Yea, She Made It!

We're wild about reading.
Let me tell you.
Guthri's a great reader
And that is true.
She's headed to Wonderland,
Let's all go too.
We're wild about reading.
How about you?

We Will Have a New Family Member, Soon!

Our family will soon grow by one member in the next few weeks. Guthri is getting a new puppy!!! We lost our precious Zoey on January 2 and have anxiously been awaiting the arrival of her new puppy for several months.

Today the breeder sent new pictures and we may have to bring home TWO! They are absolutely adorable. We will choose between Megan and Alexis. It will be a hard choice. Thought I would post the pictures and let you help us. Of course the final decision is Guthri's but it would be fun to see what everyone thinks. Alexis is on top and Megan is on bottom.

Must be Drama Queen Day!

I read a friends blog about her granddaughter that she so justifiably called a drama queen. It was a hoot to read because I could just see an 8 year old doing everything she was talking about. Then I go to another friends blog and she is talking about her 1 year old drama queen. This time is was true drama for the camera. Had some beautiful pictures of the precious thing and you could tell she was loving every minute of it.

Guthri has been so dying for a horse for quite some time now. We had one for Garrett but barely had time to feed it, much less ride, groom, or just enjoy it. We sold him a few years back and felt better that he had a great home and would be taken care of the "right way". Well, Guthri has been really pushing here lately. Every day she asks for a horse. Every night she asks for a horse, even writes notes about them and sticks them in my purse. Yesterday was the worst day ever, so out of pure survival I said, "We'll ask PaPa if you can ride one of his horses." Oops! As soon as it came out my mouth I knew I was in trouble. I know Harold would be more than happy to take her riding when he has time.

As soon as she hit my classroom door this afternoon, she started in. I kept putting her off and saying "we'll see". We turned down our road this evening and I saw he was in the field plowing. I felt such a relief. Wait......it was a little too early to feel so at ease. As soon as we got into the house she put on long pants and boots that are so little that it had to hurt. Went outside to play and finally came in about 30 minutes later because "he was still 'mowing' and she was bored." While we were eating she heard the tractor come up by the house and started screaming "It's PaPa, it's PaPa, PaPa, PaPa." Out the door she went and then came back in. Went back out, talked to the dog, and then came in again and asked me to come outside with her. We went out and she pointed so sheepishly at Harold. He waved, I waved and that was it. Later he came up to the house to get her to ride in the tractor with him.

Here is the drama!! She started screaming uncontrollably and rolling on the couch. It was soooo embarrassing. I didn't know what to do. I knew what she wanted but there was no way I was going to tell him what she wanted. Lonnie was in a complete state of confusion. Finally, I told Harold she didn't want to go and he left. I know he thinks we are complete idiots!

Guthri screamed for an entire 25 minutes. Threw some toys around in her room, stomped her feet, just had a pure temper tantrum! Of course I just wanted to bust her rear but her dad just stood there feeling sorry for her. (?) He believes she is so shy that she cannot express herself and that is the only way she can get out her frustration. I do believe this in some aspect but I do also totally believe she is spoiled rotten and just wanted to cause the drama to get her way!!!

"The Routine"

Most of the time I focus on all the negative happening around me. Too many times I have to complain about the small things. Today, I had parent conferences and at each one I learned something new about myself. As a teacher, I tend to go through the regular routine of report cards, TAKS results, work examples, etc... Then a single mom comes in with just few minutes because she had to leave work to be there, she needs someone to listen, someone to tell her she is doing the best she can, tell her that we are supporting her with any means we can. Couples come together because they are interested in their child's progress and want to learn something that will help. A selfless grandmother comes in and needs to cry on a shoulder because a court order is sending the kids back to mom. After it is all said and done "the routine" is so irrelevant to them.

I really didn't have time for Guthri's conference, so I quickly ran to her teacher, signed in and picked up her report card. As I went running back to my room for one last conference it hit me...all we had to worry about was "the routine". What a blessing. I have a wonderful husband that supports our family, children that only need moderate scholastic help or an occasional reminder of who they are and what our family stands for, and most of all we are together. Nothing separates us, no troubles hang over our heads that will jeopardize our relationship, we are a family with NO true troubles. I know it is only by the grace of God!

Take the time to love those around you!

WIND 2

It's back! Need I say more?

When the kids are sick....

As a working mom, I am constantly struggling to do what is right for my kids, my husband and my job. Being a teacher just magnifies that load because my students become my kids. For the past month or so, Garrett and Guthri have struggled with soar throats, allergies, rashes, fever, etc... I know in my head to stay home, let them rest and they will bounce back fine, but then I rationalize that I have to be at school because of TAKS or because I am trying to build up my sick leave again or making sub plans is just too much effort. So, the burden then falls on Lonnie. I catch myself saying "There is no way I can take off, can you do it?" He always says "I'll get it done." Then a few hours later, I am feeling so guilty. Man, what an internal struggle!

Garrett has complained about not feeling well for a few weeks now but I just couldn't visibally see anything wrong with him. He ran a little temp a couple of weeks ago and complained of a soar throat. After a million texts from school, Lonnie (again) took him to the Dr. They tested for strep, negative. Gave him a shot and some antibiotics and sent him on his way. On Sunday, he started complaining before he even got out of bed. We were with our LTC group and just thought he had to tough it out. He slept most of the way home and played his DS. He went straight to bed when we finally made it home around 8 p.m. Complained when he got up Monday but we made him go to school anyway. He looked like death that afternoon. I felt so guilty! I called and got an appointment for this morning and again, Lonnie took him in. They tested for Mono and it was negative (thank goodness) but he did have swollen glands in his neck. Gave him prescription and cough syrup and sent him home to rest. He stayed home alone and rested the remainder of the day. I called every chance I could to check on him.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I can't stand having to choose between my family and my job. It really bothers me that I leave my son home alone when he is sick or put him off until it is absolutely necessary to do something about it. We worry about "kids today" and think they are a mess. Well, when we were kids our moms were at home. They were at our class parties, made our costumes for school plays, were home when we got there after school to be sure we did our homework BEFORE watching TV or playing outside. Our world has changed...our kids don't have that guidance or that structure because we (moms) work outside the home. They are left to fend for themselves after school until we arrive at the house around 5:30. The bus driver knows more about our kids after school routine than we do!

It is days like today that I almost despise myself for not having the will power to let go of worldly desires. I feel like I have to have a paycheck to "make it" in this world. Have I sacrificed my own children? I pray daily for my kids and our world. I hope we all don't work our children into being people we don't like or people who don't like themselves. When they are sick, I need to listen...be here for them...let them know they are my first priority on this earth....not just when I have time.

The WIND

We have had 40 MPH winds all day! Not gusts....sustained. It has been horrible. I went at lunch to clean my car because we are leaving for Dallas in the morning and may have people riding with us. I could barely get the door open to get outside. My car was being whipped all over the road. The dirt was flying and there was debris everywhere! After school, I went to fill up with gas and the wind was blowing the signs at the station flat to the ground. As I was standing next to the car a cap came flying over the top of my car! I bet it blew off a poor man in Kansas! I got home and there was dirt blown 6 foot into the back hallway. Just a bit breezy to say the leat.

I truly love Childress but I am beginning to wonder if the wind is trying to blow us out of here!

Ehtiopia anyone?

I joined FaceBook a few weeks ago and it has been a hoot. I get so tickled at everyone's comments and weird answers to quizzes. You can take a quiz on just about any subject and it is supposed to tell you who you are most like, who you should have married, what your name should have been or even where you will be in 10 years. About a week ago everyone was taking a quiz about where they would most likely be in 10 years. I fell into the trap and did the quiz. Well, I ended up in Ethiopia! .......because I like to help others (that was their explanation). *You have to admit these kids in the photo are absolutely precious.

We all had a good laugh that night at all the goofy answers we were getting. We joked about it at school for a couple of days and that was it. This afternoon, school had just gotten to me. Well, maybe not just school...I just sat in my chair and thought 'I think I could honestly go to Ethiopia and be pleased as punch.' I had several stops after leaving school and nothing seemed to go right, so I just kept thinking 'yea, Ethiopia.' I get home, fix dinner (frozen pizza), do some dishes, eat and finally log onto FaceBook. There is Donna Smith saying she is going to Zimbabwe! It just fit...I am going to Ethiopia...some day...want to go with me?

I Wish I Wouldn't Have Heard It

As a mother, I am so proud of my children. They work hard to do good in school, they love each other, they want to be a part of our family, they are good kids. You can't make me happier than to brag on my children.

I was standing close to someone recently who made a negative comment about one of my children. It tore my soul! My first reaction was to jump all over this person. Thankfully I was stunned, so it took me a few seconds to gather my feelings and emotions. Once I had gotten over the shock, I simply walked away.

It really hurt, more than I can describe. I love this person and I don't understand why they said what they did. It had nothing to do with the matter at hand. I hope that they have taken the opportunity to really get to know my child. What makes them happy, what hurts their feelings, what struggles do they have, what successes have they had, what are their interest? I pray the comment was not made from a few encounters or one bad experience.

It did teach me to silence my words when they are not necessary. To keep my mouth shut in public, and most of all make sure I understand the person before I decide if I like them or not. I don't ever want another mother to say "I wish I wouldn't have heard it."