The World According to Leslie

There are a lot of things I want from life. Some of them, I am working toward. Some of them, I just dream about having/doing. Some of them are on my "Wish List". If you go on Amazon.com or eBay, you can add things to your "Wish List". Naturally, I have lists on those... but some things just can't be bought. Here's just part of my "Wish List": I wish I could win the lottery (that I don't play)! I wish I could DVR more than 2 shows at a time without having to pay more on my cable bill! I wish I had enough money to help everyone who truly needs help. I wish I could come up with the right idea to write a book. I wish I could lose these last 12 pounds before I go to the doctor in June!!  (Personal choice, not doctor's decision) I wish we could find The Princess a dress for her Me and My Guy event (for Girl Scouts) and her 8th grade semi-formal.  (One dress will work for both....but seriously, she's worse at making decisions t...

Some of us have been bullied. Some of us have bullied others. Some of us have been bullied and then "toughened up" and started bullying others. No matter which of those categories you fall into bullying is wrong!  Unfortunately, it happens on a daily basis. It happens in homes across the country. It happens in classrooms across the country. It happens in public and in private. It just happens. But.... it shouldn't!  No one should ever be bullied. When I was growing up, we called it "being picked on". Now, it's much more serious. With social media, it's often much more private, as well. I was bullied as a kid. I was taller than most of the kids in my class. I was bigger than most of the kids in my classes. I was bullied. Luckily, I had a family that told me how awesome I am, and I am stronger for the battles I have been through. The Princess has been bullied. She has beautiful long blond hair. She has been called Rapunzel many times, and...

About 5 minutes ago, I published the post Making Room for God's Plan , I got a phone call. The previous day, I had applied for a job at a local Charter school.... teaching English. I hit publish on the post. Seriously, no more than 5 minutes later, the phone rang. They wanted to interview me. It was the shortest interview in the history of interviews. It only lasted 10 minutes, max! I left feeling pretty confident. However, now, I'm in the waiting game.  I don't like that game.... so..... I always find things to do while I wait. Here are the things I'm doing. Over the next few days, I'm going to give you more information about all of these things (like links to how to find me and things like that)!!  1. Substitute Teacher--I am working in the same county where I live and where I used to work. Last year, I covered two long term (8 week) assignments at two different schools. I usually work about 3-4 days a month. I'd love for it to be more. If you are a ...

I remember as a child how much I loved Christmas. I remember loving parades and lights and Santa and gifts and family. I remember as I got older how Christmas became more hectic. It seemed that the wonder I had as a child started to fade. I started to see the hustle and bustle. I started to feel the stress. Now, as I sit here a little more than a week before Christmas, I have only purchased a few gifts (all for the Princess). I stress out because my Christmas village isn't up yet. I hate that part of my lights on my house aren't working. (I am thankful that Tony and my nephew, Dorion, put them out over Thanksgiving weekend for me.) I don't really feel Christmas-y. I feel sad because I can't do all the things I want to do for others and for myself this Christmas. I worry because I know what the Princess wants for Christmas, and I'm afraid she'll be disappointed if it's not under the tree. I wish I really still believed in Santa Claus and that he could...

Today is my final day of the writing challenge. I hope you have enjoyed it. Check out all the other days! Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Link up in the comments to share your Writing Challenge!  As always, I have a lot of goals for the new year. Some of which I can control. Others, I need help to reach. 1. Have a closer walk with God 2. Get a full time job 3. Build my crafty business 4. Build my travel business 5. Write a book 6. Build my blog 7. Get back in to the gym on a regular basis 8. Read a book every month (at least one!) 9. Spend more time with family 10. Keep my house cleaner 11. Pay off bills 12. Save money I could go on and on. We all could. Now....what are your goals for 2017? Link up in the comments!!

