Thankful day 8

Today I am thankful for children.

I still haven't found out what's going on with my body. And...I can't go to the doctor to find out because we don't have health insurance right now...that's another story for another day. Anyway, that means that we can't have kids of our own right now, but I can enjoy being around other people's children! Children are great. They can make you smile and laugh even on the darkest of days. They think simply, act kindly (most of the time), and try to please you in whatever they do. I think that's one of the reasons I love being at the elementary school so much. Most of those kids don't come in the mindset that they aren't going to do anything that you ask them because it doesn't matter. They're eager to learn and they actually want to do it!

My 4th graders were crazy today. They were excited to have me for class and they listened pretty well, but they were being a little more goofy than they would be if their teacher was actually there. It was alright tho, I love when they can make me laugh and smile.

*~*

Well...it's a Black and Gold Monday Night! The Steelers are playing the Broncos tonight at 8:30! I'm sooooo glad there's finally a game on. It's been over 2 weeks since they played because of the bye week. Last Sunday and yesterday were so strange without the game being on! That's alright tho! I'll take what I can get...even if I'll probably fall asleep and miss the end because I'm so tired!

Here we go Steelers, Here we go!!!

Being thankful, day 3

I read this quote from Oprah on another blog...can't remember which one it was, as it isn't one that I read every day.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have you will never, ever have enough."-Oprah

Today, I am thankful for inspiring teachers.

I work with some AMAZING teachers! Some of them show up to school before the sun's up and stay past dark every day (which is earlier now, I know, but still). Some of them even come in on weekends and work. It's inspiring to me to see that they are so dedicated to educating the young people in this world. It makes me want to be a better teacher, too. Yes, I know, I'm only a sub right now, but if I would get a job in the future, I would know how to improve on the things that need to be fixed. Obviously, I didn't just wake up one morning and say, "ok, I'm going to be a teacher." Somewhere along the way, I had to stumble upon some of these teachers while I was going to school. I've been very lucky to have some of the best teachers as I was growing up...Mrs. Brunetta, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Paterson, Mrs. Kovalcick, Mrs. Orchard, Mrs. Grafton, Mrs. Warner, Mrs. Sasala, Dr. Kealey, Mrs. Grafton, Mr. Salser, Mr. Saylor, Sra. Miller, Ms. Nibert, Mrs. Lansberry, Mrs. Novels...these are just a handful of teachers who inspired me to make the choice that I did to go into education. A huge THANK YOU to all of them.

*~*

One other thing today...I don't know how many of you watch WTAE news (channel 4) but today, I saw the most heart wrenching, tear jerking, inspiring story about 2 boys with a disease called Batten Disease. Of the estimated 4.2 million children born in America this year, only about 100 will be diagnosed with Batten disease. It's extremely rare and there is no cure for it. Both of these boys were diagnosed with the disease and their parents know that their children won't live much longer. How heartbreaking. Here is a link to the article. There is a video on the page about the boys, as well. I'll be adding them to my prayer list tonight. I hope you'll say an extra prayer for them, too.

I'm off to make dinner and get some housework done. Hoping that I can tackle the mess on my dining room table! Hope you all have a wonderful evening!

What are you thankful for?

So as I mentioned a while ago, I read several blogs every day. Today I was catching up on my Google reader and read Katie's post at My Life as a Wallace about being thankful. She said that her pastor's wife challenged her friends to post everyday about what they are thankful for. I think that this is something I might be able to accomplish.

I am thankful for the gift of laughter.

After a rough day at school, then going to the office and feeling pretty crappy about my current employment situation, I felt like no one liked me! I sometimes feel used and that my abilities are under appreciated. Well, after voicing my pitiful opinion of myself on facebook, my friends made me laugh! Sometimes I guess I just feel bad for myself and get paranoid that others think the same of me. It takes a little bit of reassurance from my friends and being able to laugh at myself to make me feel better. So thanks to my friends for making me laugh (at you and myself)!!

~*~

Let's see...a recap of yesterday....well, we sat around the house for a little while, I got in the shower at 12:30, and we went to Bob and Fran's to weigh in. I gained a pound. Booooo! So that's 9 lbs total that I've lost. Bobby lost another 2.2 lbs, so he's at 14 lbs in 9 weeks! I'm so proud of him, because he wasn't going to do this at all and now he's the one that's lost the most weight!

