Sad Thoughts

I just wish I could change things.
Homeschooling for some is a great endeavor. I have friends who home school so well that their children earned scholarships to the university. But there are some people who do nothing. People who are mean and tell their child they are just annoying. I am seriously considering calling Child Protective Services. But what can I say?

Baby Book Upload 1

Here is a photo of my first layout for Robby's Baby Book. I have a ton of photos but tried not to overwhelm the pages with them. I cropped the photos to 4 inch squares and then arranged them in a square. The retangles are great accents.

Terrible cough

I woke up several times last night coughing. I felt horrible. I am going to rest today and hopefully get better. If I don't feel better, I need to go to the MedClinic tomorrow. I just need to rest.
I love my grandson but I think he gave me this cold!! lol. :)

The Journey

Life is a walk. Each day we take steps. Our tomorrow is determined by the steps we take today. -Stormie Omartian


I know that my walk has been very convoluted. I started out on the road to college, and then found a detour in marrying my first husband Bobby. It was a wild ride there! In four years, I became mother of two and widow at 24. I got back on the college trail and became a teacher. The four years in college were interesting too. Not only did I find a second husband and another child, but a career that I really love. Now, as I look back on that walk, I see a lot of fun and happiness mixed in with the sadness. Gerry is an incredible husband, and I so blessed to have him in my life. He is the best husband in the world. He is awesome with the kids. He has a great relationship with all three of our children. He is so helpful with Robby.
Robby had his first round of shots yesterday. They made him very cranky. He had a rough night. His little legs just ached, I am sure. The doctor suggested that we start juice to help him with his constipation. We are going to introduce apple juice first. He will love it, I am sure. He loves to taste things other than his formula. He loves the taste of the Tylenol and gas drops. He just smacked his lips with the oral vaccine yesterday. The nurse hadn’t seen a baby enjoy it so much. He made us all laugh. He is in the 49% for his height and weight. He weighs 11lbs 6 oz. He has made all the milestones for a three month old, so I guess we are doing something right. He has great head control and a lot of upper body strength. I think he will be turning over early with the way he throws himself around. When holding him you really have to hold on tight. He will try to move if he doesn’t like the position. Lol, that boy has a mind of his own already.
Another boy who has a mind of his own is Tim. We are getting the paperwork all ready for Tim to play football next year. Yes, we are going to let him play football even though he broke his arm last year playing football. I am still hoping that he will switch to golf team, but I don’t think he will. We have to shave his head as soon as school ends. It is the only way that the football helmet will fit. Right now, he looks like a shaggy dog. I don’t think arguing with him about his hair is very important. In a few years he will bald and there won’t be any hair to worry about. So, I tend to let him grow it however he wants. It won’t be there long….
Holly’s graduation is June 10th at the Alamodome at 4:00 pm. We offered to save seats for Holly’s boyfriend’s parents. We will be there early because we are helping line the kids up. I really love seeing all the students I have taught dressed in their cap and gown. I feel like I have helped them on an important journey. Just got to love it!

Wow, only 5 days of school left....

Some of you have taken Big Picture Scrapbooking classes; so I thought I would let you know about 2 of the self-paced classes that I am considering taking. One was mentioned in Stacy Julian’s blog. Stacey is giving a $5 off coupon and that makes the course only $5. The class is Saving Your Sanity. I think I am going to look at it more seriously. The other class is only $5 and it is called Help with Heartache.


Most people know that I lost my first husband when I was 24. My mother passed away eight years later with my grandmother passing away 2 years after that. I don’t let the losses rule my life and I have worked hard on dealing with it but I always think that it is good to continue to work on it. That is why I follow Susan’s blog “Your Life Spelled Out” which has great prompts to help you work on your life. I think it is important to work on your personal mindset. I think it helps me.

