As we wrap up November

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We were able to see many of our family members.

I can't believe that it is almost December. Christmas is just around the corner.

Have a great day!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Tuesday Tidbits

ONE MONTH TIL CHRISTMAS!!!

Oh, where to start. . . .I guess I will go back to last Friday. Friday I subbed for a 3rd grade teacher that I met while subbing across the hall from her. This was a difficult class; by the time 12:30 rolled around there had been 2, count them 2 confrontations between students and 1 fight. Needless to say, I was glad for the day to be over. To add to that, I was starting to feel crummy. That evening was fun because my parental unit, sister and I were invited by a family from church to dinner and games at their home. My honey was invited too but he was at the doctors office until 9:45 that evening. No, he wasn't sick. Our doctor has a practice that doesn't take appointments so you are going to have a wait anyway but this particular night our doctor was the only doctor on-call in the emergency room at the hospital where his office is. Needless to say it was a busy night for the doc. Anyway, we had a really good time learning a new game and eating yummy chili (made by the hostess) and homemade peach cobbler made by my mommy. It was yummy also.

Saturday, my honey had to go to work (who says that people in education don't work on weekends). I went to breakfast with the parental unit and my sister. We then decided to pop over to see our friends who are opening an Ace Hardware and see if there was anything we could do to help them (they are opening next Tuesday). We stayed and helped stock the home decor section. It was a lot of fun and they are going to have some really neat things. Then I came home and took a nap because I was still feeling crummy. But I did finish the 10 plagues!! Yippee.

Sunday was church and the last of the plagues. AND another nap because I was still feeling bad.
I hope I am not boring you yet!!

Monday I did a little Christmas shopping (I am ready to be done) and came home took a nap (are you seeing a pattern?). Then my sisterfriend L came over and we got some house work done for the Christmas party I am having next week.

Today, I got up and headed straight to the doctor's office. Ok, this is the 2nd time I have been in two weeks. The first time was to get my meds redone. Today was to find out what creepy crud I had picked up. Well, no surprise, I have bronchitis. I hope to get some sleep tonight with out the stuffy head, coughing, wheezing, etc that I have had the last few nights. I even got some more housework done but the best part of the day was when my husband baked the pies we are taking to his parents house for Thanksgiving. He made pumpkin and we decided to put my sweet potato casserole in a pie crust because it already tastes like dessert.

Now onto my new profile picture. Last week we were moving the cows and all of the babies were standing in a huddle. Well, that was until I started trying to get pictures of them. This is one of the cuties. I love having them around the house because I talk to them everytime I go outside (my neighbors probably think that I am a little crazy!). I will post a couple of the other pictures soon.


I hope you are all ready for Thanksgiving! It is almost here!!!

I learned something new!

Well, I finally learned how to download (or upload whatever it is) the pics off of my camera. Here are better pics of my Halloween decor. Hopefully I will get my Thanksgiving decor up before Thursday. I never did get the outside Halloween decor. Maybe next year. Well, that is all for tonight. I have a cold and I am ready for bed!!

Thursday ~ Giving Thanks

While thinking about what I was going to use for my last day of Kelli's Giving Thanks, I found two poems that said more than I ever could have and did a much better job of doing it. I hope you enjoy the poems and that you all have a wonderful holiday with your family.

HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Count on God instead of yourself.

~~Author Unknown.~~~~~~~~~~

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Thanksgiving Recipe

Today I decided to share my favorite Thanksgiving recipe. If you try this recipe, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Sweet Potato Casserole
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes - drained
3/4 stick of oleo
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. cinnamon & nutmeg (I think I use pumpkin pie spice)
1 Tbsp. vanilla

Mix and bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes.

Spread with a topping of:
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 stick oleo
1/2 cup pecans (I always add extra)
1 cup crushed post toasties (I have also used bran flakes)
Return to oven for a few minutes.

It's Tuesday and I am thankful for. . . .

the kindness of strangers. Today my mom and I went to Hobby Lobby because I needed a picture frame with the spots for pics that were not the same size. We looked and there wasn't anything that would work. Mom suggested that we just have a mat cut. When it was our turn to talk to the gentleman taking orders, we pulled out a picture and two poems that we needed the mat for. It has taken me a long time to get this particular thing taken care of, not because I didn't want to do it but because it would be hard. The gentleman measured the items we had given him and told him the size frame we were going to use. He then ask me what color I wanted to use. I began trying different colors, the photo is black and white and the poems are on peach colored paper. I began trying different colors and wasn't finding anything that I liked and as I did this, tears began to fall. You may be asking yourself why picking a mat color could bring me to tears. Well, it wasn't having to choose a color, it was about what was going into the frame. You see, it was two poems, one to daddy from child and the other one was to mommy from child and the picture is of our precious baby boy who was born with angel wings almost a year ago (the picture and poems were given to us by the hospital). Well, the gentleman was able to cut the mat while we waited and as he came out from the back he had a strange look on his face. He came around the counter, put his arm around me and told me that he had been through the same thing and walked off (he didn't even charge us for the mat). It is amazing how when you are at a point in your life that you think no one can possibly understand what you are going through, someone comes by gives you a hug and reminds you that you are not alone in your struggle. So, a huge THANK YOU to the gentleman at the framing counter at Hobby Lobby and the reason why I am thankful for the kindness of strangers.

PS: And a huge thank you to my new friend Mel who has been my rock when I needed a shoulder to cry on. :)

Monday in the library

For those of you who were wondering how subbing in the library went well, here is the update. Everything went ok. I had to restart the computer 3 times. When the 1st graders (3 classes one right after the other) came in, the computer froze so I couldn't check any books in or check them out. I had to get the kids to stack their books and then I wrote down every book they were checking out. It was only three pages worth (thank goodness it is a small school district) but it took me 45 minutes to get everything checked in and then checked out after I got the computer up and running again after school. I had a good day although I was by myself most of the time. Next time I am taking a radio or something. It was way too quiet!

