Tribute to Monkey!

Monkey has one of the most thankless jobs at school...putting together the yearbook. I saw the finished project today and words can not describe how beautiful! A true work of art. I know that she gets totally frustrated with us and would like help and we are all useless! Yet, inspite of all that she alone comes up with something that ranks as beauty! Monkey, you rock!!!!!

If you are in the Jackson area on Friday night, drop in and see her art show featuring over 500 pieces of children's art.

Falling Down!

Today I fell down in class. I was at the computer doing a Lexia test, the phone rang, and I got up only I tripped over a chair. I now have a huge bruise (the size of a baseball) and a rug burn (the size of a lemon) on my right leg. But that's not the biggy! My kids were too cute. Jamari yells, "Get an ambulance!" Others are hoovering and being concerned. One runs for ice. Another gets the best chair in the room and brings it up front. Still another gets another chair for me to put my leg on. One goes and gets Tracey. The person on the phone calls Mr. V and the nurse. But no one went and got F! What in the world. You all know my room is quirky, but they were so sweet. However, for the life of me I can't figure out why they wouldn't have gotten F! Or Gunter I thought I made that clear the first of the year. Guess Not!

PS I did take pictures but somethings need to be left unseen!

Weekend

Well I have finally got a couple of paragraphs written on this 30 page paper. I am really suffering from writers block.

Friday night I went and visited with SBB over at the MonkeyBean Manson. Saturday was full of activity F and me went to Barnes and Noble to get our 25% discount on mother's day gifts. Dan's mom and Linda Lou will be getting

Now I did not get me one, but I want the autographed one! Or boys this would be a good mother's day gift.

The new BN in Macon is wonderful! I could spend the day. They have lots of music too!

Things I've learned from High Stakes Testing

1. Students who struggle tend to crumble on Wednesday. (We spent a lot of time today playing peaceful music)

2. Students who struggle tend to only focus on the ones that count (reading and math).

3. Some parents will never understand the importance of this week and will continue to not care if there child is rested. (i.e. When the teacher has to wash a child's face to keep them awake during testing. Or how about having to wipe snot and tears so they don't soil the precious answer sheet.)

4. If you are afraid your faculty is getting lax, then throw in progress reports in the middle of a testing week. (This tends to push everyone!)

5. I teach on the same hall with people and never see them during this week (Monkey).

6. No matter how hard you try it is impossible to separate your self-worth as a teacher from these test scores.

7. You notice that by Wednesday you are singing songs about hard liquor early in the morning!

8. By Wednesday you are wondering if your liver will last the week! (or as one of us found out this week we can eat all but the kitchen sink! Trust me food is an addiction!)

9. As students are getting into fights, calling each other horrible names, and being obnoxious, you suddenly can feel the ocean breezes!

10. You rush home to check your phone and email and make sure that Lynard Skynard hasn't called needing a back up singer!

Actual conversation from today:

Boy: Why do we have to go to school?

Me: So you can grow up and lead a successful life.

Boy: Who says I need school to be successful.

Friend of Boy: You don't need school if you sell drugs.

Boy: And you make lots of money.

Me: But, if you are in jail you can't spend your money.

Boy: I won't get caught.

Me: If that is the life you choose one day you will get caught!

But most of all during this week you think of all the things you can do better. How you can still change the world. You think of all the triumphs (like finally getting students in the system to be tested that really need help). You hope that one day they will want to grow up and be somebody, not someone's drug dealer!

Something New for the Clan!

In an effort to better please my reading audience I have increased the picture size!

Again, here are Cyrstal and Matt.

Today, we decided to go on a picnic. Anything to take my time away from a computer. However, we haven't seen Drew in a while and it was all good!

Dan is the grill master and whipped up some yummy hamburgers. (Yes, I ate one)
Then we attempted to take a picture of Mommy and the boys for Mother's Day at church.
This was the picnic spot. Pretty relaxing till people started intruding.

Another one that I can't get rid of, what is up with that. Anyway the day was fun and we had a good time.

