Day 2

Day one was posted a day late because of no internet connection last night. After 30+ minutes on the phone with Centurytel ... I mean Centurylink, we finally came to the realization that along with Williford, and Mammoth Spring, Hilltop (wherever that is), the relay that supplies our DSL was out, too. After a few heart palpitations and wondering how I would make it through the night without Facebook, I realized I must have that dreaded disease, internetitis, so I shut down my laptop and picked up a book. It was nice. I plan on doing it more often.

Today was a good day, scrambled eggs (sans the cheese) for breakfast, a Lean Cuisine for lunch, a handful of whole grain crackers for a snack, and 2 full liters of water (with Crystal Light because the only way I really like water is frozen with a Diet Dr. Pepper poured over it), but now comes temptation time. Mom called last night and suggested we go out for supper tonight, her treat...we said yes. I AM going to make good choices tonight, but I won't go overboard and I won't dprive myself. I can do this...right?

Oh, and here's the red dress...I think I can...I think I can...I think I can....

9:45 pm.   Supper was good, the company was great (Mom, Chris & the kids, Lance, Lindsay, and cutie pie Landon), and we ate at Fred's Fish House.  I did have the catfish, and it was fried, but I ate until I was satisfied, not until I was so full I couldn't move.  Baby steps. . . small changes, small successes.

It begins...

You may have noticed the change in the look of my blog, that’s because it is about to take a new direction. This blog is going to be a tool to help keep me honest over the next 3 months of my journey to drop 25 lbs. No, I’m not doing because summer is quickly approaching and I don’t want to look like a beached whale, I’m doing it because my doctor told me I had to. My blood pressure has been a little high (but remember, I do teach 7th graders) and my blood sugar has been on the high side of normal for the last couple of years, so it’s time to take control and become a healthier me…and if I happen to look better in a swimsuit I’ll consider it a bonus.


So what does this have to do with a red dress? Everything. I felt my best when I could wear the red dress, the red bandana print little sleeveless number that fell right above my knee. That dress is special, too, because it was the dress I wore on our first date, and Chris really liked it. It made me sad when I found it shoved in the dark recesses of my closet, I really wanted to wear it, but there was absolutely no way I could ever get it zipped. When did I gain this weight? It crept up on me over the last few years and has made itself at home, now it won’t go away…at least not without some encouragement from me. So today begins that journey and the Red Dress Project.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, I have no idea how much I weigh. I refused to look at the scales at the doctor’s office because I was already having a pretty lousy day (sinus infection), and I knew just seeing that number would make things worse. (Thanks, Dr. H, for bringing it up) So how am I going to know how much weight I’ve lost? Easy, I have this pair of jeans that are very snug, and I have a pair of jeans I wore during the same time as the red dress (just couldn’t part with those, either, hoping the magic weight removal fairy would show up and I would somehow, miraculously be able to wake up one morning and zip them with no trouble). I will gauge my success by the fit of the clothing, and should I lose more than 25 lbs. by June 8 (the date I go back to see the doctor) then I shall celebrate….with cheesecake.

I can use all the encouragement I can get, so if you feel led to leave a comment, please do, I’m like a kid at Christmas when I find I have comments. If you have something negative to say, go eat a cookie and remember these words of wisdom from the movie “Bambi” …”If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.”

Back to reality

Snow angels?

       Big Cedar registration building.                                    Austin  checking out his snow angel

Our cabin, a wonderful escape.

Big Cedar dressed up in lights...I was cold, ignore the blur.

Steam rising from the hot tub (no, I didn't try it)

A black and white shot because I just liked the look.

After an unplanned 3 week break (well, 2 weeks were planned, but the weather planned the last week for us), we are finally headed back to school tomorrow.  We still have some county roads that are covered, but the wonderful 45 degree sunshine today melted some snow and lifted everyone's spirits.  I don't know that we've had true cabin fever, but both boys and I are ready to get back to school. 

Speaking of cabin fever, my hubby rented a cabin at Big Cedar Lodge this weekend and we slipped off, just the two of us.  We really needed some together time, and it was so good for us to be able to focus on each other without the distractions of daily life.  I felt a litte guilty about leaving the boys behind, but Chris and I needed some time for us. It was so nice to have an uninterrupted conversation and dinner when I didn't have to get up and clean up a spill or get some other forgotten necessity. ("Mom, I need a fork/spoon/straw."  "Mom, I need more milk." "Mom I need.....")  We spent the afternoon in Springfield doing a little shopping, mainly at Bass Pro, then to Branson Landing.  It was too cold to stroll the Landing and window shop, but Joe's Crab Shack was worth braving the cold.  We did browse a few stores, but that was just because we needed to get warm! (Poor Chris was a little uncomfortable in Victoria's Secret) Big Cedar was still dressed in its Christmas finery with lights on EVERYTHING.  I tried to take some flashless photos, but it was 9 degrees and I was shivering so much they turned out blurry.  Our cabin was a beautiful, rustic little place with exposed log walls, stained glass windows, and a gorgeous rock fireplace...which we quickly put to good use.  There is something so relaxing in watching flames dance on logs and crackle with glee. 

