My trooper is sick

Adam is my trooper. He doesn't complain. He broke his leg when he was about 18 months old, and we don't even really know when, cause he never cried. He had to have 3 X-rays before we saw new bone growth to know it was broken! He once had a sinus infection and double ear infection so bad that gunk was coming out of his eyes, and never said a word. The way I know that he is sick is if he gets a fever. I looked at him this morning and even though he wasn't running a fever, he had that sick look through his eyes...so I decided to keep him home and try to catch it before it got worse.

His doctor agreed that it looked like a sinus infection. He's been coughing for a week, so he went ahead and gave us an antibiotic. We did do the blood test for walking pneumonia, which was thankfully negative...and I thought it might have been that, so I am glad we went ahead and tested. He is still going full force, even with his runny nose, cough, red and runny eyes, and sore throat with drainage!

So hopefully the antibiotics will set in and he'll be better in no time!

What was your favorite childhood pet?

I remember lots of pets! The first cat I remember us having was Missy, a Siamese. She stayed around for years! My first dog was named Hardly..because he had Hardly any legs! He was a dauschaund. I know that is misspelled, but I can't figure out how to spell it, so if that upsets you, just leave how to spell it in the comments and I'll fix it!
We had to get rid of Hardly after a while because he bit a church member (remember, my dad is a United Methodist minister) but a different church member took him, so I could still go visit him occasionally.

I had a Cocker Spaniel named Buffy, and my foster brother got a pomeranian named Tiny about the same time. Unfortunately, Buffy got hit by a car about a year later. Tiny we had for years! We called him a cat trapped in a dogs' body, cause he was so prissy! He passed away while I was in college.

When I was 13, we got my favorite pet, a boxer that we named Elijah. Oh, how I love that dog! We grew up together! He used to get off his run sometimes and I would have to chase him around town. He thought that being chased was a delightful game! I remember running through the streets of Big Stone Gap, Virginia in my nightgown one Sunday morning, and that time I finally had to tackle him! I could tell ya lots of Eli stories....but I'll save some for later! ;)

Our current pets are the cats: Francie, who I've had since before Chris and I met; Joe, who actually lives with the neighbors but sleeps in our basement during the day; and Gunner, who we adopted from the neighbors' grandkids. The dogs are: Sally, a Weimerainer mix who we got when we were engaged and Nixie, a Boxer who was the runt of the litter who we got free for promising not to breed her. And lots of fish!

Who was your first boyfriend?

I don't know what made this pop in my head! My first little crush was on Ronnie, one of my bestest friends' older brother, and I couldn't have been more than 4 or 5! I had a crush on Matt all through elementary school, and then the first little boy that I 'went with' was Stevie in fifth grade. The first boy I 'went with' for longer than a day was Brent, and we were 'together' most of my sixth grade year. He was my first kiss! The first little love of my life, though was Robbie. We 'went together' when I was in eighth grade, and he broke my heart by breaking up with me 2 months later. But we had a connection...he moved to a town about an hour away, but we still kept in touch. Then I moved to Chattanooga, but we still talked on the phone pretty often. We did finally go on a real date when I was a junior in high school, when he accompanied me to my junior prom! We had a blast! Strangely enough, we talked again after I graduated from college and was dating one of his friends. He walked in to the friend's apartment and heard a message I had left on the answering machine and asked him who it was...The other fella asked if he knew me, and he said, "Uh, yeah, we dated on and off for years!" That was probably stretching it, but still....

I haven't heard from him since then. Hey, it worked last time....Robbie Carroll, if you read this, I'd love to hear how you are! LOL

It's time for a giveaway!

*update* The giveaway is now closed! Check out later post for the winner! Thanks everyone for entering!

Are you ready for some fun and finding some awesome new blogs? Well, then you have come to the right place! It's time for the quarterly Bloggy Giveaways! Shannon over at Rocks in my Dryer is hosting this again, and man...there are already 400 giveaways listed! UNREAL!

As part of the fun, I am offering the cubic zirconia gold plated ring pictured here!


Isn't it pretty? I hope that someone will wear it and enjoy! It comes from the online store of a friend of mine, Heidi's Kozy Kabin. Stop by and tell her Christi sent ya! The ring retails for $14.

Now for how you can win this sweet little ring! Leave a comment on this post between now and Friday, February 1 at 10 pm EST. I will post the winner by 4 pm Saturday, February 2, so be sure to check back then! Please be sure to leave me a valid address so I can contact you! Unfortunately, I'll only be able to ship to U.S. addresses.

So let the blog fun begin! Hope we can all make some new friends through this week of fun, fun, fun!

I've posted at my second blog!

LOL Yes, in less than 3 months, I'm so addicted I have to have more than one! I am reserving the 'other' one for Bible studies and such, but I think I'll let ya know if make a post over there on here, too. I am calling that blog "Blessings", and I actually won a header to go over it, but it isn't completely finished yet...hopefully I'll have that up soon!

So go check it out, and read what I'm thinking over today!

Edited to add the blog addy....you might need that!! hee hee

Blessings

January Pay It Forward winner!

Thanks to all who entered my giveaway, and I hope that I have helped to inspire you to offer your own Pay It Forward giveaway! Thanks again also to Overwhelmed with Joy for hosting this great giveaway!

My winner this month is Meghan, who said,

What a super idea.
I was an English major in college, so books & paying it forward with books are right up my alley!!!

Congrats, Meghan, and if you will email your addy to me, I'll get this right out to you!

Don't forget that Monday starts the very fun Bloggy Giveaways Carnival! I'll be joining in the fun, so check back to see what you can win!!

Losing teeth!

Isaac lost a tooth tonight! He isn't even sure when he lost it! We were all in the same building complex, but he went to the varsity boys' basketball game, which was going on in the middle school, while the JV girls' team played in the high school (smaller) gym. My niece was playing, so Chris, Adam and I stayed there. No worries, he wasn't running loose....he was sitting with the boys team. His best buddy is the coach's son, so he got to be a water boy!

So we get home and I'm saying prayers with him, and he realizes that he has lost a tooth. He immediately starts worrying that the tooth fairy won't leave him any money! So we got up and wrote a note that said,"Dear Tooth Fairy, Isaac lost his tooth at the ballgame and didn't even know it! His tooth is in the GCMS gym. Will you find it and give him the money for it? Isaac's Mom". That satisfied him!

Do you remember anything about losing your teeth? I remember that I lost my first tooth at my grandmother's house when she was living in Atlanta. I remember worrying that the tooth fairy wouldn't know where to find me! But she did, and I got a shiny new Susan B. Anthony dollar! Remember those?! I remember our family friend Bill pulled teeth painlessly, so he pulled a few of them. The first one, though, is the only one I remember specifically.

My niece's team won their game, by the way, as did the Varsity boys!

I've been tagged! and etc.

Ya'll know I love these things!

Someone 'tagged' me in a round of blog-tag. It goes like this:

Someone tags you, and you tag six more bloggers. That means that in your blog, you link to the blogger who tagged you, state six useless facts about yourself, and then tag six new bloggers by listing their blogs and leaving a comment on each. Christine at Mama's Musings tagged me. Here go the useless facts:

1)I am going on a cruise this summer with my entire family (mom and dad, sisters and their families) this summer! VERY excited!

2)I told my cat, Francie, that we (she and I) were going to marry Chris after our second date. She's sitting here beside me, and that is what reminded me!

3)We had a 1.5 hour delay going to school today and then dismissed 2 hours early! It was a great day! LOL

4)I am always on a search for the perfect mascara.

5)My sisters and I all wore the same wedding dress.

6)I bite my fingernails. I know, it is a disgusting habit, but I have yet to figure out a way to stop. Nor, honestly, do I wish to.

OK, so there are 6 useless things about me! But this time I'm not gonna tag anyone. If you feel like playing along, feel free!

And remember, tomorrow is the last day to enter for my Pay It Forward Book Giveaway! Next week will the be the Bloggy Giveaways, too, so be on the lookout for a little giveaway I'm doing with that! I can't wait!

Don't forget my giveaway!

Don't forget to comment on this post so you can be entered to win my "Pay It Forward" book giveaway!
Giveaway entries need to be posted by 11:59 on Friday, January 25!

TMI Tuesday

1. What was your favorite book as a kid?

Oh gosh, I had so many favorites! One that comes to mind is Tell Me a MitziI had the book and the record, so I loved to listen to it, and when I read it aloud, I can't help but copy the way it was read to me on that record!

2. If you were stranded on that proverbial desert island (again!), what book or books (up to 5) would you want to have with you?

1. The Bible
2. The Red Tent
3. Dixie Before Disney
4. Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself
5. The United Methodist Hymnal


3. What was the first "naughty" book you read and in what way was it naughty?

Forever, by Judy Blume. It was naughty because it talked about teenagers having S-E-X!

4. If you were to publish your autobiography today, what would be the title?


I like my boring life!

5. Would you rather look at nude pictures/pornography or read erotic fiction and why?

I think I'd rather read erotic fiction, cause I can create my own visual images!

and now, a word from Adam....

Scene: living room, as Adam watches Yo Gabba Gabba! videos online.

I'm sitting here thinking how ridiculous the things sound, singing songs like "It's fun to put on your pajamas!" and a song comes on that talks about how you need to think happy thoughts to help you get to sleep...


and Adam pipes up and says, "You know why he can't go to sleep? 'Cause he's FAKE!"

I literally laughed out loud! It probably isn't nearly as funny if you aren't here and don't know his plucky little personality, but it just totally cracked me up!

...and I didn't feel like I'd made a real post today just having posted my disclosure policy!

Disclosure Policy

This policy is valid from 21 January 2008


This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact Christi (christis at gmail dot com).


This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified.


To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Sunday Scribblings--Fellow Travelers

What to write, what to write....fellow travelers....

I haven't been traveling on the road of blogging very long, but I have been traveling in different neighborhoods of parenting message boards for quite some time. This time a year ago, I was going through a very depressing time because the site that I had loved and helped run for several years was falling apart. It fell apart totally, eventually and now I visit my friends that I met there in 3 different places. But it was not the first parenting message board I had visited or gotten involved in.

And the fellow travelers that I have met along the way in these message boards, they are many! I have made friends with people on the other side of the world, but these people have been there for me just as much as anyone I know in real life. I have also met, in person, some very dear friends online. I have spent the night in the homes of two wonderful, Godly women who are very dear to me, and again...if I called on them, I know that these two ladies would be there for me in an instant.

Now that isn't to say that I haven't met some strange ones across my journey! There was the one who, 2 or three years ago, used my login on our boards to impersonate me and cause allllll sorts of problems. I felt violated, I felt used, I was madder than a wet hen, and it certainly made me much more aware.

But all in all, I have made friends with some very wonderful people online. I have come to know people from all walks of life, and I believe have become a more open and understanding person with their help. I have had conversations about the Lord with people who could, even though they didn't know me in real life, could tell how very deep my faith runs, and how much the Lord means to me. I have drawn some 'real life' friends into some of these communities and have come to know them on a different level through them.

If you ever wish to join me in my online travels in the message board world, you would be very welcome! Here are the three sites that I frequent:

My Parent Connection
SpiffyMoms
Laundry Can Wait

What a blessing!

God works in such mysterious ways!! Here I was a few hours ago having my PMS induced pity party, and then this evening I open up an email from my favorite childhood teacher who had found me via a post I made in my blog about her! I am just dumbfounded here! I don't know if someone who reads this somehow contacted her family with it or what, but however it took place....I'm very thankful. I pray one day that maybe I might stumble upon something kind someone writes about me as a teacher.

What a small world the internet has helped make this!

Pardon my pity party

Everyone is entitled to these every once in a while. And here's mine.

It is freakin' frustrating when you have so many perfect people in your life.

First, I have my perfect (or so it seems to many) oldest sister, who has 4 kids and weighs 120. She looks like she's never had kids. She has beautiful legs. She is always cheery and peppy to everyone who she meets on the street, even though we, her family, sometimes have to deal with the not so cheery side of her. She is the ultimate sports mom, always there to cheer her kids on.

Then there is the other sister, who had to perpetually spotless house. She cleans it from top to bottom every week, without fail. Spiders tremble in her presence. And her home.....her home! They have added on a den, a sauna, and a dance studio for my niece, and most recently bought a hot tub, too. Her yard is tastefully landscaped, and everything everywhere is JUST. SO.

So enough to live up to the fact that I'm not skinny and always perky and don't have a fantastically clean home....but then you throw my sister in law in the mix!

She always has a card to you before your birthday/anniversary/every little unknown little obscure holiday takes place. She cooks plenty of food and has it to the sick and family of the dead the day before anyone else. She, too, keeps a spotless house, and has perfect children who are smart and well mannered. She teaches middle school, WELL, and my father in law (who is a Superintendent in another county) is always giving her accolades for her wonderful SOL scores. She also somehow managed to have the old granddaughter and the youngest grandchild, so they always trump us for Christmas programs and such.

So what do I do well? Well, I'm closer to my parents than both sisters because I was home alone with them the longest. I birth babies well with no complications. I must be doing something right to have taught first grade successfully for 10 years, and I can give a mean Children's Sermon at church. I sing well. So I know I am not all bad, but how did I manage to get the luck to have such perfect women in my family?????

Viral Linking meme!

Start Copy and Paste Here.This link loving in 2008 came from Liberty at Not Much More Than This.I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati

Authority increase exponentially!

The benefits of Viral Linking:
- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!
- Increase your Google PageRank fast
- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site
- Build your community
- Make new friends!

