The World According to Leslie

Adding to the Schedule

2012-02-13T06:07:00.001-05:00

Chasity has finally made her decision!

After a few days of going back and forth, she has decided to officially play baseball AND softball!!

We signed her up on Saturday. Although Saturday was, I do believe, the coldest day of the year so far, she went to baseball camp for about an hour.

We can see how this goes. Try-outs are this weekend.

Games start in March!

I think she will like it once we get started!

Perks

2012-02-13T06:03:00.001-05:00

Tony and I have owned (actually made payments on and then sold) two homes. We actually owned ONE home and sold it. Anyways, most of the time that we have been married, we have been renters.

Yes, I know that renting just puts money in someone else’s pocket.

Yes, I know that you can get tax credits for owning a house.

Yes, I know that there are a million-and-one benefits to owning a home.

However, there are a few perks to renting.

1. If you are renting and it’s a townhome, you don’t have to pay the homeowner’s association fees or go to the homeowner’s association meetings. You get to leave that to the actual homeowner.

2. When the security alarm (etc.) people call wanting to sell you something for your home, you can say “I rent” and they hang up more quickly than you can! BONUS!

3. When you come home from the grocery store and your refrigerator has decided to stop working, and the stuff in your freezer has started to get soft and soggy. All you have to do is call the land lord and he says, “I’ll have that taken care of by tomorrow. Let me get your cell phone number so that the repair man can call you to set up a time that’s best for you.”

That means that we don’t have to fix the refrigerator or buy a new one if this one can’t be fixed. We didn’t have to buy the new dishwasher either.

There are many benefits to owning a home. However, right now, I see this as a huge perk to renting!

Day 3

2012-02-04T06:06:00.001-05:00

Today is the 3rd of 3 days that I have to work on a Saturday.

At the beginning of the year, my county had a 3 day Orientation for new teachers. Since I was not hired until September, I have had make up days –December, January, and February.

I get paid for showing up.

The first day was a lot of taking notes and learning. The 2nd day was taking notes in the morning and lesson planning in the afternoon. Today is going to be the same way. So I am taking two laptop computers…. mine and the one from the school! I can’t stand to TYPE on the one from the school. The keyboard is very small. But, my computer does not have the SMART Board software on it.

I have a lot of stuff to take with me to get to this afternoon. If I get to it, then I am going to need both computers.

I wonder what they are going to feed us for lunch today!

24 Hours

2012-01-29T18:25:00.001-05:00

For my entire life, I have had the same 24 hours every day. 12 midnight to 12 midnight. How is it that now, I don’t seem to get anything accomplished in those 24 hours?

My Schedule:

Mondays:
Work
Cheerleading (for Chasity)
Homework and Lesson Planning (for me)

Tuesdays:
Work
Homework and Lesson Planning

Wednesdays:
Work
Class (for me until 8:15pm)
Gymnastics (for Chasity—which I have to miss)
Homework and Lesson Planning

Thursdays:
Work
Girl Scouts (for Chasity and me)
Homework and Lesson Planning

Fridays:
Work
CRASH!

Saturdays:
Cheerleading (for Chasity)

Sundays:
Church
Homework and Lesson Planning
Grocery Shopping

Granted….. there is always something else added to the Saturday and Sunday schedule. For example, this Saturday, I have to work. Beginning on Feb. 18th, we have Girl Scout Cookie Booths on Friday-Sundays!

I just feel SO behind! ~~Some days~~ Most days I need another 2-3 hours.

Anyone else with me on this?

How to Raise a Selfish Child

2012-01-13T05:59:00.001-05:00

Why would you want to raise a selfish child? Well, that is a great question!

I never wanted to raise a selfish child, but it seems as though that is how the hubs and I have raised her. So here is where we went wrong.

1. We loved her too much.

2. We gave her things she didn’t ask for, but we thought she would enjoy them. (She did.)

3. We taught her that she should share even if it means that she will have less than what she really wants to have.

4. We gave her everything that she needed.

I’m not sure how we could have gone so wrong! But, alas, we did! With those few steps above, and a few others I’m sure, we have raised a really selfish child.

I am hoping that this selfish thing is just a phase. If not, she may end up with black pants, white t-shirts, 1 pair of shoes, and NO toys!

Why am I so upset with her? That is a story for a different day. Just know…. I have raised a selfish child. You can too!

However…. no matter how selfish she is, she is MINE! I love her more than anything! We are just hoping she grows out of this quickly! lol

Exams

2012-01-11T23:06:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow the lovelies at school begin their exams. They continue them until next week. Then I get a couple of teacher workdays. (I just need to have time to FILE some stuff! LOL)

Then... the following week..... our new semester starts. So does Chasity's.

It won't be long until Spring Break!

You'll never believe it, but Chasity and I have the same Spring Break (I think!). I need to check again before I state that for sure!

Headaches

2012-01-10T19:37:00.000-05:00

On December 29, 2011, I had had a headache for over two months. I'm not talking about little nagging things. I'm talking about headaches that made it hard to open my eyes, to focus on what I was doing, or to keep a train of thought.

It was hard to sleep. It was hard to stay awake. It was hard to do much of anything.

The headache started one morning. I woke up with it. I don't even remember the morning that it started. I thought it was related to my sinuses. I took sinus meds. I took pain meds. Then a couple days (maybe 3) later, when I was still in pain, I stopped taking meds. I had medicine anyway. The fact that the sinus meds and pain meds weren't working meant that it wasn't a sinus infection and that I was going to have a headache for a few days.

Before I had Chasity, I had ONE headache for a YEAR! Yes! I went to the doc for tests! No! They couldn't figure out why I was having a headache. Finally one day, I woke up and it was GONE!

Ever since then, I have had headaches. If I wake up with one, I treat it for a couple of days with sinus and pain meds, but then if it doesn't go away, I know it's going to stick around for a while! Then one day I wake up and it's gone.

I had an MRI for the headache (that I was talking about on December 29, 2011). I had had blood work done. Everything came back NORMAL! And... best of all.... I HAVE A BRAIN! (LOL)

I had a follow up appointment on Dec 29th with my doctor to see where to go from there. I said, "Doc, everything is coming back normal. What do we do now? I'm hurting. Just so you know. Today is one of those days where I might either pass out or puke on you."

She said, "Don't puke on me!" I think she could handle the passing out if I decided to do that! lol

Anyways, she said that she would give me a medicine to prevent headaches and then something to take when I feel a headache starting. However, neither of those would make the headache go away. So what did she propose?

She would give me two shots in the office that day. I would have time to get home from the office and go to bed.

So that is what I did. I got the shots at 5pm on December 29th.

I woke up around 9:30pm. I ate 12 bites of food. (Yes! I counted!)

Then I went back to sleep with a cool damp rag over my eyes.

I don't remember anything else until 8am the next morning.

On December 30th, I felt a little better. I could move my head without feeling like I was going to pass out.

On January 1st, I had the first day in over two months without a headache! That was the BEST way ever to start a new year! :)

Now I am on preventative meds. I have not had to take the other meds for when I can feel a headache coming.

I am so glad that I have not had a headache in 9 days!

God and my doctor hooked me up! :)

Day 5---and I missed a couple

2012-01-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

How is it that I missed two days of blogging already?

However, I have already blogged more in this MONTH than I did in the last 3 months of 2011.

Girl Scout cookie season just started, so I am in the beginning stages of being the "Cookie Nazi". Ask anyone in my troop....I'm a COOKIE NAZI!!

I'm really late getting to bed tonight!

Hopefully I'll fall asleep quickly. I need to start getting more sleep.

So I guess I am going to go take my headache medicine (that is definitely a story to tell)! Then I am going to bed!

Day 2 and Still Blogging

2012-01-02T22:02:00.000-05:00

Wow.....

Today is the last day of my vacation from work. I have to get up at 4am tomorrow!

OMG! I am not sure why I am still awake at 10pm!

My hour commute tomorrow is going to be SO hard!

So now, I am going to hit the bed I do believe.

Tomorrow I might have something even more interesting to say! :)

New Year, New Thoughts.....

2012-01-01T12:26:00.000-05:00

WOW!
It has been almost 4 months since I have written.

There are so many things that have happened since September.

I started working.
I interviewed for another job.
I didn't get the other job.
I have been on Christmas break since December 20th @ 3pm. :)

Now, I am going to set a goal for myself. I don't normally do resolutions. I tend to break them quickly. But, when I set goals, I tend to keep them.... at least for longer. My goal is to write daily this year. Even if I don't have anything mind-blowing to write about. I want to write, at least a sentence or 3, every day. I think it would be good for my soul to write things out.

Maybe if I get in the habit of writing, I will have a good habit of writing.

Of course, I just watched the movie "Julie and Julia" yesterday. I would LOVE to come up with something like that to write about. For now, I think I will settle for just writing a little about life every day. Then I will find something that will get everyone's attention that I can continue to write about.

For now, I will leave you with this thought.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that 2012 is great to you!

Officially Official!!

2011-09-09T11:06:00.002-04:00

Today I got the call!

I begin work on Monday.

Monday I will be working with the two other English I teachers. Then on Tuesday, they are hoping to have my kids ready for me!

WOW!

I wasn't expecting it that quickly! However.... I'm ready!

Let's do this!

Productive So Far

2011-09-06T08:17:00.003-04:00

Today, I am waiting for the call from HR at my new job to call me to do paperwork.

I have already arranged for daily after-school transportation for Chasity (beginning today).

She already rides the bus in the mornings.

I am hoping that I will get my paperwork completed soon and get into my classroom! I am excited!

Over the weekend, I went through all the stuff that I have already. I filled up 3 notebooks with "random stuff"...grammar, vocab, short stories, novels, etc. I filled up one notebook with "Romeo and Juliet" stuff! Hopefully I can use some of it (I'm sure I will be able to) in my new classroom.

I sat in the floor for a few hours working on getting my notebooks together. I couldn't stay focused because of the excitement!

HOWEVER....today..... while I'm waiting on the call, I'm being productive.

I have already read 50 pages. I have 88 left to read. Then the writing starts!

I've been productive so far!

Waiting for the Call

2011-09-02T17:26:00.003-04:00

Today, I have been waiting for the call from Human Resources.

Since Monday is a holiday, I guess I will get the call on Tuesday.

I hope to be at the school Thursday or Friday. I don't know if they are planning to have me observe the other two teachers for a day or two so I can see what they are working on in class OR if they are going to just give me the students! Either way is great, but I think I might be more comfortable if I knew what they are working on already! :)

I have started a list of questions I need to ask.

I have started a list of things I need to get.

I have ordered some books I have been wanting so I would have them to use in my classroom.

Now, I'm just waiting for the call.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the weekend!

:)

School and Work

2011-09-01T16:22:00.004-04:00

Chasity loves school.

This year, she is actually waking up (without TOO much grumpiness) and getting herself dressed. In all the previous years, her dad or I would dress her. We told her over the summer that now that she's 8, she has to start doing that for herself. She's too big for us to do it.

So far, I am loving school.

I have two classes. I have a lot of reading, but for the most part, it hasn't been so hard to keep up. Of course, I have only been in class for TWO weeks! lol I'm sure it will get more difficult, but I think I can handle it. In a couple of weeks, I'll probably be pulling my hair out and wanting to quit. However.... I haven't quit yet. With graduation so close in sight, I am not looking to quit now! :)

On Monday, I received a phone call from a school to which I had sent my resume' and information. They asked me to come in for an interview on Tuesday. Being absolutely convinced I can get the job, I went. The interview went really well. I got to meet the two English 9 teachers. Everything seemed to go smoothly.

They said they had one more interview to go and that they would make a decision soon. So I didn't get a call yesterday. I said, "Maybe the interview was this afternoon, so they couldn't decide until tomorrow (Thursday)."

Today, I went to pick Chasity up from school (at 2pm). I waited as long as I could in case they called. After I picked up Chasity, we went to see my mom at the daycare. She asked if they had called me. I said, "No, so I guess I didn't get it."

When I came home, there was a message from the AP at the school to call them. I called--convinced that they would tell me that they had gone with someone else.

But...

instead of that....

I heard...

"Are you still interested in the position?"

Me: "Yes, ma'am."

AP: "We would like to extend an offer of employment to you for the English 9 teaching position!!"

Me: "Are you kidding me?!??!??!!"

AP: "No! You got the job!"

Then I took a deep breath.

She gave me the information I needed. Then she said that someone would be calling me from Human Resources!

So..... I GOT THE JOB!!!!!

It's still sinking in! I feel like it is a dream!

I called Tony and put him on speakerphone so he and Chasity would hear it together.

Then I called my parents--I let Chasity tell them.

Then I called my sister.

Then I started calling some friends!

I'm so excited!

I GOT THE JOB!

OMG!

2011-08-25T13:02:00.003-04:00

OMG! Today is the first day of school for Chasity! She's in 3rd grade now. I can't believe it.

OMG! The house is so quiet without Chasity here. I'm used to hearing "Mom!" "Mommy!" "Can I play my Xbox?" "Can I play my DS?" "Can I play on the computer?" "Can I watch my shows?" "I'm going to play in my room!" "I'm hungry." "Can I have a snack?"

We limit her time on Xbox, DS, and computer. Most of the time, if she is watching TV, we are watching with her. Also, she has a TV in her room, but she can only watch movies on it. We monitor how long, how much, and what she watches. However, there are many times that she has a movie in the background while she plays in her room.

OMG! I just learned a little tidbit of knowledge that COULD possibly help me to get a job.

When I did my student teaching, I had a Cooperating Teacher. She was WONDERFUL! I also had a University Supervisor. He worked for UNCC. He worked with me (and 5-6 other students) and did our observations, checked our progress, and talked to our Cooperating Teachers about our Student Teaching.

When he was my University Supervisor, he was also an INTERIM Assistant Principal at a local high school. Not my county, but the one to the North of us. I have applied for a gazillion (not really that many, but it feels like it) jobs this summer. One of them is in the county where he was an INTERIM Assistant Principal. (He's actually a retired cop from that county and a retired Principal from there too!)

So today, I was looking online to see if the job I applied for in that county had been removed from the website (indicating that it is filled). NOPE! Still there. So..... I went to the school website. The other day I was at the site and realized that the job I am applying for was vacated by a classmate (from a couple semesters ago). He and his new wife just moved back to PA. Today, I find out that my University Supervisor is the INTERIM Principal at the school where I have applied for a job.

So if it really is WHO you know and not WHAT you know, I might have found my "in".

I emailed him right away to tell him that I wanted the job and that I had already applied for it.

Now....again.... it's waiting.

Of course, I'll update as soon as I know! :)

Open House, Jobs, and School

2011-08-24T09:34:00.003-04:00

Last night, we went to meet Chasity's new teacher. I think Chasity will do well in her class. However, with my personality, she's another of those teachers that I would have been a problem for! :) I am a little ADD (sometimes ADHD) so I have a problem with soft-spoken, calm people! :) I tend to surround myself with loud, crazy people.

But, Chasity is very quiet (at school). So I think she will do GREAT in this class this year!

This is her first year of EOGs. I'm a little worried about that, but it will all be fine!

