Taking a break

Hi friends ~

I am taking a break today from... "My Vacation A to Z". I have a horrible sinus headache and can not think straight... but, I thought that I owed you a different post to let you know how things are going with my new job.

My new job as a  4 yr old, Pre-K Assistant Teacher is a lot harder than I thought it would be!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the preschool itself!!! It is wonderful!! But, the teacher that I am working with is a new teacher and she was TOTALLY unprepared when school started, just over a week ago.

She told me in the beginning that because she WAS new and I was a veteran... she wanted us to work TOGETHER to teach the kids. I was fine with that, but it has turned out to be very difficult because every time I offered her help or suggested different (and better) ways of doing things (because of my experience)... she thinks that I am criticizing her!! I don't mean to come across that way... but, that is how she is seeing it! So... I have backed off of trying to offer my "suggestions" and have just let her handle things.

Last week, the kids were in control of the classroom!! SHE was not, which was not a good thing! Yesterday, she seemed to have a little bit better control over them, which I was glad to see. Hopefully, this will continue.

She has a VERY "high strung" personality and seems to have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time. This is another thing that is making things difficult. Last week, she was SO overwhelmed and she was a nervous wreck! This week, she seems to be a little more calm and in control. I can't help but wonder if the kids were "feeding" off of her nervousness last week, and that is why they were so "out of control".

Please pray for this young teacher as she struggles to learn the ropes... and for me!!.... as I try to keep up and stay calm myself!

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As far as other things in my life ---

I quit Curves last week and joined the YMCA. I knew that I was not going to continue going to Curves because it was nowhere near where I am working now. (It's not convienent for me... I won't go!) The Y is just two blocks over from my new school!! A PERFECT location! I plan to go every M/W/F afternoons, after work. Tuesdays, I will go and see my mom. Then, on Thursdays, I will go and see my C.R. -- I hate not getting home early in the afternoons anymore, but that's ok. I'm getting used to it.

Miranda started Nursing School last week. It is SO COOL to hear about what she is learning each day! Soon, she will begin going to the hospital to learn. I CAN'T WAIT to hear about her experiences there!!!

Ashley is back in school. She is an Art Education student. She is not too happy right now because she is in a sculpture class. This is NOT something that she enjoys!! She would rather be painting.

She also has a new guy in her life. We met him this past weekend. He is very sweet. She says that they are just in the "talking" stage right now, which is fine. She has been hurt so many times by guys that I would rather her NOT jump into a relationship too quickly. 

I am enjoying getting to know the ladies that I work with. One of them, in particular, I can see as a potential furture "good friend". She and I are very close in age and we have a LOT in common! She has three boys that are in the same age range as my girls. In fact.... my girls know who her sons are!! LOL!  I am hoping that she and I can go to lunch one day soon and get to know each other a little better.

This weekend, I will be at my church pretty much the whole weekend!! Saturday, I will be getting ready for an event on Sunday. And then, Sunday... I will be AT the event all day! I'll be one tired puppy by Sunday night!!

We have no plans for Labor Day weekend, as a family. My very BEST friend that lives in Atlanta is (hopefully) coming down on that Saturday to go "thrifting" with me!! I can NOT wait!! I have been anxious for her to come down all summer! I can't wait to take her to all of our new Thrift Stores!

The only other thing that we might do on Labor Day weekend... is go up to the campground and visit our camping friends. Some of them will be camping. We are not ready to go camping yet. It's still WAY too hot!! I am anxious for Fall to come so that we can really camp!

Ok... I better run. Time to go get ready for work!

Hope you all have a blessed day!

Summer Arrives With a Birthday!

WOW!! I can't believe that it has been so long since I have blogged!! I honestly don't have a good reason for not keeping up with my blogging OR my reading of blogs. I guess I can only blame it on good 'ol "life" getting in the way! I am not sure why.... but, this month has been EXTREMELY busy!

I guess between it being the last month of school and then my deciding that it would be best if I quit my job and look for another one... time got away from me and I have not had blogging on my brain as much as I usually do!

When you are a teacher, you consider the day after school ends as the first day of Summer. So.... for me.... it is officially SUMMER!!!

This past Saturday was my baby girl's (Miranda) 20th birthday!! She has been asking begging for months to go to Atlanta and see "The Bodies Exhibition". So, I told her that I would take her for her birthday. She also asked to go to Lenox Square Mall and go shopping. -- I'm not sure why. We couldn't afford a thing! LOL! But, we had fun looking and "hob-nobbing" with those that can afford $500 purses. **Smile**

The Bodies Exhibit is at a place called Atlantic Station. I mentioned it in a previous blog post when David and I visited Atlanta a few months ago. When David and I went.... it was like a ghost town! So, I was surprised to find it bustling with people while Miranda and I were there! We had a great time!

