the last and the first.

"How was your last day of student teaching?"

is a very common question in my life currently. It makes my heart beat a little faster and a grin come on my face for different reasons. For one, I have actually completed something well. I feel like I did a job well done when it comes to this category.

Another reason is because I had the greatest kiddos in the world. No exaggeration there whatsoever. Every single class threw a surprise party for me. I've never had a surprise party before. Before first period, all of my little jokers were sneaking in grocery bags and boxes and refused to make eye contact with me. It was like they thought: "If I don't see her, she can't see me." Cute little boogers. Each class had a cake for me and they made cards and wrote me thank-you notes. My fourth period went all out with a banner and apparently they had been preparing for this for days, if not weeks. Like I said, cute little boogers.

My teacher even gave me a fantastic present: She "robbed the English office" and gave me a ginormous bag of school supplies: grade books, pens, pencils, dry erase markers, high lighters, etc.

It was hard for the bell to ring at 2:18 but it happened. I loaded my car up with my loot and headed for home. While driving I made a few phone calls to fellow LTN-ers and mi madre and left voicemails that sounded something like, "I AMMMM DOOOONNNE. D-O-N-E. DONE! DONE, DONE, DONE!" I'm sure they enjoyed it.


On my way home, I checked my Twitter to find out that my beautiful friend Caleb's grandmother wasn't expected to make it through the night. I immediately U-turned in the middle of Gorman Street and headed to The Ranch. I don't have an update, but I do know that God is Sovereign and Caleb and his family are in His hands. If you're the praying kind, I'd appreciate it. Caleb's grandfather past away back in the summer and this is an incredibly hard time for his family.

After Caleb had to leave, I headed out to dinner with some other LTN girls to celebrate the conclusion of this crazy ride. It was super fun but exhausting at the same time.

My darling Ally, one of my best friends in the major, leaned over and asked if I wanted to catch a movie with her. We headed out to the $1.50 and caught up with friends, Risa and Dre. We went to see Easy A, which is an adaptation of The Scarlet Letter. If there wasn't so much cursing in it, I would totally buy it and use it in my classroom. It was super cute, but all of the four letter words ruined it for me.

On the way back from the movies, Risa said, "Hey Rebekah, are you going to Hannah's tonight?" CRAAAAAAPP!!!! My girlies were having a Christmas party and I had COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN! I sped over to UWoods and joined in the celebration for a couple of hours.

By midnight I was exhausted and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.


"How was your first day of not student teaching?"

is another popular question in my life.

True story: I spent it in bed.

I didn't set an alarm. When I woke up, I took the dog outside, came back in to bed and watched a season of Friends, a couple of movies and a few episodes of Will and Grace while eating many, many bowls of spaghetti. The only reason I changed into good sweatpants instead of holey ones was because My Kelsey texted me, "There's too much cheese ball left over from the party last night. Go eat it." I consequently spent the next 7 hours at their apartment.


A couple of you have noticed the mention of a dog in my Tweets and my blog posts.
Well, it's official: My puppy has come to live with me!

It's a long story, but she's here and I'm loving it. She's a lot of work and I definitely cannot be as independent as I once was (ie, I had to come home last night at 3 am instead of crashing on my girls' couch because I didn't want Milley to be alone), but she's worth it.

My Hannah hates animals. Cannot stand them. I find it amusing because we're so similar in almost everything else and she's also the most caring human being on the face of the planet. But it's true, she hates dogs. She puts up with Milley because she loves me, but that's about as far as it goes. My Hannah has noticed, however, that Milley seems to have taken on my personality in the many years that we have been together:

1. Everyone that walks in the door is there to see her.
2. She will crawl into anyone's lap and demand attention, and she's just so cute, you can't help but love her.
3. She doesn't understand the concept that some people just don't like her.
4. She's stinkin' dramatic.

