Bible Verses for Educators - (Day 1)

 I am going to start a series about Bible Verse for teachers and homeschool parents. By reading God's word we can rest and restore ourselves. 

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." -1 Thessalonians 5:11

As educators we should be encouraging each other daily. We are not in competition with other educators. We are a team that should be working together for the children in our classrooms. 

What does encourage mean?

Encourage-  The act of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. 

What can you do this week to encourage another educator?

When One Door Closes...

     Just a little over two years ago I took a teaching job at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Childcare Center as the lead Pre-K Teacher. When I took the teaching position I was so down on myself as a teacher that I was not sure if I would last long. I was burnt out or so I thought. In reality it was my previous teaching job that was not a fit. I found my passion for teaching again at UNOCCC. I grew not only as an educator, but as a mentor. In May of this year the university chose to close the doors of the childcare for good. The university gave staff and families a 90 day heads up. The families and staff did what they could to try and save the center. But the UNOCCC chapter of my teaching came to a close May 22, 2026. 

    This summer I have been taking time to emotionally recover from this loss. The centers culture was very much like a family. It was a family!! I am glad for this time over the summer to regroup as I get ready for my new teacher position in a brand new preschool classroom at a private school. 

    The school I will be teaching at is celebrating it's 100th year as a school. Up until now they have been a Pre-K to 8th grade school. I am excited to be the first Preschool (3 year old) teacher. I have chosen a bee theme for my classroom and I can't wait to share pictures after I set up my room in a couple of weeks. My students will have the opportunity to go to specials once a day. They will have gym, art, music, library, and Spanish. 

Ok I will give you all a sneak peek of my schedule cards.

Wow!! 21Years!!!!

     In October of this year we celebrated 21 year of marriage.  We have been through many ups and downs.  We have seen happiness and sorrow.  Through it all we have put God first, our relationship second and our family third.  We first and foremost must put God first in our lives and in our relationship.  We then must work on our relationship, we need to choose daily to choose the other.  To put their needs above our own, to communicate with them.  To pray for your spouse,  to pray over them, and with them.  "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." - Ephesians 5:31.  We we chose to put our husband first we are living our God plan for marriage.  God is very specific about His plan for a Godly marriage.  That plan looks very different than the worlds idea of marriage. The world views marriage as something that can be disposable,  when you get board with your marriage you can just end it.  God's plan is for you to be married for life, to walk with your husband and for the both of you to walk with God.  I felt lead to share my heart about this.  Here is to the first 21 years of marriage and the faith and hope of many more to come.

Until Next Time,

Pitters

    

Nine Months at My New Job!!!!

I can't believe it has been nine months at my new teaching job.  Back in late January, Marshall and I decided I should start looking for a new teaching position.  I quit my last teaching position for quite a few reason I don't want to share.  I will share that it was in part for my own metal health and for the benifits that my new teaching position provides for our family.  I was offered a Lead Pre-K Teacher Position at our local university's childcare.  It has been the best decision for myself, my family, and my career.  I am enjoying writing my own lesson plans and I am withh the age group I enjoy most.  I am getting my young students ready for Kindergarten.  As an added benfit of being on campus we have student workers as our assisant teachers.  So I also have the privilege of mentoring the next generation of teachers.  I have amazing suport from our directors and from the other lead teachers.  We are truly a team thats focous in on the kids and what is best for them.  I fell like I am heard and my ideas are valued.  I have the freedom to teach what I want and how I want.  As we near the end of our fall semester, I want to share with you some fun photos of my classroom.

One of my kids favorite Math and Science Area Materal, the marbel run.

We made the dramatic play area into an apple orchard and bee yard.  The kids had so much fun when we had a themed dramtic play area.  

I can't be more excited to share more of the fun things I have planed for the classroom.

Until Next Time,

Pitters

Review of Creative Culture

      So Kezi and I had a little girls time earlier this month.  We tried out a DIY Art Studio in Downtown Omaha.  We loved all of the DIY projects you could do.  We will defiantly be going back, they also change out the DIY's you can do.  Kezi choose a wood door sign to DIY and I did a DIY kit they had.  Price wise was not to bad.  They have everything you need right there for you to use, plus they clean up for you.  For our two project we paid about $50, but there is a wide range in pricing.  It was nice we had the place to ourself that night, but we tried to check it our a couple of week before and could not find a table.  We give it five stars.

Until Next Time, 

Pitters

Review of Cibo Vino

 For date night my husband and I tried Cibo Vino.  This a newer restaurant in the Old Market opening in 2023.  We started our meal with a Charcuterie Board.  For my entre I had Panzanella and Gnocchi Alla Pesto and my husband had Neapolitan Calamari.  We also tried a red wine, Roscato Dolce "sweet red" from Trebenezie Italy.  The atmosphere was great, good for dates.  We like some of the food, we are going to try it again soon, but try some of the other dishes.  I think we would give this a 6 out of 10 for now, we are hoping to try something else next time and like more of the food.  

