Let myself get behind on some stuff but I think over the next day or two I'll catch up.
Oh and great celebration: My DH is 45 tomorrow. I think he is cuter than when I met him 29 years ago. Yessirree.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Sabbath Reflection
Today was a day of reflection and remembrance as we said goodbye to an in the flesh saint. He will be so missed, but he lived each day as if Jesus was coming back that day and he wanted to be ready. I am happy he has received his reward.
Also recently some things have happened - big and small:
*I finished grading some papers
*DH and I started Disciple IV
*I have changed my way of eating permanently and honestly do not miss the old way
*My hair is growing - big wow for me :)
*I am really truly happy with my life
*I am really truly going to bed before 10 PM tonight
I am excited about what this week brings. It should be an adventure.
Also recently some things have happened - big and small:
*I finished grading some papers
*DH and I started Disciple IV
*I have changed my way of eating permanently and honestly do not miss the old way
*My hair is growing - big wow for me :)
*I am really truly happy with my life
*I am really truly going to bed before 10 PM tonight
I am excited about what this week brings. It should be an adventure.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Back to work
Man, sitting through meetings is exhausting.
Dealing with difficult parent sponsors is more exhausting. You see, things have changed in some of the structure - and it is a better system. And managing one of the grade levels has been added to my job - not as a volunteer. Change is hard - boy, do I hate it myself - but dealing with passive-aggressive people who are determined to keep me out of the loop is harder. Fortunately, I know how to deal with them, which is by encouraging the designated leaders to stand up, and do what is required and right. But change is hard. Not bad.
Anyway, today I got time in my room, which felt great and got to take some time doing some of the little details that too often get forgotten. I still need one more desk and could really use another table to use during tutoring. But the desk is way more important.
I've had some visits and hugs from former students, which was great. And visiting and catching up with my buddies has been incredible. But even more wonderful is listening to the vision and passion that our headmaster has for Christian education. I just love working for him. And not just Christian education, but Christ. Today was a really happy day. I'm excited for next week.
Dealing with difficult parent sponsors is more exhausting. You see, things have changed in some of the structure - and it is a better system. And managing one of the grade levels has been added to my job - not as a volunteer. Change is hard - boy, do I hate it myself - but dealing with passive-aggressive people who are determined to keep me out of the loop is harder. Fortunately, I know how to deal with them, which is by encouraging the designated leaders to stand up, and do what is required and right. But change is hard. Not bad.
Anyway, today I got time in my room, which felt great and got to take some time doing some of the little details that too often get forgotten. I still need one more desk and could really use another table to use during tutoring. But the desk is way more important.
I've had some visits and hugs from former students, which was great. And visiting and catching up with my buddies has been incredible. But even more wonderful is listening to the vision and passion that our headmaster has for Christian education. I just love working for him. And not just Christian education, but Christ. Today was a really happy day. I'm excited for next week.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A Meme - Six Random Things About Myself
Okay so my friend at My Hands His Glory tagged me in this meme.
Here are the tag rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Here goes:
1. My eyes are green. People think they are blue, and sometimes they are blue, but if I wear green or other jewel tones, I'm like a cat.
2. I have a very varied musical taste. I love R & B music. Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, .... love it, love it, love it. And Bluegrass. And opera. And classic 80s rock, but I can't stand 90's. Or hip hop. Or rap. Awful stuff.
3. I grew up in a tiny town in south Georgia to move to a small town in south Georgia where it smelled like rotten onions every July. Yuck. I'd go back to the tiny town before the small town because I love it and the people there.
4. I'm really very happy and content right now. And if you know me well, you know that sometimes is a stretch.
5. I love to cook but don't very often. Last night I made some awesome rolls and some even better creamed spinach - both were totally swiped from The Pioneer woman
6. I once had a little black cat named Boss. She was the best cat and in the winter would sleep under my covers on my feet so we would both be toasty warm.
Okay to tag 6 people... this could be a stretch but let's see... well, I'm gonna leave it at three.
1. Here's a really great mommy & flute player: Evan's Garden
2. Oh and a really great violinist and all around wonderful person: fiddle*sticks
3. And my favorite teenager... ever!: Simple Things In a Complex World
Here are the tag rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Here goes:
1. My eyes are green. People think they are blue, and sometimes they are blue, but if I wear green or other jewel tones, I'm like a cat.
