Thursday Thirteen

**been awhile since a Thursday Thirteen ~ missed 'em? heehee! I've been a bit sentimental this week for some reason, so I thought I'd have a grateful post ~ just in time for Thanksgiving season too!

Thirteen Things I am Grateful For:

(in no certain order ~ I tried and it was too hard to rank them!)

1. Family ~ ALL my family...that includes Kevin's family too. I love them like my own already!

2. Fur Kids ~ you know how much my fur kids mean to me (even Simba! LOL! There is no cat like him and he gives me so many stories to share. Jax should get his own number. You know, he is even sleeping in the bed with me these days. Rotten doggie! Nala is just special in her own right. She is my fluffy princess.)

3. Friends ~ where would I be without them? I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for! I only hope I am as good a friend to them as they are to me!

4. A good warm, friendly, Christian workplace ~ I could not be surrounded by better people everyday. What a difference that makes!

5. My house ~ I love my house...it is a HOME. It is where I am most comfortable and love to be.

6. Gas prices ~ hello! I saw gas for $1.87 today!! I am super grateful for that!! It is like getting a pay raise where my gas guzzler is concerned.

7. I am also grateful that while it seems like I am always broke these days and scraping the bottom of the barrel, I can pay my bills. My bills are always paid and paid on time. In this crazy time, that is something to be grateful for!

8. I am grateful my aunt is hosting Thanksgiving this year! Whew! I have hosted for the past 3 or 4 years...it was fun, but I am ready for a break and to get to talk to people!!

9. Scrappin' nights ~ scrap nights with my peeps are priceless!

10. Mexican food ~ already had it twice this week and could eat it again tomorrow!

11. Bible Study ~ I am grateful that my co-worker and I were finally able to put a plan into action that we've talked about for a year (yay Jill!). This is my first Bible Study group, and I am super excited about it!

12. John 3:16 ministries ~ I am grateful that Bryan and Beverly have given their lives to helping others overcome addictions. Because of them and John 3:16, Kevin and I have been given a second chance. We have a fresh start, and I am getting a brand new man!

13. My Mom ~ My mom is more than a mom. She is my friend and my rock. I only want to make her proud! I am grateful that I can call her for anything at any time and she will listen and tell it to me straight (even if it isn't what I want to hear.) Her strength is an inspiration to me, and I don't know what I would ever do without her. I love you, Mom!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things & Thoughts Around Here:

1. My summer school friends that I've taught with the past two summers called yesterday and are missing me this summer! Awww!
2. I felt a little guilty because I miss them, but I am really enjoying not working for once in the summer! ha!
3. I am reading a John Grisham book that has sloooowed down my reading progress because I just can't get into it. urgh! It called The Broker - anyone read it? Will it get better?
4. Kevin had a doctor appointment today, and we are pretty sure his kidney stones are moving. The boy is IN PAIN with it too!
5. I had lunch with my friend, Carey, yesterday. She is one of those great friends that I don't get to see often but when I do it is like no time has passed.
6. We took a 2 hour lunch at the same restaurant I had eaten at the night before b/c I love it so much. Kevin said he hoped I would get the same waitress and I did! HA!
7. My 11 year old cousin, Kayce, is having a sleep-over for her birthday tonight, and I am going to go over there and act silly and try to embarass her...heehee! Good times!
8. I think tomorrow for the 4th we are just hanging out in the front yard with the neighbors and shooting fireworks. I love a low-key 4th of July.
9. Surely, Kevin will grill something though!! (honey, are you reading this??)
10. Kevin's birthday is Sunday!!! We'll be the same age again (there is a 5 month difference in our birthdays), and he can't say "I'm not 35, you are!"
11. My summer class starts Monday. It is with the professor that I am NOT fond of...but it should be easy enough and go fast.
12. I am not sure I can pay attention on a computer for 4 hours straight though!!!
13. Next weekend, Kevin actually has the weekend off, and we are going camping for the FULL weekend!! WOO-HOO!

**Happy 4th of JULY!!**

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things Going On Around Here...

