Summer 2014

Today is it!!!! The last day of summer vacation for me!!! Yikes!!! Where did summer go?
I have inservice tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. On Friday, we are going to Fort Campbell to get some things Marty needs for guard and Kara has scheduled a tour of Austin Peay for that afternoon. :)
Kali had a wonderful week at church camp!! The first day of camp the electricity went out due to a thunderstorm and they got to experience real camping.:)
The boys were blessed with the mission trip to Jamaica and came back with lots to share. I hope they will be able to go back next summer as it was mentioned several times how good it was to have some men on the mission trip.
Yesterday I took Kara to Camp Clements for the FBLA state officer meeting. Kirk will go and pick her up tomorrow. I have inservice and I don't think they would excuse me from it to go and pick her up.:)
I am excited to meet my new sweeties for this year!!!! We are going to have a wonderful year!!!!
Thanks to all of you who asked about me and prayed for me during all my doctor appts. this summer. It seems that ulcers are the culprit of my problems. For now, they want me to go in every 3 months to check my blood counts and see if I can get my blood built back up. Of course there is a long list of food and drinks to avoid-basically EVERYTHING good.:) I can do this!!!!!
Looking back on the summer, I don't think I can say that I accomplished a lot. I didn't get all my projects done around the house that I wanted to but oh well there's always next summer.. I spent most of the summer making sure kids got to where they needed to be and we had several fun day trips and a few trips to Nashville for overnight stays. I didn't get caught up on my scrap booking.:( maybe I'll do that Christmas break.:) We will take a family vacay during fall break as that seems to be a good time for us to get away together. As fast the summer went, I know the school year will go almost as fast so I'm going to enjoy every moment of it.
Here's wishing all my teacher friends the BEST year ever!!!

July:)

Summer is flying by!!! Kara attended the National FBLA conference that Tennessee hosted at the Opryland Hotel June 28-July3. Kali and I went up and spent two nights there and got to see the opening ceremony. It was very impressive with 10,000 plus FBLA members from across the nation!!! Our hotel room had a balcony that opened up for a beautiful view of the Cascades waterfall. It was very relaxing to watch the falls and hear them.:)
Marty and Kirk are in Jamaica on a mission trip with our church. We have been able to Facebook just a little. They are spending a lot of time working at an orphanage and playing with the children. This was Marty's first time to go on a mission trip and I've lost count of how many Kirk has been on. Kara was sad she didn't go this year but June was a very busy month for her and she had several trips then.
I spent most of this week staying busy so I wouldn't dwell on the thoughts of not being at I TEACH K!!! It was the first summer since 2011 that I had not been. I enjoyed the pics though that everyone posted on Facebook so I felt like I was still a part of it.:)
Kali leaves for church camp tomorrow until Saturday. She is excited to get there!!! The boys won't be home until late Wednesday night so Kara and I will have a little time alone. I go back for more tests since week. The last tests still did not show why or where I am losing blood so this week I will have some more and hope to get some answers.
Just a few more weeks until school starts so we are enjoying every moment of summer break until then!!!!

Even I have a hard time keeping up with our schedules and finally hoping to start feeling better!!!!

I figure the best way for me to keep up with all the comings and goings of my family this summer is to blog about it so it's written down as a journal. Marty and Kirk had a fun week in Washington, D.C. the third week of May. Marty was on a business trip and since I was still in school Kirk got to be his guest. They flew back on a Sunday and that same day I took Kara to Girls State at Lipscomb University in Nashville,Tn. That following Wednesday I took Kirk back to the airport at Nashville to fly out to New Mexico for their state HOBY conference. He had been asked to come by one of their advisors because they had met him at the TN HOBY conference last year and wanted him to help them with getting their state conference up and going. I went back that Saturday for Kara's closing ceremony at girls state. We spent a few minutes together in the van while I drove her straight to Mt. Juliet for TNFBLA state officers meeting. Her advisor brought her home on Sunday night. I picked up Kirk the next Monday at the airport and took Kara back the following day on Tuesday for her to fly out to Europe. She returned a week ago this past Thursday. Since Marty had been at his guard two week annual training at Nashville, Kali and I went up on Wednesday and stayed with Marty that night and Thursday night after we picked up Kara. He gets to stay in a hotel room so we bunked up with him.:) So other than some weekend trips, Marty and Kirk's mission trip to Jamaica with our church and Kali's church camp,things have settled down just a little bit for the rest of the summer.
Marty, Kali and I even managed to squeeze in a few nights camping while Kirk and Kara were away. We enjoyed hanging out by the fire at night, watching movies and going down to the lodge to swim and tan.
Marty will be home Saturday night from his two week camp plus his June drill and we are ready to have him home!!!!
As for me, well I've enjoyed taking my time and sipping on my coffee every morning, doing some reading, and lounging at the pool or lake. After dealing with some physically related problems on and off for the last couple of years that intensified in the last couple of months, I am in the process of getting some tests and procedures done to figure out what is causing me to have these issues plus find out why my blood count is so low. After looking at my CBC count which was so low that it was almost on the count of where they start requesting a blood transfusion,the doctor and nurse both questioned me as to how I had any energy at all and if I had been tired which I replied of course I'm exhausted but I just thought it was because I was a Kindergarten teacher and I've felt this way for so long that it has become normal to me. They've just got to figure out why I'm losing blood and how plus check into some other medical issues. I feel a little liberated now to know that it's not normal and that there is more to my exhaustion than just my work. Looking forward to getting some answers soon and hopefully starting to feel better!!!!:)
I am sad that I won't be attending the I TEACH K!!! conference this summer at Vegas but I needed to be home this summer and it worked out for the best since the kiddos and Marty had several trips planned. Hoping to get back next year and see all my friends especially my sweet friend Alessia Albanese!!! I have met so many wonderful friends through the national and state conferences. They know who they are and are very dear to me!!!
Hope all of you are having a GREAT summer!!!

