Long overdue....

Though I'm not sure it'll be very informative, here is a long overdue update from moi!

Already posted about my return to zumba/the gym. It's going great. Love love love it! Found out today just how strong I must be and I swear I never had a clue it was helping THAT much but...

Last week, I moved one of the big tables out of my classroom--by myself! I didnt think it was a big deal until another teacher was trying to move it into her classroom and had to have help! She asked me how I ever moved it by myself and I really couldn't answer...it didn't seem that hard to me but hey--I do lift weights! lol Just wish it accomplished what I wanted it to--getting rid of this "chalkboard flab"! Oh well...

My sweet baby son who turns 18 in a few days *sniff sniff* (and yes, as much as it pained me to realize I was the mom of a "teenager" five years ago...the thought of telling people I am the mom of an "adult child" is even worse...) brought home the worst report card ever in his 12 year academic career! Ugh! He has a TERRIBLE case of Senioritis "I'm already outta here so why bother" or whatever you want to call it! I was furious with him. The decisions I've made in the past few months have been based largely on the fact that I didn't want to mess up his Senior year and here he goes messing it up anyway! But after the counsel of a wise friend (and a few bottles of wine--yeah, why don't you go run and tell my pastor about it--oh wait, he doesn't care! haha and for the record I didnt drink them by myself nor was I "drunk" so bite me!) I realized that at this point, he is already in control of his own life. I have to trust the raising Jeff and I have given him and trust that God has a plan for his life.

So he retakes the ACT hoping to improve his 26 a point or two, he makes a 29!!!! Good enough to be eligible for scholarships, good enough to get into "Honors College" whatever that is. He was happy and I am once again very proud of him.

He decided NOT to tailgate for his birthday after all but instead elected to actually GO to the game! He is excited and he is taking his best friend in the world--his dad! I scored some cheap tickets off stub-hub and Shari and I are still planning on tailgating--on the quad if it doesn't rain and somewhere else if it does! T-town is a lot of fun and something tells me we may as well get used to being down there!

Jeff's overtime has picked up and I've picked up some more hours at the daycare so we are slowly but surely hammering away at our mountain of debt/people we owe/things we fell behind on. I'm grateful for all the grace that has been given to us--I don't know what I'd do without such understanding people at the end of all these transactions. Believe me I am not taking it for granted!

Kayti had a blast at her first high school dance and spent the night with her friend while we went to see Fourth and One play at Dry Riders and found out that our good friend, Roger, that is the lead guitar in the band is starting his own band, Voodoo Jones! They will officialy begin playing after the first of the year. I can't wait! Love me some Roger! I hope we can get Dylan's car fixed soon so he can resume taking lessons from him. Oh and by the way, Dylan elected NOT to wrestle this year for whatever reason so our winter should be pretty calm. We don't do basketball, hockey or any of the other crap that takes place in the next few months so I'm looking forward to the break! Maybe I can actually get some writing done--ya think? lol I HAVE written a chapter of one of my fiction pieces so we'll see how it progresses.

God did something rather amazing in my marriage. I won't say everything is "fixed" but things are definitely better. Marriage is work and I realize that (after 21 years I oughtta!) I wish I could share details but it's best I dont! I just know that I am married to one hell of a man and the love he has for me is just immeasurable...

We DID go camping at Tannehill for Halloween and we had a blast! It was perfect weather and the park was all lit up and decorated for Halloween and the kids had a lot of fun. The girls each brought a friend and they seemed to enjoy it, too. We even took Mady and her enjoyed it, too!

Thursday was our anniversary--21 years! Jeff took me to two of my favorite places--Habeneros and Sips-n-Strokes! In turn, I gave him two of his favorite things--get your mind out of the gutter--Nick (the movie, Gamechanger) and Bear (which I painted at Sips-n-Strokes)!



Friday night, we went to see our friend Jenny and my cousin, Annette for some SIP-sittin! Absolutely love it! One of these days, I'm going to have my own SIP and I may never get off of it!

We still want to move but will probably wait until after Christmas. I tend to like my house better in Fall/Winter anyway, for whatever reason...???

Work is going good--my class is still not the class I had last year (I sure miss those babies!) but we are getting more and more used to each other every day. I DO love them and enjoy being their teacher. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing. I am grateful that I am able to do what I love and what I'm called to do--teach.

Yesterday, while I had the After-school-kids I cleaned out their supply room! I couldn't stand it anymore! The kids couldn't even get to books, crayons, things they needed/wanted so I reorganized everything. You guys know me--I can't stand chaos! One of these days, I'm hoping they'll let me get hold of the teacher's supply closet and resource room. They are both in pitiful shape even though Tammy did straighten up the resource room a few days ago. Both drive me up the flippin' WALL!!!! I just cannot stand clutter!

I'm looking forward to the Rock-a-thon and to visiting Alabama and UAH with my son in a few weeks. Am NOT looking forward to Thanksgiving (family dilemma) or to Black Friday!!! That is usually the ONE day I actually LIKE to go shopping but with the ballgame being on that same day--ugh! And I dont care that 'bama has lost two games this year. I am still and forever will be a Nick-chick! So bite me, aubbies!

I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun with family and friends in the next few weeks. I'm looking forward to all the fun things I'm going to do with my class. I'm looking forward to all the good things I know God has in store for me and I'm not looking back on the chaos of the last few months. I may never know this side of heaven why things happened the way they did. I dont know that I learned anything profound from it all yet...maybe in time I will realize it. I think sometimes you just have to be content with survival. And I am.

Be blessed!