Mother's Day GiveAway @ 5 minutes for mom!!

What is your main goal?

Okay I was just watching the national news -- something I rarely do.  And when I do it is usually FoxNews and not one of the big 3 networks, but I digress.  Anyway I was watching the national news.  I saw the story of Nick Adenhart's death just hours after pitching his best game of his major short major league career.  Many people are stunned to say the least. 

But, two things struck me as I watched the coverage.  His agent, overcome by emotion, said that there was one thing about him, his main goal in life was to play major league baseball.  I am happy that he was able to reach that goal.  It would not be a goal that I could reach, even if I wanted to.  Many people do not achieve their main goal in life.  Many others do not even have a goal in life.  This young kid, and I can say that because he was quite a bit younger than me,  not only had a goal but had direction and persistence to make it happen. 

However, it did make me think.  Yes I have a goal in life, several in fact.  But I would qualify my main goal as being to more completely understand what it means to be a follower of Christ and help as many others as I can to understand this as well.  Not just to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ but continue in the disciplining process as well.  I am not doing well on this.  Which brings me to my other thought.

Adenhart's untimely death points out that none of us, NOT ONE of us is guaranteed tomorrow.  Not a single one of us.  We may never reach our goal, we may be given more than we ever dreamed we would get.  But that is totally out of our hands.  I must do all I can to reach my goal now, for tomorrow may be too late.

I want to say something on this blog not just write about the inane things I do all day.  No one wants to read that, and I certainly don't want to type a blow by blow account of my day.  But I often find as I sit down to type, that that is exactly the stuff I start to type.  I make these resolutions on what I am going to use this blog for and never really keep up with that. But I do not really know what all I am going to say.  And what's more I say it in more than one place, as I often copy and paste this to the other blog, since I have changed and gone back and lost readers here and there.  I am just trying to make it easier for those that have decided to try and keep up with me.

With this in mind and no I did not have this in mind when I started out this blog - what do you want to know?  Ask me something, give me something to talk about, make me think about something.  You my loyal reader will give me my next topic.

Today has been a good one.  I have enjoyed it a lot.  It hasn't been different, except for the first time since school started back we didn't have basketball practice today.  The last game was Saturday and the awards ceremony will be Friday night.  Maybe that was the reason I wasn't dreading today all day long.  But it hasn't been like other Mondays lately.  My friend Dana Twittered that Mondays get a bad rep because it is her most productive day.  That statement caused me to look at Mondays differently.  And well any other day as well.  I want to look at them as an opportunity to accomplish something worthwhile.

As for establishing some better habits my kitchen is clean again.  I know my two regular readers are sick of hearing me talk establishing routines again and again and again and..... you get the idea.  But this keeps me accountable.  And I keep trying.  I have a tangible goal now.  There are some reasons I have to get better about these things.  I can't go into that right now, but remember my theme for the year is Prepare.  I will be preparing for big things to come.  They will come and I have somewhat of an inkling of some things I can start doing now, so that is what I am going to do.

Catharsis

My facebook status says it all tonight. I am in a weird mood. I have been doing really stupid stuff, like washing clean clothes etc. and could really go off into a depression over those things and another piece of information which I discovered today/tonight. However, I realize how stupid it would be to do that. But I am not quite ready to laugh it all off yet. That almost feels irresponsibile. I guess I am not quite ready to give my self permission to be that free yet, especially when my house looks like it does on a consistant basis. I think that is part of it. The lack of time and energy I have for the house has left it horrible and my moods reflect my house. But what seems an easy solution really isn't in practicality. But wait, that is an excuse, a cop-out, something just I could use to justify staying in the same cycle of behavior. I know that isn't going to work and only make things worse. So I will have to make some kind of change somewhere and start there.

