Thunder!

I didn't sit down to write about rain, but just as I started -- THUNDER!!  And rain!!  Every little bit will help our poor dry land.  I've been watering the grass all day (I have about 4 hours to go to finish it all.)  They said on the news last week that we are about 25" short of rain from this time last year.  We'll blow away before long.  I was walking in the back of the playground last week and was shocked!  The ground is deeply cracked, and the concrete that holds up the fence posts are almost completely uncovered where the soil has blown away.  You can see almost a foot of the re-bar that holds the landscape timbers surrounding the playground.  Huge amounds of soil has blown away.  Yikes.

We've had quite a bit of exciting news since school has resumed.  Sarah is expecting our third grandchild in May!  We are so thrilled to have a new grand-baby!  God is so good.

Jacob ordered his class ring last week - TAMUK class of 2012!  He's worked so hard and we're really proud that he's able to graduate in 3 years.  He also has a lead on a job as Assistant Farm Manager after graduation.  It's too early to know yet, but I'm really excited that he has a lead this early in the process.  He's busy thinking about 21st birthday activities.  Time goes by so fast.

As for me, as hard as I've been trying to be fit and healthy, I took my first dose of Lipitor today :(  But Allan says it's the best thing.  I hate having to take medicine though. 

School is going pretty good.  I've been able to maintain my staying aheadness.  lol.  I am almost finished with all my lesson plans for the second grading period, and I'm keeping up with my copying for the week ahead.  So far so good.  Not behind in grading.  This MUST be a record.

Allan and I continue to do fun things together.  We have started going to the TAMUK volleyball games.  We don't really know much about volleyball, but are having a blast learning.  It's really fast paced and fun to watch.  We went to see "The Help" last night, and it was a GREAT movie...friends we went with have read the book and said it wasn't like the book, but either way, it was good!

WOW - What a Summer!

I can't believe that summer is over.  It was the best summer.  My wonderful husband worked so hard to make it a nice summer, and he succeeded many times over.  We had so much fun.  Oh the things we did...we consumed countless calories of wonderful, delicious food at all of our favorite places.  We shopped til we dropped (literally - I almost fell over on our last shopping trip - lol).  We went to the beach.  We went to Mexico.  We went swimming several times a week.  Much time was spent sharing meals with friends and family.  Both of our grandchildren celebrated birthdays (4 and 2!!).  What fun we had sharing those special moments.  Time goes by so fast.  I was able to spend almost a week with my mom and spend a short time with my in-laws while I was in town.  And the movies...lots and lots of movies...20 of them in all.  What fun it was going to different theaters and seeing all those movies.  From "Fast Five" to "Spy Kids," we saw almost all of them.  Some were terrific (Super 8, Harry Potter, Midnight in Paris,) some were fun tween  movies (Judy Moody, Spy Kids, Monte Carlo) - In Monte Carlo we were by far the oldest in the theater and I believe Allan was the only dude - lol.  Some were terrible (Conan!).  Since Sarah and her family are living closer, I've been able to babysit a few times - loving it!  Boy O Boy was it hard seeing this special time come to an end.  I truly have the most awesome husband in the world - so blessed by God - I cannot thank him enough for this summer!

But today, school started.  I'm thankful for a short break, and the morning has gone wonderfully.  I seem to have a classroom full of eager minds.  They are learning their procedures, behavior is pretty good considering how excited they all are, and everyone seems to like each other.  All good. 

But I still miss my hubby...

Passing Thoughts

I heard an outstanding sermon today on 1 Peter 5:6-11.  There was discussion on worry, and the anxiousness it causes in our hearts.  Several things jumped out at me because I had been thinking about things along these lines in the last few days.  "And after you have suffered a little while,..."  Those words - a little while - don't always seem like a little while.  As friends are fighting deadly diseases, it seems their pain goes on a long while.  But when compared to eternity, our lives - good and bad times - are indeed a little while.  I was thinking earlier in the week how our lives can change in an instant.  One day all is peachy--then a terrible diagnosis, a super scary car wreck (for us), a loss of a job...the list is endless.  But sometimes the reverse is true as well...if I close my eyes, I can imagine walking down the hall and finding toddlers in the living room watching cartoons.  But in fact, my children are adults now.  The time went by like the blink of an eye.

