I DO!

Today was a busy day but I want to talk about the ending of our day first.  This afternoon we attended the wedding of some good friend’s daughter.  The wedding was at 3 this afternoon, the color of the bridesmaid’s dresses were royal blue and the bride wore a beautiful white strapless dress the fit her perfectly.  She looked radiant as she walked down the aisle on her dad’s arm (who by the way had a HUGE smile on his face) carrying a bouquet of brightly colored flowers.  I always cry at weddings (yes, I am a huge sap and cry at the drop of a hat!) but when I saw the groom unashamedly wiping tears as they were streaming down his face I almost lost it.  I listened closely to the words the minister was saying as he performed the beautiful ceremony. . . .I listened closely because after 16 years of marriage it is nice to hear those words again even if it is someone else saying them (because who doesn’t need to be reminded of the vows you made when life is getting in the way?).  The minister pronounced them man and wife and told them to turn to the audience. . . .what looks of happiness these two young people had on their face knowing that moment was the beginning of their life together.  We headed over to the reception as they took some pictures.  The reception was simply decorated but beautiful.  Bri the bride just graduated with her master’s in English or library science or something like that and I just saw on fb that the groom, Adam is an editor and the décor was perfect for these two (who by the way both graduated from grad school with 4.0’s.  WHAT?)  Anyway each table was decorated with books, white hydrangeas, blue daisies and baby’s breath.  So cool..

 

As the bride and groom sat at the head table and toasts were made, this couple glowed with love.  It was a wonderful thing to see.  I love weddings.  My Mom and I decorated a few weddings and we had the best times!

This morning we headed over to the home of a couple from church to pick up a piece of furniture they had given me.  I don’t have all the history of it but as soon as I do and I actually get the furniture put in my kitchen, I will take pictures to show you and tell you all about it.  It is a Hoosier cabinet.  I am excited about it!

Well, that is all for today.  I hope you all had a good week and are looking forward to a new one.

Singles Day

Linking up with Kelly's Korner for singles day.

Hi, my name is Giggles and I have a single person in my life that I know would love to find the love of her life so I am going to tell you a little about her.

I have known this beautiful woman since the day she was born 37 years ago.  Here are a few things about this woman named Rae Anne.

Here we go with just a little information about my sister Rae Anne. . . . .

First and foremost she is a Christian.  She is a faithful member of church of Christ and she loves the Lord.  Rae Anne has taught high school English to freshman and seniors (not at the same time) and has coached volleyball and softball for 13 years.  Rae Anne enjoys watching and playing sports especially those where her nephew and niece are playing or when A&M plays.  She is a class of ’99 graduate from Texas A&M
Enjoys spending time with her family, doesn't drink or smoke, lives in the great state of Texas and is hoping to move to the Metroplex. . . . .soon.

Rae also loves to have a good time out with friends but doesn't mind staying at home watching tv with a fire in the fireplace, she is an AWESOME cook.  She is an accomplished pianist and loves to sing and does it well, you never know when she may break out in song (just ask her students) and she loves musicals.  She sings the National Anthem at their volleyball games. 

Rae Anne likes to spend time outside working in the yard, fishing and likes to go camping . . .especially in the mountains in Colorado.  She is a straight shooter – if you don’t want an honest answer, don’t ask.  That is just a little bit about my sister. 

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comment section.  If you want her to contact you, please leave your email address.

Have a great one.

Oh and here is one more!!

A Post With No Name

And just like that, I am way behind again on my blogging.  Let’s see. . . . . . .what was the last the last non-menu post was about. . . . .  Oh yes, it was about summer plans, none of which has been done yet!  Monday and Wednesday of last week I did some housework and that is all I can remember.  Tuesday and Thursday I spent the day running my Grandmother around taking her to the doctor, the grocery store and getting her hair done.  Friday my hubs was off and we ran errands that he needed to get done.  Saturday was spent outside sweating as we mowed and burned two big burn piles.  That led to too much sun way to much heat.  My Dad’s birthday was Saturday and we went to Freddy’s Frozen Custard to eat and visit.  We had a good time because we had some friends there and my Dad’s mom joined us.  Sunday we out to dinner for Dad’s birthday meal and it is nap time for us but I had to wash clothes and pack because I had to head to the big city.  Dad and I left Sunday evening after church and of course got caught up in traffic at 10:30 at night. . . . .on a Sunday.  We got to their house after 11:00 and finally got to bed after midnight.  My middle sister Bec had surgery on Monday morning and we all had to get up early.  So I was up at 4:45 after not getting much sleep!  My little sis had to take the nephew to driver’s ed at 6:00 am.  HE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE TAKING DRIVER’S ED!!!!  Surgery started around 7:15 and the surgery results were better than what the doc had hoped for.  Ate lunch with my two favorite kiddos and then Dad and I hit the road at 2:30 to head back home so the hubs and I could take his parentals out to dinner for their anniversary.  After dinner we headed home because I was about to pass out!!  I am too old to try to function on less than 4 hours of sleep and 3.5 hours of chauffeuring my Dad home!!  This morning I took the truck in for some warranty work, walked with my Dad, went to my great aunt’s burial and then came home and accomplished nothing except for this blog post and cooking the yellow squash I had for supper.  Now I am waiting for it to be bedtime!  Tomorrow I am hoping to get a lot of housework done because I will be without a vehicle again because the truck is still at the dealership.  And that is my exciting summer vacation so far!!  Hoping for something more interesting to write about real soon and hoping to pick up my camera and take some pictures to share with you.

