In case you were wondering...

...there are only 6 more days until Kevin comes home. I know you are ALL counting down the days too (if only so I will shut-up about it!) It is going to be a little strange at first...I am jittery nervous like a first date or something. ha! We are so blessed to get to wipe the slate clean and start over fresh. (Not that anyone would want to go through what we did to get here! ha!) He has already asked what I want to eat the first week he is home. I am working on my menu...the weight is about to pack back on! ha! And, the grocery bill is about to go WAAAAY back up!! But it's all good! :-)

Now, I have to go put the finishing touches on my Master's project and be done with it! woohoo!

Don't forget to say a prayer for Audrey's surgery in the morning!

2 weeks!!

In two short weeks Kevin will be home! woohoo! I brought home the first carload of stuff today - yippee!! It was so good to see him...with me missing visiting last week because of the scrap retreat, well, it made for a long two weeks no matter how much I needed a girls weekend! The moment I saw him all my stress and worries were gone...he really is my bestest friend and soulmate and I am so ready to have his messy self home! ha!

On another note, only two more Saturday classes for my Master's class - thank goodness! I have one class on the 14th and a big project due that day. urgh! Then, April 4th is the final. I looked at the summer schedule and both classes I need to finish ARE being offered. Unfortunately, one is first session and one is second session, so I'll have to be class all summer, but I am going to try to get in because I am ready to be DONE! Wish me luck that they don't fill up before I get in!! :-)

Almost Monday already?

Time flies!! It can't almost be Monday already! I haven't had a weekend yet!!! Seriously, last week was yuck - way too much going on and my stress was HIGH. I had a full blown migraine by Friday night. But, it is all over now. That week is behind me, AND I got all my work done - masters work - check, all papers graded - check, entered in edline - check, interims printed and complete - check, parent conference forms typed and ready - check! As a result, I refuse to bring ANY work home this week! :-) It all stays at work ~ especially since I have to stay and hold parent conferences all week.

Remember the best way to handle overload? Reward system! heehee! So.....I have my eye on the prize this week...the countdown is ON! I can make it through this week to get to SCRAPBOOK RETREAT WEEKEND! Yee-haw!!

Spring Class

Here's the skinny on my master's class this spring ~

I had my first class this weekend and considering I am getting my Master's in Library Media, I thought it was kind of funny that this is the first class I've actually had IN the library!! (and I'm almost finished!) I'm not going to lie to you - it's a LONG day, but luckily instead of 8 am to 4 pm. The professor is cutting it back to 9 am to 3 pm....every little bit helps!

In my master's classes, most of the students are my age (mid-30's) or forever 29, however you want to look at it! ha! Well, this semester there are two girls in the class who apparently decided to get their master's straight after finishing their bachelor's. So, we had to look at two stylish hottie's in their twenties all day and wonder when WE all got old!! And of course, by the end of the day, there was that ONE classmate who got on everyone's nerves!! It is amazing how there is always ONE who won't shut-up, knows everything, and asks too many questions when everyone is ready to leave. She may not survive the semester! LOL!

Work wise ~ I think this class is going to be a good class. The professor started off by saying he knew we all had full-time jobs and a life outside of his class. Very good sign!! :-) Now, 5 more Saturday's, 4 small assignments, 2 big assignments, 4 quizzes, some chapter reading and a final to go.....

Busy Days Ahead...

Well, my Master's classes start back this Saturday, and when I put everything on my calendar....LOOK OUT! Not one free weekend until the first of March! Yikes!! I better sleep in and enjoy my day off Monday for MLK Jr. Day, because I won't get to sleep in again for awhile. Unless, we get a snow day sometime... :-)

This is my last class on Saturday's though...whew! I'll let you know after Saturday, but I heard this class won't be too bad. Fingers crossed!! After having two months off from taking classes, it is going to take a bit to get me back in the groove. I just have to keep saying, 'only three to go, only three to go'.

Besides classes, there are Autumn's basketball games (fun), fundraisers at John 3:16 (fun), and are you ready for this one???? A FULL weekend of SCRAPBOOKING at a scrapbook retreat in Hot Springs with 3 other scrappin' buddies (double fun!). Yep, life is busy, but life is GOOD!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

From the infamous Reba/Kelly concert night of "Three Blondes and who has the tickets"....which one of us do you think forgot them? HA!

And....big news...got my final and my grade today for my master's class....Guess who got an A!!!! Whoo-hoo!

Freedom!!