I took a few days off to spend time with my family for Thanksgiving!  I hope you all enjoyed your time with family/friends/co-workers--whomever you spent Thanksgiving with! There are links to all the other Writing Challenge posts on Day #7 . I know in the beginning I said there are 60 days to this challenge.  However, I have thought about it, and I think I'm going to do the first 10 days. I have started writing on a regular basis.... which was the point. So, now, I'm going to write about other things.... not just the challenge topics. Today's Challenge is actually quite appropriate.  It's about Thanksgiving. Today's Challenge: "Make a list of 10 things for which you are thankful." Making a list is easy. Leaving it just in list form is hard for me. :) I'm Thankful For.... 1. God--He is so awesome. He supplies everything I need. He is there no matter what and loves me no matter what. I have failed Him so many times, but He has never fail...

Today's challenge: "Put your iTunes on shuffle. Write down the first 6 songs that pop up." The only problem I have with today's challenge is that I do not have iTunes.  :)  I have Spotify. I love it. So, I put it on one of my playlists and hit shuffle. Here is what happened: Say Amen by Finding Favor Call It Grace by Unspoken Just Be Held by Casting Crowns Completely by Among the Thirsty Keep Making Me by Sidewalk Prophets Just Say Jesus by 7eventh Time Down I have these in a playlist called "Inspirational for Me".  I love all of these songs. They are so inspirational. They help me when I'm down. They remind me Who I should be looking toward at all times. So, what are the first 6 songs on your playlist?

There has been a lot of negativity going around the internet lately. There have been so many people who are "unfriending" people they have known for years because of differences of opinions. What!??!  That's crazy! I have found it hard to write about anything because I did not want to have my ideas misconstrued. I did not want people to think I was for something or against it just because I discussed it. I have kept my political thoughts out of Social Media. I haven't posted anything (other than my The Wait is Over post the other day) about either side. I have a right to say what I want, but I have found that I want to keep the peace. In the spirit of having a challenging time writing, I found a "writing challenge" with a list of 60 things to write about. It's supposed to go in a personal journal, but I think I'm going to put mine on here.  I'll start with a new post and keep it moving.  Feel free to the challenge with me. I'll post ...

Over the past few weeks, I have been in the ER a few times. I have been to more doctors' offices than I care to admit. I have seen ER and hospital doctors. I have seen doctors in the office of my primary care physician. I have also seen a neurologist. I have been in for more tests than I ever want to take! In the hospital, I had two CT scans. I had an MRI. And, I had a lot of blood work done. The doctors (outside of the hospital) sent me for more blood work. The neurologist sent me for a 2nd MRI (this time with the contrast dye). He sent me for a 2nd CT scan (with contrast dye this time). He also sent me for a Spinal Tap/Lumbar Puncture. The results are in. I have ONE answer. The prelim results from the Spinal Tap are fine. We are still waiting for the final results; those might be this week or early next week. The MRI and blood work all came back normal. I went for the 2nd CT scan yesterday. They called me yesterday afternoon. I have ONE answer. I have a small aneurism beh...

Yesterday was snow day #2. Today is snow day #3 for the year.  On Tuesday, we got out of school early because the snow was coming. It came.  It accumulated. It melted. It was pretty.  By 4pm on Tuesday, most places didn’t have a bit of snow on the ground.   Yesterday, they canceled schools because the snow was coming.  So we waited.  We waited some more.  Finally about 12pm (NOON!) the snow started.  We could have gone another 1/2 day and wouldn’t have to make that day up on a Saturday….but nooooooo!  Once it started, it started accumulating quickly.  We got about 1” of snow per hour.  It snowed until about 7pm last night.  Some times it was slower, so we probably have about 5-6” in my yard.    About 7pm, the sleet and freezing rain started.  That’s what it is still doing now.  So schools called to cancel around 3pm yesterday afternoon for today!   Today, I’m “working from home”.  I do ...