On the job front, I have applied for more jobs. I did the one thing I swore I would never do. I applied for jobs in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. I haven't been called back about those either. So...they may want me even less that I truly want to work there. LOL

There is a job in a neighboring county that I realized earlier this week a friend of mine vacated. He just got married and moved home to Pittsburgh, PA. So, since I applied for it and I haven't heard anything, I thought I'd send him a message to ask him about the school. (It seems small for a high school....only 2-3 English teachers.) I'm hoping he will get back to me soon.

Of course, what I'm really hoping is that I can get him to make a call for me. :)

They tell me that it's not what you know, it's who you know.

Think it would help me if the teacher who just left the position called them for me? (I can hope!)

As for school, my classes started on Monday. I have one online class and one on-campus class. My online class is self-paced with a schedule of assignment due dates. My on-campus class is on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:15pm! Chasity SHOULD be asleep (or in bed) by the time I get home tonight.

I still have to put all her stuff together (and label it with her name) for school tomorrow! I'm excited!

Chasity is excited!

Here's to a great school year (and me getting a job)!!!

Out of the Blue and Still Gray

2011-08-22T13:58:00.003-04:00

So I interviewed for a job on Wednesday of last week.

I forwarded all the house calls to my cell phone on Thursday while we were at Tweetsie.

I literally sat by the phone Friday waiting for a call.

Every time the phone rang, I hoped it was them.

They never called. So I cried a lot on Friday. Actually, I cried more than I care to admit!

Then today, I called them to see if they had made a decision.

The response I got was, "Yes, we made a decision. I had you on my list to call on Friday, but I didn't get to it." The tone to his voice confirmed what I already knew.

I did NOT get the job.

So I am sitting here again today.

Crying.

Wondering.

Feeling like a failure.

What else is there to say?

Happy Birthday Princess Chasity!

2011-08-18T20:28:00.003-04:00

Wow!

This morning I woke up at 4:30am. I showered and got dressed. By 6:15am, Tony and Chasity were also ready. We made a couple of really quick stops and headed to Blowing Rock!

We stopped at McDonald's in Mooresville for breakfast!

Then we hit I-77 and climbed the mountain! :) We made it to Tweetsie around 9:30am! Around 10am, I had to buy a new memory card for my camera because I had finished filling up the one that I purchased in June! lol

We took pictures on the horses and carriages.

Then we rode "Tweetsie"!! The show on the train ride was AWESOME!

Chasity told the cowboy that was on our train car that today was her birthday. Then she asked to have her pic taken with him. :)

She told EVERYONE it was her birthday! The Can-Can dancers and Diamond Lil sang the birthday song to her. They said, "It's her birthday. Are you ready girls?" Then they sang, "This is your birthday song. It isn't very long! Hey!" Then we took her picture with the three of them!

Then she rode the rides they have. She was a little freaked out by the Ferris Wheel because it only has the seat. The ones at the fair here have like bowls that you sit in. So that freaked her out a little.

However.... I think that the highlight of HER day was finding out that she was big enough to ride the "Tweetsie Twister" without someone in the seat with her. (She was so excited that she rode it TWICE!!)

Hopefully, I can post pictures tomorrow!

Today, I am going to rest a little and spend the rest of the day with my Birthday Princess!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS CHASITY!

Interview

2011-08-17T11:57:00.002-04:00

Before I went into the interview today, I had a conversation with God.

I said, "I didn't even apply for this job. It's not listed on the website. Maybe YOU picked this one for me. I have been applying for jobs that *I* want. Maybe this is what YOU want for me. So when I get in there, just let this be an easy interview."

Honestly, I sat there talking to those two Assistant Principals like I had known them for years. At one point, one of them asked me a yes/no question. I said "yeah, I do." Then I stopped myself and said, "I am so sorry. That was rude. Yes sir...." Then I answered the question for him.

I spoke with one AP then he called in another one. However, when it was just the first AP in there with me, he asked a question. Then when the other AP came in, he told him about my answer.

I think it went really well.

They said they have to make a decision by Friday.

Maybe I'll get the call when I'm on the mountain tomorrow at Tweetsie! Then I really would feel like I was on TOP OF THE WORLD!!! :) (Sorry....couldn't resist!)

Chasity’s Birthday Week Continues (and Other News)

2011-08-16T22:19:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, my sister and my niece had their toenails painted. Each of them had a design put on their big toes.

Chasity asked me if we could do that for her birthday. I told her “we’ll see.” That OF COURSE means (in 7-year-old terms) “sure…no problem”.

So she asked me yesterday if I would take her. We didn’t have time to go yesterday, so we went today.

Each of us has hot pink polish on our toes. Then we have designs on our big toes.

My toe designs:

Chasity’s toe designs:

Here they are TOGETHER:

Just before Chasity and I left the house to go get our nails done, I received a phone call about a job interview. So tomorrow at 10am I am going to be interviewing for a teaching job. It’s not far from where we live. We wouldn’t have to move. So I am praying that this is the job that God has for me.

Birthday Week 2011

2011-08-15T15:52:00.002-04:00

Chasity's birthday is on Thursday.

So....she has decided that this whole week should be used to celebrate her.

In all reality, 8 years ago, this whole week was dedicated to her.

I wasn't sure what day she would come, so I spent many of my days finishing her nursery, making sure all our stuff was packed for the hospital, and getting paperwork ready to take with us to the hospital.

Then, I went into labor on Sunday, August 17th at 6pm. Chasity was born August 18th at 2:10am!

Not bad! I was only in labor for 8 hours. One-and-a-half of those hours was spent riding to the hospital. We lived in Concord at the time and she was born in Winston-Salem. :)

Now, I have the best kid in the world!!! And, I tell her that every day!

We are planning to go to Tweetsie Railroad on Thursday (if Tony can get off work)!!

Her party is on Saturday!

Tomorrow, we are hanging out at the daycare for just a little bit, but then we are going to go find a bakery to do the cake that Chasity wants for her party.

For now.... I'm chilling out with her....letting HER decide what we watch on TV, what we do, and what we don't do.

Interview Results

2011-08-04T17:20:00.003-04:00

About two weeks ago, I interviewed for a teaching job. It is the only interview I have had all summer.

I have sent in resume' after resume' to probably 50 principals this summer. There have been openings, but I never got an interview for most of the jobs.

The job I interviewed for is about an hour drive to get there. However, in the mornings, I would be going away from the biggest part of traffic. In the afternoons, I would be doing the same thing. So the drive wouldn't be so bad! I wouldn't have that much traffic to deal with either direction!

So for the past two weeks, I every time the phone has rung, I have been on edge hoping to hear from them.

Today I heard from them.

"We have filled the position at (the school). We wish you the best in your job search. Thanks for you interest in teaching at (the school)."

However..... it was NOT a phone call. I received an email to tell me that I didn't get the job. :(

That just made it even WORSE!

So now.... I have no job and no prospects because everywhere I have sent my information to (like they say to do in the job postings), I am not getting interviews.

Well....

I decided to write about it now that I have dried the tears enough to see again!

A job is waiting for me..... just wish I knew where!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

2011-07-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

Today would have been my Grandma's (mom's mom) 93 birthday.

However, since Jesus called her home to live with Him on June 30th, she's celebrating with Him.

So Happy Birthday Grandma! Have a great day celebrating with Jesus!

I know that she had some wonderful birthdays here. She would talk about them and tell us her favorite birthdays...until she couldn't remember anything. (She had Alzheimer's.)

But... I know that today is her BEST birthday ever! She is celebrating with Jesus!

Where Does the Time Go?

2011-07-27T21:09:00.002-04:00

Wow!

It's been FOREVER since I last blogged!

Since I have been home from vacation, I have been swamped with school.

The class I am taking is a Research Methods class. I knew that it was going to have a lot of Scientific information and mathematical statistics to do in it. So I put it off as long as I possibly could. Then I decided that instead of spreading the torture out for 16 weeks in the fall semester, I would shrink all the same work into a 5-week summer session.

OMG!

So far, I have not had many problems. This week is probably going to kill me. :( I actually have to do the math for myself this week. I have been reading the statistics and I have been doing okay in writing about them. So.... I'm just hoping I can find someone to do my homework for me this week! (NO! I'm just kidding! I will actually do my OWN homework!)

However, I only have assignments due this Sunday (7/31), next Sunday (8/7), and my final exam and final assignment are due 8/10.

Then I have about 13 days until Fall semester starts!

I just can't believe that summer is almost over.... with several more high temp days (close to 100) headed our way, I can use some FALL temperatures! :)

Back At It

2011-07-08T11:25:00.001-04:00

We just got back from our vacation. We came back on Wednesday. However, we needed Thursday to recover! lol Isn’t that how it always goes? You need a vacation to relax from a vacation?

So, here are some of the highlights.

First, we went to Boone, NC. We stayed not far from Appalachian State University! (I attended ASU as a college freshman! It has changed A LOT since then!)

The hotel where we stayed was great! There was an indoor pool, but the tub in our room was big enough to be a small one-person pool for Chasity! She just had to get in (clothes on and NO water) so that I could get a picture of the size! She loved it!!

We were supposed to visit Tweetsie Railroad. Chasity won tickets through her Girl Scout Cookie sales this year. However, on July 4th, the day we planned to go, it was stormy all day. The thunderstorms finally went away around 7pm. The park closed at 9pm. So we decided we would visit the mountains again to go to Tweetsie. We are going to go back for her birthday. Hopefully some family will go up with us!

We left Boone on Tuesday. We drove to Cherokee. OMG! My next phone will have a GPS in it. The directions I got from an online source wer HORRIBLE. (They were so bad I’m not even listing where I got them here!)

It took us a few hours to get to Cherokee. However, we had fun getting there!

Once we got there, I had to get online for my summer class. It was our first class meeting. So I sent Tony and Chasity to the swimming pool (which was right outside our door). They were out there for about 30 minutes. Then it started storming. So they came in, I finished my class, and we went walking around downtown Cherokee.

There are some awesome hand-painted bears throughout town. I only got pictures of a couple of them, but they are awesome! The next time I go up there, I will totally get more pics!! (I need more than ONE day to do it though!!)

Are those not FABULOUS????

One of the highlights of the trip was getting Chasity’s picture with some Indians. (Yes! I can call them that because I have Cherokee blood in my veins!) We watched some native dancing. Then Chasity had her picture taken.

One little….two little….three little Indians! lol

We had a blast! I can’t wait to do it again!

Heartbroken and Rejoicing

2011-07-01T21:38:00.003-04:00

It has been a strange, long, busy month. I will (I promise to try) get some pics and info up for what has been going on this past month.

Right now, my heart is broken, but I am rejoicing.

Yesterday at 3:29pm, God called my Grandma Edwards home. This is my mom's mom. She would be 93 on July 30th. She had been sick for 2 weeks.....exactly.....14 days.

She has 4 children still living--mom, Uncle Tommy, Uncle Arbeth, and Aunt Rhonda. Mom and Uncle Tommy live here in town. So they helped the nursing home to take care of her. (YES! We had to help them because they did not always do their jobs!) Aunt Rhonda now lives in GA. She was living in SC, but her hubby got a job in GA so she had to move. Uncle Arbeth is the oldest. He's in his 70s. His health isn't great, but he still gets around from day-to-day. His wife has Alzheimer's. He lives about an hour away.

The nursing home called the family in on Tuesday. Mom and Uncle Tommy basically moved in up there. They only left to eat and shower. Aunt Rhonda drove up on Tuesday night and left on Wednesday.

Grandma was still holding on. She wasn't eating, drinking, taking her medicines. Her breathing was very labored. But, she was holding on.

Some of the Grandkids (and great-grands) visited. I honestly don't know how many Grands and Great-grands were in and out of her room this week.

Finally yesterday, Uncle Arbeth came to see her. His two daughters brought him down here.

About 2-1/2 or 3 hours after he left, Grandma died.

We knew it was going to happen. He was the last piece of the puzzle.

My mom, dad, Uncle Tommy, and my sister (maybe my brother too, but I'm not sure) were with her when she went.

They said her breathing became easier. She opened her eyes and smiled a great big smile!

I can only imagine what she saw in that last glimpse...... or was it her FIRST glimpse of Heaven? I guess I'll have to try to remember to ask her that when I get there one day! :)

Mom is really taking it hard.....as I expected.

Chasity was really close to her too. She hasn't seen her since she passed. So tomorrow should be interesting for her.

We have the viewing and the funeral tomorrow.

It's going to be a hard day.

Right now, Grandma is celebrating with Jesus.

Just keep my family in your prayers for the next few days!

Reconnected

2011-05-28T09:01:00.002-04:00

3 days ago, my Blogger account locked me out.

Actually, I'm still not sure what went wrong. I leave my account logged in so when I pull up Blogger it's just on my Dashboard. However, sometimes, the log in page still comes up.

So 3 days ago, the log in page came up.

I logged in.

It took me back to the log in page. :(

Then I tried again.

I did this for 3 days.

Then this morning, I did it and it logged me in!

YIPPPEEEE!!!!!

So this morning, I had 3 days of Bloggy Goodness to catch up on!

Whew!

Hopefully, I will be able (disciplined enough) to get more of my information/posts actually on the blog soon! I have lots to say and just haven't taken the time to say it!

The Decision is In

2011-05-10T13:54:00.002-04:00

...and I didn't get the job.

The interview went well.

However, when it was over and I called Tony in the car on the way home, I said..."They didn't ask me a lot of questions. It's like they already had their mind made up before I walked in."

I guess they did!

I didn't get it. :(

I cried a little.

I'll probably cry again when Tony gets home.

The bad thing is that the principal said, "Your interview was great, but I had to go with someone more qualified."

I understood that when I was trying to do Lateral Entry in the position, but now that I have a teaching license..... I don't understand. :(

I need help understanding it.

But.... when she told me that, I said, "Thank you for letting me know." She thanked me for interviewing.

Then I hung up. I was aggravated! I was mad!

Now.... I don't know what I am!

Waiting on Christmas

2011-05-10T05:17:00.002-04:00

Remember when we were little and we would toss and turn all night in our beds waiting on "Santa" to come?

Remember watching the clock?

12:00

12:15

12:23

OMG!

I did that last night.

This morning, I have an interview for a job that I could start immediately!

I'm excited about it.

However, I guess last night, I was nervous!

I went to bed around 10:30pm.

Then I looked at the clock at 11pm.

I turned the TV off at 11:07pm.

Then I woke up again every 15 minutes until about 12:47am.

Finally after that I looked at the clock again at 2:28am.

Then at 3:34am.

Then at 4:01am---when the alarm went off! (I have a clock that you have to go through ALL the numbers to get back to :00 so I left it at :01.)

All that time....every time I looked at the clock... I thought...."This really feels like I'm waiting on Christmas!!"

Maybe that's a good sign!

I could really use this job for the rest of the school year! :)

Freedom

2011-05-02T19:47:00.002-04:00

Class is finished..... until Summer school starts. I'm just waiting on Financial Aid information to find out if I can take the Summer School classes I need. ;)

If I get these two classes out of the way, take two classes in the fall (but they might both be ON campus), and take two classes in the Spring.... I can GRADUATE in May 2012!!! That means that I will have completed my Masters' Degree and will make more money! :)

Of course, to make more money, I have to have a job! lol

I'm getting more Substituting jobs. I'm working the 2nd 1/2 of tomorrow (from noon-4pm) and all day Wed and Thurs for ONE teacher. I'm guessing she has had an emergency and will have to leave early tomorrow and come back on Friday.

