Give Big with a Little Give

Today was an emotional roller coaster. But before I can tell you the story I've got to give you some background. There is a radio station here WTMX 101.9 that did a promotion the first week that Oprah's Big Give started. Eric and Kathy, the morning show hosts, I think DJ's are not the appropriate job title any longer, did something called Eric and Kathy's Little Give. They gave 3 "players" $100.00 each to do something good with; donate it or help someone else out who could use just a little. Their objective was to do a similiar thing to what was happening on Oprah's show. After hearing them give away the money and hearing the outcome of the three people's gives I felt compelled to write the radio station to compliment them and tell them that this should be something to continue. A week or two later, I heard they were going to continue it but were changing it slightly and were picking communities to focus on. Jump ahead to today. I got up and on my way to work earlier than normal. Next they, Eric and Kathy, were talking about it being the last time they were doing their Little Give project. They were taking text messages to determine the community but I missed that part. Low and behold the community that was selected was mine, Downers Grove.

What a coincidence that just last night I was spreading the virtues of this great program with my mom. We talked about it so much that I actually missed the finale of Oprah's Big Give. Well after they announced my town and they said they were looking for 2 callers, I called. First I got a busy signal so I hung up and tried one or two more times. Sure enough, I got through and was selected!
I was put on the radio and one of the two people who were going to be given $100 to use and try to grow to make more. I was picked and now I had to scramble to figure out what organization. I selected the Family Shelter Service

Once this was actually put on my shoulders I immediately felt I wasn't going to be able to do as well as some of the others have done. I had to teach all day. How could I make this $100 turn into more in 24 hours? I swear do you know how quickly 24 hours is? I started to freak out and one of my close friends at school told me just do what you can. I called my family and asked Don and my mom to help me out. My mom called my brother whose field of work is donations! Geesh how could that have slipped my mind? I think it was a foggy, Monday morning brain. So I started sending out emails to everyone I knew. Sure enough I started getting some back saying I'll give you $25 or $100 or some other wonderful amount.

I got the kids in my class involved. Hey we did a bit of spelling, reading, and math today. I figure they got a chance to go above and beyond a "normal" day at school. They got to be involved in something big that was titled "little." It wasn't little. Can you believe that all my students went room to room collecting donations from all the teachers at Roosevelt School? After that my class worked all afternoon and popped popcorn to sell after school. We popped close to 200 bags. Try keeping some sanity with 18 kids and 200 bags of popcorn! I laugh now thinking back. Well tonight I came home and had over 40 emails from teachers from other schools.

Jump ahead to right now, I've finished calculating how much we've earned. I say we because I could have never done this without my students, the staff of Roosevelt School, the teachers of Cicero District 99, my mom, dad, brother, and husband. I have such wonderful friends who are willing to go above and beyond. The ladies who work at Beauty Company of Chicago who graciously donated $175 after my haircut. The people at my Weight Watchers meeting tonight gave over $50.

Ultimately, as of right now, I am going to be able to tell the Chicagoland area that my peeps were able to provide Family Shelter Services almost $4000.

To my peeps, YOU ROCK!!!! I cannot express my gratitude and thanks. If you feel you can contribute and the first 24 hours is over, keep it going because this shelter can always use "stuff" besides money. They can also use you. Consider being a volunteer there. Give them some time, sometimes that is worth more than money.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

A Saturday and a layout

I took yesterday off earlier in the week as a personal day because Don was going to be off and we were going to have a garage sale. The week got crazy and they kept calling for rain on Friday and Saturday. So we decided on Thursday when they kept saying rain, rain, rain that we would hold off for a couple weekends. Well yesterday was beautiful and although it rained a bit last night it's been cloudy but dry again today. I guess the weather people aren't always capable of predicting God's weather. So I'm thinking I should go out and price stuff to get ready for when the right weekend does come along.

I have been such a slacker with my Creative Team duties. I've been so swamped with work, which only gets busier from now until the end of the year, that I've not been doing much scrapbooking. Well today I was feeling super guilty and instead of going out, or actually going to my girlfriend's to scrapbook on her monthly scrapbook day, I just sat and did it in my quiet house.

The fruits of my labor are here:



Credits here

So I hope that you are having a funfilled weekend. I'm happy to see spring is here. We finally have some dafodills and a few tulips. Next week the tulips at the mall should be in full bloom and might deserve a little trip to see them, and maybe some shopping.

sometimes you feel like a nut...

and sometimes you don't! Well I decided to figure out what kind of nut I really was! Some will say I'm seriously cracked, some know I'm just a bit nutty. Then there are my close friends who I love to be around and the nuttier the better!

You Are a Brazil Nut

To most people, you seem exotic, unusual, and even a bit scary. But you're really quite normal. You're just hard to get to know. If people leave you alone and let you do your thing, you really shine. But you tend to get lost in a crowd, especially if it's filled with big personalities.

What Nut Are You?

Thinking about your thinking

is one of those wonderful educator things. We call it metacognition. It truly is thinking about your thinking. It gets deep and kind of weird because it can keep going. Anyway, I digress because I was just coming to post about my own thinking and what kind of thinker I am.

Your Thinking is Abstract and Random

You are flexible, adaptable, and creative. There's many ways that you can learn - and you're up for any of them. You relate well to other people, and you do well working in groups. You can help people communicate together and work with each other's strengths. You don't work well with people who are competitive or adversarial. You prefer to work toward a common goal... not toward conflicting goals.

What Kind of Thinker Are You?

I guess I have to say that I'm not surprised. I'm kind of a go with the flow, then get down to business when urgent. I want my stuff to show my creativity and my unique personality and to blow others away, yet I want it factual.

So after reading about my thinking, and thinking about your thinking, take the quiz that tells you about your thinking!

I'd love to win this contest

that is if I wasn't already a member of Victoria's creative team!



Victoria is giving away this beautiful kit for free at here at her website! Besides the freebie, that was part of the Little Dreamer Design appprentice contest, Victoria is also holding a contest. If you create a page with 80% of the Chirpi products, post it in the gallery, and win, you'll receive 3 months of new product for free!
The details are at the website above!

Hurry and get your submissions in because Victoria's stuff is really beautiful and versitile! I'm sure you'll love it!

Sadness in our family

My Uncle Dick was diagnosed with esophaguial cancer just after the first of the year. He'd been having radiation and chemo to reduce the tumor in order to have surgery to remove it. It was localized and wasn't any where else. Then earlier this week he wasn't eating, drinking or sleeping too well. So when he went for the chemo they checked his heart and things didn't seem right so they took him for an EKG. They admitted him into the hospital then his lungs shut down. They assumed that cancer had migrated to his lungs although it could have been fluid or a blood clot. Later that day they were going to do a CT scan to confirm what was wrong with his lungs. They told my aunt and cousins to call hospice because he probably had a week or so. They took him down for the CT scan and he died during the test. This was so sad because everything seemed to be progressing forward towards remission and then his heart just didn't make it.

He was a gentle man who cared about nature and doing the right thing. He taught my boys a lot. My boys really enjoyed spending time with him. He was like another grandfather to my boys and I know this is really difficult for them. My aunt is going to have a real tough time I can just feel it. She and my uncle had spent 50 years with one another. They were finally both retired and before now were supposed to be enjoying their time to do things and relax. Unfortunately God had other plan.

Here is my aunt & uncle at their 50th anniversary.

Ever know what you're doing is right but it just doesn't feel right?

I'm kinda right there, right now. I know that if I'm going to make more money and use my new reading specialist certification and master's degree I will probably have to change school districts. Problem is, I'm not totally sure I want to move, but there isn't the "perfect" job there for me. Don't get me wrong, I work my butt of and do make a fairly good (for a teacher) dime. I am finding that as each year passes the amount of problems that arise with the kids keep getting more and more difficult. For example I have one student who doesn't do homework, lost a library book, had a younger sibling rip pages out of his science book, and now has to work off the money owed to the school because mom avoids meeting with us at all costs. She doesn't return phone calls, she doesn't come to conferences, she won't return notes, nothing. So her son will have to work with the custodians for 2 months to work off the debt.

