Thank you PINES Public Library Systems!

Where have I been? I always go and check out millions of books at our public library. I'm a big fan of reading books for free...but I never really knew how to place holds on books and renew them online!

I needed books for our beach trip in a week and Matt forbid me from all bookstores. I really have bought my fair share of books this summer. But when I hit the one book a day, for two weeks peak....we had to put an end to it. My biggest pet peave about my library is that they don't have ALL the books by my favorite authors when I want them. But by putting a hold on the books online, they send them from other libraries if they don't have them at mine. Cool, huh?


Can you tell which author's I'm really into right now? My favs are still Karen Kingsbury and Nicholas Sparks...but they need to hurry up and write some new material for me!

So, I put holds on my books, and picked them up today!! Now, I do also have two that I bought that I've been saving for the beach (man I'm proud of that self-control)! I can't wait to sink my feet into the white sand and clear water for a few minutes...then hit the pool and a float with my books! I do love the smell of the ocean, the beach breeze, and hearing the waves crash, I'm just not a huge fan of being sandy and of getting eaten by sharks!

Finally Friday!

This has been one long week. We had a family emergency at the beginning of the week...and although things are looking better, we are still praying that my Nanny Jane will continue to be strong and that her short term memory will improve. She is having another surgery on Monday, so please pray for her.

I have been working in my classroom this week. I really like the layout of my furniture this year. I hope my principal does too :) It has been fun catching up with the teachers that have been up at school already slaving away! We all looked so rough...shorts, t shirts, hats...dust and sweat! But I always like setting things up and getting things organized. I actually already received my roster. We'll see :)


This is what I took with me to observe..haha! I didn't know how much free time I would have! I wanted to be prepared :)

I went and observed gifted high school students this week....it was interesting and tiring. I wore my favorite sandals from target that I own in pink, white, and gold, that always make my feet feel good (even after standing for 12 hours)! Well, they are not good for walking around campus in 100 degree weather. I swear that my feet have blisters on the bottom of them! Ouch!


The shoes that I thought were my favorite!

I have to share something that I LOVED! My principal called my house the other night. Of course I freaked out and had a flashback to summer 07...I had to move schools after my room was ready. But, she was calling to invite me to come swimming at her pool. She has been renovating her kitchen, flooring, and building a guest house out back. So, now that everything is finished, she invited some teachers to come relax at her beautiful pool! I love that she does things like that!

Ok, all caught up. Matt and I are watching The Incredibles in bed right now. That is one assignment for my online gifted class this week. We have to watch the movie and then answer a few questions about affective issues for gifted students that the movie addresses. What a fun assignment!

Don't forget to keep my sweet, wonderful, Nanny Jane in your prayers. We are so close. Matt and I really want to go down to the hospital this weekend, but my mom has been trying to talk us out of it. She wants us to wait until she and daddy go home, as well as my other aunt and her kids....that way Matt and I, and my aunt Lynn can go when Poppy Bill needs help and no one else is there to do it. I'm still not sure what we're going to do though. I just want to bring her a big vase full of blue hydrangeas and magnolias! Thanks for your prayers!

Lazy Sunday's are the best!

Matty is golfing this afternoon and I'm at home trying to organize my teaching bench (it is a bench in our "entryway" that is covered with things that I've purchased from The Learning Tree and Shapes and More)! I have done really well about not spending much money at all on school stuff, because this will be my second year in K...I finally have a feeling for what I need and don't need. It will also be nice staying in the same classroom....that's a first for me! I can just push things back to where they go and put everything back on the labeled shelves!

Anyway, I needed a new bag for teaching this year since my old Mrs. Whelan bag had holes all over it. This one is not my school colors..but oh well! And mama bought me the lunchbox, just like she does every year. I love having a variety of lunch boxes to choose from each day and think it's cute that my kids fight to carry it. They think it is the biggest priveledge! :)

Out with the old....


In with the new....

