Since my first day as a teacher, I think this is officially my first Snow Day! Woo hoo! I'm not exactly happy about making it up, but I did enjoy my day! Luckily, Kristin and Lee were in town, and I didn't have to enjoy it alone. Russ was on call last night, so he missed most of it. It's all starting to melt away now. Tear!
While Kristin was busy inside the house preparing for her interview, Lee and I introduced Farley to his first snowball.
Then, Lee started throwing snowballs just for fun. The snow was perfect! Soft and dry.
Just look at that Winter Wonderland - Mississippi style!
Kristin put on some Ugg boots and jeans so we could get a few pictures of her in the snow too. Then, she quickly put on her interview attire, and we headed out to drive her on the "treacherous" roads. Ha!
Ready to go!
Lee and I dropped Kristin off at the front door and waited in the parking lot so she wouldn't have to call a ride to come pick her up after her interview. We waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, we got bored and decided to sneakily build a snowman in the parking lot. Hopefully, we won't be seen!
Nice snow-mound, Lee!
Russ finally got off work around 3:30. Although he missed most of the snow, there is still a small spot in the back yard covered with white. I forced his exhausted body outside for one picture of him in the snow! He was so happy! Yeah right!
I just love Snow Days! I'm so glad I finally got to play in the snow!
Finally! After all the snow around Mississippi this winter, I finally get to see some! The last two times it snowed here, Russ and I were out of town. Typical. So, I woke up at 5 this morning, turned on the news immediately to see if we had school, and snoozed a little while longer when I found out that JPS was closed. As soon as the sun was out, Farley and I couldn't wait any longer. I put my Uggs on over my pajamas and headed out with my camera. You know, just in case it melts before Russ gets home today.
It's snowing in my front yard!
It's snowing on my street!
It snowed on Kristin's car!
It snowed in the back yard too!
I just let Farley run around in the back yard for a while. He hasn't seen snow since he was a baby...and I'm pretty sure what he saw doesn't count. I know this snow doesn't count for a lot of you, but it does for me! Farley wasn't sure about it at first, walking under plants and on stepping stones to stay out of the snow. But, eventually, he went to exploring and eating the snow.
Not real sure about this.
Okay, Mom, I can go look around now.
I think he likes the snow!
According to the weatherman...and we all know how reliable that can be sometimes...we should get a couple more inches today. The high is 32 and the low tonight is 26. So, maybe it will stick around for a little while longer. I'm gonna shower, dress, and get back out in the snow when Kristin and Lee get up and going. And I hope Russ will get to play too. We'll see.
Well, it's that time! Time for the month of LOVE!! This week, I gave my students a writing assignment to write about a person they love. They were to tell why they loved that person and what makes that person special.
Let me just tell you....I have one "special" Valentine! And what makes him so special? Well...he makes me SMILE! Every time Russ calls my phone, I smile #1. because it's him #2. because his ring tone reminds me why he's my Valentine! So, just for the month of "love," I'll play Russ's ring tone on my playlist and leave you with memories through our TEN years of my Valentine and me! Enjoy!
You're better than the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your life.
Cooler than the flip side of my pillow, that's right.
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me.
Let's me know that it's okay, yeah it's okay!
And the moments where my good times start to fade....
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night.
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee.
Just the thought of you can drive me wild.
Ohhh...you make me smile!
Don't know how I lived without you
Cuz every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes.
You make me smile.
You make me smile like the sun Fall out of bed, sing like a bird Dizzy in my head, spin like a record Crazy on a Sunday night. You make me dance like a fool, Forget how to breathe, Shine like gold, buzz like a bee. Just the thought of you can drive me wild!