Now things like that tell me I can't stress over it and maybe should move. The commute of 45 minutes to an hour every day is tedious. I have to leave about 1.5 hours early on a snowy day. The lack of substitutes in our district often makes us internal sub and lose planning periods. I'm unsure about other things too.

Now I know this is where God put me for a reason, and that he's had me get my master's degree in reading for a reason. Now I just need him to tell me what the next plans are. I know, not an easy request; sometimes it's even harder to hear the answer.

Well I know that this is probably the time to move districts and change jobs primarily because if I stay too much longer with my education and years of experience that I won't get credit for my experience and I'll be too expensive to hire. So I've been revamping my resume and I've been starting to fill out the online applications. I'll tell you, most of these are 13 pages long! That's including the pages of questions. Each of the two applications I've been working on have 10, yes 10 essay questions. Luckily you can start the application and return to it. You can also cut and paste your responses from word to the application. Well, that is where I am. I've been trying to come up with the strongest, yet concise answers that showcase the best of me. Not easy I'll tell ya.

This is just one of those things I hate doing. I'm usually a really loyal employee. I do what ever I can to make it the best place to work. I'm a team player and there are people I love working with. The atmosphere where I work is sometimes like a roller coaster though. We are under the microscope from the state and that's hard because we keep jumping from here, there, to someplace else to find what is best for the students. But that leads to doing so much "extra" stuff that there's hardly time to teach what we need to teach.

I guess I just need someone to tell me, Laura you're doing what you need to do, or Laura this is the time. I need to listen to God because he's got the plan, but I don't hear what he's saying. I know he's probably doing some talking through others and I'm trying to listen but the words are clear. What do you do when you're trying to listen but can't tell what is being said?

I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed I think because there is so much to do and when looking for teaching jobs it is quite often like jumping through hoops. That is what I call it and it almost perfectally describes what happens. You have to do this, then do that, then do this again, then do more of that. We need this and that and then even more.

If you are my messagener please shout it loud and clear as to what I'm supposed to be doing! God you know my hearing is going so please make my sign loud and clear.

If anyone has any suggestions or words of wisdom, please let me know.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Spring Break

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Spring!

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! More snow. We are under another winter storm warning and the forcast says around 5 inches. What is going on here Mother Nature?

Today is Good Friday! As a Christian I cannot be thankful enough that Jesus died for my sins. I've been so blessed and I'm so grateful I live in a country where I can believe what I want, express myself as I want, and can openly practice and discuss my religion. There are so many that can't.

Today is also the first day of spring break! Ahhhhhh, yes it's been a very stressful time at school since we returned from winter break. We are finished with ISATs (state testing) and I'm hoping to get around to more science and social studies. Last week we did a TIMS science investigation and disected flowers looking at all the parts. Drat, I forgot to bring home the flowers we didn't use, bummer.

I also stayed at work late yesterday, so late I almost forgot and was almost really late for my eye exam. I did get all the tedious papers graded and the scores entered into the computer. Yahoo!! With the eye exam, nothing's really changed in the last 2 years but I think I want new glasses. I was also talking about Lasik. Both are quite expensive. Unfortunately I know which glasses I want, but at the eye doctor, with my prescription, and including my meager discount, they would be over $500. I have flexible spending health care money set aside, but last year I didn't have enough to cover everything and in late March/early April, I'm afraid to take $500 out. Now granted, Don and an ER visit for the seizure, Brian had an ER visit for a skateboard incident, Brian's therapy, my surgery in August, and Doug's 3 hospital visits. Luckily his last 2 were covered 100%. I also used over $400 for new glasses last year too. I'm just a worry wart I guess.

This will be a week of calm and relaxation. I will work on my sweater, I want to do a couple of scrapbook/spring decorating projects, and I hope to get to the Y a few times. I want to scrapbook with my girlfriend, Marybeth. I want to go back to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the glass blowing exhibit. We didn't pay extra to do that with the students last week. Could you see 9, fourth grade classes going into a glass exhibit? I thought it would be like a bull in a china shop. My mom has also never been there so I offered to take her with.

I also have some filing to do here. I should get bunches of stuff on ebay. The dogs go to the groomer on Tuesday. Doug's home to start his new job at Uhaul this weekend. I offered to cook for us and my mom for Easter. I want to hang out with Marybeth one day. I know Brian will need taxi service. Just the same old mom stuff.

I am just glad to be off and to let my head relax. This will be a difficult week foodwise with WW because of the holiday and I tend to eat while I'm bored. I need some help in that area. I have a list a mile long of things I want to and need to get done, but for some reason my body is never motivated to get it done. Why is that? If you know the answer I'd love to hear it. I have the urge for my body to move. I know losing 25 pounds is the reason for that. I just can't get my head and my body into sync.

Anyhoo I'm about to go see if I can find part of the elements for my spring decorating project. I loved whatAli Edwards did with chipboard butterflies
and I want to do something similar and hang them off of my chandelier in my dining room. I think they'll look great flying over my purple hyacynth. They smell absolutely devine and wish I could youtube the smell and send it to you.

I also forgetting to tell you all that I've finally been invited to join the knitting/crocheting site Ravelry. It took at least 10 days to get my invitation. I'm so excited to find a site that will help me be a better knitter/crocher. I'll be having fun meandering around there this week.

Anyway I've written quite enough and I've kept you reading probably longer than you wanted. I'll hopefully be back later in the week with new layouts with the new Chirpi tape alpha and lucky products.

I wish everyone an excellent weekend and joyous Easter.

Monday..and we got more snow

Late this afternoon we got rain/sleet/snow all at once and now there is white again on the grass and driveway. The weather changed again and I'm sure the air pressure dropped bigtime because when the weather started changing I got a killer headache. It was so bad I couldn't stand my glasses sitting on my face. Bad thing since I was at work and had to drive home. Believe me, you don't want to be on the roads if I drive without my glasses! It was so bad that I had to call and cancel my hair appointment. Believe me, after 5-6 weeks I don't ever cancel a hair appointment if I don't have to. It's going to be at least another 2 weeks before I can get in, I'm sure. My hairdresser will be out of town next week during spring break.

So are you wearing green today or did you get a little pinch? I wore green!

I also report that I lost another pound. Pound schmound. I worked my butt of at the gym this week to lose a pound. Considering my PSA about skipping Steak & Shake, I'm glad I lost a pound.

More health news to report, Brian called me as I got to work saying that the school was kicking him out. Nothing serious, just some pink eye. More health concerns, but he's been out and about while he was still recouperating from the "flu" or something close to it. He probably never got totally over the virus.

My last post talked about a huge stack of papers to grade. After school I took that stack, spread them out on my big table at school and graded several stacks. Now I have a ton to put into the computer but the papers will be graded. After getting these into the computer I'll start working on the big animal report project, but I've read through so many rough drafts the biggest part won't be so bad. I'll keep plugging along this week and get done what I can.

Ok, I think I've rambled on enough. I think my brain needs to rest. Knitting seems to be calling, a mindless activity where I sit without stress.

Ughhhhhhhhhhh papers

I have so many papers to grade and I absolutely HATE grading papers. It's just that for each assignment I give, the kids do it once, I have to do it 25 times. Ok so if we do spelling, math, and science in one day, and there is homework, I have 75 different papers I have to touch. Don't get me wrong, whenever possible I have the kids grade their own papers and I enter the scores into the computer. There are just sometimes they can't grade the papers.

What puts the pressure on is the fact that the end of the quarter is this Thursday. I really want to have all my papers graded and entered into the computer before spring break so I don't have that hanging over my head. Right after we get back we have to work on grades so the report cards can be printed. I thought that could be my job after spring break. Report cards, that is the second worst thing about being a teacher.

