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:

1. Faith
2. Grace
   
3. Gratitude
4. Intention
5. Joy
6. Less
7. Patience
8. Pause
9. Peace
10. Perspective
11. Purpose

I plan on using the word I choose to inspire me all year long. I will post it on my bathroom mirror, on my bulletin board, on the fridge, etc. It will encourage me to become a better person... or be ignored because I see it too much, we'll see. :)

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! :)

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!

Winter "break"

We are on winter break. It is a break from school, but a foray into extra housework! :) We worked on both girls' rooms on Wednesday, purging, reorganizing, cleaning and rearranging. On Wednesday I also cleaned out my "junk drawer" and three cupboards. Then, on Thursday, I finished putting away all the Christmas decorations (as well as the husband removing the tree) and I got out my collection of snowmen. They relieve the sadness of removing Christmas decorations. I also rearranged the living room furniture. My goal of achieving things around home before I begin the longterm substitute position has been met thus far!
So far, today, I have cleaned out the pots and pans cupboard and am moving onto a fun task: reorganizing my scrapbook supplies, having gotten some for gifts for Christmas. I also need to decide what album to begin next, and assemble the supplies I will use for it. Over the last two months I was busy making gift albums for my in laws and parents, so I need to put that stuff away, as well.
I did get my cards written and out in the mailbox five minutes before the mail truck came on Friday-the last day to mail local cards! I wrote a note in almost all of them, running out of time required a typed note in a few! I have a few "Happy New Year" notes to people who sent me cards that I received on the 24th or 26th.
We have had some fun visits with family in the last two weeks. We went to my hometown to see my family last weekend and enjoyed getting to see them. We got to see some family I hadn't gotten to spend quality time with, too, which was great! Then we had my husband's parents, grandmother and sister here for Christmas eve. They attended our church service with us and then we had dinner at our house. We made turkey, avocado, bacon, and spinach wraps, sweet potato fries (yes, homemade), and cantaloupe with creme brulee for dessert. We also tried something new for adults: butterscotch martinis, which those who tried them enjoyed!
Then, on Christmas day, we woke up early to our daughters' voices. They had woken up at 5:45am, but knew our earliest limit was 6. They say they tried to go back to sleep but couldn't. :) They came in at 6, and we were done with gifts, breakfast and clean-up by 7:30. Santa was good to them, but the gifts that were exchanged among the four of us were very thought out and thoughtful, as well! Next, we went to the husband's parents', with his sister and brother's family. We had such a nice time, with family, which is what the season is all about!
I also had a mole removed on the 19th, not fun, still having four stitches, but they come out on the second. Hopefully the tests on it come back fine.
I ended up teaching my youngest daughter's class for five days instead of one, due to her teacher's leg injury that required surgery. I have my long term assignment coming up on the 3rd and lasting until at least the 15th of Feb. It will be nice to be in the same place everyday and spending consistent time with the kids. The changes around here should be interesting. :)
My busier schedule has wreaked havoc on my running schedule. I took more time off, and I really noticed it even on my short five miler yesterday. My goal is to get a regular time in my schedule to have time for running! But, we'll see, work and family come first...
That's all the rambling I have for you right now. I hope you all are well, holidays have gone smoothly, and the new year comes in positively for you!

Loved this

Saw this on someone else's blog and loved it. Here's to the crazy ones!

December

We have had a busy December, thus far! On the 1st, we went and cut our tree. Our yearly tradition is to start the day at Tim Horton's with my husband's parents. Then the six of us take the looooong drive to the tree farm, wander about looking for that "perfect" tree, and we choose the one we want. Then we cut it down, drag it back, pay and head into town. This is where we have lunch at a little "mom and pop", old fashioned restaurant. After lunch is the long drive home, the husband sets up the tree, puts the lights and angel on and then the girls and I decorate.
Since then we have gone shopping, for family, friends, and the church's giving tree, played some family games, made ornaments, my husband and younger daughter had a "Y-Tribe, Indian Princess" meeting here at our house where they decorated small gingerbread houses, and got together with my husband's brother's family. We still have much to do. The girls' school break starts on the 20th, I think. We will head up to my parents' home state that weekend and celebrate before Christmas with them this year, which is unusual, but should be fun... barring no more family disputes...
Then, it will be Christmas, and afterwards, I will be cooking and freezing food because when school starts again (Jan 3) I will have a long-term substitute position. I will be teaching first grade until Feb. 15th. Should be very nice to be in the same classroom everyday and know all the children well. I look forward to the opportunity and hope all goes well.
I finished the first scrapbook gift I was making and am in the process of the second. I hope to get it all done! :) It's been fun to work on something for someone else. Makes me try new things to make it nicer for them.
I am back to a regular schedule in running, as well. I took a break for a while, due to a tired body. My runs were leaving me feeling like lead. So, after a break, I ran 10 miles on the first, 8 last week (on the ice was not fun... I repeat NOT fun), and am back to a 5 mile per day schedule, for now, also.
One more thing. A friend of mine told me she has a "prayer basket": when someone is on her heart or mind to pray for, she puts their name and her prayer for them on a piece of paper into the basket. Then, when she has her prayer time with God each morning or before a long drive when she can pray, she takes a few of these slips of paper and prays for/over them. If there is a resolution, she removes them. I thought this was a great idea... only I didn't find any baskets I liked yesterday, when I thought of it. So, I bought a four dollar tin, two pieces of scrapbook paper and one sheet of plastic stickers (Faith themed). I went home, spent about half an hour-including writing my current prayer concerns-and finished with this:I am happy with it and have prayed over some slips already. The box sits at my office desk and is within reach, as well as easily noticeable, so it won't be forgotten.
I'd love to type more, as I am overdue, but I must go write several Christmas cards. Happy holidays to you and yours!