I totally get it.

I now know exactly how Taylor and Brad feel being a part of Rachel Zoe's Camp! I really get it now. It is hard work, it ain't easy to move tons of heavy racks and to hang billions of articles of clothing, and to organize in just the right way.



I do have to admit that it was kind of fun though. That's right. Bargain Bazaar set up 2010 kicked off today...for 4 hours, in the freezing cold, out at the fairgrounds.

In our Junior League, part of being in the provisional class (and I tell you, people are dropping like flies), means doing a lot of extra community service and logging a whole lot of hours. It doesn't bother me though, I like it a lot. It is time consuming, but I knew that it would be going into this year.

Anyway, one of our primary responsibilites is to head up the "Women's Section", which is the biggest section of the BB. We had fun, laughing at some of the clothes, and trying to "sneak" a few pieces too. We even created a "bedazzled" section! Ha! Maybe I'll snap a few pics tomorrow night. We have pretty high standards, and the cothes can't be ripped, stained, or really ratty. We have another mandatory work night tomorrow, and then a meeting thrown in there sometime. We have certain times throughout the rest of the week that we have to go out and unpack new shipments or drop offs of clothing. So you will probably read a lot about our Bargain Bazaar before the week is over.

We have our preview party on Friday night, and then the actual sale starts early Saturday morning. I'm pretty excited and a little bit tired too.

After church this morning, I went through some clothes that I wanted to donate. We had to bring $200 worth.

Here are my donations. I donated nice things. Liz Claiborne dresses, Express and JCrew Pants, and a few Gap sweaters. Some other things too.


Our weekend was good, it flew by though. I always need 1 more day!
We picked up Matt's framed "Golden Puppies" picture from Hobby Lobby yesterday. It looks so good! Here I am with it outside of Hobby Lobby. It was so windy, I was holding onto it and my buggy's for dear life!


We had a good day date!


Here is Matty hanging it. He just LOVES it! It reminds him of when he picked out Blakely, and the gate looks like the one that he built onto our deck at our old house.



I'm watching the Grammy's...looking out for Lady A and all my country faves, and working on some school stuff of course! Tomorrow is Pre-K registration at our school, which means lots and lots of crazy parents standing in lines in the wee hours of the morning and many people wandering around our lobby area. Should be interesting! Hope your Monday is blessed!

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

It's finally here!

Friday! My favorite day of the week. I had a long dramaful day! But I'm just loving our relaxing night at home.

We grocery shop on Friday afternoons. I go after school, but if I leave late like today, Matt and I will go together when he gets off (because he says I spend a lot less this way). Well, he surprised me and did the shopping for us, so I just got to come on home! I was so thankful!

We cooked supper, watched a little What Not to Wear, and just relaxed. Some Friday nights we also make some kind of yummy dessert. We made these tonight.


I am in my pajamas, and watching Miss America Behind the Curtian as I type! Matt has to work tomorrow, so we're going to bed early. Miss Georgia kind of annoys me, just because she was at the Miss Thomasville pageant and she just isn't my favorite. But I still would be so proud if Georgia won. I think I like Miss Mississippi and Miss South Carolina. Of course, I like Miss Arkansas, Miss Kentucky, and Miss Oklahoma too. I don't know for sure yet. I love the opening number and the talent portion.

I hope that we're home in time tomorrow to watch it!

Doesn't this picture remind you of last year? Miss Indiana won the crown.


My support brought her puppy to school today, and my kids had no idea. They thought our computers were making noises (whining sounds), and were shocked when I told them that there was a dog in our room. Here they are listening to puppy/computer cries!


And these are our cool snowflakes that we made out of borax, boiling water, and pipe cleaners as a quick little experiment. My kids LOVED doing this!



I love my babies, but I love my weekends too!

The past few...

days have been good, this week is kind of going by slow to me though. I feel like we are so, so, scheduled...perfecting the same, boring, monotonous routine. Day after day! I have had so many annual IEP meetings, and RTI meetings, and collaboration meetings this week...I think that is why my days feel so long. (Sorry for all the education lingo.) Funny though, because I usually LOVE meetings...they are so fun to me! I think I just haven't had enough time in my classroom to balance them out. Moving on...

