Chelle Tells

Faithful, Integrity

2012-01-22T10:58:00.000-08:00

His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
Matthew 25:21

How can I honor what God gives me?...How do I show that I am faithful and dependable with what God gives me? How can I say I'm being faithful to what God gives me and entrusts to me when I turn my back on it during the week?

Hmm...

A new view of choice

2012-01-21T10:41:00.001-08:00

"The future depends on what we do in the present."
--Mahatma Gandhi

I need to keep reminding myself that this is a journey...funny, because that was my word last year. It's a continual process. It's not picking a word on January 1 and wondering why life is the same. It's picking a word and choosing...making the *choice*...to make it a part of my life. Not hope it's a part of my life...make it a part of my life.

I have had two completely, unapologetically, self-indulgent days as we've had a couple of snow days from school. Now, on Saturday with all this time in front of me before we go back on Monday; I am willing myself to choose to make myself productive. I WILL finish my laundry...I WILL correct those final drafts. I WILL...I WILL...I WILL make that choice. :-)

OLW Choice

2012-01-14T12:39:00.001-08:00

My one little word for this year is CHOICE. On my living room wall is a vinyl quote I placed a few months ago...it says "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it's a matter of choice." So, when I was searching for a OLW for 2012 this quote stared at me during my thinking time. I came to adopt it in the following ways: my choices, what I choose to do with my life...in my life, recognizing that my life is a result (for the most part) of my choices.

I enrolled in Ali Edwards' online class to build a OLW album over the year in the hopes that I'll keep the word CHOICE in the forefront of my mind...my life.

So, maybe blogging my choices will help too.

My choice so far today...
**cornbread for breakfast
**iced latte
**computing ALL morning.

Not in love with these choices, I gotta say.

So, here are some other choices.
**A hike in the sunshine
**Putting my page protectors in my OLW album
**Prepping my PTP stuff
**Correcting some drafts...not all...just some :-)

Now...those are choices I can get behind :-)

Everything old is new again

2011-08-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

I scrapbooked yesterday! It was so great. After getting back from Europe a few weeks ago I've been really missing my friends. Now, the other two live thousands of miles away so instead I drove to Yakima to have lunch with Susan. Then she and I scrapbooked for FIVE HOURS! Originally I suggested scrapping our trip that we took together...BUT...she's not done with last year's trip and I'm not done with my trip from FOUR years ago. YIKES! But, not only did I get some layouts done yesterday, it also got me all jacked up to continue. So, after my quick little trip to the Tri today I'll do some more scrapbooking. It'll be great...now only if I could remind myself how to use all of this stuff :-)

Why did I ever stop?

2011-07-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

I don't know...why DID I ever stop blogging. For the last hour I've been re-reading my old blog posts and have had so much fun giggling and tearing up as I read about my life from a few years ago. It reminds me of the old saying "you don't know what you've got til it's gone"...that's also an old 80's song, but try not to let that deter you. :-)

Things I've been missing lately:
*blogging...really :-)
*my job at East Valley...aww...I miss them
*sitting on the couch and watching a movie with Sean...now we have old-married-couple-style matching chairs
*living super close to my girlfriends...not having a job so I had free time...but not having any money because I had no job. We used to rent .99 movie from Video Alley and just watch and watch and watch our favorites. Mystic Pizza is now on TV and it takes me back
*my friend Susan
*Spain :-)

Right now...

2009-10-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

...I am tired.
...I want to look up the Zen habits webpage.
...I am frustrated.
...I wish ALL of my grading was done.
...I can't remember the last time I scrapbooked.
...I think people's drama is funny...and irritating.
...I am trying to remember why I wanted to do this job.
...I am trying to not let other people's personal stuff make me hate my job.
...I am eating Peanut Butter M&M's :-)
...I am texting a friend who is getting married next weekend.
...I am drinking a coke from McDonald's.
...I am contemplating why my school blog never gets updated.
...I am wondering if I'll ever be one of those teachers who gets to come home before 5:30 each night.
...I am listening to Sean's music from the office.
...I am lamenting my woefully behind "Project 365" idea...ugh :-)
...I am watching Judge Judy :-)

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

2009-07-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you cross a recent trip to your childhood camp, the movie Public Enemies you just watched last night, and an overactive imagination?

I've always had an insanely vivid and unique dream life. I remember once in high school I had this dream that was so good that I willed myself to fall back to sleep against the shower wall to finish it before school started. I won't bore you with the details...but suffice it to say that it involved Kevin Costner, me babysitting his kids, a red jeep, and Scooby Doo. Seriously. :-)

I also remember one where the band room turned into the deck of a cruise ship...I know what you're thinking...how soon can you end this friendship you have with a seriously deranged individual.

So, today I found myself in such a fitful sleep in the early morning due to one crazy dream. I can't quite piece it all together but I was at some sort of campy-lodge-in-the-woods type of thing with a friend of mine. I think I was at least college age. There were four single beds in the great room...and later two more people joined us. Turns out I and one of the other people who joined us were secret FBI agents sent to quash whatever the nefarious doings were of our companions. Oh...man it was creepy...we had secret vehicle agreements with Tom Denchel Ford...there were secret documents I had to sleep with so he wouldn't see them. At one point there were dark and shadowy happenings in the middle of the night between the back door and the great room. Seriously...now that I re-read it I must be NUTS!

It was the type of dream where it kept waking me up but then I'd fall back to sleep so I could continue it. I can't even really remember how it ended. I don't think I as an agent was successful...but I do remember there being some resolution. Weird...

Blessing

2009-07-05T20:53:00.001-07:00

Today's sermon was about being a blessing. Am I a blessing? I mean...I know in the grand scheme of things that yes I am a blessing. At least I think my mom thought so...so it must be. The greater question this morning was how can you be a blessing to others in your everyday?

When I get frustrated at the McDonald's drive thru gal because I have to repeat my simple order more than once...sometimes more than twice...I am not a blessing to her.

When I punch it on the freeway because I'm impatient...I am not a blessing to the cars around me.

When I sleep in and have to rush out the door thereby not have time to wash the dishes...I am not a blessing to Sean.

I know that there are lots of ways every day that I do things for the people around me that are a blessing to them...this isn't some super existential crisis I'm having...just a wonderment about the ways we all can be blessings to those around us.

It's worth thinking about I think...

Right now...

2009-07-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

My right now...
*woke up shortly after 6 AM?...couldn't sleep :-)
*drinking coffee with Parisian Almond Cream Coffeemate
*eating vanilla yogurt and granola
*wearing brown sport capris and my two-tone orange tank with black crocs
*contemplating driving to Tri Cities to get a few things
*anxious to get the closet finished
*watching Family Guy
*found the 1957 classic Pollyanna on AMC this morning!
*still have my blue and white bracelet from VBS...it is supposed to remind me that God wants to be part of my whole life...not just little bits.

Ocean Vacation 2009

2009-07-01T20:25:00.001-07:00

This is a small collection of the photos from our most recent holiday to the coast. Ahh...just thinking of it puts me in a more relaxed mood. If you're on Facebook these will look familiar.

My favorite color

2009-06-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

My favorite color is pink or blue...I guess my wedding colors...pink and navy. Plus those colors go well with most other colors...blue and red, pink and chocolate, blue and chocolate, pink and green, pink and red, pink and black...many many combinations that look cute together.

My favorite color is definitely not green...even though my house is green (not my choice) and my living room is green (my choice after seeing Nicole's living room :-)). However; green has become a charged word lately. Are you green? Are you not green? If you are green does that mean you support a certain political ideology? If you are not green does that mean you support the opposite political ideology? It's frustrating for me. Why can't I strive to be greener without making some deep personal statement about myself? Why does my choice to be greener make someone's opinion of me change...in either direction?

So...here I am saying it...I try to be green. I do. Am I the greenest? Do I even strive to be the greenest? Not even close. But I like that my simple choices may make a difference in our household and maybe even in my community.

Here are some of my green choices:
*I purchased Toms Shoes...they're cute boots and they use renewable resources AND they donate shoes to shoeless children around the world.
*I use re-usable grocery sacks and produce bags...it's been difficult to always remember but I've gotten really good at grabbing those bags on my way out the door. (It also helps that I have an insatiable love of all manner of bags and purses)
*I use reusable coffee mugs...even for my iced drinks! Again, I'm getting better at remembering to bring them with me.
*I use a re-usable water bottle...mostly because it's cute and pink :-)
*I'm having a yard sale (WHICH I HATE TO DO) in an effort to not throw away my old fridge and stove.

Here's a link I found to help out too. Again, will I do everything listed on this site? I can guarantee "no". But, even the idea of not topping off my gas tank is something little I can do.

www.greenissexy.org

But...my favorite color is still pink!

Age

2009-06-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

At what point do you need to continually need to write things down to avoid forgetting? I've always been a HUGE fan of "To Do" lists...it can be such an easy way to feel accomplished. My brother would even go so far as to write things on his To Do list like "Take Shower" or "Eat Breakfast" just to make sure that at least some things could be crossed off the list.

But it seems lately that I will absolutely, positively, without a doubt, in no way shape or form remember the things I need to do or shop for unless it is written down on a list.

Sure enough...I went to Target (my fave store) and WalMart today with Nicole and TOTALLY relied on my list. But the other cool thing is I'm getting better at not going off my list...especially if it's an extensive list that I need to consult multiple times. Yay me :-)

My Right Now...

2009-06-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Right now...
*I'm watching a CSI episode from this winter that we've had TiVo'ed for a while
*I'm doing some online People to People work
*I'm sitting on the couch with Sean and Sommer...we hardly ever do that anymore
*I'm thinking of what needs to be on my shopping list...for the house...and for Australia
*I'm still feeling like I have "Nap Eyes"...you know how it feels when you've woken up from a late afternoon nap
*I'm wearing my green Creation shirt and my gray shorts and my black Crocs
*I have a pink sheet on the couch to protect it from dog hair
*Sommer is on the couch, Roxy is on the dog bed, and Cleo is barking outside
*The 409 is still on the entertainment center from when I cleaned off the TV tray for my laptop
*my suitcase is 30% packed for Australia
*It's at the borderline of almost too dark in the living room as the sun goes down and not quite dark enough for the lights to be turned on
*I'm hoping Sean will want to watch another episode of some TiVo show...so that even though we're not having a deep conversation and even though I'm multi-tasking we can still have some time together :-)

Happiness is...

2009-06-21T11:20:00.001-07:00

...my friend Nicole asking for help on her blog...which in turn gave me the renewed gumption to attack my own long abandoned blog.

...my friend Amanda who made a fantastic tribute to her dad on her blog...which in turn gave me inspiration for the bulk of this post.

...my "word of the year" RELEASE...which in turn has given me the freedom to NOT FEEL BAD THAT I'VE NOT BLOGGED SINCE EASTER! :-)

I Wonder

...what his voice sounded like
...if he barbecued on this day
...what he loved for dinner
...if he ever cracked up in church with her the way I did with Sean today
...if we would've done father/daughter dates
...if he would've liked Sean as much as she did
...if he'd be retired by now
...what our house would've looked like
...if I'd have visited Minnesota by now
...how much hair he would have
...if he was the New Tie on Father's Day type of guy or the Power Tool on Father's Day type of guy

Every Morning is Easter Morning...

2009-04-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

...from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!

Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance! Hello, Lord, Hello, sun!
I am one of the Easter People! My new life has begun!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!

Daily news is so bad it seems the Good News seldom gets heard.
Get it straight from the Easter People! God's in charge spread the word!

Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!

Yesterday I was bored and lonely; But today look and see!
I belong to the Easter People! Life's exciting to me!

This SO takes me back to when I was a kid in church. That was before churches had contemporary music and this song came from a camp songbook. We felt so rockin' by singng this folk-music song :-)

There's another one buried down deep somewhere in the recesses of my mind...I'll find it one day :-)

Happiness is...

2009-04-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

not passing out during the 400 calorie workout on your treadmill! :-)

Now...let's hope that Happiness continues as I try to start my computer that mysteriously shut off.

Daily Plan

2009-04-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

I have a plan...(not as poetic as *dream* I know)...a plan to sit on my back deck and read a book not because I have to but because I can. I have a plan...a plan to finish Angels and Demons before the May 15th release of the movie not because I have to but because I think it makes me look more intellectual. I have a plan...a plan to while away my free afternoons doing whatever the heck I want to not because I have to but because I have zero meetings anymore! I have a plan...a plan to ease into the evening bathed in the smooth light of my new torch candle not because I have to but because manufacturers have devised a way to set the mood AND ward off mosquitoes.

Here's the before and after on my way to my plan...

Chairs waiting to be put together...thanks Honey!

My new candle...just waiting for me :-)

Daily Flashback

2009-04-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

Back in the day Sarah and I used to watch this VHS videotape that she had. I'm sure her parents picked it up somewhere but I have no idea where. It was called "Hi Tops" and it was a Christian themed musical. It had something to do with some angels being sent to a high school to pose as students...learning and teaching along the way. It was so hokey it was awesome! I don't even want to know how many times we watched and re-watched that tape. But suffice it to say that with my love of Jesus and my obsession with musicals I borrowed that tape a lot...and had the lyrics memorized in no time! I even had SOME dialog memorized...I'm proud/chagrined to admit :-)

So...a year ago or so I looked for the video online and found a reference to it but learned it was no longer in print. So, I looked for it today and there on Christianbook.com...wait for it...the remastered DVD version of my Holy Grail. Do you even have to ask...I ordered it on the spot...but I did restrain myself from opting for Priority Mail. So, it should be here in week or two. I can't wait to see if I remember all the words still. Ooohhh...and I can't wait to bring it down to Sarah's house and watch it with her again...sometime :-)

All I Ever Needed to Know...

2009-03-25T20:25:00.001-07:00

I learned from Wicked: The Musical!

My girlfriends and I had the ultimate Girls' Weekend! We drove to Portland on Friday night, did some shoppin' and eatin' Saturday morning, and then went to Keller Auditorium to see the Broadway Across America production of Wicked: The Musical. I SO missed my calling...aside from the fact that I can't carry a tune in a bucket I was born for the stage :-) I have not stopped listening to the soundtrack since December. And since I don't have the long drive to work anymore I've even taken to randomly driving around town just so I can belt out the showtunes at the top of my lungs all by my lonesome. So...indulge me if you will :-)

"Dear Old Shiz"
O hallowed halls and vine-draped walls
The proudliest sight there is
When grey and sere our hair hath turned
We shall still revere the lessons learned
In our days at dear old Shiz
**remember your past with fondness and take the lessons learned with you

"The Wizard and I" (a personal favorite of mine)
Did that really just happen?
Have I actually understood?
This weird quirk I've tried
To suppress or hide
Is a talent that could
Help me meet the Wizard
If I make good
**sometimes the one thing that you've counted as a disadvantage is the one thing that makes you so unique and desired to others

"What Is This Feeling?"
Ev'ry little trait, however small
Makes my very flesh begin to crawl
With simple utter loathing
There's a strange exhilaration
In such total detestation
It's so pure and strong!
**be careful about how you let your negative feelings take control over you..because there IS a strange exhilaration to it sometimes.

"Dancing Through Life" (another favorite)
And the strange thing:
Your life could end up changing
While you're dancing
Through!
**there is value in the journey as well as the destination

"Popular"
When I see depressing creatures
With unprepossessing features
I remind them on their own behalf
To think of
Celebrated heads of state or
Specially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Don't make me laugh!
They were popular! Please -
It's all about popular!
**C'mon...tell the truth...sometimes you wanna think this is true:-)...sometimes it even seems really true

"I'm Not That Girl"
Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
Ev'ry so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in
**Do I need to explain this one?

