Staying Afloat

This may truly sound funny...but I can't seem to swim underwater!!! What's up with that? The more I think I'm swimming underwater, the loves of my life in the pool with me, remind me that I'm just floating!! How on earth does that happen? I used to know how to swim underwater, even though it was never my favorite way to swim....I could do it "once up a time"!! Oh well...I suppose I'll do what I tell my own kids to do....keep practicing!! All three of our kiddos are excellent swimmers...Kevin is also an excellent swimmer....now I just need to join in the clique!!! I got a mask yesterday and it is helping me with the water up the nose issue. I'll post later when I've mastered the skill of swimming underwater!!!!

God's Mercies

I have a little "situation". It's called "I opened up my big fat mouth syndrome". I'm just reminded through this deal that my tongue is a sharp object that really needs some more taming. I thought I was wise and mature...and I truly think I am....but yesterday I was not. So, after apologizing to my sweet sweet friend, I had to drop and pray. Isn't it amazing how forgiving God is? And isn't it also amazing how He brings Christian friends in our paths that are also able to forgive?? True forgiveness and true love comes from Christ. How wonderfully comforting is that?? I am experiencing His mercies today!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Man...I've really neglected this blog thing!! I've been really busy lately. It's amazing too...cause with school being out...I should have some extra time on my hands. Ryan graduated from Justus on May 15 and that began a whirlwind month!!!! Following that was our last week of school and that just is a crazy week no matter what. But...I'd like to take a minute and do a little bragging: Ryan was awarded the Wildcat Pride award!! It goes to an 8th grade boy and girl that exhibits characteristics of what it means to be a Wildcat and voted on by the teachers in the district. What an honor!!!!!! Then we went on the 8th grade trip to Branson. That was a really neat time...very organized and fun!!!!!!!! After we got back from that, the girls had dance recital. I love watching them dance.... After that fun time....we packed up and went to church camp. (Just the girls and I). And finally this week....I went to Great Expectations. Yes, it's been busy...but it's been memorable and that's the sweetest thing!!
Now, I have a couple of weeks to do some things I have needed to get done for a while: yard work, closet cleaning, etc. Then the first part of July, we leave for vacation: going to Michigan this year. It will be lots of fun....but I'm secretly going to miss my beach retreat at Casey Key, Florida!!!! But, we'll have that to look forward to next year.
This is my birthday weekend...so my wonderful friends are hosting an eat out night and movie time tonight!!! I'm looking forward to spending some time with my peeps. We always start out talking about important stuff: kids, husbands, pet peeves, funny things that happened during the week, and ultimately we end up talking about school. When we retire and get wrinkly....will we still talk about school???

Mother's Day

This is Mother's Day weekend. This blog is dedicated to just that...I love my mother so much. Growing up, I never doubted her love for me....and I always dreamed of being the kind of mom she was to me to my own children. She came to all the school parties and functions. She got excited about events happening to me as I grew. I remember one time being initiated into the FHA...and she knew about it...and kept it a secret from me. When the girls came knocking and running in my room at 5:30 a.m. to get me up for school...she was right behind them taking pictures!! We used to make "wacky cake" on Sunday afternoons. She used to sit outside for hours in summer watching my brother and I play. She was the mom that took my friends and I to walmart, to VBS, to the pool in town, or simply go pick them to bring them back to our house to play. As I grew, we were close. She would write letters to me when I went to college. She and I would talk for hours on the phone when I got my first real job as a teacher in Gentry, AR. Then after Kevin and I got married, we still spent time talking on the phone...daily!!! She came to the hospital in the middle of the night when I went in to have Ryan. Big deal, cause we lived in Gentry...she in Claremore. That's about a 2 1/2 hour drive.....at 1 a.m. She came and stayed for a few days after I got home from the hospital with Ryan. When we moved back to Claremore...we still stayed close. I suppose since we've lived here...I've taken the closeness for granted....b/c we don't talk everyday now. As I ponder Mother's Day from the perspective of the child...I need to make a better effort to keep the closeness real for me and for her.

My own children remind me daily of how much they love me. The hugs, kisses, gestures of love keep me so filled of the Mother's Day spirit. It's alive everyday...not just one day out of the year that is on the calendar. I thank God daily that I am a Mom. There is so much joy, contentment, and Love in being a mother. I'm truly blessed!!!

