The Jones Family Circus

I waited patiently for the Lord.....I will sing....sing a new song......("40" by U2)

2011-05-22T21:28:00.000-05:00

So much has happened since my last update that I will not even try to completely catch up. The school year has basically ended and summer is in sight!! I have one more day with students and three teacher days.

First I want to thank everyone for all of the sweet wishes, cards, presents and presence at my 40th birthday party. I was overwhelmed that Matt did so much to make my birthday special. I could write a long time about the lengths he went to to be sneaky....including having my realtor call me to set up an "appointment" and having my own mother pretend to neglect me. :) It was wonderful!!

As summer approaches, we are trying to get ahead by planning our upcoming youth/school/family activities.

Our first big thing is our church's upcoming VBS that will happen June 13th through 17th at Taylor BC near Oxford. This is the first time that Matt and I will be directors of VBS. I am understating it to say that organization is not our spiritual gift. Nevertheless, God has given us this place and we won't question why. :)

We have several other things going on with our youth and church family throughout June and July. In between all of this I am really looking forward to spending time with our families.

We're not really sure yet what our exact direction will be next year, but God has blessed Matt with his guitar lessons so much that he could really do that full time. It is all in His hands. I am, again, fighting my impulse to worry. : )

I guess that is about all for now. Matt is coming to school to help me build cubbies in my choir room tomorrow. Take care and God bless.

Jones Family Circus, long time no see.....

2010-11-19T22:46:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since I have blogged. Life and facebook have cut into my time. It is amazing to me how things change in life. It is so easy to wake up and realize that you have taken the routine for granted. This has been the most surreal year.

First, Matthew left for MC and really hasn't been home because of football games, etc. For years we were together with no thought at all of things ever being different, and then he left. I am so happy that he is having a great time at school, but it is still strange with him not being home. We miss his face. It will be so great to see him Tuesday.

We were in a transition with jobs, churches, etc. and then God led us to a wonderful group of people at Taylor BC. It has been such a blessing to work with the youth and see our old friends.

This school year has been so much better than last year, but still so tough. I know God has put me there for a reason, but it is so hard for my personality to be tough enough to be a strong teacher. Even with the best intentions, it is still not good enough. If anyone ever needed Thanksgiving break, it was me, now. So very frustrating. I get overwhelmed and then disappoint myself when I lose my temper and don't behave like I want to.

So, today is the first day of Thanksgiving holidays. I am going to soak up every bit of this break. 2010 is about over. I know God has a plan for our family for Matt finding a full-time job and us settling down. I am going to remember my trust in Him as we go through this time. He is going to take care of us.

I guess I need to remember that all things do work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. That is such a comforting thing. Even in our failures, He loves us completely and no less. Thank goodness we can't earn His love. We already have it.

Now Matt is in here playing jazz guitar Christmas music. Ahhhh..................
Great end to the evening. Take care, everybody. I pray that you will know that comfort of knowing God and walking with Him.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Benny's latest

2010-10-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

I am loving Benjamin's latest artwork. He has always loved sharks and sharks being not so nice to people.

Interesting times.....

2010-03-28T15:36:00.000-05:00

This has been just about the strangest year of my life. It is like God is just saying wait a while on.....something. I know that He is in total control and I trust Him, but am ready to find where we are supposed to be and get busy. Maybe that is what is going on. Maybe He is just letting me get so excited about serving Him....wherever. I see and hear about so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ being busy serving God in different places and in different ways. It feels good in a way to know that I didn't go to church or try to serve God because Matt was on staff as worship leader, but because I really do love God and really do want to lead others to Him. That, God has made very clear to me.

Along these lines....it is tough finding the right place to serve God right now. This is a huge compliment to the churches in Oxford. There are so many great churches that are loving people and are preaching His word. We could go to just about any of these churches. Right now, Matthew has really gotten plugged in at North Oxford BC. We have visited there and it is great. We also have gone to the Orchard, and have loved it. They are different, but are both great. We also visited Grace and First Baptist. All great.

We have great friends at all of these churches and could just about see ourselves at any. We are ready to get involved, though, so please pray for us as we seek God in this. Please pray for us, also, about career directions. Matt has a real heart for leading worship, but he also loves teaching. He had always had the dream to lead worship full-time. He has opportunities in teaching, but God hasn't opened any doors as far as worship leading full-time. It may just not be the right season. We have loved going to home fellowship with a group of folks from FB and Grace. It has been great worshipping and studying the Bible in this small setting.

April and May are going to be full for our family starting off with Jacob's birthday on April 2. Then Matt is going to be busy getting his guitar and choir concerts together. After all of those, I have concerts, etc. at my school, and then Matthew has all of his graduation activities. He and Benjamin will also have their band concerts. Whew!

I am excited about what God is doing in our lives and what I see Him doing in our friends' lives around the world. He is so awesome! My job has been a huge blessing and I am looking forward to see what is coming in the future. God bless.

Update 2/1/10

2010-02-01T19:22:00.000-06:00

So much has happened since my last post. I think last time it was almost November and we were getting ready for the Thanksgiving feast at North Oxford. Well, that all went great, as did Christmas. The Christmas musical at New Prospect went great. So many working together. Christmas was such a blessing, too. As always. God reveals Himself in a new way each year, it seems.  The story of Him being born in a manger may seem redundant, etc., but when you think about what it all really means and you have a relationship with Him, it is awesome!

New Year's was great, too. So much good family time. Over Christmas holidays I also made a change. God just dropped a new job in my lap. I found out about Batesville Junior High needing a new choral director. I made a call and met the principal. It worked out great and I have been there a month now.  It was tough leaving my little people. It tore me up calling my boss and telling her, but I knew there was a reason God was moving me. I would soon find out.

We don't always understand it, but God also closes doors.  We are no longer at New Prospect BC where we had been for 3 years.  Leaving there was unlike anything I had experienced. It was, sadly, messy and I don't think it pleased God too much, but I just have to trust that it was all in His plan.  Even though it hurt incredibly, and the church just thinks that our family "left", I know it will all be OK. I do have a certain peace about it. I just can't think about the church right now without getting pretty bitter. Especially when we were there for 3 years and have barely talked to the people there except a select few. I guess it is just too awkward for most to approach us. Maybe they just don't care. ???

I know this will ease in time. We have been able to go to my mom's in Jackson and go to church with her, though. (something we couldn't do while on staff) We have also visited North Oxford and are going to FB on Wednesday nights to take the kids to Awana. Who knows where we will end up. We are planning on visiting our friend's church, The Orchard, really soon, too. We'll see.

I am so thankful that God has given me a family that I love and loves me and the ability to love the people I come in contact. He has given me a job that lets me work with kids and share His love with them. It's all good!

Well, that's all for now. Hope you are all doing well.

First official night of Awana

2009-10-14T07:56:00.002-05:00

Tonight is the first night of Awana at my church in Oxford. I am pretty amazed at how much work has been done to bring this all together. My pastor and his wife have bent over backwards to see this happen. This is something that our church really needed and that I am already seeing being a huge tool to reach out to the other kids in our area.

My computer was being crazy last night, so I have to finish my powerpoint for tonight, now. I know it will come together, but I am a little anxious.

Please keep us in your prayers as we attempt this tonight. It is all for God's glory. Phil. 4:13

What a gorgeous day!

2009-09-30T10:10:00.002-05:00

The sun looks so gorgeous outside and coming in through our windows. It has rained so much lately that I almost forgot what bright sun looked like. We needed the rain, I am not complaining, but we got a lot of it.

This week has been wild, but really good. We began revival services at our church on Sunday morning. The preacher, P.J. Scott, has been great. I have learned so much from him, already. Tonight is our last night. He has preached on so much that has been on my heart for awhile. How our churches need to change to actually be a place where outsiders would even want to come and join. That our churches have become a closed society. My heart has been breaking for feeling like I didn't have the resources to reach the people around me. There has also been a staggering fear that it would just be too overwhelming to try to invest enough time into the lost people around me when I have a family of 6 who need me. I have let myself be complacent. Even though I was disappointed with myself, I just kept going and passing people and praying that maybe they would meet someone else that could reach them.

I have been praying about how God could use me and being disgusted that I felt like my using my gifts at church alone was a cop out and not what I needed to be doing. Ministering to Christians who, I know, need lots of ministering to, but at the same time feeling like I was meant to reach this dying world. Well, not all me, but I hope you know what I mean. At least the part that I am supposed to reach. I get down so easily. It is my temperament. I really have to fight not getting depressed about this all. One thing I really realized is that I have been trying to do all of this in my own strength. I think I have been afraid of asking God for His strength because I know He would give it to me and then I would have to get out of my comfort zone.

I have to remember that the entire Christian walk is with Christ's strength. That is the only way it is possible to please God. That is one thing that seperates us from other religions. We depend on Christ. Depend. We are desperate for Him. I know that my "self" is so weak and pitiful on my own. I have to be filled with the Spirit to do anything that He is calling me to do. Yes, it may sound like He is one big crutch. Well, He is and He is supposed to be.

My goal for the rest of this year is to start by at least contacting my neighbors. Inviting them to church. Inviting them into our home. Getting outside our comfort zone.

I have to be honest. Asking God to totally take over my life is very scary. He may want me to give up some things that I have made myself dependent on. He is so worth it all. It is about walking with Him and fellowshipping with Him. Being a part of what He is doing. He will bless us with letting us actually be a part of His work.

Take care,
Laurie

I am trying something new

2009-09-02T10:11:00.004-05:00

OK, I have just started calculating how much I am paying ebay to sell my items and discovered that there is another up-and-coming business that is similar to ebay, but whose fees are much lower, etc. It is not an auction site, but instead a storefront, or "booth" like they call it. I only pay if I sell anything. Here is the link if you are interested. Maybe it could help you out, too. Now, I have to get a life and do some house work. :)

Have a great day!

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!!

2009-08-29T16:58:00.003-05:00

Benjamin is our now 12 year old. Today is his big day. It seems like he always gets the shaft when it comes to his birthday. Like something out of the ordinary is happening and he doesn't get to have just a normal, go out to eat....sing, eat cake, open presents, etc. birthday. Many years ago his brother, Matthew, had an appendectomy on B's birthday, a couple of years after that, or it may have been the next year, Hurricane Katrina came through Mississippi and he spent his b-day in the dark with candles. This b-day his mom is being a dud and is puny in the bed. (Well, now at the computer, because I was going completely stir crazy).

Well, thank goodness we had a birthday party at the Skate Place last weekend for his birthday. He always envisions having a family "party" too. His dad has made his day now, though. He has just taken B and Jacob to Wal-mart to buy Nerf swords so they can fight to their hearts' content for the rest of the night. A birthday cake is going to come in there sometime, too. Happy Birthday, Benjamin!! We love you!

Life is good

2009-08-08T16:29:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we think we know what is best for us and we frequently find out later that we really don't have a clue. Well, we may have a small clue, but then we talk ourselves out of it, or rationalize that surely we couldn't be right.

Following God and trying to just rest in Him is tough sometimes. Well, most of the time it is hard to not trust our own instincts. We get used to thinking about what we "need" to be able to make it. Well, I have been interviewing and applying for jobs with the thought in the back of my mind that God might have wanted something more simple for me than to be in a fast-paced job with a contract and more income. As much as I have wanted to just provide for my family, I think my purpose right now might be to provide in a different way. After the kids and Matt being back at school for two days, I don't know how we made it with me driving 1 1/2 hours a day and planning, being gone for programs, etc.

I know God kept us sane during that time, but made us tired enough to know that there was something different for us. Are we going to realize that peace in our family is more important than more money? I hope so. I don't know if I am going to get a job tomorrow or in 5 years, but I know that God has us in the palm of His hand.

Take care.....

Ripley's Believe it or Not in Gatlinburg

2009-07-17T10:31:00.000-05:00

There is a lot more to come from our trip to G'burg, but here is a start. On Tuesday, the kids wanted to go to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum on the strip. Here is a pic of them in the "Big" chair. There was a lot in there I could have definitely lived without seeing, but now they can say they went. :) Now the kids are on their way with Mamaw's to meet up with Nana. Matt heads to his guitar workshop in Atlanta on Sunday and I am meeting the family at Lake Tiak O' Khata on Sunday for the Brantley reunion.
I can't believe there are only a couple of weeks left of summer.

Take care....

Off to the mountains

2009-07-12T14:11:00.002-05:00

I am packing away. Tomorrow we are off to Gatlinburg. Hope you all have a great week!

My family is trying to kill me.....

2009-07-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

I am not going to name any names because I love my entire family and don't want to shame any of them, but..................

Halfway through my breakfast I glanced into my orange juice and this was what I saw. No matter what I have done...this is just wrong. I did not pour the orange juice this morning. There are only two other people who were awake for breakfast........Hmmmmm.

I am going to start sleeping with one eye open. Have a blessed day

:)

Summer 1/2 Over

2009-07-05T17:45:00.003-05:00

Today has been kind of an odd day. We had church and then the kick-off for VBS which starts tomorrow night. I stayed at church for a while this afternoon to help decorate and then took a long nap when we got home. We aren't having church tonight so I am thinking about buying some fireworks and doing a do-over for July 4th. Not sure about grilling again, but you never know. One can't have too much red meat...well, actually, I'm sure one can, but you know what I mean.

What has been up?
Thursday we got Matthew back home from Camp Electric. He had a great time and learned a lot. Met lots of rockers from all over the USA. Really funny to hear all of his stories. Now he is an alum so he gets to pay a lot less to go this next year. Yea! He got to hang out with some of the guys in Pillar and other groups and actually got to have Red's set list from the concert they did at camp. He also had them all sign his shoes. He was pumped.

I am excited about VBS. I am basically just going to be helping. I didn't sign up to teach a class. I will just be jumping around and doing the music, etc.

After VBS we are heading to Gatlinburg with Mamaw for a couple of days. She rented a cabin which looks awesome! Except, we were looking at its picture and there was a black bear in one of them. I guess I forgot about this part about the mountains.

I can't believe summer is half over. It has been good in a lot of ways and just surreal in so many others. Grandpa passing away still hasn't totally hit me yet. That was not a good thing at all except for him. He was suffering so much at the end. He was so special and is so missed, but is so much a part of who we are that he won't be forgotten. Grandma is being so strong and Mamaw being there with her has been wonderful. I hope I am that kind of daughter to my moms. I also pray that I have that same kind of daughter when I am in her position. Judy is such a sweetheart. The boys and Matt got to be with them yesterday to grill and hang out. I stayed home with sick Matthew and Claire. We didn't want to share our cold.

I am still not sure what I will be doing next year (job-wise). I am really praying about it. I know God had a reason for my not going back to my school, but I am still not sure what that is. We'll see in time, won't we?

Hope you all have a very blessed week!

