WILW: Fort Worth Edition

 

Well, a lot has changed since my last “What I’m Loving Wednesday” post. I am now living in Fort Worth, TX with my honey, so this post will include what I’m loving about this move. It’s time to link up with Jamie for WILW.

First and foremost, I am LOVING our new apartment. I can’t show pictures, because I’m not quite ready yet. A few things had to stay in Mississippi, because they couldn’t fit in the trailer. As soon as I get it “homey” in here, I will post some pictures. We are in seminary housing, and it is brand spanking new. We are the first tenants, and it is nice. We have two bedrooms, and I”m LOVING that we have two bathrooms! All of that, and we’re paying less than what we were for our ghetto one bedroom, 1 bathroom back in Mississippi. The bedrooms are carpeted, and the rest is hardwood floor. The appliances are all modern, and there is so much storage that I don’t know what to do!!! I am LOVING it. Come visit!

 

I’m also LOVING that we got a guest bed from Craig’s List for CHEAP! Then, we went to Ross and got a steal on the bedding, and I actually think it’s quite cute. I’m LOVING me some Ross.

You see that? That’s the bed, my friends, that you will sleep on when you come VISIT! Please. :)

I’m also LOVING that I got to experience small group with Fort Worth City Church tonight. Zach was here during his time in Fort Worth before we got married. The technical term is city group. Anyways, it was a sweet time. I feel loved vicariously through Zach. I can deal with that.

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Also, I am LOVING that I drove to this city group, and I made my way home with only one hint from Zach. This may seem like a small feat, but it’s quite a big deal for me. I’m kinda excited about it. I am the most directionally challenged person in the entire world, AND those big interstates with 6 lanes going one way kinda stress me out.

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I’m also LOVING that we had so much help on both ends of moving. Our move was so easy because of all the wonderful friends and family that we had helping both in Mississippi and in Texas. Have I ever mentioned that I have wonderful in-laws? We couldn’t have made the move without them. They were so wonderfully helpful.

I think my WILW posts are always the longest, because I have so much to love and appreciate. What are you loving this Wednesday, reader friends?

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

Anniversary

Well, I still have 18 days until my one-year anniversary. We just took our anniversary trip though, so I feel that it is a good idea to share about it on this Wednesday. We’re linking up with Jamie for What I’m Loving Wednesday!

This Wednesday I want to talk about how much I love marriage and my wonderful husband. Marriage is for sure one of the best gifts God has given us. It’s a beautiful picture of Christ and the Church, and it will sure teach you a lot about God’s unconditional love. There are many pieces of advice that you will receive, much unsolicited, when you are engaged and/or newlyweds.These are a few of the things that I have learned about marriage and my husband in my one year of marriage. Some were expected. Some were just plain surprises.
1. I’m a morning person. He’s not.

2. Selflessness towards your spouse promotes selflessness in your spouse. Demands and expectations promote resentment and division.

3. He has never ending energy…truly.

4. Communication is MORE than important!

5. He does many things in his sleep. He walks, talks, smooches, cuddles, snores, sings, elbows, takes orders, coaches basketball games, carries Olympians’ luggage…the list goes on and on and on My husband could sleep through absolutely ANYTHING! I’m also convinced that he’s narcoleptic.
6. It’s hard to be mad at each other when you’re praying together and you’re in the Word together. True story. Try it!
7. His driving is not therapeutic for me.
8. His song blunders are quite funny. 
9. We’re both really competitive. It’s good for our marriage that we’re on the same team.

10. Men aren’t mind readers. Don’t expect that. Say what you think, want, or feel. It’s helpful…really.
11. Although I am quite wonderful to spend time with, he needs his guy time. Let your man have his time with the guys, as you don’t forget to take time with your girls.
12. It’s VERY important to speak kindly to one another and to encourage each other. Point out your spouse’s strengths, and try to be creative/gentle in telling them about things that bother you. It’s not the easiest, but it’s so worth it on both ends. Don’t speak poorly to or about your spouse. The Bible says that a nagging wife is like a continual dripping faucet and that it is better to live in a desert land than with her. I don’t want to be like that to my husband!

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13. Laughter really is the best medicine. My husband is really good at making me laugh, and most of the time he doesn’t mean to. He’s just crazy, and he has a carefree attitude.

14. It is so wonderful to continue getting to know each other more deeply. We can complete each other’s sentences and know what the other is thinking before they even speak. I know that there are still many things to learn about my husband, and I have  many years to do it. I also know that we will both change over the years, so it will be a constant study of one another. Getting to know each other more intimately has by far been one of my favorite things about marriage.

I will share about our trip in my next post. I’m loving marriage with my crazy man! What are you loving this Wednesday?

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

I Ain’t Yo Princess, Leave Me Alone!

 

It’s Thursday, and that means I’m a day late for WILW! I’m still going to talk about  what I’m loving even though it is not Wednesday, because there is a LOT to love right now! Have I ever mentioned that I love Thursdays? They are the my down days. I’ve turned in lesson plans. Tomorrow is Friday. There’s nothing to rush off to. They are just good days.

I didn’t know Zach as a child, but I have a child in my class that I think is pretty close to what I envision him being like as a child. He can’t sit still, and he CONSTANTLY bursts out in song as if no one is around him. He is completely unaware of others around him when he starts singing and dancing. He’s a sweet little thing, too. You just can’t help but love him. Last week during my classroom station rotations when he was at my guided reading table, I loved the compliment he gave. He said in his rambunctious little voice, “Mrs. Hardy, I used to be really bad at reading, but now I’m good at it. I even like it now, and I love reading back here with you.” Then he went straight back into reading the book. I had a big grin from ear to ear.