My husband discussed worry, how it turns around and around in you head going nowhere and accomplishing nothing.  He pointed out how this make us feel anxious, and how we become subject to the temptations of the devil when we're full of anxiety.  Now I'm not a big worrier, and I don't often feel anxious...just not in my personality I guess.  But when I do worry and feel anxious - WOW - not a good feeling.  It feels like my head is spinning out of control and my heart pounds and frankly I don't like that feeling.  What I learned today is that feeling comes because I'm trying too hard to handle thinks myself, rather than leaving them on Christ's shoulders.  No wonder I'm anxious - trying to do God's job - when I'm definitely NOT God!  Who could succeed at that?  No one but God.  So I think I'll work hard at letting God be God, and trying to listen and follow his lead.

Monday

What a day!  Could I have used a Monday off from work??  YES!  I awoke with a start with the alarm at 5:30 remembering that it was my turn to read a devotion at our staff meeting.  BLAST!  So...blind without my glasses I stumbled to the computer and searched for a Holy Week devotion.  Found one after a bit that I thought was pretty good - a tad long but not too much so.  Then realized while driving to work that it was the first day of the next grading period - I of course had not prepared new folders - not even printing out the pages that go in the folder - 0 - ZERO prep.  I had not typed up the students "My family is special because..." paragraphs for the newsletter.  I hadn't completed my lesson plans.  No parent letter.  Zero, zip, nada.  Totally unprepared.  But somehow I fit it all in and ended the day with everything pretty much how it should be.

So happy to arrive home, I threw together some cheese enchiladas and Mexican rice for dinner.  On a whim, we went to the movies!  All three of us.  Went to see Arthur.  Jacob and I really liked it, Allan declared it "Fair."  Yes, I know I have report cards to send home Wednesday.  Yes, the grades are not even averaged yet.  But there is always tomorrow.  The sun will come out tomorrow - at least that's what I'm told.

Spring Fever

Ahh Spring...time for sneezing, coughing, hacking and yes fever.  What a week the past week was!  But thanks to an extremely understanding husband, a Z-Pack from Mexico, and many cough and allergy pills, I'm feeling human again.  Actually slept fairly well last night.

We had a great Sunday.  Church was awesome - two wonderful brothers baptized, Holy Communion, an interesting Bible Class -- all good and enriching.

Tacos for lunch followed by our regular afternoon of Office viewing - lots of laughs.  For dinner I attempted the Pork chop and Wild Rice casserole that was a disaster when I fixed it in January.  I've been afraid to try again, but alas, it was back to its original goodness.  Still think it was the Great Value cream of Celery soup that wrecked it before.  Animation Domination followed dinner and then a trip to Wally World to finish out our evening.

This is a big week at school.  CAT test time!  Always makes me a nervous wreck.  I pray the kids will work up to their abilities.  Not putting their full effort into the tests is a problem for some.  They are all such bright kids - I'd like their test results to reflect that.  I've got three grades to test this year so that means our testing day will be longer than in years past.  Stressful for all involved.  Keep Praying!

Spring Break!

Wow, it's been a month since my last post...I was doing so good there for a while. lol.  The weeks have flown by.  So, so busy.  Work wise, I've been in the middle of a crazy AR reading contest which is thankfully over!  BTW, our school came out in FIRST place in the nation.  Then last week was Lutheran School Week which means a busy week of activities - fun but exhausting.  Now for a break.

There are a few things I want to do this week:
1.  Wash all the curtains in the house.
2.  Trap all animals to give them spring flea treatments.
3.  Scrapbook the photos taken thus far in 2011 (although I'm not feeling in the scrapbook mood yet)
4.  Finish the books I'm in the middle of.
5.  If the sun comes out, try to lessen the pasty white of a stay-at-home that I am right now.

So far, I've completed on book, and have seen two movies.  A trip to Corpus is planned for tomorrow - movie and a meeting for Allan.