These are some bright spots.

Abby and Anna came to visit yesterday. I pulled in our subdivision and had to slam on my brakes because there were about 20 girls on bikes, scooters, and who knows what else in the middle of the road. I recognized 2 old fashioned looking lime green and teal bikes..my girls! I immediately rolled down my windows and had pre-teen girls surrounding me :), all informing me that they would be down to my house in a minute (after they asked their parents). Several of the kids from my school were out there and were shocked to see what kind of vehicle I drove (My kids think that I live at school, I think).

Here are my girls riding around on my street. They had to get their Blakely fix, and talk me into sponsoring them in Jump Rope for Heart :)



I picked up the latest Journey for the month of February at church last night! Love it!


I got this in the mail from one of my oldest friends, and college roommates, Katie! I can't wait for her wedding weekend in May.


Today we had a fire drill and I had, you guessed it, another meeting. :) Tomorrow is Enrichment Friday, so that will be a good change of pace. I am also ready for some relaxation. That is what Friday's are for. I will be in Our Pickin' Shed, staring at this sign (and the tv) with my little family tomorrow night. There might be some guitar playing too!


Let me leave you with a favorite song, and where the theme for our pickin' shed came from...

Tuesday Talk

Blakely and I are already in bed, on this chilly, windy, Tuesday night. Here comes the freezing weather again I guess. We're ready for Idol!

I'm listening to Lady Antebellum, because their second cd, Need You Know, came out today! Sweet Southern Country...love it!


So, I have a new favorite author and a new favorite snack. I've been reading some books about the low country..my personal favorite, by Dorothea Benton Frank. There's nothing like reading about the gorgeous Carolina coast, while in the middle of January. I've read Sullivan's Island, Return to Sullivan's Island, and now I'm just a few chapters into Bulls Island. There are several more books I'm going to have to check out by her soon.


Ever since I saw the ice cream freezer at The Dollar Tree yesterday full of Drumstick's, I've been wanting one, badly! I improvised today since it is obviously too cold to go out for ice cream. I had leftover waffle cones from an activity that I did with my kids, so I put frozen cool whip in one. YUM! You should try it! It was plain and simple, but really good.

Here is Matty holding my new favorite creation.


Speaking of Matty. He is at a fancy, schmancy restaurant downtown tonight...a business dinner. Our neighbors own it, the name of it is Liam's, if you're ever in the SGA area. Matt is not looking forward to it at all, he hates to miss pj's and tv. JUST KIDDING. He is so excited about the dinner, he looked mighty handsome in his suit too!


So, I have to at least share one story about my kiddos. You never know what they are going to do or say next, but today on the playground I kept on hearing a hideous sounding howl. I knew it was my MG and Ry, and thought they were playing dogs or something. Turns out they were playing WEREWOLVES and VAMPIRES! Umm, Twilight anyone? They had lots of details to share about their crazy game. I had fun e-mailing their mama's about their crazy antics (both of their mama's are teachers..one at the high school and one at the 3rd and 4th grade school). Of course they reminded me of Edward and Jacob.


Also, my MG blessed us with her gorgeous singing most of the day too. Want to know what she was singing? "Cheeseburger in Paradise" by Buffet! In all fairness, she got to eat there after they saw Annie at the Fox in Atlanta. It's just been stuck in her head for a week. Never a dull day in our room! I LOVE my job!


That's all for my Tuesday Talk :)

Psalm 40:1-3 (The Message)
I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. he stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise song to our God.

Sweet Caroline!

;)

I've already posted tonight, but if you like Broadway/Music Troupe's/etc. Then you probably love The Glee Season 1 and 2 soundtracks.

Just sayin'...it is fun to walk to! It makes you want to turn your walking steps into split leaps, and ball changes, and sing along with your iPod. However, if I did that, (even though I had the urge) Matt would kill me! It's the ex-dancer in me talking!

Anyway, check it out! It's fun, upbeat, and will put you in a good mood!

