The cat came back...how about the other pets?

Would you like to know about them?

As I mentioned yesterday, I've had Francie since before I met Chris. Sally came along in the spring before we were married. Actually, we had another dog, Lucy, before that, but she was tragically run over in Chris' parents' driveway. So when we got home from that trip, we found Weimeraner mix puppies advertised on a local TV channel, and went to pick her out. She doesn't look like a Weimeraner at all....she's all black and has hazel eyes. She's 10 years old now, and likes to lay in her dog house! She's showing her age with some arthritis. She is SUCH a good dog!

Next to come along was Joe. My former neighbor was here to visit her parents one weekend when they found Joe at a local mill. She took him to the vet and basically was not going to leave town until she had a home for the cat! So we took him! But when we had Isaac, he decided that babies were too noisy and basically went to live with the neighbors....incidentally, not the same ones where Francie had gone this week! He will still come in the basement to sleep during the day and rarely comes in the house. Sometimes if we get home at an unexpected time he'll still be upstairs sleeping...but now that is even more rare since Gunnar is here!

Next to come along was Nixie! The parents of a former student raise Boxer pups, and had a runt of the litter that they weren't going to sell. So guess who got her?? She is very small for a Boxer! I had a Boxer growing up, and had always wanted another, so this was a dream come true for me. She has all the energy of a Boxer with the brains to match....she's a tad goofy! LOL

And last to come along was Gunnar. ANOTHER neighbor's daughter had gotten the cat for her son when they were getting ready to buy a house. Unfortunately, the house fell through, and she couldn't keep the cat at her apartment. So the S. family to the rescue! He's a lazy tom cat, and loves to stay in the house!

We also have various fish. We have some black skirts (not sure what the real name is, and I'm too lazy to ask Chris right now!) and we have 3 bettas: one here, one at Chris' school, and one in my classroom. I suppose they'll all be home for the summer soon!

So now you know all about the menagerie that we keep around here!

My cat is gone...edited....no, she's not!!

and it doesn't look like she's coming back.

I've had Francie since before Chris and I met. We found her at the preschool where I was teaching in 1997. She was MY cat. She tolerated the rest of the family, but it was me that she adored. She used to run and jump on my lap and put her paws on each shoulder and lick my face when I came in. It was in one such time that I told her that we were going to marry Chris (she and I, that is) after our second date. She used to sit on the side of the tub while I took a bath. She watched Isaac like a hawk when he was a baby and someone other than Chris or me were here watching him. I worried that she wouldn't like it when we had the boys, but she just took them over as babies of hers, too.

One time I had a candle burning on my dressing table, and she jumped up and caught her tail on fire! When we moved to our current house from the one where we lived when we first married (where my parents now live), she kept disappearing to go over there as it is less than a mile from here and not across any major thoroughfares. One time I was at mom and dad's house and Mom said for me to open the door to let HER cat in, but it wasn't her cat at the door, it was mine!! So I scooped her up and took her back home with me!

I hadn't even let myself think about her being gone until this evening. We noticed that she hadn't been around on Wednesday, when I brought some Frontline home for all the cats and she didn't come to eat that evening. And then Chris got to thinking that she hadn't come around in a few days, which isn't like her....she's all about the canned food that we give her at night! I asked Chris this morning something about her being gone, and Chris hugged me, and I told him that I didn't have time to get upset about her then! (I helped take 74 first graders to a play, McDonald's, and a park today!) But tonight the tears are flowing! And as much as Chris loved to fuss about her, he loved her too. I keep hoping maybe she's gonna show back up, but in my heart I know she is gone. And my heart hurts thinking that she is laying out there somewhere!! I would just like to be able to bury her!!

I know I have two other cats and dogs and various fish, but SHE was MINE. And I miss her!


UPDATE: Chris went looking for her while I was posting this, and the little scamp was down at the neighbors!! She apparently was hanging out down there cause he'll feed her! I've cried all over again thankful that she is okay!! And now we know where to look for her should she go missing again!

An answered prayer, maybe?

I have been interested in looking into a Master's in Reading for years. I finally worked up my nerve today to go talk to the Superintendent of schools to see if there might be an opening in the county in the future as a Reading Specialist, and if there would be any funds available to help pay for my schooling. He said that yes, there were going to be openings, and that yes, he would be able to help out with paying for school! How awesome is that??!

Please pray for me as I continue in this journey! Two people told me after I told them about the fibromyalgia that I need to look at getting out of the classroom to reduce stress and take better care of my body in this. I hate the thought in one way, but in another, I have been thinking the same thing myself somewhat. So maybe this is God's nudging!!

I'll keep you posted!

Saw the rheumatologist today

He took about 4 or 5 vials of blood. He seems to think that it is fibromyalgia, and that I need to continue doing what I'm doing and hopefully it won't get worse.

I'm taking it in. Feeling kind of resolved and kind of numb. Not sure how I feel about it yet. So if you could pray for me, I'd really appreciate it!

Mothers.....listen up!

Now, I know you didn't give birth to your children so you could get free stuff, but since we are often overworked and under-appreciated, how about some contests since you did give birth and and have the stretch marks to prove it?

Mosey on over to the fantastic contests at 5 Minutes for Mom by clicking on the button above! These ladies know how to do contests right, so I'm sure you're going to find something you'd like!

And bless you for giving birth to your heart in human form!

A winner! A winner! It's time to choose a winner!

I had my sons pick a number between 1 and 336 to choose a winner. If, for some reason, the number poster who Isaac chose does not respond, then I will go to the one that Adam chose!

Isaac chose #280, who was alison! Alison, I sent you and email and hope to hear from you soon!

Thank you all so much for all your comments and participation! I am going to try my best to visit each of your blogs, though it may take me a while!!

It's Bloggy Giveaways Carnival time!

**I'm stickying this post...scroll down for newer posts! Thanks!**

I can't believe it is that time again! One of my favorite events in blogdom! And I let it slip up on me, so I don't have any fantastically grand plans, so how about a grab bag?? And for sure it will contain some sort of gift card....either to Wal*Mart, Target, or Starbucks! And some more goodies to boot! Edited to add: sorry, ya'll, I can only afford to ship to the continental U.S. at this time!

All you have to do to enter is leave some sort of comment...anything at all.....and I'll randomly choose a winner next Sunday, April 27 by 11 pm! Couldn't be any easier, huh??

Don't forget to check out the full list of participating blogs here!

Get ready for a FANTASTIC time! Thanks for stopping by, and please don't let it be a one time visit!

I had a dream about ya'll!

I dreamed last night that I was at our local drugstore picking out the things to include in my grab bag! It was very realistic! Isn't that funny?!

I messed up days ago and am still paying for it!

I did a dumb thing on Saturday. I was getting ready for Chris' cousin's wedding shower and didn't take the time to stop and eat something. By the time I did, it was too late--my blood sugar had gotten so low I had a huge headache and was nauseous. I ended up leaving the shower early to go lay down at Chris' parents' house, where I barely spoke to my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and nephew and laid down for about an hour. I don't know if I then got a touch of something on top of that, or that affected my body so but somehow, for whatever reason, I've felt like crud ever since.

I went to Sunday School and most of church yesterday. Slept the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening, and pretty well all night, too. I determined yesterday evening that it probably wouldn't be the best thing for me to try to work, so did a very rare thing for me....I took a Monday off. See, we send home folders w/homework on Mondays, and I just hate to get that routine off, so I usually drag myself in unless I'm dying or one of the kids is really sick. I didn't even get up and go to school and leave plans like I usually would. I called a coworker and asked for her to lay some stuff out for me and asked for a sub who I knew could handle it without great directions. In other words, I must feel pretty bad.

