I've been waiting for a girl like you

What a weekend!
The ladybug had her birthday party yesterday - oh my word. She has planned the themes for her parties until she is 26 - and this was the year of the "Hello Kitty" party. I was happy. [ Did you know I have been collecting Hello Kitty since around 1978? True story !]
So , I decided to just let the girl tell me what she wanted to do at her party this year - I thought it would make it even more special . She wanted
1. "pony on the tail" [ instead of the usual 'pin the tail on the donkey' , I made it 'pin the bow on Kitty' 2. a craft - I painted beads white and drew Kitty's face on them - we made bracelets and necklaces
3. Hello Kitty twister - and they LOVED that one !
4. coloring - one table had each child an HK coloring book, plus one of my HK lunch boxes full of crayons
5. bingo - this is the one that got me. I made an HK bingo set, and it was so cute. Ladybug walked up to me while I was making it last week, and asked what it was. I explained that it was the bingo she wanted, and she proceeded to inform me that 'bingo' is small pillows filled beans, and you throw them. Uh , yeah. I think that would be 'bean - go '

She picked the foods. She helped me fill the goody bags - rings, candy, bubbles, and I made each child a felt Kitty doll. That would be 40 of them. She helped me with the decorations . She really really wanted those pointy party hats . I have to say , I think she had the best time, ever. Our church family has been so wonderful to her - everyone at the Wednesday night service sat and listened to her tell her party plans, then sang to her. She was grinning all evening.
I honestly do not know if any one else had a good time, but I do know that my sweet baby did.

Today was just as special - the monkey had confirmation. There were 8 children in the group, and they were all so sweet . I am so proud of that sweet boy. He is amazing.
And that was our weekend. I am exhausted.

Sunday, Sunday

Would you like to know how much fun it is to have two ill children in one house? Gotta love the stomach bug. The monkey is laying low - won't eat, won't do much. The ladybug is still up and running, but she just stops everything and runs to the bathroom every now and then. So far, the man and I are safe. I went to church alone this morning, and I tried really hard not to breathe on anyone else. This was the PERFECT way to spend our Spring Break Stay-cation.  Perfect. I am very thankful that the man and I did not take a trip this year . It would have been awful leaving two sickly sweeties.

I am sure there will be great times this week - and I am sure I will be posting them on here. Until then, there is laundry to fold and hot tea to drink...... and a few art projects to finish. Have a good evening!

two more days - the end is near!

Only two more days of school before spring break?! How exciting is that? At our faculty meeting today, we were given freshly baked cookies ---- oh, the joy.
And that's about all I have today !

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 !