Thank you, Wal-Mart Employee.

Today has been great. I had meetings all afternoon, so I didn't really see my babes too much after lunch. I left school fairly early, ran by The Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart before coming home.

I had to get two variety packs of colored pens for my kids at Wally World because we are starting revising tomorrow, and I promised 22 5 and 6 year olds that a "special editing pen" would be in their writing pouches tomorrow, waiting for them to be even better authors and ready to make revisions to make their writing EVEN BETTER! Whew! I also picked up some doiles for them to make Valentine's to take to the Nursing Home. While I was checking out, the checkout girl asked me what they were for. I told her that they were for my kids. She kind of looked at me funny, and I added on to my statement, "for my kids in my class at school." She smiled and said, "Oh, I thought you looked kind of young to have kids of your own!" THANK YOU SO MUCH WAL-MART GIRL! She made my day, she called me YOUNG! :)

I came home, watched my hubby and puppy play a little golf, started supper, and then went up to the bonus room couch, opened the window, opened my book to read a few chapters, and fell asleep. Ha! I am always so tired on Monday's!

All in all, it was a gorgeous day, sort of a sparkly day. Do you know what I mean? The weather has to be just right, but everything just seems to sparkle! I'm about to go on a long walk around the neighborhood, then settle in and watch my shows for the night (Ready to see who will get a rose tonight). Maybe I'll throw in a little grading too, those assessments are not going to score themselves.

And I have to let y'all hear my favorite song of the day. It is encouraging, and by one of my favorites. I let this song soak into my soul this morning on my drive to work, over and over, of course.

Memories...and JOY!

We've had the best Sunday! We specifically went to the late service this morning, knowing that a sweet girl dear to our hearts made a big decision that she wanted to share with our church family. My Abigail, is going to be baptized in a few weeks!! I was just moved to tears this morning. Matt and I sat down in the pew first..not our regular seat due to Disciple Now weekend. Our sanctuary was packed out with youth! We were kind of sad, because this is the first DNOW that we haven't helped with since we've been married. We were asked to help, but Matty forgot to e-mail them back. We are hoping to host a group (of girls) next year though! And if we would've helped we would've been sitting with our group, not with who we did get to sit with.

The Jense's found us and sat with us (Jonathan, Becky, AnnaBeth, and Abby), Abby in my lap of course, and a student I am currently teaching, my sweet Rylan and his daddy sat on the other side of me. My former student, Carson, sat in front of me. I was just so blessed to be surrounded by all of my sweet kids that have meant so much to me. Seeing them read their Bible's and sing worship songs was just almost more than I could handle. :)

The band for DNOW was awesome this year! Their name is The Less.


I haven't told many people about my blog, but I think the people that read it, know my history with my Abby. We have a neat story and connection with her family. I am thankful to live in the same subdivision as our second family here in Thomasville.

With all that being said, it has been a sentimental day in our house.

Matt and I started talking about the day we joined our church. Here is a picture of us on our way to lunch that day.


Then we started talking about the day that I got baptized.


Then we started thinking back to our first DNOW that we helped with. We actually both led DNOW's in college (at some of the same locations).


Press play on the song, then watch the video of some pics I dug up of me and Abby. We have lots more, I'm just running a little short on time. I didn't mean to exclude Matty, but I was specifically looking for ones with us together!

Here are Matt and I after church today, I was literally bursting with JOY!


I went ahead and decorated for Valentine's Day this weekend...pics coming soon!

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 94:19
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

Friday I'm In Love

I know it's Saturday, but pretty early, and I didn't have time to post this last night (because I was sleeping). I copied this from my friend, CBD's blog. I just had to jump on the bandwagon.

These are the 3 things that I'm absolutely in love with this week.

1. I was looking through a new People Style Watch in Publix after school yesterday and I'm pretty sure I saw tons of lavendar and coral. So I'm thinking that those will be two hot colors for Spring!? So, I love the new SPRING COLORS!



