Camping Again

Camping was a lot of fun this weekend. I definitely needed time to just get away from everything and relax. I was able to take in 2 books (The City of Ember and The People of Sparks), which are both junior high books that I would like for my students to read. They are awesome books, even for adults. In fact, my mother is reading them now. There are some great themes of survival, hope, courage, and doing the right thing. They are set in the future, and for a girl who hates futuristic books, I loved these. But, I digress.

The whole family was up at LuWiSoMo (mom, dad, Julie, Randy, Cooper, Logan, baby to be, and me) and we had a great time. Logan took in a horseback ride. We hiked around, had lots of campfires with marshmallow roasting, played some ladder ball, played a lot of Sheephead, and were entertained by the boys thoroughly. My parents had a new (new to them-it is a 1985)motor home that was really spacious and nice. I bunked with them and the Recob family tented it.

And, what would a camping trip at LuWiSoMo be without running into some CUW alumni. I saw Bubba (who works at camp), met the sister-in-law of Kandyce Miller (she takes care of the horses), and saw Amy Benedict who student taught under me for a week in 2003 or 2004. Craziness.

Dad playing ladder ball

Mom and the sisters

Julie and Logan around the campfire

Logan on the horseride (note the lovely background Port-o-potty

Randy and Cooper checking out the horses

"They spent all weekend taking sticks and pine needles out of my mouth. I just wanted to crawl and check out nature. Can't a kid get a break?"

One happy baby

Alive

The past few weekends I have been keeping busy working in my yard. I have tilled up more soil than I care to think about (the Garden Claw works great-try it sometime, but there is still quite a bit of pain and blisters involved).

Anyway, I have planted some impatiens in the back, along with a few hostas. The side of the house is peonies, and all of my garden veggies (4 tomato plants, 2 basil plants, green peppers, red peppers, and a canis flower). In the front, I potted my two whiskey barrels with victoria blues and petunias, the irises are coming up quite full, and then I have a variety of potted plants on the porch (anything from gerbera daisies to zinnias and more). I really enjoy watching everything grow and bloom around me. I think I am in for a long summer of watering though.

Front porch filled with and surrounded by flowers.





My favorites right now-the peonies.

I laid a rock border around the south side of the house and tilled all the soil, that used to be grass (you are only seeing a portion of it )

Newly planted impatiens on the east side of the house.

Whiskey barrel 1 of 2

Pretty irises

6.5

6.5 days left of school.
6.5 days left of parents who don't want their children to be responsible for themselves.
6.5 days left to make an impact.
6.5 days left of hearing "Miss Miller" 500 times per day.
6.5 days left of grading papers.
6.5 days left of students gathered around my desk at 7:00 am (35 minutes before school starts)
6.5 days left of talking with my beloved co-workers (truly-they are awesome).
6.5 days left to remind them that they do indeed need a pencil in every class.
6.5 days left of waking up early
6.5 days left to shush students on the way to lunch or in the halls.
6.5 days left to dress-up.
6.5 days left to tell them Jesus Loves Them.
6.5 days left and I wonder if they have learned the important things.

A Rare Find

I have been aware of the rabbits who have built their home in my backyard for about 2 months (ever since Peyton has been out of the picture and the backyard is once again a haven). I have avoided mowing directly over their large hole (where the mother enters) and the small hole where I can often see wiggling under the fur cover that tops the hole. Yesterday, I was out picking lilacs for my classroom when I heard a little squeal and saw the tiniest little bunny take 3 awkward bounds away from his hole. I must have stepped too close to its hole or even worse, on top of it. Anyway, I snapped a few pictures of the cute little guy and hoped that his mom would find him and return him to his hole. I knew that if I touched him, mother rabbit would abandon or worse, kill him. When I returned from the sweltering 90 degree day, he was nowhere to be seen, but there was some wiggling under the fur cover.

Funny

This is my Middle School Teaching Staff (the homeroom teachers). We have a great group and teaching together is a blast. We took this hot tamale photo for a special project (more info coming soon). Pictured are: Dan (top), Dawn and Nicole (middle), and Courtney, Eric, and me (bottom)

Appreciated

About four weeks ago, I started leading a High School Girl's Bible Study called "His Girl". It is an amazing series that tackles all of the tough teenage girl issues. A parent suggested it for our church and I agreed to teach the 8 week series. It has been going pretty well and each week, about 15 girls gather at my house for Bible Study before church. Today's topic was purity. I was grateful to share the message of God's plan for our lives (in regards to purity), but was also feeling a bit frustrated about Bible Study.