I'm surprised because most teachers are working on getting ready for Finals and EOGs and EOCs. So most of them are afraid to miss school right now!!

Now... let's just pray that I can get a real job in the fall, can get the money to take these two summer classes, and can get myself graduated from college (for the 2nd time) in May 2012!!! (That's only NINE years after the first degree! And.... I took a FIVE year break! Personally, I think that's pretty awesome!)

Finishing at UNCC

2011-04-27T17:04:00.002-04:00

So I have just been playing around with my schedule of classes.

If I can get Financial Aid for two classes this summer, I can take 2 classes before August. Then in August I am registered for two classes. Then in January, I would have two classes left!

Do you know what that means?

That means that if I really get the financial aid that I need, I will spend my summer in class so that I can GRADUATE IN MAY!!!!!!!!!

Do you know what that means?????

That means that I am almost finished!!!!

That means that I will get the raise from "Bachelor Teacher" to "Masters Teacher" after only ONE year of teaching...... of course THAT is assuming that I am going to get a job to start teaching in August! :)

I just have to wait on THREE emails to let me know.... one from my adviser, one from the teacher whose class I want to enroll in, and one from the Financial Aid people! :)

Hmmmm.....that seems like a LOT of waiting! :)

But.... I have been waiting my WHOLE life to finish school.

Now.... how about a Doctorate degree?

JUST KIDDING...... for now anyways!

Brain is Empty and Some UPDATES

2011-04-27T13:29:00.003-04:00

Since the other day when I emptied my brain on here, I haven't really done anything (except homework)!!

Before midnight tonight, I will complete my FINAL assignment for this class I'm in. Then I'll complete the Evaluation that has been sitting in my UNCC email inbox for over a week!!! :) I'm looking forward to that one! (Honestly, I hate doing the evals when there is nothing to say! It's really boring!)

Chasity went back to the doctor on Monday for her ear. The infection is gone, but there is a 15% tear in her right ear. They did the complete hearing test. Her left ear is PERFECT. However, she has about a 20-25 decibel loss in her right ear. That means that if you are speaking into her right ear, you have to be loud our she won't hear you. :(

That makes me sad!!

There is another surgery they can do for her. After the summer, she goes back for another check-up. If her ear hasn't healed itself, then the doctor will probably want to do the surgery during Christmas break. :(

We are trying not to let Chasity know that we are worried, but I am terrified! She came into the world with PERFECT hearing. I'd love for her to keep it! :) So.... if surgery is what will fix it, then surgery it shall be.

I'm just believing for her miracle!! Jesus healed the deaf in the Bible. Who's to say he won't do it again?

So if you guys will be prayer warriors for us, just ask that God will heal Chasity's ear. I don't want to think about the alternative right now. :)

Also..... Grandma's (mom's mom) doctor said she seems to be improving some. She's eating some. She's still off her meds, but I think the doc is going to leave it like that. She's just really tired. She keeps saying "I want to go home." We are all afraid to ask her "Where is home?" We are afraid of what she might say!

So for today, she's still with us and we get a little more time to love on her! :)

It's Taunting Me

2011-04-21T13:11:00.002-04:00

Sitting in my UNCC email inbox right now is the Course Evaluation email for this semester!

As we all know, this has not been the best semester ever....online. So, I have a few unfriendly things to say about this course.

So, I am waiting. I haven't even opened it since the title of the email gives away the contents.

I have to finish my assignment for this week. Then I think that next week is all that I have left in this class..... maybe through Mother's Day, but I think next week is it!

Then I am going to give it to this class and unhelpful professor with both barrels!

I am just waiting!

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock

I sound like somewhat of a ticking time bomb, don't I?

It's ok. I can wait until the class is over to tell the university that this professor should never be allowed the internet again to teach a class. That they should make sure the professors know the course they are teaching, what is expected, and how to work the technology before they assign them to a course online!

I will wait!

Then.... I will click on the message.

I will click the little blue link.

I will click to fill in all the little bubbles on the survey.

Then I will fill up the "Comments" box with lots of stuff that the university should know!

But for now..... I wait!

Full Brain

2011-04-19T09:56:00.004-04:00

So it's been 2 weeks today since I wrote anything.

Nothing much has been happening. But my brain is full from all kinds of stuff.

I have be working on homework. I have a project that requires that I do research with the students I'm teaching....except that I'm not teaching. So I'm having to be REALLY creative!!!! We'll just have to see how that plays out. :)

I only have about 3 weeks left in this class. I'm glad!

My Grandma (Mom's mom) was in the hospital a couple weeks ago. She went in for a UTI and severe dehydration. After 3 days of IVs and some rest, she was sent back to the Retirement Center.

Now that she is back there, my mom, her brother that lives here in town, his wife and their daughter have been taking turns going to feed Grandma. She isn't eating much. The doctors have taken her off of all her medicines. She has Alzheimer's and has had it for a while.

They said that her medicines were just making her tired and they want to try to keep her off of them to see if she will start eating any.

Unfortunately, they told Mom yesterday that if Grandma doesn't start showing some improvement in the next two weeks, they are going to call in Hospice. She's 92 years old. If she makes it to the end of July, she'll be 93.

Her prayer was always that God would allow her to live ONE DAY after my Grandfather. She's made it almost 16 years. If she knew what was going on, I think she would be happy with those 16 years.

In other news, Chasity had a follow-up at the ENT. Unfortunately, the news was not great. When we went to the office, she was in the middle of ear infection #2 in the same ear that they did surgery on at Christmas. Now she's at the end of it, but the ear still hurts.

The ENT said that there is a 10% tear in her right ear drum. He couldn't do the entire hearing test because of the ear infection, but he said that with the tear in there, she does have some conductive loss in hearing. He said it in front of Chasity so now she thinks she's going to go deaf. She's freaking out. :(

If the hole doesn't heal on its own, there is a surgery that they can do to fix it. However, she will have to stay out of water for AT LEAST 3 months!! Chasity wasn't thrilled with that idea either! She loves to swim and play in the water! So if that is the way we have to go, it will have to be after school starts..... probably at Christmas again! :(

Dad hasn't gone back to work yet. He goes back to the doctor in 2 weeks. Hopefully, they can get the pain stopped so that he will be able to get back to work soon. If not, they are going to be trying to do some other pain treatments. :( That is never what you want to hear. :( They are also going to scan to see if he has torn something open again! :( Let's hope the new pain patches work!

In the last week, I have had my car in the shop 3 times!

First we had the Harmonic Balancer replaced, the spark plugs changed, and the EGR valve replaced.

The mechanic reset the light and I drove it for 3 miles. The light came back on.

Then we took it back on Saturday. The mechanic cleaned out the system attached to the EGR valve. Then he replaced some kind of sensor for the EGR valve. Then he took out the new EGR valve, exchanged it, and replaced it again.

We drove for 5 miles and the light came back on! :(

So yesterday, I spent a couple hours at the dealership! Wish I could say I drove off with a new car, but I drove off with one that the Check Engine light is OFF on!

We have now driven it about 20 miles. The light hasn't come back on.

So today.... I am going to go take my car for a drive. I'm going to drive NORTH on I-85!!

Tomorrow I'm going to do the same thing!

Then hopefully, we can get the car inspected by the end of the week..... BEFORE the cops pull us over and give us a ticket for being expired!

I've been working a couple days a week. Last week I worked Thursday and Friday. This week, I'm set up for 1/2 day tomorrow. I'm hoping to get a job for Thursday and Friday.

As far as a "real job", I haven't gotten anything. The schools around will probably lay off about 1000 teachers/assistants/administrators this year! I'm still praying for a REAL teaching job! I'd love to get it over the summer so I can prepare myself! But....if I get it the first day of school..... I'll accept that too! :)

Gone With the Wind

2011-04-05T08:11:00.002-04:00

I am Southern by birth.

Now that I am older, I am Southern by choice!

Although, I wish for White Christmases every year, the truth is, they only come about once a generation here. If I'm lucky (well...blessed) enough to live to be in my 70s or 80s, I might get to see another one before I'm gone. But, wanting White Christmases is not enough of a reason to move North.

I do like cooler weather. That isn't even a good enough reason.

So I'll stay Southern by birth and by choice! :)

Last night, my most favorite movie of all time based on my 2nd favorite book of all time came on! (My 1st favorite book is the Bible!)

I watched almost all of Gone With the Wind last night.

Now, before my friends (and readers) think I"m crazy.... NO! I do not condone slavery! (That is ONE reason I'm NOT proud of the South!!)

However, I love the characters, the rich scenery, the literary devices, and the story in that book! I fell in love with Rhett Butler when I was a Freshman in college. I have loved him ever since!

I like the book better than the movie, but I think I like the movie because it's based on the book. I watched the movie once before I read the book. I didn't care for it much then. But, after I fell in love with the people of the South in the book, I started liking the movie.

Sometimes I wish days were simpler like they were on the plantations of "Twelve Oaks" and "Tara". Endless parties. Lazy afternoons. A ball to attend on Saturday night.

Today is all about hustle and bustle. It is so draining! But, like Scarlett O'Hara, I think that being a Southern woman gives me some of my strength too!

Maybe I relate to the strength of Scarlett O'Hara. Maybe that is why I truly love that book!

Week in Preview

2011-04-04T09:43:00.004-04:00

This week, I really do have a lot that I MUST accomplish! Most of the things on my "To Do" List this week are no longer optional! They are now MUST DOs!!

Monday:
Finish "Celebration Ceremony" flier for Girl Scouts (this is only 2 weeks late)
Watch 2 hours of videos for class
Read 100 pages for class
Laundry
Go to allergy doctor at 2pm
Pin the pattern down for Chasity's Daddy-Daughter Dance dress and jacket
Finalize Girl Scout meeting agenda
Email Girl Scout meeting agenda to assistant leaders

Tuesday:
Complete homework (by MIDNIGHT)
Work on Research Project for class
Baseball Practice for Chasity (5:30pm)
Try to get a substitute teaching job
Get with my mom to make adjustments to the pattern as we cut out the dress and jacket

Wednesday:
Try to get a substitute teaching job
Meet with the "committee" for the Daddy-Daughter Dance
Finalize Dance music
Finalize Dance decorations
Finalize Dance food
Finalize Dance registration list
Sew the dress and jacket
Take Chasity to gymnastics (5:30pm)

Thursday:
Girl Scout meeting (6:30pm)
Finish what I can alone on the dress
Get all supplies needed for Girl Scout meeting
Try to get a substitute teaching job

Friday:
Get with mom to finish the dress and jacket
Get Chasity some cute little brown sandals (since I'm pretty positive she outgrew the ones from last year)
Try to find a substitute teaching job
Try to get a head start on next week's homework (this is ALWAYS on the list, but NEVER happens)

Saturday:
Help with set up and decorations for the dance (9am)
Chasity's baseball game (1pm)
Get Chasity fed and showered
Get Tony and Dad to the dance location to set up the sound equipment
Help finish decorations and set up for the dance (4:30pm)
Get Chasity ready for the dance (5pm)
Get Tony and Chasity to the Daddy-Daughter Dance 2011 (6-9pm)

Sunday:
CHURCH!

Well..... I have NOTHING in this list that is a "Can Do"! They are all now "Must Dos"!! I'm going to be a busy beaver this week!

Oh yeah! I have to find time to eat and sleep too! :) (We'll see how that works out!)

Trying Something New

2011-03-29T12:18:00.001-04:00

A while back, I saw this tutorial online about Sewing Ribbon Dish Towels. Click here to go to the tutorial.

I follow Aesthetic Nest and she had this on her site.

So finally last night, I got the stuff from Wal-Mart to try this.

Hopefully I will remember to put pics of the finished product online.

I’m just trying to find something that I like to do. I really wish I could sew (or do something) well enough to sell the stuff so I could bring some money in. I just need to find something that I can do well.

Any suggestions?

Me--Honestly!

2011-03-23T20:59:00.003-04:00

NOTE: I wrote this in my little 5x7 notebook that I keep in my purse on Sunday.

Sometimes my temper gets the best of me. Okay! A lot of times!

Sometimes it's because I really have something to be mad about.

Sometimes it's because of stress.

Sometimes it's because I let a million little things pile up on me.

But, sometimes, it's really for no reason at all.

Today, it was a combination of all of those. However, I really feel as though I handled myself well.

First, I really don't feel well. Between what I'm figuring is my 2nd sinus infection in 2011--gotta love being allergic to everything--and what I think is an ear infection in my left ear, I feel lousy! I really feel like crap! I just want to sleep because that's the only time I don't feel the pressure in my head and ears.

Secondly, Chasity decided to tell us today (Sunday) that another boy in her class is picking on her for being WHITE! Seriously! I call it bullying and I have a problem with her not standing up for herself.

Thirdly, with both of those things on my brain and a few other things too, we went to Wal-Mart after church. This is nothing new. We go every Sunday because all the other days are full! Tony got two drinks from the machine. He guzzled his faster than a Mack truck guzzles fuel and then he offered my drink to Chasity.

Before I get the "you should be a good mommy and share" comments, sharing is not a problem for me. I let her drink some of it while I proactively picked out a new hair dryer because mine is on its last leg. It sparks and doesn't want to dry hair all the time! It's not dead yet, but it could be any day! (Update.... it died Monday morning!)

I reached for the can of Sprite and Chasity grabbed it and said "NO"! So I decided to take my phone and my purse and walk away.

Then Tony decided to cause a scene because Chasity and I were "acting like babies".

Sure... it was a small thing, and I shouldn't have gotten mad, but I did!

When I wrote this, I was sitting in my car with the windows down in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

When I finished writing, I went back in the store. Tony and Chasity were walking out. Since I had not been in the store for more than 5 minutes, I decided to walk around. I stayed in the store for about 20 minutes.

During that time, Tony called me 2x to tell me where he was moving the car to. He felt bad keeping the premium spot we had gotten so he moved to beside the sidewalk to wait for me.

When I came out, I wasn't ready to get in the car with them yet. So I walked from the door of Wal-Mart to the end of the parking lot. Finally I did call Tony to tell him that if they were ready to go home, they could come get me.

Childish? Yes!

Was I being a brat? Yes!

Did I feel better than if I had caused a scene and thrown the Sprite at the wall in Wal-Mart? Yes!

I think I handled myself well.... for once!

It Arrived Yesterday!

2011-03-17T15:12:00.003-04:00

Tony had to work late, so I took Chasity to gymnastics alone yesterday. It's not a problem. All I do is sit and watch her anyways. However, he and I normally go together to watch her! She loves to be watched! :)

Anyways, I was turning into the drive way and Tony was at the top of the hill checking the mail. We have one of those community mail boxes where there are several boxes together and we all have a key. I saw a large white envelope in his hand.

I said, "Is that for me?"

He said, "Leslie Jackson."

I said, "Is it from the State of NC?"

