2nd Day

The meaning behind my blog name...

Well..when I was creating this blog, I wanted it to be about Roger and I. I just put my first and middle name and his first and middle name. The blog title says Future McNeels since we are about to get married. I will come up with a cutesy name when we get married! :) I hope everyone has a good NYE!

1st Day

My name is Sarah Brooke Winchester. I am engaged to Roger McNeel. He is my very best friend. We are getting married on June 24, 2011 in Galveston, TX. I am a big family person. I love visiting them as much as I can. They are the best! They are always there for me, and I love them more than I can say. All of my friends are wonderful. They are all special to me and I'll be there for them through anything. I just graduated from Sam Houston on December 18. I am now a teacher! I cannot wait to have my own classroom, but apparently God is waiting to put me in the right spot. I trust in God and love all the blessings He has put in my life.

15 Facts About Me:

1. I love sweets.

2. I love going on cruises. We are going on one for our honeymoon :)

3. I have a nephew that I love so much.

4. I love to travel.

5. I have a cat named Milly. She is fat...

6. I love having a washer and a dryer in my apartment.

7. I believe you should try to be happy every day.

8. I think laughing is contagious.

9. I love love love love Michael Jackson.

10. I like playing hide and seek.

11. I love wine.

12. Olive Garden and On the Border are my favorite.

13. I cannot wait to begin teaching.

14. I love pedicures.

15. I can't wait to be Mrs. McNeel!

Blog Challenge

30 Day Blog Challenge...might as well:)

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your favorite recipes
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite moviesDay
8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-What's in your makeup bag
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

SHSU Alumni 2010

Here are a few pictures from my graduation yesterday. This isn't all of them because I haven't gotten the ones off of my mom's camera. It was such a good day though! Graduating was a lot of fun, but I'm going to miss all my friends I made during my years at Sam Houston. I think it just hit me yesterday that I wasn't going to see some of them again!

I feel very accomplished to have finally reached this point! Now my whole family are teachers. Roger is well on his way too! He graduates this time next year. I can't wait to see what God brings me in this new chapter of my life. :)

Trey in his "My Aunt is Graduating" shirt! He looked so precious!

Roger and I after graduation! I love this picture a lot!

Kari and I! There is a story here. When she graduated from Sam, we took a picture together like this. The sun was real bright, and we were both squinting. It looked like we were cheesing as hard as we could, so Kari did it in this picture lol...I love it!

My degree frame that my mom and stepdad gave me! I love it! My diploma is being mailed to me, so it will soon be in there.

Cute ornaments from my mom and sister!

I absolutely LOVE this! It's so cute and "teachery"!

My graduation balloons Roger got me! I love balloons!

My favorite thing I got yesterday. I know I'm not Mrs. McNeel yet, but I will be in 6 months and 4 days! :) He got me this for my classroom, so I can put it on my desk after we get married. It's so pretty. I love Roger so much!

Trusting in God

Job hunting...I didn't think it would be this hard! I thought there would be several positions open up out of all the school districts I'm looking at. I've applied at about 16 school districts. Today, I took my information three different places. Two of the places are still questionable, but one was already taken. Overall, I got to meet very nice people. I think instead of stressing out over this issue, I need to give it to God. I know he has a place for me somewhere, but I just have a problem letting Him have control over the situation. I need to do what I can, and put my trust in Him. I cannot wait to have my own classroom, and hope I get put in the right situation.

On a more positive note, I graduate in FIVE DAYS! WOO WOOO

New Chapter

This is how I decorated my graduation cap!

Yesterday was my LAST day of college. I still do not feel like I am completely finished though, and I'm not too sure why. I think it's because I haven't graduated yet, but I feel like there will be another reflection paper or assignment that comes up. I am so happy to be an actual teacher now! I've waited and worked hard for this, but I'm actually a little scared now that it's here. I know God has a great plan for me though, and I just need to trust him to provide for me.

