tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-268153342024-03-06T22:33:30.846-06:00A bit of tea?After 2 years at the same college, 8 years with the same phone number, and 20 years in the same city, I've decided to cross the big lake and head over to Cambridge. A bit of studying, a bit of working, and a bit more of everything is about the substance of my next 3 months. Who knows where it will go from there!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-54492157927047655542009-01-05T14:12:00.006-06:002009-01-05T14:19:48.547-06:00Thanksgiving in NYC<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQYi0QpbR5Ffkr0sqE99bE74g7bhOto6wot3aJSN_QCK_Ax987RGxYSTQ5FNu4QxhUprkk6yn5pyM9OY8Wd22EcaqZTcmCy8IvhX4_OLwucO8fDNKBzKBjtpEUuV5phud50_f/s1600-h/IMG_0920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQYi0QpbR5Ffkr0sqE99bE74g7bhOto6wot3aJSN_QCK_Ax987RGxYSTQ5FNu4QxhUprkk6yn5pyM9OY8Wd22EcaqZTcmCy8IvhX4_OLwucO8fDNKBzKBjtpEUuV5phud50_f/s400/IMG_0920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287906365878416834" border="0" /></a>Thanksgiving in New York City was wonderful! It was great to spend time with the whole Weichbrodt clan who were so loving and generous to us. And now we can't wait till we get to go back again!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRueciAtSx4AFovOvqqwysPHOJl_ftbNjvgM0jvZ-gRx9JE1NiAGDlFAZTpLPGRKfWJsrDzUwCJrshFZSO-Yd-5cuzSonefBkw4Lla0pUJO9xTGdWrrMsQdXgqvEmYBqb5hqt/s1600-h/DSC_4619_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRueciAtSx4AFovOvqqwysPHOJl_ftbNjvgM0jvZ-gRx9JE1NiAGDlFAZTpLPGRKfWJsrDzUwCJrshFZSO-Yd-5cuzSonefBkw4Lla0pUJO9xTGdWrrMsQdXgqvEmYBqb5hqt/s200/DSC_4619_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287905555895626578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTx0Z0B-MPM6Yx7S-vHsv9DKjCk0KF985xg4Uk5HtNFqK3iadM38SplEnY32JBHI1WcGQs4E7wrI9Ep-VhwBaMmw-7j0Q20epP6gfLCpSaVY4Mbxko-qarDPc6lSYd6D8iCrV1/s1600-h/DSC_4650.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTx0Z0B-MPM6Yx7S-vHsv9DKjCk0KF985xg4Uk5HtNFqK3iadM38SplEnY32JBHI1WcGQs4E7wrI9Ep-VhwBaMmw-7j0Q20epP6gfLCpSaVY4Mbxko-qarDPc6lSYd6D8iCrV1/s200/DSC_4650.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287905441492986738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOM02n-Pu69it91Fqb_Pw6YwEN3tvsOvl7ZIRrcWByvxKd91P6dtb8Eo7m9STN0thPw3KGSPt3PvepfYKTMPHWicc7jXWiYKAVSNvaSiJ5jzqew94DvJIWVOT6BIBN8kPa-At/s1600-h/DSC_4648_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOM02n-Pu69it91Fqb_Pw6YwEN3tvsOvl7ZIRrcWByvxKd91P6dtb8Eo7m9STN0thPw3KGSPt3PvepfYKTMPHWicc7jXWiYKAVSNvaSiJ5jzqew94DvJIWVOT6BIBN8kPa-At/s200/DSC_4648_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287905364357175394" border="0" /></a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-85295315383221685392008-11-04T21:11:00.002-06:002008-11-04T21:16:31.338-06:00So I'm just sitting here on the couch next to Josh...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq_UDI2x_L25qB4a3JYBBCVW-LmyUUnYpI3jU2LpPil-Vq41iFZjGemxpeZ_XAxXCYc6tk5yh0u2R3BJr0QOdh1GvEdFQ9fPRhiCdvTdWI7-S1TDkWVlinpl5pYdo9gmkhlRt/s1600-h/Photo+153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtq_UDI2x_L25qB4a3JYBBCVW-LmyUUnYpI3jU2LpPil-Vq41iFZjGemxpeZ_XAxXCYc6tk5yh0u2R3BJr0QOdh1GvEdFQ9fPRhiCdvTdWI7-S1TDkWVlinpl5pYdo9gmkhlRt/s320/Photo+153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265007008386401602" border="0" /></a><br />....and it reminds me that I love, love, love my husband!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-72478801419828691202008-07-28T22:05:00.004-05:002008-12-10T14:40:48.709-06:00A few new titles…<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yoHbA-cbAVCCbgdQjQnlARS8tOFyFPAGv0eqDrMt8tD-vNjbrxzCYzjl1T3QzBTYIOd2vslrMZH63JYgYkFea9ZMTZ_wI7I5QEVfCtMLOihYH9rnWWPAJ1crba1RN-5HISm2/s1600-h/IMG_3699bwshad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yoHbA-cbAVCCbgdQjQnlARS8tOFyFPAGv0eqDrMt8tD-vNjbrxzCYzjl1T3QzBTYIOd2vslrMZH63JYgYkFea9ZMTZ_wI7I5QEVfCtMLOihYH9rnWWPAJ1crba1RN-5HISm2/s320/IMG_3699bwshad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228267970747326994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">So apparently I have abandoned my blog. Leading up to the wedding I kept on saying to myself, “after the wedding I’ll get back on it right away with all my wedding pictures, and all the fun stories, and basically I’ll be a blogging superstar!” …and then real life happened, and all of a sudden it’s been over 2 months since I’ve blogged. But the thing is, there are so many changes and wonderful things, where could one even start? So in lieu of a writing a book for my few readers (but don’t worry I’ll add pictures soon!), here are a few of the new titles I’ve acquired in the past 2 months:</span><br /></div><br />1. CORINNE ELISABETH MATHER—the name change is official! Corinne Chapell no longer exists in the United States of America…weird!<br />2. SISTER-IN-LAW—to 3 amazing new siblings<br />3. MASTER TRAVELER--in one month we traveled to/from the following destinations: St. Louis, MO; Buena Vista, CO; Colorado Springs, CO; back to St. Louis; Chattanooga, TN; Atlanta, GA; IKEA (yes, this does count as a destination); back to Chattanooga; Honolulu, HI; Fortworth, TX; and finally back home to Chattanooga.<br />4. GEORGIA RESIDENT—I’m not so proud of this one, but I’ve surrendered my beloved St. Louis/Missouri license and have a brand, shiny new Georgia license with my name spelled wrong on it. Can you tell how excited I am?<br />4. HOMEMAKER—so maybe this is still in progress….but…I mean…we’ve got fancy-schmancy window treatments…so that counts, right?<br />5. MOM—just kidding! No, we are NOT pregnant, but I did get a job as a nanny for 2 amazing little cuties!