Curious as a Cat #3

1) What is the single most important ingredient for a spiritual life?
prayer, hands down

2) Who is the person you know with the freest spirit?
Milly is who comes to mind first!


3) How does it make you feel when you hear people argue?
tense

4) What one thing would you give to each of your ex-lovers?
a headache. Just like they gave me! LOL

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
(It is a knife and fork) Reminds me of a fancy restaurant!

Haven't been very bloggish lately....sorry, ya'll! I had a paper due today and I've been procrastinating and stressing about it! I promise I'll do better!

Then Sings My Soul Saturday--Voice of Truth

As you have probably noticed, music speaks to me. I can often find songs that can say so eloquently the groanings of my heart. Tonight as I was driving home from my Girls Night Out, I listened to this song and was overwhelmed with gratefulness. I am so glad that almost 20 years ago when I attempted to take my own life, that the Voice of Truth was the One that I heard and listened to. I am so glad that the Lord saw fit to fight the Devil for me! And so I thought this would be as good a time as any to share this song with you. God is SO good and is always faithful...He never changes. I am so glad of that! Enjoy this song and video, and know that He loves you as well!!



For more Speak to my Soul entries, visit Signs, Miracles, and Wonders!

Flashback Friday--Can't Let Go

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8"/>

I heard this song last night on my way home and boy, did it take me back! It reminded me so much of the unrequited love that I felt in college. The fella was my friend and sometimes the person I argued the most vehemently with. I certainly don't mind that I didn't end up with him, but boy, at the time, did it hurt!

I'm feeling a bit melancholy this week as we have had the 6th death of a family member of someone on our faculty since August. This time it was the 51 year old husband of one of our Special Ed. teachers. Very sad. If you could remember her and her two teenage sons in your prayers, I'd appreciate it!

The video can't be embedded, but click on the link to go see it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLkwbUPfk3g

Now what about you? What is taking you back today? Please share!!

Wordless Wednesday--Record Breaker

Photo by Rindi Perry

She was able to capture the record breaking kick! 49 yards, ya'll! He rocks!

Let me tell you about what I wore today

A friend of mine brought me 6 huge trashbags of clothing that she was no longer able to wear back in May. I got quite a few things out of them, and so did another coworker. When we were finished, B just said I could donate the rest to the yard sale we were getting ready to have at our church. Somehow one small bag of stuff didn't get taken to the sale and ended up in our den. I pulled it out the other day to see if there was anything else in there I would wear. To my surprise, I found a great pair of pants! Now, if I had not picked out the pants before, that meant that they had not fit very well. So I tried 'em on again since I've been dieting for 2 weeks....and they fit wonderfully!

So I wore them today!! Success feels awesome! The scale says I've lost about 5 lbs, but until today I was still on the steroids. I hoping more falls off now that I'm off of those! I have lost inches, for sure, esp. in my belly. And the great thing is if I don't eat lots of carbs, I am not hungry! Not to say I wasn't tempted today by 'breakfast for lunch' at school, but I resisted well! Chris has even created a homeade salad dressing that I really like on salads...so much so that I actually ASKED for one tonight, which is so usually not like me!

So keep encouraging ladies! I can do this, I AM doing this, and it feels good!

Curious as a Cat #2

1) If you had to exchange souls with someone you know for one day, who would you pick?

Hmmmm, that is a tough one! I think I'd like to exchange souls with one of my children, cause their souls are still pure...but I'm not sure I'd want them seeing my soul. Can it be a one way exchange??

2) When were you happiest to come home?

after any long trip, I'm pretty happy to come home. I was always happy to come home after a week of camp with Visually Impaired children....now THAT was hard work!

3) What is your favorite part of the yesterday?

nap time!! LOL Otherwise, Sunday School.

4) What has been your greatest accomplishment in life so far?

Giving birth to my children.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

(It was a picture of a little black dress and a suit beside it)

It reminds me of the fact that we don't ever have any events to get that dressed up for! LOL

Priceless

Winning a ballgame 44-0

Breaking your own field goal record by 3 yards

Making 8 points in a game

Doing it all on your 18th birthday= PRICELESS

What a difference a week makes!!

Happy birthday, Ked.....you sure do make me proud!

Flashback Friday--Kiss

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8"/>

OK, internets, this is the ULTIMATE Flashback song for me and my friend Robin! I could say so much about this song...from back in 7th grade when it came out and the fun we had in Mr. Fields' Pre-Algebra class to the fact that Chris was arranging the purchase of my engagement ring on the day Robin and I went to see Prince in concert, but all I really need to say is what Prince says in the song....