Case in point: I was enjoying my day in bed yesterday, but every now and again I would get up and take Milley outside to do her business. About 4pm yesterday, Milley was done sitting around. She wanted to go on the run that I promised her (before I knew it was going to be raining all day) and she wanted to dance around and get dirty and sweaty--I wasn't having any of that. I was beautifully curled up in my beloved bed and wasn't planning on getting out that day. Milley came up put her nose up next to my nose and starting licking my face and whining a bit.

"Baby, I am not taking you outside. Now come lay down."

She whined a bit more until she realized I wasn't playing. Then, dramatically, she plopped (not laid, plopped) herself onto the floor beside my bed and sighed loudly. After a few sighs, she looked up to see if I had changed my mind. When she realized I had not, she sighed some more. Looked up. Laid back down. Sighed some more. Looked up. Laid down. Sighed some more.

When she realized I really was not moving, she huffed (not sighed, huffed), and rolled over so she was no longer facing me.

Diva.

things.

Things I Should Be Doing:
1. Walking the dog.
2. Brushing the dog.
3. Writing (any of) my book(s).
4. Vacuuming the house.
5. Cleaning my room.
6. Scrubbing the toilet.
7. Scrubbing the bathtub.
8. Making my portfolio.
9. Creating my estimated-to-be-more-than eleven page long paper.
10. Researching Bible Study books for next semester.
11. Spending time with my Jesus.
12. Cooking.
13. Reading a book for pleasure.
14. Finishing the six, read it: six, loads of laundry that I've been working on for a week.
15. Straightening the house.
16. Cleaning out my car.

Things that I'm Actually Doing:
1. Watching Barbara Walter's Oprah Special.
2. Scratching the dog behind her ears.
3. Typing on my blog.

Welcome to my Friday. I don't care if you judge me.

You want to know why? Because I finished student teaching today. And I'm heading out with the LTN girls tonight. And so, the to-do list can wait for tomorrow.

i heart food...and my baby girls.

I heart food.

I don't think this comes as a shock to anyone.

I have two amazing cooks as grandmothers and my mother has also inherited those skills. Beyond that, I am loving learning how to cook some favorites. The best $7 I think I have ever spent was on a Campbell's cookbook. I got it on clearance at Barnes and Noble and I have been able to make about half of the recipes so far in the past eighteen months that I have owned it. They're quick and simple and involve simple ingredients that I normally all ready have in the house.

confession: i hate it when i get really excited about a recipe to only realize that i need some crazy ingredients that cost like $25 per ounce. not cool, recipe people. not cool.

This experimenting with cooking is about to come in handy...

But more on that later.

I also heart my baby girls.

Last night, I had my baby girls over to my house to have our Christmas celebration. About eleven people showed up and we ate chocolate and laughed and opened presents. I loved seeing how my girls know each other--each present was something that everyone will enjoy. Be it a zebra striped Snuggie, or a hot cocoa set, or some Wolfpack ornaments, it was so fun!

Since it was the last meeting of the semester, my girls naturally asked what was in store for us next semester (I will not think about it being my last semester. I will not think about it being my last semester. I will not think about it being my last semester...). My reply, "I have no idea." That seems to be a common theme in my life these days.

We decided to move our Bible Study to Wednesdays and do it early...so I can feed them dinner!!! I'm really looking forward to spending a meal with my girls every week next semester. We used to meet at Fountain Dining Hall on campus their freshman year, and it was an amazing time of fellowship. I loved watching their personalities come out while they interacted with me and each other. I also remember towards the end of the year, I was running really late for some reason, and I showed up to dinner, paid to get in, got my food, and headed to our usual table...to find no one sitting there. And it wasn't because someone else was sitting in our seats...my girls were no where to be found. The little pranksters had moved to the far corner of the other end of Fountain and were snickering as they were hiding out and stuffing their faces with food. Silly little angels.

After they left, I headed out to Kanki to meet up with my family to have dinner for my dad's birthday! I sure do love that man!

When I got home, I sat down and began to think about what I would cook for all of my girls next semester. I started making a list, and am about 3 meals short.

QUESTION #1 OF THE DAY: Do you have a recipe that could feed between 10-15 cheaply that I could add to my list of meals to serve my girls? I'd appreciate an email: sanderson.rebekah@gmail.com.