I just have to SHOUT it out that I am FINISHED with my Master's class!!!! I have two months off from all the extra work that keeps me from doing things that I really want to do ~ like scrapbook and actually read NOVELS, not textbooks!!! Woo-hoo!!! My class is O.V.E.R.!! No more classes until January 17th!! Yee-haw!

Can I also just say how excited I am to only have 3 classes to go???? One in the Spring (my last Saturday class) and two during summer I. Cross your fingers I get registered in the summer classes before they fill up. I don't want to drag this out any longer. This time next year, I will be able to say I have my Master's and a big, fat raise!!!! Woo-hoo!

Now....which James Patterson book can I read first? :-)

Weekend Report

I had a great weekend!! I studied Friday night for my final and felt really good about knowing my material, but I was most excited about surprising Kevin the next day!! John 3:16 was having an event for Veteran's and guests could attend. He wasn't expecting me because with my final, I didn't think I could make it. Well, I found a way (thank you Jared for house sitting!).

Saturday, I burned up the Arkansas highways for sure - first I drove to Conway to take my final. A two part final! yuck! Oh, and I had a presentation. I HATE presentations!! But, I made it through (mainly because it was a group presentation!). Then, we started our final. I am a bit nervous because I was the first one finished. And in hind sight, I wish I had double-checked it. But, I really just wanted to get on the road to my next destination! ha!

So...I burned up the roads for the next two hours heading from Conway to Batesville and was so early, I had to stop and shop in Searcy to kill time!! LOL!

Here is the drive going into John 3:16 ~ They added the flags for the veteran's. Anyway...Kevin was SO surprised to see me. It was fun getting to surprise him. The other guys helped me out when I got there because he was in the kitchen and they acted like they needed him to come out and help them with something. When he opened the door, there I was and he yelled and hugged me so big, my feet came up off the ground! ha! I don't think we stopped smiling all night!! It was an added bonus that I got to see him two days this weekend!!

(this picture is from today:) The Veteran's service was really, really good!! They did a fantastic job of honoring them. You would have to have a very cold heart not to be moved by that service!! After the service, I spent the night at my Mom's since it's only 45 minutes away. Then, I got to go back this morning!! woo-hoo! If you can't tell by the pictures - Kevin is at about 34 lbs. lighter these days! This is him with his parents today:

I could keep rambling on and on...but I'll stop!! Just keep the prayers coming and keep him in your thoughts.
Check out their website if you have time - they have made updates: www.john316ministry.com

Skipping School

I stayed home from work today (shhhh!), but I had good reasons!! Honest! I needed to organize all my notes and make a study guide and start studying for my final on Saturday. I also had a doctor's appointment at 3...technically still could've gone to work if that were ALL I had on my plate today! :-)

The good news from today is that my advisor told me I needed one less class than I thought I did to graduate. So, after Saturday, I only have 3 to go. The bad news - only one of the ones I need is offered this summer! Bummer! So, it will still be next school year before my master's is finished! But, the end is SOOO close!

My doctor's appointment today made me feel really old. How does time fly so fast? How did I get to the age that the doctor tells me my chances of ever having a child are going to start dropping more and more each year now...that my chances of having a baby with downs start going up...and I need to start thinking about mammograms??? REALLY? When did I get old? Apparently at around age 35...hmmmm...Needless to say, I headed straight to Krispy Kreme after my appointment. Nothing like a hot donut and some Dr. Pepper to cheer me up! Well, that and a panicked phone to my BFF, Michelle that my time is running out, and I may never be a Mom. Thanks Michelle for calming right down!!! I need to send you a counseling fee! LOL!

T.G.I.F.

Happy it's Friday for several reasons:

**I have my last conference!! Woo-hoo! (even if it is with hip dad)
**It's scrap night! YIPPEE!!! Good food, good company, and scrappin'!!
**After tomorrow, I only have one, yes ONE, class left for this Master's class I am taking. Then, I get my Saturday's back for awhile! Maybe my yard will get mowed...ha!
**Only two days until I get to see Kevin! :-)

Happy Friday!

Buried under work...

Four days without students! Tomorrow is Teacher Record Day and boy do I have records to work on!! I have to put stuff back on walls from the painters AND finish up grades, enter them in the computer, print grade reports and a few other reports, fill out report cards, fill out parent conference forms, fill out AIP's, get organized for next week, AND fill out paperwork and plan a lesson for an observation by my principal. Think I can get all that done in the 4 hours I am on contract tomorrow? No...probably not. I am betting it will be tomorrow ALL day and some of Saturday. It will get done though, and I will be ready for my parent conferences Monday!! (except for maybe that one - see post below!) ha!

