Monday, May 23, 2011

The One With All the Graduations & Birthdays

This past weekend was a busy one! It was a good one, one for the record books even, but man was it busy. It's a weekend I want to remember so prepare yourself for a long post. :)

Thursday... One of my students turned 13 today. A few weeks ago she asked my coworker and me to rap for her birthday. Of course we had to oblige. So I sat down during lunch and wrote a short rap. I quickly learned that writing raps is not one of my God-given talents. But I came up with something for her. We practiced once and then 7th period rolled around and it was time. Word got around and let's just say my classroom was packed. I had my class, my coworker's class, a few strays, and my principal in there for the show. The birthday girl loved her rap. She laughed the whole time. I don't think she thought we would really do it. So....without any further ado, here is our country rap.


As soon as the last bell rang, I jumped in the car and headed two hours north to see my cousin, Tyler, graduate from high school. On the way there I was driving behind a little Mazda 3. 5 or 6 good size rocks flew out from under her car. Two of them hit my windshield and put huge cracks in it. GRRR!!! I was not a happy camper. I will be getting a new windshield now. Thanks lady! Anyways....made it in time to get a seat at my cousin's graduation. He opened the ceremony with a prayer. Today was also my little brother's birthday. He turned 24. After graduation I treated him to a Mexican birthday dinner. The husband and I gave him a concert ticket for his birthday. He will be going to see 3 Doors Down in July.

Friday ...I spent the night with parents since I took my personal day today. I slept in which was so nice. Another one of my cousins was graduating from high school tonight. Originally I wasn't going to be able to go so I didn't bring the appropriate clothes. My plans changed and I was going to be able to make it so I headed to town to do a little shopping. I found a dress that would suffice and some shoes that I love. They came from Payless. I bought them in black but I want them in every color. While I was out shopping, a downpour occurred. It got eerie dark very quick and just start pouring. Because of the nasty weather my cousin's graduation was moved from the football field at the high school to a local community college. The college is a much smaller venue and because of the change each graduate was only allowed 8 guest. I didn't make the cut. Since I back to not going to the graduation, I decided to head on home. I had plenty to do here at home. On the way home I decided to stop and return the dress I had just bought. I didn't love it enough to keep it. I returned it and bought another dress, a swimsuit, and a nightgown. SCORE!

Saturday ...I woke up fairly early and started cleaning house. We were expecting a little guest so the house had to be straightened. Husband said we were cleaning for the queen. HA!! After an hour of cleaning I took a break to go tan and go to Zumba. Let me just tell you class 2 wasn't any easier than the first one. After an hour of Zumba I headed back home to finish cleaning and to get ready for another graduation. Our nephew, Tyler, graduated from high school as well. This was my first homeschool graduation. Oh my goodness...I was not expecting to cry so much. They played a slide shoe for each graduate and this his or her parents spoke directly to their child while presenting him or her with a diploma. After the ceremony there was a reception for the graduates. In was at the reception that Husband and I were left with this little cutie. Alex was in a wedding today. Jill had to leave early to go to the wedding. Husband and I were blessed to get to love on Miss Amelia. She is such a good little girl. We went to eat with some family after the reception. I'll admit I was a little apprehensive. We have never been responsible for a little one at a restaurant. But I figured there wasn't a better behaved little girl for our first experience and we had our fam there to help. Surely we could survive. And of course, we had our secret weapon....Pryce. :) Amelia LOVES her some Pryce. She was such a sweet little girl. She only got upset once when Pryce and Aunt Joy left the table. HA! After she ate her pizza, we let her drive a car. She really liked this. I asked if she was ready to go bye bye. She said no. From there we headed home. Amelia watched the puppies out the window with her Drew. Let me tell you, she was all about some Drew. :) They sat there and watched the puppies for probably half an hour. When Liam Bailey would run toward the window, she would shake her hands and say no no no and then cling to Drew. It was soooo sweet. Made me cry. When she was finished puppy watching, it was bath time. She quickly figured out that Aunt E doesn't have any bath toys. We did the best we could. Once she was bathed and pj'd, we curled up on the couch to watch Father of the Bride 2. Sweet girl barely made it past the opening credits before she passed out. I truly enjoyed loving on her for the evening. Oh yeah...before she fell asleep Drew went to lay down in the bedroom. Amelia kept asking, "Where Drew go?" so I took her in the bedroom and told her he was sleeping. He pretended to be asleep. After that I would ask her where Drew went and she would say, "Drew night night." And then tell me to Shhh. Seriously. I love this little girl!!


This little girl turned 4 on Saturday! Can't leave her out I'll save Sunday for another post. This one has gotten way to long and out of hand. If you made it this far, THANKS

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Happy Birthday!!

My baby brother turns 24 today!! Seth, thank you for being the best little brother. I'm so proud of the man you have become!! I pray daily for God to bless you with a good wife. I know He has the perfect woman for you. Love you bunches!!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Death by Exercise A.K.A. Zumba

The gym where the husband and I are members quit having my cardio dance class back in February. :( I have really missed it. I've done the treadmill a couple of times since then, but I just don't enjoy it as much.

They have started having Zumba classes. It is $5 at the door with no commitment. They have Zumba Dance on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings and Zumba Toning (with weights) on Monday nights.

I decided to go tonight. Lately I've been feeling the need to workout and get into shape. I sent my friend Amanda a text and invited her. To be honest, I didn't think she would join me. I was both shocked and thrilled when I got a text back saying she wanted to join me.

Let me just tell you....that was a workout. I am not a sweater. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a girl and its not lady like. I'm really not. But when we finished tonight, I was soaking wet with sweat. So Gross!!! I came home and immediately weighed myself, certain that I had lost 5 lbs in sweat. Seriously.

It was a lot of fun though. I'm going back next Wednesday night. I don't think I'm ready for doing this with weights yet. I'll build up to that.

Our instructor reminded me of Pauly Shore in Son-in-Law. She was funny. And man can she shake her booty. That's a big part of Zumba - being able to shake your booty. I will be practicing in the bathroom mirrow when the husband isn't around. :) If you know how to shake your booty and walk forward in a salsa like motion, I'm open to pointers.

I'm exhausted. My right foot hurts. That bunionectomy is still a little sensitive. But I had a blast. The hour went by fast and I'm glad. I was plumb wore out by the end. I lost what little coordination I had to begin with.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Just Life

It's been almost two weeks since I've posted. The reason? Just Life.

Since my last post....

**We've celebrated Mother's Day spending time with both of our Mommas. The husband and I are truly blessed to have these two wonderful women in our lives.


**I received a note on my desk from a student this past week. It had two words on it followed by my name. It wasn't a very nice note. To be honest, it broke my heart. Even though I know they are just kids, it really bothered me. I don't know what I did to make anyone say those words to me.

**I've been struggling with my body image lately. I feel like I look awful in everything I try to wear. Yesterday before I walked out of the house for work, the husband told me I looked hot. :) He has been so sweet lately.

In fact he has been the best husband ever lately. He's just been doing little things here and there that have made me feel so incredibly loved.

**My 10 year class reunion is coming up. It's driving me crazy. I don't feel adequate enough in so many ways to be going, but at the same time I'm not ready to say I'm not going. I'm so completely wish washy on the whole situation. I'll say I want to go and then change my mind and say I'm not going all in the same breath. I feel like the whole event will be fake conversations that I don't want to deal with, but I also think I will feel left out if I don't go.

Yes I know that I sound very juvenile right now. One more thing I'm not pleased about right now.

Wow! I really didn't mean for this post to turn into me whining. Sorry.

Oh the plus side. I only have 14 days (I think) of school left!!! Whooo Hooo!!!!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Tuesday Tunes: God is Enough

There is so much going through my mind today. I've started several post and then deleted them. I'm struggling with getting my thoughts into words. I want to write about a few topics, but I'm not sure how yet. God hasn't given me the words. Maybe I'm not even supposed to share.

I just don't know.

One thing I will tell you is that God has been speaking John 3:30 to me consistently for the past couple of weeks.

" He must increase, but I must decrease."




Lately I've been depending on my own strength and ability. I have convinced myself I'm capable of doing life without Him.

I've been feeling a desire to get closer to Him for awhile now. A couple of months ago he gave me a verse from James.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:8

I've been praying this verse ever since, but it was like I couldn't figure out how to draw near to Him.

Now I know. I have to decrease. I have to lower myself on the list of priorities and move Him back to the top. It's where He belongs. It's what he deserves.

I don't belong there.

I heard a song on the Dove Awards that sparked this journey. It's by an artist known as Lecrae. It's not normally the kind of music I listen to, but I was immediately drawn to this song. Natalie Grant joins him in this song singing that God is enough, more than enough.

He is all I need. He is all that matters.

I will be the background and let him lead.


So here's something a little different this week - Lecrae and Natalie Grant singing Background and God is Enough. I hope you enjoy it.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

First on the First

The last few months Amy has posted some of her family's firsts on the first day of the month. I thought this was a cute idea and have been meaning to do it, but the first always sneaks up on me. I'm finally going to do my own first on the first today.

**Liam Bailey's first baseball game. He LOVED it!!!


**My first (and hopefully last) surgery

**Our first Razorback Baseball game


**The first time I met my brown dog.


**The first picture I saw of the boy.

**Our first moment as husband and wife