This past Saturday, my roommate moved out...sniff...and so I went hiking at Crowder's Mountain with my friend Jamie. It was a beautiful fall day and we had a good time talking and hiking...the strenuous trail...my calves still hurt...2 1/2 days later...I need to do that more often. 2 1/2 hrs of hiking up and down hill (mostly up) is good for me. Having good company to talk to helps!

The last picture above is of the 3rd -5th graders at my school when they put on their musical performance last Friday. They all did a great job.

I'm looking forward this week to family time. I will be with my brother and his family this week and can't wait. Other than the constant apparent flow of Valium that seems to flow through their air vents...not really...it's more a mix of a comfy couch, cozy blankets, and a giant screen TV 3 feet away that makes one constantly drowsy. I get a lot of good naps there. :-) Good times had by all and a nephew to love on to boot!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you remember all of the blessings you have in your life and how much the people around you mean.

Love,
Heather

Some new pictures. Two from my birthday and some of my nephew. :-)














My favorite Picture!

Once again, it has been awhile....My year is going great! I love my teaching job and am encouraged daily by students and parents. My church is phenomenal! Check it out: elevationchurch.org
My roomate is moving out this weekend, however, and I do not have anyone to replace her, so please be praying with me about that.

God is teaching me to trust in HIm and to set my eyes on him for my contentment. It's funny how we may crave time with people and yet, we can have as much time with God as we want and we often forfeit it for feeling sorry for ourselves. I pray I remember that next time I invite myself to a pity party. Have a good night!
Love you all,
Heather

Wow, I really haven't written much this year....sorry folks...if anyone still reads this. I work a lot. Teacher by day and Trader Joe's crew member by night. I'm looking for a new roomate...my current one went and found herself a beau.

My students are the best. Today we were taking notes on erosion and one of the subheadings was "Agents of Erosion". So, one of my boys made the comment about spies and secret agents...so it sparked a theme. We have Agent H2O, Agent wind, Agent Ice, and Agent Gravity and they all answer to the master Agent God. You have to see the sunglassed illustrations to fully enjoy it. Way to liven up the lesson boys!!! :-D

Good Night.

Long awaited pictures...of the fam, my short hair, and some of my house. Off to work...

Amazed, astounded and in awe! Three adjectives to describe how I'm feeling right now. I'm sitting here with Pepper (Dave's kitty) in my lap purring away. I am now officially a home owner and am working on getting it all set up, unpacked and arranged. I have a new job at a school I really wanted to be at (Carmel Christian School). My church is growing at an amazing rate. Please pray that the obstacles to getting our own building will be removed. (We currently meet in a High School).

I'd love to hear what's happening in your lives.

Heather

I'm neglectful of this blog....it is true, but I've never been good at consistent journaling. This summer has been a real blessing. Being able to work for the Feids to make some extra money for living and house decorating has been great. I had resigned myself to teaching 1st grade this fall and was working on my enthusiasm to get excited for the year. God was working in my heart...and today I got a call from Carmel Christian where I interviewed at the beginning of June. I really want to work there because it's more up my alley (Language arts and Science 5th grade). THey are still interested in me and I'll be talking to them again. If it works out...it's actually perfect timing (as always) because I couldn't give notice to my district til after my house closes anyway. My house closes THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scary but exciting. I'm a grown-up! Well, maybe....Don't spread it around.

I found the coolest thing here in Asheville and am trying to maximize my time since I won't be up here much longer. MIGUN beds---you have GOT to find one in your area of the world/US. It's a company that sells massage beds (beds that massage you-kind of like Brookstone chairs but 100 times better). You go to a 20 minute orientation and then there is a room full of beds and you get to try one.....as many times as you want for FREE (did you get that...FREE) They give you a card and you sign in, pick a bed, lay on it for the 30 minute program (there are 5 programs) and then you leave. NO Pressure to buy ever. I'm serious, this place is my new best friend.

Have a great rest of the summer if you don't hear from me before it ends.

Well, I'm working in Asheville for the summer and driving to Charlotte on the weekends. Trying to find inexpensive solutions to decor of the new house. Any ideas for a floor covering for the living room? Tile is a bit chilly in the winter! I'd also like to define the dining and living room, but it's one long wall. Should I keep it one color and just use furniture?