Wow!  I totally didn’t post yesterday. That means I didn’t tell what I am thankful for.   Day 20—I’m thankful for my friends. They are always there to help when I need them. I’m pretty sure that some of them are “sisters from other misters”.   Sometimes, they are my therapy sessions.   Day 21—I’m thankful for 2nd chances. It’s the little things that count. I forgot to post yesterday, but I have a 2nd chance to do it today. I have had many 2nd chances for big and little things in my life. With Christ, I’m thankful that He keeps giving me 2nd chances every time I mess up.   Yesterday, during my planning period, we had a meeting. It was only the 9th grade English teachers in it. We were discussing pacing, and how far along we should be in the curriculum already. Then we talked about the fact that next week, we have 2 days. When we come back after Thanksgiving, we have 3 weeks in December. Once we come back in January, we have 2 days the first week beca...

  My friend Phyllis at Just Bcauz nominated me for the Sunshine Award a couple of days ago. Since I was gone, I am just now getting to this. The rules are: Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog. Link to the person who nominated you. Answer 10 questions about yourself. Nominate other bloggers. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated. Drum roll please...   1. What is your favorite color? Purple—the royal, majestic, deep purple.  Not the overly blue-y or overly red-y purple. 2. What is your favorite animal? None! I am allergic to everything, and I am terrified of dogs. 3. What is your favorite number? 6—but I do love most even numbers. Sometimes odd numbers freak me out. 4. Favorite non-alcoholic drink? Double chocolately chip blended cream frappuccino 5. What is your favorite alcoholic drink? I don’t have one. I don’t drink ...

Friday, I wrote about 1500 words. Saturday, I wrote about 2000 words. Sunday,  I wrote over 3000 words. But none of those words were as important as the ones my mom said on Sunday morning.   Recently, Tony, the Princess, and I have been on a “church tour” as my bloggy friend from over at Single Infertile Female calls it. I like that better than the term “church hopping” that my parents use. And, “church shopping” just sounds wrong.   So anyways, we aren’t going to church with my parents any more. This is a huge deal for me. I have always gone to church with my parents, except when I first got married and didn’t live close enough. We had been at this church for 10 years. We started attending in June 2003, and we left in June 2013.   So, I don’t get to see my parents at church, but we usually see them for lunch afterwards. Yesterday, mom called about 8:30am and said that a friend of ours, Todd, was in the hospital. He and his wife and their two sons ...

WOW!   Can you believe today is my 550th post?  I can’t believe I have had that much to talk about!   Ok! OK!  So, some days I really don’t have that much to talk about, but you guys/gals “listen” anyways.   Today, I wish I had something fabulous to say today, but I don’t really.   Yesterday, I was looking through pics of the Oklahoma tornado ruins.  There was a pile of rubble and in the top of it there was a plaque (or frame or something).  It simply said, “The best things in life aren’t things.”   If you think about it…..  They aren’t! The best things in life aren’t the cars and houses and jewelry.  They are the friends, family, love!    So just think about that today as we continue to love on the people of Oklahoma through this tragedy.  They will rebuild.  They are strong.  Let’s show them….they are LOVED!

I don't know how many of you were in band in high school. For me, band was my sanctuary. I was in the band room more than the directors were. My dad was the director of transportation for the band. He also helped to fix instruments and keep the bandroom in order. So back when I was in high school, my dad had a key to the bandroom. (The directors got tired of having to come to the school all the time! lol) Anyways, I learned a lot from band. I also learned to play many instruments that I wish I still played today. Unfortunately I have forgotten most of them. I do remember one thing.... lots of things, but this time of year reminds me of one thing.... Every year, the band would practice and learn "Pomp and Circumstance" to play for graduation. I had played it for 4 years. (My 8th grade year, they let me come up and play it for my brother's graduation!) All of a sudden it was my Senior year. I helped hand out the music to the underclassmen. I sat there watchi...

I still am not 100% sure what this StumbleUpon button does, but I'm going to try it out for awhile! LOL At least it's cute! My friend (who lives in my computer) Tinika from Me & You Plus Two ! blogged about adding the StumbleUpon button today. So... I thought I'd give it a try! Let's see what happens! Until next time........