Happy Friday!

I have to share something funny from the world of teaching. The other day, my second grade group was enjoying the privilege of having a "day off" from our curriculum (translation: Mrs. LaMore was SICK of it!), and so they chose - with my help - Sight Word Bingo.

Now, they are sitting all around me at a kidney table, little chips in hand, earnestly searching their cards for the sight words I am calling out. Remember, these are kids that are dyslexic, so this is not without stress. It helps them to repeat it over and over until they find it. Anyway, as I call out the letter and word , "B - also", I notice that without realizing it, they are mimicing my tone and rhythmn! All 4, in perfect tone and inflection! So, I begin to have some fun with it, varying my delivery each time, and watching them - heads down, chip in hand, seriously chanting whatever and however I said! It was so funny - it almost is scary the power I had over them at that minute!!

Times like that make it worth going every day!!

Two for one!!

Some days, I have nothing to post.... now, today there are two things I want to share.

First - an ominous sign of the times as I drove to school - the oak leaves are YELLOW! To those not familiar with what that entails, it means that the new leaves are about to push off the old "live oak" leaves and hit the ground. The beauty of a live oak is in it's having leaves all year, but when those old, 300 year and more trees lose leaves, it's a "rainstorm." The bad part, aside from those who have them having to rake them and put them somewhere, is the havoc they cause with allergies. Yep. I'm one of them. Even though we do not have one in our yard, my little town is covered in them, and they share their pollen with me graciously. Great.

Second - last night, I was "Crying-tired." I know myself, and when I feel like I did last night, the best thing is to just rest. I know, I missed class and all the fellowship, but you did not want to be around me. It's been a long week, and I wanted nothing to do with being social, so Andy went on without me. I slept from 4:45 - 5:45, 7:45 - 11:20 on the couch, and until 6:30 this morning in my room.

I feel better.

What a night!!

I'm really, really tired today, but it is very worth it!! Last night we had our first gathering of our new Secret Sisters' Fellowship, and I was pleased beyond words at the atmosphere and turnout!! Out of 32 signed up, we had all but 6, which I think is awesome!! Our youngest, Mikenna, was there and we had ladies well past their 9th decade!! So much good food, laughter, a few tears of sweetness, and even a song!

I have to say, I expected MAYBE 15 to 18 ladies, but God has really used this fellowship to bring together a group so mixed I never could have imagined. Some sat quietly in the corner, some flitted around and visited, a couple of new ladies sat with an "oldtimer" to figure out who was who, and in no time, it was done. One lady who never does "Ladies" Things" was there and had a blast! Darla and Linda's idea about the children's bags added a touch of service to our group - Thanks, sisters!! I can only expect this to grow and flourish as the months go by.

As I said in my prayer to start us off - God knew so well how we need each other. Last night was proof positive to all!!

Worshipping with allergies

Yesterday, I could not sing at worship. Ugh - but I found a way to worship without my voice; I just let others around me do it for me! I sat next to a man I've never sat next to in the morning, and WOW - can he sing!! Amazing what you hear when your own voice is silenced! Later that evening, I sat in front of sweet Howard, and heard him sing with all his might, "My eyes are dry, my face is cold..." strong and full of passion. I love to hear him sing. 94 years, and still going. I can always hear Alice, Jackie, Rick and Mary Beth, Jamie and a few others. They lift up the words I am not able to put sound to for fear of disrupting those around me with coughing.
While it's not the optimum way to go, at least I am there, being edified by my brothers and sisters.

Sure beats staying home all by myself!!

Today's List

Every morning, while I eat my cereal, I look to the front section of the San Antonio newspaper to see "the list." Each day, it's something new; often mundane, sometimes really interesting, rarely upsetting. Until today.

The bold print said: America's top 10 heroes. I'll let you guess who was #1.

Obama. Based, it said, on a survey of U.S. adults asked who they admire enough to call heroes.

The criteria for choices?? Doing what's right, regardless of the personal consequences, Not giving up until the goal is accomplished, doing more than what other people expect of them, overcoming adversity, and staying level-headed in a crisis. 2,634 adults responded. Here are the other 9 of the list:

2. Jesus Christ
3. Martin Luther King
4. Ronald Reagan
5. George W. Bush
6. Abraham Lincoln
7. John McCain
8. John F. Kennedy
9. Chesley Sullengerger (airplane pilot who landed safely in the Hudson river.)
10. Mother Teresa

Now, a co-worker told me that I should be happy that Jesus was even included. Sad, but I guess true, considering our population today. All I can say is,

Obama - #1?? Oh, my....

Not a good time to feel like this!

For the past couple of weeks, I have really been wanting to spend money. We live by a Dave Ramsey budget at our house, which means I have my "blow money" each month to do with as I please, and usually I have some to move to the stash I have put away for a trip with the man of my life. Not this month, though.

