Christmas With Dad

Family Christmas Countdown

1 week before:

Lindsay and I headed to Katy Mills to wrap up our Christmas shopping. I left Lindsay in bath and body works to visit Bass Pro Shop. I felt certain I could find something for my dad there. I wandered around a forrest of camo attire, and finally decided to consult my brothers. Both proved completely worthless. Tyler, however, came up with an idea in the end. Apparently my dad had just gotten a new gun that he was pretty proud of. We decided that maybe we could go in together and get him an accessory like a scope. Tyler instructed me to go to the gun counter and give them the code for the gun. I had absolutely no idea what I was asking about, but didn't have time for a tutorial.

I walked to the counter and asked, "Can I see an accessory to a Colt AR15, please?"

The guy behind the counter gave me a funny look before saying, "ma'am, we don't sell assault rifles here.".

Oops! Pretty sure I'm on some watch list now. They're probably wondering just what in fact I wanted a scope for an assault rifle for.

At a loss, I wandered back into the camo forrest. After much debate, I settled on a pair of bibs. I felt sure he could use them working in the panhandle. It's cold and windy there! Plus, Tyler assured me Dad didn't have any. I left Katy feeling good about my purchase.

Day of Family Christmas

5 hours before:
I am hurrying to Lubbock to help my dad do his Christmas shopping. This is completely normal and expected from him. He's a fly by the seat of his pants kind of Christmas shopper.

3 hours before:
I met Dad, Tyler and Tucker at On The Border where they were having a few beers to prepare for family Christmas. While this happened, my dad began telling us of a recent trip to Oklahoma City.
"Hey y'all, I was in Oklahoma City last week and I got some really cool bibs there. They are made with the material they use for astronauts! The same stuff they went to the moon in! I got a coat too!" He raved.

At this point I had to close my mouth. I mean, really? Out of all things to buy? He stole my Christmas present idea! And if you haven't met my father, he's a bit eccentric and has a tendency to go overboard. It's his own fault he's so hard to buy for!

Tyler thinks all of this is hilarious.

"You say you got bibs, did ya?" he asked my dad. I about kicked him under the table.


1 hour before:
The four of us met at best buy for some quick, last minute Christmas shopping. We ran around picking gifts, checked out, and loaded the truck.

15 minutes before:
By the light of the moon (and Tuck's tail light), we started to wrap presents in the bed of the truck in my grandmother's driveway. Tucker was in charge of getting wrapping paper. As we unrolled the seemingly silver paper, we discovered it was clear! Thankfully, Grandmother let us borrow some.

Game time:
Dad unwrapped his regular old bibs from me and we survived another family Christmas!

Post report:
I got home to a bed with missing sheets, no hot water in the hall bath... And we were all woken up by runaway horses hangin out on the highway in the middle of the night!

Until next year...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

That One Time There Was A Warrant For My Arrest...

This is the last week of school before Christmas. I'm exhausted and there's a million things to do.  And, to top it all off, I feel like my head is a balloon about to take off. 

After taking the kids to outclass, I checked my email and saw one from my dad titled, "Warrant for your arrest".  The email said nothing, but had an attachment with it.  My father, the technological cowboy, had scanned a letter dated 11-30-10 and emailed it to me (without any sort of questions, scolding, or a lawyer's phone number). He has always warned us about getting thrown in jail-- we would be on our own, and not to make our one phone call to him! I was thankful he let me know I was wanted by the law, for it was in fact, a warrant for my arrest. 

I read the letter ten times before realizing it was real. I don't get service in my school and the letter was from Sulphur Springs, so I walked outside to the playground to call the number and hear what was going on.

The lady told me that this was about a ticket for outdated registration on a random highway October 23, 2004.  Let's just remember that in a few weeks it will be 2011.  Also, the address was my father's. So really, they could have been sending notices all these years and I would never know, because I'm pretty sure my dad hides from his mailbox.  I assured the lady on the phone that I didn't remember any of this, but that if I did, I would have definitely taken care of it!

Kindly, she gave me the number of the Judge in Bronte, TX. Population 1076.  He answered his own phone.  I went into my big spill about how I was sure I was innocent, laying on the sweet talk and "yes sirs" good and thick.  I had to pause for a minute while his computer booted up and he found my case. 

He spoke with a slow, southern drawl, "Miss Waggoner, this was so long ago, and I don't have any proof, and you don't have any proof, I think I'll just take care of this for ya." 


Annnnnd, I am no longer wanted by the State of Texas.  :)

The Big Buts of Thanksgiving

And I'm not talking about the holiday weight you will inevitably acquire on this gluttonous day.

This Thursday every year, we easily give thanks for what we have. Facebook is such an indicator of this. Today my newsfeed is filled with bubbly messages about happiness and thankfulness.  Unfortunately, though, most other days of the year are filled more with complaints than thanksgivings.  And, for me, I find it easier to say, "God, thank you for my job..."

And, here's the big BUT.

"...BUT, it would be really great if I had some extra cash around the holidays."  I worry that sometimes I view God as an ATM/Dear Abby more than my maker and creator.

