My weekly update...

As I write this, things are going pretty well. I'm over my blahs for the most part and looking forward to Christmas. I'm not stressing about any of it this year, even though we're not quite done with our shopping. I AM done with Miss Brooke! She was easy this year: Addy, a smurf and Guitar Hero for DS. Done.

I'm SO glad I started the 3 gift limit with my kids years ago! Makes it so much easier. They still get cool stocking stuffers but when I think back to all the crap they used to get when they were little....agh! I never dreamed they would go for that idea when I first mentioned but they actually thought it was cool they were going to "be like Jesus"! LOL

Kayti's a little more difficult. Her three things were a laptop/netbook, a hair straightener and a dock for her iPod. My mom got one, my sister got the other and we're working on the laptop. So I have to come up with two more "santa" gifts for her. I got her a book that she wanted and since it's a very thick hardback, it can't go in the stocking so I guess that can count as one. But I'm at a loss for the 3rd thing. It's gotta be some kind of weird freaky thing that I have a kid who has not begged for everything under the sun and is so gracious that I'm having a hard time coming up with gift ideas for her! As for the netbook/laptop, it was hard to decide which to get so when I talked to her about it, she said a netbook would be fine..."I'm not a spoiled brat, Mother! I don't have to have something super-expensive!" LOL Good!

Dylan is the extremely difficult one. We wanted to get him a canoe but there are none within our budget that we feel good about buying for the kind of trip he wants to take. That leaves us with just a bunch of little stuff (except for tickets to Pasadena! haha dream on, kid!) So I've no idea what we're going to end up getting him.

But I'm not stressing about any of it. I love that for our family, Christmas is about being together and having fun. I would love to be able to say it's all about Jesus and I try really hard but with an unsaved husband...it's hard. Me and the kids do what we can and pray that the Lord understands.

Last week we did baking day with my mom and sister and we had SO much fun!! We have definitely got to keep that one for next year. I like getting it all done in one day and then having enough to give away so it doesn't all end up on my behind!

The girls had their dance Christmas parties and got to see their costumes and they love all of them, as usual. I don't know why Shalita stresses over picking out costumes--she always does such a fabulous job. Of course, I can't imagine picking out THAT many! I miss teaching dance this year. But God knew better and knew I needed to shift my focus to other things. Maybe again someday...

Things are going well at work for now. Knock wood. And I'm almost afraid to even say that out loud. People have been out sick and there are the usual little irritations you get whenever a group of women work in close contact with each other but nothing major. Hopefully, all that's behind us and we can move forward with loving on babies!

We went to the Alabama Theatre last Wednesday night to see "It's a Wonderful Life" as has become the tradition with me, my kids and my sister. This year, we were joined by Chris, his mom & nanny and some friends of my sisters. We had a great time as usual and as usual--I cried! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that movie. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the beautiful Alabama Theatre. Someday, when my kids are grown and I'm old and have nothing to do, I want to volunteer there. I would love to give tours and share that rich history with new minds! It's all so interesting. If you ever get the chance to go on a tour, you will NOT be disappointed. Especially if Cecil Whitmire gives the tour himself. That man is a fountain of knowledge on the Alabama Theatre!

My class Christmas party went VERY well. I have THE BEST group of kids and parents ever! I am so tremendously blessed and can't wait for regular "school" to start back. They are learning so much and whenever I see the light start to go on inside one of them it just gives me chills!

I'm a little irritated with bio Dad and I don't even know how to put all my feelings into words. I'll just tell the story and you can decide what to think and if you have any suggestions or advice, feel free! But he calls yesterday and wanted to know if he could come by for a visit, he wanted to bring the kids some money for Christmas:

1) I HATE people that call me last minute wanting to "come by" but at least he DID call.

2) I HATE cash for Christmas. Yes, I know it's more than I ever got from the man for 20+ years of my life but for the love of Pete...it's Christmas. Cash is okay for birthdays, etc. but at least do a gift card and put it in a nice card. Last year, he just opened up his wallet and gave them the cash. Maybe I'm being silly but I just don't like that at all!