"One Short Day"
One short day
In the Emerald City
One short day
Full of so much to do
**Don't waste an opportunity

"Defying Gravity" (a SUPER favorite of mine)
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!

I'm through accepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down:
**Again, nothing I could say could make it clearer...mmmm...me likey this song!

"Thank Goodness" (quickly becoming another fave!)
That's why I couldn't be happier
No, I couldn't be happier
Though it is, I admit
The tiniest bit
Unlike I anticipated
But I couldn't be happier
Simply couldn't be happier
Well - not "simply":
'Cause getting your dreams
It's strange, but it seems
A little - well - complicated
There's a kind of a sort of : cost
There's a couple of things get: lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed
**be careful what you have your heart set on

"As Long As You're Mine"
Kiss me too fiercely
Hold me too tight
I need help believing
You're with me tonight
My wildest dreamings
Could not foresee
Lying beside you
With you wanting me

Just for this moment
As long as you're mine
Come be how you want to
And see how bright we shine
**How much better could an expression of love be than to "kiss me too fiercely"?...how tender a picture of being with your beloved than when he asks "see how bright we shine?" when you are how you want to be...(sigh)

"For Good"
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you
**ahh...for all my girls! Makes me thankful for my friendships even though (and maybe especially because) they aren't perfect and are works in progress.

Well...there you go...a few life lessons from the story you never knew about the two witches of Oz. Y'know...it's playing in Seattle in September...wanna go? :-)

Daily Done

2009-03-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

So, we're done for the day. We had another good day at the WACA conference. Our speaker this morning was AMAZING! Basically he was your average run-of-the-mill sad story and here's what I learned from it kinda guy. But the way he presented it was so super sincere! You know...when he tells us to take time to be caring...it really was so sincere. His name was Chad Hymas. Super Good!

I skipped out on two afternoon sessions because there weren't really any topics that applied to me. So, I came back to the room and answered some school emails.

Then tonight...I WON! Yep...I won the cool bag with motivational books in it. We received tickets all conference and got to put them into a box for a door prize drawing. Right before they said the name I said to the person beside me...I'm going to win it!...and I DID! I love it when that happens!

Time to pack up all the goodies I've won or been given...SWEET!

Daily Inspire

2009-03-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am...more than a week late again...and just choosing to **release**. Ahh...it feels good. I'm getting better. I think I'm doing better with RELEASE this year than I did with SIMPLIFY last year. Maybe I'll try to simplify next year :-)

I'm at the WACA conference in Vancouver this week. It's good. I'm always nervous to leave my kids and it's especially difficult when it's for three whole days. I know the world will continue to spin despite the fact that I'm gone...but phew...I hate to leave my kids. Here's hoping Mrs. B is having a great time with them!

WACA stands for Washington Activities Coordinators Association. It's the annual conference for leadership teachers, ASB advisors, school bookeepers, etc. It's a great time of lots of info and some rejuvenation. Y'know...it's hard being a teacher in general...I know it's not popular to say that sometimes...but it's hard. I literally do not sit down all day some days. And even as I speak...err...type...I'm glancing at a stack of papers that need to be graded that I brought with me to my hotel room. But doing a high activity class such as leadership is a harder job in some respects. So, it's good to come here and be refreshed. You know I'm only as good as I let myself be. If I pour myself out but don't replenish the waters...pretty soon there'll be no more to pour out. It's the same for life; isn't it?

Some highlights for today:
*Speaker Showcase: Richard Thomas...a man who grew up in inner city L.A. and moved to Kent in the 6th grade. He went on to play at the UW and the NFL and now speaks to students. So, I had to get a picture of him...he even let me wear his ROSE BOWL ring!

*Speaker Showcase: Jeremy Johnson...spoke about your value and the ability to see through the obstacles.

*Keynote Presenter: David Garibaldi...performance artist who paints big bold pieces of pop art to music...it's called "Rhythm & Hue"...super cool!

I'll post pics later...and I'll try to post more stuff about last week...at least if I can remember.

Go...be inspired!

Daily Evaluation

2009-03-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

Things I liked about today:
*All the oldie-but-goodies songs at church today (Humble Thyself, Where Do I Go?)
*Listening to Elvis Costello at Starbucks
*finishing correcting essays
*grocery shopping AND putting them away before nightfall
*the Friends Thanksgiving episode with Brad Pitt...mmmm...
*Amazing Race
*Seeing my friend Shelly

Things I did not like about today:
*frustrating emails
*parents who are doing their children no favors
*being in bed past 11 :-(

Daily Deep

2009-02-28T21:25:00.000-08:00

MMMmmmm...what is it about certain times that make you feel introspective...contemplative...what are other words that end in -ive? I was listening to a song tonight in my car as I sat outside my house. It was a song from the musical Wicked. It's a song about a boy she likes that likes someone else. It's called "I'm not that girl" and it's got clever lines in it like this: Blithe smile, lithe limb, she who's winsome, she wins him. Gold hair with a gentle curl: that's the girl he chose and Heaven knows I'm not that girl. Now, these lyrics have absolutely nothing to do with me or my life but I found myself sitting there under my rain dropped windshield in the nine o'clock darkness of a Saturday evening feeling...umm...I don't know...nostalgic?...for what I don't know. I don't know if it was the dark evening drive to water a friend's plants, the quietness of the post office drive thru, the cool breeze through my window as I made an ATM deposit, or the fact that I've been watching Sex & the City (which is laden with my above phrase "I don't know if it was...") but I just really felt like I needed to sit for a minute...in my car...and sadly sing those words along with the actress in my IPod. I don't know...I don't know what I'm feeling right now.

I want to say that I'm feeling in flux...maybe unsure...I don't really know what I've got to be unsure about but there are things in my life that feel out of my control. The weird thing is there are no big things that definitely need my control. Melancholy...is that how I'm feeling? Hmm...I don't know. I'll try to be in a better mood. A more alive mood...a less quiet mood.

So, after asking you to PROMISE to not let me slack off on the daily stuff you big fat went and did it anyway! :-)
2-17-09
School after a long weekend. Mmmm...a long weekend. Except that short weeks always seem to take too long. It was fun to see everyone's reaction to the final totals for the Pennies campaign...over $3000!

2-18-09
I found this really cool website when looking for something for youth group. It's called TeenSundaySchool.com and it had the latest lesson series I'm using on Truth. It's interesting...my students' view on truths...quite the range I must say. It should be interesting!

2-19-09
Survivor tonight...YAY! Doug comes over and our typical deal is to order Chinese. I sort of like it and I sort of don't like it that they know my name there...and my specific order that never EVER changes! Sweet & Sour Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice (no sprouts), House Special Fried Rice (no sprouts), and BBQ Pork...mmmm!

2-20-09
It's my 34th birthday today and many many people wished me well. Lots of my friends and classmates on Facebook wished me happy birthday, a student of mine wished me happy birthday every time she saw me in the hallway, a colleague sang to me, my aunt who never ever misses my day sent me a card, Sean had not one but two gifts, and some people called to say happy birthday. But why is it I still tend to think of who didn't call me. Hmm...
BTW...Prosser girls played at EV...fun to see my friends..not so fun to lose :-)

2-21-09
Ahhhh...lunch my girls...ahhh! It started as just a quick trip to Tri Cities, that changed to a quick trip and lunch with Nicole, and that turned into all four of us (which is surprisingly difficult sometimes) getting together for lunch a bit o' birthday party wishes. Then out to the farm for family birthday. That's always good to see everyone all at the same time...Grandpa isn't getting any better though and that makes me...umm...heartsick.

2-22-09
Church, school work, you know...a typical Sunday. Ooohh...plus the Oscars. So my girlfriend Kate Winslet won! I love love LOVE her! And Slumdog Millionaire...oohh we really liked that movie!

2-23-09
Typical Monday. No meetings...now that's a breath of fresh air! I ended my six year term of elder at church which means that although I still volunteer with the youth group I don't directly volunteer on the Christian Ed. team or on Session. And that means!....that I don't go to meeting twice a month anymore. You wouldn't think that two meetings would be difficult but it kind of cuts into the week :-)

2-24-09
Now...the down side of no meetings is that I tend to spend way too much time at school. Sean informed me the other day that since I'm so close to home now I can come home earlier than 5:30...we'll see if I can improve that :-)

Oh...and a yummy birthday lunch at school for me and Ellen...I LOVE Chinese chicken salad :-)

2-25-09
Today in youth group we re-arranged the furniture. It was fun...but I think we ruined some TV cords. And it wasn't the MOST spiritual night...but we did do some fun Bible Trivia :-)

2-26-09
Survivor again...Chinese again...plus I finished filling out some congratulations cards to my students for raising their reading levels. Sure, it takes time but I'm hoping that the small investment of my time will make a difference in their desire to continue working hard!

2-27-09
Ahh...finally Friday. I had to cover detention today during the Staff vs. Student Ball game...it stank. It really stank. I hate having to be the mean teacher at detention. And then a quiet evening at home doing the bills, reconciling the accounts, and finishing the taxes. It feels good to have it done! Plus, a whopping $40 refund. It's funny that we're disappointed in that when all a refund is is the government giving back the money that we overpaid anyway. It's not really extra or free in the first place :-) funny!

2-28-09
Sleeping in RULES! Basketball today...EV lost :-( versus Othello of all teams! We won..and the games were at EV so again...it was fun to see my friends :-) **See above post at the beginning for the rest of today**

So...tomorrow...I WILL POST and (now repeat after me) I WILL correct the essay, I WILL correct the essays, I WILL correct the essays!

Daily Completion

2009-02-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

Today I went up to school for like...five hours...wowza! I love holidays when I can go up there with a HUGE block of time all to myself. I am finally DONE with everything Penny related. I got all the final numbers tallied, the congratulations posters made...everything! I just have to fill out the report and send it in and we're good to go! We made a little over $3200 just in nine days...I'm so proud of my kids and the student body. They worked really hard and it totally paid off!

Also; I finished watching all of my Judge Judy's that have accumulated on Tivo...and we watched the last Cities of the Underworld we'd had saved...plus the last of the DVD's are sorted and put away in our new storage device...and the sheets and comforter are ALL dry well before we want to got to bed!

Lastly...here's something I've wanted to check off our TO DO list for some time. We had FISH FOR DINNER! Not such a big thing I know...but we really want to be healthy and we logically know fish is good for you but we so don't like fish. I found some mild Tilapia and it was good. I didn't exactly get a thumb's up from Sean but a "it's not bad" is as close as I think I'll get. Close enough to have fish maybe once or twice every two weeks...baby steps :-)

Daily Catch Up

2009-02-15T12:24:00.000-08:00

Okay...I know...this is SO not a daily post since it's been more than a week. But I can explain :-) Everything is fine...I'm fine...we're fine...just circumstances, you know?

So; for the sake of catching up, filling you in, and keeping up with my Project 365 here we go! **Reader beware...this is shaping up to be a novella**

Friday 2/6/09
*refer to aforementioned Oscar movie post* Sean has wanted to see Slumdog Millionaire and it finally opened in Sunnyside...so off we went right after school. We try to catch a matinee for many reasons...cheaper...no stupid people...less crowded (more on stupid people later). I must say this was one of those I'm-going-for-him-more-than-me kinda things. He goes with me to Chick Flicks so this was the least I could do. I did end up really liking it. Sean like it more...but it was good. It's about this slumdog (read: impoverished, lowly tea server young man) who wins the top prize on India's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Because he gets all the answers right he's questioned by the Indian police about whether or not he cheated. And by "questioned" I mean "tortured within an inch of his life". Then the movie follows his whole life and how the circumstances of his life helped him know each question. It was a really cool conceit for a movie and it does have a happy ending. I like it and I'm fine with it being nominated...totally worthy. About 1/4 of the way into it I turned to comment to Sean that I'm so happy I was born in the United States...wow!

Saturday 2/7/09
On Saturday we headed to Wenatchee for my brother's surprise birthday party. He actually didn't turn 40 until Valentine's Day (or as he calls it...St. MARKentine's Day :-?) It was fun to surprise him...although he kinda knew something was up...the stinker! It reminded me of my Surprise 30th birthday party that Sean threw for me when all of my family and friends came all the way to Prosser to help me celebrate! I made a scrapbook layout for him titled "40 things I learned from my brother"...among them "How to cool off the television set with ice cube trays so mom won't know we were watching TV instead of doing chores". Maybe I'll do another post with more! We also had lunch at Miner's...Sean LOVES Miner's :-)

I got some good Cooper and Crosbie time, too. Cooper wanted to snuggle with me all night and thought it would work out great to sleep in between me and Uncle Seannie. Not so much :-) But we did snuggle a bit in his room while we watched his favorite part of Superman and some more in the morning watching Sponge Bob.

Sunday 2/8/09
We came home and I immediately went to Starbucks to correct some papers...didn't get as much done as I thought...I never do...but it was some good time. After some grocery shopping at Grandview Safeway (which I know is a BIT more expensive but it's so pretty there) it was a pretty regular Sunday night...little bit of Housewives, little bit of laundry, little bit of school work, little bit of getting ready for the week!

Monday 2/9/09
Probably the best thing about this night was that I didn't have to go to Team Meetings...not that I don't enjoy doing ministry with my friends...but I sure do love having my evenings free again. On this night I got to stay at school and watch some student produced presentations for National History Day. Once upon a time when I was a CWU Wildcat I used to help with the National History Day State competition when it was on campus. I told my two colleagues and Viola' I was recruited to help. It's fun to be staff at a local school and get to participate. At my old school I never stayed for this stuff because it was always at night and I lived far away. There were some REALLY good ones...and some that were still "in progress". But they have four weeks still and they should vastly improve!

Tuesday 2/10/09
Were I to have done a post on this actual day I would have titled it "That's how you know?" and then quoted the lyrics of that song from the movie "Enchanted".

How does she know you love her?
How does she know she's yours?
How does she know that you love her?
How do you show her you love her?
How does she know that you really
really truly love her?
Well does he leave a little note to tell you, you are on his mind?
Send you yellow flowers when the sky is grey?
He'll find a new way to show you a little bit every day
That's how you know he's in love

...you get the idea :-)

And then I would have told you this story:
On Monday Sean informed me that the next Netflix movie to come in the mail I couldn't open...it was a surprise! Hmmm...so I told him that he's not the boss of me and I could come home on my prep period and get the mail and open it anyway. But I didn't. I got the mail on Tuesday and sure enough there was the new movie. Sean was on the treadmill so we didn't open it right away. I told him I thought I knew and he challenged me to guess. Guess #1: Kids Incorporated...NO "You'll never guess what it is" he baits..."But it's something you really likED". Guess #2: Facts of Life...NO Quick rebound with Guess #3: Silver Spoons..."How did you guess that?"

And then I would've ended the post with something poetic...a little like this...but it probably would've been longer:
That's how I know...that's how I know I'm the one...cause he orders my favorite 80's sitcom from back when I was in love with The Ricker. You know how much I love Kevin Costner...it doesn't even compare to my devotion to Ricky Schroder! And he knows that and he surprises me with it. He gets the big garbage can from the alley without me asking...he lets me sleep in when I have a day off...he washes and changes the sheets and makes the bed all while I'm away...he doesn't mind when I go out with my girlfriends instead of him on Valentine's Day...he still sends me Valentine's roses...that's how I know!

*I also bought 300 Conversation Heart boxes in Tri Cities today for a Candy Gram promotion at school...yikes!*

Wednesday 2/11/09
Wednesday's are always dominated by youth group stuff...and that's a good thing :-) Luckily Pete was able to help out tonight so it wasn't just me and the 22 middle schoolers :-) We did Bible skits...which they ALWAYS love!