<br /><br />And my favorite:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. WIFE—yeah, this one’s pretty much incredible!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(oh yeah, and I'm in process of putting up pictures, but if you want a preview of the wedding shots, go to <a href="http://kellyparkphoto.blogspot.com/">kellyparkphoto.blogspot.com</a> and scroll down until you see us!)</span><br /></div>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-36854694773050187822008-06-01T21:45:00.006-05:002008-12-10T14:40:49.666-06:00J. Mather<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnodvuwu8O2ClFDhTCrSLaNc-1QvSWq0m2PKBF6cLKgjDtDb0H2Dz0MkQPxR1OpmZIlzBwdRGy0Beo81nK7-_8SO_8gc7xQqBqwNVOlAM_TlnX5zPCSFLVgnkJVnS77dd_wvm/s1600-h/cards+game.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnodvuwu8O2ClFDhTCrSLaNc-1QvSWq0m2PKBF6cLKgjDtDb0H2Dz0MkQPxR1OpmZIlzBwdRGy0Beo81nK7-_8SO_8gc7xQqBqwNVOlAM_TlnX5zPCSFLVgnkJVnS77dd_wvm/s200/cards+game.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207115582872698178" border="0" /></a><br />So while Josh and I were at the game today (in freakin' amazing seats I might add--thanks Johanna!) we discovered one more thing to love about the Cardinals--they have a new player named J. Mather. So what if they pronounce it wrong and his name is "Joe" instead of "Josh"...we still think it's pretty cool...and we're just waiting till the Cardinals' Mather proves himself so he has his own jersey made (yes, I'm the loser that wants it). But I've decided, that my J. Mather, and their J. Mather have a lot in common...here are just a few similarities:<br />1. M-A-T-H-E-R...duh!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKwNUjZtglRwP3K3es-_0zPhYobwKjYMXCCs-SDZHfuUj0wcOcm-SR9ykZ25TraMPxAethkS61e5-QJyp6ZonA4O79dcYB7fLWl_fhyRkLeIbgNq7aO9LfoOjrm5KYS1X-Lo2/s1600-h/J.+mather.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKwNUjZtglRwP3K3es-_0zPhYobwKjYMXCCs-SDZHfuUj0wcOcm-SR9ykZ25TraMPxAethkS61e5-QJyp6ZonA4O79dcYB7fLWl_fhyRkLeIbgNq7aO9LfoOjrm5KYS1X-Lo2/s200/J.+mather.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207114657309422386" border="0" /></a><br />2. Tall and skinny:<br />mine--6'; 165ish lb<br />theirs--6'4"; 195 pounds lb<br /><br />3. Both are lefties....(ok, maybe that's a lie, but we can pretend, right?)<br /><br />4. An amazing talent to fall...as often and as dramatically as possible...all in the name of sports.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-HUE2cQtPG8rmYjxjni6lADjJdfIJcJNLlN_oawo0y6AYeJ1pX4wRGZRBmKI3mzo9As0GaBprTJrUQkcs3FZxBrKK-QOCtMzK48QzYydiCMgu9642WP4qKA2l4mBwzZ5SbFN/s1600-h/fall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-HUE2cQtPG8rmYjxjni6lADjJdfIJcJNLlN_oawo0y6AYeJ1pX4wRGZRBmKI3mzo9As0GaBprTJrUQkcs3FZxBrKK-QOCtMzK48QzYydiCMgu9642WP4qKA2l4mBwzZ5SbFN/s200/fall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207114304669096610" border="0" /></a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-20362220227092083492008-05-30T13:05:00.006-05:002008-12-10T14:40:51.101-06:00a few little updates...So for the past few weeks my life has been a little crazy, but someday there will be time again for free blogging and catching up with friends without questions like, "are you nervous yet?" being involved. But for now, here are a few things that have happened...<br /><br />1. Taught 9th graders all about safe sex while reading <span style="font-style: italic;">Romeo & Juliet...<br />(</span>here's my classroom below...)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvOPZ-PXbYlahBv2mLuUPFVWpz2G-oX7dnAZbBrzCOXi3voRFUai3JbYVWAIrZUjl2qL5dMN3IQ_ahL8vbZ7nzaMGqZ7cbxjNdxd0TZiDeuAeaYQOF2Sr21-e6Ns2gmIGixsp/s1600-h/IMG_0369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvOPZ-PXbYlahBv2mLuUPFVWpz2G-oX7dnAZbBrzCOXi3voRFUai3JbYVWAIrZUjl2qL5dMN3IQ_ahL8vbZ7nzaMGqZ7cbxjNdxd0TZiDeuAeaYQOF2Sr21-e6Ns2gmIGixsp/s200/IMG_0369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206237908645804354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2. Explained to my 11th graders countless times that no, I'm not their friend--I'm their teacher.<br /><br />3. Josh and I went to our first prom (oh, yes, we're finally 'old' enough to chaperon things like that.)<br /><br />4. Graduated...and spoke at graduation...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykD27FHFfjHgm2q3nTW1kE0R4orx-xzBnhl_QLaer5Duf3HhREYFEa3OOuu6hcv7UA-0filIKXnSb1DXsqvL1a0Qw9O7hfxCdrkNLMNw30Ulihunefm2J-B12UquQIB9ikaqP/s1600-h/145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykD27FHFfjHgm2q3nTW1kE0R4orx-xzBnhl_QLaer5Duf3HhREYFEa3OOuu6hcv7UA-0filIKXnSb1DXsqvL1a0Qw9O7hfxCdrkNLMNw30Ulihunefm2J-B12UquQIB9ikaqP/s200/145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206238187818678610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5. 3 wonderful showers with friends from Chattavegas, from St. Louis, and from the Seminary!<br /><br /><br />5. Came back to St. Louis, went back to Chattanooga, came back to St. Louis in less than 2 weeks--all in the name of wedding planning of course!!!<br /><br />6. Planned (and am still planning) a wedding so we can finally be Mr & Mrs!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeGmNDJSOoLA9IBHLwuftT5qIin2mFkomNmedHMHTW1RVOCp6KINP-jkeKa7_uKRswjepkcRsMdQH1uG82Sd-TPSeSRQX48Wakyb8hheTbmUH-i-saeB1v1rSGyGCSidx2iw1/s1600-h/101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeGmNDJSOoLA9IBHLwuftT5qIin2mFkomNmedHMHTW1RVOCp6KINP-jkeKa7_uKRswjepkcRsMdQH1uG82Sd-TPSeSRQX48Wakyb8hheTbmUH-i-saeB1v1rSGyGCSidx2iw1/s200/101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206238806293969250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-33069061327231761462008-05-25T23:57:00.002-05:002008-12-10T14:40:51.291-06:00Love it!In the words of my future sister-in-law...