The Bodies was VERY interesting!! Who knew that I would actually enjoy looking at dead bodies!! LOL!! Miranda is a pre-nursing student (she should find out soon if she makes it into the nursing program!! Keep your fingers crossed!!!) and for her Spring semester at school, she took Anatomy 1 & 2. She so enjoyed seeing these "bodies" and explaining all the parts to me! I learned a lot from her and was so proud of her and her knowledge that she now has.

We spent about an hour and a half touring the exhibit. After, it was time for lunch. She chose California Pizza Kitchen. Miranda chose the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pizza. The pizza was SO GOOD!! I highly recommend it! We enjoyed our pizza while sitting on the patio and watching the people (Yes! PEOPLE!!) walk by. There was even a street magician doing magic tricks nearby.

After lunch, we walked around for a bit and then had our dessert at Cold Stone Creamery!! YUM!!!!!!!! This was SO not on my diet, but it was delicious!!!

Next, I really wanted to take her to the Ikea store because... #1 - I knew that she would love it!... and #2 - I love it!! **Smile**

I was right! She loved it! She bought a wire picture hanging "thingy" with clips to hang her photographs on her bedroom wall. (Sorry...Don't know how else to describe it!) I bought a blanket to drape across the end of my bed. It is navy blue. Unfortunately... I have learned that it is NOT the best color to use when you have two long-haired doggies, tho! **Oops!** Oh well.

We hurried home after "touring" Ikea so that we could be home in time for the "rapture". --- If you have no idea what I am talking about... let me know! -- We got safely home about 6:10pm. Whew!

No. I didn't take any pictures during our trip. I know that I should have, and I wish that I had. Miranda seems to think that I am a little too "camera happy", so I decided that I woud give her a break with the camera for her birthday!

My next adventure is tomorrow!!!! David and I will be traveling to Atlanta again with some friends to see JIMMY BUFFET in concert!!!! WAHOOO!! We will be traveling in a friends motorhome and tail-gating all day before the concert! It should be a BLAST!!! And yes..... I WILL take pictures!!! --- I promise!! **Smile**

Catching Up

Hello!

Life has been rather busy around here, lately! My blog "postings" and my blog "readings" have been few and far between, it seems! I guess being BUSY is a good thing. It means that I am staying active and there are a lot of things going on in my life. If that weren't the case.... then, I would be sitting around, being bored!

Here's just a bit of what's been going on around here ---

David has been working on rebuilding our "retaining wall" in our back yard. He started the project at the beginning of April and just finished it over this past weekend. It took him a LOT longer than he had expected, but it looks great!! The wall was first built about 10 years ago, when we had our in ground pool put in. David used landscape timbers back then, but knew that they were only going to be "temporary". Ha!! Ten years later....... they are just NOW getting replaced! I should have taken a "before" photo and then a "during" (maybe more than one!) photo before showing you the "after" photos. Oops! You can get the idea from these photos, tho.

The wall looks GREAT and I am happy to now have have my Lantana planted in the flower beds again! (The other ones didn't survive.)

The steps still need to be "tweaked" just a little. We didn't measure quite right!

I am SO HAPPY that my rose bush is doing so well!!

My poor garden needs som work! And our grass..... welll, we are working on that, as well!

The bricks are surrounding a small seedling that I found. I "think" it is from one of my previous plants and is trying to survive! ~ The pool looks inviting, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's still a too chilly to swim, just yet! Maybe by this time next month. -- Maybe!

Here's a look at my garden when I first got everything planted.

This picture is from July 4, 2006. David had almost completed our screened in porch. You can see how the "Great Wall" used to look. (These are friends of ours in the picture. Not us!)

David also built a pen for our dogs. Now, my flowers will should SURVIVE the jaws of Chester! LOL! My "Knock Out" Rose bush is coming back, beautifully!!!! And my Stella de Ora Daylilly is coming back, too! YAY!! My plans are to add more flowers and plants to this garden.

The dogs now have their OWN yard! YAY!

We have had two nights of tornado weather, too!! The first night (two weeks ago), was mostly just high winds and a LOT of rain! But, the second (just this past Friday) was VERY SCARY! We had two tornado WARNINGS!! The first one was about 7:30 in the evening and the second was in the middle of the night, about 3:15am!! Both storms, luckily, passed to the north of us. I didn't get much sleep that night! Tornadoes fascinate and scare me, both at the same time. I would love to see one ---- from a SAFE distance! --- but, I am terrified of them, just the same.

Thursday, I got my hair cut and my highlights redone. My stylist did a GREAT job! I only wish that I could style it the way that she did! LOL! I have had many compliments, which is always nice!

