What a Wonderful CHRISTmas!!

This has been an amazing CHRISTmas!!! There is so much to be thankful for in my life I can't even seem to get my mind around it all!!! God has truly blessed me WAY more than I deserve!!!
As I reflect on the year, though, I know that there are things about my life that need to change. I look forward to the New Year maybe because it is a good excuse to get my priorities in check. I have several resolutions...none that I will share here today, but...I look forward to writing them down, listing ways I can reach them, and then doing it. I have had a lot on my mind these past few weeks and will possibly share more later. I just know that God has a plan for my life, and I really don't think I have been listening to Him very well lately...

And the Winner Is...

...Whitney Mithlo!

Thanks to all of you who played along and voted for the best Christmas stories from my English classes!!

I wanted to post Whitney's story, so that is what you see below!! This is copied and pasted directly from her blog! Enjoy...and Merry CHRISTmas!!!


In Aldrige, England there lived a girl named Maggie Brannigan in the Apple Tree Orphanage. The orphanage was horrible, the owner of Apple Tree Orphanage was Walter Green. He was a mean old man who didn't care about any of the kids just as long as he was paid. Her parents left her in a basket on the front porch of the orphanage when she was a newborn. Now she is five and she wonders everyday when her parents are going to come get her. There are about 27 girls in her room and they are rude to her and make fun of her all the time. She lies in bed every night and just wonders what her parents look like or their personalities. Every thursday different couples came and looked at all the kids and no one ever chose her because she would hide because she just knew her parents would come and rescue her. But one day she realized their not going to come and she just gave up. Christmas was coming close and her big christmas wish was just to have parents who love her. She went on day by day just playing by herself and excited about Christmas. On the thursday before Christmas their was this couple who were as sweet as could be and they just walked over to her and talked to her. She fell in love instantly, the lady was beautiful just what she pictured her mother like. They asked her if she would like to come home with them and she just lit up like a lightbulb. Of course she said yes and she packed her bags and told everyone goodbye. When she walked into their home she just started crying because she never thought this day would come. They had her bedroom ready for her, it was decorated in pink and had so many babydolls. A lot better than the orphanage!! The next day was Christmas and she was ecstatic, her new parents tucked her into bed and told her how much they loved her and were happy to have her. She jumped out of bed that morning and ran into the living room and there were her presents from Santa. That day was the best day of her life and the best Christmas ever!!! THE END!!

Contest!!

OK, fellow bloggers...I have a favor to ask!!

IF you have time and would like to be a judge, I have posted a Christmas story contest on my senior class blog. I told them I would pick a winner with the help of some "judges" that I would choose! I have narrowed down the competition to eight I consider prize-worthy. Granted they would not win many contests...but they are good for what we were doing!! :) Keep in mind, that I do not require grammar, spelling, etc. accuracy. Please do not judge too harshly on those aspects--just focus on the creativity!! If you want to look at others, feel free; I just narrowed it down, so you would not feel obligated to read all 50+ stories!! I, of course, have a few who have chosen to not do this...or not in a timely manner, so they will not be considered!!

If you are still reading, you are truly a friend!!! :) Thanks!!! :)

Interested? Go here to get to my class blog and then look on the right hand side and find the following links to the stories. There are several posts on the kids' blogs, but you will be looking for the one that is a story about a Christmas picture. Most have posted since then about Room 101...not the one you are judging...hopefully this is not too confusing!!

1st Period: Whitney
2nd Period: Brant and Lacie
3rd Period: Sawyer
4th Period: Creede
5th Period: Esteban, Shyla and Odie

I thought you might want to email me your choice rather than posting it on my comments--if you want to remain anonymous. My email is akirkpatrick@childressisd.net

If you could get back to me by Thursday, that would be great!!!!

Thanks so much for doing this!!!

Reminder...

I was "blog browsing" and came across my good friend Monica's post today!! Oh my!!! It is so AWESOME that I had to steal it!!! That's the CHRISTmas spirit, right!?! :) We all get so wrapped up (no pun intended) in the buying and cooking and cleaning and.....that sometimes we forget what is really important!! I hope you enjoy this poem as much as I did!!!

The Night Before Christmas - Mommy Version

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode

only one creature was stirring, & she was cleaning the commode.



The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

while visions of Play Station 3 & Barbie, flipped through their heads.



The dad was snoring in front of the TV,

with a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.



So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

which made her sigh, "now what is the matter?"



With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

she descended the stairs, & saw the old man.



He was covered with ashes & soot which fell with a shrug,

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "now I have to clean the rug."



"HO HO HO!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make,"



"Thanks , Santa, but all I want is time alone,"

"EXACTLY!" he chuckled, "so , I've made you a clone."



"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young &The Restless."



"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "MY dream has come true!"

"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"



From the room above, the youngest did fret.

"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared & I'm wet."



The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "she sure knows her part."



The clone changed the small one & hummed her a tune,

as she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon.



"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."

The clone smiled & sighed, "And I love you, too."



The mom frowned & said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal!

That's my child's love she is trying to steal. "



Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,

only one loving mother is needed here."



The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed.

"Thank you Santa, for clearing my head.



I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

when they'll be too old for my cradle & song."



The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "it works every time. "



With the clone by his side Santa said "Goodnight.

Merry Christmas, dear mom, you will be all right."

Christmas Tag

Ok, Kristie!!! :)

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, until I run out of time and just start cramming things in bags :)
2) Real or Artificial tree? Artificial
3) When do you put your tree up? The Sunday after Thanksgiving, not a day sooner, no matter how much we beg Erik
4) When do you take your tree down? Usually around New Year's Day
5) Do you like eggnog? No
6)Favorite gift received as a child? Our trampoline
7) Hardest person to buy for? Erik...he is such a kid that he is only happy if I buy him TOYS
8) Easiest person to buy for? Kids!!! and the most fun!!!!
9) Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, several...the one in the yard is really sad this year without our big cedar tree to protect it from the weather and provide the needles for the figurines to sit on....our stable is actually no more....not sure it can be repaired....
10) Mail or e-mail Christmas Cards? Mail....need to get those done!!
11) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I always love my gifts!!
12) Favorite Christmas Movie? A Charlie Brown CHRISTmas
13) When do you start shopping for Christmas? usually Dec. 23rd, but we are getting a head start this year--going this weekend! ;)
14) Do you hang mistletoe? No...but I have been on Wayne Lindley's shoulders on the side of the road on the way to Dallas trying to get some out of a tree before--Jennifer was on Dad's....not exactly sure why we were not on our own dads but....I'm also not sure where the rest of the siblings were...and why they weren't out there helping!!!
15) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? broccoli casserole and sugar pies!!
16) Lights on tree? Yes and Erik likes the BIG ones, so we have some of both....looks like our den is on fire from the street! :)
17) Favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night (especially when Erik sings it)
18) Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home!!!
19) Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner (which is spelled "Donder" in the story " 'Twas the Night Before CHRISTmas"), Blitzen, and Rudolph
20) Angel or Star on top of tree? Star
21) Open the presents CHRISTmas Eve or Morning? One present on CHRISTmas Eve...Mom used to always try to get something really special for that one gift like a movie, new board game, pajamas...something we could use that night--i try to live up to that but don't always get it done...Santa comes on CHRISTmas morning and that is when we open the rest of the presents
22) Most annoying thing about this time of year? people who aren't in the spirit!
23) Favorite ornament theme or color? theme??color?? we just put whatever on our tree....I especially love the ones the kids make!!
24) Favorite for Christmas Dinner? turkey & dressing, ham, broccoli casserole, potato salad, corn salad, macaroni & cheese, red beans, hot rolls, green onions....the list goes on & on
25) What do you want for Christmas this year? to see the looks on my kids faces CHRISTmas morning!! :)
26)Who do you tag? Erik, Amy, Casey, Lana

Childress School Libraries go World Wide!!!

We have come so far in such a short time!!! Since the onset of our one-to-one computer plan in our school district we have grown in leaps and bounds! It has been very exciting (and intimidating, at times) to see where we are and where we will go next!!

Our newest adaptation is our online library. Faith Self is our new Media Center Coordinator (librarian), and she is doing such a great job!! She was so funny today because she is ssoooooo excited about the fact all of the information about our books is online and accessible, literally, anywhere in the world!! She could not wait to show us how we could see this! It is very impressive and I look forward to using it with my students...and my own kiddos! You should really take a look it when you get a chance...and ask Faith when you see her!!!

Go to our school website and the third red box on the right has a link for our libraries. Or you can click here and go straight to the page that gives you the choice of which campus library you would like to explore! The really cool thing is that the possiblities for using this are endless! One of the first things I look forward to is having my students write reviews for books they have read that will then be posted on the website (after Faith has approved them, of course) for other kids to read. It takes "book reports" to an entirely new level!! There are so many other things that we can do, but I will save that for a workshop that I'm sure Faith will put on soon!! :) In the mean time, go "browse" around! ;)

Losing Weight...

Ok...I have been wanting/needing to lose weight for too long and have not done it. In fact, I have done just the opposite...... I noticed Stephanie and Charla both had little tickers for their weight loss goals on their blogs, and I decided it was a sign... :) So, I figure if I put it on my blog and make it known to the public, maybe I will actually do it!!

I was listening to a speaker at the Women of Faith Conference who said something about how 10 years ago she would look at pictures of herself and think "Oh my gosh, I am so fat!" She now looks at those same pictures and thinks, "Man, I wish I was that weight again!!" Well, that is me!!! If I continue the same pattern I have set for myself over the last 10 years, I will weigh more than I did when I delivered my babies by the end of next year!!!! For those of you who knew me as a 9-month prego, you know I was a WHALE! :) But then, I had a great excuse!!! Not so much anymore....

OK...so it's out there!!! The whole world--well at the least the 2 or 3 of you who actually read this blog--now know my goal!!! I have no more excuses...I HAVE to lose this extra weight!!! Pray for me!!!