Weekend...

This was a such a good, relaxing weekend...and you know that was MUCHO needed around here! ha! Friday night, I had a full house with the scrappers. We were all in attendance (8 of us crammed in my living/dining room). The food and girl talk was plentiful and GOOD! And the scrapbooking...well...I was on a roll! ha! I had a mission & I actually managed to accomplish it! This weekend, I scrapbooked 20 pages!!!! WOE!! Saturday, Sandy and Kayce (her young 'un) came over, and we scrapped some more. Kevin went camping & I scrapped my heart out! LOL! Here are some of my favorites from the weekend:

This one above was an unexpected favorite. I just had a bunch of pics to get on a page and be done with the lake pictures...you know how it gets. So this was my solution & I ended up loving it! You just never know! ha!
I scrapbooked at least 2 horse show events, so I'm a little burned out on the western theme! ha! But I loved the page above of my niece & I actually got to do one of my Mom below. The one below is one of those really neat layovers - almost no work on your part required! :-)
Here's what I need help with ~ see this stamp below? I want more like it, but I don't know what brand they are. I hate the foam stamps. I want more fonts in this stamp... the scrapbook store where I found these hasn't had them for over a year...any ideas?

THANK YOU!!

Thank you just doesn't seem like big enough words for the amount of love, prayers and support that you all have given me and Kevin. We BOTH thank you ALL from the bottom of our hearts. He read all the comments yesterday, and for him, it helps him to know that people actually understand what he is going through and don't automatically think "loser". He can't help but worry about that. For me, just knowing that I have support and can call on that support, it gives me the strength I need to support him!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! The internet is truly amazing! Because a good friend of mine read this and told one of her friends, we are blessed with some Celebrate Recovery information in our area. I really believe that was God's wake-up call to us that no matter how busy we are with our new jobs, we cannot put off finding a recovery group or AA meeting that Kevin WANTS to attend, and we cannot put off finding a home church. So, those two things are our #1 priority right now!!

Love you all! Have a great weekend! I will be scrapbooking all weekend!! :-)

Facts of Life...

Last night was NOT a good night! I feel like I'm all about gloom and doom lately, but I gotta let out my frustrations as well as the good stuff. I am pretty open about the fact that Kevin is an alcoholic. (Although I don't usually tell new folks until they've actually met him b/c I don't want him to be pre-judged.) We just celebrated 9 months sober last week, and we are starting over today...today is Day 1 of sobriety. He slipped up last night and drank. Yep, NOT a good night!!

Without going into the details of what happened b/c that isn't fair to him, I will "let out" my feelings! I know that slips happen when alcoholics try to get sober. I know that they relapse sometimes 7, 8, 9 times before the sobriety finally takes hold for good. I know a slip can happen anyday. Trust me! But that doesn't make the disappointment and hurt any less. It just isn't fair to him or me...if you know him or have known him his whole life like I have, you know that he has the biggest heart. He is such a fun-loving, sensitive, good person. He doesn't deserve to have to struggle with this the rest of his life. (and neither do I) But, it is like my friend said who has a husband with MS ~ people tried to tell her not to get serious about him or marry him b/c it would be too hard of a life. She said you don't turn off the love you have for someone b/c they have a disease. It may be easy for people to think or say you can, but it isn't when you love someone to just walk away. And, alcoholism IS a DISEASE. A very ugly one.

I have to admit that I was FURIOUS with him last night ~ especially once I had the keys and knew he was safe. I let him have it with everything I had too - I think I cussed him worse than I would my own dog! (I will be saying prayers for weeks asking forgiveness for all the foul words that came out of my mouth!!) I doubt he remembers much of what I yelled at him last night though. It was difficult to take or watch someone you love like that...but at the same time, I wanted to throttle him!!!! This morning, I hadn't cooled off much either, so he got round 2 of the wrath of Lori. After a full day at work, I have calmed down a bit, but I am still pissed & hurt & disappointed & angry...but now more at the disease and circumstances than at him. Although, still at him too...if that makes sense. He struggles and has come SO far, but he has to learn how to deal with life's curve balls WITHOUT drinking!