I switched gyms last week, too. I have gone back to Curves for Women. I used to belong to this gym and then I lost my job and quit because of the cost. Then, back around Thanksgiving of last year, I joined Gold's Gym because it was cheaper. But, after several months of "trying" to lose weight by going to Gold's.... I decided that I need to go back to Curves. I was actually able to LOSE weight when I was a member there, so... I think it is where I am supposed to be. I started the Curves Diet today. (Wish me luck on that one!!) I do great at exercise, but "dieting" is NOT my thing! I struggle with it, BIG TIME! Food temptations get the best of me.... always!

I have also been researching my family history again. This time it is my paternal grandmother's lineage that I am tracking. Genealogy is such fun! I had "thought" that my grandmother was from Birmingham, Alabama.... but, discovered that she was actually from the county that I live in RIGHT NOW!! Unbelievable!! I was blown away by this new found fact!! My plans are to go to the county courthouse and do some research there, soon. I want to see if I can find the cemetery where my ancestor's are buried. If I can find that... it will, hopefully, answer a LOT of unanswered questions!!

My girls are winding down their Spring Semester of college and are EXTREMELY stressed at the moment! I barely saw either of them last week. Thankfully, we had a very nice day together yesterday. We laughed and everyone's stress was forgotten for the day! But, today is Monday and they are already running around getting ready to start their week.

My poor Ashley has also had the added stress of having relationship problems with her boyfriend this past week! (NOT good timing!!) I won't go into details, but it looks like they have worked things out... for now. There's almost nothing worse than seeing your child broken-hearted!

I hope that catches you up a little bit on my life, lately!

God Bless!

A to Z Blog Challenge - M

Letter M

Miranda

Miranda is my youngest daughter. She will be 20 years old in May. WOW! No more teenagers! Seems like yesterday that she was running around the house with her bleached blonde hair, yelling through her pacifier.... "Mommy! Mommy!" Now, she is in college, studying to be a nurse! Unbelievable!

Mom

I have been a "MOM" now for almost 24 years. (Wow!) It is the most rewarding and challenging job that I have ever done.... and probably will do! I always knew that I wanted to be a mom someday. And I knew that I wanted to be in my 20's when I had children. I also knew that I wanted more than one child. You see... my parents were married when they were in their early 20's, but then waited 10 years before they had ME... their ONLY CHILD! My parents were always the "old" parents. My friends parents were always the "young" parents. It always bothered me. I have also always wanted a sibling. So, this is why I had my girls early, so that I could be a "young" parent! And this is why I have "two" children, and not just one. The relationship that I have with my girls is, I believe, a very good one. I enjoy hanging out with them, and I think for the most part.... they enjoy hanging out with me. I pray that our relationship only grow stronger and closer as we go down life's path. ~ My relationship with my own mother has been like a roller-coaster. It has had it's ups and downs. I honestly do not know how to describe it! I love my mom, but I think I have a lot of resentment towards her for many reasons. Because of this, I have a hard time "loving" her. It's weird and like I said... hard to explain.

Music

I love (Oops! That sure is a hard habit to break!) really enjoy music. I always have! When I was very young, my favorite singers were Olivia Newton-John and Elton John --- We're talking 1970's, here! Then, in my late teen's... my favorite's were Journey, REO Speedwagon, Rod Stewart, Genesis, John "Cougar" Mellencamp, and others in this genre. Now... I still love the artists that I grew up with, but I have added Country Music to my favorites. Some of my favorite artists now are.... Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Keith Anderson, Rascal Flatt, Miranda Lambert, and many, many more! I also enjoy several Christian groups such as... Sidewalk Profits & Casting Crowns. Truthfully... I like most all music except for Rap, and I even like a "little" bit of it!

Mall

Going to the mall to go shopping has always been a part of my life, until just the past few years. I used to really enjoy going to the mall to go shopping. That was something that I did with my mom when I was little, and then something that I did a lot of as a teenager. (Oh! The memories!! **Smile**) My girls grew up going to the mall with me, as well. Sometimes we would go for specific reasons. Other times, it was just something to do to get out of the house on a rainy day. Now, there seems to be a trend of "outdoor" shopping, instead. The malls of today are set up so that you are outside, not inside. I am ok with that. I like it. But, I do miss the days of just "cruising" the mall for no reason!

Mountains

I am more of a "beach" person than I am a "mountain" person, but I do like going to the mountains. I feel blessed to live just about half-way between the Gulf of Mexico and the the Great Smokey Mountains. We don't get up to the mountains as often as I would like to. Some of us (not me!) get car sick very easily, so a trip to the mountains is not something that everyone enjoys. It IS a memory that I have with my own parents, tho. We didn't have a lot of money, so we would take "day trips" up to the mountains and just drive around. We would stop and have a picnic at a park. The Fall of 1982 is the last memory I have of a mountain trip with my parents. My daddy died the next February.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Days 20 & 21

I apologize for missing a day. Yesterday got away from me before I had the chance to sit down and write!