<br /><br />" A former Jenkins, now Chapell. A current Chapell, future Mather. A former Mather, now Weichbrodt."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7M-pTi9yJaXPJdoQH0zHiB3NqLc3bzBpOI_VJh384I4KZ-JTk_uHerGRzPVhLIeVycL83i_ZH19aGRlUi-RABDKzo73fl8dPgFhPkx38PHqeEBqeR3dOkzQ6G8oLipULMJNH/s1600-h/IMG_8961.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7M-pTi9yJaXPJdoQH0zHiB3NqLc3bzBpOI_VJh384I4KZ-JTk_uHerGRzPVhLIeVycL83i_ZH19aGRlUi-RABDKzo73fl8dPgFhPkx38PHqeEBqeR3dOkzQ6G8oLipULMJNH/s320/IMG_8961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204546580589410610" border="0" /></a><br /> A beautiful thing how it all comes together--am I right!!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-11002929838062706632008-05-02T09:35:00.009-05:002008-12-10T14:40:51.383-06:00ONE YEAR!So in the midst of everything else going on in our lives, Josh and I didn't want to forget that yesterday was our 1-year anniversary of when we started dating. So we took our date night and went to Tony's down in the Bluff View Art District--a new spot for me--and got some time to just enjoy each other after a very busy couple of weeks.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJQr4LLKm5V5kHL6jj73fPelUImZ7fEMzWKsDZuXZhQHKstSQUotvOBxGWMfVuXp1YBdIRkl7HZOK0XrDYUydx8Hgg2XwGk7hxU-Zr3-FkW0hMfM9Utdue4QckMySWwHeRxfw/s1600-h/038corinneandjosh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJQr4LLKm5V5kHL6jj73fPelUImZ7fEMzWKsDZuXZhQHKstSQUotvOBxGWMfVuXp1YBdIRkl7HZOK0XrDYUydx8Hgg2XwGk7hxU-Zr3-FkW0hMfM9Utdue4QckMySWwHeRxfw/s320/038corinneandjosh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195792733651261970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A year ago, after finally having the go-ahead to date (you know, that whole student-staff thing having gotten in the way before that point), we went on our first official date to Rembrandts, and fairly awkwardly decided that, yes, we were dating, and, yes, we could call each other boyfriend and girlfriend. At that point we finally started telling some friends and the girls on my hall (who promptly started screaming, tackling me, etc.) which was absolutely wonderful. The days following May 1 last year, were of the most exciting and fun times during my time at Covenant.<br />Now a year later, we're engaged (35 days baby!) and falling more in love every day!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-12945505547784453462008-04-16T11:44:00.008-05:002008-12-10T14:40:51.861-06:00Romeo & Juliet, meet Star Wars...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOCilcM7-RQvmlb1SPN4OKDczScQH4oaQF7KYegsLA1CjPQHAwGvTFyDZhwVpsFUjrPbve0IjxMQ2SODY1cWCW1CkaXcpVaP2Oj2U5GLccjvATJ1yd92KhqooUzCkcwI6VijU/s1600-h/title68poster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189890577634643746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOCilcM7-RQvmlb1SPN4OKDczScQH4oaQF7KYegsLA1CjPQHAwGvTFyDZhwVpsFUjrPbve0IjxMQ2SODY1cWCW1CkaXcpVaP2Oj2U5GLccjvATJ1yd92KhqooUzCkcwI6VijU/s200/title68poster.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>In my freshman class today, we finally reached the famous duel scene in <em>Romeo and Juliet--</em>the one scene the boys in my class have been looking forward to, and in response to that excitement, we broke into groups to come up with skits. So after a day of preparation , today was perfomance day at last. We had <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> in 4 different styles: the Wild West, American Idol vs. So You Think You Can Dance, miming, and Star Wars. Although I <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xJyXS40AjhsK07wYmb2Gx-oOAhi9qaiFg9n6pQoo_cLzuFpCJH2KzP_PDnSt0TSwUch2Su8_pDgdLpRhzcYyAWeuMsp5EhBnb6PkB5jRXX7V2MID-Ao3cUUeL8q0ym1flR0D/s1600-h/TPM_fight_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189890289871834898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xJyXS40AjhsK07wYmb2Gx-oOAhi9qaiFg9n6pQoo_cLzuFpCJH2KzP_PDnSt0TSwUch2Su8_pDgdLpRhzcYyAWeuMsp5EhBnb6PkB5jRXX7V2MID-Ao3cUUeL8q0ym1flR0D/s200/TPM_fight_small.jpg" border="0" /></a>think the mime skit was my favorite, the Star Wars skit definitely took on a different flavor.<br /></div><div>In this scene 'jubaka,' 'hon solo' and 'darth mal' (as spelled by my students) were fighting each other. Now 'jubaka' was being played by a little Russian girl in our class (she was adopted and moved to the states in gradeschool). She's a tiny, tiny little thing, <em>incredibly sweet, </em>but rarely says a word in front of people. </div><div></div><div>I figured that this would be a great activity, but what I didn't know before the skit began, was that 'jubaka' and 'darth mal' had a real-life fight just prior to class. So during the skit, my sweet little 'jubaka' decides to COMPLETELY abandon the script, and instead attacks (with foam lightsaber) the poor boy (who is twice her size). She continues to do so, until I <em>pull her off</em>. An interesting twist to the day most definitely. Now on top of this--my professor from Covenant was there to observe...woops!</div></div>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-52961123454054572832008-04-10T10:06:00.004-05:002008-12-10T14:40:52.081-06:00uh-oh...i'm doing it....So as graduation slowly approaches and I start to reflect back on my time at Covenant, there are a few things that run through my head--dear friends and hall mates, late-night McDonald's runs, favorite teachers, Great Hall mishaps, etc. But while each of us has our own treasured memories in every size, shape, and color, there is one common denominator for every graduating senior from Covenant, and it is a single, heavily used word--"worldview".