Christi over at BlahBlahBlog gave me this award, simply because she loves me!! Heehee, Christi has known me so long she can tell what I am thinking just by looking at me. And let's say, that we have gotten some dirrrrty looks through the years because of that little trick!!





Now, I am suppose to award this to 7 people. I am so not good at this. I wring my hands and wonder if who I pass it on to has time to do it, if they really care if I love their blog or not, and would see it and go, "Who is this and why are they giving me this?" In light of all my agony, I am just going to say that if you read me and I read you, TAKE IT!!!!! Take it, celebrate it, and know that I do love your blog. I look forward to spending some time each day to see what's going on in everybody's world. Thank you folks out there for letting me have some "adult" time in my kindergarten and children world!!



In my continued thanks to Christi, I am going to do a Flashback Friday thing. She is doing a great one each week, and I am going to be lazy and just take the idea, but not do it up fancy. That's how I roll!!

Christi, there are lots of songs that remind me of us and all the fun we had. This one especially does it though because we were so mean!!!

Much ado about nothing, nothing at all.....

Just realized that I haved posted in a while. Nothing much going on, just doing the daily grind. Since school started, (this is our 4th week!!) I haven't seemed to find my routine yet. Allie started school this year so that has been added to my chaos. No longer does she get to sleep in and be trotted across the street in pjs for a day of fun at Mamaw's house. Now, she has to get up and let me get her dressed and hair fixed! Ugh! If you know Allie, then you know how difficult that can be. Allie is not known for her quick decisions or getting in a hurry. I think God gave her to me to remind me to slow down sometimes.


Reed is having a good year. She got the spotlight last week of being a local channel's student of the week. They came to the school, taped her, and showed it on their news cast. She was excited and I was extremely proud of how well she did on camera. On the flip side, as she is nearing 10, I can see the seething glare I remember giving my mother, coming my way!! It makes me want to cry because I can see how much she dislikes me sometimes, but then it makes me even madder. I only pray that she and I can remain intact during her puberty and that I handle her and her emotions the correct way. I'm too quick to be all "do it because I said so." Ah, the joys of being a mother of a daughter. Anybody else with me?


So, enough of my babbling, I wish I had something more exciting to post, but nothing going on right now. Just getting up, going to work, coming home, checking homework, eating, laundry, and getting ready for bed.


Calgon, take me away!!!!!!!!!!! Bubble, bubble, bubble.................

Thank you, thank you, thank you.....

It's the Arte Y Pico award. This award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity, and for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium.
The rules state:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award through creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.
3. Award winners have to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award.
4. Please include a link to the Arte Y Pico blog so that everyone will know where the award came from.
You have to name 5 little known facts about yourself for the meme part of this award.

I don't think I know 5 others to tag for this award.

So, I'm going to tag my oldest friend, Christi, from BlahBlahBlog,

my other friend I met in college named Christy, from WRB,

my friend from work Amie from The Mumpowers,

and anybody that may be lurking!

Show yourself and I shall show mercy on you! LOL.

Now, on to the 5 little known facts about myself. Hmmmm..... if I've not told people, then wouldn't it be stuff I probably don't want people knowing????

Oh well, let's see...

1. I wanted to marry Andy Gibb when I was little and watched Solid Gold for him and that one dancer with the hair down to her butt. I thought she was so awesome!

2. I named all my baby dolls Pamela, as in Victoria Principle, from Dallas. Andy Gibb connection there, right??

3. I was jealous of Lynette and Anne when I was younger. I thought they must have had such a cool life living in O.P. getting to bowl, skate, movies, and hang out with friends while I was growing up in a po-dunk tiny town in southwest VA.

4. I failed my first driver's license test. The driving part. I cried.

5. Sometimes, at night, I put my feet on Billy's legs. He doesn't like for me to do that so I do it while he is asleep. I'm mean, I know it. Just ask anybody that's related to me.

25 things that inspire me....

Melissa, over at Stretch Marks, yesterday posted 25 things that inspire her and challenged us all to do the same. I'm not going to do all 25 today. I have not had time since school started Monday. How am I tired and back into feeling overwhelmed just after 2 days? I haven't even had all my kindergarteners yet! Oh well, here are some.....



1. My girls. I want to walk across the stage in Dec. to receive my Ed.S diploma to show them that I want to do better and more for them.



2. My students at school. Some days when I just need a pick-me-up, they can say or do the very thing that I need.



3. My college friends. I have seen them grow up ( I've known them forever) and become what they wanted to be. It inspires me to work hard too. I am proud of them and their varied accomplishments.



4. My husband, in 1997, as he battled leukemia. He never let a negative thing enter his mind. Oh, it wasn't easy and later it about destroyed us, but he handled his emotions and the whole thing with bravery. I never heard him say, "What if I don't..."



5. My mamaw. She made me feel like I was her favorite out of 10 grandchildren. Just like everybody else felt. She loved in a way that I aspire to love.


That's all I'm doing today. I'll think some more plus I gotta watch the finale to So You Think You Can Dance!!

I so needed church today......

Today, at church, we had Youth Sunday. I so needed this today and am so thankful for the youth in our congregation. Church, lately, has been more of a "I know I should go" type thing, instead of what it is supposed to be about. I won't bore you with those details, but back to today.... Today was one of those days that my eyes welled with tears many times, and I sat and gave up thanks for reminding me why I was there.

We had a praise band of 3 guys, and it was great. They played covers of lots of popular praise songs. I've put the songs they played plus a couple of extra in the player. In case you can't tell, I do like Chris Tomlin. =)

The youth did a stick dance to the song, "My Redeemer Lives." This is one of those songs that gets me every time! The dance is very moving and then with the song, Oh my! Who knew that you could spread the word by doing motions to a song?

Then,my niece and her buddies did children's time. They did well with the wild things at the front of the church in front of everyone. Even my Allie did well, until the end. As they were leaving, she looked up at Brittany and said she wanted to pray. Brittany let her, and I was sorely afraid! She prayed that she knew God was dead and so was her yellow lab, Khaki, who died when he was 7. That was it. Everyone just thinks it's soooo cute, but I cringe everytime the children head to the front, with a MICROPHONE!!

The message was given by the youth leader and about how we come, just like things we buy, with some assembly required and how we need God to provide us with directions.

Now, why am I giving you a play by play of my church service today? It was on my heart to share it and to extend it.

I have read many blogs about people needing some prayers right now. Let's make this a prayer chain for the folks in our lives right now that need us praying for them.

I'll leave names and then you all add in the comments who you want others to pray for. I feel great things can happen when we lift people up by name. It may not be what we want, but God does hear our prayers.

Sue McVey, a friend's mother battling cancer
my mother, some health issues
Melissa, from Stretch Marks
the family of Confessions of a CF Husband
my cousin Russell in Iraq
Bob Copeland, my friend's father


I know there are many others, but this is to just get us started. Please participate and share this with others.

I have a confession to make...

For the 2 people out there reading this blog. I am not always a sweet, timid, shy girl. Christi, don't open your mouth. Sometimes I do things that even surprise me.
Like on Sunday night. My husband had plans to go somewhere. He didn't want to go alone so he said he wanted me to go. Who can say no when your husband wants to include you on something he's interested in and you are NOT? I had made fun of him for weeks over this and now he was dragging me along for the ride.

Well, then, here it comes.

Billy took me to


a


concert!

What's so weird about that? I love music, I love going to see live acts, I love seeing U2 live. Well, here's the funny part.

It was POISON!!! Go ahead and laugh. I went and saw an 80s hair band, and had a blast!!!

Now, back in the day, I liked them. Never thought Brett Michaels was all hot or anything, but like any other teenager liked what they were singing. My friend Kelly though had a huge poster of the band in her room. I was more into thinking George Michael was "the thing." Yeah, I know. I was clueless as a child.

Update to today, and Billy and I love to watch Rock of Love and talk about the girls and laugh at the craziness of the show. It never entered my mind though to go to a show.

Oh, one funny thing about the concert. Before it started, this drunk chick across the row from us was trying to get a guitar player from the opening band to come up and talk to her. He was being a good sport, laughing about it, and just said he couldn't. Well, drunk chick tried walking down to him and ended up falling onto their guitars and spilling her beer all over everything. Security escorted her out, but let her come back to her seat. She was passed out by the time Poison came out. She probably wonders why she is so sore today!

We were on the side, but super close. I tried getting pictures with my cell phone, but for some reason it wouldn't zoom like it's supposed to do. And Lynette has already fussed about not having my camera. Apparently, I am supposed to have it in my purse at all times!

It was a typical band show. Lots of pyro, girls dancing on the screen behind the band, and confetti at the end. My ears are still buzzing at 11:00 Monday morning.

The capper of the night was a cop pulling out behind us, a mile and a half from our house. Billy figured he was busted for speeding, but he didn't pull us over until we were at the top of our street!!! He let Billy go with a warning, thank goodness.

I hope you all enjoyed laughing at me, but admit it, you are now hearing the song, "Talk Dirty to Me," aren't you?

Here are some fuzzy pics. Sorry, but it does show how close we were.

Billy and me at the concert


Brett and Bobby during the show


C.C. after the show- He cracked me up during the show. He kept checking his hair in a mirror and drinking Diet Dr.Pepper


Rikki after the show

Pride in the name of love.....

Oh, on a side note of pride:

My niece's softball team has won their first two games in the state tournament. If they win tonight, then the championship game will be on Monday. I so hope they do it!

Also, I picked Reed up from camp yesterday and my heart was bursting with pride listening to her talk about her experience. I would have never gone for a week like that as a 9 year old without knowing anyone, and not cried. I am proud of her for just going, but I almost cried when she was talking about their last worship service. They had it at night, around a bonfire, took communion, sang songs, and had a candlelight service. She said, "It was so awesome, Mommy, I can't put it into words." My baby experienced God firsthand, I think. She didn't want to come home, and she wants to work there when she is old enough. So, that's one of those things to put back in my mind, when I am so mad at her. I know there is good in there somewhere! =D

Sorry for being long-winded, just wanted to share!

Don't forget to check out the post below about the neat giveaway!!