Charcuterie Board

Panzanella

Gnocchi Alla Pesto

Neapolitan Calamari

Until Next Time,

Pitters

Review of Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar

 So I an starting a new section on this page of reviewing restaurants in our area. The first restaurant I am going to review is Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar.  We started with their house made fried pickles, cast iron pimento cheese dip, and fried green tomatoes.  For the main course my husband ordered the chicken and waffles, my daughter ordered hot chicken sandwich, and I ordered lemon garden party salad.  Over all we loved the food.  They have flavored soda that is house made.  My family would rate it 9 out of 10.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Pimento Cheese Dip

House made fried pickles

My Salad

Hot Chicken Sandwich

Chicken and Waffles

Until Next Time,

Pitters

Organizing Our Linden Closet

So as we settle into our new place we have been trying to find a place for everything. As I started to unpack our bathroom boxes I just kind of threw things on the shelves without thought. After a couple of weeks I finally took the time to plan out how I wanted to organize the linen closet.  So here are the before and after pictures. 

Before

After

After

It felt so good to get the linen closet in order.  Well my friends until next time.

Pitters

The Durham Museum

 I got a rare day off for Martin Luther King Jr. day.  So my daughter and I decided to go to one of the local museums.  We had the chance to meet up with friends,  we saw some amazing traveling exhibits and we loved learning more about our city in the museums permeate exabits. 

One of the traveling exhibits is from the movie White Christmas.  It was so much fun to see original costumes and props from a movie that I have seen so many times.  

It was so interesting to see how tiny the actresses were during 

filming.

Sisters! Sisters! I love this song and it was cool to see the costumes for it.

They also had a traveling exhibit about Julia Child 

The had a replica of her stage kitchen and so many videos and photos about her life and career. 

The traveling exhibits are not the only thing to see.  They have great permeant exhibit. 

If you ever get in chance to visit The Durham you will be in for real treat.  

Until Next Time,

Pitters

Exploring The Old Market

 Our new neighborhood is the Old Market in Downtown Omaha.  It is the historic part of our downtown area.  I have lived in Omaha most of my life, I have been in the Old Market numerus times.  Many times I have walked past many of the shops, I am so glad we get to explore even more.  

One of the first places we had breakfast at was a place called The Table Coffee Co.  We had some last minute Christmas shopping to do so we decided to shop in our new neighborhood.  We ordered at the counter and found a seat.  I love that we get to explore with our youngest.  

The food was amazing!!  This is the waffle charcuterie board.  It had four waffles, eight toppings, and five strips of bacon.  Keziah and I split the board.  Marshall got a skillet of some sort.  We also orders some peppermint hot cholate and iced peppermint mocha. 

  One thing that is nice about our new place is that we can walk to tons of shopping and restaurants.  With the fact that most parking downtown you have to pay for, we are glad to not have to move our car if we don't need to.  There are so many cute locally owned shops in the area.  We love to go to the vintage shops, the two candy shops, and so much more.  We are in walking distance to a dog park, skating rink, mini golf place, and a place you can do crafts, go to a plant bar and over the top milkshakes.  We can't wait to walk to the farmers market come spring/summer time.  I hope to take you all on some of these adventures with us. 

Until Next Time,

Pitters

We Have Another Eagle Scout!!!!

 Wow, so much has happened in 2023.  In our Girls Scouts BSA troop we celebrated our second, third and fourth eagles.  The fourth Eagle Scout in our troop was my daughter Keziah.  Not only was she the fourth eagle for our troop but the fourth Eagle Scout in our family.  She followed in the foot steps of three of her older brothers.  Her eagle project was collecting pet products for a local rescues pet pantry and doing an adoption event with them.  

This was part of the collections for the pet pantry. 

This is a photo of one of the dogs that was up for adoption and the event.

In between Keziah's project and when she earned Eagle Scout she finishes up a couple merit badges and worked at summer camp.  When Keziah earned her Eagle Scout she had also earned seven Eagle Palms, meaning she had earned 35 more merit badges more than what she needed.  

Keziah's Eagle Court of Honor was in early November.  We had so  much fun putting it all together.  Her menu was soups and chili, salads, meat and cheese board, and different topping for the soups and chili. 

 We did the Scout Law candle ceremony with Bible verses that go with the Law.  The candle holder is made from a fallen tree from the Little Sioux Scout Ranch after the tornado that ripped through the Scout Ranch in June of 2008.  It was made by one of the former Scoutmasters from the boy's troop. 

 Her Eagle Court of Honor was such a fun day.  She had friends for all over the area come.  Friends from all stages of her life came to celebrate.  This is one of my favorite photos from her ECOH.  Keziah with all of her brothers.  They intended for this photo to be silly but I love it.   

Some have asked if her scouting time has come to an end.  No, it has not, she is only 15! She is currently the Senior Patrol Leader for the troop, and she also holds a leadership position in Order of the Arrow.  She plans on staying involved with the troop even after she turns 18 in a few years.  We have so many more adventures in scouts.

Until Next Time,

Pitters

We are Moving!!!

