Trying to catch my breath...

WHIRLWIND! We had a blessed Thanksgiving. It was priceless. We were able to get most of Mama's entire family together, which we haven't done in a while. I loved every second! And I'm ready to go back and visit already! I have so many good pictures from our trip! However, the most meaningful thing, was that Nanny Jane was alive and able to celebrate with us. We are all very grateful.

This will probably be a random post. :)

I have seen The Blind Side twice. It is my favorite movie in the world.

I will probably work about 15 hours each day this week. I have conferences with my parents, a wreath fundraiser, and some charity work to do this weekend. I feel like I can't catch my breath. I stayed late today and feel a little bit better...these last 3 weeks are full of fun ornament making, field trips, parties, and gift giving. But that also makes them stressful, not to mention...only 3 weeks left in this 9 weeks...report cards will be going out again before I know it,which means...assessments, assessments, assessments! Then I'll be taking my classroom decorations down and sending home crazy amounts of ornaments and gifts for my kids families. I digress...

So, I read The Help over Thanksgiving and thouroughly enjoyed it.

Our church is having their Happy Birthday Jesus celebration in a jut a bit, followed by our parade downtown. FUN! Our sanctuary is so beautiful at Christmas. Yesterday at church, it brought back memories of my birthday a few years ago when Matt and I lit the advent candle...such a good memory!

I'm going to wrap up this crazy, trying to catch up on everything post, with some pictures from our Thanksgiving on the coast!




















Wow! A lot of pictures right? They are from shopping at St. John's Town Center, watching the shuttle land at the Cape, scenic beach trips, the movies on Merritt Island, lots of pictures with family! I love the beach picture of my mama, Aunt Lynn, and I. Too bad we were missing Aunt Leisa, and Aunt Vicki! I also love Daddy's face, wearing my sunglasses, as he is looking for the shuttle to land. I also love the pictures of my hubby and I, and of my grandparents and I. Precious Memories :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

and it is not even Thanksgiving yet. We needed to get a head start on decorating, since we will be busy busy from now until AFTER Christmas!

I had a wonderful weekend, and I'll have to post about Jennifer's wedding soon! It was a blast!

However, I just finished decorating our trees and packing up the last of fall decor. Tomorrow is a big day at school, we have feasts and Thanksgiving rotations. We made tshirts and I know my kiddos are going to look so cute in their shirts, headbands, and necklaces (they wore their vests on Friday for our Thanksgiving lunch)!

I am excited about tomorrow afternoon! My brother is coming to my school to help me put up my classroom Christmas trees. Then me and Matt, Billy and Miranda, his girlfriend, are eating supper at our house then going to see The Blind Side!!!!!!

I can't wait! So after our double date, Miranda is going to spend the night, and then leave on Wednesday.

I'm ready for some much needed family time! Love this time of year! The only bad thing is that I'm ready to shop til I drop...and don't have the time to do it!

NEW MOON

Shh, Sh, Shhhhhhh, Shhh, Shhhhhh! echoed through the little theater last night in our town. It was pure craziness. We didn't wait in line for tickets, Matt just stopped by around 4, when the movies opened up and bought ours. However, the movie we saw sold out for both times. I was worried about going, since I knew there would be TONS of people and chaos, but it was great actually.


On our way to the movie theater!!!!!!!


I wore my favorite shoes, oddly enough...this style is called, Rosalie!


We went to see, you guessed it, Part of the Twilight Saga, New Moon! As the picture of the new moon appeared on the screen, lots of people in the audience SCREAMED!!! Then everyone started clapping. It was fun! All through the movie, people, oohed and ahhed over Edward and Jacob. We really enjoyed our experience and the movie.

And by the way my favorite is ALICE. I think I liked it better than the first, but maybe because we're getting deeper into the story and I just loved the 3rd and 4th books soo, soo much!

In any case, did you know that The Lovely Bones is going to be a movie???!!!!! What a great book!!!!!!!!!! Books made into movies warm my heart and bring tears to my eyes (hence, last night)!

Before we went to the movie, we ate outside at an old train depot turned into an Italian Restaurant, called Cafe MareBELLA! If you have read the Twilight books, or watched the movies, you see how this goes right along with themes from both movies!

The food was delicious! There were white lights everywhere, fountains, space heaters (it was cold) and fresh herbs growing! We can't wait to go back!