Every year at Bluehaven, I loved to sing the devotional songs because my little church back home didn't.  This song we sang word for word out of Psalms 95.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods. 

In his hand are the depths of the earth, 

and the mountain peaks belong to him. 

The sea is his, for he made it, 

and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship, 

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care. "  

This Turkey-Thursday, I am thankful for a creator.  No buts.  

Confessions of a Grocery Store Sinner

In college, my friend Josh and his family would pack up and leave for Zambia every July.  It was always a rat race seeing them off and making sure they didn't forget anything.  One year, I helped Josh cross off some things on his frantic to-do list, and we were storming across the ACU campus to our next location when we saw the baby bird.  It was itty bitty and had fallen out of its nest. 

I grew up on a farm and felt bad, but knew it wouldn't survive once it was out. It was just the way of nature, and I intended on moving on.  Josh, however, got pretty sad about the poor little bird laying helpless in the grass.  I about laughed him all the way to Zambia for getting weepy over a bird.  But ever since then, anytime we feel that weepy feeling, we say we "went baby bird" for a little while. 

Well, today at the grocery store, I went baby bird. 

Grocery stores are like psychological experiments. You might as well cage rats and see how they react under pressure.  I think truer colors come out.  Think about it: screaming kids, people everywhere, people scrambling for the last________, impatience in line... etc. etc....

I wish I could say that this experiment doesn't apply to me, but I'm afraid it does.  A few weeks ago I was shopping, and I found myself on the floor of Wal-Mart, on my knees digging on the bottom shelf for a box of wheat thins. (Really?)  A lady on the other side of a cart was doing the same. Well, guess who found the wheat thins? ME.  They were sitting behind a tomato flavored box (yuck!).  I'd like to say that my first reaction was to give the box to the other lady looking also. But, do you know that I grabbed that box as quickly as I could and tossed it in my own cart?  Thankfully there was another box, and so only after MY needs were taken care of did I hand the box over to the lady beside me. 

Today, I only meant to be in and out for a few items and ended up searching for a spice on the baking isle.  An man in his 50s rolled up in his wheel chair, didn't say a word, and searched for what he needed.  He was so aware of those around him and made certain to stay out of everyone's way, even though no one seemed to notice him. 

As I rushed out to my car, I saw his old beat up one parked in front. He had two paper sacks full of groceries sitting on his lap as he unlocked his door, balanced the grocery bags and held his wheel chair steady. 

And that's when I went baby bird.  Where's the fairness in an older man who can't walk, watching out for everyone else and shopping alone?  How hard must his life be? I was suddenly concerned for him and wondered if he was lonely. 

Sometimes I think we think it's enough just to send money to help people, and act a different way at the grocery store.  How silly of me to be desperate for the last box of wheat thins when this man can't even walk? 

 I'm thankful to have a savior who overcomes the grocery store and all its rat cage behavior. 

Me N Jesus: Carpenters

Wanna know what Me and Jesus have in common? Carpentry.

It all started with one little project here... and one little project there... and why don't you make jewelry? Or start quilting? 

My "craft" closet it as the top of my stairs and I have been lugging heavy supplies down to the coffee table for easy crafting... but even so, my back would be killing me about halfway through.  The solution: I need a craft table!

Saturday after breakfast with the fam, I made a visit to Hobby Lobby to pick up one of the many items I need for my quilting class, and saw Home Depot next door.  Before I knew it, I was wandering around the lumber section when a burly looking Harley-ridin old man came up to me wondering what I was doing.  He had a lot of facial hair, red and bushy, and a long skinny pony tail with about 15 rubber bands holding it together.  It swayed when he walked.  He reminded me of bad-boy-Santa. 

I explained that I was needing a work table for crafts and that I wasn't sure what I was doing... He was very kind and led me to the back of the store where sure enough, treasure waited at the end!

Who knew they did this! Apparently after cuts are made, they have a bin filled with scraps for, that's right, 51 cents! After a few cuts, advice from the sweet Home Depot men, and FIVE dollars later, I was out the door and on the road to my next stop...

Ok, so you have to be creative when loading a jeep with scraps of wood. There was some flapping down the freeway. :)

Here's the "Before".  Thanks to Dad's visit in March, I have my own cordless drill-- which is so fun to use!

An hour or two later.... it's put together with only one crooked leg! Yay!

Sanded and primed with gray primer... ignore the ugly towels down below.

So this is the top of the table. I took several sheets of scrap booking paper, tore them up and pasted them down on top of the primer using Modpodge. Then, I put a thick glaze and spray sealant.  I LOVE it! It's perfect for artsy things, and who cares if it gets a few cuts here and there?

I painted the rest of the table a shade of green that I have on some of my walls. It's called, "Grape Leaf"... and I love it.

On the sides of the legs, I did some experimenting with finger paints... it's supposed to look like zebra stripes and leopard spots... There's always extra green if I decide this look stinks.

Finished!! It's a perfect height for stand up or sitting down.  It's the home of my borrowed, Old-As-The-Hills sewing machine, and great for all of the projects I have going!