Have I done anything for my Master's class that is Saturday? NO! I have been catching up on grading papers and entering grades in the computer all week. Who the heck has time to read chapters? I hope I can flub my way through...surely I can! :-)

I am going to visit Kevin again on Sunday, so that is my shining, happy moment for the workload lately.

Did I tell you?

**My classroom was painted, and I had to put EVERYTHING in the middle of the room...Friday was miserable! Today, the kids helped me put it back together and tomorrow things should be back to normal. That being said, I still smell paint, and I've been home for HOURS!

**My niece, Tayhlor is spending the week with me. My Bubby is out of town. I get to practice this mom thing and send her home at the end of the week. Ha! So far, so good. Although, I don't think she was impressed with my chili dogs tonight. :-)

**My midterm is Saturday...already!

**Only 6 more days, and I finally get to see Kevin! Yee-haw!

This, That and the Other...

• Got my grade for my summer Master's class. I made my 2nd B. Boo-hiss! But Kevin did remind me that this was a self-teach class where she gave assignments and said go at it. We had no guidance, and most of the final was copyright laws. URGH! That test was hard, and I could study for weeks and probably not do any better.
• My class next semester is on Saturdays from 8 to 4:30...get ready for some complaining! ha! It's only 6 times...it's only 6 times...that's what I have to keep repeating AND I only have 5 classes to go! :-)
• I have been working hard on my classroom. I moved some stuff around where it feels new to me. I just keep thinking in the back of mind, "It's gonna suck when they paint in a month, and I have to re-do this!" At first, they told us we would even have to empty out closets and cabinets, but now only if we want the insides painted. I am thinking what do I care what the inside of my cabinets and closet looks like? It's storage!! (Pictures to come soon of my finished room!!)
• We got our class list today. So far, I have only 19 kids on my list. That means I have room for four more. I hope I get them in the next few days, because I'd rather start with them than have them enter later in the year. Teachers, you know what I mean? It's harder to get them into the routines and stuff.
• Apparently this class may be a hand-full, so I may have some stories to tell this year. I don't know, I have a hard time going by kids past experiences because sometimes they have trouble with one teacher and not another. They also mature a bit from year to year. And, I'm sorry, but I can't help but think that a bad class at this school is NOTHING compared to where I was teaching!! I am only listening to positive comments about my class list. I prefer to start fresh...now, if I'm pulling my hair out in a few weeks, remind me of my optimism toward my new class! LOL!

Vacation is officially over...

Tomorrow I go back to work. After two months off, I am ready. I admit it! I really did surprise myself and not get bored this summer, but taking my Masters class in July helped. I still don't know my grade but that should come next week.

I have gone to the school twice already this week and worked in my room for a few hours. I love getting everything ready for the new year and deciding what to do differently and what worked and should stay the same. I will take pictures of the room when I finish. The only bummer about the room is that our building is getting painted but not until mid-September. So....we are going to have to take EVERYTHING down when they paint our rooms and then put it back up again. Why didn't they paint this summer? Good question! Big district and scheduling issues apparently...

Tomorrow it will be fun to see everyone (except for the sitting through meetings part! urgh!)

I went shopping with my Mom and niece today for back to school stuff and got myself a first day outfit. ha! Can you tell I'm ready to go back to school?

Happy Friday Everyone!

Check this out!

For one my assignments in my Master's class, we had to investigate 5 books on the list of highly banned or challenged books. I was surprised at some of these books on the list,and others I knew had controversy. As a lover of books and reading, I thought this was interesting. Check out this list from the American Library Associations website. Do any on the list surprise you? How many of these books have you read? I highlighted mine.


The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999
Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Witches by Roald Dahl
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
The Goats by Brock Cole
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
Blubber by Judy Blume
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
Jack by A.M. Homes
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Carrie by Stephen King
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
Jumper by Steven Gould
Christine by Stephen King
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Thursday Ramblings of the Week

Things of note this week:

• I started my Master's class on Monday. At first, I was irritated b/c basically the professor met with us and gave us all our assignments and due dates, and we are on our own. We meet a total of two other times to present our PowerPoint's to each other. But then, I thought, this is great for summer. I can work at my own pace and on my own time. I can still piddle in the flowerbeds in the mornings, and in the heat of the afternoon I can do my class work. Win-Win! Right? We'll see!?!?
• Tuesday, I was hit with a nasty summer flu bug. Oh my, it was not nice!! I spent ALL day in bed and couldn't keep a thing down. I haven't been that sick in a LONG time!!
• Then, on Wednesday, my Mom and niece, Autumn came to town to go visiting all the horse tack stores. I gathered up all my strength from being all sickly the day before to go with them...now, you know that was for the enjoyment of the company and the not the stores they were visiting! ha! I mean, you gotta be a horse nut like those two to get enjoyment out of the stores we were in! But it was fun.
• Today, I am cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. This place goes downhill fast when I am down and out. It is a sight! urgh!
• This weekend is camping though, and I am pumped!!! Woo-hoo!
• Oh, and if you missed it, you gotta give some love to that Wordless Wednesday of Jacob! LOL! I love it!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

**Is that pic not the cutest???? I don't know him - just a pic I snapped at Autumn's horse show.

***AND ~ I made an A in my master's class!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

Borderline....

Well...I got my final back today, and I made a 92% (which in my Masters program is a B+...a 93% and up is an A). So....that means, I have a borderline grade! It all hinges on the last assignment I turned in that he hasn't graded yet. It is 10% of my grade, but if I make an A, then I have an A average for the class. If I make a B, my average will be a 92% B. BORDERLINE!!! That is worse than having a solid B b/c I almost made it! Cross those fingers and toes people!! LOL!

Updates, Rewards & Happenings

Work Updates:

First, the kids are hyper!!! Hello! It is definitely spring & close to summer, but I still love 'em. Also, I have to share that we have just finished an awesome book. Have you heard of A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace? They were hooked!! It was our read-aloud book for the past two weeks, and it is a great feeling when you pick a book that everytime you stop reading, they beg you to read just a little bit more. Well, today we finished it, and I was so into the book myself that I cried a little at the end and had a few kids cry too. It was THAT good! Plus, they ALL passed their Accelerated Reader test on it. It is technically a 4th grade book if you are interested. Ok - enough of that....

Here are my work BFF's...

Yesterday, 3 of us hosted a baby shower for the preggo one...can you guess which one? I noticed that I probably shouldn't have worn that shirt. It's not me - it's the one in the red dress - promise! :-) She had a good turn out, and we had a great time. We had it on the patio of a restaurant after school instead of at the school - much more relaxing!

Masters Update:

I just finished my final ~ woo-hoo!!!! And, I feel really good about it. My grade could go either way ~ an A or a B. I have a low A without the final and my last assignment, so we will see! Fingers crossed, but either way, I am happy b/c I really did my best.

And, the best part is that it is reward time ~ yee-haw!

I will be seeing Sugarland and Little Big Town in concert on Saturday night!!! Kevin update:

How 'bout a picture of us when we were 16 to make you smile? hee-hee Look at that hair!

He is back on track. Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and emails. I cannot express to you how much it means to me (and him) that people are supportive and don't give up on him. As long as he is trying, then it isn't failure!!! He gets mad at me when I post anything about it (especially a slip), but then he reads all your comments, so I feel like even though he may not like it, he gets something positive from it. Because let's face it, I am not going to shut-up about it ~ I have to get things out there to feel better about it and get to a good place so I can help him!

Anyway - we love ya! Have a great weekend and remember ~ I'll be at the Sugarland concert! hee-hee!

It's only Tuesday???

This week is dragging....could it have anything to do with BENCHMARK TESTING! I want my classroom back to normal, and I have two days to go! It's soooo boring - just walking in circles all morning and not being able to interact with the kids. I do get to be a cheerleader for "show what you know" during the breaks though. Oh, and I had one pee on herself yesterday in the middle of the test!!!! I FELT so bad for her, and even though this little girl can be a bit of a bully sometimes my kids were really sweet to her about it! I was so proud of them!!

Besides the benchmark test, it is also tax week. I usually don't even realize when this week rolls around b/c my taxes are done in February, so I can get my refund and spend!! Kevin, however, rolls a whole other way...we are so opposite in so many ways! ha! So, last night his procrastination became OUR emergency....and we got them finished! Whew...I was not a happy camper, but he bought me dinner at a nice restaurant...so I forgive him! LOL! (plus next year, I am just doing them when I do mine...the organizer/planner in me has already made him a file -it's sickening isn't it? hee-hee!)

Not much else going on here - I just turned in my LAST assignment for my Master's class. We meet this Thursday to study for the final and then that's it! yipee! I am planning a baby shower for a co-worker/friend that is having a little boy and doing the nursery in sock monkeys...remember those? Oh, and my niece, Tayhlor and I went to Petsmart today and got some fish for the backyard pond...other than that...it's testing, testing, testing...urgh!