I love you, Athens

I've yet to blog about my trip to Athens last weekend. It's no secret that I wish I was living there but I will just have to settle for frequent trips to stay with my sister! Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? That's always been my motto. I was lucky enough to visit two weekends in a row so this upcoming weekend is bound to pale in comparison! 

Two weekends ago I finally got to see my sweet girlfriends from college! I'm still shocked we settled on a date and everyone could come in to town. Thanks to Liezl and Kellie for having us over and for letting me over stay my welcome as usual. Let me say, my girlfriends can cook, y'all! I love that we all bring food instead of going out - we get to spend much more time together catching up and have yummy food at the same time. It is so wonderful to hear about the big changes happening in everyone's lives. I am so blessed by these ladies. Love you girls so much!

Oldie, but goodie! I don't have one with everyone - missing you Liezl!

This past weekend I headed to Athens on Friday to spend the weekend with Haley. Chris was working so I headed out around lunch on Friday to try and beat the traffic. I got into town before Haley got off work so I couldn't resist stopping by Goodwill before I headed to the house. Actually, I stopped at both Goodwill's now that there is one on the Eastside! Just another reason I need to move back! I can't believe we don't have one here in Dalton. 

I didn't score anything ridiculously awesome, but I am so excited about what I did find. I've been searching for something to use as a utensil crock but am really picky about what I want. I found this gorgeous blue ceramic vase and I knew I had to have it! I bought this American flag tray and I can use it in several ways - in a classroom, on the wall, for July 4th decoration, or as a tray on my coffee table (where it is currently sitting). I can't turn down anything with a flag on it, y'all. Just call me Aunt Sam. Lastly, I found a stack of twelve almost new dry erase boards for get this, only five dollars. I couldn't leave without it and I'm glad I didn't. I knew it was a good score when a teacher in line behind me bragged about what a great find it was! Now, I just need a classroom to use them in...

Saturday we headed to Atlanta to a baby shower for one of Haley's friends. Is there anything better than a baby shower? Seriously! There are babies everywhere and I am loving it! I can't wait to buy more sweet baby things for my honorary sister, Beth, in the coming weeks before her baby boy arrives. Saturday night we stopped in at my cousin's house to visit with them. Matt spoiled us with a delicious dinner as usual and I got to hang out with my favorite girl!

Sunday morning was spent lounging around the house until time to head to the UGA Women's basketball game. Dad has been wanting to go for a while so Haley bought us tickets for the game against Texas A & M. The girls have been doing well but unfortunately they didn't pull out a win on Sunday. Of course we love them anyway!

Elaine, this one is for you! That hair is looking crazy! 

I love my people. Here's to another great weekend! Stay warm, safe, and have a great one, y'all!

Wedding Weekend

Well, the wedding is over and the bride and groom are headed to paradise! And I'm still tired. You don't realize how tired you are until it's all over and done! I wish I was hopping on a plane today, but I'll settle for bundling up and watching the Pioneer Woman. 

Since the wedding was Friday evening, we had the rehearsal on Thursday. We had dinner at The Attic before heading to the Church. The mother of the Groom did a fantastic job on the rehearsal dinner decorations and the food at The Attic is always good! The cheesecake was to die for. After dinner we headed over to the church to practice before setting up. After a few hours at the Community House we hit the hay!

Thankfully, the wedding day was pretty uneventful. No major mishaps or trauma! All the girls were happy that it wasn't quite as cold as the day before, especially when we headed outside to take pictures in our strapless dresses. We all got ready together at the church while enjoying some pizza and Spice Girls! The Bride and Groom saw each other before the ceremony so we were able to knock out the majority of the photos. It was nice to just be able to relax for a bit between the Ceremony and Reception!

Here are a few photos taken on my iPhone. Enjoy!

Beautiful rehearsal decor

Love these two! CAN'T WAIT for May!

Blurry Bride and Groom at the Rehearsal Dinner

Decor at our table

There's nothing better than candles!

Getting all prettied up!

Pre-dresses

Love those beautiful windows

Excitement!

Boys + Flowers

My handsome date

LOVE this girl! 

