I Heart Faces ... My Angel!

This week I Heart Faces is having a contest that I just couldn't pass up! It's the best face photo and it's people's choice. Whether or not my sweet girl gets one vote or one thousand, she is the face that I love to come home to each and everyday. She is my angel and I thank God for her all of the time. I am so unworthy!

Head over to see all the other "angels" that grace the page! There are some amazing entries!!!

Has anyone seen spring?

This little cardinal gave me hope that perhaps spring is around the corner??? As much as I would like to wish it into existence, I don't think that is the case! The temp. is in the 50's today, but they are calling for more snow and ice this week. Ack!!!

I wish I was blogging more on this site, but I have really thrown myself into my new blog endeavor and am having a blast! I have had several emails asking about what I am doing. It's truly nothing special, but it is therapeutic. I promise I will share in the months to come. I need to do this for me right now and not worry about "putting on a show" that sometimes comes with blogging. Please do not misundersand me...I think there is truth to everyone's blogs, but I also think we put things out there that are our best portraits, or positive thoughts. There is sooo nothing wrong with that. I think I do that on this blog, but my new one is allowing me to be fully transparent, because I know I don't have any readers. Does that make any sense?

Hope that you all are warm wherever you are in this crazy snow globe that we are in :)

Bullet style

• Today is another snow day.
• The snow was the prettiest, fluffiest snow we've had in a while.
• It's my dad's birthday.
• He would have been 64.
• 61 is too young to die.
• I had a physical this week.
• I am having to go back and have an echocardiogram.
• I'm scared.
• My thyroid was waaay off.
• They upped my milligrams....by a lot!
• I've been so tired lately. Guess it's due to the thyroid issue, huh?
• Paige danced this week at the half time of the HHS game. She rocked. I think she will be a Golden Girl or at least will try out. Girl's got moves.
• We are going to Florida in one month and two weeks. I am PUMPED! I need a vacation.
• We are out of snow days so we will be going to school until June. Thank goodness we are going on a holiday over spring break. May be my only beach experience until next summer.
• I just read Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpos.
• I'm not afraid to die. Heaven sounds DIVINE (no pun intended).
• My next read is Queen Bee's and Wannabe's. I was told that anyone who is raising a daughter should read this book.
• I am working on a photo project and it is going really, really well and I am finding that is changing my whole outlook on photography. I hope to share it in the next few months. It is requiring that my camera never leaves my side. FUN!
• Did I mention today is my dad's bday? Yeah, I miss him. A LOT!

Great expectations

I am beginning a new project. I am not going to share until I have proven to myself that I can actually stick with it and have the passion for it that I do at this moment. I was inspired last night. Truly inspired.

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Paige funnies that I never want to forget...

At Cracker Barrel:

Me: Do you want to stay with me any when I move?
Paige: I would worry about mom. I think for her birthday we should get her one of those alarms that she can use if she falls and it dials 911. She would LOVE that!
(I don't think my 60 something mom would LOVE that, but do think she would appreciate the super sweet concern).

Also @ Cracker Barrel:

Me: Is #)$*) weird? (a little person she talks about and well, I was just curious...just being honest).
Paige: It's hard for me to call anyone weird when the person asking the question is dipping their biscuit in turnip green juice.
(Good point and point taken!!!)

At Barnes & Noble:

Me: Go and get something to read.
Paige: I've read everything.
Me: What are you curious about?
Paige: The Catholics. Yep, I want to learn about "the catholics!"
(Her two best friends are Catholic and she is enthralled. I just think it is funny the way she worded it!)

Snow, beautiful snow

Like all but one state in the U.S., we are enjoying a little of the white stuff. We woke up Monday morning to a beautiful winter wonderland. Paige sprung out of bed and we were out and enjoying by 9am. If you know what it's like to have a pre-teen, I don't see her sweet little face before at least 11, so it was a treat.

We live in the south and we don't see a ton of snow, as a matter of fact, this snow only produced a couple of inches at best. I don't care, though. It's the whole romantic feel of a snow day. Waking up like a kid and jerking open the curtains to see everything white and glistening and still. Getting bundled up in mismatched hats, gloves and scarves. Running outside and feeling and hearing the crunch of the snow under your boots. Falling down and making snow angels and feeling as if there isn't a care in the world. Sledding, making snowmen/women, throwing snowballs. Going in a warm house where hot chocolate is waiting and a warm fire in the fireplace. LOVE IT!

Here are a few of my favorite snow pics...











Ready for the snow to go bye bye now...just sayin' :)

Wanna see what cabin fever looks like???

We've been out of school for three days and delirium has set in!!!!!!!!! HELP!!! :)

I think I can, I think I can...

Whewwww, what a week!!! We started back to school on Monday and received students on Tuesday. I tell you what, coming back after Christmas break I always notice such a difference in my students. It's like they've grown physically and emotionally.

We have had a fantastic week thus far, but I am one tired sista! I spent so much time during the holidays "playing" and forgot how hard it was to do the day to day grind.

Lots of new things going on for me right now and I am hoping and praying that I can keep my head above water and not lose my connection with my family and friends...

-I am going back to graduate school!!! I am sooooo stinking excited, I can barely stand it. I'm in my 10th year of teaching and I DO love it, but I am wanting to go into another arena of education where I will be out of the classroom. I am so excited to begin this journey, but am asking for prayers that I can keep it all going. You see, when I am a student, I become so type A and get stressed to the max if I am not making all A's. Crazy silly, I know, but that's the type of person I am when it comes to education. I am also hoping that I can stay "present" in Paige's life and not have my nose stuck in books too much. My plan is to do as much school work as I can while P is at dance or gymnastics. My online time will definitely have to take a back burner, but I can live with that. Actually, I think it is healthy.

Another big thing I am adding to my plate is that I am house hunting! Well, actually condo hunting. I am so very thrilled about all of the listings that I have looked at lately. I found the cutest bungaloo style condo that is within five miles from where I live now. It is so quaint and just what I am looking for. I am hoping to have a few more places to look at so I can make a decision. Now is definitely the time to buy!

So that's it in a nutshell! Sorry I am such a slacker at visiting blogs. I do try to drop in on everyone on my sidebar when I see you update. If you don't hear from me, you might want to check either my local Starbucks or Barnes and Noble. I'll be the one with my eyes propped open with toothpicks reading a big textbook :)

Have a great weekend!

1.1.11

Happy New Year!!! I know I just posted about my New Year's Improvements, but I just had to blog on 1.1.11, because it is just too cool of a date, ya know?

I hope that everyone had a wonderful New Year's Eve! You know what I did??? Nothing! It was GREAT :) Paige was at a party with her besties and my mom and I ordered take out and tried to stay up, but was unsuccessful. That's ok! I have spent many a new year ringing it in in style. A low key evening was just what the doctor ordered.

It is so hard to believe that my Christmas vacay is over. I go back to school on Monday and students report back on Tuesday. I am so excited to see them. Something, I can't describe it exactly, happens to students over a break. They come back more mature and seem so much more able to handle difficult skills. Generally, they are more focused and are ready to hunker down. I love the second semester.

Well, that's it for today! I'll leave you with a fav pic of my growny girl. She was decked out in her absolutely OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive Miss Me jeans, Gap sweater and Uggs. She had a Starbucks Frappacino in hand and I just can't help but think I've created a monster. Oh well, she has a sweet heart and loves to serve others, so a little spoiling can't be too bad, right? :)