Yesterday, I was thankful that I have a warm bed to crawl into at night. There are so many people all over this world that do not have this luxury that so many of us take for granted.

Night before last, I awoke during the night with a terrible migraine of a headache! I am quite sure that it was the temperature change outside (the drop in barometric pressure, to be exact!). I tend to only get these kinds of headaches when this happens.

When I get these headaches in the night, my bed feels like it's made of stone and my pillow feels like a rock! -- I picture it something like this....

Photo found HERE.

I woke up and was cursing the fact that I couldn't sleep and had this horrible headache!!

Then.... after taking some meds, getting a cold compress for my head and laying back down.... I realized how blessed I am to even HAVE a bed!! Much less one that is soft and warm.

This is not my bed, but one that David and I were blessed to sleep in when we visited New Orleans last year. This bed was SOOOOOOOO comfortable!!! Even tho mine is not this luxurious, I am thankful for it, just the same.

Today, I am thankful that Miranda (dtr. #2) and her boyfriend made it safely to Arizona on their flight last night. They are spending the Thanksgiving holiday week with his mother and her family. I am excited for her to be able to go out there again, (she went after Christmas, last year, for a week!) but at the same time... I will miss her very much!! This will be the first time our little family of four will be separated for a family holiday.

When she first mentioned to me that this what they wanted to do, I was a little bit upset. But, I also knew that, as they got older, the day would come that we would not all be together for a holiday. I am okay with it now. Not as sad. I will still miss her (I already do!), but I am okay. I can't say that I won't let a few tears loose on Thanksgiving Day, tho!!

This photo was taken by them when they wre at the airport last year, waiting on their flight to Arizona.

Here they are at the Grand Canyon!! I was so glad that she got to see it.

These photos were taken on Thanksgiving Day, 2008. We were camping with friends, which was something that we did for three years! It was fun, but we tired of it and missed being at home for the holiday.

David, Ashley and I are excited to be doing something different this Thanksgiving, though! We have been invited by some close friends to have Thanksgiving with them and their family!! It should be a lot of fun! I will be sure to take pictures and blog about the day. So be on the lookout for that post!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 3

Today, I am thankful for my daughter, Miranda.

Again, I must thank my awesome God for this precious child who is indeed, another gift from Him.

As a child, she was my "strong-willed" one, that kept me and Hubby on our toes! It wasn't until she was older that I came to realize that she was really just VERY smart!

She is 19 years old now and an absolute joy to be around. She is fun, sweet, kind, smart & beautiful. One minute she has me in tears, laughing hysterically and the next she is aweing me with her wisdom.

She is a hard worker. She works two jobs right now AND goes to school! She is majoring in Nursing, which I believe is the perfect career for her because of her great passion for life.

She loves the Lord and this shines through in her laughter. She has a wonderful sense of humor and can make anyone smile and laugh.

My prayer for Miranda is that she graduates from college and finds the job of her dreams and that she and Rory (her current "love" of two years) continue on their path to a happy & blessed life together.

I love you, my precious Miranda!

WANTED: Money Tree

I don't know where you find them and I've never seen one, but I know that they MUST exist because so many people seem to have them!! I need one in order to fulfill all of Dtr. #2's wishes and dreams. Every day there is something new that she wants to do or a place that she wants to go! Recently... she has started asking BEGGING to go to London, England! She talks about it ALL the time!! Today.... she found out that she won tickets to the George Lopez show in ..... LOS ANGELES!!! She registered to win the tickets only because her love, ZAC EFRON, is going to be on his show. She didn't really expect to win, but she did! HOORAY for her! -- (I guess)   --- 
*** NOTE: This is the same daughter that gave us the great PRESENTATION about going to Universal Studios in Orlando a few months ago, and... WE WENT!!***

Now, the problem with this situation revolves around two facts:

#1 --- We live in GEORGIA!!! And the cost of plane tickets out to L.A. are about $400 EACH! I wouldn't send her alone, so that bumps the cost for flying up to $800, at least! Then.... there would be other costs such as hotel, food, .... and whatever else. Ok.... So, now we are up to probably $1000, at least!

and......

#2 --- The George Lopez show that she has tickets for is for.... THIS WEDNESDAY!!!!! August 4th!

Somehow.... I don't think that this is going to happen! But, we can't convince her of this! So... back to my original thought....

WANTED: Money Tree --- Slightly used, is fine. But, must be in good condition.