The World According to Leslie

Last week, Tony, Chasity, and I had the opportunity to help assemble bicycles for Toys for Tots.   Cougar Run Winery in Concord saves their tip money for the year and purchases bicycles to donate to Toys for Tots. Last year, they had over 100. This year, they had ALMOST 100---but they were shut down for 4 months!   Imagine what they could have done this year, if they had not been closed for 4 months!  Panoramic Shot of the Room of Bikes and Volunteers Chasity and the group of scouts she was working with assembled 46 of the bikes. That's about 1/2 of the total. They started at 6pm last Thursday, and they were done (and cleaned up) by 9pm. Three hours, 8 scouts, parents too, and they completed 46 bikes!  Tony and Chasity together worked on and completed 8 bikes. Chasity only allowed me to help once or twice. :)  She wanted to do it herself. Tony was there for assistance, if she needed it.  The hardest part on every bike was the brakes. She had to make s...

I know that all of these pictures have been posted on here before, but I have to tell you that I never get tired of them.  These are some of my most favorite pictures EVER!  Most of them (if not all of them) were taken on my camera--NOT on my phone!  Chasity under the pier in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina C hasity as Taylor Swift  "One little, Two little, Three little Indians" I ALWAYS caption that photo of Chasity with some of the Cherokee dancers and storytellers like that. Having Cherokee blood is awesome. Unfortunately, you can tell my neither my child nor I got the Cherokee coloring! :)  Having the heritage is enough!                                                               These two pictures of Chasity at the church window at Christmas time is my absolute favorite. I jus...

Every year about this time, I realize that it's almost Thanksgiving. Then I notice that Christmas is only a month later with the new year following that. You would think that I would have figured out that time was flying by, but I haven't. I keep getting blind-sided by it every year... hoping that I will eventually catch up and not be so surprised. I have actually done a lot this year, but it still seems like I haven't. At the beginning of 2019, I was back in the classroom teaching. I started a job in September teaching English (all 9th grade classes, all day!) at the biggest rival to my alma mater. Anyone who knows me knows where I was, and they will understand the degree of difficulty! The students were typical high school students...some good days, some bad days. The demographics were different than my previous school, by my love of  teaching and love for my students was the same! In June (long story), but I ended up not being in the classroom any more. Like I sa...

Now that it's 2018, I thought I'd look back on 2017 and see the good, the bad, and the ugly of it. January: It was mostly boring. The "after Christmas" blahs hit. Since today, is a SNOW DAY in NC, I thought it appropriate to include my post about the first snow in 2017 here .  In January 2017, I also decided it was time to move on from things I had been waiting for.  I cleared out some space in my office (and my mind) by Making Room For God's Plan . Being the awesome Girl Scout mom that I am, I had to figure out how to fix the mess my made by melting CRAYON onto The Princess's brand new Cadette vest (which is light khaki)!!!  Read about that here . February: I got older... just like I do in February every year. :) I was also singing on the Praise Team at church, working in Children's Church, and helping with some big projects (still doing all those too)!! I was working out consistently and getting my mile time down so I could try to do a 5...

As I've said before, my church, Remedy Church , is planning to help 500 families this year at Christmas. YES! It's only MARCH! But, we have a big goal because we have a BIG GOD! We have broken down how we are collecting toys (new or gently used--aka like new) for the kids. You can help in a couple ways.  1. You can donate toys to the Better to Give Project . 2. You can donate money to the Better to Give Project . The information needed for doing either of those things is on the Remedy Church website . Here is the breakdown for the Better to Give Project ! March --Girls 0-3 years April --Girls 3-5years May --Girls 6-12years J une --Teen Girls July --Boys 0-3years August --Boys 3-5years S eptember --Boys 6-12years October --Teen Boys In November, we will be organizing everything and getting it ready for the delivery. We are also accepting donations of travel-sized hygiene items. While the kids/teens in the family will get toys, the adults are going t...

One day.... 24 hours.... 1440 minutes.... 86400 seconds..... No matter how you figure it, one day is not that long. It really is amazing how so much can change in 24 hours. About this time yesterday morning, my mom called me. The she was a little frantic on the other end of the line. The conversation went something like this.... Me: Hello Mom: What are you doing? Me: I'm at home. (Said because she called my cell and not my house phone) Mom: I was on the phone with Lisa. She said she was in the middle of the road. I heard a noise. I yelled 'Lisa, Lisa,' and she didn't answer. Finally, she said, 'I've just been hit.' She was at a meeting for work at the DSS place on Cabarrus Avenue. You know where that is, right? And she was going to get food over by Big Lots. I don't know where she is for sure. Can you go find her? Me: I'm gone! I'll call you back. Then I grabbed my water and ran out the door. (I try to never leave home wit...

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...

Check out links to all of the Writing Challenge posts in Day #8 . It's kind of fitting that I'm doing this challenge. It's starting to ask questions about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Since tomorrow is the last day of the posts I'm doing about the Writing Challenge, I think it's going to be a good way to end it. Don't forget to leave the link to your post of the writing challenge in the comments so I can come check it out! Today's Challenge: "What's on your Christmas wish list?" I have a lot of stuff on my Christmas wish list; don't we all? I want things that can be bought: Clothes Shoes Camera Pots and Pans Silverware Mattress/Box Springs Fitbit Laptop I want things I know I can't get: Pay off my bills (all of them--including house, car, and student loans) before Dec. 31 Win the lottery (except I don't play) I want things I have to work to get: Health Happiness Love Peace Get my house decor...