Last night we had dinner at Bob and Fran's to celebrate Jason's (that's Janelle's husband) birthday. We had delicious stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes. YUM! We also had yellow cake with cool whip/pudding icing, and chunked pineapple on top! DELICIOUSNESS! Aaaaannnndddd...that's about how exciting the day was! Haha.

This morning, my alarm went off at 6:30, just in case the school called. Well, as soon as my alarm went off (which is on my phone) my phone rang. It was Penns Manor. They needed me at the elementary school in the third grade. It wasn't a bad day...at first...but as the day went on, the kids got more crazy. I wound up being so upset with them at the end of the day that I was actually GLAD that the I was going to my other job. Haha. What a joke that was!
So yes, I did go to the Coach after school. I have to say, that most of the ladies there are fantastic. I do really love them, and they have become great friends over the past 3 years...BUT..some of them have such a lousy disposition on their lives. They're so miserable that they drag everyone else down! GRRRRR!!!!

TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY!!!!
That is going to be my motto for the week...no matter how bad the day is, the next day can't be any worse, can it? At least I hope not!

Let's see...what else to share...ummmm...We are going to Hershey/Harrisburg for Thanksgiving. My mom, brother, Bobby, and I are going to go stay near my mom's brother and sister to spend a few days with them. I know my grandparents are going, too, but I'm not sure if my mom's other brother, his wife and kids will go, though. This is going to be our first major holiday without dad. It's going to be rough, and I think the best way to deal with it is by being surrounded by family. I hope it works.
For those of you who have lost a loved one, is it better to be alone on holidays or with family? I would really like to hear what you have to say. Please tell me!

That's about it! It's 10 pm and I'm ready for bed. We'll see if the phone rings in the morning!

Bad Wife?

Do you ever feel like you're a bad wife? Or maybe that you aren't appreciated for what you do?

All week I taught and I went to my other job a few days as well. After spending the day with 500+ kids and having to constantly be on my toes I'm exhausted. I have to make sure that they aren't talking when they aren't supposed to, that they're keeping their hands to themselves, understanding what they're supposed to be doing, reading, doing independent work, spelling, math...singing, playing an instrument...which includes checking fingerings, the embouchure, how they're holding the instrument, if they know the name of the note, how long it needs to be played, are they resting...ugh! It's crazy! I love what I do, honestly, but my brain is engaged from the minute I walk in the door of the school until I walk back out to my car.

So when I get home, I'm drained. I am not ready to cook and clean when I get home. That housewife switch doesn't turn on. I feel like I'm letting my husband down because I don't cook dinner for him every night. I wait until the weekend to do laundry and some of my other housework. Does it make me a bad wife because I don't care if I do my wifey jobs everyday??

How do those of you who work balance all of those things? Does your husband help you? Mine doesn't very much. It makes it even harder to get things done when I do it all on my own! Suggestions? Help?! Please?!!??!

Ooops!

Wow...I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I've posted anything. Sorry about that.

I have been at Penns Manor Elementary all week subbing for the band teacher, who's really sick. It's been a fun week of lessons and rehearsals. I've gotten to spend some time practicing some instruments that I don't often get to play. I can never remember slide positions on the trombone, so the kids have been teaching me! It's great practice for them, because then they really have to think about what they're playing to show me how to do it!

Did you see my new camera? I put a picture of it on facebook last week. Bobby got me a Nikon D60 for a late anniversary/early christmas present. It's faaaaaaantastic! I have been taking it everywhere with me and snapping lots of photos!

Last time I posted, I had mentioned the annual Penns Manor craft show. I thought I was going to be able to make some jewelry and sell it there. Well...it's on November 14th and I CAN'T DO IT!!!! That day we are going DRESS SHOPPING for Noelle's wedding dress and to find dresses for the bridesmaids!!!! I am excited to go dress shopping, but I was really wanting to do the craft show. SOOOOOOO...instead, I'm going to ask if you know anyone that might like some pretty things for Christmas or who might need gifts for their bridesmaids for an upcoming wedding to point them in my direction. I'm looking to try out some new things...

Like these: (all photos from artbeads.com)

pretty every day earrings

something fun and summery!

This one's cute right??? I like the little birds in the center!

See something you like??? Let me know! How?? EMAIL ME, find me on FACEBOOK, or leave me a comment on one of my posts! There are so many great sample designs on artbeads.com! I also have some magazines at home or I can do something original. Remember, Christmas is coming and it's never to early to shop! I do have a couple orders from some friends that I'll be working on this coming week to get them finished. I'll post pictures as soon as I finish them!