Okay, so maybe I don't know about being a real carpenter, but I had a lot of fun with that drill. 
Happy Sunday!

Ohhhh What Did I Get Myself Into??

The women in my family have sewn and quilted probably forever.  I decided to take a beginners quilting class with my Mama Joy (who has no business being in there) to learn the trade and carry on the tradition. 

The class is 4 hours every Sunday afternoon, and is so far very helpful.  However, I am concerned about a few things: my bank account, my fingers (those blades are sharrrrp!), screwing up!

Today in class we went over some of the basics, picked out fabric, and got homework-- which I think I can handle. I need to cut my first two blocks before next week.  The other part of the homework, which I'm nervous about, is to prove we can sew a quarter inch seam.   Ohhh all these straight lines are the devil.  I'm going to be getting some tutoring sessions from my aunt to make it through. 

All in all, I'm excited about learning how to quilt, and about the end product-- a little throw quilt! Oh, and I LOVE my fabric. 

Here are some day 1 pictures: 

Here we are before we got started. Sorry, Mama Joy, your eyes were closed!

 Here are the fabrics I picked out! Here's a code for the picture below: Flower fabric will be the small pink flowers below.  The yellow fabric will be the yellow below, the dark green will be the dark pink below, and the black will be the green below. The turquoise is going to be my backing and binding on the side.

We are making a sampler quilt like this one. I am adding 2 more squares at the bottom...


Wish me luck!

A Perfect World?

"In a perfect world everything would be right or wrong, black or white, and everyone would know the difference.  The problem is people who think it is."   
- Neal Shusterman (Unwind) 

Haven't decided which side I'm taking, but I can't quit thinking about it. 

Confiscated



This is what I confiscated minutes before my afternoon class began. What you can't see are the makeshift itty bitty T-Rex arms clawing out. Oh, and the mouth opens to show a red tongue and scary teeth. Glad we're being productive here.



What's Left?

I keep these pictures on my filing cabinet at school.  Their haunting statement sends me a daily reminder of what has been left behind.  See her pain?


This past Monday, as I sat on my clean, pretty green couch in a nice air conditioned house, I watched a sleazy sitcom on my big, shiny TV.  A question blurted out at me, "So, someone must suffer to do good, then?" --A couple arguing.

The thought has plagued me all week.  I'd like to argue that I do plenty of good, even with my shoe collection, down comforter, daily bubble bath...  

Am I really doing good if it doesn't affect my daily comfort?

Is it wrong to be comfortable?

The story of the rich young ruler enters my mind, though I try to push it out. 
        "A man stopped Jesus and asked, ' Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?'
         Jesus said, ' Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.'
         The man asked, 'What in particular?'
          Jesus said, ' Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.'
          The young man said, ' I've done all that. What's left?'
          ' If you want to give it all you've got, ' Jesus replied, ' Go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.'
          That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.
          As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, ' Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter God's kingdom.'
           The disciples were staggered. 'Then who has any chance at all?'
           'Jesus looked hard at them and said, ' No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself.  Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it. '
... ' This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.'"
Matthew 16:19-30 The Message

I think Jesus is clear in his message about money.  Matthew 6:24 says," No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
 
Okay, Jesus. I hear you.

Then, should my Christianity be driven out of guilt for what I know is right?

No. It should be driven by love. Love for my Savior, love for those who need help. 

"Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own." 2 Cor 5:14-15 Msg

 I don't know the answer to the question that blared through the TV the other night. 

But maybe, if we just ask God to change our hearts, we can find our joy in helping others and not the comfort we have--that it will be a wish on our heart, and not an obligation formed out of guilt.  That regardless of how much we have, our master is always God, and we serve no other. 

I can identify with the young man who talked to Jesus that day. I follow the commandments, and I've wanted to know, "What's Left?"

I'd Pay 99 Cents

This marks the second time in four days that I have draped my favorite jeans over the banister to dry.  Twice I have driven through a silent but deadly type of monsoon that caught me off guard.  Isn't that why God invented thunder? To warn us about rain? Why isn't he using it??

Tis a transportational hazard. 

Hear me out, I am an advocate for Hurricane Season. It's my second favorite season. After March Madness, that is. :)

I propose that someone create a Jeep App. 

The icon would be a yellow jeep covered in mud. I mean really, would you want another color besides yellow? :)

The app could use GPS technology to locate the driver and hopefully the driver's open jeep.  If a big dark rain cloud was to suddenly appear, the trusty jeep app would use it's radar sensing skills and simply alert you to cover your jeep.  "Get your top on!" would flash across your screen and play, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.

And maybe on sunny days, you could click on it to check the radar and it would say,  "All Clear. Rock on!" You know, with a little smiley sunshine guy with sunglasses, and a thumbs up... real cute like.

And maybe in the winter time, when all jeep drivers are depressed, there could be a countdown until the first day of spring.  With a little sad smiley face bundled up in a jacket. "Too Cold for the Road. 23 days till Spring." 

Think of the possibilities: options to buy jeep gear, off road maps, driving dry-- away from sneaky dark rain clouds....

Just sayin.  I'd pay 99 cents. 