Taking a look at my goals from the beginning of the year is a good place to start. I know I had a clean kitchen goal on that list. So that is where I am going to start - concentrating on my kitchen - cleaning and training. Training kiddos in responsibilities and chores. They both have them, but I am not consistant in requiring them done. That is my mistake. Also the kitchen needs to be organized in order to ease the care and upkeep of it. So that is going to be a goal as well. I am also going to work on applying some things I am learning in my course work about accountability and assessment. Who knew my master's work would help with household mangement?

Heck who knew that writing would be a catharsis for my weird mood? I feel quite a bit better now, and think my hubby has the air conditioner on.......its 68* people, not AC weather.........

Creativity

I have just been pondering creativity.  I have a creative spark inside me that just wants to, has to, needs to come out.  I also identify more with MY Creator, and realize that He created. That is the first thing which we read about Him.  "In the beginning God created...."  Later it tells us that He created humans in His image.  I think that says more about us than we can ever truly understand.  However, I realized today another facet of that statement.  He gave us that desire to create as well.  I have come to believe that everyone has the desire to create, weather they realize it or not.  And by create I mean not simply artwork, music, drama, writing, or anything else mentioned as a 'creative art'.  But anything that was not here to start with.  My grandmother spoke once of tinkering in the flowerbeds, as something which she loved to do and something which I would do once I grew up.  Gardening is not my niche and that fact once saddened me.  Now I realize that it, however, was one of her creative outlets, one which was not a necessity, but rather an enjoyment.  I think that rather she realized it or not she was not speaking of flower gardens but rather creating. Scrapbooking is to me like her flower gardens were to her.  I must get that table set up!

Sunday Evening Ramblings

Had a good Sunday today.  We got a call this morning that my SIL's c-section was going to be this afternoon, so we decided to take a trip west to see her and baby, (and BIL) after church.  We decided that we really couldn't NOT go to church on such short notice, seeing how we teach half of the Sunday School classes.  It turned out to be a good thing because I wound up having the teens in my class as well b/c Capt R. was out sick today.   I also actually got to hear the sermon today as well.  Capt B. preached on Joshua 7, Achan's sin.  That is the third time, in the third different context that I have come across that story since Christmas.  I taught it in Bible to my second graders.  I read about it in a Charles Swindoll book, and now I have heard it in a sermon. I am trying to figure out what God is trying to tell me in all this.

After that we made the trip to see the baby.  She is a precious bundle of joy.  Caylee Jordan Johnson, arrived one day before her daddy's birthday and less than a month before her mother's.  We also were able to see my nephew ( baby's big brother) and my youngest BIL, my MIL, and her housemate Ms Edna. It was a quick trip but we enjoyed it!

Now I still have to do the paperwork that I was planning on doing today, but it isn't absolutely necessary that it be done before tomorrow.  I will get it done sometime probably on Tuesday, since tomorrow is Bball practice.  That kills my Monday. 

Since I don't want to end this blog on a downer such as that last statement, though it is true.  I will leave you with this mini testimony I made while introducing the congregational hymn I was leading in service today.  Another reason I am glad that we stayed for church.  They hymn was Solid Rock - or My Hope is Built on Nothing Less - whichever name you choose.  The chorus goes like this.  "On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand"  Several years ago God used those lines to impress on me the fact that this not only meant wheat I believed about Him, but also what I believed about myself.  Was I believing the words He said about me, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." etc or was I believing the lies that the enemy whispers in my ear.  When I start to believe those lies, I sink faster and faster into depression.  So I should stand on what He tells me.  I know, I know, I don't always but I am trying.

Random post

I don't know exactly what to post about but I am going to post anyway so we will just comes up.

This week has been weird. We went to school on Monday, were off on Tuesday for the ice storm that never made it this far south, was sure that we'd be off or at least late on Wednesday but wound up trying to get there on time, and had school as usual today. I say as usual, my PE class got bumped for chapel, which we didin't have yesterday because of all the late arrivals. I am not kidding when I say I had half of my class tardy yesterday. Tomorrow I should be able to finish catching my class up from missing Tuesday.