2. I have a very varied musical taste. I love R & B music. Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, .... love it, love it, love it. And Bluegrass. And opera. And classic 80s rock, but I can't stand 90's. Or hip hop. Or rap. Awful stuff.
3. I grew up in a tiny town in south Georgia to move to a small town in south Georgia where it smelled like rotten onions every July. Yuck. I'd go back to the tiny town before the small town because I love it and the people there.
4. I'm really very happy and content right now. And if you know me well, you know that sometimes is a stretch.
5. I love to cook but don't very often. Last night I made some awesome rolls and some even better creamed spinach - both were totally swiped from The Pioneer woman
6. I once had a little black cat named Boss. She was the best cat and in the winter would sleep under my covers on my feet so we would both be toasty warm.
Okay to tag 6 people... this could be a stretch but let's see... well, I'm gonna leave it at three.
1. Here's a really great mommy & flute player: Evan's Garden
2. Oh and a really great violinist and all around wonderful person: fiddle*sticks
3. And my favorite teenager... ever!: Simple Things In a Complex World
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Yeah.... but
My DH used to tell me my favorite word was "yeahbut", which meant I was about to argue with him about whatever point he was trying to make. Sometimes I was right. Sometimes he was. YES I CAN ADMIT I AM WRONG ON RARE OCCASIONS!
Well... today has been internet-less because DH's wonderful IT people were sending updates and it messed with our modem although it SAID we were CONNECTED. He is away and tells me to reset the modem. It takes 15 seconds. I saw that's not the problem... he says what if it is and at least I did everything I could. I say "Yeah... but". He says to quit arguing and just do it. Well... I'm updating my blog. He was right. Darn it. And YAY because I'm connected. Darn it.
****
I shared on my fb a piece of my testimony that included a precious memory of my Aunt E. I loved her and I miss her. She died the month after I graduated from high school. She was dying of brain cancer and was having trouble remembering anything. Her name. Our names. She had a little eraser with a lion on it that said, "I'm a king's kid." She looked at us right before her surgery and said to us, "I may not remember my name. I may not remember who you are, but I'm the king's kid and that's all that matters." Then she placed that eraser on HER HEAD where that tumor was. I never knew what happened to that eraser, but my sister recently read that note I wrote... and I didn't know it.
So, my dad came to visit and said N. has a present for you. It was a camo Georgia Bulldogs purse - very cute indeed. And my DD started getting texted by my sis. DD keeps saying to look in the purse and see how much space it has. We kind of wrestled over it because I just KNEW she wanted it for herself. So we look in the very roomy bag and there is an unmarked envelope. When I opened it there was a very old eraser with a lion and the remains of the words "I'm a king's kid." I was speechless. So I called me sister and asked where she found it. She said after reading my note she was a puddle of tears and set about finding that eraser - our mother saved EVERYTHING. She couldn't find it. Then early this week she needed something out of an old desk of my dad's. She looked in and that eraser was staring back up at her.
It is probably one of the most beautiful gifts I have ever received. And when I remember all the times I told God "yeah.... but" I will look at this eraser that I have not seen in 23 years. And I will surrender.
Well... today has been internet-less because DH's wonderful IT people were sending updates and it messed with our modem although it SAID we were CONNECTED. He is away and tells me to reset the modem. It takes 15 seconds. I saw that's not the problem... he says what if it is and at least I did everything I could. I say "Yeah... but". He says to quit arguing and just do it. Well... I'm updating my blog. He was right. Darn it. And YAY because I'm connected. Darn it.
****
I shared on my fb a piece of my testimony that included a precious memory of my Aunt E. I loved her and I miss her. She died the month after I graduated from high school. She was dying of brain cancer and was having trouble remembering anything. Her name. Our names. She had a little eraser with a lion on it that said, "I'm a king's kid." She looked at us right before her surgery and said to us, "I may not remember my name. I may not remember who you are, but I'm the king's kid and that's all that matters." Then she placed that eraser on HER HEAD where that tumor was. I never knew what happened to that eraser, but my sister recently read that note I wrote... and I didn't know it.
So, my dad came to visit and said N. has a present for you. It was a camo Georgia Bulldogs purse - very cute indeed. And my DD started getting texted by my sis. DD keeps saying to look in the purse and see how much space it has. We kind of wrestled over it because I just KNEW she wanted it for herself. So we look in the very roomy bag and there is an unmarked envelope. When I opened it there was a very old eraser with a lion and the remains of the words "I'm a king's kid." I was speechless. So I called me sister and asked where she found it. She said after reading my note she was a puddle of tears and set about finding that eraser - our mother saved EVERYTHING. She couldn't find it. Then early this week she needed something out of an old desk of my dad's. She looked in and that eraser was staring back up at her.