<br />We've memorized the definition, we've come up with any number of sketches on the board to represent it, we've applied it to every possible subject (which of course is <span style="font-style: italic;">every</span> subject...true to the definition of <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_view">worldview</a>),</span> and somewhere along the way we learned how to h<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6kEnuOklOeJUkQLrDwLvcXYH5WgqQT2NcH9vgR5W-C0d2risJMYKMmhaJqrgJn3js1hZy8U1g6Bz_7WLJri8p6RSsoLMEhSA9q4K9LUbq5P3nrC8pRL5Qcxztq_eh94UBOjg/s1600-h/worldview+glasses.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6kEnuOklOeJUkQLrDwLvcXYH5WgqQT2NcH9vgR5W-C0d2risJMYKMmhaJqrgJn3js1hZy8U1g6Bz_7WLJri8p6RSsoLMEhSA9q4K9LUbq5P3nrC8pRL5Qcxztq_eh94UBOjg/s200/worldview+glasses.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187680348572615474" border="0" /></a>eave an affectionate sigh whenever we hear 'worldview' . But as our time at Covenant draws to a close we perhaps think to ourselves, "all right, so I know my worldview will always be a part of my life, but thank goodness I never have to define, visually represent, or explain it in essay form ever again!"<br /><br />oh wait.<br /><br />Today I used it...I did it...and I'm passing on the word to the next generation. oh my. As a student teacher, we just started a unit on Naturalism, and I was happily lecturing away when I heard it--that word came out of my mouth. Not only was I defining it, but I was sketching it up one the board...and then I heard myself assigning an essay in which they must talk about their worldview. It's true then--all future generations are doomed to hear, illustrate, and write on 'worldviews,' and yes, I am part of that passing the torch.<br />But let's be honest, would I ever really be able to escape using 'worldview' in life since interacting with others worldviews it's part of my worldview? Oh dear.Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-69975515596354597562008-03-14T12:25:00.003-05:002008-03-14T12:39:44.451-05:00Teenage hormonesFor those of you who don't know, I just started my second student teaching placement at a coed, private Catholic school (yes, imagine all your stereotypes then multiply them times ten), and it has definitely been an interesting experience so far. I work with mostly 11th graders who like to throw out phrases like, "Well, my Dad owns _____ business, and he says that I ....." But in between showing off their Northfaces and designer purses, one of their new favorite activities is filling in my love life for me (apparently my being engaged isn't interesting enough for them!).<br /><br />For example, "Mr. Tapp" (another student teacher like myself) is in the classroom across the hall from mine----apparently we're dating behind everyone's back.<br /><br />Or, for those who actually believe I'm engaged, they've decided (I'm not kidding) that Josh is not only <span style="font-style: italic;">from </span>Hawaii, but that he still lives there, does nothing but surf all day, and has dreadlocks. (hmmmm...I'm still trying to picture that.)<br /><br />Or there are the fun comments that I hear drifting in from the hallway...<br />"Dude, Ms. Chapell is hot!"Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-33406264096651956262008-03-11T17:24:00.000-05:002008-03-11T17:25:14.079-05:00a little self-advertising...<a href="http://cchapell.googlepages.com/josh&corinne%27sweddingpage">http://cchapell.googlepages.com/josh&corinne'sweddingpage</a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-48130752645657142162008-02-25T13:44:00.005-06:002008-12-10T14:40:52.488-06:00So everyone knows I want a dog...While Josh and I are very excited to stay at Covenant another year, there are one or two downsides...the first being, it's not St. Louis and the Cardinals don't ever come to Chattanooga....the second downside being I have to put off getting a dog for at least one more year. <br />But in the meantime, I've been noticing the dogs in our neighborhood--I figure, why not use this intermediate period of time to start picking out a dog, right? Well, this is the dog that just showed up in our neighbors' yard--next to the massive black German shepherd that also lives there--<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VLH4SfNIa2CTiiPcElw5qg5LVlxEhaNno4nHrjCEAH-5abKaMn-T8LnEjF5VANpLacfzVOZ2Dch9XqMimsvOMRBBaTwkQzh2dIOSafAxDcgI6wwoes4FhIu-UcAiUBg0u995/s1600-h/pink.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VLH4SfNIa2CTiiPcElw5qg5LVlxEhaNno4nHrjCEAH-5abKaMn-T8LnEjF5VANpLacfzVOZ2Dch9XqMimsvOMRBBaTwkQzh2dIOSafAxDcgI6wwoes4FhIu-UcAiUBg0u995/s200/pink.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171010987867574226" border="0" /></a><br />--Is it a miniature poodle? Yes<br />--Is it bright pink? Yes<br />--Is this Corinne's dream dog? Oh thank goodness it's NOT!!!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-86024026318512267622008-02-01T15:36:00.000-06:002008-12-10T14:40:53.142-06:00Bug: (from The Sixth Graders Dictionary to LIfe)<dl><dt class="func"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Bug:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">noun</span></dt><dt class="ety">Pronunciation:<span class="pronchars"> \<span class="unicode">ˈ</span>bəg\</span></dt><dt class="ety">Etymology:</dt><dd class="ety">Middle English <em>bugge</em> hobgoblin; probably akin to Low German <em>bögge</em> goblin</dd><dt>Definition: <span class="sense_break"><span class="sense_content">an insect or other creeping or crawling invertebrate; </span></span><span class="sense_break"><span class="sense_content">any of an order (Hemiptera<br /></span></span></dt><dt><span class="sense_break"><span class="sense_content"> and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects that have sucking mouthparts,<br /></span></span></dt><dt><span class="sense_break"><span class="sense_content"> forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic<br /></span></span></dt><dt><span class="sense_break"><span class="sense_content"> pests</span></span></dt><dd><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDFTd43xZL7ZJyWgYOy8zXtcCcd_YxQctsoLXLfGaZe8BTcRaiHZWOs01xgKMTLHpfv9xSAWOEG61JvVN00I6iBPN8wPj2OslUYJFVvd_3lZV8EG0MAFCQegXBpXqJSEMR7Ia/s1600-h/WesternConiferSeedBug.