I have started two completely new paragraphs and deleted them both. I just am at a loss at what to say. I keep making these resolutions to blog and then I don't. I sit here and nothing comes to me. I keep hoping for these profound thoughts to strike me, yet nothing is coming. So I sit here and prattle on about my day and family etc. I guess I am looking for a purpose for my blog(s) Yes I do have two, they are usually carbon copies of each other. I keep my Xanga because there are several Xanga friends that don't go else where. I keep my Blogspot because there are readers over there that don't do Xanga. They are both linked so if you are at one you can click to the other one. lol! There is a typepad one as well but I just didn't like typepad's set up like I thought I would so I don't use it.

I bought me a Webkinz the other day. I bought it because it was a red cardinal - to remind me of my grandmother. She loved cardnials. I will probably never activate the account. I just wanted the cardnial. It has been five years since she passed away and not a day goes by that I don't think of her an miss her just a little. I can not believe that it has been that long. She has never seen my youngest son that bears her maiden name as his middle name and is the spitting image of her son, my daddy. She has never seen my neice who bears her name and is the spitting image of her mother, my sister. I haven't been called Angel since Thanksgiving 2003, the last time I saw her. I can't see an iris or a cardinal without thinking of her. Those two items will be forever linked with her.

Okay I can't write about that any more. I will, however, one day get her stacks of scrapbooks and with my sister's help preserve the pictures and her writing in books that will not distroy them. She was a scrapbooker before her time. And her work needs to be showcased. That my friends is one of my next projects. Besides getting my own scrapbooks up to date. I need a scrapping corner in my house. Off to think on that one a bit. See what typing this random blog entry has done for me.

Off to copy and paste!

Prayer Request

God revealed to me this morning that I have a working relationship in a ministry position that bears careful scrutiny - First of all let me state the is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE  at all about this relationship.  And that is the way I want it to stay - I couldn't imagine the other party thinking anything different either.  However, God revealed to me that all apperances must be kept above board because even the appearance of wrong doing or a rumor from such appearance rather founded or not - would damage both our ministries badly. 

Please pray that we all are conscious of this fact and continue to represent ourselves correctly. 

shamelessly stolen from Kathy

~ You've ever ended a sentance with the word "Psych!"

~ You know the profound meaning of "Wax On - Wax Off".

~ You've ever watched the "Pound Puppies".

~ You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and can do the Carlton.

~ Girls wore bike shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.

~ After you saw "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

~ You yearned to be a member of the Babysitter's Club and tried to start a club of your own.

~ You remember boom boxes and walking around with them on your shoulders like you were all that.

~ You owned those Strawberry Shortcake dolls that were scented.

~ You wore about EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high-top Reeboks.

~ You know that "Whoa!!" comes from Joey on Blossom.

~ You wanted to be a Goonie.

~ You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talking bout Willis?"

~ You still get the urge to say "Not!" after every sentence.

~ Two words...Hammer Pants.

~ You even wore flourescent clothing...sometimes head-to-toe.

~ You have ever watched Fraggle Rock.

~ You had plastic streamers on your handle bars...and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.

~ You thought He-Man and She-ra should hook up.

~ It was actually worth it to get up on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons.

~ You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose started falling off and his cheek bones shifted.

~ You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

~ You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen and still remember their names.

~ You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class in school.

~ You took lunch boxes to school...metal ones.

~ You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

~ You ever wondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

~ You played the game MASH (mansion, apartment, shack, house).

~ You remember the CRAZE, then the banning of Slap Bracelets.

~ You wore stonewashed Jordache jeans and were proud of it.

~ You ever wore a pair of jelly shoes.

~ You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets and pins.

~ L.A. Gear...need I say more?

~ You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up!!"

~ You remember "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and all the Ramona books.

~ You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

~ You have ever played with a Skip-It.

~ You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.

~ You knew all the characters and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell" - the original class.