     With all but one of our children out of the house we are downsizing. We will be moving from just over 1,900 square feet to just over 1,000 square feet. We are moving from a house to an apartment. This is an exciting time for our family, but for this mom's heart a little bit sweet. We are starting to settle into our new home. Our dogs are getting used to a new routine, sounds and smells of living in an apartment. 

     We spent our first Christmas in the new place. All of the kids were over, a couple significant others and a few other people. We fit 11 people and 2 dogs in our open concept living room, dining room and kitchen. Along with a ton of gifts and lots of food. I am so thankful and blessed to have the family I have. 

     As we get settled in I am hoping to get back into writing on this blog, making videos on our YouTube channel, and maybe starting a podcast. I am working on a vision board for 2024 and I have quite a few things I would like to do.  For now I would like to leave you with a few photos of the downtown Christmas lights from the roof top lounge of our building.

Until next time,

Pitters

New Stage in Life

     Coming up in September the youngest two kids are going to start doing duel enrollment with our local community collage. So with that, We have decided as a family that I will go back to teaching full time, I am an Early Childhood Educator.  With my new job I have the opportunity to continue my education and get my Bachelors Degree in Early Child Education. I am so excited to start this new adventure. My two youngest will still be doing a couple of subjects at home, but most will be at the community collage.  

    So somethings I am looking forward to as I go back into the classroom.  I love teaching, I love seeing kids grasp concepts, and I love decorating and planning my classroom.  I will have a co-teacher, so that is good.  I am looking forward to getting to know her and the students.  I have been out of a perfectional classroom for 14 years.  To say the least I am a little nervous to start back teaching full time, but I am also excited.  I am excited with the opportunity to get my bachelors degree. 

    I am going to be learning a new work, school, life balance.  I am so thankful that I know a lot of crockpot and instant pot recipes.  I will be working on meal prep recipes and stocking the freezer before going back to work and starting school.  I will also be working on meal prep for lunches.  With the kids going to in person classes a couple days a week, my husband works full time, plus a part time job, and with me starting to work a full time job, it will be nice to have home made lunches on the go.  I will be working on recipe and blog post for all of that, including what lunch boxes and containers we will be using.  As I get ready to go back I will be posting a what is in my teacher bag, things I have in my classroom, and so much more about going back to the workforce after 14 years. I can't wait to take you along on this new journey, and still give you content like I have been. New recipes, what God is teaching me, homeschool life, cleaning and organizing, meal prep ideas and more. 

Until Next Time,

Pitters

As Summer Comes to a Close

 With the beginning of August our summer is slowly coming to an end. We will start school up again, and the two kids left homeschooling will start a new adventure and take duel credit classes through our local Community College. Although we have at least two more months of hot/warm weather, my thoughts are turning towards decorating for the fall/Halloween. I will not start until September to decorate for the fall and then October 1st for Halloween. I am going to be working on projects for Fall and Halloween decorations over this next month. 

With fall also comes some of my favorite meals. I love making hardy soups, homemade bread and other comfort foods. I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes during the fall. I will be working on doing cook with me videos on my YouTube Channel this fall as well. I have already started on a few that are up now. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLjcWW-Vdvv6zR6g_YoADFQ

I have finally finished my home office. I just took me some time to get pictures for you all.  My office is set up to also be an online classroom and makeup area for my daughter and I.  She is really into doing makeup and the office is a great space for us to share.  It is also a space that is for working on things my husband and I need to work on for our scouts troops, we are Scoutmaster for.  

This fall is a lot of new for us, but it is all good.  We have our 19 year old that is leaving the nest, but will not be to far from us. He is starting his Freshman year in college and we are so excited for him.  Well I am getting ready for our crazy week ahead. 

Until Next Time,

Pitters

Hummus Dish

 I have found a new love in hummus.  Until attending summer camp with my scout troop and spending most of my afternoons in the kitchen help out the staff, I never really liked hummus.  The chef at the camp made a snack for the volunteers, I plate of hummus with all kinds of goodies on it.  So here is my take on what he did.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plan hummus ( store bought or your own recipe) 

1 teaspoon of homemade garlic oil (Recipe below)

3-4 grape tomatoes cut into rounds

1/2 shallot dice small

1-2 Tablespoons of crumbled fetta cheese

1/4 cup mix of baby arugula and baby spinach torn into smaller pieces 

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon of balsamic glaze

Chips or any other thing you like dipped in hummus 

Step 1: Smear hummus onto a plate, add salt and pepper to taste

Step 2: Add the garlic oil

Step 3: Top with tomatoes and shallots:

Step 4: Top with fetta cheese, arugula and baby spinach :

Step 5: Drizzle the Balsamic Glaze:

Homemade garlic oil:

2 cups olive oil

8 cloves of crushes garlic

heat oil in a pan with the garlic for 15 to 20 minutes.  Do not over cook or the garlic will become bitter. Strain the garlic oil into and air tight container. You can keep the garlic cloves but they mush be used within a day or two.  Store in an air tight container in the fridge for a week.  

You can use garlic oil when cooking things like eggs, pizza crust, or for sautéing veggies.

Enjoy trying something new. Until next time!

Pitters