1. I had my Master's class tonight.
2. Have I mentioned that it is kicking my butt? RESEARCH Methods!!
3. We are supposed to get some weather tonight, but it is not looking promising for our area of the state. So...I probably won't get to enjoy seeing my school name scroll across the bottom of the screen tomorrow for NO SCHOOL. ha!
4. Tayhlor (my new niece compliments of Bubby's marriage) has started at my school, and she is fitting in great (already has a crush).
5. I LOVE having her in my room before and after school. She's a great helper.
6. My two new students are good kids and smart...how lucky am I? (You never know when you get new students - it can make or break your classroom.)
7. We are making root beer floats tomorrow for our science lesson. FUN! Who can identify the science in it? ha!
8. I have to spend all day Saturday at the library doing research!
9. I finally got my first re-imbursement check for my fall tuition today - that was sweet!
10. Tomorrow, we are cooking dinner for Donna and Jerry so they won't have to worry about food on their first day home with the babies.
11. Which means....tomorrow I get to see the precious babies again!
12. My birthday is next week.
13. And, for the first time ever, I am kind of bummed about it - how did I get to be 35? And why is it bothering me? I've never been bothered by a birthday before...hmmm

Thursday Thirteen

*I am super cranky today. I have no reason. I am just a woman. So, I decided to try and make myself get in a better mood by blogging and making a positive post. For the record, it didn't work, I'm still cranky, but I have a positive post. ha!

The Best of 2007:

(in no certain order)

1. Finally bought my own camper ~ the pop-up is sweet! And, for Christmas we got a memory foam mattress for it from Mom and Dad. It will be like sleeping at home. Good stuff!

2. Kevin moved here and moved in (a first for me).

3. We went to Cozumel!!!

4. Snorkeling!!! (that was the BEST!)

5. I got an awesome new job!

6. Made new friends (my new BFF's at work)

7. Kevin's best year of sobriety!!

8. I didn't smoke all year - woo-hoo!

9. A student nominated/honored me with an award ~ very humbling.

10. The doggie door that has provided endless entertainment all year...with the CAT!

11. Camping trips and even in the FALL...loved it!

12. My Bubby got married, and I have the sweetest new niece!

13. Scrapbook night continues and gets cancelled for nothing and no one! LOL!

Thursday Thirteen

*Since Kevin and I don't get to go to his parents house for their turkey day this weekend (We had serious cards stacked against us between work and house sitters...these things happen.) Here are - Thirteen Things I am doing instead of eating turkey and all the yummy desserts!!!

1. sleeping in (BIG time!)

2. raking leaves

3. cleaning up the back deck

4. mowing or begging Kevin to mow

5. laundry

6.cleaning out the snake infested flowerbed

7. burning leaves and yard brush

8. buying turkey for our Thanksgiving the next Saturday

9. going to Wal-Mart (I hate Wal-Mart!)

10. grading papers (of course!)

11. hopefully finishing my Master's project

12. cleaning out my car

13. going to church

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things That Make Me Smile This Week...

1. My students thankful papers that I graded (so sweet!)

2. Seeing Simba all curled up on Kevin's belly just purring away

3. Sharing an inside joke with Kevin

4. Overhearing my students talking when they think I'm not listening (they are currently arguing over if I have a boyfriend or not! ha!)

5. Having my LAST parent conference today!!!

6. Being 3/4 done with my big master's project!

7. Jax being finished with his shots - thank goodness!

8. Watching Nala jump for the couch and miss (she is not a graceful cat!)

9. Planning a roadtrip with Kevin (Friday we are going to watch a high school friend coach his football team in a playoff game).

10. Simba coming through the doggie door with nothing in his mouth! ha!

11. A clean house - even better - it was cleaned by the cleaning lady on Monday!

12. Fresh sheets....ahhh!

13. Dinner at TaMolly's with my cousins

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things Happening in My World:

1. My Bubby fixed my computer tonight for FREE!!!! Thank you Bubby! It is still at his house but will be home and running soon! Ahhh...

2. Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday, and I really should be working on Parent Conference forms right now instead of blogging!

3. I have given Jax 3 of his 8 shots of Adequan. He is already like a new dog! I highly recommend these expensive shots to anyone who has an arthritic dog!!

4. I have a Master's project due at the end of the month that I am starting on early.

5. And, I got my grades back for my presentation and the project that I thought I did horribly on - both A's! yippee!

6. Race for the Cure is this Saturday!

7. I am walking with my cousins, Peggy and Kristen.

8. After the race, Kevin and I are going on our last camping trip of the season. A short, but needed trip!

9. Kevin has had to close the restaurant every night this week again. We are just seeing each other as we come and go to work. It sucks!! He has Sat/Sun off - hence the camping!

10. I am going to help my friend, Donna, who is expecting twins to register at Target tomorrow. (Remember we went to Babies R Us on Sunday)

11. I LOVE my job!!! Have I said that lately? Well...I do!

12. I love my co-workers! They are my new bff's! :-)

13. I am ready for the weekend, because I need some time with my man!

My Final Thursday Thirteen...