Well I have all that blah to look forward to this weekend and this week but tonight we are going to a St. Patrick's Day party at a friend's house. We went last year and had a great time. I love corned beef and cabbage. They've found the best way to cook corned beef, in the pressure cooker. They've found the best way to cook all those veggies too, they boil them all in their turkey fryer. They fill it up with water, start it boiling and put in the veggies. No fat, no big danger of fire like there is when frying a turkey. I thought that was absolutely brilliant!
I'll need to be eating a lot of those veggies because I totally blew all my weight watcher points on a naughty dinner on Thursday. We got steak and shake. Let's just say DON'T EAT STEAK AND SHAKE WHEN YOU DO WEIGHT WATCHERS OR ARE ON A DIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well this is the end for now. Enjoy your weekend! We have family portraits today and I want to do a couple of fun things and Don says, we should just do the normal pictures. Well I'm going to win, I hate those photographer sit this way, pose this way kind of pictures. I want fun and unusual. They make such better pictures because they're so much more natural. Today's photos are for the church directory but what I'd really want is for my friend Ursula to come to Chicago and take my family's pictures. You can check out Ursula's photography website here and then check out her blog too. She takes such fun and interesting, yet casual photos. I'm sure if she'd come up she'd find some really cool and exciting backdrops for some pictures. I do have some really photogenic boys! Oh did I also mention handsome??

Ciao!

Just worked my butt off

or at least a bit of it. I actually just got home from an hour workout at the Y. It was actually a bit relaxing. Yeah right, for those of us who hate exercise, I'm right there with ya, but when I was sitting, pedaling on that bike for 30 minutes I didn't have to think about anything that I had to do. I sat and listened to my ipod and watched Wife Swap and Deal or No Deal. I read those captions while listening to the music.

Well anyway I started on the eliptical for 15 minutes and went .95 miles. Then to the bike were I numbbed my but and feet but rode for 4 miles in 30 minutes. After that I thought about leaving but a treadmill opened up so I thought ahhhh, what's another 15 minutes. So I walked, even put some incline on the tread mill. Then I got brave. For the last 40 seconds I pumped up the speed to 4.0 and jogged for 40 seconds. No big deal for those of you who are in shape and run, but I don't run. Actually my body's been feeling the urge to move. Today Doug went to school with me and taught the kids how to play blob tag and at the end I linked hands and ran around like a school kid. I ran, then tonight I ran/jogged again.

I'm mighty proud of myself for that! I think it meant even more that I got up my gumption and went alone. Nobody made this body fat and overweight but me, so I guess nobody can make it skinny and more healthy except me too. Just it would be fun to have a workout buddy.

So this week, Don and I walked down to check out a house that caught on fire on Sunday, so we walked about a mile. Monday, I took my ipod and became a "hall walker" at schoool and did two laps of each of the 3 floors including the 3 flights of steps two times. Then today I did all that exercise at the Y. I actually have 5 activity points I can eat on my Weight Watchers account, but it sure would be nice not to have to. I have 2 points left today so there is my skinny cow snack then I think I'm done. We do have a St. Patrick's Day party on Saturday night with friends so I know I'll use more points there then I should. Although I'd think cabbage and boiled vegetables should be free!

I want to give my good friend Marybeth a shout out! She's decided to get healthy and she's started a blog. You can check it out here!

Ok so I've written enough for today. I think my skinny cow's calling my name.

Some Blog Redecorating

Not only did I update my header, which still could use a bit of shrinkage to fit in the template but I upgraded my blog so that I can use the new basic drag and drop, easy upload, easy changes format.

Although I've had to make a few changes and updates, I love the ease of making changes now!

Thanks for that Blogger!

I've finished my little knitted bag. I need to do just a bit more work on the handles but I've already done the yarn swatch for the sweater I'm going to start on. My first sweater!

I also jumped on the Ravlery waiting list. Maybe I should start a knitting blog. I doubt I could keep that updated because my other blog has kind of been neglected. I really need to get myself on a schedule and integrate exercise in that and time to reflect and pray daily.

I'll just keep working because I can only get better if I keep trying.

Another Layout

Credits Here

Today's a day for a new layout!

This is my newest scrapbook layout. Everything is by a great new designer Victoria Greenlees who owns her own store Chirpi. The great new kit is called Moroccan Sunset and can be
found here.

I highly urge you to go and check out her great new stuff.

Oh Yeah....I'm a LOSER

and this I'll say loud and proud!

I've been going to Weight Watchers for a while and I've been really happy with the fact that I can eat whatever I choose and it's a slow and steady loss. Tonight I hit my 10% goal. That's the first biggest milestone at WW. Although I weighed in tonight, I'll celebrate with my meeting on Monday night.

Most people don't usually hit a 25 pound milestone and their 10% at the same time but I did so I'll get a few little rewards. I'll get a 10% keychain, a charm for losing 25 pounds and I'll get a magnet to keep me encouraged to keep going.

I kind of feel like doing a happy dance around my house, that is if I didn't feel quite so bad.

I went to work today and this afternoon I started feeling like a 2 year old who gets the gunky eyes. For some reason my eye is pooping out yellow globs. I know I need to eat and throw in a load of laundry then sit and relax with a warm compress on my eyes. Maybe I'll manage to make it to see Project Runway. I hope it's a new episode tonight.

Also I talked with my dad tonight. He's got 2 more days until he retires! Wow he's always been a work-aholic, that is where I get it from I know, but yikes retire! If I retire at the same age my dad is, then I'll need to teach another 24 years. I can't imagine how different kids and education will be in 24 years. It's almost scary to think about it. What is even more scary is that I rememeber in 1st and 2nd grade having teachers who were older than dirt back then, I mean I thought they were 70ish then, and yikes what's it going to be like when I'm teaching and in my 60's???

Well that's a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg time away so I think I'd better worry about making it through this week, next week's big state tests, and then the last few days before spring break. Ahhhhhhh if I can make it through this week, there are only 13 days left until break! Unfortunately we have such an early Easter this year, it's going to be a longgggggggg time between when we get back and the end of the year.

I'll have to ask my girlfriend, who is retiring this year, how many more days are there until the last day of school.

Until then, I just need to feel better to make it back to school tomorrow. I don't need to worry how many days until break or until the end of the year, or until my own retirement. It's a lot. What's helping me muttle throug until June is this wonderful vacation with my mom. Ohhhhhh I can't wait!!

still stick

and in desperate need of a header update.

Today I'm starting to feel better although I was freezing all night and probably had a fever again most of the night.

I really don't have much to say that needs updated but I can report we have another 4.5 inches of snow. Snow, I'm so sick of snow! Go away snow! I've also heard there is probably more on the way later this week. I think we've had over 50" of snow so far this winter.

I am also giving a shout out to some friends to UPDATE YOUR BLOGS!

Ughhhhhhhhhhh I'm sick

and feel horrible. I felt this coming on last Wednesday and thought it was just going to be a sinus infection. By Friday at school I was feeling horrible with a sore throat and occasionally it would feel like my lungs were burning.

I cough occassionally but I thought the sinus infection was getting better. I thought for sure with a low key weekend and really doing nothing I would be ok to go to school today. Nope, around 9:00 last night I started getting the chills and had a fever. I called in and then again today I thought I'd be fine for school tomorrow. Well after almost a whole day without a fever, I got one again. Granted just a low grade fever but I must really be fighting something.

I decided earlier today that I would take another sick day. I just want to feel better. It also wasn't too hard to decide when they are predicting 3-7 inches of wet, heavy snow. I won't feel like shoveling at all and I probably won't.

I just want to feel better so I can have a bit of energy back and sleep better. I'm up almost every hour looking at the clock or blowing my nose. I'm so congested that I'm sleeping horribly.

I hope to be feeling better tomorrow.

There is one thing I'm being productive at...my knitting. No energy and sitting with the tv on means I can knit.

Are you willing??

to show your support for those 5 innocent students who were violently gunned down at Northern Illinois University?

I proudly display this ribbon. My son was there on that horrific day.
If you are willing, then I hope you would put this support ribbon on your blog.
I know all the students, faculty and alumni would be appreciative.
Please consider showing your support.

Great News!

Did you see this?? I'm a new Chirpi Girl!

Victoria Greenlees is an amazing new designer who had a creative team call. I applied on a whim and was selected. Her designs mesh with my style perfectally.
I'm so excited to start working with her great designs.