But I'd had a somewhat rough day and was feeling sick and Jeff & Dylan were at Dylan's wrestling match so I told him it wasn't a good time. So then he asks about tomorrow night and I tell him that no, that's not good either--Jeff & I are planning to finish up our shopping. I tell him he can come over Sunday. But then he says, "Well, I was wanting to bring Sheila by there but she works nights except for tonight and tomorrow night."

1) Who the heck is Sheila? Must be his new girlfriend of the week.

2) Who the heck CARES about seeing Sheila? Why do I need to meet every skank he meets? (and okay, maybe she is a nice girl...but judging by his history, probably not)

3) I thought it was about seeing the kids...no, it's all about HIM. I don't know why that surprises me. It's been all about him for 40 years now!

4) Um, my schedule is important, too. Everything can't revolve around when it's good for him.

It's like my sister, Misti, says--he ain't gonna ever change. We can either take him like he is or not. Honestly, I could go either way.

I don't think he understood or understands that when I say I forgive him, I don't mean that I'm completely okay and everything is all hunky-dory and we can all act like one big happy family with him playing the part as the doting father and grandfather. That's NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

I forgive him for running out and neglecting me for 20+ years because I love the Lord and He doesn't want me to waste my time being angry at someone. So many people mistakenly think forgiving someone is about THEM. It's not. It's about YOU. Most people that you need to forgive either 1) don't know and/or 2) don't care. It's about not carrying around that grudge and hatred in your heart--there's not enough room in there for the good stuff!

But even though I'm not angry, I'm still not, nor will I ever be, ready to think of him as my dad or the kids' granddad. He's a nice man that sometimes has some interesting things to say. He holds part of my history and roots. He's trying to do better with his life and for that, I commend him and am rooting and praying for him all the way. But I'm not going to pretend like I love him like I love my REAL dad--the man that raised me. I don't. I just don't and I don't think I ever will. This is as much of myself as I can give him (and it's more than he ever gave me) and if it's not enough...well, I just don't know what to say.

So moving on to more important and cheerful things...

Even more than Christmas, I am excited about the new year. I just love New Year's. It's like I heard in a movie once--you get to start all over. Everyone gets a second chance! There are SO many things I want to clean up and change in my life. I want to get recommitted to a church. I want to grow spiritually and dig deeper into God's Word. I want us to become a more godly family. We're close and we have fun but we need to do better. I want to start having daily family devotions and more family bible study, etc. Not exactly sure how this is going to be accomplished but I'm praying that God will show me. It's tough being the spiritual leader of a family when you're not supposed to be!

We are also going back on the Dave Ramsey plan! I just love this guy! And no, I don't agree with EVERYTHING he says but I do most of it. I will not worship at the altar of the almighty FICO score ever again and it's a good thing since ours is trashed anyway! LOL

I have not charged one thing for Christmas and haven't in several years. And I've learned to be very frugal on a lot of things. But we've just been keeping our heads above water because we didn't have the income to get any savings established or make any headway on the debt snowball. Then as soon as I did get full-time work, Jeff's hours got dropped! So our plan had to change to a "let's-just-coast-and-make-it-through-Christmas" plan but I'm getting pumped about getting out of debt. We have yet to sit down and go through everything and get on a written plan but just knowing we're going to gets me excited.

Now, one place I depart from his thinking is paying off everything before we try to buy a house. If I can get a mortgage and my payments be CHEAPER than my rent, I will so do it. I'm not trying to buy my dream home. But rent is really starting to kill us. I've enjoyed not having to worry about fixing anything but as the interest rates keep going down...I'm thinking we could save a lot of money. I'm not one of those "rent is a waste of money" people. I'm fine with renting since we're not generally good savers and weren't able to fix things when they needed it. And we got so burned on homeownership before. But we have outgrown our little house so if (and it's a big IF) like I said, we CAN get mortgage payments cheaper than this rent, we will do it.