After a nice break, it's back to reality, but it was good while it lasted.
** If the captions under the photos are a little weird it's just because Blogger was acting funny...or maybe I just don't know what I'm doing, it's happened once or twice.

Happy Birthday, Landon!

I'm a little behind getting the photos off my camera, maybe I'm just lazy...or tired...or procrastinating because the flash isn't working right and I have to edit ALL the photos to get the color right; whatever the reason, I finally took the time to do it and have some really cute shots of Landon's first birthday party.  It was a Razorback theme, and he LOVED his cake, he even had his foot in it for a while.  I think the cake was his favorite part, or maybe the tissue paper that was stuffed inside the gift bags.  He seemed a little unconcerned with the gifts, but that paper was so much fun!

Happy 1st birthday to my sweet nephew, Landon, one year old on December 29th!

New Year's Eve

It's hard to believe that 2009 has come to an end, but the end of a new year only brings anticipation of things to come and a fresh start.   Most new year's resolutions fall by the wayside around February, so I challenge you to set goals that are attainable.  Many of us make the resolution to lose weight, but not me; not this year.  I am making the resolution to get moving more.  I even upgraded to the Wii Fit Plus to help me achieve that goal...maybe I should have splurged on the dance mat and the Dancing With The Stars game, fun + exercize = the best of both worlds.   Seriously, my major goal I have set for this new year is to make sure the boys make to Awanas & Youth on Wednesday nights.  I really slacked off on this especially after basketball season started and we ran to games 2 nights a week.  God should be a much more important part of our lives, and the kids need to grow in Christ. 

I'm working on a little review of the year, but don't have it quite ready, however, I have grown in my Photoshop skills and made a little collage of our family photo shoot.  You should see the 12x12 I had printed, it looks great, now to find a frame and get this rascal on wall!

Happy New Year's Eve, stay safe, and tell those close to you how much they mean to you in 2010.

Praise You in this Storm...

...that may be my theme song for tonight if the weather does what it looks like it's going to.  I don't like seeing all that red and pink on the radar...don't get me wrong, I do like red and pink, just not on radar. 

I am still trying to think of ways to follow the challenge issued by Bro. John.  We've had some sickies around the house this week, so satan is trying to stop me. (Get thee behind me satan!)  So far, I've not had much time to think of anything but the upcoming black & orange basketball game, which is the BIG fundraiser for the Junior class. (come watch it, Austin gets to play, and we need your money)

I think my brain cells are shutting down for the night....maybe I'm just turning into Dory, just keep swimming...just keeeeep swimming.....

So much for coming up with some world changing, profound thoughts to post, the wind just started blowing really hard and I heard thunder, so I'm shutting down....like my brain cells.   Oh, and Casey is in Jonesboro at the Jason Aldean concert tonight.  Pray they make it home without hitting serious weather.

Pay it forward...

This photo was taken early one morning on our way out to school.  The morning had been hectic, the boys were arguing, and I was NOT in a good mood.  Austin noticed the sun shining through the trees, so I stuck my camera out the truck window and snapped a picture.  When I uploaded it to my computer, I saw a cross in the sun, and a cross shadow on the ground.  I keep this photo as my constant reminder that God goes before me even when I don't take the time to acknowledge him. 

This morning our pastor began a new series entitled the "Gift Revolution".  He and his wife put 2 business cards with the Gift Revolution and an email address for the church along with a gift from them ($1.00) into 600 envelopes and issued a challenge to the church; change the world.  This comes on the heels of the series "Get Connected" which was a challenge to get connected with our family, friends, church, community, state, nation, and world.  Many new things are happening in the church because of this series and there is lots of excitement because of it.  This Gift Revolution (which I will refer to at GR) challenge has really stumped me.  What can I do to make a difference for Christ?  What can I do that will touch someone's heart?  What makes me special that someone would want to take the time to say, "hey, you made a difference?.  Certainly nothing I can do on my own, but I know through God all things are possible.  My hope is that God will use this blog and my fingers on a keyboard to touch lives all over the US....no, all over the world.  My blog hasn't gotten many hits in the past, but I'm praying that somehow, someone will read something that makes a difference in their lives and they will spread the word. 