I've slept all morning. I got up around 1:15 and have eaten something and determined that daytime tv stinks, and now I think I'll lay back down til my friend and coworker brings Isaac home around 4. I've got to work on picking up the house and figure out what I'm going to do for a webquest for class tomorrow night. Any ideas? We have to stay til 7:30 tomorrow night to make up for a class we missed, so won't a 12 hour day be a great way to jump back into the land of the living tomorrow?!

If you read this, please comment, cause I feel so lonely sometimes with no comments! *insert pitiful look here*

The name game!

One of my friends' blogs had this today and I felt like playing along!

The Name Game.....

Here's a fun little name game to play. I'm not going to tag anyone, but copy and play along. Let me know in the comments if you do.

1. Your rock star name (first pet, current car)......Missy Bravada

2. Your gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe)......Moose Tracks Sandals

3. Your Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal)......Orange Cat

4. Your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born)......oh heavens, Gay Kingsport

5. Your Star Wars name (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name......Stach

6. Superhero name (2nd favorite color, favorite drink)......Blue Coke

7. NASCAR name (the first names of your grandfathers).......Robert William

8. Stripper name (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)......Mango Melon Reese's

9. TV weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a city that starts with the same letter).......Sandt St. Louis

10. Spy name (your favorite season/holiday, flower)......Christmas Sweet Pea

11. Cartoon name: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now)......Cantelope Jeans

12. Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree).......Biscuit Dogwood

13. "Adult Film" star name (first pet, first street where you lived)......Missy Holston Terrace


Is it me, or are all of mine weird sounding??

Now, it is your turn to do it...Remember, let me know in the comments if you play along.

How's Your Spelling?

Your Spelling is Good

You got 9/10 correct. Your spelling is generally pretty decent. You are prone to a few mistakes, but the mistakes you make are pretty forgivable.

How's Your Spelling?

Wordless Wednesday--Cruise!

Only sixty some days til we go!! Woo hoo!

Just watched The Memory Keeper's Daughter

on Lifetime. I loved the book, but the movie, as is often the case with books turned into movies, left much of the story out...and therefore lost much of the beauty of the book. Entire subplots were left out, so therefore you missed out on the significance of many of the things going on. It was a movie that probably looked great to someone who hadn't read the book, but sadly lacking to those who had.

Another thing that bothers me is that this story was supposed to have a setting of Lexington, KY, but was filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Why couldn't it be filmed in Lexington, or at least in the same COUNTRY? I understand that it is often cheaper to film in other countries, but you miss out on part of the story when you don't know anything about the area where it was supposed to have happened. Another one of the 'filmed on location' movies that was NOT was Cold Mountain. This movie was set in the Appalachian mountains, but was filmed in New Zealand!

A movie is in the works for a book set in one of my hometowns (remember, I'm a preacher's kid....never lived in one place for more than 5 years growing up!), Big Stone Gap, Virginia. If this movie is filmed elsewhere, it will lose SO much of the local flavor that Adriana Trigiani so lovingly weaved into the story. I KNOW some of the people that she based characters on in the story! I was in the drama that she refers to, and my husband is assistant principal at a school that she refers to as well. And Jack Mac, an important character in the four book series.....I hugged the REAL Jack Mac's neck at a mutual friend's funeral this past summer. So it would be a real travesty for this movie not to be filmed in the town on whose local oddities and idiosyncrasies it was based.

If you'd like to learn more about Big Stone Gap and the movement to film it there, please visit Film Big Stone Gap in the Gap!

1. I love springtime in the mountains! I love to see the different trees and flowers blooming!
2. Omlettes and bacon are foods I love to eat for breakfast.
3. It seems I'm always searching for someone's clean socks or underwear!
4. A new tv episode is a great way to end the day.
5. I think I need a haircut!
6. Bacon or ham pizza is what I've been craving lately.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a movie with the family, tomorrow my plans include a wedding shower and a baby shower, and Sunday, I want to take a nap!

Wordless Wednesday--We Are Marshall

Just finished watching this movie, and I can't stop crying!!

Posted today....

...at my other blog! Go visit there if you wish from my profile!!

How about a Random Thoughts With Christi post?!

Here we go!

First, I am addicted to a new online game. It is called Fashion Story. I have conquered it in online mode and it isn't available for Mac, so I am sad.

Today was a BEEEEEEAUTIFUL spring day! I'm ready for it! Except for finding my clothes. That I haven't done, and I'm woefully low on clean clothing right now...so might have to go searchin' in the morning!

I am so blessed to work with some wonderful Christian women!! On Friday, my coworker L. called me all THRILLED because her mother had just accepted Christ as her Savior! It was an answer to many, many years of prayer! And then after hearing about L.'s mom, K's daughter went to the altar yesterday at church and accepted Christ as well! How awesome is that?! And L. and I had a fantastic conversation with requests for prayer with T. during a break time....God is so good, and He has blessed me with so much. I so need to focus on that instead of the things I cannot control that I have been letting get me down lately. God has those things in control, too, and His time is perfect! He has a plan, and I just need to let go and trust Him!

OK, that was a small sermon. I digress.

I am thinking seriously about trying South Beach Diet again. I figured out that it is basically what I was doing last year when I lost about 10 lbs. So I know it works, and I'm not hungry, I just need to get my self in the mode and GO! Cause it is only 67 days til our cruise.....EEEEEEEK! And that means me in a bathing suit with my skinny sisters! EEEEEEEEEEK! OK, that should be motivation enough right there, huh?

Ok. So. Well. Keep typing....keep typing...thoughts will come.......I got nothin'.

So I guess I will end it there! Have a grrrrrreat (a la Tony the Tiger) week!

*~*~GUESS WHAT?!?!*~*~

My niece competed in a local dance competition yesterday and then went to the workshops that were connected to it today. Guess where she won a scholarship to??




THE JOFFREY BALLET!!

We're not sure exactly what it is for, a summer intensive, a class, or what, but it doesn't matter...she can say she danced at Joffrey!! I am SOOOOO thrilled for her!!!

I'll share more details as I find them out!!

More on singing at the Dome Cathedral

This past Wednesday, I couldn't really get inspired to use anything for my wordless post, so I just went through my pics until something struck me. I'd love to tell you more about it!

I went to Austria and Hungary with Emory & Henry College's Concert Choir my senior year. It was SUCH an awesome experience! I had a blast and it was quite an honor to get to sing in a country so rich in musical heritage. I loved seeing places that were seen in The Sound of Music, and we also had some fun times in the clubs at night! But one of the highlights was definitely singing for New Year's Day Mass at the Dome Cathedral in Salzburg.

Our choir director is an amazing man. He can get you so into the music that you don't even notice what else might be going on in the room. He is one of the people I respect most in the world! So when we got to sing in the place where Mozart was baptised, we all knew that he would be so very honored and humbled.

Now, mind you, this cathedral is HUGE....there is a 7 second echo from where we were singing to the end of the cathedral, so we really had to pay attention to Doc to make sure we were hearing our pitches instead of what we had been singing 7 seconds ago! It was also C*O*L*D! There was no such thing as central heat in the time it was built, so we just had to layer underneath our dresses and tuxes and just shiver our way through it...all the better to concentrate on Doc, too!