He said, "Maybe!"

I shouted, "GIVE IT TO ME!"

I opened (without much patience, but making sure not to tear the contents) the envelope. Sure enough.... on the inside was a letter of congratulations and my NC Standard Professional I teaching license! (I have to teach for 3 years and get good reviews from Principals and some other stuff to get the Professional II license!!)

I'm so excited! I AM OFFICIALLY A TEACHER! I have been waiting for this piece of paper for so long and IT ARRIVED YESTERDAY!!

Seeing It From Both Sides

2011-03-15T15:21:00.004-04:00

When something happens at Chasity's school, I really try to see it from both sides. I try to see it as a mom and as a teacher. Naturally, I see it more as a mom when Chasity is involved.

Last week, Chasity came home from school saying that a girl in her class had been picking on her. The girl was telling Chasity "I'm smarter than the whole class. You don't know anything." "I have my own phone and computer. Your parents don't love you if they don't give you things." So I told Chasity that she needed to let the teacher know when things like that happened. Also, I told her that if the girl did it again I would let the teacher know.

The MAIN thing I said was that her dad and I love her enough to share our phone and computer with her. We don't try to buy her love by giving her things that she doesn't need right now. I also promised her that as soon as she needed her own computer...we'd get her one. When she needed (or we thought she was ready for) a phone, she would get one of those too.

She seemed fine with that and everything went back to normal.

Today she came home saying that two little boys were picking on her.

She said that they told her "You can't sing because you're white." "You are whiter than the sand on the beach." "You are too white to be in the sun." "Your head is smaller than an eraser and you don't have anything in it."

So I was mad! Now.... I have friends who are from all racial backgrounds. Chasity does too. So my next statement is only for clarification. These boys were "brown" according to Chasity. She thinks one has two African-American parents. She thinks the other has a white parent and an African-American parent. The only reason that I said anything about that is because if Chasity had said something about their coloring, it would have been a huge deal and she would have been "racist".

So.... without calling out the specific boys, I did call the teacher. I told her where Chasity said the boys sit. Chasity told me their names, but I never told the teacher that. I told the teacher that I try to see things from both sides. I understand that with the kid:teacher ratio she can't watch/listen to every single kid at every minute. I know that things will happen.

The teacher and I had a good conversation. She is going to talk to the whole class tomorrow. She is also going to do some seat rearranging.

We'll see how it goes.

I'm hoping this will end soon!

A Year Ago

2011-03-14T12:47:00.002-04:00

A year ago this past Friday, I was informed that my Grandmother only had about a week to live.

A year ago this past Saturday, I came home from my student teaching in tears and decided to take an Incomplete.

A year ago yesterday, we took Grandmother off of all her feeding tubes and machines that were keeping her alive. We only left the oxygen.

That means that a year ago this coming Saturday, my Grandmother went home to see her dad, her mom, and her Heavenly Father!

A year ago, I was not sure I wanted to be a teacher any more.

Today...I'm pretty sure I'm crazy for wanting to be a teacher, but I know I can do it.

A year ago, I had no idea how strong I could really be.

Today...I'm still not strong every day, but I know I can be when I need to!

I know that God only puts on us what we can stand. So I know that I can do whatever I have to do!

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-08T13:24:00.003-05:00

Well....this week is UNCC's Spring Break! So I have no homework!! BUT... I do have assignments that I can be working on, so I think I'll get to those a little later!

However... I'm not spending my Spring Break as a BREAK!

What all do I have to do?

Girl Scout Cookie paperwork....YES! We are finished selling cookies and we sold them ALL! There are NO cookies left!

Baseball practice...right now it's twice a week. At the end of the month, the games will start on Saturdays. That means that we will only have Tuesday practices.

Gymnastics...every Wednesday! Chasity is loving it! I'm so glad! She rocks!! :) She is already talking about next year there!

Girl Scouts...every Thursday. All of my girls survived through Cookie Season, so I'm thinking they are going to be here for the long haul! We are planning our end of the year stuff. We are looking at our overnight trip! We still have to plan the sleepover at our meeting location! I think we will be good to go for the beginning of next year. Plus, I think I have a few new girls that are going to join us next year!

Then Fridays are "free". Yeah right! We have Girl Scout events on Fridays and Saturdays. We have baseball on Saturdays!

So there is not a BREAK in Spring Break!

And Chasity has Spring Break the end of April when I'm in class! lol But..... I"ll be almost finished with my classes by then!

Magic Treehouse Books

2011-03-05T18:49:00.003-05:00

NO...this is NOT a sponsored post. Although, I wish it were! :)

Anyways....

I have loved the Magic Treehouse Series since I read one of them about 7 years ago.

I have wanted Chasity to read them since she started reading. However, she's not a "take a suggestion" type reader. So, I had to wait for her to discover them for herself! She did! She loves them!!

So...she has read a few of them already.

What she doesn't know is that I went on eBay and ordered a LOT of like 14 of them for her. They should be there this week or weekend. She's going to FLIP! :)

I'm so excited when I can do things like this for her.

5 minutes 30 seconds and 0.15 miles

2011-02-24T12:53:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, when I got on the treadmill, I wasn't really tired at 5 minutes, so I walked for 30 more seconds.

In that 30 seconds, I walked 0.04 miles.

I'm adding time already!

5 minutes 0.11 miles

2011-02-22T12:46:00.003-05:00

So I know that since I lost weight in 2009 I have gained all of it plus some back.

In January 2009, I decided to try Weight Watchers online. I loved it. I was doing my Points. I was losing weight. Then in October 2009, when dad had his wreck and subsequent emergency surgery, I re-learned how much easier it was just to grab something at a drive-thru than to go home, prepare something, and then get to the hospital.

After Dad got out of the hospital and was back to normal (whatever THAT is), I just didn't get myself back on the plan.

I don't use Dad going into the hospital as an excuse!!

I could have totally gotten myself back on the plan after he was back to normal and back to work.

So that is not an excuse. It just happens to be when I stopped trying..... but it is totally on me.

So now..... I have regained ALL of the 60 lbs that I lost in 2009 and a few more. I really do mean only a few.... like 32-ish. For it to have been over a year ago for me to lose the weight and then stop.....32 extra pounds over what I had lost is not that much. I usually gain much faster.

However.... when you look at it.... I've gained 92 lbs in a little more than a year. :( That's BAD! I know!

So..... last night I was complaining about needing to lose weight. And my hubby, love of my life that he is, who can not gain weight, said, "You have a treadmill, just get on it."

Coming from someone who has weighed 150 lbs since BEFORE I met him, I was NOT happy to hear that! It ticked me off!

So.... what did I do?

I said..."FINE! You want me to use the stupid treadmill, then cut your stupid hair!" He has been letting it grow and grow and it was turning into a bright red (natural color) poofy fluffy clown-looking head of hair. I have been asking him for WEEKS to cut it.

I said...."The day after you cut your hair, I will start walking on the treadmill."

So about 11:30pm last night, he FINALLY cut his hair.

So about 11:30am today I FINALLY used the treadmill!

Because of my knees, my current weight, and the fact that I am uber-out-of-shape, I walked for 5 minutes and a total of 0.11 miles.

So...if I can walk 5 minutes for the rest of the week. Then maybe Monday I will go to 6 or 7 minutes.

It might take me a while to work my way back up to the 1 hour (3.5 miles) I used to do at the gym, but I will get there!

Didn't Miley Cyrus say it's all about "The Climb"???

So today.... I walked 5 minutes and 0.11 miles. I'm proud of me!

Valentine's Day and Today

2011-02-15T11:01:00.002-05:00

As of yesterday, I have had a cute diamond ring on my finger for 11 years!

As of yesterday, Tony and I have been together for 11-and-a-half years!

In 2000, on Valentine's Day, Tony and I had been dating for 6 months! (We started dating on August 14, 1999)! That day, I knew we had plans for the evening. I also had plans with my dad to go get my "new to me" car. We got there. I drove it. I started the paperwork. I realized I left the CASH at home for the down payment. We flew home--in the truck! I got the money. We went back and finished the paperwork!

The coolest thing about my "new to me" car was that it had a radio! The car I traded in did not have one!

So that night, we took my "new to me" car to dinner. After dinner, we were sitting in the parking lot at Ryan's (which they closed down a few years ago in that location) and we were playing with the radio settings.

Then all of a sudden Tony knelt down in the floorboard of my car and pulled out a present!

The I unwrapped the present and then he took it so he could open it. I opened the card.

The card said "Will you be my forever Valentine?"

I said "Yes"! He opened the ring!

A year, three months, and four days later (May 19, 2001) we were married! ;)

So yesterday was a pretty cool day!

Tony brought home Valentine's gifts for me and Chasity after work! Roses and chocolate for me! A cute blanket and heart pillow set for Chasity! She couldn't wait to sleep with it last night! :)

After my Girl Scout meeting (with leaders) last night, I called my mom and she went to the store with me to get Tony something. Yep! I'm the one who didn't buy anything! lol :) So I got him a GameStop gift card and some candy! :) We have a new Xbox, I know he's DYING to get new games! lol

Now today.....

Well..... it's a long story, but......

According to the doctors, at 2:45am today I got older! According to my parents is was closer to 2:15am! lol

Short version..... Dad called the ambulance. I was born at home. Ambulance arrived. I arrived at hospital and doctors "pronounced" me born at 2:45am! lol :)

I've always been impatient! Just as my parents!

So....right now, I'm getting ready to go eat lunch with Chasity at school! She wanted me to come for MY birthday!

Then I'm going to come home and work on assignments that are due today, but the teacher just opened around 11pm last night! :( (That's a new story in itself!) This class is causing me stress and heartburn!

Then I don't know what today holds!

I am curious as to why my hubby said Happy Birthday before leaving, but none of my family (mom, dad, sis, bro....NO ONE) have called me or anything today! That seems weird!

Oh well! I'll just tell myself! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! lol

Pity Party

2011-02-05T17:41:00.002-05:00

So by the title you can tell that this is not going to be a happy post.

Really, this post is just for me; so feel free to bail while you can! :)

Today, I had the clock set for 5:15am. I didn't even hear it until 6am. I was already 45 minutes late. I hate being rushed.

At 6am when I woke up, there was thunder rattling my windows and lightening flashing into my room! I thought that was kind of crazy!

I got up, got ready, and headed to do the Girl Scout stuff I had to do today. In the rush, I forgot the money for the Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Fund I was supposed to take. I also forgot my camera! I have NOTHING to show for today.

As if I wasn't already in a bad mood, I haven't have anything to eat since 7am. It's 5:45pm right now! I went to the kitchen to get something to eat.... only to learn that my husband had eaten (without asking--since it was specifically bought for me) the food I had planned to eat today! I came upstairs with all intentions of ordering a pizza and daring him to touch it....EVER!

In the mail today, I got the letter stating that I did not get the job I applied and interviewed for. As if I needed to feel any worse about myself. Seriously? You couldn't have sent that to me when I was having a GOOD day? I could have taken it a little better. I really like that they LIED in the letter. According to the school website, they are still looking for someone. They even emailed me at my UNCC account last week to ask me to interview. (That account is in my maiden name because I went there as an Undergrad too!) I didn't need that today!

Then, I came upstairs to check out my class online. I'm having such a stupid hard time with this class. I don't understand it. If I don't get an A in this class, I might give up the program now! I will NOT screw up my GPA for a class where the teacher doesn't give us answers.... only sentences that cause more questions.

So here I am..... tired, hungry, hopelessly unemployed, aggravated, teary-eyed, in need of a nap, and tearing up my computer hitting the keys way harder than I should! I really just want to hit something. I really just want to cry! I really want to just..... I don't even know!

Contemplating Life

2011-01-31T22:16:00.002-05:00

Today is the last day of January.

That means I only have 15 days until I get older....on February 15th.

Thus, the reason I am contemplating life.

I always think about what I could be doing. What I should be doing. What I want to be doing.

I know I want to teach. I have always wanted to teach.

Lately, I have been thinking that I want to be a writer. I know I am a writer, I write here. However, I want to write. I want to get paid to write. I can do it. I love writing. But, I don't know where to go to write. The newspaper here isn't hiring, plus they always want someone with experience. I would love to do some Freelance Writing. I just don't want to get sucked into a scheme.... ya know? So if anyone knows where I can get some freelance work for writing, just let me know...please.

Also, I have been trying to think of ways that I can earn some money. Aren't we all?

Anyways, I would love to earn some money doing something I love. I used to think that I wanted to sing every weekend. If I wanted to do that, I know plenty of pastors and plenty of churches I could start singing in. Then it would just go from there. I could travel every weekend if I wanted to. But, I don't want to do that any more.

I've thought about finding something I can make and opening an Etsy shop. However, when I find something I can make, I make one and stop. I never make more....until I want to give them away as gifts. I never make enough to sell and I never make a variety to appeal to the masses.

I just think I would be a little happier if I could find something to do that could help support my family financially, but that wouldn't take away from the time I spend with my family. Doesn't that defeat the purpose?? If I could find something I could do during the day while Chasity is at school and Tony is at work, that would work out.

However....that is my dilemma at the moment. I'm contemplating life trying to figure out how to help my family out, be a little happier, and do something I love! Any suggestions?

Homecoming!!

2011-01-26T16:46:00.002-05:00

After 7 days.....

168 hours....

10080 minutes.....

604800 seconds.....

DADDY IS COMING HOME!

Thursday he was in Intermediate care for the night.

Friday he was moved to a post-surgical room, but he wasn't eating much.

Saturday he ran a fever most of the day.

Sunday he waited on the docs to send him home, but he had not been up and around much. AND... he still wasn't eating much.

Monday he was very sick, throwing up, all day.

Tuesday he didn't throw up, but he still wasn't eating much. So they kept him again last night.

Wednesday--TODAY--he has been talking all day. He has eaten more today than he did the other 6 days he was there. He has been up and walking a few times already. AND...the doctor came in and said...

"(DADDY) you can sleep at home tonight!" (Nope...Doc didn't call him Daddy, but *I* did!)

Can I get a PRAISE THE LORD?

I believe in prayer! Prayer works!

Daddy is coming home tonight!

Hanging at the Hospital

2011-01-23T15:42:00.001-05:00

So the doctors decided that today was not the day to send Daddy home. I’m okay with that. None of us thought he was ready, but he wanted to come home. Unfortunately, he’s in so much pain that he can’t even be disappointed in staying another night.

The docs are saying that probably tomorrow he will get to go home. That’s cool…..if he’s really ready and well enough to go.

For right now, I’m hanging at the hospital with Dad. He’s sleeping because the pain medicine knocks him out. He’s taking a good nap. Mom has gone home to shower and do some things to get ready for Dad to be home tomorrow.

I am “Dad-sitting”!! I’m the official keeper of the dad! Well, he CAN be alone, but he doesn’t really like it. We don’t mind switching out so that he isn’t alone. I think I’m the only one that has come up here and stayed every day! I have stayed with him while mom has gone home and done whatever she needed to do!

Oh well! I guess I’ll be coming up here tomorrow and hanging out until Dad is ready to go home. Then I’ll hang out at the house with him!

