You know that feeling when you drink caffeine and you’re so hyped up about everything?

You’re jittery. You want to tell everyone how cool they are. You can write a  6 page paper in under an hour. You decide to clean your entire room. You make list after list of what you want to accomplish and need to accomplish, in addition to an extra-long list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. You just want to do a little jig, but refrain because, well…that might seem weird to those around you in Panera Bread or the Pourhouse.

You may only know what I mean if you rarely drink caffeine and when you do…boy do you feel it.

You know that feeling? Well, lately, I’ve been having that feeling without consuming caffeine.

I’m just plain excited about life and am thrilled to experience what God has in store for me this summer and the 2010-2011 school year.

I’m currently “living on my own” in an apartment in Bloomington. Me, three friends, two bedrooms, one apartment.  The past few summers, I’ve taken summer classes and lived at home. I love being home with my family, but I think this experience will be good for me.   Some of my favorite parts of living there include making dinner every night, attending all the festivities Bloomington has to offer (the Strawberry Shortcake Festival, the farmer’s market), listening to the man playing the bagpipes that I can hear from my bedroom, and most importantly, having a jar of Dove dark chocolate sitting on a bookshelf in my room.

My summer job is going to be just down-right awesome. Spending time with three kids who surpass the neatness of the typical child. They’re wonderful.

After watching the kids during the week, I get to spend my weekends photographing weddings, engagements, and families.

I’m second-shooting with a local professional photographer who is the sweetest woman.  I’m sure I will learn more than I can possibly imagine and I know I’m going to have a blast working with her.

I have a website now, which is entirely too much fun messing around with. I’m also in the process of two “big” changes to my photography business as well. One includes the packaging of pictures, discs, and other products. Craft time on my part! YES!

I’ll [hopefully] be making a few visits to some of my friends who have internships out-of-state. One of these includes going to the Mall of America. I’ve never been there!

This coming school year I’m student teaching. The last leg of the process of receiving my degree. I was blessed to be placed in three schools that I requested and it just so happens that one or more of my aunts knows each of the teachers I’ll be working with. I’ll have the opportunity to meet so many students and get my “foot int he door” in three different school systems.

During my time student teaching, I’ll be living at home with my mom. My little brother will be away at his first year of college, so it will just be she and I. I’m looking forward to this year-a house of 2 women, 2 teachers, 2 cooks, but also 2 people who hate mowing the grass.

Needless to say, I’m happy thinking about this summer and school year.

Happy…

photos by Kortney Shepley (Click her name to read her blog about her absurdly fantastic summer she’s getting herself into!)