But that's it. No more credit cards, I'm kicking SLMA out of the house and no car loans. We've actually not had a car loan for 5 years and it's been WONDERFUL!!! I'll keep driving Merc as long as he wants to keep going! And I'm so thankful for him!

And of course, there's the usual--lose weight resolution! haha

But anyway, I'm excited! What are you excited about?

a few pictures to share...

For the past month, it seems, I've either had computer issues or camera issues or both. So I'm way behind on getting pictures uploaded and shared. What's worse, I can't remember where I left off so if any of these are repeats, please pardon moi!

Dylan's Mu Alpha Theta tapping ceremony...





Preschool Thanksgiving Feast...





Preschool Hilarious Hat Day...




Preschool National Bread Day...




In preschool, there is always a reason to "celebrate" something and NEVER an excuse not to! Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE my job and LOVE my kids? Well, I do! Very much!

Thanksgiving pictures..just a few, we were too busy stuffing our faces at two different houses of delicious food and then running our mouths with great families!







will share more later! Hope you enjoy!

What a day yesterday was!!

If you're on Facebook with me, you already know all this but yesterday was an INCREDIBLE day! Thank you, Lord!

It started out with us waking up to a beautiful scene in our front and back yards--snow!!! Not a lot but just enough to remind us that God's creation is beautiful. I figured if I let the girls sleep in and not wake them so they could enjoy it, they'd be mad. So I woke them up and that seemed like a mistake at first! They are so ill and grouchy when they first wake up. Wonder where they get that from? hehe

But they finally got going and played outside for a bit. Then I had to hurry and get ready to go to Dylan's wrestling tournament in Vestavia. I do not much like wrestling but I love my son and so I try...really hard... but it was fun yesterday. It was an individual tournament and not a team tourney so we didn't have to sit through a whole lot of other matches. Don't get me wrong, I love his teammates, too and want them to do well but it can get REALLY long and boring sometimes. And also, each match yesterday was 3 1-minute rounds which made it all the more exciting. He lost his first match--on points, not pinned. But he won his next three--2 on points, 1 by pin. That enabled him to medal and place 3rd. He was so excited and I was so proud of him!

We finished just in time to race home to watch the Alabama/Florida game and what a game! I loved every minute of it!!! I also love watching it and facebooking with my fellow bama fans at the same time. It's like we're all watching it together! Fun!

It was a good week as well. I didn't get my Drewbie back Monday like I thought I would so the girls and I went and paid him a visit Thursday night! He was SO excited to see us and we were so blessed to visit with him and his sweet family for a little bit. He comes back for sure tomorrow! I'm so glad he's doing well and I will have to remember to go in early because I'm sure coming back after two weeks will be quite the adjustment for my little man!

I know I say this all the time but I truly feel I'm where God wants me to be--teaching, that is. I totally love what I do and that makes it not feel like work at all. I get so close to my students and their families, which may not be wise all the time but I can't help it and why not? Doesn't God value us having good relationships with others? I think so. And so I do my best.

I'm looking forward to tonight. The Academy kids will participate in the church's Christmas program and they have been so precious to watch. I know they are going to do well.

And I'm so excited about this Christmas. I am just trying to not let time get away from me like it usually does. I sometimes try too hard to make it "meaningful" that I get bogged down in too many details. I need to try and remember to just slow down and enjoy it as it comes, however it comes, and appreciate the many ways in which I am blessed!

How are you blessed this Christmas?

What a week!

And this time, it's a GOOD "what a week" post!

Praise God for Drew's surgery going well. I get updates from his mom almost daily and he is doing great and should be back at school tomorrow! I can't wait, I have missed him so much.

Actually, I miss ALL my babies--I have been off work since Tuesday. The academy was only open half day Wednesday and we didn't have that many kids signed up to come for that half day so I got to take off. Dylan was supposed to have a wrestling tournament but he lost his exhibition matches the night before so he didn't get to wrestle Wednesday.

