For the past two years my aunt has fought a battle with cancer. She was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma. This rare form of cancer was tough, but she was a fighter. She enjoyed life, she loved her family, she pressed on and did all she could do. These past weeks have been a battle and today Cindy left this earth to go to heaven. What was amazing through it all was her faith - knowing she believed in Jesus personally and knew exactly where she was going. She was bold with her faith letting others know that is what pressed her on to fight the fight. I have learned much from Cindy and will always hold the memories in my heart. It is hard to not have her here with us but I am so thankful that I have Jesus as my savior too. I have no doubt I will see her again.. She has no more pain.. no more tears ..
I love you Cindy <3
I love my family.. I love you shawn, scott, kevin & amy.. your so brave <3
If you want to read more of Cindy's story you can on her carepage.
Here is an article about Cindy at the relay for life .. here.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
first month of school
This first month of school has flown by! I cannot even believe that I have been teaching that long and don't feel too overwhelmed. I hope that I am doing a good job.. but there are some days I constantly feel like I should be doing more. Like.. if I take one moment to stop and breathe I question myself! I guess thats the life of a first year teacher.
We have an event called: Project Heart Well. It is a 5K run/walk through District 81. More information can be found here Project Heart Well It is coming up September 30th! Go ahead and sign up today!
More about school to come later.. Mike and I visited Katie, Jared (and jude & elly) this past weekend! It was a great way to spend labor day :) Mike had been gone the previous week in Mexico so this was great time together!!
It seems we are both so busy these days... working, coming home around 5:30/6, eating, cleaning up and heading up to bed! Of course I have been super tired and wanting to sleep around 9! He does NOT like this ;)
This weekend we had literally nothing.. it has been so lazy. Reading on the deck, went to church, talking walks outside - its been good! We have some busy weekends for the rest of September - like next weekend we get to go to ISU for Family weekend to see Kyla! We have not seen her for about a month. I am trying hard to update the blog about 2x a month. It is not going too well but I will try harder from now on :)
Alisha
We have an event called: Project Heart Well. It is a 5K run/walk through District 81. More information can be found here Project Heart Well It is coming up September 30th! Go ahead and sign up today!
More about school to come later.. Mike and I visited Katie, Jared (and jude & elly) this past weekend! It was a great way to spend labor day :) Mike had been gone the previous week in Mexico so this was great time together!!
It seems we are both so busy these days... working, coming home around 5:30/6, eating, cleaning up and heading up to bed! Of course I have been super tired and wanting to sleep around 9! He does NOT like this ;)
This weekend we had literally nothing.. it has been so lazy. Reading on the deck, went to church, talking walks outside - its been good! We have some busy weekends for the rest of September - like next weekend we get to go to ISU for Family weekend to see Kyla! We have not seen her for about a month. I am trying hard to update the blog about 2x a month. It is not going too well but I will try harder from now on :)
Alisha
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
holy cow
Let me first say... time has FLOWN by! I cannot believe today I officially started school. Yes, we had new teacher orientation today! But before I get into all that I want to back up a bit...
June - Mike and I got to go on two vacations in June and I am so thankful he works so hard to take the time off! We went to Tennessee/Kentucky with my family and Florida with his. It was in florida that I found out I got my job :)
Meanwhile in between all this we celebrated two years of being married :) Mike took me downtown chicago where I went on a shopping trip, we stayed at the Sutton Place and ate at Carmines.
In July I had the priveledge of doing a camp through Harvest at the local track. I learned a ton about leadership, juggling many peoples schedules and were I think God is leading me :) It was hard work but I am excited to see wehre it leads over the next couple of years! Begginning of July was filled with camp and summer school. I got to go to a Kay Arthur conference @ Harvest. Let me tell you she is the real deal.. if you can ever go see her DO IT!
