Thirteen years ago today our first little girl was born. The Friday before she was born the husband and I went to see a movie (Sinbad's Houseguest, which caused me to decide that I'd never see another Sinbad movie, ever.) The seats were uncomfortable and by the time the evening was over I was not feeling too well. We went home and I was ill. I was so ill I thought I might need to go to the hospital... but a new Star Trek series was starting so the hubby said, "Try to sleep, and if you still don't feel well when this show is over I will take you to the emergency room." My due date was still two weeks away, so we didn't think we needed to rush. After the show, I was still quite ill and we headed to the hospital. We found out I was severely dehydrated and had the flu, so I was staying for observation. At about 1:30 the next afternoon my contractions started. I got a bit nervous: my "hospital bag" that I'd packed was at home, and we didn't have a boy's name picked out! I had felt sure it was a girl, and we had a girl's name picked out, but what if it wasn't?? The husband was stuck on Indiana... yes, like Indiana Jones and the state we lived in at the time. I vetoed and prayed it was a girl! My muscles were so weak from the flu the day before that it took quite a long time to deliver our girl: 18 hours of actual labor. After she was delivered my husband stood between her and I. He said "Ten fingers, ten toes and she looks like E.T.!" I was mortified and had to see our beautiful girl for myself. My brother in law came and was the first to hold her, after us. There was only one other family, an Amish family, delivering that weekend, and they left the next morning, so I had the nurses at my beck and call. :) We took her home two days later and found out she had jaundice, so she was pretty yellow! She got a special light-her glow worm blanket we called it-and it worked within two days.
She has been a joy ever since. Wonderful girl. I can't believe I have a teenager! She started out as a 6 lb. 8 ounce baby and is now two inches taller than me! She is sweet, smart, beautiful, caring, nurturing to little kids, hard working at school and running, faithful and prayerful. She is empathetic and polite, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased. ;) She stopped in to see the class I'm subbing in today. They asked if she was my sister, if she could drive (how did she get here, then? She walked from her nearby middle school.) and she helped zip up coats, book bags and putting on scarves and mittens while they got ready to go. She is very good with little ones.
Well, that's all. I just wanted to celebrate my girl by thinking back all those years to when she brought us the beginning of our parental joy.
(My oldest is a teenager, now, too, Momo! :))
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Quick Post
I am about to head off to substitute teach. I love the job, the kids are a joy and I know I definitely want to be a full time teacher. :) I'm tired out, and staying up later than I should, but caffeine helps! :)
My parents came this weekend and my dad helped remove the carpet in our downstairs and put in laminate flooring. I'm really happy with the way it looks-no more dog stained carpet! :) It was great to have a little longer weekend visit with my parents as they all had Martin Luther King, Jr. day off, as well.
I have narrowed down my one little word search to 5...Hopefully I'm down to one by February 1st!
Running has been virtually nonexistent... I will be working towards a half marathon in April, I think...
I start a Beth Moore Bible Study tonight, as well, which will give me "homework", but I look forward to getting back to daily Bible readings.
Hope you are well!! And getting through the cold weather and snow, if you're receiving it!
My parents came this weekend and my dad helped remove the carpet in our downstairs and put in laminate flooring. I'm really happy with the way it looks-no more dog stained carpet! :) It was great to have a little longer weekend visit with my parents as they all had Martin Luther King, Jr. day off, as well.
I have narrowed down my one little word search to 5...Hopefully I'm down to one by February 1st!
- Faith
- Grace
- Joy
- Legacy
- Peace
Running has been virtually nonexistent... I will be working towards a half marathon in April, I think...
I start a Beth Moore Bible Study tonight, as well, which will give me "homework", but I look forward to getting back to daily Bible readings.
Hope you are well!! And getting through the cold weather and snow, if you're receiving it!
Monday, January 14, 2008
One More...
I was listening to my ipod tonight and heard a song that's been a favorite of mine since I saw it in concert/heard it for the first time. Legacy by Nichole Nordeman. This song moves me each time I hear it, sometimes to tears. I got to thinking that Legacy might be a good word... is everything I do going to leave a positive legacy? In other people's hearts and minds...More importantly to God?? Just a thought... Now, I'm up to twelve words. :) Hmm, I'm supposed to be narrowing down. oops. :) Here are the lyrics:
Legacy
Well, now I'm off to write my letter(s) for today! Good night!
Legacy
I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy
Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
Well, now I'm off to write my letter(s) for today! Good night!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Did you know?? I didn't...
I visited Ali's blog, like I normally do when blog-visiting, and she mentioned Tim Holtz. I saw on Tim's blog a mention of Michelle Ward. (I follow these links looking for something new and interesting.) I went to Michelle's blog and she gave me a tidbit I didn't know: Last week (January 8) was National Letter Writing Week! I didn't even know. I love writing letters-handwritten notes are nearly extinct, endangered you might say. My mailbox and I crave them..., but hardly receive them. I do love the Christmas time, and early January when the cards and letters pour in. I try to send so many, now and throughout the year, to let people know they're loved and thought of.
This week I received a beautifully colored, with floral print, tag-shaped, handwritten letter from a dear friend. We haven't spoken in person in a few months! We've both got busy children and husbands, and our own lives have gotten busier, as well. However, she is a dear, dear friend and I miss her, so her note brightened my day (hello, Donna! :)) Letters don't replace a good, hot cup of Earl Grey, and a sweet, but they sooth the soul. :)
Also, I was having a tough day Tuesday and a dear cousin of mine sent me a personal email, which really picked me up. She lives too far away and visits are rare, but she is a dear friend to me, as well, so the contact was a blessing!
Speaking of kind friends and family, I have also very much appreciated the blog-universe friends I have made thus far. Some of them have had the perfect things to say right when I needed them (thanks, Momo,!Isabelle!Lanne!)
Anyway, on this same line, I know the calendar says the "National Letter Writing Week" has passed, and some of you readers don't live in this nation that has proclaimed last week the "National Letter Writing Week" but I challenge my readers to write a few letters this week. Michelle Ward said it wonderfully: I'm not dissing email - you got it, use it! It's been a terrific means of communicating. (Leaving comments is like a little letter of validation too!) I'm just saying, write a letter - whether it's a quick note, or a thought-out paragraph, to let someone know you're glad they're around, you're thinking of them, they have influenced you, or you just like their music...""Who will you write to?"
I have a busy week ahead, too many things to note, here, but I am challenging myself to write a letter, note or card to someone different everyday this week! (This would be a great scrapbook page that has a different theme than my usuals, hm?)
Also, my one little word thought process is still evolving. My current 11 (I first narrowed it down to 55 from Ali's list, then 22 then 11, so I am still here at 11 :)) are:
One last thing, another of my dear cousins is in training to head off to the war in Iraq soon. Please, if you don't mind, say a prayer for her. I know there are many there, and I pray for all of them and their safe return, but it's even scarier when it's someone close to you. Thank you!
You are hear-by challenged to write some notes/letters this week and choose a word for yourself (or maybe 12 to choose from? :)) Good luck and keep me posted on how it goes! :)
This week I received a beautifully colored, with floral print, tag-shaped, handwritten letter from a dear friend. We haven't spoken in person in a few months! We've both got busy children and husbands, and our own lives have gotten busier, as well. However, she is a dear, dear friend and I miss her, so her note brightened my day (hello, Donna! :)) Letters don't replace a good, hot cup of Earl Grey, and a sweet, but they sooth the soul. :)
Also, I was having a tough day Tuesday and a dear cousin of mine sent me a personal email, which really picked me up. She lives too far away and visits are rare, but she is a dear friend to me, as well, so the contact was a blessing!
Speaking of kind friends and family, I have also very much appreciated the blog-universe friends I have made thus far. Some of them have had the perfect things to say right when I needed them (thanks, Momo,!Isabelle!Lanne!)
Anyway, on this same line, I know the calendar says the "National Letter Writing Week" has passed, and some of you readers don't live in this nation that has proclaimed last week the "National Letter Writing Week" but I challenge my readers to write a few letters this week. Michelle Ward said it wonderfully: I'm not dissing email - you got it, use it! It's been a terrific means of communicating. (Leaving comments is like a little letter of validation too!) I'm just saying, write a letter - whether it's a quick note, or a thought-out paragraph, to let someone know you're glad they're around, you're thinking of them, they have influenced you, or you just like their music...""Who will you write to?"
I have a busy week ahead, too many things to note, here, but I am challenging myself to write a letter, note or card to someone different everyday this week! (This would be a great scrapbook page that has a different theme than my usuals, hm?)
Also, my one little word thought process is still evolving. My current 11 (I first narrowed it down to 55 from Ali's list, then 22 then 11, so I am still here at 11 :)) are:
- Faith
- Grace
- Gratitude
- Intention
- Joy
- Less
- Patience
- Pause
- Peace
- Perspective
- Purpose
One last thing, another of my dear cousins is in training to head off to the war in Iraq soon. Please, if you don't mind, say a prayer for her. I know there are many there, and I pray for all of them and their safe return, but it's even scarier when it's someone close to you. Thank you!
You are hear-by challenged to write some notes/letters this week and choose a word for yourself (or maybe 12 to choose from? :)) Good luck and keep me posted on how it goes! :)
Saturday, January 05, 2008
So much to catch up on!
We ended up accomplishing a lot over break, though not all that was on my list.
Had a very fun New Year's Eve: My in-laws had the four of us, my brother-in-law, his wife and four kids, and my sister-in-law. We all brought a little snack food, and our bed items. Then we played games, ate, played Wii, and had a wonderful time enjoying each other! We all slept over and my in-laws made a nice breakfast of fruit, cinnamon rolls and mini quiches. We had a great time! My oldest nephew had pink eye, but had been on drops, so he wasn't contagious. The only problem: my in-laws had been their babysitters the night before... carrying the pink eye contagions to us on our fun New Year's Eve. My daughters and I ended up with pink eye on Wednesday. We all had drops before we headed back to school on Thursday.
Thursday was our first day back to school. I am full swing into teaching first grade until February 15th. So far, it has been fun, but time flies so much faster than normal subbing! I have to do things, currently, that I don't normally as a sub, because I'm just there for a day or two. I have to do things like check the teacher's mailbox, email, set up the papers on the kids' desks for when they arrive in the morning, and making copies. It's been surreal... I have also gotten keys to the classroom and the office door to the mailboxes, a more permanent nametag. Normally they have a sticker that says your name written in pen. Feels so much like a permanent teaching position. I talked to the full time teacher whose position I am filling today. She was so sad, missing her kiddos and wanting so much to be there. I hope I can ease some of her worry by doing a good job for her. These kids are very "neat" kids! They are such special little people. Reminds me how much I love teaching and makes me nervous: to do a good job where I am now and to interview and have my own full time position. It's always been my dream, but seems so real, close. I even brought home papers to grade this weekend! :)
My schedule has been so full, after teaching is taking care of my family, that I have not ran in a few weeks. I feel myself becoming out of shape, out of breath faster. It's disheartening, but I haven't made the time to squeeze it into the schedule.
On Ali Edwards' site, she talks about picking "one word" to inspire you all year long; a word goal you'd like to have in your life. Hers were peace in 2007 and vitality in 2008. I am trying to decide on one for myself. Then I can post it in different places to remind me that it is what I'm working for all year, to better myself, to center myself. I will post when I decide on one. If you'd like to read more about it, here are some sites:
http://www.lifeartmedia.com/newsletter11.html
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2007/12/index.html
http://www.lifeartmedia.com/newsletter19.html
My mole removal turned out the same, with the atypical (pre-pre-cancerous) rating and the stitches were removed before we went back to school. The next one will be removed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
One last thing, I read a good book before heading back to school. Regular readers know how I love the Mitford series by Jan Karon. She finished the series, which saddened me, but now she has started a new one, about the main character from the Mitford series, but about his past. Was another great read that I couldn't put down! It is called Home to Holly Springs. The books always make me feel warm, connected.
I think that's all from here. I hope those who read the blog that have been in a "blue" state of emotions these past few weeks find peace, joy and enjoyment in the near future! And those happy readers, stay that way!! :)
Happy New Year!
Had a very fun New Year's Eve: My in-laws had the four of us, my brother-in-law, his wife and four kids, and my sister-in-law. We all brought a little snack food, and our bed items. Then we played games, ate, played Wii, and had a wonderful time enjoying each other! We all slept over and my in-laws made a nice breakfast of fruit, cinnamon rolls and mini quiches. We had a great time! My oldest nephew had pink eye, but had been on drops, so he wasn't contagious. The only problem: my in-laws had been their babysitters the night before... carrying the pink eye contagions to us on our fun New Year's Eve. My daughters and I ended up with pink eye on Wednesday. We all had drops before we headed back to school on Thursday.
Thursday was our first day back to school. I am full swing into teaching first grade until February 15th. So far, it has been fun, but time flies so much faster than normal subbing! I have to do things, currently, that I don't normally as a sub, because I'm just there for a day or two. I have to do things like check the teacher's mailbox, email, set up the papers on the kids' desks for when they arrive in the morning, and making copies. It's been surreal... I have also gotten keys to the classroom and the office door to the mailboxes, a more permanent nametag. Normally they have a sticker that says your name written in pen. Feels so much like a permanent teaching position. I talked to the full time teacher whose position I am filling today. She was so sad, missing her kiddos and wanting so much to be there. I hope I can ease some of her worry by doing a good job for her. These kids are very "neat" kids! They are such special little people. Reminds me how much I love teaching and makes me nervous: to do a good job where I am now and to interview and have my own full time position. It's always been my dream, but seems so real, close. I even brought home papers to grade this weekend! :)
My schedule has been so full, after teaching is taking care of my family, that I have not ran in a few weeks. I feel myself becoming out of shape, out of breath faster. It's disheartening, but I haven't made the time to squeeze it into the schedule.
On Ali Edwards' site, she talks about picking "one word" to inspire you all year long; a word goal you'd like to have in your life. Hers were peace in 2007 and vitality in 2008. I am trying to decide on one for myself. Then I can post it in different places to remind me that it is what I'm working for all year, to better myself, to center myself. I will post when I decide on one. If you'd like to read more about it, here are some sites:
http://www.lifeartmedia.com
http://aliedwards.typepad.com/
http://www.lifeartmedia.com
My mole removal turned out the same, with the atypical (pre-pre-cancerous) rating and the stitches were removed before we went back to school. The next one will be removed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
One last thing, I read a good book before heading back to school. Regular readers know how I love the Mitford series by Jan Karon. She finished the series, which saddened me, but now she has started a new one, about the main character from the Mitford series, but about his past. Was another great read that I couldn't put down! It is called Home to Holly Springs. The books always make me feel warm, connected.
I think that's all from here. I hope those who read the blog that have been in a "blue" state of emotions these past few weeks find peace, joy and enjoyment in the near future! And those happy readers, stay that way!! :)
Happy New Year!
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