YIPEE!!

Pray for Northern Illinois University

the students who survived, the students who have to return, the families and friends of those who died, and for the shooter's family. Everyone connected to this needs prayers. You know the game 7 degrees of separation? Well Northern Illinois University is one of those universities in which I'm sure you know someone, through someone else, through someone else who goes there.

Well if you know me, then you are closer than 7 degrees. My son attends there. My son was actually with a friend of his who ditched her class today. Her class was the class where the shooting occured. How did God choose who to spare? This girl is unbelieveably lucky.

I had 2 meetings, then door duty outside, then my Tuesday/Thursday after school reading group. I didn't hear the news, I didn't hear my cell phone ring. I had 5 missed calls and a text message. I learned of the shooting and of course your mind thinks the worst. After all Doug went through last semester I just knew in my heart that God would not let anything happen to him again. Don let me know that a friend of Doug's called to let us know he talked to Doug online and he can't call out but he was ok. Then all the other phone calls started. My brother, sister, mother, father, friends, co-workers all were calling and by then we only knew he was locked in his dorm. Locked down in a dorm, who would have thought that was the best place to be?

After making and answering phone calls all the way home I thought I'd just try Doug's cell. Unbelievably the call went through and he answered. The joy of hearing my son's voice! The peace of knowing my son was safe. The tears still well up in my eyes each time I realize how blessed we were today. Then my heart immediately turns to those families who have dead children or injured children. Why not us and why them? Those are the questions you ask of God but then you know that you still must hope and believe his will and power is the almight authority and you'll never get those answers.

In that wonderful phone call I got the best news, Doug was coming home tonight! He was coming home Saturday anyway to celebrate my sister's birthday, but just hearing him say today, soon, was the best news I'd heard all day. So each time we heard a car on the street we'd give a glance to see if it was pulling in. Finally he was home and I don't know how big of a sigh I must have let out, but it was probably big. I was glad just to see him walk through that door. The best sight I'd seen all day. My Valentine's Day brought one of my loves home. Now I've got all three home with me if for just a little while. I've got my family together and all safe for tonight and I have to continue to give thanks to God for that.

This is the best thing I've seen all day!

It's still winter

oh how I know it. Today, another batch of snow. It's nothing fun like a batch of warm yummy cookies coming out of the oven, it's horrible because it means another long commute home and more shoveling.

Today it was about an hour and half home; double the usual and customary. Luckily there was dinner in the crock pot. I sat and watched Biggest Loser, knitted and tried to stay warm. I went out and shoveled since the snow finally ended.

I need to work on a new Bible study I'm involved in. I was supposed to have the first week done for last Wednesday but it was snowed out so I actually had an extra week and still didn't get it done. I'm horrible, and get the most done right before deadlines are due.

I know I'm a poor, poor blogger. I've been super busy and unfortunately my "My busy life slows down" blog has been left silent lately. I've kinda dropped reading my gratitude book. I need to get on a schedule to read and work on the bible study each day. In addition to getting to the gym. I've broke the 20 pound mark so I'm excited to meet my 10% goal. I tell you if I knew Weight watchers was the way for me I would have done this years ago!

Well I have to hop off here and get in a chat with my dh and son about some homework project he has due at college.

Toodles and hope you're not shoveling too much!

That knitting I thought was hard...

isn't as hard now as I thought. I finished that scarf that I started in the first knitting class. Then I was a glutton for punishment because I signed up for the next class 201 where I learned to purl, increase, and decrease. In that class we worked on a ribbon shawl. I am almost totally finished with that except that I'm out of ribbon and can't get more. I bought the last one. I'm going to have to tear over half of it out so I can have enough ribbon to finish. Grrrrrrrrrrrr that is going to be a serious PITA because we weighed the ribbon to determine where half was. I just don't think there is any other way to fix it without ripping it out.

So because I knew I would be finished with the shawl soon I decided to use the gift certificate my bro and sil gave me and finally bought some coveted alpaca yarn. This is the softest yarn. I bought baby alpaca yarn and I swear I can't wait to wear this scarf. To me I'd love to be floating on a cloud of alpaca yarn. It's soft, the colors are beautiful and it makes me happy. So happy in fact that I made the whole scarf in one day! Oh it is a yummy scarf, no pictures yet, and it matches the sweater I'm wearing tomorrow perfectally. I'm wondering if I should save the new scarf and sweater outfit for parent teacher conferences on Tuesday. Can't decide, we'll see what kind of mood I wake up with in the morning. My mom is going to love the color and I know she's really going to want one. I think that my knitting practice is going to get a work out because I see a lot of my family will probably be getting new scarves for Christmas next year. Heck if the snow keeps up they'll need them this year.

Speaking of snow, it snowed all day Thursday and most of Thursday night. We got at least 8 inches. Everyone around my house was cancelled on a snowday, but wouldn't ya just know that my district didn't close. We only close if Chicago Public Schools close and that rarely ever happens. Well this afternoon we got hit with another winter weather advisory. It's been snowing for hours and we've got another 4inches of snow, easily. Some places nearby even had thunder snow.

I actually have a couple of fun pictures of the snow we have.

Busy week this week. Haircut, weight watchers, work, and passport pictures probably tomorrow. That and an early morning to get ahead of the traffic with the snowy weather. Tuesday is conferences, Wednesday is meeting day and I just stared a women's Bible study. thursday will be reading group after school, and Friday is Friday. In two weeks that 3-day weekend is over-booked. Friday night is girls' night out, Saturday is scrapbook day with friends, Saturday night is Vegas night at the church in which we will go with friends, Sunday is when we'll probably celebrate my sister's birthday and Monday, President's Day, is the day of my spa day. By that Monday, I'll need an ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh day.

I know I've run on and on and on in this blog post. Rarely am I ever this chatty on my blog. I'll upload my winter pictures and then I was going to eat an orange, but I think bed is calling me much more loudly than the orange.

Oh...forgot to mention...I finally took down my Christmas decorations today. Realize it took me 25 minutes and a lot of them were "winter" snowman and snowflakes, but the tree is down too. Now realize my tree was half covered in red hearts so technically I could have considered it a "Valentines' Day tree." But anyhow it is finally down.

Ok now the pictures I promised.

My trip to ANYWHERE in the World is booked!

It's been 3 years in the making and I've finally decided where this trip to ANYWHERE in the World was going to be. I've decided on a 10 day cruise to the Northern Baltic Capitals. Actually it's 10 places I would have never guessed I would have ever gone to....Ever! Princess Cruises calls it Scandinavia and Russia. I call it a once in a lifetime trip to see places that I've only seen on tv and through pictures from my girlfriend Susanna.

This is the itineary for the trip. We start and end in Copenhagen. We head to Stolkholm,Sweden; Helsinki,Finland; St. Peterburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Gdansk, Poland; and Oslo, Norway. Although I know how great each place is going to be, I'm really, REALLY excited to head to Finland to meet my friend Susanna. That is going to be one great shore excursion. It won't be one of those cruise trips, we're going to be escorted around Helsinki by a native. We've got Susanna booked to be our private tour guide. I'll have to let her know way ahead of time what we want to see. I especially want to buy some great yarn in Finland. The ladies at the knit/yarn shop have told me how great Finnish yarn is.

Needless to say I'm super excited and really feel like I need one of those tear off one a day countdown calendars to count the number of days until we leave. My mom tried to get me worried when I asked her if she put the deposit down and she tried to make a little joke by saying, "Oh I forgot." It didn't work, not in the least bit. We are working on determining flights and if we are going to arrive a day early in Copenhagen or take a red-eye and get there early enough to board the ship early as possible.

My job...Passport. I need to really get on that this week. I've been putting it off and should have done it over winter break but I didn't. I was thinking about getting my pictures taken tomorrow night but we've just had a winter storm warning issued for our area starting at midnight tonight only to get cold, and blizzard-like as the day goes on. I know we can't control the weather but today I said it's been a more like normal winter with the cold and snow but I didn't mean that because today was 40 that I wanted more below zero cold and blizzard-like conditions!