It's exciting! I haven't heard anything from my last school....God is in control and giving me small doses of peace about the future...However, hearing how needy 1st graders are and knowing how needy 2nd graders were (and how it drove me crazy) causes me some anxiety :-(.

Love you all!
Heather

Hello everyone. It has been a busy few months since spring break, but I'm ecstatic to report that school is out for the summer! I'm spending this week packing up my class, interviewing, and going to a workshop for writing, but the real summer will start soon.

I'm working on buying a house this summer...just have to find the right one and have my offer accepted. I'm also desiring to spend some quality time with my savior. It has been a trying couple of months and a bit of a roller coaster. I trust in the Lord and know His plans concerning me are good.

My school told me I'm placed in 1st grade next year (told, not asked) and it is not a place that I feel I will enjoy or succeed in teaching well. Should the Lord keep me at the school, I'm praying for wisdom, joy, and a non-complaining spirit. Should he choose to remove me and put me somewhere else...I'm praying He will guide me there as well and be all that I need.

Thank you for all of your prayer- those of you who pray for me. And thank you for keeping in touch. I trust you are all doing well.
God Bless,
Heather

Miami....and my henna tatoo (Why didn't we take pictures of the food??!)



























Wow! Busy weeks! God is good! I've had two interviews. My class is excited because we found a caterpillar on the playground and caught it for a jar. Since we were studying life cycles, we gave it some leaves and waited (I was hoping it wouldn't die)...well, it didn't! It is currently in it's cocoon (pupa) and we are anxiously awaiting its transformation into a moth or butterfly.

Elevation (my church) had its second annual egg drop for Easter. It was too windy to drop them out of a helicopter like last year, but the eggs were on the ground for the community to grab. It was a great event and we launched our second campus Easter Sunday with 501 people there! God is doing amazing things at Elevation. In 14 months we've gone from 121 people to 2000.










My nephew and me...








Love you all! (Pretty sad the above pict was the day after I returned from Miami....check out the wardrobe shift from Miami...it was freezing here!)

Moving on...I just spent a lovely week in Miami, FL. Oh the sunshine and warmth yet cool breeze was phenomenal! The beach was lovely and we had a display of What Not to Wear which is always amusing. We went out on the sail boat and bobbed in the waves which was relaxing. I was able to read a book and a half...hoping to finish the other half before Tuesday. It's so nice to have had time to read again!

I didn't get burnt! I know, I know, that's unbelieveable, but true! Enjoyed amazing cuban food on every corner...oh that the rest of the US could be so blessed...and just basically enjoyed my week away. Yes, I have pictures...I'll upload them next time.

6 more days until I leave for MIAMI!!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooohooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not excited at all!!!! j/k :-D

Let's see....one more week of school...report cards are pretty much finished with a couple of things to add Monday....I have a second date tomorrow....still don't know what next year will bring....

Love you all!
Heather

I realize I haven't posted lately, but my computer was sent off to the shop (yep, already!). It's only nearly 3 months old and it "lost" the cd drive...they finally figured it out after 3 hours of standing at the Geek Squad counter when it still didn't work after returning from the service department. Now it gives me random power surge to unknown usb device messages. It wasn't even plugged in when it told me that and there weren't and USB devices connected. So...as soon as I can see a window of not needing it...it will be back in the shop.

Other than that...my parents were here. Mom left today and Dad left on Saturday. We had a good time together and celebrated C's 1st birthday. Now it is back to trying to get my place organized since I won't be spending every free moment over at my brothers. I also have to figure out what to do after this school year. My brother and family are moving to Asheville in May... :-( I'm VERY happy for them and the opportunity it brings them...but don't know what to do. I am looking at private schools anyway, but have gotten settled in Charlotte. Love my church-LOVE IT!!! and have made some good friends. I hate starting over all the time. Maybe it's my lot in life...maybe it's not and I should stay. I'm waiting to hear what God wants to tell me because I'm lost on this one.

My class is progressing, I think. We'll see when we take our quarterlies next week. THen it will be the last quarter of the school year. In 2 1/2 weeks I'm going to Miami for SPRING BREAK!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! I really need the time away to collect my thoughts and spend time with the one who know me best. Jesus Christ. Vivian will be there too and Niqui and Al. It's going to be lots of fun!