I'm going to pray about this, and ask God what He wants me to do, and how He wants to use me to further His kingdom.  Please pray for me, and for our church as we begin this GR.  Pray, also, that I don't try to convince God that I can't do what He has in store for me.  I have to remember Jonah and what happened to him when he tried to convince God that he wasn't the right man for the job. (I do have a bridge spanning Lake Norfork to cross...)

I'm including a link to our church's website. (If I can get it posted on here properly so that it will work as a link and not just a bunch of letters strung together for no apparent reason)  While the GR button isn't quite up and running yet (should be by tomorrow night), when it is operational you will see a GR link which will take you to a map.  That map will have pins of places who have heard of our GR series and want to "Pay it Forward" and do something for Christ.  I hope you will join in this revolution, because we have all recieved the most precious gift: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"  John 3:16

First Baptist Church, Salem, AR

He gave us a gift we didn't deserve, a gift of grace, what will you do with that gift?  My blog is a very small part of this revolution, and if you have a story you would like to share about God's grace in your life, please, please post it in the comments.  I want to hear from you and God wants you to share your story. Spread the word so we may hear from as many as possible, and please let me know your city and state so we can pin it on our map.   Will you do that?

Twenty-one years ago...

...a little (well, maybe not so little) 8 lb, 4 oz , 22 inch long baby girl entered the world with a very loud yell.   She was supposed to be here by September 15, 1988, but decided to "sleep" a little longer and made her appearance on September 29, 1988.  I think that was just the beginning of a pattern, she's still one that takes her time doing things!   

I can't believe she's 21, where has the time gone?  Happy Birthday, Casey, you aren't that little, skinny girl that Mrs. Pat said was all legs, eyes, and hair, you've grown into a beautiful young woman and I'm very proud of you.

I found a few "grown up" photos, but tomorrow I get to pull out all the baby photos; It's going to be fun to see just how she has changed in 21 years.

Take me out to the ballgame...

Yesterday we had the chance to see the Springfield Cardinals play ball (thanks, Mom!). Austin is our big baseball fan and this was part of his birthday present. It was a great day and I enjoyed spending time with Lance, Lindsay, Chris, and the boys. The weather was perfect for baseball, too! I don’t think Austin missed a play because he talked about it all the way home. He even knew the speed of the fastest fastball! (99 mph just in case you were wondering). Logan wasn’t as interested in the game as he was “Louie the Cardinal” and “Fetch the dog”. Around the 5th inning he looked up at me and said, “I wish I’d stayed with Nana and Landon, I’m ready to go home.” He was having problems sitting still; maybe it was all the cotton candy.  After a stroll around the concession area, and a trip to the gift shop for a giant foam finger, he was good for a few more innings.


I really hate that we didn’t make it back in time to hear Mom and my aunt and uncles sing; I know they did a great job. I love to hear them sing.

Family is so important, go do something with yours very soon, you won’t regret it.

One week behind us

Austin wasn't thrilled about the obligatory first-day-of-school picture.


My little Kindergarten man on his very first day of school.

We finished the first week, or half week, of school. Logan loves Kindergarten and was really proud that he didn't have to move a card "all week" and got to pick something from the treasure box. He has lots of new friends, and said his favorite class is the "one where we get to go outside and run around"...PE.

Austin has some pretty tough classes for the 8th grade. He has Algebra I, I don't think I took that until the 10th grade! He is playing basketball again this year, and really likes it. He enjoys school; I hope he keeps that attitude.

I'm having a good year, so far, too. I really like my classes. I have the biggest group of kids I've ever had, 23 in Art I, 22 in Speech, 18 in 8th grade Art, but then I do have a few small classes, too. Drama only has 4, Graphic Design has 8, and Advanced Art is down to 3.

Casey starts her classes next week. I hope she has a good semester, she needs one. Her classes are on Tuesday and Thursday, so she will still work Mon, Wed., and Friday. I think she likes working more than she likes going to school.

Please pray for our students, teachers, administration, and parents as we begin the new school year. I pray for my students everyday, that I will be an example of God's love, even though I can't say it in the classroom. Let's not forget to invite Him to school with us, He is desperately needed.

New beginnings

My crazy child riding a ride I'd call "Ring of Death" instead of "Ring of Fire"...maybe ring of junky metal thrown together and held in place by a paper clip?


L's daycare buddies.