Hello!!!!

Hello! It's Me!!! Yes, I have thought of sitting down and writing a post many times but yikes where does the time go!!! Seriously,we have welcomed in a New Year, celebrated Valentine's, 100th day of school, Read Across America week and St. Patrick's Day!!! We also had a WHOLE week off for a surprise March ice/snow. Luckily, we will still get to enjoy 3 days off next week for a shortened but much anticipated spring break. Hoping for some nice warmer weather-the campground is calling our name!!!
Kirk is loving Lambuth-my college alma mater or should I say he's enjoying the friendships he is making there. :) I can't say that college courses are his favorite although he continues to do well academically. Kara is moving right along in her junior year of high school. She has stayed busy as region 2 FBLA president, student council vp, class officer, AB officer, babysitting, nursery worker at church, church activities and the list goes on... She has been busy helping plan the Junior/Senior prom which is April 17th (her 17th birthday!!!) 😄We have the dress, the shoes, the hairpiece, etc.:) We have scheduled her senior picture sitting in June. Hard to believe she's winding up her high school years.😳 Kali has been spending every MINUTE possible practicing basketball. She says she is trying out for the middle school team. I'll let you know how that goes...:)
My class has had a productive semester so far and I really feel that they have made great strides in their learning. I really hope when testing time rolls around whether TCAP or AIMSWEB that the numbers and data show it. I know the progress they have made but not sure how things will play out when testing day rolls around... I think this is a worry/concern that all teachers have now. Sad but true. Time is running out and this school year like all the others will soon be a memory. I love my students and can honestly say without a doubt that they are all very kindhearted sweet boys and girls and are well behaved. In the grand scheme of things, that counts for ALOT whether a test shows it or not.
God bless you and yours!!!

Happy New Year!

Wow! Christmas break came and is lingering on. We were supposed to head back today but due to extreme cold we were out today and are out tomorrow. It's always exciting to get the phone call that says no school. I'm just hoping the next time it will be because of a beautiful layering of SNOW!!! When we get back Wednesday, I think it best if we just do a lot of reviewing over the skills we have covered thus far this year. It's difficult to get back in the swing after a few days off much less almost 3 weeks.:)
My family enjoyed a blessed Christmas time. We were all well and that in itself is a gift. Kirk has been home from college and spent a lot of time working at Imart. He will be moving in next week to the Lambuth campus of UofMemphis. Kara has been busy learning how to operate her sewing embroidery machine that she got for Christmas and getting in some extra time babysitting. Kali has just enjoyed being off of school!
Marty and I celebrated 20 years of marriage  Dec.18. We will try to go out and celebrate when it gets a little warmer. Too cold to get out in this kind of weather.
We got to keep our sweeties Eliajh and Annalesa for several days and nights last week while their mom and dad went with our high school band to the chick fil a bowl in Atlanta. There is absolutely nothing that compares to having little ones around. :) they are so funny with their cute expressions and sayings plus I love to rock them and snuggle with them. Yes they are spoiled when they are with us but that's the way it should be!
I have enjoyed my break. I did very little regarding school and I mean very little. I took advantage of the break and used it. Other than running to school the Monday before Christmas to grab all the stuff that I literally walked off and left on our last day that Thursday and make sure I had everything ready for this week (which will have to be revamped anyway due to extra days out), cutting out some laminating that has been in my pantry for awhile, reading a few blogs, doing a little tpt browsing and that's it. That's all I did related to school and you know what I'm ok with that. I am prepared for when I go back and I wanted time with MY FAMILY AND MY CHILDREN.
I am not setting resolutions. Instead I'm going to use a church's sign that I saw and really liked as my motto-"Daily devotion is better than yearly resolution." I am daily devoting some time to bible study everyday. I have done fairly well with this these past few years so hoping to make it my best year yet when it comes to that. I am convinced if I do this then I can tackle whatever comes my way with a good perspective, attitude and smile.:)
Happy New Year to all! Many blessings to you and yours and yes I will be happy to see my sweeties on Wednesday!:)