Well considering I was falling asleep in the rocker about a half an hour ago then had to quick make Don a grocery list so he could shop early tomorrow before the weather crashes and had to get two envelopes ready to be mailed off I should really sign off and get to bed. The earlier I get up and leave the more paper work I can get done at work. I can grade some papers and get the scores entered into the computer.

If you have horrible weather tomorrow, please be safe. Hope you have a great week. Caio!

Happy Birthday to Me!

All dressed in pink with my beautiful lavender, green & pink Burberry scarf around my neck to keep me warm I headed out to the knitting shop to take another knitting lesson. Now I can knit, purl, increase and decrease. I even got some yummy yarn on sale for another scarf. Got a wonderful voicemail from my good friend Marybeth who sang happy birthday to me. Went out for pizza with my family and my sister made me german chocolate cupcakes instead of a cake. It was nice to have everyone there although things keep changing in my family. My parents are trying to settle up things on their divorce before they go to court.

We did have some good news today, my brother got a new job. He used to work for Guilda Club but wasn't happy there and left right before Christmas and jobs in his field of grants and fundraising don't open up that frequently. He did find a job and is still interviewing with another company which has a bigger position if it works out. Until then, the new one is good.

More good news is that Don asked his new boss for his old job back and he got it! This is a good thing because he's got more freedom and flexibility. Considering Don can't be tied down and needs to move and likes different tasks rather than just very similiar tasks it is a terrific thing that he's so highly thought of to be given his old job back. He was under so much less stress, for the most part, when he wasn't chained to a center or to the marketing company. I pray this is what makes him happy and more relaxed.

We did get bad news today. You know you always get the good with the bad. Today my aunt called my mom and said my uncle has been diagnosed with esophogile cancer. It hasn't spread but he will have surgery, feeding tube, radation, and chemo. This is so sad because they retired a few years ago and have just been starting to enjoy their retirement. My uncle is such a quiet man but has such a presence when he's around. He'll sneak out and you'll see him filling up the bird feeders so the birds will keep coming around. This is just awful news because 2 years ago my aunt beat breast cancer now instead of enjoying life they're back into the cancer routine.
If you see it within yourself could you please say a prayer for my Uncle Dick. He's taught my kids so much and my aunt and uncle are like another set of grandparents for my kids. My kids know gun safety and the real reason to use guns instead of seeing how criminals use them thanks to my uncle.


My uncle is the man on the left, my dad is on the right. This was taken at my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party.

Well I think I'm going to hop off here now and try to knit a bit more. Don got to come have pizza at the restaurant with us but had to go back and close up the facility. Bummer! He probably won't be home for an hour and a half or two hours. So there's probably nothing else we're going to do tonight for my birthday.

Hope you had an enjoyable day today, mine was pretty good considering I grew another year older. LOL I have to share...when my students asked how old I was going to be today, I said 27! One girl says, "oh my mom is 27 too!" OMG they believed me! So today I'm 27! Tomorrow I'll decide if I go back to my regularly scheduled age.

Peace, love and happiness!

To some it's just an extra day off

but to me having Martin Luther King's birthday off is important. I was just over a year old when he was assassinated so the whole civil rights thing was not part of my life. But as I get older and see our world changing I keep learning more and more about civil rights and Dr. Martin Luther King.

What I find even more amazing is how much kids love learning about him. We watched a movie this week at school called My Friend Martin. The kids sit rivited for almost an hour just watching and watching. They know a lot and their hearts are still pure enough to say how much good he did and how treating people equally is so important.

I find I enjoy learning more about him. This year we have a new reading series and there is a story called My Brother Martin. That will be up for reading next week. We are also reading a book about immigrants and how some treated people didn't like them, but then that changes.

So on Monday if you are off or even if you aren't off, stop to think about how life could still be if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn't fight for equality for all people.

Learning isn't always easy

For someone who catches on to things fairly easily somethings, like knitting, are not coming so easily. For Christmas, I asked for a gift certificate in which I could take knitting lessons. I thought I had a good rhythm for it and knew what I was doing but it seems that I don't know how to fix a mistake. I have some idea of what I did wrong, but I don't know how to take the stitches off my needle and put them back onto the first needle.

I have another class next week so I'll keep plugging away. I know when the scarf is finished it will look really neat because of the yarn, but if I could only get to a point where I don't make a mistake and feel I can get beyond 5-6 rows.

Any tips or good knitting sites to help me?

I've got a zillion and one things that need to be done so this will be a short post but I will leave you with a photo of my first stab at knitting.

The last blog before my vacation ends

I'm kind of whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa vacation is over and kind of yeah it's time to return to work. I've been dreaming about work for a few days and I think I'm a bit more relaxed and inspired to make sure things go well and the kids really start to learn. I almost get anxious to get back after winter break because there is always so much growth and maturity that seems to happen with a lot of the kids after this two weeks off. I chalk it up to the fact that their brains get to rest and take all that they've learned and finally gets to sort it all into the different files where it belongs and then connects with what was already there. It is not always as significant a change in 4th graders but when I taught 1st grade it was astounding. Those who were on the verge of beginning to read come back so ready and you go "yes" they got it.

Being back at work means that my schedule is more structured. Food is so much less accessible. That's a good thing for me. Although I didn't really gain weight over the winter holiday I'm now in the mode that I have to keep going and it's almost like a new start. A new start that MUST include more trips to the gym. I guess I just need to super structure my time so that I leave work at 4 and then on certain days I just hit the gym before I come home. Don says he'll go with me, but I can't count on that.

In weight watchers losing 10% is the first big milestone. I know that losing weight slowly is important in the long run but I'm hoping that by the end of January I'll be able to acheive that 10% goal. That is why the gym has got to become so important. I think I have 14 pounds to go before that 10%. I really think I could lose it but have to understand that if my body can't go so fast it will come off after that.

I heard this quote at a WW meeting and it really stuck with me. It is hard to lose 100 pounds 1 time, but it is easier to lose 1 pound 100 times.

I think with the nice weather, I'll try to go out and take a walk. Almost too muddy to walk the dogs but I can grab my ipod and go.

Toodles

One Little Word

Does this let you know my one little word?? Yes, I've decided to choose Believe. I know this will help me focus on my relationship with God. It will help me believe in myself, and I know it will also help me in teaching. I often hear from my son, "no one ever believes me." I hope this will help me look at him in a more honest way. It's just a great word and it found me rather than me finding it. I think that is what I was looking for.

Did anyone else pick one little word??

It's a new year

2008! OMG each year goes by faster and faster. 2007 has been a difficult health year for some in my family. We are praying for a better year healthwise. But I'm not looking back in reflection, I'm looking forward with hope and belief that this year will bring many good things.

I've been trying to decide where I want to go on my "trip to anywhere" and I've decided that I want to go on a Northern Baltic Capitols cruise. My mom and I have been looking into things, have contacted a cruise specialist, have got some prices and now have a few more questions before booking the trip. We are looking for a mid-June to early July date. I'm so excited to finally take this trip.

Next I've been trying to decide upon resolutions for 2008. I can't say that I've picked anything just quite yet, but I've decided that organization is or upmost importance. I read something today about the OHIO way of thinking. This seriously peaked my interest and kept reading a comment from a poster on Ali Edward's blog about the OHIO way of thinking. I was wondering is this something I already know considering I was born in Ohio. Come to find out OHIO means "Only Handle it Once." I love this! I didn't make it to the office supply store or to Ikea to find some desk organizational things but before the week is over I'll have a few new bins to divide things into pay, file, or read later.

I know my mom will be going through some changes this year with her and my dad's divorce becoming finalized so I sent her the link to Ali Edward's blog. Ali talked about picking one little word to focus on, to mediate upon, and reflect upon throughout the year. I'm narrowing my list of words down and two keep coming to the front of my brain. The two are believe and accomplish. I'm really focused on accomplishing what I start and I have so many little projects that need finished that the word is important. The more I started just letting things happen today the word believe kept popping up. I'll have it narrowed down soon.