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 85px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDFTd43xZL7ZJyWgYOy8zXtcCcd_YxQctsoLXLfGaZe8BTcRaiHZWOs01xgKMTLHpfv9xSAWOEG61JvVN00I6iBPN8wPj2OslUYJFVvd_3lZV8EG0MAFCQegXBpXqJSEMR7Ia/s200/WesternConiferSeedBug.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162130941230458034" border="0" /></a></dd></dl><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Bug</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> noun</span><br />Pronunciation:<span class="pronchars"> </span><span class="pronchars">\<span class="unicode">ˈ</span>fē-vər\</span><br />Etymology: From the cultures of preteens weak immune systems; most currently present in the similarly weakened immune system of Corinne.<br />Definition: A virus consisting of runny nose, scratchy throat, itchy eyes, and fever resulting from close proximity to younger members of the human race with lower hygienic habits; most commonly passed from student to teacher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-yBpQJJ106iJySUhOsE3xqyNGyBXyc0x0iPWVCZCQiEF1r9RriOtS6d1g1Nt9bwlVYKKPZJSkkqBvaqWQNkJ3h2X_EYxjNPOxFO0u-AZ__9LzX4yH7_s6111bwrA0y3A7lx4/s1600-h/sick+teacher.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-yBpQJJ106iJySUhOsE3xqyNGyBXyc0x0iPWVCZCQiEF1r9RriOtS6d1g1Nt9bwlVYKKPZJSkkqBvaqWQNkJ3h2X_EYxjNPOxFO0u-AZ__9LzX4yH7_s6111bwrA0y3A7lx4/s200/sick+teacher.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162132951275152578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Bug:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">noun </span>(most commonly referred to as a "hornet")<br />Pronunciation:<span class="pronchars"> \<span class="unicode">ˈ</span>h<span class="unicode">o'</span>r-nət\</span><br />Etymology: From the modern usage of Class Periods 1, 2, 3, & 5, originating at *** Middle School.<br />Definition: An index card torn and folded along specific planes according to directions, as passed on by the oral tradition of middle school males, intended to be used in correlation with a rubber band as a projectile; for the purpose of disrupting class and earning an In-School-Suspension for its user.<br /><dl><dd class="pron"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPODE0_fF5CJHX2oFxEz30WMHcv4yUStzYsiFRGoBzUgezEE4oQccN98SKFFwBpw6_r9VvTlN5CQgeHOFFcWCRX40ivsyz3pn8DljEGRNpIQJlVDCk5V4RLNhmS0nKU8a_buD/s1600-h/hornet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPODE0_fF5CJHX2oFxEz30WMHcv4yUStzYsiFRGoBzUgezEE4oQccN98SKFFwBpw6_r9VvTlN5CQgeHOFFcWCRX40ivsyz3pn8DljEGRNpIQJlVDCk5V4RLNhmS0nKU8a_buD/s200/hornet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162137448105911506" border="0" /></a></dd><dt><span style="font-style: italic;">See Also: </span>You-Tube instructional video "How to Make a Paper Hornet"</dt><dd>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP06J6bo3GA<br /></dd></dl>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-91758307849770945572008-01-24T20:31:00.000-06:002008-12-10T14:40:53.389-06:00Warm fuzzy feelings...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJVHwEpUaESjFAVHXqit6m6EAa3etgWbFrE5me_WSnOea03T09G1DmDusy9FAHULK_vcEXqu1-7LrDbYcj8OLKq0WiQG1-nQiixZS2jUr1cptsrE0EUhKu9k-I8s1vMtt6M4U/s1600-h/MyPicture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJVHwEpUaESjFAVHXqit6m6EAa3etgWbFrE5me_WSnOea03T09G1DmDusy9FAHULK_vcEXqu1-7LrDbYcj8OLKq0WiQG1-nQiixZS2jUr1cptsrE0EUhKu9k-I8s1vMtt6M4U/s200/MyPicture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159237451827913874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPQOI2kdNPHlKk_Kx7G2eT2UFoTEhlNtPeSYHxduoSRUqEg653z9iDNR60se2wBq1C9nBdQSQT7MRjCGDfr7_pVS1eROOF2Qqo8d3n8oarPwwROLr2UNH998KInq8f7H4BbJc/s1600-h/MyPicture_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPQOI2kdNPHlKk_Kx7G2eT2UFoTEhlNtPeSYHxduoSRUqEg653z9iDNR60se2wBq1C9nBdQSQT7MRjCGDfr7_pVS1eROOF2Qqo8d3n8oarPwwROLr2UNH998KInq8f7H4BbJc/s200/MyPicture_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159237469007783074" border="0" /></a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-66964296835898358982008-01-22T16:19:00.000-06:002008-01-22T16:41:48.182-06:00I think I'm in with the kidsSo, for all of y'all who are getting this fairly depressing view of my student teaching, I thought I would fill you in a bit. For the past 2 1/2 weeks I've been teaching a sixth grade language arts class. I have 78 students in 5 classes, with 2 para-pro's, 1 cooperating teacher, and 1 traditional teacher. 3 of the classes are inclusion classes, which means there are kids with a range of disabilities in the class (thus the additional adults in the classroom). These are sixth graders, so of course they're nuts...pretty much all the time. <br />But here's the thing...I like these kids, and I mean, I really like these kids. Am I overwhelmed by how much I have to do in the next 5 weeks...oh yes. But are these kids worth it...oh yes.<br />It was today, though, that I realized I somehow made it in with them too, when they asked, "Ms. Chapell, you're going to be our Language Arts teacher next year, right? Please!"Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-11459191652758246822008-01-17T20:40:00.000-06:002008-01-17T20:56:39.190-06:00It's been a week...1 ...that I've been pretending to be 'an adult' (a.k.a. student teaching)<br />2 ...since I've been awake past 11 on a school night<br />3 ...in which my true addiction to tea returned (so much for weaning myself off it all last summer)<br />4 ...like last week that reminded me that I stink at planning things...like weddings.