Happy Mother's Day mom!!

I just wanted to do quick list of all the great things about my mom. She is by far the best around and here's just a FEW reasons why!

1. She is strong. I think this is one of the qualities I like the best in her and desire to have in myself.

2. She is not afraid of change. If I told you the story of her urban to country life change of the last few years, you would agree wholeheartedly.

3. She loves my dad. I think there isn't anyone that my parents would rather hang out with more than each other.

4. She is a good mom. I think she put aside alot of things in order to raise my sister and me. She was a mom that was truly "present" in the moments of my life growing up.

5. She is a FUN mom and a REALLY FUN grandmother! This only bugs me when I am on the receiving end of her "schemes" (ha ha)

6. She is a wise mom. She taught me the importance of seeing each side of a situation. She has a wonderful ability to empathize with others. She has a wonderful way sensing when to give advice and when to hold back and just listen.

7. She wasn't ever a "smothering" mother. She was pretty good at letting us make our own decision (even the bad ones)

8. She is extremely talented. Her art work never ceases to amaze me. How she can do what she does to a blank canvas is a true gift.

9. She is loyal. I wouldn't mess with anyone she loves, it could get ugly.

10. She is discerning. She is a great judge of character and situations. She knows how to "trust her gut".

I love you mom! Thanks for teaching me how to be a good mom to my own two. You were teaching me long before I even realized it.

LeRay

FREEZE!

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time and keep them this way forever. Thankfully I realize that I have said that with every stage so far. I found this poem I wrote when we lived in Atlanta and I was up late one night, wishing to "freeze" time again... (Speaking of freezing, it was freezing this morning at the soccer fields, they had their arms in their shirts trying to stay warm!)

If I could keep them small I would...

I'd hold them in my grip so tight

protect them from the cold of night

Keep them ever near my chest

listen for each and every breath.

Carry them through each trial

and walk with them each mile.

I often think this plan is best

but God reminds me, in Him I rest.

God knew best when this power

to mothers he did not give.

See if they remain small and in my care,

a seed is all I'd have to share.

Slowly and gently God says, "Give them to me"

I will show you the flowers they will be.

I loosen my grip, and God takes my open hand...

I can't walk them through this land,

But I trust the ONE who can.

No need to comment and point out my "over protectiveness" screaming out in this poem, I am very aware of it already! ha ha!

New for me

So I am experiencing something this week that I don't think I have ever experienced: Interviews!! Yes I have been the interviewee, but never the interviewer! That's what I am getting to do this week. It makes for a VERY full day when your normal planning time or after school time is taken up, but it's been neat because it's different. How you ask? (or maybe you didn't) Well to start with I am in a room with only adults, that is REALLY different from my normal routine! I am trying to size someone up in 30 minutes, yikes and deciding if they are a good "fit" for our team. I recently read "Blink" and was thinking about that today and trying to filter through snap judgements that I should pay attention to and snap judgements that I make that aren't helpful. I couldn't help but be aware of all the conclusions I was drawing as the interview moved along. I also felt a wave of sympathy or empathy for some,thinking about how they need a job to support a family or to get a career started, shouldn't we just hire them all, so we don't have to make one feel bad... bet you didn't know I had this "nice" side did you!! ha! I don't let it out too often!

Detoxed

SO I really did it! I gave up coffee that day that I wrote that last post. I haven't had a cup of creamer with a dash of coffee since Friday morning! I switched to green tea. They say that's good for ya, something about "free radicals" and "antioxidants", I thought those were some really out there liberal groups, apparently not though.

My fear is that I have lost all creative thoughts with the loss of the caffeine, I have wanted to update my blog for several days and each time I think to do it, I gotta whole lotta nuthin!

My students had to write a poem last week that I thought was fun, so I thought I should give it a try, it's what we called "I use to, but now I"

I use to be terrified to speak in public,
but now I only feel a little sick if I have to.

I use to drink coffee,
but now I drink green tea.

I use to hate spinach,
but now I like it.

I use to think I would NEVER go back to work,
but now I teach 4th grade.

I use to think baseball was boring,
but now I love to watch it. (one team only)

I use to think I always had to have a boyfriend,
but now I hope Jessica NEVER thinks that.

I use to hate excercise,
but now I like it (can't say love just yet)


I use to love to do crafty things
but now not so much.


I use to want to be a doctor
but now I just go to Web md

I use to be able to eat whatever I wanted
but now I have to watch what I eat


Ok this is boring... I bet my students didn't like it either. Oh well.

Stand Back!!!

So I was thinking about giving up coffee! It's really because I think I need to give up creamer. I use WAAAYYY too much of that really yummy stuff. It's good, but not good for me. I am kinda sad and just thought that I better warn people if they see me during the detox phase I cannot be held responsible for my actions! I think I better make sure I do this during a non-pms week. That combo could get someone seriously hurt.

However, like I said I am thinking about giving up coffee!

Bible Study Blog

Ok so I mentioned the E100 challenge and my go getter friend Jenn is off and running with it. Not only is she going to do the reading challenge with me, but she wants to co-blog about it with others. So consider this your invitation and book mark this new spot and hopefully we can all get going on this on Monday!!

http://www.biblebloggingsisters.blogspot.com/

So many of you out there have way more knowledge than I do so please chime in!! We will see how this works, it may just be me and Jenn, but that's ok!!!

Every day...

Each morning for about two weeks now I go into Jessica's room, while she is eating breakfast, with the intention of making her bed. I know, I know you are all thinking: she should be making her own bed, but that is not what this is about. Save your lectures.

I walk into her room and get stopped short and a smile creeps over my face. This is what she has been doing for a while now. She takes her most prize possession, the item she says she would be sure to get if there were a fire and tucks it in safe and warm for the day.

This is Casey. I don't have the heart to pull Casey outta bed in order to complete my task. Maybe I have issues with personification, I don't know. I just know that I walk away with a little grin at how much that girl loves that little dog and in her 8 year old heart that pup is as alive as can be. I love Jessica's heart of gold towards all creatures alive and stuffed! I guess there is a part of me too that loves Casey for taking care of my little girl through the night, keeping her secrets and wiping away a few tears over the years.

I am sure there will come a day (way too soon) that Casey may end up under the bed or in the closet forgotten by the little girl that is all grown up now, so for now I am going to just forget about making the bed and just enjoy seeing my little girl be a little girl.