Hope you are having a good week.

Smiles to you all :)

Thanksgiving Poem

At Grandma's House

I like the taste of turkey

Any time throughout the year

But it never seems to taste as good

As when Thanksgiving's here.

Could be it's all the trimmings

That are cooked with it to eat-

But I think it's eating at Grandma's house

That makes it such a treat!

~Author Unknown

Even though we have lived in the same town or very near to our grandparents houses, I was always so excited to get to go to see my aunts, uncles and cousins. Now with my honey and his family added into the mix, we don't get to go every year but we still have a great time and awesome food when we do!

It's a new week!!

Weekly Menu -

Monday: taco salad (my honey's favorite)
Tuesday: quesadilla (my honey will have taco salad again)
Wednesday: left overs?
Thursday: fend for yourself
Friday: out to eat with my parents
Saturday: who knows

You may look at my menu and think, she doesn't take very good care of her husband when it comes to eating. Well, this would be because my husband is watching his weight and so what he eats is limited. Therefore, I don't cook much. I try to cook one meal a week but he eats a lot of salad, taco salad, wheat thins with dip and fluff (I can't explain this but sometime I will share his recipe).

Tomorrow I get to sub in the library. I love books and my husband thinks that I would make a great librarian. At this point I am not really interested in going back to school since I just graduated in December. I think that one day I may get a masters degree for reading specialist or something but right now I don't even want to think about it.

The weather yesterday and today has been wonderful! It has been very cool which is great. But as I sit here shivering, I wonder what this winter has in store for us. For those of you who know me know how drafty our house is and it seems to get worse every year.
Well, I hope everyone has a great week.

What school did you say?

Another day, another school, another classroom, another bunch of kids. . . . .

This morning the phone rang and woke me from a very deep sleep. Half way into the conversation this voice asks me if I can sub today for 5th grade. I am silent for what seems a very long time and then say yes. My next question is what school will I be at? What grade? Sure, I say and jump out of bed. Now, you may wonder why I was asking what school, well, I am signed up to teach at three different districts. That is why I was confused, well that and the fact that I was dead asleep when the phone rang. I am supposed to be at the school at 7:30 am, the current time is 6:45, I live 20 minutes from the school (when there isn't any traffic) and I have to take a shower before I can even think about leaving the house. Well, I got there a little before 8:00 and made it through the day. I had subbed this particular group of kids before so they wanted to know what I had been doing and why I hadn't ever subbed for them again. It was fun to see them again but I was really tired when I got home from the rush of the morning and the long day of video watching! And so goes the adventures of the substitute teacher. . . . . . . .and tomorrow begins another day, in another school and so on and so forth!!

Veterans Day

Thank a Veteran

It is the soldier, not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag,And whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

-- Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

Remember to thank our veterans and to continue to pray for those who are in harms way.

photo from google.com/images

Thursday

Well, I subbed again today. This time for 5th graders. Not too bad. No work for me tomorrow though. The hubby and I are spending the day together. We are going to eat dinner with his sister and bro-in-law. We also hope to get some Christmas shopping done at our favorite store Big Lots. That is all for tonight.

Have a happy! :)

Wacky Wednesday

Today I subbed in a first grade Bi-lingual class. You may be saying to yourself, I didn't know that she speaks spanish. Well, guess what. . . .I don't! I decided that since it was only a half day sub job, I would try it out. First thing off the bat was their journal assignment. . . . . .it was written in spanish. I had to have the students tell me what it was. Anyway, long story short - the kids were great, we made it through the morning and I won't do it again!!!

I am always looking for ideas for my bible classes to make them interesting and memorable for the kids. As you know, I am working on the 10 Plagues right now. So far we are through #4. While working on the diaromas Saturday night, I thought the smell from the cigar boxes was going to make me sick, with that said, they look AWESOME if I should say so myself! Anyway, I love Mrs. H and Kelli's ideas about what we are thankful for so, I am going to do something similiar in my 3 year old class from now until Thanksgiving. Not sure what it will be yet but I will let you know!

"So dull and dark are the November days.The lazy mist high up the evening curled,And now the morn quite hides in smoke and haze;The place we occupy seems all the world."- John Clare, November

What will tomorrow bring?

Tomorrow is a very important day and I hope that each of you take the time to go cast your vote. Remind those you see to vote.



16 Random Things

Directions:Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.



1. I would like to visit Ireland and go to the International Horse Show.

2. I was named after my mom's first baby doll.

3. I worked for a year and a half (or there abouts) in law enforcement as a dispatcher and jailer (when needed).

4. Hates games that require quick math skills or any math skills(cards, dominoes, etc)

5. Doesn't care much for ice cream

6. Loves going to Super Chevy car races and looking at old Chevys with my dad

7. My name means "perfection"

8. Hates losing touch with friends

9. I hate butterscotch and caramel

10. Wish I knew the Bible better

11. Hate being called Tammy Faye.

12. Was FFA president my senior year of high school.

13. Hopes that I am as good at doing things as my mom when I grow up

14. Wants a boy and girl

15. Loves living in the country

16. Loves horses and dogs



Well, I don't know 16 people in blog land so if you happen to come across my blog, consider yourself tagged!! If you decide to participate, leave me a comment so I can come check out your answers.

Can you believe. . . .

that it is already November 1st? Where has the year gone? What will 2009 bring to my honey and me?