Logan's table in his classroom.

Tomorrow (8/19) begins the new school year for both boys. Logan told me tonight that tomorrow he wouldn't be a preschooler anymore, he would be a big Kindergarten boy. I can't believe it! Last night was open house at school, so we took all his supplies, found his table and cubby, and met some new friends. He's so excited because one of his best friends is in the same class. They have been together since they were little babies in the same daycare. It's funny, there were 3 from the daycare going to our school, and all 3 of them got in the same class.

Austin will start 8th grade tomorrow. He has Algebra I this year! I think I remember having Algebra in 10th or 11th grade! Kids are just so much smarter these days. I had to include a little photo montage of one of the things he rode at the county fair. I don't think you could have paid me enough to get me on this ride, but he thought it was great!

I just realized this will be my 13th year of teaching, too. It doesn't seem that long, but I guess time flies when you are having fun. I'm looking forward to the new year, it will be a challenge, but I love a challenge. My classroom is 95% ready, just have to get a few more lesson plans figured out, but the first week we don't get much accomplished, anyway, so I'm not going to sweat it!

Don't forget to pray for the kids as they go back to school, pray for the teachers and administration that we may examples of God's love; pray for protection and guidance. Tomorrow is an exciting day!

Farewell, summer.

I'm a little sad tonight, this is the official end to my summer break from school. Tomorrow I have mentor training and then the teachers head back to school. Even though I enjoy being home with the boys during the summer, beginning a new year is always exciting for me, too. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids...most of them, anyway, and see what kind of summers they've had.

I know God has a plan for all of us, just like Doc's testimony this morning. God's plan for him was the medical field, and I know I'm supposed to be a teacher. I love being in the classroom, I love seeing that lightbulb go off when a child finally "gets" it, or maybe I'm just addicted to the smell of brand new school supplies!

Now, I know how boring a blog post can be without pictures or a fun little slide show, so here is a little background about my photos for this post. Yesterday Chris was going out the back door, when he turned and said, "Come here! There are twins in the yard!" I grabbed my camera and slipped out through the garage and got a few great shots of these cute little twins who are just beginning to lose their spots. I was afraid the dogs might try to chase them away, but they were stretched out, snoozing on the garage floor. I love our lazy dogs!

Sometimes....

...you run across something that just sums it all up in a way you can never say it yourself!

I found this on the Jessica Sprague blog and had to share, it's the best thing I've seen in a long time. Oh yes, I will use this in my high school speech classes!

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Oh, Jessica, you rock!

Jessica Sprague, that is. Talk about some easy Photoshop tutorials and really fun projects. These are a couple I did this afternoon. Now what can I make....?

Photowalk

Have you heard of these? Thanks to a great bunch of girls on another site, I got wind of this neat little thing called a photowalk. Of course, I checked to see if there was one close enough to me to justify going, and SCORE, there was one in Eureka Springs. So, last Saturday, Casey, Carla, and I loaded up and went to Eureka with cameras in hand, batteries charged, and walking shoes on. I was really fun and we got some really neat shots. We were having a great day until...(yes, there's an until) Carla got a call from T (her eldest child), "Hi Mom, uhmm, Dad got bucked off his horse and he might be hurt but I'm not sure." Nothing like that to change the mood of the day. Brett was hurt, and we made a flying trip back from Eureka Springs. Thankfully, he was released from the hospital with a concussion, broken rib, and sprained shoulder. A week later he is still a little sore, but making progress to a full recovery.

So, here are a few of the shots I took from our little trip. Oh, and there are prizes involved. The photowalk is sponsored by Scott Kelby and it's a worldwide event. This year the date was July 18, and you can bet I'll be checking for next year's date!

Oh yeah, and good news on my computer, the Staples tech guy (God bless him) was able to retrieve the majority of my junk off the old hard drive. I finished up those wedding photos and have delivered them to the hands of the bride's mom. Whew, I can breath now....and back up everything lots more often.

Aaaaaahhhhhhh!

Oh, what a week! My laptop, the one I got for Christmas, crashed! Thank goodness it was still under warranty, so they sent me a new hard drive. As for the old one, it's at Staples where the techs are desperately trying to retrieve all my info from the old one. Cross your fingers and say a prayer, I need to the photos from that one!

Well, VBS starts tonight, so that's going to be a bright spot in the week. I always look forward to VBS.

Happy Birthday, Logan!

One more post for today, my baby is 5 years old today. He asked what his "official" birthday time was, well, as of 8:19 am, Logan has been with us 5 years! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOGAN!

It's been a busy week!