Dear Liminality,

I hate you, and I love you.

Liminality can be loosely defined as the space or time in between, a transitional period, where we are pushed to the outskirts of society, preparing to cross the limits of what we were, into what we will be.  This includes many rites of passage, and interestingly enough, church camp and mission trips.  You come in as one person, enter a liminal state of being in between, and leave a new, altered person.

In a liminal state, many people build strong relationships quickly.  This explains why you make strong friends on trips, and in my case, Bluehaven. :)

Christians as general beings are in a liminal state, because we believe "this world is not our home, we are just passing through" (As the song goes). 


Liminality, I love you:
      I question our purpose here on earth in response to the "Glorify God" rhetoric.  We form routines that take over our lives. As a teacher, I am the queen of routine.  Having a routine helps us feel safe, and comfortable; however, I think you should treat your spiritual life like you do your body.  I don't know about any of you, but it's pretty easy for me to lose 10 pounds by eating nothing but cereal for a week or two and working out. I see results quickly, but after a while, my body goes into survival mode and thinks that's all it needs to survive. Thus, the weight loss desists, and I don't change.
        In order to beat your body in this weight-loss war, you have to change up your eating and exercise every so often. Your body is constantly on alert, growing.  In the same way, I think that if you live a mediocre Christian life, following the routine of praying and church (which are important...), you never grow as a Christian. Therefore, I love times when I am in a liminal state. I love the mountain top experiences with God and other Christians that push me out of my comfort zone. You need them to propel you back into the world, stronger in your walk.


Liminality, I hate you:
I despise the in between.  I love to belong somewhere, comfortable and secure.  I'd like to think my prayerful, eatin fried chicken and singin church songs kind of life will cut it.  After all, compared to the rest of the world, I'm doin pretty good, yes? There's also a risk involved when entering a liminal state.  I don't have time for that... I can't afford that... I don't want to go to that foreign country and catch Malaria... What, you mean I need to go without to help someone else? Don't all humans want to 'fit in'?


And then, I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs,

When my love to Christ grows weak
When for deeper faith I seek
Then in thought I go to Thee,
Garden of Gethsemane!


There I walk amid the shades
While the lingering twilight fades
See that suffering, friendless One
Weeping, praying there alone.


When my love for man grows weak
When for stronger faith I seek
Hill of Calvary, I go
To Thy scenes of fear and woe.


There behold His agony
Suffered on the bitter tree
See His anguish, see His faith
Love triumphant still in death.


Then to life I turn again
Learning all the worth of pain
Learning all the might that lies
In a full self sacrifice.  

Here's to a liminality hunt. 

"What good is it, if a man claims to have faith but as no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17   

The Proposition Eight Debate

Proposition Eight: a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008, state elections. The measure added a new provision, Section 7.5 of the Declaration of Rights, to the California Constitution, which provides that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."


When non-christians think of a Christian, what comes to mind? Warm and fuzzy feelings of good Jesus loving, or as my preacher Mark would say, "a lifetime of eatin fried chicken and singin church songs"? Or maybe it's a bad feeling: hate, judgment, exclusivity, intolerance.

The question: How do Christians vote on issues like Proposition Eight?


The Yessers, lefties, the liberal progressives:
We vote yes. A person's constitutional right is separate from my beliefs as a Christian. I should not have the power to take away another's civil liberties. And moreover, I am called to love and support all souls, not just the ones I am comfortable with or who are sinless.
1 Cor 9:19-23 "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible...I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

The Nopers, righties, the conservative old honkies:
We vote no. The bible is very clear on God's view of homosexuality. Supporting those in this would enable and encourage the sin to continue. To take a stand, to take a side, we vote no. 1 Cor 6:9 "Do you know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

The indifferent, ambidextrous, the pleasers who don't care:
We don't vote. Legalization of same sex marriage won't change whether the practice continues. As Christians, we make a difference by showing Jesus to all around us. The law doesn't convert people, God does.
Matt 22:18-21 "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
1 Cor 3:6-8 "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow...For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."



Where does your answer fall?

In the end, no matter where you would or would not vote, I think we need to evaluate the greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-39 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."


Christians wear a lot of hats, and with that comes many preconceived notions. I hope that in a time of change in our country, we can hold true to our beliefs, loving those around us, shining the light of Jesus every step of the way.

Romans 12

Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil.
Cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice Hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.
For it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay" Says the Lord.
On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.

Why Wasn't I Born a Vegetarian?

I love all of my students, they are really a lot of fun and keep me laughing. But, there's something about students who need a little extra attention that keep me laughing and engaged. I have a little friend who loves dinosaurs. And when I say love, I mean love. We've had some conversations in the past week that I couldn't help but giggle at.

- "Why did the dinosaurs have to die???? What did they ever do to deserve being extinct???"

- "I don't know why I wasn't born a vegetarian."
"Are you a vegetarian?"
"Nope."
"So, you're a meat eater?"
"Yeah."
"Like a dinosaur?"
"Well, not all of them."

- "Why aren't you writing down the thoughts you have on your book?" Me, asking him to get back on task.

"Well, about that. I don't really have any thoughts."

- I took up a dinosaur from him in the morning and put it in my desk. After recess, I sent him inside on an errand and he never returned. I found him in the classroom looking for "Chomp" just to "Make sure he was ok."

- My teaching parnter, the math teacher had filled the kids in on what was in the class store on Fridays. Here's what was said to me following.

“I can’t wait till Friday.”
“Why?”
“Because, well, try not to freak out about this, but you know those stickers you give us? “
“Yeah, I do.”
“Well, those send us straight to a store! And sometimes you can get dinosaurs- like that one you took from me?”
“Yeah, I remember. You better be working hard for those stickers!”
“Yeah.”



LOVE IT!

Is it STILL August?

After a dinosaur documentary marathon and sour patch kid indulgence, I have awakened from a deep sleep with Hurley. Now, as I put clean sheets on the bed, and fold work out clothes with a scowl, showing awareness for the pound or two gained over the weekend, I simply cannot believe that it has only been the first week of school. It seemed to drag on forever! October needs to hurry. That's when it gets good.

All in all, I am enjoying my class and my team is amazing. Looking forward to a great year! Now, if I can simply keep the house neat, lunches cooked and packed, go to bed on time and work out regularly, I will have it together!

Now, off to a shrimp fry for Bubba's birthday. Doesn't get any better than that.

Have a good one!

Unwind

It's 11:30 and I've been up since before five. It seems that in the days prior to school, my body has forgotten how to sleep, while Hurley dreams/talks in his sleep-- go figure.

I spend a lot of night time reading lately, and I just finished a very thought-provoking book.

Ever wondered who was right? Should abortion be legal? Is it murder? Where do the rights lie?

Unwind, by Neal Shusterman, brings this idea to life-or unwinding. The book is set in the future, after the second civil war- over reproductive rights. The country has split in two -- pro life, pro choice. In the end of the war, a decision is made that no abortion should take place until the child is of an age of reason. Thirteen. From the ages of 13-18 a child may be unwound without their permission. Their parents sign an order that requires their bodies to be harvested and given to those in need. The story unfolds from many perspectives, mainly three teenagers running away from being unwound, who you instantly adore. The adventure, humor, and suspense made me keep reading, even when I had no business being awake!

This book is well written and unique. I wonder what history books will paint this time as, 100 years from now?

I'm here to tell you what bliss is.

Exhaustion. That's right. When I look at a baby sleeping, I think to myself, "Man, that's the life." I think the reason they look so relaxed though, is because they were tired to begin with.

I had a few friends over last night to watch some good and trashy TV. We stayed up late, and I had to get up early. Today, I sat through a training, ran a few errands (in 100 degree heat, jeep, no top... can we say SWEATY?), then went to the teacher center where I bumped elbows with the rest of tired and last minute mad women who teach... needless to say, I am worn out and not one child has even set foot in my classroom.

To avoid the inevitable burn out, I took a long, hot, bubble bath and sat in my big comfy chair, reading. That's right. No trashy TV, no music. Just a lamp and my book.

I read "The Scarlet Thread" by Francine Rivers. At first I wanted to throw it in the freezer (Joey. Friends. Google it.) I couldn't understand why anyone would want to read something so depressing... so real. Interestingly enough, my day paralleled with the book. It depicts the lives of two women, separated by time, who go through struggles in life, eventually finding their peace in the Lord. They actually become grateful for the horrible things that happen in their lives, because they are able to appreciate God and see the good he has given us.

Food for thought.

Summer, where did you go?

Well, I can't believe it's over. I feel like school just let out, and here I am getting ready to start up again! It was a good break... here are a few things you missed:

1. I was Rahab for VBS. Yeah, I played a prostitute, wore big, fake eye lashes and sang/danced to "Single Ladies" in church.

2. I drove from Houston to Denver in one day. That's right. ONE DAY, people.

3. I read several books... Emily Ever After, Consider Lily, The Help, Sarah's Key, and of course, Stephenie Meyer's new Bree Tanner book. While it was a good read, as I am a twilight fan, the book of the group that I would recommend is The Help. It's set in the 60s in Jackson, Mississippi. It's the story of change during the civil rights movement. I couldn't put it down and loved the author's use of voice when switching from different perspectives. You all need to read it!! The book release I am looking forward to is Mockingjay, the third book in The Hunger Games series. (I feel like I'm on reading rainbow. Just read the books, they're great.)

4. I spent time in Dimmitt with my dad, Lubbock with my Aunt, Roscoe with my cousin, Abilene with my dear friend, drove through Hurricane Alex, and landed in Port O'Connor for the fourth of July where I was stopped by a policeman while riding on a fourwheeler with my brother's girlfriend. Good times. The visits were wonderful, but I was glad to see my home again!

5. I ate too much, including many chicken fried steaks and trips to Bueno. I spent too much, including shoes, clothes, items on the 80% off isle at Hobby Lobby and things for my classroom, a never ending list.

6. I saw a few movies, Eclipse, Inception and Salt. All were great! I particularly loved Inception and have been thinking a lot about it. Anyone want to explain their theory on the ending?? I have thoughts..