You don't have to be cool to rule my world.

And if we don't have to be cool for Prince, then just forget being cool for everyone else!! This was our college mantra...we sometimes seemed to be on the fringe of coolness, but you know what? I've decided I like it there, cause there are more interesting people on the fringes!

So remember this on this Friday and know that if you read my blog, you're cool enough for me!!



Don't forget to share your Flashback!!

Wordless Wednesday--We start 'em early!

Can't believe this was taken almost 5 years ago! Where has my baby gone??

Curious as a Cat

I just got in from teaching/meeting/PTO, and I'm too brain dead to be creative, so I thought I'd try out this meme!

1) Are you a leader or a follower?
Most of the time, a leader, but sometimes I LIKE to be a follower!

2) Who is the person you are most candid with?
Chris, and Robin

3) What one thing in your life would be easiest to change, but you’ve never gotten around to it?
My habit of sleeping with the tv on!

4) If you could convince any single person to change his or her mind about one thing, who would you pick and what topic would you work on?
If I could be sure that I have convinced one non-believer to follow Christ, I'd be sure to do it, and would be so happy that I did!

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one. (it was a picture of an owl)
This picture reminds me of the Brookside Owls, where I attended Kindergarten from November-June! Actually, the Kindergarten was housed in the basement of my church since Sullivan County schools were way overcrowded at that point, and stayed so until they built Sullivan North. We would ride a bus to Brookside each day for lunch. That was the only time I attended Brookside; I attended Cedar Grove from first grade through fourth since it was the actually school I was zoned to attend.

That was fun! C'mon and join in!

Sick on Saturday....

Yuck Yuck Yuck! As I was telling my sister a while ago, I was berating myself this morning over feeling down in the dumps still over how everything went down last night. Then after needing to lay down after the boys soccer game, I woke up feeling nauseous. So I figured out that I wasn't moping, I have a touch of something!

I saw K this morning, and he seemed to be in good spirits. Ah, to be 17 and have my life ahead of me! He has a much better attitude about it all than we adults do. I guess it is cause we take it more personally because these are adults that we work with and trust, whereas it is just 'coach' and 'how things are' with them.

I don't know that they are BAD coaches, they are just rough, and we've known that, but to see it first hand makes me want to knee 'em in the crotch! But that wouldn't be very ladylike of me, would it??!

Hope everyone else is feeling better today than me! My Vols won, too, so it is a good mood day in the S. house, at least! LOL

When does a win not feel like one?

When you hear all about how a coach chewed out both of your nephews, and made one of them cry. Yeah, some kicks were missed, but nobody's perfect. We still won by 2 touchdowns. It isn't worth psyching out your kicker. And I've never seen someone give as much as L. does on the field.

I know I'm biased, but man...in some ways I pray my boys don't play football because of situations like this. It just stinks. Have some consideration, especially with kids you know are giving it their all.

Flashback Friday--Queen of the Night

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8"/>

How about a flashback from college?! I remember having to drive to a town 30 minutes from our campus to see a movie....yes, we were out in the boondocks and the students there now don't know how lucky they are to have more conveniences closer by! I saw "The Bodyguard" with my friend Robin and her then fella and two other guys that were friends. Oh, how I cried at the end! I loved the whole soundtrack of the movie, but this one was a good one to which I could dance around the dorm room! I also remember going to a dance and flipping around like wild women with some of my sorority sisters to this song as well!

So, ladies, are YOU a Queen of the Night today/tonight?! Sure you are! Flaunt it baby!

Can't think of a witty title!

Not feeling very witty tonight, but I am thankful for some friends of ours. I teach with L, Chris used to teach with her husband S, and Isaac is best friends with their son D. We're working on how to matchmake their daughter with Adam!

L's grandmother passed away. I hate it so for her. I remember the pain I felt when I lost my Mawmaw, and she's had 15 or so more years with her Granny than I did with Mawmaw. It made me feel so good when S told me that D was okay with coming back to school on Wed. when he found out he could come to my classroom and hang out with Isaac. I am just so so thankful that the Lord brought them into our life, and especially that Isaac has such a fantastic friend in D. If I had hand picked a friend for him, I couldn't have done a better job. Of course I couldn't....cause GOD picked him, and HE is perfect!!

So if you still have your grandparents, hug 'em extra close tonight. And cherish your friends, and the parents of your kids' good friends. They are more precious than gold!

Wordless Wednesday--Adam and Papaw

I'm a bit nostalgic today thinking about my friend losing her grandmother. This was taken 2 weeks after Adam was born, with Chris' grandfather. I'll have to post about Papaw one day...he was a special man!!

This was taken on Halloween...Adam was dressed up like a ghost!

I promise I'm not gonna do this every day!

But I need to remind myself...I ate carbs this evening. I had class, had to get something to eat and got fish, which was good, but it came with rice and hush puppies, which were not. So I'm hungry now! Craving anything carby! I ate a snack of sugar free jello, but it hasn't registered to the brain yet. I may try some protein here in a few if the cravings don't pass.

Class was good....but it ran over and then we got into a conversation in the parking lot, so I didn't get home til after 9:30. Now I gotta 'come down' enough to sleep!

Please keep my friend Leanne and her family in your prayers. Her grandmother passed away this morning. Leanne is my coworker and also my friend, and her son and Isaac are best buddies. This is hitting Leanne and her son Drew pretty hard!

Til later....

Diet Day #1

Chris and I have taken the diet plunge! Both of us need to lose some weight. I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to do the South Beach Diet because though I haven't done the exact diet before, I have done one similar and had success. The Curves Diet is based on South Beach, and I lost about 10 lbs. without much trouble a couple of years ago. The first two weeks are the hardest because all sugar (well, most! :D) bread, pasta, and fruit are eliminated.

I was really proud of myself for NOT giving into temptation today! Twice I was presented with candy and didn't eat any! First, bags were placed in our boxes from a local realtor full of candy. Put it on my desk without opening. Second, I attended a workshop on Educational Law and the sweet friends of mine had candy on the table for us...and I didn't eat any! So yay, me on that!

I've had to go to the bathroom lots more today, and I can't really figure that out. I haven't drunk more, but have much more urgency to go! I may have to look this up on some of the South Beach message boards out there!

So wish me luck! I am not brave enough to put 'out there' how much I weigh, but I'd be happy to lose 10+ pounds. I really NEED to lose 20, but I'm trying for 10 first. Baby steps, right?

30 books in 30 days

Yes, that is right....30 books being GIVEN AWAY in 30 days! How awesome is that? Check out A Peek at My Bookshelf and how she's giving away a book a day during the month of September!

I love it! I'm sure you will, too, so go! Go! Go!

Flashback Friday--You Oughta Know

<img alt="http://christis-blahblahblog.blogspot.com" src="http://tinyurl.com/5zzwl8"/>

Sorry this is up late girlies! I remembered it once I was on the way to work, but it was too late to turn around.

I'm ill today because of even having to take the prednisone and also cause it is coursing through my veins. I hate it, and I hate that I feel this way, but such is life at this moment. So I thought of a Mad Woman song for today!

This song takes me back to 2 years or so after I graduated from high school. I played the heck out of the Alanis Morrisette CD in my pretty new car...a green 2 door Grand Am with a sunroof! I remember thinking of an ex-boyfriend who had attempted to reconcile with me (somewhat) after he broke my heart. I also remember listening to this song while my niece (who was high school age at the time) was in the car, and I would try to turn it down when she said the "f" word, but then I always seemed to miss it and turn it up right when she said it! It was a very empowering time in my life: I lived on my own, was paying my own way, working my first full time job, and felt very independent. Though I am very glad that I met Chris soon after, I'm very glad that I had that time to show that I could stand on my own two feet and survive, and even thrive. Life was good, despite the mad woman song pick! LOL

So here it is ladies!



What is taking YOU back today??





Have a fantastic weekend!

Everybody stand back: I'm about to pitch a fit!

Copied and pasted from my favorite parenting message board, cause I'm too over it to type it all out again!

I haven't mentioned it in case it was a fluke, but it clearly is not. I've broken back out in the rash. I started taking OTC Prevacid for my hiatal hernia on Aug. 12. I stopped taking it last Monday, the 25th, when I noticed a faint rash coming up on my stomach. I treated that with the prescription topical cream I was prescribed earlier and it cleared up for the most part. Last night, I noticed that I had a tad bit on my thighs. And this morning, there were two telltale (no pun intended) large areas of rash on my behind. :cry So I called the dermatologist, and they worked me in. She agreed that most likely since that was the only thing that has changed, I am allergic to both acid blockers and acid reducers. Probably the only thing I can take is Tums or Rolaids or whatever. So I'm gonna have great teeth and bones, but may have reflux on ya!

And here's the worst part, in my book. I had to go back on the steroids to get rid of it. I could just cry. I probably will cry when I tell Chris. When I was telling people to pray about it this morning, I almost cried. This has just been such a miserable experience. I am NOT looking forward to the grouchiness and skin crawling that came with the steroids. Thankfully, I won't have to take it for as long, but I NEVER wanted to take the stuff again, and certainly not this soon! I could so pitch a fit and cry and kick and hit the floor!

So. There I am. You probably need to say prayers for my students over the next three weeks. They're probably gonna think I'm an evil witch!

Wordless Wednesday--Captains

Photo courtesy Rindi Perry. This is a former student and my nephew walking out on the field first to do the coin toss.

1st night of class!

It went well! Now that the first initial introduction to it is over, I feel much better. The professor that is teaching the class this semester is one who I had for several classes in undergrad (HA! Feels funny to say that!) so I know what he expects. And yes, Robin, we're having Reading Responses! I thought of you when I saw that!

I am traveling with 4 other teachers from my county this year. After that, I'll be on my own unless someone else in the county signs up. I'm enjoying this while it lasts and not worrying about that for a while! They were a hoot to listen to while driving up and back...makes the travel time pass quicker!

Thanks again for all your prayers and support as I went through the GED and application process!

Reading Specialist, here I come!!

Like the new look?

This one is a freebie too, but this time courtesy of Doesn't she do beautiful work?? I'm excited about it! I also changed my button style, so if you haven't added it to your site, please do! (Hint, hint!) I even created a button for my other site, so I can link myself up, maybe! I have had too much techie time and my Vols play in less than an hour, so I'll leave that for another day!

I hope ya'll have had a fantastic Labor Day weekend. We have! It has been mostly hanging out here at the house, but that is what we WANTED and NEEDED! We did go to one family reunion (there were 3 scheduled, but we skipped out on two!).

My first night of class is tomorrow! I'm anxious. Chris is wigging out about books, as I figured he would. I wish that he could put it into the perspective of...we're not paying for the classes, so if we have to shell out some cash for books, it is still cheaper than if we had to pay for everything! Oh well, this too will work out.

Have a nice short work week!

'Labor Day' Meme!

Found this over at Rocks in my Dryer and thought it looked like fun!

How long were your labors?

Isaac: about 10 hours
Adam: about 6 hours, from first twinges of pain

How did you know you were in labor?

Isaac: I was induced, and boy did I know I was in labor the moment that Pitocin kicked in! WOWZA!
Adam: I wasn't sure I WAS in labor for quite a while. It felt like menstrual cramps but wasn't unbearable. Finally called the doctor's office between 3 and 4, and Chris got home from work and took me to the hospital. I forgot several things in the craziness. (I was supposed to be induced two days later)


Where did you deliver?

Hospital for both!

Drugs?

Yes, drugs! Lots of 'em! With Isaac, as I said, it was induced, and I got an epidural pretty much as soon as I could. It didn't totally take on one side and the anesthesiologist and I disagreed some about that. I can't imagine what that L-O-N-G part of pushing would have been without drugs!

With Adam, it seems that several people came in to the hosp. in labor right after I did, and they were pulling nurses from everywhere to help. The nurse that checked me (who was usually in the nursery instead of L&D) while the anesthesiologist was waiting said I was at about an 8. Later, another nurse told me that she explained to her that they never say anyone is past 7 so we get the epis. Oops. So no epi for me! I think the nurses were wishing I HAD gotten one after a while cause I was LOUD!

C-section?
Nope. Had to use the vacuum with Isaac, and he had a bad headache!


Who delivered?

The doctor who had followed both pregnancies, thankfully! He scheduled the induction with Isaac and was still at the office when I started into labor with Adam.
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If you want to play along with this meme, just cut and paste the questions into your own blog. Go back to Rocks in my Dryer to leave your link!

Because I've nothing else to do....

I thought I'd start another business online! But this time it is BOOKS! Who can argue with books??

Anyway, this is an awesome company with high quality books. As far as selling them, there are NO startup fees, and they have been very understanding that I'm not in it to go 'gung ho', but to do when and if I can. I appreciate that!

I'd love it if you'd click on the banner above and check out the products! By shopping through that banner, I'll get credit for what you buy. I plan on getting several books for Christmas presents!

Check it out, will ya?