Sister pic

I wrote, "I hope you always love each other as much as you did in high school, and as much as you do today!"

Old school! Love you girls

The beautiful church after dark

Veil shot

First dance

So happy for you two! 

A heavy heart

There is so much on my mind tonight. My heart feels like it is hanging, broken within my chest. I have lost four grandparents and other family members over my lifetime, but never a close friend. My heart aches for the family and friends of the life that was taken so tragically this week. For all the young lives that have recently been lost in our community. I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose one of my best friends. Seeing all this pain and hurt around me makes me want to be sure my friends know how much I love them and how thankful I am to have them in my life.

Tonight we had a memorial service of sorts for Jordan in the youth room at our church. There was worship music, scripture, and a whole lot of tears and prayers. So many people are grieving the loss of this life and it causes strange emotions to stir deep down in my heart. There are the obvious emotions: pain, sadness, grief, anger. Somehow I also have feelings of hope, love, and joy in witnessing how truly special Jordan was to everyone he came in contact with. Walking into the youth room tonight I could feel the sadness covering the room. You couldn't miss the sound of ripping tissues, sharp breaths, and sobs coming from every corner of the room. Adults and teenagers alike. Best friends and acquaintances grieving the death of a sweet friend. 

Nothing could be said to mend the broken hearts tonight, but Dr. Weaver said something to the room that really resonated with me. He talked about the meaning of a "full life." What do you think of when you hear those words? Better yet, who do you think of? I'll tell you who I thought of - I thought of a lady in my church that means the world to me. She and her husband have been married seventy years and they are still an active part of our church. She is the one who witnessed to my grandfather and brought him to the Lord before he passed away from cancer. Although they never had any children, I know she gave the gift of life many times through word of God. I'll be forever grateful to her.

It just so happens that she is over ninety, but that alone is not what made her life so full. It's the lives she has touched and the glory she has brought to God's kingdom that make her life so full. Dr. Weaver tried to explain that it's not the number of years on Earth that matter, but what you do with those years. I had never thought of it that way. The love for Jordan in that room alone showed just how full his seventeen years on this Earth were. He lived a life of purpose - isn't that what we all want to work toward? I know I do. I want to live everyday as if it is the only day that matters. At the end of my life I can only hope I have lived a "full life." 

Tonight I'm sleeping on a heavy heart. But first I'm saying extra prayers - prayers for people I know and people I don't. I'm praying for peace, comfort, and strength for them in the days ahead. I'm praying God wraps his arms around them and that they walk toward him and not away. Won't you pray too?

Happy news on a sad day

Today is officially the day I no longer "live" in Athens. Even though I got married two months ago and graduated from UGA almost three months ago I had yet to completely move out of our little green house. Today Haley's new roommate moves in, so all of my things had to be out this morning. Don't worry though, there's an empty bedroom with my name on it for spontaneous visits! Right, Haley? My heart will always be in Athens (the happiest place on Earth), but it also feels really good to get my things more organized. 

While in Athens I got to visit with my old mentor teacher, Mr. Oulevey. He took the other Social Studies teacher and me out to Loco's for lunch. I've spoken with him over the summer but this was the first time I'd seen him since before the wedding. Walking into Hilsman brought back so many wonderful memories - I truly had the best student teaching experience anyone could ever hope for. Y'all know I'm a sap so here it goes - Mr. O was the best thing that ever happened to me. He brought me out of my shell and helped me become a better teacher than I ever thought I could be. I decided not to teach this year since we are living in Dalton. I wanted to take some time to familiarize myself with the area, schools, and the kids. The best part is - all my best teacher friends have their own classrooms so I'll live vicariously through you all!

Mr. O gave me the best news I could have dreamed of today at lunch. He told me that this year he had the highest Social Studies CRCT scores he had ever had. This is saying a lot since he typically has the highest in the district and has been recognized by the state for his scores. As teachers we know that tests are not the end all be all of assessment, but it feels dang good to do so well! It's like a little pat on the back for all of our excruciating work. I'll sleep well tonight knowing my kids learned a little something from me. Speaking of, one of my girls just texted me. Let me go handle another middle school crisis! ;)

Tweeting? Huh?

