A Weekend to Remember

So much happened this past weekend that I didn't know would happen. I went to some good places and some bad ones  The good was very good and the bad was horrid. Jonathan was in a car wreck and totaled his car and by the grace of God he was able to join us on Sunday for Katie's baptism. That sentence says it.
 I have been downtown in Indianapolis a lot now and can drive there from Katie's any time. Katie's baptism was so neat and I am excited for the direction her church is taking. They have an outstanding inner city mission to the poor and needy and those who have addictions. On Saturday night we went to a concert and heard sort of some Christian rock bands. Our seats were in the nose bleed section and really we couldn't hear the music much at all. Lita was there too and she had great seats. Joe and Alicia and Jonathan and Queen and Ricky and some of Katie's other friends came to church. Her baptism was in a standing pool on stage and it was according to her cold, so it was like she was in the river! It was a really good Sunday.

One week and one day before the Super Bowl

So excited to be here in Indianapolis the location of the 2012 Super Bowl. I am going to hike the Cultural Trail with Busaya and Katie. And of course I forgot my camera. I think I need to have a post it note by the door that says, "Bring Camera and charger."
This is a sample of the great sculptures, and it is called Bull in the China shop. and remember it is all recycled stuff!

Right to Life Sunday

I couldn't go by this day without saying that I love my son Jonathan and I am so glad that I have him. Almost 40 years of Row vs. Wade. When will people realize that God made us all from the first?

Movies yet again!

Last night I tried to watch two movies. I saw only part of each of them. I watched the end of “The Walk to Remember” and I watched the beginning of “The Notebook”. I couldn’t finish the second one because it was too much love. 

Earlier in the week I watched two other love stories. One was “Being  Julia” starring Annette Benning and it's about an actress and her relationships. The other was starring Helen Hunt and Colin Firth and I can’t recall the name of it, but it was slightly romantic, but not really tragic except when her baby dies. Well, maybe I shouldn't have told that part. Anyway I do love a good romance where the two people meet and fall in love.

Favorite things

Favorite Things Friday
1. I love little kids! Thursday night I had dinner with Beth and Matt and their little boy Jesse. What fun; we played pass the panda ( or moose or frog or penguin) with his pillow pets! 

2. I love to teach school!  Today was fun I taught about measuring and then perimeter and I think that some of the class even understood it.
3. I love to bake chocolate chip cookies.
4. I love to go to Bible study because I learn a lot and I see how God is working in my life!

Week #2~Meeting Goals

What goals did I meet on the second Week of January?
#1 and #2 Read the Bible and pray every day. Yes I did that! I really enjoy the Bible Study Fellowship study of Acts that we are doing.
#10 This week when I went ice skating with some of the children from church, I helped another adult with her children. But this really wasn't random, but rather planned helping. I also helped the same friend with homeschooling so again it really wasn't random.
#25 This is playing with other people's grand children. Though  I didn't go with the idea of playing I did watch other people's grand children skate.
#24 I read a book this week in fact I read several. The only thing is I don't remember the titles or the authors. Silly me I guess I need to say I need to write a book report a week!
And that is how week two went.
I wonder how week three will play out?

Subbing!

I subbed to day in a third grade class and I had a blast. I really do miss teaching. However, I get to do the fun things without all of the headaches. It was enjoyable to have the kids work on math facts and spelling words while I was there. It was great to learn all their names. All the kiddos were able to finish a science review with me. What part was bad? Nothing!  Even the chatting didn't bother  me!

Hope Friday goes as well.

Things I Miss

Today was the first day back to school for the Talawanda teachers and students.  In sympathy for this day, I woke up at 2:45 and could not get back to sleep. ( In fairness I should say that I really don't know why that happened as I was really tired!) So I guess I could say I miss teaching after a holiday when the kids are all excited to be back and with their friends. I get that because I miss my friends, too.  I also miss teaching. I do thank God for my friend Barb who lets me help with her kids when they are homeschooling. It is a one on one situation and so good.for her boys.
I also miss having a lot to do. Some days I have so much to do and other days are just waiting days where there is nothing to do. I have been working on my afghan and that helps to fill time. Yesterday I did some cleaning which also fills time. This is not a favorite activity of mine!
Over the Christmas vacation and New Year I had a lot of fun texting with friends. I am not doing this now and I really miss this electronic connection. Sometimes I think that I did this because of good reasons and sometimes I think that was a crazy decision. Why stop something that doesn't hurt anyone else and brings you joy?

I miss my mom. she died a year and two months ago, but I still wish I could talk to her about things and I still wish she and Dad would come for a visit.

Super Saturday

Today is Saturday and we are going to finish watching all the Twilight Saga movies. Who knew that 60 year old ladies and 19 year old young women would both love vampire love movies? Hollywood probably!
Anyway the three of us, Karen, Lita and me, were just suckers for the romance of Edward and Bella.  My favorite line from the movie "Twilight " is "you are like my very own brand of heroine" which is how Bella describes her love for Edward. I could really relate to that all consuming desire. The dialogue wasn't really what made the show, but the scenery was amazing!
Today we will watch "Eclipse" and await the fourth movie "Breaking Dawn" part 2. 

Week #1 of the List Update

Every day last week I read the Bible, exercised and prayed. It helps that I attend a great BSF Bible study in Richmond. I used the prayer book that OBF gave us and that helped too and I also reread some old prayer days.So #1 and #2 checked off this week.
I only walked when I didn't go to curves but I did go to curves 3 times so I check off #12.  I really do like going to curves the exercise makes me feel better. Motivation is hard though. However each day I reconnect with someone old and meet someone new so that is good. Today I chatted with Nancy Wilson a former science teacher. She is so special to me. As she was talking I realized how much I missed talking with her once a month after she retired.  She was one person, along with Ed Jones,  who made me like science and want to teach it. 


#23 ON Wednesday  Gosh that was just yesterday, I  joined fellow retired teachers for lunch and ate salad at La Rosa's. It was really fun visiting with those who were there. I am getting to know some of the teachers I never really knew before. One teacher and I had some interesting discussion about Moses and the Burning Bush. She is Jewish and didn't really know the story of the burning bush. the part I remember most is take off your shoes you are standing on Holy ground.  This situation is where Moses actually receives the call from God. Interesting to discuss it with someone not of my faith. 
#11This past week I helped someone- I took Elizabeth to Wal-mart.
#11 and 26 And I tutored at the Adult resource so that was a way to encourage someone and to help Mary Vincent. 
# 24 This week I read The Affair by Lee Child and I loved it. I always enjoy reading about Jack Reacher.
And there you have my update. It is a bit late but never the less it is an update.

It is so Difficult

 I have been struggling with something for a very long time. I gave it up twice for two weeks and that was fine, but hard. So very hard. Now I find I need to give it up again. I need to have hope that things will be better. I miss the connection and the happiness the connection gave to me. Tomorrow will be better.

Paper

Do you like paper? I do.
 I love it when new school supplies come out and there are all these new notebooks and things.
I love all the things you can do with paper.
First of all you can write and draw and doodle on Paper.
You can also fold it. I loved paper so much I even taught a lesson on folding origami every year.  I even enjoy folding little straw papers into things.
Gum papers are even fun to fold. I once made a very long gum paper chain that should have been useful , but I don't think it was.
You can also cut paper into things like paper dolls and dresses for them and snowflakes.
You can use paper to make Valentines. That is always a favorite.
Paper comes in lovely colors and you can write on it with little cute pens or big pens.
You can draw things from books or copy others cartoons on it.
 You can use paper for backgrounds in scrapbooks.
I remember dad bringing scar paper home from his work so we could draw on it. that was so great!
Next to scrapbook paper I think that stationery is my next favorite paper. I could buy lots of boxes and use it to write lovely letters. My mother had the thinest almost see through stationery. It was light blue and matched the box that it come from.
In a pinch though a lined sheet of note book paper will also work.
I even love to get my news from the news paper.
What will happen when our country goes paperless?

Movies

This past weekend was a movie weekend. I really loved the Vampire movies from the Twilight Saga. Not so much "The girls with the Dragon Tatoo.  It was a lot of slimy sex and too graphic for me.  The story was great and so was Christopher Plummer. But....

Another Day

My thoughts today are floating around in the sky with the idea that I would like/should get another job  Not having applied for any jobs recently other than a hotel which didn't even call me back or set up for an interview, I am not too sure how to do this. I do have an application for working at Lane Bryant. It is filled out and now I have to drive over to the store to deliver it. Not soon though maybe tomorrow afternoon. What kind of skills do I even have? Able to teach 5-8 year old children  to read, write, add, and subtract? Can type on a computer. Can run errands for various people. Can correct writing and essays. Hmmm, maybe I need to go back to Sylvan Learning and rethink the online teaching thing.

Today is a Red Letter Day!

Today I got the clear title to my own home. Need I say more? No

Special Days

Today is Old Rock Day. What should I do to celebrate? Label my rocks of course. 
This morning as I was reading the paper I came across this list of things one for each day to make each day special and thought I would look up everyone's birthday.  Katie I know you once made me a book of crazy special days , but I don't know where it is . I had it at school and it may even be something I gave to Ashley but this is here and now. And it is fun to find special days for special people.

So beginning in February (Joe please Share this with Alicia as I don't have her real e-mail address)

Joe's birthday

- Charles Dickens Day... Should we all read a Dickens novel and discuss it? Or maybe go to see a musical rendition of Oliver?

Katie and JJ's Birthday

Build a scarecrow day... Should we all build a scarecrow for Katie's summer garden?  I also looked at June 30 which is the day we sometimes celebrated for the other person's birthday. That is Meteor day. Maybe this is a day to go rock hunting for meteors?

Lita's birthday

Roller Coaster Day: That sounds like a day to take a trip to an amusement park. Need I say more?

Alicia's Birthday:

Thrift shop day  

Who knew we could shop cheap and maybe find some treasures on this special day?
Jonathan's Birthday
Radio Day--- 
What is that? Well a day to visit a Radio station or to listen to a program together on the radio no matter where we are we can still hear the same thing.. Other ideas?

My Birthday:

Cake Day: Let's have a cake (or cupcake) decorating contest or maybe for Joe just make a bunch of cake balls and share them with random people.

 Should I add this to my list of 52 things which I think is now on 35 And make the list up to 41?

Oh,  Thea's birthday is also world Sauntering day : Strange but interesting. 

The list of 35 or Almost 52

I started this already but then something happened to my computer and now I don't know where it went. So I will start over.
1. Pray daily.
 2. Have a daily Bible Study
 3. Go to Florida and visit Cathy, Sue, and Brenda
4. Walk every day either inside Walmart or around the neighborhood.
 5. Keep to my budget so I don't have to get a job.
6. Go to Kareoke
7. See my sister and her family in California
 8. Buy and artificial Christmas Tree
 9. Go to Jo Ann's in Kentucky to play cards every month
10. Do some nice things for random people
11. Help others in ways that I can help
 12. Go to curves 3 times a week at first then maybe more
13. Take a monthly park visit and hike with Katie and others.
14. Visit relatives in Wisconsin.
15. Go to North Carolina and see Mearlene.
16. Finish my Granny Square afghan 17. Learn to quilt
18. Finish decorating my new house with the painted wall squares of canvas
 19. Clean and stain the deck
20. Have a family cookout on the deck
21. Invite friends over to eat twice a month
22. Finish the needle pointed hand towels
 23. Have lunch with retired teachers every month
 24. Read a book every week
 25. Play with other people's grandchildren
26. Volunteer at the Adult Ed school
27. Scrap book once a month
28. See if I want to become the Creative Memories scrapbook lady
 29. Make 6 new friends
 30. Learn a new craft
 31. Write letters of encouragement.
32. Change out the curtains.
 33. Have a party or game night
 34. Participate in League of Women Voters activities so I can be an informed citizen
35. Teach a scrapbook class at Hobby Lobby

36.  Joe's birthday

- Charles Dickens Day... Should we all read a Dickens novel and discuss it? Or maybe go to see a musical rendition of Oliver?

37.  Katie and JJ's Birthday

Build a scarecrow day... Should we all build a scarecrow for Katie's summer garden?  
38.  I also looked at June 30 which is the day we sometimes celebrated for the other person's birthday. That is Meteor day. Maybe this is a day to go rock hunting for meteors?

 39.  Lita's birthday

Roller Coaster Day: That sounds like a day to take a trip to an amusement park. Need I say more?

40.  Alicia's Birthday:

Thrift shop day  

Who knew we could shop cheap and maybe find some treasures on this special day?
41.  Jonathan's Birthday
Radio Day--- 
What is that? Well a day to visit a Radio station or to listen to a program together on the radio no matter where we are we can still hear the same thing.. Other ideas?

42.  My Birthday:

Cake Day: Let's have a cake (or cupcake) decorating contest or maybe for Joe just make a bunch of cake balls and share them with random people.

43.  Thea's birthday is also world Sauntering day : Strange but interesting. 
44. Karen's Birthday is Threading the needle day so on that day I need to have a party. 

Penguin Adventures are over.

This past weekend we traveled to St. Louis for the 12th and final Penguin adventure a great time was had by all. As usual I forgot the camera battery and so could not take any photographs One day I will have my SH** together but probably not in this lifetime. Any way it was great weekend.