Also today I started on my year long journey to read Simple Abundance. It kind of goes along with the word believe. I need to find happiness from within and enjoy what life has already given me. Have you read it? I love that each page is chalked full of inspiring things.

I don't know if I can commit to getting my life organized, reading simple abundance, keeping my one little word forward in my thoughts and a 365 challenge but how absolutely cool would it be to have a year's worth of photographs to remember 2008 by? I've found a one 365 challenge and Ali posted this one.

I did though take one picture today. I'm also contemplating on gratitude blog. So many decisions and so little time.

Well I'm going to get to bed and let my head rest. So many things are swirling thru it. Lots of snow here yesterday and today and now temps have plumetted so hope you are warm and snuggly whereever you are.

Peace, Health, Love and Happiness to you in 2008!

-4.8 is a glorious number

Who would have thought I was brave enough to go weigh in at Weight Watchers on Christmas Eve? Last week I had my first gain and I tried to be good this week and track points as best as I could. Well I was expecting another gain, but low and behold I lost 4.8 pounds. So I lost what I gained last week and then some. I'm still working towards my first 10% but so far i've lost 14.8 pounds.

I'm finding that with extra support at work, 4 of us do weight watchers, and Don trying not to buy junk, that I'm doing pretty well. I like that I can eat what I want but have to make choices. I'm finding I love spinach salad and I'm trying to be creative with chicken breasts.

I also realize that this really isn't a diet but a lifestyle change. I am going to try to hit the Y more these next two weeks and make the boys come with me.

I know I still have a long way to go but I heard this quote at my first or second meeting. Loosing 100 pounds 1 time is hard but loosing 1 pound 100 times is easier.

That is what keeps me going. I'll go weigh in on New Year's Eve too and let's hope for another negative number!

Kept Resolution

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Are you good about keeping them or are you one of those people who start but then stop within a few weeks? Well I always was one who was sort of stopped after a few weeks so I'm really proud of myself. I've actually kept my 2007 resolution. On December 31, I had my last can of soda. My resolution was to give up pop; all forms of it. I wouldn't switch from regular to diet, I was just stopping. Now realize I didn't say give up caffine but since I've never been a coffee drinker I've given up a lot of caffine. I do splurge and have a chai tea frappachino from Starbucks and that's just enough caffine to keep me going.

So now that I've kept this resolution I'm going to try to make another one and keep it up. I haven't quite yet decided what I'm going to pick this year but I just hope it is a rewarding experience with another positive result.

Trying to be a better person

I know for those of you who know me pretty well, I'm a pretty good person. I try my best to accommodate everyone, I want all people to be successful, I want to instill solid morals and values into my kids and those I teach. I just try to be my best. Somehow when I reflect upon what I do and what I've done in the past I see there are still areas in which I still need to get better. I call stupid drivers idiots, I drive too fast, I have a habit of using my dining room table as my desk and dumping ground. I can't be bothered to put things away that are on the top of my dresser. I have a table at school that seriously needs cleaned off so when we come back from vacation we can get down to some serious reading. My desk is a mess. But to my own defense I read somewhere that a messy desk is a sign of a creative and imaginiative person. That I do feel is true.

But where this post is headed is in a rather new direction. I have been trying to cut down on my internet time and trying to figure out who I am and what do I want to do with my life. No I'm not talking about drastic changes. Well maybe I am. I think it has some to do with losing weight. I think that as I work to lighten up I want things around me to be less cluttered and more organized too. If I do this the right way then I may just become a bit more of a simple person. I have been trying to work on being more happy and appreciative of what I have and not to focus on what I used to think I want; I mean in a materialistic way. God has given me so much, I'm so blessed and now I have to make my life work within the bounderaries of what I already have.

So I know the changes must come from inside, but I can't help to also give a little bit of credit to an amazing person. I've been reading her blog off and on and as I've been digging into some of her archives I find that she not only inspires me want to be a little more creative in a more simplistic sort of way, but she has posted some incredible links to some organization and zen sites. I need to find a zen in which I can live in a more harmoniously with what I have, who I have in my life, and more in a way that God directs me.

If you haven't figured out just who has inspired me to just try to be a better person, I'll tell you, it is. It is Ali Edwards.

You can find some daily inspiration here at her blog. I can't believe all this lady does. She write, she creates, she travels, she's a mom, she's an advocate for autism, she teaches, she inspires, and she even has her ups and downs just like all the rest of us. She finds pleasure in simple things. I loved how she blogged about setting up a block castle where they bowl it over with a big green ball. There is something about her that is so creative, so inspiring, yet so down to earth. I don't want to be just like her, that's not the point of all of this. I am not her stalker, I just read her blog and her newsletter just as thousands of others do. I just find her style and her way with words speaks to my heart with a bit of optimism and passion. I find that she makes me want to be a bit more of a better person. Not to impress anyone, or to say look I do what Ali Edwards does; but for me to say look I'm just a bit more of a better person because I've been inspired to be.

I know this is a long, rambling blog post. Who knows, maybe it has to do with the fact that today's my graduation day, the day I'm recognized in public for being someone who's earned a master's degree. For someone in the field of education to be recognized as a life-long learner. For someone who has been given a gift from God to be able to teach others. For someone who has the potential to help students be better readers by being a reading specialist. For someone that has set goals and achieved them. For someone that I hope my own boys are proud to call mom.

With my winter holiday only 5 school days away, I am going to take that time to finish preparing for Christmas, to spend time with and enjoy my boys, to exercise, and to find a way to start to organize my dining room table and take back my space. It is my way to start to be a better person. So I close by saying a quick thank you to Ali Edwards for posting some amazing pearls of wisdom and zen links that have made me look inward to become a little better for everyone else who sees me from the outside.

Some Merry Decorating

Just a little bloggity banner update for the winter season!

I've got to get some new photos out of my camera and onto the computer. I've also got to get up-to-date with Val's photo a day blog challenge.


If you can't read the credits on the banner, the paper, journal box, stitched snowflake & pin are by Ashley Olson's Like Winter kit. The tree templates are by Valerie Fowler and are a blog freebie at her blog When Val sits Down. The glitter bracket is by Brenda Kempf, and the pink ribbon is by Christine Smith's Ribbon Lover's set in pink.

I'm hoping this blog update will last a bit longer than the Christmas season. I tried to go a little wintery.

My FAVORITE Christmas video

Last year I couldn't tell you how much I watched this video. I confess I sing along to it too! The original website is gone this year but through the miracle of youtube it reappeared!

Bahhhh Humbug

Bahhhhhhhhhhh Humbug

It's an Elfed Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Here is our animated Christmas card!


Click here to see it!

A little December fun

Here on Valerie Fowler's blog is a really interesting Photo A Day challenge. I really like that she's making it so laid back and easy. The concept is to take a photo a day. Wow, hard right?

I think this is a cool idea and I can envision a really great scrapbook layout, mini album or a photo collage in a cool frame that could turn into a really wonderful holiday decoration.

I'm really going to try to do this each day in December and then post the photo in my blog. Today I'll have to hunt for something to take a picture of. I might do two tomorrow when I try to get my Christmas decorations out.

I hope that you are having a lovely weekend and try this daily photo challenge.

Now I've got to get back to a little advent calendar project I need to finish. Yes, I'll post a photo of that too.

It's Thanksgiving!

Remember in the last post I said I'd be glad that it was almost Thanksgiving?? Well you'd never guess how difficult it was to get our family through to Thanksgiving. Remember I said I'd be glad to have Doug home for a few days?? Well he's been "home" but getting him here was quite a roller coaster ride? Let me give you some of the details.

Sunday night Doug called and said he'd had a stomach ache since Thursday. I said it was about 10:00 pm on Sunday night when he called, didn't I? Well he described the pain, I found a "kids health" page on the appendix and we basically diagnosed that probably had appendicitis and I told him to get up early and get to the clinic first thing Monday morning. So I give him a wake up call and our Monday starts rolling. On the way to work, I call our pediatrician to find out "my son is 18 but in college will you still see him" details. Then I called my mom to let her know what was going on and to see if he needed picked up immediately if she could go since Don and I were 45 minutes further east from her house. So by 9:00 Doug called and said it was appendicitis so we moved into action. Mom went to go get Doug, although the clinic didn't want him to go any further than the local hospital. We wanted him home closer to us. I started making plans to leave school early. I met them at the hospital at 11:30.