2. I love to drink...ice cold diet drinks/water/lemonaide/tea/gatorade. Whether I am grabbing a cold Diet Dr. Pepper can from my Wings fridge right after bus duty, or stopping by Sonic for a Vanilla Diet Coke. I love drinks! But I have a new addiction with my drink. I have to, and I mean have to...have it in a Tervis tumbler. Matt and I collect them. And it's a good thing, because neither of us like to drink out of our glasses or our other plastic cups anymore. My mama is addicted to hers too: she does coffee in the morning and water at school.


3. Movies, Movies, Movies. Matty claims that 2010 will be the best year of movies. We are going to see one today actually. There are about 5 or so I want to see right now. 3 of them have been some greats reads of mine as well. I want to see: Dear John, The Last Song, The Lovely Bones, Valentine's Day, The Leap Year, there have to be more...those just come to my mind now.


Happy Saturday Y'all!

Closed until further notice!

Ha! Apparently, house area got a little out of control after I went home sick last week! My support said I would've had a fit if I would have seen the mess!

It has been a quiet, short week in our household. I've been out and about quite a bit, and been super busy trying to stay ahead at school.

Do y'all like pandora bracelets? My kids are obsessed with mine. I've had it for about 2 years, and it isn't quite full. But they look at each charm daily, state who I got it from, and what it symbolizes. Gotta love that kind of devotion.

One of my babies, got a "replica" last weekend! I am so blessed by my job!


And as always, I'm ready for FRIDAY afternoon!!

Tennis anyone?

You know you are a redneck if your idea of tennis is playing on the street in front of your house. You know, you move over to the side and call your dog when a car goes by! Ha! I was just in the mood for a good rally tonight, and ALL of the courts in our town are always filled up this time of year, due to tennis season starting up! I definitely miss my high school glory days! Maybe the beautiful spring-like weather in January had something to do with it too!

Today was great. I had a walk through bright and early around 8:15...went amazing! I loved on my kids all day and actually covered a LOT of new content for a short week! Enjoyed leftover roast tonight, no cooking for me! Got to read a little, play tennis, and enjoy The Biggest Loser and Idol!

Oh, and I'm loving old school David Crowder right now. I think that watching Harper's first video over at Kelly's Korner has gotten me in the mood to listen to some of my old favorite DCB cd's!

How well does this song and video fit what is happening in Haiti right now?

You will know that I am present...and there is no other.

Joel 2:25 - 27

EXCITED!

about tonight!!!! My favorite night of television!

Bye Bye Texas, Hello Georgia!

I have to say welcome home to my sweet hubby! He was in Texas all week at his annual sales meeting. I am thrilled to have him home! I can't believe that I survived on my own, I've done it a few times before, but really got myself worked up about it, and couldn't handle it last year. I wish I would've been able to greet him outside at his new company car, but instead, he greeted me asleep in bed! Needless to say, I am glad he is home safe and sound! I really missed him!

In other news, we had a boring weekend. Yep. We really didn't ever get out. I don't count riding in the car and going into Publix as getting out. :) I am just so happy to have today off, thank you Martin Luther King!! I got to sleep in and I already have a roast in the crock pot.

I woke up to Matt and Blakely on the back porch yesterday. Here they are.



It rained all weekend, so we spent a lot of time upstairs in the bonus room watching movies. Here is a view from the bonus room of our rainy street.


You know, I just had to get some pictures of the lot that they are clearing and burning. My favorite is the one of Matt talking to one of our neighbors and his son, and how Blakely is turned around looking at me!





Blakely gladly snuggled with me the ENTIRE time I was sick, sometimes I wanted some space, but she is just so sweet. Matt was so sweet the entire time, he brought me gatorade, saltines, and he even surprised me with Chick-fil-a for lunch one day. You know I felt sick if I turned down a diet dr. pepper and chicken nuggets from my favorite restaurant!




It really has felt like a long weekend for me, I do wish that Matty had today off though. And we never did get our garage cleaned out like we wanted to.

I'm going to end this post with me and Blakely, so pumped about leaving the house to be getting out for a little bit, even if it was just for a ride in the car. I really was feeling so much better at this point...thankfully!


Looking forward to a great, HEALTHY, week!