Mixed Emotions

WOO HOO!! 

America has a new Idol...KRIS ALLEN!  I couldn't be happier, but I couldn't be more sad that I no longer have set plans to watch him on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  I can't wait to see and hear what he is going to do next!!

Endings and Beginnings Part II

Sorry for the delay....

Endings:  GRADUATION DAY!! My family and I arrived at Thompson Boling Arena at 7:30 in the morning to watch me, Dolly Parton, and about 1,072 other students graduate from college.  It was three hours long complete with every name being read, commencement speech by Dolly Parton, honorary doctorate awarded to Dolly, and Rocky Top lead by none other than Dr. Dolly.  It was a memorable ending to a memorable college experience.  

Beginning:  I MOVED into an apartment with two of my best friends.  They are pictured below protecting me from harm on my first night out of the house after my knee surgery.  They love me well.  I am loving it here with them.  I have never gotten to live with these two, but they have always lived together.  The joke every night is, "Well, Steph you better get home before it's too late."  Funny now because I am home with them...such a good feeling!!

Endings and Beginnings Part I

This week is going to be full of endings and beginnings for me.  I want to share them with you, of course!  Here is part one:

Endings:  I had my last math exam yesterday at 2:45.  Goodness, I never thought that I would make it to the last math exam of college.  Walking out of it and having the joy knowing that I would never spend the amount of time and stress on a math test again made all the sweat and tears that have come with this major turn into a blur.  I walked up the hill for the last time.  Now I am going to have to really start exercising! I had my last road trip in undergraduate college.  This road trip was to Somerville, TN with my dad.

Which brings us to...

Beginnings:  Dad and I loaded up the car this morning with a crate, bowls, and chew toys and pulled out of Broady Place at 6 am.  We were headed to pick up the fifth member of the Bales' family....A NEW PUPPY.  Guys, he is outrageously awesome.  I am sure I will "blog" about him a lot.  We picked him out from a litter at Robert Milner's Duckhill Kennels.  I had to choose between two....hard decision.  The place was full of labrador retrievers....Heaven on earth to me!  This is funny to me that I say that because it smells horrible, it is louder than a rock concert, you can't not get mud on every inch of your clothing.  This is a time when I put my girly girl ways to the side because I just love these little creatures.  Please come by and see him!! Pictures are below....isn't he beautiful!!  

Lindsay and the puppy.  

He sleeps for about 15 minutes and then is ready to play for 15 minutes, sleeps 15 and plays 15, etc.

His first visitors.

Nic, Jess and Carson came over tonight to see the main man.

I mean, really, what can I say....PERFECT!!!

After his first bath before we took him home.

Pure Joy!

Now, you might be wondering what his name is.  Well, to be honest we haven't decided yet.  If you think of any cool names let us know!!

To be continued...

And the winner is....

This morning I woke up and started studying, just a normal exam week day. I traveled to Knoxville (I'm currently a Maryville resident until I move again on May 8th) to take a final. I did not do very well, I'm almost positive, and I was the last person to turn in my test, which turned out to be a positive. My teacher and I talking about what my plans were for the future. During this conversation he found out that I am graduating next Friday and want to be a math teacher...."now, this can only happen if I pass this class," I nonchalantley commented, and he simply replied, "oh, don't worry about it." So, I am going to take his word and not worry about it, what a nice feeling! Walking home I turned my phone on and I had recieved a couple of messages...one that really caught my eye. My roommate Amy had sent me a text message that said, "heard the great news. One of my friends is going to be teaching there next year too!" I was totally confused because at that moment I had no clue where I was teaching next year. I had no idea what she was talking about, and I had no internet access to see if I had received an email telling me this much awaited news. Quick fix...call mom! She was at work, luckly at a computer and not with a patient. I told her to log into my email, and there it was, the golden email! She opened it only to ask me about 10 times if I really wanted to know. I have never screamed so loud at my mom ever in my life. Finally she said, "Welcome to your internship at HARDIN VALLEY!"

There it is folks. Next year you can catch me teaching math to the students of Hardin Valley Academy. I am so excited, so relieved, and so nervous. This is for real now, no more hoping and praying for my placement...it's here!!