Catching Up

I think I'm in a blogging slump. I don't have time to blog and when I do manage to squeeze some in, I cannot think of anything exciting to say. Here are a few things that have happened in the past few weeks:

• Gabriel turned 17 - He is the most awesome young man in the whole entire world. I am blessed.
• Holly turned 10 - She is turning into a young lady right before my very eyes.
• My parents came up for a visit. They'll be here until Friday.
• Holly had a "Grandma and Me" dinner with her Girl Scout troop. Her leader was kind enough to schedule it when my parents were here.
• They decided to do a 50's theme. Holly wore a dress and sweater that we already had and I spent $1.00 on some ribbon for her hair. She looked really cute.

• She read a poem that we wrote together.
  
• We went shopping in Williamsburg. I found some dishes that I like at the Pfaltzgraph outlet. I bought some shoes.
• I took Hannah to the DMV to get a driving manual. She will be old enough for her learner's permit in only a few days.
  
• My dad and John took the kids on a field trip to the Navy Museum in Washington DC.
  
• My mom and I looked for some more deals at Walgreens and CVS. We found some.
• I'm hoping to mostly stay home tomorrow.
  

Favorite Friday

I thought I would join my blogging friend, Mikki in her Favorite Friday Meme. It's simple, just share one of your favorites. It's as easy as that and a great way to get to know our blogging friends better. I thought I start this week by sharing my favorite Friday night activity. Can anyone guess? It's pizza and a movie with my family!

This week we got The Game Plan. I hope it's a good one! What's your favorite Friday night activity?

Join us in Favorite Friday. There aren't any specific rules.
You can make your own Favorite Friday sign at
Image Chef if you like.
Just add a picture of what your favorite thing for the day is
and tell us why it is your favorite. Sign the Mr. Linky at Mikki's blog.

Random Thoughts

· I spent eight weeks in a classroom surrounded by coughs, colds, fevers and even strep throat and managed to evade all the germs. Tuesday night, a sinus cold decided to infringe upon my free time.

· Saturday night, I’m singing with my church at the mall. I have a very short solo and a few narration parts along with singing with the group. I’m praying the sinus cold is gone soon!

· The weather turned back to normal today. Almost summer became cool and drizzly.

· I went shopping with Holly yesterday afternoon. We found some good deals.

· I can’t tell you what they are because I have a bunch of family members who like to lurk around my blog.

· My family is taking a nap on the floor. What’s with that? I guess so many years in Romania with cold rooms and colder floors, the carpeted floor looked inviting.

· John worked midnight shift last night and barely slept this morning. He’s tired.

· The children’s Christmas play at church is Sunday night. Holly has a drama part and I’ve been told she’s doing very well with it. She had a solo part but denounced it last night, adamantly stating that she wasn’t ready and wasn’t going to humiliate herself.

· I feel badly for not working with her on her solo.

· Gabe and Hannah have silent parts. Hannah is Mary and Gabe is a Wise Guy Man.

· We’re having frozen pizza for dinner. That seems to be the easy thing when there’s Christmas shopping and colds to deal with. What’s for dinner at your house?

My Grinch Name

I am finally finished with my long term substitute job! Hooray!! One of these days, I may post some more about it. Not now. Now is the time to concentrate on my family and my home, not to mention Christmas!! I found this link on Julie's blog and discovered my Grinch name is

Crabbyfrown Poutypants.

Could it be more appropriate? That’s exactly what I’ve felt like lately. Monday I am going to de-Grinchify and take Hannah out Christmas shopping! What’s your Grinch name?

Teaching in the Lions' Den

A comment from Big Red Driver – “That special needs class will be wild!” Yes, it is. In fact, I think that lion taming would have been an easier job today. Please don’t think I’m exaggerating! I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if today’s behavior from several students causes the teacher to go into labor. She needs to wait until after Monday because that is when she is planning on finishing the long term lesson plans.

It was so nice to arrive home to my wonderful family. Gabe and Hannah did their school work that I assigned them but I had forgotten to make the vocabulary quiz. Did that stop my awesome family? No! John made the quiz for them and they both made 100%! I suppose that I can handle 6 hours in the lions’ den when I know that I can go home to 4 amazing people each day.

Good News and Bad News

Which do you want to hear first? I’ll start with the bad and get it over with. Yesterday was a full day with church, unpacking of a few boxes, swimming, meals and finally relaxing while watching a movie. Not long into the movie, I absent-mindedly reached for my engagement ring, which I always wear, and realized with horror that the diamond was missing. We searched as best as we could in the poorly lit, overly cluttered apartment. It is gone. I could have lost it anywhere. I am just sick about it. I haven’t totally given up hope. I have offered my kids a reward and I am hoping that my son’s and my husband’s dyslexic eyes will spot it. (They see things with amazing detail!) I realize that even though it is a precious stone, it’s just that; a stone. The Bible tells us not to lay up treasure here on earth and that nothing lasts forever except for the Word of God and souls of men. So although my heart is sad, I will not grieve over this.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:24-25

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Now for the good news! My niece had a sweet baby girl yesterday. I am so excited for her. I think that it’s kind of funny that she had her on July 1^st, the birthday of another niece of mine. That in itself might not be so amusing or coincidental but her first child was born on Hannah’s birthday. And for other good news – our washer and dryer is scheduled to be delivered this evening, most likely right in the middle of dinner. I need to go help clear out the laundry room.