He is at work now & has attended an AA meeting today already. He at least is in the right frame of mind that this is NOT going to set him back. He slipped and will move on with sobriety. I will support him as long as he is working towards sobriety. I couldn't be with him if every night was like last night - no way! But, we are all human. I will forgive him - I don't think I have yet - but I will. And, we will start all over with the trust, and the meetings, and the days, but that is OK as long as we are staying sober AND happy!

You know that as a human being, we worry what other people think - don't think I haven't worried about that. I hate to admit that I have...I also admit that I don't confide much in my friends about this b/c in the back of my mind, I wonder "do they think I'm nuts for dating him?" Well...I am sure there are those that do think that - we all have our opinions. But please, remember, that it is a disease and he is TRYING. And remember that the good outweighs the bad - he loves me and shows me on a daily basis. ok - I am not going to try to justify anything...but if you have a negative opinion, please keep it to yourself. Right now, we need encouragement and prayers...Kevin more so than me. So, if you pray, say a prayer tonight that Kevin has the strength he needs to overcome his battles.

Thanks for listening (if you are still here! ha!). I feel better just getting some of that off my chest!

Wordless Wednesday

TV is BACK!!

I am pumped for season premiere week!! I have a mid-term on Thursday...I gotta study before the 7 o'clock hour & take my mid-term BEFORE Grey's comes on! Priorities! ha! I haven't watched much tv all summer, and my body is missing the comfy sofa!

So -my week will go like this:
Tonight -Dancing With the Stars
Tomorrow - Dancing With the Stars & Boston Legal
Wednesday - Dancing With the Stars & Private Practice (my only new show to pick up!)
Thursday - Grey's Anatomy & ER (yes, I still watch ER)
Friday AND Saturday - scrapbookin' with the girls! yaay!!
Sunday - Desperate Housewives

I am upset that What About Brian? wasn't renewed - I really liked that show! :-(
My can't miss favs are Grey's and Boston Legal!!!! Did anyone else see that there was suppose to be a series based on James Patterson's books on Friday nights? I read that somewhere but I haven't seen it in the schedule. If that happens, I might pick up two new shows! Thank goodness for DVR!!!

Wish me luck on that Mid-term...I think I'm gonna need it! ha!

We are jinxed!!

Seriously...we are jinxed! Here...just look at the weekend...I even made you a partial slideshow & then I'll tell you the really bad stuff!

Now...you know we have a snapped cable on our mower, and the grass was getting out of control. The part is on order. We had a friend (thanks Laura) offer to let us borrow her mower, but we didn't have a trailer big enough to get it over here. (She should feel lucky!!) So...enter my innocent cousin, Sandy, and her hubby who bails me out of mechanical malfunctions regularly!! We borrow their mower...do you know where this is going??? Yep, they have had the mower for like 14 years, and it breaks down on us when we are almost done - like 3 more passes to go! All we did was stop and put gas in it. I promise we are jinxed!!!! This is my fourth mower to breakdown on me THIS year! It is one thing when it is your own mower, but hello!!! when you borrow one!!! Do you have any idea how mortified I am?!! I feel horrible about it ~ actually that doesn't even cover it! So...don't let us borrow your mowers people ~ but feel free to come and mow our yard!!!

Oh, and that last picture ~ this morning, I woke up and my back was kaput from all the work yesterday. I have a bad back & tried to be careful yesterday. I didn't send it completely out, but I am taking meds and laying on a heating pad all day.

Seriously, this week HAS to get better! At least I've got scrap night to look forward to!!

Kudo's!!!

We may be poor in the money sense, but we are rich in other areas! :-)

Today is 9 months sober for Mr. Kevin!!!! I am soooo proud of ya babe! You have faced some struggles and held on to sobriety!

I haven't smoked in 9 1/2 months!!!! I am well past the point of even wanting one & hate the smell now! So...hip, hip, hooray!!

Have a great weekend everyone! I am FINALLY getting my hair cut and highlighted tomorrow. The roots I am showing right now are embarrassing! I could cancel & spend the money on the mower, but ... good grief ... who cares about the yard besides my neighbors? ha!

Really?!?!!!!

