TCAP Promo 2013

To promote TCAP excellence at The Academy, we created a couple of videos this year. As always, thanks to everyone who participated! Can't wait to start brainstorming ideas for next year...

Yellow Rock Science Presentation

TCAP Promo 2012

Each year at The Academy, the teachers have an annual assembly to get our students pumped up about taking the TCAP test (formerly known as the CSAP). It has become a tradition to also make a movie featuring teachers and students getting ready for the big day!

We decided we needed to up the ante some from last year's movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzjeZn_n1AM&feature=youtube_gdata_player.

So here is the final 2012 TCAP movie product:

Some New Creative Sites I Love!

I will be adding a couple of new websites under my Creative tab. These have been apps/websites I've been using as of late (especially with my new iPhone).

Pinterest: a social networking site that allows you to post images and repin images you find throughout the site. It's especially cool to see creative ideas from others (recipes, crafts, fun stuff all around). Think of Facebook's Pieces of Flair and take that to a superhero degree...that's Pinterest.

One side note with respect to the site:  you do have to request an invite before you can sign up. In some ways, it toys with the inexplicable human desire for immediate gratification by making its users wait a day or so before actually getting account. Other than that, it's just an annoying little step...but creates a sort of V.I.P.-feel to the site and is well worth the wait. As far as I can tell, no one is denied a request to join.

The iPhone app hasn't been the greatest at always working. It seems to have several bugs that need to be worked out. When they are figured out, I think it will be an awesome site to use regularly via the app.

Next on the list is Instagram. This is by far, one of the best iPhone photo apps I've used. It is so much fun to apply the different filters with your shots. It helps make even the most inept photographer into a genius with just a few easy steps.

To take Instagram to the next step, you can go to StickyGram and turn your amazing photos into mini magnets. I can think of a million ways to use these cool little magnets (gift ideas, save-the-dates, business cards, or simply additional coolness to your fridge's massive magnet collection)!

These are the moments I truly love technology!

Thankfully Surprised

In the spirit of the holiday, Thanksgiving that is, I decided to compile a list of things I'm thankful from this year. After reflecting, I realized a lot of things have been amazing this year...and despite the tragedies, I continue to thank the Lord for His tremendous blessings.

The List Begins...I am so thankful for:
1. The Lord Jesus Christ for giving me life, for loving me, for saving me.

2. My family, not only my parents (Bob &; Janette) and sister (Amanda), but my grandparents (Emma & Fred), aunts and uncles (Paula & Frank,  Abe & Cris, Geno & Susan), first cousins (Victoria & Joe, Victor, Sam, Nick, and Andrew), second cousins (Isaiah, Jacob, and Isabel). Each and everyone one of these people are near and dear to my heart. They make up the fabric of who I am and where I've come from, and for this I give thanks.

(This is Isaiah's First Holy Communion!)

3. Friends near and far who I've met during the various stages of my life. Without each of them, I would not see the world with such wide-open eyes.

4. Being able to travel so much this year. Some of the trips were planned, others were spur of the moment! This year I got to go to the following locations:

• Washington, D.C. in January for the Inauguration

• Atlanta, GA in March for Sarah's Birthday and a FeRVOR concert. I had to leave Denver in a blizzard...it was scary, but made it okay!

• Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica in June for a vacation 

• Washington, D.C. in September for the Eucharistic Congress. I met so many amazing women during this retreat!

Each of these trips gave me moments of joys and great memories for which I am very grateful.

5. Being able to walk alongside some of the coolest teens this year. We've done several studies including Theology of the Body, Blue Like Jazz, and Epic Church History. We've done community service, attended Steubenville of the Rockies, and prayed across the local high schools. They all continue to teach me so much, and I pray that I am doing the same for them. I hope to be a reflection of Christ to each of them--to love them as He sees them and loves them. A shot out to: MF, EF, ES, MS, ES, and MB--you all ROCK!

6. The opportunity to start up new endeavors such as a photo-a-day blog with my good friend Sarah. We call it Resplendent Awakening. It has been really cool to start documenting my life daily in a way through this blog. It has given me a new perspective and for this, I am thankful.

7. Getting to go to some very cool performances this year:

• Denver Pops Orchestra-my sister's in this orchestra, and they impress me every time I see them! 

• Star Wars in Concert-I didn't realize how much of a fan I was! While I was there, I saw so many people I knew--it was hysterical! 

• Wicked the Musical-again, another thing to give me tremendous perspective on how to not judge something by its outward appearance.

8. Being able to help others via community service, monetary donations, and even hair donations! Locks of Love received a 10 inch pile of my hair this year!

9. Being able to work at The Academy. Not only am I thankful for a job in general, I am thankful for all of the fun people I work with--as well as my students. Teaching 7th graders this year has been new and an absolute blessing!

(Here's some of us playing scooter basketball!)

10. Getting to continue this journey known as LIFE. This year, we lost those we love very dearly and they are not forgotten. But even more than that, I carry on with hope--knowing that God will continue to place us in the palm of His Mighty Hand to carry us on this journey. He makes us strong when in reality, we are weak. He fills us with the Breath of Life that can only come from Him. In Christ Jesus, I remain...Joyful!