So that's the update of my life for now. ciao

I just got back from hearing my friend Tyrone Wells sing at Winthrope. He is an amazingly talented Singer. It was fun to see a part of my California world here! Unfortunately my camera got left behind in my car as we didn't take it at the last minute...sniff sniff...so you can go to his myspace page and enjoy his music there!

http://www.myspace.com/tyronewells

Love ya'll and pray I get over this sinus cold soon...it's an energy and mood drainer (my poor students).

Hey everyone. There are a couple possible openings at one of the larger Christian Schools in the area...please pray with me about the possibility and the process as well as telling my school if/when needed. Love ya'll (hee hee hee)

Me

Check out- http://picasaweb.google.com/taddgrandstaff/ElevationChurch to see some picts of my church ( we meet in a highschool every Sunday). I love it!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

We have had our first snow this winter! It is now raining and therefore is being washed away, but I did snap a picture before it went away. No school today because of the weather...beautiful mercies!


This was me at school yesterday. It was sport's day at school (School Spirit Week) and I borrowed Dave's Cowboy's stuff. I love the colors and I make a pretty good sport's fan don't you think? j/k


Have a fantastic weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Hey hey...so today was a pretty good day. I had a great 3 day weekend. Got to hang out with my boy (nephew) and my sis-in-law, and some friends. Went to a funky Zoomba class at the Y on a guest pass with a friend..salsa type dance aerobics. Pretty cool. Bought a new book to read to try to better myself....There is a lot I need to do, but one thing at a time.

School went pretty good today and tomorrow in Science we are going to open our science fair experiment.....drum roll please....and see what happened to the egg we left in vinegar for 2 weeks.

It's going to smell sooooo good!!!!!!!!!! :-(~ blech!

So, what's new in your world? How was your weekend? How did the thing go with the person at the thing? Don't you feel like I'm writing you a personal email. I thought so.. It's only because you are so special to me. ;-)

Muah!

Blah Blah blah blah blah blah blah, hahahaha, blah blah. You're serious? Blah! ;-)~

Yes, I have a new computer...it's great! So quiet and quick. Shiny subtle blue lid, ...great great great. As to updating? I like to update when I actually have something inspiring, new, or exciting to say. So let's see... I have a meeting for Spin tonight (junior high group at church), then am spending the night at my bro's and am babysitting for the rugrat in the morning. I baked cookies for the meeting tonight. I have a three day weekend, but brought home enough paperwork to keep me more than busy. My class progressed in reading, but bombed math. I love how they have you teach a concept during the quarter and then decide to test the concept in word problem form so that kids with processing deficiencies (almost my whole class) can't be successful. It's fantastic! Can you catch the sarcastic cynicism dripping from my words?

My two FAVORITE custodians quit today due to work overload and displeased boss. They were great (serious about that!)

I have activated my applications that are on file with a few area Christian Schools. I was too late last year to get in, but I'm starting early this year so if any openings come, I can prayerfully fill one. Less hoops to jump through, less layers of beuracracy, more possibilities to have a voice that counts.

So, dad, since you're starting to understand my grumbling....will you move out here? :-D (just don't work in a public school)

Have a Grrrrreat weekend all you tiger fans (that's Tony, not football).

Happy New Year! How is everyone this fine 2007? It's January 6th and it's 70 degrees outside, bright blue skies with a few puffy clouds....gorgeous. Unfortunately I'm fighting the feeling of a cold coming on, so I'm trying to rest, but I must get outside to enjoy part of this day if I can! (And mom and dad said it was cold here in the winter!) ;-)

Christmas was a blast! I had a great time up in Vancouver with my cousins and their kids. My cousin Ruth is great with her 4 and had them give their gift to Jesus first. It was cool how she did it.

School is back in full swing and although my kids aren't on target yet...they've shown growth! So I am very pleased! God is good. He is the one of amazing creativity and insight. I love him!

My church reached 1000 people mark on Christmas day! God is amazing! MY church is only 10 months old. Over 30 people have given their lives to the Lord and are being encouraged and renewed.

Personally? Zip...nothing new. Love you all!

Heather