Some of you may remember my springtime drama's with mowing & lawnmowers ... my steady mower didn't work at the beginning of the season, tried to repair it, and it was smoking the next time I used it....bought a new one that lasted ONE time & crashed & burned. Then, Kevin let me borrow his (that we had to make a 3 hour one way and 3 hour back trip for, but hey, it saved me from BUYING one). Well...guess what?!? The grass is really tall ~ driving the neighbors crazy I am sure b/c it is even on my nerves. Kevin tried to mow yesterday & the mower is dead!!!! Remember last week's money issues...computer crashing, blah, blah, blah....well...I sure can't afford a yard boy OR a new mower....hmmmm! And, I think this qualifies as going WAY past that "things happen in 3's!" URGH! But I won't let it get me down! I may put a sign in the front yard that says "Don't hate us! Mower is broken, and we are poor! If the yard bothers you that badly, feel free to mow it yourself!" Ha!

SERENITY NOW!!

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Highlights

We started off Friday night stopping in at our hometown High School football game. It was against our big rivals too ~ Batesville! We WON!!!! Yay! Back in the day, when Kevin was playing, & we were in HS, our winning streak against Batesville was like 23 years or something crazy like that. But, this was Newport's first win in 6 years. GO HOUNDS!

We saw SOOO many people that we haven't seen in years! We both caught up with old high school friends, teachers, church members, and high school friends parents. It was great to see some of the ladies who were involved in the bad accident a year ago at Hardee's. See here to remember...it was definately a hometown tragedy. But, they are doing great! We picked up Kevin's nephew's at the game to take on with us to his parent's house. Kevin's sister was in town for her 20th class reunion!! We drove on to Rector after the game & got there about midnight ~ way past this teacher's bedtime! The best story from that drive was when we pulled off the road b/c Kevin had to pee....and a cop pulled up. Kevin just knew he was in trouble, but the guy just laughed and even let him go back to what he was doing so he could finish! ha!

Saturday, Kevin, his nephew and his Dad started in their golf tournament. Me, his other nephew, and his Mom shopped at the new mall in Jonesboro & went to some local flea markets. I scored a bunch of Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books for 50cents a piece for the classroom. Then, we went home & took a little cat nap & waited for the boys. Of course, his Mom cooked up a fabulous dinner for us, and we watched the Razorbacks play. (or rather they did while I graded papers ~ I am a great multi-tasker!! ha!) I did become interested in the game toward the end b/c it was close....but we lost and Kevin pouted!

Sunday finished up the golf tournament. They did so good on Saturday that they started later in the day Sunday, so we were late getting back last night. Apparently, their great golfing streak didn't hold for two days! LOL! But, Austin and I tagged along for the first 3 or 4 holes in the golf cart. Neither of us like being so darn quiet though, so we didn't last long! ha!

More pics later....I thought this one was a really good family shot... it's a framer!

Oh...and I get to scrap my first ever golf page! ha!

Finally...some relief is on the way!

Apparently, we got the raise...2%, and I'll take it! No one knows which paycheck it will take affect, but they will make it retroactive to August 15th! Yippee! I may dig myself out of this hole yet! (AND STILL NOT CHARGE! Double yay!)

Have a great weekend!! Kevin and I are heading to his folks house ~ he's in a golf tournament with his Dad and nephew. Hmmmm....maybe I'll get a golf scrapbook page out of it! LOL!

Jax is anxiously awaiting his all-time favorite babysitter!! My critters are so spoiled!

Pictures on Monday! :-)

Stuff...

Well....my open house last night was a success! I only had 5 out of 20 parents not there!!! It has been the reverse in the past!!! It was really refreshing to see involved parents!! They are loving our classroom blog (thank you Ms. Splat Designs!! hee-hee!). I "hired" one of the kids to be the photographer for the night, and he posted on our blog today. They love it! And, I get a ROOM MOM!!! Hello!!! I've never had a room mom! THEY plan the Christmas and Valentine parties and anything else you need!!! AAAHHHHHHH!!!! I am lovin' life!! I had four Mom's want to be room mom, so they are just all going to work together and share....does it get any better? ha!