PLUS...my BFF had her baby today! Check him out here

Thursday 2/12/09
Survivor finally started! This is our thing...don't gimme a hard time about it. Doug comes over, we order Chinese food, and we watch Survivor. Last year was the first time we picked winners a'la Fantasy Football...a'la Amazing Race (more on that later). Plus CSI...even without Grissom it was still good. We're about two weeks behind on CSI...but thank goodness for Tivo!

Plus I got my Valentine's roses today. It was two days early...Sean always likes to mix it up because I kinda expect them. I love it when they come to school and my girls gush about how sweet it is and I use it to talk about what a good man he is. Sometimes I worry that me saying that is the only time some of my girls get an idea of what it means to be treated right by the person who loves you.

Friday 2/13/09
Friday the 13th...ahhh...:-) It's finally over...the coin drive at school. After two straight weeks of counting almost $200 in coins EVERY DAY it's done! The kids did an awesome job and they're a bit bummed they didn't meet the goal...but it was a rousing success. We'd set the goal using last year's number but neglected to consider that last year was a 3 week campaign and this year was a nine-day campaign. So, coming within $100 of last year' goal in 6 fewer days seems A-OK to me!

I also got my hair done today. It was the second time for this girl to do my hair and it's different but I like it...darker for sure...and the blonde is more carmel this time which I like!

Basketball versus Wapato this night...girls won keeping their no-loss season alive! And I must admit that I wasn't expecting much from our boys...Wapato is that good. But, it's a wacky CWAC this year. We lead them through 3 1/2 quarters and finally got outscored at the end and lost...but they played so well! And it was INTENSE. Their coach got a Technical Foul...he must've said something about the ref's momma..maybe "Your mother is so beautiful and by the way thanks for the outstanding job you are doing on the court". And it's always fun to listen to the whiny Wapato fans...seriously the only foul they're aware of is "Three in the Key" because that's all they yell about from the stands...ugh!

Saturday 2/14/09
Happy Valentine's Day! I slept in until 9:42...that's late for me! Well, it's late for Adult Me...back in high school that wouldn't even have been a drop in the bucket. Jacki and I drove down to Tri Cities to have lunch with Nicole and we spur of the moment decided to watch a movie...Confessions of a Shopaholic...it was cute...and it worked well since no one's husband wanted to go to this :-)

Sunday 2/15/09
We were greeters at church today and everyone was SO excited to see Sean. With his surgery (which is SLOWLY progressing in it's recovery) and not feeling well it's been a while since he's been to church. It was a good sermon...about anger and not raising your hand in anger but in kindness. Plus Lindsey brought her friend's little boy to church. She was babysitting and funnily enough (yes, I know it's not a word) the little boy is related to me. It happens that her friend's husband is a second cousin of mine from Sunnyside...how wild is that? I happen to think this little bitty boy looks just like his dad did when he was little.

Without a doubt our favorite FAVORITE show is Amazing Race. Sean wants us to apply to be on it SO badly. For his birthday last year I partially filled out an application...but certain "stipulations" have yet to be met :-) For Amazing Race we always pick our dream teams and we do it Fantasy Football style...meaning that we pick who we think is going to win the whole kit-n-caboodle before we know anything about them. The person who came closest to winning last year has to pick last and we pick two couples. So, I TOTALLY kicked Sean's butt last year...my couple actually won the WHOLE thing! So, he picked the Lawyer Siblings first...doh! I picked the Blonde Flight Attendants...YES! He then picked the Sporty Sisters...that a'ight! My final team is the Troubled Dating Couple...risky! Turns out my two teams came in DEAD last...the troubled couple got booted and the flight attendants have some serious catching up to do!

Phew...that was intense...PLEASE remind me to NEVER save up a week+ worth of posts...it's way too taxing! I already know there's stuff I've forgotten and that drives me crazy!

I'll do today's post all by it's lonesome :-)and I'll try to post pictures soon, too.

Daily Count

2009-02-05T21:20:00.000-08:00

So...originally I was thinking that this post would be about counting money. We are in the beginnings of our Pennies for Patients campaign and it seems like my whole focus is on counting coins...piles of pennies...piles of nickels...piles of dimes...piles of quarters...and stacks of cash!

It seems it takes the whole period to collect ad count everyone's money. Today we did a promo at lunch called "Stuck for a Buck". One of our staff members volunteered to be stuck to the wall with duct tape. So at lunch students could buy a strip of tape for fifty cents to stick him to the wall.

We made $80 just at lunch...let alone the rest of the day...it was awesome! One student brought his birthday money---$50! Another student brought his own $20 he earned. It was really cool..for student to be so giving. I know they are competing for pizza...but still...it's pretty cool!

Anyway...yes this is about actual counting BUT will you allow me to stretch it a bit? It also makes me think about what counts in life. Today we asked our students what success means & to define a success they had today. The point was there are little successes that lead to bigger successes. Don't just concentrate on the enormity of the big things that seem impossible...because it's all the little things that lead there. That's why we end our daily Pennies announcement with "Every cent counts"...because it does! :-)

Daily Busy-ness

2009-02-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

6 AM wake up and get ready for school
*don't forget the bills to mail
*don't forget to print directions to Sierra Vista

7 AM drive out to Starbucks
Pick up school van

7:15 AM finish the copies for my sub
panic when it's 7:40 and she's still not there

7:45-8:05 stand outside my door and collect late assignments

8:05 AM learn one of my students is NOT going with me...an $18 loss

8:10 AM leave with five ASB officers to Sierra Vista Middle School in Sunnyside

8:40-1:15 spend all day in a gym with 210 middle school leadership students...isn't there a medal for that?

1:40 PM collect $220 in coins and cash for our first Pennies for Patients day

2 PM join book study with colleagues

3 PM begin counting $220 with three student helpers

5:15 PM finish counting...ugh!

5:19 PM begin loading coins into the Coinstar machine at Food Depot

5:54 PM finally finish fighting with the Coinstar machine and get my receipt!

6:05 PM return home with a McDonald's dinner

6:30 PM arrive at church to NOT do a lesson because I'm inundated with 25...yes 25...middle schoolers all by myself...and I'm SO tired

8:20 PM finally arrive back at home to watch the end of American Idol and go to bed...why are some days like this?

Gooooo.....GOooooo...that's all I felt like today....GO.

Daily Kick Off

2009-02-03T21:49:00.000-08:00

Technically yesterday was our Kick Off for the Pennies for Patients campaign at school. But, today was the day we got the last posters up and the collection cans out to classrooms. So, it feels like today is really the kick off. This picture is of my students holding our poster. They've been working really hard and they're really excited and have had a ton of great ideas. I always love it when kids stretch outside themselves to help others.

In other news...I spent TWELVE hours at school today! Not twelve hours from the time I woke up to the time I drove home...literally TWELVE hours in the building! That means I didn't get home until after 7.

I am taking the ASB officers to a conference tomorrow so I had to get ready for a sub and that always takes so long...between my sub plans I have to write, and the copies I have to make, and the perpetual mess that is my desk it just takes so gosh-darn long. But on the bright side I'll have fun tomorrow and my sub is awesome!

What else today...
Sean's incision is finally showing noticeable signs of improvement.

I had one of the most perfect dinners...plain pasta and mozzarella/parmesan cheese

I'm wearing my new sweater that I bought three months ago...only the second time I've worn it since I hung it in the closet in our old room and forgot I had it :-)

We watched the first night of Hollywood night on American Idol.

Sean had to wake me up today because I just wasn't waking up so he got up first and then had to call up the stairs "Honey? You going to school today?"

Even though it was MONUMENTALLY noisy I really had genuine fun with my students coming up with their Editorial arguments.

Tired! But...Good times :-)

Daily Accomplishment

2009-02-02T22:23:00.000-08:00

Back in the day banks used to send you your cancelled checks. That way you could see that they had cleared...who cashed them...etc. etc. etc. Back in the day my mom worked in the banking and finance industry in many different capacities. She volunteered as our church treasurer for many many years and she'd call on us kids to help her from time to time. I LOVED helping. My big job was to sort the church's returned/cancelled checks into numerical order. So, off to the living room I'd go and lay out all the checks on the electric blue carpet. If it were a lot of check I'd start sorting into big bunches...like all the 100's, 200's, 300's, etc. And then I'd take the 100's and sort into groups of tens and so on and so on until all the checks were in order. **I also used to walk the half block to Mrs. Schefelbein's house to deliver her paycheck for being the nursery attendant**

My mom was a really good banker...she was ambidextrous...she could operate her adding machine with both hands! She taught me how to count cash three times...yes, three times. Because if you only counted twice and both times got you different numbers how would you know which is right? Whereas if you count it three times then at least two times would be the same and that was probably the right count. She taught me how to flip through checks really fast using the eraser at the top of your pencil in the upper right hand corners of the checks. She also once refused to close a month's statement at the church when it didn't balance. Now, it was only off by a quarter and our minister offered to just give her the quarter to balance it out...but that's not the point. That quarter was there somewhere and by golly she eventually found it!

So...fast forward to today and I still love to do home banking! I LOVE LOVE LOVE office supplies that make my office more organized and pretty. I love a fresh pack of pens and highlighters. I love an empty accordion file at the beginning of the year. I love closing up last year's accordion file. I LOVE LOVE LOVE when our paychecks come in and I can open Quicken and everything balances and is accounted for and the bills are paid. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the feeling of paid bills. Would I like to hold on to some more of that cash? Sure...but it's so satisfying to know that God provides for us and we are good stewards and take care of ourselves.

Tonight was one of those nights...all paid...all stamped...all addressed...all balanced! Yippee!

Daily Bummer

2009-02-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

I hit a dog tonight. I think I clipped it as it ran out of the way. Ugh..I'm hating myself right now. There were two dogs and it was dark and I was by myself so I didn't stop. I asked Sean if I should have stopped and he said I made the right decision not knowing how hurt and angry the dog was and not knowing the state of the other dog and not having anyone with me and it being dark. I looked in my rear view mirror and didn't see anything in the road way so I'm hoping I just bumped him with my tire and he was able to run home.

I'm frustrated though by dog owners that didn't look after their dog. I saw the first dog along side of the road so I started to slow down and then all of a sudden the red dog was in front of me. I feel awful...should I have stopped? Would I understand my point of view if it was my dog that was hit? Why do dog lovers end up being the ones to hit the dogs...there's something cosmically wrong with that!

I also had my first People to People meeting with my Australia students...it was a much better first meeting that last year's. That makes sense I guess because this time I was able to answer questions based on my experience. It looks like we have a great group of students and I'm really excited!

Also...a quick observation...if you're strapped for cash and come into a windfall is it really the wisest investment to frivolously spend money on high priced electronics? Just curious :-)

**Sweet!...no misspellings found...again!**

Daily Request

2009-01-31T21:58:00.000-08:00

When you want something what do you do? If I want something and Sean is headed to the kitchen anyway I'll say "Honey? Could you get me a coke on the way back from the kitchen?" If I'm in my classroom I say "Hey Jessica, could you bring me that stack of papers pretty please with sugar on top?"

When Cleo wants to go outside she dances around very ansy-like and will run the length of the living room back and forth between you and the door until you let her out. When Sommer wants the empty plastic bottle or the people food she'll lay her head on your lap as you sit at the desk or paw you...over and over again very annoyingly. When Roxy wants to go to sleep she lays her head on the back of my thigh.

However...when the dogs want water...they do this:

They lick and lick and lick and lick and lick at the self watering water dish. I sometimes wonder if they think that the water will just magically appear if they lick hard enough. Even though they watch me refill it. If we're in the office we can't see or hear them licking. So then when we get back into the kitchen we find that they've licked and licked to the point of moving the water dish about 8 feet from the back door to the middle of the kitchen. Funny dogs!

We had our church's annual Chili and Cinnamon Roll Feed tonight. Mmmmm...super good chili and mmmm...super gooey cinnamon rolls. I had tons of fun with my two little waitress helpers. They looked up at me about 20 minutes into their shift and said..you know this is kinda fun! Too cute:-)

P.S. To Mark...Deal!
P.P.S. Edited to read CHILI...not CHILD...no we do not feed on Children at my church :-)

Daily Hmm..

2009-01-30T21:36:00.000-08:00

About 13 years ago there was a movie that, at this time of year, was so massively hyped that Sean and I couldn't wait to see it. It went on to win many many awards. We'd seen it before the Oscars...back then we saw so many more movies than we do now. There was a time when we would've seen every Best Picture nominee movie...not because we set out to but because that was what our tastes and time dictated. There were even some times that we'd seen close to all of the performances that'd been nominated. I digress :-)

So, we went to see The English Patient with high, HIGH, expectations. And we were so...SO...SOOOOO...disappointed. What? Were you expecting us to have liked it? I remember thinking at the time "how many times can we look at the undulating sands of Africa from an airplane?"...or "Wait, what? Did they jump back in time again?"...or "Who is this black haired bearded guy hitting on Juliette Binoche?" Ugh. We did NOT like it...and then that year as we watched the Oscars we felt so gypped when it won all these awards. I mean, I guess I could appreciate Juliette's performance...but ugh! What a stinker of a movie :-)

SO..I was apprehensive when we went to see The Reader tonight. I really wanted to see it (and it turns out I used to own the book...but never finished it) and Kate Winslet is a pretty big deal around our house. She's been Sean's girlfriend for going on 12 or so years..and I've been known to offer ...well, nevermind. :-) Let's just say she's my movie-star BFF.

Now...I wouldn't say I didn't like it. Sean for sure wasn't bowled over. But it definitely has stuck with me. I can't stop thinking about it...four hours later. I can tell when something like that affects me because I pore over the internet to find out stuff about it. So, I've read the IMDB.com stuff on this movie, I've consulted Wikipedia, I've watched the cast interviews on the movie's site, and I've even watched the Official Trailer on YouTube...even though I JUST saw the movie.

It's fascinating to think of what makes people fall in love, what forces from the past and present affect that, what forces from the world around you affect that, how do you reconcile what you feel for someone if and when you learn a secret from their prior life, does that change what you had, does that change how you feel now.

I love stories and movies that don't give you the "Right" answer. I do, really. I sometimes get frustrated but ultimately I love it because it lingers with you. It keeps you thinking. I mean, I loved the book Bridges of Madison County and I remember finishing it in a weekend. But at the end I'm pretty sure that the housewife doesn't go with the rogue traveling photog and I'm pretty sure she's completely tortured yet stoic about that decision. I love LOVE Nicholas Sparks novels...mostly because I love Kevin Costner and he's in Message in a Bottle. But when Kevin's character's story runs its arc...I'm not really questioning anything.

In fact I just finished a novel with my students where at the end they asked me the "so what does that ending mean?" question. It's fun to say "I don't know, what do you think?". That's how I feel about The Reader...does Hanna see him?...did he ever love her?...did she know about the trial when she left?...was he able to love anyone else?...why the tapes?...what was his motivation with the tapes?...I don't know; what do you think?