We did sing a few selections during the mass. It was in German, so we didn't understand a lot, but the ritual was familiar. After the conclusion of the service, some Americans that were there wanted to get pictures of us, so we traipsed back up to the risers to line up. We smiled for the cameras, and then realized that some of the congregation had come up to the front, thinking that we were going to perform again. We clued Doc in that they thought we were going to sing, and he, being the Performance man he is, was glad to oblige! We did several more songs that we did not do during the service, and moved to conclude with "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" as we did all our concerts.

We always hold hands while singing this, which also brings more emotion as we had formed such bonds already on this trip. We were singing, and Doc started weeping as he directed us. He was overcome with emotion at WHERE we were, at the enormity of singing where the masters had walked, and we all started crying too! But I tell you, I knew in that moment what the angels must feel when they sing. It was a very spiritual moment! And afterwards, we all stood around hugging and just basically loving each other. It was a moment I will never forget...I could almost cry just remembering it. God was truly with us that day!

The interview went well!

Chris came by school in his new suit today and everyone was impressed! He feels like it went well, even though we figure they already have picked out who they want in the job. But you never know!

Went out to eat with my BFF tonight! We ate at Stir Fry Cafeand were thrilled to hear that they are opening one closer to us! Woohoo!

And tomorrow will be a fairly relaxed one, thankfully!

My hubby has a job interview tomorrow!

If you would send good thoughts and prayers our way, we certainly would appreciate it! He is interviewing for a principal position within our county. He is one of six being interviewed. This would be quite a change in lifestyle for us, as he would be working away from home more, but he would also be making quite a bit more money. I know that if it is in God's plan it will happen! We didn't expect that he would get an assistant's position as quickly as he did, but God had that handled too!

In other news, I went to a very neat baby shower tonight....for seven pregnant teachers at our school! We had a nice Italian dinner, and gave them each a laundry basket full of goodies and a gift card to Target! And the neat thing is, there is also one more teacher pregnant, and two that taught at our school last year are pregnant too!

I'm having quite a bit of back pain today. If you could say a prayer for that as well, that would be great!

Wordless Wednesday--The Dome Cathedral

The most amazing place, short of Heaven, that I can ever expect to sing!

Retro is so....

I am such a retro girl. I listen to retro music, I love to watch retro tv shows, and today I've been watching retro children's shows! We found The Letter People on You Tube and have been watching it! It may be cheesy, but it does grab kids' attention! Then I moseyed over to eBay and looked at vintage Fisher-Price Little People. Oh, how hard it was not to buy some!

What about you? Are you a today gal or a retro woman like me??

uhhh, nsweotonasioesammmmm.....

Can't form coherent sentences...

sore throat...

back to school, lack of sleep catching up.....


worked on taxes...

will be coherent tomorrow!


Good night!

LOVE

I went to Aunt Billie's funeral tonight. The church was full, which is pretty amazing for a 93 year old! Tells ya how many lives she influenced. The theme throughout the funeral, though it wasn't really planned, was love and laughter.

I need to remember that love and laughter are what lasts. That is what people remember when loved ones are gone....are the love and the laughter.

Speaking of laughter, my sister Suzy and I were having some good ones on the way there and back! She was looking for the church and was looking past the car in front of her, and the car in front of her was braking and she wasn't seeing it, so I started yelling,"Wait! Wait!" Which did the trick, she didn't rear-end the car in front of us, but what in the world was I telling her to wait for?! We got a big kick out of that!

Then on the way home we were talking about a cousin of ours that is mentally disabled (which I didn't even realize he was! I thought he was just very quiet!) and when Suzy was explaining the situation to me, she started whispering! So I said, "Suz, why are you whispering, no one else is in the car!!" So we had another good laugh over that!

OK, it is after midnight, so I didn't officially get a Sunday blog in but we'll pretend, okay? Cause I've stayed up entirely too late looking for an interactive lesson for me to use with my students for EVERY DAY of the week, cause I have a new SMARTboard that I am dying to use!! I am psyched about that thing, let me tell ya!!

So I'm off to bed....which is not even really later than I have gotten to sleep this week with the stinkin' insomnia, so at least I got something productive done, right?!

Happy birthday to my hubby!

Happy 36th birthday, dear one!

I hope that he has had a good day. We went out to eat for a NICE dinner tonight, and he had a NY strip steak. Then we went looking for some good deals on clothes, and got a few things for the boys, him, and a couple of shirts at Old Navy for ME for $2.99 ea! I'm not sure I'll wear them outside the house since they show off my back fat, but hey! For $2.99 I can wear 'em around the house!

I've finished all but 2 exercises of this week's homework, and I still need to do my lesson plans. Tomorrow evening my sister(s) and I will be traveling to Aunt Billie's funeral, so I've got to get this stuff done before we leave if at all possible. I just can't look at doing it at 10 pm tonight though!

We went to see Sue the T-Rex!

Today we took the boys to the Gray Fossil Site! Basically, Tennessee Dept. of Transportation was excavating this area for a road interchange in 2000, and they hit some black dirt unlike the clay mud usually found 'round here. They halted the excavating, and started searching the area for fossils, and they found lots, and are still excavating some! Currently the Sue exhibit is there, and it was really neat to see as well. They even take visitors outside to a dig site to show them what they do and where they have found certain fossils. If you ever have the chance to go to this museum, go! It was really interesting for both the kids and adults!

My Aunt Billie has passed away

Daddy called me this morning. My cousin Dewayne was the last one to see her, and he says that she looked like she was sleeping and peaceful. The service will be on Sunday evening and my dad will take part in the service. More than likely, my sisters and I will travel down and back together.

Please pray for our family!

And here I sit.....

at 12:35 am. Now mind you, I was up this late and later last night and the night before. Yes, you guessed it....I'm in the midst of an insomnia spell. LOVELY! I know that my doctor says that I can take my sleeping pill every night and that it isn't addictive, and even my pharmacy school niece says the same thing, but I really hate doing that. I want to be able to fall asleep on my own.

I HATE times like this. But there again, this falls into the whole 'could I have fibromyalgia?' category. I have been down about my great aunt being sick. I have been stressed because I was at my inlaws. (Not that they stress me out, but I never really know what I'm supposed to be doing there, should I relax, should I entertain the kids, should I try to help cook? so I'm never really relaxed and comfortable) I have felt the stress in my shoulders. My allergies are acting up due to the pollen starting up. Is this all related to the insomnia? Certainly possible. My appointment with a rhematologist is next month.

So. By the way, Tennessee lost tonight to Louisville in the basketball tourney. That stinks.

I really liked watching the inlaws' satellite tv when I couldn't sleep. So being home to our basic cable doesn't really have the appeal it used to. But I did just notice that I have some dvds that I haven't popped open, so I might just do that for a while.

I'm feeling a tad sleepy, so I'm going to try that. I hope that you are sleeping yourself! 'Nite.

Thursday Challenge

"FURNITURE" (Table, Chair, Rocking Chair, High Chair, Sofa, Beds, Desks, Book Cases,...)

To see the theme for next week or see other entries, click here!

Wordless Wednesday--How Boys Have Grown!

This was taken about this time of year 4 years ago!! I can't believe how much my boys have grown!

Aunt Billie

My mom called me here at my inlaws house a while ago. In our family, if you are called while you are out of town, it usually isn't good news, and it wasn't. My Great-Aunt Billie had a massive stroke yesterday. She is in the hospital but will be going to her daughter's house tomorrow. Mom and Dad are going to see her tomorrow.

It makes it so much harder when you're away from home and get difficult news. She, my aunt, knows people and is able to respond, so that is good, but it is probably only a matter of time. She is in her 90s, so she has lived a good life. But it will be the end of an era when she passes away. That is the end of a generation in both my parents' families. She will be the last of their aunts, uncle, and parents to die. And that is hard on my Daddy, which in turn, is hard on me. Mom told me that he cried when he talked to his cousin this evening.

Please say prayers for my Aunt Billie and our family! She is a beautiful, beautiful woman and I love her dearly!

Road trip!

Anyone wanna join us??! We're headed to Halifax, Virginia to visit Chris' parents. They have dialup but it seems to hate me, so I will get on only if I can. I'm going to be going through computer withdrawals, so think of me, and also think of me being in the house with my inlaws for several days. Just sayin'. Not that I don't love them dearly, but my boys take on different personalities in their presence. Can you relate?!

I will miss my couch, my tv, my MacBook, and my freedom to do what I want to, including sitting around in one of Chris' tshirts and my undies if I wish. I will be back to you, dear loyal reader(s), and these amenities of home on Thursday!

Oh and Robin if you read this, what is going on Friday?? Wanna meet up?

TTFN!

He lives!

I serve a risen Savior!

Happy Easter, friends!!

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night!

And I am finished with my classwork for the week a day early! wooooohooooo!! AND only 2 weeks left! Even bigger woooooooohooooooooo!

Adam is itchy now from the rash and has a tummy ache, I suspect from the amoxicillin. It was confirmed yesterday morning that he has strep throat and scarlet fever. I pray that none of the rest of us get it!

If I disappear over the next few days, it is cause I've headed to the inlaws. They don't have the most reliable internet service ever, and it is dial-up, so I may not be able to post.

Blessings on you on this holy day before Easter! He is risen and lives today! Hallelujah!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?
I pretty much live in the country now, but in a small town. And I like it that way! The country is very close, but I have a grocery store and Wal-Mart pretty close by, too!

Soup

Who is the cutest kid you know?
Um, my two kids of course! Isaac and Adam!

Salad

Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________.
...about Chris' cousin who had embezzled so so SO much money. It still doesn't seem real to me, but sadly, it is.

Main Course

If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?
I swear by MaryKay's Mattifier! Or Avon's Glimmersticks eyeliner!

Dessert

What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?
A women's daily multivitamin

My little man is sick...

....yes, yet again. He started in the middle of the night with a sore throat and fever. It has come back several times during the day/evening. Tonight it is worse, and not really responding to Tylenol. I just put him to bed with some Motrin, so we'll see how he goes...

send us prayers or cross your fingers or send us good thoughts, or whatever you do....

Wordless Wednesday--The Talent Show Troupe

Isaac and his buddies who performed as the Brady Bunch Kids at the school talent show! Don't they just look the cutest?!

Ever had pink eye?

If not, c'mon over and I'll rub my eye and touch your hand so you can experience it! My first graders have been running rampant with it for about 2 1/2 weeks now. I avoided it successfully for a while, but I've got it now!

And what makes it even better is here is a legitimate reason for me to NOT be in school, but NO, not gonna be, because I had a dentist appointment today...or at least, I did until they called after I left for work saying that the dentist would be out today (she's sick), so I took 1/2 day off and went over there, only to find out that they had called my home number to say we'd have to reschedule. So now I don't feel like I can take off to rest my eye. I have antibiotic eye drops, so hopefully me having 2 or 3 doses in will make me okay. UGH.

Heard from my Compassion child today (and other stuff)

I was THRILLED to receive a letter from Robert today! He shares similarities with my sons, and we can't wait to sit down and write him a return letter! He drew me some nice pictures, so I'm going to let the boys draw him some pictures too!

I was about to forget to remind you to visit Overwelmed with Joy and enter the Pay It Forward book giveaway! I didn't get around to having my own giveaway this month, but I promise I will next month! Drop by there and tell her Christi sent ya!

I forgot to brag about my big boy and how he did in the 1-2 grade spelling bee on Friday! He was the next to last first grader to get out, and was in the top six out of seventeen! I was SO proud of him! He brought home his report card today with all As again! I could just burst with pride! He is bringing immense pleasure to his teacher parents!

Hope you are having a great Monday!

Love so amazing

We had a beautiful service at church today. We had the children come down the aisle with palm branches, then they laid them at the foot of the stand where the cross was later placed. It was carried down by 2 of my nephews while Via Dolorosa was played, which started the waterworks for me! Then we had a fantastic sermon, and we all took name tags that we had been given earlier and stuck them to the cross as a symbol of Jesus taking our places there. Very effective as far as I was concerned! I was crying already when my sister, who was leading children's church today, started leading the children down the aisle. I met the boys and helped them to place their name tags on the cross and then we knelt at the alter and prayed. By this point, the praise team was singing "Amazing Love", and I just sat with my boys beside me and let the tears flow.

My frustrations, my irritations, the areas in my life where I am not seeing the movement in the way I want.....all are nothing. Without the cross, without Jesus' sacrifice, I wouldn't even be here, much less have so many, many blessings. And my worries, my venting of my frustrations, do they further God's kingdom? No, they don't--and they don't deserve my attention and energy. Praise the Lord for Him showing me this today!

I usually post my more spiritually based thoughts in my other blog, but during this Holy Week, I will share them here, for my faith in Christ is so central to who I am, and I wouldn't be ME without HIM! Thanks be to God!

Happy 7th birthday, Isaac!

Today is your birthday, my very sweet boy! I remember vividly where I was 7 years ago....laying in a hospital bed after being induced into labor and given a epidural, waiting for you to work toward being born. It was a long day! But well worth it in the end, since I got to bring home such a beautiful baby boy! You had your own idea about things from day one, including when and where and how long you would sleep! I've never seen a three day old baby fight sleep like you did! I remember tiptoeing to lay you down in your crib and jostling you too much, only to march back to the rocking chair to start the whole process over. But still, you were a joy then and continue to be a joy today.

When you were small, I never would have thought that you would be so calm and determined to learn at school! You were pretty high strung and didn't want anything to do with coloring and learning letters. But as soon as you started school, your first child tendencies came out. You are a hard worker and are very smart!

You have accomplished so many things in your short life, and there have been so many opportunities for me to beam with pride. You have already sung solos, played soccer and basketball, been a Cub Scout, participated in the school spelling bee, and danced in the talent show! That is a lot more than I had done at your age! You are a sensitive soul and are always nice to others and stand up for those who others are mistreating. You are a loving brother and cousin and enjoy the company of others.

Happy birthday sweetheart, and I hope I don't have to banish you to your room today for mistreating your little brother!

I love you Isaac Christopher! You are a light in my life!!

Wordless Wednesday--Frustrated

And that's all I feel like saying about that!

Monday....

What is there to say about Monday? I had a cruddy meeting with a parent today where he was totally unreasonable and rude, and not trusting our opinions as professionals, and not taking into consideration what his child can truly do. Very frustrating. We had the talent show at school today so I didn't have to teach after 12:45, so that was okay!

It is amazing that giving up one hour of sleep can throw your body off the way it does! I'm very out of sync. Are you?

This is a jam packed week with Chris or I, or both, having something every night after work. I know we'll get through it, but it'd be much easier with some downtime together!

Note to self: mention to Chris that I'd like to have a movie that *I* would like to see on the Blockbuster que!!

Remember that list of things I had to do today?

I'm making my way through it, down to writing lesson plans and finishing putting away the clean clothes! However, it is 9:15, my body thinks it is 10:15, and I have bus duty in the morning to repay someone who did mine for me when I was sick! So no great words of wisdom today....not that there ever are! Happy Sunday!

What a day!!

It was a busy one, but honestly, since it was the first Saturday we've all felt well in weeks, I am not sorry that we were busy--I was thrilled we all were WELL!!

Chris let me sleep in a bit, and then I hopped up, ate me some Special K with Chocolate Bits (that probably isn't the real name but it is what I call it!) and put a load of clothes in the wash. We vegged out for a bit and then all got dressed and ready for Chris' parents to meet us here. Then we headed to Fun Expedition! Isaac isn't having a big family bash like we usually do, so Mamaw and Granddaddy wanted to do something special with him. Chris' brother and his wife and 2 kids met us there, and fun was had by all!

We then loaded back up in cars and headed to Carino's for lunch, which was waaaay yummy! Isaac opened his presents there and was less than thrilled with his Webkins that he has asked for, so Daddy and I were frustrated. If it was just US there, it would have been different, but Mamaw kept going on and on about how she'd get him something else and that we shouldn't fuss at him, and blah blah blah.....it is just overkill. That isn't the point. But we tried not to let it ruin the day. What was most frustrating was he said that wasn't what he was expecting, but he couldn't tell me WHAT he was expecting??

Anyway, we came home and rested a bit before taking Isaac for his first sleepover at H.'s house. I then put some more clothes in, did some work for my class, and we ate and watched some tv. I talked to my sister and mom on the phone, and then someone beeped in. I checked the messages since I was on the phone, and it was H's mom. Isaac was sad and wanted to come home. Chris wasn't surprised, but I had honestly expected him to stay all night! So he stayed about an hour more, then I went back and got him. (after another load of clothes, of course! LOL)

And on the plate for tomorrow: Sunday School, church (in which I have both the Children's Sermon and Children's Church!), an school system Art Extravaganza that Chris and I can get credit for attending, D.U.C.K.S, choir practice, and somewhere in there finish my class stuff, write lesson plans, and finish picking up the house!

Phew! I'm tired just thinking about it!

And next weekend, we have a birthday party on Friday, a birthday party on Saturday, and mom and dad are taking Isaac out for dinner and to a play for his birthday. Our high school basketball team is headed to Richmond for the semi-finals, and Isaac wanted to know why we couldn't go! But when I told him the list of things that were going on, he was cool with it. We did go last year, but last year we weren't saving money for a cruise, so that changes things!

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend! :D

There's a party goin' on right here....

Celebrate good times, c'mon!



That is the song that my niece sang tonight in our school talent show, and since we're starting a blog party, isn't it appropriate?!

So a little bit about me and my blog!! I am Christi! I turned 35 last month and have been happily married to my best friend Chris for almost 10 years. He and I have two sons. Isaac will be seven next week and is in first grade. Adam is four and is preschool. We have a lot of fun hanging out, goofing off, and just enjoying being a family! Isaac has just started into more activities such as soccer, basketball, Cub Scouts, Royal Ambassadors, and just tonight was in the school talent show, so this is a big part of our lives now. In my spare time (HA!) I sing in our church choir and enjoy taking part in some online parenting communities. I also am *trying* to raise some extra money on the side with some home based businesses, and if you wanna hear about those, I'll gladly tell ya!

Let's see...what else......we are very involved in our church. We are blessed to attend church with my sisters and their families and my parents. That is good, because otherwise I wouldn't see my family much cause we are all so busy! I am proud to be a United Methodist, and even prouder to be a child of God. I am imperfect, am a sinner, and constantly fall short of His grace....but I keep trying! I also have a blog where I place my Bible studies and such, so check out my profile and visit me there as well!

Since this IS a party, how about an appetizer recipe?!

Here is an easy one. I am NOT a cook, so it has to be simple with me. You can't get much simpler than this!

Pepperoni Bites

pepperoni, as much as you want to fix
cream cheese

Cover 1/2 of each pepperoni slice with cream cheese. Fold the remaining half over the covered half.

And that is it! Told ya it was easy!!

A fun part of this blog party is the PRIZES! Some of my faves are:
1. 70 Chocolate offered by The Chocolistas

2. 7 Bead Dangle Photo Tile Necklace offered by Elemental Memories

3. 90 — Fused Glass Pendant shared by Lucky Girl Trading Co.

If those are not available, I'd be thrilled with 16, 32, 38, 44, 52, 60, 62, or 64 or truly, ANY prize! This is an awesome, fun time and I'm itching to get started!



Well, I hope that you visit again after this week. God bless you, and thanks for stopping by!

Memories....

Boy, I've gone through 'em this evening. And some of them wear me out just thinking about them! I saw some old yearbooks in the basement and brought them upstairs to look at them. That was pretty fun, looking at all of us in years past! It did bring back some rough memories, like pictures of the two friends we had die while we were at Emory. But seeing pics of good times were just that....good. I then went and got a drawer full of stuff that I put in there my senior year at Emory and have since moved several times! Lots of it needs to be tossed, but man....the memories. Memories of dates, memories of drunken times, memories of functions, memories of ex-boyfriends and the hurts they caused. I guess that is the thing that came back kind of raw tonight was the ex-boyfriend stuff.

It is evident that 15 years....15 YEARS! after he and I split up that it was such a defining moment in my life when I still avoid him. Last week he and his wife were at a restaurant where Robin and I were eating. We avoided them, and did so successfully, but the fact that I NEED to shows how deeply the situation hurt me.

First, let me get something straight. I do NOT still have feelings for him or wish that things turned out differently. I know that things are the way that the Lord intended, and looking back, he had many qualities and habits that would have been very difficult to live with. It was the way it ended, and the fact that I was so deeply depressed and didn't realize it, so much so that the breakup just about BROKE me, that brings up the hurt. I will never forget the pain and the heartwrenching despair I felt when he broke up with me, and how it didn't end for a long long time, truly for more than a year. I even dated someone basically on the rebound even though it was over a year and a half after we broke up. I dated the guy for as long as I did simply because he wanted me.

I had the first panic attacks I've had in years this past fall after his father died. It just brought up so many painful memories that I had two in one day, and they were totally unrelated to what I was doing at the time, I know. Scary!

And then there was stuff in there from G. too. I will always have a tender place in my heart for him. He was my first love. Truly, if we had met 10 years later, or even 5 years later, things might have been different. But I was NOT ready to settle down forever at 19! He really was a sweet guy, and from what I hear, he is doing well, other than the fact that he and his wife split up.

So many changes. So many people that you think you're going to be around forever. So many reasons that you aren't. I love my life and the people that surround me. I am VERY blessed, because I am surrounded by such uplifting, Godly people. My coworkers, truly, are the best. I love them so much, I could just do a post of the love and respect I have for them! And to have the wonderful family support and love I have as well is tremendous!

Ok, one little side note.....my house is a WRECK and I could almost guarantee that my inlaws will stop by sometime this weekend! What joy!! LOL Better get to cleaning, huh?!

One good thing about memories.....they are in the PAST and I don't have to relive them! And with that, I go to sleep.

Pics of my boys!

This is Isaac, who will be 7 next week, and hubby's niece, who just turned 8. She had a 50s theme party, hence the clothing and slicked back hair! Isaac's hair is super thick, so this is as 'back' as it gets!



And this is Adam, who is 4!

So there are my pride and joy!
I'll have to get a pic of Isaac tomorrow...he's going to be in the school talent show, performing with some other teacher's kids and friends as the Brady Bunch! They're doing "Keep On", remember that routine?! They are adorable!

Wordless Wednesday: Tornado

A tornado hit one of my hometowns, Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where I lived from 1983 to 1987. If you read Adriana Trigiani, this is the neighborhood where Ave Maria lives at the beginning of Big Stone Gap. Adri's mom still lives in the neighborhood, as far as I know. The house pictured is the Polly house, and is one of the oldest in town. One of my childhood to college best friends grew up in the house across the street.

Please pray for the residents as they deal with this! It is very rare that we have tornados in these mountains!

Let's try this again: We have a winner!

Unfortunately for her, my first winner did not contact me to claim her prize. #2 who was randomly generated did not leave her Blogger profile open for others to view. So the moral of the story is either be sure to leave a way to be contacted and/or the third try's a charm!

So our winner is.....geekbearinggifts! I've emailed you, so please contact me with your details so I can get this out to you!

I finally, FINALLY, feel good today! It's about time! Made it successfully through a full day of school and class til 6:30 without feeling absolutely bushed. Hooray!

OK, off to read a bit and then head to bed. Have a good one, if you read this!

Well, maybe not catching up, but....

oh well, right? Chris took 1/2 day off today and went to the doctor. He has walking pneumonia. I figured since he did, I would. Over 2 hours at the doctor later, and I was wrong! So! Now I'm worn out, have a very growly tummy, and still am behind.

But I don't have walking pneumonia, so that is good!

And I whipped out two PowerPoints for class today. Woo hoo for me!

Will I ever catch up?

Do you ever feel like this? Like you are perpetually behind on everything? Schoolwork, laundry, dishes, email, etc. Where I was out of pocket for several days with Adam and Chris and I all sick, I am still not caught up. And my durn family won't just go naked! LOL

I'm way behind on work for the class I'm taking. And then the one computer with Windows capabilities in the house is so old that the programs that I need to run aren't running. Our other computers are Macs, so they won't run what I need to run either. I did actually get my classwork for the online class done yesterday thankfully! I need to write lesson plans, and actually need to get down on paper what we did last week! Ugh. I'll catch up eventually, right?!

EDITED: February Pay It Forward Giveaway Winner!

The winner of Deborah Smith's Stone Flower Garden is Amber! Amber, I'll be emailing you, or if you see this email me first!

Thanks to all of you who entered! I'm gonna *try* to visit all of your blogs, though it may take me a while!

Have a great Saturday and keep looking for March's giveaway to be posted soon!

Edited: I haven't heard from Amber yet. If I don't hear from her by 9 pm Tuesday, March 4, I'm going to go ahead and move down the random.org generated list! So if you know Amber, tell her to come let me know she's still interested!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Who was the last person you hugged?
One of my boys!

Soup

Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.
Hmmmm....I have been loving Garnier Fructis Smooth & Shine Leave in Conditioner! It keeps my naturally wavy hair from looking frizzy!

Salad

What does the color yellow make you think of?
My niece Kellie. It used to be her fave color, I am not sure if it still is or not!

Main Course

If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?
Odd or deserted buildings in black and white

Dessert

What was the longest book you ever read?
Either The Mists of Avalon or Scarlett!

Don't forget to enter!

Don't forget to enter my Pay It Forward book giveaway! You can read all the details and enter here! I'll choose a winner sometime tomorrow evening!

4 days

That is the total of how many days I missed of work due to this stinkin' stomach bug and Adam's walking pneumonia! It came back for both of us, and it was worse the second go 'round for me. It was really stinky.

I am still feeling disconnected from my worlds, if that makes sense. 4 days to a first grader is a LOOONG time, so it took a while yesterday to get back into the groove. Add to it that we had snow coming down all day, and they kept wondering why we weren't going home early, AND the fact that we're closed today because of the snow, and I am basically a week behind! I HATE that!

I've also felt disconnected somewhat from my online world, and I know that is because I haven't felt like commenting and visiting, and therefore no one was visiting here, and that led to me not caring if I didn't post much....bad cycle. But I'll get back there, I am sure!

What about you? How have you been the past few days?

We got our packet on our Compassion child!

Isaac, Adam, and I examined it. Isaac was pleased to hear that Robert likes to play soccer, too, and is anxious to send him a letter. He wants to know more about the language he speaks, too!

I am just SO thankful that we are doing this!!

When was the last time you dressed up...

and went to a costume party?

We went to my niece's birthday party today, and she had us all dress up, children and adults, in a 50's theme. We had such fun dressing up! Isaac and Adam wore white t-shirts and jeans rolled up with white socks and loafers. I slicked their hair back with gel. They looked so cute! Chris dressed up as the typical 50s TV dad with his white dress shirt, cardigan, pipe, dress pants, white socks, and black shoes. It was priceless! I wore a cardigan buttoned all the way up, capri pants (I didn't have any tighter black ones, so I wore denim ones), ballet flats, and pinned on my mom's ballerina pin that was actually hers in the 50s, and put a white scarf with red polka dots in my hair. I wore darker lipstick that I usually wear, too. I wish I had had someone take a picture of us!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim?
Yes, I helped my college roommate's brother-in-law play a joke on a friend of his. I called and acted like I wanted this big landscaping job done.

Soup

What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?
You know what is sad? I had to go look! They have apples on the front, and green on the top.
Salad

Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)?
I'd say I'll head to visit my in-laws before this, but I next plan to visit Lake Junaluska, NC and then days later New Orleans to leave on our CRUISE!
Main Course

What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?
Whatever is handy, honestly. Usually it is something from Bath & Body Works.

Dessert

Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name.
Hmmm....do you really know how cooking challenged I am?
Right now, I'd like something involving whatever ingredients are in a Blonde Brownie in a pie form, with Cool Whip on top. I'll call it Blondie Pie!


To see more answers, go to Friday's Feast!

Sick household

I must have a stomach bug, cause I've been nauseous with a bad headache, and feel basically like crud. Adam has walking pneumonia. Chris just feels bad, and according to him, he feels worse than any of us (of course). Isaac says his stomach is upset, so he may be getting this stomach bug.

And of course Chris' brother's daughter's birthday party is Saturday, so the inlaws are coming in. Fan-freakin'-tastic.

one more thing.....

I decided to move my more spiritually based blog over to blogger too. Please check it out:


Showered By Blessings

I'm SOOOOOO excited! Look at what Chris got me!

Is that not the most awesome thing you've seen?! I have been really wanting The Message, but hadn't spent the money on myself. Chris went to pick out the curriculum we're going to use with the new children's group we're starting this Sunday, and he came home with one for him and one for me! I am THRILLED!! I still love my NIV Student Bible, but I have had it for almost 20 years, and it is showing the wear!

ooh, I just can't wait to delve into it!!

Take 5 Tuesday

5 of your favorite words.
Mommy
snow
free
nap
hug


5 things you like about your job.
each day is different
the days go by quickly
watching my first graders come so far in 180 days
my coworkers
snow days and 2 months off in summer!

5 things you like about blogging, (or the internet in general.
the friends I've made
easy access to so much shopping!
the things I've won!
that I have gotten back to writing, which I love
information about pretty much anything you need

Check out the site where I got this meme!

The one in which I fall and embarass myself

The klutz that I am, it could be any of a number of times! Like the time I was rushing into our dorm room on the way to somewhere when I sliced a big gash in my leg...or the time I fell down the hardwood steps at my sisters' house with a duffel bag of laundry on my back....or on Friday when, with several high schoolers visiting our classroom, my rolling desk chair rolled right out from under me...or tonight at the Upward Basketball Awards Celebration I tripped over the corner of a ramp and fell in front of practically half of our county.....yeah, that was me.

