The World According to Leslie

Since the year The Princess was in third or fourth grade, every year, about this time, I start looking at options for school for her. I have friends and family who homeschool. I always peruse that as an option. I have gone online and figured out what subjects we would need, where we would get them from, and (unfortunately!) the costs. There are some places I can get things online (like secondhand) but I won't start looking in earnest until we make a decision. Homeschooling (probably) gives us the most flexibility with subjects and schedules. When she is listed as a Junior, she can start taking Dual Enrollment classes at the local Community College for high school and college credit (for FREE!!)!!!!  Her fifth grade year, she was at a local Charter school. It didn't work out so well. (We went through 3 teachers and 2 principals in one year.)  I guess we could always look at going back there (now that they have been open and running for a few years) as an option. It's n...

About 18 months ago, on June 10, 2015, I did something I didn't really want to do. I walked out of my job for the final time. I had resigned (effective on the last day of school) a few weeks earlier. I didn't want to do it. My flesh was terrified. I'm sure I've shared that here. Tony and I had discussed it and prayed about it. We felt it was the right thing to do. We knew God would supply. He has. We have not gone without anything we have needed since I resigned. When I left the classroom that day, I was leaving a classroom I had been in for 3 years. I had been teaching a total of 4 years. I had a lot of stuff. When I say a lot of stuff, I mean a LOT! I put all my files and notebooks and books in crates and boxes and tubs. It took me 2 loads with the seats laid down in my minivan. For the past 18 months, all of that stuff... all the boxes, all the crates, all the tubs.... have been sitting in my office floor. If I needed something from the office, I had to move 4...

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?

Right now, I have two songs (actually more) stuck on repeat in my head.  My family (not just Tony, me, and the Princess) are going through some things right now.    Some of them, I will discuss later.  Some I will have to wait until they are absolutely finalized before I can share anything.   Right now, the songs stuck on repeat are:  God Will Make a Way and Got Any Rivers? (or, at least I think that is the name!)   God Will Make a Way God will make a way When there seems to be no way. He works in ways we can not see. He will make a way for me. He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way. He will make a way. There are more words to that, but these are the ones on repeat!   Got Any Rivers? Got any rivers, you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains, you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thoug...

So, I am home.  I went for my biopsy this morning.  I have such a wonderful support system.  My mom was there .  Tony was there.  My dad, who isn't supposed to be in waiting rooms, was there.  One of my best friends, Nannette, was there.  I was there, but didn't want to be.  All I wanted to do was cry!  So I did. While I was on the table, they said, "Go to your happy place".  Where is my happy place? This morning it was in prayer.  So I was on the table praying silently. They kept asking "Are you ok?"  So I would answer, "God's got a plan".  (That's the family motto!) For now, the tears are gone.  The waiting has begun.  I should have results by Friday.....or so they say.

Here is Part 1 of this story. Now we are up to May. In May 2012, Tony and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. The last time we really went anywhere (like a trip) was in 2002—our first anniversary. The only reason we went anywhere then was because my best friend was getting married the day before our anniversary. So Tony and I took off to Kentucky (or West Virginia, I can’t remember). Anyways, we haven’t been anywhere since then for our anniversary. So this year, our anniversary fell on a Saturday. That was the first time it has been on a Saturday (since we got married)!!! So after the softball game that day, we left for the beach. We took all the stuff with us in the car. We changed clothes in the bathrooms at the ballfield. We left! The next morning, before we headed home, we walked on the beach for a while.    School let out on June 8th. On June 14th, we had to take Chasity to the ER. She couldn’t breathe. She...

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!

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: Scho...

...my true love gave to me...my 5 favorite foods to eat. 1. Peanut Butter Candy (fattening! We only make it this time of year!) 2. Mom's fudge (another Christmas favorite!) 3. Peanut Butter Pie (hmm....what's up with the pb today? lol) 4. RED VELVET CAKE!!! 5. Spice Cake (the way my Grandmother used to make it!) Please join in! It's really fun! :) NOTE: My Grandfather (Paul) is having surgery tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers. They found a tumor on his bladder and they are going to try to get it tomorrow. He's in his early 70's. We are praying that they find nothing when they go in....or at least get it all with one surgery. We know and believe in the Great Physician. So, we know everything is going to be fine! Until next time........