Starting Over

For the four readers that I have (thanks Mom & Annette!) :) I plan to begin posting again. I've spent the last 9 months trying to adjust to being a working mom. Trying to find my groove, get organized, learn how to accomplish everything in 24 hours (I just don't think it's possible) and still maintain my sanity hasn't been an easy task. I've spent many a day frustrated, tired, and in tears but I know that God has a plan for my life and for my family. I know this season is but a short chapter in the book He is writing for us.

The long and short of the last 9 months is that I work an hour away from the house so we have enrolled the kids in a Catholic school that is 4 miles from my office. We have just begun football season and The Coach is keeping 14-15 hour days!! He is very tired but loves his new head coach and loves his new school. It is such a huge change from being in the urban district he came from! We went to a scrimmage this morning and the stands were full! Last year, the kids and I would have been one of - maybe - a dozen people in attendance, so this is a big difference even for us! Everyone is just so exicted about cheering on this new team.

I look forward to sharing the craziness of our life with my family, irl friends & my stranger-friends through this silly little blog and would love to hear from you!

(by the way, I have made time to read a few blogs every day - it helps keep me sane :) - I know I haven't commented much (if at all) but it's been a blessing to me nonetheless. Thanks for your consistency! You never know who's reading and is feeling encouraged by your words.)

Every Who down in Who-ville,

the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

Friday was the last day of school before the holiday break and all the 1st graders dressed as Who's. I know she may not look like much in this photo, but her sweater had a little fringe on the cuffs and she wore fuzzy slippers. Her hair looked really cute - I had to convince her it wasn't too much!

Merry Christmas, Stranger-Friends!

What year is this anyway?

I know I've been a little frazzled lately, but I'm not completely losing my mind! Today I stopped by the Intermediate school to check my box. When I got home I began sorting through the papers and found 2 "Volunteer Sign-Up" forms. I immediately noted that the form was different than the ones I put out.

hmmmm........

Then I noticed this...(read the last line)...

Friends, I googled that date and it is 2-0-0-6!! Wow. What parent or teacher has been hanging on to this? This kid isn't even at our school anymore!

This bloggin' thing....

....takes a back seat to my life. Although, I began blogging for the opposite reason - to keep up with things on a daily basis - it seems I get sucked into living and forget about the rest of it. Not such a bad thing, though. Living is good.

So, in short...

...we went for a day visit to see the kids' favorite cousin

...the kids went back to school

...I've been subbing in our local school district,
...I was sick for a over a week,
...my in-laws came for a visit,
...Jaedon turned 10 (& went to the Fort Worth Stockyards with his grandparents),

...somehow this SUCKER is the PTA president for the district AND over the Intermediate school
...I had a garage sale with my sister
...Caela started dance
...Caela's school just finished their fundraiser
...Jaedon's school just started their fundraiser
...(have I told you that I hate fundraisers?)

Now you know that I wasn't lying when I said I've been living. I hope you are all enjoying your lives as well. Don't get me wrong, we all have our crosses to bear, but right now I'm trying to focus on the grace-filled life I've been blessed with!

Happy Tuesday, Stranger-Friends!!

When You're Over the Target...

...you're catching flack.

Ever heard that saying? Our pastor has used it more than once in the last few months and it seems to resonate in our lives lately. The Coach has experienced some struggles in his school over the last month or so and the stress of it weighs on him heavily. As his helpmeet I really desire to help him. I hate seeing him wade through the waters of discontent and discouragement. Although I know God's plans for our lives may include a little refining fire it is still hard.

Beth Moore posted about this topic today and I love love love the way she broke it down. "We don't understand that the pressures we face getting to our places of full-throttle effectiveness in Christ are crucial for developing the muscle to sustain ministry there. He's developing the character the calling requires...Satan will never oppose us more than when he thinks we're onto our callings. Bet on that."

I need to release the anxiety, trust in God's plans and provisions for our family and press on because, when you're over the target...

GERMS!

Stranger-Friends,

What's going on with all the germs? Seems like everyone we know is sick, trying to get sick, or just got over being sick. Including me. I can't quite shake the congestion & coughing.

I subbed at the elementary school last Monday and I was one of about 5 or 6 subs in the building!! Then a good friend subbed Thursday and Friday and now, guess what?? Yep! She's sick. Taking "tami-germ" and trying to get as much rest as possible when you have 4 kids (ages 2-9) and a sick hubby! Ouch!!

Well, I pray this post finds you all feeling well. I hope no germies have come to live in your house or, worse yet, your body!

Love to you all,
Christie

No Child Left Behind??

This football version of "No Child Left Behind" is hilarious.

Teaching with the belief that all children can learn is a necessity, but extending it to a required level of excellence for all results in mediocrity for most.

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction.. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. This will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals.


Kinda puts it in perspective, huh?

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

Dear World,

I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

And I trust you'll treat her well.

Author...Victor Buono

Who Made This List??

We've been shopping all week for school supplies...Veggie Boy is entering 3rd grade and Saucy Girl is starting Kindergarten. Maybe I'm frugal (read...cheap) or maybe I'm getting older, but I don't know when teachers started adding their school supplies to my child's list. My husband has been a public educator for 10 yrs and we've always had to buy his chalk, dry erase markers, red pens, etc., etc. Now it seems the students provide this stuff for the teachers. On Veggie Boy's list we had to pick up 4 dry erase markers and Ziploc bags. I can't quite think of a time when he has brought home something in a Ziploc? (Oh, did I mention that they specified Ziploc brand??) Saucy Girls Kinder list actually specified, "2 Black Chisel Tip Dry Erase Markers" in addition to the, apparently standard, Ziploc brand bags.

I know elementary schools still have a clinic, right? Yet we are providing band-aids from our school "supply" list. Surely, the school can afford band-aids in the budget?

I must be getting old because I remember going to school with the little cardboard "pencil box" with the flap lid. You would bring your box full of pencils, crayons, scissors & a bottle of glue, some construction paper and kleenex. Geesh, times have changed! Saucy Girls list is sooo big that her stuff wouldn't fit in my little cardboard pencil box. What 5 yr old needs 4 boxes of crayons, 2 packs of 10-count markers, 8 glue sticks and 2 bottles of glue - oh yea, and 6, yes six, packages of manilla/construction paper. I know she's not coming home with 6 pkgs of art by the time the year is up. It all seems a bit much to me.

Am I off-track on this one? Please set me straight if I am, but this seems to get more excessive each year.