The Reader is a slow-moving but absorbing story of sexual awakening and moral dilemmas. Director Stephen Daldry (The Hours) has intelligently adapted Bernhard Schlink's novel set in post-World War II Germany. Though the effort is uneven, it's a well-acted romance that becomes a less compelling courtroom drama...The Reader raises thorny questions and avoids simple answers. Michael's morality is left disturbingly unclear. This tale of eroticism, secrecy and guilt is bound to stir discussion.
---Claudia Puig, USA Today

**FYI...when you attend an R-rated movie whose reviews says things like "sexual awakening...DO NOT take your 8 year old and then HARUMPH as you leave the theater**

Daily Stump

2009-01-29T21:14:00.000-08:00

So...I ask my students to write all the time and to be honest I don't have much patience when they tell me they don't know what to write about. Now, granted, some of the students who have this complaint have been hard at work for all of two minutes so my lack of patience is warranted. But; tonight I kinda know what they mean. I think in this case, though, it is a case of being tired and still having stuff to do...also; I'm getting kind of tired of doing this Project 365 thing. I keep thinking on the one hand it's cool to document a tiny part of every day of your life for a year...what a thing to look back on. But, on the other hand what could I possibly have to say still? Woke up...again. Had a vanilla latte...again. Stayed at school too late...again. Organized and stacked piles of papers...again. Demanded that Sommer stop licking...again. Ate dinner and watched Ghost Hunters...again. Washed dishes...again. Coerced Sommer to stop pawing me...again. Got after Cleo for barking...again. Wondered why Roxy looks at us as though we're about to kick her out...again. Slacked on laundry...again. Left dinner on the counter...again. Blogged...again :-)

Daily Peace

2009-01-28T22:14:00.000-08:00

Hi world. Hi *release*. Hi stranger who I got to pray for. Hi unashamed concern. Hi sincere prayer. Hi Body of Christ who prays together. Hi friend who went to dinner with me. Hi hubby who got a milkshake with me. Hi Friends! Hi blogworld. Hi better days to come. Hi small successes. Hi inquisitive students. Hi connections with kids! Hi good times. Hi comfy bed!

Daily Hooky

2009-01-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

I have been serving as an Elder in my church for six years. Most of the time I was on the Christian Education Team. The Christian Ed. team is in charge of Youth Group and Sunday School and Nursery. In the Presbyterian church you can serve as an Elder for a term of three years and you can serve two terms back to back. It's a good thing to serve...I believe it is a good thing to serve. But...it's also really tiring because of all the meetings and sub meetings and emails and readings. And it's also stressful sometimes when there are big decisions...I want so badly to be doing what God wants for my church family.

This past Sunday we elected new elders. Now, technically I'm still an elder until the new ones are installed...BUT...I had SO much work to do and it was my students' first home basketball game...so I made the uncomfortable email to ask if I could skip it. So, now...I'm at home and there's a meeting going on and I'm not there...and I TOTALLY feel like I'm skipping school. :-)

Also...today in the mail I received the TITLE TO MY CAR...what a nice surprise! I knew we were getting close with all the payments but I thought I still had a couple of months to go. Woo Hoo!

Daily Regret

2009-01-27T20:47:00.000-08:00

Do the blog.
No; I'm tired.
You know you'll regret it if you don't.
C'mon...it's just one blog on one day what's the ha...
The harm? The harm is it'll be a day later and you know you won't remember what to type.
Remember? It's just a day...how I could I NOT remember?

Hmm..good question. You know another good question? What the heck happened yesterday?

This is the conversation that Evil Chelle had with Angel Chelle. Just so you know...Evil Chelle won out so I'm blogging about two days on one day...*sad tear*

*I'm sure I ate some breakfast...oh yeah...it was Sean's birthday and I made cinnamon rolls while he was in the shower
*Ummm...I watched some Judge Judy...and some Good Eats...I think I fell asleep to Good Eats.
*I had dinner with Sean...Eli & Kathy's Drive In (his birthday choice...and watched Cities of the Underworld about the Egyptian Pyramids.

Okay. But if your Project 365 gets messed up don't coming crying to me!

Daily Procrastination

2009-01-25T23:16:00.000-08:00

So I went to church and straight from church I went to Yakima for PTP interviews and from there straight home to get going on some work as I get ready for this week at school. Ugh...Don't ya hate it when as you drive home you make a list of ALL the stuff you have to do and ALL the time you have to do it in but in the end the list never gets tackled?...me too!

Well...I guess that's what Monday mornings are for right...cuz I totally always wake up on time on Mondays to tie up loose ends!...Ugh :-)

Daily Par-Tay!

2009-01-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

Today was my friend's baby shower. We've been friends for a really long time. Today I was going through my mind all the ways I could describe how long we've been friends. Each one brings about a different reaction or emotion. Try these on for size:
*We've known each other since we were five...awww...that's such a sweet memory.
*We've known each other since 1980...wow; I remember the 80's...good times.
*We've known each other for every stage of our lives...wow; you must have a deep friendship.
*We've known each other through our awkward years...wow; those must be some stories.
*We've known each other since (and after) the Great Spaghetti Sauce Fight of 7th grade...wow; a fight so big it had a name?
And then I started counting exactly how long we've known each other. I used to say:
*We've known each other for twenty years...wow; that's an impressive history.
And then I started to RE-count and so I present the piece de resistance:

*We've known each other for *ALMOST THIRTY YEARS*...which begs the comment wow; you must have met in the womb!...*LOL*.
Seriously; thirty is so much more than twenty! Wow...we've really known each other for almost thirty years. As I looked up on Wikipedia the meaning of the French phrase I used above I learned it meant "the best part or feature of something" but I also came across this one *coup de gras* which means the death blow meant to end the final suffering of a wounded creature. So...I'll leave it up to you to decide if it's a coup de gras or the piece de resistance.

I also got to talk with her mom for a long time...that was fun...plus I got to have lunch with my other friend...and listen to her son laugh when we told him he came from Mommy's tummy...he thinks we're totally joking him...oh...and the icing on the cake?...I ran out of gas on the side of the road. My good friend to the rescue and I was on my way!

Daily Competition

2009-01-23T22:10:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time ago a girl graduated from college intent on changing the world...one student at a time. That's what teacher-college feels like, BTW, you are singularly equipped and gifted to cause all of those pre-pubescent beings to stand in awe of you as the ONE teacher they'll remember...the ONE teacher who'll be the subject of that college-application essay "The person who made the most impact on my life".

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my job...but there are times when the bubble I blew in that first paragraph gets totally burst and I find myself saying and doing things MY teachers used to do and I swore I'd NEVER do...Liiiikkkkeee...raising my eyebrow to my students (a'la Mrs. Bowden) or "yesterday when we left off..." (close to Mr. Fuerst's "Last...Yesterday") or the ever popular "would you like to share that with the rest of the class?" (akin to EVERY teacher I had who put the comment socializes too much on my report card).

I digress...once upon a time ago a girl graduated from college and looked for a job. She found one in North Bend and applied but she didn't have any team teaching experience. The only other job she found was a High School in Yakima. She'd never taught high school...and still felt a little too close in age...plus Yakima was a long way away. Well, she thought, that's okay...I'll just work at East Valley High School for a year or two until something closer comes available.

So for nine years she drove 500 miles a week to work and back. This girl who'd sleep til way past noon...who couldn't make it to her 8:00 History 102 class even when she lived on campus...who once made her mom break open their back door because she'd slept walked and accidentally chained it shut...left her house every morning by 6 AM to get to work. This girl never saw the light of day from Monday thru Friday during the winter months as it was dark when she left for school and dark when she left for home. This girl sometimes drove as slow as 40 or 50 MPH when road conditions worsened...for nine years.

Then one day a job came available...a mere two minutes from her house...and she took it. It would be an easy transition...she *thought*. She'd never lived in East Valley; she rarely did staff get-togethers because she'd always get home too late. It was *just a job*...or so she thought. The new job started and she missed her colleagues...and the more she missed them the more she realized that unbeknownst to her...over the last nine years...they'd become so much more than colleagues...and this job had become so much more than a job until something closer comes available.

Fast forward to tonight and my hometown gym is host to the East Valley Red Devils...so many of the Varsity girls and boys were my students over the last 3 or 4 years that they'd been at the high school and a part of me still considers myself a Red Devil. I found myself looking with disgust as they missed their shots or muttering under my breath that they were better than this. It was definitely bittersweet. But it also made me so appreciative that my very first job was SUCH a good experience.

The distance will get easier...those students of mine will eventually graduate and I'll no longer know any of the EV kids at all...but for now...it helps me still feel a little connected while I'm still healing from the loss of my first great job!

Daily Fix

2009-01-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

MMMmmmmm...Patrick Dempsey...*sigh*...me likey!

Tonight was the third episode in a mini-arc that has been playing out on Grey's Anatomy. Last week was intense given the final scene of a death-row inmate/patient doing himself in by slamming his newly-opened skull against the back of his hospital bed.

Then tonight it was one gut-check after another with a heart wrenching fight between Izzy and her dead ex-fiance, the 10 year old on death's door, the inmate who Derek thinks is pure evil and Meredith sees some redeeming qualities in (when he's really somewhere in between the two), the organ donor's wife, and the lines that were crossed...phew...

I cried...I'll admit it...I'm a big girl...I cried. To which Sean incredulously questioned "You cried? It's a TV show." Oh...did I mention this statement came as he was playing his game World of Warcraft...with people he assures me are real...but I say the jury's still out. So to Sean I say...*ring*ring*ring* "Hello, Pot? This is the Kettle. You're black!"

Also...big news...Sean's staples are out! It was so cool to watch that...his staple remover was exactly like mine at school :-) So, we'll see how he progresses...he's certainly feeling a whole lot better!

MMMmmmm....Fridays!...*sigh*...me likey!

Daily Lists

2009-01-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

What I ate today...Breakfast: Apple Bran Muffin and Vanilla latte from Starbucks
Lunch: Roast Turkey and stuffing Lean Cuisine and a Coke
Dinner: Apple Chai Tea Latte and Oatmeal cookie from Starbucks, one hot dog at church, left over spaghetti at home

What I wore today...
Brown "Toms Shoes" boots
Khaki leggings
99350 Prosser long sleeve shirt
Italia sweatshirt/Boise sweatshirt

Who I talked to today...
Sean
Paul
Jacki
my students (at school)
Wendy (at school)
Connie (at school)
Ellen (at school)
Colin
my youth group kids
Kim (at school)
Vivian (at school)
Mark (at school)
Brock (at school)

Who I got emails from today...Sarah
Carrie
Youth Specialties
Christianbook.com

What my dogs are doing right now...
Sommer...in a time out on the couch
Roxy...sleeping on the dog bed RIGHT NEXT to Sean's chair
Cleo...barking up a storm outside

TV I've watched in part or whole (or at least listened to)...
Judge Judy
Good Morning America
Today show
The Patriot (with Mel Gibson...not Steven Segal)
My House Is Worth What?
HBO Inauguration special

Daily History

2009-01-20T21:16:00.001-08:00

On a day like today I want to sound poetic...and inspirational...I want to sound profound. But I find myself not even wanting to articulate what I feel on inauguration days because I think it will pale in comparison to more gifted writers or it will not ring so true when I become the umpteenth (thanks for the word mom) person to talk about how it feels to be part of history.

So...I will talk about what I like about inaugurations. I like all the pomp and circumstance, I like the show of patriotism, I like the history and symbolism. I like that there's a band that dresses up as colonial soldiers and plays the fife and drum. I like that the oath of office doesn't change. I like that he used a former president's Bible. I like that we still use poets as Poet Laureates to speak at the inauguration. I like the anticipation of what her dress will look like. I like that the old president leaves the new president a personal note on personalized stationary for him to find when he gets back there. I like the old first couple and the new first couple meet for coffee on that morning. I like (and chuckle) that they attend church on a weekday morning at St. John's Episcopal church...even though they're not Episcopalian.

I like all that stuff...I like that all the stuff that used to be done gets done one more time. It makes me feel nostalgic. If you know me then you know well that I appreciate traditions...especially traditions that make me feel warm and fuzzy. I like sweet pictures like this one, too. A picture that was viewed live by thousands and will be viewed over time by millions. A picture that shows a private moment in the midst of a public celebration.

And...here's another private moment picture. Sean and I took our niece and nephew out for dinner tonight. L is 10 AND A HALF and D is 2. Once he got the hang of it he LOVED the McDonald's playland. Man that kid can scream...but it was all screaming with glee!

Daily Bother

2009-01-19T21:35:00.000-08:00

So; tonight I read something that I can only describe as *disturbing*. It was written by someone whose life seems in a dead-end and has been that way for some time. You can tell it really made an effect on me because I'm still quite bothered. By all accounts some of the bummer-ness is self inflicted...some; not so much. I can think of ways that this person could've altered her life or her response to it but I don't think that would be the most helpful. And anyway...pointing fingers at this point is useless. The really disturbing part were phrases she'd written like "a happy day seems like a black and white picture from yester year" or "the only thing that is happening with the lemons are that they are being squeezed into my eyes and already open wounds" or "I have a demon pirched on my shoulders pulling my puppet strings of stupidity and misery". See what I mean?

I was and am still very truly bothered by this...but it also got me to thinking about ways to help. You always hear about friends helping friends and on the rare occasion that the situation had escalated beyond help and then the friends say things like "if only" or "I wish I'd known...". So, what's the tipping point? And if the people don't know you are searching for ways to help then how do you tactfully offer the help...or does tact have anything to do with it? Hmmm...clearly I'll still be bothered by this for some time. And I have ideas in my head and a burden on my heart to continue my part in this. And if you are of like mind and heart you might want to add this at*this*early*date*un-named "Blogger-Girl" to your prayer list...or me...as I search for ways to help.

On a more mundane note:
Today I...
completed four loads of laundry
emptied the dishwasher
put away all the hand-washed dishes
met with Colin to design a Youth Group poster
had Starbucks!
Facebooked
Emailed
Watched Grey's Anatomy on Tivo...Go Eric Stoltz!...I smell Emmy :-)
Was frustrated by my dogs
Was driven to an "awww..." moment by my dogs...they're so CUTE!
Made spaghetti...why did it taste SO good tonight?

This is my dog Sommer getting her favorite chew toy...an empty plastic bottle...it's the little things:-)

This is my lunch...a chicken salad sandwich just the way we made them at Jennifer's when I was in college!

Daily Release

2009-01-18T23:32:00.001-08:00

This morning I got to participate in my good friend's son's baptism. It was so sweet...I've known him for so many years and I love that I have been able to see his faith grow and ultimately be a part of this decision he's made. Church was extra long today...but it was good...watching our students join the church, good songs, good fellowship, good message. It was more than 30 minutes longer than usual...but that's okay...it was a good day at church!

I skipped out on the Miss Prosser pageant tonight. I usually do like to go with my mother-in-law (who was Miss Prosser herself) but tonight I had gotten so into finishing straightening my desk area and finishing those scrapbook projects that I've had laying around so I bagged it. And it turns out I didn't get quite as much done as I thought I did...but that's okay. I did find and sort all the stuff for those unfinished projects. I did finish cutting and making my Word of the Year. My desk top is a bit messy again..mostly with my newly sorted stuff that is just waiting to be put away...but that's okay because I got a lot of stuff done.

I'm going to bed later than I want to...but that's okay. Church was longer today...but that's okay. My desk is a tad messy...but that's okay. My living room is still not all the way clean...but that's okay. See how good I'm doing with my Word of the Year...see all the stuff I've RELEASED..because it's okay :-)

Daily Dailies

2009-01-17T20:57:00.000-08:00

So...technically I did post for yesterday(Happiness is...) but I didn't do a "Daily" post. I have a good reason though! Last night was our church's youth group Lock In for the Thirty Hour Famine. The Thirty Hour Famine is a World Vision program to raise awareness of and funds for African poverty and hunger. We challenge our students to fast for 30 Hours and during those 30 hours we have a lock in, play games, have worship music time, watch movies, play games, do service projects, and sleep...a little. So from noon Friday until six Saturday night I only drank water and tea. Last night we played games and watched Prince Caspian and Kung Fu Panda and had GREAT worship time with Rob. Today we woke up around 8:40 and got out around 9:50 for our service projects. We cleaned alleys, helped at Jubilee, volunteered at a chess tournament, and cleaned up some parks. It was good...but cold..so we ended a bit early.

Some things I'd like to remember:
*how selling concessions at the chess tournament is SO hard when you're fasting
*how cool I think it is for a student to organize this as her senior project
*how slick it was this morning...freezing fog
*how fast everyone cleaned up and how full the city dumpsters got
*how Lindsey and I sat up until 2 AM talking before we fell asleep
*how GREAT it was to worship in the sanctuary under the cross
*how satisfying it is to make it all thirty hours without eating and to know that the void you feel is filled by communing...during those hungry times...with a living God whose heart breaks for the pains of this world.

Happier Happiness is...

2009-01-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

finding out twenty minutes before you leave to get the "extra work" done at school during your two hour delay that you actually have a complete cancellation of school and now you have a four-day weekend!

Clean desk and paid bills...here I come!

Happiness is...

2009-01-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

I have a good friend who does many of her posts with this Happiness title. It's a lot of fun and a quick peek into her day. I already wrote this in the comments of her blog but it bears repeating.

Happiness is...finding out you have a two hour delay (which you DON'T make up) after you get out of the shower!

Sure...I as the lover of all things sleep-related would've LOVED a couple extra hours of sleep. But I also LOVE a couple hours of extra "work and/or goof off" time :-)

Daily List

2009-01-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

What I did today...
Woke up late=6:40 vs. 6:00
Debated Editorial topics with my students
Complained about stuff at lunch
Listened to "The Giver" with my students
Rushed home to get scrapbook supplies
Had fun sharing scrapbooking with the Crafters Club at school
Made (or rather...heated up) Orange Chicken and French Fries
Started to clean my desk...really I had started already but tonight is the first night I can see the dent that was made
Talked on the phone with FIVE people...Barb, Kristin, Susan, David, Mark, Heather...make that SIX people.
Facebooked...blogged...played my computer game...in general wasted time :-)
Set up a PTP interview
Watched Friends
Got to bed an hour later than I'd wanted...:-( 10:00 vs. 9:00

It's getting there...

Daily Ouch

2009-01-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

Ohhh...man alive (as my mom used to say) my dogs are barkin'! And by dogs I mean my feet...and by barkin' I mean my feet are SO SORE! Although...a little bit ago my real dog was really barkin' :-) I don't what it was about today but my whole lower body is sore. My lower back is sore, my hips are sore (one is left over sore from two nights ago when Roxy slept against me all weird), my knees are sore, my ankles are sore...Holey Moley! I guess I just really full-body taught today...hmm :-)

The one thing that is feeling better is my left heel. For the past six months my left heel has been unbearably painful and I can't figure out why. Like when I get out of bed I'm limping...picture an old lady and you'd have the image. So, through a strangely coincidental story I shall share later I was scrapbooking with my 8th grade PE teacher and was mentioning this pain. She said right away that she thought it was *fasciitis* (sp?)...and she started telling me my symptoms and she was so right it was creepy. Turns out fasciitis is caused by arches falling or feet flattening out and that pulls the Achilles tendon taught...that is what causes the heel pain. She suggested taping my arches up...but what I really did was bought an arch insert and darned if she wasn't right. My heel, although not all the way cured, does feel better.

Still sore though...Jacki and I were talking that maybe it's because Wednesdays are just so busy...you know I go from school straight to church...sometimes with just a short break in between. Phew..it's exhausting!...but not a bad way to spend an evening. It's tiring, they're loud, there's a lot of them...but all the while building relationships with kids and God...Suh-Weet!

Daily Hmm...

2009-01-13T20:31:00.000-08:00

You know how they say there is power in words...words mean a lot...choose your words wisely for they may come back to bite you...once you say it you can't get it back...blah blah blah. Blogging, so often especially, makes one think about words. Mark and I even use word choice as a criterion for joke-quality...if there is an efficient use of words then it may make the joke funnier.

But I'm also wondering about the power of word timing, who the words are spoken to, or (even more telling perhaps) who the words are *not* spoken to. You know what I mean? Those things that you think need to be spoken...but you're not sure IF they should be spoken...and if you do speak them who do you speak them to? Because again...once they're out there you can't take them back. *I know this is sounding very convoluted...refer to the "Choices" post from a few weeks ago...this post was precipitated by something but I'm not going to get specific so it's no use trying to figure out the underlying meaning :-)*

Tonight I'm wondering if there are times we feel burdened by info we have and a way to release that burden is sharing said info...only we chicken out and share it with someone who it's easy to share with. In some cases, convincing ourselves that our choice is the right thing to do. When in reality the right thing to do would be to shift who the words are spoken to or not speaking them at all. Yet...now you have shared that info so your burden is TOTALLY taken care of. You've kind of let yourself off the hook of the really difficult thing to say because you've said it...just not to the right person.

This is what I'm wondering about lately :-)

My photo of the day...btw...is of me and our three dogs on the couch. But I still need to load it off my camera...so TO BE CONTINUED :-)

P.S. *patting herself on the back* when I clicked the spell check it came back with "no mis-spellings found"...YAY me :-)

Daily Cut

2009-01-12T18:14:00.000-08:00

After giving him the worst time about what a bad patient he was for not letting me help him more I must say I'm pretty proud of Mr. Room 1114. We got there at 6:30...they took him back around 8:50...he was out of recovery around 10:30...and we were home by 4. Plus...he'd yet to take a pain pill until about 20 minutes ago. Seriously...the nurses kept calling him their *rock star* because he was doing so well. The surgery went well too...just as they expected it would and so far he doesn't seem to be feeling the gall bladder pain he'd been experiencing...so it seems to have worked!

It was good to have our minister and his mom with me too. Paul prayed with us before the surgery...that always helps me feel better. And Linda sat with me through the whole surgery...it was a big help because I wasn't so much nervous but the time would've passed so much slower had I not had anyone to talk with. In fact; I'm so glad Paul came and prayed with us because I had anticipated being super nervous and anxious. I usually am in most medical situations...I think my childhood has totally skewed my reactions when it comes to medical issues. So...I was so at ease knowing he was in great hands and knowing he would feel so much better when it was all said and done.

Ahh...now this really was a good day!

Daily Difference

2009-01-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

What is the difference between me and all those other teachers who can get ready for a sub in an hour or less? I was at school until almost 5:30 on Friday and then spent another three or four hours getting ready for my sub today and when I got home I still had to email a friend of mine at school because I forgot something...what is the difference?

What is the difference between a life not obsessing about a clean house and a living room I'd be comfortable inviting people into? In my quest to get ready for my sub my living room is still a pig sty...and my poor sick husband will be recovering in a mess.

So...tomorrow is Sean's surgery. It'll be a good day...I'm glad he'll finally be pain free of his gall bladder. I asked him today if he could remember what it even felt like before this chronic pain. I was counting it out today and he's been feeling this way for about a month now.

On my way home from school tonight (notice the darkness outside) I stopped at the recycle center to make a *difference*. At my old school we actively collected recycling. At my new school we don't...but I still do. So, I had to drop off my recycling...it had accumulated to a big bag full so it was definitely time :-)

Daily Meeting

2009-01-10T23:51:00.000-08:00

So...today we had a People to People meeting in Yakima. It was another informational meeting to share with people the ins and outs of traveling with our program. Usually this meeting takes place in the fall; but it was kind of nice to do another one. It was super great because I got to spend some time with my friend Susan. Susan and I met at East Valley High School when we were Social Studies colleagues. I adore her...she's super cool. We had the most fun collaborating together...and talking with each other...and complaining about the boys.

When I decided to leave EV and take the job in Prosser I knew it was going to be difficult to leave my beloved job after nine years. It was different because I wasn't leaving EV because of anything wrong with EV...I was leaving EV because it was so far away. It was a great job and I knew I'd miss it. But I didn't know I was going to miss my colleagues as much as I do. I hadn't ever really called them my friends...my EV colleagues had always been friend-ly...but because we were colleagues first I never really put them in the *friend* category.

But...boy...when I see them after so long I LOVE it. And I loved hanging out with Susan today. After our meeting we went over to her house and scrapbooked...which felt good too:-)

*picture coming soon*
*BTW...ever notice how I start these Project 365 posts with the word SO...?*

Daily Game

2009-01-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

I like to play this little game...I call it "How long is TOO long to stay at work?" Today is FRIDAY and I was still at work past five o'clock! In my defense I was doing actual work...not like sometimes when I get distracted looking at online curriculum and get side tracked. With Sean's surgery coming up I'm taking Monday and Tuesday off to care for my beloved. Getting ready for a sub to be in my room takes SO MUCH work! The lesson plans for the day are one thing but you have to think of every little thing about your students..who needs to leave early to serve at lunch...who needs to go to the library...etc. etc. etc. And I'm still not done; I'll need to go to school on Sunday to finish things up for her.

Also tonight we watched our Prosser Mustangs take on the Selah Vikings...girls won 45-34 and the boys lost 62-52.

Coming home so late and with a game to go watch I cooked dinner tonight at our friends the McDonald's :-)

Daily Doctor

2009-01-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

So...Sean is having surgery on Mon. the 12th. Today was his pre-op appointmet. We got into the exam room really quickly and then promptly *waited* for about twenty or thirty minutes inside. After buzzing down from Prosser...leaving school as soon as the bell rang...and we waited. So, after a while there wasn't a ton of stuff to do. But there was a very detailed poster of the digestive system...hence began a lesson from Professor Sean. The more I looked at the poster the more questions I had...the more questions I had the funnier it became that Sean knew every single thing I asked. At one point I said "Wow, you're really smart!" To which he sarcastically said "Thanks". I then declared that I could never have been successful in his studies because I am pretty sure you'd have to memorize every thing of human anatomy and though I am a teacher I'm not so good with the memorizing. I'm more of a conceptual thinker and I'm pretty sure the medical field is looking for you to know more than just the conceptual version of human anatomy.

So...here...let the lesson begin...the green part is the gall bladder which Sean will be free of in less than four days!

Daily Group

2009-01-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

So in youth group we are in a series called "Teens vs. Parents". And tonight I was WAY unprepared. The thing is the curriculum is really user friendly...copy the worksheet and pop in the DVD. But I was totally unable to direct the small group time. I would love to say..hmmm...guess they were really out of it....maybe they weren't back in the swing o'things after winter break...maybe the topic didn't *speak* to them. But...I think that's only partially true. I was way unprepared. I don't think I even looked at the lesson until 30 minutes before small group. So...deep down...deep deep down...I know that I can't blame it on exterior things. I know it didn't excel because I didn't put the effort into it. It's like I tell my students that you only get out of it what you put into it. And here...I need to remind myself of that...every once in a while...:-)

Also...we're starting the 30 Hour Famine...it's Heather's senior project. So cool that she wants to do something that benefits others for her senior project!

Daily Nap

2009-01-06T19:46:00.000-08:00

Today was my second day back to school from our unusually long break. And I'm even more tired today than I was yesterday. Why is that? I wish my body would just automatically get back into the swing of things. It is currently 7:47 and according my original plan I am 47 minutes late for my bedtime :-) Ahhh...bedtime...

Today I made some more plans for my kids to pen pal with Ann-Jean's students in Denmark...they are so excited. Here are some of their questions...what sports do they play? Do they know how to say hello? Will they know how to say my name? What do you mean football is soccer to them? Well, then what do they call football? What..they don't play football?

It's pretty funny and cute...they can't figure out what to write and so I'll say "well, what do you want to know about them?"...I get the response..."I want to know if they're hot..." Good grief :-)

No picture for today...forgot my camera at school. We were taking Next Top Role Model pictures.

Daily Soup

2009-01-05T19:40:00.001-08:00

So...I've had this recipe for a LOOOONNNNGG time but have never gotten around to trying it. I'll back up...Sean and I LOVE Olive Garden. We don't care for the salad so we always get the soup. Our favorite is Zuppa Toscana (in my limited knowledge of Italian I think it means Tuscan Soup). Today we had our own Zuppa Toscana. It wasn't quite like Olive Garden's soup...but it was pretty darn close and BOY did it taste good. I've got quite a bit left...maybe I'll bring it to school for lunch for everybody. Mmmmm...mmmmm...good!

Zuppa Toscana
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 t. chopped garlic
6-8 slices of bacon (use a kitchen shears to cut into small pieces)
1/2 to 1 lb. of Italian sausage
2 qts. water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2/3 c. heavy whipping cream
3-6 potatoes, chopped (I leave the skins on and slice into skinny disks)
2 c. kale, chopped into bite size pieces

1. In a large soup or stock pot; cook onion and bacon until onions are translucent and bacon bits are browned
2. add sausage; crumble and brown as it cooks
3. add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes
4. drain this mixture and set aside
5. in the same large soup pan add the water, cream, bouillon, and potatoes; bring to a rolling boil
6. reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes
7. add in the browned sausage mixture and kale and simmer for an additional 4-6 minutes

Daily Something

2009-01-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

So...today I woke up a bit late and went to church at the late service. I had a meeting after church so it made more sense. It was kinda nice to go to the late service. It's like the service was when I was a kid. Nowadays I like to go to the early service because it's the contemporary style...but I like the nostalgia of the late service.

My first meeting went great...kinda long...but we were deciding budget stuff for the church for the coming year...so you know...that takes some time.

My second meeting was fun, too. We were meeting about doing a 30 Hour Famine Lock In. One of our seniors is doing it for her senior project. I'd done a 30 Hour Famine a few years ago and it is surprisingly fun. And the whole *not eating* thing is really not as hard as I thought it was. Once you get to hour six or seven it starts to not be an issue. We fast for thirty hours to raise awareness of famine in Africa and around the world. Plus, our youth group kids have been DIEING to do a lock-in. They've been waiting and waiting...so it should be a good time.

So, it's off to do my laundry and my last minute planning for school to start back up again tomorrow. It's been a nice break and I sure would love some more chunks of time to finish up some projects...but it will feel better to get back into the swing of things too.

sadly...I got to bed WAY too late for the night before back to school :-(

New Year...New Word

2008-12-31T22:09:00.000-08:00

So...scrapbooker Ali Edwards encourages her readers to adopt a word for the year... Kind of a reminder of what you want your focus to be in the coming year. Last year was the first year I did it and my word was SIMPLIFY. In reflection; I'm glad I picked that word. I wouldn't say my life was simplified as much as I thought it would be but it did help to glance up at my word and remind myself to take a breath. I purchased the word SIMPLIFY in both wooden and wrought iron form and they are sitting above my desk as I speak...er...type.

So, this year I've decided that my word of the year will be...RELEASE. I mean it this way...release the things that I'm allowing to stress me out that I have no control over...release the things I beat myself up over...release the things I try to take back again and again...release myself from my fears and anxieties...release the things that just don't matter...wait; I think that last one is just a fancy way of saying SIMPLIFY...I digress :-)

Anyway...I made a photo collage of other people's online photos. Each photo shows some sort of release...from the Mandela's release from prison to the release of Stephenie Meyer's new book (which I haven't read and from which I'm releasing myself the pressure to read) to the release of a hawk back into the wild.

Release

One small step...

2008-12-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

"...inspire others to look for simple tangible ways to make a difference. It is easy to be halted by the great hurdles of poverty and AIDS, but making an impact can begin as simply as giving someone a pair of shoes..."

So...almost a year ago good friends of ours traveled many many miles to Ethiopia and brought back with them their daughter. Little Miss M is the light of many lives here in Washington and in Michigan as well. We can't stop playing with her, holding her, laughing with her...you get the idea. Many of us were moved by the pictures and stories they brought back from Ethiopia as well. And now I think we all have a soft spot in our hearts for the children of that country.