I had some more good new yesterday too. A pre-k teacher position opened up in Huntsville. It was weird how I found it too. I was on the phone with my mom talking to her about how I feel discouraged about finding a job. I was saying how I don't know what to actually do because if I sub, I won't get paid in the summer. Anyways..I ended up crying, and my mom told me to get on the computer and email the Buffalo principal where there is a job opening. So...I get on the computer and end up on the Huntsville website for idk what reason, and I saw the pre-k job opened! I screamed to her that there was a job opening, and how it was weird I found it because I wasn't even supposed to go to that website. I ended up emailing the principal and went up there the next day to turn in all my stuff. I'm pretty sure they were expecting me because I didn't get all of planned speech out before they were nodding their heads that they were expecting me. She set me up for an interview on Dec 7 at 9:20! I wanted to jump up and scream when I got an interview. Finally!! Someone is giving me a chance to see what I know! I'm going to work hard at planning for this interview, so I may have a shot at this job! Please pray for me that it all goes well! I will be updating!

Thanksgiving!

I am so blessed this Thanksgiving. I wish I could spend today with my family, but Roger has to work today and tomorrow. He does have the whole weekend off for us to spend with them, so I'm thankful for that.

I am thankful for God. Because of Him, I have so much to be thankful for. He is always working miracles in my life. I know He has my life planned for me, so I need to always remember to let Him be in control. Thank you, God, for everything!

I am thankful for my mother. She is my best friend. I love her dearly. Anything that is ever bothering me or if I just want to talk, I can always rely on her. She listens and helps me through every situation I'm in.

I am also thankful for my step-dad. He has made my mom so happy, and I can't thank him enough for that. He has helped me so much in my life and I love him so much!

I am thankful for my sister. We have so much fun when we're together. She is also my best friend, and I wish we could spend more time together! I am thankful she's found Jason and will soon be getting married too! I'm happy that we're both happy :)

I am thankful for my other sister, Theressa! She is such a good hearted person. She always treats everyone so nicely, and is a great Christian. I look up to her and love her so much. Now on to her son, Trey. I am more than thankful for him! I didn't know how much you could love someone when they're just born. I love this little boy so much!!! He makes me happy when I'm around him. I am thankful that God gave Theressa and Draymond a wonderful gift that they are so proud of. I am also thankful his medical issues are all getting worked out.

I am thankful for Ellie. She is such a hard-working, strong woman. I wish I had her strength. She loves her family so much, and I am thankful to be a part of that family.

I am thankful for my Dad. I don't get to see him very often, but I love him so much. He always makes me laugh when we're on the phone together. I can't wait to see him soon!

I am thankful for my fiance, Roger. Without him, life would not mean as much as it does. He has taught me how to love. He has taught me to love my family, and spend as much time with them as I can. He makes me so happy, and I am the luckiest girl alive to get to be his wife on June 24th. I will be the happiest person alive that day when he becomes my husband! AHH I can't wait!

I am also thankful for every friend I have. All my friends are so special to me. They keep me going at all times. They know who they are, and I just want y'all to know I'm so blessed to have y'all in my life.

On November 13th, my step-brother got married in Louisiana! These are some pictures from the wedding and on the way!

Aunt Sarah's Graduation!

Theressa and I were talking one day about what Trey would wear to my graduation, and I said I should make him a shirt! I got on this website inktastic.com and designed my own onesie! I thought this was precious! I'm pretty sure he's going to get a lot of designed shirts from me in his future!! Anyways....thought I would share!

Baby Trey

Theressa had Draymond Len Tucker III (Trey) on October 21, 2010 at 6:44 PM! He was 6 lbs 1 oz and 19 3/4 inches long! Throughout Theressa's pregnancy, I never thought about how I would react when he was born. When I first saw him, I started crying! It is just such a miracle. She went through some complications during labor, but everything came out great. Thank you, God! Trey is perfect! He is so tiny, and has the quietest little cry (right now). I'm sure my blog is going to go in a whole new direction now since I have a nephew! :) There are some pictures below of him!

This was his going home outfit! He was asleep after she got him dressed, but he is just too precious.

What a cutie!

Theressa sent this picture to me the morning after he was born! He was wide awake!

The pacifier is almost as big as his face! I just love him!!!!

Student Teaching Part 2

Here is my school for my next placement! It's Meador Elementary. I am so excited about being in Kindergarten, especially during the holidays! I think it is fun to do thematic units with the young ones that have to do all about the holidays. I'll try to keep blogging during this placement. I barely had a free minute during my last one!

Sixth Grade

Wow! What a quick 7 weeks! I had a great experience in 6th grade. I went in terrified of those kids. I thought they were going to be huge, mean, and have bad attitudes. They were all great! There were the select few that I had to get on to, but overall it was a great group! I didn't realize how much I would get attached to them since there were 130 kids to teach daily. My last day was Oct. 6 and all my kids made me cards. They would present them to me before we started that day's lesson, and I would fight back tears the whole time. I will keep and treasure those cards forever. I was in a History class, so my time was spent researching things I forgot and looking up things I'm pretty sure I never learned. I liked 6th grade because of how independent they are. I got very used to just saying, do this...and they did it! Now I'm going into Kindergarten. It should be an interesting change since Kindergarten is so different. I'm looking forward to being back in an elementary school though. I feel like that's where I'm supposed to be. I've already met my new mentor teacher, and she is so sweet! I hope to have another great experience! Hopefully I find a job somewhere in the middle of the year. God will put me exactly where I need to be, so I will just put it in His hands.

Student Teaching

I'm finally a student teacher!!!! I've been waiting for this semester for a while! I'm so excited about it. Right now, I am at Lynn Lucas Middle School. I love it! I'm with 6th graders. I've never had experience with them before, so it was brand new. I was very nervous yesterday on the first day, but today was a lot better. Those teachers that told me the first day was crazy weren't lying! It was hectic and nonstop all day. I came home and laid down. Today, I treated myself to a pedicure after work haha. I'm loving it so far! 6th graders are so different than the kids I'm used to teaching! They are so independent and smart. I really like them...so far!! :) I also have a great mentor teacher! She is so helpful and encouraging. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher.

Guadalupe River!!

I had my first experience floating the river this summer! I've always wanted to go, and I can honestly say it was the most fun I've had with a group of people!! I laughed so hard, my stomach was sore the next day. I want to definitely make it a summer trip until I start having kids! I don't have any pictures because I was scared to take my camera, but I wanted to share it with my blog readers! If you haven't gone before, go! Just be ready to see some CRAZY things!! :)

San Francisco!!!

Our last place to go to was San Francisco! I have always wanted to go there since I was old enough to know that's where the "Full House house" was filmed. I absolutely loved it there! It's really busy, and full of bicycle riders and runners, but it's so pretty. The weather is cold (to me)! I think it was around mid-60's when we were there. I also saw Alcatraz from a distance. We got close to it on the boat ride we went on that took up past it and to the Golden Gate Bridge. I would like to tour it next time I'm there. If you ever get a chance to go here, go! You won't be disappointed!

This was still on the coast!

Golden Gate Bridge!!! YAAY!

Alcatraz!

Sea Lions on the Fisherman's Wharf! I think they are so cute! They make funny noises and argue with each other. :)

I have wanted a picture like this forever! I'm glad I have one!

Parents in front of the Golden Gate Bridge! <3

Oregon

Okay! I finally posted my Oregon pictures! Enjoy :)

This was a mountain that we saw flying into Portland, OR. It was beautiful!

This is my great Aunt Jo and great Aunt Nina. I haven't seen them in years. It was so good to see them and catch up. Aunt Nina looks just like my grandpa. I love them so much! I wish I could visit more.

Just a few pictures of Oregon! Gorgeous

This was driving on the coast of Oregon and California. I'm not too sure where we were at this point, but I think it was still in Oregon. The Pacific ocean there is so different from what I'm used to. It has huge, huge rocks in it. I couldn't take enough pictures of the ocean!

I had a great time. It was Roger, me, my mom, and my stepdad. I definitely want to go back there and visit. The weather is so nice, and there is NO humidity. I still love Texas though :)

I'm sorry to those who look at my blog. I have been a very bad blogger this summer. I have lots to update, but I am waiting on my pictures to come back to me from my Mom's house. I will update shortly. I am almost finished with my summer job. Tomorrow is my last day. I have enjoyed the job, but I am ready for student teaching, and to see what God has in store for me. We went on a trip to Oregon/San Francisco a few weeks back. It was amazing. I will be sure to post a lot of pictures on that. As for now, I am headed to work. :)

More of Roof Garden

These are the pictures I said I would post that I took with my mom's camera at Roof GardenThese are the doors you come out of to get on the balcony..why I didn't take a picture of the whole door, I don't know

The balcony where ppl can go get a drink or just visit..it overlooks The Strand


Open bar!

The door you come in to get into the wedding/reception area

Just some pictures of the room..it will be set up differently at our wedding though because we are having the wedding and reception in there

A room that you can do the cake cutting in, but I think this is

where the guestbook and presents will go.

There was a wedding taking place that night, so it was already set up.