<br />5 ...during which I think I've cried more than I've cried in the past year (due to some overly busy combination of #1 & #4)<br />6 ...since I decided that I actually like having a 20 minute drive to work in the morning (thus giving time to think about #1 & #4 at a more relaxing pace)<br />7 ...in which I've been reminded again and again to fall to my knees in prayer and thank God for His goodness to me--b/c He's REAL good to me and shows me daily how much He loves me!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-12198782434163398592008-01-11T17:39:00.001-06:002008-01-11T18:07:12.736-06:00"you're hair looks pretty!!!"....."wrong answer."So do you remember all those times back in grade school where you tried to distract the substitute teacher on some bogus tangent? Well, it's official, as a three-day-old student teacher, I have moved into this age-old time of student testing. So here are some of my favorite comments from today with the sixth graders I call my students:<br /><br />Scott: "You're like...like an alien!"<br /><br />Ryan: "How'd you know my name?"<br />Me: "Because I know everything."<br /><br />Me: "Who can identify the prepositional phrase in this sentence?"<br />Becca: "You're hair looks really pretty, Ms. Chapell!!"<br />Me: "wrong answer."<br /><br />Anna: "Ms. Chapell, there are girls piercing their ears in the bathroom..."<br /><br /> --now after sorting out the piercing party girls, who promptly were sent to the office, we thought we would go back to class. Sadly enough, by the end of the day all the rumors had gone nuts...and I mean NUTS about who it was, who tattled, and what was going to happen.<br />Oh the joys of middle school!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-28823139007820476482008-01-11T17:31:00.000-06:002008-01-11T17:56:04.761-06:00i'm a bit behind...So I've been getting a lot of criticism for not blogging extensively about Josh and my trip to Hawaii....and the truth is....well, it was simply too wonderful to know how to explain! So in lieu of stories and anecdotes which you're honestly better to just ask me about, here are a few words (incredible, wonderful, breathtakingly gorgeous, new and growing relationships, happy time with future family, unbelievable, amazing time with future husband...), and here's what you'rereally wanting to see--the pictures:<br /><p style="visibility:visible;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widget-81.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" width="426" style="width:426px;height:320px"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-81.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="scale" value="noscale"><param name="salign" value="l"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=1873497444987605889&site=widget-81.slide.com"></object><p><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&ad=0&id=1873497444987605889&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-81.slide.com/p1/1873497444987605889/ms_t000_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=ms&ad=0&id=1873497444987605889&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-81.slide.com/p2/1873497444987605889/ms_t000_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></p></p>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-35049099754458949772008-01-02T01:31:00.000-06:002008-12-10T14:40:54.069-06:00mele kalikimaka!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WAexpCURrSCVtSp0gpr0CLmgiHseqT11_bHWQhb58ZajwI3amolkDJkyBLwsSiNM2CmnQXNTLxJklQhQ3LpKUzSMLRovE2zjyVpBdpH5tRxEFoCNJdw8dsGRyJZ2IpEQdB0n/s1600-h/flower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WAexpCURrSCVtSp0gpr0CLmgiHseqT11_bHWQhb58ZajwI3amolkDJkyBLwsSiNM2CmnQXNTLxJklQhQ3LpKUzSMLRovE2zjyVpBdpH5tRxEFoCNJdw8dsGRyJZ2IpEQdB0n/s200/flower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150779520243599986" border="0" /></a>Christmas in Hawaii was AMAZING! Great guy, great place, great new relationships with new family and friends! I'll post more soon, but here are a couple pics as teasers for you!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5MhQomIBWy-uKDAdhS743X8XocHbhl3MKqe2tP0ob5hNmmXtFtCrhH7hJyDlJGDeohts9l0xzY257RaWlt8AdRJNMyhQs-709uBotMlIfGyALrBu4ppSRvYj6Et2YbY5japy/s1600-h/us.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5MhQomIBWy-uKDAdhS743X8XocHbhl3MKqe2tP0ob5hNmmXtFtCrhH7hJyDlJGDeohts9l0xzY257RaWlt8AdRJNMyhQs-709uBotMlIfGyALrBu4ppSRvYj6Et2YbY5japy/s200/us.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150779528833534594" border="0" /></a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-873405488087971342007-12-16T18:03:00.001-06:002007-12-16T18:08:14.265-06:00One week...three seasonsSo for the past week, Chattavegas has had temperatures in the 60's.<div>Tomorrow, we'll be in the STL with snow and temperatures in the 30's.</div><div><br /><div>Thursday, we'll be on the beach in Hawaii with temperatures in the 80's.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I mean...it's a hard life.</div></div>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-8192735282152281732007-12-11T19:48:00.001-06:002007-12-11T20:09:24.346-06:00my front porch has been waiting for me!So for the last four-ish months my front porch has been screaming out to me, "come sit on me! The weather's beautiful, and even if it's not, you should be out here anyway. You should ignore all the work you have to do and just come enjoy outside!" But for the last four months I have sorrowfully walked right on by, giving into the slow, aching pressure of schoolwork.