To be completely honest, I have not been a big NFL follower. I watched the Colts and the Giants when Peyton and Eli began playing. But, I have not been a loyal fan. However, it is hard to deny the fabulous story of the New Orleans Saints! I have always been a big fan of the "underdawg." Well, I picked the Saints in the latter part of the season. How exciting to send the Saints to the Super Bowl for the first time ever! I love Drew Brees! And, all in all, it was an easy decision. The last couple of games have been conflicting because I also like Favre and Peyton Manning. But, I stayed faithful to my "underdog" team. Well, tonight...I was informed that the Saints are no longer the "underdogs!" They are Super Bowl Champs! How exciting!
Russ was on call last night, so we wanted something low key for tonight. Ginny and Chad joined us for our low key Super Bowl evening. Ginny graduated with Russ and is similarly exhausted! We had a great time as we talked, yelled, cheered, and Chad "googled" any and all unknown answers to any question that came up!
Ginny and Chad sporting their GOLD!
Russ and I in our BLACK (I did wear gold earrings for the occasion)!
My favorite scene after the game was the picture of Drew Brees, with tears in his eyes, holding his son. So precious! Thanks, Saints, for an exciting game and a fun night with friends! I only wish I could be in New Orleans this week. Russ and I have actually discussed taking off this week! Ha! I'm sure our bosses would understand!
Last year, I found a wonderful website! It all started when my dad asked if I had been keeping a hard copy of all my blog entries...in case something ever happened to the website. The fact was, I had not even thought about it. As I searched and tried a few websites, I was able to find one I liked. The reason I liked it was because I had full control over the look! It's www.lulu.com.
First, I made one for my class blog as a "yearbook" for me and something my students could purchase. It was fabulous! I was so incredibly happy with it! The final product looks like a book you would buy at a bookstore. And, with Lulu, I was able to custom design my own cover. That was the best part for me! I downloaded a free digital scrapbook kit and began playing around in Photoshop. I checked the measurements for the cover of the book and uploaded it to the site. So simple! I quickly ordered a personal book for 2008 blog entries. I also made one for Jimmy and Roan last year.
Last year's book covers:
Today, I have worked on and off on my blog book. I've rearranged the inside pages, changing the color of the titles and making sure the format is just the way I like it. I'm a little bit of a control freak! Plus, if I'm paying for a nice item, I want it to be right! Anyway, tonight I created our blog book cover with a new free digital scrapbooking kit, and I love it!
Take a look!
The spine and back cover are the light brown color from the cover. I also write a paragraph of what the year has meant to us. This is just a little closure for the book. This year, I put a verse on the back, also, that we are clinging to as we grow as a couple/family. For my class blog, I listed the students' names on the back with a letter from me.
So, as soon as I make final touches on my 620 page blog book, I'll order a hard copy of my blog! I never kept a journal as a child or teenager. I know some of you had me labeled as a "journaler" (is that a word), but I absolutely was NOT! I did buy notebooks and diaries with locks, but never wrote more than a page or two. This blog has served as a personal journal for our family, and I am so glad that I keep it up. Now, I have literally over 1,000 pages of journaling and pictures on our bookshelf that Russ and I can look back at or show our children, and we can remember the feelings or everyday happenings that we would never have remembered otherwise.
If you have a blog and have not ordered your blog in book form, I encourage you to do that. If you blog a lot, like I do, you may order them by year. If not, you may order every couple of years or so. However you choose to do it, you will NOT regret it! Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I'm sure there are other publishing companies out there that you can use. This is just the one I found that fit me best. And, it's affordable!
Yesterday was plain awful!
But that's
not now!
That's then!
I must say that yesterday, I felt a bit like my friend Annie when she was chased up that water tower thing by Rooster and his little wife! You know the part. When they pretended to be Annie's parents and took Annie from Mr. Warbucks. Ahhh...I love that move! But, I detest that part! Well, that very part...that was my yesterday! Plain awful!
By now, you know that I rarely complain publicly...on the blog at least! That's not to say that I never complain...although I'm trying very hard to do better. And if you knew me in my most private moments, you would know that I do my fair share. Sometimes more than others! But, yesterday was just plain awful!