Goodbye, Jonesrestoration.com

2009-06-27T20:13:00.002-05:00

Well, Matt and I said goodbye to my old friend that has been around for several years, jonesrestoration.com. We decided that we didn't need to spend the money on the site since it has gotten so little traffic over the years.

I do have to admit that I have been very blessed by a few people saying that they were blessed by the site, but it has been very few people. We just thought that maybe we should focus on getting out and singing more before we get another website. Not a lot of need for it now and we can always keep people informed through this blog.

I have put so much time into the site that it feels very strange to let it go. I do think it makes sense, though. Anyway.......

This past week has been wild. I met the kids at Nana's almost two weeks ago to help her with the guys. Matt came down on Friday to get ready to lead worship at Park Place on Father's Day. We really enjoyed the sermons we heard by their new pastor, Keith Grubbs. They were on wisdom and were great. God really taught me a lot through them.

Then....Monday we met the other adults and kids from our church at Central Hills Baptist Retreat for kids camp. Monday through Wednesday. So funny that the adults who went on the same trip with the youth were bored some of the time. They had a lot of free-time. We went everywhere the kids went and walked about 100 miles. The kids had a blast and two of our boys asked Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. One of the boys was my Jacob. So, you know that I love the camp.

I was kind of waiting to pass-out on the trip from the heat and all of the walking and...the fact that I am not in the best shape at this time in my life. I never did and I actually climbed the rock wall and went down the zip-line. Of course the guys working their probably gave me a few extra boosts to get up the wall, but I was happy.

We got home Wednesday and were so glad to rest. Matthew found out that he made a 30 on the ACT that he took a few weeks ago. Yea!! Then on Friday Matthew got his driver's license. A lot is happening for him lately. Tomorrow he leaves for Camp Electric in Nashville. He is so excited. I would have died to have gone to a camp like that in high school. It is for worship leaders and bands. They are going to work with a lot of people in the Christian music industry. Fun!! They also get to hear big bands in concert at night.

As for me....I am kind of still and quiet and thinking about my second interview Thursday for a position in the Oxford School District. I am praying about it and know if that is where God wants me then I will be going there. I also applied for a job at Ole Miss, so we'll see. Who knows.....

Tomorrow is the Lord's day and I am so ready to rest in Him and worship. It will be so great to be back at our home church. I feel like we haven't been there in a month.

Blessings to you guys................

Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Blogger, Hostbaby, Youtube....is it too much? Nah.

2009-06-01T16:57:00.002-05:00

I am thinking to myself. How much time is reasonable for one to spend on the computer? What do you think? Is it a fun little outlet that connects you to your friends and family? I think so. Can one spend too much time on these websites? I think so. I guess it is just like anything else. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.

I sure like being able to see people who, because of the way our world is, I have lost touch with. I love to see what these people are up to and to hear their thoughts about life.

Do I think I need to say no to most of the quizzes, etc.? For me...probably so because I could get a little too into them. Spend a little too much time on them. Is is totally fun to farm on facebook? I think so. Can one get consumed by sending their friends fruit trees? I think maybe so.

I remember my dad staying up late at night programming on the computer. It was a sight I got used to. I also remember wanting him to stop and talk to me or play with me. I need to remember that. Computer programming was his career. It's not mine. I have loved creating our website, but I probably should admit that I have spent time on it that I could have used on other things. I prayed yesterday that God would set my family on fire for Him. That we would be sold out and seeking how He can use us. Before I beat myself up about being on the computer too much I will remember that this can be used for God's glory, too. Because this is where people are a lot, I will use the time I am on to be a light for Him. To point people to Him. Otherwise, this time could be wasted. Not that a little wasted time is not OK, but too much would be sad.

OK, I have rambled enough. See you around on facebook....the short time in the day that I am on. :)

Keeping my cool

2009-05-23T17:37:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm not doing this so well. No, really, I am OK but so many unknowns right now are really making me make myself give our lives to God over and over and over. Every time I want to worry, I just tell myself to snap out of it and then I tell God thank you for being so constant and my protector and provider and just basically everything to me. He is so good, there is never any reason to worry.

I know that is all so vague.

I have 3 more days of school. The kids are at Mamaw's for the weekend having a good time. They may stay for Memorial Day, or we may go down and join them for a cook-out.

I have been listening to so many good sermons online lately. Andy Stanley at Northpoint just finished a series on "Staying in Love". It is so good. I highly recommend it. :)

Well, I am going to stop being a slug and get out into the real world and off of this computer.
Blessings to you....

Winding Down

2009-05-20T21:20:00.002-05:00

It is glorious. It is lovely. It is precious. It is beautiful.
It is the end of school.
I basically have no more days with students. I will see some of them around school, but my time of preparing lessons for them is over for this school year. My last program was last night. The 3rd graders did a patriotic program and then got their awards. A lot of work to be over in 30 minutes. I guess it is times like those that will hopefully stick with them. I tried so hard to make in impact with the kids. There are some whose futures are going to be tough unless their paths are changed. Even at 3rd grade. It is great to see the little boy that is constantly in trouble in his classes get up and speak in front of an auditorium of people. Maybe that will make a difference.
And.....now it's over. Paperwork, packing up, cleaning rooms, saying goodbye to other teachers is all that is left.
What to do this summer? Well, a lot of it is planned out for us already. I am looking forward to the different trips. Taking Matthew to Camp Electric is going to be cool. Well, off to bed. Take care, everybody.

Why I love my job

2009-05-15T19:32:00.001-05:00

These pictures were taken during our last full week of school. I have a class of first grade girls that really like to draw on the board. Since this was the last week of school and I was letting different girls take turns on the keyboard, etc., I let them draw. When I saw what they were writing, my heart broke. So sweet.

Next year they will be big 2nd graders. How they change. My Claire is about to be a 3rd grader, Jacob a 5th grader, Benjamin in MIDDLE SCHOOL , and Matthew a SENIOR. I can't believe it. This time of year is always a little emotional. After our concert the other night the kids slowly drift off until none are coming to class for different reasons. Strange building up to our concert and then it is over so fast.

For the first two weeks of summer we are doing nothing. I mean no planned activities. After that it all starts, but for those two weeks, I am going to reclaim my house, etc. Just enjoy being together as a family. I wish I were going on a mission trip, but we just didn't work it out. We will have to make our summer one big mission trip.

Take care.

Thanks, Mom!

2009-05-10T13:23:00.000-05:00

Here is my beautiful mother yesterday at her house in Jackson. We got to go see her for Mother's Day and she baked this awesome cake for my birthday today. We had a great time with them all. Mom, Chuck, the kids, Ron and Steve were all there.

The weather was horrible on our way home. We almost stayed in Jackson, but we prayed and drove on. Matt said the weather was better up north. It was a little better. We thanked God when we got home. The kids were pretty nervous about it.....then they fell asleep, which was good. I was glad to be back with my boys. The den was really clean because Matthew cleaned it up so he could have a lady friend over to watch a movie. I was thrilled until I went in my room and saw where everything in the den had gone. :/

Today I went to Tequilas after church with the Matt, the kids, Amber and Nathan. Matt surprised me with the hat and song from all of the nice folks at Tequillas, but sadly I missed out on the whipped cream in the face. (sarcasm)

I can't believe I am almost 40. wow!

Hope all you mothers have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!!

Lafayette's first guitar concert

2009-05-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

Tonight I got to go to Matt's concert with his guitar students. They are in his middle school general music classes. He started teaching them guitar last year and built on it this year. They played different places Christmas, too.

I am so proud of him. He was surprised how many showed up for the concert. I think they were really proud of themselves. Sweet!

Have a good week.

So many feelings

2009-04-30T20:38:00.002-05:00

I guess I am kind of a feely person anyway. I have so many going on right now. Praying about a situation, having an opportunity and by faith saying no. Then trying not to second guess your decision.

The end of school this year has been trying, but good. The uncertainty of our future is always interesting. God just wants us to trust Him one step at a time. He is so faithful!

Have a blessed night.

Jacob's Birthday Party

2009-04-18T14:20:00.000-05:00

Jacob's 10th Birthday

2009-04-18T14:17:00.000-05:00

We had a blast at J's party. He has been waiting for this for a long time. It was a good one. Lots of wild screaming children. (not really.) Just fun children. It is great to see your sweetie having a good time on his day.

Long time, no blog

2009-04-13T21:55:00.002-05:00

It is the Monday after Easter. Yesterday was great. The day that marks what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. Jesus not staying dead when He was crucified, but rising from the grave. Bro. Ken preached a great message about Joseph of Arimathea. About how he secretly followed Jesus, but not until Jesus died did he come forward to show it. (By asking for his body to bury.) There was much more to his message than that, but that is a small part of it. It is always so strange having a much larger crowd on Easter than the rest of the year. I want to smile and tell the visitors, in love, "See what you are missing?" Not us...not the people in church, but the fellowship with other believers and worshipping God with His church. I guess planting seeds is always part of the plan. Praise God that they come on Easter.

I start giving the Wida (English as a second language test). We are only testing 5 students, so hopefully it will go quickly. We are on the downhill slide. Yea!

I have a lot to do, but those things are the last of this year.

Have a great week!!

So many things going on....

2009-03-09T18:48:00.004-05:00

A couple of months ago I wrote about waiting. Well, now I am in the weeds. (an old restaurant phrase:) ) The last two weeks have been very good, but very wild. February 24th my choir went to district festival and did great. They were so proud, and I was proud for and of them.

Matt went and worked with the choir in West Memphis that Wed. getting ready for revival which started Sunday before last. The day he took his choir to district festival in Hernando, I had my sick girl with me and went on our church bus to Madison to the Christian Performing Arts Festival. Nana and Chuck were so great to serve us. Matt left for West Memphis before I got back from Madison. The snow came and made it where I couldn't go to WM until Sunday afternoon. The revival was great. Everyday I drove back and forth to Potts Camp for revival that night. We were treated so well. Wonderful hotel room, being taken out to dinner each night. We definitely did not deserve the royal treatment we received, but we were so thankful for it. We got home from WM on Thursday and were so glad to see our babies. Mamaw was so wonderful to be with them while we were gone. She is the best.

This week has been pretty basic. We had a great women's conference Sat. and services yesterday. We are really looking forward to next week, Spring Break!! Not completely sure what we are doing, but sure it will be great.

Hope all is well with all of you. My prayer is that we will all listen and hear from God what He wants us to know.

Church was awesome today!

2009-02-22T13:14:00.001-06:00

Church was great today. It is amazing when you can really feel that God is totally there in worship. Bro. Ken wrapped up the series on Fireproof, the movie, this week. God is so awesome. His love and mercy for us is unbelievable. I can't believe what He can really do in people's lives, but it is amazing to see when it is visible. I can't believe how much better my relationship with Matt is, with my kids, with God.

That was an incredible movie. Matt and I have never really been to the lawyer point, but we have felt like it. I don't know how our marriage would be now if we didn't have Jesus in the middle of it. It isn't always the most fun for me to think about what he needs at the moment...like I might want a back rub, but if he is tired or sick, or busy, then I wait. The selfish part of me wants what I want now. That is not how to have a good marriage. There is a better way. When God gets hold of your marriage, it can be awesome.

Good week

2009-02-20T21:40:00.001-06:00

This has been a very full and good week. The girls are getting ready to go to district on Tuesday and then next weekend is totally full and crazy. It has been very trying at times with different issues, but God is so good. He has really given me a peace about how He is going to be with me through anything and everything. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Not much to say

2009-02-13T17:18:00.002-06:00

I am not sure why I haven't had the desire to blog lately. I think I feel like I am saying the same things over and over again. School, family, etc.

I have been in kind of a thinking mode lately. Thinking about my job, life, the stimulus package, our world, our new administration, my students stealing from me, who I am in Christ. I guess I am just taking things in and rolling them over and over.

I have made one discover. Exercise makes me feel really good. I knew that, but it takes me being really disciplined to see the fruits of it. I love exercising, but I have to make myself do it.

I realized that it stinks when you try so hard to connect with your students and to build them up and they steal from you. I have been tested with loving my enemy and can I really pray for those who persecute me. I talk big about my spirituality, but can I back it up with an inner peace? This has been in the front of my mind.

I am praying about the upcoming revival where Matt will be leading worship. It is wild to pray about God showing up and wondering what He will do. There are many friends of mine who are in missions in places that I can't even imagine. I think about what God is going to do there. He already is doing so much. It is tough learning about the evil that surrounds our cities and towns. It is much easier to go through life with a "me" mindset. It reminds me of a (I thought strange at the time) guy who told me not to be a Christian because I was cute and had good hair. I didn't really get that then, when I was 19, but I think at 37 I finally get what he was saying.

Don't stay in your comfort zone. Don't try to keep your Christianity wrapped up in a neat package. I thought he was so weird, but there is some definite truth to what he said.

I guess I am boring whomever reads this with my deep thought mood. I am sure you can click on another page or turn off the internet altogether if you want.

I am asking God where He wants to take me. What sacrifice and discomfort do I need to experience? Will I love my student who stole from me when I turned my back?

God is so good. He is so worthy of our praise. He is in control everyday and of everything. I need to believe that prayer works and that His word does not return void.

Take care,

Tithe Rap

2009-02-09T21:27:00.001-06:00

Wow. This is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. It makes me really proud to be Caucasian.

School's out...poor, sad, children

2009-01-28T13:18:00.002-06:00

Well, I am at home today. I have almost never wished for anything so hard. I know it was a selfish wish/prayer. (I think I didn't think this was worthy of a prayer this morning when I was hoping for it.) It just meant that I wanted to be a slug today no matter what.

I strained my neck and my blurry eyes to see our small TV screen in our room to see if my district would be closed today. Finally right before 6 AM it came across the screen. Marshall County Schools......closed today. "Yee Haw!" is what went through my mind....and "thank you, Lord."

I love my job. I really do. There is just something about staying in your pj's and being a slug sometimes that is very enticing.

I can almost see the faces of my students. I know they were overjoyed when they got the news that we were out today.

Well, I hope you all are having a blessed week.

The days of our life....s

2009-01-25T14:22:00.004-06:00

OK...that was a reference to Waiting for Guffman. Did anyone recognize it? If you did, comment and whomever (are you impressed with my correct English grammar usage?) guesses it will be mailed a happy. (Hint: it happened when the mom was talking about her son being in a movie.) It is very obscure, so you will have to be very strange to get it.

Speaking of strange. This is such a strange time of year because so many things are coming up. This is like hibernation time. It is cold, so no fun in the yard, etc.

