Sunday, May 30, 2010

Memorial Day weekend is here; this means I get an extra day with my hubby. Jonathan (brother) and Nicole (brother's girlfriend) came over last night. I really enjoy having company. We cooked together, baked a cake, watched Valentine's Day. I really like it, but I don't think the boys liked it too much.

I sang a solo at church this morning. I sang the song "Unredeemed" by Selah. I love Selah's newest album "You Deliver Me"..awesome songs.

Yesterday morning, Matt and I slept in. We woke and he asked if I wanted to go swimming at his parents'. They got one of those above ground pools from Wal-Mart. It's really nice. Anyway, he was like a kid. I couldn't get ready quick enough for him. We went and swam with his sister and mom. After that we went and ate at "Deda's" on Summerville Road. We decided to go there because Matt's cousin and cousin's girlfriend cook/waitress there. Holy moly, that food was SO good. Everything is homemade. They give you a free sample of brunswick stew while you're waiting on your food. Brunswick stew isn't my favorite, but Deda's was amazing! We may be starting a band: Matt, Jonathan, myself, and possibly another friend. We talked about playing at Deda's with the owners and they were very excited. I'm not sure how this is going to play 0ut, but the best we can do is practice and see what happens :)

Matt came home the other day and stated that he changed his mind about building a work shed in the back yard; instead, he wanted to use the money (from tax refund) to use towards his college. I'm excited for him. He plans to start back in the fall at Troy. I need to go back also, but I don't have the motivation. I'm thinking about starting in the fall or spring, but we'll see what happens.

They are cleaning the carpets at the school next week. After they are cleaned, I will be up there and busy! I can't wait! My theme this year is underwater. I have bought some really cute items for the classroom. I have also been ebaying. I have won quite a few auctions on books. One night, I won about 5 auctions. Total, I spent $189.00 and got 214 books. If you do the math, that's about 88cents per book...not too shabby! ;) Since then, I've won about 4 other auctions. I'm very excited about next year. I'm also glad to have all summer to think/plan. Last year I was hired 3 weeks before school started, so it was a little stressful and I didn't have a lot of time to do any fluff...I had to get straight to business.

I need to take Ethel to the groomers, vet for shots, and also to the vet to get fixed. She's such a sweet dog. We are so blessed that we ended up with her. She has the cutest, funniest personality. For the past two weeks I have been tucking her in at bed time. She sleeps in a crate, similar to a play pen and in there is her bed. At night I tell her it's bed time, she walks to her pen and I let her in, she gets right in her bed and I get her little covers and cover her up. She's too cute. I came in there this morning and the covers were still on her. It's sad/funny when your brother and brother's gf call and ask if they can come over to see Ethel :) What can I say? She's loved by all :)

I'm going to see Beth Moore in December!

Wow, this house needs to be cleaned. I've been SOOOO lazy since school has ended. I've also been feeling "yucky". I feel tired, bloated, and sometimes nauseous. I think it may be my diet and lack of exercise. I must must must be better about walking on the treadmill everyday. This weekend hasn't been any better. I must get some pep in my step and get busy! I think my mattress is getting slack. Every morning I wake up with bad back pain. I'm not sure what I should do. The next mattress we get will be either latex or memory foam. With my back, I need the best. I can do cheap with a lot of things, but a mattress is not one of them. I'm not sure that we can afford one right now, so I'll have to figure out something to relieve the pain when I wake up in the meantime. My license is expired and has been since April 15th...another thing that needs immediate attention.

My parents recently celebrated 24 years of marriage. That's exciting :) They went to Atlanta, saw the Princess Diana exhibit, went to Stone Mountain, and would have gone to 6flags if it weren't for the rain. I didn't know that my dad had never been to Stone Mountain. I'm glad they were able to get away for the weekend and enjoy themselves; they deserved it.

We started our walkway project over a month ago and it's STILL not finished. As soon as it is, pictures will be posted.

Well, I'm going to try to talk my husband into watching a netflix movie off the xbox...we'll see how that goes ;) We took a LONG nap today after church, so there's no telling how late we'll be up. I can't just take a 2 hour nap..when I nap, I slumber!

What is it about playing fetch with dogs? Ethel and I are playing fetch and I swear if I threw her ball over and over, she'd fetch it for me all day long :)

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Letting go and giving it to God

Summer break is here! I thought I would be in heaven, but in all actuality...I'm bored. There are plenty of things that I NEED to do, I just don't WANT to do any of it. I sleep in until around 8:30 or 9:00. The good thing about summer break is that I get to think about what I want to do next year to improve. The bad thing about summer break is that I get more time to think about things in my life I wish were different. I'm really missing some special friends in my life right now. Friendships I never thought would dissolve seem to have disappeared. I have a wonderful life, I do. I love my husband more than the day before. I still can't believe we are homeowners and have our precious Ethel May. But it's something about us women who need our girl friends. I don't know how to fix that void in my life. You'd think all the other happiness would just wash that ache away, but sadly to say, it doesn't. I think to myself, what have I done wrong? Is it me? Am I not trying hard enough? Have I changed? I don't know what to do. I sometimes think that new friends will help...well, I've made a couple new, good friends, but there is still that empty spot. When does it go away? How do I let it go? When did forever not become forever?
Side note: I had planned to blog about what I've been doing this summer and what I plan to do, and as you can see, what is truly bothering me comes out...I guess that's probably a good thing. Atleast it's a way to get some of my feelings out of my head.
Anyway, that's the biggest downfall of summer break and no job...too much time to think.

A girl I cheered with for years passed away suddenly in a car accident last Sunday. Her name was Whitney Davidson...that too has shaken me up in many different ways. She was such a bright soul; full of life. It makes you quickly realize how short life is...which brings me back to my emptiness with a special friend. It's been months since we've really spent time together like close friends do. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her. The scary thing is that we have no control over that and we have no idea when it will happen. When it's our time...it's our time. I've cried and sulked over it and know that I must give it to God. He knows my heart, my pain, and my insecurities. Only he knows how to give me the peace that I need.

Lord Jesus, I pray that you take this hurt away from my heart. Please give me the strength that I need. Please wrap your sweet arms around me during this difficult time in my life and send me your peace that only you can. Right now I surrender to you my worries, insecurities, jealousy and my what-ifs. You are the gentle healer and I pray that you heal my heart from this ache and help me to move forward. Thank you for loving me. Amen

Let Go
Lindsay McCaul

I want to let go
I’m weary and bound
I’m giving it up
I’m laying it down
Take it away
Out of my hands
Out of my reach
Safe in Your plans

Cause I need to know
That You can hear me
Fill me with Your peace
And cover me gently
Like only You can

So take me, hold me
Break me and mold me
Take me, hold me
Break me and mold me
I want to let go

Cradle my hands
Knuckles so white
Open them up
And say its alright
Show me a plan
Call it Your own
Make it a journey
leading me home

Cause I need to know
That You can hear me
Fill me with Your peace
And cover me gently
Like only You can

So take me, hold me
Break me and mold me
Take me, hold me
Break me and mold me
I want to let go

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

End of first year

Well, I'm not doing so well with the whole blog thing...I'm going to blame it on the end of the year! ;)
Speaking of end of the year, we only have 2 days left of school!!! I cried Sunday thinking about it all, but this week I've kept it together pretty well.
Exciting news: I'm team teaching again with Mrs. McSwain AND I'm getting my own classroom!!! I will have about 20 kids and we'll swap during the day. For example, I'll teach reading and then my students will go to her for math and hers will come to me for reading, etc. I have decided that my classroom theme will be "underwater". I have ordered and bought so many cute things. I can't wait to get in there and get busy! I also went on ebay and won a few auctions. I ended up winning about 5. I payed $189.00 and got 214 books. If you divide it equally, each book cost 88cents. That's awesome! Another 1st year teacher gave me the idea to email parents and ask for book donations, since many of them are finished having children. I have had about 20 books come in. I hope that I can build a decent library in my new room. I have enjoyed being with Mrs. McSwain, but there's also something about having your own space and your own things. I'm so grateful for this experience and for my principal's leadership and wisdom. Today we had our class party. I knew we'd be stressed out with different end of the year things, so I asked 2 of my parents to head up the food, cake, and such. Well, they did a wonderful job! We had a chick-fil-a tray, fruit tray, veggie tray, snacks, drinks, and a delicious cake. We made personal classroom awards and another parent made a slide show for us. We are so blessed to have the parents we have! My parents/kids gave me some of the sweetest gifts. One of my parents had a book made of all the pictures from this year. It's absolutely wonderful and I am so thankful that she did that for me. I pray for many more wonderful years of teaching.

What will I do this summer? ....Well, I'll be cleaning and organizing our house, and will be up at the school any chance that I get.

I plan to start my Master's degree in the fall.

Matt and Ethel May are doing well. Matt is still working on our walkway, and as soon as it is finished, I will post before and after pictures :)
We also plan to build a storage shed and re-paint the house a different color.