After we decided I was going to feed them every week, we then realized we had to decide what to study next semester. We went through some options, but still came up with a blank.

QUESTION #2 OF THE DAY: Is there a Bible Study book that you could request to help me out when figuring out what to teach my girls? Feel free to email or comment!

Here's some qualifications of what we're looking for in a study:
--I have a vast range of believers in my study. I normally appeal to the more advanced ones so that the "younger" ones are challenged and learning and the "older" ones aren't bored.
--As much as Beth Moore has to offer, she's rather time consuming and expensive. We're overworked and underpaid college kids. We love her, but she's just not right for us.
--We would also prefer a topic instead of a book of the Bible. In Spring 2010, we did a book called "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" by Cynthia Heald and it was fantastic. We might look into doing another one of her selections.
--I realize that "contentment" and "dealing with singleness" are usual topics for college girls, but going back to the idea of a "vast range of believers" I have labeled that as more of a one-on-one topic with my girls, rather than a group discussion. We do use it as a supplement, but it's not something that we're going to discuss for fifteen weeks straight.

I would really appreciate any advice!

Happy Hump Day :)

I so enjoy...

I so enjoy...

...reading.

...teaching.

...coffee.

...my Bible Study girls.

...cooking.

...television.

...spending time with my amazing Savior!

...my puppy.

...dancing.

...Diet Coke.

...road trips.

...phone calls with my Clearwater and Lebanon families.

...weekends with my Lebanon and Clearwater families.

...any day with my family!

...hugs and kisses.

...blog stalking.

If I could keep all of these things in my life, I would be happy forever!

I adore reading a certain blog every day. The writer is so sassy and so cute and she has the most adorable kids. It's on my bucket list to go through and read her entire blog (she started blogging in 2007. it's going to be a chore).

Today, I found an old post talking about a weekend that she and some girlfriends take every year. They take a weekend to go away and cook and laugh and hang out and just spend time together. Sometimes they bring their daughters, sometimes they bring their mothers. Sometimes they just bring their sweet tooth. I hope that somewhere down my line these weekends can happen with me and my baby girls, or more weekends with my Clearwater family or Lebanon family.

As I was reading the blog today, I envisioned a future conversation that I would have with my hubby like the one that she was having with hers.

Me: "Hey, sweeeeeeeetiee?"
Hubby: "What do you want now, my most precious wife that I would do anything for?"
Me: "Could you build me a kitchen?"
Hubby: "I already did you sweet thang."
Me: "No, no, no. Like another one. A big one where people could gather to cook and laugh and have fun. Like, another one in a building outside?"
Hubby: "So, you just want a big building that is just a huge kitchen?"
Me: "Well, I'll need a sweet dining room so we can eat that good food that I'm going to cook."
Hubby: "You want a kitchen and a dining room?"
Me: "Well, and we'll also need a nice living room so we can lounge while the cookies are baking!"
Hubby: "You want a kitchen, a dining room, and a living room?"
Me: "Yeah. Just somewhere that the families could come and hang out so we can see each other more often."
Hubby: "So what you really want...is a guest house?"
Me: "Just something in the back yard."
Hubby: "You want a guest house...in the back yard...But what's going to happen to it the other 50 weekends of the year when one of your family members isn't over?"
Me: "...We could keep it clean...You know, like if one of my girls wanted to move in..."
Hubby: "One of your girls??? Rebekah Sanderson, you all ready made me support 12 children. You want your girls to move in too?"
Me: "Well, not all of them..."
Hubby: "Seriously?"
Me: "But they're the loves of my life."
Hubby: "I thought I was the love of your life..."
Me: "You are...but they came first..."
Hubby: "Okay, so let me get this straight...we met back in the day. Then I couldn't help but fall in love with you because of your beauty and your charm. Then we had one of the most amazing weddings on the planet. And then we started having kids and filled up the house. And now you want a second house so you can entertain other people? Did I get that right?"
Me: "I'm so glad we agree on this!"
And then I give him a little smooch and he heads outside to start digging a foundation :)

From This Day Forward...