What a week!!

What a week it's been!! Lots of rain fell this week and also last week!! This has created a terrible thing...INSIDE recess. With school getting close to being out...the last thing a teacher or student likes is yucky inside recess. Rain leads to other problems too...an increase on the volume of children's voices and high blood pressure...b/c of nerve damage due to the close proximity of children in a classroom....BUT there is good news...and it is called 10 days!!! That's how many school days we have til the last day....but here's how I do the math: 1 personal day next Friday + 1 Fun Day + 1 Awards assembly day +1 AR goal party day =4...so 10 - 4 =6....I can do anything for 6 days...gee....I can do most anything for 10 days too!!!!

I always tend to reflect on the school year as it gets closer to being over....b/c sometimes that's when the full circle comes together and you finally see the "big picture". I think the big picture for me is still a little foggy and unclear. I really have enjoyed this year. I have enjoyed teaching 2nd grade and the looping thing has been totally awesome for me. There are so many ideas floating around in my head for next year. I have learned so much this year and I can't wait to build on it next year. There are some things that I'm going to change next year too. But I'm so totally excited about moving into a new classroom that's bigger, has more storage and finally has way more outlets!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

Change is hard for me. If you know me at all....you know that it takes quite a bit to get me to change to some stuff and for some stuff I welcome change. One thing that I'm dealing with is my children getting older. They are changing....and I'm so happy that they are embarking into new seasons of their lives...it's natural and normal and exciting!! I just don't want them to change too fast!!! I need time to process a.k.a. enjoying their seasons....everything MUST slow down in order for me to accomplish that goal.

I suppose that is all for now...I know I'll have more to post as we experience our oldest child graduating from the 8th grade next week. What a week this will be for me!!!

3 weeks...

3 weeks til our son graduates from the 8th grade. It's a big deal at our school....especially since Ryan has gone to JT since PK. Honestly, that time flew by and left me with my head spinning. It's not a small fee to graduate from the 8th grade. Let's see....we've laid down more than $400 for the class trip...(b/c we're all 5 going!!), another $150 on a tux, and then there will be some to pay towards the after party. Oh...and I have to get a new dress!!! I'm just wondering how much I'll have shell out for senior graduation....and that'll be the year that Kaylyn graduates from the 8th grade too!!!! Gee Whiz!!!!



This is totally random but my intern was doing a lesson today on the planets......here's what I heard...."Did you guys know that Ur-anus is the gassiest planet in our solar system?" Oh my goodness....I laughed so hard (away from the innocent children of course). Oh and then I hear this as they are doing their planet mobile from a child: "What color is Ur-anus?" I think that's rather private...don't you think??? Again, I'm laughing hysterically!!!! Teaching is such a fun job and I get much exercise from laughing daily!!!!

Oh my....

I didn't realize that's it's been over a month since I've last updated my blog!! Well...let's see if I can remember to include all the things that have touched my life these past few weeks... For starters, I lost a colleague to lung cancer. She was truly a lovely person...passionate about anything that had to do with books. She enjoyed children and stretching their brains. She loved her family dearly and I came to realize in the past few months of her life that she was a Christian. I know where she is now...but it doesn't make the void she left behind any less sad. She is missed....Dear Teresa....I'm walking in Relay for Life next week for you sweetie!!!

I've had to enroll our son in high school this week. CHS has changed alot in the last 22 years. Courses have changed...the campus has changed and the teachers have changed. But one thing remains....they still have a nutty mascot: Zebras!!! I do feel a little old now. Why the crap do parents have sign this piece of paper that gives the school permission to teach my child about STD's and AIDs? Why have we let our society get to the point where schools have to teach those things because it isn't taught at home?? Why must we be politically correct when talking about sin? Why can't sin just be called sin because it is sin instead of sugar coating it and making excuses for it? (Can't believe I just got off on that tangent in the second paragraph!!)

Kevin and I have forever been talking about building onto our house. We'll talk about it and then table the discussion because we're both scared about the extra financial part of the equation. But...we've opened up the discussion again. This time we're going to have an architect come and let us know how we can add on and what our options are....then I suppose we'll look at the options and figure out if it's something we want to dive into. I know our home is a blessing from God and we are so blessed to have a place to call home.

I guess I'll finish this up and write more later!!!!