I don’t mind “Dad-sitting”! It’s not so bad! I get homework done! He gets a nap!

Showing Some Improvement

2011-01-22T21:10:00.002-05:00

Dad is showing some signs of improvement. He was moved from an Intermediate room to a room in Post-Surgical care. That means that Chasity and all the other grandkids can visit Dad.

I spent most of the day yesterday with him....until they moved him. Then I went back last night and spent a little while longer and took Chasity and Tony to see him too.

Then today, I went and spent a few hours up there. I have to go up there to allow my mom to have time to go home, take a shower, run errands, and see her mom! However today, she couldn't get Grandma's clothes to dry, so I had her bring them here to the house to Tony. He dried them. Then he and Chasity came to pick me up. We went to visit my Grandma for a few minutes before we went to grab something to eat. We ended the night by grocery shopping! :)

Now, I'm working on the music for church tomorrow. Dad was going to help me. However, he is in a good bit of pain. When he takes his pain meds, he falls asleep. :( So we didn't get to work on the music. So I'm just doing a few hymns at church tomorrow. Maybe next weekend he'll feel like helping me plan the music the way he normally does. I can handle leading the music, but I need him to help me plan it.

Today while I was there, I got to be the first to see Dad walk! He walked about 50 feet (maybe a little more) from his room to the corner and back. After I left, they had him up again. Mom said he walked a little further. Then he took his medicine and it knocked him out. :(

The doc said he's hoping to send him home tomorrow. However, we are just hoping that Dad is ready. We don't want him to end up back in the hospital in a couple days because we let him come home too soon.

But.... we believe what Dad always says...... "God's Got a Plan". So.... we're just going along with the plan that God has designed for Dad.

Stupid Hospital Rules

2011-01-20T16:54:00.002-05:00

I have been at the hospital all day. I got there just before 7am this morning!

Around 9am they came in and said that dad was doing great and the docs were still working on him.

Around 11:15am the doc came out to talk to us. The surgery was over. Dad was in recovery. Doc said that he had about an hour or two and then he would be moved to the Post Surgical care.

Dad has sleep apnea. DUH! We knew that! He's had the machine for a year or so now.

So because of his sleep apnea, they decided to take Dad to Intermediate care. That's a step down unit from ICU.

Why does this make me upset?

Chasity can't go in there to see him!

Which means that neither can I!

I am so heartbroken right now.

I left the hospital at 2pm to get Chasity from school.

I had all intentions of picking Chasity up and then heading back to the hospital to see Dad. Since Chasity can't go in, I have to wait until after I am finished with Girl Scouts at 8pm tonight to go up there.

I know that Dad understands. However, when my Papaw was in the hospital, Dad wouldn't take "no" for an answer. He told them that Chasity was going in to see Papaw no matter what. I'm hoping that this is just for tonight, since that is what they are saying! Chasity will be able to go to the Post-Surgical unit to see him tomorrow!

For tonight, I have to take something up to him from her. Then I can go up there as soon as I want to tomorrow!!

No matter how stupid I think the rules are at the hospital, Dad is out of surgery and doing well. Isn't that all I prayed for anyways?

Quotable Quotes

2011-01-18T12:06:00.001-05:00

In my online class (my only class) for UNCC this semester, I am studying ways of using the Writing Workshop approach in my English classroom. I am pretty sure it would all make a little more sense if I were in an English classroom.

However, my first assignment is due today. I just got my books over the weekend and I started reading this morning. I read Chapter 1 of The Digital Writing Workshop by Troy Hicks! As you can tell by the title, this is about “digital” and not just normal writing.

While I was reading, I underlined a few sentences. (I am a pencil reader—thank you “Killer Miller” at Concord Middle School!) I try to always buy books so that when I am reading I can underline, star, hi-lite, etc. things that stick out to me! So I underlined these two quotes….with the intention of putting them on this blog!

“Writing is, quite simply, about more than putting words on paper (or screen), but about the many ways in which language, culture, and technology interact.” I thought that was quite awesome myself!

“…nearly all writing that we do is digital in some way; whether we got the information from the Internet that informs how we develop the plot of a story, or see a commercial that helps us think of a creative idea to reach our audience in a presentation, nearly all writing today is informed by, if not created with, digital writing tools…” And I thought….wow! How true is that! I know that many things I write about are things that I have seen/heard on the TV or Internet.

I just thought I’d share my Quotable Quotes. Of course, I’m sure there will be plenty more as the semester moves on. Actually, I still have a 20+ page PDF file to read about this same topic. I might have more Quotable Quotes later today!

The House that Built Me

2011-01-17T23:31:00.001-05:00

I have heard this song probably 100 times. However, I was thinking tonight about the fact that I didn’t get the first job for which I interviewed.

I still haven’t heard back from the second interview either. That job is supposed to start next week, but it might be different now that we got all the snow days last week. It may have been pushed a week. Either way, I still haven’t heard anything.

However, I have been thinking about what I could have said differently at the first interview to get the job in the county in which I grew up, call home, and would love to work! I even had a “mock interview” going in my head of what I would say to the Principal of my old high school if I were to get an interview there.

Here is how the “mock interview” in my head went.

Principal: “Why do you want to work at (this school)?”

Me: “Well, to be completely honest, I have never imagined working at any other school. When I left the halls of (the school) in 1996, I stepped into the Freshman class at Appalachian State University as a Music Education major. I had all intentions of coming back here to take over the best band in the county 4 years later. Of course, time changes things and not everything goes as planned, but now that I am a licensed teacher, my dream of working at (high school) has been re-ignited! When I was here before, I poured all my effort—my blood, sweat, and tears—into my work and especially into the band. Considering I still bleed (school colors), I imagine doing the same as a teacher here!”

That’s when she ends the interview and tells me that she’s going to give me the job!

However…. I’m guessing there will (would) be more questions! I have daydreamed for so long about working at the school from which I graduated that it is hard to imagine working any where else.

Naturally, I know that my old school might be my “dream job”, but who gets their dream job straight out of school? If I have to go through a couple others first, I will. However, I know that one day I will be back “home” in the halls of my old high school!

So here is a song that was playing in the soundtrack of my mind during that “mock interview” in my head!

I hope it works! (It’s Miranda Lambert---“The House that Built Me”!!

It Didn't Turn Out As Planned

2011-01-15T23:41:00.003-05:00

So we picked up the surprise guest on Thursday.

She was fine until 10:30pm last night. THAT is when she started crying wanting her mommy. Unfortunately, it was supposed to be her weekend at Daddy's house. So her mom was working her 2nd job. She was not going to be off work until 2am (today). I have known these people for 11 years, but I never once got Madison's dad's phone number. Oops.... might want to get that for next time! lol

Anyways....we convinced her that everything would be fine and we could call her mom today.

Of course, I was honestly hoping she would be fine and just agree to stay again tonight. HOWEVER.... we went to get something to eat around 6:30pm and she decided to remind us that she hasn't talked to her mom about going home.

Well, I have no voice! When I open my mouth, NOTHING comes out! Okay! AIR comes out, but no sound! (That's going to make for great singing at church tomorrow!)

So, I pulled up her mom's number in my phone. Dialed it. Waited for it to start ringing. Then I passed it to my hubby! (This is the same man who HATES talking on the phone!)

Here is the conversation I heard:

Tony: Hey (Madison's mom) it's Tony. Call us when you get this message.

Just a few minutes later, this is what I heard.

Tony: Hey. She says she wants to come home. Are you at home?

T: Well, we're at (name of restaurant) near the (grocery store). Okay I'll talk to you then.

Me: What did she say?

T: She's going to call (stepmom) to tell her where we are.

Me: What about all her stuff? It's at our house!

T: I don't know. I just told her what you said to tell her!

Phone rings:

T: She's coming here? Okay. When? Her stuff is at our house.

T: Bye

Later:

Me: What did she say?

T: (Stepmom) is on her way.

Me: Her stuff?

T: Oh! Pack it and they will get it later.

Me: Tonight?

T: I don't know.

WHY oh WHY do I lose my voice? lol It took 4 conversations with Madison's mom to find out that they are going to come by probably tomorrow afternoon to get her stuff. If not, they will come by on Monday!

The surprise left my baby heartbroken! :(

So....on the way home, we went by to see my parents--a surprise that NEVER disappoints!

Surprises

2011-01-14T10:02:00.003-05:00

My daughter's best friend is Madison. She is only 2 days younger than Chasity. They "knew" each other before they were born. (I know Madison's older sisters--my mom used to keep them!)

Anyways, since today is another Snow Day because the back roads/side roads are not clear yet, I decided to surprise Chasity with a sleepover guest. This is supposed to be Madison's weekend with her dad, but lately she has been acting up for him, so her mom got the okay for her to stay with us!

She is going to be here until SUNDAY! I've never kept her that long!

So right now, I hear the sounds of little girls giggling and playing and whispering (loudly) in the other room!

Chasity had NO IDEA Madison was coming.

After Girl Scouts last night we went to WalMart. I told Chasity we had "Company" coming over after Scouts. I told her we needed to stop by the store to get some things that we were out of since she had been at home and eating house food all week. :) So then I called Madison's mom and told her we were on the way. I told Chasity that we had to stop to pick "something" up.

When Madison walked out the house with her suitcase, I thought Chasity was going to have a heart attack! She was screaming!

Then when she found out that Madison is staying until Sunday after church..... well... the screaming started again! lol

I think Chasity is happy that I made her clean her room for the "company" to come over! ;)

Don't you just love surprises (good ones at least)?!

Songs

2011-01-13T10:18:00.003-05:00

What songs mimic your life? Right now, I have a song in my head, and it seems to mimic what I am going through. I'm going to see if I can find it on YouTube or iTunes and post it on here. If not, I'll try to remember to post the lyrics later.

I have been feeling really run down. Mentally I am drained. Physically I'm sick. Spiritually, I'm sluggish. All of those I can work on myself. However, when I'm down in all 3 areas at once, it's hard to focus on a way to get back up.

So, now I just need a song to pick me up! :) I think I'm going to put the computer on my bed and play my iTunes while I'm getting ready! That should pump me up! :)

What songs do you use to get in a better mood? What songs do you listen to to match your mood?

1/11/11

2011-01-11T23:26:00.003-05:00

It's really weird to write all of those 1s in the title today!

Today has been another Snow Day in our world. So just like yesterday, we were all 3 home. We slept late. We ate when we wanted. We did nothing of any importance.

Tomorrow, I am going to have Chasity read for a while! I hate for her to go too long without reading. She doesn't mind, but *I* do! (That's what matters...right?)

Tomorrow, Chasity is supposed to go for her check up after the surgery 2 weeks ago. Today was the 2 week mark, but the appointment was scheduled for tomorrow! Hopefully the doctor's office will be open. We still have ice all over the roads and parking lots. I'll call in the morning to see if they are open.

Tonight, I am going to try to get some rest. My throat and sinus issues are worse today. :( So maybe some rest will help me! I've hoped that for the past few days! However, I am going to get some rest. Tomorrow I have more homework to do.

Tomorrow is another Snow Day. Let's see what it holds. Today was good!

UNCC Classes

2011-01-10T13:59:00.002-05:00

Today begins my new semester at UNCC.

Originally, I registered for 2 classes. Both were online classes. Then I received the email telling what was expected from each class. Once class is only offered every other year in the Spring online. So I decided I would NOT drop that class. I do NOT want to be on campus. The other class has several online sections every semester (even during the summer).

Yesterday was the last day to drop a class for a full refund of the tuition. So I decided at about 11:45pm yesterday that I was only going to be able to take ONE class. I'm kind of glad that I did. I am going to have enough to do with it. :)

Plus, if I get a job, I will not have time for the 10+ hours a week required for the other class.

So now, as the rest of the campus has a SNOW DAY, I have completed my assignment that was due today---Introduce Yourself! Since I get to go to school in my PJs, I guess I don't have to worry about snow days! :)

I'm looking forward to a great semester!

I just have to talk to the UNCC Financial Aid people about getting some money for the Summer Session to take the class that requires too much time! ;) I do have more time in the summer! :)

Snow---or the Possibility of It!

2011-01-09T22:43:00.003-05:00

According to the weather reports, we should have 6-8 inches of snow between now and Tuesday afternoon. On top of the snow, we will have a layer (about 1/4") of ice from the freezing rain and stuff coming behind it. Then the temps are not supposed to get out of freezing until Friday (maybe Thursday--if we stretch them)!

Schools in Georgia started closing 2 hours before the snow started falling there. South Carolina schools did the exact same thing. A few schools in NC have started to do it. One of the neighboring counties is already out, but our district and the district that we share a meshed (you have to cross the lines of each district to get to schools in either district) border with are still open.

I'm sure that they will probably close. I'm just hoping they wait until stuff starts falling. If they close for another rain day (like they did before Christmas) I'm going to be ANGRY on Saturday morning when I have to get up for Chasity to go to school!

I hope that when I wake up in the morning there is snow, but I guess I have to go to sleep for that to happen! :)

January 8, 2011

2011-01-08T23:04:00.003-05:00

Today I spent the entire day from 10am-5pm in a meeting to plan the Spring portion of our Girl Scout service unit's year. The funny thing is that not much got planned. We came up with great ideas and decided to talk about most things again later! :)

I also got an email from one of my professors today that instead of 2 books, I have to have 3! She also said that she has set the online course up so that although we have the "pleasure" of setting up our own schedule, we need to schedule 3-4 times a week to log in and spend about 4 hours at a time on just her class! That's great, but I have another class!

I'm still waiting to hear back from the interview! Maybe it will be this week.

I found out this week that my dad is going to have his surgery (we knew it was coming because he has a HUGE hernia from his surgery in Oct 2009) on January 20th! He will be in the hospital for 2-3 (maybe 4 days) then he will be home! He also will have to be out of work until he can go back full force. He drives a truck and has to be able to change gears and lift and load! So the doc said about 6 weeks, but it could be more. All of it is covered under Worker's Comp since the first accident was at work, so that is probably the good part! Plus, Dad is strong, healthy, and heals quickly so he'll be READY to get out of the house! lol

I am so tired. I have church in the morning too! However, if I still have these little white sores in my throat, I can't go to church tomorrow!! I won't be able to be around my dad because he can't get sick right now! I'm hoping it is better soon!

Chasity is doing much better! She even went door-to-door at a few neighbors' houses tonight to sell cookies. Tony went with her since I'm TERRIFIED of dogs! lol She has a goal of 500 boxes. We aren't doing so well getting to that goal right now. However, it always looks bad right before it's time to place the order! Then she does FINE! We DO tend to sell more when the cookies get here! So that shouldn't be too hard!

I'm hoping that by this time tomorrow, there will be some snow on the ground! They are saying 3-5", but we usually either get NONE or LOTS! I don't want Chasity to have to go to school next Saturday, but I do want more snow!

For right now, I'm going to go downstairs and get something to drink----SPRITE (for those whose minds when haywire)!!! Then I'm going to go check on my sleeping angel and head to bed! Maybe I'll go to sleep before 1am! I haven't all week! :( I'm still having trouble sleeping! Maybe tonight will be the night!

Organization

2011-01-07T08:32:00.002-05:00

I think that I am the most unorganized person ever!

