From a student...

This is Miss Lyndsey. It is spelled with a "y" and not an "i." That was the first thing she told me when I started teaching her. This girl is a complete hoot! We have to write essays each week in class with a different subject each week. This particular week the topic was "there are lots of good teachers but there are a few that stand out, what makes them so special." I did not know what she was writing about until she turned it in and told me to read it. She's a mess!

Most teachers you have in school just teach the subject to draw a paycheck. Every no wand then, you will have on that goes out of their way to help others and you will grow a bond together. Some traits I look for in a teacher is someone I can relate to, have fun with, and I get a little advice out of it.

Ms. Smith is my most favorite teacher in the whole entire galactical universe. Ms. Smith and I can really relate to each other. We both have a very outgoing, caring personality. Secondly, she teacher really well. She doesn't teach and quit, she goes above and beyond the classroom, giving examples and telling us stories. No matter what the lesson is, I ALWAYS get advice, support, or knowledge from this spectacular woman! For example, last week I got a little bit of knowledge about chicken sex. In conclusion, that is why Ms. Smith is my favorite teacher.

Ms. Smith is a very unique character. No other teacher has ever given me so many life lessons as she has. I look forward to her teaching many more kids as much as she has taught me.

Then I told her about the youtube video about the "swagger wagon." If you haven't seen it...go to youtube.com and search for it. It is cute. So now I have a personalized picture of my van in my classroom thanks to Lyndsey with a "y." My life is much better now that I have known and taught this young lady...she makes life VERY interesting 94 minutes of my day during school. I will be sad to see the semester end...but I think she will continue to stop by my room every now and then.

God's Sense of Humor

I have friends who were done having babies. This oldest is Carson's age (6) and they found out they were pregnant this past Christmas...not just with one but with 2! ~ that's her story

I have always said that I wanted 4 children. But after Toby started getting older nearing 2...I prayed about it. I asked God to either take the desire away or allow us to get pregnant. He took the desire away completely! I was ok with 3 but always wanted 4...just did not want to carry one for 9 months or birth another. Well, He blessed us with #4...God has such a sense of humor though...1. She's a girl, 2. She's a teenager, 3. She's a cheerleader! (0 and she's learning to drive)

This is Megan...God has given her to us. We love her sooooo much. My boys' love soooo much. She just fits in perfect with us. Our job is to "love and protect Megan." We were given this precious duty and task from God on May 3, 2010. I would take nothing for her.

I'm thankful for...

Megan...

I just love this girl. I'm so happy that she is at my house. She is here until the end of the school year...at least for now! Pray for us. We want her to stay with us. She wants to stay with us. Our boys absolutely think she hung the moon. She has such a sweet spirit about her. Thankful for everything. Polite. Respectful. I have never thought this way about another student that I have taught. She giggles at just about everything. Coach Smith (my Bradley) loves to pick with her. Ummmmm...we just all get along. She loves to go to church! Pray for us in the coming weeks and months.

we love running

Running, running, running has become part of my life since the first of August. Got my chlorestrol levels back and well...they were not good...239. Yikes, yes it is in my family history so it is something that I will have to fight for the rest of my life. I love my 4 boys way too much so I went into action. I changed my diets, added fish oils to my daily diets, and started exercising. I decided I needed an event/goal to obtain. A few days later I got some information about a 5K from my good friend Elizabeth. I decided a 5K was a obtainable goal to reach in 3 months since I had not really been running daily/weekly since I had my babies. I got a good workout schedule from the internet and have stuck too it and have even lost some pounds (which I was also trying to do the healthy way.) I am now up to 2.5 and 3 miles a few times a week and 45 minutes on the lovely eliptical (while I watch recoreded Biggest Loser Episodes.) I feel so much better, have lots more energy, and my clothes are fitting so much better. I am getting my chlorestrol checked again during Thanksgiving week so I will be curious to see how much it has gone down. Well, when I started talking about a race Carson overheard me. He wanted to be a part too! So there is a one mile fun run that he is going to do that morning also. So now after I pick him up from school me and the 3 boys will go to the track about 2 days a week to allow him to practice. I'm going to bring my jogging stroller that all my high school girlfriends gave me at my baby shower for Carson and let Toby ride in it and Carson, Gage, and I will run around the track. Carson made it 1/2 miles yesterday...he would have enjoyed it more if I could have run with him but everytime I would attempt too...Toby would scream and run to me like I was trying to abandon him. So I think my new plan with the jogging stroller will be much better and less stressful for all involved! The race is November 7th...wish us happy training.

The glass is 1/2 full

I have this saying that I learned on a mission trip many years ago in 1992 in Grenada, West Indies (I'm sure that Liza will remember since she was there with me)..."things can always be worse than they are so be thankful for the situation you are in." I'll explain (quick version) a group of us had gone to the other end of the island to do some ministering for the week. We went to sleep one night with the windows open (on the 2nd floor) b/c it was HOT and HUMID. That night we were robbed...they came in our rooms while we were asleep and robbed us of shoes, money, anything they could. We woke up the next morning and started getting ready and realized what had happened. WOW...yes, we were robbed..but God kept us safe! When things get wild and hairy at my house (and they do) this thought comes to mind.

Yesterday I had to run by the Mr. Joe's drug store to get some allergy medicine b/c now that Toby takes it too we run out faster and we were out. While I was in there, I hugged Carson and he felt like he had fever. We went to Lola's to pick up the other boys and Lola took his temp...it was 100.3 and climbing. I called the clinic where we had already visited Saturday remember with Gage and Wednesday with Toby. I told them we would be right there...MelAnn saw us quick and Carson wanted to make sure that she was going to listen to his heart! too sweet. Well we were in and out of there in 30 minutes (thank the Lord for living in a small town). Then off to Mr. Joe's for MORE drugs! Oh and the other 2 boys went with to the clinic and pretty much behaved except for Gage loving the 2 automatic doors and running back and forth to each one and letting them open.

We were still going to try to make it to the sport banquet at the school to be supportive. We decided to take 2 cars just incase though. Glad we did b/c when we got there the "man-in-charge" told Brad that he needed to sit with the coaches and not with his family. I just looked at him and said "seriously?" I was so mad b/c I was there with all of my boys and needed his help. I decided to leave...Bradley supported that decision! He got my box supper and helped me to the car and kissed me good-bye. I decided right then that the "man-in-charge" was NOT going to ruin the rest of my evening and we were going to have fun. I took the boys to the little park in town and they loved the big swirly slide we had not been in a while. Nobody fussed when I said "load up boys and let's head home". We all took showers and then watched Tom and Jerry until Bradley got home.

Oh...remember Carson went to the zoo several weeks ago. Well they did a big animal unit at school and Carson had to draw "the best animal at the zoo." Know what it is? Can't you tell it's a happy alligator! I love it especially the 4 legs and the smile...it made me smile! One tidbit about Magnolia...the language dept at the school writes everything in cursive. Cursive is easier to write b/c you never pick your pencil up...think about it! Don't you think it would be easier for kids with disabilities (or any kid for that matter) to write in cursive and learn phonics? Come on school systems...get with the program!

Oh and by the way...I had a great day even though several things got in my way to try to make it not so great!