lovely weather we're having

Cold.
Oh my word, it is cold.
We are one week away from Spring Break, and it is utterly freezing . The ladybug and I are working away at her birthday party decorations, gifts, and invitations. [ or , as she calls them , "tumations"]
We have made our list more than once, and she STILL keeps inviting every waitress, waiter, salesperson, bus driver, passer-by, and every one else whom she thinks is deserving of a 'tumation' to her party. Good times. It would be quite the scene if every one of these people she has invited actually showed up. Today at church, she invited an elderly lady, simply because the lady complemented the pink dress Ladybug had on. Bless it.
We are looking forward to our first Spring Break at home in years. We have made waaaay too many plans to actually accomplish, but that is beside the point. Sleeping in ! Pajama days ! No bed times !
Who wants to come hang out with us?!?!
Now the Grandparents have asked to take the monkey to Nashville, for some S E C games. Wow. Even more exciting for every one !
Have a great week - take a break !

don't it make my brown eyes blue

So we went to the Chinese New Year Party this past Saturday. Ladybug was really looking forward to it. We walked in along with a family from our orphanage group. Very exciting for the girls. We had a nice lunch, and it was time for the Dragon parade. Ladybug and her sweet friend got in line behind a few girls who were slightly older. Just a little older. Maybe two years. I was snapping photos and using my phone to tape the parade, and the sweet scene between Ladybug and the others. Then , I saw it. One of the older girls in front of her [ that we have known since she came to America] turned and said something really ugly to my baby. I saw the hurt in my baby's eyes. I would have given anything in the world to have saved her from that. She did the best she could - she walked through one lap of the dragon parade, and then she stopped, looked at me, and put her sweet little hands up to her sweet little eyes. I ran, picked her up, and held her very, very close to my heart.

So , why is it that little girls have to say ugly things? I know it isn't just little girls that do it - I teach High School, and I see it in older girls as well as teachers. It happens. I get it. But I sure hate that it has already happened to my baby. My four year old.

I am catching on that 'developing a more forgiving heart' is going to be my lenten focus this year , and I am okay with that.

Again and Again

Well, I just don't know why we have not updated this blog in so long - guess we have been extra busy with school, holidays, decorations [ and putting them up is STILL more fun than taking them down.]

At any rate, my dear friend Leigh Anne sent us a box of Christmas-ish gifts, and in the box was a flash drive containing photos from our trip to Italy in 2011. It was a wonderful experience, and I have loved looking at all these pictures. What I did not love so much was looking at the size of my backside in some of these photographs! At least I know I have lost some weight since then. Thank goodness!
Second semester is humming right along - we are all settled in , and looking forward to some good times. This will be the first year we have not gone out of the country in quite some time, but that is not such a bad thing, really.  Plenty of fun to be had in our wonderful country.
Today I was helping a student write her own 'declaration of Independence' and I was reminded just how fortunate we are to live where we do. By the time we finished the paper, several students had joined us, and they agreed that America is quite a wonderful place, really.  Made for a great day.

I am looking forward to getting to sing "Again and Again" during the early service next week - Sherry is preaching, and asked me to sing that, along with "Bless the Lord, oh my soul" - I have been singing it in my classroom , to prepare. [ in case you hear something coming out of the art building, it's just me]

Oh Come, Let Us Adore Him

Do you know how much I love church services at this time of year? I love it all- the candles, the songs, the look on the faces of the children. I . Love. Christmas.
Tonight was the Enchanted Tree service , and it was precious. The children sang, the angels behaved, and the little baby portraying Baby Jesus played with the hair of the teenager portraying Mary - priceless.
Now we are looking at two and a half days of school , and then our holiday. Ladybug is so fired up about this Christmas - I guess it's the first time she has really been into it. Wonderful to watch!

Have a great week - count your blessings !

It's that time, again !

And here we are - had a great meal with all the Mullen girls! It usually rains here around Thanksgiving, but the weather this year was lovely.  Now, time to decorate and prepare for Christmas!

Tom, Tom the turkey will be here soon !

Goodness gracious, but I love November ! The weather is finally getting cooler down here, daylight savings time gives me a darker late-afternoon , and our family has a way of gearing up for the upcoming holidays. Love every minute of this busy time of year !
The man and I have both turned a year older. Of course, he aged a little before me, since his birthday is a whopping eleven days before mine.  The ladybug helped bake birthday cake and birthday cupcakes, and she had a great time - she has finally discovered the joy that IS licking the beaters of the mixer after I finish mixing. Bliss !
The monkey came running in to my 'crafting with Jesus' class a few wednesday nights ago , to tell me that he had broken his arm in the church gym. Of course I told him it was fine, and reminded him that he had a math test the next day. Would you like to guess where he spent that next day? He broke a bone in his wrist - and it could have been much, much worse. Now he is on his second cast - and feeling like a rock star.
We had three nights of trick-or-treating, and ladybug was over it by the time Halloween actually got here. We only trick-or-treated on two streets, and she was done.
Now we are making our Thanksgiving plans, and looking forward to spending some time with old friends. This will be a great holiday, I can tell you !

Have a great week - be thankful for what you have !

 

Pep Rally , Homecoming, and the new mascot, Wavey!

Somebody around here just LOVES a pep rally and parade. Loves. It. All. It probably does not help that she is just so stinking cute, and all our students and former students know her name. She simply thinks she is a star. Amazing.  Where does she go from here?