Me and the girls spent the day with my mom. We went thrift-store shopping and I got some books for my classroom (like I needed more books--but I have to feed my addiction) and a Christmas tree! Yes, we already had a tree--a HUGE, BEAUTIFUL tree that my mom bought us brand new several years ago and it is still lovely. But it's 9 feet tall and about 10 feet wide (okay not really but it looks like it in this cracker-jack box house) and my ceilings are 8 feet. We are never able to put the top piece on it and so that makes it look weird and then the topper is always a challenge and it takes up half the space in an already crowded living room...so I found another one that is nice, smaller and only costed $20. And yet the thought of my big, beautiful tree sitting up in the attic just makes me cry! So guess what? It's going in my classroom! LOL Yes, it's pitiful I have more space in my classroom than in my house!

Anyway, we spent the rest of the day watching tv at her house--a rare treat since we still do not have a tv. We watched the last episode of Jon & Kate (I cried) and some Cold Case episodes and then came home to decorate some more.

Thanksgiving we went to my in-laws where I played with little Braden and then we went over to my aunt's for desert. I LOVE my family.

Friday, I got up early and went shopping with my mom and sister and we had a BLAST! We went to lunch at Habeneros and then my sister pooped out and went home to watch the game. I chose my mommy over football, sue me. I set my phone to get alerts on the game, though! lol And mom and I stayed out shopping until 7 pm when we finally gave it up. I didn't get the one item I went after but I'm not worried. Actually I didn't get a whole lot "accomplished" at all since our money is still tight but I had fun just being with my mom and being out in the hoopla. Go figure, it's the only day of the year I actually LIKE to shop.

And then Bama won on top of that! So I got to go home to a happy house!

Yesterday I slept in then got up to get groceries and we've been finishing up our decorating. My brilliant, talented, creative son is making some decorations for me. I'll post pictures when they are done.

I have a baby shower to go to today and the house still needs a good cleaning and there is laundry to finish and homeschool planning to do. And I get to go back to work tomorrow and see all my angels!

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

Up early...

It's not unusual these days for me to wake up early on the weekends. Any day that I can sleep late, I'm not able to for whatever reason. I'm sure tomorrow I'll be snoozing away when the alarm goes off! Oh well, what are ya gonna do?

This morning, however, I was awakened by a bad dream and it's really bothering me so I got up to pray for awhile and then wound up on Facebook as usual. God help me.

But I am pondering so much in the wee hours of the morning I though I may as well jot it all down as this is the only form of journaling I do anymore.

I dreamt that my dad died. Not the bio-dad, sperm donor but the DAD. The MAN who raised me. It was shocking and terrifying to say the least but maybe God is trying to prepare me in some way because his health is not the best. He has problems with his back, feet and knees and he works SO hard and has his entire life. It's so sad that he's not able to enjoy the things he should now be enjoying now that the nest is empty (or sort of is). Go with me on this rabbit trail here but that's the one thing that bothers me about the whole Dave Ramsey kind of concept (saving for later, etc.) (and btw, I LOVE Dave Ramsey, don't get me wrong)

But my dad has worked hard his entire life and for what? Now he's too old and sick and hurt to enjoy it. He may as well "lived like no one else" while he was younger! That's one of my fears as well...not that I have anything to worry about. The opposite will probably happen to us--we'll live to be 150 and eat dog food because we spend everything we make somehow...anyway...

I'm not ready to lose my dad or anyone close to me. I suppose no one ever is. I think about my friend Lana, from high school whose mom just passed away. I'd been thinking how terrible to lose her mom so close to Christmas. I remember when my grandmother passed away and how MUCH my mom hurt to lose her mom and how it's just now 12 years later that my mom is starting to act somewhat normal again, though she's still not the same and never will be. And then I think about how close Lana and her mom were and how close me and my mom are and I just can't imagine...so I wouldn't have been surprised to dream about my mom dying but my dad?