There are days that I'm pretty sure that my hubby would agree with that. However, there are days when I have "got it going on" and I know exactly where everything is.

So I have been thinking! (I know...that's dangerous!)

I want to get organized.

I want to organize my thoughts, my desk, my scrapbooking stuff, my office, but, in general, I want to organize my life.

I think that if I can organize my life all the other stuff if come together. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to organize the small things (desk, office, crafting/scrapbooking stuff) in order for my life to become more organized.

Now....where did I put the number to that professional organizer?

January 6, 2011

2011-01-06T23:50:00.003-05:00

Chasity made it at school all day today! I'm so glad! I'm sure she'll be glad when she's feeling better too!

I just learned that a friend's mom is in the hospital. She is having breathing issues and reacted badly to the breathing treatment from the ER. They are keeping her for tests because her blood pressure is high and her blood oxygen levels are low. They can't treat the oxygen levels outside of the hospital, so they said they are keeping her until that comes up at least....maybe longer!

Tonight was a Girl Scout troop meeting! The girls decided on what they want to do with their cookie profits. Then we looked at what it will cost. In order for them to do it, the troop has to sell 2200 boxes of cookies. That means that each girl has to do at least 440! I have 5 girls I would TOTALLY love if they all did over 400 boxes!!

Tomorrow night is the Cookie Rally! Chasity is the only one from the troop going! :( I'm just hoping she'll feel like it. She fell asleep during the troop meeting tonight! And NO...the meetings are NOT boring! :)

I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. I'm hoping to hear back from my interview!

January 5, 2011

2011-01-05T21:59:00.002-05:00

Chasity didn't make it to school today.

Since I had to pick her up yesterday, I thought I'd check more thoroughly before sending her to school this morning.

No fever!

Eyes shining!

Throat....RAW!

The scabs from her surgery are starting to come off.

She was in PAIN!

So...what's a good mommy to do?

Give the baby some medicine and put her back to bed.

I slept until about 8:30am. I woke Chasity up at 10am. On days like this, I wish I could homeschool her. But, in reality, we all know that we would sleep until noon everyday and do all our work in the afternoon. I wish I could try for a year and see how it goes, but I'm pretty sure that she and I would get on each other's nerves rather quickly and nothing would be accomplished.

We are going to check out the Magnet Program for our school district for Chasity. They are starting it next year. If she gets in, she would probably get to go to school with two of her 5 cousins. This might help me too. She could probably go to my brother's house after school. My sis-in-law works at the school where the program is to be housed. But....there's an application process and everything. So we'll just have to see.

Do you ever get the feeling that you are writing in a stream of consciousness all the time?

I sometimes come here with specific things to write about. However, more often than not, I end up just writing what's in my head! That IS why I started this space anyways. So.... I guess I'm clearing my head!

I'm hoping that Chasity gets to go to school tomorrow. I really need to get some Girl Scout paperwork done. I also need to get ready for the meeting tomorrow night! I think it will be fun! I love my girls!

For tonight, Chasity is in bed. Tony's on his computer playing some silly game. And, I, well, I am clearing my head!

January 4, 2011

2011-01-04T23:37:00.003-05:00

Every night when I write the date, I still want to put 2010! However, that year is behind us now and I'm glad!

My interview today went well, I think.

But, they are interviewing nine other people THIS WEEK for the same job!

I would have loved to have been number 8 or 9. That way when they started thinking about people I would be fresh on their minds.

However, I was FIRST!

The principal is hoping to make a decision this week.

He has to have someone in the position by January 20th. The job starts on January 24th! Technically, I guess I could be working 20 days from now! That would be great!

I'm looking forward to my classes starting next week. I have two classes this semester! If possible, I'm going to try to throw one (at least) in for the summer. I might do two if I can afford it (or if I can get financial aid for the summer sessions). I should check on that soon I guess. Registration is starting in just a couple of weeks (or maybe now) for the summer sessions!!

Chasity went to school today, but around noon her teacher called and said that Chasity was complaining with her throat hurting. I talked to Chas on the phone, but she was in tears. So I went to pick her up.

I looked in her throat. Some of the scabs are coming off. She has raw spots in there now.

I am debating on whether to send her to school tomorrow or not. She has perfect attendance so far, but that's not as important as her getting well.

We will decide in the morning what to do!

I am sending my resume' to the principal tomorrow that I really want to work for! She is at my old high school. I'd love to teach there! It'd be like going home! Let's see how that pans out!

Last, but not least, I never started this blog for followers. However, in the past 2 years, I have gained some followers. Recently, the past 2-3 months, my followers have been disappearing. :( I went from 75 to 71. I'm okay with that.

I do, however, want to ask that if you read my posts, please leave me a little love. I love hearing what you guys/gals have to say. But, most of the time, no one comments. I will try to come leave you some love on your blog too!

January 3, 2011

2011-01-03T23:33:00.003-05:00

As I type this, I really should be in the bed!

I haven't been sleeping well at all.

So after taking Chasity to school today, Tony and I came back home. We had planned to rid the house of any and all Christmas decor. However, his brother (whom he never gets to talk to) called. And... I fell asleep!

I slept....

for....

OVER TWO HOURS!!!

At around 10am, I heard the house phone ring, but I knew Tony was here so I didn't budge.

Then Tony came to the couch (I guess he had been upstairs) and said "Get the phone..... it's about a job!"

So I sat up, cleared my throat, and without sounding too sleepy-headed (is that a word?) I said, "Good Morning, this is Leslie!"

The lady on the other end introduced herself and asked if I'd like to come in for an interview tomorrow morning at 8:15am. "Ohmigosh! Really?" How professional did that sound?

"Yes, ma'am. Can you be here at 8:15am?"

"Yes, I can." Then I asked for the best directions and the lady acted like she didn't know how to get to the school from where I live! LOL She told me to "Google" them! So I pulled out the trusty computer and MapQuest.

I have directions.

And a resume'.

And my references.

And questions I want to ask the Principal.

Most of all, I have nerves!

So.... I'm going to be now so that when I get up at 4:30am, I won't feel like I was up all night!

Wish me luck! (Actually, no! Just pray that if this is the job God wants me to have, then I'll have it! Otherwise I'm not going to get it anyways....right?)

January 2, 2011

2011-01-02T23:06:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow things go back to "normal"...whatever that is!

Chasity goes back to school....BUT....since she just had her tonsils taken out on December 28th, we are only sending her for half a day! She has been in a lot of pain today. So we are only going to let her stay long enough that she won't be counted absent. So far, she has perfect attendance.

The doctor said that she can't run, play, jump, etc. (anything physical other than walking basically) for two weeks after the surgery. He said that she could go back to school tomorrow, if she feels like it, but that it's our judgment call.

So, we are going to take her into the teacher in the morning. We need to talk to the teacher so that she knows what is going on with Chasity.

I'm hoping Chasity will do well for half a day tomorrow. Then Tuesday, she should hopefully be able to go back to school full-time! :)

I'm hoping she will be able to make it tomorrow! I think that with lots of encouragement and lots of prayers, she will be fine!

January 1, 2011

2011-01-01T12:06:00.003-05:00

I have decided that I want to write more often. I would love to write daily, but I may not be able to hold myself to that one....so more often than 2010 is good for now! Let's take this "one day at a time".

There are many things I need to reflect on from 2010....

losing my Grandmother
finishing student teaching
filing for my teaching license
Christmas

But for now, I'll focus on last night.

At church every year, we get together, starting at 9pm. We play games, eat, more games, definitely more eating, then we pray the new year in and the old year out. So last night we played "Mexican Train Dominoes"! LOVE IT! If you've never played, run out to WalMart and get your set today! It's SOOOOO fun!

As for everything else that I want to reflect on, that has to wait!

For today..... I woke up at 11am. I'm DVRing the Rose Parade (so I can watch without commercials later). I'm currently watching "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". Later, I'm going to be driving my daughter and my hubby around so Chasity can sell some Girl Scout cookies! It's that time AGAIN! :) She has a lofty goal this year! We'll see what she actually gets! :)

I hope you all had a great (and safe) New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T16:39:00.002-05:00

I hope that all of you have a great night bringing in the new year!

Be careful!

Be responsible!

Be safe!

Be happy!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-22T22:27:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I have not posted on a regular basis….regularly! I have thought about making it a “New Year’s Resolution” to write more regularly. However, I really would love to say that I’m going to write something EVERYDAY! I know that is probably NOT possible. So…. I will try in 2011 to blog more regularly. I would love to increase my readers/followers. Shoot! I’d even like to make a little money from my blog! But….that is 2011! I still have a week before I get there!

For this week, I want to wish everyone of you who do read my blog a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope that you get everything that you want this year for Christmas! Personally, I want my family to be together! Presents are nice, but the real meaning of Christmas IS the gift!

I want to leave you guys with a few pictures that I took of Chasity this weekend. Some of them have bad lighting…that is totally my fault.

I can’t believe how much she has grown.

She had no idea I was taking the picture.

She knew I was taking this one. So she posed!

She didn’t know I was taking this one. So she couldn’t pose. I LOVE this picture! I would TOTALLY make it my FaceBook profile pic, but I can’t get FB to upload it.

…a different version of the above pic. I love catching her off guard! The pics are so much better!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

2010-12-14T11:32:00.002-05:00

So I haven't been here in a LONG TIME!

I have been busting my backside getting finished with my Student Teaching. Want to know how that went? Well.... I got an A!! My 4.0 is still in-tact!

Today I'm spending the day uploading all the surveys and paperwork that have to be online.

In just a little bit, I'm headed to see my Cooperating Teacher. I forgot to have her sign some things. But.... I'm glad I get to see her today!

Later I'm going to pick up my angel girl from school!

Even later (5pm), I'm going to UNCC to OFFICIALLY become a teacher! I am going to my final meeting with all the people and we are going to sign my final paperwork. Then *I* am going to sign the CHECK!

And....as long as the State of NC Department of Instruction doesn't have any issues with my paperwork or me, I will have an OFFICIAL piece of paper in 6-8 weeks that says I'm a teacher!

Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going on my first official "trying to get a job as a real teacher" interview. The position isn't even posted online yet! I have worked with the Principal before (when he was still an Assistant Principal). I have my application online through NCDPI. However, I'm still trying to figure out how he "found" me. I haven't applied for the job because I didn't know it was there. But....HE CALLED ME! So.... tomorrow at 2pm EST I will be trying to get a real job. It's not what I thought would be my dream job, but who knows.... it might turn out to be the job God wants me to have!!

THAT should be my dream job....right?

So in just a little bit, I'm signing the paperwork that will change the rest of my life!

Here's to today being "The first day of the rest of my life!"

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

2010-11-24T11:56:00.005-05:00

I know I haven't been here in a WHILE! However....today I'm using this "no I haven't fallen off the face of the earth" post to enter to win in the TodaysMama contest that she is holding! If you would like, you can enter too. However, I would really like to win! So.... here's my entry!

You can check out all the details about the GRAND PRIZE here.

Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter to win I'm sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?

I want everyone to be safe, happy, and healthy. I hope we can remember that it's not the gift that matters, but the giver that counts. And...above all, I hope that we can remember that the real reason for Christmas is not the lights and tinsel....it's Jesus Christ.

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?

Luckily, our daughter normally likes to sleep. So...we usually (every year so far) have to wake her up. Just wait...this will be the year she is up at sunrise! lol Anyways, we all get up and brush our teeth. Then the hubs and I go to the living room and get in position for pictures as our daughter comes into the room. I have the same shot every year of her walking around the corner! :) That's the best part of Christmas....seeing her face!

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?

It may sound funny, but this year, my wish would be for a job. I have been working to get my teaching license. I finish up in just a couple of weeks, so I would ask Santa to bring me a job.

If I had a job, and didn't need one from Santa, I would DEFINITELY ask him for a trip (first class of course) to Ireland for my family! I have been. It's part of my heritage. I'd love to take my hubs and our daughter!

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?

We get together with my entire family! We play games and watch TV. We eat (ok...that did cost money I guess). We listen as my dad reads the Christmas story from the Bible. We are just together.....that's how it's special.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?

I live in the South. So, it is hardly ever FREEZING at Christmas (no matter how much I pray for snow)!! So...we played tag and kickball and baseball on Christmas. Inside, we would play Sorry and Hungry Hungry Hippos and Rummy!

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?

Most of the traditions that I participate in have been continued from my childhood. On Christmas Eve, we go to my parents' house. When I was growing up we went to MY Grandmother's house. Then on Christmas morning, my parents come to see what Santa brought for my daughter. My grandparents used to do that for us! The family all gets together to eat, goof off, and exchange gifts. Everything is just about the same.... except the locations have changed from MY grandparents house to my parents' house.... and of course now there are MANY MANY more people! :)

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?

Wow! I never considered that I could go anywhere other than home for Christmas.

I guess I would like to see NYC at Christmas time. I'd love to go to Paris or Italy. But.... as Dorothy said in the "Wizard of Oz".... "There's no place like home".

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop wish list this year?

Considering that my daughter has made her Christmas List.... I didn't even have to go to the page to see what I wanted from GameStop. Of course, I've already been to visit my local store to see what they have available off the list! lol

The TOP THREE ITEMS my daughter wants....
1. Xbox (with controllers---we keep telling her that they come together, but she's worried that she won't get any controllers)
2. Batman Lego Game for Xbox
3. Pink DS--with the Harry Potter Lego Game

Yep..... She has hit that stage where she is VERY specific about what she wants. Of course, she even told me what color clothes Barbie "needs" this year!

All I can say is that I really hope that I win this (like everyone else who has entered). Otherwise, my daughter is going to have to PICK what she really wants... lol

Until next time..... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

One Year

2010-10-09T17:18:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was ONE YEAR!

One year ago yesterday, we got a phone call that turned out to be the call that changed our lives!

A year ago yesterday, my mom got the call from the hospital to say that my dad had been in a wreck!

Then mom called me.

Then we ALL (my hubby, mom, sis, brother, pastor, pastor's wife) all descended on the hospital waiting room.

Dad seemed fine.

However....after a week at home, we found out differently!

OMG!

This coming Thursday will be a year since the day that we almost lost dad!

I'll have to work on a post for my real feelings about that day. It's hard not to cry when I think about it still!

But for now...... I'm still rejoicing that dad is still here!

Until next time........

Update

2010-09-23T20:27:00.002-04:00

So.... it's been a while since I've been here. I've been checking out what people are writing, but I haven't taken the time to write for myself.

So.... we are still working on getting all the stuff unpacked from the unmove. We are recovering well. Chasity has adjusted well to school....at her "old" school. She's loving it! We even went to the PTO meeting tonight! It's only the 2nd time I've seen her teacher! :)

So.... things are going well at school. I have to start planning my big project, but it will be great! :) I pick up my final class tomorrow! Then the "20 Day Countdown" begins! I only have to teach all three classes together for 20 consecutive days! Those start TOMORROW! This is weird because last semester, I only had all three classes for 2 days before I decided to withdraw and try again!

So.... Girl Scouts are starting up again! I have a new co-leader! She volunteered herself! I didn't have to ASK her to help! My sis is going ot help out too! We have a couple new girls so far! We are hoping to sign more this weekend at the big recruitment at the mall!