Several workshops and conferences are coming up in February, April and March, but not yet. My choir is getting ready for contest in Feb. and March. We are waiting on all of our W2's to finish our taxes. Weird time of year. I guess in a way it is good because we run so hard and so fast at the end of each year until Christmas and then it is time to coast a little. I need to enjoy the coasting. I am getting a little antsy, because I am really wanting to go on some mission trips, etc. soon. I want to be doing more. I don't want to say that I am bored, but I just feel like there is more yet to come. I miss singing with Matt like we have in the past, and we get to do that soon at a revival in March. I have read about others who are waiting for their adopted children to come home to them and now I guess I have waiting sympathy. Oh...not on that scale of importance, but I am also waiting for next Sunday for the Super Bowl.

God is so good. His mercies are new every morning, so I am going to start focusing on what new He has to show me today and everyday.

For now, though, it is Sunday afternoon and I am on my way to put on my new fuzzy pajama pants that I got for Christmas. They are incredible. The are like wearing a blanket. I am going to sleep. Sleep for maybe 2 hours. Crazy, I know.

Mamaw, Mamaw, Mamaw

2009-01-15T16:35:00.007-06:00

(These pictures are totally unrelated....I just like them.)

Wow. It is interesting how things work sometimes. God's timing is so perfect. We have the best example of a servant in front of us.

Mamaw, Matt's mom, retired January 2nd. She got a little time to visit with her sister and then I asked her to come and take the boys to the dentist today. I asked her to come because she has always had to work while my mom was already retired and loved getting (I guess she loved....she looked happy anyway. Hmmm....) to come and be with the kids at different times when we needed her. Mamaw always had to work. She worked really hard for so many years.

This past week her sweet daddy fell and broke his hip and has been in the hospital. Her mom isn't really able to do everything for him and gets tired easily, so Mamaw packed up and has gone there. I know she was really thankful to be able to be off to be able to help them, but I know she is tired. So giving. Please pray for them and for her taking care of them.

All of our elementary kids loaded up and went to our high school to watch a junior varsity game. They were so pumped. This gave me a little break from the norm. Monday we have off for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s b-day and then Tuesday we are watching the inauguration. Wednesday we will get back to real school.

Anyway, now for a random thought. It is cold....in my house. What is up with that? This is Mississippi. It is supposed to be one of the two coldest days this year. Tomorrow is the other one.

Another random comment: I wish my Bsafe filter didn't mess up Facebook. I have had fun seeing people I haven't seen in forever and talking with them. I can only do this if I uninstall the filter. Argg! I am going to have to figure out something different.

A serious comment: Focus on the Family has been great the past few days (like it is all the time...). I am processing the shows earlier this week that were about "Never Say Diet". I am in denial about my weight right now. Not really, I mean, I am enjoying doing Wii Fit when I have time to get on it. the eating issue is not even on the radar right now. It is so tough being disciplined enough to do it. This is true in many areas of my life. Discipline is tough. I am more of a comfort person. I guess that also means spoiled. Does it count if you know that is true? Maybe. Anyway, I am working on it (with God's help...that is the only way.)

Hope the rest of your weeks are great.

My eyes are heavy

2009-01-09T23:01:00.004-06:00

I have been waiting for this night all week. I think we don't have anywhere we have to be tomorrow. Ahhhhhhh.....................
To get some sleep and then clean the house, and maybe even get on Wii Fit, will be great. I know it is going to fuss at me for not being able to get on it very much this week. I can't tell it that I had basketball duty this week and a million other things. I don't think the little computer brain will understand.
This has been a whirlwind week. Matt has started teaching guitar lessons again. He has been very blessed to get more students. This does mean, however, that he will be busier. It all manages to work out, though. I just got home after falling asleep outside the movie theater waiting for Matthew to get through with his movie. Exciting, huh? I am living a much different life than I did the first time I lived in Oxford almost 20 years ago. I was 18.
I love where I am in life now, though. I love seeing what God is doing in the lives of my husband, my kids and myself. Anyway.....this is beginning to be too deep for me right now. My bed and maybe Charlie Chan in Paris are calling me. I don't think I will see much of it before I sack out. Take care.....

My sweet husband taking care of the details

2009-01-05T23:13:00.000-06:00

Matt was trying to understand why these candles didn't look like they were burning. He finally discussed it with the preachers. It bothered him.

2009-01-05T23:10:00.000-06:00

I am trying to figure out what these teenagers are doing......

Nana and Chuck's wedding

2009-01-05T23:08:00.000-06:00

Saturday was great. Mom was so happy, and it was great to see her that way. Chuck was pretty happy, too. I am really thankful that they found each other. Our family had a good time hanging out together at the wedding and then Uncle Ron took the kids to get a Wii game.

Like my friend Amber would say...."Good times....."

Take care and have a great week. Is it Friday yet? My body is not accustomed to waking up like it did this morning. Mercy!

2009-01-01T15:43:00.000-06:00

2009-01-01T15:42:00.000-06:00

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

2009-01-01T15:40:00.000-06:00

Here are some of the good times we had this holiday. It has been wonderful. Today is the first day of 2009 and I am pretty emotional. My precious grandmother passed away early this morning. She had lived a long, wonderful life and was ready to go. I hate how these past few years have been because she had to move to a nursing home close to my uncle and away from us. I have missed her so much. I am glad that she won't suffer anymore, but can't believe that she is gone. My dad and her oldest son passed away years ago, as well as her husband, many many years ago. She always missed them and couldn't believe that she lived longer than they did. Now she doesn't have to wait. My kids called her G.G. for greatgrandmother. I know they aren't going to take this well. God bless you guys. Hug the people you love today.

Fiya, Fiya, Fiya!!

2008-12-29T00:47:00.004-06:00

Thank you New Prospect Baptist Church choir for our awesome outing to Kabuki. The kids had never been and had the time of their lives. OK.....when they weren't totally afraid and scooting 3 feet away from the table.

OK, in this video it really does look like Jacob is about to lose an eyebrow or two. Wow! The kids were so thankful to go to such a cool place. What a cool gift and a cool way to show their appreciation. We are very blessed.

Here are some more pics. Our chef was awesome. He was really cool and gave Claire extra food. Almost everyone tried to catch scrambled egg in their mouths. Um....not me. Sorry to disappoint you.

Everyone left unscathed

2008-12-27T14:06:00.005-06:00

Well, Christmas was wonderful. We had 11 people in our home spending the night and it was great. I think everyone had room. Our moms slept up in Matthew's room with our younger three children. The kids were beside themselves. They drew names to see who would sleep with whom. One (lucky/unlucky) person who drew the couch "had" to sleep by themselves. Hmmmm.

Santa brought a few various happies, but the big present was the Wii from our moms. They went together and got a Wii and Wii fit with some other games. Oh......my......goodness. It is totally awesome. I had no idea it could be so much fun. Matt is back on Wii Fit skiiing right now. I have actually broken a sweat for the first time in a while. (OK, I am badly out of shape.) I acknowledge that. We did have a few brave souls who would get on the Wii Fit and do the body test in front of everyone. It checks your BMI, etc.

I did mine yesterday after everyone left. Yeah.......it is super cool. Very motivating. I have done yoga, balancing games like hula hoop, etc. skiiing, running with Matt, etc. Oh, I forgot step. I am in love. I have a pretty cute trainer, too. I was a little jealous when Matt picked the computer lady to be his trainer, so I picked the dude. (I am kidding....well, not really.) I call him Richard Simmons. We do yoga together.

My balance has gotten better since yesterday. I can tell. I also feel muscles that I forgot I had. My "core" is a little more toned. :)

Here are some pics:

It's the most wonderful time of the year......

2008-12-23T18:16:00.003-06:00

This week is so glorious. I am home with my family, getting ready for Christmas. Beginning to wrap presents..... planning for Christmas Eve with our families.

The musical at church was wonderful. Amber and Jontyler from church did so great putting drama with the choir. We had a great group in the choir. The children had part in it, too. It was such a blessing. I could barely sing, but managed to croak out some notes. I basically just stood in the choir loft and watched everything around me and thought of what it all means. I just stood there almost crying several times. After the musical we had a great time of fellowship with the deacons, their wives and our pastor and his wife. Someone kept all of the children at church while we went to another person's house. :)

Now the kids are watching "It's a Wonderful Life". I need to get up and keep cleaning for our company. Remember, I said it was my Christmas present? It is coming together. I told Matt that I didn't want to stress this holiday, so I am trying to lower my expectations a little. I mean I want it all perfectly clean and organized....that's all. Is that unreasonable? :)

Tomorrow we are going to try to get out and get the whole family to do something for someone else. We are praying about what we need to do. The kids have been making a little origami, so maybe we can go to a nursing home with those and sing. There isn't a soup kitchen in Oxford that I know of. We are so blessed, we need to be doing for others.

Our good friend, Amber, was sweet enough to take our family Christmas picture. We are blessed because she is a professional photographer. It was great (sarcastic...) . You may know how it is. "Kids, you better sit there and act like you are happy!!!!!!!!" "Nobody move....and SMILE." OK, it wasn't quite that bad. Almost. I think it turned out pretty good, though. Not everyone's best, but the best of the whole group.

Hope your holiday is the most blessed ever. Take care.

Ahhh......medicine

2008-12-17T14:58:00.004-06:00

Another thing that I don't take for granted anymore. We are so blessed here in America to have access to medicine. I did finally go back to the doctor and was told that I have walking pneumonia and pleurisy. I was given about 10 prescriptions. (a little exaggeration) I feel better now. Yea!

Monday night was supposed to have been our Kindergarten program, but it was canceled because of the incoming ice storm. Thank goodness we missed the worst of the weather, but if it hadn't been for that, I would have had to wait until Tuesday night to go to the doctor. I was so grateful to get to get that taken care of. The program has been moved to tomorrow night. Only 2 more days of school................

Today was Claire's program at school. I took off at 11:00 to get to Oxford. The program was great. Her teacher is the choreography queen, so I steal a lot of ideas from her (being a music teacher myself). Claire was an elf. :)

We are going to have Matt's mom and brother, my mom and fiance' and my brother all with us Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning. Wow! We have never done this. Should be fun. I do get something for myself in the process. (Actually, subconsciously I think I did this on purpose.) Our house has to be cleaned from top to bottom. Yea!!!!! I have wanted this since we moved here. :)

Hope the rest of your week is wonderful. Merry early Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas

2008-11-30T12:53:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving holidays were great. I am over my whining about being sick. (although I still am.....wahhhh.) It was wonderful seeing everyone.
Ron, Steve and Nana on Wednesday, the whole gang on Thursday. I could go into the whole story about how the toilet flooded about 30 min. before our company came to Mom's house and how they came in with their babies while we shop-vacked (do you like my new verb?) all the water from the foyer. Mom and I were laughing deliriously by the time we prayed and were eating.

We won't forget that one. Here are some pics. Claire had fun going around photographing everyone.

Friday we headed up to Mashulaville to see Grandma and Grandpa. Mamaw and Chris were there, too. We watched the Egg Bowl. ( Sorry, Mamaw.) Then we just hung out and ate some really good soup. I hated that I had to leave early Sat. morning to get Matthew back to work the Ole Miss basketball game.

Now we are decorating for Christmas, just watched Elf and are now watching a Child's Christmas in Wales. It doesn't get much better. :)

Have a great week.

We take our health for granted so much

2008-11-26T13:08:00.003-06:00

I am realizing how much we often take our health for granted. I have been "sick" since about two weeks ago. First, I thought it was just a chest cold or allergies. I just know I have had a fever and couldn't breathe. I think I am getting better, but I have gotten a little down about it because I have just felt a little puny. I have to stop and think about what it would really be like if I had a real illness or disease. How would I cope? I think about God only giving us what He thinks we can handle. What does this mean for me? Does He think I can't handle very much? I guess He knows me pretty well. Maybe we adapt when we have to. I guess I have more on my plate to handle now than when I was a lot younger.

I am feeling better today and I am grateful.

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We are traveling tonight to Mom's where I will see two of my brothers. Friday we are heading to Mashulaville to see Matt's grandparents. Should be great. We hate that it is so tough for us to get away to see all of them during the school year.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week. We have so much to be thankful for.

I decided to not be a real woman and leave the whole pumpkins alone and chose to use canned pumpkin instead for my pies. I am even going to do the no-bake thing where I use Cool-whip instead of baking a big cheesecake. I know..........I am a wimp. :)

His grace still amazes me

2008-11-17T19:10:00.005-06:00

Today has been a peaceful day. I had prayed a lot about some situations at work that I was in knots over and didn't exactly know how they would work out. God just seems to orchestrate things in a way that is so much better than we deserve. It is overwhelming to think that He really does hold us in His hands.

Here is a picture of the plate I made at Clay Canvas. Not sure if I have shown this or not. This kind of shows what stage our kids are in now.
This week the second graders are putting on a Thanksgiving musical. I love the musical. It has such great music and the kids are so excited about it. I love Thanksgiving. My husband has been accused of being the grinch (by my children) because he doesn't want us to watch Christmas movies before Thanksgiving. I totally understand and am with him. We can't jip Thanksgiving.

We have about 8 pumpkins on our porch that came from the pumpkin patch and sat through October. I am wondering if I am woman enough to make pies out of them. I feel like a real woman when I cook things from scratch. I love all things pumpkin. Last year I was into pumpkin cheesecake making. I did use canned pumpkin then, though. :)
I can't wait until next week. Sunday after we eat a Thanksgiving meal together at church we are heading to Jackson. I bought Matt and me Third Day tickets and I am so excited to be going with some of our good friends. Yea!!
On a different note: Turkeys come in tomorrow. Wow. Just call me delivery lady. Hope I can get everything where it all needs to go.
Have a very blessed week.

I needed this

2008-11-14T23:19:00.002-06:00

I needed this tonight. This has been a long week. The Veteran's Day program on Monday was great even though the turn-out was small. They gave the kids a standing ovation. I know it did something for them.

I didn't want my school to have to get a sub and we are getting ready for more programs (a Thanksgiving one on Nov. 20th), so I went to school when I probably should have been at home some. Today, I finally went home after lunch. I know I am whining tonight. Sorry.

Matthew went with Lafayette to Pearl tonight to play the 2nd round play-offs. Lafayette won!!! Even though this may mean that I will be needed to work the concession stand, I am happy for them. I know they are excited on their way home right now.

Have a great weekend!

My boyfriend's Back

2008-11-06T19:42:00.005-06:00

Well, my mom has had a boy "friend" now for a few weeks. I guess that is how long. She didn't really tell me when they started "talking". He sounds like a great guy. My dad has been gone for about 10 1/2 years now and Mom has carried on by herself. Her perky, giving, self-sacrificing self. I hope this works out for them. It is great to see her so happy.

Wednesday was Matthew's birthday. He was 17. His guitar finally arrived today. Here is a little clip of him minutes after it arrived.

Amber and Matthew went to get tacos and then we had a short party after church. His real party will come later.

We are heading to Jackson tomorrow night. I am excited to be with Mom and then I am taking Matthew to visit MC in Clinton. He has always wanted to go there. I am not sure if it is because of certain people that are in Clinton or if he just feels really drawn to MC. It is a good school. We'll see.