So, I've had a twitter since last year but have never used it. I'm pretty good with technology but for some reason twitter has always intimidated me. It's so confusing! So, today I decided it was time to jump on the bandwagon and figure out what all this tweeting business is about. 

I changed my twitter name to @cariwattssavage - I'm trying to keep up with all my accounts by making them all the same name! This name-change business is hard, y'all. That's the real reason I wanted to keep my birth name - because I'm lazy! Not really, but it would have definitely been an added bonus.

If you have a twitter let's hook up - I don't know who has one so I don't know who to follow! I have a "follow me" button to the right to make it easy so don't leave me hanging.

Now, I've got to go get ready to leave. I discovered today that Hunger Games is finally at the dollar theatre, and y'all know how much I love the dollar theatre. I'm late as usual and have to make time to stop at Walgreens for some Sugar Babies. Life is good!

Sweet Friends

I don't know about you, but when I sit down and think about my friends my mind automatically categorizes them. There are old friends, new friends, high school friends, college friends, unconditional friends, in and out friends, part time friends, this list could go on and on. Then there are those friends you can totally, completely, unashamedly be yourself around. You know you are free to talk about anything - and I mean anything - with them and you will never be judged. You can share the best, worst, most embarassing, craziest things about yourself and they will always hear you out (and make fun of you forever). It is so comforting to know that I have those friends. For me, that's these gorgeous girls!

I had dinner with these girls tonight (and missed you two, Chelsea Goss & Shelli Allen!) and had just as much fun as we always do! Our conversations get more entertaining every time. They keep me on my toes and make me laugh until I almost pee my pants in the booth at El Campesino!

I definitely don't see them as much as I would like, but when I do I have the best time! Thanks for the best four hour dinner tonight! Sorry for being sappy, y'all. I just love you girls!

Talk to ya later UGA!

I last wrote at the conclusion of my most hectic semester at UGA - student teaching in an eighth grade Georgia Studies classroom. I now write as an official graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Middle Grades Education. What? It's amazing how faithfully life goes on, even when time doesn't seem to be passing. As I sit here looking through graduation photos I am constantly reminded of my mother's most used phrase, "You'll miss this one day." Even when I was very young she warned me not to wish my life away. I am only now truly beginning to understand what she meant. Though I hate to admit it, she couldn't be more right. How can I already miss college? For me it is more of missing the familiarity of being a student than the tests, projects, papers, and anxiety. My identity has been completely intertwined with being a student for oh, what? Almost twenty years if we count pre-school. I guess it's okay to mourn the end of familiarity. At least for me, I've still got a good thirty or so years until I'm really done with school. Thanks, mom for instilling a love of education in me. There aren't many people who love school enough to go for the rest of their lives! And thanks for loving me through the tests, projects, papers, and anxiety. Happy Mother's Day!


A few pictures - more to come.


My sweet parents

Sanford filling up for the ceremony Friday night

A few photos of my sweet teacher friends - I could't have made it through middle school without them

We did it!

Backtracking

Basically, the last time I posted was just before my student teaching semester began. Now I post just as student teaching has come to an end. I cannot say I am surprised. This has been the busiest time of my life: teaching, class, wedding planning, my showers, friends' showers, etc. What was I thinking planning a wedding for three weeks after I graduate from UGA? I always have such high hopes for blogging but have failed yet again. And it's a shame too, seeing as I have had some interesting stories to share! Because my sweet fiancé surprised me with a new computer I only have photos from this weekend to post. Enjoy!

These are a few photos from one of my best friend's showers last weekend:

  

Maid of Honor, Bride, Matron (to-be) of Honor

Bridesmaids with the Bride

Since Chris and I didn't have Engagement Pictures we took some pictures with my camera to use in the newspaper announcement

My sister was snapping while my mom was instructing - I'll give it to her - I like this one!

We only got one pictures laying with Jasper because he escaped right after this was taken! He ran like a real wolf all over the property until we finally captured him!

This was right after we caught him - hence the wild tongue and sweaty faces!

Truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen

Old school prom pose

These make up for his escape!

Couldn't you just squeeze him to pieces?

Until next time - whenever that may be!