Jr. Sr Prom 2008

Well this will be my last prom for awhile. In a few days we will have successful gotten another child through high school.


If you are unfamiliar with the prom debacle, here goes. The girl Crystal was originally going with Matt. Then threw him over for another boy, then the other boy threw her over, then she calls Matt 2 days before the prom and wants to know if he will take her.

Picture taking took place at a beautiful house in Newborn.

They did make a cute couple.

The senior dance was to Trace Atkins, "You're Gonna Miss This"

I'm sure all will go well because Matt has his buds with him!This is extra and I can't get rid of it!

Funny thing of tonight. The house that they went to take pictures was the same house that Drew and another girl named Crystal went to take pictures when Drew was a Junior. Isn't it funny that both boys took a girl named Crystal to the Prom. Gabe says not to worry because he won't be taking a Crystal to the prom.

Also, Gabe had his first experience with crab legs tonight. This made me think that perhaps both boys would do well to have to work for their food.

Books To Read Before You Die

In my life I have come across a few books that everyone needs to read. The order listed does not reflect the necessary order.

1. A Bend in the Road by David Jeremiah
This is one of those books that will encourage you as you face hard times. Probably best read
in the midst of a struggle to give your strength for the battle.

2. Hitler's Cross by Erwin W. Lutzer
History has a lot to say and this is an eye opening look at how Hitler took over Germany.

3. Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose
This is how I want to end my life. I want my boys to look back over my struggles and see
God's hand at every turn and know that he will do the same for them. The author was a
prisoner of war during WWII in New Guinea. A truly remarkable story of faith and courage.

4. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
I think this could be one of the all time great stories of an underdog overcoming great odds.
(Let's pray this week that my little class can have the same success)

5. Anything Elizabeth Elliott. I couldn't pick one. Through the Gates of Splendor was the first
one I read and I was hooked. She is perhaps the greatest Christian Woman of our time.

6. Anything Celestine Sibley. We live in Georgia, we need to read Georgia Writers. Christmas in
Georgia is my favorite (I think).

7. Lay This Body Down: The 1921 Murder of Eleven Plantation Slaves by Gregory Freeman
One of the most shocking books you will ever read. This took place in Monticello, Georgia.
This is an out of print book, I found a copy for $1.50. You can also probably find it in the
library, but you need to find it!

Sorry, I didn't have ten! Let's start here and then I will lead you to the next level later.

Travel Plans

The future is looking very busy for me. May 4-8 I will be in Atlanta to attend the IRA conference. Then it looks like if I'm lucky I may be in Atlanta for a week during CRCT Item Review July 7-10. If time permits a little beach trip would be nice. Then of course there is Freda's 50th Birthday...I can't wait...we are talking of taking a trip to NYC. Let my heart stop fluttering! I might can even take the trip off taxes since I will be doing some heavy looking at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to improve my teaching of Letters From Rifka!

Room Update

Okay, now you have to picture this with the white headboard I'm going to one day own. Something in a cottage style and cheap. Also, the 4 hearts Gabe painted need to be rematted and hung on the wall. I'm in love with my blue!!!!!
This is the perfect color blue tiffany floor lamp that I purchased at a ridiculously low price on overstock.com.
Here is the former red overstuffed chair in the reading area. I'm not a slipcover person, but the $29 was much cheaper than a new chair.
This is now the view out my window by the computer. Much better than the wall that I looked at before.
This shows you the desk area. I've had the lace curtains for 15 years, they are one of my favorite things. I bought them when we first came to Georgia.

So that sums up my room redo. I wish I had taken before pictures, but I would have been embarrassed!

Rainy Night Thoughts

It is midnight and I am awake. It could be the excitement of getting so much work done today. I've managed to do two discussion posts, check in with my chair, go by the post office and bank, then went for a massage (I won a door prize back in October). The massage was wonderful and I recommend the new person at Curves. I cut Gabe's hair, he was terribly worried since I am not a professional.