I remember a few years ago another friend and I were in a conference and the key note speaker was talking about his work in alleviating poverty...I think he was specifically talking about India. He spoke with such fervent belief that world wide hunger could really be eradicated in our children's lifetimes. After we wiped our tears we sat there thinking how it was inspiring but also daunting to think of what it would take to make that happen. We felt like that quote at the top of this post...we wanted to know and feel like even our small offerings of time and money could make a difference.

So...back to Little Miss M...her mom told me of this neat shoemaker who will for every pair of shoes you buy donate a pair of shoes to a child who needs them. So far they have shared around 60,000 shoes around the world and they are getting ready for their next shoe drop to Ethiopia. If you are looking for a unique pair of shoes or for a way to be involved from halfway around the world please visit www.tomsshoes.com. Check out their styles and their story. You can take one small step and buy some funky shoes or an even bigger step and travel with them to make the drop...WOW...that really would be a giant leap for mankind!

**Not a bad way to celebrate my FIFTIETH post**

List Update

2008-12-20T21:11:00.001-08:00

Referring to my modified Bucket List:
So...as my oldest and dearest friend pointed out....I probably have made a snow fort. There were many forts made in our neighborhood and she's probably right...I probably did engage in the making of at least one. I stand corrected!

Sarah remembering this reminds me of that movie "Beaches"...except she's not a famous singer and I'm not dying of congestive heart failure...but other than that. The movie is about these two best friends that have known each other for ages and CC says to Victoria "my memory is long" and Victoria says "I'm counting on it" :-)

Good things come to those who wait

2008-12-09T17:13:00.000-08:00

Has there ever been something you really REALLY want? I mean *REALLY* want...want so badly that you were obsessed with wanting it, want so badly that all you saw around you was the thing that you want, want so badly that you wished for it and wished for it, want so badly that you began to envy those around you who had it, want so badly that you began to believe...truly believed...that you were meant to have that thing, want it so badly that you've managed to manipulate, trick, and finally convince yourself and those around you that there was no way the world could be right again unless you could possess the thing that you want, want so badly that you were blind to the realities of the possible consequences of said thing...want so badly?

Try not to read anything into this post...I mean..I will read into the post but that's because I'm writing it and I know what precipitated my musings. Don't knock yourself out reading between the lines; the overwhelming message is what's occupying my thoughts.

Things I've wanted; that I didn't wait for; and that didn't turn out so hot...
*Wearing make-up: I talked my mom down to 12 from 16 (man I was good) but ultimately the nuances of make-up application was lost on a sixth grader
*My first boyfriend: He was a nice enough kid; but honestly that's the story that everyone laughs about now.
*Pierced ears: My mom tried to wait until the right time by mandating that I reach a double digit birthday; but the starter earrings stayed in for a month because I was scared to take them out...then finally my grandmother declared that it be time I learned that "beauty is pain" and drug me into the bathroom to take those bad boys out!

Things I've wanted; that I DID wait for; and now can look back on and be thankful I waited...
*Disneyland: I went with Stacie when I was 13 and she was 11; I'd wanted it for a long time but it turns out that was about the perfect age. Old enough to ride all the rides and still young enough to be awed by my first trip to the Magic Kingdom.
*Working at Ghormley: I'd probably wanted to do that since I was an 8th grader; but it turns out that working that summer of 1997 was the best for me...my mom had just passed away so it kept me busy in a supportive and spiritual place and I met my super good friend Carrie.
*Marrying Sean: My friends all did it sooner and I was super jealous at the time but ultimately waiting until we were both working was such a much better decision. I don't know if I'd have finished school had we done it sooner.

So...my point...and I do have one...is this: There are so many things people want in this life...good things...things of value...things that are right. But; just because you want them and just because you can manipulate the situation to get that thing you want right when you want it doesn't mean you should. What if wresting control of the timing of a situation out of the hands of God really turns that wonderful thing into just an okay thing...or worse. I know you want that thing...I know you want that thing you really want...that thing that everyone else seems to have but you don't...I know you think you deserve that thing...I know you can even make it happen...but what would it hurt to just wait? Waiting is not so bad.

Bucket List

2008-11-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the movie "Bucket List"?...it's cute. I don't know if I'd call this a real Bucket List; but it reminds me of it. I technically am stealing this from Amanda's blog and she stole it from someone else who stole it from someone else...and back and back. It was fun to contemplate this stuff! Try it...just copy my list and bold the stuff you've actually done in your life!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Held a praying mantis...it seems I would have…but I don’t think I have
9.Climbed a mountain
10. Sang a solo…but I did do a duet with Melissa in church!
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea…the storm was at sea…but I was across the street from the sea shore
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason…I have gotten several unexpected bouquets but they were all for a reason64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt…not very well…but I did it
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car…but my KIA was only a few months old
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day…the closest I can come is reading Bridges of Madison County in a weekend.
**101. Been such a cheater at a silly blog game that when you couldn't answer a question you qualified it with the closest thing you could come to without actually fulfilling the item:-)

Luck of the Draw

2008-11-16T22:25:00.000-08:00

I asked Sean to pick a number from one to twelve and he picked TEN. So I went to the tenth folder in my pictures file. I asked him to pick a number from one to twelve again and he picked SIX. So...this is the sixth picture from my twelfth folder in my picture files.

This is a picture of Crater Lake Oregon. It's one of my highlights of our Oregon travels. I still remember the hushed awe as we walked up the slope of the crater and got our first glimpse of the impossibly blue water. Is it the reflections of the blue sky that makes it so blue? Is it the purity of the water that makes it so blue? Or is it the magic of that moment and the grandeur of how that was created that makes it so blue?

"I Voted"

2008-11-04T21:57:00.000-08:00

A long time ago I used to wait for my mom to come home from the High School where she'd vote. What I remember I liked most was the way she made voting seem like some exclusive club that one day I'd be lucky enough to join. I always loved seeing where she'd put her little "I Voted" sticker. I remember feeling proud if she'd voted early and everyone could see her sticker and know she did her part. There are three things that her example left me with.

*#1...it's important to vote. No matter how late she'd been from work she always ALWAYS went to the polls.

*#2...it's no one's business who you voted for. It's your privilege to cast your secret ballot and if you want to share that info you can...but it's no one's business but yours. To this day I have NO IDEA how she ever voted. I could guess her political stance; but I'm guessing I'd be wrong. And I VERY rarely share my ballot contents...even with Sean. This year in fact; he very gingerly asked me...knowing that I'd be unlikely to share that info.
I shared some...but not all :-)

*#3...your vote is yours. Remember that sticker I talked about? It was always decorated with a flag and a little "I Voted" slogan. When she came home with her sticker still stuck to her lapel I so badly wanted to have it. I don't know if it was because I liked stickers or because it was so rare that she'd wear something on her clothes or that I knew there was something special about what that sticker represented. And you know what...my beyond-generous mother never ever gave me her sticker. Her vote was hers...my vote is mine...your vote is yours.

SO...that being said...I cast my ballot on Sunday morning. It's not as exciting as it used to be. It's all absentee so I don't go to the High School and amuse the old ladies by forgetting my precinct yet again. They don't even put the little sticker in your envelope anymore. And instead of stepping across the line to use the little hole-punchy thing all I had to do was roll my window down at the Post Office to deposit my stamped ballot envelope.

And now tonight as Sean and I sat in the living room watching most of the election coverage I felt important...I felt like I was part of that exclusive club my mom had been a part of. I've voted before...in other elections...local and national...and it's not important what my ballot said. What is important is how moving I felt as I watched both the concession speech and the acceptance speech. Now...I'm not going to lie...my emotions are easily manipulated...anything can get me to cry...the sad orphans on TV...the tune of my mom's favorite hymn...the swell of the opening song to Titanic...the A-Ha moment on Clean House...anything can get me to cry. And even tonight I wouldn't say I really cried...teared up would be a better way to say it.

I teared up as I realized that tonight would go on my "Where were you when" list. I'm sure you remember your folks saying they remembered where they were when...fill in the blank...Kennedy was shot...men landed on the moon...etc. etc. etc. When September 11Th occurred I remember telling my students that that day would do down in their memory as a "where you were when" moment. I started to list off the things already on my list...Princess Diana getting married (I was in the great room at the Wallowa Lake Lodge)...the Space Shuttle exploding (in my 5th grade classroom)...Princess Diana's car crash (Mark told me in the living room of my old house after we got back from stock car races)...the Twin Towers falling (sitting on top of a desk in my colleague Dave's classroom). And tonight I get to add where I was the night my country elected the first black president. I tear up even now...wow...to type it. I don't think I ever thought something different would happen in my lifetime.

#1...it was important for me to vote...I made sure to get my ballot done on time.

#2...it doesn't matter who I voted for...well it doesn't matter to you. In fact I kind of giggle to myself knowing that it's something only I know...and that maybe you're trying to guess who it was.

#3...my vote was mine...no matter how many cynical people will tell me that my vote doesn't count because "it all gets decided before our polls close anyway"...my vote is mine...and you don't get to know it...and it's important that I did it...even though I didn't get a sticker.

Learning

2008-10-19T23:11:00.001-07:00

Do you think you learn somethng new everyday? Sometimes I'll see that on some people's blogs or New Year's Resolution list or life wish list. It's a committment to learn something new everyday. So part of me thinks...hmm...does that mean that you need to will yourself to learn something new? How do you turn learning off such that you need to commit to doing it?

The other part of me thinks...is there really something new to learn everyday? Something new...NEW...brand new...is there really something new to learn everyday. Lately it seems I'm not learning something new everyday. Lately it seems I'm having to REMIND myself of the things I've previously learned. Like...correcting papers will NEVER HAPPEN if they're brought home. Or brewed coffee at home is cheaper than Starbucks...it just is...oh if I could only remember that :-) Or why do I have to seemingly re-learn that water is good for me..therefore I'll "start" drinking it. My treadmill will serve me better as a treadmill than a sweater hanger. I know this already...why do I need to re-learn it?

Today...I don't think I learned anything new. I did however get a chance to go through some much needed motions of my life lately. EVERY notebook of my students' is corrected...YES! The rough drafts are partially done...but partially is better than not at all:-)

Assembly (n): plural -lies

2008-10-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

1. an assembling or coming together of a number of persons, usually for a particular purpose;

2. a group of persons gathered together, usually for a particular purpose, whether religious, political, educational, or social.

Part of my new job at Housel is the Leadership Teacher and ASB Advisor. Today was our first assembly...our FIRST assembly. So, last night I didn't sleep very well and this morning I did not even hit the snooze button! I ran around all day today trying to busy myself with stuff so I wouldn't get nervous. People would ask me if I was nervous and I'd always say it was like when I got married. You plan and you plan but ultimately what is going to happen happens...you don't have much control during the situation. The kids were nervous...I was nervous...none of us felt like we prepared enough...someone who'd never run the PA system did it for the first time...phew...

I was taking over after the long-time advisor had resigned the position. She is fabulous! And she'd been doing that for a LONG time...so no matter how much people told me not to...I couldn't help but feel like I had big shoes to fill. Ultimately what I learned is that I can lead this class the best I know how...without my own self-imposed constrictions.

You know what...it wasn't the MOST smooth assembly I've ever done...some of the competitions were messier than I thought they'd be...but the kids did SO good. They were nervous but they stepped up. Every single one of them helped clean up...it was AWESOME! And I love love LOVED that afterwards people were so pleased with the assembly. I've never seen their assemblies before so I have nothing to compare it to but I think all of the positive feedback is a good sign!

Marital disagreements

2008-10-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

So...what do you argue about? They say (and when I say "they" I don't actually know who "they" are) that the two biggest disagreements in a marriage are money and...well..you know:-)

So...people who know us REALLY well know that one of the things about our marriage is that we don't really fight. We may be irritated with each other which usually ends in us being quiet with each other until someone cracks a joke. It's really quite funny how short lived our disagreements are:-)

So, last night quite possibly our biggest marital disagreement came up...the Lunar Landing and the NASA Space program. So, it's not important who's wrong or right (my REALLY good friends know how hard that is for me to type) and it's not important who is on what side of the argument (I think MARK is the only one who could guess that) but what matters is how fervent we each were in our arugments.

So, there we sat watching Mythbusters...which is what prompted our "discussion" and each time it went to commercial we would start up again. We would trade off this comment "Okay..but listen" (said in our calmest tone) with each exchange. We would trade off "let's just drop it..." and then in a slightly more irritated and voluminous tone "I just can't believe..."

So...there we sat...in disagreement...laughing that after ALL these years of knowing each other...and knowing a LOT about each other...sharing so many parts of our lives together...that it took a Discovery Channel show to finally reveal what our big disagreement would be. Someone should put this topic in the PreMarital Counseling curriculum!

Why?

2008-10-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Why do I comment on blogs?
Why do I not comment on blogs?
Why do I care if someone...or no one...comments on my blog?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why do I feel bad when I question God?
Why am I always amazed at how faithful God is?...you'd think I'd know by now:-)
Why does sleeping feel so good?
Why do kids come to youth group in droves?
Why does my dog chew plastic pop bottles?
Why does my other dog bark non-stop at what she cannot see?
Why does my other dog always have to rest her head on my rear end when sleeping?
Why is World of Warcraft so addictive?
Why is one contact blurrier than the other?
Why do I have SO much to catch up on?

The Little Things

2008-09-30T21:49:00.000-07:00

What little things make your day? Here are a few that make my day...I try to remember the little things when I come upon what I perceive to be a major thing that threatens to steal my cheeriness.

*The Starbucks crew that not only knows my name and my drink...but even stuff about my life so they can ask me questions...I know it's a way for me to keep coming back to buy overpriced coffee and milk...but it still makes my day sometimes

*Jacob who EVERY day says goodbye to me and wishes me a good day when he leaves my class

*My dogs who greet me EVERY day as if I hadn't seen them in ages and they thought I was never coming back

*Good friends who know me so well that their emails are perfectly worded and perfectly timed

*Not just a full bank account on pay day...but a stack of PAID bills and the calm satisfaction and gratitude that we have jobs...jobs we like...jobs we've been blessed with

*Things Sean and I laugh at that NO ONE ELSE laughs at

*Being able to quote any Friends episode ALMOST word for word

What are you worth?

2008-09-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

So...this post is supposed to be for Monday...so pretend it says Monday on the bottom.

Do you ever wonder what you're worth? No, I don't mean philosophically...like what is your value to God or your loved ones or whatever. I mean what is your time worth? What are your talents worth? A wise mentor once told me that there is an old saying among runners. I'm not a runner...I don't think I've quite got the saying correctly remembered...but here goes: "Never ask how much further your race is while you're going up hill." Does that even make sense...hmmm...it looks much less philosophical in type than when he's counseling me in his office...hmm. I digress :-)

I think it basically says that when you're in the middle of something that is challenging it does no good to muse, complain, or otherwise whine about the challenge because you are still going to be challenged. So...with this new job I'm trying not to complain or wallow in my realization that some days my worth dips way down. You know those days...the days when you've stayed at work for going on 12 hours...and you realize that with every tick of the clock your hourly wage goes way down and the value of your time descends along with it.

Instead I try to remember the real value of who I am...who I am as a teacher...who I am as a wife...who I am as a friend...who I am as a daughter of the Most High. Because when I remember that then my wage skyrockets...and that's much better than dipping after a twelve hour work day :-)

Everything old is new again

2008-09-28T08:49:00.001-07:00

So, I haven't been to a Great Prosser Balloon Rally launching since I was in High School. For the past ten years I've never seen them lift off on a Friday because I'd always be on the road headed to school before they were up. Then, every year Sean and I ditch the Nightglow because seriously, we wager, how much different can it be each year. I mean, once you've seen one evening of lit-up tethered-to-the-football-field balloons you've seen them all, right?

But then on Friday morning I was headed out to get my Friday morning Starbucks before school and there they were...in all their glory...lifting off gracefully...almost silently (I even turned off the car radio)...just like my friend Jacki had reminded me they would be. I got all giddy...just like those first few years...to see the balloons launch.

So; I let myself sleep in on Saturday but then this morning I woke up and drove out to Starbucks and parked my car across from Chukar Cherries and snapped away on my little digital camera. I followed the crowd to the bridge and smiled quietly as they cheered the balloons that dipped down to the river. I don't know if it has inspired me to go every year like some of these die-hard balloon chasers...but it sure was a nice spot in my weekend!

Two for the Road

2008-09-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

This came from my friend Susie...simple fun...the key word being simple...and fun:-)

Two names you go by:

1. Michelle 2. Chellie Bell (from my dad-in-law)

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Creation 2007 shirt 2. My favorite Crocs

Two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. To have a completely planned semester of 8th grade Language Arts
2. To have 13 hours of sleep

Two things you did last night:
1. Grocery Shopping
2. Planned Curriculum

Two things you ate today:
1. Left over home-made pizza
2. Safeway Signature Potato Soup

Two people you last spoke to:

1. Connie 2. Sean

Two things you're doing tomorrow:

1. Going to the PHS vs. EVHS volleyball game
2. Going over my youth group lesson

Two longest car rides:

1. Prosser to Waldport, OR via the "scenic route"
2. Prosser to Oregon Coast to Sunriver to Crater Lake and back

Two favorite beverages:

1. Coca Cola
2. Iced Venti Non Fat Vanilla Latte

Blog Stalking

2008-09-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

Blog stalking...what is it...who are its victims? It starts innocently enough with you checking up on a couple of friends of yours and pretty soon you are surfing the wonderworld of blogs. You don't even know who they are...just people who are listed on your friends' blogs and BAM they're on your list of people to read, too.

The interesting part is when you click on an unsuspecting blogger and discover you know said blogger...refer to my post below about people being connected via blogs:-)

What were you doing this day...

2008-09-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

I know this day makes a lot of people think back to seven years ago. And rightly so. For the record: I was driving on my way to school in Yakima when I heard a blip of a report that a plane flew through one of the Twin Towers. I remember thinking how stupid could one pilot be to NOT be able to miss hitting that kind of huge building. Then, that morning I was in the UNOFFICAL faculty meeting in Cos' room and I watched the tower fall...LIVE. I remember thinking "Am I really seeing this?" The rest of the morning was a bunch of disbelief mixed in with curiosity. Later that night I remember thinking "Have I scarred my students by having the news on in my classroom?"

However...and I hope I'm not considered too un-American for saying this...but "9/11" is not what I automatically think of on "9/11".

On this day 15 years ago...
*I had spent a good 20-30 minutes picking out the "perfect" outfit...my Camp Ghormley "Topher" shirt and a pair of jean shorts (why it took that long to pick out jean shorts...I don't know).
*I had spent OVER AN HOUR making sure my hair was perfectly curled and styled and my make-up was just right
*Sean opened the door to his red Chevy Cavalier for me
*I was watching "So I Married An Axe Murderer" at the $2 Theater next to Chuck E. Cheese (I picked out the movie...not him)
*I was searching for the right thing to say when an uncomfortable silence came up
*I was nervously excited when Sean suggested we go back to his parents house for a homemade chocolate milkshake
*Sean scared me on the windy roads through Whitstran
*Sean drove me home from his house and dropped me off at my door
*I was bummed that we didn't kiss...but later glad that he was old fashioned enough to NOT kiss me on the first date:-)

On this day 9 years ago...
*I was wondering if I spoke too soon when I told Rene what I thought was going to happen on that night
*I was sitting in the dining room of Sean's new "bachelor pad" eating his specialty...baked Teriyaki chicken
*I was thinking how grown up I felt eating dinner, drinking wine, and listening to Classical Music with my boyfriend
*I snuggled with Sean on the couch to watch "So I Married an Axe Murderer" on laser disc
*I watched Sean get down on both knees
*I almost cried as he kissed both of my hands
*I giggled while he reminded me that we said we'd wait until we both finished college
*I still giggled while he opened the ring box
*I continued to giggle as he asked me and slid the ring on
*I remembered to stop giggling so I could say YES!
*I commented how I wished my mom was there...and Sean said she was:-)
*I sat on the couch with Sean for what seemed like hours admiring the beautiful ring he picked out all by himself...and dreamed together of what would be!

Do you ever wonder...part two

2008-09-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

...what could've been done with the 5+ billion dollars it cost to build that big atom-smasher?
...why must we smash atoms anyway?
...if there will be a show as funny or quotable as "Friends"?
...who decided that corn would be a good vegetable to make a bread out of?...seriously...what was that first batch of cornbread like?
...how cute can one kid be?

Last weekend I saw my niece Maddie. She found a coin on the floor of the restaurant we were eating in. Sean commented to her that it was too bad she couldn't find a $100 bill. Without missing a beat Maddie said "I don't think you'd be finding that in a fast food restaurant!" Then one time Sean and I were visiting Wenatchee. He and I were sitting on the love seat playing with Mark's laptop and Cooper climbed in between us. He announced that "this is kinda fun". I said "Yeah! A little bit a coffee--a little bit of BBQ chips". Without missing a beat he said "a little bit of laptop."...too cute!

Do you ever wonder...

2008-09-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

...if you stare at the computer screen long enough will your retinas burn out?
...if each person on this planet could truly be connected to every other person just by a string of strategically placed blogs?
...if it's okay to plan how early you can get to bed tonight before your feet even hit the floor this morning?
...if a giant atom-smasher could swallow the earth in a man-made black hole?
...the one thing you said today in passing was either a make-it or break-it comment for someone else?
...how funny one movie preview can be? (I busted up tonight about a trailer that I saw months ago---maybe even a year ago)
...if Meredith and Derek will find their happily ever after?
...how many times do you have to re-commit to DAILY reading your Bible--seriously--DAILY--with my great DAILY Bible?
...why dogs are so weird?
...why sleeping feels so good---mmmm---sleeping?
...what could they possibly make in the scrapbooking industry that is the next "must-have"?
...how much money is being saved by journaling this way instead of the old-fashioned paper journals?--mmmm---but I do love a pretty book!
...what it would feel like to truly have NOTHING on your To-Do List?--we're talking even a months-down-the-road list

To Do...

2008-09-07T00:16:00.000-07:00

tonight or tomorrow:-)

*clean desk...check
*put away bills file folder...check
*email neglected friends...check
*copy Europe photos for Kate...check
*copy Europe photos so I don't accidentally lose them...check
*do enough laundry to last the week...tomorrow
*lesson plan for the week...tomorrow
*scope and sequence for the semester...tomorrow...hopefully
*GRADE PAPERS...tomorrow
*pick up the dogs...tomorrow
*plan the meals and go shopping for the week...tomorrow

How do you know when the ToDo list has reached capacity?...Hmmm...good question!

Differences

2008-09-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

Some differences between my new school and my old school...A.K.A. New things I need to learn!

*The sound of the telephone ringer in my room
*The bell/class schedule
*The grading software program
*The attendance process
*The number of lunches
*The classroom instruction model
*The office TA policy

Hmmm...I figured learning a new way to do curriculum would be difficult...but you know it's bad when so far every time my phone has rung a student has to remind me that the sound I am hearing is in fact the phone:-)

That being said...what an amazing opportunity to challenge yourself...it makes me feel alive in my profession...seriously!

Once upon a time...

2008-08-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

I was in Middle School. Remember that time...how it was so painful and how people were so mean to each other? I will never forget Sarah and I walking through the little half-hallway to the gym when 8th grade Becky Trimble grabbed our 6th grade arms to ask if we were going to vote for her for ASB president. I'm sure she was just passing through but in my memory casting a vote for Becky was casting a vote for my own personal safety. So...in 36-ish hours I will be beginning a phase of my career at Housel. Once upon a time I was a student at Housel..now I'm a teacher at Housel. Here's what I remember from my three years as a Colt.

*Mr. Fuerst...so many things...watching him hold his head during a wind gust; adjusting the volume on the movie projector that he'd set up; his phrase "Last...yesterday" to indicate what we'd done the day before; him reading "The Cay" to us and I remember really liking it!

*The big blue apple machine where you could buy a red delicious for a quarter

*An 8th grade girl posting on the bulletin board that her song request for the next dance was dedicated to her ex-boyfriend and she'd requested "I'm Looking For A New Love Baby" by Jody Whatley...shocking!

*The cardinal sin list of words to NOT include in your writing according to Mrs. Caplinger...be, am, is, are, was, were, being, and been. Not only do I remember this but I also use this in my own classroom teaching!

*The Dancing Unit in PE

What do you remember about Middle School?...Here's hoping I don't make the 6th graders cry:-)

No justice

2008-08-14T00:53:00.000-07:00

**one update...in my haste to post pictures at 1 AM the night before we left for Oregon I mis-labeled one. So as you scroll through the slide show and come upon one that says "Arc de Triomphe" please know that it is really the opening gardens of the Louvre. If you look carefully you can see the large glass pyramid that is the modern hallmark of the Louvre. Sorry about the mix up...but after a while all the arcs began to look the same...and it was after all 1 AM as I tried to figure it out**

Okay...this small entry does not do justice to my three weeks away. However...Sean and I are leaving for the Oregon Coast AGAIN tomorrow and I wanted to get something posted...even if it is small.

Faves:
*The Colleseum
*Our conversation with the monk
*Versailles
*the Mediterranean Sea
*Climbing Mt. Etna

Least Faves:
*The "crazies"...more on that later...
*The heat...hottest I've ever been in my life!
*the smell of Paris

Enjoy these few pics and I'll get more on here later:-)
Ciao!

Is it me...

2008-07-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

or have summers become shorter? I seem to remember when I was a kid that summers felt almost as long as the school year. Now...it feels like it's barely started and I'm already trying to figure out how to gear up for the new year. I'm kinda busy today but here are a few summer highlights so far...

*Went to a fun bridal shower for a super cool new member of our family...can't wait til you're our cousin Sunny:-)

*Had a fender bender at the McDonald's in North Bend...what is it with people hitting my cute red car when I'm out of town?...all in all it's okay. I wasn't injured, the guy was super nice, and my car runs even though it looks like a one-eyed pirate right now without it's headlight:-)

*Got hired at Housel here in the Prosser School District. It certainly wasn't what I expected to happen with my career this summer and I am really sad to leave East Valley...but I'm excited to see what the future holds.

*In 13 days I'll be flying to Europe with my 13 student delegation. I'm both super excited but also almost as anxious as I've ever been. It's already anxiety ridden when you travel to a new place but now we'll be trying to navigate on the Sea Tac shuttle to a Satellite Concourse...I've been looking at the online SeaTac interactive map a lot lately:-)

*Next week I'll be going to my old school to pack up and clean out my room...it'll be sad:-(

*After Europe we have a "family" vacation planned for Oregon...we'll see how it works out now with my new district's schedule.

Hope you have a super awesome summer day!

Do you ever wonder...

2008-05-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

how much stuff is enough?...how much is too much? I adopted the word SIMPLIFY for my year...I even bought it twice; they're sitting on my shelves in my office. But I'm beginning to wonder if it's wishful thinking. What would it really take...really take...if simplified my life. I'm not buying clothes or scrapbooking supplies like I used to but I still look around my office and think "Man...I have got a lot of stuff." Now in my defense, some it isn't mine...some of it belongs to my parents that I'm unwilling to give up. But that can't be all of it...for instance I cleaned out a filng cabinet last night and actually kept the paperwork from an accident that ocurred in Oregon four years ago. Now what's more shocking...that I spent time fretting about it or that I did actually keep it?:-) Or how many half-used way-too-old eye shadow do I need? It's a ponderment...how one simplifies a life.

33 Ways to Love Your Lover

2008-05-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

I think I got this from my friend Carrie several years ago...I'm kind of tired of just keeping it posted around...but don't want to lose it either. So...my digital answer is to enter it on my blog for all of posterity:-)
1. At the movies, share the armrest
2. Save the last cookie or last piece of cake for your spouse
3. Don't hog all the Jeopardy questions on TV
4. Squeeze toothpaste for your partner's toothbrush when you're doing your own
5. Get your spouse's pajamas out and lay them on the bed
6. Leave a favorite snack on the seat of your spouse's car
7. Compliment your mate in ront of friends or family
8. Light a candle in the bedroom
9. Put down everything to greet your spouse at the end of the day
10. Fill the gas tank in your mate's car...as a surprise
11. Light candles with dinner
12. Make a snack for both of you before bedtime
13. Turn your socks right side out before throwing them in the hamper
14. Be adventurous...meet for lunch at an ethnic restaraunt youve never tried
15. Choose a novel, then read it aloud to each other in the evenings
16. Rent a movie you watched during your courtship days
17. Buy an "I Love You" card and mail it to your spouse at work
18. Make plans to re-create your first date
19. When the dryer buzzes, instead of looking at your mate, volunteer to fold the clothes
20. When one of you is indoors and the other outside, knock on the window and blow a kiss
21. Don't put away stuff your spouse might want left out
22. When you're finished driving, put the seat back to your mate's preferred position
23. Hold hands instead of holding the remote control
24. On cold mornings, go ahead and bring in the paper
25. Kiss at stoplights
26. Hide love notes around the house where your spouse will find them
27. When you disgaree, always ackowledge the possibility you could be wrong
28. When stopping for gas while traveling, buy a treat for your partner without buying anything for yourself
29. Next time you shop for clothes, let your spouse vote on the outfit
30. Get involved in a new ministry together
31. Shower together and wash your spouse's back
32. When your mate lies down on the couch, get him or her a pillow
33. Get to know your in-laws

Happy Marriage-ing:-)

Speaking of my mom...

2008-05-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

fifteen years ago I was getting ready to graduate high school...(really...did I really say fifteen years ago?). Anyway...we went to the end of the year Athletic Banquet and my mom was awarded the Gene Webb Memorial Award. It is named after a super PHS supporter and it is meant to honor an individual who supports PHS athletics. She'd been the Booster Club treasurer and a huge volunteer/supporter of most things Prosser. It was a surprise to her that she won it...but I knew it was coming and it is a fun memory.

Well, last night Sean and I went to the Athletic Banquet and he was honored with that same award. I kinda sorta thought it might be coming but it was still a fun surprise and he was really pleased and touched that he'd be recognized. Afterwards people were congratulating him and saying to me "aren't you so proud?"...and I would smile and say yes. I have told Sean many times that one of the things I value in him as a husband is that he is a good man...he's noble and honorable and kind. But last night it was fun to hear from everyone else those same sentiments.

Plus...given my previous post about my mom liking him more than me:-)...I think it is so fitting and precious and poignant that the two people I've loved most in my life have won the same award and for the same reason...selfless giving. Man...she would have loved to have seen the look on his face last night:-)

My mom...

2008-04-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

...said column like this "call-yoom"
...called for "Michelle Jonna" if I was in trouble
...but called for "Jonna Michelle" if she was just looking for me
...had a HUGE key ring with so many keys that the steering column of one of our cars became loose
...had jet black hair
...would ask for a "taste" of your pop but then drink half of it
...once sent me to the bathroom for laughing too much at the dinner table
...took us on a spur of the moment vacation to Coulee Dam when I was in Middle School
...was the oldest sibling in her family
...had a missing tooth on her lower teeth...and it matches my missing tooth!
...taught me what was so important and reverent about taking communion
...liked Sean more than she liked me:-)
...loved watching the Lakers, the Michigan Spartans, Petey and Mike (tennis players Pete Sampras and Michael Chang)
...used old fashioned phrases like " stupid dame" and "dumb broad"
...let me and my friends drive her around at the State Basketball Tournament when we were seniors in high school
...took me out for a dinner just the two of us every year for my birthday
...worked really hard to pay for my cheer uniforms
...made a welcome home sign when I was done interning at West Side Church
...let me go to Oregon for my senior week with my friends (what was she thinking?...we were only 18)
...woke up with me in the middle of the night at a lodge at Wallowa Lake to watch Princess Di's wedding on live television when I was 6 years old
...made the funniest little clicking noise with her mouth when she thought she'd one-upped you
...always knew what I was up to
...helped me paint my room
...used fun dutch slang like "yunkin" and "cleeking" (I don't even know if I am spelling this right or if she said it right)
...really was pretty cool :-)

Newbie!

2008-04-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

Might being an Auntie be the best thing ever? This is Mark and Jenny's new little one...no name yet...they're still in negotiations:-) Born 4/7/08 at 1:19 PM, 10 lbs. 2 oz., 21.5 inches long, lots 'o blonde hair! update: We have a name now!...Crosbie Lynn Peters

A new blog post...another beach trip

2008-04-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

So...yesterday we got back from one of the best beach trips we've had in a long time. The condo was perfectly close to the beach, perfectly secluded, and perfectly priced during this value season. The weather was phenomenal! On the way there we drove through every type of weather...from rain, to sleet, to clouds, to even SNOW on Hwy. 26. But the whole time we were there it was perfectly clear and sunny with the usual beachy breeze! Super Awesome! Why is the beach so cool?...because it is!

Funny-isms

2008-02-18T22:13:00.000-08:00

Have you seen "My Big Redneck Wedding" on CMT? It's a half-hour reality show following a couple on the way to the altar...but the couple is self-proclaimed as REDNECK. Sean and I watched it the other night and now it is perpetually TiVo'ed. Some highlights:
*when writing his vows: "I would like to put my love in a locket because you are hotter than a hot pocket."
*Granny's response:..."ooh...I love hotpockets!"
*When deciding what events to hold at their reception the two winners were "Mattress surfing" and "Mud Wraslin'"
*and finally...when explaining why he isn't using fancy words in his self-written vows...he explains that he doesn't have a "cle toris"...seriously...I never thought I'd stop laughing!

Not much else going on...trying to decide if we can get to the beach AGAIN...is it too soon since we just went in December? :-) We can NOT stop talking about moving there. It would be awesome! Trying to figure out what Sean's clinicals schedule will be...than he's done with the program and off to find another full time job!...maybe he'll find a job in Oregon?!?

Some pics

SNOW!!

2007-11-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

Yep...it is totally snowing...right here...right now! On the way home from the movie earlier today it was rain/snowing. You know the kind of rain that hits your windshield with a spread out pattern not a droplet pattern. So...then Sean let in the dogs and there was snow sticking to Roxy's back. Seriously, WOW...snow before Thanksgiving. Who'da thunk it?...it's been a while...a long while since it's snowed this early. AWESOME!!

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-11-04T07:52:00.001-08:00

The COOLEST thing ever!

2007-11-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Okay...okay...Rene and I went to the Steven Curtis Chapman concert last night and it was the coolest thing ever...When I was a sophomore or junior in high school I went to see his concert on the "Great Adventure" tour. Back then the ticket was $7 and he played the Walla Walla College Gymnasium and we got there so late that we sat at the back of the back set of bleachers. That was then...this is now...

Rene got into the ticket line way back when at Fred Meyer the moment they went on sale. She got us tickets IN THE FRONT ROW! So, we were slightly right of center stage...it was AWESOME! I could actually see the facial expressions of ALL the band members. And...*trying really hard not to sound like a squeally teenage girl*...it was like he was singing just to me:-)

Yep...it was awesome...and yep...I sang along to just about every song...every once in a while I got distracted by watching everything on stage and forgot the words...but that's okay...even Steven Curtis Chapman forgot the second verse to one of his new songs:-) It was so darn cute!

So, there up at the top are a few pics from the evening!

Yours...

2007-10-28T00:10:00.000-07:00

So...Rene and I are going to a concert next Saturday. It's the Steven Curtis Chapman concert...yep...SC2. Last time I saw him in concert was when I was in High School and I paid $7 to see him at Wenatchee Community College. This time he's at the Toyota Center and we paid $47 for front row center tickets. Rene got in line the minute they went on sale and got the coolest tix!

So, today as I was driving I was listening to the new SC2 album in preparation for the concert...I kinda have this thing about knowing all the words so I can sing along. Anyway...I was trying to calm myself down from being frustrated about how messy my house always is. I couldn't figure out how these people could keep their house clean week after week. I'll clean it ALL...top to bottom...but three weeks later it's a mess again and I can't think of where I could have shaved off time of my schedule to have kept it up. So, at the height...or depth...of this pity party for myself this SC2 song called "Yours" came on my IPod. Here's a bit of the lyrics:

"I walk the dirt roads of Uganda
I see the scars that war has left behind
Hope like the sun is fading
And they’re waiting for a cure no one can find
And I hear children’s voices singing
Of a God who heals and rescues and restores
And I’m reminded that every child in Africa
is Yours
And it’s all Yours God, Yours God,
everything is Yours
From the stars in the sky to the depths of the
ocean floor
And it’s all Yours God, Yours God,
everything is Yours
You’re the maker and keeper,
Father and ruler of everything
It’s all Yours"

So...I got to chuckle to myself as I asked the great wide open of my car "are my dustbunnies His, too?"...they must be. Boy...that's a load off...now that I know they're not mine...but His...it sure is easier not to get frustrated by it:-)

Smells...

2007-09-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

really bring you back don't they? Today as I left Starbucks I was bundled up in my favorite sweat pants and my new cozy CKU sweatshirt. It was just brisk enough to have a slight chill. I could smell the fresh rain and could even feel a few drops. But the best part of that whole scenario was the slight and distinct scent of someone's wood burning fireplace off in the distance. Too cool...I love living in four seasons!

So we never got to Paris and found the cafe of our dreams...

2007-09-25T21:02:00.001-07:00

That's a line from a song by Out of the Grey. Turns out...I just may find that cafe of my dreams. I recently got accepted as a primary leader for People to People Student Ambassadors. I will be taking a group of High School students from around the Yakima Valley/Columbia Basin to Western Europe for three weeks next summer. It's been a whirlwind few days...a bunch of info!!...some apprehension...can I really do this with students if I've never done it myself? But ultimately I am SO excited! Find out more about this awesome program at http://www.studentambassadors.org/.

Last week I went to the Leader Training at the National Headquarters in Spokane. President Eisenhower started People to People in 1956 and the first delegation came from Spokane...so the national headquarters are in Spokane. Their new building is beautiful! These pictures are from the little jaunt up there. That famous pic of Ike is a two story mural. And the other pic is an award winning pic from a student ambassador who went to New Zealand (I think).

Hope you are having a GREAT day. I'm off to figure out the Passport process...how do you prove your citizenship? Is a driver's license okay?

Time out...

2007-09-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

...for some breathing. You ever felt like you just need to breathe?... Seriously...try it with me now. Inhale...1....2...Exhale...3...4. Feels good don't it? I guess another word to describe my life right now is Release. So many things lately I've been feeling released about...job stuff...church stuff...life stuff. Y'know...just a big release. I hope I'm not lulling myself into false release-dom?...hmmm... You know; just when you breath and marvel at how your life seems to be going...blamo...stress-world!

My correcting is caught up at school...for now...
my house is still relatively clean...
I have a clean and ironed outfit for school tomorrow...
I'm not yawning!...
youth group newsletters are ready to be mailed...wow...

Here are a few pictures...

#1...sweet nectar of the gods..Iced...Venti...Non-fat...Almond...Latte...from Starbucks!

#2...the best movie in all the land...Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves...God bless Kevin Costner:-)

#3...Worshipping at sunset at Creation Fest...what could be better?

Transitions and New Beginnings

2007-08-26T23:16:00.000-07:00

So...school for me starts tomorrow. Work days anyway...class with kids doesn't start until after Labor Day. It's almost like another "New Year" celebration. There's the one in January...but the one in September is so much more of a "New Year" for me. It's when I start making other resolutions and promises to myself...my lunch will always be packed the night before...I WILL get on the treadmill first thing in the morning...mycorrected tests and projects will NEVER be more than a week out from being returned...I WILL be in bed by 10 on a school night:-)... hey...don't laugh...it could happen:-)

But there's other new stuff too...where, when, and what will I do my "Professional Certification" in?...will Sean go back to school, too?...what are we doing with the house situation?... moving?...remodeling?...and if so...when?...how will all of this affect family situations?... volunteering?...

It's all very "Up in the air" feeling... it's okay though because this time... as opposed to some other transitional times in my life... I feel good about these transitions..not scared or worried or wondering what choice I should make. Now...I'm feeling more like...hmmm...wonder what we'll do...

We had a Fantasy Football draft at our house today...Doug and I have our own team again this year...it's called the Fat Cobras...I can email you why that's our name:-)... It feels like a good team...although we are a little iffy in the Running Back department. I couldn't help it... I couldn't not pick Peyton Manning and then when it came back around I couldn't not pick Chad Johnson. Before I knew it it was round 5 before I picked our first running back...Duece McCallister.

Those are some images I've snapped lately...Sean talking to the "Ghosthunters" Producer outside our house...Sean and I at Creation Fest 2007...our babies playing together:-)... remind me to blog about "Ghosthunters" later:-)

Similarities

2007-08-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

So...I have this friend. Wait...let me back up. One of my most favorite authors is Beth Moore. And one of my most favorite Beth Moore books is about David; it's called "A Man after God's own Heart". A quite significant portion of the book is about David's friendship with Jonathan...his rival's son. In this part of the book Beth Moore talks about two kinds of friendships...the kind that is knit together through the years and the kind that is knit together through God's divine timing. I had always been drawn to her description when thinking of my good good friend Carrie. She and I knew each other for less than three months while working at Camp Ghormley ten years ago. I declared her to be my first grown-up friend...meaning a friend NOT met in my elementary days. She was then and is now an incredibly good friend who knows me as well as any of my "oldie, but goodie" friends. Beth Moore's point is that David and Jonathan did not need time to build their friendship...God knit their hearts together as dear friends.

Okay...so as I was saying...I have this friend...this other friend. Our friendship is exactly the opposite. We met...dare I say it...27 years ago. She lived on one end of the block and I lived on the other. We met at the halfway point and introduced ourselves as I'm sure our mothers had instructed us to. She was the tomboy and I was the prissy girl...and we both wished to trade places with each other.:-) You couldn't have found two friends more joined at the hip than us. As with all dramatic stories there came a time when we had to part:-) She moved away to college and I stayed home for college. So, for the last 10+ years we've been more separated. Even when she moved back to the area we see little of each other. It is remarkably difficult to coordinate schedules...either that or we are just really bad at it. The times we do manage to eek out some coffee time are amazing...as if nothing has changed...no need to fill in back story...because we are each other's backstory:-)

My point in all of this is that I've been marveling at the David and Jonathan story because of Beth Moore's illustration of the lack of time built into their relationship. But as of late it has been on my mind in a different way. The point is not necessarily how God knit their hearts together...but THAT he knit their hearts together. A few days ago I sent out a mass email to let everyone know about my blog...one the commenters was this friend of 27 years. So, I went to her blog...which I'd previously visited but not been to in some time. I was so amazed, comforted, pleased that there are so many similarities between her and I STILL:-) Vacations at Waldport, Oregon...opening up to new groups of friends...remodeling our homes this spring and summer...home depot issues...creative projects that get started, stopped, started again and are cheered when they're finished...the thrill of not just being an aunt; but being an Auntie---yes there is a difference:-)...frustrated that there isn't enough time in the day...struggling with 'love your neighbor'...loving new things we learn about God...finding such an amazing experience in volunteering in ministry.

Sarah and I have been friends for forever and I have so much gratitude to God for making the pathway for our parents to each find the same block. What would've have happened if I lived one block over? I'm so thankful that God has knit us together as friends.

Bathrooms

2007-08-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

I hate cleaning the bathroom...there...I've typed it. I've said it aloud many times...but now I'm typing it. I HATE cleaning the bathroom. I don't know what it is about the bathroom...but I hate it! I hate some other household chores, too...but not like cleaning the bathroom. That is the one thing I will procrastinate on the most. I've been saying for almost a week now that cleaning the bathroom is on my to-do list. I think maybe the issue is all the stuff in it. Our bathroom tends to collect stuff almost as bad as our dining room table. A friend once told us that we had flat surface syndrome. Meaning if there is a flat surface then that means something must be put on it. So currently there are all manner of hair products...hair clips...deodorants...towels not put away yet...new shampoos that we aren't using yet...all the fun new products I bought to clean said bathroom...even seven year old lotions and bubble baths. I know they're that old because I recall getting them at a bridal shower:-) I guess I don't take many bubble baths after all.

Once all the stuff is moved out then it's not a problem and it goes pretty quickly. And some of those new gadgets and products really work well...some not so much. So...now I'm blogging about it. Hopefully that will make me actually do it today!

On the other hand I LOVE...LOVE...listening to John Ortberg. That's my new-found love of the week. He's an author...some of his books include "If you want to walk on water, you better get out of the boat" and "Everyone's normal until you meet them". His newest which I just started is "When the game is over it all goes back in the box". He's also the senior pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California. He used to be a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago...that's where I first heard him and REALLY responded to his sermons. He was a speaker at the Leadership Summit last week. WOWZA!! He gave an amazing sermon using the story of Esther and talking about Shadow Missions. And now into a few chapters of his new book I LOVE it!

Okay...do you think that my blogging means I'm still procrastinating about cleaning the bathroom?

Chelle Tells

Faithful, Integrity

A new view of choice

OLW Choice

Everything old is new again

Why did I ever stop?

Right now...

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

Blessing

Right now...

Ocean Vacation 2009

My favorite color

Age

My Right Now...

Happiness is...

Every Morning is Easter Morning...

Happiness is...

Daily Plan

Daily Flashback

All I Ever Needed to Know...

Daily Done

Daily Inspire

Daily Evaluation

Daily Deep

Daily Completion

Daily Catch Up

Daily Count

Daily Busy-ness

Daily Kick Off

Daily Accomplishment

Daily Bummer

Daily Request

Daily Hmm..

Daily Stump

Daily Peace

Daily Hooky

Daily Regret

Daily Procrastination

Daily Par-Tay!

Daily Competition

Daily Fix

Daily Lists

Daily History

Daily Bother

Daily Release

Daily Dailies

Happier Happiness is...

Happiness is...

Daily List

Daily Ouch

Daily Hmm...

Daily Cut

Daily Difference

Daily Meeting

Daily Game

Daily Doctor

Daily Group

Daily Nap

Daily Soup

Daily Something

New Year...New Word

One small step...

List Update

Good things come to those who wait

Bucket List

Luck of the Draw

"I Voted"

Learning

As*sem*bly (n): plural -lies

Marital disagreements

Why?

The Little Things

What are you worth?

Everything old is new again

Two for the Road

Blog Stalking

What were you doing this day...

Do you ever wonder...part two

Do you ever wonder...

To Do...

Assembly (n): plural -lies