Lots of Interesting Things

Today it was in the 70's and tomorrow by lunch we should be in the lower 30's with a 40% chance of snow on Thursday.  So today was spent doing a little prep work for the cold.  Flowers watered in hothouse, blanket and quilt put back on bed, coat washed and de-icer purchased (thanks Dad!).  Tomorrow I am subbing for my Dad and then tomorrow afternoon I have a job interview.  I will let you know how that goes tomorrow.  Goodnight for now.

Short Weekend

Is it just me or do the weekends just fly by too quickly?  I taught everyday for the last two weeks so I was totally exhausting this weekend!  Friday evening Mr. Giggles and I met my Dad and sister for dinner (this will be the last time we get to have dinner with Rae for several months because she is full swing into softball).  Saturday morning Mr. G headed to his school to iron the new curtains we put up in his new office and I headed over to my gmom's house to finish putting away Christmas.  I enjoyed getting to spend some time visiting with her and Max (the dog).  We made our usual Saturday trip to DQ for supper and ice cream (blizzard for the mister and strawberry sundae for me) and while we were there some church friends stopped in so we had a very nice visit with them.  Sunday we napped.  It was nice!  And now we are back to Monday.  I have a list of things to do this week and we are supposed to get more COLD weather.  We haven't had anything but cold so I think that we are crossing our fingers for some precipitation!  Well, that is all for now. 


Today I am thinking about the sermon we heard last night (thank you JT for stepping on my toes!). Do I make the best use of my time? Am I willing to risk losing my soul by not making the best use of my time? The answer to both questions is no so I need to reassess what I use my time for and adjust accordingly.

2nd Grade

I have been teaching 2nd grade this week.  Boy, have they stressed me out.  Yesterday I had the worst day I have had teaching in a while.  Thankfully today was better.  Not much but enough.  They did make me laugh today.  Yesterday when I was doing out math lesson (and if you know me, you know that math gives me the hives so I am very nervous about ruining math for some young mind) and I said something like, "Ok, we have $0.75 and we are going to the candy store and we have enough money to buy a whopping big candy bar".  They ask me what "whoppin" meant and I explained it to them.  Well, today they were thinking that whoppin is a something not a way to describe it.  Today we were doing the same type of lesson (subtracting money) and I said that we were going to be going to the "toy" store to spend our money.  One little boy (who is actually a 1st grader but is very good in math so he comes to this class) excitedly yells out that he wants to buy some whoppin.  I ask him what he wanted and he said that he wanted to buy some whoppin.  I laughed so now when we do our math lessons we pretend to be doing yardwork to earn money to buy things. . . . .like whoppins!  I have to say that today math was the best part of my day (I can't believe I actually said that!).  The rest of the day was spent repeatedly repeating these words. . . . .BE QUIET. . . .STOP TALKING. . .BE QUIET. . . .STOP TALKING and so on and so forth.  I told the kids during Bible (while they were arguing and such) that I was going to go home and pull out all of my hair because they were giving me a headache.  Didn't seem to bother them that their sub may come to school tomorrow bald!!  Well, I had better close up for tonight.
Days like yesterday and today are the kinds of days that I really need my Mom to talk to.  She would have loved the whoppin story.  And yesterday she would have told me that things would be ok and that I was doing a good job and that she was proud of me.  I really miss her.

Have You Missed Me?

Yes, I know that it has been a while since I really sat down and caught you up on what was going on in my life.  In the past month we have been to two funerals, I have taught more than usual, we have had very cold weather and I can't remember what else has been going on.  I can say this, I am glad that I did not have to attend another funeral today. 
Nothing really exciting is going on around here.  Next week I am teaching 2nd grade at a private christian school all week.  Should be interesting because I haven't taught much elementary this year.  Most of my subbing has been at the junior high level.  Oh, I have applied for a non-teaching job at the local university this last week.  The job prospect for teachers is not looking good.  All we hear is how they are trying to figure out ways to cut school budgets.  I really want to teach but I really want a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my tummy so I am having to look elsewhere.
I have tried a new recipe - hamburger soup and reminded myself what an old recipe tasted like - broccoli salad.  If you want to check out these recipes, go here.  If you try them, you will have to let me know.  Tonight I made corn casserole and the broccoli salad for a church luncheon.  I love church luncheons because you always get such yummy and different foods.
I was thinking tonight as we were coming home from town about how much I still really miss my Mom.  Even this past week I had the thought that I needed to call her about something or other.  Man, that hurts.  I know that she is in a much better place but I really want her here. . . .with us.  I know that sounds very selfish but, well maybe I am.  I feel like I am such a different person than I was before.  I don't think that I laugh as much, sing as much, enjoy things as much.  I know this probably doesn't make much sense.  I just can't even seem to express myself the same anymore so that is it for tonight.
Sorry for the disjointedness of this post.

HUH??