Book Review:  Whiplash by Catherine Coulter.  This one took me about 3 weeks because as I said, life has been busy.  It was a great story, one of my favorites.  I love Sherlock and Savich, and they were great in this book.  They were working on two jobs at once, and a few new characters were introduced.  The new characters show potential for showing up in future stories.  Story #1 involved a US Senator who was seeing his late wife's ghost outside his window.  Savich's physic abilities helped to solve this mystery.  Story #2 involved a drug company, a murder, and Germans.  A really good read.  (A)

Movies:
Red Riding Hood - stinker.  Allan thought it was terrible, but I was a bit intrigued trying to figure out who the werewolf was.  (C-)

Adjustment Bureau - very intriguing.  We both enjoyed this movie.  Lots of thought provoking ideas about free will.  (A-)

On the list for tomorrow:  Cedar Rapids

The Long and Busy Weekend

First thing in the morning and I'm trying to organize my thoughts.  Sometimes I wonder if I have adult ADD.  Things just whip around in my head so fast I don't know how to make a plan.  That's how I'm feeling this morning.  So many things I want/need to get done, and no clue as of how to get it done the most efficient way.  Groceries...dinner....grading....cleaning....reading.....various errands....   I'm not sure I can even make a list - I feel THAT disorganized.

One thing I do know -- Allan gets home from Arizona tonight!!  He's been gone for three days (even though he says we saw each other on Thursday and will see each other tonight so that's only 1 day) and I'm ready for him to be home -- I miss seeing him.  He is what makes the sun come out in my day.

Tomorrow after church, we're driving to Abilene to visit Allan's cousin Roberta and pick up some things her mother left for us.  It's a long, long drive to make round trip in one day.  But I'm looking forward to a road trip with my beloved.  It will be good to see Roberta, even if it's only for a short time.

One thing I do know...if I continue to sit on the bed with the dog and cat cuddled up next to me...I'll never get started on my day.

Snow Days

That's right...you read it correctly...snow days in South Texas!  Unfortunately for the child that I am inside, there was no snow.  Only a little ice.  Not even sleet that you could scoop up and throw at someone.  Sigh.

Ice on the old oak tree

Check out those monster icicles

Palm leaves

That was about it for our winter storm of 2011.

But even though I didn't have actual snow to play in on my snow days, they were still a blast.  We went out for breakfast both days (plus this morning!)  Thursday went to see a movie:  The Mechanic.  This was, as my dad would have said, a womp stomper.  Lots of silly action.  But all in all a fun movie.  Worth the $6 we paid to see it.

Friday, we spent the day in Corpus.  Saw TWO movies in the big city theater.  First was The King's Speech.  Wow!  Great movie about a great king.  Excellent in every way.  And fun seeing the three Harry Potter cast members in something different.  Worth every penny of the $10 we paid.  The seats were super comfortable and even rocked.  Nice.

Then, a quick lunch at Rudy's Bar-b-que which was delicious.

Finally, Black Swan.  ICK.  Didn't like it - at- all!  I didn't really know much about this movie going in, and I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that.  Very disturbing movie.  I guess it was well acted and all, but did NOT like it.  I'd like to have the $15.50  back on this one.

So, now we've seen half of the Oscar nominated movies.  Still would love to see Toy Story 3.  Maybe renting it next week?

House is clean, clothes almost all clean and put away, big pot of Chicken Tortilla Soup in the fridge to reheat, and my Kindle awaits me.

2010 Scrapbook Slideshow

I've worked like crazy on this, and finally finished it today.  The DVD's are made, and they will be in the mail on Monday to my mom, and Allan's parents.

Now I've Gone and Done It

There's no turning back...I've joined a health club.  Technically it's a "Wellness Center."  They assessed me; developed a workout plan for me; I've paid for three months; now - I have to go...to workout...to be filled with wellness.  Hmmmmm.  Three workouts down.  I did everything they had for me today - first time for that.  We'll see what the next three months bring.  Hopefully a healthier me.

Allan has been so great this week.  He's had dinner ready every night when I get in from exercising.  He did all the cleaning yesterday so I wouldn't have to do it today.  Hopefully I can pick up the slack again next week.

Now, for a shower, some menu planning, and trudging out to the dreaded HEB for groceries.  YIKES - I hate the grocery store - especially on a Saturday.

MLK Day

This has been a fairly good Martin Luther King day.  If only Allan had been here to spend the day with it would have been perfect.