I keep thinking of things I want to spend money on, and most of them are not necessities. I would like to get some foo-foo for the house, you know - just to liven things up a bit. And I want to shop for my girls and Liz, too. It's just not a good time!!

A few more months, and our budget will have more room in it - then, I'm hoping for a raise in the Blow Money portion. Until then, I will content myself with some small goodies to push down the cravings!!

A losing battle?

I've taughts lots and lots of kids over the years, and for the most part, they were kids who had difficulty learning. Some were due to mothers who abused substances while pregnant, some had low IQs, some were from families where education and genetics combined left little to work with. It's always been a challenge, but never as much as working with the kids I have now.

Dyslexia is a mean booger. You are intelligent enough to know you should know those words, and yet they stump you day in and day out. No matter how hard you look at those combinations, they just don't come together easily. I have a few students this year that look like it hurts them to decode simple, 3 or 4 letter words, and it frustrates me as well as it does them. I would love to be able to "cure" them, but all I can do right now is give them the tools they need and hope they can internalize them eventually.

Thankfully, I am at an age where I have more patience with these kids than I ever have. My heart hurts for their struggles and I try every day to make it as painless as possible. Will I make a difference in the long run - I have to believe I will, so I'd just pack up my stuff and give it to someone else. For now, though, I'm giving it all I've got.

Will wonders never cease?!?

Wow - I hope this is a vision of retirement to come - Andy is cooking dinner!!

Now, my husband is wonderful; he does more than his fair share of chores around here, but cooking is NOT one of them. I've teased him that he will starve to death not long after I go, if I go first. He just does not like to cook, period.

So, he has off today, while I go to school, and when I come home, he is all ready to put it in the oven. The menu - oven-fried chicken, brocolli rice, veggies, and tapioca with strawberries!! Can't wait!!

I'll let you know how it tastes tomorrow!!

Ta-da!

Well, yesterday went just fine. I took my sedation pill and drove straight over to the dentist's office. As I sat there, waiting for it to kick in, I watch as all these little children go walking in happily, unaware that the old lady sitting in her car is terrified to face something they go about routinely.

Just as it is time for the appointment, with my eyes starting to fuzz, I walk in. The receptionist immediately reaches under the counter and pulls out Jackie's I-Pod. We all chuckle, I offer a prayer of thanks, and down I sit.

Not 5 minutes. Didn't even have time to pick up a magazine, and they call me in. I don't know if it was my good timing or their determination to get me in the chair quick, before I change my mind. I'm walked in to the area and am introduced to Dawn, the exocutioner of the day... well, maybe not. She actually is nice. Firm, but nice.

As I attempt to put the earplugs in, after all Dawn's instructions and explainations of the events to occur, the things won't stay in. Now, here are two women in their 50's trying to figure out how to get the darn things in so we can begin. I'm fully sedated by now, but the failure of the earplugs is starting to stress me out anyway. Finally, I ask for tape. Yep, scotch tape. Earplugs firmly taped to my head, we can begin. Don't ask me what I listened to, the drugs erased all memory.

Soon, painlessly, it was over. The dear Dr. came in to give me the run-down on what's next, and Andy takes me home. I'm in bed by 7:30 and up as usual at 6:30 this morning. He hates how I conk out, but I'm getting it done.

I only have about 6 more appointments before I can say I'm caught up. All in all, I don't think it's that bad. Not bad at all for a phobic!!!

Facing one's demons

Here it is, the middle of February, and so far, I have kept my one New Year's resolution. Knowing myself, I knew better than to make certain ones, but because of the past couple of months, I had to do this one; I am getting my teeth taken care of.

Now, I don't want to say anything to make you think "Oh, Gross!", but let's just say there is plenty to do to get things how they need to be. I have neglected things that now come to haunt me, and at the ripe old age of 54, it's time.

The big hurdle for me is that I'm angry at myself. Every day of our married life, I've watched as Andy was obsessive about his dental hygiene, and yet I let lots of time go by without dealing with it.

But, appointment by appointment, we will get it done. I have some dental insurance, which will help, but that is the only bright spot I can think of. I go again today - 3 appointments in a row since New Years' - and my palms are already sweating. Thank goodness for Jackie's I-Pod and sedation pills!

So - if you think about it, send up a prayer about 3:00.

I'm going to do this!!

A Happy Mom

Dana's coming in for the weekend, and it's all I can do to wait two more days!! We saw a lot of each other over the holidays, and we talk daily - sometimes more, sometimes less. But there is nothing as sweet as having her here. When she was growing up, I dreaded these days, of she and Erin being gone from my daily life, and I watched those days approach and arrive before I was ready. But since I am not able to manipulate time as they do on "Heros" or "Lost", I just have to take each day and enjoy them in whatever means I have them. Don't like it, but that is where I am.

So, anyway, Dana's coming in for the weekend, and I plan to soak in every moment of her sweet and tender spirit. I'll share her with her friends for an evening or so, but the majority of the time, she'll be hanging out with old Dad and me. We may even take her to eat for a belated birthday celebration!!

Hurry, Friday!!

Night-time problem...

At night, when I'm up all by myself going to the bathroom, I have the BEST ideas for posts!!! By morning, they're all gone.

I'm either going to need a pad and pencil above the toilet or move the computer in there!!

Friday, at last

This has been a long week; sore throat with no voice makes for a very long school day, and a new student feeling the reins on top of it. I instantly love some of these kids, but not so much this one. I think it is because I feel he disrupts the dynamic of the class and the other boys DO NOT like him. My fear is that they are reacting to my feelings, and that is not fair. I hope to dismiss him soon....

I never was the "new kid." I lived in the same house and went to school with the same classmates all my life. It was a very safe life, and I so wanted that for my girls. Andy and I made the concious decision not to move again after the move back home, as I wanted the girls to have that same constantcy of life that we both had. Imagine how I felt when, one day Erin's senior year she announced, "Man, I never got to be the NEW GIRL!" I think my face just froze - one of those moments I alluded to last post that I thought so one way and they felt the total opposite!!

Have a good weekend!!

My turn

My girls have each done this, so I think I'll give it a try:

25 Things about me

1. I am a 6 generation member of the Church of Christ. A great heritage from a loving family of Christians.

2. I knew I was in love with Andrew the first time he kissed me. I still love his kisses!

3. The day I left Huntsville was the saddest day of my life. Well, Smudge dying is right up there!

4. I am phobic of dentists - no matter how gentle they are, I am beyond scared.

5. Building my home was my dream come true. For years and years, while other girls read 16 and Teen, I was pouring over 1200 Houseplans and the like. I looked in every house I could in every town I lived in. Once I built my home, that need was gone. I never want to see anyone else live in it.

6. Mountains are my favorite place to be... the feel of them and the sight of rain clouds coming over them takes my breath away!

7. My mom was really a good mom - she lay in the grass with us and looked at clouds, and told us there was life outside Poteet, Texas. Anything we wanted, she found a way for us to have it, and I'm finally realizing that I had a really happy childhood.

8. Tulsa Workshop opened my eyes to the beauty of raising hands in praise. I miss doing it!

9. Cheese enchiladas covered in chili and cheese are my favorite food.

10. I love being with little children. Teaching is just an avenue to influence their lives.

11. I was one of those Beatle fans who sat and cried while others screamed full blast.

12. My grandmother Inez and my mother in law are two of my role models. Amazing women, both.

13. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was in my 30s. We went to the mall, and I couldn't chicken out because Dana, Erin and Stephanie (my neice) were watching me. It grossed me out to hear it going through my skin!

14. If I were a man, I'd be a worship leader. As it is, I just sing loudly.

15. Jackie Hutton makes me laugh when no one else can.

16. I've found out that what I thought was important and a big deal to the girls is not what they remember and reminisce about.

17. I wish I'd had more babies.

18. I would love to kiss Nicholas Cage!

19. If mom had had her way, and I'd ended up with John P., I'd be an old hippie living in a commune somewhere in South America. I would like to know what he's up to, though!

20. The years I stayed home with my girls were the best of my life. They were also the poorest, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

21. I hate my hair. Always have.

22. I used to be a voracious reader, but lost it when my thyroid messed up and I couldn't stay awake to read. I hope to rekindle it someday!

23. I would love to learn to play the violin.

24. I was with my dad an hour before he died, and he opened his eyes (for the first time in a month) and smiled at me. It was wonderful!!

25. I love my cousins. They remind me of my childhood and they keep me real. I would love to be with them more.


I know I will think of more later, but this is off the cuff. I'm sure it's not anything you didn't already know, but it was fun to reflect.

Next?!?

Exceeded expectations

Maybe I didn't have faith... maybe I didn't want to be disappointed. But, my sisters exceeded my goal, so we are off and running!!

I had said that I would do "Secret Sisters" again if I had enough interest. Following the lead of a great example in the Bible, I said, if there were as few as 12, I would do it. Just like Lot bargained with God to save Nineveh, I set to bar. I wanted to do it, but sometimes, well - the interest just isn't there.

Once I saw I had my 12 (including myself!), I set the meeting and ran off 25 copies of the information sheet. Well, I'm happy to say, Andy had to go run more off!! I was so happy to see all those ladies coming my way, it pumped me up all over!! We are only meeting until May, and we have a good cross-section of the congregation, so I am very happy! Of course, there are a couple who changed their minds for reasons of their own, and still a few more I wish were involved, but I am more than happy for the turnout!!

Now, let's start the fun!!