This morning when I left the house (at 7:30), it was 23 degrees.  As I get to the crosswalk by the junior high, I see a couple of kids walking to school with just a light windbreaker on.  Then I get to school, the bell rings and the kids start walking the halls and again to my amazement I am seeing kids in shorts and flipflops.  WHAT?  Do their parents not look at what they are wearing before they leave the house?  I am wearing long pants, a 3/4 length sleeved t-shirt, a sweater, shoes and socks and I am freezing!

Show Us Your Life - Singles

I am so glad that Kelly decided to do this again.  I wanted to join last time but there just wasn't time for me to put everything together.  So here she is!

Meet Rae Anne, my sister.  There are so many things I can say about my sister and I don't know where to begin (these are in no specific order, just my random thoughts).

*faithful member of the church of Christ with a great love for the Lord

*teacher and coach - senior English, softball and volleyball

*enjoys watching and playing sports

*is a TEXAS AGGIE fan

*loves kids, especially her nephew and niece
*enjoys spending time with her family
*enjoys vacationing in Colorado
*doesn't drink or smoke
*is in her mid-30's
*lives in the great state of Texas

*cares about her students, her friends, her co-workers and of course her family

*loves to have a good time out with friends and doesn't mind staying at home watching tv with a fire in the fireplace
*she is an AWESOME cook (she loves making Paula Deen recipes)
*is HiLiArIoUs!  She will make you laugh until you cry (or wet your pants!)
*deserves to find that special person to spend the rest of her life with
*loves to sing and does it well
*is an accomplished pianist
*has a cat named Bud

Leave me a comment if you are interested, know someone who might be or have any other questions.

God is Good All of the Time

I just read this article about three men and the loss of their children and how they helped each other through a difficult time.  Very good article.

http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201101/billy-donovans-secret-sorrow#

Brrrrrrrrrrr!

Oh my goodness it is chilly around here.  I just took a peek at the thermometer and it is 35 outside and 56 inside.  The wind is blowing very hard and is moving stuff around on my front porch!  Due to the chilliness inside, I will be getting some more housework done!!  Yesterday I accomplished the 2011 summer/winter clothing switch!  Everything is where it should be and I have two boxes to take to Goodwill.  I felt like I had finally accomplished something!  And now I guess I need to get up and get started.  Hope you're having a good day.

Weather

No, we are not getting any snow here but were are getting much  cooler (colder) weather.  Today truly feel like January.  Yesterday we got some much needed rain (we ended 2010 12+ inches below average).  I don't mind the cold weather except for the fact that our house stays pretty cool.  I really wish we had a fireplace that worked.  It would make staying warm so much easier!  With that being said, I am going to get off my duff and do some housework (to warm myself up cause friends. . . .I am cold!).  I hope that all of you who are getting the snow are enjoying it.  Wouldn't mind some here!  Hope everyone is having a good day.

Tough Day

Today we went to the funeral of a family friend.  My parents have been friends with this family since I was very young.  She fought a long battle with that very ugly disease we call cancer.  The funeral was very nice.  I tried not to cry to hard but my Mom's funeral is still so fresh in my mind.  I had finally mostly stopped crying as the service ended but they began playing the tape that my family taped for my Granddad's funeral.  When you listen to it, you can hear my Mom's beautiful voice loud and clear.  And then I just couldn't hold back the tears.  And that always leads to the crying headache that just won't go away.  Thankfully mine didn't last too long.  Now I am glad that it is bedtime because I am very tired.  Emotional days do that to me.

Life on a Thursday in January

What a title huh?  This morning I got up early because I am subbing in a 7th grade history class (5 am is early to me what about you?).  I get to school (the one my Dad teaches at) and got to my classroom to find out that we are watching The Alamo with Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric and a whole slew of other people.  I was excited about that since I hadn't watched it before but I had to start watching about a 1/3 of the way through.  Pretty good movie. . . .but after lunch I get to watch the same part over 4 times.  Exciting. . .I know you envy me!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  Anyway I tripped over to The Pioneer Woman's blog and found the most exciting news that totally made my day.  She has written a children's book called Charlie the Ranch Dog.  Her dog Charlie is the star and I can't wait until it comes out in April.  I may pre-order (something I never do)!  Can't wait to read it.  I LOVE children's books (one of the reasons I wanted to teach elementary kids although now I am leaning towards junior high kids. . . .but they can still read kids books right?).  Maybe one of these days I will write a book.  Would you buy it?
I hope all of you are having as an exciting day as me!  Happy Thursday everyone. 

2010 Q & A

I have seen this on a couple of other blogs so I thought I would do one too (yes, I know that I am a follower but only sometimes!  Some of the questions were really hard to answer.

1-  What did you do in 2010 that you have never done before?  I honestly can't think of an anwer for this one

2-  Did anyone close to you give birth?  Some friends from church did, a girl for one family and a boy for the other family

3-  Did anyone close to you die?  Yes, my beautiful Mom.

