new year means...change!

So the new year has arrived and already one month in and so much has happened. We have officially moved back in with the inlaws but it is going very well. We are helping each other out in that FIL is having to retire early so we can help out financially and i am in class mon-thurs so it is nice for the kids to be with someone who takes as much care of them as i do. This way i can focus on my studies and get done as soon as possible. It is all a matter of perspective and i choose to look at this in a positive way. That's just me.
On the work front....well that's a different story. Work itself is awesome. I work with the most wonderful people in the world and for the most amazing principal anyone could ever have. I have come to dislike many of the parents whose children we teach. I have a problem with ignorant people who resort to petty accusations and anctics to try to prove things that are not so. If half of these parents spent even a fraction of their time teaching their children basic fundamental skills as they do gossiping, it would make our jobs that much more rewarding and the students that much more productive. I just don't get it and i guess i never will. It's a shame that people can feel that way about one of the safest schools i have ever seen. Maybe they should actually spend more time at the school via volunteering or just getting to know the teachers by actually attending the conferences,etc so that they can really know where they are sending their children everyday and who with. Because obviously they have no clue, which is very sad. All i know is that this school is my kids' second home and they love it and i have never felt any threat to their safety...oh yeah and i volunteer at almost every event while working fulltime and going to school fulltime so i have NO sympathy for parents who say they do not have time for these things. Your kids should be so important that you make the time regardless of your schedule. Just sayin!
Let me get off my soapbox before i get angry. School is going great! This semester is very demanding but it is what it is. I just have to stay on task and make sure i hold myself accountable for my work. It is all up to me to do well and so my grades will reflect my efforts. No pressure:) i can do this. Nothing worth it comes easy and i am not a quitter so let's do this! It all comes down to excellent multi-tasking skills and efficient time management.

My baby girl turned 11 this past week and she is getting so big. I still remember when she was born. i do not worry much about her. She has a great head on her shoulders and was taught to live her life with PAW pride at williams. Postive attitude,Act responsibly, and Wise choices are the things she tries to live by and i think she does a pretty good job. Don't get me wrong she is still 11 and thinks she knows it all but at least i know that when it really counts she does what's right. Instead of a party she has asked to go to medieval times so that is what we are going to do. She absolutely LOVES horses so i am sure she will enjoy it. I tease her that we have snow every year since she was born because the day she was born it iced and snowed and it has ever since at least a little. On that note...

Today is day 4...yes 4 of lock down at home due to inclement weather. This has got to be one for the record books! First it "thundersleeted" on tuesday and iced up all the roads. Wednesday was fun with icy everything outside (hockey rink icy) and to top it off rolling blackouts ALL day long for the lucky ones. We must have been super special in our area because we had NO power all day! We just sat around the fireplace(thank goodness) until dark. Talk about family bonding:) Thursday was still icy since temps have not been above 20's all week. We ventured out to visit mom and dad but even the sidewalks were dangerous. Not the safest driving conditions either. Today we woke to about 5 inches of snow on top of the ice! This is Texas people! This doesn't happen in Texas! Not to mention we are hosting the super bowl at cowboys stadium in arlington. Those northerners (Steelers vs. Packers) must be laughing at us. We should get some sun and above freezing by tomorrow so hopefully a sense of normalcy will return soon. If not maybe we should all look at this as a sign to relax and take it easy. To enjoy the company of those around us and not take it for granted that tomorrow is never promised today. Well folks, my kiddos are waking up and amazed by the snow...so off we go to make some memories!

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It's the most wonderful time of the year...or is it?

Christmas time will soon be here and yet I hate to say that it doesn't feel very wonderful this time around. Don't get me wrong...this is my absolute most favorite time of the year. The parties, family gatherings, and the innocence of children as they marvel at the splendor of the season. I just feel like we, as a society, have lost touch with the true meaning of Christmas and the holiday season in general. Our society has become one that places way too much emphasis on being selfish and materialistic that when the season arrives it becomes a rat race to see who will be able to get "me" everything that I have asked for on "my" wish list. Instead of staying up late with family on Thanksgiving night reflecting on the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us, it becomes a war council as family members sit around the sales ads and map out their plan of attack. When did it become so important to go out in the wee hours of the morning to spend ridiculous amounts of money on gifts that have no sentimental value? When did fulfilling your family's "wish list" become the only way to make them happy? And when did it become acceptable to be disappointed when you don't get everything you ask for?



It sickens me to think that our generation is contributing to this commercialism and doing nothing to stop it. I remember growing up as a child, the only time we ever told anyone what we wanted for Christmas was when we would make that special trip to see Santa Claus, the man himself, with our list of things we would like but never expected to receive. Well...at least not all of it anyway. If you were really good that year you might be lucky enough to receive one or two, maybe even three of the items on the list you left with Santa, but never did you receive every single thing. I mean really, who was ever that good in a year? I still received gifts and whatever it was, I was happy to receive them. Never did I complain that I did not get everything on my list. That was just the way it was. As I grew older I continued to express the same sentiment and to be grateful for whatever I received because it meant the gift giver took the time to think about me and that meant more to me than the gift itself. If only things were still this simple today. I like to think that I have instilled this way of thinking in my children and I hope that they will continue to feel this way as they grow older.

So is it the most wonderful time of the year despite all of the commercialism? At the end of the day I think it is what we choose to make of it. If we can overlook the long, unrealistic wish lists, the hectic social calendars, and the "bah humbug" attitude that tends to surface as Christmas approaches, it can be possible to enjoy all the wonder of the season. The lights that sparkle all aglow, the innocent twinkle in a child's eye, and the delectable scents and tastes of the season are sure to bring a smile to even the most grumpy of grumps and lure you in to the magical moments that abound as the wonderful season draws near. All complaints aside, I still love this time of year more than anything and look forward to it every year no matter what. After all...it is the most wonderful time of the year:)

Time to give thanks!

So here we are again with the holiday season upon us. My how quickly the time seems to pass us by. Thanksgiving is right around the corner with the hustle and bustle of Christmas to follow right after. This year I have made a promise to myself to sit back and enjoy the holidays for what they truly are...the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. Everything seems to get so hectic and people tend to forget what the true meaning of the holidays is all about. It isn't about buying the most popular or expensive gift. It isn't about fulfilling every obligation on your jam packed social calendar. And it isn't about doing things for others in hopes that you get something in return. This is the time to truly cherish those precious moments with the ones you love because you are never promised tomorrow. We are in for quite a whirlwind after the holidays with so many changes taking place that I just want to sit back and take it all in. I want for my kids to remember that we did things together as a family so that when they too have their own families some day, they can also make special memories with them. Life is much too short to spend it complaining about things you cannot change. So just go with the flow and make every second count as the blessing that it is.

I am very thankful for my family! I love them so much. My children are my life and I thank the Lord every day for allowing me to be their mother. Without our families we are nothing. they are the ones who are always there for us and know us at our best and at our worst and still love us unconditionally. I am very thankful to have a job that I absolutely love waking up for. I am fortunate enough to be able to spend the majority of my day with some of the most wonderful people I have ever met who never cease to amaze me, always challenge me to go beyond the norm, and inspire me to never stop dreaming.

Fall is Here!

It finally feels like Fall in Texas! I just love this weather. The brisk mornings and sunny days with cool evenings..absolutely perfect. Of course my allergies are not allowing me to enjoy it as much as I would like but I still love it. The first weekend in October is done and now the rest of the month feels so jam packed with activities well into the holiday season, that I just want to be sure to take it all in and cherish the simple things in life before it all seems to pass me by. This time of year everyone seems to be so busy and always rushing. It's a shame that people can put so much energy into being so negative instead of taking all of that energy and using it for something more positive. Well I am not going to waste my time complaining about things and carrying on about how things should be. I want to be a part of the solution and I want to be able to find ways to make things better rather than just do nothing but complain. If you're not a part of the solution, then you are part of the problem, right? Well it is time to solve some problems people so look out world because here I come.

Yesterday was a month since the funeral and it is still very fresh in mind. Every Sunday on our way to church when we drive by the accident site I start to cry. It is still hard but every passing day I pray that God is there to help us all through this especially Jr and Iva and the kids. I have not brought myself to go to the cemetery since the funeral because it still seems like it never happened and I think Daniel will come through the door to help his dad and brother make fun of the cowboys and gloat about the Eagles. The holidays are going to be difficult this year with one less member of the family there. He will always be in our hearts and there will always be a place for him.

I just don't know what to do with myself

Don't know just what to do with myself. Sung like Cameron Diaz in"My Best Friend's Wedding" My mind is like a whirlwind right now, I know I have so much to do but where do I make the time. I am so unmotivated when it comes to my schoolwork it is not even funnty. I do NOT like online classes. I abhor them. I know this going to have to be the only way to get this done butI have almost given up. I just got my computer up and running again and I am soooooo behind. My instructor has yet to respond to my plea for help I feel like a failure. A quitter! I don't know what is going on with me but i do know that I don't step up and do my thing... I will never reach my goal and what good would that be. I keep hoping that by some miracle something will come my way and tell me what I need to do but noyhing yet. I have never been so anxious to feel the the Lord's presence in my life as I am now. for I still have faith that this is but a minor setback and only a stepping stone to something greater. For i know that He has a plan for me .

lazy days of summer

My summer break is almost over:(. Where did all the time go? Oh yeah...I remember now. I have spent a great summer with family and friends from all over. I did not get to go out of town as I had hoped but I did get to do quite a bit here at home. I have come to cherish old and new friendships and developed relationships that I hope will last a long time to come. I am in a very happy place right now and love how wonderful those magical summer nights and lazy summer days have made me feel like a brand new person ready to take on the world! I am excited about the new school year and all the many changes it has to offer. I can't wait! This is going to be a fantastic year!

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It's already the mid-point of summer vacation and I can honestly say that we have been enjoying every single day! No schedules, no rules, just doing what makes us happy. Since it is going to be a rainy week I have decided that this week we will start the tedious projects like cleaning out closets and bedrooms, re-arranging furniture, etc. I have also started writing again and I didn't realize how much I missed it until recently. I am still taking online classes and that's what got me thinking about writing again. I am working on a few songs and two different novels. The songs are just for fun because I love music and feel that lyrics are a simple yet powerful way to express what you are feeling at any given moment. The novels are for me. I have two different stories I am working on. The first story is about a woman who realizes that love isn't always the fairy tale ending we are brought to believe in. The other is about a divorced mother of three who must choose between her own safety and that of her children. It has been alot of fun brainstorming for these stories and just going where the stories take me. I would like to have at least one the books done by next summer...at least that is my goal.
Speaking of goals....this month's happiness project goal is "FUN". I am very excited about this one. I must admit that I have not given it my all to the previous goals and have even failed repeatedly at trying to achieve them. At least I am trying...not wholeheartedly as I had said I would but trying nonetheless. I will set aside at least two days a week to do anything the kids want to do even if it means chores will have to wait. Life is too short to worry and stress about the little things. Enjoy each moment for what it is and live it to the fullest. I truly believe that there is always time for everything. The fact of the matter is that you have to make the time for what is important to you. When someone says they do not have time for this or that, it makes me sad. I used to be that person. Now I realize that it was just an excuse to not live and take a chance. So bring on the fun and let the good times roll!