Summer Bucket List

This summer I have a job, I'll be taking a couple summer classes and (the most exciting) planning a wedding. Summer is always super busy with work; it seems to fly by before I can blink.

In my attempt to enjoy this summer more thoroughly I thought I'd make a list so I can keep track of how awesome my summer is--I am a list maker! 

1. Get a job. 
2. Get a consistent workout routine going--hopefully including Dot!  
3. Read for pleasure (I have a pretty extensive book list for this summer).
4. Road trip with Andy! Helllllo Chicago & shopping.
5. Volunteer somewhere/be a part of something bigger than myself.
6. 5k walk/run for a cause...any suggestions?
7. Go to IKEA and lay on a bed.
8. Go to the farmers market downtown GR. 
9. Have a picnic.
10. Do the crafts on my pinterest-so glad to finally have time!
11. Send mail. Old school. 
12. Take more pictures. 
13. Go to a Tiger's game.

This is all I got for now...it'll probably change! Yay for summer 2012!!

Home.

I thought I'd dedicate this post to how much I love my home. I'll be moving back home in less than a week for the summer (yay!) and I'm stoked. 

front view-my mom has some wonderful gardens

back yard/wannabe pavilion ;)  

POOL. 

Little barn

Road view

of course my dot. :) 

Yep. Home is my happy place. (&the people there are pretty awesome too!!)

Ps. While I was writing this I could not get "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros out of my head. It's a good listen for today while I clean. La la la la take me home. 

What I've Learned at WMU

Finishing up my junior year I'd consider myself a "pro" at the whole living at college, I'd thought I'd share my wealth of knowledge I've gained (outside of my classes of course!). 

In no particular order:

• Groceries can last a loooong time. It just makes you, as a cook, more creative. (for example: if you have no flour use oatmeal, Mexican ramen noodles with soy sauce don't taste as bad as they sound, and anything you can find a good coupon for is worth the drive)
• Always go to class--you're paying for it!
• Textbooks are overpriced anywhere you get them. 
• Naps are rare and far between. Plan them into the day if at all possible. 
• Staying up late working on something can become very unproductive. 
• Get involved. Groups are fun, friends are fun. Every single day of my pre-college educational career my mom used to tell us "Make friends, don't fight." 
• Family is the best support system so don't forget to call home.  
•  Friends become family. 
• You can train yourself to sleep through just about anything, just try not to sleep during class.
• College would be more fun without the classes. 
• Quarters are gold.
• College flies. HONESTLY. It seems like it's going to last forever and you blink and it's already senior year.

When you're in college some of the best things in life are care packages, free food events, and cancelled classes. College is a fun time and living independently gives lots of room for stupid mistakes that are [usually] easily forgiven. 

Don't forget: Make friends, don't fight!

I couldn't do it without my beautiful roommates!

Just WAIT.

Today I was feeling pressured to write a new post and I thought there isn't really much going on in my life because I feel like all I've been doing is waiting. And let me tell you, I've been feeling pretty impatient. 

All week I've been waiting to hear back for a job this summer. Since January I've been waiting to marry the man of my dreams (a little over the top, I know, it's necessary). And, of course, I've been waiting for this semester to finally be over. So here I wait; for summer, for HR to call, and for a wedding that's not planning itself. 

I am so restless. 

So here's what I decided--as hard as it is--to do: just wait. Living for tomorrow isn't worth my time today. I have plenty of things right in front of me. Looking back, being a student was some of the best years of my life. Being in the "engaged" stage of this relationship with Andy is fun and exciting. And lastly (the hardest one), waiting for people to  call about a job for this summer isn't helping me get the job any faster. 

So here's my goals: be happy, be patient and enjoy the little steps I'm taking along the way. 

Tuesday Blog-Day

Last night after putting on a spontaneous presentation for the Art Education students at Western I was reflecting on some of their questions. One question came up: "What happens if the other kids see that I'm accommodating and want to do what that student is doing?" (the example that was brought up was using foam instead of clay for texture reasons) This is a pretty common question. 

So how do you explain to students when you are giving extra options to accommodate some student's needs? I remember one thing from my pre-intern placement in a kindergarten classroom: a big orange poster with bright green letters saying "Fair isn't equal" It was up in the front of the room and a reminder to the teacher, myself, and all the students in the classroom. 

