Today I am at work...

I am sitting in my office here at school. I think we might be the only school in the area that is at work today.. It does not bother me to be at work though. If I were at home, more than likely I would be just laying around not getting much done. That is what I tend to do on days off. Sure I have big plans to clean out the back closet, organize the kitchen cabinets, or to clean out my car..but that never happens.. I usually finish or start a book, clear off the DVR, or read blogs and before I know it the work day would have already been over..then I find myself thinking, where did the day go?

My students are napping. I can hear the faint hum of lullabies, I can hear my aid turning the pages of her book as she watches over them, and I can hear my other aid loading the backpacks for the day. It is peaceful in my building from 1:30 - 2:30. All 24 of my students are nappers. It is so cute to see them cuddled up on their mats. Laid out on the floor racing to see who will fall asleep the fastest. The lights are dimmed and the music is turned on, barely audible above the breathing of all 24 kiddos. It is not long before each one of them slip off into dream land..the sweet innocent students whom I wish I could keep innocent forever. I often think, what will these children be when they grow up, what things will they have to endure? What will they know that I didn't? What will they face? Will they be loved and return love?

Then I think? Did I do enough? Hug them enough? Tell them how special they are enough? Will they remember me? How much impact does a Pre-K teacher have on ones life... I am not sure how much I will affect their future, but I know I can affect their present! I didn't go into teaching for someone to pat me on the back. I did it because I wanted to make the difference in the lives of children..I want children leaving my room, smiling, laughing, believing they can achieve anything. I want children to leave my room, knowing their manners, loving their friends, their families, America. I want my students to leave my room eager to learn more. I want them to be explorers, ask questions to be leaders, to be fearless.

The peaceful quite time in my room is about to end. It is almost time, to turn up the lights and wake them from their afternoon naps. Some will already be awake, some will have to ease into it. Some cry, because they need just a little more time..and others are up and raring to go. Ready for snack. Ready to play! The quiet time is gone and now the room is full of life. Full of questions, singing, dancing, laughter. And it's exactly where I want to be.. right in the midst of it all..

I didn't really have a plan for today's blog.. but as I mentioned earlier- I am at work. And all day long today I have heard- (from staff, teachers, and older students) WHY ARE WE HERE? I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE TO WORK! OTHER SCHOOLS ARE OUT... and it made me sad. Because, well I want to be here! I want to be with my students. I want to take advantage of every oppertunity to make a difference in the life of each of my students!

Why don't you reconnect with...

Facebook! I probably visit that site, online and on my phone more times then I would like to admit-but the other day something caught my eye. As I was looking @ the status updates-a picture on the right side of my screen popped up and the words read..

Why don't you reconnect with...

I don't know why it bothered me, but it really did. You see the person it said that I should reconnect with died this past November. She was a lady that I had known the majority of my life. Hmm, how should I explain her. I think everyone has this type of person in their life.. but I don't want my description of her to come across as rude or ill mannered.. but she was..

Matter of Fact, Bossy, Take Charge, Said what was on her mind, Not tactful, Always right, Take Notes, make list, joiner of everything.. but she was also the one people called on when they needed something. She was the one who would show up when no one else would. So while, she could quickly get on your nerves you loved her because you knew she meant well...because on top of being all those other things she was kind to those who needed it, she reached out to those no one else would, and she was a figther. She fought for what she believed in and fought for her life.. while in the end she lost the battle here on earth.. I know she won the ultimate battle, an eternity in heaven.

Well, I bet some of you are wondering. Did I click on the link to reconnect with her? I did- and you wouldn't believe what I found there... It was comment after comment of how much people missed her, and how much she meant in their lives.. the comments went on and on.. and as I read everyone of them- I thought, Did these people tell her these things while she was alive here on this earth? Because, while the comments are beautiful and kind.. and even heartwarming she never got to hear them. I have always heard people say- let people know how much you love them because you never know..when your time may come..but having facebook write it out for me-just made it all seem more real- and reading all of those comments just validated the fact that yes, I do need to reconnect with a lot of people and I need to let these people know how much they have impacted my life. I need to love a little harder, a little longer, and a little louder each and everyday!

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Wow- My last few post have been kinda DEEP and well.. most the time.. I am so not even like that : ) so just to lighten the mood before you click on over to another page... Did any of you happen to see my husband (on Grey's Anatomy) last night ? Hubba Hubba : )

Heartbroken @ Pizza Hut

On Sunday evening after church my mother and I went to pizza hut for a late supper. We were 2 of the four customers in the dining area. The waitress, a 20 something cute girl-was carrying on a conversation with someone across the restaurant. The lady was paying out..

The conversation went a little something like this…

Waitress- Are you still with that one guy?
Paying Out-Oh, yeah-Mike? We got back together- UHHgain.
Waitress- Good, is that his baby you are carrying?
Paying out- Oh- I am not sure.. But it is either his or Jakes, I think.
Waitress-Well good. I am glad things are working out for you guys.
Paying out- Yes, things are okay…

My Mom and I just looked at each other. For one, they didn’t care who heard the conversation and for two, it seemed like they were perfectly fine not knowing who the baby daddy was.. The longer I sat there.. the more saddened I became…

Maybe I didn’t have the right to be sad, maybe I was being judgmental, I don’t know.. but all I know was it made me sad. It made me want to fix all that was wrong in the world. It made me want to reach out and talk to young ladies about self-worth and the importance of not sleeping with whomever you’re with at the time.. It made me wonder was she ever taught these things in the first place.. or did bad choices lead her down a road far from what she knew was right..

I think what broke my heart the most.. was it appeared to be no big deal to either girl. No big deal that a baby was about to be brought into this world..not knowing who the Dad was.. a sweet innocent baby- I am sure it will bring joy-but at the same time heartache. Someone will have to hear.. I am sorry you are not the daddy.. or the girl may have to hear.. I don’t care if I am the dad or not..

And then I had to make myself stop thinking about it.. because, in truth- I will never know and honestly it is probably not for me to know.. but I do know.. that I prayed for that girl. I prayed that she would find the love that she was searching for.. and I prayed for that baby.. that he/she would be surrounded with love.. and I prayed for me.

God please give me a heart for people. Give me wisdom to know who and how to reach out to them. Help me not to pour out judgment on others.. but to pour out your Love..You constant Unfailing- LOVE.

Not Me Monday!

I did not spend all of Saturday in my PJ's, get up shower, go to a movie, and then come back home and put my pj's back on.

I did not call my friends over to play The New Super Mario Bro's Wii into wee hours of the night... and we certainly are not in our 30's...

I am not stuck on level 6! I am not thinking about calling some kids over to play with us.. just to get past that stinking level...

On Sunday afternoon I did not try to clear off the DVR before American Idol, Greys, and Private Practice start back.. One episode did not turn me into an emotional mess. The thought of that episode did not just bring tears to my eyes as I am writing this... (Private Practice-The House Blew Up, Someone Died, All is Sad-Yeah that one.. : ( )

I am not addicted to Words With Friends on my itouch.

I did not wait until this morning to get my lesson plans together. I am always totally prepared.

My heart did not melt when one of my students told me two days was to long not to see me. Okay- so that was totally me! How sweet is that? I just love my class this yearl. They are so sweet and so eagar to learn.

WINTER!

I

AM

SO

OVER

IT!!!

Self-Challenge

On this cold cold day....I am challenging myself to...

To WARM the hearts of those around me....

With kind words...

and genuine Smiles!!!

Feel free to join me in this challenge!!!

Stay WARM bloggy friends!

Wordful Wednesday!

I was perusing blog land the other day.. just going from link to link not really paying attention to where I was... I was just looking at pictures and for things that caught my eye... and I ran across a lady who was challenging everyone to spend 15 minutes a day organizing one small space... at the time I didn't give it much thought until this morning when I opened my bathroom cabinet and thought-When did it get like this? So now that I was interested in taking part of this challenge.. I can't find her...but instead of that being the reason for not doing it...I just did it..

The before.... (Don't judge..I couldn't believe it either ugh)

... I found that I have entirely to much perfume..

the empty bottles found their way to the trash can...

...and the duplicate bottles found a place in the give away pile...

or in my nieces backpack..(with permission of course..)

I have no clue.. why I was keeping these...

Ewww, seriously-When did I ever wear these colors?

Glow in the dark! Really?

While, I did throw away a whole lot.. I just couldn't put these things in the trash. I always give them to my Mom and she takes them to her church and lets the little old ladies dig through them.. she says they often ask if I have cleaned out anything lately..

This is the end result.. Sure it still needs some work.. but it is much better!

Thanks for coming along as I organize my house again...15 minutes @ a time.

Um, next I am thinking.. the cabinet under the bathroom sink!

Click The Link above for more wordful Wednesday!

Not Me Monday!

I most certainly did not abandon my blog for over a year…just to return one day because I missed it so. I did not let my blog fall to the wayside because if I didn’t post I would stress about it…because how dumb would that be??

I am not dreading going back to work tomorrow, I would never be so selfish to complain about going to work after I have been off for two weeks straight-what kind of person would that make me?

I am not secretly happy that the temps will be below 40 degrees tomorrow morning-because if that were true and it is , the darling little students at my school would have to stay in for morning recess- and me, the teacher who is scheduled for morning duty the next two weeks would be off the hook.

On the other hand…I am also not secretly sad that the temps will not be above 40 in the afternoon, meaning my little darlings will have indoor recess in my room.

I did not stop in one of the makeup isles at wal-mart and have a little talk with Jesus.. concerning the little girl screaming and crying in the next isle over.. My prayer did not go something like this.. Dear God, Please help my students not act like that little girl tomorrow- I know they will be tired and out of routine-but please help things run smoothly-Help me not to be the one throwing the fits J Amen…

My 30 something best friend and I did not go see The Princess and The Frog today without any children, um for the 2^nd time…

I certainly haven’t taken the time to sit down and think of some resolutions for the New Year.. I am definitely not going to pull out the ones from last year and just change the date… I mean how lazy would that be.. and technically that would kind of be breaking one of the resolutions anyway..right? The one that will not be on my list.. Be More Prepared! Be More Organized… Silly things like that would never make it to my list…my um, list that is usually lost or forgotten by Februay.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9

1. What celebrity would you just want to shake some sense into?

I would like to knock some sense into Eric Dane! How long is it going to take that boy to realize that he can't live without me? I mean, he doesn't actually know I exist me.... but still, a girl can dream right?

2. What do you think comes after death?

Eternal Life, either in Heaven of Hell. I believe that both places are very real. I also believe that where we go is up to us. We are given a free will to decide to live our life according to GOD's word.

3. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child?

The very first book I read was Hop on Pop. The first chapter book I read was Ramona Quimby, Age 8....

4. What was the first rock concert that you attended?

HEART- an 80's Band.. I cried the entire time. It was to loud and scary for me. I was 10 years old and my brother was 15. My brother was not allowed to go unless he took me. My parents knew I would tell everything... My parents actually drove us to the concert and dropped us off, could you imagine parents doing that now days?? I remember people smoking stuff, screaming the lyrics, and making out all over the place.. I hated it and so did my brother he had to drag me, the ball bag around all night...

5. If you were to suddenly become famous, would you choose a stage name? If yes, what would it be? No, I wouldn't choose a stage name... If I were to become famous, everything would change- so I would like to keep my name for comfort and familiarity... to myself and the ones in my life whom it would effect.

6. What is the one thing that you wish the media would stop talking about?

The media OVER-TALKS everything.. except the things we really need to know about!!

Right now it is Tiger is in the spotlight...and he is probably on his knees praying that another celebrity messes up soon so that he can get a break from the media...um, not that he really deserves one.. come on??? What makes you think you wouldn't get caught!! Seriously?!!?

7. If you could be part of any band, which one would it be and who would you be and why?

Sugarland- Because I think Jennifer Nettles has amazing vocals- Kristian Bush- is a fantastic musician and I think they would just be so fun to hang out with... I would be a back up bee booper! ...

8. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they?

Yes, I live very close to the majority of my family.. My parents live less than a mile from me... I have lived away from my family before and I didn't really like it...I come from a very close knit family and I enjoying spending a lot of time with them. My Mom is one of my best friends!

9. Last seasonal question (promise): What did you do on New Year's Eve?

I rang in the New Year with a huge group of family. We ate, played wii, Wa Hoo, and Cranium. Then @ 5 til Midnight.. we turned on the television to watch the ball drop... sad thing is none of us even saw the ball drop..we were to busy trying to figure out what Jennifer Lopez was wearing... Yikes!

Happy New Year!

12 months of HAPPINESS,

52 weeks of FUN,

365 days LAUGHTER,

8760 hrs of BEST WISHES,

525600 minutes of JOY,

31536000 seconds of SUCCESS;

what I hope for you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!