Early Practice

Small Town Rivalries

Here is my game day Friday.  We play our rival town today so I had to sport some black and orange.  I have a simple black dress with black tights and boots.  I wore a long, grey sweater over the dress for added warmth and an orange scarf for a little spirit.

Today I am grateful for small town rivalries.  It is so much fun to have added competition between two teams.  It's hard for me to be the black and orange team in the rivalry (boo Panthers) but I am getting more used to it.

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

Grinch Day!!

It is Grinch Day in the Elementary School today.  The staff all got Grinch shirts for the day.  Hopefully this grinchy teacher can find one positive part of the day.  Hope the kids make my heart grow 3 sizes today! =)

And So It Begins

My outfit today is a khaki pencil skirt from Target.  This is actually the second time I have had this skirt as the zipper broke on the first one during a volleyball game one night.  I have black tights and boots on since the temperatures have been so chilly.  With the skirt I am wearing a white and black polka dot shirt with a cardigan over top.  I have worn this shirt and cardigan together before but not with this skirt.  I absolutely love pencil skirts and think I could wear one every day if I had enough of them!

I love doing one positive thing each day.  Some days it is harder than others.  For example, it seemed that nothing was going right today.  When I got to school, I could not find my phone and knew it must have fallen out of my coat in the driveway (or hopefully in the house).  I did not feel well all day and to top it off had a basketball game after school so there was no hope for rest.  

Well, it turns out my phone WAS in the driveway in a snowdrift, BUT it still works.  Positive #1 for the evening.

My basketball team played one of the tougher teams in the district AND won in overtime.  Positive #2 for the evening.

And so begins basketball season in which we are busy 6 days a week, but the reward is overwhelming when you beat Central Cass in overtime!  So proud of my little team!!!

Support

My outfit today is plain black pants paired with a blue, peacock looking shirt. The shirt has hints of purple in it so I matched it with this lavender sweater. 

I also got my nails done yesterday and since they are so cute I thought I would share. I never pick red colors like this but the lady in front of me was getting hers done this color and they were just so stinking cute that I wanted to do it too. She saw me looking at hers and said don't worry, I borrowed the idea from the lady in front of me too. ;) 

My positive moment of the day comes from the end of the school day after I had met with a student's parents. The parents had one vision of the teacher I am and it went against everything I thought I am as a teacher. My principal came to check how the meeting had gone and as I began to tell him, tears rolled down my cheeks. It was so hard to admit that a parent doesn't think you are doing right by their child. I felt defeated, until my principal reassured me that I am doing everything I can to be the best teacher to the most students.  He assured me that I may not always please all of the parents, but if I am doing my best and what I think is best for my students, then there is nothing more that I need to worry about. =)

Angels Among Us

As I pulled out of my driveway this morning behind my wonderful neighbor and my favorite Christmas song came on the radio, I couldn't help the tear that came to my eye.  It is amazing to me the power a song can have; Angels Among Us by Alabama has such a powerful message.  

"When life held troubled times, and had me down on my knees.

There's always been someone there to come along and comfort me.

A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helping hand.

A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand.

And ain't it kind of funny that at the dark end of the road.

Someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope.

Oh I believe there are angels among us.

Sent down to us from somewhere up above.

They come to you and me in our darkest hours.

To show us how to live, to teach us how to give.

To guide us with the light of love."

As I listened to the song, I was overwhelmed with a peace for I know there are many angels in mine and Travis' lives since we have  moved to North Dakota.  We have found a community of angels that have taken us in as if we were their own children, siblings, family, and friends.  The support we have received from this community has been overwhelming but none greater than when my grandfather passed away.  In my darkest hour, like the song says, I was blessed to have people guide me with love. Today I am grateful for ALL of the angels in my life that show me how to live, teach me how to give, and guide me with the light of their love.

Get It In My Head

Today's outfit is a common pair of dark blue dress pants (probably worn 5-6 times this year already) paired with a striped grey/cream shirt.  I wore gold jewelry with this outfit and simple cream flats.  Note: I did have to wear my rubber boots to school as there is snow.

My positive moment from the day comes from a little boy in my class who has been so worried about getting my new name (Mrs. Midthun) correct.  He asked his mom the night before I came back to school what would happen if he accidentally still called me Miss Wilder.  All week he has been telling me, "I just can't quite get your new name in my head."  Today, he finally called me Mrs. Midthun and totally excited by this new feat states, "I got it in my head!" before forgetting what he actually wanted to tell me prior to getting my new name right.  Needless to say, we never figured out what he was going to say, but he DID get my name in his head.  I love first graders!

