A Lifetime of Love

TJ and I saw the most awesome movie about 6 weeks ago. It literally was the best movie I have ever seen, and I highly suggest paying the high cost of admission to go see it (or at least rent it when it's available!) As an educator (almost!) and having just finished a course on teaching science in the elementary grades, I can relate to how many of these educators feel- the curriculum is very restrictive and state and federal regulations make it difficult to present a non-biased position (they promote evolution). Anyway, here is an article I found and again, I urge EVERYONE to go see this movie, especially if you have children in public education . You need to know what they are being taught, especially if it goes against your religious beliefs like it does mine. Then, after you see the movie, demand answers from school district officials as to why only one viewpoint is presented in the curriculum (in SC curriculum standards, creation is viewed as a religious "fairytale" w...

Here are some pictures of what I've been doing the past few days. Vacation Bible School is only 9 days away, and I have so much to do to get ready for it. I can't wait, and hope the boys I will be teaching are just as excited as I am! A dinosaur mural- I will take a picture once I'm finished painting it because you can't see all the fine details, like a volcano erupting in the background or all the foliage surrounding the stegosaurus. The pictures don't really do these guys justice. They are stuffed and about 3 feet in height. I am going to place them in the room around the dinosaur mural. I also have 2 huge 6 foot trees I made that will go in the corners of the room to add to the ambiance of the room. Once I finish the dinosaur mural, I have another mural with Noah's Ark on it that I need to paint. I will take a picture of that when I finish, as well.

Happy Memorial Day! TJ has to work most holidays so I was going to take the kids to the zoo today, but with the high cost of gas and high probability of crowds, I decided against it. Instead, we are heading to the pool later this morning. I bought some new pool toys and floats, and I hope T.G. enjoys them more this year than she did last year. Last year I had to hold her the entire time she was in the water because she hated her baby float. The boys, on the other hand, love the water and I have to make sure they stay by the steps where they can somewhat touch the bottom. Nonetheless, they are excited, and were ready to go in their bathing suits at 7:15 this morning! LOL ! I hate that TJ has to work today, but he gets a week off between Christmas and New Year's to make up for it, and it's worth it then, especially since the kids are out of school for 3 weeks during that time. Well, I have to go pack some snacks and begin the process of getting everyone lathered up with sunscr...

Man, this week has flown by for us! Ta has hit two developmental milestones that have greatly affected his relationship with Th, and contributed to the peace among the family: he learned to wear flip-flops and how to pump his legs on the swing! These are HUGE milestones for him as he was getting tired of always relying on someone me to have have to help him with his sandals and push him on the swing. Trust me, I was just as tired of having to help him! This morning, not too much before 9am, both boys were outside as I was doing laundry and other stuff downstairs. I had the windows open so I could hear and see them, and for almost an hour, they just swung together and talked. It was nice to see them relating so well. Not being close in age to either of my siblings, this type of bond is something I always wanted my own children to experience, and thankfully, they are. I later found out they were talking about Carowinds, an amusement park in Charlotte, because we are headed there tomor...

I've been asked if TJ and I know our new baby's gender. Yes, we do, but we are choosing to keep it a surprise until delivery day. Some family members have gotten upset over our decision, but the surprise will be worth the wait when he/she makes his/her debut into this world. Until then, keep praying that the pregnancy will continue to be healthy and normal. We went strawberry picking over the weekend. Th picked one gallon all by himself, while TJ and Ta picked another gallon. T.G. helped me to pick a gallon, and all 3 kids had faces that were covered with strawberries. My mom, dad, brother, and sister (& Kaylee) went with us. Of course, whenever my dad is around, something embarrassing always happens. This was no exception. Somehow he tripped while trying to cross over a row of strawberries and fell. Except he didn't just fall, he rolled and tumbled. I couldn't get my camera on fast enough to catch him on the ground, but I did manage to take a picture of the poor st...

A written post will follow this weekend. . . until then, enjoy these pictures from today. Such a happy, bittersweet day in our lives! *I am thankful for Th, who has brought so much joy into my life. I love you forever more than the most!*

Mother's Day was great despite being sick. Every year, I pick 2-3 pieces of the kids' artwork they made in school over the past year and from those, TJ has one piece framed from each child as their gift to me. We hang them in our playroom and it is a cute way for me to see the progress each has made from year to year. TJ's gift to me was a gift certificate for a pampering session at a local spa, which I am very excited to use! We also went out to dinner to my favorite Japanese hibachi steakhouse, and although Ta was a little frightened (until he realized TJ and the chef were friends), we had a fun time and the food was excellent. I caved and went to the doctor last night. I’ ve had a cold for a while (tomorrow will be 2 weeks) and last Friday my ear started bothering me. I was trying to hold off on going to the doctor because I have doctor's appointments scheduled on both Thursday and Friday. But, I’m glad I went because I have an ear infection, and it actually hurt...

I had a great Mother's Day, and I want to share the details, but right now I have to clean some of my house while I have an hour all to myself (the kids are at preschool and I just got home from the grocery store). Have a great Monday!

I applied for some scholarships through the College of Education back in February for the next school year. The committee was to meet in April, and letters would be mailed to recipients around April 30 th . Since that was last week, I had resolved that I was not a recipient, although I did win a different scholarship for $1,700 through a different source. Anyway, I received a letter in the mail today notifying me that I was selected for 3 scholarships totalling almost $8,500! So, combined with the other scholarship, I will be receiving over $10,000 in FREE MONEY for next year! I am very excited, especially as my GI Bill ends this month and I will no longer be receiving money for school through that. Now, about Ta. I talked to my pediatrician and she agreed with me in that she did not feel Ta showed signs severe enough to warrant autism, but she suggested I go ahead and have him evaluated just to rule it out. She gave me the referral and phone number to schedule the appointment. TJ and...

There is a lot going on in my life right now. It seems as if each of the kids has an "issue", and TJ is going through some job "issues", and on and on it goes. Not that the "issues" are bad, but they have required lots of prayer and thought and discussions on our part, so it's been emotionally draining on my part. First, Th received his acceptance letter from the Montessori school this past Saturday. I am so excited, as is he! This was a definite answer to prayer and one we have been waiting for since February. Ta had his post-op appointment today with the ENT doctor. It went okay. He passed his hearing test, and most people would think that was good news, but I was speechless. Just last week his preschool teacher said something to me when I was picking him up about how all day he had trouble hearing her. TJ and I have noticed him having difficulty at home, too. TJ joked that when Ta went today, he was going to be fitted for hearing aids. So, what does...

Another semester is behind me, well almost. I still have 2 more finals but I don't actually have to study for them or anything. In one class, we are having presentations. In the other class, we are retaking a test that we took the first day of class. It's a 4 th grade standardized Social Studies test. My instructor is using it to assess our learning in her class, so it's not graded, just compared to when we first took it. Nothing to study for or stress about. I am sick, too. I have a cold (thanks Th!) and Th has not been sleeping well, meaning I haven't either. He is sleeping on the floor at night, right next to me. Every time he stirs or coughs or moans or wakes, I wake up and try to get him situated again. Plus, with the stress of a final this morning at 8am, I had difficulty falling asleep and getting back to sleep once I woke up. I kept thinking of my study guide and the questions I needed to review. I think I got a solid 3 hours of sleep last night! I have another...