Hibernation

Why can't I get off the couch?

I am fully aware that my couch dwelling will be paid for with hours sweating at the gym. My clothes are tight, and I am feeling lazier by the day. Of course the dogs are thrilled I am spending so much time on the couch, they settle in, one my lap, one usually up by my neck. We are in a warm huddle buried in a heavy afghan. I can't possibly disturb them and get up go out in the cold and wind to exercise! They are accomplices in my lazy behavior for sure.

We finally got a real good snow, it was awesome for the boys, Chris said it was the best day of his life, and it was the most snow he had ever seen. Bryan and his teenage buddies weren't too cool to have fun in the snow either. Jim helped Chris build a big snowman, but I stayed in, I thought making hot cocoa was a much better idea!

Of course, we do live in the South and the next day the snow was just a memory.

Lessons from Teaching

Many times when I leave work early to go teach a religion class I am muttering under my breath, why do I bother, this is such a hassle etc. but last night made it worthwhile.

One of the little boys in class, 7 years old with a distinct lisp, had a night to remember. We were having a class competition, sort of a Jeopardy game about what we have been learning all year. I was totally impressed with how much these children have learned in my class. It came down to a tie and for the tie-breaker we asked if anyone could recite the Act of Contrition, a prayer they have been studying, with many difficult words in it, I even have trouble remembering it. Well little Riley stood up and shyly started to recite it in front of the class, it was so cute and as he got closer to the end and realized he had done it he put his arms up in victory, all the kids on his team cheered, it was so precious! When his mom got there to pick him up he was on top of the world, he said I am the hero of my class. I thought, this may stick with him for life, I am so glad I got to witness it! It certainly made my day!

Commute Time

I spend as little time as possible in my vehicle, I am blessed with having and unbelievably short commute (less than 5 minutes) when the roads are not washed out.

However on Wednesdays, I make the long (don't laugh) 30 minute commute with my younger son to religion class. It has become a really nice uninterrupted time for us to talk about faith and his philosophy on things from a 10 year old's standpoint. Sometimes he has to do his homework reading so he will read it to me and I have to admit I usually learn something about the Bible I didn't know. Then we discuss what it all means.

Someone once told me Chris was an "Old Soul" --I had never heard that term before but I think it does apply to him. Last week he was thinking deep thoughts about Heaven and dying. He told me he could not go on without me if I passed away. I told him "you would be suprised what you can do" and that I never thought I could stand being on this planet with out my little sister, but you somehow adapt. I reassured him that he will be able to handle anything that life throws at him.

The stolen half-hour there and half-hour back we have together is a really nice thing hopefully he will remember when he gets older.

Snow Day!

The big "blizzard" of 2010 is over. It was actually more of an ice event. You can't see it in the pictures, it was very icy and we all did end up slipping and falling on the ice at one time or another. I have to admit I stayed in the house all day on the worst day because I was more concerned about the other inexperienced drivers out there! Jim witnessed many accidents when he ventured out.

The South truly can't handle winter weather.

A Houseful at the Holidays

A full house is the way I like it best, Jim and I have relatives in many different states and wanted to have a home that could accommodate a whole bunch of guests, so this Thanksgiving when we had a bunch of visitors we were happy to host. Lots of laughs and good times were had. A game of Spinner a Rock Band Conert with Mom on guitar, Dad on drums, Bryan singing. We went up to an awesome museum Tellus in Cartersville. Mom and I even got out for aquick shopping trip.

You're Gonna Miss this...

I got a nice reminder the other night watching "Marley and Me" that someday I will miss all the craziness in my life right now. Some days are just too much, but I will look back fondly on them.

As the Trace Adkins song goes:

"You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

Three-Ring Circus

After a very busy day at work, I find myself in the detour back-up stressing out -- the road to my house has not been repaired yet. (See earlier post)

It is only 4 p.m. and I have no idea what aggravation is awaiting me.

I run to the house to pick up Chris, I need to fight traffic 10 miles to teach religion class. Topic of the day: end of the world, purgatory heaven and hell (not easy concepts for 1st graders--don't get me started). I get through the class, I think the kids are more confused, as am I, than when class began.

It is now 6 p.m., fight traffic to get Chris to his baseball practice, as I am pulling in the field a little early, Bryan calls, "can you come get me?" The only conversation the two of us seem to have lately. So I make a U-turn to pick him up, I only have a few minutes for this to take place, his buddy comes out to the car, Bryan is no where to be found. Meanwhile, Chris starts dancing around "I need to pee," "well quickly go find a bathroom" I holler! He comes back 5 minutes later, soaked, he didn't find a bathroom in time! Meanwhile, Bryan's buddy is in my car and he is ripe from football, a smell that cannnot be described-- add to that the pee-soaked boy.

Bryan still nowhere--so I leave --I am fuming!

Now I need to run to the house to get Chris fresh clothes -- oh yeah--the detour back up is between us and fresh clothes, so there we sit in the back up, my blood pressure is rising.

I drop off Bryan's buddy, I call Jim to pick up Bryan--I am too mad to see him anytime soon!

We get to the house --the dogs are hysterical -it is now 2 hours past their dinner time--they are both whining, so I tell them to hop in the car. I run Chris over to baseball, puppy in arms, where Jim and Bryan are waiting, I pick up Bryan in the parking lot--"Hi Mom, what's for dinner?"

My head is going to explode at this point.

It is now 7:30, back in the detour--everyone is "starving" luckily there are leftovers in the fridge-- cause mama ain't cookin'.

Everyone is back home by 8:45.

Time to collapse.