3 and 1/2 days

Yes that's right just 3 1/2 more days until Christmas break! I can not believe how fast this first semester has gone by although this past week seems to have been the longest.:) In just the last few weeks, I have seen my sweeties grow up so much. It is amazing how that seems to happen this time of the year in Kindergarten and even more so after Christmas break.
Next week we will be busy with Christmas activities- a school trip to the theatre to see Santa Buddies, a special animal show at school, the 2nd grade Christmas program, our Polar  Express pajama day, and last but not least our Christmas party on Thursday morning.
We have been busy making Christmas ornaments, reading lots of Christmas books along with Reading, Math and finishing up 3rd six weeks assessments.
I have been thinking a lot lately about how we are assessing these poor kids all the time. If it's not one kind of test,it's another. I can't help but worry about those kids who are struggling and some of them are aware that they are not performing as well as other kids in their class. I worry that these children are going to get to where they don't want to come to school, have poor self esteem and will begin acting out because of the pressure we are putting on them to perform at levels that some of them are simply not ready to. When I think about these things, it reminds me that I need to spend time focusing on each child and making sure that they don't start feeling this way. If I spend more time focusing on an assessment score than I do a child's heart then I have lost all perspective as a teacher.
As far as my own three k's they are all doing well. Kirk finished his first semester of college and is back home for Christmas break. Kara continues to stay busy with school, club activities and babysitting. She was sad that the St. Jude half marathon in Memphis that she trained for months for had to be cancelled last weekend due to the ice. She is planning on doing a half marathon in the spring that will also benefit St. Jude. Kali seems to have been overloaded the last few weeks with school work at night. Another reminder that I am blessed to have children who do well in school and to be patient and understanding with those students who it doesn't come so easy to.
I hope that all of you are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas break and I hope it allows you lots of time to spend with your own families because as teachers I feel that we often spend more time devoting our time to other people's children than our own.
Just a reminder that I write this blog as a journal for me to always have of  my life as a mother, a wife, a teacher and a child of God. I am not trying to glorify my life as any of these things. What I choose to do is focus on the good in all of us-my students and my own family and friends. We all face daily struggles at work and sometimes home that I may express to others on a personal confidential basis but I would never put anything on here regarding students or family and friends for all to read. Just another reminder to myself to seek out the good in all of us as I hope you will in me. If you take the time to read my blog via Facebook,then take the time to click follow me on my blog because sometimes I don't share it on Facebook.:) You can sign up to receive an email notification when I make a new post. God Bless you and yours!!!

Cotton gin, Thanksgiving and Christmas Oh My!!!!

Woo hoo! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast last Tuesday in our class and I had a wonderful break with my family!!! It just went too dog gone fast. It does help though knowing that Christmas break is just around the corner.:) We will hit the ground running tomorrow to make sure we finish up all the standards addressed during this six weeks so that we can get those assessed. Of course, I stated pulling out all my Christmas books to take and get started reading on at school. To say I have a lot is an understatement!!!
The Monday before Thanksgiving break our kindergarten classes toured the cotton gin in McLemoresville, TN. My brother is the owner there as well as a cotton farmer. The gin has been in our family for MANY years. Thankful for my brother and all of our farmers. :) As I said, our Thanksgiving feast went off great! I had lots of compliments on how well the students were behaved and that always makes me happy to hear that.:) Once again, I have been blessed with a class of sweeties and I'm so proud of the progress they have made this year.
Kara is participating in the St. Jude half marathon this Saturday in Memphis so Kali and I are going down with her the night before. Marty has to leave Thursday morning and stay through Sunday at Nashville for guard duty. Kirk will come home and help hold the fort down.:)
In closing, I'll leave you with my thoughts that I posted on my Facebook status:

Every year I look at Christmas trees in the stores and of course I have seen lots of pics on Facebook and it seems that many of the trees seem to have a theme to them. I caught myself the other day saying "my tree is nothing fancy it's just simple with lights and ornaments that we have collected through the years." I thought about that and realized in some ways that's true because it's not fancy in the likes that you would ever see one like it in a store display but it represents our family and that makes it special. Marty and I married on December 18, 1993-that's right almost 20 years in the books. and one of my wedding showers was a Christmas decoration/ornament one so many of the ornaments date back to then and are even engraved with our wedding date. Each child has their own collection of ornaments from their first Christmas to all the ones we made at home or made at school through the years. There are ornaments from various countries and favorite vacation spots that we traveled to or Marty traveled to on his deployments/guard duties. There are ornaments commemorating the year Marty was away and spent Christmas in Kosovo. We have ornaments from Ft. Campbell representing the years he served there while we were dating and even some we got from the cruise ship on our honeymoon. Many of the ornaments have been given to me through the years by my students. There are ornaments for our dogs that we love and others we have loved and lost representing the joy they have brought us. There are ornaments from Ms. Elizabeth Radford because each year she would give the kids an ornament. Last, there is an ornament from the Christmas of 1985. We never dreamed that would be the last year that my daddy would spend Christmas here with us. So my tree does have a theme and it's called "our lives"-by no means fancy but definitely a wonderful and blessed life!!! I pray that as you decorate your tree this year that you too are reminded of the love of family, special memories from the past and the precious memories of the loved ones who are celebrating Christmas in heaven!!!!