imma be a career woman...

i got the job!!!

if you know me well, you know that i've been stressing

and stressing

and stressing

about getting a teaching job.

with layoffs left and right, lack of funding from those beastly legislators, and a sudden influx of teacher candidates, it ain't your grandmama's job market no mo'!

tuesday was a big day for me as i set off to interview at what i've learned is the BEST school in the state...

this morning, i got the call from the district office offering me a contract to teach

FIRST GRADE

at

EASTWOOD ELEMENTARY!

(am i a little excited? yeah, just a little...)

And now presenting:

my future home!

and quite possibly the coolest part...

Eastwood has the BIGGEST field in the history of Elementary schools.

i can't wait for faculty softball games!!

THANK YOU, to everyone who was praying for me!

I couldn't have survived without your love and support.

...I hope you're ready to babysit the class pet!

moving day...

upon moving back home last year due to student teaching and a lack of time to work, therefore unable to bring home the rental bacon, i promised myself that i would move out as soon as student teaching was over.

well folks... it. is. OVER!!

so for the last week, i've been busy putting together a new room at my new house.

no, i didn't buy a house of my own - my cute ex-roomie, Ash, used her expert persuasive skills to get me a room in her darling house. and now, the ex-roomie is once again my favorite roommate.

we had to rent a U-HAUL due to the sparse number of

truck owners in any close proximity.

and for the record:

i have the coolest brother in the world...

driving the big rig

he was scared.

a little girl driving a big dawg...

i was scared too.

seeee?

and now PRESENTING...

mi casa neuva

i got me a new bed

(and i LOVE my windows!!)

the living room

and the kitchen!

and there you have it.

Miss Independent is once again independent.

the time is near...

*disclaimers for the following video*

number one - i don't consider myself affiliated with a certain political party but...

number two - i do consider myself a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

number three - movies have a hard time making me cry, but...

number four - this... this had me sobbing.

(number five - you might want to grab some tissues...)

are you ready?

a little light reading...

this embarrassing display is what is currently on my nightstand.

you're probably asking yourself,

"what's so embarrassing about that, Linds?"

well, i will tell you...

i've started each of these books with excitement and devotion.

i've also heartlessly left each single one after reaching halfway, too excited to start another one.

the most recently acquired and most recently ditched?

Cannery Row.

i think i have a problem with, shall we say, finishing what i start?

uhhhhh... yep.

so long...

... my little ones.

i'm missing you already!

- miss c!

a trip to the east...

...to celebrate the end of a long 8 months of student teaching, i met up with my mom and jonny in Richmond to surprise the darling Mini Cracroft's who, for the last few months, i have been missing more than i can explain. it was the best adventure i could have asked for.

these two are the most darling couple.

8 years later and they're still completely in love...

rosie rose, the love of my life.

if i could spend every single day with this one, i would.

will, my little soda monster.

he's the sweetest boy in the entire world.

some girl's gonna be really lucky to get him some day.

and baby brinners...

the most angelic baby a person could hope for.

she's gonna break a lot of hearts, this one.

thanks for the fun times guys...

... i sure love you!!

Invictus...

Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate...