Robert Elijah Bradshaw

My dear sister in Christ, friend, and colleague, Jacqui, and husband Dan are on their way to meet their son, Robert Elijah Bradshaw. Dan and Jacqui recieved the phone call today that the birth parents had chosen them and their son was born at 1am. This evening they will meet their son! I am crying again right now. Praise God!

Please pray for peace for the birth parents in knowing that God has provided wonderful and amazing Godly parents in Dan and Jacqui. Pray that the adoption will proceed and close on Monday as planned. Pray for Dan and Jacqui as they meet their son and become parents!

Praise God for this answer to prayer! I know Dan and Jacqui have been praying for a child for many years, I believe close to 10. God is good. I know many of you have joined me in praying for them; please know that God used you and has answered this prayer!

Little Updates

That's right - 150,000 miles! You can't let a moment like that pass unnoticed, so I pulled out my camera phone. Don't be worried about my driving while I found my phone, took a picture, and texted. I saw the 150,000 coming so I already had my phone out. God provided a stop light at just the right time (it's the little things God provides that crack me up), and I did my text while I was sitting at the light (because the lights in Granbury can last for-ev-er.

BHP - these are Hudson's favorite letters. I make this assumption after I realize they are the same letters I see written on anything that has been Hudsonized. B H P I don't know if it's the only one he really knows (I have realized that he doesn't know his letters the way that Jenna knew her letters) or if he just really likes those letters!

Teaching - funny story. One of the girls last year who HATED me, I mean, really - I know this for sure from the looks, way she spoke to me, the way her mom yelled at me (really), and the evil remarks she made on my end-fo-the-year evaluation I give my students - stopped by my room yesterday. She told me that she missed my class. I guess I didn't mask the fact that I was completely shocked because she said, "yeah, surprising, huh?" She proceeded to tell me how much my strictness and fairness really spoke to her, and she wished her teachers this year were like me. All I could think to say was, "Thanks. Give them some time and get to know them." I couldn't have been more surprised if someone told me I had just won a million dollars on the lottery (because I don't play the lottery).

Tonight is Superchick! Jenna and I are so totally excited! Wish us luck as we plan our departure and do our traveling. I'm sure there will be pictures at some point in the future...

Miracles

Last week's study in Believing God was God Can Do What He Says He Can Do. I don't doubt that. But, I also don't think I believe it like I should. Honestly, the whole discussion and study last week made me uncomfortable.

The focus was on miracles and do they still happen in our time. Some biblical scholars say that God is silent on producing miracles because we are an unbelieving generation. Some say they are just as prevalent today but our eyes are masked. Some argue they are all around us, in the every day variety. I realized that I don't really know where I am in this equation. Yes, God can do miracles. Have I seen one? Well, hmm. I still struggle with that in a lot of aspects, but one thing was confirmed to me as I just read Curtis' blog http://curtisnews08.blogspot.com/.

Yes, God does perform miracles - Curtis should not be alive, much less eating, talking, and walking. I can't tell you how hard my family has prayed for Curtis to not only live, but to make a full, miraculous recovery for the glory of God himself. May God be glorified!

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

Hudson's due date was around Sept. 24th. I went to the doctor on Aug. 20, and she was greatly surprised that I was between a 3 & a 4. Jenna had come two weeks early, but this startled Dr. Stevenson a bit until I told her that as I sat in a rolling chair, it rolled out from under me and I hit the ground. Since then, my pubic bone had really been hurting. The next day I lost my plug. Again, you compare everything with #2 to #1. I had lost my plug with Jenna about a week before she came, so I figured we were close. The next week I was a full 4 and 50% and the doctor predicted she would see me that weekend. The next week I was hanging at 4 and 50%. The next week I was 5, 70%, -1. I was not in labor. I was strep B positive, so I need a bag of antibiotics before I delivered. Dr. S was confused and a bit concerned about me making it to the hospital. I was miserable. I had been teaching school every day since Aug. 16, and with a baby that low, well, I hurt. Dr. S decided that at the rate I was progressing, it would be good to induce.

Well, hospital maternity wards are busy places in September, and there were no open appointments for induction since I wasn't past due. There was, however, an open appointment for a "ripening." So, in we came at 2:00 in Sept. 14. The nurse checked me, looked shocked, and pronounced I was in labor. I told her was not in labor. She told me I was a 7, so I had to be in labor. She got her colleague to come check, who looked shocked and declared a 6.5. They discussed having another person check, and I asked if that was really necessary, I mean, hello, I'm a person, can we quit reaching up in there? So, they made me wear a monitor for 30 minutes to see how my contractions were progressing, as I continued to tell them that I was not in labor. After the monitor recordings, they told me I was not in labor. Really?!

At a 7, you're too far to "ripen," so they decided to call my doctor about breaking my water. I think that's what Dr. S had in mind all along. They moved me in my room (same room in which I delivered Jenna), and in came the resident with a snorkel mask and the device to break my water at 4:15. She was pretty funny. Within 20 minutes I was having really good contractions. Lisa attended this birth to be our photo/video woman and assist as she was completing doula training. While waiting for the second anesthesiologist (the first one numbed my left side, but my right side was feeling everything), my contractions became quite powerful, as in, "I'm going to push on the next one," I told the room. The Dr. hadn't arrived, so the room full of nurses and residents told me not to, to which I replied I had to. Lisa, thank you, Lisa, told me to blow and bear down a little. About this time the next epidural kicked in, but I was still ready to push. Dr. S arrived just in time.

I'd like to say that I pushed and he came. The epidural was too strong, and I could feel nothing, so it took us 2 hours, until 6:28 to get the little guy out. But, look at him, isn't he perfect! Thank you, God, for my little baby boy!

Random Updates

Well, it's been one fun week...
Wednesday I hung purple lights in Jenna's room. It was too bright for her to sleep :). On Thursday night the little smarty pants remembered my sleeping mask and asked to wear it. It was so cute that I had to haul out the tripod and take a picture that would capture the purple/pink glow and her cuteness! It also helped me remember to wear it to pajama day at school on Friday. Unfortunately, Jenna grew up a bit from last week's Crazy Day and asked me take off my mask before I walked her into school :(.

Then, a minor disaster struck in our freezer. I noted last weekend that the ice seemed to be frozen together. I opened the freezer on Tuesday to this -

We don't have any ice. I suspect that there is a serious problem here (just a guess from the ice waterfall and big puddle of water in the floor where the maker had tried to fill and spurted back out the back), but I really don't know where to begin. I think I probably need to defrost the freezer, but I don't know how to do that without unplugging the whole fridge. Any ideas? The ironic thing - We spent our whole first 7 years with a hand-me-down fridge (free) that didn't make ice. My only big spending purchase when we moved to Granbury was a fridge that had an ice maker that worked. God's funny, you know?


Big birthday week. Here's my picture from the family party last Sunday:

That's my baby girl, my "little" brother, and my baby boy all blowing out their candles together. September is a good month in my family, or maybe December is the good month :). My favorite thing about the picture is the beaming smile on my brother's face - he's looking at his beautiful wife, Ashley, and you can just see the love and pride. I love it!

Jenna noticed the flags at half mast today. I was explaining to her why they were down and to Hudson why he made flags at pre-school today. I explained that some mean men stole airplanes, really big ones, and flew them into two big buildings. As a result, many people were killed - daddies, mommies, kids. She thought for a minute and then she said, "Those men probably didn't know God."

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

I cannot believe my little girl is six years old today. I could go on and on about her, but I just want to say what a true gift from God she is. She's amazing. She pushes me to be better and shows me how to love deeper every day.

Who knew after that amazing steak, baked potato, and peach pie w/ ice cream that my water would break just as I placed the last dish in the dishwasher. After I convinced Jer that I had not peed my pants again (it had become a frequent occurrence in the last weeks), I found myself at the registration desk as I convinced them I did not pee my pants (I left a nice puddle where they made me stand because she kept moving). I remember asking for a towel to stick up under my dress as they asked me to step on the scale, thinking, "this is not how I imagined it, towel under my dress, shoes squishing, weighing in, this is humiliation." No contractions, so we walked for about 5 hours, and I left my walking shoes at home, I mean, I was going to have a baby, not walk a marathon. About 2 am, I told the nurse no more walking. I was tired, I was having contractions enough to warrant the epidural, and since I had a heart condition, I had a full numbing experience. So, I went to sleep. 6:00am my mom came in - I told her she could go home, we'd call her later. I wasn't in my senses, mom, I love you! 9:00, Dr. Stevenson came to check me on her way to a C-section delivery. Next thing I knew she was taking apart a bed, pulling out lights, and we were having a baby! After the first push, I remember my confusion when everyone just stopped, "Now what?" "We wait for the next contraction and do it again." I really didn't know there were breaks, push 10, wait, push, wait - who knew?!? After 2 hours of pushing, and Dr. S pulling with her suction device, and I mean REALLY pulling, Jenna came out. That's the big yamaka/Yarmulke on her head - the suction cup bruise. She came out face down which accounts for the tough time we had (emphasis on we because without Dr. S pulling like crazy, the nurse pushing on my stomach, and me 'pushing' even though I couldn't feel a thing, I don't think she'd have ever come out). And, praise God there was no brain damage since no one realized she was face down and the suction just missed her soft spot.

Again, back to how I know God is who He says He is...she's six years old today, and I know that I love her more than life itself.

Let me start with the not so serious...today was Crazy Day for spirit day. For crazy, I think dress. You can't see the orange flowered rain boots very well, but they're there. This is my friend Heather, and you can see the reason I love the people I work with! I teased her hair in the copy room this morning while she made copies (you can't see how monstrously huge it is b/c of the brown bookcase behind her, but it's BIG). I was good until I pulled into Jen's parking lot. It hit me; I walk her in and I'm dressed insane. "So, Jen, want to walk in by yourself today?" "No, Mom, I want you to come." "But Mommy's dressed really crazy." "It's okay, Mommy, I love you anyway." Deep breath...I got several stares. One lady caught on, "Oh, it must be some spirit day at the high school." "Yes, it's Crazy Day."

More serious...yesterday was Grandparent Lunch at Jen's school. Nina (my mom) and Nana (Jer's mom) both came to eat with Jenna. A little girl sat across from them. So, Nana said, "So, are you a friend of Jenna's?" She replied, "No, Jenna won't play with me," to which Jen hung her head, a trait when something's true, but she knows it's wrong. Jenna leaned over, "Nana, she's not nice." I asked Jenna about it later, and she told me, "Mom, she doesn't make good decisions and has to sign the book. I don't want to be her friend." Okay, I got a little proud of her - doesn't want friends who are rule breakers - that's a good thing. So, we discussed how it's good to be friendly and nice, but you don't have to play with them. :)

Serious...this week's study has been to focus on Believing God is Who He Says He is. Why do you believe in God, because if you don't understand that, why have faith in Him. I've just always believed in God, that's how I was raised, but that's not the point of the study. So, I've been thinking. One day I had to list things that "most eloquently express[ed] His existence to [me] personally." My children - pregnancy, birth, perfection of their design, purity of their love; sunsets; flowers; solution to Jen's eczema after every doctor (2 ped. allergists, 2 ped. dermatologists, and 1 ped) told us we'd never figure it out, we had to learn how to live with it. I remember sleeping with her, bawling, restraining her to keep her from scratching, begging God to make it stop, pleading, bargaining. Look at her today!

I know the pictures are both heartbreaking and out of focus - sorry - old camera, very bad photography skills.

So, this morning as I ran, I continued to reflect...how do I know God is who He says He is? It was intimidating as first, but now that I think about it more and more, every detail of my life speaks to the fact that He is who He says He is.

Lovin' Life

Can I just tell you how great life is? To be on the other side of the trial, to have made it through, is just so wonderful. I feel like I just beam and float along everywhere I go! I'm so stinkin' happy, content, and joyful that it's almost embarrassing. Almost, but not quite. I'm just so thankful that God is so good.

Our holiday weekend has been busy, productive, and tons of fun. Today I made a hunting vest for Hudson. Yeah, a hunting vest for a little kid. Seems he enjoyed dove hunting (which I personally don't like because they mate for life; you kill one of them and the other is alone for the rest of his or her life. This is the point where Jer calls me a tree hugger - yep, I am. I guess it all became clear the first time I dove hunted with him and I saw him pop a head off; I know it was dead, but, well, it's just not right, I don't care that he and Hudson enjoyed eating them tonight).

Jenna and I did some shopping while the boys were busying murdering, I mean, hunting. She chose material to make a blanket, ribbon to make collars for her stuffed doggies, a couple of pair of shoes for her as we mostly have flip flops, and I chose some terrific brownie mix. Yes, all brownie mix is pretty much terrific, but finding mix that contains no milk, egg, or nut traces is virtually impossible for it to also be good. Even the kind I usually get isn't good enough for me to eat, luckily the kids don't know the difference. Today we found Cherrybrook Kitchen. Wow - this is my new favorite, period. Add to that it's free of all allergens, bingo, we have a winner. Glad I bought 4 boxes! Those of you facing us in the weight loss challenge - do not be fooled, small tastes only!

I also took some stuff out of the closet to sell on ebay and got my wedding dress out. It's going on one of the insets up in the living room with other wedding stuff. It's already yellowing in it's packaging, so why not be able to enjoy seeing it yellow. Of course, while it was out, I had to try it on. Almost eleven years later, and it mostly fits. It fits my behind, hips, and waist (Jer said 'fits' is not really the correct word, but if it goes on and zips, it fits, right ladies?). So where does it not zip - my rib cage. Not that I've gotten more curvaceous, it won't zip at my ribs, and that's where I haven't added any extra padding. I knew Hudson stayed up in my ribs! Now I have proof! It's so precious to me that I had to share a picture...
Otherwise, I've done a lot of crafting and building relationships & NO schoolwork because it's all done! Wow, this is going to be such a great year!

Food Allergy Resources

My wonderful cousin (and I don't just say that because she reads my blog) sent me this information. I know I'm excited about it, and I know it might help some of you or you can refer people to it:

Food Allergy & Celiac Resources:

From the FAAN pamphlet:
FAAN is the world leader in information about food allergy, a ptoentially fatal condition. FAAN is based in Fairfax, VA and has approximately 30,000 members in the US, Canada & 62 other countries. To obtain membership: go to www.foodallergy.org. THe FAAN number is 800-929-4040.

12 million Americans have food allergies - about 4% of population (1 in 25). It is highest in children - 1 in 17 are under the age of 3. 8 Foods account for 90% off all food allergic reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish. (tree nuts include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans). Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction. There is NO known cure for food allergy except strict avoidance of the food allergen is the only way to prevent a reaction.

2) Food vendor: Dr. Lucy - an ER Doc who has a child with severe allergies... SHe ended up quitting her job as her daughter's life was at stake. She has developed her own cookie line which will soon be carried at Whole Foods. I forced myself to sample some of her yummy cookies - choc chip, oatmeal, sugar, and cinnamon and they were GOOD. These are GLUTEN FREE, as well as NO peanuts, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Dairy Milk/Butter or Wheat. She offers a "dedicated Bakery, no concerns of cross contact. 100 - 120 calories per serving... no Trans Fat or Cholesterol. Vegan certified, Kosher Pareve. You can get them at www.drlucys.com or 757-233-9495.

3) Food vendor: Enjoy Life - Free of wheat, gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. They make chocolate chips, cookies, snack bars, ceral, nut free trail mix, and bagels. THey are carried at Whole Foods, Kroger, Wegmans, Ukrops, Farm Fresh and Kroger. www.enjoylifefoods.com

4) Some good sites: www.glutenfreemall.com and www.allergygrocer.com

5) Allergy & ASthma specialists who do FOOD allergy testing in the area: www.sneezwheezdoc.com sites in Warrenton, Fairfax, Gainesville (571-248-6565) and Culpeper.

6) Celiac Pamphlet: Do you or your child suffer from a) chronic diarrhea and/or constipation? b) Abdominal bloating and pain? c) Fatigue and irratability? You might have celiac disease, a damaging, auto-immune ailment triggered simply by consuming gluten in your everyday diet. Learn about toher symptoms and treatments by visiting www.celiacdisease.net

7) An excellent source of information, recipes, peer support & NEWS updates: The National Nonprofit Food Allergy Support Group for Kids with Food Allergies. Go to www.kidswithfoodallergies.org... Check it out, the testimonials on the pamphlet were very inspiring! Number: 215-230-5394

8) Also, I found a magazine ... "A lifestyle guide for people with allergies & food sensitivities." Living Without Magazine.... www.livingwithout.com OR 847-480-8810.

9) Another food resource for Gluten Free/Nut Free cereals made with all-natural ingredients. www.perkysnaturalfoods.com or 888-4-PERKYS

from: Christy Hastings(703)303-0187 check out my website www.fitsolutions4life.com

Pleasure & Reward

I have that feeling you get when it's been 100+ and you get that cool front with rain - refreshed, renewed, energized, glowing. Only Day 2 of Believing God and I'm so thankful for His love! So, I have to share what I've learned...

Day 1: Caught in the Act of Believing
God will equip us for every good work he wants us to do. Why do I always feel like I have to do something or have some great ability before I can do what God wants me to do? He's going to give me every skill that I need to do what He wants me to do! So, why sweat my challenges (rearing children, love Jer as I should, find out what I want to be when I grow up (that's what I call my current, "what am I supposed to do next?" situation) I committed to trust Him with 'When I grow up...'. He'll show me - it might be teaching, it might be a lot of things, no stress! (I'll review this one when I get stressed.)

Day 2:Pleasure and Reward
Heb 11:6 For some reason I'm not big on receiving awards. The idea of God giving rewards, for some reason, makes me uncomfortable. I don't know if it's stories of those televangelists who get people to send tons of money so God can reward them or what, but I don't like the idea. However, I know that he has rewarded me - I do want to please God; I know He called me to be more relational, especially with my family; and I know that He prompted me to begin the process of this "job share thing." I believe my reward is that I have the glorious opportunity to drop off and pick up my children each day. Hudson is so excited that his teacher shared with me today, "Hudson asked me if I remembered when his mom came yesterday. Then he said, 'She'll always come get me early! (he & Jen were usually one of the last 4 kids there last year)" She said he was SO excited and grinning from ear to ear. Jenna's face just lights up when she spots me in the crowd. I LOVE it! I've never thought that I could do without teaching, without being in charge, but I think I could totally do this stay home thing...hmm. Of course, as long as I can job share and God calls me to that - I LOVE it! I really feel like I have the best of both worlds because I DO. I was also reassured by Is 54:10 - even when I disappear, God loves me.

Finally, please lift up Jacqui tomorrow. She has surgery scheduled at 9:00. They'll keep her overnight, and she'll be back at school Tuesday. Pray for safety, ease of pain, and wisdom of the surgeon.

First Day!

We did it! Everyone got up early, happy, and ready to go. The top is what happened when I asked Jenna if I could take her picture on the first day of school. I didn't even tell her to start posing - but that she did! They each chose their own outfits today.

On our way - we had to park a little ways away & walk. This is when my eyes first teared up. Then, to see her little body in front of the big school, tears welled again.

They line up on stage to wait to go to class. On the way to the stage to leave her, I almost completely lost it. This is when I saw 4 people I knew and really almost fell to pieces. I got it together before she saw me. Taking pictures helped!

This is Jen leaving the stage walking to her room. She hadn't seen us yet, so you can see a little concern in her face.

This face isn't unhappiness. Well, it is. As we walked down the hall, her brother very lovingly laid a big kiss on her and told her he loved her. Evidently she was far too old and too cool for this display of affection.

And...settled at her table, putting on her name tag, and getting ready to color. This was my cue to kiss and leave. I then took H to school...

That's it. The little toot was calm, confident, and secure. I couldn't get him to stop and take a picture in his room. He was ready to go outside with his friends and play. He didn't even give me a goodbye kiss - he ran to Mary and gave her a good morning hug.

Off I went, crying all the way (but it is a short drive). I arrived 5 minutes before first bell. The computer & projector were still booting up when the kids arrived. Craziness! Students were a little boisterous, but by Thursday morning the reality of early rising will set in and they'll be more sedate - I hope! My last class left at 11:40. I spent about an hour on paperwork, and at 1:30 I was at home. How weird, how awesome! Then, Jer came home, we hung out and went to get the kids together! Seeing Jenna see us was a great moment! We were at home and watching cartoons at 3:30! Wow!

About Time

I've been in a bit of a spiritual drought for the last few months. My drought has been a result of my running - not the physical running, but me running away from God. Some will find that surprising, after all, I'm married to a pastor.

It all started last spring when I let my circumstances (work) get in the way of my time and relationship with God. I knew He was doing something in the midst of my unhappiness at school, but I was scared to find out what that was. Well, it finally became enough. I'm really good at making changes at the beginning of a school year, and I've been yearning for time with God - like almost physically hurting. I'm also one of those people who is terrible at just sitting down and studying the Bible. So, last week, I ordered Beth Moore's Believing God. It's a study I've kind of done before - about the time I was pregnant with H, this whole church planting thing started, and I had H. Needless to say, with all of that, I don't remember a lot of the study. I do know that I've felt called to do this again since last spring, but I've avoided it. I remember the day I realized that, yes, we were supposed to plant a church was part of what I had studied in Believing God that morning. That was a little disruption to my well ordered, set-up-just-how-I-like-it life (I was working part time in a job share, our income was sufficient to allow for some 'extras') - life was good now I'm supposed to walk away to where NOTHING is certain and I don't know anyone. See why I've been avoiding it - God's going to do something, and sometimes, as wonderful as those things are, they hurt.