July 22 - Mike annual meeting.. some people may think it is super boring and all "meetings" but it is surprisingly so much fun! free food, a zoo, and a maroon 5 concert doesn't sound boring to me! Mikes company has about 5,000 employees as of 2008 (thanks wikipedia) so when they all show up to Milwaukee for 5 days.. people notice! It happens every year but for some reason the city just does not get used to it.. and by city I mean people driving down Kilbourn and having to stop at a green light while hundreds of people illegally cross the street. Anyways.. Mike found out early in the year that he was chosen to speak at a concurrent session. Tuesday afternoon people have the choice of a bunch of sessions to go to and Mike was speaking in one. It was a huge honor to speak :) Here are some pics of our time there:
June - Mike and I got to go on two vacations in June and I am so thankful he works so hard to take the time off! We went to Tennessee/Kentucky with my family and Florida with his. It was in florida that I found out I got my job :)
Tennessee of course the Opry!
We got to go to HARRY POTTER WORLD!!!
yay :)
Love <3
In July I had the priveledge of doing a camp through Harvest at the local track. I learned a ton about leadership, juggling many peoples schedules and were I think God is leading me :) It was hard work but I am excited to see wehre it leads over the next couple of years! Begginning of July was filled with camp and summer school. I got to go to a Kay Arthur conference @ Harvest. Let me tell you she is the real deal.. if you can ever go see her DO IT!
July 22 - Mike annual meeting.. some people may think it is super boring and all "meetings" but it is surprisingly so much fun! free food, a zoo, and a maroon 5 concert doesn't sound boring to me! Mikes company has about 5,000 employees as of 2008 (thanks wikipedia) so when they all show up to Milwaukee for 5 days.. people notice! It happens every year but for some reason the city just does not get used to it.. and by city I mean people driving down Kilbourn and having to stop at a green light while hundreds of people illegally cross the street. Anyways.. Mike found out early in the year that he was chosen to speak at a concurrent session. Tuesday afternoon people have the choice of a bunch of sessions to go to and Mike was speaking in one. It was a huge honor to speak :) Here are some pics of our time there:
Mikes name was on a big board :)
The Zoo!
Us @ Maroon 5 concert :) SO good!
Mike getting ready to talk.. so proud of him!
Now its already August 7th, I have not updated in about 2 months and I really wanted to stay on track with this! Oh well ;) I will do better now I hope! School starts for the kids August 15th. A lot of people have been asking me what I will be doing.. well let me do my best to explain. I am the 5th grade resource teacher or inclusion specialist or whatever the districts are now calling it! I will be working within the 5th grade classrooms as well as pulling kids out for some extra help with math, writing, reading, ext. I am excited but find that every day there are more and more questions!!! ah! I need to be patient and know that God is with me and there is a reason I am in the school :)
A theme in my life right now is God not forsaking me. A while back Meredith sang her song 'Not for a moment' at Harvest.. when I was still looking for a job. The song really helped me through and it is now available on iTunes. Listen below.. its seriously so so good.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Finally! Pics of the home :)
I have meant to do this for the past month and a half but time has gotten away from me! As many of you know we moved into our new home May 5th 2012! I cannot believe its been a whole 6 weeks!!!
Here it is! Oh and if you still have not been over to see it, come on over!
Here it is! Oh and if you still have not been over to see it, come on over!
OUR HOUSE!!!!
Flowers from mom!
 |
| When you come in the front door. |
Dinning Room
Favorite room!!! The kitchen :)
Looking into the family room from the kitchen
Our deck!
There she is :) We love living here, are still learning and still have some projects! Summer has been filled with travel and now we are home for some time to enjoy..
<3
Friday, May 25, 2012
Mrs. Lankford, do you have internet?
Oh the many questions I will miss...
(In the middle of class..) Mrs. Lankford, do you have internet? How much does it cost? Do you have gel in your hair? How is your hair so wet? What religion are you? Do you still have your wedding dress? Mrs. Lankford... my thumb is hot. Mrs. Lankford... hit me over the head with a mallot!
