitute- at the school I student taught at. Tomorrow I will be reunited with some great co-workers who I have really missed. I will be reunited with several former students who I have REALLY missed! I haven't picked out my outfit yet- I'm sure I'll figure it out tomorrow morning. I'm anxious, but I'm excited. I haven't shed one tear. I just got done talking with my fiance, who prayed for me over the phone for guidance tomorrow. Oh, did I mention we are getting married on June 22nd, 2012? I am really going to be a teacher tomorrow. I'm going to get paid for it, too! I am cut out for teaching. I didn't get hired at the youth organization. I didn't get the part time job, but they offered me this instead. And this really is God's work- making this all happen for me. Will I find something when this is done? Yes, I will! There will be something out there for me, even when I wrap up this job, in January. By the way, you'll have to check back with me on January 23rd, to see if I still don't like change or not. We will see :)

Wow. Crazy what can happen in a year, huh?

Ms. Miller.....

Today I was back at my old student teaching grounds, this time preparing to start the long term substitute job teaching Government and World History! It felt so great to be back, with all the teachers I got to know last Spring and much to my surprise, a LOT of students that I had in U.S. History also! Hearing their excitement upon seeing me again gave me a boost to NOT be so nervous, because they are GREAT kids.

I did get a little bit annoyed when I overheard two girls talking during 4th hour- I swear, high school students don't realize that teachers can, in fact, overhear conversations! The conversation went a little like this....

"Oh my gosh!! That must be our long term sub!!" -Girl #1

"It is, I asked. Oh my gosh, though, she looks SO young." -Girl #2

Me: Hm. Embarrassing. I am 7 years older than them... but... Really? I look young?!

I guess I was just bummed that the morning I spent trying to find the outfit that gave me a perfect balance between mature and casual didn't work out as I thought it would have!! Oh well.

With that being said, be prepared for what I'm sure will be many more stories coming from the hilarious minds of juniors and seniors in high school! Gotta love em!

The Steve Jobs Hype

I'm sure most of you readers know that the founder of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs, died of cancer on Wednesday at the age of 56. I myself was out in Minneapolis at a concert when I took to Twitter and read the news. My feed was flooded with messages like "World Changer" "Innovator" "Mastermind"-- I really didn't know much about Steve Jobs other than the fact that he was extremely brilliant, and had recently stepped down as the CEO of Apple in recent months due to his illness.

Well, like I often spend hours of my life doing when I am bored, I got home and decided to do some research on Steve Jobs. I had no idea that he founded Pixar Studios, which has produced some of my FAVORITE animated movies of all time like Toy Story, Up (cried and cried), and Monsters Inc. I also had no idea that he was adopted as a baby, unwanted by his biological mother and given up by his first selected adoptive parents because he wasn't a girl. I had no idea that he was responsible for the high point of my childhood, developing OREGON TRAIL! I also never realized that Jobs invented the computer mouse--- where would we be without THOSE?!

 

There was definitely more to Steve Jobs than I knew or thought. I guess I never realized the significance of his life until I realized how much I am literally glued to my computer, a Macbook that has lasted me four years now, or my Ipod, which pretty much holds my sanity in the format of 2000 songs, or even my hopes of receiving an Iphone for Christmas this year (fingers crossed) as I have been wanting one since they came out years ago.

If Steve Jobs never existed, then I'm sure my life would have been quite different in some aspects. Some people posted on Facebook that they didn't get all the hype surrounding his death. I understand where some might think that- however, after learning just a little bit more about this man, genius really, who invented one of the most popular brands in the world in the garage of his parents house when he was 20, I realize that his death is actually quite significant in the times we are living in now. A technological time where literally life can seem kind of scary if we aren't glued to our computer, phone, or MP3 player. Maybe that sounds sad, but it's really kinda crazy that the success and popularity of our modern age of technology can be traced back to the mind of one guy who had ideas.

I saw a clip of this video on the news and finally took the time to sit down and watch it in its entirety last night. It's a commencement address given by Steve Jobs at Standford University in 2005. It is an incredible speech, I really encourage you to watch the entire thing and really listen to the words. They are encouraging with a touch of conviction.