It is probably one of the most beautiful gifts I have ever received. And when I remember all the times I told God "yeah.... but" I will look at this eraser that I have not seen in 23 years. And I will surrender.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Family Reunion thoughts
Even the best of families have their demons.
But first the good part: We had a great reunion with a great family. Of the 5 siblings families represented we were missing only ONE of our 11 children. For the first time ever 10 of our children were together and my kids were reunited with a cousin they haven't seen in 10 years. It was wonderful. We missed #11 a lot, but the cousin who came said it definitely won't be so long before we see him again. If you are reading this Billy - I am proud to be your aunt. Or aunt-in-law or whatever you consider me.
We got to see first hand the insidious disease that alcoholism is. This family has suffered the effects of this disease for many years, as their oldest brother committed suicide under its effects and his clinical depression. He was a wonderful man. He did a terrible thing. Family members still do not want to talk about it 23 years later. His nieces who never had the chance to meet him want to know how and why, but they want to know him and hardly anyone will talk about him. His absence is felt every time.
If it ended there, I suppose it would be okay. Others concern us greatly and have for years and it went from laughable to just tragic as we watched the effects of alcohol each night. It is heart breaking.
I am not a tee-totaler by any means. I like a good margarita and a great glass of wine. I had a taste of a pretty good margarita and some really great wine. But I remained sober and played lots of board games with my absolutely fabulous nieces. I love these girls. Including DD, we ranged from 15 - almost 30, only missing the 35 year old niece. We also played poker and they are much better than me. I lost a lot of M & M's.
One niece in particular wanted answers this weekend. We talked to her and was honest. I felt choked up as I realized that these girls feel like something is missing. I remembered being a child and missing the fact I didn't have grandfathers. I always wanted to know them and my parents shared with me about their father's so I felt some connection to them. It probably wasn't my place to have this conversation but this child is 17. DH and I shared. His son shared a little too. I think it was good. I was hoping it would open up into something more on a spiritual level.
There are so many things I could talk about concerning this reunion. We loved hosting it and loved being with our whole family. We laughed a lot and cried a little. We hugged and watched videos and ate too much. We took a great trip to the mall (well, just me and my girls) and baked brownies. We were a family for at least a few days and it was great.
But first the good part: We had a great reunion with a great family. Of the 5 siblings families represented we were missing only ONE of our 11 children. For the first time ever 10 of our children were together and my kids were reunited with a cousin they haven't seen in 10 years. It was wonderful. We missed #11 a lot, but the cousin who came said it definitely won't be so long before we see him again. If you are reading this Billy - I am proud to be your aunt. Or aunt-in-law or whatever you consider me.
We got to see first hand the insidious disease that alcoholism is. This family has suffered the effects of this disease for many years, as their oldest brother committed suicide under its effects and his clinical depression. He was a wonderful man. He did a terrible thing. Family members still do not want to talk about it 23 years later. His nieces who never had the chance to meet him want to know how and why, but they want to know him and hardly anyone will talk about him. His absence is felt every time.
If it ended there, I suppose it would be okay. Others concern us greatly and have for years and it went from laughable to just tragic as we watched the effects of alcohol each night. It is heart breaking.
I am not a tee-totaler by any means. I like a good margarita and a great glass of wine. I had a taste of a pretty good margarita and some really great wine. But I remained sober and played lots of board games with my absolutely fabulous nieces. I love these girls. Including DD, we ranged from 15 - almost 30, only missing the 35 year old niece. We also played poker and they are much better than me. I lost a lot of M & M's.
One niece in particular wanted answers this weekend. We talked to her and was honest. I felt choked up as I realized that these girls feel like something is missing. I remembered being a child and missing the fact I didn't have grandfathers. I always wanted to know them and my parents shared with me about their father's so I felt some connection to them. It probably wasn't my place to have this conversation but this child is 17. DH and I shared. His son shared a little too. I think it was good. I was hoping it would open up into something more on a spiritual level.
There are so many things I could talk about concerning this reunion. We loved hosting it and loved being with our whole family. We laughed a lot and cried a little. We hugged and watched videos and ate too much. We took a great trip to the mall (well, just me and my girls) and baked brownies. We were a family for at least a few days and it was great.
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