7. I've been very crafty. I made new longer necklaces, bangles, magnets, clipboards, and curtains! (Pictures below!)

8. In the coming month I will start school, hopefully lose the X number of pounds I gained on my little jaunts across the state, get a hair cut, and submit a draft of a children's picture book for publishing!

9. Which leads me to number nine. I am taking a writing course to help me be a better writing teacher... and it helps you become a better writer too. Part of the process is attempting to get published. Monday I send off a draft of a picture book to a publisher. I am wanting my friend, Jessalyn to be my illustrator. She's fantastic. She also does photography... if any of you need someone good. :)

www.jessalynclaire.com

(Wish us luck and even say a little prayer!)

10. Summer, I'm sad to say goodbye, see you in a year!

Glee Quotes of the Week

1. "Get out of my way, or I'll kick you square in the taco!"

2. "Why does everyone just assume I'm angry all the time? It's called sass."

3. "You almost married a man that was more gravy than he was man."

Harmony

When I was young, I went to Camp Blue Haven for two weeks out of every summer. Even with the beauty radiating from mountains and the peaceful creek nearby, my favorite memories of camp involve the singing. We sat around, no microphones, and sang with the voices God gave us. The music was so gorgeous, harmonious, that it moved me to chill bumps.

Even now, as an adult, I love to watch Glee for its harmonies. My family will break into song at any moment, because we simply enjoy it. We all sing on the praise team, it is how we worship. We sing in harmony, blending so that the notes compliment each other.

This Sunday I sat by my mom, singing along with the congregation. A family came in late and sat right behind us. I didn't recognize them, but they made their presence known. They sang very loudly, baring the words of songs with no fear. They sang out of key, off pitch and did so in a bold way that made it hard to hear the correct notes in my head.

Tempted to become annoyed by their "intrusion" into my worship, I stopped and listened to their fearless song. They didn't know all the words, but read them off the screen and did their hardest to sing every one.

After "In Christ Alone", I heard one say, "I liked that song."

Their bold, tone-deaf singing showed me true worship, coming from the heart and not that of musical talent. I was humbled into remembering why I was at church, and why I sang the songs that I did.

And then, I started singing again, I picked up the melody and sang right along side my fellow Christians. We were singing in perfect harmony, not the kind musicians would applaud, but the kind our Lord and Savior most definitely would.

Fancy

A little boy who was in my class last year came up to me in the hallway and said, "I just can't see you driving a jeep. You're too fancy for that."

CAMP OUT

TAKS is here. Tomorrow. Say a prayer for those babies, I hope they learned something this year.

To finalize our preparation for the TAKS tests, we had a reading "camp out" today. The kids brought blankets, pillows and books. They were supposed to read while I called them up for conferences.

After a while, one boy came up to my table.

He said, "Okay. Now, don't get mad, but come look at our fort! And we have two emergency exits!"

Retreat Quote # 1

Kathryn: Oh, I have lots of Coach.

Me: Oh, yeah? I've never owned anything Coach.

Kathyrn: See, Lauren- This is my littler one. My clubbin purse.

Me: Kathryn. Your clubbin purse? What clubs are you goin to?

Kathryn: Oh, you know. The Christian kind.

Me: There are Christian clubs? Like what?

Kathryn: You know. Starbucks.

Throwing Starfish

There is a story we told in our class:

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"



In our class we have a "starfish bulletin board" where the kids can "throw" starfish to one another, giving compliments. I read a few today and wanted to share them!


You were my first friend at this school. You told me everything I needed to know. That’s why I’m throwing a starfish.



You are a great friend. Good Sarcasm, good personality.


You are 100.9 percent brain. The other half is humor.


We met first at this school. You’re a funny duck.



You are my best friend in the class! You are like no one else. Keep it up!


You are a good friend and you always keep promises.



You clean like a machine!


Remember at recess when we were digging up those rocks? You are a great digger.


You are a great friend and an amazing draw-er.


You are a great friend and when I need company, you are always there for me!


We are going to be best friends forever. I’m glad I moved here.

You're a great friend! It's like you make the world spin. You have a smile that brightens the whole day. That's what makes you my best friend.

Now, doesn't that just warm your heart?

Real Women

It is the week before TAKS. (I can hear the jaws theme in my head when I think of this dumb test.)

Needless to say, stress is running high for principals, teachers and students. Today, I was reviewing a TAKS reading passage with a group at my table when another child ran up to me and reported,"Ms. Waggoner! __________ and ____________ said a really bad word!" (I'm going to leave the names of these sweet and innocent girls a secret.)

I didn't really believe that these two accused could have done something of that nature, but I continued with, "And, what word was that?"

The responsible reporter answered,"A-S-S-H-O-L-E".

I nodded and planned to investigate later, though I didn't think it really happened.

I pulled the girls in question into the hallway and began my interrogation.

"Girls, I am receiving reports that you have said an inappropriate word. Why am I hearing that?"

Wide eyes, and silence. THEY WERE GUILTY!

