Definitely what I thought of when driving into Oklahoma!

"Wide Open Spaces"

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about 
Who's never left home, who's never struck out 
To find a dream and a life of their own 
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone 

Many precede and many will follow 
A young girl's dream no longer hollow 
It takes the shape of a place out west 
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed 

[Chorus:] 
She needs wide open spaces 
Room to make her big mistakes 
She needs new faces 
She knows the high stakes 

She traveled this road as a child 
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired 
But now she won't be coming back with the rest 
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test 

[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the high stakes 

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!" 
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leaving my girl" 
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago" 
When she stood there and let her own folks know 

[Repeat Chorus] 
She knows the highest stakes 
She knows the highest stakes 
She knows the highest stakes 
She knows the highest stakes

What are your top 10 most played on iTunes?

Here's mine:

(Read into it what you will)

Big Bang Theory Theme -- BNL 
Carry On -- FUN 
Some Nights -- FUN 
Maybe Katie -- BNL 
Heart Attack -- Demi Lovato 
Track 10 (This is a Doors song off Cameron's Mix)
Peacemaker -- Cowboy Mouth
Just Give Me a Reason -- Pink
What I Did for Love -- from A Chorus Line 
Auld Lang Syne -- BNL

So True

Dear class of 2014

What you don't know is...I was you, 10 years ago. You all are so eager to capture your world and take it by storm, and I love it. What you don't know it that you are scared. You are scared because this is life. You are about to take the world, and its children, by storm. You are about to rock the world's Pre-K through 2nd graders by storm. I know, because I was you exactly 10 years ago. 10 years ago I was in your very shoes, ready to take on my first class of 1st graders. I was ready to rock their very world. What I didn't know is that the world is a very scary place. I might have passed my own student teaching experience. I might have even survived my first teaching placement. But what I want you to know is that you are a very sacred individual. You deserve to be loved by you and you first. No matter what or where you end up teaching. You are worthy of helping those you help. In Oklahoma or wherever you end up. Please don't lose touch and please deem yourself worthy of your time. I have been given a position of authority, and I don't really know why but I will use it to my advantage in this medium. You are all worthy individuals. I sit here with the benefit of 10 years knowledge in the "Real World." Ten years ago I would have begged for the knowledge I have now. Use your position as one to further the advances in the field of early childhood education. You are in the supreme position to make changes in the system. Use your power for good. BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD!

YOUR FRIEND,

JENN

Saturday night

As much as I love my life here in Oklahoma, I do need a break. I crave a vacation to some exotic Caribbean Island. For now, I'm going to have to be OK with some red wine (YellowTail Malbec), a hot bath, and live streaming of A Prairie Home Companion. This is my life. This is grad school after 30.

Homecoming photos