Life Lately

I haven't made any personal posts lately, so I thought I'd do that this morning.

Instead of another recipe (but just wait -- more are coming!) or book review, I decided to share what's been going on lately. This is not an all-inclusive list, but it's just some things I felt like sharing with my wonderful readers. 
1. I had a three day weekend, and it was much needed. We had parent/teacher conferences at school on Wednesday night and Thursday morning last week, so we all got Friday off. Sleeping in was wonderful, and I feel slightly recharged (but I think Thanksgiving break in about a month will really do the trick). 
2. My sports teams are doing really well this year, which is a nice change. My baseball team, the Kansas City Royals, barely missed the playoffs, but they had their BEST SEASON in several years. It was so much fun to cheer them on. My favorite college team, the University of Missouri Tigers, are 7-1 this football season, which is only their second in the SEC. They are holding their own and doing EXTREMELY well. My absolute favorite team of all time, though? The Kansas City Chiefs. And they are 8-0 for the first time in TEN years. This is pure excitement on my end. It's so much more fun being a fan to a winning team... but win or lose, I've always been faithful to my Missouri sports. 
3. I got to see one of my best friends ever this weekend! Lizzie came out to Colorado to see her husband for a quick weekend while he's at training, and we were able to see each other twice, which was so wonderful. It's really hard having a long distance best friendship... we talk every single night, sometimes for hours, and it was great to see her in person and have Jack Quinn's together one more time. 

4. Reality is setting in that Cadet Lovemuffin graduates from the Air Force Academy in just 212 days. He has been working his butt off for over four years now for this, and I can't believe that the end is finally approaching (but it could still be quicker, and I'd be okay with that). I will only be his fiancée for 214 more days; after that, I will be his wife, and I could not be ANY HAPPIER about that. This has been a really long road, but I am so ready for this part of our journey to conclude. He was supposed to find out his Air Force AFSC (job) a couple weeks ago, but that has been delayed due to the government shutdown (yes, I know it's over; no, he still doesn't know when he'll find out). Keep him in your thoughts as he waits to find out because this is a HUGE deal! 

Where I Come From {Blogtember Challenge}

Tuesday, September 3rd Prompt: Describe where or what you come from - the people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are. 

I am Janelle. I'm 26 years old, and I'm a middle school language arts teacher. I'm engaged to a handsome man, who just happens to be a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. I have two cats who follow me everywhere.

But this post isn't about who I am; rather, it is about where I come from.


I am from Raytown, Missouri. 

Raytown is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. I went to school there from preschool all the way through my high school graduation. It is home to the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. The population is just about 29,500 people, but it feels much larger because it really is just a small part of a much bigger city. 

I am from a great family.

I was born in 1987 to Jay and Cheryl, who had been together throughout high school and (my mom's) college before getting married. Nine months later, I was born! I had a great life growing up. My family was pretty close, and we did a lot of activities together. I was also lucky enough to have two sets of grandparents AND a set of great grandparents living SO CLOSE that I saw them all at least once a week. 

I am athletic.

...or at least I once was. I have played many sports. I was first a dancer, and then I became a tumbler for many, many years. I played soccer, football (yes, on the boys' team), and basketball. I ran cross country and track. As you can see from the three pictures of me from 8th grade, sports are just what I did. I loved every minute of it. 

I guess you could say I'm lucky. I'd have to agree with that. Life isn't always perfect, nor is it always fair (like how my perfect family was ripped to pieces when my dad passed away unexpectedly in 2006). But I'm truly blessed to be where I am... and I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for my background. I am proud to be from Raytown, and I am dang proud to be a Vannice.