The World According to Leslie

I need help! Those may three of the hardest words to say together in the English language. The other hard three word combos are "I am sorry" and "I was wrong". I've said all of these three word combinations so many times in my life, but for me, personally, the hardest three to say together are "I need help!" I'm a very, very, very (did I say VERY?), type A personality. According to Wikipedia (which is not always right, but can be used for fun information like this), a Type A person can be: "rude ambitious rigidly organized highly status-conscious sensitive impatient anxious proactive concerned with time management People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving "workaholics" They push themselves with deadlines, and hate both delays and ambivalence." Except for the "rigidly organized" and "highly status-conscious," that's pretty much me!!! I work best in stressful situa...

As we all know, I'm a teacher. I was born to be a teacher. Being a teacher is my calling! As of lately, I have been teaching children's church, and I love that!  It's not half as stressful as a full-time classroom teaching job. (Best part....no grading!!) I have also been teaching at the daycare, when needed. I have been substitute teaching, as well. Some days, I come home in love with teaching. Some days, I come home wishing I had never stepped foot into a classroom. However, teaching is my dream job. Now, as the Princess gets closer and closer (about 9 1/2 weeks) to finishing middle school, I keep thinking how logistically, things are going to change next year. For the past three years, she has had a 9am-4pm (or later if she stayed after for clubs or softball) schedule. Next year, she's going to have a 7:15am-2:15pm schedule. I've lived that schedule. I wasn't a fan of going to work in the dark!!!  Now, I've been thinking that I'd...

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...

Yesterday went well.  I didn't cry when I dropped the Princess off at the high school for Transition Day. (I'm not promising I won't cry when I drop her off for the first day of school next year!) I didn't cry when I picked her up and she was wearing the new shirt they gave all the students that said the school name and "Class of 2021"!!!  (So unreal!) I made it through my speech last night. It was very laid back, and I'm not sure why I haven't been going to the support group over the past two years!  I may start going.... although I'm almost 2 years out from surgery. I may go just to have the group to help keep me motivated when I need it.  Plus, in April, they are discussing smoothie and protein shake recipes.  I need help in that area anyways!  There were two other people on the panel last night. When we finished talking, the group could ask us questions, but there were only like 3 questions. I really thought there would be more!  Eith...

Today is the last day of February!  How is February over already? Is it REALLY possible that 2017 has conquered 2 months this quickly? I think about January and February right now. I feel like I haven't really gotten anything accomplished. I have big goals for 2017. I have big projects for 2017! I feel like I haven't gotten ANYTHING done toward them! Last night, my co-leader for Remedy Kidz, our children's church at Remedy Church , and I got together. This year, our church has a project called "Better to Give". We are planning to collect toys (all ages--new or GENTLY used) for 500 kids. Remedy Kidz are going to be preparing stockings for the parents. Each stocking will have hygiene products and snacks in it. (Everyone loves getting something for Christmas, right?) Last night, we sat down and made a list of items we are planning to put in the stockings. We are planning to do travel-sized items so that they will all fit. The list: toothpaste toothbrush...

Somethings just don't happen the way you hope/wish they would. For example, last Wednesday, the Princess had her Battle of the Books competition. Out of  schools, they came in 4th. Of course, I was HOPING for 1st..... but.... it doesn't always work out that way! :) Wednesday evening, I also didn't win the 7th largest PowerBall Jackpot.  (Of course, to be considered, I'd have to buy a ticket, and I didn't do that either!) Thursday, I went for my follow-up with my neurosurgeon. He re-did my CT scan and determined that my aneurysms have not changed. They haven't grown, but they haven't gotten smaller. In all honesty, I was hoping God would just take them away--since my Doc said that they never go away without surgery. I was hoping God would prove him wrong. The good thing is that I'm healthy and don't have to go back until next February. (I am thinking about changing to a doctor closer to home. I'm not sure I want to drive to Charlotte just to...

Last week I got older. I guess that's not really crazy.  We technically get older every day.  Then this week, in ONE day, I got 430 views on my blog!!  That's NEVER happened before, but I could get used to it! ****** We are still in the middle of Girl Scout cookie season. If you haven't gotten yours yet, let me know. I can either deliver them (if you are close enough) or give you the website where you can order them. ****** On Sunday, the stuff for Vacation Bible School came in! I'm so excited!  I'm the director this year, but I am going to need a TEAM of awesome people!  We have a church full of awesome people!  I'm going to get the recruiting video ready so that the pastor can show it before we have the volunteer meeting!!! On Sunday, the pastor also announced to the church that we are doing toys for 500 kids this Christmas. We are going to be collecting toys and money. If you have new/gently used toys that you'd like to donate, please let me ...

Happy Valentine's Day!  OR as the Princess informed me this morning.... "Happy Singles Awareness Day!!" Either way, I hope your day is happy!! Today is my last day to be 38 years old. At 2:45am tomorrow morning, I will be 39! I will be starting my final year of my 30s!  OH MY!  Where did the time go? This year has been interesting!  At home, I have been able to do more. I've cooked more (and everyone survived!)!! I've gotten outside more--and consequently sneezed more! I even coached the Princess's rec league softball team last Spring!  I've been happier, mostly! At church, I've been more active. I'm working in Children's church. I'm singing on the Praise Team (in rotation). :) I'm heading up VBS this year. (That will technically be when I'm 39,  but I've started plans already.) I'm helping head up the 500 stockings for families this year. (That will also be when I'm 39.... but still!) At work, I'...

I had planned to say something about the ban on travel that President Trump put into place over the weekend. I had planned to say something about the anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death and what his parents are now doing to help us remember him. I had planned to talk about a lot of things that happened nationally over the weekend. However.... I have decided that it's not time for me to talk about that yet. It's time for me to talk about what happened to my family over the weekend. First.... On Friday, the Princess had an ear infection. We know this because the stuff was draining from her ear. She has a hole in her right ear drum from when she had tubes from age 2-6. (It wouldn't come out and they had to go back in to get it. It left a hole.) Anyways, I dropped her off at school and called the doctor. They told me they didn't have anything available for us to come in on Friday. I wasn't very happy (or polite) when I asked them why they even tell peop...

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...