Been a long time coming...

Not sure if anyone reads this anymore but so much has happened and since I like looking back at this for my own good I figured I would update it. So since my last blog...I am really liking Marble Falls Middle School. The atmoshere here is great and people here are great. The only problem I am running into now is that I have hit a wall of wanting to teach math. I can't see myself doing it anymore. I sent my principal an e-mail today telling him I would really like to talk to him about how I am feeling. So I am kind of nervous. I know I told him in my interview I see myself still teaching math for like 5 years but I have just come to the realization I just can't do it anymore. It's not fulfilling and not what I went to school for...so we will see how that goes. As for that part of my life, a few days ago my life got a whole lot sweeter. On February 2nd, 2010 at 4:51 p.m., my sister, Jenny, had a sweet little baby boy, Brody Nicholas Popp, weighing in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long. I am absolutely in love with this little boy. Today is my first day not seeing him and I am having withdrawal symptoms...getting all teary eyed thinking about him, staring at a picture of him 24/7, and longing to be with him. He is absolutely wonderful and I already love being an auntie. Yesterday was my mom and Uncle Allen's 53rd birthday. So my mom absolutely loved her new present :) Saturday I will go to a wedding and then probably head to Wharton to see Jenny, Nick, and Brody. I just can't wait. As for the wedding...tomorrow it will be 4 months till the big day. I cannot wait!!! We have gotten a lot done...just a few more big things and then from there on it is just a few loose ends and minor details we really can't do till it gets closer. I called Ventura's yesterday and they said my dress should be here by next week and that bridesmaid dresses should be here mid-April. I can't wait to see my dress...it has been since the end of September that I have seen it on. I can't wait to see everything tied together. I am going to try to keep this updated a little more often...I have just had other things that blogging was the last thing on my mind. Anyways...hopefully I will be better :) Hope at least someone is reading this.

School Bells...woo hoo!!!

So school started and normally...if I were in G-town, I would be writing how much I hate it but I absolutely love it here! Kids are FAB...6th graders are such sweeties...the athletics part is great too because the girls are so respectful and try so hard. Love it...now I know that this has only been day 3 but if I was somewhere else I would already be coming home crying and wanting to quit. That's about it...I should have more but I don't. I think I am going to try to do some wedding stuff this weekend...had some stuff planned for a long time now and am so excited to go see if I can have it done. Will be partying it up in Shiner too. I need a break after how this week has gone...

One more funny thing about our engagement...

At the Gristmill, Thomas normally orders a hearty meal and I should have known after he ordered a chicken salad sandwich with green beans, that something was up. My dad pointed that out because I guess Thomas told him that he got so nervous when we were at The Gristmill that he ordered the chicken salad sandwich and dad told me I should have known something was up after he ordered that. I thought that was funny and cute. So many things click now and I so should have figured out what was going to happen but there were so many times I thought it would happen and it didn't so I just gave up...crazy how that works out. I gave up trying to find a guy at Jenny's wedding and BAM...along came Thomas...I give up trying to figure out when he will propose and BAM...it happened.

Sleepless Night...

So for some reason I cannot sleep so what better thing to do than blog...especially since I haven't in a while. So wedding planning is still kind of at a stand still...I need to get on the ball with things. I have the hall and church and that's about it. Hopefully this week I can get some phone calls done. Friday I start school/sport stuff...so my summer is pretty much done. But I don't want to talk about it because it stresses me out and is depressing so I guess I could talk about this weekend. Thomas and I just pretty much relaxed this weekend...Friday we didn't do anything...Saturday we cleaned in the morning and then at around 4:00 we left to go to the Shiner Saloon in Austin to listen to the Shiner Hobos...it was fun. They were done at 6:00 so we left and went to eat at Trudy's and then we went home and slept. Very boring people...I know. Sunday we just relaxed and went grocery shopping in the evening...and now I am just trying to sleep. I tried just laying in bed and sleeping but all I could do is just look at Thomas...creepy I know...and just think about how happy I am and how in love I am with him. I say it over and over again on here but I can't help it. I was just thinking about when we first met and how far we have come from then...if you haven't seen my first posts...we met in December of 2005 at a Texas State football game and I had a boyfriend at the time but Thomas had some "liquid courage" and came up to me and asked if I liked fat kids. I didn't even know how to answer that...it makes me laugh to this day. Then when we first started dating after Jenny's wedding he just kept saying how I couldn't saddle that wild mustang...he was talking about himself and that I shouldn't be thinking about anything serious and I kept telling him that I wasn't looking for anything serious and within a couple of dates everything changed and we were inseparable and talked every day. It's just so funny to think about everything from the beginning to where we are in life now.