Maybe so!?! The union is apparently negotiating a raise for us ~ I didn't even know! They met tonight to get the ok to move forward from the other union members (I'm not a member - shhh!). Hopefully, (fingers crossed) we will be getting a raise!! You know from my earlier in the week post that I need that right now! LOL! We will see...we were supposed to have our step-up raise (when you move up from years teaching) on the last paycheck. It wasn't there, and insurance went up. So, everyone was ticked off b/c their check was less than normal, and we were expecting it to be higher! Maybe we are about to be rewarded....a girl can hope! :-)

Until tomorrow...I'm off to read your blogs now!

Wordless Wednesday ~ scrap style! :-)

And that's all folks! :-)

My All-time FAVORITE Hobby!!

Yes ... that's right ~ SCRAPBOOKING! Ask and you shall receive! I took some pictures of my favorite pages over the past few years...I got a little carried away and took almost 20 pictures. So, I'll spread it out over a 2 day post...I'll post the rest in a few days! Keep any and all criticism to yourself! ha! This is my scrapbook desk ~ a real treasure found at Lowe's!!! I can keep it open and all my scraps everywhere when working on stuff & then close it all up when I'm not. Everything has it's place of course! ha! It's a little messy at the moment b/c I have too many projects in the works!
Below is my favorite subject ~ Jax! He's so photogenic! hee-hee!

This is a simple page but I loved the colors AND the pictures ~ when the colt (Stormy) was born in March...my niece's colt ~ hence, the Autumn's Storm! She claimed him before birth I believe! ha!
I am addicted to tearing paper!
See those paper flowers at the top? I made them with my punches! Exciting stuff!This one I just really liked the colors together - the blue was unexpected on the red but went with the background on the pictures. BTW, the tag on the bottom says Enjoy the Moment.

This one I was proud of myself for making the watermelons on the bottom!And...I loved the circles on the bubble paper with the bubble bath...my Bff's kiddo! She is a scrapper too, so you know we staged this! ha!
And, again, my favorite subject ~ Jax! That little side sheet gives his "info" or stats! ha!

More to come at a later date ... hope you enjoyed!

**Open House is tomorrow night! Wish me luck! :-)

Just breathe...

Well - things went from bad to worse with my last post. I had a major meltdown Friday night b/c I just couldn't take ONE more money issue being thrown my way. I had myself a pretty good pity party...my face looked like a swollen punching bag by Saturday morning from all the crying. BUT, I can only allow myself a pity party for so long ~ I have my priorities straight. I know it could be worse, & I am grateful for the little things. I am a worrier by nature, but I am trying to let it go and not worry. It will all work out - it always does. And, I am proud of myself b/c I still haven't caved in and charged anything! So...yay me!

In computer news, I spent yesterday unhooking things from my home computer and loading up my school laptop. So...all "my stuff" is still on the broken down computer, but I am up and running on my school one. (At least I have a school laptop - how lucky is that!?) So...my home computer will remain fried until I have the extra money to fix it.

And...while I was working on getting the printer and camera loaded to the laptop. FedEx called needing directions and delivered the wireless router that Kevin ordered. Thank You FedEx!! That got me off of his laptop and on mine....now he can play poker on-line in the living room (ha!) ~ and I can do schoolwork and blog at the same time! No more fussing for the computer!!! LOL!

I was able to load the pictures from Thursday night's banquet:

This is me & Sydnei (the student who nominated me). She looked so nice! It was such an honor to be nominated and thought of by a former student. She had to read her essay that she wrote about me while I came up to receive my award. Yes, I got a little teary eyed! There were over 30 nominations and her essay was one of 10 chosen! I taught her well ~ ha! This is one of the students I got extra attached to b/c when I moved from 2nd to 3rd grade, I got to keep my students. So..I taught her two years in a row.
This is me with another teacher that was honored. We taught together until this year. It was great having a chance to see her and get caught up!! She is one of my favorite people from my old job. Plus, she brought me the exciting news that even with all the behavior issues I had last year, all my students scored advanced or proficient on benchmark except for 6 of them. This is AWESOME! Out of the 23 kids, when I got them, only 3 were advanced or proficient!! I am so proud of them! So, somehow with all that chaos last year in the classroom, I still managed to teach the ones that wanted to learn! Such a relief!!

