A Lifetime of Love

I am so mentally and physically exhausted I cannot even begin to describe it. I have so many demands placed on me this semester that it is more taxing than anticipated. I wish my family and I could take a vacation and just get away. Alone. Away from school. Away from the house. Away from the chaos that seems to be never-ending. I think part of my frustration is that I am almost half way through the semester but I do not get a break like I normally would. I observe spring break this year at the same time as the school district. Good in that I will be home when my kids are home, but bad because I am finished with the semester one week later. Ugh. 6 more weeks to go until I get a break! I feel like the groundhog who just saw his shadow! I am being observed a few times over the next 2 weeks. I hate being observed, particularly because this is my "mid-term evaluation" and I am graded, but I'll get through it. It just makes for more stress because I have to make sure my lesson ...

I entered a contest to win a free package of Pull-Ups. Now, it's sort of ironic because I've been meaning to share some potty training *news* for a while but I simply haven't had the time. But, here it is in all it's glory. Ta has been potty-trained for almost 2 years. He potty-trained himself pretty much because he refused to wear diapers. Considering he had just recently turned 2, I was shocked, especially because Th was over 3 before he was ready to potty-train. However, with Ta, he was only potty-trained to stay dry, and only recently (in the last 5 months) to stay dry during nap time. Once Teagan was born, I was determined to stop the insanity. I had 3 kids in diapers (granted Ta only wore them during sleep times, but still)! Once he was able to stay dry during nap time, I began to work on getting him to poop on the potty. He has always pooped once he woke from his nap; his schedule, not mine. So, even though he was able to wear underwear for his nap, once he awok...

Man, just when it seems an end is near, something else happens that requires attention and fixin '. TJ is nearing the end of our floor project (that began last May with purchasing the wood planks but that he didn't start until the day I went into labor with Teagan ). Anyway, he has been diligently working on and off to get the baseboards back up and sealed and ready for paint. It has been a lot of work and an even longer project than anticipated, but well worth the effort. However, as Murphy's Law has it, once this project ends he will immediately move on to our master bathroom, particularly the shower. It is going to be a major project as it involves ripping out the old shower, some plumbing, and tiling work, along with whatever else we decide to do since the bathroom will be in shambles anyway. Let me just say that this was not a planned project, especially because of the costs involved, but it has to be done. Last week, on Thursday, I went into T.G.'s room after she...

I have found, and been taught through countless university courses, that the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher is reflection: reflection on the lesson, student learning, and ways the teacher can improve. Perhaps I have taken this to heart because I tend to apply it in all areas of my life, not just in my teaching. Which is a mixed blessing, I suppose. I know I need to improve as a wife and mother, and I definitely need work on being a better source of encouragement for my friends, particularly because I allow the busyness of my life to sometimes get the best of me. However, dear friends, I would like you to know I think of you often and pray for you regularly despite my lack of communication with you. I will try better, especially at responding to emails as that seems to be the area that needs to improve the most. There has been a lot going on in my family’s life lately that I have not shared. Not that I didn’t want to, it’s just simply been a lack of time to relay ...

So my husband felt like my birthday was not all that he wanted it to be because our dinner was not "the best". Dinner was okay, just not worth the price we paid per meal. Anyway, today he surprised me by sending a dozen roses to my school. Is that not the sweetest thought ever? I was so shocked, especially because it was so unexpected! That's what I love about him- the little thoughtful things he does for me. I just happened to be in the main office talking to the secretary when the FedEx man made a delivery. I turned to walk back to my class when she told me the package was a delivery for me. I immediately corrected her since my mentor teacher and I have similar last names and said, "You mean Mrs. _____?" And she said, "No, it's for you. I promise." I felt my face match the same shade of red as my shirt, and I opened it right then. The flowers are beautiful, and there was also a package of chocolates (chocolate- my favorite!). I left the flowers o...

Everyone is sick with a cold in my house this weekend. I don't know who started it, but it's made its way to all of us in some form or another. Th and T.G. have been running low-grade fevers, and all of us have coughs and runny noses. Gross! I think T.G. has it the worst, though. She just looks miserable and hasn't been sleeping well at all. Of course, she wakes in the middle of the night during times that I am nursing, meaning TJ has to console her since I have Teagan . No big plans this weekend and for that I am very grateful! We definitely need a break from our chaotic schedules to just rest and stay put. School is very time-consuming for me (between teaching during the day and taking university courses in the evening) so I welcome the opportunity to plan and prepare lessons for next week, as well as work on my university assignments. My supervisor is coming to observe me on Wednesday so I need to make sure my lesson plan is perfect and I am fully prepared mentally for ...

Some of this is the same as my Facebook page. But, I am doing this for those who are not on Facebook. Plus, it’s funny how you can know someone, yet not really know him or her. It’s the same with the Lord. He knows us, but unless we take time to know Him, we sort of make assumptions or guesses as to God’s character. 1. I love chocolate cake with white icing. It’s my favorite and the only way I think chocolate and vanilla should be combined. I hate chocolate cake with chocolate icing, and will tolerate white cake with chocolate icing. Picky, I know. 2. I went to 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. However, I moved 15 times before I reached the age of 18. I hate moving and always wanted to be the family that raised their kids in the same house for generation after generation. 3. I have lived in Rock Hill longer than anywhere else- -ever. We've been here for 5 1/2 years. 4. I miss the Air Force. I left home searching for independence within the confines of struc...