Maybe it's because we watched The Nativity Story last night and it made me think a lot about Joseph. Now that's a REAL MAN! Just like my dad. :) Not many men are willing to raise someone else's child when they don't have to. They think of it as "baggage" instead of blessings. They aren't willing to step up and think of that child as their own or even God's child. Thank you, Lord for creating men like Joseph and my dad. And I honestly don't know if my dad is saved or not. I've tried to talk to him but he's a VERY private person when it comes to such things. Could this be God's way of letting me know something? And if so, what? I don't know, I guess I'm still foggy from it all. It really does touch my soul though and make me think and ponder so many things.

Then my mind wandered over to my little Drew. He is having surgery tomorrow to remove his tonsils. I'm not worried, I know that God is with that kid. From the moment he first walked into the academy with his shorts and cowboy boots on, he has had my heart. He reminds me so much of Dylan when he was that age that it's almost like I get to step back in time and have my baby boy back for a brief moment or two sometimes. But yet he is so uniquely Drew! The things that child says and does--only a child uniquely blessed by the Lord and touched by an angel could be that way. He is definitely special.

Sometimes it really scares me how deep my emotions can run for some people. But I am thankful that I can feel that.

I have so much to do today though that the details of life will take me from being deep in thought to being busy as a bee as usual...

We are going through our Christmas stuff and seeing what needs to be replaced, etc. (I'm sure we'll need new lights, we usually do)

The girls and I have to do a little shopping. I don't like to shop on Sunday but I did jack squat yesterday so I have no choice.

Jeff & Dylan will be rearranging the garage (again) to put up Dylan's new workbench.

I have to finish shirts and laminate placemats for tomorrow's "Feast". That should be a hoot! I don't think Admin is anywhere near prepared...I just get the feeling they have no idea. A few teachers are stressed and worried about it but not me. It is what it is. I'm gonna take my prozac and go with the flow, as usual. I didn't stress about the Fall Festival and it was fine so this will be, too. We'll see. But it'll be interesting anyway.

I also need to go to my mom's. I need to take her some books and get some of her videos.

And then there's the usual--housework, laundry, cooking, etc.

Lord, all I ask is that You stay with me through the day and don't let me get so bogged down in details that I forget to thank, praise and worship you. Just like last night's movie reminded me--You really are the King of kings!

Moving along...

So I decided to get Kayti the children's version of Great Expectations and she likes it a lot better and is almost done with it! LOL Though she says she feels "ashamed" that she is reading the children's version! And she also asked me what she is supposed to be learning from it. I really don't know. I just remember it being my favorite story of Dickens when I read it and I think everyone needs to have an appreciation of a variety of authors.

I think the girls have finally lost interest in American Girls class and I know I'm kind of burned out on it. I'm glad we get a huge break before next semester and I have to decide what to do.

Okay...so....

one bad thing about facebook--I'm totally neglecting my blog! It's so much easier and faster to just do "status updates" on that thing. Of course, then I get caught up in the games (my farm is coming along nicely, thank you--you should see my "roll tide" spelled out in red hay bales!) and time just gets away from me until I'm tired of being on the computer. Yes, that does happen.

First, let me share pictures of Jeff's Grandparents 70th (yes, that's 70, not a typo) Anniversary party...



The "Great Roberts" as my kids call them...



Jeff and his brother and sister...



We had a great time. I really do love his grandparents!

I have been having SO much fun with my babies! Things are going pretty well at work now though I'm almost scared to say that because every time I let myself feel at ease, the bottom falls out and we have more drama! I just want to enjoy my class and make it to the end of this school year...please Lord. They are such a great bunch of kids and they have the most wonderful parents--I should be having the time of my life, not putting up with all this co-worker drama. Just please, Lord, help me keep my focus on those angels. I would love to share some pictures, but my computer has crashed and I'm borrowing my mom's so I can keep up with work, etc. and so the only pictures I have access to are the ones I'd already uploaded on facebook before the crash and naturally, I would not upload pictures of other peoples' kids onto something like facebook! But trust me, they are precious and I am one very blessed teacher!