I have not been in hiding for almost two weeks. Although, there is a chance that I have avoided doing anything that could remotely be considered “routine” during this time.   December 19th was the last day that I worked for 2013.  (It was supposed to be Tony’s last day for the year too!)   December 20th, Tony and I spent the day at the Princess’s school assisting with the in-class parties. I am the chair of the Social Committee at the school for the PTC (Parent Teacher Committee).  My committee and I planned the in-class parties for 39 classrooms and 700 kids!  OMG!  (NOTE: This is not a top of the list thing to ever do again!)   Dec. 21-24, we worked on getting everything ready for Christmas. Our tree was up and decorated over Thanksgiving break, but that was all we had.  We had not purchased gifts or anything.  We had had NO TIME!  So…we crammed it into 4 days!  We got it done!   I did have to go to Walgreens on C...

I haven’t written in what seems like forever.  In reality, it’s only been a little more than a week….but….seriously….  what can happen in a week?   Nov. 30th—Mom and Dad’s party went over really well.  I’m waiting for the photographer to get me the pics.  I’m excited to see them.   Dec. 7th—My Girl Scout troop won first place for decorations at the local Christmas Festival.  It was exciting. We have tried for 4 years.  Next year, everyone will be trying to beat us!   I think my parents are already working on an idea, but I’m not sure.   We have 9 school days until Christmas break. Friday, Dec. 20th is our last day until 2014. We have 16 school days until exams start. We have 21 school days until the new semester starts.  That means I only have 21 days with the kids I have currently. Then I have to “train” a new set of kids to do things the way I want them done!     The best part about being a high school te...

I can’t believe that I haven’t written in over a week. How could I let that happen?  I have had so much to talk about in the past week!   1. Yesterday was my brother’s birthday. He is now 39 years old.   2. School has been great. The students are good. They announced yesterday that they are officially finished with schedule changes, so I should not have to worry about any kids moving into or out of my classes now.   3. Over the weekend, Tony, my parents, the Princess, and I went to Boone. We stayed in an awesome condo. I now have more things to check when I ask about places to stay. Internet….check. Handicap accessible…sorta check. (It was all one level, but the doors were very narrow and there was no walk in shower.) Central heat/AC….NO! Well, I don’t know about heat because it was in the 80s while we were there, but there was only a WINDOW unit in the place!  Can’t believe I didn’t see that on the description!   I will check better next time. ...

I'm trying to find what my life is centered around. From the time I was 5 until the time I was 18, my life was centered around school.  (Obviously!)  I spent all day at school.  Once I started 7th grade, I spent afternoons (and sometimes much later) in the Band Room at my school and the high school.  Friday nights were Football games.  Saturdays, Band Competitions.  After graduation, I went straight to college.  Appalachian State, Music Education Major.  A year later I returned home to go to RCCC.  During this time I met my husband.  Still, all the while, my time was dedicated to school (and working).  January 2000---transfer to UNCC.  Hated it!  August 2000.  Transfer to UNCG.  LOVED IT!  Graduated in 2003.  By this time, I was married (for two years) and 6.5 months pregnant with our Princess!  I was working full time as an Interpreter.  August 2003--Life became centered around our Pr...

There are only two more days of school until Christmas break!  I'm reading Christmas books and watching the movies with my kids this week.  We are doing activities with them too.  It's nice to have a little down-time to get ready for break!  When we come back, it will be time to get ready for EXAMS!  Then we will change classes and I will get new kids! :(  I like my kids now!  I just want to keep them!  :)  Oh well.....  I will adjust to new ones too, I guess! :)

26 days until Christmas! :) 17 school days until Christmas!  :)  3 days (counting today) until the local Christmas Festival!  My Girl Scouts are selling baked goods and other cute things there this weekend! ???? days until my Christmas tree and decor are up. :(  (Know where it is, but have to clear all the spaces to put it up!) ???? days until the first present is under the Christmas tree.  (Have the present!  Need to wrap it!  Might be nice to have a tree up!) 3 days (counting today) until one of my classes wraps up! 7 days (counting today) until the other class wraps up! 17 days (counting today) until GRADUATION!  (That's crazy!  4-and-a-half years and it's finally here!) So the countdowns are on!  Would put a countdown timer on the blog, but too many things to count down for!  :) 

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 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 f...

…my true love Heavenly Father gave to me….. A Savior to love me unconditionally. Jesus really is the “Reason for the Season”. He has given me (and my family) so much this year! It has been amazing! I look forward to the miracles He is going to perform in 2010! I wish you all a Merry Christmas! Until next time……..

...my true love gave to me....my 2 favorite hobbies. 1. Singing 2. Writing I was going to say singing and watching TV, but I was pretty sure that TV doesn't count as a hobby! Have a great CHRISTMAS EVE! Join in.... it's still not too late! Until next time........

...my true love gave to me... my 3 favorite verses to read. 1. Isaiah 40:31 2. John 3:16 3. The Christmas Story (all the versions in the gospels) What are your favorite verses? NOTE: Just heard from my mom! They are sending Papaw home from the hospital today! Until next time........

...my true love gave to me...four wishes granted completely. 1. My dad's complete recovery (He's getting better! He even drove for the first time last night!) 2. A Full time job for me (teaching high school English--I wished this once and did NOT get the job I wanted! lol) 3. A family that's healthy. (It seems we're trying to see who all can get sick before Christmas!) 4. "World Peace"....It's CHRISTMAS after all, so I had to ask for that...right? :) As you know, my daddy had a wreck in October. Then a week later had to have emergency surgery to remove his spleen--because it was injured in the wreck. Because of this, and the trauma that your brain goes through in a wreck anyways, he hasn't driven since the wreck. Yesterday afternoon, he drove for the first time in a couple of months! I almost cried! :) I have received placement for my Student Teaching beginning in January. Once that is complete, I will be able to apply for my NC Teaching Licen...