Each student has a different ability or skills level. When one student has a lower level and needs support (or accommodations) it's not fair to give them the same treatment as the student who is strong suited in a certain assignment. If we lived in a messed up world and everyone was the same, then yes, fair would be everyone getting the same treatment support. Because we live in this beautiful world with beautiful different people, we have to realize that fair is not equal. 

Happy accommodating!! 

Happy Easter!!

Easter is my favorite holiday. As the oldest of the family, I am the only one who still pushes for the traditional Holwerda Easter egg hunt. My mom and dad are wonderful people and still play along by purchasing candy and hiding the eggs (and of course taking pictures).

Our group of hunters has diminished over the years... 

   

Searching for eggs! 

Church is always packed Easter morning and when we have a walk up choir sing the Hallelujah chorus at the end of the service, more people are in front of church than actually standing in the pews. I think the reason I look forward to Easter so much is because of all the old traditions. A new dress, an egg hunt, ham & potatoes, and flowers--what's more to love?! (and hyacinths are my all-time favorite plant-ever.)  

Checking out what we found. 

Happy Easter everyone!! :) 

a vintage DIY wedding

I am one of those girls who has been planning my wedding since I realized cooties weren't real. At first I was pretty scared to plan a vintage DIY wedding (mostly because I'm not as crafty as I like to think I am) but now I am so glad I did, my mom and I are having a ball planning and crafting! We are constantly on pinterest looking up ideas and crafts. So far we have done a lot of talking, planning, and made a few prototypes but no finished projects yet. 

I plan to eventually post some of my finished projects to show what I've been working on... School has definitely been getting in the way of my wedding brain and lots of things have been put on hold since spring break, but we have all summer to complete projects. I am super excited to move home this summer and actually be able to actually put some of our plans into action!  

This is my wedding inspiration board on my pinterest if you'd like to see the idea of my vintage/DIY theme:  http://pinterest.com/annieholwerda/going-to-the-chapel-and-i-m-gonna-get-maarrried/

The life of a Special education major

Let's be honest. School stresses me out. Especially this time of year when having 15 minutes to sit down and eat twice a day isn't always an option. (I know, I know... my most important meal of the day is skipped-it's just too early!). 
I'm a Special education major with endorsements in emotional impairments & learning disabilities and I'm studying for minors in language arts and early childhood education.  My student life is crazy busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Being in the Special education program at WMU has changed my life and, I believe, it will be the perfect springboard into my career. I've met some really awesome people, who will become life-long friends (cheesy right?-but so true). My co-hort is wonderful and it's amazing how close you can feel to 50 other students; we spend way too much time together. We also have been blessed with some genius professors who share the same passion as us and are in the process of preparing us for the real world of Special education. 
I say I'm ready to be done with school and I have a countdown to the days until summer starts (22 from today) but I do love the life of a Special education major. I am not sugar coating and saying it's a nice walk in the park. We have our fair share of downs; writing a whole unit plan and finding out it's wrong, failing a test, stressful last minute presentation preparations and cramming sessions, writing a flawless lesson plan and having it flop in front of classroom (and of course on an observation day). In Special education, the good needs to outweigh the bad or every day would be miserable. In Special education we learn to focus on the small battles. And I can win a lot of small battles in my day even if the day is a total bust. 

Just some of the things I love....

• Dot-my dog. She brings horrible nasty things home and sometimes runs away but one look with those blue eyes and my heart melts. She's a pretty awesome listener. 
• My Cassie Joey- My sister and best friend. We've been through a lot together. Words cannot even describe our relationship. All I do is laugh. 
• Wedding planning-I am getting married next June and I cannot be more excited to start a new life with this wonderful man. The planning and details is bringing out my inner crafting self.
• Thrifting- I'm dutch...need I say more? I love a good deal, especially when it has to do with anything vintage. 
• A good book- I can be lost for days. (I especially enjoy this next to the pool working on my tan). 
• Baking/Cooking- A mess in the kitchen is my #1 de-stressing technique. 
• College football-I bleed maize and blue.