Huge Work-out

Today I could sing the theme song to "Biggest Loser" and truly mean it!! I did something to make myself feel proud. I joined up at the gym AGAIN!!! I had a blast working out with my friend Deanna!! We also took the kids bowling with their cousins, aunt and Grandma. That's always fun too!! Then because the weather was so gorgeous, I took the girls on a huge long bike ride. I sure hope I can get out of bed in the morning. Also...because our January calendar already looks scary with basketball 3 nights every week, academic practices, dance and just normal stuff...I'm actually entertaining the thought of getting out of bed at 4:30 on two mornings a week to get my work-outs in and stay on track. Remember the key word was "entertaining". We'll see....I know I want to lose 5 pounds by the end of January....so it's going to take more than just entertaining thoughts!!!!

Facebook

I was recently introduced to Facebook courtesy of one of my roommates from college. I did not know how many people do that facebook thing. It's been kind of fun getting back in touch with my college friends. It's been very interesting in hearing what all everyone has been doing in the last 19 years. Isn't it amazing where everyone has ended up living?? We all started out in a tiny town of Siloam Springs, AR and have ended up in all parts of the US. Anyway....that's been a new and interesting addition to my cyberworld adventures!!

Snow Days!!

It's been a wonderful pre-Christmas treat to have 2 days off this week. Housework has stayed caught up...including laundry!! :) I actually have successfully completed something on my "I wish I had time to do" list. Making Christmas goodies for my friends and wrapping them was something fun that the kids and I took time to do this morning!! I hope everyone likes their treats!!

Missing 2 days in a row in December makes me a little nervous....what if we have more snow days in January and February?? I definitely don't want to go to school in June!!! That would stink!! Remember, I have a pool that I get to use this summer and so summer should come early.

Speaking of the pool...that reminds me of working out. Which reminds me of how much I haven't worked out since Fall Break. I'm thinking that for the next 2 weeks I am not going to beat myself up for indulging in the Christmas yummies. I know on Dec. 26, I'll be hauling my hiney to the gym and joining again and practicing all of those things I learned at Weight Watchers last year.

For now...I'm enjoying this beautiful time of the year. I love everything about Christmas. I love the spirit of the season more than anything though. I love how people hug more during the holidays. I also love how when I leave school on Friday the 19th, everyone will make it a point to say Merry Christmas and truly mean it. I love listening to Mix 96....and how it drives the rest of my family nuts between t-giving and Christmas!! (They are only playing Christmas music!!) And I love dragging my husband with me to Christmas shop. He really isn't a scrooge...and he can be the more generous one and enjoy it!! Anyway....snow days are awesome. And it's much better when you have electricity!!

Thanksgiving thoughts

This has been a strange November for me. It feels like we just had fall break in a way. Lots of things have happened this month. And it's funny...at the beginning of the month I was all wrapped up in the crappy election junk, trying to understand the world of school sports, and finding out a dear co-worker has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The latter has put everything into perspective once again for me.

I am so very blessed. God has blessed me with a loving husband that provides for our family and loves me unconditionally. He has blessed our marriage with 3 beautiful healthy children that are growing into loving, caring ,sensitive people. God has blessed us with a home and all the things that make living convenient. Food is never something we have to search for and clothing...well...the laundry room keeps the fear of nakedness away from our family. Health. We take it for granted far too often. Just in the last 5 years, I've spent countless hours on my knees asking for God's intervention on behalf of my husband and other family members. Whenever those prayers are answered, I always stand amazed at God's miraculous healing power. It's not difficult for Him, I know....but knowing that He listens to me and cares enough for me to do miracles...well....that's just awesome. So, I am eternally grateful that God has healed us and continues healing. Family....He has blessed me with wonderful parents, in-laws, and friends that are truly part of our family. Jobs...well....I mean mission fields. He truly has found favor with both Kevin and me in giving us our jobs that truly suit our lives. Our mission fields, aka jobs/career, is the life work that God chose for us and how He wanted us to provide for our family. And...it was so very thoughtful of Him to include vacation time and holiday time....cause we all need a break!!!!

Yet...why do I take this all for granted? I know I do...everytime I long for a bigger house, nicer car, more clothes, or just extra cash in my bank account. I hope that those times of longing get fewer and further between my thoughts of how blessed I am. I guess my prayer is this....please let me truly be content with where I am in my life and let me be a source of love, hope and encouragement to everyone that I come in contact with in this life. And that in my speech and actions that I always point them to my God!!! God truly is amazing.

So...these are my Thanksgiving thoughts. It really shouldn't be a "once a year" thing. Maybe I need to make it a "many-times-of-the-day thing."