Oh and my favorite...
Student: Mrs. Lankford?
.. yes..
Student: Can I go to the bathroom?
.. yes
Student: But I may take a long time..
OK
Student: Im doing number 2.
School is out for the summer! :) Those eight weeks flew by and I cannot believe I am done! It feels a bit weird to have no structure to my days but I know I will be plenty busy with the house, family, vacation, camps..
Here are some pics:
(In the middle of class..) Mrs. Lankford, do you have internet? How much does it cost? Do you have gel in your hair? How is your hair so wet? What religion are you? Do you still have your wedding dress? Mrs. Lankford... my thumb is hot. Mrs. Lankford... hit me over the head with a mallot!
Oh and my favorite...
Student: Mrs. Lankford?
.. yes..
Student: Can I go to the bathroom?
.. yes
Student: But I may take a long time..
OK
Student: Im doing number 2.
School is out for the summer! :) Those eight weeks flew by and I cannot believe I am done! It feels a bit weird to have no structure to my days but I know I will be plenty busy with the house, family, vacation, camps..
Here are some pics:
Bathroom!
View from kitchen window..
The craziest room.. office!
Now you will just have to come & visit to see the rest of the house! Mike & I are having family over this weekend for them to see, we are excited to share our blessings with others. Thanks for all the support and love.
Alisha & Mike
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
done done done
We closed on Friday, May 4th and became homeowners!!!! I am so excited but right now exhausted and a bit busy with moving... teaching.. daily life. We were beyond blessed with how the closing went and cannot believe we own a HOME! Our first home together :)
I have been taking pictures along the way of our moving process but those will be put up at a later time.. for now I just wanted to state how grateful I am for everyone helping us move & praying for us. We cannot wait to be done moving and have everything in one house because right now we are living in two!
I have... 11 full teaching days left of school.. a field day and a 1 hour day !!!! SUMMER is so close & I cannot wait! Pictures so come soon!
Alisha
I have... 11 full teaching days left of school.. a field day and a 1 hour day !!!! SUMMER is so close & I cannot wait! Pictures so come soon!
Alisha
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
busy days
Hey!
Remember about 3 weeks ago when I said one week was done? Well I cannot believe this but I am more than half way through my first teaching experience. We only have about 15 days left of class since the last week is field day & 8th grade graduation! I am learning more and more everyday that I need to remember this is MY FIRST 5 weeks as a teacher... even though it is the students end of the year. There is such a fine balance between respect & behavior with loving the students & having fun.
I know every teacher has some sort of behavior management struggle at some point :) The students are very much alive, creative, funny and very very goofy. At times it is hard to keep a straight face and pretend to be upset ;) This week so far I have helped 2 8th grade girls with their crushes.. we have an 8th grade dinner dance next week so you can imagine what that has brought out in the girls.. I have also had to stop my whole class from literally running out into the hallway to see an overflowing toilet & I have had many students tell me how nice my hair is...?
It is interesting! But what I am most learning right now from God is how to LOVE on the students.. be there to talk to.. be someone who understands and imputs positive messages instead of the many negative ones they probably hear .. this song came to mind this week:
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
Little girl twenty one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but He's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well, little girl twenty one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you, more beautiful you
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late, you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away
Remember about 3 weeks ago when I said one week was done? Well I cannot believe this but I am more than half way through my first teaching experience. We only have about 15 days left of class since the last week is field day & 8th grade graduation! I am learning more and more everyday that I need to remember this is MY FIRST 5 weeks as a teacher... even though it is the students end of the year. There is such a fine balance between respect & behavior with loving the students & having fun.
It is interesting! But what I am most learning right now from God is how to LOVE on the students.. be there to talk to.. be someone who understands and imputs positive messages instead of the many negative ones they probably hear .. this song came to mind this week:
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
Little girl twenty one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but He's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well, little girl twenty one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you, more beautiful you
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late, you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away
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