My Woman Cave

My woman cave, I mean my scrapbook room, is almost finished.  I just need to hang a few more things on the wall.  I really enjoy going into it to scrapbook, and then just leave everything out when I am ready to go back in the house.  Here are a few pictures that I took of the room.   After looking at the pictures, I am not too pleased with them, but I am too lazy to go take more pictures.  I'll take more some other time.

Lights. Camera. Read.

The book fair was a success.  It is a lot of work, but then you realize how many students get new books, it is worth it. The theme this year was: Lights. Camera. Read.

Miss Her

I sure miss her.  Her being my lovely daughter.  She is in sunny southern California, except it is warmer here than there today.  Don't you just love God's sense of humor?  I know God and Brook are taking good care of her, but I still miss her.  When my friends are hanging out with their daughters and going and doing things together, then I really miss her.  She will be here the first week-end in April.  I can't wait. Oh, yeah, I miss him too.  Both of the hims.

Uncommon heroes

Finally another post.  I am not sure anyone reads this, but if they do, I am sure they or should I say he/she is not impressed at how often I write.  

I listen to KLOVE every morning, while getting ready and on my way to work.  Last week they had a call-in for uncommon heroes.  I don't know if I have any living heroes in my life, maybe one or two, but I do know someone that I am very impressed with.  I will not mention any names, but if she reads this she will know who it is about.  I have known this woman for many years and in fact taught her children.  I spent several years being out of contact with her.  I have been around her again the last couple of years and am very impressed with what she is allowing God to do in her life.  She has the spirit and joy that makes others want to be around her.  She leads and works with adults, children, and those less fortunate.  I saw her in Walmart one day helping a girl buy school clothes.  She gave of her time and energy to help this girl be ready for the school year with new clothes and supplies.  I have noticed other things that she does above and beyond without wanting any recognition.  So keep it up, you are a role model to the rest of us.  Thanks.

Why do you go or not go to church?

I get really bad about not going to Sunday School and Sunday night church.  If I miss a Sunday or two, then it just gets harder to get back in the groove of going.  I was just thinking of excuses I hear from people not choosing to go to church.  One I have already used, others might be in no particular order:

• only day to sleep in
  
• best day to play golf, fish, etc.
  
• I will be called on to pray
  
• I am as good as any of those people down there at that church
  
• I don't like the preacher, teacher, leader, etc.
• I am not good enough
• I can't sit still that long  

Have you ever used any of these excuses, or any others?

How about why you go to church?  It is harder to come up with a list for this, makeup because negative excuses are easier to make.

• superstitious - if I go my week will go better (true, it does)
• fellowship - important to spend time with other Christians
• just because I think it makes God happy

Why do you go? Any other excuses?

I'm on Facebook

I finally entered the world of facebooking.  I hope to connect with some old friends and stalk er, I mean keep up other friends.  I hope I do a better job with facebook than I do with keeping up with this blog.  

I get ideas of things to blog, but by the time I get around to blogging, I forget.  It must be an age thing.  Speaking of age, I took the real age survey, which came out to me being 30 years old. Yea, right, I haven't felt 30, since I was 26.  So I took it again later the same day, and then I was all of a sudden 40.  I think I will quit while I am ahead. 

The Shack

I just finished reading The Shack by William P. Young. If you have never read it, I would encourage you to do so.   Be sure to have plenty hankies handy.

We had 3 days without school due to an ice storm, so I had plenty of reading and scrapbooking time.

http://www.theshackbook.com/

Isn't It Funny?

Today our area was hit by an ice storm.  They list on tv all of the schools, events and business that are cancelled or postponed due to the weather. Is it just me, or is it funny when one of the first things that closes is driving school?  

It's a Small World

The expression that it is a small world is really true at times.  I got an invitation to a wedding from a friend's daughter in town.  As I was filling out the RSVP, Dennis, said that they were registered at a store in Marietta.  I looked closer at the name of the groom.  His last name is Kirk, as in Teresa Kirk from Marietta.  I called her, and sure enough it is her nephew.  It was fun going to the wedding and the reception and getting to visit with her some.  Then her mom told me that Denise fixed her hair, and asked for my email address.  Maybe this will be another connection from the past.  It really is a small, small world.

08 WAS GR8

I guess it is time to reflect on the past year. In most respects it was great.

Two weddings: daughter in February, son in July

Retirement: retired from teaching

New Job: kind of a new job, still at school but as a library assistant

Grandma ( working on the title - still leaning towards grammie): Toby's wife's daughter, Tallie also Toby and Stephenie have one on the way in May

Scrapbook room: build own personal room for scrapbooking

The Lord blessed me in more ways than I can imagine possible.

08 was gr8 and I hope 09 is better than fine.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

We spent Christmas with Kara-Kae and Brook in California. Great fun! It was a long drive out there and back, but well worth it. Christmas Day was very cold. I think it was warmer in Oklahoma that day. I loved the beach, and being able to walk to it was great. I think I will probably have to get over my fear of flying, because Dennis isn't real hip on the idea of driving again. We are talking about going on the train, possibly, next trip.

It's a Girl

Toby and Stephenie are having a girl! Taelyn Brook Ringwald - doesn't she sound cute!

te te dup

I wote a littl pume te te dup te te dup It's a merr Christmas.

This is on my refrigerator, yes on my refrigerator, and every time I walk by it makes me cry. Of course that wonderful poet is now 24 years old, and living half way around the world in a foreign country. Ok, maybe a few thousand miles in California, same difference.

Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for and have had such a good year. I will save that for the end of the year though. I am thankful for Dennis and how good he treats me and makes me feel so special. I am thankful for Toby and Kara-Kae and how proud I am of them. I am thankful for my daughter-in-law and son-in-law and how happy they make my children. I am thankful for Tallie and her special new sibling that is on the way. Most of all and foremost I am thankful for God and His many blessings.

Proud

I try to think of words that describe what being a parent is all about: fear, joy, pride, excitement, worry, faith, cheerfulness, etc. These are the words that describe feelings you have when finding out that you will be giving birth to a child, as well as the feeling you have when your children are adults. I have two adult children that I have all of these same feelings about. I am so proud of the adults they have become. Toby is a wonderful son, great husband, terrific step-dad, and going to be a wonderful father to his child that is due in May. I saw how good of a parent he could be when he had a foster-child and was such a good parent to him for the few months he had him. Kara-Kae is a beautiful, kind daughter, wonderful wife, and great parent to Jack (the dog). She is in the process of moving to California. Even though it makes me very sad that she will be so far away, I do admire her courage to pack up and head out there. I wish that I could be the type of person to throw caution to the wind and just go and do. I will just have to live vicariously throught her. I do expect them to move back to this area when it is time to have children that don't require 4 legs to walk.

13 Years Ago Became Barn Dwellers

We moved into our (barn) house 13 years ago today.

The picture is from a snow in December 2007.

Toot and Puddle

Toot & Puddle (a creation of the real Holly Hobbie) are best friends, even though Toot likes to travel and Puddle likes to stay at home. There are several books about their adventures. My librarian friend and boss was Toot, and I was Puddle for Halloween at school.

Happy Birthday, Tallie!

We went to Stephenie's parents' today for Tallie's birthday, which is really on the 29th. We ate a yummy lunch, had cake and ice cream, and watched Tallie open gifts. Later we went to Toby and Stephenie's and had a nice visit.
Stephenie had done some Christmas shopping over the week-end, and it about drove Toby crazy that he couldn't tell us what she bought. It cracks me up how he can be so mature, and then is like a kid when it comes to gifts.
There is no way he can not find out the sex of their baby.

Book Fair is Over

Every year our librarian has two book fairs, one in the fall and one in the spring. She decorates (with help from Tammy), and makes it all look so special for the children. Every year there is a theme, and the decorations go along with the theme. This fall it was a safari theme. Here are a couple of pictures from the fair.

I just never realized how much work went into putting on a good book fair. There were many mornings we were at school before seven o'clock getting ready for it. We had "muffins with mom" one morning and "donuts with dad" the next morning. Since there are now two libraries we had to do it a second week at the intermediate library. There were even a couple of evenings that we had to stay late for parents to come in.

The setting up takes a lot of work, but the tearing down is almost as bad, because all of the books that are left have to be boxed and ready for pickup.

Donna does an excellent job and never get enough credit for all she does.

Let God be in Control

Long time no post. I have been busy, well more like lazy. The school year is going fast, which means my grandbaby will get here quicker.
In a previous post I wished my son-in-law a happy birthday and mentioned his surf lessons in Galveston. I thought at the time that it was a realy nice, thoughtful present. Now I really wish I had given him a gift certificate to McDonalds. He has surfing fever (Big Mac fever would be better) and is wanting to head to California and take my daughter with him. I know he is not just wanting to go to surf or to take Kara-Kae and my future grandchilren away from me, but is wanting to serve God.
My devotional this morning and Bible reading came from Proverbs 3. Proverbs 3:5 says to "trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding", but it is not always easy. I know we should live our lives doing our best to follow and honor God, and let him handle the rest, but sometimes it is so hard. I know we should go and do what God wants, even if it is not where we think we might be happiest.
A statement in my devotion that I think is appropriate is that if you are trying to climb back onto the throne of your life and that you've taken God's sceptor of control back from Him is when you're anxious, stressed, or worried. If you find yourself there, stop. Relax. Return the reigning to the king. I need to do this and rely on God.