What I'm Loving Wednesday

{one}

Football season is upon us and fall is right around the corner.  I am so ready for fall.  Crisp colorful leaves.  Scarfs. Boots.  I love it at all.

{two}

Getting to send postcards bragging on my students to their parents.

{three}

I love the ceiling in this bedroom.  Andrew and I have been discussing plans to do this or something very similar in our bedroom.  We have coffered ceilings in our living room, dining room, and front room already.  I just love that he has fallen in love with my vision for our bedroom and is excited about this project.

{four}

I had a chance to sit down and actually read this past weekend.  It seems like forever since I've really enjoyed a novel.  I especially love a good Amish story.  My sister-in-law, Joy Beth, got me hooked on them.  

{five}

A new season of 19 Kids and Counting started yesterday.  I just adore this family and their show.  

What are you loving right now?

Snow Day #9

I'm home enjoying yet another snow day.  Today makes #9 for my school district.

Goodbye Summer Vacation!  It was nice knowing you!

Seriously...I don't remember ever missing this many days in one year.  

But I'm trying to choose a positive attitude and enjoy the time at home and not think about having to make up all of these missed days.

Our little town is beautiful right now.  

Andrew has been working at home so Snow Days have allowed me a little extra time with him.  We get to sit down together and have lunch each day.  

Snow Days mean trying new recipes and laughing when they completely fail.

I tried a new recipe from Pinterest last night.  It was a MAJOR fail!  

I have yet to try to a recipe from Pinterest that wasn't a fail.

I'm going to blame Pinterest! 

It can't possibly be me or the fact that I don't like cooking and am not very good at it.

I posted this picture last night of the aftermath of our dinner.

The caption included some of the quotes that came out of my sweet husband's mouth over the course of attempting to eat this chicken crescent roll thing.

"Would you be interested in taking cooking lessons?"

"Now we're figuring out how to eat this."

"Time for dessert.  What do you want?  A turkey sandwich?"

 One thing is for sure...He makes me laugh.

Snow Days also mean lots of time to watch my new favorite TV show.

I've also had lots of time to search Pinterest for a new haircut.  It is time for a change.  My hair is pretty thin and does better with a shorter cut.  

I sort of like this cut, but it is WAY out of my comfort zone.  I've been texting it to my friends to get their opinion.  So far the look has gotten mixed reviews.

Andrew isn't a fan at all.  I'm not sure I'm brave enough to go this short.   

I just know I'm ready for something different.

Unfortunately, snow days also mean time to work on taxes.  YUCK! 

But it has to be done.

Have to focus on the positive...like my beautiful view of Sugarloaf Mountain.

God's creation.  It's amazing!

Five on Friday

Not only is it Friday, but Christmas break has officially begun!  Yay!!

I'm linking up today for some Five on Friday fun.

Here we go.

ONE.

Andrew and I both went to the orthodontist earlier this week.  It was Andrew's 2nd visit and my 1st.  I have an appointment to get a second opinion at the beginning of the year.  We've both wanted to do this for awhile and we decided to just do it.  We are going to do it together and suffer together.  The orthodontist we saw this week wants to pull four of my teeth to make some room.  This doesn't surprise me.  My mouth is small and overcrowded.  However, I'm really hoping the 2nd opinion doesn't involve pulling teeth.  Just the thought causes me to have a near panic attack.

TWO.

Have you been watching The Sing Off?  I am so excited that this show is back.  I LOVE it.  I think this show has my favorite judges.  Ben Folds and Shawn from Boyz II Men crack me up!!  I like Jewel too.  I wasn't sure about her at first.  I hope she sticks around.

My favorite part of the show is texting with my little brother.  We watch together through text messaging.  It is fun!  We hardly ever agree on the same groups, but I think this year we have pretty much agreed.  We are both hoping Home Free wins.  We will get to watch the finale together Monday night. 

THREE.

I have recently decided that it was time for the ol' blog to get a new look.  I guess I've been spoiled because I had no idea blog designs had gotten so expensive.  I found a few that I liked on etsy, but then my sweet friend Miranda announced that she was going back into the business starting in January.  I could not be more excited about this.  I'm trying hard to wait patiently for her return.  In the mean time I'm planning it all out so that when the time does come I will know exactly what I want.

FOUR.

We had our class Christmas parties Wednesday.  I was absolutely blown away by the gifts I received my students.  They were so sweet.  We had this thing at school called Reindeer Lane where students could go and buy gifts for their family and friends.  One sweet boy in my homeroom bought me a gift from there.  He brought wrapping paper from home to wrap it for me.  

Boy: I bought you a present at Reindeer Lane Mrs. Weaver?

Me: Oh yeah?  That was really sweet of you.

Boy: It is one of the expensive items.  It cost $3.

Two days later I open it.  It's a photo item.  He tells me he figured I liked pictures and photo albums because I teach scrapbooking after school.

BREAK MY HEART.  $3 is a lot of money to this kid.  

I received 4 owl warmers - all different and I love every one of them. 

I definitely went home Wednesday feeling incredibly blessed and loved by my precious students.

FIVE.

Early last month I ordered a pair of leggings online.  Ever since I've been looking for a shirt to go with them.  I bought two that were complete failures.  I finally found one that works perfectly.  Thank you OLD NAVY!  I'll share a pic of this outfit soon.  

Midweek Randoms

I'm home with an awful stomach bug today so I thought I would take advantage of this time and get caught up here on the old blog.

Andrew and I close on the house two weeks from today.  I don't think I have ever been so excited about moving.  We view this home as our forever home.  I don't plan on moving ever again after this.  This is it.

The thing I'm most excited about is getting to host our families for the holidays.  I have already been planning and thinking about ways to make it extra special.

Since several of them will be spending the night with us we have also been shopping for bedding.  We have four guest rooms in the new house.  I know how I want to decorate one of them.  I am not 100% sure about the other three, but I feel like I have to hurry up and decide.  I'm thinking about just doing neutral colors for now and then I can add color later with pillows and other decor.

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Yesterday my coworkers and I took our students to the Greers Ferry Dam 50th Anniversary celebration.  It was neat to be a part of this small piece of history.

Arkansas Governor Mike Bebee spoke.

President Clinton also spoke.  I don't think my students really knew who he was, but they thought it was pretty cool to see a former president.  With ever important looking car or figure they would ask if it was the president.

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Andrew and I have a new favorite show.  It is rare that we find something we both like but we love Cutthroat Kitchen

Have you seen it?  If not you need too!  I'm not sure that it is supposed to be funny but Andrew and I laugh until we cry.

Whatever is true...

I don’t even know where to begin. There has been so much going on in my head lately and more importantly in my heart.

For the past several weeks, God has been placing different things and people in my life to help me realize some things.

It’s no secret that I daydream about the children that I hope Andrew and I will have someday. In the past those daydreams have always been about names, nurseries, showers, and family time. Not bad things to dream about. But lately my daydreams or thoughts have taken a different direction. During one of our many conversations about the right time to have kids Andrew made the statement that he just didn’t feel we were ready spiritually. I have to confess I was offended by that. I didn’t know how he could think that, after all we are (and were at the time) both Christians who go to church. Funny how even though I knew then that there was more to it than that, I thought that would be sufficient for my children someday.

Lately I catch myself doing things and I think to myself, I don’t want to do this in front of my kids someday so why am I doing it now. I’ve had this thought while I’m texting or checking facebook while driving. I don’t want my teenager doing that so I have to set the example not to. I had this thought awhile back when I was meeting Andrew after work. I had gone out of my way to get something to eat and for a reason unknown to me I didn’t want him to know about it. So when he called and asked where I was, I lied. I instantly thought what if my child were sitting in this car listening to me. I’m lying and over something so silly. Andrew wouldn’t care if I ate. I’m pretty sure he wishes I would eat more. :)

Then I had the thought that while my future children are what prompted all this, there is someone who is with me always watching me. I’m doing these things before the Lord. I have heard people ask what do you want to be doing when the Lord returns. What will he catch you in? That is just silly. God is not going to get here and be shocked by what he finds me or you doing. He is with us always and already knows what we are doing. He has already caught us.

A week or two ago I was in a bad place because a family member had hurt my feelings. I knew that this family member had no idea of the fact, yet I continued to dwell on it. I had sent Andrew an email about it in the middle of the day and in his response he included a scripture.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admireable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

I can’t tell you the number of times God has given me this verse in the past couple of weeks. I haven’t been able to figure out why he keeps giving it to me. After the message Brother David shared at church yesterday, I think I’m beginning to figure it out.

I have sin in my life. I have been ignoring that fact. I’ve been ranking sins and comparing myself to others. I’ve been trying to make myself look good.

I watch things on TV that are not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable. God told me yesterday to stop watching those things.

I might have thrown a little fit in response. I really like those TV shows. But I know they aren’t what I need, so I’m giving them up. Satan tried very hard to convince me otherwise. He was almost successful. It was hard to delete these shows off my DVR, but they are gone. My DVR is no longer scheduled to record these shows.

I’m asking God to forgive me and help me rid myself of my “secret” sins. Besdies they aren’t a secret. He knows about them.

I pray that in the weeks to come and for the rest of my life God will keep reminding me of Philippians 4:8.

6 Years, TV, & Scrapbooking

Andrew and I enjoyed our day together today as we celebrated 6 years of marriage. The day wasn't too different than any other day. We slept in which was very nice. When we finally rolled out of bed, we got ready and headed to lunch. We ate at Appleebees, our standard anniversary dinner. It is where we went on our first date and it is where eat each year on our anniversary. After lunch, we went to see a movie, another typical anniversary date activity. We saw Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakel. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in this movie. It had funny parts, but I liked the first one much better.

After our lunch and movie date we came home to take a nap. Now Andrew is in the garage working on my scrapbook desk. It is really coming along. I'm so excited about it. I promise to post pictures as soon as he is finished.

I'm laying in bed watching TV and trying to decide if I'm prepared to go back to work tomorrow or not. I still have some things to do, but I think I'm good to get through tomorrow. I will work during my prep and stay after school to finish up what I need to do.

I'm getting a little stressed because we have people coming to inspect us due to the fact that we are in trouble for our test scores. They supposedly talk to every teacher. I'm so scared of saying the wrong thing and getting our school in trouble. This little investigation is going to cause me to be staying late after school quite a bit over the next month. I'm also applying for a tutor job that if I get will take up a lot of my time. There is also a big decision regarding Student Council that I need to make. It is something I've been praying about but still feel unsure as to which way to go.


Back to my TV watching. I have to tell you that I'm looking forward to the season premiere of two shows tomorrow night. They are definitely guilty pleasures. One is The Secret Life of an American Teenager. I'm watching a marathon of it right now. The other is Make it Or Break It. Does anyone else watch either of these shows? They are definitely for teenagers, but I'm addicted to them all the same.

What are your guilty pleasures when it comes to TV?


On to Scrapbooking... I decided to scrapbook my Christmas cards. Well Sorta. I'm really just putting them on Christmas themed paper. Nothing to elaborate. I went this route because I found a red leather 12X12 postbound album at Hobby Lobby for $5. Can't beat that. In the process of getting ready to start working on them last night, I found our cards from last year. I decided it only made sense to start with them. I've gotten all of those done and hope to have this year's cards done by the end of the week.

I'm also starting Project 365 again this year. Some of you may remember me working on this last year. I made it to March before I got behind and quit. This is a project where you take a picture each day of the year and journal about your day. Several people are doing it by the week instead of the day this year because they didn't finish it last year. I thought about doing it that way, but I'm determined to do Project 365. So far so good this... granted we are only 3 days in. I made my layout for this week Friday night. I figure if I have the layout made before the week starts, I can journal each day. Hopefully this will help me to complete the project. I will be sharing some of this as time goes on. I really hate that I didn't finish last year. Some really great days happened both before and after I quit. Thankfully I did blog about most of them. :)

I guess that is enough rambling for tonight. Don't forget about my giveaway. I will be drawing the winner first thing tomorrow morning before I leave for school.