On a more exciting note for me, I found a new pair of sandals that I want. They are very similar to ones that I had a few years ago. The old ones were “Mootsie Tootsies” and I just loved them. The new ones are at Dress Barn and just flats, not a very supportive foot bed. But they have little flowers decorating the thong part of the sandal. They also have a very pretty 1930’s style dress that I want. I need a dress to wear for graduation and I haven’t gotten a new dress for graduation in several years. Gerry needs a new suit too. I don’t know if he will get it now or not. We saw some suit separates at Kohl’s earlier this week and he agreed he needed a new suit. He wears his suit to Prom, Graduation and any funerals we have to attend. This year has been full of funerals. We have had our former principal die, two former students committed suicide, and one former student and one current student were killed in car crashes. That has all been since January 28th. I am looking forward to a relaxing and revitalizing summer. I want good things! I want peace! I want life!

With only five days left in the school year, I am happy with the year. It was a very good year on the whole. I have decided that I am happy with my classes and my students and their successes. I have done well with my change to Jay. I really enjoy my school.

Questions from My Life Spelled Out

1. If you had a free day that you could do whatever you wanted, what would that day look like? I would probably spend time with my grandson and my dog. I would also scrapbook with my stash. I love creating. I think I might do some digital scrapbooking too.


2. If you could go anywhere in the world for a week vacation, where would that be and why? If it was my husband’s ideal vacation it would be to a lake, maybe Amistad. I would like to go to a resort. Somewhere I could relax and not do anything for awhile but bask in the sun and read a book.

3. What is your favorite piece of clothing that you own? My favorite clothes would probably my yoga pants and tanks. They are nice and comfortable.

4. What is your favorite room in your house or apartment? Why? My bedroom probably is my favorite. It is a sanctuary.

5. Do you have a hobby? If yes, what is it? I love to read, creative writing and scrapbooking.

6. Is there something that you would like to learn to do or learn to do better? I would love to learn to use more advanced photo shop techniques.

7. What do you believe about God and how does that reflect in your life? I believe in God but I don’t believe much in religion right now. We are looking for a church home again. I hope that we can find one that we can enjoy and agree with.

Great Note from a Student

One of my sweet students wrote me a thank you note and gave it to me today. I just get a chuckle out of it. My favorite quotes are:

thank you for teaching us and never stopping

thank you for smiling all the time and never stopping

I really enjoy these kids!

Tim's Birthday Weekend

It was Tim's Birthday Weekend. He turned 15 on the 15th. Yesterday, he went to the Barnes and Noble for a book signing by Rick Riordan. He has a signed copy of The Red Pyramid. Today, we had a water balloon fight, wiffle ball game, and Wii Bowling to go along with his dinner choices and Birthday Cake. Holly's BF, Robert, was invited. Next weekend we get to meet his parents. I had his older brother in class a few years ago and brother swears I was his favorite teacher. I usually am, I get to be the fun one. When I was out in the portables we could get away with raising all kinds of heck. lol.

We are all watching the Survivor finale up in our bedroom. I am going for Sandra even though she has already won once. lol, the fun place to be. Then we get to switch over to the Celebrity Apprentice finale over on NBC. I am rooting for Sharon Osborne on that show.

Only 13 days of school to go. 2 weeks of full days followed by 3 half-days. I am going to miss these kids, this year has been a blast. I think this is the best year I have had in 12 years of teaching. I have some great kids. I adore them!!

New Paper Journal

May 12, 2010
I had to create a new journal because I have misplaced my other journal. I am so upset that I can’t find it. So, anyway, it is a work in progress. The new journal is decorated with papers from the Fashionista line. I love the retro look to the papers.
I started my 34th book last night. I just started Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. It is a Sookie Stackhouse novel. I am also looking forward to the third season of True Blood that starts in June. It is a series on HBO based on the books. It and Eureka are my favorite summer series. My goal is to read 144 books this year. I am not on track to make it. Though, I do read more in the summer than during the school year.
The baby had a rough day yesterday. He was very cranky and we just couldn’t get him happy. Gerry and I were very tired and went to bed at 9 pm. It is hard helping with the baby and working full time. We were just exhausted. Gerry also hit his head with a low hanging branch. His head was killing him last night.
I am about to earn my next level on Virgin Healthmiles. I am going to use them to buy a book reader. Borders just came out with one that is only $159. But it isn’t wifi capable. I think I am going with the Nook. I like the touch screen on it, the lending of the book and downloading free books while at the book store. That way I can sample books while I am there. I don’t like that I will need a light for reading at night, but it won’t be worse than a book. Gerry says that I turn the pages too loud and wake him up. But I feel my books are still quieter than his snoring. But I am just saying.
The journal prompt on Your Life Spelled Out was about leaving a legacy. I faced this early in life with my first husband’s death when I was 24. I knew that he loved me and that he died doing something he loved. He died saving two of his soldiers’ lives. I have talked with them in the years since and they have made the most of their lives. I am also very verbal with telling my family that I love them. When my mother died in 2001, it was very sudden. But I know that she knew that I loved her very much.