Have a happy Friday tomorrow and a great weekend.

Life is a great big canvas. Ahhhh......

2008-10-30T20:41:00.003-05:00

Don't you like my profound title? I guess there is always so much going on that who knows what to start off with.

After I posted that last blog I saw more of Arrested Development. Um....then I tried to get back on and delete the last blog, but the page wouldn't open. I know it is hilarious in a crazy way, but when they started showing a christian family I got really nervous. I hate to see how the world sees Christians. The family was of course really judgemental, but then very neurotic at the same time. I am just about done with that show. Sorry if any of you took my blog to heart and checked the show out. Don't get me wrong...there were some very funny moments. I just got a bitter taste from the total cluelessness of the writers/producers. What makes me even sadder is that I guess that is the church that the world really does see.

I guess it just made me want to be more real. To live out my faith in a way that brings glory to my Father in heaven. I want to show others grace the way I need God's grace myself and I want to live in His spirit so much that I show others that with God all things are possible.

I have been listening to Focus on the Family a lot lately. This is my morning drive listening. There is a big meeting for prayer and fasting this Sat. in California. I almost can't believe where this country is going. I so many times feel helpless, but these people are crying out to God to do something. So much to pray about and so much to be thankful for.

Matthew's birthday is next Wed. He will be 17! Unbelievable. He wants a really nice guitar and I am excited to get it for him. He has really gotten into playing the guitar and has gotten really good. He plays for worship with his youth group. I just have to order it tomorrow.

Last weekend we sang in Neil and Elizabeth's wedding. Mom kept the kids and Matt and I drove to Atlanta. It was great. We got to see my two brothers, my sister-in-law and my niece that I haven't seen since her high school graduation almost 4 years ago.

Anyway....I am going to have to post more often so I won't write a book each time. Hope you have a happy Friday. Friday, glorious Friday.

I love this artist

2008-10-07T21:54:00.004-05:00

OK....update on family happiness.....things went well tonight. Yea!

I am about to hit the sack. Matt was invited to jam with some other musicians tonight. I am glad he got to do that. He is such a good player (I am a little prejudiced, but I think many would agree...) and loves to play.

While I was waiting to go to bed I was checking out a few blogs which led me to this......
A friend of ours (actually the one who invited him over) told us we needed to watch this show. We watched it a few times. It is one of those that is horrible, but it makes you feel really good about your own life. Even the boringness (is that a word?) of it. The stability of it.....

Here is a picture that one of my favorite artists did of the show. Wow. Click on the picture to go to the artist's etsy shop.

I have been on fall break for these past two days. Today we did have staff development, but no students. Starting the week on Wednesdays is so strange. Weird with it already being hump day. Good, though.

I am singing with my principal Friday at the high school beauty pageant. There you go. Should be fun. Claire's birthday is coming up. She is getting so old. She and I had a good night tonight. It was hard for her to be unhappy when she heard that some people helped out with her fundraiser and made it possible for her to go on the limo ride/ pizza party in a few weeks.

Fundraisers drive us crazy, but we had guilt because we never participate in them to help the school. So....... we let Claire go up and down the street with her friend selling goodies. She does have to share the prizes with her brothers, though, because we didn't do their fundraiser this year. I wish we had thought about it a little more because their school needed the money more. Ooops. We'll have to work on that one.

Well, take care and have a wonderful rest of the week.

Did I say that we have a family circus?

2008-10-06T21:09:00.002-05:00

Wow, having 4 kids is never boring. We are in the midst of teenage years and two guys who are pretty calm (for now) and then a 7 year old girl who is going on 40. I am getting used to just expecting anything. I think God wants me to totally depend on Him and to not have any pride.

All the ideas I had when I was young about what my family would be like have kind of gone out the window. It is so like that movie Parenthood. I laughed when the nutty grandma talked about the "roller coaster", but now I am totally there. It makes you a little numb. I have to keep going back to my corner to get strength from God and for Him to say "OK, go in for another round. You can do it."

My daughter and I don't always understand each other. I feel like I have to surf her emotions and pray that I land safely on land. I just need to say one thing.....Mom, I am sorry for all the grief I gave you growing up. I love being with my daughter. She is one of my greatest joys on this Earth. The same goes for my other kids. The middle guys are patient most of the time while we deal with the oldest and youngest. Just a minute ago I watched some of Pirates of the Caribbean with Benjamin and Jacob (like I had promised I would). Well, this caused a slight melt-down from the other side of the house. You would think that one would want to be wanted so much and feel "popular". I just want peace and happiness. I am going to chalk it up to her being really tired. That's it.

Now it is bed-time and time to get rested up for round two tomorrow. Kidding. What would I do without them? I am so grateful they are in my life.

What a week!

2008-09-27T21:32:00.004-05:00

I know our year is by no means coming to a complete stop, but I feel like breathing a huge sigh of relief now that the debate has come and gone in Oxford. There has been a lot of excitement around here for a while. There were so many patriotic performances all around the city. I saw Benjamin's performance earlier this week and then Matthew's band and the Oxford band played together outside on the square Thursday afternoon. It was great. I tried to get into all of the politicians' speeches, but I don't have a lot of faith in them too much nowadays. They all say good things, but I am not one to put my faith in what men and women can do. Have I become cynical? I will be nicely surprised if we do get leaders who really have a clue, but anyway...I won't get all into that now. We are so blessed as a country and I pray that we will wake up and see where those blessings come from. We can't keep spitting in God's face and expect for Him to just keep enduring it. He could and can do anything He wants to do about us, but I am so burdened for our country when I see so much depravity and people just wandering around blindly.
Thank goodness for His mercy.

OK....I got off track just a little.

Last night we thought the traffic was going to be crazy in town because of the debate. There were two big screens in the grove for people to watch the debate, and I think the whole town must have been there. Matt and I went to see Fireproof and saw some of the debate after it was over. I thought the movie would sell out because it was opening night so I bought our tickets online the night before. There were about 12 people in the entire theater.

Oxford was a ghost town even though in one little corner of it we had Katie Couric, Obama, McCain, and who knows who else. It was a pretty strange feeling to be driving the same way home from the movies that we always drive and to know that about a block over were the two men who are running for president. Kind of like the Twilight Zone. Weird.

Today was like a marathon. The kids had fun day at Avent park, mom and I went and bought a birthday present for Claire's friend, we dropped Matthew off to go on a bus to a competition with his band, Claire went to her party, Matt lead the choir for a funeral of one of their former students (so very sad), I got Claire and then went to the Clay Canvas for Amber's birthday, I painted a plate of our kids, we came home and then Nana, Claire and I went to Kroger to get a movie and shopped hungry so we bought really nutritious food like White Castle burgers, potato skins, and cream cheese stuffed jalapenos.......now the movie is over and we are waiting to get Matthew from their trip. I am looking forward to a boring Sunday, maybe.

Well, God bless you. Have a wonderful week!

Google Pic game

2008-09-21T17:29:00.004-05:00

I am a little under-the-weather right now and am home from Sunday night church as well as missing this morning. This feels so strange. I got tired of sleeping for now and told John Robert that I would do this game for him. I had mentioned it to him and told him I would put it on my blog.

I found this on someone’s blog, tried to copy and save it, but somehow it got deleted. This is about like what I found. Here is how you play it. You type the answers to these questions into Google search, then you take the first picture that comes up and put it under your answer. Have fun. Here are mine:

1. Age you will be on your next birthday____38_______

2. Your favorite color____green___________

3. Your favorite place to be ______on my porch ______________

4. Your favorite vacation _______to the mountains__________

5. Place you want to go in your life time _________Israel_____________

6. Your first job ________The Balcony_____________

7. Your current job _________music teacher_____________

8. Your dream job ____Christian _performer_

9. The name of your spouse or special someone ____________Matt_____________

10. Your pet’s name _________Coltrane__________________

11. Your favorite food _________Gyros__________________

12. Your favorite thing to do __________hanging out with my family_______________

13. The number of kids you have _____4______________

14. Your place of birth __________Tupelo, MS__________________

15. Your favorite kind of music ___________Christian Alternative Folk_________________

That's it. If you think of some good things to add, just comment and let me know.

Take care and have a good week.

The Grace of God

2008-09-16T22:10:00.003-05:00

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms

If I weren't a believer and haven't really lived this verse very much lately, I would think that it sounds pretty strange. I am so thankful that we have a heavenly Father that is there to battle for us. I just need to be smart and know that and look to Him before doing or saying anything stupid to those I love. This is so hard to remember when you are in the heat of an argument. The enemy would so love for my family to fall apart. By the grace of God, that is not going to happen if I have anything to do with it.

This year has been kind of tough. Matt and I have really been trying to put first things first, but it seems like we are always chasing something. I need to remember to just be still and know that God is God and He is in control. I know this makes no sense for people who don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, but it makes complete sense to those who do. This is the peace that keeps a family together in these times. That makes it possible to forgive each other. To love each other even when the other (or you, yourself...or me, myself) is being a turd. (I can't believe I said turd on the internet.)

Thank you, God for not giving me what I deserve and for giving me what I so don't deserve.

I love you!!! As for my people....I love them too. Because you have given me this kind of love. Unconditional love. Even though I may be mad now. I am thankful that God offers me forgiveness.

Thank you, God, for helping us get up one more time than we fall down.

OK....now you are probably wondering what is going on in our family. We're good. We're just like you...we need prayer.

Take care,

king of hearts

2008-09-12T22:16:00.001-05:00

king of hearts
Originally uploaded by FeetToFaith

Here is the drama the kids are doing. It is about how we wear masks on the outside, but have something different inside. Jesus knows who we are behind our masks and He wants to give us a heart like His. Praise God!

Friday Night Lights

2008-09-12T21:38:00.003-05:00

It is Friday night and I am staring at the light from my computer screen. The kids are in bed and Matthew is still at his game. We HAVE to go see his band play next week. Just because we are teachers and want to fall asleep on the couch at 7:00 Friday nights is no excuse for missing our son. He is a junior this year. Only one more year and he will be just about to go to college.

School is pretty tough for him right now. He has so many things on his plate. We want him to be involved in things, but he almost has too much. There doesn't seem to be anything to cut out, though. It is all good. Church, leading worship for the youth, FCA at school, band, work at Oby's, not to mention homework that is supposedly the most important, right. I mean outside of his quite time, etc. He really wants to be working on his own music with his friends. I wish he had more time to just be young. We will have to see if he can find a balance.

He is a little stressed out. I think we are going to be OK, though. Sometimes I feel like the worst parent. Especially when I loose my temper with him. This morning taking him to school early for FCA was great, though. I think he knows that we will be there for him and that we love him.

Having kids is so wild. I just pray that God will take over, because I am so human. They are precious gifts from Him and I want to do everything so right. I want them all to love God and to want to never walk away from Him. This world is so stinking nasty, though. I get angry when I know what is out there. I try to protect my kids and wonder if I am protecting them too much. God is in control, though. I know this and count on it every day. I can't believe that He puts up with me.

Matt is playing some beautiful music. He got several volumes of music from the Texas list (it's a choir thing) and he and I have been playing through it. There is so much incredible music out there. This is the part of my job that I love. I love that my high school kids really appreciate good music. Even the ones that aren't fast and hip-hop sounding.

Today was a good day in a stressful week. Last week with my 6th graders was horrible. I felt like the worst teacher. Well...I did put two classes together because I had to go to my elementary school for Grandparent's Day. So there were 5o instead of about 25 6th graders at one time. I think that may have had something to do with it. But...today was really good with them. We did the rhythm band...only about 10 times faster than the CD for younger kids. They really liked it.

Tomorrow the kids all have birthday parties to go to and our friend gave us Ole Miss tickets for tomorrow night. We are kind of trying to figure out who is going to go. Matt and I always opt for the less stressful of everything. Maybe because we are lazy or pretty worn out from school.
Anyway, we'll see. I have to finish the masks for the kids' drama for Sunday night. They are doing the "King of Hearts". It is very moving. I hope they will get the message for themselves while they are sharing it. Our drama group is young. Matthew and our pastor's son are the oldest ones there.

Matt had one of his first potential recording jobs referred to him by his fellow teacher friend. When the family got there they needed an accompaniment without back-ground vocals. When they looked a little closer at what they had Matt put the CD on track 5 and there was an acc. without vocals. :) Oh well. He told them that it did get him to get our kids to clean up on a Friday afternoon because they were coming. :)

Can't wait for our family to all get together again. Mamaw went to take care of Grandpa this weekend. Please pray for him. He had an allergic reaction to something and isn't doing well. We used to see family just about every weekend. Mamaw's ritual was ordering pizza for the kids from Domino's. I do miss those times. Now we just have to try a little harder to get together. I really feel like God brought us here so Matthew could grow in his youth group and graduate and that maybe when he does graduate that we will move again. The kids would love to move back to Jackson.

God knows what is going to happen. It is our job to trust Him and walk with Him. Have an awesome weekend!

Long time no see

2008-09-09T22:07:00.003-05:00

Hi there. I can't believe I have neglected my friendly blog. Well, here I am. Things are going fine here. Matt and I are heavily into school and getting our music planned for the year, ordering music, setting performances, etc.

His kids are going to get to sing "The Preamble" from America Rocks during the presidential debate that is coming to Oxford. I can't wait. That was my major influence musically growing up. I loved those groovy songs.

My kids are getting ready for a fall festival. Several of them are singing for the kiddie pageant that day and then the whole choir is singing later that day. Should be fun.

We had a great time Labor Day with Mom, Mamaw, Chris and the kids at Cossar State Park. Mamaw rented two cabins for three nights. The kids got to fish, swim, play disc golf, putt-putt golf and make lots of s'mores. It was awesome. We celebrated Benny's 11th birthday there. I think I overheard him saying that it was the best ever. Thanks, Mamaw, for getting the cabins. We also had some massive Rook games with Mom and Uncle Chris. Matt and Chris against Mom and me. My first night I had a streak going, but it fizzled out night 2. I think I just started going nuts and bidding whatever just to get the pot. Needless to say we lost.....by about 500 points. We were laughing our heads off, though.

Matthew's youth director gave him tickets to the Ole Miss game this weekend. Matthew has to work so I'm not sure who is going.

Claire starts gymnastics this week. I think the Olympics have inspired her.

I am just randomly writing off the top of my head. I converted our website the other day because I can't get Frontpage to open my website anymore. Not sure why. I have to say that the company's software is so much better. Check it out. jonesrestoration.com

Well, I hope that you all have a very blessed week. Please pray about the elections. Sheeeesh. I know God is in control, but I pray that America doesn't get what we deserve. I pray for God to have mercy on us. If you know what I mean. I think any of my friends reading this understand perfectly.

