Today Is 'The Grass Is Always Browner On The Other Side Of The Fence Day'

Now this is a day to celebrate! Marriage tough? Job stinks? Kids driving you insane? Life is probably better on the other side of the fence right? Maybe. However, I tend to think that life is what you make of it. We all go through hard times, but just jumping to the other side of the fence won't change much. You will most likely run into problems over there.

So, instead of getting stuck thinking life could be better...make it better. It's not easy, and I will not lie and say it is. I have been through hard times, and I am sure I will endure many more hard times in the future. But I work through those times. You don't have to work through things alone either. There are family, friends, counselors, pastors, and any number of other people who can help you.

I will never forget when I went to see a counselor about my marriage. I was so frustrated with my marriage. He was a Christian counselor, and he made sure to point out that I did not have grounds for divorce. I specifically remember saying, "I don't want a divorce. I want to know how to make my marriage work." I was trying to figure out how to find happiness being married to a workaholic. He told me my happiness couldn't come from Jeff alone. I needed to find a life I could be happy with. I needed to follow Christ like I wanted to and not wait for Jeff to go to church with me. My life has changed dramatically since then. I am living my life for Christ. Jeff has started to attend church and small group with me pretty consistently. We have learned how to fight without yelling (well, most of the time) or saying things we don't mean.

Sure, I could have left my marriage. I could have jumped ship to find a "better relationship." Chances are I would have wound up in a situation that also wasn't perfect. Instead, I chose to work on the relationship I have, and I am thoroughly happy with my choice. My husband rocks!

So, I challenge you to work on something in life that you think could be better. Don't bail. Don't run away. Work on it. You can make some changes!!

Doin' The Happy Dance

Okay, I told y'all that last week at Weight Watchers I gained 2.6 pounds. Of course, I wasn't doing the program, so that didn't come as a complete surprise. Well, this week I did the program, and I lost 5 pounds. Woohoo!! That means I lost a total of 2.4 pounds on the program (from my starting weight). I'm feeling good! I'm hoping I can see a loss again next week. :-)

Our Menu For 03/29/10 Through 04/04/10

Monday~Beef Barley Soup
Tuesday~Eating with Our Small Group
Wednesday~Pot Roast with Onion & Carrots
Thursday~Taco Bake
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Grilled Steaks & Grilled Veggies
Sunday~Easter Dinner..Happy Easter Everyone!

They Acted

Do you remember when I wrote about the teacher calling the student a loser. If not, you can read here and here. Well, I am happy to say that the teacher was suspended for two weeks without pay. On top of that, he must attend professional and ethical classroom training before he returns to the classroom. I am positive that the school board will be monitoring his behavior more closely, and I pray that Mr. Roland learns how his students should be treated. Thank you to the Buncombe County School District for taking action. Please continue to be an advocate for the children in your district.

Easter Humor & Joy

This one is humorous, but it hits home too. The two eggs are just a bit jealous because the other one is more vibrant. It is very easy for women to get caught up in the trap of judging others. It's something I work hard at not doing.

I have seen this one a lot, and it always makes me giggle.

I don't, however, remember ever seeing this one before. So silly!

This one is just plum cute. Those darn Care Bears are adorable!

Of course, Easter isn't about Easter bunnies, eggs or baskets filled with candy. No. It is about Jesus being crucified on that cross for each and every one of us. It is about the miracle of Him rising from his grave.

With Jesus life is filled with hope and meaning and joy. I plan to rejoice in His truth this coming week as we head towards Easter. I hope you will too!

A Little Of This & A Little Of That

I am PMSing. Ugh! I have felt cranky and tired most of this week, which is typical right before my period. Then today I feel like eating my weight in junk food, which just stinks! I have done great eating good all week, and I don't want to blow it today. Well, I am having a chocolate night at my house tonight, so I know I will blow it a bit, but I don't want to blow it big time. Know what I mean? PMS is rough!

On a positive note, my mom took my kids for an overnight. That means I can get some cleaning done before everyone comes over tonight. To be honest, my mom already helped me with some of the cleaning, but there is always more to do. That lady rocks! What will I ever do without her? She is helpful, kind, funny, and to top it all off, she is my mom. I am blessed!

The kids got their report cards yesterday. Ali did really well. She had all A's or S's except for a B+ in math. Such a smarty! Plus her teacher had nothing but really nice things to say about her. Josh, who is in kindergarten, got all M's (for has mastered district expectations) or E's (for has exceeded district expectations) except for 2 P's (is progressing towards district expectations). He is a pretty smart cookie too, but his teacher did suggest summer school, since his reading hasn't progressed in a few months. He is reading where he needs to be for 1st grade, but he has just been stagnant too long. Not to mention his handwriting is atrocious. We blame that in part on the fact that he broke his arm this year and also on the fact that he is lazy. ;-) Anyway, summer school isn't going to work. They don't want you to miss more than three days, and Josh would miss 9 for a vacation we are taking. So, it looks like I am going to work with him this summer. I figure an hour a day of school during the week won't kill either of us. I hope! ;-)

In a completely different area, I am struggling to plan meals for next week. It's mortgage week, which means I don't have as much extra money. So, I would like to eat out of the pantry and freezer. Not a problem, since we have tons of food. The problem is trying to figure out healthy meals. I know it can be done, but I am struggling. Sometimes eating healthy can be a pain. Too much planning, but I am not giving up. No way!

Okay, I will quite rambling. I hope everyone is off having a great weekend! :-)

Photo Hunt~Fresh

Fresh

What is better than fresh flowers?
Jeffrey, are you reading this? ;-)

My New Love

No, I am not having an affair. I have just fallen in love with NBC's new show, Parenthood. The show is loosely based on the Parenthood movie from 1989 that starred Steve Martin. Remember that one? Well, that was directed by Ron Howard, and he is executive producer of this new show.

The show features the Braverman family. I love them! They really seem like a family that might live on my street. We have the parents, Zeke and Camille, and their four children, Peter, Sarah, Crosby and Julia. This family talks about autism, teenage rebellion, marital problems, and even masturbation. All that in only 4 episodes.

It's a family drama that portrays real life situations. If that is your kind of thing, you should check it out. It is on Tuesday at 10/9c. If you have already seen the show, what did you think? Do share!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. The right word is the best word.

2. Get out and shut the door quietly, please.

3. Up is the only way to look.

4. In my office is where you'll find me.

5. Ooh! What is that smell? Are you baking brownies?

6. Drawing closer to the Lord is a good idea.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out at home doing some cleaning and planning for next week, tomorrow my plans include having a Ladies Chocolate Night at my house and Sunday, I want to go to church, go out to lunch, and then chill at home!

Day 4

I have been following the Weight Watcher plan for 4 days now. I have lost 15 pounds in 4 days. Did I get your attention? I'm just kidding! I don't have a clue what I have lost, though I hardly doubt it is 15 pounds, since I haven't gotten on the scale yet.

I am finding that I am very satisfied on the plan. I am making sure to eat yummy dinners. Tonight was leftover night, but since there weren't any leftovers, I got a Turkey Sub from Subway. Yummy! The Oven Roasted Cauliflower we ate this week was deeee-licious! Seriously tasty! You can find the recipe here, in case you are interested.

So, while I am satisfied, I am noticing that I am scared to eat too many points during the day. I am afraid that I will get to the evening hours and have no points for snacking. This has caused me to save up too many points for after dinner. Tonight I have 15 points to eat after the kids go to bed. That is more than usual, since I have slept most of the day away. I haven't eaten any snacks today because of all that sleeping. All I have eaten is cereal for breakfast this morning (4 points), a sandwich for lunch (3 points), and Subway & chips for dinner (7 points). So, I need to quit hoarding my points. Well, at least I am a satisfied hoarder. ;-)

Next week I am hoping to work in some exercise. Nothing major at this point. Maybe the elliptical 2 days and the Wii Fit 2 days. I am truly a slow and steady wins the race kind of girl. Too much too soon just causes me to bail. Hopefully I will have success doing it the way that I am.

Oh, I did get some good suggestions from my bloggy friends about my rewards, so here is my completed list...

Lose 12 pounds~get my hair colored
Lose 23 pounds~get a pedicure
Lose 35 pounds~buy a new pair of tennis shoes
Lose 50 pounds~get a 1 hour massage (heaven!)
Lose 62 pounds~spend a day doing something fun & fairly unusual with my friends
Lose 75 pounds~buy myself a cute nightie and have a weekend away with hubby...surely he will agree to this!

Thanks for the help Trudy & Jody! You ladies are awesome!!

Here is hoping the next 4 days go as smoothly as the past 4 have gone. :-)

Thankful Thursday

I am super thankful for my hard working hubby. We are getting back into his busy season. This is usually the time of year that I get frustrated with Jeff and our life. Not this year! This year I am choosing to love him through the crazy schedule. I am choosing to be thankful that God has provided him with work.

I am so thankful for my friends that help to encourage me. That is pretty much all of my friends. I hang with a rockin' bunch of ladies. I love you all!

I am thankful that Josh's teacher, Mrs. Grant, recognizes he needs extra help and has suggested summer school. You see, he reads at a level 3, which is exactly where they want him to be at the end of kindergarten. However, he has been reading at a level three most of the year. So, his growth has stopped. Some teachers would say, "Oh well! The kid is at a three. That is all that matters." Not my son's teacher. She recognizes extra help before 1st grade can be beneficial, and I am very thankful.

Last, but most definitely not least, I am thankful for my mom. She babysits my kids so that I can be in book club, have a night out with my hubby, or simply have one on one time with one of my kids. She cleans my house. I could not do all that I do without her.

Dear Lord, please shower my husband, my friends, Mrs. Grant & my mother with extra blessings. You know their needs, Lord. Please meet those needs. They are blessings, and they deserve to be blessed abundantly. Thank you, Lord. Amen!

Thursday Thirteen

Today is Pecan Day. So, here are 13 facts about Pecans.

1. Pecans provide nearly 10% of the recommended Daily Value for zinc. Did you know that if the body does not get enough zinc, it may have difficulty producing testosterone? Testosterone is a hormone that initiates sexual desire in both men and women. Eat some pecans!

2. The U.S. produces about 80% of the world's pecan crop.

3. The pecan tree is the state tree in Texas. It was adopted in 1919.

4. Albany, Georgia is the pecan capital of the United States. This city is home to over 600,000 pecan trees and a National Pecan Festival.

5. There are over 1,000 varieties of pecans.

6. Pecans are the only tree nut that is truly native to the United States.

7. Pecan trees are a member of the hickory family and they can be used to make beautiful furniture, flooring, baseball bats, and paneling.

8. Pecans can be frozen for at least two years without loss of flavor and texture.

9. The name pecan is an Algonquin word that means "tough nut to crack."

10. The history of pecans can be traced back to the 16th century.

11. Astronauts took pecans to the moon in two Apollo space missions.

12. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson called pecans "Mississippi Nuts."

13. Okmulgee, Oklahoma holds the Guinness Book Of World Record title for largest pecan pie ever baked. It was over 40 feet in diameter and weighed more than 35,000 pounds.

I hope you learned at least one new thing from reading the above. I know I learned a lot by compiling this information. Now, go enjoy some pecans! ;-)

***The above information came from the National Pecan Shellers
Association Website and Georgia Pecan Commission Website, as well as an Oklahoma 4H website.***

Wordful Wednesday

Four months ago my nephew, Gavin, celebrated his 10th birthday. His birthday party was held at a really cool indoor climbing place. You couldn't have paid me to get up there at the time. Although, lately I have been thinking maybe I need to tackle my fear of heights. If that happens, I'll make sure to let you know. :-)

My daughter, Ali, let us all know she wasn't afraid. Well, not too afraid anyway. Here she is going across a scary wooden bridge.

She made it! Check out her smile. You can tell she is super proud of herself, and she very well should be.

I look forward to seeing her pretty little face smile like that numerous times in her growing up years. I think feeling that proud sense of accomplishment often will help create one awesome adult! I hope so anyway. :-)

Heads Or Tails

The theme/prompt for THIS week, March 23, is:

TAILS- "Childhood Memory"

This picture is from way back. I am trying to remember how old I was. Maybe 7? It was summertime, obviously, and we had gone to Ohio to visit family. This wasn't any ordinary trip to Ohio though, because we took our neighbors, and close friends, Lynn and her daughters, Rita and Rene.

That is me swimming towards the back of the pool, that boy in the middle is my cousin, Ryan, and that girl in the front is my dear friend, Rita. Rita and I had such a great time on this trip. We drove from Wisconsin to Ohio in my dad's pickup truck. It was about an 8 hour drive. My mom, Lynn, and baby Rene rode in the front of the truck. We had a shell over the back, and Rita and I rode in the back. I know this is unheard of today, and I would never do this with my own children, but it was so much fun.

We could talk to our moms through the window, which came in handy when we had to go to the bathroom. We sat back there and played games, talked, laughed and had a ball. We ate lots of beef jerky and chips, and drank lots of soda. We watched the other people in cars around us. We thought we were so cool back there in our own special world.

I will never forget that summer vacation!

Weight Watchers

I weigh in tonight at Weight Watcher's. This is my third week going, and I can honestly say that I haven't really been following the plan. The plan is all about planning, which I am usually pretty good at. Usually! I will cut myself some slack though, since I have been sick here recently.

Today I have been journaling and keeping track of points. I had Fiber One Honey Clusters for breakfast (1 cup of cereal plus 1/2 cup of milk is 4 points). I thought I would hate the Fiber One foods. I mean they are healthy. Ewwww! But honestly I love this cereal. So tasty! I would choose this over most cereals, and that is saying a lot. I am looking forward to trying the Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters cereal that I bought.

I have already planned out dinner. We are having BBQ baked chicken breasts with green beans. 4 oz. of chicken is 4 points and the green beans are zero points. So, between breakfast and dinner I have (or will have) eaten 8 points.

Planning like that helps me not eat too many points during the day. I now have 21 points for lunch and snacks. Yes, I get 29 points a day. That is what happens when you have 75 pounds to lose.

Ugh! 75 pounds!!! Okay, I admit that number stresses me out. So, I am tackling this little by little, and I am rewarding myself along the way. Once I lose 12 pounds, I get to go have my hair colored, and folks, it needs the color NOW!

Here are some of my other goals...

Lose 23 pounds~???
Lose 35 pounds~buy a new pair of tennis shoes
Lose 50 pounds~get a 1 hour massage (heaven!)
Lose 62 pounds~???
Lose 75 pounds~buy myself a cute nightie and have a weekend away with hubby...surely he will agree to this!

See those question marks? What can I reward myself with there? Can't be food. That just wouldn't be right!

Our Menu For 3/22/10 through 3/28/10

Monday~Baked BBQ Chicken with Green Beans
Tuesday~Pan Fried Pork Chops with Oven Roasted Cauliflower
Wednesday~Chicken & Apple Smoked Sausage with Corn On The Cob
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Broiled Tilapia, Asparagus, and Brown Rice
Saturday~Grilled Steaks with Grilled Yellow Summer Squash, Red Onion and Mushrooms
Sunday~Beef Barley Soup

Photo Hunt~Three

~Three~

And then there were Three! I love this picture of Ali & Josh meeting Meghan for the first time. She is almost 3 1/2-years-old now, but it still warms my heart to remember how happy they were to have her in our family. Now if only I could get them to quit fighting and remember that happiness. ;-)

Happy First Day Of Spring!

I hope your Spring is filled with sunshine and flowers, warm days and cool nights, and fun times with friends and family! :-)

Blueberry Buttermilk Coffeecake

I made some Blueberry Buttermilk Coffeecake for our Mom's Life meeting tomorrow. Of course, I had to sample it first. Yum!

Ingredients

for the coffeecake:

1/2 cup butter
1 1/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups buttermilk
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups blueberries

for the topping:

2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar, white or brown
6 tablespoons butter, softened

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sift together 4 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter and 1 1/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in blueberries by hand. Pour batter into prepared pan.

In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup flour and 2/3 cup sugar. Cut in 6 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over top of batter.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Today I will be hanging out with other mom's at a Mom's Life meeting, and then I will be spending the afternoon with my kiddos who only go to school half-day today.

2. Our local ice cream stand is already open and I say why not? Everyone needs a bit of summer on a nice, cool March day. I think we will visit them on Friday afternoon.

3. What do you think of the new show Parenthood?

4. At Starbucks Coffee it's free Pastry Day til 1030 Friday! Oh wait, not Friday, but rather on Tuesday March, 23rd. To enjoy you just have to purchase a handcrafted beverage. You can print the coupon here.

5. People say that what we're all seeking is love, and I think they might be right. The good thing is everyone can have love, if they just turn to God.

6. The image I cherish most is my children sleeping. They just look so angelic, and remembering them this way gets me through those hectic, yucky mommy moments.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to possibly having some girlfriends over (Girls, if you are reading this, what do you think? Anyone up for some hang out time?), tomorrow my plans include cleaning up the house a bit and relaxing a ton and Sunday, I want to go to church and laze around at home!

Dream

Last night I had a dream that Jeff and I were really going to move to Alaska. We found a house that had a movie theater in the kitchen. One where people actually paid to come and watch movies. I really liked the idea, but we turned that home down because the hill leading to the house was so steep I thought we would tumble over backwards.

So, we kept looking for places to live in the dream, as well as businesses to own. The businesses started to be roller skating rinks instead of movie theaters at some point. Oddness!

My mom kept refusing to move there with us, and so I started to say I wasn't moving. No way was I leaving her behind.

Then a bunch of my mom's family, as well as my father, arrived. My dad took some kind of test at a factory, and he paid to have his results in gold. What is that about?

Overall an odd dream. Nice to see my dad again, and nice to be surrounded by the beauty of Alaska...even if neither of those things really happened.

**I forgot that the stairs leading up to the factory were super steep and never ending. I wonder what all this steep stuff means. Hmmmm???**

Thursday Thirteen

Since St. Patrick's Day was yesterday, here are

13 Facts about Ireland

1. The longest place name in Ireland is Muckanaghederdauhaulia, in County Galway.

2. An odd Irish birthday tradition is to lift the birthday child upside down and give his head a few gentle bumps on the floor for good luck. The number of bumps should allegedly correspond to the child’s age plus one.

3. The last witch in Ireland was supposedly Dame Alice Kytler, born in Kilkenny in 1280. All four of her husbands died, and she was accused of poisioning them. Today you can dine at Kytler's Inn in Kilkenny, which operates in her old home.

4. Ireland has fewer plant and animal species than Britain or mainland Europe. That’s because Ireland became an island very shortly after the last Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. The habitats in Ireland are diverse and include farmland, open woodlands, broadleaf and mixed forests, conifer (evergreen) areas, bogs, and many types of coastal environments.

5. On December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, virtually all schools in Ireland are closed for the day. It is traditionally the nation's number one day for Christmas shopping.

6. Ireland is the world’s only country with a musical instrument for a national symbol: the harp.

7. The tallest identical twins ever born were the Knipe Brothers from Magherafelt in County Derry who were 7ft 2in. They were born in 1761.

8. Ireland’s highest mountain is Carrantouhill, in County Kerry (3,445 feet).

9. Ireland was once densely forested, but was practically denuded of tree cover in the 17th century.

10. In the days of sailing ships, Irish sea captains often carried pebbles from Scattery Island, the home of the Saint Cannera, the patron saint of sailors.

11. The Vikings founded Dublin in 988.

12. A single day of good weather that pops up in a long stretch of bad days is known in Ireland as a "pet day."

13. In 1800, the population of Ireland was almost twice as large as that of the United States. By 2000, America’s population was about 60 times that of Ireland.

Potato Project

Ali had to decorate a potato like a person or animal for school. She decided on a leprechaun, since it was St. Patrick's Day. Here it is...

Isn't he just the cutest little leprechaun?

Ali is a little irked at me because I helped her finish her project. She painted the potato and the legs. I assembled the legs, since that took a little strength. She needed to put his arms and legs on last night, but instead, she chose to go to the school roller skating party. So, I finished assembling her man. Boy did I get a talkin' to! I was sick and tired yesterday. It isn't like I wanted to work on her potato. I was trying to be helpful. I think my kids need to learn how to better manage their time. I need to teach them to get their homework and projects done right away. Otherwise they are going to be like their father, who has mastered the Art of Procrastination. God love him! :-)

Wordful Wednesday

I was recently looking back at Thanksgiving pictures, and there is something I want to know. Does everyone have this much fun with their family???

We were just being so goofy! Silly faces and tons of laughter. Sure, the wine and egg nog were flowing, but I am thinkin' we would have been almost as silly without. We are just that fun of a family. ;-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Whether you are Irish or not, celebrate the day! Wear green and keep your eyes peeled for those lucky little leprechauns. ;-)

Heads Or Tails

The theme/prompt for THIS week, March 16, is:

HEADS - "Grow"

This is the time of year that I start thinking about planting things. No, I don't have a major green thumb. I wish I did. I desire one, but alas, I don't really have one. So, what happens is I plant things and about a month later I tire of watering them. They suffer and eventually die. It really is quite sad!

Last year I had over 12 pots of flowers, a strawberry plant, 2 tomato plants, a jalapeno plant, green pepper plant, and a green bean plant. That was a lot of stuff growing in my backyard.

So, I am thinking this year I will limit what I plant. I am thinking only 4 pots of flowers, 1 jalapeno plant, 1 green pepper plant, and 1 rhubarb plant. Maybe I can maintain this amount. Maybe they will live and thrive and grow throughout the whole summer. Or maybe I will fail once again. I'll never know unless I try.

How about you? Do you like to plant stuff and watch it grow? Were you gifted with a green thumb? Do share!

I Think I'm Better!!

I feel like doing a happy dance right now! I can breath through my nose, I haven't coughed since I woke up, which was over an hour ago, and I feel like I could eat a whole cow. I do still have a bit of a headache, but I can keep that at bay with meds. And I am sure I will have to take a nap today, but that is quite alright by me. I feel better! By tomorrow I just might feel super-energetic too. Who knows? It could happen!

Our Menu For 03/15/10 through 03/21/10

Okay, last week was horrible at our home. My son was sick and didn't attend school all week. Next I got sick, and still am sick, and then my husband got sick. So, let's see if we can keep up with a menu and schedule this week. I hope so!

Monday~Beef Stir Fry over Calrose Rice
Tuesday~Chili
Wednesday~Reuben Sandwiches and Potato Chips
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Chicken and Dumplings over Mashed Potatoes
Saturday~Ravioli with Garlic Bread
Sunday~Mustgoes

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

March 15th~National Pears Helene Day
March 16th~National Artichoke Hearts Day
March 17th~Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
March 18th~Oatmeal Cookie Day
March 19th~National Chocolate Caramel Day and Poultry Day
March 20th~National Ravioli Day and Bock Beer Day
March 21st~California Strawberry Day

Next Week:

March 22nd~Coq Au Vin Day
March 23rd~National Chip & Dip Day and National Melba Toast Day
March 24th~National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
March 25th~Pecan Day, Waffle Day, and National Lobster Newburg Day
March 26th~Spinach Day
March 27th~National Spanish Paella Day
March 28th~Something on a Stick Day and National Black Forest Cake Day

Response

If you read this, you know that I recently wrote an email to the Superintendent and Principal of a school in North Carolina. This was in regards to a teacher repeatedly calling a student a loser.

Well, I received an email response from the Superintendent. This is what it said...

Dawn - Your email similar to other email is read and not just deleted. I
appreciate your comments especially as an educator. We are working off a
few days notice of the incidents that go back as early as November and
intend to fully investigate and get all the facts. Regardless of the
intention or context, demeaning comments made to students by any of our
school staff is unacceptable and is not supported by this school system.

I must say that I was impressed to get a response, because I know this has to be a difficult time for their school district. I am sure they are being bombarded with emails, calls, and letters. I responded to this email to let Dr. Baldwin know that I am happy to hear they are investigating and that this type of behavior is not supported by their school district.

I'll be praying for all those involved.

Don't Forget To...

Just a friendly reminder to change your clocks tonight before you go to bed.

Photo Hunt~Spiral

~Spiral~

Here is the spiral candle holder that resides in my living room. I get to dress it up a bit for each season and holiday. This picture was taken in the fall.

I'm Furious!

I saw a video on Yahoo that talked about how a teacher has repeatedly called a 6th grade girl a loser. He recently wrote "-20% for being a loser" on her paper and underlined loser twice. To see this video for yourself you may click here.

Does this make anyone else as angry as it made me? I am sure it does! How could it not? I don't care that this happened in North Carolina, which is over 650 miles away. I was so furious that I wrote this email to the school's Superintendent...

Dear Dr. Tony Baldwin,

I am writing you regarding the video I saw on Yahoo that addressed a teacher in your district bullying a girl. The teacher’s name was Mr. Rex Roland, and he teaches at Enka Middle School.

I am positive you know the exact video I am referencing. Surely I am not the only person in America outraged over this teacher's behavior. I am going to guess that you have received many phone calls, letters and emails, and I pray that you hear what each of them has to say.

As a certified teacher, I am appalled to think that any teacher would find it acceptable to repeatedly call a student a loser. As a mother, I am beyond furious about Mr. Roland’s careless and callous behavior. There is no excuse for what he has done. None!

I read on your district website that “Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.” It does not appear that the Clement girl is being valued by this particular teacher.

Just below that, again on your district website, it states, "A safe and supportive learning environment promotes student achievement." Being called a loser should never be done in a supportive learning environment.

Middle school is a difficult time for many children. It is a time for them to figure out who they are. Their self-esteem is developing. I would think, as Superintendent, you would understand this to be true. I would think that you, as an educated man in an authoritative position, would want to employ only the best for the students in your district.

If this is true, I believe the only solution is for Mr. Roland to be dismissed from teaching in your district. I would also think a thorough investigation into his behavior should be conducted, which will most likely show that Mr. Roland's teaching license should be revoked. Any other decision could only mean that you do not have the children's best interests at heart.

Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Dawn

Then I turned around and wrote the Principal at Enka Middle School a little email too. Here it is...

Dear Dr. Pam Fourtenbary,

I am writing you regarding the video I saw on Yahoo that addressed a teacher at your school bullying a child. The teacher's name was Mr. Rex Roland.

I am positive that you know the exact video I am referencing. Surely I am not the only person in America outraged over this behavior. I am going to guess that you have received many phone calls, letters and emails, and I pray that you hear what each of them has to say.

As a certified teacher, I am appalled to think that any teacher would find it acceptable to repeatedly call a student loser. Also as a certified teacher, I am furious to think that a school’s administration would allow such behavior. As a mother, I am beyond furious about Mr. Roland’s careless and callous behavior. There is no excuse for what he has done. None!

Dr. Fourtenbary, you are apparently an educated woman, as well as a mother of two young children. How can you condone this behavior? How can you allow a child in your school to be put down and harassed by a teacher? Teachers should uplift children. They should help students develop positively, not only intellectually, but also emotionally. Surely you can accept that Mr. Roland is not doing this. You most definitely want better for the students at your school.

If this is true, I believe the only solution is for Mr. Roland to be dismissed from teaching at Enka Middle School. Furthermore, I believe a thorough investigation into his behavior should be conducted, which will most likely show that Mr. Roland’s teaching license should be revoked. Any other decision could only mean that the children in Buncombe County are not valued.

Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Dawn

I am planning to send both letter to them through the USPS too.

So often I react to news like this, but I don't actually act. This time I am acting. I am standing up for this little girl, as well as all the other kids that this man has taught, now teaches, or may teach. They deserve better! They are not losers!

Here are the email and snail mail addresses for the Principal and Superintendent. If this video caused you to react, I am asking you to act. Act on behalf of those children. Somebody needs to!

Buncombe County Schools Administrative Services Building
c/o Superintendent Dr. Tony Baldwin
175 Bingham Road
Asheville, NC 28806
tony.baldwin@bcsemail.org

Enka Middle School
c/o Dr. Pam Fourtenbary
390 Asbury Road
Candler, NC 28715

Happy Birthday!

The Girl Scouts are 98 years old today. Thanks to Mrs. Juliette Gordon Low (pictured in the middle below) for starting such a wonderful organization for girls. The Girl Scouts teach many things. Most importantly, in my opinion, they teach young girls to work together, get along, and support one another. That is a good thing!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I am so looking forward to this sickness in our home going away?

2. I am hoping to go to the library and post office later. I lead an exciting life like that. ;-)

3. When you get hungry, truly hungry, a can of green beans will sound good. I learned that at Weight Watchers this week. If the green beans aren't what you want, you probably aren't truly hungry. Make sense?

4. Jesus is a big part of my life.

5. If you need anything just ask. I always try to help when I can.

6. Thirteen weeks until we go on a trip to Gatlinburg, TN. Can't wait!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillin' at home with my family, which is all I have done all week, tomorrow my plans include hopefully going to the 'Learning to Love to Pray' seminar at our church and Sunday, I want to go to church and hang out at home some more!

Heavens To Betsy

That title was just for you Sue. ;-)

Josh has been home sick from school since Monday. He was looking forward to going to school. Okay, at first he wasn't, but he warmed up to the idea quickly. I, however, needed no warming up. I was thrilled that he was finally going back to school. I mean for Pete's sake I want him to make it to the 1st grade, and at this rate he is likely to be held back for his bazillion absences. Okay, not really, but a mom is allowed to be dramatic at a time like this.

So, I tucked him into bed. I got on the phone with my friend, Jen. I got off the phone to deal with Ali, who was crying, and all of the sudden I heard this noise. My poor boy was vomiting. Will it never end??? (Yes it will! Hold on to the hope, Dawn. Hold on!)

I feel horrible for the poor guy. Just when he thinks he is getting better he gets sick again. When I heard that noise, I yelled back, "Joshy, did you just get sick?" To which he replied crying, "Yes. When will I be better?" Awwwww! Poor kid! I don't know when he will feel better, but I am pretty sure playing the Wii tomorrow will help take his mind off of being sick. See, we have a weekend only policy on the Wii now, so he hasn't been able to play since last Sunday. That is torture for that poor guy on a good week, but it has been pure torture since he has been sick. I have given in though. I am a mean good mommy.

So, on Friday I get even more snuggles from my little man. I am trying to have a positive attitude during this week, which hasn't been easy with a sick child, myself being sick, and to top it all off Jeff's work schedule is getting crazy again. So please, if you don't mind, shower my family with prayers. We can never have too many!

Noah's Ark

I saw this on my friend Carol's facebook page, and I just had to share. So insightful!

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.

1~Don't miss the boat.

2~Remember that we are all in the same boat!

3~Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

4~Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

5~Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

6~Build your future on high ground.

7~For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

8~Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

9~When you're stressed, float awhile.

10~Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

11~No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Today Is...

Johnny Appleseed Day

Today we honor a real man, John Chapman. He was born on September 26, 1774, and there is actually confusion over when he actually died. We celebrate him on this day because many believe he may have died on this day in 1845.

He was called Johnny Appleseed because he traveled around introducing apple trees to many areas including Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He was a religious man who would preach to many during his travels. He led a very simple life. He would rarely accept money, and he would often go barefoot in summer to save leather.

So, how can one celebrate a day like Johnny Appleseed Day? Well, if you have young children, say ages 3 to 9, you can read them Johnny Appleseed: A Tall Tale Retold and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg.
With children of any ages, or no children at all, you can make some food using apples. There are Smiley Apples, applesauce, Apple-Cinnamon Bars, or Caramel Apple Bars. You could also make an apple pie or any number of other apple recipes.

Are you into crafts? You could make shrunken apple heads with kids, or you could have them help you make some apple candlestick holders to use at dinner tonight.

It doesn't take much time or energy to let your kids enjoy the legend of Johnny Appleseed. :-)

Thankful Thursday

Well, if you read my blog, you know that my son & I have been sick this week. My hubby came home sick yesterday too. I admit that I haven't been very thankful during all of this, but I should be. I really should be!

I should be thankful that we are generally healthy people. I should be thankful that Josh & I have had extra snuggle time this week. I should be thankful that the doctor could squeeze Josh in promptly and that it is not strep throat. I should be extremely thankful that my mother could help out during this trying time. Most of all, I should be thankful that we will get better. We will!

Life is so much better when you choose to wear your rose-colored glasses. It's better when we choose to look at life positively. It really does me no good to sit around and mope about being sick. I will get better. This too shall pass! When I have that positive, thankful attitude, I can be a blessing to myself, as well as those around me.

Do you need to put on your rose-colored glasses? Is there something going on in your life that needs to be examined through them? Go ahead. Put them on! Examine away. I highly doubt you will regret what you see upon closer inspection. As a matter of fact, you just might be thankful!

Thursday Thirteen

13 More Food Facts & Chef's Secrets

Last week was well received, so I thought I would share some more. I hope you all enjoy these too!

1. Peanut butter will remove gum from a person's hair. (This would have been nice to know a week or two ago. Both Ali & Meg got gum in their hair. Not fun!)

2. If you add 1 1/2 teaspoons of butter to pasta or soup it will not boil over.

3. To unclog a drain, try using a cup of salt mixed with a cup of baking soda (no liquid). Pour the dry solution into the drain followed by a pot of boiling water.

4. For clear ice cubes, just boil the water first.

5. If a green banana is placed next to a ripe banana, it will ripen more quickly.

6. If you sprinkle salt into the water when you are washing vegetables, it will draw out insects and help remove any sand that is left.

7. Remove eggs from the refrigerator at leas 1/2 hour before beating. You will get more volume.

8. A dull knife works better to cut cheese. Warm the knife and the cheese will cut like butter.

9. To prevent the fat from splattering when frying sausage, try flouring them lightly.

10. A teaspoon of vinegar added to pie dough will guarantee a flaky crust.

11. If you want a moist cake, try adding 2 tablespoons of corn oil to the mix.

12. Club soda that has lost its fizzle, has just the right chemicals left to add vigor and color to your plants.

13. To save leftover wines, freeze them in your ice cube trays. They can be used for any dish that you would season with wine or use in coolers. Also, you can freeze coffee in ice cube trays and use them to cool a hot cup of joe.

Solving The Problem

Do you see this adorable little girl? Do you see that cute outfit she is wearing? We bought that at the beginning of the school year, and she finally wore it this week.

Why you ask? Well, initially I thought it was because she was like her mother. You see, I like to wear the same things a lot. I find something comfy and I wear it until it is shredded. But then I remembered that my darling Ali thinks of herself as a fashion girl, which I most definitely am not. So, then I realized the real problem. She can't find anything in her hideous closet. Closets generally remain closed in our home. They are places to cram things when you want the room to look nice. So, be kind when I show you this photo...

I suppose if I took out the bookshelf we would have more room in there, but I honestly don't know where I would put the books. I would say the basement playroom, but that area has been known to flood...more than once.

And really the problem isn't more room. Do you see the handy, dandy closet organizer? This one...

I bought that when Ali was in kindergarten so that I could have her clothes ready for her for the week. The problem is I haven't been doing that for her this year. I have been a slacker mom! Therefore, she has been the child that only wears half of her clothes.

So, I am vowing here and now to be a more organized and efficient mother. I can do this! I am going to start putting her clothes in the hanging cubbies again. As you can see, I have already started. This way my cut little fashionista will be able to wear all of those clothes that she loves.

Getting to the root of the problem helps you find a solution!

Wordful Wednesday

Poor Josh hasn't been to school yet this week. He has a fever, stomach ache, sore throat and just feels run down. He did a lot of this yesterday.

Please note the atrociously holy socks on his feet. He just won't give them up!

I am also not feeling the best. I have a sore throat and feel really tired. The good thing about both of us being sick is that I get lots of snuggles. Here Josh is watching tv while I rest and we both snuggle. So nice!

Praise God for my mother! She came over after Ali got home from school. She went to the grocery store to get us some sick food (jello & chicken noodle soup). She also fed us all dinner and put the kids in bed. I owe her!

I pray that we start feeling better soon. While I love the snuggle time, I am kind of tired of feeling tired. I love naps as much as the next person, but I don't love napping all day long. Call me crazy! ;-)