18 days until school is out

The school year is winding down quickly. There are only 18 days left of school not counting weekends. I am going to miss these kids; they are very sweet. I will really miss my juniors. They go to another teacher for senior English. I have decided to shake things up for next year and to have my unit on Goals in August. I am getting a smart board for my classroom and these clickers which will record student responses. I have a training on Thursday to learn how to use the software. I am looking forward to it. My goal is to adapt my goals unit to use the smart board.
Next Wednesday we are having our much delayed Grace Conference. I have been nominated as the MC of the event. I am very excited that we are going to be creating Dream Boards (aka Vision Boards or Treasure Maps) with the girls in the afternoon. I have been going through my magazines and getting pictures out for them. I have catagories such as: Transportation, Pets, Houses, Family, Colleges, and my personal favorite Pretty Pictures and Phrases. lol. It takes a lot of time to go through magazines and to give the girls the most time to play with creation of their boards. I love working with the girls on visualizing their future.
We went to Build-A-Bear on Saturday and built Robby's first bear. We made the "Champ Bear." They also had an autograph graduation dog that we bought for Holly. She loves to have autographs of her friends. Band banquet was Saturday. Holly and Robert went together. They also went to Prom in April. They are a cute couple. Another sign that this is a small town, Robert's older brother, Billy, was in my class. He was a sweet boy and of course claims that I was his favorite teacher. I swear I didn't pay him for that. ;) Holly is hosting a Graduation Party for a few of her friends. The theme is Star Wars and she is going to make snacks from her Star Wars Cookbook and watch the Star Wars Movies.
Kelsey has completed her college semester. We don't get to register for fall until the middle of June. Holly is going to be going to her orientation in June and they auto-enroll the freshman. She completes a form and they will register her for her classes. She will most likely live on campus. Today we have Tim's IEP meeting for transistion to high school. He will be going to O'Connor with Gerry. I have a half day sub today. Gerry is going to try to get someone to watch his last class so that he can attend also.

Another funeral and a graduation

Going to another funeral tonight. This is the third of the year. I just hope this is the last for awhile. I find myself getting so sad right now. Funerals are difficult for me. It brings up lots of baggage that I usually have well controlled.
I really hate it when it is a young kid with everything before him. He was supposed to graduate next month with my daughter. He was an inexperienced driver who was on a very challenging road. He was just unlucky.
It makes me worry more about my girls and boy. I know we are very protective of the kids, probably more so than most. But I worry.
Holly is going to live on campus next year. I think it will be good for her. I am surprised that we can swing it, but with her grades we are going to be able to. She is going to a private Catholic school here in San Antonio. It is Incarnate World University. The dean of the Honor College would like her to be in the Honor's program. She is getting emails of recruitment. She wants to double major in Biology and Nursing. She was going Pre-Med until the health care bill. She may go on and become a nurse practioner eventually but she wants to be a nurse for awhile. My Great Aunt Frances would be proud that she is going to be a nurse. My aunt became a nurse during the Great Depression and for our small town in Kentucky that was quite an accomplishment. My aunt was my hero for most of my life, though I always knew my brother was her favorite. Lee was the fair haired boy. My son Tim reminds me of my little brother. Lee could do create anything, and so can Tim. Tim is very creative and inquiring.
Robby is growing strong. He is hitting the milestones quickly. He is almost 9 pounds. (though I think he is really closer to 10 by now). Kelsey has almost finished her semester. I think she has one more paper. We have to figure out what to take in the fall.
Say a prayer for Holly for the next couple of weeks. She starts her AP tests tomorrow. She is taking 5. He ISM project is also due soon. We need a few prayers for that too.
Have a beautiful week my friends!