So, I sat in church this morning and listened to my husband preach to me. I was the busy girl last year. I neglected my relationships with God, Jer, kids, and friends. I realized this morning that God has taken care of me through it all despite my neglect. Something I gave up (the job share), He has given back to me so that I can re-focus my relationships with Him, my husband, my kids, and my friends. I almost started crying. I almost cry now. Someone asked me this morning, "So how did you manage to get that done?" when I told them about my work. I know that I didn't; it is all God. I am humbled beyond words at this opportunity, so I make this commitment - I will focus on relationships in my life. I will pour my life into other people. That's what exhausted me last year - I retreated into myself to try to make it all work - and it made me miserable. So, I hope my blog becomes more about what God is doing and teaching me...

In other news, Jenna starts school tomorrow. Kindergarten. I broke down crying yesterday while I made pizza for supper as I realized my little girl is going off to the world of school. I know, she's gone to pre-school her whole life, so what's the big deal? It's kindergarten. It's this rite of passage. Jer made the comment last night, "This is the first chance she'll be exposed to someone really hurting her feelings." Thank you. Tears. She's just so vulnerable. She's concerned about friends since all of her pre-school friends are in other classes. I'm worred for her, so I'm afraid my assurances aren't assuring her as they should - like she can spot the weakness in my fears. Plus, I have PMS, so it's even worse that I'm so emotional anyway! I'll be a wreck tomorrow morning.

Anticipating this yesterday, I went to my room to make the final touches - make sure the computer is attached to the projector, papers are set out on the table, everything in place. I'm excited for the year.

see the wheelchair in the center of the above picture? That's Jacqui's for the next 6 weeks - bless her heart. If it looks small, that's because it is - it's a child's chair. She's so petite!

SIOP

Disclaimer: for those of you who will read this and think, "And I thought she was a professional and great teacher, but this obviously negates all of that," I apologize if it makes you think less of me. But, I just attended two days of THE MOST boring, pointless, repetitive training on the face of the earth. Really. The microphone/sound they used made it sound like the presenter was the teacher from Charlie Brown. "Waa wa wa wa." I could make out some vowels, but not consonants, so I stopped trying yesterday at approximately 9:24 (I looked at my watch). If you can't hear your presenter; your only day to work in your room to arrange your furniture, unpack your boxes, make handouts, make copies, and set up to go is taken away for this "training" so you'll have to be there some evening or Saturday to get things together; and you're locked in a room that is a sub zero temperature for TWO FULL days, you lose professional conduct. That may make me a bad person, but I already apologized.

In case you ever need to know, SIOP stand for Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol. Since it has Sheltered in the title, you would think that it would help me with my Sheltered class. In theory, yes; in reality, no. If could have understood anything, that would help. We had 4 packets and were constantly told, "turn in your handout to page x." Which handout? By the time we found it, she had moved on. Today I brought a book, read all 267 pages. Good book. My table mates & co English teachers took other measures of entertainment:

This is a white surrender flag attached to a red pipe cleaner that is sticking out of a Chicken Express Tea straw after lunch. We passed the cup to the Social Studies department at the table adjacent to us, they added and we added back and forth all afternoon. On guy added the HELP in staples seen in the picture below. Both were taken with my camera phone, which I OBVIOUSLY didn't hold still, sorry.

Yeah, I just wasted two days of my life. Hope this doesn't offend anyone. I PROMISE we are THE hardest working department at GHS, but we also know when to surrender. At least WE didn't start the SIOP murder-suicide pact that another department did. I didn't sign. At the end of the training, one of the 'new' guys found out I was a "preacher's wife." He apologized profusely for passing the pact to me and the paper that had new explanations for what the acronym SIOP stood for. He thought he had deeply offended me. They were funny to read.

Otherwise, I'm looking forward to a terrific year, I really am. Please pray for my job share partner, Jacqui. She had a jet ski accident on Saturday, broke her ankle in 2 places, and will have surgery Wednesday of next week. She'll get to be there the first two days, but then misses the rest of the week. PLUS, she has to be in a wheelchair for 6 weeks, at least. I'm going to be rearranging the room a bit, and it stresses me a bit because she was taking care of Eng III for me while I did AP & Sheltered, but how can I be so selfish at a time like this!? So, pray for Jacqui - I'm not really worried about me! Bless her heart!

Be Careful What You Wish For

Three years ago when I came to GISD, I was no one. I had been "someone" at my former school as I had a lot of input as to campus decisions and definitely English department decisions. I yearned to be "someone" again. Fast forward 3 years...can I go back to "no one"? God has given me favor, and I pray I would embrace it and glorify Him in all that He has entrusted me with. Enough said. (the year is starting a little crazy)

We received our new insurance cards today! Praise God!

My husband is the greatest! He cleaned (swept, mopped, vacuumed, made the bed) house today while he was home with the kids.

I have to share a few more pictures of sweet James. I think I have such a thing for newborns because I missed out my two being newborns. Yes, I had them, but I also had torrential cases of post partum depression, so I don't really remember their first 2 months, and the parts I do remember are very, very dark times. So, to get my hands on a newborn now is so precious. Jeremy and I feel so very adamant about post partum and the reality that it is because it so crippled me. The strong, independent woman you know was a puddle of mush - not showering, crying, not getting out of bed, full panic attacks, not bonding. Mom & Dad had to intervene with Hudson and take he and Jenna at the three week mark, then from week 4 to week 6 Mom lived with us. Medication is okay, ladies. Share this with your friends and refer them to Jeremy and I...we're not doctors, but we'll share our testimony and get you to where you can get help (or your friends). Seriously, this is such a passion of mine. So, anyway, I relish in the sweet little things that I missed. James cooed and smiled while he was here, his tummy gurgled and he fussed a little, he napped a little, he squirmed and just took in life :)

Meet James

This handsome little fella came over to my house on Friday, so, naturally, I took 320 pictures of him. That's what everyone does, right?

Jenny & her little man

James hanging out

I SO love those little tummys and belly buttons!

James' mommy is a very special friend of mine. Jenny was a youth of ours at Lake Highlands years back. I first remember Jenny as a junior high girl. I'm pretty sure that she knew that Jeremy was going to propose before I did; I think he told them at a Disciple Now. Anyway, Jenny has been my favorite (shhh, don't tell) for forever. Now, to see her with her son just blows me away! She's a great, beautiful mommy and has a handsome, adorable little boy. Trust me, there are more pictures to come (but not all 320!).

Superchick!

I have loved Superchick, the band, since they became a band, I think. It's been YEARS. I recently turned Jenna on to Superchick, and she's in love. They're currently touring their new CD, but the closest they came was New Braunfels, and I really didn't want to make that drive. I JUST found that they're coming to The Door Dallas on Sept. 19! I got tickets for us & I'm so EXCITED. Moms, their lyrics are great for girls - better for teens, but if I can implant it now, before she even completely understands it, even better! Anyway, check them out (google Superchick, they only have their MySpace, but it plays their stuff), and if you think you'd like to join us - get tickets. Crystal says that Stellar Kart, one of the bands playing with them, is awesome, too. She and Makaul are coming...it's a mom & daughter road trip!

Back to Work

It's been a great week, and I really mean that! Compare this year to last year, and at this point I could have told you the year was going to be a disaster - I would have been told that my weekly lesson plans would be 10 pages long, I would have to account for a lot of stuff that didn't matter, and that there was no scope & sequence to follow. This year: no mandated lesson plan forms, a scope and sequence that works (because we wrote it 2 years ago), a general feeling of trust and happiness all around. Ahhhh. I am so excited!

All of that, I'm a little nervous about getting our classroom together. Two of the custodial staff came by and saw our disaster, and then they brought two friends to come and see it. It really was that trashed. They came again at the end of the day and were impressed with the progress we had made. They took away our workday (to work in our rooms) for "training" next week, so I left training today to work on our room. It's all in place; it's not pretty, but it's functional.

We took an inaugural swim at the church pool, and I got to snap some pictures of handsome little Tripp. I was excited to get to practice on the smooth baby skin and blue eyes (we don't have any of those around here!). Plus, I wanted to work more with my 50 prime lens to see if I could get the sharpness I see in some other photographer's work. Plus, if I can get my focus skills correct, then I can borrow that Billy Bob lens to see if it shoots as crisp as all the reviews say it does (because when I used it, it didn't, but I'm pretty sure it was operator error). Despite what people think, a great camera does not a great photograph make :) !

So, I shall practice...I was focusing on his eyes, so it worked well. I tried one to focus on his bubbles, but I focused on his nostrils instead...I deleted that one.

Here he is, just smiling and being the happy little man that he is...my focus appears to be his left eye. That was the plan, anyway. You can see it better if you double click to make it bigger.

Who can resist a little foot, especially when it's all wrinkly from being in the pool! There appears to be no focus point, and it's not as crisp as I would like, so lesson: larger aperture. I think it was probably moving, knowing baby feet, so a faster shutter might have helped, too.

It was GREAT & the Guilt

Our Schlitterbahn trip was the greatest! We arrived at the park right upon opening and stayed until 6:30. No one sunburned! There are no pictures because I didn't want to risk the "good" camera, and I forgot the other one (plus, I just get frustrated with it because it won't let me do anything but zoom and decide if I want a flash or not - okay, a couple of other things, but nothing that really matters). There was only one worrisome moment - when we took H on some ride that my 'mommy gut' said "NO" to, but Dad said, "he'll be fine." He was. We got in the un-AC Jetta and jetted home. The kids were sooooo good about it! No whining, just an occasional, "I'm hot." I made the best of it and did some really bad dancing and hand waving out the sun roof. We arrived home at 12:30am, and I got up to go to work just 5 short hours later. I wasn't much good today, but I don't think I missed anything. Bed time tonight - 8:00 - no joke.

On another note, I try to sound all big and bad, but I'm really a rule follower at heart. I wanted to sneak off and sleep in my comfy chair in my room, but even if no one would have missed me, I wouldn't have done it. I wanted to slouch down and nod off, but I wouldn't dream of it. I wanted to surf the internet, but my integrity...no, really, they block all the sites I want to surf - no blogs, no personal email (so if you need me during the school day use misti.white@granburyisd.org), no shopping. However, as we were leaving, Mr. Higher Up in the District, makes the announcement (while looking right at ME), "Please remember, laptops are not permitted in the training rooms." Being the rule follower I am, I turned bright red and started babbling apologies like an idiot. I felt so GUILTY, and I didn't know we couldn't have them - really. And, I used it only for school tasks (because I can't use it for anything else because all the sites are blocked). I made my first day letter, student info sheet, and emailed info to my Junior team. Oh, and most importantly, I took some really good notes over what our presenter what teaching. That's how I work - I don't write, I type. Then, it's saved (unless I do something careless - see two posts back), and I don't have to worry about throwing away a piece of paper.

So, now that I'm over the embarrassment of breaking a rule, I'm mad. The district gives us this technology, lectures us TODAY about reaching Gen Y (which I found out I am by behavior, though I'm Gen X by birth year), how Gen Y is about technology & we need to meet them where they are and embrace technology, and now I can't bring the laptop into the room for training?!?! This is where I get aggravated with the education system...

But, overall it was a good day of seeing my friends, catching up, and getting in a routine. Tomorrow will commence the real routine since I'll be in bed at an hour that's not insane.

Isn't it Ironic,Don't cha think?

We're in San Marcos tonight before we hit Schlitterbahn tomorrow. I just had to share this because of the irony of the situation.

My car leaks freon and is in need of a recharge, so it doesn't cool well. So, we took Jer's dad's car, the Jetta, because it has a killer AC and is newer (the Protege is proudly 11 years old with 148,000+ miles & other than it's AC leak and AMAZING SCREEEECH upon start up - I die every time it does it in public, but not bad enough to fix the $2000 embarrassment! - it's a GREAT car). We nicely froze all the way to Pflugerville, where we stopped to play at the gigantic Toys R Us & discovered they've taken the play land out :(. When we got on the road again, "Houston, we have a problem." The AC was blowing but not cold air. It wasn't just a fluke - the AC broke! No joking. So we sweated our way to San Marcos, Jeff & Jeremy worked for a while, and it was determined that there is some electrical problem (my dad is one trusty mechanic, even from 3 hours away) and there will be no AC for us (but we now own a set of gauges to check the freon!). That's going to be a long ride home tomorrow...but we'll leave late & have hours of Schlitterbahn fun under our belts!

Isn't it ironic that the car we chose to take for it's AC has abandoned us to the Texas heat! It's like rain on your wedding day; the free ride when you'd already paid...