#1- An Almond Kringle from Wisconsin found in the local Target. Delicious does not begin to describe it.

#2- Brunch catching up with my wonderfully encouraging friend, Jen

#3- Buying yarn and having the teacher I share a classroom with whip up scarves for me!

#4- Free parking and Bru Burger after the Ash Wednesday service at church.

#5- Valentine’s Day treats from my students
Yes, that’s a bear playing “Baby Love” with lit up red cheeks on the right. 🙂

#6- Going out to dinner and a movie with friends from my community group on Valentine’s Day

#7- Napolese pizza and a fun time with my friend Rachael

#8- Just hanging out with my brother’s family and capturing this gem of a photo of my niece on a Sunday afternoon

#9- Someone to wave goodbye to and something to put on the fridge after I returned from my brother’s family’s house

#10- President’s Day brunch at Cafe Patachou with my friends Shanda and Janae

#11- Singing hymns with my community group on Sunday nights

#12- The annual bake-off at school. My kitchen and homemade Snickers bars on top and my friend’s chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch contribution (bottom right)… they were both really good, but my Snickers took the prize. 🙂

#13- My friend Kim bringing me her leftovers for my lunch at school- she knows I’m not great at cooking for myself all the time. 🙂

#14- Speaking with Burmese parents about our school’s ESL program and assessments at a parent meeting.
(Yes, I was slightly stalker-like when I got this photo, but pictures help solidify memories, so I stalked a little.)

#15- A former student coming back to visit the evening of the parent meeting and drawing me a picture

#16- Doing a lesson with my students about Helen Keller by having them blindfolded and trying to write words in each others hands.
Yes, I that’s a steelers scarf used as a blindfold.

#17- Birthday love from work friends

#18- Birthday love from students: A gun safety drawing, pop-up birthday card, and neon eye shadow (that I had the chance to use a week later for my 80’s outfit!)

#19- Birthday evening with my brother, sister-in-law, nieces, and nephew: Five Guys burger and the futuristic pop machine hit the spot! 🙂

#20- Birthday recitations from my nieces and nephew (poor quality photos due to videoing at the same time- sorry!)
Those who know me well may recognize the towel pillow being held by my niece.  🙂

#21- Birthday cake! (and being sung to by my Indy and South Carolina brothers’ families, thanks to a well-timed call from the south!)

#22- An unheard of 2-hour delay: A day-after-my-birthday present from IPS!

#23- An ice storm and a car without ice on it (thanks to my brother’s garage overnight)

#24- Flowers. I love them. That is all.

#25- Out for Turkish food with Kendra

#26- A four hour brunch with college friends Kellie and Kendra

#27- Sunny Saturday fun: foot massages, the IMA, and signs of spring

#28- February birthday celebration fun with my community group

#29- An updated photo of my loves in Australia

#30- My super expensive dream lens gift from my parents… or not. Ok, so it’s just a coffee mug, but it still makes me happy. I’ll get that lens someday. 🙂

#31- Packing up 435 English language assessments from our school and taking them downtown (and being done with testing… for about a week).

#32- Going out for Mexican with friends from work and using my conversation starters present to talk about things other than school.