On a sad note, my 5th grade teacher/best friends aunt Mrs. Siegel died Saturday morning. I will be going to the memorial and funeral Monday and Tuesday. Her family is in my prayers through these hard times. R.I.P. Mrs. Siegel...you will be missed.

WAYYYYY BEHIND!!!

Where do I even begin since I last left off. So much has happened!!! Shame on me :) So I got the job in Marble Falls...found out June 12, 2009 at like 9:15 a.m. I was so happy. We were at the Frio River on our family vacation. Then Thomas and I came home that Sunday and had to start figuring out where to live because our lease was up on the 23rd. That Tuesday I looked at a place but did not like it, Thursday we had Dad's friend Mike Harbers, who is a realtor in Lago Vista show us about 8 places and found a duplex that we love. Signed for the duplex June 19th. June 19th...the best day ever for me thus far...That afternoon when Thomas got back to San Marcos we decided to go out to eat...we went to the Gristmill...our first date...since the 20th is our anniversary we decided to celebrate early because we would be in Shiner that weekend. So we ate and then Thomas had the idea that we go drink in front of Old Main...in case you don't know Old Main is the best known building on the Texas State Campus. I thought it was odd but I didn't think anything of it because we have gone on campus a few times to walk around. I did have to say no to the drinking beer because I didn't want to get in trouble. So we headed there and now that I piece everything together, Thomas was acting really weird because he saw a vehicle there and workers and he was like "Why are there so many people here?" I didn't see it being a big deal. Then we were at Old Main and we were walking down the Quad but then we saw construction workers so we turned around and stayed in front of Old Main and just talked. Thomas asked if I ever think about how this place changed my life and I just had this blank stair and looking at him like he was crazy and I said "No, not really. Well, I am now." I then asked him how it has changed his life and I was hoping to hear because this is where he met me and to my surprise he did say that. He talked about how it and I have changed his life and then he got down on one knee and said "Jillian Leigh Chumchal, will you change my life again? Will you marry me?" He opened the box with the ring in it...I dodn't even think I let him finish asking me...I think he said "Will you" and I already said yes. It was all such a blur but yet I remember it. When he dropped to one knee I said "Are you serious?!?" I said that when he asked me to be his girlfriend too...that's my first thought on all surprises. When he was asking me to marry him his eyes got watery and his voice cracked. I was shaking and teary eyed. It was the most amazing feeling...we hugged and kissed and said "I love yous" over and over again. He said he really wishes we would have stopped for beer because he was so nervous and he said that he had like a 10 minute speech but forgot it all. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was AMAZING!!! Absolute best feeling ever!!! We then walked to the car and started calling everyone. My parents were having a party at the pool house and I really wanted to go eventhough we planned to leave Saturday morning. So we went and hung out for awhile but it took me forever to pack because I couldn't think of anything and I was just so happy. Saturday we had a great time at Jamie and Robert's Couples Shower. Great margaritas, food, music, and friends and family...what more could you ask for. Sunday we relaxed and celebrated Father's Day. Monday I called and booked the Church and Legion Hall for June 5th, 2010!!! YAY!!! We packed some stuff to Lago Vista on Monday and Tuesday we were all out of our apartment and moved in to Lago Vista. I absolutely love it. I also booked our photographers. The same ones that both my sisters used/are going to use and my cousin used them and is the one that actually found them. They are great...I wouldn't want anyone else. They are the ones to take the first picture of Thomas and I and when our journey all began. I love Thomas so much. I have never met someone quite like him. He brightens my day and has a way of making me laugh and has a way of making me open up and love more than I ever thought possible. Our journey is only beginning and I love every single minute of it.