Have a great week!

Second Week of Summer Dinner Menu

Late getting this up because well, I just haven't thought about it!  I didn't start thinking about dinner until about 3:30 this afternoon.  Here is what we have eaten and will probably eat the rest of the week.

Monday:  out to dinner with the in-laws to celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary - we ate at Cheddar's.  I had the fried shrimp and it was yummy.
Tuesday:  fend for yourself - the hubs had tomato soup and I had homegrown yellow squash and the leftover mashed potatoes and broccoli rice casserole.  I am fixing to eat some Bluebell Southern Blackberry Cobbler ice cream for dessert.
Wednesday:  fend for youself
Thursday:  tbd
Friday:  out to dinner with my Dad and sister
Saturday:  fend for yourself

I am trying to eat healthier and to eat smaller amounts.  Today my Dad and I started walking.  He walks a lot faster than me!

First Week of Summer - What we will eat. . . . . .

This week's menu is not very exciting but it will be good.

Monday:  Slovacek sausage in bbq sauce, new potatoes with onions and butter
Tuesday:  hamburgers, potato salad
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  $5.55 large pizza from Pizza Hut (ok 2, 1 pepperoni & 1 hamburger)
Friday:  out for supper with Dad and RAW
Saturday:  fend for yourself

Summer Plans

Summer is coming at us so fast that my head is spinning and it is not a good feeling.  My summer to do list consists of 1) finding a job, 2) having the kitchen floor and linoleum replaced (not by choice), 3) getting rid of a bunch of junk, 4) continuing education so I don’t have to retake all of my certification tests, 5) taking the EC-6 Generalist test so I can teach 5^th and 6^th grade should there be a job opening, 6) being my grandmother’s driver and doing whatever else she needs, 7) helping my little sister with whatever she needs done should she move, 8) hopefully getting some more stuff unpacked and repacked at my Dad’s house, 9) spending as much time as possible with family and hopefully a little one on one time with my nephew/niece peeps, 10) getting the church office organized so I can get the office moved out of my house and I can do all church related work there, 11) vacation, 12) whatever honey do’s the hubster has for me to do  and whatever else pops up unexpectedly like visiting with friends, yard work, you know the life stuff!! 

1)      Finding a job:  I have been looking for a teaching job since 2008.  I was lucky enough to work full-time as a second grade teacher the 2011-2012 school year.  Unfortunately that job didn’t work out pas the one year mark.  I have been subbing but that just doesn’t help pay enough of the bills mainly because I am not always motivated to work every day and I am very picky about the jobs/schools I work with.  If I do not get a teaching job this year, I will have to give up teaching and find something else to do.  I don’t want to give up on teaching but the hubs and I would like to make enough money to live on and to find us another place to live in. . . .a place of our own (which I think we deserve after being married for 16 years).

2)    The kitchen floor:  we have a sunken spot in our kitchen. . . .it is a pretty large sunken spot and I am waiting for the linoleum to give way and have one of us standing on the dirt under the house.  We will be having the entire kitchen subflooring and flooring replaced.  That means the rest of the house has to be clean enough to house the microwave cart, kitchen table, refrigerator and stove.  I hope whoever does the work does it quickly!

3)     My sister is having a garage sale once school is out and I have a lot of stuff that needs to go from my house.  Some people (my husband) consider me a hoarder.  Yes, I will admit that I am a pack rat, sentimental about “stuff”, lazy about throwing things away, have a ton a teaching stuff that needs a home (see #1) and that I live in a house with no storage.  I also have clothes that need to be gone through, a cabinet of containers that needs to be gone through and a misc. cabinet that needs to be gone through.

