B. Jack

Certain students touch your heart, no matter how much they may drive you crazy.  So let me introduce you to one of the most amazing kids I had the pleasure of teaching at Ashbrook High School: Bryan Jackson.  Bryan has had a lot of obstacles to overcome, which makes it all the more sweeter that he is attending Bridgewater College & playing football.  B. Jack is one of the smartest kids I have ever taught and I can't wait to see him do great things.  Here's to you Bryan.

It's Official

There have been a lot of changes in my life in the last year: getting married, moving two times, Jared getting married, and so on.  However, one of the biggest decisions Michael and I made recently was that I would not be teaching next year.  This was not any easy decision for me because I still love teaching.  I love my students, I love my co-workers, and I love Ashbrook High School.  It has been the only school I have worked at (outside of student teaching) and even though it has had its ups and downs, I have learned so much and developed amazing relationships in the six years I have taught there.  However, it was time for change.  In addition to teaching full time, I have been coaching full time also... and after six years of working 13 hour days something had to give.  I know that the Lord has been working in my heart for the past year, changing my priorities and my desires.  When I was single, it wasn't so hard to work a 13 hour day and be gone for a full weekend at a swim meet.  My time was my own and I could use it as I pleased.  But as a married woman, my desires have changed, and I think it would be nice to spend time with my husband without being completely exhausted by 9:00pm.  So as of a week ago, I officially resigned at Ashbrook and I am now turning my attention to coaching at ATOM and eventually transitioning in as the head coach of the program.  I am excited about this change.  We may be poor for the next few years, but at least we'll be sane!

And I will never forget the people at Ashbrook that changed my life forever...



Happy Wedding Day Jared + Marissa

My baby brother got married last weekend in Malvern, PA.  It was one of the most fantastic 4 day extravaganzas of my life.  From dinner at the Nilon family restaraunt, driving through horse country, drinks & hanging out with old friends at the hotel, cracker barrel breakfast, seeing great Aunts & Uncles I haven't seen in 8 years, dancing, eating, partying, and most importantly celebrating the union of Jared + Marissa... This was a perfect celebration of two people I love so dearly.  Congrats to you both! I couldn't be happier for you - I'm a big fan of marriage.

Now for a few pictures...

I took a ton of video that I haven't had a chance to load yet, but this one video sums it all up:

Let's Hear it for New York!

….Concrete jungle where dreams are made of….





Well this post is way too late but life gets crazy. For our 1 year anniversary Michael surprised me with a trip to New York City. We got to the city by 10am and spent most of our first day in the Museum of Natural History. I love that place! So many cool exhibits and it reminds me of my childhood so much. One of my fondest memories is taking the subway from Jersey into the city to go to the MNH. Later on that day we hid from the rain in some wine shops & Dylan's Candy Bar, and had some real New York Pizza.  We eventually checked into our very mod hotel in the middle of Manhattan. The next day we spent exploring the city (Rockefeller center, eating delicious food– I recommend Crumbs over Magnolia bakery any day, ground zero, Staten Island Ferry, Statue of Liberty, going to times square at night, etc).    We also tried to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, but we couldn't find our way onto the bridge walk.  However, this was not a lost cause because we stumbled upon this little dock area that was beautiful.  It reminded me of Charleston in NYC.  The last day was a bit more relaxing. In the morning we went to the top of Rockefeller Center and then walked around and hung out in Central Park. It was a whirlwind of a weekend but it was so much fun! And I think Michael has turned into a city boy!

Grandma's Chicken

If you ever had the chance to meet my Grandma Kleber, you will never forget her.  She was all of 5 feet (on a good day) and one of the most loving, caring & doting women.  Her parents migrated from Syria to Detroit before she was born & they struggled to survive - 10 kids in a 2 bedroom apartment.  They have an amazing story.  But one of the things that defined my grandmother was that she LOVED to cook.  It was her love language - she cooked for you because she loved you.  As much as she tried to cook American food, it always had a little Syrian flavor to it.  I don't believe she ever made a single recipe that did not include olive oil, garlic & lemon.  Last week we had my parents over to our house for my dad's birthday.  He requested "Grandma's Chicken" for dinner.  Here is the recipe.  Its pretty simple, but very delicious. 

INGREDIENTS:
+ 2 lbs thin cut chicken breast (or pound out thick breast)
+ 2 eggs
+ 3 cups breadcrumbs (Italian or plain)
+ 3 medium cloves of garlic
+1 whole lemon
+ olive oil (for cooking)
+ 1 red bell pepper
+ 1 green bell pepper
+ 1/2 package mushrooms (any kind you like - I prefer the baby portabella)
+ 1/2 yellow onion

Ok, let's do our cooking dance.  Now you're ready. 

1. Beat the 2 eggs in a bowl.  On a separate plate, pour the 3 cups of breadcrumbs. 
2. Coat each piece of chicken in the egg (let the excess drip off).  Dredge each piece of chicken in the breadcrumbs.  Do this for all of the chicken & set aside.
3. Roughly chop the garlic cloves.  Slice the onion & peppers in 1/2 inch strips.  Slice the mushrooms.
4.  Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a large frying pan or griddle.  Add the garlic, onions, peppers, & mushrooms to the olive oil.  Cook for about 3 minutes
5.  Add a little more olive oil if necessary & then add the chicken breast to the frying pan/griddle.
6.  Cut a lemon in half & squeeze 1/2 of the lemon all over the chicken & veggies.
7. Cook the chicken until brown on one side.  Flip to the other side & squeeze other 1/2 of lemon all over the chicken & veggies.  (Make sure you continue to move the veggies around so they don't burn.
8.  Add more olive oil if the pan becomes "dry."  Cook chicken until no longer pink in the center.

Enjoy! 
                                                                                                       

Ready!

During....

Moving On Up!

From the end of January through March is the busiest time of year for me.  I'm a literally at swim meets every other weekend, and often the meets are 3 1/2 days long & out of town (I think when I counted I was coaching on the weekends 6 out of 8 weekends during that time).  In the midst of all that craziness, Michael & I moved to a duplex only 5 minutes away from our first apartment.  So that is my exuse for not putting up these pictures 2 months ago when we actually made the move. 

We love our new plance.  It is bigger than our apartment, has a 2nd bedroom, hardwoods throughout, a working fireplace & a big screened in porch (my favorite part of the house).  To top it off, it is in the exact location we were looking for & $200/mo cheaper than our apartment, which is a testiment of God's provision for us.  Michael & I had been looking for months for a new place and were getting very frustrated with the process.  We went for a run one Sunday afternoon & literally stumbled on this place. 

Here are a few pics of the place before we moved in.  Once I get started working on some of my projects this summer I can show how its all coming together.  Its really a great space (minus the teeeeeeny tiiiiiny kitchen with only 2 ft. of useable counter space).

Kitchen (like I said...) 

 Front Entry & Living Room

 Fireplace



Corner of dining room 

 Our very large master bedroom

The porch!!

Crying Laughing

Ever laugh so hard you cry?  Its the best kind.  Thank you Jenn Romanski for this - I was laughing so hard Michael had to pause whatever he was watching on the DVR & let me finish.  Side Note: I wish my students were this funny.
http://www.losteyeball.com/index.php/2007/06/19/56-worstbest-analogies-of-high-school-students/