Yesterday, I spent the day in Clemmons, NC attending the wedding of Emily Ward and Brandon Compton. Emily and Brandon are two friends that I met through Crusade and I adore each of them. I remember the first time I met Brandon was at BoJangles my freshmen year--we spent more than an hour talking about life, school, Jesus, and whatever else it is that people talk about at BoJangles. Emily and I met through mutual friends. One of the first times I remember talking to her was at Shak-A-Thon my sophomore year. This past year we became even closer just through different circumstances. There are few people in this world that can make me smile brighter than when Emily walks through the door. She has an amazing heart for the Lord and her relationship with Brandon is completely focused on how they can glorify Him together. I have asked Emily some hard questions about my walk with the Lord, and Emily has always been honest with me and is constantly pointing me to the cross. I want a relationship like the one that Emily and Brandon have. They're the type of couple that it makes you sick to watch them for too long because love and adoration is pouring out of their eyes. But it's just so beautiful.

I love you guys and I cannot wait to continue to watch you grow in Christ together and love one another as He loves His Church. Thank you for everything you mean to me.


While I have your ear, let me tell you a bit about where I see myself in a couple of months.
The short version is: I HAVE NO IDEA.

But I'll give you the long version and all of the options that I have at my door.
1.) I'm looking for teaching jobs in Raleigh, NC. Big shocker there.
2.) I'm looking for teaching jobs in Knoxville, TN. My explanation for this: Why not? I have a plethora of friends and family there and I'm always in need of a good adventure!
3.) I am filling out my application to be an Intern with Crusade. I love my baby girls. So, so much. I love the movement that I have been a part of since January, 2007. It's been a crazy ride and I figured "Why stop at four and half years?" This application also allows me to look into going back overseas with Crusade for a year or two--like I said, I'm always looking for a good adventure.
4.) I am filling out an application to be a part of a church planting team in Murfreesboro, TN (right outside of Nashville). Another great adventure with Christ being the center of it. I would be helping promote the church and the Gospel and also getting a teaching job.
5.) I am writing books. Yes, you read that correctly. Somewhere in my busy schedule I have found time alone with my computer to write and write and write and write. I am working on a couple of fiction pieces that have been stirring for a few months and also a Christian Inspirational book. I am also hoping to follow a non-fiction idea that I've had for a few years this summer. I have no idea where this will lead me, but it's an option that I might pursue.
6.) I would love to work for Amazima Ministries. A friend of mine found a blog of a girl who packed up and moved to Uganda and has been loving on orphans for a couple of years now. She has also founded a non-profit that supports these orphans (similar to the workings of Compassion or World Vision). I am working on getting together a "ministry portfolio" as a type of resume so they'll send me over there to work with Katie and love the little orphans for a year or two.

I know that some of these ideas are crazy. I know only a few of these ideas are close to home. I know that only a few of them also follow the standard "American Dream" idea. But I honestly don't think that I was built for something "normal". Too much of my life these past couple of years has been so far outside of "normal" that I'm not even sure I could really figure out how to do that.

The reason I am listing these ideas out for the vast yonder of people to read is to ask for prayer. I am sure that you can see that I am at a loss for words. I am sure that you can see how confused I am about my life and where to go from here. I am asking for guidance from The Throne daily, and the only thing He's giving me is "Love Me. Trust Me. Obey." Even with this answer, this idea of which avenue to take in order to love, trust, and obey Him is beyond me.

Just as Emily and Brandon are going from this day forward, I am as well...I just don't know where exactly I am going...

My Clearwater Family (Day 23)

My Clearwater Family.

Two and half years ago, I packed up The Reba (before she was named The Reba) and headed down to Atlanta, Georgia as a pit stop on the way to Clearwater, Florida. Kerianne joined me for the trip and we also made a stop in Charlotte to pick up Alex.

I remember that we showed up at Mattie's house (when he was just Matt) and thought that we were the first car there, and so we drove around the block for about ten minutes. I remember walking into Matt's front door and seeing this living room full of boys staring at us. Thankfully, Marla and Jenna were all ready there so we weren't the only girls. Kim and Julia soon showed up, followed by Kimi.