Or how about the time I was simply standing in the front yard of our church and my ankle gave way and I fell right on my rear? Sprained my ankle on that one.

I don't know any bigger klutzes than me. And poor Isaac has inherited the tendency.

Tonight I hopped up and the first thing I asked was if my sister saw it happen...which she didn't. She'd never have let me live it down!

Please tell me I'm not the only person who can fall up and down stairs, and off sidewalks!! Please??

A 1 credit hour class?! HA!

Want to know how much time I spent on assignments for it this week, most of it today??? At least 5 hours! How annoying. It is good information on teaching English Language Learners, but still....I'm putting more time into this class than the three hour class I'm taking at the same time!

Of course, I probably shouldn't have put most of it off until today, but today was when I had a block of time to work on it. It is hard to concentrate after teaching all day and while the boys are running around, and by the time they are down, I'm pretty worn out myself, so......you see the catch 22 here!

Anywhooooooo......

How about a dumb husband quote for the road?


Dumb husband question of the week. Backstory: I got test results back recently affirming that there is a definite possibility that I am dealing with fibromyalgia:

Should you go to the doctor? You seem like you have been awfully tired lately!

UHHHHH, HELLOOOOOO, HONEY?! That IS what is wrong with me!


Oh, but he has lots to learn, doesn't he?!

A Redneck Saturday Night

Yep, we had us one! First we at our dinner, then we headed to the Wal-Mart! We shopped for about an hour and a half, buying certain necessities like toys with the gift cards that Mamaw S. sent the boys for Valentine's Day and air filters, and a new bathroom towel rack. Good times, let me tell ya! Then we headed to the new Sonic for a milkshake and lemon slush. Can't be beat!

And though it is a far cry from date night or hittin' the clubs, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, with anyone else, than my 3 boys, the biggest boy being Chris.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Name one thing that is unique about you.
Gosh, is anything unique about me? I make friends easily...

Soup

Fill in the blank: My favorite _________ is __________ but I like _________ too.
My favorite food is shrimp, but I like steak too.

Salad

What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings?
Ummm, I don't know the name of the wood, but I prefer light woods, so maybe oak?

Main Course

Who do you talk to most often on the phone?
My mom or my sister Suzy. I talked on the phone ALL.THE.TIME. in high school and college so I think I got all of my talking out then, so I don't do it as much now!

Dessert

What level of responsibility do you have in your job?

I teach first graders. So on one hand, that is a lot of responsibility in that I am pretty much responsible for them learning to read and do basic math, but as far as responsibility within the school structure, not so much. And I have no desire to have more responsibility, I'll leave my husband to that stuff!

Valentine's Day.....just another day......

except me and Isaac and Adam all came home with chocolate! LOL

Chris surprised me this morning with a small potted wild rose and a Whitman's sampler! We got the boys both a little box of chocolates, too. His parents sent us a check to take ourselves out to eat and send each boy a $10 Walmart gift card, so they're anxious to spend 'em!

The 'highlight' of the day was my car dying! I was gonna sneak out and get us lunch at a local place and my car wouldn't start. So that was upsetting! When I called Chris, his first question was, "Where were you going?!" as though THAT was the most important thing! UGH! So I called my ever so handy Daddy, and he and Mom went and got a gallon of gas to put in it since the fuel lever sensor has been going wonky. Nothing happened. So they got another gallon, and it started. I'm embarrassed to say I had run it clean out of gas, but I am glad that nothing worse was wrong!

The rest of the day was wild at school, with our Valentine party, and then Chris went to Lion's Club with Dad and Mom and I went to Mimi's for pizza with the boys. Then I took a long bubblebath while Chris read, and then we all are going to bed!

Ahh the romance! The passion! The getting to go to bed early! How things change when you're a mom and married almost 10 years! LOL

Wordless Wednesday

One more post!! Time for a giveaway!

I've gone blogging crazy today, but hey, it can't be helped, right?!

Time for another Pay It Forward Book Giveaway! This was started by Overwelmed with Joy, and if you will visit the link there, you will find more book giveaways as well as the rules of the fun.

This month's giveaway is The Stone Flower Garden by Deborah Smith. I really enjoyed this book; I read it on a trip to see my inlaw's and had a hard time putting it down the entire time! I want to tell you up front that this book has some wavy pages and some smudges on the cover, so it isn't in perfect condition, but what well-enjoyed book is? But I thought I'd let you know in case that sort of thing bothers you.


From the book cover:

For twenty-five years Darl Union and Eli Wade have held each other in their hearts. Darl and Eli were childhood friends in the small North Carolina town of Burnt Stand. Raised by her steely grandmother, Darl is the heir to the Hardigree Marble Company, which controls the town. Growing up, Darl was always taught to keep her distance from the townspeople--but she couldn't keep herself from loving Eli, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks whose father was a stonecutter for Hardigree Marble.

Eli fled Burnt Stand with his family one night after they were caught up in a mystery that years later has still never been solved. Darl's aunt Clara was found murdered--and Darl could never tell the truth about that night without tearing her own family apart.

But a secret buried is a secret that will one day be unearthed. And Darl knows she can't lie to Eli again. As the mystery at her family's heart comes to the surface a second time, Darl turns to the one person who might help--if she can ever get him to trust her again.

NOW! On to how to win! Just leave me a comment, any comment, on this post! I'll leave the comments open until February 29, Leap Day, and announce winner sometime the next day, March 1. How's that for easy?!
Don't forget to mosey over to Overwhelmed With Joy! to check out the other books available!

What a nerd I am!

When I saw that Laura at Laura Williams Musings had offered these awards to her readers, I jumped on it....I so wanted to be an awarded blog! *giggling in embarrassment* And what is worse is that I'M TELLING ON MYSELF HERE! So with Laura's permission, here they are!



So to follow the lead of Laura and of Melissa before her, I offer these to any and all of my readers! YOU are excellent, and I love your blogs! So go ahead, show others how excellent and loved you are!!

another giveaway at the Internet Cafe!

Visit Mugs of Truth




Check it out! The great ladies at CWO's Internet Cafe are offering another prize! All you have to do to enter is blog about this giveaway and then read and comment on their EXCELLENT daily devotions! I promise that you will be touched! This giveaway is sponsored by Mugs of Truth, so check them out, too!

Have you ever sponsored....

a child through a group like Compassion International? I have always been tempted to, but never have followed through with it. That is up until today! I have been praying about it, and really feel led to support this group in particular. They are sending a group of bloggers to Uganda to blog about their experiences in an effort to personalize their mission and hopefully get more people to sign up for it.

I found out about it because two of the blogs that I visit are women who are on the trip. I've been praying about their trip, and really felt led by their sacrifice--leaving their families to do this included--to go on this trip and spread the Word. It is just an awesome thing that they are doing!

So I'm psyched about it, can ya tell?!

If you would like to follow along in their journey, go here where you can be hooked up to all the bloggers' personal sites!

I'm irritated

There is this young man who has practically been part of my family. We have supported him through thick and thin, and loved him unconditionally. Well, I showed him a little tough love tonight, and he's probably mad at me because he all of the sudden terminated the way that we were communicating. He has made a huge life changing decision, one that we are all going to support, but yet he is afraid to tell my parents. I told him that I was NOT going to be appreciative if he left it for me to do, and he replied, but I can't see the reply because he deleted his account. Now, mind you, I also assured him of my love, but I wasn't as easy on him as I usually am, but you know what? Sometimes you have to do that with people you love.

But it just irritates me. Ugh.

I've felt sickly on and off since Thursday. Not sick enough to be sick but just not good ya know? I hate that. I need to be writing lesson plans at the moment, but I'm not feelin' that either. Oh, and I did find a children's sermon last night, for the record.

Taaaa daaaa!

After looking on and off all day when I was supposed be doing other things like working on stuff for a class, I found a background I really like! What do you think?

I've been in a 'blah blah' week. I haven't blogged much, haven't entered many contests...Laura @ LauraWilliamsMusings probably thinks I'm sick cause I haven't been around! LOL

I found out that the inflammatory process markers are still showing up in my bloodwork, so the next step is to see a rheumatologist. This is kind of uncharted territory in my world, so if you have any suggestions or insights about what is going to happen next I'd appreciate it. I was hoping that it would come back negative this time, so I could just chalk it up to 'start of the school year' stress and move on, but apparently that isn't the case.

I have to go to the dentist on Tuesday and I am dreading it already. I have had panic attacks in the chair before, I so dislike going. Yuck.

I have to do the children's sermon tomorrow and I haven't got anything together. We have been doing "Fragments" for the past um, probably 15 years during Lent (gathering the fragments of the loaves and fishes from the crowd....gathering loose change from the congregation) so do I go with that? Do we go another direction? I guess I have about 12 hours to decide! LOL

That is about it. Hope I get out of this funk again soon!

All about my birthday!

I'm sure you all have been waiting with bated breath about how I spent my birthday! LOL

Of course, I had to go to work, but before I got into school, my niece and sister in law gave me a present! It was a orange long sleeved t-shirt with embroidered football themed pictures on it, and a pair of Tennessee socks to go with it! I LOVE it! And since they are big Virginia Tech fans, I am touched that they bought me Tennessee stuff! During the day, I got several well wishes and a sweet book as a gift from my dear friend Milly, and my students made me close my eyes and then gave me a huge group hug! It was very sweet.

When Chris got home, we took the boys to mom and dad's and headed to Riverfront Seafood. I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp marinated in Ginger Teriyaki and Friend Corn on the Cob. It was delicious! Then we went looking for a new dryer, since ours has basically bit the dust and would cost almost as much as a new dryer to fix. So, happy birthday to me, we bought a new one! But even better, we got a $500 dryer for $350! It is really nice, and sooooo quiet compared to the horrendous noise that the old one was making.

You read about the last part of my day when I decided to just bask in the quiet and read, so there you have it! My thiry-fifth birthday!

OH but you do need to go visit my friend Robin's tribute to me for a good laugh! If you go over there, tell her I sent ya!

Happy birthday to meeeeeee!

I'll give more detail on my great day later......I'm tired and just going to bask in the bliss of a quiet house and read!

Wordless Wednesday: Where I'd Like to Be

Yup. 'Nuf said.

For more Wordless Wednesday wonderfulness, go here
and here.

A how are we update.....

We're good!









You mean you want more than that?!


Well, okay if you insist....


Let's see..I went to the doctor for a medicine check/refill on Friday. Waited for forever, of course....but that is okay, I have come to expect that. I get my refills, and Mitzi (she's a nurse practitioner, everyone calls her by her first name, I don't know why, but I just go with the flow...) is still bothered by the fact that an inflammation marker came back positive on my blood work. Since most of the other tests came back negative, she said she thinks it may be osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. She sent off to have the test done again to see if if it is still positive. Since osteo runs in my family, that is probably it. But in the meantime, she gave me 2 heavenly shots of cortizone in my back. I didn't even realize I was in pain til it was gone, and man....does it feel better! She also gave my some scripts for muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory drugs. I took 'em last night and was still relaxed this morning, so I think I'll save those for a 'need' basis!

Let's see...Chris has a big meeting coming up at work. Since the rest is confidential, I'll leave it at that, but some prayers and good thoughts would be appreciated! (He teaches special education, he isn't with the CIA, so no worries about flying bombs or anything!)

Isaac is continuing to do really well in school. He and some of his friends are going to be in the school talent show doing the "Keep On" routine from the Brady Bunch! It is SOOOO cute! I'm proud of him for agreeing to do it cause he is pretty shy!

Adam is.....well, Adam. Some days it is a good thing he is so durn cute or I'd wear him out! He has some aversion to eating supper each night. I'm not sure why. But it is a constant struggle, as is brushing teeth. I'll admit after teaching all day and then having class til 6 or so and a stressful situation after that (a pregnant friend slipped and fell...still don't know the outcome there, so prayers are needed there as well...) my patience was pretty low, but still! EVERY night it is the same! thing! This will pass, right?! Right?! Helloooooo----you're supposed to say right there!!

OK, so there is the S. family update for the day! Thanks for reading!

Tagged! I love playing tag!

I was tagged by Christie at http://christiesilvers.blogspot.com/

Here's how you play: once you've been tagged you have to write a blog with 4 random facts, habits or goals about yourself. At the end choose 4 people to be tagged; list their names and why you tagged them. Don't forget to leave them a comment saying "you're it!" and to go read your blog. You cannot tag the person that tagged you, so since you can't tag me back let me know when you are done so that I can go read your blog answers.

1. I am currently taking two classes: one online and one 'in person'. I've taken several classes over the last 10 years, but none toward an additional degree, unfortunately!

2. I took Spanish I and Algebra I in 8th grade in Virginia. These aren't usually offered until 9th grade where I moved in Georgia the next year, so I was the only freshman in Spanish II and Geometry when I was the 'new girl' there. (Hey, you said random! LOL)

3. My goal is to either get up 10 minutes early or give up 10 minutes of time online to study my Bible and do a devotion each day during Lent.

4. One time, my dear friend Robin and I gave up talking about people for Lent. Well, that wasn't really possible, so we turned it into we would say at least one good thing about someone each day. So we would methodically enter the cafeteria at lunch and look around to find someone to say something nice about, then go on with our usual talking about everyone! LOL Weren't we awful?! (But wasn't it fun?!)

OK, to tag 4 people: Misty, Robin, Missy, and Marla! Why did I choose them? Because they all possess qualities I'd like to have!

Have fun! :D

Another Sunday, another post at the other blog!

I've done my Bible study today and posted it at my Blessings blog. Please stop by; I'm getting lonely over there!http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

*drumroll please* We have a winner!

Thanks everyone for entering my giveaway! This was so much fun, and I'm going to try to visit all of your blogs since you were so kind to visit mine! I went on and included all the listings up until I got around to entering everyone into Random.org, so yes, those of you who were a few hours late got in on the fun too! *grin*

Without further ado, our winner is angelaandconnor! I am thrilled that she won because I often visit her blogs! So congrats, Angela, and send me your addy so I can get this in the mail to you!

Can't wait for the spring carnival, can you??

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of cereal?
Count Chocula, but if I have to eat an adult cereal, it is Special K with the chocolate pieces in it!

Soup
When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?
I purchased a little towel rack for the bathroom that says "Bath" to hopefully help solve the towels on the floor issue! I bought it back in the fall sometime. I must also add that it still has not been hung by dear hubby!

Salad
What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen? Hmmm.....that is a hard one! Seems like there was one that made me laugh out loud every time I saw it, but I can't remember now! I'll have to come back to this one!

Main Course
Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).
How about Paprika Chimpanzee?!

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I haven’t ______ since ______.
I haven't shaved my legs since last week. And I don't really have plans to.

Visit more Friday's Feasts here!