Musings on my life...

So I was thinking this week as I have been rushing through this week and I have come up with some blessings!

Blessing 1:
I have a terrific class--6 kids who are eager to learn and understand and enjoy me and my methods:)

Blessing 2:
2 great kiddos--Janea and Jaron are a blessing--even if occasionally I am ready to send them back!

Blessing 3:
A fabulous husband who works long hours to provide for our family!

Blessing 4;
A free country and a democratic government where we have rights!

Blessing 5:
Heat in the house, a soft bed to sleep in and a car to drive!

Blessing 6:
A great church where I can serve, learn more about the Word and know that there are people who love me and think of me and pray for my needs:)

Blessing 7:
A loving Savior and God. Assurance that I am going to heaven and that God will never give me more than I can handle!

We are SPARKS for Jesus....

Sparks to light the world....One of my favorite Sparky songs! I am the director for Sparks at our church and I have a good group of college students this year who are helping out with the Sparks program...and boy can I feel old sometimes! One of the leaders...I won't mention names.. was wearing those shoes with the wheels in it and rolling around the church on Wednesday like he was 12 not 20! They are good young people and I really do enjoy being their mentor. It's funny how they make me feel both old and young..

So I may have stuck my foot in my mouth by saying that I can chug a can of soda. I used to be able to but it has been about 6 years since I have attempted it! They want to see me do it, but I have made the stipulation that I will only do that if the can is warm! Cold soda makes me choke.

I had to do evals for all of them for their college credit and boy was it a challenge. I tried to be fair but not overly praiseworthy. one of the guys really didn't think that he needed improvement in any areas but once I explained why he was very cool with it. All in all I am so thankful for being blessed with great leaders.!

Is there something different Mrs. J?

So I went and got my hair cut on Saturday...well today Stephen, one of my fourth graders, asks me this question....Mrs. Jonathan did you get a hair cut? Your hair looks different!

I find it very funny that it takes him 3 days to realize that something different has been done for the teacher!

I can't believe it's already Wednesday!

The week is flying by! I am in shock that tonight is Wednesday and Sparks...it feels like it should be Monday still! I am looking forward to Sparks tonight and hope the kids had a good break and bring lots of friends.:)

So this week at school so far I have had a field trip to the Truman Museum in Independence. The School had our election yesterday and we announced the results today..the students are working on completing our space unit. We have started a new program for spelling, and are getting ready for the school Winter program.

At home, I had help from the kids putting up the Christmas tree, having to make a trip to Wal-Mart to buy more decorations and lights since 3 strands were burned out and we didn't yet have this years ornaments! Plus, Dan has been putting in 12 hour days at work so I am sleeping a little bit more but I am very tired! I didn't get home until almost 7 last night since we had staff meeting at school.

I only have 3 more weeks of school and then we have 2 weeks off:) I can't wait~!

Too Busy....

So my kids have been singing this song all week..."Too Busy, Too Busy, Are you to busy for Jesus? Too Busy, too busy are you to busy for Jesus to live in your heart?"

This has really made me start thinking about life and am I too busy?

Give me your thoughts? Are you too busy? I know I sometimes push God to the side and focus on less important things!

Happy Thanksgiving???

So it's over and done...first time we have celebrated with Dan's family. The last four years we have had Thanksgiving as a family and I then go to my parents house with the kids and we have pie! YUMMY!! So this year since Sharon, the girls and us have all become 1 big happy(sarcasm is dripping right now) we decided that we would have dinner at the house with Manuel and Laverne. My parents thought they would go to my sister's since she is always complaining about not getting any visitors and always having to drive!

Well, I did ALL the cooking with the exception of the sweet potatoes and an apple pie. Check that, Sharon did peel 2 potatoes! So I am rushing around in the kitchen as Dan opens up olives, and relishes and crackers and cheese at the table--which I hadn't yet set! So they are all having a nice time at the table the three girls-Amber, Janea, Morgan,- Sharon, Laverne-Manuel decided he wasn't coming! I'm starting to feel frustrated at the amount of work that I am doing...Janea sets the table and then Dan started rushing me. He carves the turkey and Morgan and Sharon start eating turkey before the rest of the food is on the table and I haven't even sat down! I was a little taken aback at how rude that is.! So we finally get all the food cooked and begin eating....no talk about what we are thankful for, no thanking of God for stuff...we wouldn't have even said a blessing for the food if I hadn't reminded Dan!