Traveling Abroad...Again!

Hey everyone!
If you want to follow my adventures in Central America this summer, go to this blog. I hope to update often during the trip with pictures and stories along the way. Keep an eye out for video clips after the trip!

Pura Vida....

Amir

Amir, originally uploaded by Joyous111.

I love going through old photographs and finally *doing* something with them. Amir turned into a Michael Jackson wanna-be pretty quickly after playing for a while with this photo.

I decided I'd start posting more of my work on this blog for all to see! So, although some of the following posts will be older work, I figured I can play catch up!

I'm Now Addicted to this Site

Thanks to Sarah, who shared this website with me, I'm addicted! I love to post items in the forum, and I hope to try some of the crafts too! You do need a Flickr account to post pics in the forum, but it's easy to get one! 

Hope you enjoy!

Simply Amazing

Egypt Pics...Finally

Back in October, I got to spend an amazing week in Cairo with my friend Sarah. It was so awesome to see all of the details of her life. Although, the heat was definitely a factor, it was also stunning to see the "Things of Old" (i.e. Coptic churches, The Pyramids, Valley of the Kings, etc.). Things are just really OLD there!! It's fantastic! Nothing compares to the "old" stuff we have here in the States!

I also found it very amusing that I kept on being mistaken for Arab. It was pretty cool. Everyone would ask me, "Do you speak Arabic?" and I'd respond, "La-a" which is "no" in Arabic. They'd all laugh and laugh.

I found the people to be warm and lovely. The culture is obvious very different than the little bubble I live in, but that's what makes a traveling experience so great! They don't stand in lines, personal space is non-existent, and everything from McDonald's to the local restaurant delivers! When ordering an Oreo McFlurry be sure to say it with an accent, or else they won't understand what you want!

Click on the link to see pics from Egypt as well as all of my other travels!

I DID! I BOUGHT MY TICKET!

Well, I've been talking for sometime now, of how I wanted to visit my friend in Egypt. Finally, today, I took the plunge and spent the bucks on my ticket to Cairo!! I'm soooooo excited!

Um, I am still in shock!! I can't believe it! I have wanted to go to Giza, Cairo, etc. since I was a child, milling over ancient history books. I sat in awe and wonder at the ancient language engraved in tombs made up of symbols.

Oh how exciting!

Summer Fun

I've recently remembered a couple things that I love to do during the summer that I've been missing out on:

1. Riding my bike! It's been ages since I've taken the ol' Schwinn out for a spin. I'm totally stoked to take her out in the beautiful summer weather!!


I might even set a goal for myself to ride it to work and back...that may be later in the summer, but it'd be cool to be able to do!





2. Playing with frisbees! Now, these have become my favorite discs to throw around in the yard. They fly fast and far, and are fairly easy to catch! Just check out the link to get one online.


Perhaps I'll get good enough to run around and play on a team again!



The best thing about the summer is being able to play outside for hours on end and the weather just be perfectly warm! I'm so glad the piles of snow are a vague memory, and my spirits aren't dampened by the ice, snowflakes, and coldness in the air!

Thanks God, for the SUN! Thanks God, for Your SON! Our lives are infinitely brighter with these two things...we'd die without them both.

The National Western Stock Show

Today was such a fun day! I think my $21 ticket to the Pro Rodeo at the Stock Show was the best money I've spent in ages! It was a very special event for the family, because Isaiah, my godson, got to Mutton Bust at the Rodeo. He was so adorable-all decked out in his cowboy gear-ready to go for it. During his pre-ride interview, he said he was nervous, but also very excited. He was excited to see the pretty Rodeo Ladies (the Rodeo Queens) up-close!Of course, we were all there to cheer him on. In fact, we even got mentioned in the group sales marque because there were so many of us!




































We all cheered like crazy when our boy came up to the plate. Isaiah grabbed on tight, squeezing his legs around that sheep, and the timer started. The longest a kid held on before him was 82 (which is 8.2 seconds). Isaiah's uncle Tony was holding onto the sheep for him (in the red shirt). And they released!

Isaiah managed to keep a grip on that sheep for 8.7 seconds! He almost made it the entire length of the stadium! The all-time record for mutton bustin' at the National Western Stock Show is 8.9 seconds!! Isaiah was so excited! He was especially excited that the Rodeo Queen held his hand to lead him out of the arena.

No other kid managed to hold on longer than our cowboy! So, he got a major trophy from Frontier Airlines. The professional cowboys all came out to present the kids with their massive trophies. He also gets a chance at free airfare from Frontier for holding on the longest!


Isaiah's brother, Jake, was so excited to see his brother come up to the stands with his trophy! Mom got all choked up and teary-eyed to see her little boy out there. He looked so small out in the arena compared everyone else. How precious!During the post-interview, Isaiah said that his favorite part was giving the Rodeo Queen (who was, "A hot, hot, hottie,") a kiss. I just laughed at him, but I guess every cowboy's gotta have motivation. He he he!