So.... that's basically all I have for right now. I'm heading downstairs (with my laptop) to work on lesson plans for next week! :)

Thanks to those of you who have let me know that you are out there and you are missing me. One day, I *will* figure out time management! :)

Morning Prayer

2010-09-07T20:07:00.001-04:00

Almost every day (I wish I could say it WAS everyday) I say a prayer over Chasity before she goes to school. I started it in Kindergarten and I still do it now.

It goes like this:

"Jesus, keep my baby girl safe. Give your angels guard over her. Wrap Your arms around her when I can't be with her. Amen"

It's simple, but it says everything I need it to!

Until next time........

Finally Time to Tell It All

2010-08-31T19:33:00.003-04:00

Ok so this is going to be a really long post.... I'll try to label things to make it easier to follow.

Papaw's Surgery:

Right after my grandmother died, we found out that my dad's dad (Papaw) had cancer in his bladder. He had been so busy taking care of Grandmother that he only took care of "immediate" things for himself.

He had two surgeries to remove cancer, but they did not get it all either time. Then we learned that the cancer had spread to his prostate also. So on August 12th, Papaw had surgery to remove his bladder and his prostate. He now has a bag attached that acts as his bladder. He has been recovering very well! Praise the Lord! He spent a couple of weeks with my parents. Yesterday, he decided it was time to "move back home". :) So after the home nurse visited yesterday (they come 2-3 times a week still) my mom took him home. :) I'm gonna miss having his so close to us, but it's only about 10 minutes away now. :)

School:

School is going really well! I absolutely love the school where I'm placed! All the teachers, staff, and administrators there are so nice, polite, and helpful! I even met a bloggy friend there! I had never met someone in real life that I had "met" through their blog! I am so excited! Today I taught each class for about of the period! Probably next week I will start teaching one of the classes. Once I pick up one class, it won't be much for me to pick up the other two. All three classes are the same this semester! I only have to do ONE lesson plan! :) So I'll update about school as things happen!

My Dad:
As you know in October 2009 we almost lost my dad! Here we are almost a year later and he's still kicking! He's had an ear infection for a few months, but they finally got it knocked out of one ear. The other ear only had a MILD one last week! :) So... he's doing great! Praise the Lord!

Girl Scouts:
I am looking forward to Girl Scouts this year. The way it looks right now, I may only have Brownies! That's ok! I was going to have Juniors and Brownies, but I think my Junior that pre-registered for this year has decided to go to another troop where she has a friend or two already in the troop! I totally don't blame her. Plus, it might be easier if I only have one level this year. We'll see what happens with that too!

Last, but not least..... The House:

Ok... so here's the story. Tony and I found the house on July 22nd. The guy was having some MAJOR work done to it, but said that we would be in by August 1st. We knew that would NEVER happen, but we paid the deposit and the August rent anyways. August 1st came and we talked to the landlord and he said we would FOR SURE be able to move in on August 6th (or that weekend). So we started our painting and cleaning. We also started packing here! Well, that weekend came and went and we couldn't move in. We were promised the following weekend. Note...this is the THIRD change and the THIRD weekend in August now! However, the landlord had the water turned off on Thursday. I had the water turned ON on Friday (the day we were SUPPOSED to move in!). So, on August 12th, Thursday, the landlord had someone come to clean the carpets, but there was NO water! He said they would be done if the water was on on Friday morning. So at 10:30am on Friday the water was on. No one came to do the carpets.

The landlord left for the mountains that Saturday morning. His parents live across the street from the house I was going to rent. (The landlord only lived 2 houses down!) So he arranged for someone to do the carpets on Monday morning. They did! We moved in Chasity's room, the dining room (including my Grandma's china), and a lot of the kitchen on Tuesday night.

Wednesday and Thursday it poured rain, so we moved nothing.

Friday, Tony, Joe (my sis's hubby) and our Pastor (Joe's dad), moved 2 big pick-up truck loads over there. Saturday and Sunday, Tony had to work. So nothing was moved those two days.

That brings us to last Monday.

Mom, Lisa (my sis) and I took Chasity to her NEW school to meet her NEW teacher. We got her on a bus route. We talked about all kinds of stuff.

Then.... when Tony got home from work--around 8pm--we went to talk to the landlord. We thought we had a REASONABLE REQUEST.

Here was the request: Since the landlord had not made the house ready to live in for 3 weeks of August, would he please prorate the rent for September?

His reply: "Why don't I just give you your money back and you can find somewhere else to live?"

Tony said we would make a decision and let him know. So Tony got back in the car. I already knew the answer. I started calling everyone I knew with a pick-up truck to help us get what we already had in the house...out!

So on Tuesday night, we went and got everything out of the house! After the final load was at home, we went to return the keys and get our money back. Mr. Landlord had decided to go to the beach. He told us he would leave the money with Mrs. Landlord.

He did not!

So.... we tried to track him down for a WEEK! Finally we showed up yesterday and he was there!

He and Tony went inside and when Tony came out, I could tell he was ticked off!

Mr. Landlord had only given back $500 of the $1280 he was supposed to give us!

He said that he couldn't refund the August rent because we had "had the house tied up all month and he couldn't have rented it". He had to keep $100 of the deposit to "repaint the pink room". (He said we could paint it. He bought the paint!)

Anyways.... I have considered throwing eggs contaminated with salmonella at his house, but I have convinced myself that he is NOT worth going to jail over!

So all in all, this has been a very interesting week.

We started moving.

We had to UNmove.

Chasity met a teacher at a new school.

I had to REenroll Chasity at her old school. She didn't meet her teacher until the first day of school.

Papaw is doing great!

Dad is doing well!

Tony and I are trying to dig out from this maze (wall) of boxes that we now have to UNpack to stay where we were to begin with.

Everything said and done..... God is still in Control.

As my daddy says..... God's Got A Plan!

Until next time........

......or so I thought......

2010-08-23T20:39:00.001-04:00

So..... we're not moving.

There will be lots more details later.

Right now, I have to focus on forcing myself to think GOOD thoughts. I also have to FORCE myself to NOT wish evil things on the landlord.

Until next time........

Moving Update...and Randomness

2010-08-19T12:34:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday, we moved Chasity's bedroom stuff into the new house. She has a few toys still here and her closet clothes. If the rain will stop, we will probably take that to the new house tonight! If it keeps raining, well, I guess everything else will go tomorrow! :)

We also took my China cabinet and my china. You know the kind! The China we do NOT use! lol All the dishes we normally use were there already anyways! :) We've been paper plating and plastic utensilling since last week! :) Everything made it in one piece! So I got that set up in the dining room. The dining room table went also! :)

So the dining room is basically set up!

Chasity just has a few more things for her room!

Tonight, we were supposed to move desks and such, but with the rain, I am thinking I'm not putting anything in an open trailer! We have flood warnings out until early afternoon! It's raining pretty steady today! (Wouldn't that be how it works!?)

Anyways.... that's the moving update!

As for student teaching....

I met my teacher on Tuesday! She's hilarious! I think we are going to have a good couple of months!

Yesterday, the entire district met at our Arena and Events center! All the teachers and everyone had to be there at 8am! There was a husband and wife team there to talk about PLCs. I THINK it means Professional Learning Communities, but I'm not sure! lol

Anyways, after that, I grabbed lunch, came home to change clothes really fast, and headed to the school. I was there for a couple of hours. Then came home to claim my birthday girl!

My CT told me that I didn't need to come today. However, we DO have Open House tonight, so I will be there for that!

Tomorrow, is a day of meetings I think. So..... I guess I get to go to those! :)

I'm looking forward to meeting new people and having a great semester!

Until next time........

Happy Birthday Chasity!

2010-08-19T12:30:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, August 18th, was Chasity's 7th birthday!

It was the first time EVER that I was not with her for the entire day! :(

I started my student teaching (with teacher workdays) yesterday!

Chasity hung out with my mom for a little bit. Then she went to my sister's house!

When Tony got home, we let Chasity pick where she wanted to eat.

Anyone guess where we went?

If you guessed McDonald's (with playland) you are RIGHT! We were there for a little while.

Good thing we left when we did. A horrible storm came through right after we got home. The power even went out for a couple minutes! WOW! (Could you imagine PlayLand in the dark? lol)

Anyways....

I think she had a great day!

Until next time..... Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Meeting Ms. D

2010-08-17T13:42:00.003-04:00

Today, I went to meet my cooperating teacher, CT. Her name is Ms. D!

She showed me around the school. It's one of the older schools in the district.... not the oldest, but older! :)

There are only going to be about 900 students there this year. The school is used to having about 1500. Last year and this year, the district re-districted some of the schools. Plus, last year, they opened a new high school here. So a lot of the kids went to that new high school.

I found out that instead of having 3 different lesson plans--preps--this semester, I am only going to have ONE! I have the same subject for all 3 classes!!! I'm excited!

I think that Ms. D and I are going to get along well.

I'm excited about what's going to happen this semester!

Until next time........

To Do This Week

2010-08-16T07:45:00.003-04:00

This week is going to get things rolling for me....

It's going to get the school year started for me....

It's going to start getting crazy!!

Let's see...what do I have to do this week?

Monday:
11am--meet with friend to give them Chasity for the night
Visit Papaw at hospital (oh yeah! more on that soon!)
Go to Chasity's NEW school to turn in one paper
Turn in one form for Student Teaching
6pm--Class for UNCC

Tuesday:
9am--meet my Cooperating Teacher (CT) for my Student Teaching
Get Chasity back from friend
Visit Papaw at hospital
Take flower to Grandmother's grave (for bday)

Wednesday:
CHASITY'S BIRTHDAY!!!!
Begin Student Teaching (ST) with 1st teacher workday

Thursday:
Teacher workday #2
Open House at ST location

Friday:
Teacher workday #3
MOVE!!! (Or start unpacking to stay here!)

If you think this schedule looks interesting, just wait.... next week will be even MORE fun when Chasity starts school! :)

Until next time........

As It Stands

2010-08-14T10:11:00.003-04:00

I am writing this in the comfort of my desk chair from the confines of my OLD house!

That's right! I said OLD! We didn't get moved in this weekend!

Why?

I'm glad you asked!

On Tuesday, we completed all the painting we were doing. Mr. B said that he would definately get the carpets cleaned on Wednesday and we could move in on Friday.

However....

Mr. B did not get the carpet cleaner over there until Thursday night. The water was turned off. The water went on and in our name on Friday!

Mr. B didn't get the A/C fixed in the master bedroom area! It' 100 degrees in that room!

So.... we called him until 9pm last night. We never got an answer about anything!

Now... Mr. B and family left at 4am to go on vacation. He won't be back for a week.

We may not get to move at all!

Until next time........

Student Teaching

2010-08-12T09:40:00.004-04:00

As you know, I am going to be doing my student teaching this fall. I am going to be at a local high school working with a teacher who has been teaching for a while! I think that will be good for me! :)

Anyways, tonight, I am going to attend the mandatory Orientation! It's going to be the same thing I went through last semester, so this time I am not freaking out. :)

I got an email last night from my University Supervisor (US) he/she (there were only initials for a first name, so I don't know if he/she is male or female...yet!) is going to meet with us after the Orientation tonight. That means I should get a copy of my class schedule for the semester! I can hope it's not EVERY week, but if it is.... I will be there! :)

For the rest of today, I'm going to be running around getting stuff set up for the new house. I'm also going to be going to visit my Grandfather at the hospital (more on that later)!

Until next time........

Doors, Carpets, and Boxes

2010-08-10T11:29:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I packed up most of my dishes. For the week, we are eating college-style...paper plates and plastic forks/spoons! lol

I took all the boxes of dishes to the new place and unpacked them there. Now... I don't normally do that all in one day, but I needed the boxes back! Seems I didn't get enough boxes to pack in! :(

All we have left to do at the new house is paint 3-4 doors! We are painting them white. Washing didn't help them. The people before me left the place in a mess....a real pig-sty! So we were doing some painting anyway.... the doors need it!

Tony has to finish the trim work in the master bath! Yeah!!! It's finally ready to use....almost! lol

My dad is going to throw another coat of paint on the dining room.

Then.... we have to wait for the landlord to have the master bedroom closet built, the kitchen floor leveled, the a/c fixed in the master bedroom, bathroom, and sitting area/den, AND he has to have the carpets cleaned!

ALL of that MUST be completed by tomorrow night! We are going to move Chasity's stuff in on Thursday evening. That way, she will be able to keep herself occupied while we are moving everything else in on Friday night! :)

Ok... now.... I have to call the cable company, the phone company, and get the water put in our name! Ok.... I can get that done! :)

Until next time........

Date Set

2010-08-09T09:31:00.004-04:00

So....the date is set!

We are MOVING!

If everything goes as planned (does it ever?), we are moving on Friday evening! Tony will be home from work around 3:30-4pm. We are going to have friends from church and possibly some family come and help us....hopefully!

Then, Saturday, we are hoping to have Chasity's party. However, I just found out last night that my brother, his wife, and their 5 kids, AND my sister all made other plans for Saturday! ARG!!!

So....we may have to postpone Chasity's party until after school starts so that people will stop planning stuff and show up! It's not like they didn't know! I've been telling them since late May/early June what DAY the party is!

Anyways.... the party will probably be a last minute decision..... unfortunately! However.... she WILL have one! I just don't know when! :)

Until next time........

Another Thwarted Attempt

2010-08-05T19:57:00.003-04:00

Last week, the landlord of the new house said that we would be in the house "no later than Aug. 1st". Considering the amount of work he is having done, we knew that was never going to happen.

Tony said that the landlord could have another couple of days....until Tuesday of this week. The Landlord said...."ok". We will be finished and you can get in here!

So Monday, we went over and painted Chasity's pink room! We still have to do the trim work, but it's pink!

We cleaned the dark wood paneling in the office with Murphy's Oil Soap. That room looks really nice!

We put a coat of Kilz on the living room.

On Sunday, Tony went to talk to the landlord (Mr. B) and told him that as long as they were finished by TODAY (Thursday, Aug 5th) everything would be fine.

Mr. B said that wouldn't be a problem.

So last night, we went over to see how everything was looking. Mr. B said that his guy would be "finished inside tomorrow (meaning Thursday) and all he would have to do on Friday is level the floor in the kitchen."

I knew that the guy still had a LOT a LOT of work to do! Until yesterday, it was only ONE man doing all the work. So today, after the severe thunderstorms passed, my mom and I rode over there to see how the "finished product" looks.

Let's just say that it's not even close to finished! The master bath tile on the wall at the tub still needs to be finished. The fan/overhead light in the master bath has to be installed. Oh yeah....there's no sink in the master bath right now either! He also has to take down the door that he put up the other day and turn it around.... he put it up to open into the master bath, but it covers the light switch. The way it is now, I have to go into the bathroom, shut the door, and then turn on the light.

He still has to build a closet in the master bedroom too! It's going to go in the sitting room area beside the master bedroom.... and I'm ok with that! :)

Those are just some of the BIG things that he still has to do. There was a 2 page list of LITTLE things too.... like putting tracks on the bottom of all the closet doors in the house. None of them have any and the doors fall off. Chasity can't even use her closet because the doors come off when you open/close them.