I think I'll go reread Eclipse! :)

Jean Shirts and Tahoes

I'm in a time crunch right now, but we had some excitement at HnH (the school where I teach) today! We all had to wear our hideous, unfashionable button down embroidered jean shirts and kackhi's to school today because we had special visitors coming. Usually, we get to wear our cool and cute pretty colored long sleeved tshirts. But no not today.

Now, when I was driving down the backroad leaving school today, I saw that a ton of SUVs were stopped in both lanes. This is back behind tennis courts and inbetween woods. There was the biggest rattlesnake EVER streched across the road. EWWWW!

Literally, there were about 6 white tahoe's in a line, 3 champagne ones, a hunter green one, and a burgundy one. There was also an Expedition and an Acadia. I just thought that we were a sight to see. All of us in Tahoes and matching jean shirts gawking at a rattlesnake!

I would've given anything to have a picture of that. My friend, Kerri, was brave...she rolled up her windows and pressed the gas and ran over the thing. Finally a man came out and hit it with a shovel a bunch of times. It definitely bit at the guy. Yuck! We have always had a problem with rattlesnakes around our school, but it was freaky to see one up close!

I love FAKE snakeskin...not real!

By the way, Casting Crowns new cd came out today! It is wonderful!

My Luxurious Thursday!

What a beautiful day! It is windy, wintery, and sunny! We def. exteneded recess a few minutes after not getting to go outside all week. I've had a fabulous day! I feel like all I do is work during the week (not much extra time for fun lately). So today put a little pep in my step. It was nice to leave work at 4 and enjoy my afternoon out and about town.

Note: I always have fun on weekends. My weekdays are my scheduled and structured.


After a great day at work, I went to Jagged Edge Salon in Madison Grove and got my hair chopped! I forget how much I like shorter hair. While I was there...an OPI display got my eye. I still can't find Do you know Jaques? anywhere. But I did get two bottles of holiday polish. The RZ Report on gunmetal nails really got my attention.


I got Birthday Babe. I am going to sport this in December since it is my birthday month and the most festive of all months :)


Then I also got, Cosmo-Not Tonight Honey! It is a nice neutral shade.


I left there and went to the library to pick up a book that I had on hold. I also had to pay a 20 Cent fine...grrr! I was trying to be so good! I've been waiting since July to read this. I'm glad to finally have it in my possession.

When I got home I sat on the back porch with Blakely talking on the phone to my dad and reading a little bit. I had a blanket and was wearing my fuzzy LLbean moccasins. FREEZING but LOVING IT!

I am working on some sign up sheets and notes to send home to parents tonight and watching Private Practice later on. Right now, the kitchen is calling my name, then a walk around the block. Gotta clean...and walk!

It's time! It's time!

The show just started...but I don't know if I'll make it through half. Long day at work. 6:30to 5:30. Went straight to church from there. Just got home and ate supper...thanks to Matty baking chicken. It is freezing, rainy, and windy tonight! A good night to snuggle under the covers with my family. Yay!

Junior Service League Fun!

I think I love it a little bit more each meeting and after each service project that we do! I have joy in my soul because a committee nominated me to join this awesome organization.

We start off every general meeting with the Collect and the last line really hit home tonight.

For only in service to others can we find the true joy of living.

I was already feeling sentimental as I was driving over. I was comparing the first meeting and my nerves to now. The first meeting began later and it was still light out. It was super hot, but the long summer nights that you just love, and everyone was dressed in cute ruffles or sundresses. The food is more summery and the smell of wine is overpowering.

Now, it was rainy, cold, dark, and holidayish, as I was driving to the meeting. People are showing up in rain jackets and workout clothes, warm drinks are served, and everyone is digging into service projects and seasonal charities. I LOVE it! My friend, Emily, stood in the back and rocked her baby Bryson tonight. It feels more like family I guess. Or a group of sisters.

We have had several opportunities to give back to our community already. In September, we had Hands on Thomas County. The provisional class worked at our YMCA and did service projects with kids. We made bags for the food bank, put together toys for a homeless shelter, and bagged dog and cat food for the humaine society. Then had a celebration lunch in the park.

We had to get items to auction off at the Cowboy Ball...from local businesses. Stressful with the economy. But so worth it, b/c all of our money raised went to area children's programs.

We have our two biggest projects coming up in the Spring: Bargain Bazaar and Project Rosebud. I can't wait! I hear that is when you really bond with your class...and I still don't know everyones names yet.