Lots of people came up to him for high-fives and congratulatory words of encouragement! He had a barrel rider (in purple sequence) come up and compliment his big ol' trophy too! The child was on cloud nine for the afternoon at least!We are all so proud of Mr. Isaiah! Way to ride hard and be brave!

Reflections on 25

Today was a pretty momentous day...I guess. At exactly 4:09 am this morning, I turned 25 years old. To be honest, I really wasn't looking forward to the coming of this birthday. Mostly, I just had some really deep concerns about where my life is going, and what it really means to be 25 years old. Silly things kept on popping into my head like...I've lived 1/3 of my life according to the national average...or how about, if I lived in Jesus' time, I'd almost be dead...and the ever favorite, I was expecting such a different life by the time I turned 25.

Basically, with a lot of love, a dear friend helped me get out of this mind frame. Instead, she said she was so happy it was my birthday, because it was the day that God decided to share His Joy with the world.

It made me realize I do want to share JOY with the world...be it in a friendly encounter, encouraging word, a prayer, or a hug. I want everyone around me to know that the Lord loves each of us more deeply and passionately than any other. He knows when we feel inadequate or like we've wasted time in our life. But honestly, time...age...all that stuff really doesn't matter. He created us to live with in into eternity and therefore, our souls are only bound to His glorification...not a time line.

I had a beautiful birthday...starting off with Starbucks and lovely thoughtful gestures from co-workers. My bestest friend brought me my favorite lunch and spent time with me to enjoy it. Then, I got to hang with my families at dinner at the Red Robin. Of course, they had to do the awkward birthday song..."Do we have a birthday here? Yes, we have a birthday here!" But I didn't let that spoil my night! ;-)

My beautiful godson, Isaiah spent the day figuring out a present for me. He designed a paper bag with a line and dot pattern (in pink marker) with his gift inside. He was so cute, because he helped make me an ankle bracelet, and gave me chocolates in a plastic zip-lock bag. My heart just melted, because it was so thoughtful and adorable! I mean, he got it down...chocolates and jewelry...what every girl wants for her birthday! hehehehe!

My family was so much fun, and I loved every single moment I got to spend with them during my party. Mom, Dad, Manda, Grandma, Grandpa, Karin, Matt, Isaiah, Jake...I love you all, and thank you for spending mt, Kate, Ben, Maddie, Mikey,y birthday with me! Twenty-five definitely had a sweeter feel because of you each of you sharing how much you love me. I am so thankful for each of you in my life. My sister made an amazing slide show movie for me with pictures from our childhood together, and it made me tear up it was so beautiful. It started showing me that the first 25 years of my life have always been filled with graces from God.














Then, I started thinking about all the things that are way cool about the number twenty five, and I even got some help from others! How about the:
Twenty Five Reasons to Watch Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark






Or what about Andy Warhol's genius style with Marilyn:






There are lots of really cool things with the number twenty-five in them too...like quarters...25th Wedding Anniversaries or years of service. I could go on forever...probably (or at least for 25 more years)!

So, those are my thoughts on the transition between 24 and 25 years old.

Blizzard of '06 and Christmas!

So, we had another huge blizzard (very similar to that of March 2003)! Basically, we're still stuck with lots of snow...and by lots, I mean over 2 feet of snow! It was pretty amazing to be all snowed in...however I'm never really a fan of the not being able to get anywhere without 4-wheel drive. I get cabin fever fast, and my little car (as seen beneath the hordes of snow) wasn't getting out fast! But, we managed to find stuff to do like getting ready for Christmas, playing Scrabble, and watching movies.

I'm so stoked for Christmas! We're definitely having a white one this year....very full of snow and whiteness all the way around!

I am most excited for the birth of Jesus to be celebrated. It's been a wonderful time to remember that God came to us via a baby. I am also blown away that Mary chose to say, "YES!" to God...even though she was so unsure and so young when God sent the angel Gabriel to talk to her about carrying the Son of Man.

My absolute favorite Christmas song is:
Oh Holy Night......check out this stellar lyrics:

Oh Holy Night

Oh holy night!

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine

Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the wise men from Orient land

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.


It's just so beautiful! I love it. I hope you have a very Merry and Christ-filled Christmas. If you need a place to go for Christmas brunch, let me know! We're having lots of food, Christmas songs, and fun!

Which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Are You?

Donatello You've been described as 'the brains' of your family or group of friends. You're the natural born, 'Mr. Fixit'. You're also considered the most reserved, preoccupied with your own little thoughts and ideas. But that doesn't mean you don't hang with your family and friends! But, you still find it easy to get lost in your own thoughts...daydreaming often. You'd rather talk things out than fight. You long for a day when there's nothing but peace in the world, and when you can finally rest with your own thoughts. Violence is something the world could completely live without. One of your labels may be, 'true to blue friend'. You're strong at heart and powerful at mind.

Take The Quiz Now!

Quizzes by myYearbook.com