Our family went on its annual Fall camping trip last weekend and we had a ...well, very adventurous time! I always like to go the weekend of Halloween if at all possible. The campgrounds are usually all decorated up for Halloween. It's not too hot or cold, the crisp Fall air smells great...it's just tons of fun. It was LOTS of fun until the rain began that night. Our tent is apparently NOT waterproof! Although it is supposed to be. But Jeff says what do you expect from an orange and blue tent? haha I wasn't paying any attention to the colors when I bought the stupid thing several years ago but wouldn't ya know, that's the first thing HE noticed! It has served us well over the years until this weekend. At first it was not so bad. I got up to go to the restroom around 12:30 and I could feel a few drops but nothing to whine about. When I came out of the bathhouse though, it was a torrential downpour! I knew I could not run in the dark (even with a flashlight) and make it back up the hill without busting my you-know-what so I instead made a beeline for the Jeep. Once inside, the original plan was to wait until the rain got lighter and try to make it back to the tent. But I fell asleep. An hour later, Kayti arrives, saying her sleeping bag (also supposed to be waterproof) was soaked. Well then I didn't want to leave her in the car by herself. So she and I slept in the Jeep, quite uncomfortably I might add. I still have a bruise on my hip from the steering wheel, trying to sleep on my side! Early the next morning, here comes Dylan--drenched. His sleeping bag was not waterproof (at least his didn't claim to be) and it's a miracle he's not sick. We immediately began loading up everything and driving home. We had a great day--hot showers, a nice hot breakfast, hot chocolate and naps in a warm, dry bed!

Before the rain:





Later that day, we took the kids to some Fall Festivals/Trunk or Treats and then left them "home alone" while we went a block away to my sweet sister's Halloween party where we had a BLAST!

Meet the Hendersons aka Frankensteins with baby Frankenstein aka "Cooper" poking his little self out there!




Sister Mafia!



(how did I get so short-changed in the heigh department????)

Since then, Jeff and I have celebrated our 20th anniversary! Yes, 20 years we have been married! Wow! It still blows my mind that I'm even old enough to be married that long! I met him when I was 13 so I've more/less been with him more than half my life, literally! What a ride it has been! There are definitely some things I wish we could get a "do over" on but all in all, I wouldn't trade it for the world!



The same day of our anniversary, Dylan was tapped into Mu Alpha Theta--an Honor Society for Math students. Yes, an offspring of me and Jeff is a Math whiz! Unbelievable, I know! But I am SO proud of him!

Last weekend, my mom and my sister and I and some friends went to Christmas Village. We had SO much fun! Then it was back home to watch Alabama kick the crap out of LSU! ROLL TIDE!!!

And then yesterday, my sweet, baby boy turned 17! That is SO not right! I tell my niece all the time that *I* should be the one with a newborn baby boy--seems like he was just born yesterday! She should still be playing with her barbie corvette! I'm still trying to come to grips with how fast time flies and that in a little less than 2 years from now, he'll be a Freshman in college. Lord, I pray, please let all his plans, hopes and dreams come true! This kid has earned it and he is as special as you created him to be.

In addition to the computer crashing, my van is also broked-ded! It needs a new starter is all and hopefully, Jeff can get that fixed tomorrow. Today, me and the girls are spending a quiet day at home. I plan to clean, rearrange my living room furniture in anticipation of putting the Christmas tree up soon and then start on some Christmas planning. We need to schedule our annual baking day, make the necessary lists and get started on our Christmas cards. I also have some planning to do for work...Jeff is taking Dylan to weigh ins for wrestling and then they are going to clean out his Granddaddy's gutters. I'm sure they'll also do a little "shopping". Dylan wants a new work bench for his birthday. You should see the stuff that kid can make! He is so talented!

Hope you have a blessed weekend!