The house is going to be great! However, Mr. B should have never put it up for rent before it was ready..... or a lot closer than it is!

I am so frustrated right now that I am actually tempted to tell him that I want our money back and we'll just stay where we are! Tony said I can't do that..... but I'm getting aggrivated!

So we are NOT moving this weekend. Hopefully we will get to move next weekend! If not, I will be starting school on Aug 18th and we will still be where we are!

That's enough ranting for one post/night!

Until next time........

Moving Update and Randomness

2010-07-30T09:33:00.003-04:00

Chasity is officially a BEAR now! I got her registered for her new school on Wednesday afternoon.

We will find out on August 20th who her teacher is!!

We are still uniform shopping! We are going from "normal" clothes to uniforms this year! So...we are uniform shopping!

Last night we packed about a dozen boxes. I'm hoping that the other stuff in the house will just pack itself now! However, I'm pretty sure that's NOT going to happen!

Tony informed me Wednesday that he will now be working every Saturday (possibly Sundays too!) until school starts! How many of those are there? Let's see..... July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14, and Aug. 21!!

It's not like we have anything to do or have plans for those weekends....
July 31st---paint rooms at new house
Aug. 7th--move to new house
Aug. 14th--Chasity's birthday party
Aug. 21st--run around like crazy people trying to do last minute school stuff

We have NOTHING to do in the next FOUR weeks! I don't know WHY I got upset that he has to work! lol Apparently, he thinks we will still get ALL of it done! We'll see! lol

This is going to be an adventure!

Until next time........

Moving....Moooovvvving....MOVING!

2010-07-26T23:06:00.003-04:00

Yes!

I'm saying it again!

WE ARE MOVING!

Not only that, Chasity is going to start in a new school.

My mom, Chasity, and I went to Chasity's new school today to get the 2nd grade "Enrollment Package"!!

One of the Assistant Principals gave us a tour of the school. The rooms there are MUCH bigger than the rooms at her old school!

The AP that gave us the tour is also the one that does class placement for the students. She said that if Chasity's records from the previous school say everything that I told her today, she is going to "hand pick" Chasity's teacher for this year. That way Chasity will get the attention she needs for the fact that she is a 2nd grader on a 4th grade reading level!

So....

What else have I done today?

Oh yeah!

We asked the landlord if we could paint Chasity's room pink. He said YES!

So when we went to get the keys (he had some made, but they didn't work so he had to get new ones) tonight, he said that if we would pick a color for Chasity's room, he would buy the paint.

Then he said.... if you pick a color for the master bathroom, I'll get the paint for that too.

Then....he said.... is there anything in the house you want to paint? Just pick the color and I'll get the paint.

So we are going to REPAINT the living room. It is a dark tan and dark plum/purple/burgundy color now. We are going to needs LOTS of KILZ! lol

So.... Mr. B (the landlord) is going to get the paint and KILZ!!

All we have to do is paint! I know we have to do the work, but we don't have to buy the paint!!!

I'm getting excited!

The only thing I'm NOT looking forward to is MOVING! lol (I can't wait to move, but I hate moving!)

Until next time........

The House!

2010-07-23T21:07:00.003-04:00

We talked to the landlord around 8:30pm. He told us to go ahead and bring the deposit to him.

WE ARE OFFICIALLY MOVING!

God is good!

Now.... we have to get moved, get Chasity enrolled in her new school, get her bus set up to get her to/from school, and get me ready for my student teacher!

God is good!

Until next time........

Awaiting Confirmation

2010-07-23T18:30:00.003-04:00

So day before yesterday, I found a house listed on CraigsList. (I love some CraigsList!) It's the right price. It's in the right school district. Chasity could ride the bus to/from school from the day care!

Yesterday, we went to look at it while Chasity was at VBS!

Tonight, we called the guy (and left a message with his wife for him to call us back). We are going to tell him that we want the house. Then we are going to take the deposit to him!

This could be the answer to prayers!

Until next time........

Making Connections

2010-07-20T19:07:00.002-04:00

I just tried to call my Cooperating Teacher for my Student Teaching in the Fall. We still are not 100% positive I'm going to be able to do it, but I should start making plans to show up....just in case we get our miracle we need! :)

I have a list of questions to ask her. However....she wasn't there. So...I left a message with the person who answered. Hopefully I'll catch her the next time I call.

Until next time........

Chasity's School Situation

2010-07-15T16:19:00.004-04:00

I have talked a lot recently about Chasity's school. However, from some of the comments that I have received, I'm not sure if I have been very clear. Normally when I write, I am very upset/happy and my emotional words do not come across clearly.

The reason for us wanting to transfer Chasity from her current school to another school has nothing to do with her current school itself. Yes, I've had my share of issues with things at her school these past two years, but in reality, I do like her school.

The reason we need to transfer her is so that we have transportation for her.

I am supposed to start my student teaching at a local high school in August. I'm supposed to go in on August 18th. The first few teacher workdays, she will stay at daycare with my mom. When school starts, she can't go in before 7:05am (unless we pay for before school care). I will probably have to be at school around 6:45am.

My husband can not put Chasity in his company van anymore. The company changed the policy this past year. So, he can't take her to school.

Then, after school, I will still be in class (high schools don't get out until 2:30pm) when she gets out of school at 2:15pm. If we are after 2:25pm picking her up, we have to pay for after school care.

I called today to get the prices for this coming school year. For the 2010/2011 school year, before and after school care (together) is $90/week. That's almost $400/month! I think that's a little much! Actually.... I think that's A LOT MUCH!

If we had an extra $400/month lying around, we could A) have a 2nd car OR B) Afford a house in the school district where we need Chasity. lol

I don't know of many people who have that hanging out in their walllets/bank accounts EVERY month! If you do and you love me, please sponsor my child for before/after school care!! (I'm only kidding! I seriously won't take your money!)

Anyways, the school we applied to get Chasity into would have been perfect. The school bus for that school picks up kids in front of the daycare (that my mom is the director of) before school and drops them off there every afternoon. So, Chasity could have ridden the bus and my mom could have been there to get her on/off the bus.

Now, we are at a point where we seriously don't know what to do. We have to have my car fixed (that's a post of its own)! So that is going to take most of our current savings.

We don't have $400/month hanging out to pay for before/after school care. (I've called around. All the daycares that drop off/pick up charge about the same thing...so $90 is the average price in this area!)

We are down to considering the fact that I just might not get to do my student teaching this semester. Does anyone else think that just stinks? I DO!

Anyways, many people have suggested charter schools or looking at other schools. The problem will remain the same. There will be no transportation for my baby to get to/from school.

Just keep this situation in your thoughts and prayers. I have a feeling this is going to be one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.....especially if it comes down to me not being able to do my student teaching.

Sorry this was so long....

Until next time........

Swirling

2010-07-14T19:14:00.000-04:00

Today has been one of those days where I have had plenty to say/write, but I can't seem to get it in order to write/say it.

I have thoughts swirling through my head, but I can't seem to control them.

I want to write about Chasity's experience at Extreme Play and the doctor yesterday, but right now I can't get the words to come out as sentences.

Maybe tomorrow.....

Until next time........

Our application was.....

2010-07-13T10:37:00.002-04:00

.....DENIED!

After all the writing and praying and tears, Chasity will NOT be attending the school I need her to attend in the fall.

I got a phone call at 9am this morning to let me know that the school board met last night and that they are denying our application. When I asked why, the lady said that it is because that school is already over-full and they can not allow any more transfers to there.

My heart dropped. I was already crying. I was just hoping the lady didn't hear it in my voice.

I called Tony and could barely speak because of the tears. He said "We'll just have to figure something else out."

I called my mom, still crying and pretty sure I freaked her out, and she said, "God has a reason for everything."

All I can think is that The Bible says that God will give us the desires of our hearts. So why am I sitting here crying? I didn't get the desires of my heart!

I guess I'll just play the waiting game again now. I have no idea what steps to take now.

Until next time........

Application

2010-07-06T23:11:00.003-04:00

So today, I filled out the application for Chasity to go to another school district. However, this year, they have decided to change the application.

In the past two years, because I've applied to be released every year, their application never stated that Chasity would not be allowed to ride the bus. THIS YEAR, it says that the parents will provide transportation.

So, in my letter that I attached to the application stating WHY we need her to go to this other school, I included that not only do I need them to allow her to attend this school, I need them to allow her to ride the school bus TOO! :)

This other school district has to send the application for enrollment to the school board. So, I had to do the application today. They had to have it by Thursday so the school board members could read/review it before the meeting on Monday night! I am SERIOUSLY considering attending that meeting on Monday just to get my answer ASAP! lol

I'm NOT a patient person! So, I am considering it. I might check to see where they are meeting and see if it is open to the public. If it IS open to the public, I might just "accidentally on purpose" show up!

I'm just hoping they will agree! I will probably just need her to go there for THIS YEAR! After that, I should have a job and can pay for her to go some where else....not that I WANT to pay!

Anyways..... we'll see what happens!

Until next time........

Getting Released....

2010-07-03T11:10:00.003-04:00

....is only half the battle.

Yesterday, well last night about 9:30pm, when I finally checked the mail, I got only ONE piece of mail. It was the piece of mail I had been waiting on since the beginning of June.

CHASITY IS RELEASED from her current school district! Now... I just have to apply to have her attend the school I NEED her in. If this school will accept her, I can drop her off at day care with my mom in the mornings. She will get on the bus there. Then the bus will drop her off there. I won't have to pay $400/month for before and after school care. I can trust that she is getting great care!

I will be going to apply for that on Tuesday. I'll post updates as soon as I have information!

Until next time........

Papaw Paul

2010-06-29T15:48:00.003-04:00

Earlier this year, my dad's dad--Papaw Paul--had to have surgery. They removed a tumor that covered 1/3 of his bladder. Just a couple weeks ago, he had to go back in for more surgery. This time, the tumor was there again but, it wasn't as bad.

On Friday, he had to go in for a FULL DAY of tests. It was an ALL DAY CT Scan. They had to pump him full of fluids and then drain them. It sounded waaaaaayyy too complicated for me! He got through that wonderfully.

Today, he had to go back for the follow-up to get results.

My parents are his "power of attorney". So, any time they talk to Papaw at the doctor's office, Papaw has them call my mom to tell her. Dad drives a truck--home nightly--but you don't want to tell someone what the doc said while they are driving an 18-wheeler down the interstate! Right?

Anyways, I just picked mom up to take her home from work. On the way, the doctor's office called. I heard mom asking questions. Then I figured out it was about Papaw.

On July 13th, mom and Papaw have to go to the doctor's office to talk to the doctor. Then on July 29th, they are going to remove his bladder and his prostate. It seems that the cancer has gone to his prostate, and that they didn't get all of it out of his bladder.

We just lost my Grandmother (Dad's mom) in March. I really don't think God would seriously take Papaw Paul away from us already! We have to pray that God's will is done. However, I, personally, hope that God's will is to just take away the cancer so that they don't have to operate on Papaw again!

Papaw is ok! He is just frustrated. He's ready to be finished with the doctor's appointments! That's his concern! lol

Doc told mom that he will be in the hospital for 5 days. After that, he will have to take it easy for a while! THAT will be the hardest part for him! He's used to going and doing whatever he wants to! :)

Anyways.... just pray for my family. This is going to hit my dad really hard!

Until next time........

Forgiveness

2010-06-25T11:38:00.004-04:00

How do you get people to forgive you?

A couple of months ago, I obviously ticked someone off. This person and I exchanged words for a while. Then this person stopped all communication with me. I did receive an email from this person stating that this person was sorry.

I have sent a couple of messages to this person stating that I am sorry about what happened. I have tried to reconnect with this person. However, this person refuses to reconnect with me.

This hurts me because this person should be part of the family. It makes things weird when I am around other people in this person's family since this person won't accept my apology and move on.

I just wish I knew how to put it all behind us and move on.

Suggestions?

Until next time........

Game Giveaway!

2010-06-22T10:37:00.001-04:00

Head over to Dandelion Wishes to enter to win some cool Hasbro games!

You can even tell her "Leslie sent you"!!

Until next time.......

Who Am I? What does high school have to do with that?

2010-06-19T20:10:00.005-04:00

WARNING: This post is LONG and personal! It's probably more real than I have been in a while!

"If going through life and you find yourself lost, go back to the last place you knew who you were and what you were doing, and start there."--Carol Stack

I really wish I could find a website to link you to her, but there are a few Carol Stacks. I don't know for sure which one she is. She came to Appalachian State University in 1996/97 and gave a lecture. If I could find my notes, I could probably tell you the name of the lecture. I could almost tell you exactly where I was sitting in the lecture.

Anyways... I digress.

This was the first thing she said in the lecture. I wrote it down, but I never had to look at it. I memorized it just from hearing it the first time. It has been my favorite quote for 15 years!

I said that to tell you this:

Have you ever had a time that you just felt that everything was going wrong? You take a drive and come home more confused than when you left? You try to write something, but it only comes out wrong?

Saturday.... That was me!

I've been trying to make some serious decisions lately. Moving? Transferring Chasity? School? Major things!

Saturday, I could not get my head straight. Tony, Chasity, and I started to a store 3 or 4 times, but we never made it. I finally dropped them off at home with all intentions of going to the store alone.

I started driving. I got to Branchview (I think it has a different name now). I saw the turn off for my old high school. I took it! I wasn't sure why. No one would be there. If they were, they wouldn't know me! It's been 15 years! (OMG! I can't believe that!)

Saturday's date was June 19, 2010. I drove through the school parking lot near the office. Tears started rolling. I couldn't stop them. I didn't know why they were there!

I looked from my car into the new beautiful media center windows. I never got out. I really didn't want to get arrested! :) I completed the horseshoe and drove around to the big student parking lot.

I saw all the new things. I saw that they have leveled out the big dip that was in the parking lot. As I passed the building and looked to my right, I noticed it.

What was it?

It was the football field.

Why's that special?

June 14, 1996 (14 years and 5 days earlier) I sat in a rather warm metal chair on the very soggy wet center of the SpiderWeb and C in a black cap and gown with a black/gold/white tassel.

As I drove by, it was like I could see all of my friends and family sitting on the concrete bleachers waving and smiling. I could see my brother and sister holding the banners they had made for me. I could see me... my 18 year old self... sitting there. I heard them call my name. I walked across the stage.

Then it hit me! Through all the tears and flashbacks to a night that I will never forget, it hit me! It hit me hard!

The last place I knew who I was and what I was doing was the night I was sitting on the hot metal chair in a black cap and gown waiting to hear my name! That was the last time I was clear as to what I was supposed to do and who I was supposed to be!

After that night, I started making mistakes that I can't fix now! I can't go back and re-do the things that have led me to where I am now!

Some of them, I wish I would have done differently.

Some of them, I am glad they are the way they are!

As I sat in that parking lot Saturday evening, I realized that I have gotten myself to where I am. My decisions have put me here! I have to take responsibility for them!

It's going to take me awhile, but I think, before long (hopefully), I'll know who I am and what I'm doing!

Until next time........