Some other fun events that we get hours for are: Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival, Breakfast with Santa, Pig Gig, Taste of Thomasville, Ringing the Bell at Publix for the Salvation Army, etc.!!! We also bring items for homeless shelters and the food bank at each meeting. We sponser a coat drive and a prom closet!

I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with this opportunity. I have made some lifelong friends already.

Another favorite moment tonight was getting to see my good friend Dara. We stood in the rain with our hoods on and just caught up on life. We go to different churches and now teach at different schools, and live on opposite sides of town...but it was just so good to catch up and laugh, and admit some challenges that we're facing. I feel a get together with my old community soon!

You know, tonight just made me realize how much I need different groups of women in my life. I have my church friends, and my grad girls, and my collegs friends, and my teaching friends, and now I have my JSL friends. I already really look up to some of the board!! I'm just very THANKFUL tonight! Do you see how I really feel?? :)

Now, I have to post country song in the anticipation of tomorrow night!!



And this is another favorite song. Had to post it too! It's a cool clip!

I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessings. Ezekiel 34:26

Whew! Monday is almost over! I am tired today though and was SICK AS A DOG all morning. I don't know how I taught! But I survived, and feel a lot better this afternoon. I am just loving my kids this year!

Seasons.
I am reading a cute new series about a group of women that live in a cul-de-sac, they go through seasons of trouble, worry, happiness, etc. you get the picture. The series is based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
The first books is Seasons under Heaven. The next book is Showers in Season. The third book is Times and Seasons. Finally, Seasons of Blessing. The books are by Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock. They are not my favorite ever, but they are good just the same :)


It really got me thinking. Then today, on Beth Moore's blog, she was talking about different seasons in our life...referring to our walk with God.


So to my 4 seasons: you've been on my mind! We are all at different places in our lives right now. I wonder if we're going through a common season though? That would be a talk for one of our late night drives home from Tally. or a trip to Coyoacan.

Speaking of seasons...Hurricane Season! What is up with this crazy weather we have coming up??!!! It is going to be very rainy and windy tomorrow in SGA. What a mess! I will def. be wearing an anorak and rain boots to work in the morning!


In the spirit of the CMA's coming up on Wed. night I thought I'd post one of my fav. new songs out right now, by my favorites Lady Antebellum. What is better than live Country Music? I'm just wondering :)

Matt's alarm clock played this when it went off at 5am this morning (well it actually BLASTED it) and it has been stuck in my head all day! :)

BLESSINGS!

This awesome family lives in Sylvester...in our neck of the woods :) I found them through their sis in laws blog that I just started reading. I have always loved this song by Third Day, but I love the country twang that this cover has. If they had a cd, I 'd buy it! This is def. a blessing to me.

Speaking of blessings, we've had a weekend full of them. We kept our good friends, Becky and Jonathan Jense's baby girls, Anna and Abby all weekend. Becky had her 20 yr reunion at Lowndes this weekend and they stayed with her parents over there.

I have watched these girls grow up, I had the priveledge to teach the youngest in K when I was student teaching, and I've taught them in VBS year after year as well. They camped our in our bonus room with Blakely!

I'm in a list making mood so I'll list what we did.
Friday Night
We ate at BK and then went across the street and painted pottery! It was soooo fun! I made a plate...we'll see how it turns out. Later, Matt and Anna watched Home Alone, and Abby and I went to bed while watching Nick.

Our creations!
Saturday
We got up and checked on, Dixie, their beagle (they live down the street in our subdivision). Then I checked out 11 books from the library, they came with me and played on the computers while Matt went in to work for a bit. Then the girls played golf with Matt in our yard most of the afternoon. We ate dinner at Barberito's and then bowled and played pool.
We all watched Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney and sang to the guitar some before going to bed.

Cosmic Bowling
Sunday
The girls slept in! Then their mama, Becky, came over to get them. Becky had a great reunion, she sat in her pj's and we went over everything that she bought and all the details of her weekend before the Jense family went home to get some rest!

A few random thoughts:
Matt and I love having the girls. We are so proud of them!

I personally, love the in depth talks that we have about all the kids in their classes. I know or taught most of them, so I want the scoop!

We have discussions about literature (childrens lit and series' that is) and I try to influence them on great reads I think they should check out and test on. We'll see if it worked!

I love driving them in the tahoe. They sit back there and belt out all of Taylor Swift's songs!