4-  What date from 2010 will remain etched in your memory and why?  March 1, 2010, the day my Mom passed away.

5-  What was your biggest acheivement this year?  Learned how to rely on myself more because I didn't have my Mom to help me.

6-  Did you suffer any illness or injury?  I had either phlebitus or cellulitus in my foot (awful)

7-  What was the best thing you bought? No idea - we haven't made any major purchases and I can't pinpoint any of the small ones.

8-  Where did most of your money go?  to pay bills

9-  What song will always remind you of 2010?

10-  What do you wish you'd done more of?  been able to spend more time with my Mom

11-  What do you wish you'd done less of?  worried about what others thought about things

12-  What was your favorite TV program?  The Big Bang Theory

13-  What's the best book you read this year? I read so many that I can't remember one specific one!

14-  What was your favorite movie this year?  RED with Bruce Willis

15-  What did you do on your birthday? How old were you?  celebrated with family - 40

16-  Did you travel anywhere this year?  the beginning of the year consisted of traveling to MD Anderson also Shreveport and Colorado

17-  What national/world event stirred you the most?  The Chilean miners being rescued and the earthquakes in Haiti

18-  What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  for my Mom to have been able to overcome leukemia and the stemcell transplant and for myself to become a Mommy

19-  What merited celebration?  There wasn't much celebration in my family this year

20-  Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?  God is in control and what happens is in his plan, not mine no matter how much it hurts.  I already knew that but was boldly reminded

New Year's Resolutions

This year I am going to try something yet again.  Last year I was doing goals by the month but life got in the way and that fell by the wayside.  This year I am going to focus more on God and follow that path he chooses for me.  There are a few things that I am hoping will be a part of his plan and a couple of those are to fall even more in love with my husband, be a good Christian example, get a job, be more prayerful and become a Mom.  I just have to let go of my will and my timetable and give it over to God.

What are you planning on for 2011?

New Years Day

Got to bed way too late last night!  Today we are celebrating my in-law's birthdays.  They have birthdays in December so it can be hard getting them fit into the schedule.  We went to eat at Cotton Patch (ate way too much), went home and ate cake, watched Sherlock Holmes and then headed home.  We didn't eat black eyed peas (very gross to me) or cabbage (love cabbage but didn't think about it).  My dad hung out with my sister and they ate peas and cabbage! 
Oh my goodness. . .I don't know about you but we ate with wild (and I mean WILD) abandon this holiday season!  I am really going to have to buckle down now and get on some kind of exercise routine and put much less food in my mouth!!  I should follow my Dad's lead, he joined a gym and has done very good so far.  I am very proud of him!
Gotta finish church work so I can go to bed!  Church comes early in the morning.

Wrapping Up 2010

Well, it is the end of 2010 and I can't say that I am sad to see it go.  This year has been a very trying year for my family.  I hope that the coming year is better for all of us.  We enjoyed being together for Christmas but there was that something that was missing, well it was someone who was missing.  I hope that she is happy with how things went. 


We are spending New Year's Eve at my in-laws house with Mr. Giggles Mom, Dad, sister and b-i-l.  We will eat too much, stay up too late and play a game or two.  We are under a burn ban so we won't be doing any fireworks this year.  Plus it is a little too cool for me to want to spend time outside.


I will do a little run down of what happened in 2010.
January:  my sister and I continued traveling to MD Anderson to stay with my Mom as she continued her stay there.  Mom wasn't released like we thought she was going to be but she seemed to be getting better.

February:  spent more time at MDA and Mom was up and down health wise.  At the end of the month she was released to an acute care hospital in our hometown.  We were excited and had lots of hope.  Oh, and we got snow.

March:  Our hopes were dashed when Mom passed away.  Mr. G and I celebrated our 13th anniversary, my nephew celebrated his 12th birthday and my niece celebrated her 9th birthday.  All celebrated without my Mom.

April:  life continues but without travel.  We celebrated Mom's 59th birthday.

May:  we celebrated my sister's birthday and the end of school.  My Dad decides that he will continue to teach another year.

June:  we celebrated my Dad's 65th birthday, my parents 41st anniversary, my in-laws anniversary, Mr. Giggles 42nd birthday and took a trip to Colorado with my Dad and little sis.

July:  continued on with the hot weather.  My sister's and I went to see the musical WICKED.  It was awesome.  My Mom would have loved it!  One year since Mom's diagnosis.

August:  still hot and everyone got ready to head back to school.  We also celebrated my little sister's birthday.

September:  school is back in full swing.  This month is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month.

October:  celebrated my 40th birthday.  One year since Mom entered MD Anderson.

November:  celebrated Thanksgiving at my sister's house.  Mom was missed a lot.

December:  celebrated Christmas without Mom but enjoyed being with the rest of the family.

Well, that is 2010 in a nutshell. . . .a very small nut shell!