 

Speaking of reading, it is time for those end of the year benchmark assessments to see the children’s reading level. I had two children this year that came to me on a kindergarten reading level (I teach second grade), and those babies are both now only one level away from where they need to be right now! I am loving their progress, and I am thrilled that I have gotten to see their growth. It makes me super happy! Today was one of those rewarding teacher moments. 

I’m loving that tomorrow is our second grade Grandparents’ Day. We made crafts to give them when they come tomorrow. Of course I had to model with a craft for my own grandparents. Yes, I will be making a trip to give them the craft! Ha You’re never too old to love on your grandparents.

Below are a couple of my favorites from the kids.

You see that comma and conjunction usage? That’s what I’m talking about! I’m loving when kids actually use what they are taught. We don’t start sentences with and, but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

I love my sweet babies, and it has been a joy to teach them this year. I won’t lie, I’ve lost some hair, but this year has been wonderful. 

I’m also loving that Zach watched the Pixar movie Rio, and now he understands some of the funny quotes I have said.

What are you loving on this Wednesday Thursday, reader friends?

Shaped by Grace,
Jessica Hardy

Happy Wednesday!

 

Yeah, yeah, I know it’s not really Wednesday. My Wednesdays are so busy though that I usually miss out on my WILW post, so ya know what? I’m pretending that it’s Wednesday!

 

I’m loving how well my handsome man is doing in DFT’s “The Scarlet Pimpernel”! I’m so proud. I can only imagine what I’ll be like when I have kids! I have been to four shows, and it gets better every time. If you haven’t seen it, GO! It will have laughing hysterically, crying, and picking up your jaw from the floor with the amazing plot and vocals.

 

I’m not really sure why I’m tugging on his shirt. Ha 

As much as I have loved the play, I will also be loving when it is over. I will get to see my man again!

 

I’m very much loving that pretty soon I will have a “For Sale” sign on good ole Tova! Don’t act like you don’t name your cars! Zach’s car will soon be paid off, and I’m excited to get an upgrade. My Tova has been dependable though if you know anyone interested. I don’t have a picture, but she is a ‘94 Ford Taurus that has a little less than 80,000 miles on it. She was owned by elderly people before myself. It has been kept up well. I would REALLY love a huge truck, simply because they make me feel big. Let’s be real though, those aren’t very practical for our future kiddos.

But they sure are fun!

 

I’m also loving that being in the classroom gives me so much to laugh at. I swear I’m going to write a book one day! I’m also loving that my class is doing Move to Learn everyday. This is a program that encourages physical activity in the classroom tied in with academic activities or simply for a brain break. It is proven that physical activity increases academic performance. My kids LOVE it, and I love watching them and doing it with them. The website is movetolearnms.org. They have great fitness videos and lesson plans to download. It’s FREE! When I was logging in the other day I loved the mention of Delta State HPER program looking over all of the activities to make sure that they were developmentally appropriate. Way to represent, Delta State University and encourage Mississippi to get moving.

What are you loving this Wednesday Friday, reader friends?

 

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

What’s Not to Love?

It’s that time again! It’s time to link up with Jamie and write the What I’m Loving Wednesday post!

First, I am loving that I have the opportunity to do my student teaching in a second grade classroom. I met the students today, and I am absolutely loving how stinking precious they are! The school is great, and there couldn’t be a more friendly staff to welcome me in. I am a mixture of excited and nervous to begin teaching, but as I met the students today it became more of an excitement.

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I’m also loving that none of the students are taller than I am. When I started off the year in a 4th grade classroom, that was not the case. Ha Any grade above 4th has a guarantee that there will be students taller than me. The professors at Delta State University have told me to be “small but mighty’. That’s the goal anyway.

I'm going to invest in some comfy heels

Lastly, I am loving that I have such a wonderful boyfriend! He has been my number one encourager in the Word, but also in the things of my everyday. I couldn’t ask for a better one! I am super thankful for him! Below is a picture of him and his younger sister, Michaela during the break.

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What are you loving today, reader friends? Link up with Jamie and let us know!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole

It’s Love

 

Yes…it is that time again. It is definitely time for what I'm loving Wednesday!!! Ignore the fact that I was too busy to do it last week. Time to link up with Jamie!!!

I am loving that I met the classroom of precious babies I will be teaching my 317 unit with. We are teaching at Grenada Elementary and I am loving how UH-mazing that school is and that I get to experience it. There is a MUSEUM within the school!!! Awesome…very much. This school offers multi-age, looping, and traditional classrooms. I’m loving that I  was placed in a multi-age K-1 classroom. I am thankful for this experience and challenge it will be to develop lessons in this class, but also that these two grades are my desired grades, if I can be completely honest. Our theme is pumpkins, and I’m loving all the cute ideas that are already running through my head with some pumpkins!!!

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I’m loving the sweet reconnection that can take place with old friends. Isn’t that just wonderful?!? I thought so. Who doesn’t like good conversation and coffee?!?

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I’m loving that the Beth Moore simulcast is going down this Saturday. I love that woman, and I am so inspired by her. I am doing a Bible study of hers right now (Psalms of Ascent), which I would strongly encourage. I’m loving the application that I am gaining from the study and the blessing it has been in my life.

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I’m loving that on September 17th I will be jumping out of a plane with the all new DSU skydiving class. I don’t think I could be more exciting. I’m an adrenaline junkie!!!

Isn’t that cute?!? I’m loving that I get a t-shirt with that design on it.

 

I’m loving that I actually had time to share what I’m loving!!! Till next time reader friends.

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole