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!