~ You know all the words to Bon Jovi's "Shot Through The Heart".

~ You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

~ Don't worry...be happy.

~ You remember New Kids On The Block when they were cool.

~ You thought Doogie Howser or Samantha Macelli was hot.

~ You remember Alf, the furry brown alien from Melmac.

~ You remember when mullets were cool...and probably had one yourself.

~ You still sing "We Are The World".

~ You tight rolled your jeans.

~ You owned a banana clip.

~ You had big hair...and you knew how to use it.

~ You remember "Where's the beef?".

~ You're still singing "Shot Through The Heart", aren't you.

Routines are still happening!

Bible reading -- yeah - I have been up every morning this week and reading. I am about to settle into a routine with it. I am actually ahead in the reading! Right now I am rereading stories I have read before - but that familiarity is comforting and is helping me as I get used to this early morning stuff.

Writing -- I haven't written EVERY day - but I have been doing more of it. Again once I settle into writing more, it won't be this mundane boring day to day stuff. It won't be as good as Dana's - in fact it will probably still be boring and mundane - just not my day to day happenings.

Reading -- I don't know that I will finish a book this week but I will update the book blog this weekend with what I am reading.

Crocheting - I haven't crocheted at all but hey it is still a goal.

Kitchen -- The kitchen has been cleaned every night except last night when we ate out. A has been wonderful helping out and getting into it.

Organizing -- the entertainment center is up for this weekend!

School -- so far so good. I may have to bring grading home this weekend because I have been busy getting report cards ready to go out tomorrow but for the most part I have done well.

Course Work - I started ahead, class was granted an extension for the first week, and so I quit. I need to pick that up tomorrow.

Mourning Routine

Today was very good.  We were out of the house early without any fussing, whining or yelling.  And none from the kids either.  It took a little to get out of bed but, once I did. It was great.  I will work on getting up a little earlier each day or so until I am at my target time of 5 am.  I am also showering at night now. That will alieviate some of the morning stress I am sure.

I also have some great stuff to look up from Dana on a question that has plagued both of us for awhile.  She has been the active one in looking up the answers though.  I am going to use her direction and work from there.

But for now - I have a date with a book
 

Routines!

Part of my theme "Prepare" is going to be streamlining and decluttering my life.  I am working hard on routines right now.  Four days into the new year I have done really well with the nightly kitchen routine.  Kiddos are in on the act as well.  A even made the comment tonight that the kitchen looks better now that we have been Swiffering the floor every night.  Score!!  The boys are helping by learning to clean up their places after meals.  No more dishes left on the table ~ and I am not the one cleaning the table off either! Score!!

One routine I must change is my morning routine.  I there is absolutely no way I can stay in bed and actually get my Bible reading done.  So I am going to come to the kitchen and do so.  My Grandmother's Bible stayed on her kitchen table or on the counter because that is where she read in the mornings.  I am thinking I may do the same thing.  Now I don't drink coffee but I am thinking hot cider or hot tea would be nice too in the mornings.  So I am going to try that as well.  I may even be able to jot notes down as I am reading for my accountability partner. 

I will start with the new morning routine in the morning.  Now it is off to bed so that I can GET UP in the morning!

Scrapbook Day

Pics of the layouts I did for my album of the trip my high school band took to Washington DC.

  
The cover of the album

      
page one


page two


left side  

right side of  two page spread of the Dinner Cruise Layout


left side


right side of the two page spread of Museum Day layout

  
left side


right side of the two page spread of the Washington Monument layout
I am not real happy with this one.  I may redo it next time.
   

Goal check

I am going to get help on my Bible Reading Goal!! Dana and I have the same Bible. She got hers this year and I got mine 2 years ago. But we are going to read them together and hold each other accountable. (Heather if you are game you can join us too. Maybe with 3 we can actually get it done)

I also forgot to put one of my goals down last night. That one is to scrapbook once a month. Which I also get to do tomorrow. I found my pictures from my trip to Washington DC 17 1/2 years ago. My high school band marched in the national Independence Day parade in 1991. So I got an 8x8 album and some patriotic and band/music stickers and paper. That is my project for tomorrow. To work on that album.