Work Ethic

My outfit is a unique one for today because we had practice at 6 o'clock this morning, so this is the only outfit picture that I got.   I forgot to take a picture of my professional outfit after practice. I promise that I did not wear this all day, although that would have been very COMFY!

I titled my post today work ethic because that is what I am grateful for after getting up at 4:30 am to attend a morning practice with 15 high school girls.  It is amazing the work ethic that comes out of high school sports.  Not many high school kids wake up at 5:30 to run for 2 hours.  I am grateful for the hours I spent in gymnasiums learning what it means to have a strong work ethic that I can now teach to my students athletes.

Snow

I was in a total rush this morning as I woke up late and had to take my car in to get the windshield fixed so this outfit is by far not one of my favorites but it will do.  Sorry the pics are blurry, that's how late I was!  This skirt is bi-length with the front a bit shorter.  It is nice to show off your shoes.  I paired it with a mint, ruffled shirt and jean jacket.  This jean jacket I have had since high school but it is one of the best ones I have ever found so I just keep holding onto it!

My post title is snow because that is what I am thankful for this morning.  I know that may sound crazy and if you were in my car this morning and saw the -15* temperature you would think I lost my mind, but I am not saying I am thankful for the cold, just the snow.  

Last night as I was driving home after practice, it was snowing pretty hard and I could have been frustrated by this, but the snow had the most magnificent sparkle to it. As it drifted down and piled on the road, I could not help but realize how beautiful and peaceful the snow was.  I thought to myself, why not slow down and enjoy this beautiful miracle from God rather than be annoyed or frustrated by the weather.  Today, I am thankful for the majestic snow that caused me to slow down and enjoy the beauty!

Re-evaluating What Is Important

It has been quite a while since I have done an actual post on here. I updated all my missing outfits for the last 2-3 weeks but was not able to comment on them.  Life got a little hectic at the end of volleyball season and into my wedding.  I have come out on the other side of a successful wedding and hope to keep up better with my blog.  

Through this time of my grandfather's funeral and my wedding, I have reevaluated what I find to be important.  Although it is fun to post my outfit everyday and see if I can find ways to mix up my closet, I also want to add something more significant on my blog.  I am going to start adding one thing I am thankful for or one positive thing that happened to me each day.  In the hustle and bustle of life, it seems that it is far too easy to get caught up with the negative aspects of life.  After my grandfather's passing and into my wedding, I was very down on life and upset that one of the most influential men in my life, would not be at my wedding.  I was angry and felt that I was being cheated.  He had never missed anything in my life.  He was at all of my games, every concert, birthdays, holidays, graduations,  everything; how could he not make it to my wedding?

After making it through our first holiday (Thanksgiving) and my wedding without my grandfather, I have a better perspective on life.  He always taught us that life goes on and we have to keep living it, otherwise you just might die in your sleep.

Today, I am thankful for ALL of the time that I DID get to spend with my grandfather. I am thankful for those selfish feelings of wanting to have him at my wedding because that means that I had a strong, positive relationship with him, something many grandchildren cannot say about their relationship with their grandparents. I am thankful for all of the lessons he taught me and even more thankful that my husband had the opportunity to know him before he passed.  I am thankful for my Grandpa Wilder!

Here is my outfit for the day.  This new sweater dress was for our rehearsal dinner.  I paired it with leggings and boots today because it is so cold!!  I also wore gold jewelry because I really like gold and black right now.

Here is a closeup of my necklace and the details of the sweater.

These new boots are from Target (love that place)!!!

Outfit #59

Outfit #58

Outfit #57

Outfit #56

Outfit #55

Outfit#54

Outfit #53

Outfit #52

Outfit #51

Outfit #50

Outfit #49

Outfit #48

Outfit #47

Outfit #46

Outfit #45

Outfit #44

I would not have normally done an outfit today since it is not a school day, but I had to show my Wyoming support on this day.  The world lost a truly amazing man this morning, and even more importantly Wyoming lost its' biggest fan/supporter.  My grandfather was an avid supporter of the state and University of Wyoming  so on this day when he has passed, I am wearing my Wyoming shirt in his honor.  He taught me an endless number of lessons: hard work pays off, family is the most important thing, marriage vows trump all, volunteer when you can, nap everyday, and most importantly never miss a Pokes game.  

I believe I waited so long to talk to you grandpa because you had so many life lessons to teach me first.  I cherish the times I spent with you and am eternally grateful to my parents for raising me around you and grandma.  I am so glad you are at peace now and with your Lord and Savior.  Love you grandpa!  

Go Pokes!!!