Crabby

Well...for now we have Kevin's laptop set up...I HATE this computer, and it hates me! SLOW ~ that's all I'm saying!!



I am crabby and stressed. How do you spell stressed? M.O.N.E.Y. How is it that there is never enough to go around? I budget, and I follow my budget. But, it is the little unexpected things that can wipe my budget out!! Here's my stress list of items that need to be taken care of:

1. oil change (simple enough but is now over a month overdue)

2. contacts (again, simple, but you put this with #1 & I need an extra $100)

3. property taxes (here's the big one!! $950 due Oct. 10th - enough said)

4. hair cut & color (it's bad but I guess I have to give up highlights for awhile)

5. waxing (not a necessity but getting there - my eyebrows are getting bushy!)

6. Jeep CD player has been broken for MONTHS!

7. Jeep steering wheel is making a horrible noise every time I turn the wheel for months! (who has the money to take a car to the shop for an unknown amount for the bill!!!)

8. And the latest ~ computer is dead & needs to be repaired for yet another unknown amount!!!

URGH!! I know times are tough while I try to finish my Masters b/c I am paying it out of my pocket as I go. I know that it will pay for itself in the end. I know some people have it WAY worse than me. But I am tired of trying to do the right thing and living paycheck to paycheck. I didn't charge one single thing all year until this month! I was so proud of myself. But this new school has a pretty strict dress code, and I had to go buy (charge) some new pants. (Plus, I've gained some weight, but that is another issue!) I guess I could charge $2000 to my credit card and take care of the list above - that is what most people would do - but I refuse! I won't do it!! I will drive my car listening to the same CD's over and over, listening to that freakin' steering wheel that is literally driving me insane, and I guess use this computer of Kevin's that I hate - until I can pay cash. Is that crazy? I could charge, but then it gets easy to charge everything & it builds and builds. My savings is at an all-time low since the divorce, so I refuse to borrow from that too. I guess I need a miracle or tighten up my budget EVEN more ~ and I am not a frivolous spender, so it is already tight! URGH!! FRUSTRATIONS!!!

Does anyone else ever feel like you just can't get ahead no matter what you do???

OH NO!!!!!

My home computer is dead! The storm got it today!!! I am using my school laptop right now, & we are scrambling to get wireless up and running. ALL MY STUFF is on my home computer!! All my pictures and programs!! Luckily, almost all my pics are saved to a disc, but you know how easy it is to get to them when they are right there on the computer!! I. am. NOT. happy!! So...it looks like I will temporarily be using my school computer ~ which is monitored & has NONE of my stuff on it! yuck! I guess I have a project for the weekend ~ figure out how to fix the old one (Alan says I need a new power source, I think ~ how much will that cost???) & load up the school one with all my stuff ~ the camera, the scanner, and whatever else...oh boy! I hate this part of computer stuff!! I just like surfing the net stress free! ha! Lindsey and Steph, I was planning on getting those scraplift pages up and loaded for you tonight ~ promise! They are coming!! ...some day! LOL!

I am SO broke, and yet I have visions of a new widescreen laptop....hmmm! Wishful thinking!!! I bet that is way more expensive than fixing the one I have now! ha!

Wish me luck ~ tomorrow night is my banquet. I'll post pics ~ if I get everything fixed!!

Interview

My blog buddy Steph has sent some interview questions my way. I better answer them tonight like I promised b/c she's a teacher too, and I want a passing grade! :-) So...sit back and enjoy! (although I told her to go easy on me b/c my Mom reads my blog! ha!)

1. Name three things in your nightstand and what they say about you.
Well...crap! I'm in trouble with the first question! I thought it said "on" your nightstand, not "in" your nightstand!! (Mom - you can excuse yourself from further reading! LOL!)
*books - I always have books in and on my nightstand b/c I love to read & usually right before bed is the only time I can find to read.
*ear plugs - b/c I hate to be woken up by dogs barking or neighbors mowing ~ so I easily reach over and slap in some ear plugs and go back to sleep.
*George - that's what I call my "friend" that all single gals need. Come on, you all have one! Mine is named after George Clooney!! Moving on....this may qualify as TMI!