Along with my scrapbooking goal, I have mandated that I have to do it with the paper I already have. The ONLY exception to that rule would be if I have a special project to do ( I also want to tackle my wedding album sometime this year ) such as the one above. But I will have to go through what I already have before I can shop and I will only shop at 1/2 price sales at Hobby Lobby (or Michael's). I made this mandate after working on my organizing goal for this week. When I organized my scrapbook stuff and realized I had SO MUCH PAPER! Did you know Dollar Tree has paper packs with coordinated patterend paper for only $1? I bet I have 50 or so of those packs with only a few duplicates (many of those duplicates were purchased for a purpose too).

So lets see tallying up:

I have help on my Bible Reading Goal.
I have organized something this week.
I will scrapbook tomorrow.
I am writing right now.
I started on my Book Blog last night

That is a good start!

Oh yeah! Kitchen is cleaned as well! That is six!

Goals for 2009

*  Read Bible daily - I have never been good on the daily part but will set aside time for that.

* Write  for personal reasons every day, blog entry, journal, or something else.  This does not include educational writing.  Will get to that in a minute.

* Read one book a week. - note that on my book blog as I am reading.  Possibly to include a Sunday Evening post per week on what is in progress and what I have finished etc.

* Crochet some everyday - again it may not be much but I have things I want to do -

* Clean kitchen nightly - I started last year with this and did well to begin with but it didn't continue so well.  I will also get kiddos on board with this one.

*Organize one space a week - This will include purging unwanted, unneeded, unused items.  The Thrift Store will love me this year!

*Keep school at school - grading and lesson planning done at school when I am working After Care or durning break times

*Work and stay ahead in course work for grad school, have essays ready before the weekend they are due.

The Year End Meme

1. Where did you begin 2008?
I honestly don't remember. I am thinking  it was at home.

2. What was your status by Valentine's Day?
wife, mommy, teacher

3. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
all year long - teaching
I started grad school -- online through Walden University in June

4. Did you have to go to the hospital?
not for me but took Eli to the ER

5. Did you have any encounters with the police?
I don't think so that speeding ticket was in 2007

6. Where did you go on vacation?
Nashville with Cheryl and Holly, Atlanta in June for Congress, TN/KY for family reunion, Mt View with hubby for our anniversary

7. What did you purchase that was over $500?
vehicle repairs

8. Did you know anybody who got married?
I don't think so

9. Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes.

10. Did you move anywhere?
Nope.

11. What sporting events did you attend?
Agape Eagles Basketball games to watch Alli cheer

12. What concerts/shows did you go to?
I don't think so.

13. Where do you live now?
same place I did for the last 8 years  :-)~~~ Rhonda

14. What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
Start Grad school

15. What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
Congress in June - Hubby and I made our recommitment to Officership

16. What's something you learned about yourself?
That it is okay to be me. 

17. Any new additions to your family?
New great nephew was born in early Nov

18. What was your best month?
I don't know

19. What music will you remember 2008 by?
Chris Tomlin's worship music

20. Made new friends?
One or two - it's more been a year of getting closer to people I already knew.

21. Favorite Night[s] out?
Nashville, Our anniversary in Mt View

22. Any regrets?
I can't think of any

23. What do you want to change in 2009?
To learn more about myself and being me-

24. Overall, how would you rate this year?
on a scale of 1-10?
 8 or 9

25. What would you change about 2008?
Stealing Cheryl's response here: If it all served a purpose in leading me here, nothing.

26. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
Church. School,

26. Have any life changes in 2008?
yeah

27. Change your hairstyle?
a couple of haircuts and highlights = once I think

28. Get a new job?
No.

29. Do you have a New Year's resolution?
I have a one word theme so far -- prepare

30. Did anything embarrassing?
I can't think of anything

31. Buy anything new from eBay?
always

32. What was/were your favorite purchase[s]?
I don't really know

33. Get married or divorced?
no

34. Get arrested?
no

35. Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
Never seen it!

36. Did you get sick this year?
cold, sinus junk here and there nothing major

37. Start a new hobby?
scrapbooking

38. Been snowboarding?
Nope.

39. Are you happy to see 2008 go?
It's bittersweet.

40. Drank Starbucks in 2008?
For the first time - I don't drink Coffee - still don't - but love their Carmel Apple Cider

What are you wishing for in 2009?
God's will to be done in my life.

EEEEEEEEEEkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw the mouse my MIL saw a week and a half ago!!!!

Prepare

That is the start of my theme for 2009 - Can't say a whole lot more right now but I will as I can.

16 Things

This is the meme that is going around Facebook and I thought I'd give it a whirl. There is not alot that some of you don't already know about me. Some of you know more than is really good for me for you to know. Lol did that make sense? I guess what I am saying is if you know something that isn't on this list you better keep that wonderful knowledge to yourself.........you know who you are.....

And for that matter why 16 things? Is that some OCD number or something? It sure isn't very round or anything. But any way here goes...........

1. I still have one of the blankets I slept with as a child. It has a nice rough edge to it, much like the hem on your jeans. That rough edge is soothing to me. Don't ask my why but it just is.

2. On that note I have this "thing' about textures. There are several foods that I just can't stand to eat because of the texture - bananas and oranges are two of them.

3. Touch is my primary love language, as well as my primary sense (is there such a thing?) and my primary learning style. I have to be able to manipulate things, physically write them down in order to be able to remember them.

4. I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was six years old. I decided at that young age that girls could either be nurses or teachers and I didn't want to be a nurse. From that humble beginning the desire to be a teacher was born and I can honestly say that I never wanted to be anything else. I love what I do and am constantly working to improve my craft. Hence

5. I am working on a Master's degree in education. Not earth shattering news by any means. But I am doing it online totally because at this time I can't commit to going to class because of hubby's work schedule.

6. I am married to the most amazing man. He is rough around the edges to many, but I can honestly say that God chose him for me.

7. I have learned more about myself in the last 4 years than in the first 30 combined. Yeah you can add that up to get my age. Who knew that turning 30 would begin and education about myself.

8. Growing up I always thought I would marry and live in my hometown, it never occurred to me that something different might happen.

9. I was and still am to some extent all about tradition. My dad was in the band and played the cornet. So that is what I did. I even played his cornet. for 7 years. I loved band. I loved the camaraderie I felt in band. I wasn't very good, however, I kept the third trumpet section well manned. But that was okay with me.

10. I did however, and I can't believe I am actually writing this now, have a huge crush on the first chair trumpet. I didn't talk about it much to anybody, It was bad enough when people in my class found out about my first big crush on another trumpet player. I wasn't about to let *this* secret escape.

11. Enough about high school, My original major in college was Social Studies w/ History emphasis. And an English minor. I was going for dual certification to teach. The semester I had 14 different papers to write for my classes, I changed my major to Early Childhood Education. That only put me a semester behind in graduating. I also have enough hours to have middle school social studies and English on my certificate.

12. I just realized the my teaching certificate expires in 7 days. Must start on the renewal process after the first of the year.

13. I have 3 children, 2 of which are boys, I never ever dreamed I would have boys, or that I could love them so much. I always thought of having 4 children. We will just have to wait and see on that last one.

14. I collect Nativities. At the moment I have 26 out and that is about half of them. There are also three or four on the tree as ornaments.

15. My favorite Christmas Carol is "O Come All Ye Faithful". I just figured that out this year.

16. I like to write, I discovered this in high school, not in the last 4 years. I have a dream of writing curriculum one day.