You look like the Fourth of July! Makes me want a hot dog real bad!

Am I the only person that loves that quote from Legally Blonde 2? Happy 4th of July!

Growing up the 4th of July was my very favorite holiday. It was a big deal in Dublin. My subdivision, Pine Ridge, and Linda Vista, threw huge block parties. We alternated the neighborhood every year. My favorite was always when Pine Ridge hosted and the festivities and they were right outside our house. We're talking pretty big neighborhoods, games, live bands, bounce houses, face painting, and tons of food. There were committees that went all out. Everyone hung out on each others lawns and front porches until dark...then we'd all sit out front of my house and the Cannon's and watch the fireworks shoot up over the trees. There is a creek that separates our neighborhood from the high school stadium..so we had the best seats in town!

So the 4th of July brings back good memories...especially picnics at the pool before we had to go home and get ready for the block party. We would set up camp at the pool and eat watermelon, play games, listen to music, and just bask in summer goodness! I LOVED it!



This year was pretty different...a lot quieter, but still a good day. Matt had to work and we had to miss our nephew's 2nd bday in Atlanta. When Matt finally got off work, we did go have a late lunch on a local plantation in town which was fun. We walked the grounds and relaxed under the oaks and pines. Then we came home and grilled out...and headed to Remington park...along with our whole town for live music and fireworks! I will say that it felt really cool out tonight..not as hot as normal July weather.



I'm thankful for so much this 4th of July...we live in a great country. Yay for red, white, and blue!

I LOVE Addison Road Live!

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow

When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. -Psalm 40:1-3a

Feeling Patriotic!

Since I've been going to bed around 4am...I usually wake up around 11. Sad I know...don't judge! I can not turn off HGTV or stop reading...if I do I think about this school year and my mind won't shut off; hence no sleep! So, I heard Matt come home for lunch at 11. He is usually on the road and doesn't make it home for lunch. I came out of our room to see him and he tells Blakely to look in the living room. I was confused, but looked too and there were two huge stars on the couch! The one's I wanted at Loli's...but decided not to buy them for a few years. I think they are a staple there. He said he was driving by and they were all half off and since I surprised him so much last week...behold...a surprise for me! How sweet! So then I decided to take pictures of the few decorations that we have out for the 4th.






I got these half off at Hobby Lobby 3 years ago! Matty loves them! He starts asking me to put them out in May..haha!


Matt picked this out for 5 bucks somewhere. I like it too.


I have more of these somewhere. I am not putting them out this year. I haven't ventured up to the school yet, so my kitchen table is covered with stuff I'm making for school right now.

Does the 4th of July make you want to watch movies?
I have been wanting to watch: Steel Magnolias, My Girl, and The Notebook. They all seem like summery July movies!


I had to include this picture! How redneck is this!! Matt is so embarassed that I do this...and sadly I had no idea. I think he's gotten used to it now though! I love going to the Y pool...and we are members...but on holiday's or days that I just want to sit in shallow water and read...the Y is not the place. It is way crowded. So, I have this baby pool that I used for my class's water day. I sit in it or just put my feet in it and read. What can I say? I stay cool and am quite content! Laugh if you must!

Want to know where I will be traveling this fall??

I'm going to be visiting my favorite band of all time...Casting Crowns. In Macon, then Jacksonville, and ending my spree in Mobile. I am ready to see them again...it is a fall tradition for our family! I know 3 times seems like a bit much...but have you ever heard them live???? Their lyrics are downright life changing. They hit home over and over and over. I feel like God's word is being poured into my soul when I listen to them sing and so does Matty!

This is probably crazy but we sing their songs all the time! Matt can play them on his guitar and we will just sing and sing..haha! And I do not have a good singing voice at all!

I got bit by the Casting Crowns bug tonight so here you go! Enjoy :)





This is my very favorite song by them! It describes me day in and day out. It just always fits my life a lot of times!