All of us (save T. Hays and Ryan) that slept over at Matt's house before we ventured to Florida.

I remember all of the girls sitting on my and Kerianne's bed talking that night. I remember getting in the car the next morning and making another 7 hour drive.


When we finally pulled up to the North Sunrise Hotel & Resort, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. It wasn't until about half an hour later when Ashey saw me at the bottom of the stairs and came up to me. "Are you Bekah?--Oh! I am so glad to meet you!" And then she wrapped me in a hug and I knew that I was not only going to be okay...I was about to have the time of my life.

Ashley and me walking down to get our group photo taken.

I love walking hand-in-hand with my sisters.

My sweet Ry-Ry.

That summer flew by. We rarely slept. We ate junk food. We swallowed too much Rita's (it's not really "eating" or "drinking". I couldn't think of another word...). We worshipped at Grace Christian Fellowship and found community at Peace Presbyterian Church. We laughed, cried, ate, napped, explored, advntured, played, worked, worshipped, swam, and sunburnt together. I went from having one brother and one sister, to having 26 sisters, and 15 brothers.

A great example of CBSP eating: we love Mexican food!

This was one of our first meals out :)

The happiest I have ever been in my life was Labor Day Weekend 2008. We all drove into Knoxville for Boomsday and some fellowship. Whenever I am having a bad day, I think about pulling into T. Hays' long gravel driveway and seeing Hannah, Julia, and Scarlet come running at me. I stopped my car and ran out without putting it in park--I wanted my arms around them so badly. We all squealed and cried and hugged, so happy to be reunited. I then walked into T. Hays' basement and squealed like there was no tomorrow when I saw the majority of my family hanging out on the couches. I remember Will running from me, a bit scared after seeing how excited I was, thinking that I would hit him in all of my joy. They eventually relinquished and let me hug them. Soon after that, we headed to The Ranch (RIP old buddy. CBSP loves you) for a dance party. Mattie was there to surprise me. I screamed my head off and almost fell down the stairs from the shock. And then Austin walked in and us girls immediately surrounded him for hugs--he was/is such a rock star.

The "Girl Pic" that we took before heading to The Ranch.
I treasure my sisters' laughs more than anything else in this world.

My best friend, my sister, my other half, Hannah Stewart Huffman.
I love her so much.

My Ra Baby.

It was the best weekend ever.

My beautiful sister, Sarah.

With the best people ever.

My sister, Rachel.

My kids will know about CBSP. And Lebanon. My kids might call a few of my Lebanon people "aunt" or "uncle" but I know that they will be calling some CBSPers "aunt" or "uncle." I know that my kids will know them. I know that my future husband has to have a talk with a few of those guys/girls before he can get on one knee.

Sarah, Ashley, and I cramped in the back seat of Kim's sweet little yellow car on the way to Rita's.

I tell my girls all of the time taht if they had known me before I went to Clearwater, they would have met a completely different girl than the one that loves them now. Clearwater taught me how to love. They taught me how to fully lean on Christ. They taught me about the necessity of community and prayer. They taught me how to have a daily walk with Christ, about how to have a relationship instead of following a religion. They taught me the necessity of community and prayer. They taught me how to be a sister.

I pray for all of you daily.

No, no photoshop was required for this picture. This is just how this picture of me and Rachael showed up on Mattie's camera.

I love you with every piece of my heart.

Our Fourth of July celebration down near the Pier.

Hannah, Ashley, Jordan, me, and Ryan.

I am always looking forward to the moment when we're all together again.

Our group photo at Celebration Station for our Tacky Golf Event.

I am quite the fan of entering raffles and giveaways.

Aaaaaand, wouldn't you know it, my dear friend Christin is doing a giveaway on her blog, Carolina City Girl!

She is quite the crafty queen and she is also a Meredith girl, which means homeslick can shop! I'm really hoping I get the fabulous picture board she is giving away.

Check her out, and get in on the action :)