Once at the hospital we waited for a while although he'd already been diagnosed. He had to drink some contrast for a cat scan and that took 2.5 hours before he could have the test. Then it was confirmed so we had to wait for the surgeon. So finally at 6:30 he went into surgery. We got word he was doing well at 8:30 and he would be going up to the peds floor. We were the only people up there, then things got crazy for them.

Finally we were resigned to the fact that the doctor was pretty adamit about 3-5 days and he was really firm about 5 days. Well Doug was progressing pretty well and we had the nurses on our side ;) The surgeon today was not the operating surgeon and he gladly released us to come home today. What a great day to be home. We had a little turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie or as much as you can call it that. I've felt ill after each time I ate the "meat" from the hospital so who knows what they cook it in. I'm just so thankful we're all home today.

There won't be any home cooking here today. No turkey and all the fixins. It's not about the food anyway, it's about all the things you have to be thankful for, and today there is a lot to be thankful for. The appendix didn't rupture, but it leaked, but Doug's on the mend and we were able to get him home.

I hope you've enjoyed your family and friends. I hope you've reflected upon what you are thankful for. I hope you've checked the sale ads and wish you luck in getting to the big deals early tomorrow. I think we'll be heading to Northern so that we can pick up some things for Doug. I am not sure when he'll be going back to school so we need his computer for him to finish that term paper that was due Tuesday. I'll also be washing his laundry he couldn't get together to bring home either.

Enjoy your weekend!

I'm a blog slacker

or am I a poser blogger? That is one of Brian's favorite words...poser. Somehow it's starting to slip into my vocabulary too.

I'm so glad Thanksgiving is almost here. I'm looking forward to having Doug home for a few days. I'm also looking forward to having 5 days off. I do need a little bit of a break and I think that will be just enough time. I'm actually in a bit of a Christmas spirit this year. Last year I just wanted to get away. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to go back up to that cabin again this year but Doug needs to work over break and we're trying to save some money. I am in the mood to start some simple decorating. Our house is really small and putting up our old Christmas tree is out of the question. I'd have to move large furniture and block my front door and I'm choosing not to do that.

I'm trying to think of some "winter" decorations that will last a bit longer than just through Christmas. I'm thinking of getting some star lights and icicle lights to hang from my front curtain rod. I'm going to use a smaller tree and I think it's going to have star decorations. I've been trying to collect star ornaments for a few years now to collect in a basket and have my family put on a smaller tree as we all do thoughtful things for one another. I know I don't nearly have enough star ornaments to cover a tree, but I think with a few simple ornaments, a few of my favorites, and the star ornaments I do have it should be a very special tree.

I'm also looking for some other simple but interesting ideas. I found these white birch decorations at crate and barrel They are way too expensive for me to buy but I'd really like to find something similiar. I'm also looking for some little dorm sized decorations to throw into a care package to send off and have there when Doug goes back to school.

I saw these really cool button trees on Ali Edwards' blog and now I'm kicking myself because I gave a ton of buttons away to the art teacher at school, otherwise I'd try to make one of these myself.

I'm really interested in seeing what cool holiday decorations you are making. Give me some cool inspiration! I'm in a creative mood!

Caio!

A Big Ole Pat on the Back

Today is the day that I can get my unofficial certification test results. These were the two tests I needed to take and pass to get my full state credentials to get my Reading Specialist teaching certificate. T.his will be my second teaching certificate. It is a specialized certificate that will piggy-back onto my K-9 certificate that allows me to teach and do more administrative jobs in a K-12 setting. Now if I want to move up to the big money...I'll have to go into the high school.

I'd been having dreams that were waking me up each morning that I had failed one or both. Usually it was a big time failure, sometimes by one point or two. These dreams really freaked me out. I don't know how I could have dealt with having to take one or both of these tests again. They cost me a good hunk of money to register and a big hunk of time. That day the first test took 3 hours and the second test took me 4 hours. That Saturday was emotionally draining. I don't know how you are about taking tests, but I complete all the problems I can and flag the ones I skip that I don't have a quick answer or need deeper thought and more intricate detailed thinking. The second test had a 2 essay writing component and very little room. It had to contain about 7 different requirements in the one constructed answer.

Well anyway I went online and got the test scores. I was sweating bullets and wasn't sure I wanted to look. How could I not look after those dreams??? Well I looked. I have to say, not perfect scores, which everyone seems to think I strive for, but really I don't. I didn't even want perfect scores, I knew I wouldn't get perfect scores, I just wanted to pass.

Well I PASSED BOTH TESTS!!! I wasn't even close to the failing score. Minimum passing scores were 240 and I both my scores were over 275. Hey...passing is passing, right???? Now I have a bit more leg work to do. I have to send some documentation into the university, then they have to send some things to the state, then I have to officially apply for my second certificate. Oh all of that and dishing out a bit more money for the new certificate.

So with that great news I'll end this post. A little happy dance and a big sigh of relief! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Updates

This post is all about updates!

Big update is about my son. He miracleously got rid of the headache as mysteriously as he got it. He went home (his home, the dorm room) on Sunday night. After having such heavy doses of pain meds all day Saturday, he took only 2 Advil on Sunday.
He will follow up with the doctor but as of now we (mom, dad, grandma, etc) are figuring it was the smell he smelled or a migraine. He's got a history with headaches now so getting migraine meds should be easily attainable.

Weight Watchers update. As of this past Monday I've lost 5 pounds. I'm so proud to be a LOSER! It is getting easier to judge portion sizes, and the good vs. bad foods. I'm really becoming a label reader. I still struggle, especially today with Brian's Halloween candy sitting there glaring me in the face. I've had some candies but I logged them in and counted their points and I still have 1.5 points left for today. I think I'll just forget that I didn't eat them.

Speaking of updates, I saw my good friend Angelina came by and left me a message. I wish she'd update her bloggy so we know what's going on in her neck of the woods. I also wish she's drop by the message board and give us the 411! Ange if you read this...girl get over there and give us a proper update!

Continuing on the update train...today I updated my hair! I went with a cute and very short easy style. I also updated the color to all one color again. I'm not a bi-color any longer.

I think I'll end my updates here.

Oh one more thing, I've finished Stargirl and have moved on to Love, Stargirl! Great young adult books by Jerry Spinelli! The sequal doesn't seem quite as good but a new book club I'm in is reading it.

posting from the "get well :) network"

in other words that means I'm sitting here posting from my son's bedside in the hospital. We got a call last night around midnight that he was feeling horrible. The worst headache he's ever had. 45 minutes later the phone rings and he says he headed to the ER. Remember that Doug goes to college 45-60 minutes from home. I get up, get dressed and get out of the house for that long drive to the ER. He looked terrible and he said his head throbbed with every heartbeat.

He's had a ct scan, lumbar puncture and now a mri. He's on high doses of pain killers and it is NOT killing the pain. They are ruling out serious things such as tumor, meningitis, brain infection but they don't know what's causing this. He said there was a noxious odor in his dorm room for 2 days and that could very well be it. Don and I went today to check it out but I thought I smelled something faint but Don and the dorm lady didn't.

He's on iv's and is hardly eating. He throws up more than he takes in. If he doesn't improve, he'll be transfered to one of the university hospitals in Chicago. I pray he starts to recover overnight.

I've been going almost non-stop since 1:30 this monring and I'm quite tired. I did read a little bit but now I'm about ready to doze off in the recliner for a while. Thought watching the world series would be fun tonight, but Doug's sleeping and the tv seems to only have no sound or loud.

luckily we are in a brand new hospital with a private room. They're all private! This hospital opened 3 weeks ago, it is beautiful, sorry I can't supply you with a couple of pics.

Please keep Doug in your prayers.

A new layout

credits here

This is my crazy Brian. You can never guess what this kid's going to do next. These photos come as a result of my camera being hijacked! I have about 30 of these pictures. I have to say I have one unique kid here.