Then I am resting after having cleaned up about half the kitchen...I was waiting for one cycle on the dishwasher to finish and Dan come hollering...Erin I need some help...the sink is leaking in the basement! Turns out the pipe fittings under the kitchen sink totally need to be replaced! SO Dan tries to go out last night and find the right parts but of course all the hardware stores are closed! So today's project---fix kitchen sink better than the temporary fix from last night!

I wanted to bake cookies today...but with no sink that really isn't completely doable! Oh well! So I hope that you all had a most blessed Thanksgiving and were able to focus on the blessings of God! I spent about an hour with God last night and refocused my heart around the blessings he provides rather than just the fiasco of a Thanksgiving yesterday!

Craziness, Cell Phones and Long Breaks

So life is crazy at home right now. I am dealing with the nieces and am struggling with knowing what to do to get them to understand that I am there to help and I want to be their friend and that it bothers me when they spend all their time on the weekends at Laverne's house. Why is Laverne so much better than me? I can't let it bother me though!

So this week we are having Thanksgiving dinner at our house. I am in charge of cooking the turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetable, stuffing and gravy--which I stink at making! I am also doing corn bread, cranberries, and the like. Laverne is helping with dessert and making the sweet potatoes. I like to do Thanksgiving up with good dishes, placemats, decorations and Sharon's response to this is " Lets get paper plates with Turkeys on them!" Ah , no! So I have to bring up their level of holidays and try to keep them from ruining mine!

I finally broke down and got a cell phone. I am still not used to carrying it and one on my friends from work called this morning to tell me she was sick and could I do something for her at school...No Problem! So I am taking Jaron to the bathroom at the gas station and all of a sudden I hear this cell phone...I look around and there is no one in the bathroom but us! Then my pocket starts vibrating! Well, it's my phone! And somehow during our conversation I turn it down so I can barely hear! Me and cell phones may not be the best combination!

Long Weekend

So I only have 2 more days of school before a five day off break! YEAH!!! I am so glad that I get an extended break from school. It makes me happy to have some time off since I have been working so hard lately. I will be glad when Christmas break is hear as well! It's been a good school year so far but I am feeling a little bit burned out by all the work.

Teachers need the time off...teachers who are mom's need it more! I have very little time away from kids! So next week I am taking a day and getting my hair cut and having some me time! I need it!

On a good note...Dan also gets extended days off! So I get to spend some extra time with my husband!

I Love and Hate Technology

So I love technology because I meet great people through blogging, my banking is easier, and I have electricity!

I hate technology because last night I tried to delete 7 shows off our DVR and I deleted all of them but 2! Mind you I had 80 some hours taped.! So I lost about all of what I was planning on watching last night!

So I read a good book:0)

Where does a week go?

Why is it that some weeks can fly by and some weeks can drag by...my week this week is flying away from me! I also can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week, I haven't shopped yet, and we are having 9 people here for the holiday! I think I should be having a panic attack! AUUGHH!!

Questions...

Why is it that when you have had a decent day your kids go nuts when you get home from work?

Why is it that Janea always spills something that stains on her clothes?

Why is it that little kids can't decide why they are unhappy or mad but they can drive you crazy as they do it?

Why is it that the relatives from Dan's side of the family can sit and talk about the same things over and over and over and it never changes?

Why you may ask am I asking these questions? Well, it's either ask the questions or bang my head against the wall for an hour! Either way neither brings me any answers!

Wow! What some sleep and drugs can do for a person

So I have been on this antibotic for 4 doses and WOW! do I feel better! Praise God for medicine! I don't think I could have handled being sick much longer. I took Monday and Tuesday off work and slept for like 5 hours Tuesday morning...so the house went to pot but I feel a whole lot better!

This week has been too busy. I don't like having a sub at work because the rest of the week all I feel like I have been doing is playing catch up! On a side note...I did get caught up with with a lot of the shows that I DVR~but work has definitely suffered! So I am really glad that tomorrow is Friday and that the weekend is upon us! Teaching takes a lot of time and when your sick it just seems to pile up more and more!

Pride Comes before....

YOU GET SICK!!! Now, mind you I haven't been really sick in about 5 years. I get an occasional cold, a few aches and pains but nothing that I feel I need to go to the doctor for or that it is really bad. Well, all my bragging has finally caught up with me! I have been sick for the past week, super sick, fever, everything. I have felt terrible! So I made it to the doctor yesterday and low and behold I have a sinus infection, bronchitis and a touch of tonsilitis! YUCK! SO I am on an antibotic now and hopefully will start feeling better. My parents have been so helpful. They took the kids to church with them on Sunday and kept them for the whole afternoon and then Mom picked them up from school for me yesterday. Its such a blessing to have the help!