This is What Happens When I Don't Have a Weekend

My son needs a haircut. Can you tell? Oh my stars, he can hold a pencil in his curl. Last Saturday, as you have heard, we were busy from 7 am to 4 am the following morning. This Saturday I am blessed to be able to attend the KTOT conference in Corpus Christi all day. Someone NEEDS to take Conner to see Mr. Bob the barber, in the worst kind of way.

I also have the messiest house in the state of Texas. While my son is experimenting with using his hair to carry school supplies, my daughter is like the human tornado who MUST leave her mark on every room in the house. I spend so much time focused on work, I just can't seem to find a balance. They tease me at school because I am SO picky about my room being neat--I really should invite everyone over so they can see that it doesn't transfer to my homelife.

This was random tonight. Sorry. Tomorrow night is Fall Festival at school, another late night but lots of fun. Better get some rest now.

Things I Have Been Pondering

1. Why, when you tell one child to stop doing something, do 3 others have to try it. Just to see if it applies to them as well?
2. Why do 8+ hours on a school bus = 8 days of wear and tear on your body? I am still not back to normal!
3. Why do my son's mischievous moods always coincide with my daughter's short temper days?
4. Why can't I ever find my clothes or my cooking utensils after my husband helps me? Now, I can hear it already--"AT LEAST HE HELPS!" Yes....but until you've searched all over two counties for your whisk or your brown camisole, don't knock my pondering the situation.
5. What does the President do on the rare days that he doesn't wake up thinking of ways to make teachers' lives more difficult? Thank you kindly sir, but I want to spend some time with my OWN family. American kids don't need more time in school, they need more stable home lives so that they can focus on learning. With all due respect, get a grip Mr. President.
6. Why does everyone's pencil need sharpening at exactly the same time?

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

Proud Mom of a future Aggie. I love spending time with my boy!

Our group.

The rally--wall to wall Christian athletes!

The quad.

A picture that needs no title!

I LOVE the Aggie Band!!!

Aggie FCA 2009 is a memory. And what a memory it is! The theme for Saturday's rally was "Rooted"--"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7. What a fabulous experience for about 40 of our Runge High School athletes. There were over 1500 students present, and our group received recognition as the third largest group in attendance. Pretty cool for a little 1A school. We had an action packed day, beginning at 8:30 am and ending about 4:30 am this morning when I finally got home, showered and collapsed. What a day! Praise God for a safe trip, an incredible time of fellowship and worship, and memories that will last a lifetime.

What A Pain in the Neck

No really. Literally. I have the worst pain in my neck. I have known for some years now that I have degenerative disc disease in my neck. I was told about 15 years ago that I would need to have something done eventually. Several years ago when we had our car accident, the ER doctor was confident that I hadn't sustained any serious injuries in the accident, but couldn't believe I was walking around with my neck in the shape it is in. Now, this morning, I was sitting on Caleigh's bed helping her pick out clothes and I turned to the left to look at something. Should not have done that. I have been in pain all day long. Pinching, nauseating, sick pain. And tomorrow I get on a bus at 8 am, go to College Station, walk the A&M campus, go to watch the Aggies play football, then get back on the bus to return home around 1 am Sunday morning. I have been so excited about this trip, but now I am slightly worried. We shall see.

Changing the subject, the other pain in my neck (my washing machine) was pronounced dead earlier this week. We are now the proud, broke, owners of a new washer. Nothing fancy, but plenty expensive none the less.

Well, I am all out of good news for the day. Have a wonderful weekend.

Kinder Kuteness

I am seriously rethinking my decision to tough it out all day at work today with a headache. It wasn't the worst one ever, but it was very unpleasant and it made my day go on for about 72 hours. Really, I'm not kidding. So, because my brain is not working well, here are a few of my funnies from recent days.

1. "Hey new kid, if you mess up on your writing you should use the pink end of the pencil to erase!" Just in case he didn't learn that at his last school...
2. "I don't know if my bellybutton goes in or out, but I know this--it is REALLY dirty! Wanna see?" Uh, no.
3. Mrs. Briley, drawing a story summary on the board..."And this is the mommy frog..." Student: "Are you sure that's a frog?" Art never was my strength.

Teaching isn't easy but is sure provides a lot of laughs.

Autumn Has Arrived!!

Yea!!! My favorite time of year. What a gift from God that the first day of fall came complete with a cold front. It was a beautifully rainy, cool day. All is well with the world. Well, maybe not, but all is well in my world. I need my own version of ACORN reform in my driveway. My car is covered with sap every morning and you can't even see the driveway for the acorns. Soon the leaves will join them and our summer lawn fashion of "dried weeds" will give way to the new fall fashion lineup of acorns and leaves. Who says I don't handle change well???

Welcome Home and Job Well Done!

I am sitting at my computer in Smalltown, TX USA this afternoon but my thoughts are in North Carolina. I am joining many others in prayers of thanksgiving today as my friend Christi and her children welcome Ryan home from deployment to Iraq. He is with, hopefully I will get this right, 1st Bn 2nd MarDiv out of Camp LeJeune and is a hospital corpsman. Christi and I met as we were completing our teacher certification through LeTourneau University's Graduate and Professional Studies program in Austin. We have prayed for each other through life's storms over the past few years, and rejoiced for one another when all was well. She is an incredibly strong and Godly woman, a fantastic mother, but I am sure she is thrilled to have the one who completes her back on American soil today. For you Kerrville people, this is amazing to me, she is neighbors and good friends in NC with Laura Plaster McGuire and her family.

Thanks Ryan, for a job well done. And thanks to all the men and women who serve our country day in and day out, at the expense of their own safety and time with their loved ones. Welcome home!