4)    In our great state, you are no longer able to receive lifetime teaching certificates like my husband, Dad and sister have.  You must receive 150 hours of continuing education for your certificates to be renewed.  I have gotten what hours I do have on my own because I have not been employed except for one year.  My summer will be spent doing as much online training as possible so I do not have to pay the $180 to retake each test and the $75 (this were the prices last time I checked).  I also hope to have some classroom training but I haven’t had a chance to sit down and figure out what classes are worth the time and money.

5)     About 3 or so years ago that the certificate that I and several of my friends received was not good as it was thought to be.  My certifications are Early Childhood – 4^th grade Generalist (meaning I can teach any subject in ec-4^th grade) and 4^th – 8^th English, Language Arts, Reading (this means that I could teach those three subjects in those grades).  Well, according to the Department of Education, 5^th and 6^th grade are elementary and if you teach in one of those grades, you must be certified to teach ANY subject. . . .math, English, science, social studies.  That is not how the certifications were set up here.  In many schools in our state, 5^th and 6^th grade are in intermediate school or middle school and those students do not have one teacher for all subjects.  Anyway, long story short if I want to teach in those two grades I have to take a new certification test.  Yuck.

6)     My grandmother is 89 years old and over the past year she has begun falling, a lot.  I have already been driving her to her hair appointments but I am pretty sure that over the summer I will need to begin grocery shopping and possibly cooking for her (on occasion).  This means that I will have to be even more organized with my time.  I have to admit that it is a little overwhelming and sometimes I am selfish and wish that someone else would do it but my Mom is gone and that pretty much leaves me.  Yes, I know that sounds selfish and I feel bad about it but it is what it is and some days I just feel that way.

7)     My little sister who lives about 5 minutes from me is looking for a job in the big city.  If/ when she gets one, that means she will be moving 3+ hours away.  My Mom would have jumped right in and helped her get packed, help get her house cleaned up good and moved.  I am pretty sure that Mom expects me to do what she would do.  I don’t want her to move and I refuse to talk about it.  I know again, selfish but . . . . . .

8)    It has been 4 years since my parents had to pack up their entire house to get their foundation cracked.  A lot has gone on since then.  My Mom only got to spend a few nights in the house after it was fixed.  Over this time we, mainly Dad have gotten a lot of the stuff unpacked but there is still a lot to be done.  I am hoping that I can encourage Dad to get it done this summer. I am hoping that maybe this will help give me some peace and closure.  I don’t know that it will but I know that Mom wouldn’t be happy knowing that it wasn’t finished yet and I know that there are some things that just need to be out of storage to help make home, home again.

9)     I miss family vacations.  We haven’t been on one with my whole immediate family since we went to Alabama back in 2005 I think.  I love spending time with my family and I never feel that we spend enough time with family.  I really need it.  I only get to see my middle sister and her family maybe 6 or 7 times a year.  I miss them a lot.  The kiddos are getting so big and I am afraid that before long they won’t want to spend time with us.  I love them so much and the thought of losing close touch with them breaks my heart.  Hoping to find some extra time to spend with them.

10)    Our church just moved into a building of our own and for the last 7 years I have done all of the church secretary work from my home.  I can’t wait to begin working out of my office at the building.  I especially can’t wait to get all of the paper out of my house!!

11)      Can’t wait for vacation.  Trying out a new destination this year.  More on that later.

12)    Although my husband is still in the school business, he no longer has summers off.  Since I am home during the summer I get to do whatever he needs me to do plus the mowing, trash taking out, trailer packing, gas getting and whatever else pops up.

Well, that pretty much sums up my summer.  It will be super busy and will go by too quickly but I hope to enjoy it as much as possible.

 

2nd Grade Memories

Today as I sit in a classroom with no windows and one student, I think back to the things that I have missed about being a full-time teacher.  I also looked at some pictures of my kiddos from last year.  Not being rehired was very hard.  I had been looking for a job for four years and although I did not plan on working in a private school I ended up enjoying the job, the kids and my co-workers very much.  I miss being in the classroom everyday helping my students discover things about themselves and the world around them.  It is so exciting when they catch on to something or read a book and they really “saw” what was happening in the story and realizing that people are different and they can still work together and be friends.  It is the hardest job I have ever done but it was by far the most rewarding job I have ever done.  I really hope I get the opportunity to do this again because without a doubt in my mind, this is the job that I was meant to do.