I'm sad that the week is ending. I never get tired of being at home. I guess these days with so much to do it is easy to stay entertained without ever leaving my room!

I am concerned about Dan. I think he is in a deep depression, that stems back to the tragedy in September. Dan is the type to impose some type of self-inflected punishment for the accident. F. reminded me this week that he has never talked about the wreck. Then tonight Matt and me at the same time said we thought the struggle he is in now relates to the wreck. So if you are inclined to pray, pray for Dan.

I haven't posted pictures of the new room, because I haven't liked the lighting in the room. Either it is to bright or to dark. I can't seem to convey in pictures the beauty. Perhaps Monkey will have to come over and take the pictures with her new camera.

The Trouble With Being a True Bibliophile

Yes, there are those of us who would by a book rather than food. (Obviously, I've managed both) However, it is never good to marry someone with the same compulsions! It is hard to get rid of my friends. I've contributed to several church libraries across the country. I think I am down to those books that can't go, but today must be spent going through the books and discarding.

The room is shaping up. Last night we did the trim and doors, oh my it was a drastic change. I love it!!! (In the last post did I mention my Cobalt Blue accent wall. I want to change out the light fixtures, but that will have to come after the bed frame!

It has done what I hoped and given me a clearer mindset. I'm excited to start reading and get back to MY computer.

Getting the taxes out of here was a big one this week. I hope it goes well for us. Dan has had someone call wanting to bring a horse. They called when we were in church and they haven't returned our return phone call. I don't know what the future holds for Dan, but it is all okay.

Pictures will be posted when the room is together.

The Remodelng Continues

First, let me say I should be ashamed. You wouldn't have believed the amount of dust in that room and under the bed. My grandmother moved her bed once a month and mopped till she was 80, then she went to twice a year. How many of you move your furniture at least once a month and clean? I don't!!!!!

Anyway, the main paint color is on the wall. We are doing the trim when the man returns! I have ordered a neutral slipcover for the overstuffed chair in the Living Room that is going to the bedroom. Now I need an ottoman. I would like to find a cheap one, if possible. Anyway, yesterday was free shipping at my favorite online store Overstock.com if you don't shop here you should. Anyway the slipcover was 75% off and looked like a good alternative. Then when I pictured it with the blue tiffany lamp...all was well with the world. (The lamp was also considerably cheaper than in stores).

The only glimmer of sadness I'm experiencing at the moment is that the color that was suppose to be a light slivery gray is more of a light/light blue, but it is growing on me. I of course now need a white beadboard type headboard.

The best part is the paintings for the wall are mostly from the G-man. Yes, even his attempt at Van Gogh in the fourth grade has a bit of blue in it. The tucan picture was Dan's all time favorite and fits well in my room. I do have to take back the hearts and get another mat, I've never liked the way it was framed. Then there is the picture from when he was five. Monkey should try this one with the little folks for a mother's day gift.

I also today have renewed my relationship with Dr. Liz. I am so tired of hurting and feeling horrible!

Pictures will be posted as soon as the job is done.

Finally, Sweet Peace!

I have successfully turned off the automatic music. It took a couple of tries. Today in an effort to try and help me create a haven of rest and relaxation in our bedroom, we have decided to paint. And for me this is pretty bold stuff. We are going to have an accent wall of Colbalt Blue and the rest is a shade of white. This will allow for me to keep my bedspread that I really like and my curtains. I am now looking for a blue chair with a footstool, or a blue recliner to come into the office/bedroom/schoolroom. I may post pictures.

Chicago- Saturday in the Park

Then there was my love for a real boy band!!! How can you not be happy with these songs.

Somebody tell me how to make the automatic music to the right stop!

The Partridge Family Slideshow

After Monkey's startling confession today, we must all be willing to confess up to those weak moments of preteendom (coined phrase). Yes, it is true I loved David Cassidy and dreamed that one day my mom and me would get a bus and go on the road singing happy songs. I don't remember her being a singer!