<br />But today, at last, I walked right up to my front porch, said, "today is the day!" and plopped myself down on our porch swing--because I am officially done with all classwork, etc. for Covenant! All that's left between me and that diploma is a 'little' thing we like to call student teaching....hmmm.Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-80493408696773214192007-12-10T23:31:00.000-06:002008-12-10T14:40:55.087-06:00Before and After<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s3Eg-axleG5kbjSaLddu_oEehpMX7E3XHDToMl2UTABo1qcnsDucDD11YbXBES5NteCOvQ3g3BQ47U4K4IdG2rUuzcKo8ydpn98ESCT0WBIYS3Gn1KY5fa7BSxv0oKyoWYpH/s1600-h/IMG_0109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s3Eg-axleG5kbjSaLddu_oEehpMX7E3XHDToMl2UTABo1qcnsDucDD11YbXBES5NteCOvQ3g3BQ47U4K4IdG2rUuzcKo8ydpn98ESCT0WBIYS3Gn1KY5fa7BSxv0oKyoWYpH/s200/IMG_0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142584412328058322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnnEf9SqpbXJtGou2Fo387xS9KkHZmOIFp5aHtbX2q0XR7q_FIH8-yWCCAcHDl2OePuoGMJkh7E5SVh8yeqF8-HuTsXcqt7aIGs4GHnjkDNdvtGgvTK6TbNfzqXMmOo3gv_vj/s1600-h/IMG_0121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnnEf9SqpbXJtGou2Fo387xS9KkHZmOIFp5aHtbX2q0XR7q_FIH8-yWCCAcHDl2OePuoGMJkh7E5SVh8yeqF8-HuTsXcqt7aIGs4GHnjkDNdvtGgvTK6TbNfzqXMmOo3gv_vj/s200/IMG_0121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142584416623025634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So I've decided that pictures of hands are really awkward, but here they are anyway! A few pictures of the original setting (above) and a couple of the new one too (below)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcwNVYzuCZyQjqJIM3PndiyEeOPTrTrVXHfE2Or75_BpOCa6SUQtdhL6QqSV79nvftXCd_HTA-QhLgolK4xO5iWdxk3mL43jn0u1OJgL1ztFeU1gGFsR3rNr0Zh9RVMx5Y0fe/s1600-h/IMG_0158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcwNVYzuCZyQjqJIM3PndiyEeOPTrTrVXHfE2Or75_BpOCa6SUQtdhL6QqSV79nvftXCd_HTA-QhLgolK4xO5iWdxk3mL43jn0u1OJgL1ztFeU1gGFsR3rNr0Zh9RVMx5Y0fe/s200/IMG_0158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142584403738123714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOiYBeYbkqP5tVO9xc3vPj8K3_krqVb66q7zzriRU2wKsaGnWR0QpLVnC-h1QmS1zhWToPbNl6zC8CzE1-ZD1roEcMC-tI8EsMUYr1qUv2X7eO5FKGjLljSzaGgwM2fBbJhgW/s1600-h/IMG_0160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOiYBeYbkqP5tVO9xc3vPj8K3_krqVb66q7zzriRU2wKsaGnWR0QpLVnC-h1QmS1zhWToPbNl6zC8CzE1-ZD1roEcMC-tI8EsMUYr1qUv2X7eO5FKGjLljSzaGgwM2fBbJhgW/s200/IMG_0160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142584395148189106" border="0" /></a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-15227273383605357442007-12-07T14:26:00.000-06:002008-12-10T14:40:55.363-06:00"America does not like me right now"Yes, this is a quote from my <span style="font-style: italic;">African</span> housemate (the lump of layers on the left) in reference to our amazingly cold <span style="font-style: italic;">American </span>house. Though weather.com says the high for the day is 60, our house is a chilled 12. Why do we not turn up the heat you ask...who really knows.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQeZE3KEtB49lGxTtEdVqVFQZtrVPyeKW3wfh0G-PPfnj2ShRxLxljgJxweQIAPatHR6gtBfyDgBsnarEcy_y106TbxtXv41Wy9R20awAcwDjYuXcYuqhXzr2tf49OuQnddTC/s1600-h/cold.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQeZE3KEtB49lGxTtEdVqVFQZtrVPyeKW3wfh0G-PPfnj2ShRxLxljgJxweQIAPatHR6gtBfyDgBsnarEcy_y106TbxtXv41Wy9R20awAcwDjYuXcYuqhXzr2tf49OuQnddTC/s200/cold.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141336698558766498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkaYQuc7pQS04KKTbFyZPk__4mUhypWZKGOzUigfyum624HNdRMlbomnEUyplN1hlybJ4719pVBZ0EgShxtgG1BYIfW_kH2okZeDChSbflrs_ALETHELHg5mXLIMon6Tk-soY/s1600-h/jump.jpg"><br /></a>Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-44950416241396873212007-12-05T23:48:00.000-06:002008-12-10T14:40:55.982-06:00I HAVE A PRETTY LITTLE RING ON MY FINGER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK5gcednoX0NiFO3E5n-s8NP_majMOU8Bq79006pmUJnRS271_peTV_XpYjE2k2c01lK3wFXzEctfuog9xZ7bcUmuBGNYjvwkRKdlSXbnYOmNzc6IOvdALXIJfWaPv79dc2hf/s1600-h/Photo+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK5gcednoX0NiFO3E5n-s8NP_majMOU8Bq79006pmUJnRS271_peTV_XpYjE2k2c01lK3wFXzEctfuog9xZ7bcUmuBGNYjvwkRKdlSXbnYOmNzc6IOvdALXIJfWaPv79dc2hf/s200/Photo+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140733521941650770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It’s official! Josh and I are engaged!!!!!</span><br /></div>I wish I even knew where to begin with this one, but I’ll be honest, I’m still reveling in the fact that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man, and now everyone can see it—although they might be a bit blinded by the bling-bling on my finger! How wonderful that Josh is now my fiance and in two weeks when I meet Josh’s mom and brothers, I’ll not just be her son’s girlfriend, but her son’s fiance’—her future daughter!<br />So how did all this happen? (Here’s the long story for those hopeless romantics out there…for the rest of you, the important part is that we’re engaged and you can just skim through my ramblings!)<br />For all Josh’s plan-ahead, measured, think-through-everything history of decision-making, spontaneity has finally won out! Unbeknownst to me, over Thanksgiving Josh had the ring in his pocket and officially asked my Dad. He also, despite craftily convincing me of otherwise, was planning on asking me right before we left for Christmas in a couple weeks, but fortunate for me, he decided he couldn’t wait. So on Wedneday, November 28, at 5:45 pm Josh decided he didn’t want to wait any longer, and that he was going to propose…that night…at roughly 6:30. Oh yes, he did.