Take care,
Laurie

Busy again

2008-08-22T15:30:00.002-05:00

Things are super busy again. School started August 1st for Matt and me and I haven't posted in forever. There is too much to bore you with now. School is going well while always having some trials. My choir looks really promising.
It's a really good group with some who don't know they are really good kids yet, but hopefully will soon.

Matthew is a junior. I can't believe it. He is leading worship at church and at school. I am so proud of him. He has grown up so much and is almost a man. I can't imagine him leaving home in less than two years.

Claire and I are home today because she has strep throat. She is acting great now, but you can't exactly go to school with that. I was so glad to have a day with her. The boys were excited to be able to get a signed copy of the guy who wrote the Spiderwick Chronicles' new book. He will be at their school on Tuesday and they could buy a signed copy today.

Well...take care for now.

Great week away and great one at home again

2008-07-29T23:04:00.003-05:00

This past week was wild. Ok...today is July 29th. Well...it has all kind of been a blur. Matt and the kids were gone to Centri-kid while Matty and I were home. We went to Jackson Friday, July 18th to meet up with everyone and to see my family that was at my mom's for a reunion on Sun.

Sunday morning the revival began at Park Place. Sunday night after church, Matthew and I headed back to Oxford to get him on the bus to go to X-fuge in Florida with our youth group. Then, Monday, I went to the Teaching Artist's workshop in Oxford. It was very cool being with other performers and learning how to go into schools/libraries, etc. to teach about the arts. After the workshop on Tuesday, I drove to Jackson in time to meet up with Matt for the remaining two nights of the revival. We got to see my friend who was in the wreck. She looks so great. She is walking around and looking so good.

It was all such a blessing. It was so great to be with everyone and really see God show up. I am so excited to see what is going to be happening in their church. Their new pastor will be coming this next weekend. Wednesday night we were pretty much done with everything and were ready to head home together. It had been almost two weeks since Matt, the boys, and Claire had been home. This last week has been great. I almost can't believe that I start school on Friday. In a little over two days.

School bags, paper, pencils and notebooks have been bought. I think the kids are actually almost ready, too. Or they are in denial. Not sure which it is. It is going to be so tough to get back into a routine. Right now it is 11:35. I can't be up this late next week and function at all. Last year Matt and I totally abused ourselves with our lack of sleep. I was so grouchy all the time. Anyway, that is my goal.

Please pray for one of my co-workers whose husband died yesterday.
I can't imagine what she is going through right now.

Sorry, I had a lot to get off of my brain. God bless.....

Just Moe and me

2008-07-16T15:49:00.005-05:00

Well, we are half-way through our week here in Oxford by ourselves. It has been a good time. Everyone left on Monday. Claire to Nana's and the boys and Matt to Centri-kids.
I let Monday be Matthew's big day of jammin' with his friends. We had a drum set and two amps with two electric guitars and microphones going. I wanted to let Matthew do his thing and then we were going to get down to cleanin' business. It has gone pretty well. We got some done before Matthew had to go to work last night. I went to Wal-mart while Matthew worked and then we went to see Get Smart.
Not crazy about all of the language in it, but I laughed until I cried during some of it. Steve Carell is hilarious to me.
This morning we got back down to business. We are sorting, pitching, and giving away...oh and recycling. We have so much junk that I am getting a little overwhelmed. I am asking for all prayers that I can focus. I am trying to get a system for all of the incoming music/papers/art/mail that comes in during the year.
I have two more days to pack for next week and do all of my organizing. Matt is so cute. He texts me every few hours with something else to bring to Jackson. Matthew leaves on Monday for his trip, so we have to open a checking account for him to cash his first paycheck to use. There you go.
Claire forgot her bathing suit, so I hurried and ordered one from Amazon.com. I love that website. I accidentally ordered Amazon prime over Christmas and now our shipping is free on most things. This could be bad. I will be good, though. She got her package today and loves the suit. Love those end of summer sales.
I guess that is about all. I am excited about seeing our friend, Beverly, who has been recovering from a very bad car wreck. I think we will get to see her Sunday night after the revival.
Hope you all have a good week. We can't wait to be at Park Place BC. Here is the link for info on the revival. Park Place Baptist Church Revival

The rain finally came

2008-07-07T17:40:00.003-05:00

We had a great 4th with Mom and the kids. It hasn't really rained here in Oxford since right before we put in the French drain, so we couldn't really test it.
Right after we took the hamburgers and brats off of the grill the rain came in a big way. We needed it so badly. Right before that it was so incredibly hot and humid. If you are from or have been in Mississippi you know what I am talking about. Mississippi has its own special brand of humidity.
Matt and I had bought two tomato plants the day before to try to grow some tomatoes before summer is over. When it sprinkled earlier we decided to plant them. The humidity was steaming off of our skin after all of the digging. The kids were in the pool, so we decided to jump in and surprise them. (clothes and all) I could put some action shots on here, but my pride might be too big (as my 16 year old made whale sounds as he saw the picture for the first time.) (Yes, he did get slapped. Kidding. He just got the look and more reason for me to get out his cute little whale-riding picture from many years ago.) OK, this one doesn't show much except the experience. The kids were so shocked.
I think we got coolness points for that spontaneity.

This is our last full week together at home as a family this summer. Matt and the boys go to Centri-kids next Monday, then we have the revival, and then Matthew goes to X-fuge in Florida. Matt and I start school the next Friday. I am not allowed to mention this to Matt right now. :) I am kidding. This has been the best summer. Have a great week.

Upward Basketball Camp and Matthew's first job

2008-07-03T10:43:00.009-05:00

Here is Matthew before he went to work at Oby's for the first time. His first real job. I totally embarrassed him when his friend saw me taking a picture and went and told everyone at work about his mommy taking his picture. I just couldn't help it. It was like the first day of school. :) Isn't he cute? Sorry, Matthew.

Today I have been continuing my mission of ridding the house of all clutter. My mom is kind of making fun of my recycling while she is up here for the 4th. I will have to take a fun break in a little while, though, to go see Wall-E with everyone.

It is kind of new to me, but it feels so much better than just throwing away massive amounts of garbage. OK, I admit it...I am green. But in a good way.

Matt and I have hit planning for the revival at Park Place hard. We are so excited about coming down for it and seeing what God is going to do. Music will hit us a certain way and we will just know that we are supposed to do a certain song. It will be great to see everyone again. I can't wait to get to see our good friend who was in a car wreck and hasn't really been able to talk to anyone much. It is kind of hard to pass along our prayers from so far away. I know it can always be done, but I will be glad to see her in person.

Take care, and have a great 4th of July!

My husband is awesome!

2008-06-26T00:25:00.003-05:00

Well, we finally did it! We got home at 4:30 AM this morning, but we are done. The risers in my classroom only need to have the carpet attached, and since we ran out of double-sided tape, it will have to wait until I go back to school. We got everything together yesterday and started around 2:45 PM unloading the wood from the van. Around 10:30 PM we left my room to get some sustenance, but all the quick stops in Potts Camp were closed. This made us very determined to finish last night.

Matt's back held out thanks to his white exercise ball the chiropractor told him to lie back on. He was so great. I know his back was about to totally give out, but he kept going. He also got a huge bruise on his arm from the time he was pinched while we were moving the risers. (They got a little heavy.) My only injury was from the wood that fell on my pinky toe. Other than that we were great.

The kids are still with Mom, so we could stay until we finished. Finally this morning we headed home by way of Holly Springs where we were looking for some food. There was no hot food anywhere to be found. (We missed supper building the risers.) We loaded up on Reese's, Chex Mix, and Godiva coffee. Mmmmm. Then we headed home.

Our drive home that early in the morning was a little scary. We saw 9 deer on the sides of the highway. Our reflexes were sharp.
Today was like "coma day". We are responsible adults now who know if our family was around and we had to take care of them we would never stay up till 4:30 AM. Neither of us could sleep past 10. This was one of the laziest days I have ever had. I have two more days to work on the house before the kids get home. I think we are up for it again now. Hope your weeks are going great. Here are some pics of the risers.

Go Team Jones!

2008-06-21T22:04:00.006-05:00

Here is our crew Friday morning around 6:30 AM all coming out to finish off the job Matthew and Matt started earlier in the week. Matt hurt his back while they were digging the trench behind the retaining wall and it was incredibly tough for him to finish. I am so proud of him. I am so proud of Matthew, too. He worked harder than he ever had before. I didn't really start helping until they asked me to come out and hold the light so they could work in the dark on Thursday night. Matt saw that it was probably going to start raining and might have washed out our retaining wall, so we got up early Friday morning to finish pouring in the gravel. The younger three worked really hard and then just about passed out. Thank goodness we were just about finished. We almost finished before Nana got to our house. I think I was about the dirtiest she had ever seen me. Summer project #2 almost finished. We are just waiting for the man to come and make a way for the water to flow under the sidewalk.

The kids leave tomorrow to go to Nana's for a week of Upward Basketball camp. Matthew is going, too. I know as a teenager he is ready for a break from his parents. I am really going to miss those guys. Hopefully we can stay focused and get all of our projects over with. My really good friend asked me today if we were going to record again. Maybe we can this week. We have been talking about what we would like to record. This has been one of my best summers. God is so good to us. We don't deserve Him or His blessings, but I am thankful just the same. Take care. Here is another look at Team Jones on Youtube.

hawaiian pigs, cracked pepper parmesan bread, and stitches

2008-06-19T10:17:00.009-05:00

This has been another eventful week. Last week Mom's surgery went great. The boys and I had a great time with her in Jackson. We went to the Great Harvest Bread Factory and then to my all-time favorite store, the Bargain Boutique. Here is Benny eating all of our bread.

Here is the pig from VBS I was talking about. Lovely, isn't it? I was coveting the sunglasses, though.
This week has been full of working at home and relaxing, Benjamin building his own mini- golf course and making signs to advertise it.
Speaking of mini-golf....we had a little accident while the kids were playing mini-golf. You see, we don't quite have the correct golf clubs yet. I wasn't around (parent disclaimer) so the kids found whatever they could for clubs. Benjamin used a lightsaber and the others found a pole that went to a soccer goal. Around 4:45 last night, the pole hit Jacob on the eyebrow and left a very nice gash. The next thing I heard was "I'm sorry, Jacob." Jacob and I jumped in the car and rushed to Urgent Care. Dr. Dabbs was there and put in 6 stitches. Jacob was great, but a little nervous. Here is Dr. Dabbs giving him advice on not getting injured in the future. Injury Prevention Advice

He will get his stitches out the first day of Upward Basketball camp in Madison. Jacob, Benjamin and Claire get to stay with Nana and Mamaw all week. Our house is sure going to be quiet. :( Hopefully we can go to school and build those risers and paint my classroom. Get it over with.

This summer has been so relaxing. Not driving a lot eveyday is awesome. Matthew has been working hard with Matt outside building the French drain. Today he has gone with a friend of ours to work. This is his manly-man week. Earning money is a good thing and mostly learning to work.

Mom is coming tomorrow to spend the weekend with us and then take the kids back to Jackson. Can't wait.
Happy Thursday!

We have ducts in our attic

2008-06-10T18:52:00.003-05:00

Well, VBS was good last week. Now I feel like I am really out of school. It was a great, but tiring week. I could share with you the video of Matthew and Jontyler and the others doing the dance in their hula skirts, but I promised I wouldn't. They were pumped about it, but when it came down to getting in front of everyone all dressed up, I think they were a little embarrassed.

I enjoyed my 1st and 2nd grade class. They were sweethearts and listened to me some of the time during the week. :)

During Bible school Matt and Matthew started re-doing our duct work in our attic late at night. They cut out lots of extra ducting and tried to make our air work better. I am not bitter. Well, I am really trying to work on that, but we have tried to get our builder to fix this problem and he basically said "forget about it" (Rex on Napoleon Dynamite). We are taking the necessary steps to take care of this, but in the mean time Matt would like to figure out why it isn't working right and try to do something to make it better. They have been manly-men. The air in Matthew's room upstairs is rockin'. Please pray that they don't fall through any ceilings. (I am serious.)

Hope you all have a good week. We are heading to Jackson tomorrow morning for Mom's surgery then back on Thursday. Take care.

Vacation Bible School

2008-05-31T22:56:00.003-05:00

Well, I think every church in Oxford is having their Bible schools this week. For those of you who don't know...this is a week or several days when kids come to church and sing songs, play games, make crafts, etc., and learn how much Jesus loves them.

I can remember growing up and going to Bible school and singing Father Abraham and the arky song. Can't remember quite how that one went. Those were great times. I look back on those days and realize that that is where the foundation of my faith came from. I learned about how to become a christian and about God's grace. I am excited that is such a fun thing for so many kids. My kids are always pumped about the theme each year and the new songs. (We use the Lifeway curriculum/ songs by Jeff Slaughter.) Here is the link: Outrigger Island
Claire especially loves the motions to the songs. We are starting off tomorrow night with a luau with a real roasted pig. Matt is going to rock out on some ukulele. Can't wait.

I am teaching the 1st and 2nd grade class. That is a wild and crazy group. Lots of fun. Never a dull moment. Carpe diem. Oh yeah.

I am excited because I get to wear a grass skirt (thank you, Amber) and sit in a tiki hut built by my good guy friends at church who love a good project. They had the massive nail gun in the room and I thought I needed a bullet proof vest on by the way it sounded. It is covered in bamboo and everything. Thank you, Kevin and Russell. Claire added her decorating touch to it by putting pinwheels through the roof of the hut. I was impressed by how she spaced them out just right. Two were too close together and she took one out and adjusted it. Aww.

Today I ran all over town looking for more beach/luau paraphernalia. About all I could find was a flower bra. Don't see myself in that one.
My friend from school gave me her mini grill that she bought to take her class to the park, so while I was out I bought hot dogs and s'more fixins. Even though it was incredibly late we cranked up the charcoal and watched them flame. We threw away our other grill after getting tired of moving it in our early years of moving all the time. Anyway, this one did great for now. I have a fire pit for the backyard in my mind for the summer. May happen this summer, maybe not. I did make one improvement by buying stepping stones to go from the patio to the pool. Anyway...enough of me and my backyard.

Matthew is playing the electric guitar with Matt in the morning for worship. I have been listening to them practice upstairs and they sound great. It is cool to hear them together.

Hope your summers are getting off to a great start. It is fun to have so much planned and not planned. We can't wait to see our friends from Park Place in July. We're going to Grandma's and Grandpa's next weekend and then to Mom's. Maybe to Atlanta after that. Relaxing the whole time. These are some of the times that teaching really looks good.

Take care.