I love watching Matt with them. He takes good care of them, and plays with them all the time. Last night Anna Beth went to find him, because she was scared!

2 more things. I am addicted to books. I tried to just check out a few books like I did last week. But of course I came home with 11. It's a sickness.

I am LOVING music right now. So many good cd's are being released. Carrie Underwood's new one is AMAZING. And I'm anxiously awaiting Casting Crown's new one too. On top of that there is Miranda Lambert, Colbie Caillat, and many many awesome country songs out right now!



Ok, let's wrap this super long post up. We have a crazy busy week. I have meetings and conferences, Matt has meetings, and I have appointments galore. Whew! We're already looking ahead to Friday night!

I can almost see it....that dream I'm dreaming..

Just a few things.

1. I realize that I'm addicted to my job. This morning I was walking in at 6:15am and thought hmm, feels like I just left. Oh wait, I did...I left at 6pm. I spend so much time at my school, and things are really coming together! However, I don't want it to consume my time like it does. I want to find a balance, and I think I will...SOON!

2. My principal called me into her office to "talk" today. She said that she never sees me, which is true. She just wanted to see how I was and she told me that she missed me. SHE MISSES ME??? That makes me feel so good. We did get to talk a lot last year, and I had some issues that she helped me resolve last year, as well as she was my primary observor. Now my AP does my observations. I LOVE my administrators! What a blessing to work for amazing women, who have bascially guided me every step of the way...from student teaching, switching schools, and now bascially growing up!

3. We went for a walk tonight after supper, and it reminded me of how much I love my neighborhood and love this time of year! I am giddy over holiday plaids, sparkles, gunmetal shades for nails, and glitzy shoes. Let's not forget RUFFLES and BOWS on everything!

Some days certain dreams or desires of my heart can get in the way and steal my joy. However, I'm learning to just face the climb and be thankful for the place in life that I am in. I am so grateful for so many blessings....I just need to remember all of the things in my life that I need to praise God for each day!

Cheesy, but who doesn't love Hannah Montana..my girls in my class and I were singing this today on the playground :)


That's all.

I've been bitten by the bug....

the higher degree bug. I took about a 6 month break between my Bachelor's and Master's. Now, it's been about 4 since I finished my Master's. Hmmmmm....

I know I don't miss the torture...the late nights of driving, the NO TIME for myself or job, or the PRESENTATIONS and LIT REVIEWS.

But I miss learning, and discussing recent topics in education. I miss getting handouts and working in groups (adult groups mind you). And of course I miss grad girl dinners :) HELLO!

We'll see. Spring 2010 might just be calling my name.





What does God have in store for me this time?

Happy Halloween Weekend!

Happy Halloween Y'all!!

Family, friends, shopping, football, and food can probably sum up our Halloween Weekend! It was great!

We had some neighbors drop by on Friday night to bring cookies and my Cowboy Ball shirt by the house!! We had fun with them! Then my parents and G got to town and we ate chicken pot pie and pumpkin muffins and watched a movie in our bonus room! Very Fun!

Saturday, we got up and went to Tally to purchase a new tv! Matt is thrilled! The tv, my friends, is what I decided to spend my first bit of Master's Raise money on! I really wanted a kitchen table and barstools, but decided that it would be better to finish the living room first. Next up, couch and rug...maybe when Matt sells his car!


Matty and his new toy!

We ate lunch at The Red Elephant and then got back about 30 minutes before kickoff of GA/FL game. We had it hooked up before kick-off and watched football for the rest of the night. I cooked chili and hotdogs(for chilidogs) and we waited for trick-or-treaters! We got a lot! Huge groups rode down to our house in golfcarts! Yay!

We layed low and missed two of our friends Halloween bashes this year, as well as our church's Fall Festival...they both live in our neighborhood, but we wanted to spend all of our time with our family. We got to see them when they came by the house to trick-or-treat anyway!


Daddy passing out candy!


Watching the game!



We carved pumpkins too. This was the first time we've done this in 2 years because I'm not in grad school (the ultimate time consumer)! However, I was sort of over it because I had already carved one with my class :) Matt was very into it though :)

We loved getting our extra hour of sleep today! We've spent most of the day watching Lifetime movies and working on stuff for work....with all of our windows wide open!


Mama not ready to leave!

I am ready to watch Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters on the big screen tonight though! We're ready for another busy week! We are loving this November weather so far!