<br />So, since we were already going to hang out at 6, Josh texted and asked me if I could come a few minutes late because he was finishing up some stuff. When I did come, though, Josh asked if we could go to Walmart…it had been a long day he said, and he needed to get off the mountain…but this was all a lie—a lie to get us going down the backside of the mountain. But as we drive, Josh pulls into the Catholic church on the mountain—which is a beautiful spot for us—one of those places that means so much to both of us because of a conversation we had on the stairs to the church months ago. At this point I think to myself, “could it be…NO. There’s no way.”<br />Then we pull over, and Josh tells me to leave my phone in the car so we could sit on the stairs again for a bit. At this point I’m thinking, “Oh my word! I think he’s….surely not?” As we get out of the car, Josh sneaks out a vase…my vase from my room in St. Louis! (While we were in St. Louis over Thanksgiving, Josh had snuck into my room and ‘stolen’ this vase I had of dried flowers from different bouquets he’d sent me over the summer.) At this point I realize, without a doubt, yes, this is it.<br />As we sit there, Josh gives me an envelope…when I open it, I find the beautiful letter that Josh had sent my parents back in OCTOBER to tell them that he wanted to marry me and explaining why and how he loved me. Mmm, yup…at this point enter tears by Corinne.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0SE3F5cR0dfGwtq8qatS1jN4y3tXhsjr5tLQe3VY5GDIZ3TuKK7kBJEFZ7HR2w6bDnHcbc4qsk_yC3lTlzVcjlBmi2zy4ePvF3vApDHDIbRqb_H0aXT0lk_bA-9EmbLNDv1G/s1600-h/Photo+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0SE3F5cR0dfGwtq8qatS1jN4y3tXhsjr5tLQe3VY5GDIZ3TuKK7kBJEFZ7HR2w6bDnHcbc4qsk_yC3lTlzVcjlBmi2zy4ePvF3vApDHDIbRqb_H0aXT0lk_bA-9EmbLNDv1G/s200/Photo+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140733650790669666" border="0" /></a>After reading this, Josh tells me there’s something else in the envelope. Now you’ll need a little background here. Last year, when Josh and I were all ‘scandalous’ and liked each other even though we couldn’t date each other (you know, those no staff-student dating type rules that are totally appropriate…most of the time!), we both ended up at Taco Bell at the same time, with other friends…so accordingly we sat on opposite sides of the restaurant so as to avoid suspicion. I was there with my<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoimuehTpiX1C4nKNpHjpQHnRXEghQ-CEGIcHAItx1iwVVTeHoppkQlX0ugFqKn6MRvOyiKfjTiLjs1CRuqZgLnWniunHvGFv3OYbi8CQwCNDkxZWtxNKQ1Eo2A8o5X-Mz7JH/s1600-h/Photo+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoimuehTpiX1C4nKNpHjpQHnRXEghQ-CEGIcHAItx1iwVVTeHoppkQlX0ugFqKn6MRvOyiKfjTiLjs1CRuqZgLnWniunHvGFv3OYbi8CQwCNDkxZWtxNKQ1Eo2A8o5X-Mz7JH/s200/Photo+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140733826884328818" border="0" /></a> roommate, who the entire time, was tossing the sauce packets (you know the hot sauce packets that have all kinds of phrases on them like: “the feeling’s mutual”). Jokingly, she picks up the one that says, “will you marry me?” and says that someday Josh should use this one. Ironically enough, at the same time, Josh, not having any idea what’s going on between Anna and I, picks up the exact same sauce packet, thinks to himself that this could be handy someday, and stows it away in his pocket….that same packet which now makes an entrance into our engagement story.<br />As I pull this silly little sauce packet out, Josh gets down on his knee, and asks me to be his wife. OH MY WORD!!!! At this point I’m completely speechless…crying some in true form…and before I can even manage to stutter out ‘yes,’ there’s a ring on my finger, and the man I love sitting right in front of me with that big ol’ grin that I can’t get enough of.<br />What’s even more beautiful, is that this was not just any ring—this is the same ring that Josh’s Dad used to propose to Josh’s mom years ago…I have never felt so honored as to have this family that I’m just starting to become a part of, through Josh, offering me this amazing gift of themselves to me, and in such a tangible way as this very important ring. I really am amazed and so honored beyond words.<br />Josh wanted to propose with this ring, because of the meaning behind it; however, he also wanted to make it a ring that really fit me and him, so while he proposed with the original ring in it’s original setting, he already had a new setting picked out for us, just waiting for the original diamond to be put into it. And now, a few days later, I have a new setting of the ring that I can’t stop looking at (and thus Josh is endlessly making fun of me!) that is so beautiful and even more importantly has so much meaning--this diamond has already signified so much to Josh’s family, and now too for Josh and I as we become a family together. (don't worry, I'll post pictures of the rings...original and new setting as soon as I find the cord to load them to my computer!)<br />Looking back to a year ago, it’s unbelievable to see where Josh and I have come…and it still blows me away…I still lose my breath every time he walks in the room, and I still can’t believe that through all the complications, God knew exactly what he was doing, and has given me an incredible man who in a few months I will have the honor of calling my husband.<br />Oh yeah, and y’all better be planning for a road trip to St. Louis in June!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26815334.post-8950388466160319602007-12-05T23:47:00.000-06:002007-12-05T23:48:36.521-06:0014 DAYS TILL HAWAII!Corinne "soon-to-be-Mather"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07863414984176551356noreply@blogger.com0