I won't go into all the details. But, I will say that most of it started at school with one child. How is it that one child can make or break your day...your week even!? I know all you moms are saying, "Just wait!" Well, I am waiting. But while I wait, I am having my own issues with my own self-proclaimed children. And, why is it that I always fall whole heartedly into the most difficult cases!? I mean really! Must I always try to change the world? Must I always stress myself out over one student when I have 22 more that have their own part of my heart? The answer is - yes! My most rewarding "achievements" as a teacher are from those very students - the most difficult ones. The ones I just love! I know we shouldn't have "teacher's pets"...and I'm quite sure that many teachers choose the honor roll, always do their homework, bring treats to class kind of student as their "pet." Not me. Somehow, I always choose the barely passing, attitude, "grown acting", difficult ones. Why? Who knows why! Maybe it's the challenge. Maybe it's the change I can see as their eyes finally open to the new concepts that they have never truly understood. Maybe it's the lack of the "ideal homelife" that we are so accustomed to. But, for whatever reason...those are my "pets." Those are the ones I come home trying to figure out a new tactic to grasp their attention or turn their 'tude around. Well, as the week went on, this particular child (let's just call him Kenyada) has given me fits this week. I took over his one hour tutoring time so he could get more out of it from me, I make concessions for him (some would call this "choosing my battles"), and I bust my booty trying to get him to learn and ENJOY learning. Most of this has been successful. But, yesterday! Oh my! It was just plain awful! By the end of the day, he had refused to complete his work, thrown paper everywhere (which, by the way, he immediately picked up before catching his bus), not completed his homework, yelled at me (which he had never done), and basically just straight up hurt my feelings! Because, you see, I had chosen HIM! He was my "pet" that I wholeheartedly want to get through to! Why didn't he get that! Of course, I know...he's a boy who is frustrated with very little academic support at home. This is the same boy who (for those of you who read my tweets) got into the huge fight on the bus that caused the bus driver to run to break it up while forgetting to put the bus in park. Don't worry! The assistant principal ran and jumped in just in time to hit the break as a passing bus came from behind. Quite the story!
So, yesterday, he hurt my feelings and, quite frankly, made me mad! I was crying on and off from the time the bell rang until 3:30 when I could leave. Then, I cried again on the way home! And again on my way to school this morning!
Now that I think about it, isn't that how it is so often with God and US? He chose US! And, trust me, I am no honor roll, always do my homework, bring treats to God kind of Christian! I am the bad attitude, barely passing, difficult Christian at times. Why don't we get that? Why can't we see that He chose us and not only busted his booty, but gave his only Son for US! Man, I suppose I only got a small taste of what it's like.
My pity party only continued that night as I came home with a splitting headache that made me nauseous and other news (times four!) that just got me "down." I'm thinking...."if I wasn't so upset, this day would just be very funny." But it wasn't! It was plain awful!
I came in, did not cook supper, laid on the couch without lights or television, and got in bed shortly after. I did, after some good advice from a friend, pick up the Bible and just start reading Psalms. So, I found Psalm 31. This was my prayer:
1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
And I am reminded later in the Psalm that my hope is in the Lord. He is all I need.
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
My hope is not in worldly things, not in acceptance, not in being able to have children (now that's a hard one!). My hope is in the Lord. He is enough. He has done enough. More than that - He took all my sins (and yours) upon Himself so that we may have eternal life with Him. A life with no tears and no pain!
So, yes, yesterday was plain awful! But, in the words of Annie and Mr. Warbucks...
Since my first day as a teacher, I think this is officially my first Snow Day! Woo hoo! I'm not exactly happy about making it up, but I did enjoy my day! Luckily, Kristin and Lee were in town, and I didn't have to enjoy it alone. Russ was on call last night, so he missed most of it. It's all starting to melt away now. Tear!
Just look at that Winter Wonderland - Mississippi style!
Ready to go!
Nice snow-mound, Lee!