Thursday Thirteen has come to an end. Not sure why since so many bloggers participated, but it did. So...now you will either get a Wordless Wednesday from me or a Friday Favorites! I know you are all on the edge of your seats waiting for me to decide! LOL! Anyway...for my final Thursday Thirteen:

13 Things I have learned about Alcoholism:

1. It is a lifetime disease.

2. AA is the best hope for recovery & relapses will happen.

3. There is a support group for family & friends too called Al-Anon.

4. Alcoholics must be 'on guard' for the rest of their lives - one drink could send them straight back.

5. They tend to drink vodka so there is no smell.

6. There is a deep sense of shame & guilt they carry for the lies they tell to cover the disease.

7. There is no cure.

8. It is not a hopeless condition if recognized and treated.

9. Alcoholics drink because they think they have to use alcohol as a crutch or escape.

10. People die from alcoholism.

11. Alcoholism is a family disease - it affects everyone around them.

12. Alcoholism often runs in the family.

13. No one causes the alcoholic to drink.

*A side note: The outpouring of support from my close friends and family when Kevin relapsed in December is not forgotten & I appreciate all of your prayers and thoughts and phone calls and emails and support!!! He has just made it past 60 days sober & doing great!!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I love about 70 degree weather like we had today!!! yay!

1. Fresh air

2. Riding in the car with the sunroof open

3. Feeling like spring/spring break is right around the corner!!

4. Knowing I'll be home by 3 o'clock & outside to enjoy it

5. Being able to take the kids outside to read or do a lesson rather than sitting in the classroom all day

6. Going barefoot ~ I love to be barefoot!!

7. Getting to work in the flowerbeds

8. Sitting outside on the deck to talk on the phone

9. Leaving the backdoor open so Jax and the cats can go in and out as they please

10. Being able to walk the dog w/out bundling up (although today I realized just how out of shape I am!)

11. Seeing the buds of new plants start to come up!!! yay ~ Spring is almost here!!

12. Getting to leave the windows open!

13. Sunshine, being outside, and not being cooped up in the house!!!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I want in a relationship:

(in honor of Valentine's Day!)

1. a best friend ~ someone you can tell anything to and feel safe

2. laughter ~ a MUST!!

3. Trust ~ so hard to recover from once it's lost

4. loyalty ~ some have said I am loyal to a fault!

5. enjoy each other's company ~ if it's torture to do something together, call it quits now!

6. not afraid to share feelings ~ I willingly admit that I am improving on this one myself!

7. supportive ~ I want to feel that my significant other has always got my back and I have his.

8. comfort ~ at the end of the day, this is who you want to see standing in the kitchen

9. love ~ this one stands alone

10. respect ~ in the way you treat each other, talk to each other, look at each other

11. family first ~ family comes first, job and all the other bs comes after

12. honesty ~ lies will destroy a relationship faster than anything ~ they just tend to build

13. FUN! You gotta have fun together!!!

Thursday Thirteen!!

13 Things I cannot live without:

(some are highly exaggerated ~ of course!!)

1. my rotten doggie ~ Jax

2. Dr. Pepper (I've started needing one first thing in the morning!)

3. my DVR (I never watch my shows the night they actually come on anymore!)

4. heated seats (I would really be sad if I had to give up heated seats in my car!! LOVE 'em!)

5. hugs (doesn't a good hug just make your day?)

6. my cleaning lady!! (I love coming home from a day at work to a clean house! And, bonus, my cleaning lady loves my critters!!)

7. my cell phone (have you ever just ran a quick errand and left it behind at home and panicked? ha!)

8. email (& now blogging too! I'm not sure how that happened, but it did!)

9. my ceramic flat-iron (I can't stand my hair unless I use it ~ of course, then sometimes I complain b/c my hair is flat! hee-hee! well duh!)

10. kisses

11. chocolate (yummmm!)

12. PJ pants (love 'em!)

13. scrapbooks!!! (you knew that would be in here somewhere!)

**My birthday wish today is that my kiddo's at school are GOOD ALL DAY! Cross your fingers and toes! LOL!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I love about February!!

1. It's my birthday month!! (8th)

2. Valentine's Day - even the kiddo's are nice to the teacher that day!

3. It usually snows!! (hee-hee! It is right now!!)

4. It's a short month...

5. ...which means, Spring is here before ya know it!

6. Trip to Hot Springs is usually fit in (for my b-day!)

7. PRESENTS!!

8. Chocolate is everywhere!!!! (teachers get LOTS of chocolate on Valentine's Day!)

9. Valentine Cards - awww!

10. Horse races

11. I am that much closer to Spring Break! ha!

12. Love is in the air...(for at least one day anyway)

13. Did I mention my birthday???

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things that Annoy me...

(I have PMS! Hence this 13 post! ha!)

