Bad Hair Day

Why does it seem that sometimes the simplest things in life seem the hardest to actually DO????

I am stressed, I mean stressed. This is a huge semester for me. I am doing what at KSU we call TOSS, some call their methods, others call practicum, it is STRESSFUL. I have had since the beginning of January, 2 days a week at KSU and then 1 day a week at a public school. The work has been plentiful, but doable. But now I'm headed into the big stuff. 5 full days a week at the public school (which I am SO excited about) and then I have a 5 lesson unit that I actually have to write on paper rather than just have up in my head!!

I knew this was coming, I could look at my calendar and see the stress from a mile away. But here I am ready to be swallowed whole by my school work.

When I am stressed two major things happen...I eat too much and my hair breaks. Fat and bad hair...not pretty. And if you ask my kids they will probably say I have a short fuse!

But you know what I notice that if I put every action and thought through God first, I seem to manage. I seem more productive, less anxious and my hair looks a lot better. This is not new to me...this has been this way my whole life.

If I want to get through the next five weeks in one piece I MUST leave it all at the feet of the cross. But not just the next five weeks...everyday, all year. How blessed I know I am because God continues to pick me up and dust me off. I just wish I could remember this and not get so consumed by my stress.

You ask...He gives

So Michael and I are not great about going to church. We have been attending this one church for a couple of years, but we are not regulars. It is a great church, the music is awesome and the preaching is unbelievable. But we have let life get away from us. We have given the excuse lately that because it is so crowded we just don't feel like fooling with trying to get there early and get a seat, etc. etc. Plus, I hate to admit it, I have loved my Sunday mornings sleeping in...

But this past week I told God if you need me to be in church then I need a loud message because I love my Sunday mornings, and I need it to be loud. Well, I got it.

I got home from Nashville on Monday and we decided to be lazy and go to Stevie Bs pizza for dinner. There was this man in there and I swear he looked like a singer from Third Day, my favorite contemporary Christian band. But I was not going to ask him. But my ever so sweet husband asked him on our way out.

He laughed and said that no he wasn't but they where some of his friends. He then asked where we went to church. He said he was the creative arts director at West Cobb Church. He could not have been any nicer or kinder.

So I went home and said "okay, God, I get it. You have a place for us. I hear you...loud and clear." So I emailed the guy we met to let him know we will be there this Sunday.

UPDATE: So I was talking to my sweet mama about this today and she said "Well, just so you know, your Daddy and I where on our knees praying for all of our children by name Sunday night." When you ask God to reveal Himself, he always does.

Monumental

So that's what yesterday was for many Americans. Hopefully, no matter their political affiliation they saw the HUGENESS in yesterday. I, for one, did not support Barack Obama, but will support this administration now. I've noticed over the past two days that the people that where ignorant and said they didn't watch the inauguration, or didn't want to be a part of anything are truly sad people. These people, in my personal opinion, are the ones who make statements without research, who are stubborn and unwilling to listen to other people.

That being said... I still disagree with the policies he said he would implement during his campaign. I am a true conservative. I want less federal government and more control given to state and local governments. And the big idea for Democrats is to have bigger central government. I digress...

As I listened to his speech I was struck by how many times he said "hard work". I really really really really hope that we ALL will put in the hard work it is going to take to turn this ship around.

But here are the two points that I find myself still frustrated on:
First, the media and Liberals keep blaming George W. Bush and his administration for the problems our country is facing. Do we really think that all of these problems can lay firmly on the shoulders of one man? Really??? I don't. I think many people are to blame. People who are selfish and greedy. Everywhere from the big business man who was more interested in cushioning his books down to the ill-informed home buyer that bought a bigger house than they could afford. We are all to blame. I hope that when things really get "shook" out that Bush will come out better than he is right now.
Second, I really liked Obama's speech. I thought that it was what we all wanted to hear that day. That the United States is still strong and viable, just some hard work will get us back on track. And then Rev. Lowery came out. I was so excited to see him there. What a moment for him. So many times this man had worked tirelessly to help America achieve "the dream". He sacrificied so much. And in this moment he was able to say a prayer for our President and our country. I was so ready to applaud...and then...he said...
"And White will do what is right"... What? Did I just hear that right? Did he just make a racist statement while praying. Okay, I've heard it all before and I believe it. The white race has dominated American history. He first hand saw the suffering that racism has caused. But why here? Why now? Why did he have to bring up race?? I am a white woman that was raised in a home where racism was not tolerated, I raise my children in a home that does not distinguish people by the color of their skin. What am I doing that is so wrong that I must be prayed for because of the color of my skin. Reverend Lowery please tell me!!
Okay, I'm done.
On to another subject...are the Obama girls not the cutest things ever?? I will love watching them grow up!

Back at It!!!

I love the New Year. I love getting rid of stuff, putting the Christmas stuff away and starting NEW, FRESH!!! So I am back at life. Back to school, back to the every day tasks and back to losing weight!!!

I had success with Weight Watchers. I lost 20lbs. from March to June and kept it off!! Even through the holidays!!! But I'm ready to keep going. So I am putting it out there to be accountable. I am starting a very stressful semester and I am a stress eater!!!

Happy New Beginnings!!!

FIVE!!!

So rather than using the words Michael uses, I will use my words and I would describe myself as a little emotional over the past week. I always always get emotional around my kiddos' birthdays and yesterday was no exception!

CARTER TURNED 5!!!!

It was one of the absolute BEST birthdays I have ever shared with my children. If you asked him his favorite part he might say sharing his birthday with his school friends and having mommy and Kitty bring in a special treat to school, or going to see Santa, making an animal at Build a Bear, or having his daddy make spaghetti and meatballs AND macaroni and cheese.

But if you ask me, I will say something totally different. My favorite part was the one hour we had alone yesterday afternoon. We played a couple of games and sat on the sofa and snuggled and talked. I mean, life just does not get any better than that!

Carter can be a handful when he wants, but he surely knows how to turn the charm on.

Facebook Get Behind Thee!!!!

I am addicted. I love facebook. I am a social girl by nature and that I can socialize with that many people is a whole lot of fun. But through this election facebook became my soapbox and I am not normally one to get on a soapbox.

I got in more "discussions" with my Obama Mama friends and they turned pretty heated, pretty quick.

I really really really want to be excited about the historical significance of yesterday, but I just can't. I am going to admit here and now...I am not a moderate like I have said many times over. I am a conservative and I am proud of that. I will not waiver. I did not come to my political ideologies by listening to some talking head on TV or radio. It has been through prayer, research and reading my Bible.

I will not support a party, but rather people within a party that I feel like I can better align myself with, that represents me and my morals. And our new President and I do not share many values. I will respect the "Office" in which he holds and I will respect him as a man as long as he is honorable, but do not have to respect his policies.

When "W" was elected I was 25. No kids and a different person than I am now. I have not had to be a "political activist", but I might have to be now. No more excuses, no more trying to be "PC" but I will not be "in your face" about it either. There is a time and place for everything.

So facebook caused me to become more solid in my beliefs because I had to stand up for myself because no one else will!!! Should I thank it or just keep making wall posts???

This is for you Laura

Okay, Laura I revisited my blog and I will try to work on posting JUST FOR YOU!!!! As long as you keep lovin' on those sweet babies for me!!

I will not bore ALL of my readers (Laura) with the details of my life for the past two months. But here is the jist...school, school, baseball, Auburn football, PTA, you get the idea.

So here is what is going on in my brain today...I'm over it. I mean for real. I am so over this whole college thing. Here is what pushed me over today:
I am "TOSSing" next semester, in other words it is my method classes. Pretty intense, lots of work, etc. Well, I missed my 9:30 class this morning because I HAD to get to the dr. because I was sure I had a UTI (and boy did I!!). Anyway, I had heard that an advisor came down to talk to our class about TOSS. So I went to see her and see what info. I could pick up. So she pretty much bit my head off and said she didn't have time to answer my questions.
I was so pissed...I am not an average college student, I am 33, two kids and I am serious about this!! I don't skip class and I am diligent with my work. But I had to go to the dr., my husband was out of town to be there for his step-mother's surgery and his step father had his galbladder out, I found out that my oldest nephew got a concussion at his last football game and did I MENTION THAT I HAVE AN UTI!!!!!!!!

But let me put this in to perspective so that I will remember my blessings...I can get antibiotics easily and be CURED, my step father in law's surgery went really well and he can hope to be pain free soon, my step mother in laws surgery found VERY EARLY stage lung cancer, so she was "surgically cured" and my nephew just has to take it really easy for the next few days. And, I am going to be a teacher. I am doing what God has asked of me. He never said it would be easy and He never said I would always like it, but I am doing God's will everytime I step into a classroom, everytime I take a test, do a project or get chewed out by an advisor. How very blessed I am.

But...my heart is very heavy for my "step" mother in law. I'm so glad she was proactive and we are not staring at a different set of circumstances a year later. But I just want to be near her and tell her how much I love her and am so proud of her. She has all of her children, sister and husband near her, but I want to be there too...but I have to keep the fort down here. I will see her at Thanksgiving and I will call her and tell her these things over and over until she tells me to hush.

So there is my entry after TWO MONTHS...love me or visit me on facebook!!!
xoxox