A New Beginning

Well, hello everyone! I'm back! It's been a hot minute, hasn't it? There have been a lot of things that have happened in the past few years, and I would love to catch y'all up on all of them! Let's just get started on the writing, shall we?

Fall 2018

Wow, what didn't happen in fall of 2018? Let's see. I was still able to work at the Belcher Center as a student usher, and I really loved my job! It was always so much fun to work with Kurt and the gang. I also was student teaching at Spring Hill Primary here in town. I loved working with the teacher and the kiddos, and I had so much fun every day there. That fall, I also turned 22 and it was such a fun day. The biggest thing that happened that semester, though, was getting my sweet kitty girl Stormy Jane. She's a long-haired tuxedo baby, and she is the best kitty ever. She was so tiny when she showed up on Bridey's front porch, just the size of a three month old kitten. To our great surprise, however, she was a full six months old! We fostered her for three weeks, then she went to a potential family. Mom said that if she came back, I could have her! She came back. I have a cat. She's the best.

The day we took her to the Vet to get checked out. She was soo tiny!!!

Spring 2019

Spring 2019 was a hard one for me. I was officially diagnosed with several disorders. In no particular order, they are Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and General Panic Disorder (GPD). Getting the diagnoses really helped me and my parents figure out what needed to be done and how to help me. However, with my disorders, I was unable to continue Student Teaching, so I took an alternative track and graduated with my degree, but not my certification. That was, and still is, something I struggle with. I was so happy to graduate that spring, although it did mean that I would not see most of my friends that I have come to cherish so dearly. The funniest thing that happened that day was the power being out for most of the morning, until right before the ceremony.

Bridey and me at the Bell Tower

My sweet PA Martha! 

These smiles can power the darkest buildings!

My amazing grad cap! Yes, I covered it in patches, don't judge.

Fall 2019

In the summer of 2019, I accepted a job at Wylie Elementary School in Henderson. I was so excited to begin my teaching career, and I was able to get a spot in the Region 7 Certification Course, so I was able to teach, as well as getting my certification. I taught 2nd grade English and Social Studies. Now, if you know me at all, you know I LOVE DINOSAURS!!! So, of course, my classroom was completely dinosaur themed. I had 40 students split between two classes that I taught, one group in the morning, and one in the afternoon. I loved that fall. It was so much fun to teach those sweet babies and their bright minds. Bridey also got married in December, and I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in her wedding. She was such a beautiful bride, and I loved being a part of her special day. I also celebrated one year of having my beautiful Stormy Jane and how much she has helped me in all that I have been going through.

Beautiful Bridey on her wedding day!

Me and AJ on Christmas!

Anais and I being silly after church.

Spring 2020
Well, we all know how this went. In the middle of the school year, the school shut down, and I wasn't able to say goodbye to my sweet babies. That was a rough time for me, and to be honest, I still have times where I struggle with missing them and wanting to see them again. During the spring break week, before everything shut down, I was able to go and visit Faith and her baby girl, my little Squish. That was probably the best week of my life. I had so much fun with the two of them. In May, I got a call from the school that I never wanted to get. They asked me to resign or they would bring me up at the board meeting and have my contract terminated. What a great thing to hear. Since I had to resign from the school, I was kicked out of the certification program and was not able to finish getting my certificate. That still haunts me to this day.

First solid food!

Squish and Auntie Rex at Kalidescope. Notice the matching outfits!

Big smiles!

Squish's first Build-a-Bear!

She loves her bear.

Meeting Auntie Rex for the first time!

Fall 2020

In the fall of 2020, I struggled to find a job. I found one after months of searching at a local daycare center in town. I loved the babies that I had in my class, and I loved teaching there everyday, but I missed teaching my 2nd grade babies. It was a good job for the time being, but I needed something I was made for. In August, we lost my Nana. She passed from Parkinson's combined with that one virus. I miss her a lot, and I wasn't able to say goodbye due to the situation. I had to celebrate my 24th birthday without her. After celebrating almost every other birthday with her, it was hard. I miss her so much. I don't hate my name anymore, because it's the only thing I have left of her.

Marion Ruth Vance

Birthday girls! 14 and 24.

Spring/Summer 2021

And now we are here. I left my job at the daycare in May, worked for Sonic in June and July, and now I work for VIPKid, a company that allows me to teach English online to students in China. I love working for this company, and I love each of the kiddos that I get to work with. I also got to make a trip to Kansas City a couple of weeks ago to visit Faith and Summer, and also to visit Micah, Lissie, and their baby girl, my little Bean! My little bean! I had so much fun on that trip, mostly because I got to spend time with friends that I hadn't seen in a while. I'm hoping to post on a schedule once again, maybe on Saturdays. I'm not sure what I will write about, but we'll see each week! 

Squish got so big! I love this goober.

My sweet Squish!

Such a smiley Bean!

My pina colada snow-cone ft. Micah, Lissie, and Micah's dad.

Auntie Rex and Bean!

Bean loves her dinosaur outfit!

My favorite little Bean!

I hope y'all will join me once again on my adventures. Maybe I'll be more interesting this time, and post tips and tricks that have helped me in the hopes that they will help someone else. Also, maybe bring back music of the week. We'll see! I love you all!

Stay beautiful!

Marlee