I think that's about all the knews. I have a long to do list and hopefully I will be better about keeping up with this blog. There is another piece of big news in the Chumchal household...I just had to look at her blog to see if she posted anything about it but Jenny and Nick are EXPECTING...so I will be an AUNTIE...I am super super excited. I cannot wait. Thomas's brother and sister-in-law are expecting too so we will have to little bundles of joy in the wedding. YAY :)

Schools out for the Summer Time(sing it...you know you want to)

So...it's here...it's FINALLY here!!! No more school till August...I never would have thought to have made it to this point. I figured I would blog because today is inservice and I am about to walk out the door and I don't have my computer at home so I wanted to blog before I leave the doors of this place. It's so exciting to think this could be the last day of work for me here. I am really hoping this Marble Falls gig works out. I fell in love with the place at first sight and I really think it would be a great place to work. The principal there keeps giving me hints that he wants to hire me but he has a few more interviews. He has said that he is leaning towards me and that I might be the one. But definately not an exact answer...which he can't give since there are other interviewees but very exciting none the least. I wish I knew for sure that I was hired or not because tomorrow is a job fair and I would rather not go but I got to get my name out there is it falls thru. So tomorrow I will be waking up early again and going to the fair. If I don't get a job...I don't know what else I could have done...I have gone to 3 job fairs, applied to like 6 schools...I need to apply to more but it's so tiring...and have e-mailed multiple principals...I have been VERY proactive to say the least. It will be very weird if I do get this job in MF because it will really feel like I'm grown up. Yeah I have been out of college for 2 years and have had my own job but I will be moving far away from Shiner and really settling down somewhere where Thomas and I could possibly stay till we are old and grey. I really hope I get the job. I will definately blog about the outcome and if I get anything...my blogging might become a little less since it is summer time and I will want to be catching some rays instead of being inside and blogging...so if anyone reads this...it might get a little boring these next couple of months. As for anything else new besides school information and the job hunt...nothing new happening. I really thought I had Thomas all figured out and a round about time he would propose but I have no clue when now...he has totally thrown me off his trail. This weekend after the job fair Friday I will be making my 5 hour + or - trip to Bonham...by myself because Thomas had to already leave and we are going to a graduation and telling his friends bye because they are moving to another country for a few years. So that's this weekend. I also have picked up reading again...I have never been much of a reader but I bought The Choice by Nicholas Sparks Tuesday and I cannot put it down...started reading it yesterday at school and stayed up till 11:00 last night and will finish it up today when I get home...I can't wait. It really is a great book. I'm thinking about getting another book so this weekend if I get bored in Bonham, I can read it or when I'm laying out. :) That's about it for now...if anything else exciting happens I will post it!!! Later!!!

8 more days and counting...

8 more days of school...YAY!!! We only have I think 68 7th graders compared to our usual 180+. The last 10 days of school are TAKS tutoring days for the students that did not pass TAKS or missed more than 16 days of school. It seemed nice because since they stuck me with mostly all the smart kids I only had 7 students returning...which is super nice...1 first period, 5 second, 2 fourth, 2 sixth, and 1 seventh...but it turns into such a LONG day and its so quiet and awkward when I only have one kid in a class and I have to teach. It is so weird to be at this point in the year...I remember the first day of school...187 days left...I remember saying that exact thing and now 8 days...it didn't hit me till yesterday that I won't see most of my kids anymore...My babies which are 8th graders I will never see again...I call them my babies because they were my first set of students in my teaching career...they will always be my favorite group. It is sad when I think about it but yet hopefully I will get a new teaching job where I want to be and it will begin another great chapter in my life. But 8 more days...where has the year gone...so many ups and downs and stresses and DRAMA...can't forget that one...because there has been plenty of that. The year seemed to go by so slow and now it's almost gone...CRAZY...but no complaints.

On another note...this weekend is Memorial Day weekend but I don't have Memorial Day off...which totally sucks...but Saturday we are going tubing...I can't wait because I need a tan sooo bad! It's going to be so nice to get to relax and not travel this weekend. Next weekend we are not doing much either...we are going to try once again to get Thomas's and my parents to meet. Hopefully it works out this time...we shall see.