One, I cannot offer them the perspective of what it is like to wait and then to finally experience the blessing of intimacy with my husband. I could only tell them that the wait is going to be worth it and that it is at times hard to wait (and I should know with 27 years of waiting under my belt). Questions to God: God, do you really want to use me to do this work for you? Isn't there someone better who can do this?



Two, I was a bit frustrated because though I was glad to share the message, teaching Bible Study has kept me from a few things, like spending the day with my mom on Mother's Day (I did get to see her yesterday). Questions to God: Why won't anyone else step up? Am I being unfaithful to my family because I am putting this Bible Study above time with them? Maybe I should just take more time for me.



I was starting to feel selfish and was also doubting that the message I was sharing was having any impact at all. Sometimes it is hard to see that the seeds you are planting are taking root. The girls seem to be enjoying the study and they do keep coming back, but are they really taking the message to heart?



Well, anyway, this morning just as we were getting started, one of the dads showed up at the door with a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a sweet card from him and his wife thanking me for the impact this Bible Study is already having on their daughter. In that moment, I stopped and thanked God for the encouragement and simultaneously asked forgiveness for all of my selfish thoughts. True encouragement at the right time.

Scentsational

My backyard abundance!

For just 2 short weeks I get to take in the fresh frangrace of my absolute favorite flowers. I am grateful that my neighbors have a huge row of lilac bushes that separate our yards (and mainly bloom on my side). There are many arrangements of lilacs throughout my house (kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, etc..)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you tons!

Problem Solver Extraordinaire

Being a middle school teacher, I am constantly confronted with lots of girl fights, petty issues, and horrible friendship-dividing arguments. Since school is almost out, they seem to be getting worse. Thank the Lord that in only 19 more school days (or 27 total days) we will be done! I think all of the kids need some space from each other! Recently, multiple parents have been calling me at home (yes, home) to ask for my assistance and or complain. Now I must say that I have had a few parents actually call me with productive questions and have helped their daughters by disciplining them for what they did wrong and by encouraging them to live at peace with others. For those parents who just call to complain, here is some advice:

1) Please call me about these issues at school. My home is my haven. May I please have SOME time to think about something other than work (which I truly do love)?

2) Every girl is going to have problems. It is something we all have had to or will have to deal with.

3) Let your child deal with their problems. You do not need to come to their rescue. How will they learn to deal with conflict if you are always right there intercepting the conflict. (read: stop living vicariously through your daughters)

4) Teach your girls to "LET THINGS GO" (For example, after sitting down with a group of 4 girls who were at each others' throats, we found out the whole fight started because one girl gave the other girl a strange look. In reality she had the strange look because she smelled something odd and of course the look started a domino effect that went on and on and on)

Saturday

My Uncle Kevin has been in town (my parent's town that is) for the past week. He is from northern Minnesota, but came to Wisconsin to do a plaster/stucco job locally. Anyway, he called me at 6:30 am (!!!!) on Wednesday morning last week to see if I would be willing to go shopping with him. Huh???? Kevin is about 50 and is not the shopping type of guy. He'd much rather be fishing, hunting, ice fishing, gardening, or doing work outside than shopping. Despite my confusion, I agreed to come home and hit the stores with him.

We ended up having a great time. Not only did I get to hang out with Kevin, whom I rarely see, but I also was able to spend his money. :0) We went to the Outlet Mall and I helped him pick out some jeans (pretty stylish too-a vintage wash, which isn't bad for an old man-haha), a few shirts, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 belts, and a ton of boxers and undershirts. It was great to catch up with him.

My sister and family came home too so we spent the day hanging out and playing with the boys. I am still trying to comprehend the fact that Julie is pregnant again and at Christmas, we will have another baby to oogle over. Great fun!

Back to the 80s

Well, not exactly, but I did go for some bangs when I got a haircut on Wednesday. It was time for a change and I thought the wispy bangs might be fun. So far, I like them. We'll see how I feel once school is out and I am ready to throw my hair into a ponytail everyday.