2. What brand of toothpaste do you use?
Thank you - an easy one! I use Aquafresh!! .... Next! ha!

3. You're on top the of the roller coaster....do you hold on tight or let go?
First I am pissed that I am even on a roller coaster - it's got to my bff, Michelle's, fault!! She's been trying to talk me into getting on one! I'm a big 'ole chicken, so you can bet that I'll be holding on tight and cussing her the whole way down! Love you Michelle - but it's NOT happening!

4. What is your favorite book of all time?
A hard question - I love all the classic dog stories like Where the Red Fern Grows and Old Yeller. I also loved Uncle Tom's Cabin....and I just bought The Catcher and the Rye to read again. There is no way I could pick just one ~ I love books way too much!

5. What is the most embarrassing thing you've bought at the drug store?
Well, I embarrass easily, so things that probably shouldn't embarrass a 34 year old, embarrass me! I get embarrassed buying all female products - I don't know why! And, I'll just stop there since the first question gave so much info! ha!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Mom's Baby picture
Mom in 1st grade
6th grade? cheerleaderMe & Mom ~ the early years!!

These are some of my favorite pics of you Mom. You are just as beautiful today as you were then! I hope you're having a good birthday!!! Love you!!

Strike One...

Kevin and I have known each other since we were in 1st grade or before, because we grew up in the same small Baptist church together. So, one would think that would make us looking for a home church together easy - right? WRONG! It is the only thing that has caused us to really argue! First issue is that Kevin is a confirmed Episcopal ~ his ex-wife was Episcopal. He LOVED it! He says he felt like he was finally home when he walked in that church. I admit that when he talks about it, I am curious, b/c I am a pretty open-minded person. The Episcopal church from what he has said, seems to be the place for the open-minded. For instance, they welcome gay people in their church. (I do NOT want to start a debate here!!) But, I have in the past few weeks read in the Bible about being gay, and it is my understanding that yes, it is a sin ~ but a sin is a sin is a sin. It isn't the ultimate sin AND as a Christian, we should love everybody regardless of their background - kind of a hate the sin, not the sinner thing. I could be wrong, but I don't think the Baptist see it this way. I have friends that are gay ~ it doesn't bother me. Maybe I should look into other churches besides Baptist? I don't know!?! I'm very confused...and this is getting off topic of us looking for a home church. So, let me get back to topic - would it be weird to possibly convert to a religion that he was introduced to by his ex-wife????

After fussing for a few weeks over Baptist and Episcopal churches, I thought I had found the solution for us ~ non-denominational!!! AH-HA! I had heard good things about this church. It is a HUGE church...which I know there are benefits, but I like smaller churches. However, I could see big possibilities with this church when I looked it up on-line. There were several small groups that meet - even a recovery group every Tuesday for Kevin. They even had a Monday night service - which I thought was a fabulous idea for when you go out of town and stuff. You can still make the Monday night service! The church started in '95 with 25 people and has grown to 5,000 with 2 Sunday services. So, with open minds, we went this morning. We knew it was BIG when they were out directing traffic to tell you where to park. My first sign should have been when we parked, and the BIG truck pulling into the spot beside us hit my mirror - and no he didn't apologize! We went inside, and it felt like you were walking into a mall or shopping center - not church. Then, the worship center was really big and there were chairs - not pews. (I am a bit too traditional - I know - I even have a hard time with not wearing a skirt to church & yes, there were people in shorts!! SHORTS! ha! I like that you can wear anything to church these days, but I can't do it! ha!) I didn't feel the love - I felt like I was at a seminar or conference - not church. It just wasn't warm or inviting. Kevin didn't feel it either...so strike one! And, the search for our home church continues...we have two other options in mind to go visit...I know it may take more than one visit, but this one today was a NO from the get-go. So...give us a prayer that we find a home church & if you are local and reading this, shoot me an email and give me a suggestion!

*I just read back over this and ... I think I am open-minded in some areas and not in others! ha! The ideal church for me would not judge others ~ it would be welcoming to all. I would like a slightly smaller church, but with some programs and benefits of the bigger churches. Good luck - right? ha!