"Did you say it?" I pushed.

They nodded.

"Why did you feel compelled to say something like that?" I was curious now.

Silence.

Then, one fessed up, "We decided...that if we could say that word... that we would be real women."



LOL... the question is, are YOU a real woman?

Ants in my Pants

Rainy day... I cleaned the blinds, mopped underneath area rugs, vacuumed stairs at 9:30 at night.

Be still and know that I am God.


Baby shower, tired of small talk, ready to leave.

Be still and know that I am God.


Teaching partner, 25 weeks pregnant, on bed rest, leaving me taking over a new subject in April, 31 children.

Be still and know that I am God.


Grade papers, work out, get gas, pay bills, take Hurley out.

Be still and know that I am God.


Waiting, Waiting, Waiting.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Bipolar

For me, there are two kinds of weeks.

1. I wake up, I'm never late, and I leave my house immaculate. Coffee maker rinsed, pillows back on the couch, bed made, the kind of departure that sets you off in the right path.

2. And then there are weeks like this one, clothes on the floor, laundry folded in the hamper from last weekend, pillows on the floor, and dirty dishes in the sink. Rushing to get out of the house, no time to care.


Even as I write this, I'm thinking of all the many things I should be doing.

In the month of March, I...

Visited Hobby Airport 5 times.

Wrote the second chapter of my book and sent it out to friendly reviewers, who haven't responded, making me wonder if it was so boring they quit reading at paragraph two??

Worried about losing my job, being relocated, working in a new position-- all to find out that everything will be the same, God is good.

Finished my upstairs room and moved in, LOVING IT.

Read 4 books, waiting impatiently for Mockingjay to come out. August? That's a long time.

Bought New Moon... and watched it... twice. Not even ashamed.

Had 4 different people sleep in my guest bedroom, hostess of the mostest!

Offered my heart for Duke tickets, no takers, and instead watched them make it to the final four in the comfort of my own home. I would have painted myself blue and jumped up and down... there's always Indiana....?? Anyone?

Lost 8 pounds... I know. I hardly believe it myself.

Caught up on words with friends. Kandy, are you going to play? :)

Shaved my legs. Hey, it's been cold.

Have yet to cut my hair since last May, sort through my mail and pay bills, fix 3 necklaces I said I would fix... but, I guess that's what April is for!

Before and After

For the past several months, I have been exhausting all of my resources in order to give my upstairs room a new look. The furniture is 50 years old and belonged to my Gammie. I'm very happy with the results, and I'm praying they show up right on this thing. I don't ever post pictures! Some are sideways... oops!

Before:





After:

Christians Are Weird

Mission Lazarus posted this quote on their blog and I really liked it:

"Something is wrong with us when our lives make sense to unbelievers."

I have been coteaching a girls' bible class on Wednesday nights. My topic is friends and what a can of worms that is for teenage girls! Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a world where mean girls are on facebook and have picture texting cell phones? The horror. I didn't grow up in the cell phone/internet age and I'm really not THAT old. But, girls were bad enough then without it be broadcasted to everyone you know.

I think technology has linked us together, but that can be a negative thing in a lot of ways. It sells normalcy and lets us know just how much we don't fit in. And, that's just my point and the point of the quote: Christians are weird. Seriously. Have you ever been to a youth rally or church camp? We are a little bit out there. You fit in more in those places because in a sense, everyone there is a little strange.

But, out in the real world, on facebook, in our text messages, if we are true to who we follow, we are weird. And, that's the way it should be. By making a choice to follow Christ, we are making a choice to not be of this world... to be weird.

"Something is wrong with us when our lives make sense to unbelievers." I think this is very true. If an unbeliever doesn't think you are different, are you showing them Christ?

Top Ten Things Teaching Teaches Me...

10. If you mess up with a sharpie on laminated paper, all you have to do is use a dry erase marker and an eraser and it's MAGIC, I tell you.

9. I am a horrific speller. Chalk boards should come with spellcheck.

8. A visit to the nurse and a peppermint makes everyone feel better.

7. I think I am creating Dumbledore's Army by reading Harry Potter to these children.

6. You can't control everything in life.

5. Lunch is overrated, and chocolate goes a long way.

4. I really DO have eyes in the back of my head!

3. Adults are shaped while they are children.

2. Everyone wants to be loved.

1. We never stop learning.

Confessions of a Rainy Tuesday Night

It's cold. It's wet. It's dark.

After a bubble bath, I decided that flannel pajamas, wool socks and a bowl of firing hot tomato soup was just what I needed. I got the soup warming, and went to check my email. A few minutes later, I was worried I would burn it. Tomato soup is unpredictably easy to burn. I whisked it off the stove and poured it into a bowl. I let it cool off and spooned the soup into my waiting mouth. BLAH! Something definitely went wrong in the making of that soup. After a few tries, I concluded that it was a bad can of soup. I poured the rotten tomato soup down the drain, rinsed the sink and started over. I was nervous about this next try, but I really had a hankering for hot tomato soup!! After a little research on what to add for better flavor, I decided on onion, salt, pepper and basil. I stirred, sipped and stirred some more. Then, I poured my second bowl of tomato soup. I let it cool off and spooned the soup into my impatient mouth. BLAH! I once again poured the even more rotten tomato soup down the drain and rinsed the sink. I dug through the trash examined the cans. Stupid healthy choice crap. This goes to show that the real stuff is always better.
I dirtied up 2 bowls, 3 spoons, 2 pots and a stove stop, all to end up on the couch eating popcorn and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.