This great photo frame is by Valerie Fowler. There is a girly frame and a boyish frame included with the set. There are one,two, three, and four photo frames included. They can be purchased here. Run don't walk because they are on sale on Thursday!



There is also a fancy frame set by Val too.

Val has some of the cutest stuff. She's having a chat on Sunday night at The Digichick. Val and the team will be chatting from 8:30-10 eastern. I hear there are going to be goodies and a special prize given away at the chat. I hope you'll stop by.

Now the fun is over. See that kid above in that layout, well yesterday he was one of just a select few who was given an invitation to not attend school for the next 3 days. Ok, in layman's terms the kid was suspended. They call it harrassment, but I call it stupid. He was caught video taping different things at school and supposedly he was showing people when he shouldn't be and got caught. UGH, I'm telling you, things are never simple with this kid.

Until next time...toodles

Did I mention I joined WW

Yep I did I joined Weight Watchers. I've got a big goal but have to start little by little. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. I have to be consciencious in what I eat. I can technically eat anything I want, I just have to think and use moderation.

I'm happy to report I've officially lost 2 pounds. Slow and steady wins the race. I walked a mile on Saturday. Easy Peasy! I think I'm going to look for some counter that tracks how many miles I walk. Unfortunately the weather is not getting cold and bad and darker earlier. I will really have to put my Y membership to good use.

Well just a short post to celebrate my success! I hope you acheive a small goal that helps you reach to a larger goal!

SPINNING LADY INTELLIGENCE TEST

SPINNING LADY INTELLIGENCE TEST


Is is amazing! I can literally sit and watch and one minute she's spinning clockwise and within seconds she's spinning counter clockwise!

It says if you see her spinning clockwise you are using your right brain. If she's spinning counterclockwise then you are using your left brain. If you can see both it says your IQ is supposed to be 160 or more. I don't know about that but it is interesting.

Here is what side of the brain does what.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe


RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

New header credits

I only know enough http edits to change the post colors and add a new header and a few tricks to change or add links to my sidebar but I don't know how to post a permanent credit so I thought I'd give it it's own post.

The items I used to create my spooky new header are from Jen Wilson.
The paper is from her Whoo's Halloween paper set. The webs, spider, fence, and house are from the Accessory kit from the Halloween Holiday Collection.

I also bought another set by Taran at Scrapbook Graphics so I can work on a "haunted Hearse" album for Don.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband

Today is his birthday. He thinks he's old but he's not. He's done things in his life he should be so proud of. He's wonderful, supportive, and makes me laugh.

Doug came home from Northern to spend the day with his dad. We'll be going out for dinner later, probably for ribs. That is one of Don's favorite meals. I don't know if we'll have any dessert, Don's not a big dessert guy. He does love pie so maybe we'll stop for pie.

I'm going to go get some things done so I can make some pancakes and scrambled eggs for a special breakfast.

Hope my wonderful husband has a special day.

Gotta love those extra "holidays"

As a teacher, I love those little extra holidays. Today being Columbus Day, my school district recognizes it as a holiday. It's a little break that teachers can so use to relax, unwind, and catch up on posting grades. I love these holidays, but sometimes I think it would do more for students if they were actually in school learning about the holiday instead of being home. I believe that students should know the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria; and that in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But what we don't touch on is the horrible side of Christopher Columbus and his men who killed the Native Americans. So we keep celebrating the man for "discovering America."

I remember this holiday as being so much more when I was a kid. Of course it was a REALLY big deal when I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. There was a huge parade and there was a huge statue of Christopher Columbus standing outside city hall. I used to see that a lot because my dad worked for the city.

I guess I've become such a cynic with holidays. I think I'm turning into my father. He never has really had an affinity for holidays. I think Valentines Day is too commercialized and gives the floral and candy companies a reason to jack up prices. I think Halloween has become a let's decorate as much as Christmas kind of holiday. I know Don totally disagrees with me on that one. I think it's redicilous that the department stores set up their Halloween and Christmas displays in July or August. I don't mind at all handing out treats to the kids for trick or treat but please everything is too commercialized and is all about the mighty buck.

Ok I'll just end this by saying it's nice to have today off.

Going "dark" this halloween

Some of you may know that my husband owns a hearse. Yep I'm sure that if you didn't know that, your jaw just dropped. It is his "toy". He's always wanted to get into the funeral business and this was his first step. He actually bought it from ebay. Guess you really can find anything on ebay!

Well he's had it just over a year and he's been competing in hearse shows and contests. I've only gone to one that was in our town because some of the things these people do are a bit "darker" than I choose to be. I guess Don and I are ying/yang, light & dark. Well I decided to get a bit involved in his "dark side"

I told him I'd make him a hearse album. These are some of the kits I've found that could just work. What do you think??

busyizzie's Wish List by busyizzie

A trip to...

Some of you may know that 2 years ago for Christmas I got a little gold box inside of a purse. Inside the gold box was a lovely letter from my mom. She wrote that she was giving both my sister and I a trip to anywhere in the world. They could be two seperate trips too. With finishing my master's degree and getting my son ready for college, I just felt I couldn't go yet. Not only was I not ready to go, but another part of the problem was that I just could never decide where I wanted to go.
I have considered a trip to Hawaii, Australia, Germany, Finland to meet a friend face to face finally, and even an African Safari.

Well I've been doing some serious thinking and I think that I've finally decided. I think that I will be going on an Alaskan cruise early next summer. I just checked out books from the library about Alaskan ports and two people who worked at school went last summer.


I think it would be so amazing to see glaciers and whales. The land for some reason just seems to be calling me. I can't wait to do some research and book this trip. I don't know if it will be all cruise or if there will be land and cruise both. I guess it depends on the prices and how long my mom wants to be gone. I'm getting so excited to finally have made that decision. I am so torn about not going to Finland or Germany but I've wanted to go to Alaska for so long.

If you've ever been on an Alaskan cruise please leave me some comments about what was best about it and which cruise line you sailed on.

should this blog stay or go?

I know I'm a really horrible blogger. I just already know that but I am wondering if it is really worth putting the time into my blog any more. I know that in about the last month or more there have been only about 2 comments on anything I post.

This blog takes me extra time, I know my family doesn't read it, and I really don't know who else reads it. Since I've put my blog counter on, which was in the spring, I've only had approximately 300 views. I am not highly sophisticated to be able to go behind the scenes and figure out who comes and goes. Apparently not too many because I guess people find what I write to be boring and probably self-centered.

So I think I'm going to let my blog go idle for a bit. I've got 100 different things going on and I'm really trying to start to make things more simple. I read something really interesting on Ali Edwards blog. It was about saving time by touching things once. I couldn't find the post but what she talked about was her mail. She is trying to open it up then deal with it immediately. Either putting it away, throwing it away, or taking care of it right then and there. It really made sense to me. I think she said she read it in Real Simple magazine, which I've subscribed to and still waiting for the first issue!

So that is one thing I'm trying this year. I don't know why it is working a little bit at home, but not at school. I'm so far behind this year at school it is unbelievable. Partially because I have a difficult group and partially because I got caught behind the 8 ball with 7 training days during the two weeks we could get in and work on our rooms. A third reason is because I've undertaken such a enormous project of leveling all my books. I'm looking up the lexile levels, color coding them, and putting a library pocket and note card for check out in each one. I purchased a box of 500 library pockets and I'm worried I might have to purchase another one.

Until I update again, read, comment, and enjoy life!

A second layout with Falling Over

Here is another layout I did with Valerie Fowler's Falling Over. Today, Thursday it is available here for 20% off I think I also read in Val' blog that there is an extra $3.00 off coupon in the kit too.



Credits are here

My days have been super crazy and super busy. I wish I could make it to my friend's scrapbook day on Saturday but I'm headed to Northern tomorrow for an early family weekend and dropping B off there to stay over with D for the night. Then on Saturday I'll be cooking and cleaning because we're having 8-10 friends over for the evening.

So it's an early night for me. I'm really cold and can hardly stay awake. Have a great weekend everyone!