Matt the builder

2008-05-28T21:19:00.004-05:00

One of his plans

When I told my husband about my desire to build risers in my choir room I didn't know how dedicated he would be to the project. He downloaded an architecture program and got to work. He stayed up really late last night drawing out the plans so I could have them approved by my principal. The plans were gorgeous. I felt like I was living with Mike Brady the architect. How could my principal say no? Well.....she couldn't.
Now we need to go to Home Depot and ask them if they will donate the lumber and carpet to build them. I was told that they did.
I have to pick out the paint color I want the room to be so the school can go buy it. Then, I can paint later this summer. I am excited. First, I am going to take a little time to have a summer break.
In between riser planning he has been leveling the backyard to set up the pool for the kids. One side of the yard where the pool will be is about a foot higher than the other. He is just all over things. The only problem has been that while he has been busy, the mice have played. Jacob proceeded to eat an entire bag of cookies and who knows what else. I hope the pool will be a lap pool so we can work off all of those calories. Whew.

I am off to read with Claire. Tomorrow is the 2 hour Lost. Yea! We have been looking forward to this one. It is getting crazy. Even for Lost.

Take care.

Two posts in one day

2008-05-26T23:13:00.004-05:00

For some reason I am just now seeing this picture that I took while we were at Mamaw's over Mother's Day. Claire and the boys made fortresses outside in her back yard. Coltrane enjoyed visiting each one.

Pictures from our day at Pearson

2008-05-26T22:55:00.002-05:00

Here are the pictures I talked about a few weeks ago. I just discovered Picasa's web album. Hi to Kris, Calvin, the kiddos, Don, Susan and all our other friends there. We had a great time being with you!! Come to Oxford.

"There's a lot of problems" with the English Language?

2008-05-24T22:32:00.006-05:00

:WARNING:

:Random Uptight Rantings to Follow:

OK, I know that I am a language freak, but it really concerns me when I hear really "educated" people using the wrong verb in a sentence. I almost don't hear the verb "are" used in the plural with "there" anymore. I started noticing this a few years ago, and now it is all I hear, except from the other language freaks.

I thought that I might be wrong and that the rule might have changed, so I googled it.

Here is part of an article I found:
In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb. Since there is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.

I hear "there's a lot of cookies" or "there's a lot of people" etc., etc.

I don't know why I even thought about this tonight. It is totally random.
I know that I don't have perfect grammar. My husband keeps me straight so I won't get too high and mighty. I mess up just like anyone, but when I hear it over and over it reminds me of when we went to Greece years ago. Our choir from Ole Miss was singing there and all over we were seeing them taking signs down and then we heard that they were taking down all of the English. They were passing a Greek only law. It seems that English had infiltrated their country so much that they wanted to take steps to preserve their heritage.

I know this is a silly post, because it probably doesn't matter much to most people. I personally don't think anyone should be ashamed of using good grammar. It is OK to have standards.

Not sure how much people care now. I have seen letters from teachers that made me want to cry. The grammar was so incorrect. I thought what could this teacher be teaching my child if she writes like this.

I may should delete this post before anyone reads it. I just think we shouldn't lower our standards as a country. We hear so much about school being dumbed down. As a teacher this really makes me want to do something about this issue.

OK.......I have said my peace and now I can move on. :)

I want to thank Jay for asking us to sing for the youth steak supper fundraiser. Matt and I love to sing together whenever we can. It has been a long time. He was so happy that he got to sing his favorite song by Lyle Lovett, "She's No Lady, She's My Wife". It's a classic.
We came home tonight with 4 ziploc bags full of baked potatoes, several bags of chopped lettuce, a huge bag of steaks and grilled chicken and even some peach cobbler. There was so much food left over that everyone left with bags of food. That takes me back to Pearson BC when we took home food from every church dinner because they had pity on us and our 4 children. Then, I was a stay-at-home mom, so that food really helped.

I am going to have to fight Matt for the piano this summer. He practices every chance he gets. Funny thing is, I am the one who really needs the practice. I am going to bring my keyboard home from school so we will have two here. We have found some great new websites that have public domain piano music. Bach, Mozart, etc. Alright.

OK, enough babbling. My eyelids are getting closer and closer together.

Hope your worship is great tomorrow. Praise God.

Now to something that really matters:
We need to pray for the Steven Curtis Chapman family. Their beautiful 5 year old was killed when one of their teenage sons was coming home and didn't see her in the driveway. What an awful accident. Here is the link to the page they dedicated to her. http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/
I am always so moved by how I see God working in this family. They are such an inspiration to me. Please lift them up in prayer.

Sorry, my thought train jumped around a lot tonight.

Benjamin's dream came true

2008-05-18T21:13:00.007-05:00

This week has been unbelievable. Last Saturday was my birthday which I spent most of with my high school choir. This week we had state testing and then our spring concert/banquet was on Thursday night. There are always so many elements to putting on something like this. I had great help. The kids worked hard and pulled it off. I had some wonderful parents and fellow staff members come to my rescue with cooking and ticket taking.
I think everyone left with very good feelings. Not all students were able to come to the concert, so I have 3 final exams to give. I think a parent is bringing karaoke for class on Tuesday. Alright!
My mom came for the concert Thurs. night and was so much help. We went to see Prince Caspian Friday afternoon after going to Claire's school program. We had a good time Saturday getting ready for summer. Mom and I went to Home Depot and looked at outdoor tables, etc. Matt's and my anniversary is Tuesday, so I wanted to think of a great gift. It seems like for a few years we have been so busy that our anniversary got pushed together with our birthdays and Mother's Day and the end of school and ......
I hope he doesn't read my blog (I don't think he does.) because I am getting a baby-sitter and surprising him. If you have any good ideas for gifts, let me know.
Now to the title of my post. Later Saturday I took Benjamin to the Oxford Skate Park. He has been dying to go and I finally decided to take him. Another time when Matthew went, there were a lot of scary teenagers there and we weren't sure about our little guys going. I decided to check it out and it was fine that day. I think it depends on the day.
He had the time of his life. We need to get helmets before we go back, though.
Jacob wants me to take both of them tomorrow afternoon.
We are counting down to summer. I have kindergarten awards day and then all the other awards days the next few days. My exam is Friday morning and the kids are gone. Graduation is Saturday. The choir was going to sing, but I decided to take a break this year. All the faculty is going, though.
After Memorial Day I have a couple of days without students. Maybe I can get the risers in my room built then.
And then it is "summer time and the living is easy".

Finally....Amber are you happy? :)

2008-05-09T22:45:00.003-05:00

Poor Olan Mills man. We had to reschedule our picture appointment a couple of weeks ago because Matthew was gone and then Benjamin was sick. Our make-up time was Tuesday at 9:00 PM. That's right.

Claire fell asleep in the van on the way and barely woke enough to have her picture made. She was playing the game of making funny faces because she was tired. It was one of those moments as a parent that make you proud. :) The man taking the picture kept saying " Oh....sissy looks asleep in that one, too." He managed to get a few pictures with everyone looking the same direction. Here is one:
My friend from church who is putting the church directory together has been very diligent about reminding us to get our picture made. I guess she had to because we were too sorry to remember to reschedule our appointment.

It is over now. My friend also is a photographer. I was really wanting her to take some informal pictures. That will be a little more fun, I bet.

Happy Friday!!

Too much to blog about

2008-05-06T21:20:00.002-05:00

Since my last post we have had tornadoes in Oxford, band banquets, 100 year church anniversaries, friends losing loved ones, celebrating birthdays, girlfriends going with sons to band banquets, lots of bow and arrow shooting, choir banquets with kids getting to dress up and go with Daddy, contracts signed at Potts Camp, backyard springs, curtains made, etc.

I think you know that you are getting a little tired when you aim your van remote at your classroom door to unlock it. Tonight I did a survey with the Immunization dept. I don't think Matt could have laughed any harder listening to me trying to remember where and when Matthew was immunized. I have never felt so inept at anything in my life. A total failure. Hee, hee. I told the guy I didn't want to send him on a wild goose chase for information. He named all of these shots that Matthew has never received. As I said "no" over and over Matt merely said that we are stinky parents. About the question about Matthew's last wellness check-up......I had to say that he hadn't been for one of those in a really long time. I guess when your kids are so well that you just avoid the doctor's office. I am so thankful that we haven't had a real need to go.

Saturday is my birthday and I will be spending the morning with my high school choir getting ready for our concert on Thursday. A small group from choir will be singing the Irish Blessing at graduation on May 17th. I don't think they realize that this is the morning after prom. I probably need to make sure they are up on this to see if we really are going to have a group there. If they don't want to, my principal friend and I might sing the song we sang last year at the choir's spring concert. We always are secretly looking for an occasion to sing together. Too much fun. Here is the song we sang last year: For Good My mom can't tell us apart. I know it is not perfect, but hey, there you go. When I went blank on the words was when I saw rustling behind the stage curtain and heard talking behind stage. I am not that good to block out teenagers.

I was very honored by Emila Yusof's award of World's Greatest Mom
She is such a neat person. Wonderful artist.
I hope all you moms are getting ready for Mother's Day. I saw an article in myhomeideas.com about having a brunch for special moms. I wish I could have a brunch for all of you.

I have lots of great pictures of our weekend coming soon. Being at Pearson and hanging out with our friends was great. Oh, thank you, Kris, Calvin, Brian and Elizabeth for dog-sitting Coltrane while we went to our friends visitation. Sorry he whined so much.

This weekend I also got some good pictures of the kids in Mamaw's backyard. Making forts with Coltrane. Coltrane eating acorns. Good times.

Have a great week.
God bless you.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth

2008-04-25T07:06:00.003-05:00

Most of my family is happy this morning. Jacob is going on a field-trip to the pizza farm (where they show how all the ingredients of pizza are made and then they see it made and eat it!), Benjamin is also semi-happy. He tried to make his stomach virus last one more day. He did the usual "my stomach still hurts a little" thing. He really likes to be at home. When he saw that it wasn't happenin', he got OK and got on the bus.
Matthew is pretty good. He got off pretty easy, in my opinion, from the confusion over his Disney World spending, etc., so I think he is just kind of flitting around hoping things don't change with our thought about this issue. Lots of his friends bought things for "themselves" and then didn't want them. I mean this happened about 4 or 5 times. One friend bought an "As I Lay Dying" t-shirt and curiously didn't want it. I discovered this one this morning. Something is up or either Matthew has a way of looking totally pitiful where people want to buy him things. Embarrassing. I don't think he cares, though.

Matt is slightly bitter that I have the day off from school, but not too much. He isn't showing any animosity towards me. :) He is learning Man of Constant Sorrow to do with the Lafayette Quartet. Fun! I wish I had thought of that one. My ensemble is doing Tuxedo Junction, what they consider old people music. Ouch.

Claire, on the other hand, left the house and got on the bus in tears. I hate to see my girl like this, but we have been dealing with the issue of her not wanting to read for school. I know playing with friends outside looks far more fun, but.............you still have to do what you have to do. I trusted her one time and just signed that she had read and found out later that she had NOT read. I said "no more". I had to stay late at school and got home around 6. I drove up and she was laying out on the driveway at Annie's house. I can't believe she is doing this at 7. They had blankets and pillows and an umbrella ( no bathing suits, just wrapped up in their own blankets) to shield them from the hot sun. Anyway, I asked her later if she had read. Well....no. I asked her to go read before supper....didn't happen. Before her shower.....didn't happen. (she just kept showing up talking about something totally different). Then, she wanted to stay up late and read and I had to think back on a sign I saw on a bakery door (referring to wedding cakes). It read "Your failure to plan does not constitute an emergency on my part". I was ready for my girl to learn this. This morning I wrote her teacher a note saying that we would finish the book this weekend. I think the thought of letting her teacher down and facing the consequences was too much for her. I hated for her to leave like this, but I hope this has made an impression.

I know, I am mean. Most parents now-a-days would probably have bailed her out, but I want her to grow up to be responsible and maybe not come home and live with me when she is 30. (of course I would always take my child into my home if she or he were having a major life crisis, just not if they wanted me to keep doing everything for them.)

Today I am home with mom. I am so excited. Our day is wide open. Not sure what we will do. First, I have to get the garbage out, though. Exciting. :)
Tomorrow we are going to see my 95 year old grandmother whom I haven't seen in too long. she had to move to Alabama a few years ago. We are meeting two of my brothers who both live in Atlanta. I can't wait to see those knuckle-heads. (I have 4 big brothers just so you know). I say knuckle-heads with the most affection.

Have a blessed day. God is so good. I hope you all know that He loves you very much. Just thought I might link to this page on our website that talks about this, FYI. Who is Jesus?

I will find out today or Monday if I got he job in Oxford. I have a hint that I am supposed to stay where I am, I am just not positive. We'll see. Take care.

Claire misses Matthew

2008-04-17T21:59:00.003-05:00

My Claire is sick today and that makes me very sad. I hate it when I can't do anything for my kids to make them feel better. She was complaining about being "car-sick" when she went to play disc golf with Matt, Neil and the boys. When I finally got to Oxford and picked them up so he could go back and play, she was very droopy. I had to go to Wal-mart to get a shirt for one of my choir guys (our pictures are tomorrow). Jacob had some birthday money that he wanted to spend and so we were in the toy section. My poor baby let us all know why she felt so bad. The bathroom was not close enough. Poor thing.
On the way home she started talking about missing Matthew since he has gone with his band to Disney World. She's in bed now, so I pray that sleep will do her good. Jacob really felt bad for her. He didn't quite know what to say, but he came to her room while I was in there and tried to ask her how she felt. So sweet. That was really good to see, since most of the time they aren't getting along.
Mamaw is coming to our house tomorrow. It will be so good to see her. It has been too long since we really got to be with her.
I have the second day of choir auditions tomorrow at school. Today went great. It is so cool to have kids coming into high school that are really excited about choir. Good attitudes, not discipline problems. I try not to let bad attitudes and discipline problems stop me, but it makes me breath a sigh of relief when kids do care. Makes my job so much easier. I am sad in a way that I will not be able to be around, next year, some of the kids in choir that have had problems because a lot of them aren't going to be in choir. I wish I could have made more of a difference. I guess you never know, though.
Matthew and his band are going to march in a parade while they are at Disney World. I hope it goes well. He was so excited. God bless those chaperones.
Matt and the kids are home tomorrow. Mamaw has said that Matt and I get a date tomorrow night when she gets here. Yea! It has been a really long time since that has happened. We won't know what to do. We are always like high school kids on a date when we get these. We don't take them for granted anymore now that we live further away from our moms. It takes a little more effort.
I can't believe that we only have a few more weeks of school. So much going on. Concerts, banquets, graduations. It is amazing that we don't have more conflicts with each other's school calendars. I think I will be going to prom this year. I've got to show all of my kids how a 36 year old white woman dances. They need to learn the real dances of the 70's and 80's, don't you think? The other day I saw a picture of me at prom my junior year. My sleeves were really "real big". I thought that was just a Napoleon dynamite thing. If it weren't 10:44 now and if I weren't up way past when I wanted to be, I would go get the picture and scan it for all to see. Maybe tomorrow. I certainly would love to have the figure I had in that picture.
Oh well. Have a great weekend.