 

Sometimes I get a little irritated with the media when they hype up celebrities- but I really think that the attention Steve Jobs has received in the wake of his death is well deserved. I'm actually pretty bummed that he is gone and relatively still young, but what a legacy he leaves huh? Everytime you see someone playing Angry Birds on their Ipad, think of Steve! Thanks for all you contributed to the world!

Betchya thought this was another engagement post, didn't ya?

Reflections and the past few days

I was having a bit of a hyperactive evening Tuesday when I was over at Dusty's watching "Bridsemaids" with him and his sister. Since Dust decided to nap through out the entire movie while I was practically dying of laughter the entire time, when he finally woke up during the credits, I was kind of an energized little devil. I think I was just finally happy to be not talking about wedding plans for once and have him all to myself so I was just being weird and I'll admit, obnoxious. He was being a good sport in return by just letting me be myself and occasionally laughing at how dumb I was acting... to give you an idea, I actually created my own dance recently to the Mario Party theme song... I know, I am weird. I was definitely doing the dance the other night.

So I finally decided to let Dusty get to bed and head on home when I got a call from my newly established fiance as I was driving- He had called just to say, "I think you're kinda fun."

I immediately smiled because I remembered back to our first date in 2008 that had me completely nervous, super excited, and a little freaked out. Katie, one of my best friends, and I actually had huge crushes on Dusty during our freshman year and would always talk about how cute he was even though we knew he would never be available-- at least to us! So it came as a total shock when I moved in with Katie going into my sophomore year of college and Dusty randomly, very randomly, asked me to hang out with him one night after not talking to each other for months. Katie freaked, I freaked, but I also agreed, obviously.

That night is one I will never forget because we ended up going to "The Island" at Northwestern College, a staple of both our childhoods, and talked for nearly four hours. I was still nervous upon arriving to the destination that I actually squished a bug on the sleeve of my WHITE t-shirt, tried to laugh it off after Dusty pointed it out, and also fidgeted with my hands when he picked me up from my dorm in his silver Mazda. When our date was over and he dropped me off, I immediately ran to my room to tell Katie all about the night, but honestly I couldn't read him on where things were going to go from there. I had a blast and couldn't shut up basically the whole date... and Katie was dying to know if I felt like he was into me, I literally couldn't confidently say. Until I got a call from Dusty about ten minutes after getting dropped off- He called just to say, "I just wanted you to know Casey... I think you're kinda fun."

I reminded Dust of that memory just the other night when he called me after I left. It's so crazy to me that it is now three years later, three fast years containing some of the best memories I have, years that ushered me from my teen years into my 20's, years where I finished college and have moved around three different residences, and years where I fell more in love with Dusty every single day. Not to be a sap, but I am so excited to be marrying him. I feel pretty lucky to be the girl he's gonna have fun with for life.

I guess you could say the first date went well enough to go on a second one- Here's a pic providing evidence! At Benihana, September '08- I was 19 in this picture!

Wedding planning is going well- as well as it can be! We have almost set a date. We found a reception location that we LOVE and are trying to think of creative ideas to use at our wedding that will also save us some money :) I'm feeling good about my teaching job- I spent the day today reading up on VOTER RIGHTS in American Government and I think I'm ready to teach my first lesson come October 24th! Time is just flying. I'm trying to soak it all in one day at a time because I know before I know it, this season of life will be past me and I will be preparing for the big day. I'm also EXTREMELY excited to announce that my best friend and roommate from college, Jackie, got engaged tonight to her boyfriend (now fiance!) Elliot! I love this couple and I am so excited that they are entering this exciting time along with Dusty and I. They are a blast and we always have so much fun with them in whatever we do. Jackie is a bridesmaid in my wedding and she already declared to me that we will have many nights doing extreme planning over a glass of wine in the near future- Cheers to that!

The future Mrs. Wahl on the left with the future Mrs. Risbrudt on the right!

I've been going through music that we want to incorporate into our wedding day and I found this song that I just absolutely love. It reminds me of all the fun times I've had with my guy over the years, and makes me excited, especially, for what the future holds for us together. Hope you enjoy.