After seeing Allan off on his Circuit Counselors conference, I started my weekly cleaning (which I had no time to do on Saturday ).  Jacob and I had lunch together which was a nice treat.  I worked on my 2010 scrapbooking - completed October and have a start on November.  Two friends came over for dinner - chili and cornbread - and we talked wedding talk - Lizz is getting married in September.  Lastly, I've become totally stuck on 24.  Sarah was right.  I've watched the first three episodes and am having to force myself to go to bed.  Pretty good TV.  I have to stop after three and then talk Allan into watching because I think he'd really like it as well.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich.  I finished reading this book last night.  It is supposed to be the first in a new series by Ms. Evanovich.  The main character, Deisel, has appeared in the previous between-the-numbers Stephanie Plum novels.  This time he teams up with a great character named Lizzy.  She is a master cupcake baker.  Her circle of wacky friends works in the bakery with her.  All in all a good read...maybe not quite as funny as the Stephanie Plum books, but certainly has potential.

Long Weekend

Thank you Martin Luther King, Jr. for providing me with a three day weekend!  I have very few papers to grade so I should get to relax a little.  Tomorrow will be busy:  another funeral to attend at 11:00 and TAMUK Men's basketball at 3:00.  Cleaning, bedding change, grocery shopping to fit in there somewhere!  I think I can, I think I can...

Jacob's wisdom teeth extractions went as well as something like that can go.  He seems to be healing nicely...still not thrilled with trying to eat regular food, but sneaking some in.  He's having a hard time taking his antibiotic since it is the only thing still to take. Other than being a bit cranky, he's back to his normal self.

I plan on finishing the 2010 slideshow on Monday.  The song is picked out (I think) and I have October-December pictures to scrapbook and then putting it all together.  I think I can, I think I can...

I've loved the wonderful cool weather this week.  At least it felt like January for a week.  I think we're heading back to the 70's for next week.  But it was sure fun bundling up for this week:)  I've got cornbread cooking in the oven and beef stew in the crock pot.  Yum.

A Heavy Heart

It is with a heavy heart that I sit at my computer tonight.  Bad news abounds.  Stress builds.  What a way to start a new year.  One of my second grade student's father passed away yesterday morning after a lengthy illness.  My little Raymond has been so brave and matter of fact.  His dad was a fine man, and a faithful, devout Christian.  They were honest with Little Raymond - he's known since Thanksgiving that his daddy wasn't going to get well.  Brave through it all.  My heart breaks for him - so little to lose your daddy.

Another fine Christian lady in our congregation is close to death.  The family has gathered.  She's lived almost 88 years. 

Allan's great-aunt Elsie went to be with Jesus today.  He's honored to participate in her funeral service.  Another fine, faithful Christian woman.  So many loved ones gathered into Jesus' arms.

Stress abounds:  dealing with and talking to the students about their classmate's father's passing;  watching someone you care about struggle to breathe and communicate; wondering how to get to a funeral 8 hours away and back all in one day?  Plus, Jacob has surgery to remove his wisdom teeth on Friday...sigh.  Pray continually, take things one moment at a time, pray continually...

2011

If God is for us, [and He is], who can be against us?  Romans 8:31

A new year - 2011.  How time flies.  We heard a wonderful sermon last night about Romans 8.  What a wonderful and comforting piece of scripture.  I had a smooth and blessed 2010.  There's no guarantee that 2011 will be the same.  Many people have faced countless struggles in the past year.  How easy it is to feel like everyone is against us.  And then God speaks to us through his word.  No one can pry us out of His hands.  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  As I approach a new year, I pray I will always keep these words close to my heart.

To blog or not to blog.  Am I feeling bloggy in this new year?  I don't know.  There are so many cyber related things that suck up my time.  How high a priority do I want to put those things?  Blog, classroom blog, school web page, Facebook (!), e-mail, etc. etc. etc.  There are, after all, real life, flesh and blood things going on that need my attention.  I am a terrible manager and prioritizer of my time.  I do feel like trying to blog again this year.  But I have a wonderful husband to spend time with; a terrific son to interact with each day; a delightful daughter and her family a mere hour away...I must grasp each and every moment possible with the people that mean the most to me.  And my job - talk about poor time management - I have very little spare time at work and I don't always utilize every bit of it...leaves me a bit frantic at moments.  Must do better so that I have less to carry home with me.  So, I guess I will try to blog.  It will be low on my newly formed priority list.

So, if I have any readers left out there, drop me a note and let me know you're there.  See you soon!