Hay in my van, kids at school, Matt on a bus to Atlanta and me being a slug

2008-04-11T14:19:00.003-05:00

I am so thankful that my school district built in some snow days this year. Last year we had to take snow days and had to make them up. Well, today is a day that was to have been a snow day. Since we didn't use it, we all got a little vacation. We'll get another in two weeks. Ahhhh............
I usually have many plans for my days off. Today my mind was set on my bed and watching parts of Nero Wolfe in between sleep. I have already had a little part of that, and am about to have more.

The kids will be home in about an hour and then it will be exciting. Matt has gone to Atlanta with the LHS choir. They are singing in a competition and going to Six Flags. He'll be back Sunday night.

My last elementary musical of this school year is Monday night. It is set on a farm so I went the other day and got two bales of hay. I took it to the auditorium so my family could fit in the van and that I wouldn't be smelling hay all weekend. But.....there is quite a bit left in the van. When the musical is over I am going to bring one bale home and let Jacob use it for archery practice with his new bow and arrows.

Well, have a great weekend. Matthew is doing a drama with his drama group for the conference at church. I was involved in this, but will be home with our peeps.
Weekends...................:)

Matthew loves me the most

2008-03-24T19:44:00.004-05:00

OK, I am being a little like Marie on Everyone Loves Raymond, but I can't help it. I made spinach casserole from a recipe I got from the Internet. I thought we had Mamaw's recipe, but I couldn't find it in my recipe box and I just didn't think about picking up the phone and calling her.

Well, on Easter everyone tried the casserole. Little bites were taken here and there. Matthew, however, took hefty bites and even finished his portion.

Well, tonight, I re-heated our left-overs from Easter dinner. The Sister Schubert's rolls were long gone. We had ham left, pasta, fruit salad and SPINACH CASSEROLE. I went to much care to mix it up better to blend the cream cheese in more (thinking that this was why it was not devoured). Do you think it was eaten? No. Not even my husband, who cares so much about making our kids eat their veggies, would touch it. OK, he has a reputation for being slightly picky, but at least my sweet daughter would eat it. You guessed it. Not a chance. She did later out of total guilt, but just a couple of little bites. She actually shuddered after one bite. Just like when they were babies. So....does this mean that my casserole tasted like baby food? Hmmmm.............

Finally, I offered money to anyone who would eat my food. Matthew took me up on my offer and I paid him $5. Jacob tried with a few bites and then stopped. Benjamin (my Matt look-a-like) didn't even look at it. He said I could pay him 39,000 to eat 39,000 peeps. I was totally insulted. Matt said that he would make them eat it if it tasted good. He braced himself for being knocked out, but I was bigger than that. I wasn't going to stoop to their lever. He was pushing the bonds of our marriage in a major way.

I mean it even had the little fried onions on top until I mixed them in to blend the cream cheese. (OK, don't tell my family, but I thought it was a little gross, too. I just couldn't swallow my pride long enough to admit it.) Anyway, it is gone and I told Jacob as he walked away that I knew he loved me, but not as much as Matthew. I know I have been a little twisted and codependent tonight.

Changing the subject, church yesterday was great. It was such a celebration of what it should have been about. A guy re-committed his life to Christ and another girl got saved. This is what "Easter" is all about. Celebrating the new life Jesus gives us if we come to Him and believe. Our friend Shannon sang an incredible song then our pastor preached an awesome sermon.

Matt and I both agreed, though, that we weren't into the bunny thing much at all and probably will be downplaying it more and more. It really almost turned my stomach to give chocolate and sugar, just because of tradition. Benjamin started asking questions in the car on the way home from church about what bunnies have to do with Easter. I really couldn't give an answer....or did not want to go where asking this question myself would take us. We are already the freaks of the church....well, not as much here at this church, but to question the sacredness of this tradition would, I know, be offensive to some.

We are very much excited about Passover and learning more about that. I am remembering a Passover meal we had when we went to Park Place. It was so much fun sitting around a big table with another family and going through the different parts of the dinner.

Anyway, the next few weeks are going to be fun. Jacob's birthday is next week and we ordered his presents yesterday so they would get here in time. I hope I am not totally crazy, but we got him an archery set. A real one. I am a sucker when he wants something specific. He is such a manly-man. He also wanted a Neo something or other. Like a Bionicle, but a different brand. Anyway. They are on their way from Amazon. We've got to plan his birthday. He has been dying to have it in Jackson and invite their buddy Brian to go bowling. We'll have to see.

After his birthday, we go to Mashulaville to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's 65th wedding anniversary. Grandma is so excited about it. She is so cute. I can't even imagine being married 65 years. I guess I am on my way with almost 13 years.

Matt's choir goes to state competition Wednesday in Ridgeland. I know they will do great. I remember last year Matt almost couldn't ride down on the bus because of his back. Thanks to the chiropractor and his big white exercise ball he is great now.

Take care, and have an awesome week. I have gotten so pumped up after listening to all of the podcasts from Northpoint Community Church in Georgia. If you want to check them out, here is the website:
Northpoint podcasts
Here is the site for the messages you can listen to online:
Northpoint messages
The other day I started listening to "It Came From Within", and today I went back to listening to the series "Discovering God's Will". They are so good.
Take care.

My yard is green

2008-03-18T21:05:00.004-05:00

Thank you Jay of Green Leaf Gardens. I didn't know it was coming, but we came home today with our yard a beautiful shade of green. We figured that this was his doing. There were a couple of other yards near our house that were also sprayed so we knew they had been out in the neighborhood.

What a nice guy. His birthday is Thursday so we really need to do something nice. He is also Matthew's youth minister at church. It has been great getting to know them. He reminds me in a strange way of my dad. Weird, I know. His dad really reminds me of my dad. Bobby Ray.

Matt is rockin' away on our keyboard. He put the headphones on so all I hear are the keys going up and down. He and I are both determined to get better at playing the piano. He is a little ahead of me, but I am so much better than I was. He got a new book of piano exercises to help us get stronger at playing. The boys are getting to play on the classroom keyboards at school. This is so great.

Tomorrow and Thursday I get to wear jeans to school. (It is not hard to make a teacher happy). This is great because I just got out our summer clothes and they are all over on one side of my room on my vanity because I haven't had time to put them away. I was trying to sort them and give some to the Salvation Army in Oxford, but I only got so far. There they still sit. Tomorrow. My point was that I would have had a tough time finding my other, more professional, clothes. Jeans are always great.

We had a little excitement yesterday. Sunday night when Matthew and I were coming home from SNAP (Sunday Night Activity and Prayer), we saw a little bunny rabbit run across our street. We both, at the same time, went "Awwwwwwwww!" Yesterday when I was driving into the driveway, the kids were frowning and said that there was a dead bunny down the street. I thought to myself, but didn't tell the kids, "I bet that was the bunny we saw. Hmmmm......" I had to make them stay away from it. Claire built a tomb for it and wanted to bury it right by our mailbox. She and her friend, Annie, gathered lots of rocks and glued them together. They even decorated it. She knew better than to have asked if we could get a shovel and bring it to our home to bury. My stomach couldn't have taken that. Maybe she is destined to be a Florence Nightingale. I thought it was very sweet. We did want to give the bunny dignity, though. At one point I heard talk of our little neighborhood tough guy running over it and other gross things. I wasn't sure what was worse; leaving it for our ruthless neighbor or bringing it home. Anyway, it is over now. One episode down, one million to go. :)

I have to cast E-i-E-i Oops! (the 2nd and 3rd grade musical) before we get out of school Thursday. That musical will be April 17th. It is not quite as tough as the other ones. If you ask me, it is a little cheesy, but, hey.....you have to have a spring musical. This one is about a farm where everything is great, but the cow on the farm won't moo. Anyway, the songs are cute and the kids like it. There you go.

We have been in our house one year now. Everyday I just thank God that we are able to live in it. He gives us so much more than we deserve.
I am getting big ideas (much to Matt's dismay). Jacob's birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks and I would love for us to build a fire pit in our backyard to have boys over to roast hot dogs and marshmallows over it.
At first I saw a pretty simple plan for a fire pit, but then I saw one that was
on DIY. It was built with stones and actual cement. Heavy duty. Oh yeah!

Easter is this weekend. So strange. I can't believe that it is so early this year. I thought it was pretty much right around Passover, but it is no where close this time. Passover begins April 20th. This kind of irks me, but I won't get on my soap box now. OK, well just a little bit. Jesus celebrated Passover. Christianity is about Him. I just feel like celebrating Passover more than Easter sometimes, because of what our society has seemed to make Easter. It is just another Sunday, because I live in His resurrection everyday. It is very moving to take time to remember, but it is just so confusing sometimes making sure He is given the praise and worship He totally deserves. I hate making Him share this remembrance with a bunny and candy. For years I have tried to find a way to make our candy celebration match up with new life in Christ. That eggs symbolize new life like the life we can have in Jesus. I think I will call Sunday Resurrection Day and totally separate Easter from it. I know we will call it Easter, but for me that part will just be fun for the kids and candy, etc. I don't want to cheapen it.
I have loved using Resurrection Eggs and watching the "Easter Carol" from the Veggie Tales. I love watching the "Miracle Maker". I think we owe it to our kids to not water down what He did for us. There is so much to "Easter" without bunnies. How cool is it that the God of the universe allowed His amazing Son suffer and die so we can have new life in Him. That something that happened so long ago would affect our lives today. That we can walk with Him and know His love, mercy and grace. Wow!
I guess I am not going to get warped out about Easter and totally boycott it. I just will keep it in perspective. Can't wait for Passover in April. OK, off of the soapbox.

These are pretty great, though.

I don't think Jesus has anything to be afraid of with a few chocolate eggs. Hey, He created milk and gave man the idea to make these eggs. They must be good.
Matthew personally likes robin eggs. Matt likes Reese's eggs. Claire, Benjamin and Jacob like anything they can get their hands on. SUGAR. SUGAR. SUGAR.
Matthew just said that he bets dentists love Easter. Hmmmm........
Maybe, .............or maybe not.
Sorry, I am ready for another holiday even though we are just getting from a week off. (Spring break) :/

Kayla Gala

2008-03-06T22:50:00.004-06:00

Tonight Matthew had the honor of performing at a benefit concert. He played with his jazz band at Oxford High School. On the first song here he has a solo. It is a pretty long video, but really good.

Matt and I officially told our director that we needed to take a breather from the Oxford Civic Chorus. I hated it because the music we were doing was so good, and we were going to perform in Birmingham and in the Ford Center at Ole Miss. Our family comes first, though. When I told Claire she cheered. They had tried to be supportive of us going, but deep down I don't think they liked us being gone during the week.

Tomorrow is our last school day until spring break and then tomorrow night a friend from church has offered to baby-sit for us so we can have a date. :)

These past few weeks have been so wild. Please pray for me about where I am supposed to be next year. I would love to be close to home, but just am not sure where the Lord wants me. I know He will work it out.

Ironically, I have been listening to messages from Northpoint Community Church in Georgia that have been about becoming great and what that means. About what it really means to be great. Is it that you are great at something, or just that you strive to be the kind of person that is known for loving people and serving them? Good stuff.

Take care.

Like I said...Matt, Claire, Benjamin, Uncle Neil and Elizabeth are fun people!

2008-03-01T19:56:00.008-06:00

Here is just a quick post before I clean up our den. Matt and the kids went with Neil and his girlfriend Elizabeth to Southaven to see U23D tonight. The kids are beside themselves. Claire was jumping all around dancing and singing. Jacob decided that he could see it anytime and really wanted to stay home, so I stayed with him. He is more laid-back and low key. He likes the peace of home and all the computer to himself. (He thinks. :)

We have had a great weekend. I took off Friday to go to Mom's and on the way went to Claire's school to read some Dr. Seuss books. Here is a pic of the Cat in the Hat rice krispie treat I made.
It was fun to be there. Dr. Seuss was our author of the month and I was supposed to do something special to celebrate him. I don't get to go to their school much since I work so far away.

Today we saw Mamaw and Uncle Chris for lunch before we drove home.

I am so ready for March. Now Matt and I are through with our big weeks of festivals. His choir will go on to state competition later this month. My choir did so much to be proud of, but we won't be going on to competition. We are going to be working toward our final concert and singing at graduation. They want do put on a talent show, but we'll have to see.

It is kind of cool to be building a program, but it is also tough. I am learning to be what these kids need. It doesn't always come naturally. They need structure and discipline and I have always grown up with love and not so much discipline. I am praying as I work through my relationships with my students. There can be so many feelings on sleeves in high school. The students at that age can be so mean and the kids are just hardened by that sometimes. God is holding my hand this whole way through. He is so good. He is showing me how to learn from my mistakes. I must be learning a lot. Hah! :)

I am not sure if I wrote about how the 4th-6th grade musical went. It was great! The kids were fantastic. So much charisma in that group. It was so much more them than anything I did that pulled that off. I really needed that success leading up to this week. If I hadn't had that, I'm not sure I would have a job now. OK, I am over-reacting a little bit. It did help, though. Please pray for my hs group. They really need a good end of the year.

I forgot to mention that last weekend Matthew got to go to the Ole Miss Band Clinic. We were so proud for him. Here he is with his siblings.
Doesn't he look proud to be with us? :)He is so dignified at 16 years old.
Would you blame him? We are a motley crew.

Here is the concert band performing.

Anyway, one more week until spring break. Thank you, Lord.

Matt, Claire, Benjamin, Uncle Neil and Elizabeth are fun people

2008-03-01T19:53:00.001-06:00

Goodbye, February...I wish

2008-02-20T19:41:00.004-06:00

Mercy. There has got to be a better way. Teaching K-12 is rockin' my world.

Oh, hi there. Haven't posted in a while. Hope you are all doing well. A lot has happened, as always, since I last posted. Mom is home now and doing great. I got to be with her and Mamaw this past weekend. It was great. We all saw The Spiderwick Chronicles together. I had to cover Jacob's eyes at one point. I tried to cover Claire's, but she moved my hands.

Last week, our school hosted a basketball district tournament. I had duty all night Thursday and then got to sing the national anthem Friday before the games started. I love doing that!

Matt came up and met me with the kids after I sang and we went to test-drive a van in Memphis. I had forgotten what driving in the big city is like. It took us forever to get through Memphis traffic. I am glad I live in small Oxpatch.

We ended up buying the van. Sorry, Dave Ramsey. We tried to stay in Dave mobiles, but a family of 6 kind of needs to have a way to get to grandma's.
I have to admit....I love it. It was so great actually driving around with Mamaw and Nana. That hasn't happened in I don't know when.