Esther 4:14

This verse has been an anchor for me lately. In order to fully understand this verse, you kind of need to read the whole book of Esther. It's very interesting and I just found myself not being able to stop reading til I finished it all. If you've never read this small but very awesome book...take the time to do it. But my all-time favorite verse is found in Chapter 4:14. If you have girls...share this with them especially!!! I shared this with Christen this past week as she was kind of having a tough week, learning life lessons. I think she found great strength....and I did too!!!!

My Fan Club

This blogging is really new to me and I'm undecided at this point if I'm committed enough to keep doing it. This is kind of a funny thing. As I was checking my blog the other day...I noticed I had some comments from people named Ricki, Desi, and Lori. I thought to myself "Isn't that funny??" Those are names of my friends....what is the chance that 3 people with those names would leave comments on my blog? Come to find out they ARE my friends, Ricki, Desiree and Lori. I hadn't told anyone that I was blogging yet. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret. But since this started my life has been crazy busy!! And honestly, when I slow down in the evening, this was the last thing on my mind.

To Ricki....You are the best!! You are the most committed person I know!! When you say you are going to do something....you see it through to the bitter end. You see things as "black/white". Some may fault you on that....but that is a trait that I admire most in you. I wish I could speak in confidence the way you can. You are the one I go to when I need perspective on things. I get really bent out of shape sometimes (like this week!!) easily and you always help me to see all the sides of issues!!! You and I share quite a bit ... from family matters to church to school...and beyond!! Thank you for your deep, committed,and loyal friendship!! Oh...and on those National Boards....you are going to make it!!! You are an inspiration to me!!

To Lori....You have added much to my life!! I like the fact that no matter what....every morning you have a smile on your face. You genuinely love your kids and you get personally involved in their lives as they become your students. How many ideas have I "stolen" from you and you never seem to mind!! Thank you for introducing me to the world of "Cato". You've helped me in the way of wardrobe among other things!!! Thank you for always being willing to drop everything to help or listen!!

To Desiree....Can you believe it's been 10+ years now that we've been friends?? I know you've been through alot in those years...and at times you are still dealing with that stuff....but I've seen you change. Change is good too!! I never thought you would leave PK and move on up....but I told you whenever you were ready....you'd never look back....and you haven't!!! You truly know how to empathisize with others. What a great quality!! You stick up for your friends and you are always there to support them. You can be very self-Less and I do appreciate that about you.

You guys are great!! Though all of our paths have crossed at Justus-Tiawah....we've been through lots of stuff....and we're still working together....I think we've proved that we are not just "school friends"....we're FOREVER friends. Those are the BEST kind EVER!!!! I always remember to thank God everyday that HE brought you to me!! So, thanks for being in my fan club!!!

Red Ribbon Week

This has been a crazy week. My principal has been gone for 3 days...personal stuff. I have a high needs child in my class that has completely lost all self control and of course I have to take him to "Big Guy". "Big Guy" is my school daddy. He's one person that totally has my utmost respect. He's sarcastic to a fault...but truly has a heart for our tiny school. If he ever knew that I was writing about him...he'd probably flip out. Oh well....Here goes....Yesterday, since my principal was absent, I had to take this kid to see "BG". It's probably been 3 years since I've taken a behavior issue to him...so I was reminded quickly what I'd been missing. He's yelling, slamming his fist on the desk, etc...called the parent and told this kid "your mama wants to talk to you." This kiddo doesn't speak when he's handed the phone....and so I mouthed to him "Say Hello." This kid finally said "Beep....you may start talking now" to his mom. I thought "BG" was going to climb over the desk and get this kid....and all I could do was look away because I was laughing (on the inside of course).

Anyway...that is just one of many incidents that has happened this week...and it's only Wednesday. I found out that this one teacher that teaches Special Ed in the afternoons/ PK in the a.m. is dropping the Sped and only teaching half days now in the morning. It doesn't really affect me, except most of the kids she has in her p.m. class are in my class. That was "rocking my world" yesterday.

Always on Red Ribbon Week we get to have theme dress days. So...guess what?? That's our ticket to wear JEANS!!! It doesn't matter if it's cowboy day, twin day, inside out day...everyday is JEANS day. And guess what?? Nobody says anything!!! I think it's kinda funny that something as trivial as attire really puts a teacher in a fun mood!! Seriously....does it really matter if I wear Nikes or Mary Jane's?? Does it impact the learning of the child to any degree if I wear something comfy or something dressy? Sure, I like to dress up...but I'd really rather do it when I feel like it rather than only on Fridays!!!!

Well...tomorrow night is another Basketball game....so until later!!!