I had the pleasure of taking the wedding photos for Casey's best friend, Makenzie. It was a gorgeous outdoor wedding, and the couple is young and so much fun. We took some fun shots. I'm really enjoying the photography and hope to do lots more.

Casey was the maid of honor, and her boyfriend came up from Texas, I just had to throw that picture in here, too, so the family could see Brandon. LOL

Decoration days and White River

Is decoration just a southern thing, or is it popular all over the US? It's a shame that decoration isn't like it used to be, when churches decorated graves of lost loved ones then had an all day singing and dinner on the ground. I like that tradition...probably more for the dinner thing than the actual decorating of graves, but I digress.

Thursday (June 4), Mom, the boys, and I took Mama Hudson to the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery to decorate the graves of her family. I had forgotten what a beautiful little cemetery it was, and what made it even better was the great play structure beside the little church! Maybe I'm just strange, but I love to walk around and look at the headstones and wonder about the people. What kind of life did they lead, what stories could they tell about the area. Mama was a fountain of knowledge about some of the people buried there, too, so it was really interesting to hear her stories.

After leaving the cemetery, we stopped at the little restaurant in Yellville, the Front Porch, they had great food, and we treated Mama to a birthday lunch. She was 88 on Saturday, June 6. I think she was glad to get rid of us after we got her home, though. I know Logan can get a little rowdy, and she isn't used to that.

On our way home Mom and I decided to swing by the Fairview Cemetery and put some flowers on some old family graves there. Unfortunately they didn't have a play set, so we had to cut that trip a little short, but because the boys had been so good, and we were only 5 or 6 miles from Buffalo City on White River, we figured a quick trip to dip in our feet was in order. We had so much fun, and the boys weren't ready to leave, but Logan waded out a little farther that I asked and ended up riding home in his underwear because his shorts were wet up to the pockets. It was 90+ degrees, so all was well.

We have plans to go back to the river soon sans cemetery visits.

Relay for Life.

Relay is a bittersweet time for me, especially this year. I was so moved to see the survivors make their lap around the track. I think of all the family members I have lost to cancer, and rejoice for those who beat it. Last year Daddy walked the survivor lap, this year I bought a luminary in his memory. He lost his fight with cancer on March 30, 2009.

Our little, rural county raised over $26,000 for cancer research. The overall theme of Relay for Life is Hope...hope that some day cancer will be a distant memory, a terrible disease that lost its sting.

Our team (Viola Longhorns) won the team banner contest for best banner. I think next year I'll suggest a coffee bar instead of cookies, I know I really needed coffee around 2AM. Even though I'm exhausted, it was lots of fun and we walked all night. As the sun rose, we packed up our booth and headed home. I got in the bed around 7AM, 24 hours with no sleep, but that's what it's all about...Relay for Life, because cancer never sleeps.

For more info check out the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life websites.

Ahh, sweet freedom!

Yes, we cheered as the big, yellow buses rolled out of the parking lot today...is that wrong? I was as happy as the kids! So what did the boys and I do to celebrate? Wii played! Yes, that's a pun. Austin has wanted a Wii ever since they first came out, but I'm the mean mom who refused to let them have a video game because I didn't want them sitting on their rears playing games all day long. However, after much research, I finally gave in and told him if he would save his money he could have a Wii. With his good grade money, he finally had enough, so we went to town and bought the Wii. I had no idea how much fun the stinkin' thing would be! Chris even got in on the action. So far I'm the reigning bowling champion, but Chris kicked my tail in tennis. He's also the golf champ, but Austin holds the baseball record. Logan is really good at boxing, so it's anyone's guess. Now we're planning what games we will purchase next. We will definitely get the EA Sports games, and Casey and I want the Wii Fit with the balance board and mat.

I didn't get any pictures tonight, but keep watching the blog because I'm sure there will be some Wii shots on here soon. That's about it for tonight, I'm tired, who knew you could work up a sweat playing a video game! I'm sure we will play again tomorrow, but not too early because we're out of school now and I don't have to get up early, Yayyyy! (so don't call before 8:00 AM, I'm praying Logan sleeps that long)

8 to go!

Just 8 more actual days of school and I am so ready for the summer vacation. I know the kids are as tired of it as I am, we all deserve a break.

We (our Relay for Life team) is planning our booth at the Relay. The county theme is "rootin' for a cure" and is loosely based on sports and fans. I'm still at a creative wall trying to come up with some really neat idea to hang on our booth, but I'm sure something will come to me.

I'm tired, maybe when school is over I'll have more energy to blog.