We got home Monday while Matt was at school. We were off for President's Day. This week has flown by. Tomorrow is the 4th-6th grade musical and next Tuesday is the high school choir's district festival. That is why I can't wait for March. Spring Break.......etc. Not that I am not enjoying today, I just don't like quite so many stressful things at once. I am ready to teach my kids about Irish music and watch Riverdance in honor of St. Paddy's Day.

I am going to Riverdance myself after Tuesday. :) Well, take care.

Rainy Afternoon

2008-02-03T14:20:00.000-06:00

Well, it's the big day. My husband is in our room watching the Super Bowl pre-game shows. I would like to watch the game, but we aren't going to be at home. Today seems so strange. It is rainy, Mamaw just brought B and J home from staying at her house this weekend, so they weren't with us for church this morning. Claire went to the Hannah Montana concert movie and spent the night for a friend's birthday party. Matthew just got home later last night from being at a band clinic at Northwest C.C. It was like we had children in shifts, never at the same time.

I spent way too much time yesterday morning looking for Honda Odyssey's to buy (as my house shows) before Claire and I went shopping for her friend's birthday present and I took her to the party. Matt was gone to practice with a student he is taking to try-out for honor choir tomorrow. We were gone before he got home. Then I rushed home to be at a choir party by 5:00. The weather has been so crazy that it kind of puts you in a daze. I am a person who loves the sun. Oh, It was sunny yesterday, though, I forgot. See how weird it has been?

Mom is still in rehab. Not sure about when I will be going to stay with her. She'll be coming home on Thursday, we think. I am trying to time going to Jackson with doing Dr. Seuss day at Claire's school and buying a van when I go to Jackson. Maybe. There is a man there who is looking for what we want in a van, and will let us know when he finds one.

My mind is on so many things now. I have a student who is going through such a tough time at home. She has been having a lot of problems with her mom. I am praying that I will be able to be used to be a witness to them. We are also getting ready for the 4th through 6th grade musical (as you know) and are getting costumes, etc. ready. This is always a strange time because you build up to the musical and just hope it all goes well. Such a balancing act of meeting deadlines and being a counselor to the kids in your class at the same time.

I am not sure which students will go to district contest in choir. We will know this week who is eligible, grade wise. There are some I will leave because they don't know their parts and/or aren't trying, or are being a distraction.

There are so many things these kids have against them from day one. I want to be one of the ones who inspires them that there can be a better life for them. That they can do a good job at something and have pride in themselves. Why do they make some of the choices that they make? I think in a way, that they are just doing what they know to do. They don't know another way.

Sorry for rambling. I am kind of mellow today. Today in church I sang a Nichole Nordeman song called "Legacy". This song is so true to how I feel. I just want to make my life stand for what matters. That when I die, I will known as someone who loved people and pointed to God. That His Son, Jesus, has a new life for anyone who will call on His name.

Well. Claire just got home. She stayed up till 3:00 this morning last night so I need to guide her to her bed to take a nap. Jacob has the most dejected look on his face because he just got home and now he is supposed to rest in his room, too. Well, I better get out of the den. Everyone is coming in here asking if they can get up. I better hide.

I pray that you all have a great week. Take care.

the Tooth Fairy pays big for knocked-out teeth

2008-01-25T20:20:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that so much has happened since I last posted. First, Claire had a virus and we stayed home last Monday. Then the next night, Claire was spinning to put her Bible down and she lost control and hit the table with her face. She howled for about an hour after pulling our one of her teeth. Thank goodness it was a baby tooth. Needless to say, the T. Fairy paid big. She even left Claire a note saying she was sorry that Claire had had such a tough time.

Friday night Mamaw came and we had a great weekend. She went home Sunday morning. After church I got a call from Mom saying "Laurie, I don't mean to alarm you, but, I have had a little problem." She said this from St. Dominic's hospital in Jackson, MS.....with a broken hip. I left Oxford and joined her in Jackson. Matthew and I saw her for a little while then stayed with Mamaw. Mom has so many friends that wanted to spend the night at the hospital, that I had to wait in line. :) I guess this is a blessing, even though I came to Jackson to be with her. I got to stay there until after her surgery on Monday, then Matty and I came back home.

She is doing great now, and is in rehab for her hip. She should be back home later next week. They didn't realize the spunky person they were dealing with. I am glad that she is bouncing back so well.

School the rest of the week was semi-uneventful, even though I postponed the 4th - 6th grade musical until February 21st (to be able to go help Mom again), and I had some 'splaining to do to my kids at school. Some are so ready to put it on because they are nervous. I tried to tell them that a little extra time would not hurt us.

Today at around 1:30 they made an announcement that we were going to be let out early today because of the bad weather coming in. I left school about 2:00. I made sure to not go the back roads that I usually take home because I thought that going the highway would be safer. Well.........
while driving on Hwy. 7, and trying to stay back from the car in front of me, I still had a wreck when the car in front of her (I know her now because I had to exchange insurance info, etc. with her) turned suddenly and she had to stop. I tried to stop, but slid on the ice. Now our car is not in such good shape. Matt did jump on the hood when I got home and it has gone down some. I thought it was totaled, but now am not so sure. Matt says that people drive around in "jacked up" cars all the time. I didn't laugh. To add to my humiliation, many of my students came by while I was talking to the highway patrolman and was receiving an accident report. Uggg. I felt sort of moronic. Anyway, now I have soaked, taken some ibuprofen and am relaxing in my robe. The bad thing was when I called to check on my mom, and she ended up worrying about me. Argg. I don't want her to worry ever, but especially from her hospital room. Shhheeeeesh.

What a couple of weeks.......
We have so much to be thankful for. Mom is OK, I am OK, Claire is OK, everyone else in my family is OK. I actually turned in some school paperwork on time. Yea! Now time for the weekend.
Hope all of yours are great!

First Full Week Back at School

2008-01-11T22:07:00.000-06:00

Today is Friday (praise the Lord), and another week at school finished. It has been a pretty good one, but very busy.
I stayed after a couple of days to get more done. The 4th-6th musical is going to be in less than a month. Our first drama practice is going to be Monday. Wow! I think I am a glutton for punishment by getting so many 4th-6th graders together in the auditorium at one time. The kids are getting excited. Parts are finally given out. I pray that the planning we are doing now will help make the show Feb. 7th much better than the Kindergarten and 1st grade program in December. ( Parents thought it was really cute, but as I said before..... a little chaotic. :) )
Speaking of that, I thought I was up for watching it right before school started back, but I could not handle it. We had to turn it off. It is still too fresh.

Here is the t-shirt I designed for our show. Please tell me if you think it is completely ugly. I chose the colors to go along with the We Haz Jazz cover. (kind of bright colors) Of course the wording will be different, but it will look similar.

This week has been so wild. We were in the halls yesterday for a long time because of the tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama. It did damage about 3 miles from our school. I don't think we realized that it was so close. Wow!

I met Matt and the kids this afternoon to see "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything". It was cute. When I finally got to the theater, it was dark. I was glad I found the right family. I saw Matt's glasses and then Jacob's big cheeks and smiley face. The movie was very entertaining. At the end the veggies sing a song called "Rock Monster". It was a take-off of the B52's song "Rock Lobster". I used to listen to the B52's a lot and loved hearing the song. They even had one of the veggies wearing her hair like the B52's lady. They were an incredible band. I also loved the veggies' cover of it. :)

Matthew has gone to Nashville with his buddy Jontyler and Shannon and her family to be with them when they sing for the "Can You Duet" contest. Jontyler and Shannon are so talented. I know they will do great. So sweet to let Matty go along. He just called tonight and said that they were going to make some money. He had brought his guitar to Nashville and he and Jontyler were going to play for money. There you go....

I am excited to get to be at home for most of tomorrow and organize our house. I am in the throw away/give away, etc. phase of life. I want to clean out our clutter. We took about 4 boxes to the Salvation Army a few weeks ago. It was so beautiful to see them go. Felt like a big weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I can't believe we have kept so much junk. It is so hard for me to get rid of things. Especially things the kids have done. I don't believe we need to keep everything, I just have a tough time deciding what we really want to keep forever and what can go. No one in my family has this particular passion right now (this is an understatement). Matt is great at getting rid of things, but I want to know what we need to keep and find a place for those. He is playing disc golf tomorrow...plus, I would feel bad asking him to take his weekend to do something just because I am feeling driven about it.
I will take whatever progress I can get. :)

OK, I am falling asleep as I write this. I am probably going to start misspelling words now. Better go to bed. I love my bed and sleep. It is a good thing that God made. Sleep. Ahhhhhhh...........
Have a great weekend.

Benny's published letter to Santa- click on picture to see larger image

2008-01-02T21:10:00.001-06:00

A friend brought this and gave it to Matt tonight. Benjamin's picture was published in the Oxford Eagle here in town. I hope you can see what it says. Wow....that's my guy. If you know him this letter is no shock to you. Most people think Benny is quiet and calm. Ha! He is a coconut. :) I love him and am very proud of him.

Here is one of him on his new ripstick that he got for Christmas. We were a little nervous about getting it, thinking that we were asking for a trip to the hospital. Once again, he surprised us.
Anyway, happy Wednesday. Kids at my school come tomorrow. Matt and the kids still go back on Monday. No change there. It only hurts me at home. When I leave the house I am back into my routine. I just miss them, that's all. Whaaa. Sorry for the whining.
Take care.

Happy New Year!!!

2007-12-31T20:01:00.000-06:00

We wish everyone blessings on this New Year's Eve. This has been a great year. We have so much to be thankful for.
Everyone in our family is healthy. Matt and I have jobs. We have a wonderful church family. The adults in our family know Jesus as Lord and Savior. God has kept our cars going another year. (They are true Dave Ramsey cars and are pretty dern old.)
We know that God has a purpose for our lives and feel His presence and guidance daily.
We both have wonderful, supportive moms, who love our kids and each of us.
God gave us a new house this year. Last year we lived in a house that was cold and still had utility bills of over $600.
Our doggy, who was in a car wreck, made it and is very healthy.
We have so many old and new friends that we love.
God has given us the opportunity to sing together many times this year to new people, which we have really enjoyed.
Things are good between our 16 year old and us. Our kids are getting along so much better than ever. Matt and I have been married 12 years and still love each other. :)
We've had lots of good times together, from singing in weddings to trips to Six Flags.
God has met every need we have had and lots more.

I could go on and on. Matt has taken everyone to the fireworks stand. We live outside the city limits now, so we can go crazy.

Take care. We really are thankful for all of you. See you in 2008!

Matthew's New hat

2007-12-29T20:28:00.001-06:00

Matthew's New hat
Originally uploaded by jonesrestoration

Christmas has been so great. Hope it has been for all of you. We had a wonderful time with my mom, at church on Christmas Eve, going to Grandma's and Grandpa's on Christmas Day, staying with Mamaw and Nana in Clinton, etc.
Matt and I came home today and Matthew's hat was waiting at our front door. (didn't make it for Christmas morning)
I thought I would model it for him.
The kids will come home Monday.
Take care...and Happy Early New Year!

Christmas rantings...holiday cheer

2007-12-22T15:12:00.000-06:00

Hi there. My name is Laurie, and I used to blog.
Last post was December 7. Since then there have been 3 or 4 Christmas programs, parties, exams, basketball duty, etc.
The high school choir sang in between acts of Stocking Stuffers. This was the drama dept.'s skits. They were great. The choir had a good time being a part of this. There has been so much drama in choir that we haven't needed any skits. Things are getting better, though. We had a party after our exam on Friday, and the kids were pretty cordial to each other.
We are working on becoming a choir that pulls together. The kids haven't had opportunities to be a part of something excellent, and putting out the kinds of energy that it takes to get there. With every performance of Stocking Stuffers I saw them get better and better. We still need to work on behavior. I put a lot about concert etiquette on the choir exam. I hope they didn't miss any of those questions.
I could write for about an hour about the Kindergarten and 1st grade Christmas program. Let me just say that it was wild. The kids were so very cute in their penguin costumes. The parents loved it. We learned a lot from it that I believe we will benefit from next time and forever. One person said "I was just sitting there watching you and thinking that you were about to lose it." I kept my sanity. The kids were so excited to be penguins and that their moms and dads were in the audience that they were having a party on the risers. They wouldn't look at me to save their lives. I had to get up and literally say "Boys and girls, look at me!" Hee, heee. I can laugh about it now. One girl shook her head, not wanting to come and say her lines. I gave her a very desperate look. I think she knew I was about to lose it. We finally got to the end, though.
I am wiser now, although I don't know how you keep Kindergartners from looking at their parents, except to practice for two weeks at school and threaten them. I didn't want to do either. The teachers were so busy testing, etc. We wanted to save their school time. We'll find a happy medium next time. The kids were pumped up, though, because one of our songs called for a kazoo, and they all got one of their very own. I have to swallow my pride often. It is not hard for the Lord to keep me humble. :)
On December 16th the kids at church did a program. The youth and children's choir. Youth in the morning, children at night. They all did such a great job. I couldn't believe that the Jones children actually sang solos (except you know who.) Jacob and Claire did great jobs.
Here is Claire.

The church just goo-gooed over all of the kids. They were so sweet.

The youth had been doing an advent wreath starting December 2nd. It has been so cool to see them read and light the candles. There was a tense moment when a certain un-named youth tried to light the candles last week.
After school was out this past week, we really got into Christmas. Matt had Rhapsody rocking with his 426 track Christmas play list. The songs are so great. So much good Jazz. Ella Fitzgerald, Burl Ives, Mel Torme, Laurence Juber, Vince Guaraldi, The Jackson 5, The Chipmonks.
The youth did a live nativity scene on Friday night. Wow! I still am trying to get over Matthew and his friend Stephen being sheep. Here is a little taste of that.

Matt used the money that Grandma and Grandpa sent to buy the kids two collections of Christmas movies. All of the classics including Frosty's Christmas in July (a little freakish if you ask me), The one with baby new year, and all of the best ones.
My family has kind of gotten a new favorite. It's called Robbie the Reindeer. It's made by the Wallace and Gromit people.
We had to watch "Meet Me in St. Louis" a bunch of times, too.
These holidays have been great. So much of a blur, though. I hate getting to the last day of school and thinking "Man, I meant to get this person a gift." I will have to plan a little more ahead next time. I also will try better to find out details about my own children's programs. Jacob had one that Matt and I really didn't know much about, until it was all over. Better communication next year.
The adult choir at church is having our program in the morning. It is called One of Us. Mom is coming and then no church tomorrow night. Matt and I are going to have a date. I never thought we would have gone so long without one. I forgot that Matthew did babysit not too long ago for Matt and me to go see Dan in Real Life. Still, another is needed. I have read that you are supposed to plan one every week. Also a date with each of your kids. We are long overdue. That is a new year's resolution.
Jacob, