I dwell in possibilities.......

OKLAHOMA!

2010-05-19T22:05:00.002-05:00

If you see my hometown on the National news yet again it is because we have been ravaged by tornadoes for the second time in a week!!

I have spent the whole evening in our basement checking radar on my laptop and listening to the sirens going off in town. I spent the morning with my students crammed into the school bathrooms listening to our school siren going off!

I just ran up to my bed and there was a spider in it.......why do I live here again???

May Musings...........

2010-05-15T18:18:00.003-05:00

.............so many thoughts, so many times I think I will blog about them, so many times I never do...I promise to be better this summer.

I was reading a dear friend's blog a few minutes ago (shout out Lara~Casey~Weaver), and she was dwelling on the surprise of living in her hometown post-college into her married life. Though still livin'up the single life I resonated with her.

I live in Oklahoma. Sapulpa. I could not be more surprised.

Seriously, never would I have thought this is what I would have been doing at this point in my life. I don't mean that negatively at all, I just find it interesting. If you would have told me after college in small town Arkansas, summer travels to Ireland, Mexico, and everywhere in between, that after all that I would move home...I would have definitely rolled my eyes at you. Then if you would have really gone out on a limb and told me that I would be working at the school that I attended K-8 at, the school where my very own father is the superintendent, I would have stormed off! Ok well maybe not because I am not rude, but I would have laughed in your face, politely.

I love my life.

Do I feel completely utterly satisfied with where I am, no not necessarily. Am I happy? Definitely. Am I stuck? Heck no. Will I stay here for awhile? I have decided to committ to things a year at a time, so next year I will be in OK.

I love teaching.

I am hugged all day long. I am made little adorable notes and cards telling me I am the best teacher ever. I observe how much my little students have grown this year. I get to read stories outloud and get really into them. (*the best day ever--I got so into this awesome book I was reading my students about not getting stressed out about testing--a book Dr. Suess started but didn't finish before he died and Jack Prelutsky finished it for him--they broke out into cheers at the ending and I had to majorly catch my breath*)
I am rewarded all the time by their enthusiasm.

I also can't wait for summer break.

I get exhausted teaching, walking, and talking all day. I get so bogged down with disciplinary issues. I hate having to be firm and writing detention slips--but it is highly necessary to maintain control and help students learn even the really hard life lessons. I hate calling parents with bad news about their child's behavior. I hate seeing abuse written all over a child's face and sometimes their body. I hate drama!!

But...I thrive off of the relationships. I am so emotionally invested. I wouldn't have it any other way. If I didn't feel passionately about it, I wouldn't work half as hard. If I didn't live in Sapulpa, OK and teach at my father's school, I wouldn't know the 20 little (and some not so little) individuals I have come to know. They deserve my time and all my effort.

My life's unplanned plan is so beautifully redeemed daily.

Excuses.

2010-04-19T20:06:00.002-05:00

Today one of my students told me they were sick and needed to go to the nurse.

When asked why she felt upset to her stomach she responded:

"Because I'm afraid of heights."

She was sitting at her desk, reading quietly, and felt sick because of a fear of heights???

May--time for you to come our way!

Honesty is a Virtue

2009-11-21T09:15:00.002-06:00

Ok so one of my dearest friends, Lara (Casey) Weaver, tagged me to do this.

10 Honest things about me:

1. I get my eyebrows waxed. I have since I was about 17. It is the one self-idulgent girly things I pay for. For example, I've only have ever gotten a manicure twice and it was for weddings and paid for by brides. I only get my hair cut or trimmed once a year at the most, honestly it is probably more like every 2 years. So the once a month eyebrow waxing is always a hilarious experience to go to at my small hometown salon and hear all the news of Sapulpa. I always enjoy it and always leave with a funny story to tell my mother.

2. I am going to admit it. I am a huge Twilight fan. So huge that I went with twenty other teachers from my school to the opening night premier last night. We pre-bought our tickets two weeks ago and then had reservations at Texas Roadhouse afterwards. It was the most fun I've had in awhile. It was fantastic. I am a huge fan in that I realize the ridiculous-girly-silliness that the books are but I also respect writing enough to see the impressiveness of how the author can completely pull you in. I was sarcastic and jaded at first, probably the first 4 chapters of the first book I was not that impressed and wasn't sure if I would keep reading--after the 5th chapter I couldn't come up for air for anything or anyone. All I have to say is: Team Jacob.

3. I don't take pride in my taste in music, but I am personally very happy with it. My Holly St. housemates in college had great taste and were all about it. I always just pretended (very badly I am sure) to know what they were talking about and listened to my country music to my heart's content. Country is my first choice when listening to the radio. A lot of that has to do with where I live, we don't have good radio stations. We have pop, rap (sort of), oldies and lots and lots of country, eventually you just have to give in because that is where your most options are.
My taste is also very random and has no continuity. This is the mix of songs I am listening to as I write this: Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Brad Paisley, Amy Whinehouse, Coldplay, Carrie Underwood, Damien Rice, Michael Buble, The Wreckers, The Fray, Tim McGraw, The Posies, Sara Bareilles, and Rascal Flatts. PS. I love love love Broadways and about 75% of the time am listening to Wicked or Aida on my itunes, on repeat.

4. I was hardcore into competitive drama, Lincoln Douglas debate, and public speaking all four years of high school. I spent most of my weekends at a a high school or college somewhere in Oklahoma competing. Our teacher and coach was and is one of the most influential people/women in my life. Ms. DeVilliers otherwise lovingly referred to by everyone as D. D taught me more tough love and genuine affection mixed with politics, case briefs, comedy routines, tearful talks, confidence, acting, speaking, blocking, boy advice, life advice, intense scolding, and millions of hugs. D deeply influenced who I am and how I represent myself. We were once working on a standard oratory and a piece of poetry I was going to do and I was young and just had not come into my own at all yet, after telling me everything I needed to work on and scolding me for not working harder at it D grabbed my face between her two hands and said, "Emily, your face is a gift from God and I am going to teach you how to use it". My senior year I qualified with 3 other teammates to compete at Harvard University in an international tournament in debate. I tromped around Boston competing in different buildings and we were rewarded with 4 days in NYC afterward. D is a brilliant woman and I hope to influence my little students half as much as she influenced hundreds and hundreds of students.

5. I was in FFA in high school and I took about 5 Ag classes. No I didn't have to work with cows or pigs. I gave speeches. I was recruited from drama/debate to be a part of their competitve speech programs. It didn't hurt that there were 3 new Ag teachers all under the age of 25 and all very cute to convince me. My first competition was for the Farmer's Credit Union and I spoke on the importance of the family farm. I won state. I have 500 dollars of savings bonds from the Farmer's Credit Union to prove it. My senior year I was on the Ag Issues team and we won state with our drama concerning the pollution of Oklahoma watersheds by Arkansas's chicken pollution runoff into those watersheds. Yea, we won state and competed at Nationals in Kentucky. I love the FFA, respect it, and will defend the quality of the program to anybody.

6. I want to be Paula Deen. I love to cook and have learned more about good southern cooking from that woman. I watch her show, read her books, and look at her website a lot. I am constantly trying some new Paula Deen concoction. So far my families' favorites are the Sweet Potato Biscuits, Homemade Mac and Cheese, Cheesy Biscuits, and her Gumbo.

7. For those of you who don't know I am a Junior High cheerleading coach as well as a 4th grade teacher. I went into the cheerleading incredibly skeptical and incredibly blackmailed by my good friend who is the other coach. But you know what? I like it. The girls are young and sweet and I feel like I can mold them not to be dumb and shallow. I can actually teach character and confidence through cheerleading. I also love doing the girly things and going to the games. Actually because of lack of help, the boys basketball coach told me that I needed to learn how to keep the books for the boys' games. So last week for four games in a row I kept the books. I did pretty dang good if I do say so myself. I have never paid so much attention to referees and calls in my life, but I am feeling more and more confident in my basketball knowlege and book keeping skills, not to mention cheerleading coaching.

8. I think about Lake City, CO more than is probably healthy. I am constantly wondering what is going on there, what the weather is like, and what my friends are up to. I also often think about dropping everything and moving up there and what that would be like. I was on the city's website the other day looking for a photo of the American Basin for my school desktop and the was a photo looking down Silver Street and I felt a sharp pain of oh that's home, that's where I should be at home. Hmmm.

9. I really want to go to Vancouver or Guatemala for spring break. I realize those are both random and very different places to want to go. But I want to splurge and take some type of international trip. In Guatemala I could see a lot of close JBU friends that I have been telling I would come visit for two years now. My college roommate and another close friend would possibly come from Costa Rica and El Salvador to visit me while I am there which also makes it more appealing. My friend Jake is working on his Masters in Vancouver and I would love to go visit him. My cousin is also working on a doctorate up there and I would love to have quality time with her. I have also heard Vancouver is incredibly beautiful and I would love to go to Canada.

10. I am reading the Chronicles of Narnia series to my class. We are on the Voyage of the Dawn Treader right now and it is fabulous. It is one of the most magical experiences. My parents read me these books as a child and I have loved them as an adult. Most of my students have had absolutely no exposure to them and only a few have seen the first movie. They are so into it. We live and breathe Narnia in Miss Pritz's class! We have a whole wall dedicated to our Narnia drawings. I end certain exciting chapters and the kids will say "NO! What happens?? You can't stop, keep reading!" At the end of Prince Caspian they cheered! I am loving it. You will hear and see more about that as we work through the series.

I don't really want to tag anyone but I would like to see Linda Wyman, Amanda Hartman, and Christina Carnes do this.

2009-10-18T20:32:00.003-05:00

I have a class of inspired performers. There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to do what we need to curriculum-wise and still let them perform!

This video is a little long but I think gives a good peak into Miss Pritz's classroom. I like how I am confused about when the song is ending. I keep thinking he is done and he keeps on going!

2009-09-29T21:02:00.002-05:00

Another post about my students--get used to it--I live and breath school and sometimes for weeks at a time, nothing else.

Today I had noon recess duty.
A little girl who is in the 4th grade, not in my class, but I still know her well--she is a well known character, came up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders.
The kids this week have started offering me shoulder rubs and who am I to deny it? My back and neck hurt all the time, all I do is walk around, stand, sit on a wobbly stool, and apparently sleep in positions that really hurt my neck in the morning.

Amazing quote number 1 from shoulder rub experience:
Miss Pritz: "thanks, Lily"
Lily: "how did you know it was me?"
Miss Pritz: "I have eyes in the back of my head"
Lily: "that's right. All women do. I'll get mine one day when I am older."

Amazing quote number 2 from shoulder rub:
---Lily moves from rubbing my shoulders to my neck and then to my cheekbones for some reason............
Lily: "Does that feel good?"
Miss Pritz: Sure.
Lily: "I am not really sure what I am rubbing anymore."

Then my little friend begins to scamper off and as she runs away into the field I hear the beginnings of the tale she is beginning to tell to her brave companion....
Lily: "One time when I was in another country, and it was a chinese new year..........."

Oh to have a limitless imagination with no fear of what others think.

2009-09-21T20:00:00.002-05:00

I teach 4th grade.
A very important part of my relationships with my students is affection. A lot of my students may not have anyone hug them all day. It is important to me that I can give them plenty of affection throughout the day in my classroom. I also want them to feel safe and comfortable with me and much more willing to embrace and share affection.
One way I ensure that we have some type of contact during the day is as they leave the classroom at the end of the day I stand in the doorway and say, "high five, hug, or handshake?" and the kids know to pick one. Some kids just immediately hug me and some prefer the high five, then there are some of my charmers who consistently do all three.

Now, I have been cautious to give my 4th grade boys side hugs, because let's face it, I am a young teacher and they know it. Some are so tall side hugs are only appropriate. Some are still so small I have to bend over to hug them and or they hug me around the waist.

Today one of my most entertaining, sweet, talkative, loving, and quite small male students was hugging me in the doorway. He was full on around my waist and said "I just love hugging you!", I said, "why?" and he said, "you're soooo soft". Hmmmmm. I need to get back to side hugs.

2009-09-18T12:49:00.005-05:00

Autumn, what a wonderful word.

I realize I haven't posted in forever so it is a little bizarre of me to just randomly write instead of recap, but I don't care--recap involves way too much thinking for me today!

I have the day off of school and it is rainy and autumny outside and I love it!

Random Spur of the Moment Reasons I love Autumn:

1. Sweaters that tie or wrap

2. Boots and tights

3. Pashminas, Pashminas, Pashminas, with everything please.

4. Baking--Carol's homemade bread, pumpkin pie, cranberry-orange bread, etc.

5. Football games--believe it or not I love going to or watching high school and college football games! So fun and maybe one of the few competitive things I enjoy.

6. Tea--Nambarrie, the wonderful tea of Northern Ireland, that I still have stock of today even though the last time I was there was 3 years ago...I kind of want to run out so I can go again soon!

7. Orange--I love the color, it is a part of me (aka I have ginger hair), and it surrounds me in this Oklahoma fall

Back to tea--I am sitting in my nightgown and mukluks watching Project Runway drinking my splendid Irish Tea and feeling super homesick for Northern Ireland, maybe it is the rainy gloomy weather that seems so Irish today!

In honor of that here are some of my favorite shots of my travels on that enchanted Emerald Isle!

Kansas Part Quatro

2009-08-12T22:14:00.003-05:00

Then we ended the Kansas adventure with a church service and pizza. Jake and his older sister were singing at a local church service--so I was very lucky to hear their beautiful voices. Then after church Jake and Mr. Whitmore took us out to a nice lunch of Pizza Hut. To top off my Newton experience I was able to see Katie Funk-Dyck my neighbor back in the Mayfield days and one of the funnest girls around, what a treat, what a roadtrip!

Kansas Part Tres

2009-08-12T22:06:00.003-05:00

Then the real party started. The whole reason for being in Kansas--Luke Davis and Ellen McCulley's wedding! What a night, what a party, what a couple! Such a beautiful wedding and awesome celebration. It was great to be a part of Luke and Ellen's special day and to get to have such a large JBU reunion complete with being really dressed up and dancing the night away!

Kansas Part Dos

2009-08-12T21:55:00.005-05:00

Look what was waiting for me in front of a super cool old pub in downtown Newton, KS...........that's right Jakey.

After leaving Wichita I left for the metropolis of Newton to stay at my friend's house and enjoy some pre-wedding fun with JBU friends that were also in town for the wedding. I have always enjoyed my time in Newton and this time was no exception. We cooked and laughed and stayed up too late every night. I was even able to have coffee with Boone's mom Annie, which was so great, and see my long lost friend Ian.

Kansas Part Uno

2009-08-12T21:39:00.003-05:00

So I am slacking so much at this!!!!!!!! Busyness is bringing my blogging down.

Weeks ago I went to Kansas for lots of fun events. First two of my best friends Kristen and David were in Wichita visiting from Mexico where they are English teachers and I got to spend a very short but fun time with them. We laughed, loved, fought (David and me only), and ate delicious homemade Mexican food. Good times.

Summer=Strawberry Jam

2009-08-01T11:14:00.004-05:00

As a little girl I can remember spending summer days at my best friend Adrian's house and I can remembering her mom canning. She would can outside because it would get so hot inside. Barb knew how to do everything when it came to canning and making jam. I feel it is a lost art in my generation and I want to learn how to carry it on. Since we lost Barb last year we were determined to carry on the tradition--Adrian and her husband Trevor, my mom, and I bought pints of strawberries from the farmer's market and used Barb's old canning equipment to make our own jam. It was a lot of fun, an adventure, and something I definitely want to do again. Also our jam tasted awesome!

Belated 4th of July

2009-08-01T10:49:00.005-05:00

Sorry it took me so long to post these and come back to my blog. I have no good excuse. But this was technically on the 3rd of July, we had a great time with our close friends and family at the Ellis's house. David S. these are for you!

Branson Days

2009-07-10T12:34:00.004-05:00

I went on another adventure with my friend and her 11 kids! Two summers ago we went on a three week road trip through New Mexico and Arizona in the 15 passenger van. This time we paired it down to 4 days in a time share in Branson. Only 9 of the kids were able to come now that Aaron and Johnny are 18 and working. We spend two fun and beautiful days at my favorite childhood memory Silver Dollar City. It was such a great time to watch the kids enjoy themselves so much and to see how excited they get about everything! Denise and I also snuck away and had a great day of shopping at the Outlets and enjoying an amazing lunch on the river at the Landing. I love this family!

Aaron and Lara Weaver

2009-07-05T23:22:00.006-05:00

My precious friend Lara Casey is now Lara Weaver. She and Aaron had an incredibly beautiful wedding. I was so blessed to be a part of it and to see their love for others shine through the entire weekend. It was especially a sweet and fun time with close JBU friends, Lake City friends, and new friends. There is a lot of pictures thanks to my Lake City roomie Diana Humphreys!

Jessica is 12, oh my.

2009-06-27T12:20:00.005-05:00

Jessica is basically my little sister. Our families have raised us all together more or less and Darby and Jessi are frequent subjects on my blogs because they are such a big part of my life. Today Jessica turns 12! Crazy and I am so thankful for her life. Some of you may know her story and how some of the hardest years of my life were spent in a hospital watching her while she went through chemo and radiation at much too young of an age, to fight a very serious and rare cancer. She is a survivor and no longer even has to do checkups as she hit her 7 year mark of cancer free last year! Yay! She is our miracle and she is just the most precious, beautiful, and entertaining girl. Two nights ago Darby, Jess, and I made flourless chocolate cake (for our gluten-intolerant Darby), ate Indian food, and watched Confessions of a Shopaholic. Nothing like a night with little sisters!

Happy Haircut

2009-06-27T12:12:00.003-05:00

This is the girliest most self-focused post I will ever write. Here it goes: I got a haircut. Not really a big deal for most people, but for me it is quite dramatic. I love my hair long. I never had long hair until college, which some people who have never known me without long hair find hard to believe. But I always got my hair cut into the new trendy haircut or whatever was in style throughout high school and before. When I got to JBU, freshman year fall break, I cut my hair off to about chin length and then I decided I would grow it out for the rest of college and I did. I do not really ever cut it now, even trims freak me out. So because of this my hair was in desperate need of a trim and my mother had been continually telling me how ratty the ends of my hair looked, so I finally made an appointment. She cut nearly four inches off and I survived, in fact I think it looks a lot healthier, so I feel good about it! (I seriously had a nightmare the night before that she accidentally gave me a bob!)

Jill's a quarter of a century old!

2009-06-27T11:54:00.004-05:00

We had a wild party at Fudruckers, yeah we aren't sure how that happened. It was super yummy and I made her awesome jewelery. Adrian and I were proud of our quirky vintage jewelery store purchase of silverware earrings. I am not sure if Jilly knew what to say, I think they just took her breath away.

Route 66 Blowout--a Sapulpa staple.

2009-06-06T19:37:00.003-05:00

My home town does not truly have many claims to fame. We do have 2. #1 Frankoma Pottery (world-famous super cool pottery) originated and is still made in a factory here in town and is made from our local clay. #2 Historic Route 66 runs through Sapulpa and through our Historic downtown that is restored and used just as it was 50 years ago--one of the nicest in the U.S.

Every year at this time we have a "Blowout" to celebrate Rt. 66. They shut down downtown and the streets are filled with old cars and motorcycles and all kinds of fair and festival wares. I enjoyed the day with my friends and family, eating barbeque from the Firemen and running into someone we knew everytime I turned my head, including lots of my students. Ok, it is Sapulpa, we knew everyone. It was super fun, beautiful weather, and my arms and shoulders are sporting a sunburn to prove it!

A Date Night at the Museum, why not?

2009-06-06T19:26:00.004-05:00

Some of you may know about the family with 11 kids I was a Home Care Provider for in past summers for their handicapped children and who I have traveled with on family vacations. Well I promised a special night for Jordan and Benjamin, so we went to see A Night at the Museum. We got lots of candy and lots of soda and enjoyed our movie thoroughly. The boys cutely recommended that we go to McDonalds afterwards and being the sucker that I am I said yes! It was a fun night with two cute guys I enjoyed spoiling!

New Designs......

2009-06-06T19:16:00.003-05:00

I have started some new jewelry projects recently.

The biggest undertaking being a necklace I am not quite ready to show, although I have been wearing it all day, but there are still some changes I need to make to it and then I will post some pictures.

Here are some earrings I made recently: the bottom stones are rock from Lake City, I like them because they are very imperfect and do not exactly match each other. The green stones are simply emerald colored because I LOVE green and they were purchased at my very favorite craft supply store!

Smart and Talented--ridiculous.

2009-05-29T15:16:00.003-05:00

I have three very dear friends who are about to move farther away from me than Siloam Springs. I am not ready to let them do that just yet but apparently I am not going to be given a choice. My Teeny is moving to Kansas City, MO to establish residency and hopefully follow that up with starting a grad program in Art History at UMKC. So instead of learning the drive to Bentonville, AR by heart I am going to have to learn the drive to Kansas City by heart.

Ryan is also headed to KC to attend UMKC where he will be wowing more crowds with his genius level skills on the piano. He will be beginning his grad study in piano performance, I will be travelling for his piano recitals as well so he will not forget me--his 'best friend' since Freshman year and the girl he proposed to, with a ring, in the middle of the quad.

Jake is not surprisingly headed on to bigger and better things though he is deciding to do it in another country. I will miss local calls from him discussing Phantasmagoria and how he would be a great President at JBU and I would be a great president's wife. Once again, his only aspirations for me are marriage. I love hearing how everywhere he goes people are astounded by his voice and talent and just feeling so proud of Jakey-poo.

Here's to one last hurrah in Fayetteville.

Brinley & Addison

2009-05-28T13:12:00.003-05:00

If I have never posted about these little ladies before, they deserve it now! These two are the 2 and 4 year old daughters of friends of mine that work at JBU. I helped babysit Brinley with a team of other college friends starting from when she was about 6 months old. When Addison came along I went and saw her in the hospital the day after she was born. Pretty much they have both had me wrapped around their fingers since I laid eyes on them. They are probably the craziest, most imaginative, dancingest children to hang out with! (I don't know where they got that from?) I just got to spend an evening with them while I was back in Siloam the past 5 days. We had to play mermaids (a game and outfits we created last time I came to visit, which includes full costume, singing all the songs from the Little Mermaid, and me being told to be Prince Eric) for most of the night, followed up by a healthy game of Cinderella.

SMILE--School's Out

2009-05-28T13:04:00.003-05:00

The school year has ended much faster than I expected it to. Though I am happy that I will have a more free schedule and I do have things to look forward to this summer, I really love my job and I enjoy working and being busy. I could never have predicted that me, Emily, the girl who loves to sleep more than anything, hates to work out, and has a lazy tendency to her, is becoming somewhat of a workaholic. I think it definitely says something for enjoying your job and feeling like what you do makes a difference.

This is the wall outside my room and I took pictures of all of my elementary students I work with. (It had a smile theme if you can't tell.) The exciting part was that they got to take home their pictures on the last day of school! Doesn't take much to get 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders pumped!

Scotty-The Lawyer

2009-05-26T21:59:00.004-05:00

My favorite older brother recently graduated from Colorado University's School of Law in Boulder, CO. I am so very proud of him and happy for him to be done with school! It was a joy to see him graduate and to be with our family up there. It was also an awesome subculture to be apart of that is very different from the subcultures I am used to!

Fun people, beautiful city, accomplished brother.

Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-12T17:55:00.004-05:00

So, I had a Cinco de Mayo party. I went a little overboard on the cooking. I made enough food for an army when in reality we were only feeding about 6 people. It was still super fun and worth all of the after-school grocery shopping and speedy cooking!

Startin' Em' Young

2009-05-12T17:45:00.003-05:00

In a recent conversation with one of my 2nd grade girls I was proud of her insistance to seek out equal opportunity for women:

Ms. Pritz: (attempting to define what nature is when another student asked)

Anything not made by man is nature.

Girl student: What about made by a woman?

Ms. Pritz: Nope, sadly still not nature.

Girl student: dangit.

So I went to Pittsburgh......

2009-05-11T16:42:00.003-05:00

Another amazing reunion with the women formerly of 340 Holly Street. Reuniting with these housemates and dear friends is always rejuvenating and refreshing. It is also super fun to travel to new places and explore them together.

Highlights:

H & M

Pita Pitt

Homemade perogies

Primati's sandwiches

The Church Brew Works restaurant

The most amazing roommate trivia game ever--nat, jill, and I totally rocked it

Pittsburgh downtown is beautiful and unexpected

Lots of bridges

The Duquene Incline trolley ride at night

Being together.

so artsy.......

2009-04-21T21:32:00.003-05:00

I decided to continue the artsiness that the day at the herb festival had inspired and started work on multiple art projects I have going on right now. My partner in crime as always, Jill, provided the entertainment and also painted multiple creations herself.

Herb Festival 09

2009-04-21T21:23:00.004-05:00

SO much fun. I was in heaven attending the annual Herb Festivel in Sand Springs the sister city to Sapulpa. We got our vegetable plants for this year, as well as many more herbs to add to our herb garden, and are going to try growing lavender for the first time. I also made friends with other jewelry makers and got hooked up with a little community of artisans there. Possibly best of all we ate amazing Greek food and drank ice cold root beer. What a way to spend your Saturday.

Easter..a little late, I realize.

2009-04-21T21:08:00.003-05:00

Our family friends, the Plinsky's, came over and we had quite the fun-filled day. Delicious ham and all the good southern fixins'. As well as some pretty tasty desserts, if I do say so myself. The children then had a rousing egg hunt and the adults had just as much fun hiding the HUNDREDS of eggs inside because it was a stormy, yucky day outside. I love holidays and childrens' joy in the little things make it so much better. Whenever Mia would find an egg she would literally squeal and scream with delight and she did that over every single egg she found, which was a lot. Her joy was contagious to say the least!

Prom 2009

2009-04-05T21:26:00.004-05:00

Girls from my bible study were going to prom this weekend and I was in charge of hair, makeup, accessories, and shoes. It was fun and took me back to all of those events and nights in high school. Dances, proms, and high school are a big deal in this little town and I was just as into it as everyone else is now in my own day, ok probably more than others were. Here are fun pics from the Hemphill's ranch where we spent the day beautifying.

Really? Snow? Really.

2009-04-05T21:09:00.003-05:00

Yes the 28th of March, after I had already posted pictures of Spring, it snowed! Not a little but a lot. We had 10 inches of snow at my house! That is A LOT for Oklahoma. It was the only true snowstorm we got all year, we had way too many ice storms which are very different and way worse, but no snow until apparently we thought there were no more chances for it. Oklahoma is crazy and I am sick of cold weather, but the snow was beautiful and it was fun for us since it is so rare to have a true snow storm!

Ms. Pritz's Class

2009-03-22T17:57:00.002-05:00

Here's some photos Teeny took of me and my little classroom/workroom while she was visiting me this week.

Welcome to my fun little world of learning!

Truth

2009-03-14T13:58:00.003-05:00

Honest things about who I am:

1. 97.9% of the time I will not be on time and it doesn't bother me at all. I think I was meant to live in a more laid back culture.
2. I am incredibly repetitive. If I find something I love or enjoy, I will do just that to its fullest. I will finish reading a book I enjoy and start reading it over again immediately, the same goes for movies, television, music, etc.
3. I am not an emotional girl. I always identify with guys when discussing relationship issues. Apparently I came out a girl but was wired wrong when it comes to thought process and emotions.
4. I generally prefer hanging out with chilren over adults. I love hearing the thoughts of children of all ages.
5. Country music speaks to my soul. Go ahead take issue with it.
6. Even though I may not think like a girl, I do extremely enjoy makeup, hair, perfume, accessories of any kind, and fashion--so I got the girly goin' on there.
7. Favorite friendship childhood memories: Going on outdoor adventures with Adrian and our baby dolls--one of the many benefits of growing up in the country, Having very dramatic Barbie issues with Nicole--it's amazing that two girls who had never seen a soap opera recreated some pretty dramatic scenarios with their toys, Watching the Lone Ranger and Zorro with the 3 Karasek boys and my brothers for hours on end while wearing capes and other assorted yet necessary costumes, and Many, many imaginative times with my two brothers: dancing like maniacs to the Beatles (thank you hippie parents), playing house where I was always the mom (not much changes), Scott was always the big brother (makes sense), and Teddy was always the Indian (who doesn't need to have a red-headed Indian around).
8. I require more sleep than anyone I have ever met. I LOVE to sleep, naps, sleeping in late, you name it, it is wonderful. I hated slumber parties growing up because I didn't understand why everyone wouldn't go to bed and then why they didn't sleep in in the morning. I refused to even attend any youth group church lock-ins in my teenage years because who the heck would want to stay up all night?
9. I love having red hair. Not that I think about it very much, sometimes I see pictures of myself and am shocked that my hair is the color it is in the picture and have to ask people if that is what it really looks like.
10. I have lost people I really love in my life. I had a childhood friend die of cancer when we were only in Junior High, it was awful, and I really don't even talk about it to most people that know me well. But I have never not felt joy. Joy that I don't understand. All I can say is that Jesus gives me joy beyond my understanding and always has in every hardship I've faced and for that I am grateful.

Sparatic Spring

2009-03-13T16:18:00.005-05:00

When the seasons change in Oklahoma they never permanently change. It can be freezing in the winter, or maybe it will get real hot one day. Summer can suddenly cool down and hours later be burning hot again. This week we had Spring at the beginning and all of our beautiful flowering trees started budding out, then all of a sudden it decided to be winter again and sleeted and snowed all day yesterday. Today is more mild though I still wore a scarf and coat. When it was beinning to sleet the other day I ran out in the cold and took pictures of our new flowers in hopes of capturing their beauty before the freezing rain took it away again. Also I think where I live is beautiful! ps. I also have cute cats.

I love these people.

2009-03-07T19:41:00.002-06:00

Supporting Kenya

2009-03-07T19:32:00.003-06:00

Last night I was able to go to a get together at my friends' the Cozart's house. Val's twin sister Lauren was visiting and has recently returned from spending 6 months working in Kenya. She brought jewelry and other wares made by Kenyans which she is selling and sending 100% of the profits back to Kenya.

It was really neat to see pics of her time there and hear about her experiences. I bought some beautiful earrings and beautiful hand painted cards.

I love my students.

2009-03-07T19:22:00.002-06:00

So I feel like in my teaching job I have many hilarious stories I could write about everyday and I don't, but I should, because most of them I really don't want to forget. So here are a few that boost my spirits:

1. The photo of the synthetic white carnations with the plastic stem with a wire running through it were from one of my second graders last week. They came walking down the hall for reading class with the bouqet held behind their back along with a card. Pretty cute. Made my day to receive those fabric and plastic flowers.

2. Last week I was drinking a latte and one of my second graders said "No fair, how come teachers get to have drinks?" I said "when you go to college and then get a job and then become a teacher, then you can have drinks at school too" Her response was "but I want to ride horses"

3. I was walking down the uppergrade hall last week when I saw two eighth grade girls cleaning out their lockers. I asked them about some of their pictures of Zac Efron hanging up in their lockers and then teased them about getting to work. They giggled and as I was walking away I heard them whisper "she's awesome." Boosted Ms. Pritz's ego for the day.

4. My all time favorite: A first grader once said to me "Ms. Pritz, sometimes I really want to kiss you."

The Big 6-0

2009-03-07T19:09:00.003-06:00

My father turned 60! Hard to believe. We had quite the party all day at school. Students from each grade sent in things they love about Mr. Pritz and we compiled them to make a list of "60 things we love about Mr. Pritz (who is 60!)". It was a fun day and there were many more fun birthday elements that happened throughout the day at school. We also had a surprise birthday dessert party that night at our house. We had all of our close family friends there and Teddy was able to come home as a surprise. I cooked desserts for 2 days in preparation! I think he was really surprised and touched, so it was worth the hard work we put into it.

Valentine's Weekend

2009-02-17T16:10:00.003-06:00

I had quite a lovely Valentine's weekend. I once again headed to God's Country--Arkansas. I had a reunion of the Valentine Compact 2008 along with new members Friday night. Good stuff.

Saturday I very much enjoyed going to my younger brother Teddy's rugby game at JBU. I pretty much enjoy it at least, when he's not playing, if he is in I hold my breath the whole time! For those of you who have never met Teddy he is the big red head that looks like he wants to hurt someone.

I spent Saturday night with Teeny and enjoyed many adventures.....

I was very grateful to get to hang out with my friend Ryan (Sweet Tea) again before he heads back to Florida for good. This time we actually got a picture! We also recorded a pretty sweet video for our friend Kristen's bday but I will refrain from posting that here as it is somewhat embarassing, and mainly because I have no idea how to do that.

Awana Derby

2009-02-17T16:00:00.003-06:00

Cutie-pie's at my church who competed in the annual derby race for Awana.

Kindela!

2009-02-17T15:55:00.003-06:00

Kyndel and some other friends from Lake City came through Tulsa last week on their way to recruit at JBU for Redcloud Camp. I was able to spend all afternoon with Kyndel and it was heavenly. It was also super great to hang out with my friends from Redcloud. It definitely made me ache for Lake City and those incredible San Juan Mountains!

I love country music. That's right, I said it.

2009-02-02T18:07:00.003-06:00

I started really liking and listening to country music in the middle of high school. It was always shocking to my friends from home that my family didn't listen to country music and that I was raised on the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel instead of Garth Brooks, mostly because the area of the country I am from. So, I decided to give it a chance and ever since I have been hooked. At college I found that it seemed like something to be ashamed of or embarassed about with all of my cultured and artsy friends. While I still love those artsy people alot I also love Carrie Underwood

. So I've decided to be unabashed about it from now on. For example one of my best friends from my whole life Adrian and I went to a Brad Paisley concert a couple of weeks ago. Dierks Bentley and Darius Rutger (former lead singer from Hootie and the Blowfish, turned country) opened. It was awesome. We danced, sang loudly to every song, laughed with the rather intoxicated people around us and enjoyed the nice looking country singers, oh and their voices. Every one is friends at a country concert!

Darby is a Princess.

2009-02-02T17:45:00.002-06:00

My dear Darby was the Junior attendent for Sapulpa High's Mid-Winter. Oh Sapulpa High School, I was having many confusing/hilarious flashbacks while being a part of getting her dress, doing her hair and makeup, attending and enjoying this grand tradition. It's nice to know some things never change about high schools, but it also nicer to know I never have to do them again!
Enough of that. Darby was gorgeous, way more natural and laid back about the whole thing than many of the way too tan and makeup plastered girls who were wearing clothes that overexposed their young bodies (though don't get me wrong, I would have been right there with them when I was their age). Darby and her adored boyfriend Josh did great and I felt very proud and old that night. I am starting to get used to that feeling though, it's a good feeling to experience.

New Year's Youth Girls

2009-01-27T10:55:00.004-06:00

Had my girls over again Sunday night and we had a great time! We used a lesson my friend David loaned me and reflected on the last year and on what we desire to be and do for 2009. We had a cool activity of decorating bricks, which was a definite hit and I really enjoyed decorating my brick as well, and I made the most wonderful brownies ever, if I do say so myself. It was good night of fun and open, honest discussion.

A Gathering of Groves

2009-01-27T10:31:00.004-06:00

Over the weekend we kept my mom's boss's kids, who are also family friends of ours. They have 9 children and one on the way. The 4 older boys stayed with our neighbors, also family friends, and the younger five stayed with us. Although, we were all together at different points and time. We watched Disney movies and ate cheetos and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and went to my dad's school (where I work as well) and played in the gym and pretty much did fun kid stuff. Sunday morning, I got up way early in order to get myself ready and dress 5 children and do 4 little girls hair. So fun, but I don't think I will be having 9 children, now 5 maybe, 9 oh my.

Sweet Home Siloam

2009-01-23T22:32:00.004-06:00

MLK Jr. Day gave me the chance to have a Monday with no school, always exciting. So last Friday I decided to run away to Arkansas for a three day weekend. My friends put me up, took care of me, took me out, bought me dinner, made me dinner, made me baked outmeal, hugged me, shopped with me, and entertained me with wonderful conversation. It was lovely.

One of the highlights was my evening spent at the Huebert household. Oh my, if you ever need cheering up, or just a recharge to your battery of life, call me and I will give you their number. Frank (Student Ministries Director at JBU) and Coleen had me and Jake over, made us wonderful homemade pizzas and let us play with their daughters to our hearts content. Brinley and Addison have been favorites of mine since I met Brinley when she was 5 months old and Addison from the day I went to visit her in the hospital. They are 3 and 2, beautiful, wild, fun, dance machines, dress up experts, imaginative, and just full of bursting joy. We danced, dressed them up as "mermaids", tried to ward off Brinley's offers (commands) to marry Jake and I right then and there, and giggled alot.

I was also super excited that I got to hang out with another friend of mine--Sweet Tea, otherwise known as Ryan. We enjoyed the cafe, he indulged me by letting me visit his super fun family out at the Ranch, and enjoyed going to the Gathering together. It was awesome to visit a JBU chapel service again, so good for my heart. Ryan--we certainly should have taken a picture together because I found that we don't really have very many recent ones, so this would be the spot where I would stick a picture of us......but not until we take one.

Then I topped off my weekend by heading to Bentonville to the Compound and my Teeny. We shopped, slept, ate Thai food, ate Mimi's.......see I had a wonderful indulgent weekend in the Natural State, something everyone should do at any chance they get.

Sigh

2009-01-13T21:24:00.002-06:00

Well, I've been reluctant to post more information about my medical/dental catastrophes but here we go again.....
I was released from my surgeon right before Christmas. He was very pleased with how my mouth looked and said the bone was almost completely graphed together, which is very good.
However, though I have not wanted to admit or come to terms with it, for the past couple weeks the right side of my mouth/jaw has been really hurting me. I finally broke down and went to my dentist last week and he took lots of xrays and found some puzzling things. I have perplexed my dentist yet again with my jaw. There was lots of things he wanted me to have checked more extensively by my specialist, so I am currently trying to push through an aching jaw until my specialist appointment in 2 weeks.
But today I had to go back to the dentist at around 8 am, trying to get done in an hour so that I could be at school and ready to teach by 9 am. That definitely didn't happen. It ended up being about 2 hours of terrible stuff happening to my already worn out mouth! It is honestly so frustrating for me because I feel like I've done so many things and here we go again doing more terrible things to my poor mouth/face. Ok, I'm done complaining about it.
I would like to say that I am extremely thankful for my wise doctors. I have a dentist that has seen me since I was toddling around and always tells me he tries to think about me as if I was his own daughter when making decisions about what to do with me, and I know he really means it. My surgeon also happens to be a national leader in his field but was also the most hands on and loving doctors I've ever had. He gave me a huge hug before I left the day he released me. That is not very common.
So now I am in bed, where I've been all day, taking pain killers, and waiting for the swelling and pain to go away. Hopefully it will very soon because I have lots of little school children I missed today and want to be back in action with bright and early in the morning!

New Years/Nye Time Reunion

2009-01-10T23:20:00.004-06:00

Our annual "Nye Time", a weekend retreat a group of us JBU friends did throughout college to the Nye's house in Joplin and has now become a reunion, was hosted at my house this year. As it is every year it was a great time of catching up on each other's lives and fellowshipping together for a few days. I am never ceased to be amazed at my wonderful friends and their lives they desire to lead. I love them and look forward to when we will all be together again!

Rock Band of Brothers

2008-12-27T23:58:00.002-06:00

This is all my brothers have done this Christmas break. There is also a continual stream of their friends coming over to join in with the rock band awesomeness. All I know is late at night after I've gone to bed I hear the clicking of the drums and the "incredible" guitar solos. Apparently I just don't understand.

Merry Christmas from the Pritz family

2008-12-27T23:38:00.003-06:00

Well, it was a wonderful Christmas. We don't have any family near us so our Christmas traditions have always consisted of just my parents, my brothers, and I. Which really works out just fine. On Christmas Eve we always dress up and go out to a fancy restaurant and go see a movie or do something else afterwards, but this year, as my brothers have continually reminded me, I ruined Christmas....by getting bronchitis. Bummer, but I'm on antibiotics and getting better rapidly. Christmas Eve, however, I felt just awful and I wasn't getting dressed up nice much less going out in the cold and going out on the town. This made my mom sad and she didn't want to go with out me so we compromised and got Chinese take out (a family favorite) and watched football in our pajamas. We actually really enjoyed ourselves in the end and my dad was pleased with how much cheaper the Chinese take out was in comparison to what a nice restaurant would have cost.

Christmas morning was fun as usual, my brothers were ridiculous, my parents funny, and our cats loved all of the paper and boxes to play in. We had our traditional lasagna dinner that evening and really just had a easy going, fun, enjoyable day. I am thankful for the birth of our Lord and the gift of my family.

Teddy is so happy about my present.

Teddy got a Digeridoo. Oh my.

This was Scott and Mom's reaction to Teddy's digeridoo playing....

Dallas Roadtrip

2008-12-26T16:00:00.003-06:00

A week ago Wednesday I drove through icy roads and fog to visit the Okada family home in Mesquite, TX. There I found my dearest friends Kristen Olson and David Okada who were home for Christmas from Mexico, where they teach English. I also got to spend some wonderful time with the lovely Ruth Okada and her baby to be. It is always great to be at the Okadas and see the whole fam. Our friend from JBU, Robbie, also got to come and visit that Friday for a little family party. I love these friends more than I can say and as I only get to see them a few times a year now instead of everyday like when we were in school together, I savor these times I get to spend with them. There is never a dull moment when we are together, that is for sure.

Youth Girls Christmas Craft/Bake Fest

2008-12-25T19:02:00.003-06:00

I made another go at being a youth leader--a job I don't necessarily feel equipped for, but I am available so I'm trying my best--and hosted a Christmas party. We didn't do a bible study this time just pure Christmas bonding time. We made puppy chow, chocolate covered dried apricots, chocolate covered ritz peanut butter sandwiches, chocolate covered pretzels (see a theme? we had a chocolate fountain and pretty much anything covered in chocolate is a good thing), white chocolate peppermint candy, hot chocolate, and wassail. We also had a craft time where we made christmas cards. The girls were great and plentiful and there was lots of giggly girl talk as well as fun and laughter along with Christmas songs in the background. A success.

A Sapulpa Christmas, Oh my.

2008-12-08T00:00:00.003-06:00

To end my Christmas Saturday I met up with friends at the Sapulpa Christmas parade. Very fun. Adrian's dad drove her Grandpa's old school fire engine in the parade. I saw lots of old friends as well as many of my students in the parade. After the game we all headed to my house to watch the Big 12 Championship (OU won as they should) and eat pizza. Good times.

Festivus

2008-12-07T23:19:00.003-06:00

Saturday was the wonderful day of the year when Christmas fun feels like it has finally started. The day began with Darby and Jessi arriving to help my mom and I decorate our house and enjoy many different hot drinks (followed by yummy Taco Bueno). I will post more pics of our handy decorating once it is officially done. We didn't get the tree completed because our pre-lit tree decided that its lights in the center section weren't gonna work. So...until we get that figured out it looks pretty lame. But it was a pretty fun day minus the disfunctional tree!

Sidenote:

I am very thankful for my Grammi Hazel. She may be my adopted grandmother but she is more a grandmother to me than a real one would be. From all the hours she spent with me as a little girl teaching me to sew and cook to going out to coffee and basketball games with me as a teenager and young adult. She's the best and she made me this beautiful homemade chocolate macadamian pie as a continued get well present. I appreciate all of her thought and concern for me as I've been healing.

Youth Girls Night

2008-12-03T22:47:00.002-06:00

Since moving home I've been personally challenged to try and lead a group of junior high and high school girls in a bible study/youth group from my home church. Our church is a very small but wonderful place. In high school I went to another bigger church in our town for youth group because there wasn't one at my home church. At the time there was only 2 youth age individuals and I was one of them. Now the youth group is much bigger and I felt like I could help out being home and being young. This is a great group of girls all with very different family situations and backgrounds. They are very mature and I was ministered to alot by them in our time together on Sunday. I tried my best to recreate chocolate ice cream sodas from my fun summer job and we also read from John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life. Then we made a word and picture collage answering a question Piper posed to the reader. I will post the collage I made for myself (*Rose--I think the pic of the laughing girl on my collage looks alot like your Emmaline!*). It's a great book because it challenges me as much at 24 as it does some of these girls at 13 or 17.

Re-Nash...best 4 days ever.

2008-12-01T11:40:00.004-06:00

Ok, so I finally found my camera cord, which means I can finally upload and post these pictures!

Nashville reunion with my beloved housemates was as wonderful as it was expected to be. We really just revelled in spending time together. I loved to reobserve how we are 6 incredibly different and strong women but we so love eachother and love to hear eachothers thoughts and hearts. And we're pretty dang fun too.

Highlights of the weekend:

1. A very long walk all over Vanderbilt and Hillsborough Village where so many great conversations were had.

2. Cooking and meals together.

3. Trader Joe's in basically our pajamas.

4. Christmas morning.

5. Laying around covered in blankets for hours watching friends.

6. Pangeae...a store I would like to move in to.

7. Amazing sushi with the girls and Melissa, then going to Nat's friends' house.

8. Hearing all about Leslye's new friend and marriage stories from Jill.

9. When walking off the plane and seeing my housemates from a distance and then hearing Linda scream.

10. Telling Les she was very "thall" and other ridiculous but memorable moments like that that never stopped coming!

Sarah's Recital

2008-11-28T23:56:00.003-06:00

My dear JBU friend and one of my summer roommates in Lake City recently had her senior piano recital. It was incredible. She looked gorgeous and played beautifully. I continue to be in awe of so many of my friends' musical gifts and their dedication to perfect them. I was honored to co-host Sarah's recital reception along with my wonderful Teeny. Teen and I cooked until 1 am the night before and had a blast preparing for this reception. We were incredibly determined to make it the most impressive reception of all time. Nothing but the best. I made my favorite chocolate cookies (masses of them), 3 loaves of cranberry orange bread, spinach artichoke dip, and fruit dip. Teeny made beautiful trays of vegetables and fruit as well as super yummy punch and cider. It was a fun and crazy weekend and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It is also always great to be back in Siloam and hang out with the best friends around.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T19:58:00.003-06:00

I have had a wonderful day with family and friends. My mother and I cooked all morning and enjoyed our tradition of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on a TV in our kitchen. My dad and brothers enjoyed their epic tradition of the Sapulpa Turkey Bowl. The Turkey Bowl is a football game at the high school field in town that a bunch of guys in their late twenties started playing over twenty years ago. Over the years their sons started coming and their friends. My dad was one of the original founders and my brothers have been able to go since about age 10. They love it. Mom and I excitedly wait for them to come home and before they even get up the stairs to the kitchen they are usually heralding their win or accomplishments in the game and commonly (as they did today) chanting about being men. My dad has been known to break ribs in this game the last couple years and Mom and I were pretty nervous about some injury occuring as he is about to turn 60 years old. But he prevailed on the winning team with no injuries this year though I did end up rubbing my older brother's back for a good 30 minutes after they got back due to a strained muscle, but all in all not very many injuries this year.

As a family we always have dinner at our friend's the Plinsky's house in Jenks, OK. Tim and Karen are my parents' closest friends from their years at JBU and have stayed such over the years. Their daughter and son-in-law (also JBU grads) and their three kids are always there. Their nephew and neice (also JBU grads--notice a trend?) and their two baby girls were there again this year and I loved to reconnect with them and try to establish that I do have more young friends around this area than I realize. They food was amazing and 4 year old Mia took me on a run, literally, around the neighborhood afterward so I enjoyed 2 pieces of pie because of my effort. It was a great day with family and friends that are our family as well. I'm very thankful for these times in my life!

Break from Check-Ups

2008-11-12T23:48:00.002-06:00

I got back from Nashville late last night, multiple posts on that after I find my camera cord, and I woke up late this morning to my mother asking what time my appointment was. I forgot all about it--thank goodness for mothers. I went to see quirky Dr. Ray again and the appointment went awesome. He literally gave me a pat on the back for flossing and clapped because my incisions were healing so well. I am starting to be a pro at chewing again and am very carefully biting into things babying my still tender front sets of teeth--I know it sounds very basic but when you haven't been able to for over 2 months, it is very exciting. Dr. Ray was excited with how everything looked externally as well. To be honest I am not exactly sure what he is looking for but he stands in about 5 different points in the examination room and looks directly at my jaw and chin and today thought things were coming right along. I haven't posted a post surgery pic of myself yet but that's mostly because I've been swollen or bruised so pics will come soon with the Nashville posts--you get to see my new jaw very soon....

Recovery Update

2008-11-06T00:40:00.002-06:00

Today I got my stitches out! I was sooo ready to get this done. They have been very uncomfortable and awkward and stressful to take care of. The appointment went well except for the actual stitch removal. The stitches were in there really tight which is good because they were holding everything up and together but they cut some of my gums getting them out which was painful and frustrating because it seemed to defeat the purpose.

Today I also ate more normal food than I have in the past two weeks. I am starting to feel the renew of energy they told me I would feel. They said after getting the terrible abscess out I would feel like a "new woman" and it would highly effect my health and I am starting to see that already so that is super exciting for me!

Pray for my continued healing and pain. I will still have checkups once a week for awhile. I also have stopped taking the heavy pain medication because it really over affects me and I have a hard time functioning on it. But because of this I am still kind of in pain all the time. It's an interesting thing and for me a really mental battle to overcome. My friend Billy gave me this quote from C.S. Lewis that God whispers through our pleasure and shouts through our pain, that's an awesome thought and I have definitely been experiencing that love!

BreakOff...movies & photoshoots....

2008-11-02T17:50:00.003-06:00

Oh my, I just took the most lovely walk down memory lane.

I am redecorating my bedroom and trying to redo my bathroom, meanwhile I borrowed a lot of old movies and musicals from one of my friends. One of these is my very favorite--Singin' in the Rain. What a classic. I love and know all the songs and have a massive crush on Gene Kelly. I realized that I watch this film with a happy and contented grin on my face.

This film also makes me think of a fantastic and only JBUish possible memory that some friends and I created my senior year at JBU (the first one!). JBU has a fall retreat put on by the student ministries deparment called BreakAway. Well my friends KWood, Pammie, Alex, Luke and I decided we did not want to breakaway, we wanted to do our own retreat to KWood's apartment for the weekend with our own outlined schedule of events and fun calling it BreakOff. It was a brilliant idea, one of the more creative and ridiculous ideas I've been apart of. I would have to write alot more to explain all of the "events" we had together that weekend but two predominantly stick out in my memory.

First, watching Singin' in the Rain multiple times, even a couple times in a row. Imparticular rewatching and rewinding one of the first scenes in order to learn the "Coconut Grove" dance and learn it we did. Pam, KWood, and I may have performed it many other times including private performances in local coffee houses.

Second, planning on taking a "metropolitan walk" through Siloam Springs---dressing as unconventionally fashionably as we could and parading around downtown. This idea then turned into Alex conducting a photoshoot and eventually using us as a photography project. These pictures deserve to be immortalized even years later. Look with caution--my reaction ranges from "Alex is so creative" "Arkansas was very humid" and bursts of laughter at the ridiculousness and excess of self-confidence captured in these photos. Enjoy.

Re-Nash 2008!!

2008-10-31T21:58:00.004-05:00

I purchased a plane ticket for next Friday to Nashville, TN! This is something I was afraid would never come through and I am so happy it is! My beloved housemates from last year and I were all going to reunite there for an extended weekend. We have been planning this since this summer and I had originally cancelled my ticket because of the surgery. I had been told I wouldn't be able to fly but because of my good report Dr. Ray thinks it will be fine. Once he figured out that I was determined to go even if I was going to drive there he said he would rather I fly and have an easier trip so I happily purchased a ticket and cannot wait to be reunited with the coolest/artsyiest/funnest/most interesting ladies around in Tennessee!

Check Up

2008-10-31T21:41:00.002-05:00

I went to my first check up yesterday and it went really well. My doctor was very excited with how well everything went, so excited he clapped and jumped a little--more on him later. The only downside is that I don't get my stitches out for another week so I have to put up with the uncomfortable stuff in my mouth for that much longer. Oh and I still can't chew but in happier news I am now allowed to return to spicier and acidic food I wasn't allowed to eat the first week so I am currently enjoying a nice bowl of tomato soup.

Back to Dr. Ray. My surgeon is a very eccentric and interesting man, he really reminds me of the guy that plays the main character in the Italian movie Life is Beautiful. He is probably the best doctor I've ever had when it comes to patient relationships and also the most interesting. He is from Trinidad and has an incredibly beautiful soft accent. He is very attentive and comforting which was nice during my intense surgery. When I went in for my check up my dad and I walked in and I signed in at the counter where Dr. Ray happened to be walking by, he saw us and quickly hid behine the pillar. At first I thought he was trying to be funny and then I realized that he was wearing a costume and he didn't want me to see it yet. He waved and darted behind the next pillar quickly and got out of there. I then realized all of the nurses were wearing fuzzy halos and wings over their scrubs. So they are angels--what is he? Well it turns out he was Charlie. I came in a sat in the examination chair and Dr. Ray come excitedly in and yes, poses, wearing a suit with an unbuttoned flipped up collar, suspenders, a fedora with tiger stripes on it, and a massive cigar that says Big Daddy on it. Hilarious. Not your average specialized surgeon. He did the examination fairly quickly and was very excited about my progress. He then said "ok, now I must go show your dad my costume!" and darted away. My nurse said she liked my boots and walked me out.
Good day at the doctors office.

Help please!!

2008-10-29T21:25:00.003-05:00

I am so hungry!! I cannot eat anything that is chewable so basically I am on liquids. I have been eating a lot of soup and pudding that I do enjoy. But I am so sick of all of it too. My nice mother has made me homemade applesauce and cream of wheat every morning which is nice, but it is getting old fast. I just ate refried beans out of a can, and enjoyed it, that's how desperate I am! I do not know how much longer this is going to go on but it stinks!

(keep in mind I am lactose intolerant, so milkshakes and ice cream are out--no fun for me)

The Results...

2008-10-27T21:06:00.002-05:00

Well, the surgery is over, well actually it was over on Friday afternoon, I am just now up to writing about it a little. I am still lying in my pajamas on my couch 3 days later with liquids, drugs, and stitches, but the worst is over and I am relieved.

I appreciate everyone that prayed for me and has written me because I know it helped. The surgery itself was very long, 3 hours, and more intensive than originally planned (kind of the theme of this whole saga). The abscess was more spread out than they could see on x-rays and actually went all the way to the tip of my chin and spread out width length under other teeth that they were also unaware of. But they believe they removed it all and I feel like my surgeons did such a good job and I really appreciated their attentiveness, kindness, and humor throughout the ordeal.

I still am pretty shocked that they don't put people completely under for this sort of thing. I've had a lot of dental work done so I'm not a wimp but it was a pretty horrific experience to be awake for. Lots of blood, lots of cutting, and lots of just awfulness in general. And it is quite the strange experience to have your mouth stitched through the front (under the teeth) all the way through the back and out again--while you're awake!

Anyways, enough of that. I wanted to post a picture of all of my stitches but I realized it was just plain disgusting and nobody needed to see that. But I do have a swollen jaw and I talk funny around these stitches. Also, I'm so hungry! Liquids are fine but they are getting old fast, luckily I like soup and soup likes me. I am very thankful for good friends who have brought me flowers, gifts, cards, frozen hot chocolates, and lots of hugs. I'm also very thankful for my parents who have taken very diligent care of me fixing all of my liquids and keeping me straight on the ridiculous amount of bone vitamins, steroids, antibiotics, and painkillers I am on. I feel like our kitchen table is now a pharmacy, but I'm thankful for those painkillers let me tell you!

I will continue to update as time goes on. Hopefully I will get my stitches out on Thursday and a good report from my first checkup. Thanks again for everyone that prayed for me or contacted me in some way. It has meant a lot.

Surgery Day--Friday

2008-10-23T21:15:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow at 1pm I am having my surgery. I am very happy to be getting this over with but I am also fairly nervous. Hopefully it won't take more than an hour and I will be left with stitches and new jaw material. The other concern I have is that I have to be awake for the procedure, I would rather be under, but it will probably be better this way.

Pray that I will be calm and tough. That everything will go smoothly and that I willl recover quickly!

Cousins galore!--last Florida installment

2008-10-23T17:38:00.003-05:00

Probably the biggest draw to Florida and the best part of our trip was visiting my extended family there. My dad's youngest brother and his wife live in Brookesville, FL out in the country in the most beautiful part of FL in my opinion. I have 5 boy cousins there consisting of a youth pastor married with 2 children trying to head to the mission field in China, a state trooper--married, a college wrestler, and 2 high school footbal, wrestling, track studs. They have also been favorite playmates of my brothers and I growing up and I always took care of the younger boys--yes I changed Zack's (the youngest) diapers and it horrifies him to this day! Robbie (the oldest) has 2 little ones named Kenny (2 years) and Lydia Ann (almost 1). They are super special to us and we enjoyed them thoroughly. It's always a good time when Pritzs get together.

Ybor City--Cuban Paradise

2008-10-20T17:29:00.003-05:00

Tampa is a surprising boiling pot of cultures and I very much enjoyed getting to experience a few of them. My parents lived in Germany for a number of years after they got married in the late 70s and my dad lived there as a child as well so I've grown up with a lot of German influence, particularly the food. We love German food and often have some type of sausage, bread, red cabbage, and sauerkraut for dinner. We ate a meal at Mr. Dunderbakt's--a great pub/restaurant near my Grandma's house and we definitely indulged ourselves and felt it in our stuffed tummies for the rest of the day.

Another super cool part of downtown Tampa is Ybor City. This is a Hispanic conglomerate. It is where lots and lots of cigar factories were once booming and now it's more of culture and food paradise as well as partyville at night. We enjoyed Cuban sandwiches and yellow rice at Hugo's and then walked around enjoying watching an old man hand roll cigars and seeing all of the beautiful architecture surrounded by palm trees. It is definitely a colorful part of town and I am sure if we would have stuck around til the sun went down we would have seen an even more colorful crowd--but I don't think my 86 year old grandma was up for that!

Tampa Bay, Yay!

2008-10-20T17:13:00.003-05:00

My parents and I just returned from a fun vacation/visiting family in Tampa, FL. I wanted to post while I was there but my grandmother's computer was just a little too archaic for my taste and I had opted out of messing with my trying to bring my laptop along. So that is why I have been gone for the last week and am just getting around to posting several posts all at once.

The first full day in Tampa we headed across the bay in St. Pete to the beach at Fort DeSoto where we have always gone growing up and with all of my boy cousins. It was a gorgeous day, just enough clouds to keep my skin from frying and warm enough that the water felt delicious!

Autumn. Otono. Automne.

2008-10-07T22:46:00.003-05:00

Top 10 things that I am happy about/looking forward to/thankful for (in no particular order):

1. It is finally starting to be fall in Oklahoma! My favorite season. Today was downright blustery and chilly. I wore a cardigan...it was heavenly.

2. Friday is my 24th birthday, sounds so bizarre to say that number, wow.

3. This weekend is JBU Homecoming and I am looking forward to many fun friends and sweet reunions!

4. My surgery is less than a month away.

5. I am going to Florida for a week in 5 days!

6. My cold is so much better and may be gone in a few days...God bless Theraflu!

7. I got to talk to my good friend Pepe on Saturday all the way from Guatemala (who ran a marathon the next day, no big deal.)

8. I am receiving so much love and fun from caretaking the Freeman kids this week--they are a true joy in my life.

9. I thank God that my friend Micah's life was spared in a very serious motorcycle accident last week and that his injuries are so minor in comparison to what could have been.

10. I get to see two of my dear housemates this weekend at Homecoming and I am more excited about that than I can put into words. I love and miss 340!

To close I will include a picture of me and the 340 housies last fall in our Halloween costumes. We love playing dress up and apparently never grew out of our American Girl Doll obsession...

tissues, lots of them.

2008-10-05T17:34:00.002-05:00

I have a full-blown cold right now. It is not fun and I am house-sitting/babysitting the Freeman kids for the week. I am enjoying that immensely but I need to feel good and energized to stay on top of taking care of a 11, 15, and 17 year old!

Pray that this cold will be short-lived and not an encouraging infection for the already present infection of absess in my system!

I heart CO

2008-10-05T17:28:00.002-05:00

I came across this photo my friend Diana took and it made me miss Lake City. It made me miss the Mocha Moose, the best little mountain coffee joint ever. It made me miss Diana because of the goofy man in the middle of the picture that got his butt in the center of our photo and how I remember laughing about that with her. It really made me miss the cute blond, Silas, and all of the other little Hartman grandchildren as well as the Hartmans in general!

Not so fun Fridays....

2008-10-03T15:21:00.002-05:00

So this morning was a lot more like a Mondayish morning than a Friday.

My pain medication makes me exhausted during waking hours and restless during the night. So frustrating! So I am up and down all night last night knowing that I am subbing for 7th grade in the morning and need to be pumped and rested.

I wake up at 7 and feel pretty sick, I think I am getting a cold, which is not good because the doctors have told me to stay ultra healthy in order to beat the infection and get the surgery underway...so there's that. So my throat is sore and my eyes are sore and I am contemplating calling in and seeing if they can get another sub. I decide since it is just a half day that it is worth toughing out and getting some pay out of it.

I jump in the shower and the next thing I know our door bell is clicking (it has always been broken, never rings, it clicks!). So I think surely my dad is home and will handle whatever this is, nope. Then I think well mom doesn't leave until 8 so she'll get it, nope she's already gone too. So I run to the door from the shower hair dripping, robe soaking wet, ego bruised because I slipped on the second flight of stairs trying to get down to the front door. I am met by, and I'm not kidding, like 6 men in their late 20s, early 30s who are here to re-roof our house. Awesome, they told us they would come on Saturday, but whatever they are gonna fix our hail-damaged roof. So I am out on the front lawn with them showing them where different things are and moving our cars one by one onto the grass.

Then I call my father--the superintendent where I sub--to tell him I'll be late because his roof is being surprised re-roofed that day. So I'm driving with one hand holding a coffee mug, the other holding my cell phone, then trying to put lipgloss on, and pin my hair back, and mess with the radio station all at once. I also realized that my mug of choice for the week--I tend to go through mug obsessed stages where I am really into one coffee mug that week and will wash it out and use it over and over that week and then get sick of it by Monday and start fresh--is blatantly a Christmas mug with trees and stars and Santa on it. I seriously had not noticed this up until Friday morning, I thought it just had painted things on it, so I guess I am just psychologically excited about the holidays.

I get to school and get signed in and head down the hall where I am hugged several times and greeted with "Mrs. Pritz!" "are you my sub?" "are you Mr. Pritz's daughter?" "are you Mr. Pritz's wife?". So my first hour has eighteen 7th grade boys half of them wearing football jerseys because it's game day. They were interesting, but fun, I had to work hard to keep them reigned in and focused especially since my sore throat is making my voice go fast.

I went home after lunch and couldn't stand the hammering, pounding, nailing, and ripping, and decided to head to Sapulpa's awesome coffee hangout Java Dave's. I am sitting here quietly drinking my soy latte and writing this therapeutic post. I think I might have to take a nap on this overstuffed couch.....

Ireland Revisited

2008-10-03T15:09:00.003-05:00

The fall of my Junior year at JBU, which was the semester following my first trip to Northern Ireland, I talked to the students of the Chrisitian school held at my church about my experiences. I also shared with them my experiences ministering in the public schools there. To cap it all of we had Irish tea, scones, and other treats I made from my little Irish cookbook.

Well, they asked if I would come again and show the small group of students my pictures and talk some about the culture and traditions. I also decided to make Irish tea again and Pavlova. Pavlova is the yummy dessert that almost all of my host families made and something we particularly ate the first time I went when we were located in Belfast. I brought the recipe back with me and have made it several times for different occasions here at home. It is very fun to make and such a strange but delicious dessert! The kids really liked it and I enjoyed seeing my pictures again, watching our team DVD from Carryduff, and reminiscing about such an awesome experience I have been blessed to have!

Demo

2008-10-03T14:54:00.004-05:00

Well I have decided to use some of my time at home now to redo my bathroom. When we first moved to our house when I was 9 the pastel shades and the heart and dove wallpaper was no big deal, but for the last 7 years or so I have wanted to rip it all apart. Sunday my mom and I along with Laurie and Jessie Freeman did just that. We really got a lot done in a short period, it was awesome, and I'm super excited to get it completely done.

My plan is to paint the walls purple, repaint all the cabinets white, do some funky stenciling or painting in the cut-outs in the cabinets, and get all new vintage looking or silver faucets and fixtures. Stay tuned for more bathroom develpments!

Meet Darby and Jessica

2008-09-25T16:19:00.003-05:00

The Freeman family is very special and important to me. My mom and Mr. Freeman (Eric) were good friends during college at John Brown. Ironically they both ended up living with their families in the same small town in Oklahoma. Before the Freemans or the Pritzs either had kids they helped start a small church that started out as a family group and is still a very close knit community. I have been priveledged to be raised in this and so the Freeman family is like my family. They have four kids Joel (18), Darby (16), Dustin (14), and Jessica (11). We've been raised like siblings and now that I am home I spend many days a week with these dear people.

Joel recently started his freshman year at JBU and we are all very excited for the family legacy to continue. Darby has always been a dear little sister to me but as she gets older is becoming such a sweet friend (and she's beautiful too which means I beat up boys). Dustin has always been closer to my brothers but I love to embarass and tease him at any chance. Jessica is one of the most special relationships in my life and we have had a unique bond ever since she was about 2 months old. A defining part of my life was going through the awful battle of cancer when Jessica was diagnosed at age 3 with a very severe and rare form of cell cancer. But to God be the glory when Jessi celebrated 7 years cancer free this August and was released from Dr. checkups!!!

The girls and I have been creating a lot of fun memories since I've been home and I thought I would include a few pictures of our recent cooking adventures. It is always a challenge because Darby is Gluten intolerant and lactose intolerant so we have to get pretty creative! Stay tuned for stories from upcoming Freeman/Pritz adventures: Darby's birthday (Darby and Emily Day), I am staying with them for a week coming up while their parents go to Scotland, and Dustin's birthday will occur during this time and I am going to do it up big!

This is My Life

2008-09-22T20:18:00.002-05:00

I was in Wal-Mart today just minding my own business doing self check-out, when three very scuzzy looky men walked by me. The next thing I know, I'm being repeatedly whistled at and becoming the recipient of one cat call.

Who does that? Who does that in Wal-Mart?

I guess I'm back home in small town Oklahoma.

Surgery Date

2008-09-22T17:25:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I found out that my surgery is not going to take place until October 24th. I was pretty upset with that news because it originally was going to be done quickly but then the specialist and the surgeon realized they needed to do the surgery together and it was hard for them to arrange their schedules being the very busy doctors that they are. My parents and I also have a trip planned to Florida for the second week in October and couldn't really get a refund on our tickets and didn't want to disappoint my grandmother who we are going to visit that I haven't seen in 3 years. So, because of all of those reasons I will just have to stick it out. They changed my medication yet again so now I am getting used to another type of antibiotic and trying to decide if I am going to take painkillers for the next 5 weeks or if I can drop that and just stick it out with Tylenol. We will see how it goes.

In the meantime I have started substitute teaching more and more and I am tutoring a 7th grade boy a few times a week in English and that is currently my favorite past time. I really love the time spent with him and helping him grasp grammar issues that seem impossible for him to understand and then to see him reach those "I get it!" moments. Good stuff.

I decided to stick some pictures of my student teaching days in this post. I can't believe it was a year ago I started the adventure, challenge, and fun of middle school student teaching!

Sapulpa times...

2008-09-13T17:08:00.004-05:00

I love my best friends from home. They are definitely the sisters I've never had and I enjoyed a fun day with these lovely ladies today. Now that 2 of them are married and teachers our conversations are a little different than when we were little girls, or junior high girls, or high school girls, but in the end were still friends like we've always been. They are blessings in my life and I'm glad 2 of them still live in Sapulpa and that I get to part of all of their lives. (I also really love the 2 husbands--Trevor and Jeremy--and think they are great additions to our little family circle!)

Escape to Arkansas---God's Country

2008-09-13T16:43:00.003-05:00

While I have been home these last couple weeks I haven't been able to do much and basically twiddle my thumbs between doctors appointments and not feeling good. So last Thursday I decided to run away for four days to the blessed land that is Northwest Arkansas and all of my dear friends that reside there.

It was so much fun. So good to see Teeny and enjoy being on pain medication together (she broke her foot ironically), a dangerous and giggly combination. I love Siloam Springs too. Here are some pictures to sample the fun times I had and the great friends that were a part of them and took such good care of me in my infectious state.

A Change of Situation

2008-09-13T15:48:00.004-05:00

So, I haven't posted in quite awhile and I promise I have a really good excuse. I am no longer in Lake City or Colorado at all, sadly. I am now home in Sapulpa and getting used to Oklahoma heat, humidity, accents, Wal-Marts, Sonic, and Taco Bueno (the Sonic and Taco Bueno are very good things to return to!). I had to leave Colorado for health reasons, so here's the story to date:

About 3 weeks ago I was in Lake City still planning on being there for another month and a half. I spent a great day in Gunnison with my friend Amanda and her two very cute children Silas and Priya. We had a fun day of thrift store and grocery shopping, eating at a cool sandwich shop and impulsively jumping in the lake on our way back up the mountain because why not? The only downside was that a lot of this day I kept having a pretty intense toothache. Now with all of my dental history I've never really had this severe of a toothache before. I thought, great now I'm gonna have to tough this out until October. Well that night I mentioned how bad it was to Carol and Doug and Carol got on the phone immediately and set up an appointment with the dentist who comes up to Lake City to do a dental clinic once a month and just so happened to be there the next day (I'm convinced a miracle). That night my teeth hurt so severely I couldn't sleep or even think straight half the time. The next morning the dentist tells me I have no cavities. Bizarre. Why am I practically in tears from pain sitting here then? He takes x-rays and finds a dark mass under my lower teeth directly in the front of my jaw. Long story short I have to overnight these x-rays home and the dentist in Oklahoma says that I need to come home in order to investigate this further. So my dad has to fly to Colorado to bring me back because I'm not supposed to be driving on the pain medication.

Tuesday of this week I went to a specialist who took more x-rays and showed much more intensive damage than we suspected from blunt trauma to my face. The source is a car accident I was in 3 and a half years ago where I was the passenger and I hit the airbag. The dentist says there is years worth of damage absessed in my jaw and there is really no way we could have known up until this point because at the time there was no real pain or outward damage. So basically I have a large absess under my front lower teeth that has eaten away A LOT of bone in my lower jaw. Tuesday they gave me 3 root canals. 3. It was awful people. Anway, Thursday my parents and I went to meet with the surgeon and he will be opening up my gums and cleaning out the "huge, huge lesions" and replacing all of the missing bone by doing bone and membrane graphing. So at this point I am waiting to hear when this surgery will be taking place and more than likely it will be in the next couple of weeks.

I have been pretty traumatized by this whole scenario that has developed so fast and at the same time been going on for so long without me being aware of it. Thank goodness for that toothache that started all of the investigation. I'm currently on quite of lot of medication to control the pain and fight off the infection and get it out of my blood stream. I'll post again when I know the date of the surgery.

A Day Off

2008-08-13T22:01:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was my day off. It was so wonderful. I slept in WAY too late and spent WAY to long getting ready and enjoyed a nice sandwich from the funkiest little cafe ever--Sweet Peas.

Then Tori and I had set up a trade with the Hartmans' daughter-in-law Amanda, we would babysit in exchange for a lesson in tie-dying. So fun...this town is making me more and more of a flower child. I embrace it fully. I now have 3 tie-dyed shirts, 3 pairs of socks, and a pretty sweet apron.

I then started the trade off and took 2 year-old Silas and 1 year-old Priya in their double off-roading typical Colorado stroller to the baseball fields where we ate a picnic dinner and watched some of my local friends play on the community teams. As I was walking with the stroller to the fields two little girls on the play ground saw me from a distance a ran towards me yelling "Ice Cream Lady! Ice Cream Lady!"---is this place for real? I love this charmed life in the high country.

End of Summer Sundae

2008-08-13T21:14:00.003-05:00

While I am remaining in Lake City into the fall the other college girls are beginning to head out to their various schools. This has been very sad, and I think I will soon have to do a post that is an ode to the girls and talk about each one of them, for now this is about ice cream.

The Soda Shoppe has a tradition that at the end of the summer where the girls stay after closing and make a sundae masterpiece to be shared by all. The owner's daughter, Amy, who has worked there since she was 12 is the genius of this ridiculous dessert.

We really do have a ridiculous amount of fun working at this place---some good time examples:

1. A customer asks Tori what is in the Rocky Road....she mistakingly responds "almonds and mushrooms"....we collapsed in laughter at the customers' faces for awhile.

2. Exploding shakes in each other's faces, all over our clothes, on the walls, and yes even the high ceiling.

3. The time Diana wanted to hug me and as she tried to put her arm around me and I started yelling "NO! NO DON'T!" because I thought she was going to put snowcone ice down my shirt again.

4. The times Diana or Tori put snow cone ice down my shirt or pants, yeah, awesome.

5. A little boy who was so appreciative of his ice cream from Tori he said "I love you, can I kiss you?" and then he did.

6. Middle school boys leaving us their numbers on napkins, this has happened multiple times.

7. Harry McHottie.

8. Arielle falling into the freezer head first.

9. Bob--a cut old man who comes in always in a cut off t-shirt and running shorts, who I call Trouble and he calls me Emerald Eyes.

10. as much free ice cream and treats as we want!

Children of the Mountains

2008-07-30T20:23:00.003-05:00

I love kids. I always have. I was raised the daughter of two parents who work in the public education system and love all children ALOT. So, it has been a great joy to be living with and working for the Hartmans who have 4 adorable grandchildren who we get to interact with daily.

I love all of them. But, one of them is a little extra special. Silas Frost Hartman. This little 2 1/2 year old boy has completely stolen my heart. I have never had a boy adore me at the level of this little boy's infatuation. I find it ironic that he is 2.

We have a routine when we see each other. He runs to me with a big grin on his face, he touches all my jewelry saying "neckwace, earwings, etc." (he always notices details, even my toe nail polish, he is gonna really impress the ladies someday), and last but not least he goes for my hair. He is totally obsessed with my hair. He strokes it, wraps it around his face, around my face, and holds it while he sucks his thumb. Everyone finds it so humorous how into my hair he is, I find it charming. Silas and I had a special day together today, and though he may have hald a cold, wet his pants 3 times, and almost refused to take a nap---it was still great. We were swinging on a swing together in the park and he just kept saying "Emowy and Siwas, Emowy and Siwas". Oh, I love it.

His parents own a weaving studio and weave BEAUTIFUL rugs out of recycled materials and so in exchange for babysitting I get customized woven rugs, pretty sweet deal really. I want to include some adorable pictures of all of the cutiepies, but look for Silas---he is the one with shaggy blond hair and bright blue eyes and reminds me of Denise the Menace.

Soda Shop Adventures

2008-07-25T19:17:00.004-05:00

We have a tradition at the Soda Shop of keeping a list of funny quotes from either ourselves or customers in the back where only us girls can enjoy it. Well, I added a good one to the list last night.

I worked the late shift last night and this is the story:

One old man was in the shop and Tori was getting his sugar-free vanilla in a cake cone. As she walked around the back I said to him, "it'll be $2.75 and I can take your money" in a very friendly and sweet voice, I might add. He then said to me "you look like the kind of girl that could take all my money". I looked back a little shocked but taking it all in stride I responded with "sir, I don't know if that is a compliment or not". He then leaned forward and said, "with that shade of hair, I'd let ya" and winked.

All in a day.

The Parents Visit at last

2008-07-25T19:04:00.003-05:00

My parents recently visited me in LC for five days. It was a great time to be together and fun to show them my little town and the beautiful sites around every corner. My mom being a native Coloradan was super excited about hiking, the mountains, and wildflowers. I enjoyed staying with them in their cabin and enjoying the luxury of a television and a whirlpool bathtub.

We took a day to drive up Cinnamon Pass in a 4-wheel drive Rodeo. The views were breathtaking and the road was incredibly rough and seemingly impassable at points. We eventually made it to the American Basin, a place I have been wanting to see and hike ever since I arrived in Lake City. This area is famed for its wildflowers. There is only about a 3-week window of blooming and it was one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. So many wildflowers, so many colors, waterfalls everywhere, mountains surrounding, can it get any better? Some of the flowers were seriously up to my elbows they were so tall, it was a photographers dream!

Denver Reunion 08

2008-07-25T18:44:00.005-05:00

Two weeks ago I made the 5 hour trip from LC to Denver. I was very excited and motivated to go there because Karen Hartman was visiting from Zambia and David Okada and Kristen Olson were visiting from Mexico. We had an awesome time and were well-hosted by the men of the Embassy--Micah DeKorne, Ryan Likes, Mark Dawson, and friends. It was somewhat of a Mexico-roadtrip-reunion as well with David, Kristen, Micah, Ryan, Mark, and I all being together again as well as Little Red---who is not so little anymore!

It was a great time of fun and fellowship together and I was once again reminded of how much I am blessed and loved by my friends. I love seeing how our friendships have grown and changed since JBU days but are still so deep and fulfilling no matter how long we may not see eachother or far apart we may be.

Some fun included: The Starr family, of course, and nutella smores that I won't forget (great idea Rose!). Karen making an awesome Zambian meal of nshima for us. Micah getting us up to the top of a very, very tall building in downtown Denver. Karen, Kristen, and I all sleeping together in a full size bed (it only lasted one night). Jon's awesome 21st birthday party. Shopping at the amazing latin supermarket. Eating really good Mexican food. And pretty much every singe minute together.

4th of July--better late than never

2008-07-25T18:26:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I know that it is the 25th of July today but well, I've been busy and my blog has gravely suffered. So, today while I am sitting at a wonderful little coffee shop in Lake City looking at the mountains, I thought I would attempt to catch up on the events in my life from the last month with several posts at once. We'll see how I do.

The 4th of July in LC, CO is such a postcard experience. The parade was amazing. It seemed that anyone that wanted to could have a "float". I love that I knew a vast majority of the individuals on each float and I even knew the one-horned goat, Cuscos. All of us soda shop girls had our matching LC 4th of July shirts on and enjoyed the parade immensely but as soon as it was over we booked it back across the street to the shop. We then worked NON-STOP until fireworks started at 9pm (I was able to watch a little of the street dance during my break, longing to join in, but not having time to). When we heard the first boom of fireworks we kicked out all customers and headed up to the roof to watch the beautiful display being shot off of the mountain side. After the finale we ran downstairs for an intense final hour of making wonderful ice cream and soda treats. I slept very soundly that night and enjoyed my morning off the following morning, thankful that I was not part of the clean-up crew!

Mr. and Mrs. Merrick

2008-06-25T21:25:00.005-05:00

This post is a little late in coming but it is still very necessary. It is an ode to one beautiful/wonderful couple I have the privilege of knowing. Chris and Jill (Neufeld) Merrick.

Jill is one of the five amazing women I lived with last year at 340 Holly St. A house and community that will never die. It was an awesome weekend to all be back together again under the celebration of Jill's wedding. I could go on and on about what amazing community and sisterhood I experienced with these ladies, and how we could all be such pointedly different individuals but all function and live and love together under one roof. I will not though because on of my brilliant journalist housemates, Linda Wyman, has already done so on her blog, so if you are so inclined you may read the post entitled "a tribute" at Linda's blog lisforlinda.blogspot.com.

The weekend started out a little rough with Linda and I driving from Oklahoma together to our Kansas destination through a tornado. We were on the highway and hearing the weatherman on the radio telling people at our exact location to take cover immediately and that there could be touchdowns right where we were. We were no where near a stopping point so I started driving 100 miles per hour, literally, to get to an exit. We exited in the great Kansas town of Maysville as things were beginning to fly around us and the sky glowed green. I was seriously about to have us take cover in the ditch when I felt inclined to stop at the first house off of the highway. After frantic and somewhat tearful banging on the front door, a nice family brought us down into their basement with them for the next 20 minutes. It was very scary and very adventurous and the most stressful part of the whole wedding weekend. The rest was wonderful and had no tornadoes.

I enjoyed Chris and Jill's wedding so much. We communed with so many great JBU friends, soaked up the Kansas wheat fields (there was a lot of them), ate amazing food, and supported an awesome couple who had an incredible wedding!

I wanted to include a classic 340 picture from the wedding as well as many great pictures with the bride!

Lake City, Colorado....Home Sweet Home

2008-06-16T20:45:00.005-05:00

I have moved! I am officially living in the most rustic, untouched, and isolated city I have ever been to. I mean all of that in a really good way.

I am working with my dear JBU friend Sarah Kientz at the San Juan Soda Company. It is truly the most quaint and old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda fountain ever. Lake City has no stoplights and hardly any paved roads. There are only about 400 locals and the rest of the town is made of mountain men and tourists. I am living with the awesome owners of the soda shop the Hartmans. They have a pretty spectacular cabin that you can see in the photo and are super generous and fun. I am enjoying living with the other girls in the loft and playing with the 4 Hartman grandchildren who are almost always fixtures in the house or the soda shop.

Kyndel Ligget, my JBU friend and housemate in the Ministry House our senior year, works at the family camp at Redcloud, the Christian camp just outside of town, and my housemate from the famed and beloved 340 Holly Street, Kristin Rohrer, works as a wilderness guide also at Redcloud. Having these two dear friends close is the best gift!

There is a large community between all of the workers at Redcloud that we (soda shop girls) get to be a part of as well. It is an awesome group of men and women in their 20s and I am already realizing that I will always be looking forward to the weekends when we can all hangout together and will always feel super excited when they come in big groups to the soda shop in the middle of the week! I am excited about these new relationships and look forward to seeing them grow.

Pretty much, I am excited about this mountain life and look forward to the adventures that will happen up here. I can't believe that I am living here when I look around or when I have to drive on a dirt road with switch backs just to get to the cabin where I live or when during a movie a bear destroys the bird feeder just outside the cabin!

I heart Lake City.

Parral, Mexico....The Capital of the World

2008-06-02T16:33:00.006-05:00

Where have I been? It's been a few weeks, but I went to Mexico! Surprise? Kind of, we've been planning this trip for quite a while but didn't really pull it all together until the last second, really days before.

Here's the run down:
Me, Micah DeKorne, Ryan Likes, and Mark Dawson (Denver boys), took a rental car from Denver to El Paso, TX where we stayed the night at some family friends of my family. VERY early the next morning we took a bus from El Paso to Parral, Mexico, about a 10 hour trip. I am not a huge fan of buses but it wasn't completely terrible. I was with great friends and knew that I was headed to more wonderful friends, thus it was easier to endure. Boy did we stink by the time we got to Mexico, I will refrain from going into detail in that area.

Why would we take this crazy trip to Mexico? Good question, which has an awesome answer. Kristen Olson, David Okada, and Billy Nye is the answer. Three of my dearest friends who all teach at a Christian school in Parral and work with the church that runs the school. It was the joy of my life to go visit Kristen, my best college friend and former roommate of multiple years. We were asked if we were sisters countless times and enjoyed many hilarious and some confusing moments that expressed, yet again, that though we may look alike, we are complete opposites in almost every way. It was like old times again and I love that our friendship always picks up where it left off, there is never an adjustment period. Needless to say KO you are my fave and I love you!

Karla Elizalde, Isaac Gonzalez, and Jessica Novoa are JBU grads who are natives to Parral and were such good hosts to us. I enjoyed developing new and better friendships with these three in their hometown and country. Pepe Lopez and Ruben Estrada came down as well and spent the week with us bringing more dear friends and fun to our group! Seriously, when they walked into church on Sunday it meant that everyone that was coming on the trip had officially arrived and I thought my heart would burst with excitement and joy!

Our time in Parral was one adventure after another.
We climbed things--hills, rocks, sand dunes.
We ate lots---beef, beef, beef, bread, bread, fruit, really good Mexican food. We went to church and school---amazing little kids that didn't care that I couldn't speak spanish and they couldn't speak english, they just talked my head off anyway!
We met the most amazing Mexican people---I love all my new friends and was so blessed by the open hearts that met us in Parral.
We laughed and sang---how can you not have fun with your close friends reunited in another country? Guitars were taken everywhere, even to the top of Antenna Hill where we hiked, ate, and sang until it was pitch black outside.
We enjoyed each other---It is an awesome thing when such a large group of people get along and truly enjoy their time together.
We brought a dog back across the border---I was probably the most surprised by this. I was not excited about this idea, knowing the dog would have to make a 24 hour trip with us, but seeing the love glowing in Micah and Ryan's eyes for this little puppy told me that keeping my mouth shut and watching the situation play out may be the wiser decision. The puppy was named Rendencion (redemption), or Red, and survived the whole trip with us and now resides in the boys' home in Denver where she is teaching them how to raise a bilingual Mexican dog.

Mexico was amazing. One of the biggest and most fun adventures of my life. I could not have felt more fulfilled or loved by my old, continuing, and new friendships that were fostered and enjoyed on this trip. For all my friends involved I have missed you so much in the last few days and will never forget Parral!!!

The Return of Ms. Pritz

2008-05-13T16:51:00.006-05:00

I'm back in school. I am substituting all week long and probably into next week before I head to CO and Mexico! I feel the shadow of my student teaching days looming over me and my eventual future as a teacher inching its way closer. I don't mean that to sound like a bad thing, because I truly love it, but it is an exhausting thing. For my teacher friends out there I know that you resonate with this. It is like a never ending decision making experience each day. I also invest my self to the extreme socially and relationally in most situations but even more so with colleagues and children. So to recap, I'm sleepy.

My dad is a public school superintendent and has been at the same school for 24 years. My brothers and I literally grew up at this school. My baby shower was in the library, Ms. Baker, the librarian, made my cake. I went to this school for 9 years and enjoyed (most of the time) always having my dad at school with me.

Yesterday, my dad starting feeling better about the idea of retiring in two or three years instead of his usual uncertainty and mixed feelings. His family feels like this is the most high stress job and it is about time he takes a breather, but this is this man's life.

This is the day he had yesterday: A man passed away that was the father of one of his teachers and the grandfather of another. It was early on in the morning but the teachers were already at school and had no idea what had happened. A family member was headed up to break the very sad news and while they were on their way another teacher accidentally told the younger teacher who was naturally hysterically devastated in the hallway. Then the older teacher was called down to the office, when they told her the news she collapsed and after she recovered was heard wailing up and down the halls. Such a sad sad thing for that family and a rough start to the morning for all the teachers and the upset and confused students.
Next, the first graders were on a field trip at the zoo. In the afternoon when they were driving away in the bus they realized they were missing one little boy, a worst nightmare for any teacher, parent, or school administrator. I was headed to the office to meet my dad for a little break during my planning period and walked into a full-on intensive investigation going on. My dad zoomed passed me on his way to the zoo, he's a hands on man, and couldn't handle not being more informed of what was going on. They had to lock down the zoo and my dad had the horrible task of calling the little boys mother. In the end the boy was found and all fears were settled though there is still a lot of questions still being raised.
Finally, a somewhat enraged and possibly slightly out of her mind mother, stalked one of the buses back to school and in her unexplained anger kick the doors until the bus driver was afraid and drove away, she responded by throwing a rock through one of the windows. Needless to say police ended up being involved. My dad is the man in charge of all of these situations and he was spent. Don't envy the life of a public school administrator. I am going to stick to teaching and not try to climb the administrator ladder.

In better news one of the middle schoolers I was subbing for asked me if I was single, he then moved on to asking me for my number. Not sure what the exact protocol is---giving him detention or pressing charges? I decided to ignore him. I am subbing for 2nd grade for the rest of the week. Stay tuned to hear about the talent show performance we are working on for Thursday, it may be a song and dance number.

Oklahoma. Where Tornadoes come sweeping down the plains.

2008-05-10T15:38:00.005-05:00

So, I am from Sapulpa, OK. And I am back. It is interesting and different. But good to be home.

I hang out at the one and only coffee shop, Java Dave's, also where my brother worked in high school, at least once a day.

I have met some interesting individuals (mostly noisy high schoolers) and almost always know 2/3 of the people who walk through the door. Today the nice man at the counter who makes my soy lattes made fun of my very outdated punch card. I explained to him that it was so old and unused because I normally live out of state and come back to visit. He asked where and I went on to explain that I had just graduated from a small private school. Turns out he also went to JBU about 10 years ago. It is a small world ladies and gentleman. And now I have a new coffee shop/alumni bond.

We are in a Tornado watch all day today, which hasn't stopped me from driving all over creation to pull together an awesome Mother's Day for Marsha Pritz. Tornadoes dominate most conversations in Creek County from the months of April-June and I am getting to experience our daily and sometimes nightly scares just like the old days. I've decided that even though I'm pretty immune to the fear of such big storms because I am so used to them, I still don't want to live someplace that is in constant threat of a violent and dangerous funnel dropping out of the sky and blowing things around.

Please enjoy the above photo of one of the sketchiest locales in town.

Why do all good things come to an end?

2008-05-08T15:44:00.003-05:00

It's done. Graduation happened. Simultaneously reflecting on this I want to sigh deeply and jump up and down and hug someone. Mixed feelings and emotions. I know processing and moving on in life will come in waves but right now in this moment I feel incredibly relieved and content.

I love JBU. I love Siloam Springs, AR. But I am ready for what is next. I love my friends and people more than anything else, so that part is hard. But I feel like going through the graduation of my actual class last May was more of my true college mourning period. I feel like I get to go through the letting go and moving on thing twice. I don't know if that makes one or the other easier or if I am a glutton for punishment.

Either way, I have had two very rich experiences. I am thankful and I am so glad that JBU is just a springboard in life and that those relationships I have are not over. It has been fun to experience a lot of relationships post-JBU and see how strong those relationships are because of the love and interest that is based in Christ not because of our current living situations.

I do love my housemates. My life at 340 Holly Street went from being what I thought was a random but fun living situation to the strongest and loving communities of women I've ever been a part of. Not to mention more fun and eclectic personalities than should be allowed in one house. Thanks for making my last and extra year at JBU such a surprising and wonderful experience Linda, Natalie, Jill, Kristin, and Leslye! (Boone-mate, you too)