Add your blog url here...
The Strategist Notebook Link Addiction Ardour of the Heart When Life Becomes a Book The Malaysian Life Yogatta.com What goes under the sun Roshidan’s Cyber Station Sasha says Arts of Physics And the legend lives My View, My Life A Simple Life What Women REALLY Think Not Much More Than This Christie's Thoughts My Pretty Face BlahBlahBlog

Now, add/tag 5 of your friends blogs…


Robin
Amanda
Mary
Lori
SarcasticMom

EEK! I almost forgot!

I almost forgot to blog today! Glad that I remembered!

I've been tagged by two people for a meme, but I'll get into that tomorrow. Don't really feel like it tonight!

My friend Cookie and I have been talking about how we love to watch true crime shows on A&E like American Justice, City Confidential, and Cold Case Files. I really liked Growing Up Gotti and Dog the Bounty Hunter, but unfortunately those aren't on anymore.

One of my all time faves to watch is Law & Order: SVU. I'm watching an old episode tonight that I have seen at least once before so I totally know what is gonna happen, but I love it anyway! I want to BE Olivia, and yes, I'll admit it, I have a secret crush on Stabler! *blush*

We had about 4 inches of snow this morning! We took the boys out to sled and make a snowman, and have a snowball fight before it started melting. Yes, we were out of school, and are out tomorrow as well! Can't beat a 4 day weekend, can ya?

We finally took the Christmas tree down today! Yes, it was still up....I just hate taking it down! It is awful, I know.

And for those who are following along, there has been a positive development in the situation that has had me torn up over our church. So thank you for your prayers! I am certainly feeling them!

So there is today's random post!!

Ridin' along in my automobile....

How cool is this car?! Wouldn't your preschooler love it?


Well, you could win it! Just hop on over to 5 Minutes for Mom, who are giving away this cool retro Mustang! OR you can go buy it at Pedal Cars and Retro Collectables! Check it out...they have lots of cool stuff there!

We had such a nice night!

My friend Robin, whose birthday I blogged about the other day, had an evening out tonight! Boy, don't those make you feel so much better about life?! I feel SOOOOOOO much better about school, church, even about my bad dream that dh was leaving me! We went to a local Japanese restaurant for dinner, then we did our usual--drive around and laugh and gab! We stopped by Target to get a Starbucks (and I must say that the Carmel Apple Cider is tres yummy!) and were waited on by a wierdo--which is so typical for us, we must look like we're gonna be nice to you no matter what or something, cause we seem to attract them! Then we drove around giggling about the good ol days when we were college roommates, and for old times' sake we stopped by Krispy Kreme. I am stuffed still, but ahhhhh, it was so nice to get to laugh until I cried over NOTHING and just do something for ME.

Oh, and here is a question that came up...have you ever been to one of those Passion parties or whatever you call them? Have you hosted one? Have you bought anything?!
We want to have one but both our our houses are pretty small, so we're trying to think of someone else to host it! LOL

I did buy something at one called Pure Satisfaction, and it...um, works. That's all I have to say about that! :D

Ahhhhh.......

we had a blissfully BORING day at school today! Didn't know how nice those were til they disappeared there for a while!

Do you ever, when faced with a controversial subject or after having had some conversations about controversial issues, just get so tired that you can barely keep your eyes open? Or am I alone in this coping mechanism? I discussed some 'issues' concerning our church with my mom for about 30 minutes, and then discussed the same issues with my sister for 30 more minutes, and I am WORN OUT! I am physically drained!

And being that the situation is in the Lord's hands, we all need to stop rehashing things and go to Him in prayer. We need to trust that He has the situation in control and that in His time, changes will come. There is no MAJOR problem, but it is affecting my parents big time...things aren't being done the 'Methodist' way, and it is driving them bonkers. And because it is bothering them so, it bothers us, too. However, my goal right now is to pray instead of complaining and judging. I need to go to the Bible and to the Lord in prayer, and let God do what He does best!

Reminds me very much of the Serenity Prayer:
God, Grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Sorry if this seems vague and sketchy. I don't really want to go into more detail because a)I've already rehashed it for an hour and my eyelids keep wanting to close even thinking about it again and b)it is so...unexplainable, that when I try to explain it to someone outside my family, it doesn't make much sense. Does that make sense? Probably not, but thanks for reading anyway!

This first blinky is in honor of those of you that commented on my last post! LOL

7 wierd things about me

Here are the rules, as given to me by Christie!

Link to the person who tagged you. Check!
Leave a comment on their blog so that their readers can visit yours. Check!
Post the rules on your blog. Check!
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog Doing that next!
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post Gonna do that too!
Include links to their blogs. Gotcha!
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. Off to do that soon, too!

7 random or weird facts about me
1. I'm the only left handed person in my family.
2. Eve Plumb--yes, Jan on the Brady Bunch--is my cousin. Her dad and my grandfather were brothers.
3. My husband, both my sisters, my mom, my sister-in-law, and my father-in-law are/were all educators. My father in law was Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Commonwealth of Virginia for about 18 months.
4. I'm the only member of my family that was baptised, married, and had my children baptised in the same church.
5. I have a cat who ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifdopted our neighbor after Isaac was born. He decided Isaac was too noisy and now rarely comes into the living areas of our house!
6. I'm running out of stuff! I bite my fingersnails. I know I shouldn't but it is one habit I've just never been able to break.
7. My birthday is in 25 days. I'll be 35.

7 People I tagged:
Robin http://www.dixonchicks.blogspot.com/
Lotus http://sarcasticmom.com/
Misty http://mistywagner.blogspot.com/
Randy http://aquietplaceinmymind.blogspot.com/
Rachel http://www.all-she-is.com/
Cylithria http://whynotright.com/
Imaginary Blinky http://www.imaginarybinky.com/

I've been 'carded'--twice!

I'm so thrilled that I am making enough friends to have been tagged TWICE! How fun! I know that someday I might tire of such things, but not yet!

My 'soul sister' Amanda over at OhAmanda! tagged me, knowing I've had a rough week. I appreciate you, Amanda!

I did this not too long ago, so I tell ya what, I'll just link ya up to when I did it before!

I won't tag others on this one since I did the first time, but if you'd like to join in, just let me know in the comments so I can come see!

Who wouldda thunk?!

I was getting Adam ready for Isaac's first Upward basketball game this morning, when I noticed he had these spots all over his legs, and that his feet were red and swollen. I showed it to Chris, and I tell ya, he kept breaking out as we were watching him! His arms and hands started getting spots too, so we decided I'd forgo the ballgame and get him to the doctor! I told him that if he started feeling like he couldn't breathe to tell me. His hands and legs started itching too. They got us back pretty quickly when they saw on his hands the way he was broken out.

The doctor said that it was just a different way that a virus was presenting itself. He said that since he'd had a stuffy nose and cough earlier in the week, and because the spots were blanche-able?, that was what he thought it was. He said he'd never seen the hands and feet present that way, and to keep an eye on him and if he got worse to bring him back. He said to give him Claritin, too.

We ran by Target and his spots disappeared as quickly as they appeared. He is supposed to be going to a birthday party this evening...that will remain to be seen!

trying week/Happy birthday, Robin!

First let me say Happy Birthday to my fellow blogger and dear, dear friend of many years, Robin. We have celebrated many of her birthdays together, one of the most memorable being her 21st....where we shared a 2-liter bottle of Purple Passion and swore we were going to go on a road trip to Graceland the next day. I can't believe it has been 14 years since then! It feels like yesterday! Happy birthday, Tat, and know how very much I love and appreciate you!

It has been a rough week around here. Today was equally as draining, if not more so, than the rest of the days. Today, we had mad parents putting homeade t-shirts on their children supporting the disgruntled employee, and then pitching fits on teachers and the principal. We had picketers. Basically we had a bunch of redneck parents who know very little of what they speak showing themselves today. But it still brings anxiety and frustration. Hopefully, this will be the end of it.

This hasn't done much for my poor sensitive stomach, as you can imagine. I haven't been this thankful for a weekend in a while.

I do hate that someone is more than likely going to lose her job, but I know that she was given many chances to redeem herself. I really hate that her replacement and our principal have been given such a hard time. And I hate that our students have had to see adults acting in such an ugly manner.

TGIF--and I do truly THANK the Lord!

still in a funk

'cause that is what adding a touch of stomach bug to the mix will do to a person, ya'll! I slept all day and have watched the boys this evening while Chris went to Lions Club, so now I'm ready to go back to sleep. I'll be back with bells on tomorrow!

I am, therefore I blog

I'm not in the best of moods. I haven't been sleeping well, there is some controversy, not involving me directly thank goodness, but controversy nonetheless, at work and it is bringing me down. Things at church are very cliquish and I'm not in it and not really feeling as though anyone outside my family cares either way about me being there, yet I'm expected to keep certain duties going.....see, told ya I wasn't in a good mood. So this is it for the evening. Nothing significant, but enough to count today as a blog.

Would you like to know about other Pay It Forward giveaways?!

Of course you would! Overwelmed with Joy has posted all about the three books that she is sharing this month, but also about several other giveaways. Hop on over there and check it out! And don't forget to sign up for my own Pay It Forward giveaway below!!

Scattergories--blog style!

Scattegories - Bloggity Style

Laura at Laura Williams' Musings shared this post on her blog and it looked like fun, plus I didn't have anything earth-shattering to blog about today!

Here’s how you play. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following categories. They have to be real places, names, things…nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question. Here goes nothing.

What is your name? Christi (it is really Christine, but I don't know who you're talking to if you call me that. It is NOT Chrissy!)

4 letter word: comb

Vehicle: Corvette

City: Chicago

Boy Name: Cole

Girl Name: Chloe

Occupation: cook

Something you wear: clothing

Celebrity: Chris Rock

Food: cucumber

Something found in a bathroom: cold cream

Reason for Being Late: chatting

Cartoon Character: Captain Caveman

Something You Shout: C'mon!

Want to play along?

Let me know if you are playing along by leaving me a comment so I can come check yours out. Leave me the link and I'll update this post with your link.

If you don’t have a blog, just play along in the comments.

I wish you had known my grandparents!

I had trouble coming up with something to write about today. I went back to NaNoBloMo and looked up the writing prompts group and found this.

My grandparents--how I wish that my children had had the chance to know any of them! They were all very special people. I didn't get to know my grandfathers as well as my grandmothers, but I have heard many stories about them.

My grandfather C. was born and raised in Panther Springs, a section of Hamblen County, Tennessee that, at the time, was not far from Morristown, TN (now it IS part of Morristown!) He worked as an adult in two different businesses: for Keener Dental Supply and for Hamilton Bank. He was frugal man, but I am sure that came from the time when he lived: he actually kept his job during the Depression, and I can only imagine how that affected him. One favorite story of Pawpaw is how Mawmaw gave him a pair of pajamas for Christmas. He thanked her and put them, still wrapped, away in his drawer. So the next year, Mawmaw wrapped up that same pair of pajamas and gave them to him for Christmas. Again, he thanked her and placed them in the drawer. The third year, he caught on...and was not amused!

My grandmother C's name was Emma Amanda, but she always wanted her name to be Emily instead. She was the second oldest child, and was very young when her mother passed away. Her older sister, Maude, had already married when their mother passed away, so the duties of the woman of the household landed on her. She helped raise her siblings, especially Douglas and Miles, who were the youngest. All of her siblings are gone; only Miles' wife is still living.

Mawmaw was a housewife, and was a world class gardener. Her yard was always filled with beautiful flowers. I am told that she was a fantastic cook, but she had started declining by the time I remember her cooking much for us. She came to live with us when I was 13, and would live with us part of the year each year until her death when I was 17. We got to be very close. She was my confidant and my buddy, and I was the one who took care of clothing her each day. I could pursuade her to do things that she wouldn't do for Mom and Dad. I have very fond memories of this time, and miss her to this day!

My grandfather P. always lived far away from us, and I only got to see him 3 or 4 times in my life. He lived in Dallas, TX. He was a graduate of Georgia Tech, and in his younger years was in Big Bands with his brother. He traveled the south playing and conducting bands. The problem with this was that he and his brother were both color blind, and in those days, traffic lights weren't uniform with the placement of the colors! So they had to watch traffic to see when to go and stop.

Granddaddy Bill was a very smart man and invented many things, such as a part to convert from wrapping loaves of bread in bread to plastic. He sold his patents to the companies for which he worked, so unfortunately, we aren't inheriting millions from this and his other inventions!

We called my grandmother P. Sing. Her father had called her that as a child, and she didn't feel as though she was old enough to have grandchildren when my oldest sister was born. So instead, she instituted us calling her Sing! By the time she was older, though, she wished that we had called her something more affectionate.

Sing was a very determined lady. She worked for the Army as a civil servant after WWII, and was sent to Occupied Japan to work. She couldn't take my mother with her at the time, but she worked until she was able to send for her. This was very much unheard of in the 1940s! She was a women's libber before her time! She and my mother also attended college together years later.

Sing was not without her idosyncracies and such---there were times that we really struggled to get along. Looking back, part of our struggles were the same as her struggles with my mom--we were very much alike! She suffered from depression for many years, but unlike me, only realized it late in life. Had things been different, I believe she would have been much happier lady.

OK, well.....that is a note about my grandparents! They helped shape me into who I am today!

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

Anyone around that remembers that Bay City Rollers song?? That's an oldie but goodie! LOL

So I promised that I would share with you the things that I had won on the internet, and lo and behold, I got a comment saying I'd won something! Doesn't that rock?! I've been pretty lucky on this. 6 years ago, I won $500 by entering a survey. More recently I have won 5 books, some Listerine white strips, a beautiful handmade pendant, a Baby Einstein movie...I think that is it. I love it though! That is why I want to offer some giveaways of my own, because I have so loved entering contests and winning things myself! So keep your eyes open, my friends! More giveaways will be coming!

I did a thing that I don't usually do today--I took the day off from the computer. I spent the day playing with the boys and trying to read some magazines in order to clean them out somewhat. I also went to Curves with my mom, and took a nap. And this evening the whole family went to the high school basketball game together. That was the first time I've attempted a basketball game since Adam was an infant--crowds+small child+bleachers=a nervous mommy, so I didn't put myself through it needlessly. He did really well tonight though, so we'll go back!

So until tomorrow....

'I AM' Bible Study Lesson One

I found an absolutely fantastic Bible Study online, and these are my answers to my first round of questions! Feel free to join in by clicking here!

1. Are there any circumstances or relationships in your life where you can see God has intentionally placed you? What do you perceive may be at stake if you do or do not speak out for Him?

Wow, this is a deep one. I do feel as though there are some youth that I have touched in the past and had been intentionally placed so that I could do so. I still struggle with how some of them have chosen to live their lives, but I am certain that I have touched them, and that they have been brought closer to the Lord through me. I am also certain that God chose the time and place for my husband and I to begin our relationship. Too many variables fell into place for it not to have been the work of God, in my opinion! In this circumstance, the things at stake are pretty overwhelming: Had I not followed God’s plan, I wouldn’t have married my best friend or given birth to my beautiful children!

2. Can you honestly describe yourself as a woman with a 'yes' in her spirit? If not, what keeps you from this?

Most of the time, yes I can…but there are times that the ‘yes’ isn’t in the forefront of my mind. There are times that I am sluggish and hesitant to give the Whole of myself to the Lord. I don’t think it is anything short of the Devil feeding my ego and selfishness when I am not willing to embrace what God wants me to do.

3. Do you recognize any circumstances in your life which could be described as an 'unrecurring event'? Have you ever said 'no' to one and watched God use someone else instead?

Hmmm, another tough one. Yes, now that I think about it, I am afraid so. I think that if I had followed what God was prompting me to do in relation to the Children’s Ministries in our church, things might have turned out differently. But the wonderful thing is that with the Lord, it is never too late to say yes! Circumstances may be different, but if I am open to His plan, I know He will put my willingness to good use.

4. Are you in an emotionally and spiritually healthy place? If yes, how are you using this freedom to minister to others? If no, what do you feel is holding you in your Egypt?

YES, blessedly, I am! There have been many more unstable times in my life than this! I feel I am using this freedom to minister to others in my online relationships, and possibly in some of my relationships with coworkers. But in other ways, I am being held in my Egypt. I am not stepping out of my comfort zone and think of others more than myself. I’m still not sure in what capacity I need to be used, but I can certainly pray about it and listen for His guidance!

Another awesome giveaway!

Yeah, yeah, I guess I should be writing something funny and incredibly interesting, but I have a headache after having to actually teach school today! LOL Good thing I have 2 days off! So instead I'll share another fantastic giveaway that I have happened upon!

Momsational is giving away a boatload of goodies for moms and their kiddos! You will not believe all the stuff that is included here! Here are what the winners will recieve:
First Prize:

* A Wordsies shirt of your choice
* “What the Dickens” Audiobook
* Momager Calling Cards & box of stationery
* NoThrow tether

Second and Third Prize:

* A Wordsies shirt of your choice
* “What the Dickens” Audiobook
* NoThrow tether

Fourth and Fifth Prize:

* A Wordsies shirt of your choice
* “What the Dickens” Audiobook

If you would like to see all the loveliness in pictures and read more about it, please visit Momsational, and enter just by commenting!

And don't forget to visit the post below to enter my Pay It Forward Book Exchange!!

Now, for a question, so you don't just wander aimlessly away from my blog disillusioned and heartbroken...

Have YOU ever won an contest/giveaway on the internet? What have you won?

I will leave you to wonder for a day what I have won, and share that with you tomorrow!

Have a good night!

January Pay It Forward book exchange!

I am pleased to present my first giveaway! I have loved participating in several across the web over the past 2 months, so it is time for me to join in the giving fun! I am going to be joining in a Pay It Forward book giveaway, which is hosted by Overwelmed with Joy.

This month, I will be giving away a book I really enjoyed called After Long Silence: A Memior by Helen Freemont.

I happened upon this book at a book sale to benefit our local library. It is an advance reading copy, but I do believe I was its first reader given the pristine cover and pages. It does now show a tad bit of wear on the front cover, thanks to the rough and tumble that my 4 year old puts out!

Here is a little about the book that I found here:

Publisher Comments:
"To this day, I don't even know what my mother's real name is."

Helen Fremont was raised as a Roman Catholic. It wasn't until she was an adult, practicing law in Boston, that she discovered her parents were Jewish — Holocaust survivors living invented lives. Not even their names were their own. In this powerful memoir, Helen Fremont delves into the secrets that held her family in a bond of silence for more than four decades, recounting with heartbreaking clarity a remarkable tale of survival, as vivid as fiction but with the resonance of truth.

Driven to uncover their roots, Fremont and her sister pieced together an astonishing story: of Siberian Gulags and Italian royalty, of concentration camps and buried lives. After Long Silence is about the devastating price of hiding the truth; about families; about the steps we take, foolish or wise, to protect ourselves and our loved ones. No one who reads this book can be unmoved, or fail to understand the seductive, damaging power of secrets.

Review:
"A story of safe but costly passage from one identity to another that takes us from Europe to America via World War II....[Fremont] has the intelligence and imagination to question her own motives. This allows her to question the memoir form, even as she deploys it so beautifully." The New York Times

Review:
"Mesmerizing....Fremont has accomplished something that seems close to impossible: She has made a fresh and worthy contribution to the vast literature of the Holocaust." The Washington Post Book World

Review:
"An extraordinary tale...eloquently written....Its complex narrative weaves back and forth between past and present, the tale and its discovery." The Philadelphia Inquirer

Review:
"Riveting...painfully authentic....A poignant memoir, a labor of love for the parents she never really knew." The Boston Globe

Review:
"Fascinating....A tragic saga, but at the same time it often reads like a thriller filled with acts of extraordinary courage, descriptions of dangerous journeys and a series of secret identities." Chicago Tribune

Synopsis:
Helen Fremont was raised as a Roman Catholic. It wasn't until she was an adult, practicing law in Boston, that she discovered her parents were Jewish, Holocaust survivors living invented lives. Even their names were not their own. In this memoir, Helen Fremont recounts a remarkable tale of survival — as vivid as fiction — but true.

Here are the rules, as set forth by Overwelmed with Joy:
1) Approximately once a month, I'll pick a book to give away to one lucky reader (you don’t have to have a blog to enter). It may be a book that I've purchased new or used, or it may be a book that someone has shared with me that I really like.

2) Details on how you can enter to win will be listed below.

3) If you're the lucky winner of the book giveaway I ask that you, in turn, host a drawing to give away a book -- any book, it doesn't have to be the one you just won -- for free to one of your readers. If you mail books out using the media/book rate that the post office offers it's pretty inexpensive. If you don't have a blog, please donate the book to your local library or shelter once you've finished reading it.

4) If you're really motivated and want to host your own "Pay It Forward" giveaway at any time, feel free to grab the button above to use on your own blog. Just let Overwhelmed with Joy know so she can publish a post plugging your giveaway and directing readers your way!

So here is how you can win this book!
Just comment here on this post! Be sure that I can get in touch with you, either through the blogger email addy or leave your email in the comment. I will choose a winner on Saturday, January 26. Good luck, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!

We got snow!

Not a lot, in fact not even enough to cancel our workday today, but still....enough that we aren't going back to school tomorrow! Wheeeee!

When I was little, we used to get REAL snow around here. I mean, a foot or so! But not anymore....my children have barely gotten to go sledding. I really hope that they eventually do get to see snow like we had when I was little, cause it was so much FUN!

So yes, I went back to work today. We had an emergency practice drill at one of the county elementary schools, and though it took quite a bit longer than we had anticipated, it was eye opening to me. It was very different to be on the 'other side' as a student (I was pretending to be one) and not have any idea what was going on. I think it will change how I react to the students in such drills or, Heaven Forbid, shall anything like that ever take place where I am teaching.

And then I went back to my school, where I chatted with my coworkers, went to lunch, and finally did a tad bit of work! That is the worst I have EVER done as far as not getting things done on a workday!

So here we are on day 2 of Blog 365! I've remembered 2 days in a row! Only 363 more to go! LOL

Oh, and I am going to add a blinky or two to describe my thoughts and what is going on in my life with each post. Enjoy!

New Habits in the New Year

Susan and Janice over at 5 Minutes for Mom are starting the new year off right! Join in for some great ideas AND some great contests! Hope to see ya there!

365 Days??!

I'm doubting that I can do it, but I joined a group that plans on blogging each day. Heck, I couldn't keep up for all of November! But I thought I'd at least give it a try!

So my sister gave me and my mom and other sister a group gift of a book to read and share. Since I am the fastest reader, I got it first! The book is The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers by Amy Hollingsworth. I started reading it last night, and boy, did it bring back some good memories of watching Mr. Rogers! I loved that show back in the day!

The first lesson is about the value of being silent. This is definitely something I could work on....just sitting still and waiting and listening to God. But I can certainly understand and see how that will be calming and helpful addition to my spiritual life!

I'll continue to share what I learn with you, and covet your prayers as I learn new lessons and try to apply them to my life! Of course, you are more than welcome to join me in these!