Cabin Fever

Today makes day 2 of being out of school. Yesterday was great! I woke up to a message saying we were out of school for the day. Of course, as the evening rolled around and I started thinking of all the things I would need to do at school the next day, I began hoping for another day. Careful what you wish for...we're out for a second day. It's now 7:37 pm and I've been thinking all day about how much I just need to get out of the house. Believe it or not, I actually hoped (past tense...I'm back to hoping for, at the very least, a delay) to go back to school tomorrow. I'm glad to get a break from the classroom, but I do miss my children when we're not in school.
I have honestly not used my time wisely during this surprise break. On Monday, I somehow deleted from my computer all of my lesson plans for Tuesday on. I have not rewritten them and I don't plan to. I know what it is I will be teaching and I know how I'll be teaching it. With only two days left in the week (if we go 2 full days), we will simply go with the flow. If this had happened last year, there is NO WAY I would have ever decided to "go with the flow," but this year my class is pretty cool with that. They can handle it, and thank goodness for that! They'll be bouncing off the walls after 2 days out anyway.
I could have also done a little bit of wedding planning the last two days. I did think about some things, but didn't really do any hardcore planning. We talked about cakes and flowers mostly. That was probably the most productive part of the last two days.
Speaking of the wedding...can you recommend a good florist? I know of a couple around town, but thought I'd check and see if anyone had any recommendations...someone they used who was fabulous! If you know of someone who is totally awesome (and is a florist, hehe), please let me know. :)

Happy Hump Day to ya!
Heather

My List

Edit: Can you see which ones are / are not bold? I can't on my computer...weird!

I got this idea from a blog I read. The bold phrases are the things that I have done. Enjoy, and don't forget to share your own.

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band.
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland/world
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris (TN :)
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train (paris to nice)
Had a pillow fight
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Been to a broadway show in NY
Run a Marathon
Been in three states at once
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (not in person :)
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Been to Grace Kelley's grave in Monaco
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Swam in the Mediterranean Sea
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout cookies
Gone whale watching
Gotten flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone (only toes)
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared my own meat
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life (DAILY ~ Ok, maybe I should unbold that one! hehe)
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

Closing for COLD?!?!

"Closing for COLD?!?!" is probably the most common remark I've heard all weekend. It seems that because we, adults who were last in school (K-12) anywhere from 8-15 years ago, were never released from school for the cold we cannot believe that anyone would even have the notion to close the schools because of the cold. I mean seriously, when I was a kid, we played in the snow ALL DAY on days we were out of school! Why can't kids today go to school when it's COLD? So, here's the deal. There are two big issues that officials really (hopefully) thought about when determining whether or not to close for the cold (umm, seriously below freezing) weather. Here they are...(and mind you, these are really my reasons!:))
1. Waiting for the school bus for 1/2 an hour or more in freezing cold temps. (because your bus doesn't drive down your road) can lead to sick children. - I watched many kids leave Thursday afternoon without a coat. When I questioned them as to where their coat was, I was told they didn't have one. Some students' version of a coat resembled a jacket to go with a running suit...NOT something for standing out in 6 degree weather (the temperature at 8 am when I went out of the house ~ meaning it was cooler at 6:15/6:30 when the kids were getting on the bus). Imagine waiting for the school bus in frigid weather WITHOUT a coat, gloves, and a hat (which I'm sure most people had when they were kids!).
2. Classrooms without heat can lead to sick children.- I experienced two days of cool weather in my classroom this past week. We wore our coats, sweatshirts, or jackets for two days straight because the heating unit in my room wasn't working! It was hard for the kids to write because their hands were cold. Our noses were red because we were so cold. Where were we supposed to go? The hallway? No way...cannot crowd the hallway! Home? Heck no! Close for cold? I don't think so! hmmm...Every room is full all day long. There's nowhere to go.
I think both of those reasons really just boil down to one: Keeping our children from being sick in any way we know how. I am definitely not an official in any Tennessee district, but I can easily see what they might have thought about when deciding whether or not to close. So, I don't complain about the extra day off. I will be happy to return on Tuesday to a classroom full of children who were able to keep warm and well on Friday. I guess I just see it from a different point of view. Yes, I'm happy we got another day off from school - I'm sure most people would enjoy a nice break from work! But, I also see taking great care and concern for our students by trying to keep them out of bed and the doctors' offices as much as possible. I don't have kids of my own, but I sure do claim the 20 in my room as my own each day. I like to see them feeling well and keeping warm!

I'll step down off my soapbox now I guess. :) Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

It's been a while...

Well, the last time I posted was in 2008, so I'd say it's time for an update. Enjoy!

*Christmas was great! We enjoyed spending lots of time with my family. I'm sure things could have still been better if we'd had the chance to spend some time with Aaron's family. Things happen the way they do for a reason, though, I guess. We did get to see his sister and bil the day after Christmas before they made the trip back to Alabama. Looking forward to seeing them again!

*We are now within 9 months of the wedding day. I am so very excited! I found my wedding gown last week and BOUGHT IT! As it happens, it's the first dress I saw that I loved and it was the first and last one I tried on. I cannot wait to wear it. Other plans are coming together...we're working on finding a photographer now [Thanks so much to the awesome people who have sent me links and names over the last couple of days!], have decided on the location, and are planning to meet with the lady who will be making the cakes pretty soon. The bridesmaids are (hopefully) going to begin looking at dresses pretty soon and I'm ready to find a dress for my precious flower girl, Princess Grace! :) I am enjoying planning the wedding! Maybe one day I'll teach and do some wedding planning on the side. [Key word: maybe.]

*School is in session once again. Over winter break, I slept way too much! It was really hard to get back into the swing of things once the kids returned to school. They have been slightly on the weird side since we've been back, so I think it's about time for "the teacher talk" to present itself. My students have done really well this year. I'm impressed that this is the first time I've really had to think about having a talk with them about attitudes, behavior, and other such things. They're totally awesome, and I'm confident that after we have a small discussion on the situation at hand, they will return to their normal "awesomeness!" Can't wait for that!

*I really want a dog. I know this isn't an update really, but I do. I see pics of other people's dogs and I just want to visit them and play with the dog. Wonder why I'm on a dog kick. Could be because our cat hates me! (She's currently laying beside the heater in as much of a relaxed position as I can imagine her in. She'd eat my hand if I touched her though. Sigh.

Back to the updates...

*I'm taking the semester off from Grad School (I had initially typed Grade School...not so sure my principal would enjoy my taking the semester off! hehe) so I can focus on the last half of the semester and do some major wedding planning without having to worry about classes. Aaron, on the other hand, started Spring semester classes Friday. He is taking classes at weird hours this semester, so I doubt we'll see each other very often [read: as often as I'd like]. He is getting several classes behind him this semester though, so that's great! I'm really excited about that. I am so very proud of his drive and determination toward achieving his goals! He's such an inspiration! Lucky me! I get to spend the rest of my life with him! YES!!!! :)

*I have been reading some great blogs lately! I, somehow, managed to stumble across the blogs of great women in our country! I won't post all of them that I read ~ you'd get really tired, I promise! I'll post links to a couple of my favorites:
Angie Smith over at Bring the Rain will make you laugh, cry, want to hug someone, and get up off your behind and do something for other people! I love reading her thoughts!! Then there's BigMama, also known as Melanie. I'm new to her blog, but she's quickly becoming one of my favorites! Visit her; you'll like her! I also follow several different adoption blogs. Adoption has been on my heart for a long time now, and it's a blessing to read the experiences of others around me! One of the adoption blogs I read is Brea at The Adventures of Breagirl. I actually grew up close to her husband's family, so they're a little more "close to home." From any of the blogs I have shared, you can find links to other amazing people out there! I love reading (and connecting) with people from around the country! It helps me to see what things are going on in other places and how other people struggle in the same ways as people right next door to me. Connect with someone today!

Christmas Already?

I really can't believe Christmas is next week! This entire year has simply flown by! WOW! I'm really excited, and can't wait for Friday (the 19th). The 19th marks the last half day of the semester in our county and the students / teachers will all go home for the holidays. We (teachers) go back the 5th of January, so we have a nice little break. I am extremely thankful for the 2 weeks off. We only have a day and a half to go!

As the year is coming to a close, I am beginning to really buckle down and plan more for the wedding. Up to this point, I have been so overwhelmed by the planning process that I've just kind of put it on the back burner. I know that I (we) have to get it done, but I haven't really wanted to do it. Isn't that awful?! Actually, I don't really see it being a big issue. Things will get done...we will plan - in our own time! I think the most overwhelming thing has been other people trying of offer their thoughts and advice. Ugh...just let us plan our wedding, please! (haha)

Believe it or not, I've actually spent a lot of time looking around online at different weddings to find things I like / dislike. That has really helped a lot because I'm finding that I really want something really simple. We've decided on colors, and now we're working on other things. I'm getting more excited (not that I'm not excited about marrying Aaron - I totally am! :) and ready to plan more and more. I guess it's about time I get ready to plan! :)

If I don't get the chance to talk to you personally, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! I pray you are blessed this holiday season!

Heather

It's Thanksgiving Day! :)

It's Thanksgiving Day, and that means it's getting close to Christmas (totally excited)!!!! It also means that the end of the semester is almost here. I can look at that in two ways...I am totally psyched about the first. It means I'll have a few weeks break from my 5th grade class / classroom. Though I'll have a lot to plan for, I'll be really glad to have a break. I still can't believe we're almost halfway through the school year. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to the end of the semester because I am really behind in one of my graduate classes. The instructor didn't give us very many deadlines, so I kind of put the class on the back burner, doing a few things here and there. Our portfolio is due Wednesday, so I'll be spending a good portion of the weekend - and much of Monday to Wednesday evening - working on my portfolio. Fortunately, one of the classes I took was very structured and was developed by a very organized professor. For that, I am thankful. She makes life easier some days. :0) Let's hope I can meet the deadline for the other class!!! ;)

In my last post, I mentioned many things I was thankful for - not that anyone actually read it...I think I'm writing to myself here. I failed to mention how thankful I am for my grandparents and their presence in my life. When I was in tenth grade, my mom came to school to pick me up along with some of my cousins. My dad's father had died from cancer. He had fought it off and on for years; it was ultimately his time to go. I have been very fortunate to have 3 grandparents around for most of my life. My dad's mom has not been doing so well over the last year or so. She has ups and downs quite often. I am so glad that she is still hanging around with all of us crazies! :) She's such a strong woman, and has always been such a great influence in my life. My mom's parents are great. They have always been there to encourage me in school and in my Christian walk. Nanny has been the one to show me what strength really is. She doesn't complain and really tells you what's on her mind. Last year for Christmas, she gave me a picture of her when she was a child. It's funny because I looked a lot like her when I was a kid. She's always told me that, but when she gave me the picture for Christmas, it was like she was giving me a piece of herself...a piece of her heart. I will forever treasure that simple little gift. She is an amazing woman, and I will be grateful for every second she is here with us. I've been really troubled by her condition a lot lately. When I talked to her today, it seemed that she didn't understand most of what I said. She continued to tell me over and over again, "I don't understand what you mean." Even simple things...it makes me sad. I just ask that you pray for my Nanny and my family. There are a lot of people who will be hurt with this g-ma goes home for good. She has 8 children who each have a spouse and most of them have kids. Some of their kids have kids. We're a BIG family! :) I love my family.

Speaking of family - I will be an auntie soon! I cannot wait for Dakota to be here! I hope he decides to make his appearance soon! :) Woohoo!

If you're (whoever you might be - please let me know if you DO read this! :) still reading, I want to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have been and will continue to be blessed!

Why are you thankful?

I absolutely love the holiday season. I look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas every year! The sites, the smells, the music, the family visits...I could go on and on. Here we are. It is the the week of Thanksgiving. I cannot believe it is already here! I love that we celebrate Thanksgiving because it reminds me to think of all the good things in my life. It's so easy to focus on all that I'm unhappy with, but remembering the good things really makes life seem so much better than it already is. If I could just remember to think of those things more often! :)

This year, I am thankful for...

* knowing I am loved by my Creator! He made me just the way He wanted and loves me more than I could ever love another.

* the wonderful family I have been blessed with. I am thankful that my parents made me mind when I was a child, and that I have great memories of home because of my parents. I am glad my parents introduced me to Jesus Christ when I was a child, for who would I be without Him? I am blessed.

* the love that I share with my fiance, Aaron. I never imagined I'd love someone as much as I love him. I cannot imagine my life without him. He is an amazing man, and I am beyond blessed to have him in my life. I love you, Sparky!

* having a job that I love. There are days when I feel that I am not making a difference at all, and there are days when I feel like I'm on top of the world. No matter how I feel, I am working to make a change in the lives of these children. I strive to bring forth a love of learning that I hope they will pick up and run with. I know they can succeed...it is my job to help them see that as well.

* my brother and sister-in-law. I love them dearly. They are the best!

* the upcoming birth of my first nephew, baby Dakota! He will be here soon! I love him so much already! His auntie sure can't wait for him to be here!

* the friends who have been there through the good and bad. I don't know where I'd be without you guys!

* the family I will gain when Aaron and I are married. I love you guys already!

* the relatively good health I have had this school year. I have been sick far less this school year than the previous (my first) year. They always say it gets better after the first year, and boy are they right.

* not having to deal with blood pressure issues as much. Granted, I'm still taking medicine each day, but I am not seeing a doctor as often.

* each and every person who serves in our armed forces. God bless each and every one of you.

* good books, good movies, and good football. (getting a little more relaxed here...)

* hot chocolate, Mountain Dew, and good ol' clean water to drink.

* having a home to live in rather than living on the streets.

* the smiles on friendly faces at work.

* my car that gets me back and forth (and heats me up on the cool mornings!).

* the love that I feel each and every day.

There are so many things I am thankful for. It would literally take days to write it all down. I hope you can think of something you are thankful for this year! Please have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. :)

So...what are you thankful for? Please feel free to share!!! I want to hear from you!