1. People who drive slow in the fast lane ~ move over already!!

2. Smacking!! URGH!

3. People who blow their nose at the table! Gross!

4. Borrowing stuff and not returning it!

5. Cell phones during movies ~ turn them off!

6. Telemarketers

7. Unnecessary rudeness ~ Wal-Mart seems to be the best place to experience this!!

8. People who say they are going to do something and then don't!

9. Dial-up ~ so glad I got rid of that! I can't stand being on the computer at Mom's house! (She can't help it ~ they live in the sticks!)

10. Loud talkers

11. Long lines ~ and I always pick the worst line! ha!

12. Talking with a mouth full of food ~ yuck!

13. People who always think they are right!! (especially if they usually are! ha!)

Thursday Thirteen!

13 Reasons to Smile

1. Last day of school! (this year at least! ha!)
2. Snow days!!! (please give me just one!!!)
3. Fond memories
4. A really good bargain
5. Phone call from a friend
6. A hug
7. Hearing "I love you"
8. seeing a child smile or laugh (especially those big belly laughs!)
9. Fittin' in your skinny jeans!! (Can I get an Amen?) ha!
10. A day off!!
11. Going out to eat at a favorite restaurant
12. Receiving a compliment (especially when it's unexpected!)
13. Winning the lottery!!!!!

Thursday Thirteen

13 of my favorite things:

1. Dr. Pepper (best with Sonic ice of course!!)

2. boxers (the dog)

3. my flat iron (hate my hair without it!)

4. gift cards!! (best idea - love 'em at Christmas!!)

5. my camera (Kodak Easyshare Z740)

6. my cell phone (what did we do before those?)

7. bubble bath

8. down home southern cookin' (yum!)

9. tivo (LOVE it!!!)

10. peanut M&M's

11. Sugarland CD's (just puts me in an "up" mood)

12. automatic cat box (best invention ever!!)

13. comfy Levi's

Thursday Thirteen

Best & Worst of 2006:

(in no certain order!!)

Starting with worst so we end on a good note! :-)

Worst of 2006:

1. Having to put my beloved Rocky to sleep (one of the hardest things I've ever had to do!)

2. Jax having to have surgery almost immediately after losing Rocky. I was afraid I was losing both my boys at the same time!

3. Throwing my back completely out this summer and not being able to move!! That was painful!

4. Breaking up is hard to do ~ enough said!

5. Kevin's relapse

Best of 2006:

(the good stuff!!)

6. SUMMER ~ I had the best, carefree summer & made lots of neat new friends!

7. Watching Mom & Autumn together at the horse shows!

8. Having turkey day on my new deck instead of the garage ~ compliments of all my hard workers who volunteered to help!

9. Scrapbook nights with my girls every last Friday of the month ~ always look forward to those girls' nights!

10. Getting a CUTE physical therapist when my back went out (that was the joy in that journey! ha!)

11. Reconnecting with two of my oldest friends after a lapse of losing touch ~ Todd & Kevin.

12. Winning Teacher of the Year at the end of the school year.

13. Finding that I can open myself up to the possibility of "happy ever after" after all...

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Lori 1. I am a teacher. I teach 3rd grade at an inner city school & normally LOVE my job, but this year is challenging me in that area!! 2. I am about to be 34 next month, but I sure don't feel like it!! So, we'll just say I'm 29 again! 3. I am a major critter lover! I have a dog & 2 cats at home (who don't realize they aren't human). At school, I have goldfish, a guinea pig, and a bunny. Oh, and a pond full of goldfish in the backyard! 4. I LOVE taking pictures and scrapbooking! On the last Friday of every month, a bunch of us girls gather at my house to scrap, eat, and girl talk! (yes, it's tomorrow!! yippee!) 5. I am an aunt to a beautiful niece, Autumn. Her pictures are on here often! 6. I am with family more than anyone else. I love hosting get-togethers!! 7. I found myself single again in my 30's after over 7 years of marriage. After taking time to adjust to it, I am now loving it! 8. I cannot survive without my computer or my cell phone!! 9. I volunteer with a local boxer rescue group. I have had boxers since I was a little girl ~ they are the best dogs! 10. I am currently working on my masters in library science to be an elementary school librarian! (That doesn't mean I'm quiet by any means!!) 11. I graduated with a bussiness degree from UofA in Fayetteville and have another bachelor's degree from UALR in elementary education. 12. I am SUPER organized & can't help it! It drives some of my friends crazy!! I got on a roll just last night after taking down Christmas decorations and re-organized some cabinets in the kitchen and 2 closets! It's a sickness! ha! 13. My favorite things are a really good dessert, being with those I love, laughing, camping, scrapbooking, and seeing my dog jump around so happy to see me even if I've only been gone 30 minutes!! Whew! It's gonna be hard to come up with 13 things about different stuff each week!!! :-) (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants