My Favorite CHRISTmas Pic

I love the idea of being "IN the world, but not OF the world." At CHRISTmas time I always try to keep focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I like the idea that we do have CHRISTmas parties, trees, gifts, meals, etc; but also that at this time of the year the world seems to stop and kneel at the manger of Baby Jesus. Because to me this represents the "world" recognizing the reason for the season, this USED to be my favorite image to represent CHRISTmas... ...until this morning at our FCA meeting--now this one is!!!!

I know there is no actual manger and Baby Jesus, but the thought that all these kids would take time to get up early and come to school on the last day before their break, proves we have kids who are focused on "the reason for the seaon" and it just melts my heart!! And I love that "Santa" is the one praying!!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!

Assignment :)

OK...most of y'all know that I teach Senior English--and that I would not be pleased with a student who started their sentence with "OK"!!

Do as I say...not as I do!!

Anyway, I am going to give anyone who actually still reads my blog the same assignment I gave my kids today on their journal prompt! Each day when my kids come in, there is a prompt of some sort on the overhead. They respond to it in their journals that they turn in at the end of each week.

If you will play along, I think it will be fun........for me--and not too bad for you!! :)



Sometimes (like today, obviously) I put a picture up along with the prompt. Here is today's journal assignment:

Tell me about a time when YOU learned a lesson the hard way!!
~~If the cartoon is blurry, click on it and it will open in a separate window.~~

Come on....play along....I will post my "lesson learned the hard way" on a later post--promise!!

Maybe I will even pick the best response and give you a prize!!

One of Those Days...

As most of you know, today was supposed to be the first of four infusions for Erik. We left bright and early headed to Amarillo. I won't go into all the details--as Erik requests of ALL my stories...i'm gonna 'bottom-line-it for ya'--we didn't get to start the infusions today because insurance companies are FRUSTRATING!!!!!So...we drove all the way to Amarillo, I used my last sick/personal day for the school year, we left Katy in town even though she was still not feeling well, and we had to pay a 'chunk of change' today in hopes that we will be approved to start infusions next week!!!! I am not even going to get started on the fact that the business/insurance lady knew all of this yesterday but did not share the information with us!! Erik was also going to get to start being weaned off of the prednisone and hopefully start feeling like himself again, but that didn't happen either!!! Please pray that at least his sleep quality will improve this week!!

At some point during the hour and a half in the business office with the receptionist trying to talk to our insurance company, we also found out that our friend/co-worker Casey has pneumonia and is having to stay in the hospital!! This is a double whammy because that also meant she could not go with my sister Sarah to their workshop in Arlington this weekend--which left Sarah to go by herself...'alone' is not something Sarah likes to be, especially in a big city!!

We decided not to let it be a completely wasted trip, so we did a little CHRISTmas shopping and had lunch at Ruby Tequilas! This helped our nerves calm some, so we headed back to C-town with an improved attitude.

That was, until we got home to find Kristen on the couch asleep at Mom's because now she is sick! We gather up the kids and head home to re-group and get baths and go to bed, only to find this...!!!!
YES, that is our beautiful REAL tree and all of its ornaments in the floor of our den!! NO, that is not how we left it this morning!!! And NO that is not what we needed to finish out our day!!!

But....they don't call me SILVER LINING for nothing.....I can't just leave this post on a bad note....so let me list all (or at least some) of the positives of today:
1. We had safe travels (and so did Sarah)
2. I had lots of alone time with my luva
3. Erik's platelet counts actually increased over the week--now at 94,000
4. We have now met our deductible on our insurance, so the rest of these visits should be completely covered (keep your fingers crossed on that one, please)
5. We got our CHRISTmas shopping started
6. I got to eat some really good Mexican food
7. Erik and I sat on the same side of the booth like we used to when we started dating
8. Katy is feeling better
9. Casey is probably going to get out of the hospital tomorrow
10. I got to get a Beckham (and Emily) 'fix' in while we were picking up the kids
11. Erik trimmed the bottom of the tree, so that it would fit into its base more securely which gave us some more branches to add to our Nativity Scene (that will need to be another post...with pics....so proud of Erik's work)
12. Our den is much cleaner and the tree is safe and secure
13. AND we are blessed to have all these 'things' to worry about...
14. AND AND we have a God who loves us and holds our hands even when we are throwing a temper tantrum instead of walking in His plan
15. AND AND AND He sent His Son to earth about 2000 years ago, so that we would not have to worry about anything as long as we have Him as our Lord and Savior!!!!!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. --I Peter 5:7


So.........with that...I guess 'one of those days' wasn't so bad after all...at least not after I give it all to Him!!

I feel better... ;) Good Night!!

"Bobcat" Blue

It's official....Erik is a true Bobcat!! :)

I have suspected it for a while... Don't get me wrong, he started bleeding blue the first day he stepped onto the field at Fair Park Stadium and coached the mighty Bobcats!! But it wasn't until yesterday, that I knew FOR SURE that he had "crossed over" and become a true Bobcat!!

He was on the phone ordering something and when the guy asked what color he wanted it to be, Erik's immediate response was "Bobcat Blue!" Now to all you Bobcats, this makes perfect sense--we know exactly what "Bobcat Blue" looks like!! To the poor sales rep, however, it was a bit unclear. Erik had to, of course, follow it up with "I mean royal blue."

All to say, I am thrilled (and so proud) that he has made the final jump and can now say that he is truly a Bobcat through and through!!! :)

I love him so much and can never repay him for making "my" hometown "his" as well!!!