When is spring coming?

Lately I've...

* Replaced my air filter in my house for the first time. I know, I know.

* Fixed a 50 year old antique bed, painted it and replaced some hardware, pictures to come, get excited.

* Was told by an 8 year old that if we needed to speak with him, we needed to talk to his lawyer.

* Started writing a children's novel... laugh if you want. I could be famous one day.

* Bought my favorite juice: Blueberry Pomegranate.

* Presented at a training over Guided Reading.

* Eaten more chocolate than I'm willing to admit. I may be single, but I have 31 valentines who knew the way to my heart... and straight As.

* Added boiled eggs, parsley and celery to my chicken salad. And, it's fantastic.

* Watched Walle and "the cricket" with Mia and Mason.

* And, if I just had an itty bitty allen wrench, I could fix the handle on my door. Well, you can't have everything in life.


Sing Song This WEEKEND. Bueno, Michelle, Lytle and KoJoKai, here I come!

February... what?

I can't believe I'm already turning the page on my calendar.
January brought many things...
- The "hard freeze" we barely survived. (Houston, overreact about weather much?)
- Haiti.
- Higher Bills :(

Those things aren't very happy. But January also brought Michelle's Baby Ben, who I simply cannot wait to meet and squeeze. :)

And let's not forget what we get to look forward too: March. (I overlook February generally... it's shorter and by now you are ready for spring)

March is a great month... here's why:

- March Madness (If you love me, you will buy me a ticket to go be a real cameron crazie at a home DUKE game. :) Pretty Please...I'll paint myself blue and jump up and down)
- Spring Break- Break out the sunscreen and put away the coats
- St. Patrick's Day- my favorite. Who doesn't love the luck of the Irish? And Green is a great color!
- Planet Earth: Life on the Discovery Channel... get excited, folks, it's gunna be good.
- Not to mention, it's the start of Jeep Weather here in the south.

So there you have it. I'm leaving bills and the cold in my rear view mirror and looking ahead for greener pastures. (Literally.)

I have some friends in Haiti right now dealing with the real stuff. Say a prayer for them. If you want to donate or follow their efforts, tune in here: www.missionlazarus.tumblr.com or missionlazarushaiti.tumblr.com

Lookin like a foo whicha pants on da ground...

My remote is missing. Either a serial killer is messing with my mind, or Hurley has swallowed it whole.

"I'm Feelin a Little Naked Up Here"

This is the phrase my preacher uses when he's feeling "alone" on a topic. He'll say, "I'm feelin a little naked up here, can I see some hands? An Amen?" Usually everyone giggles and then shows the appropriate participation.

I say that to say, I'm feelin a little naked, here! Sometimes in this big city it is hard to find Christian support in friends. I am learning more and more that the people I associate with do not believe in God. Some will try to convince me of their beliefs, and some will just live the way they are and not drag me in it. These are the people that have really been on my heart lately. I don't know if it's our society today that creates young adults to feel self-sufficient and bullet proof or not, but we do. We THINK we do. We want to wear what we want, say what we want, eat what we want-- and have no consequences for it. Some of us pride ourselves in planning. Planning gives us a false sense of control in regard to what's out there. I am exhibit A.

I am a mere couple of weeks into January and already I feel that this year presents heavy challenges. Every one of my bills has gone up this year, and there's a new one that I didn't even know about! Talk about bubbles bursting. I'm feelin a little naked, here! Has anyone else seen this problem? Unexpected raises in bills, but no unexpected or expected raises in pay? Any planning that I had done for this year has rapidly declined.

I think in times like these God carves us into the people he needs us to be. These cuts aren't easy to take or pleasant to endure.

This year I am hoping that my focus can be on things above and not on those on earth. Or, in what applies to me: That I can pay my bills and give to those in need without shopping for new clothes and shoes! In truth, I know I am not "naked" here. There IS a God. He lives. He loves. And He'll get us through.

At This Time...

Here are a few things I am interested in during the first month of 2010....

1. Armageddon Week on the History Channel.

2. Words With Friends.

3. Homemade spiced tea in a longaberger mug.

4. Twisted Peppermint Bubble Bath.

5. My bible app and the Robert Roberts reading plan.

6. A Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers.

7. A solitaire marble game I don't know the name of. (And can't seem to beat)

8. My Pandora workout play list- search "black eyed peas" and get pumpin.

9. Ordering flour tacos with ground beef and queso only... at every Mexican food place I go. You should try it.

10. Ways to change old furniture into a "new" room.


Happy New Year Post 2010. What are you supposed to say anyway? twenty ten? two thousand ten? I feel like we need to come up with a saying for the "teens" of the millennium.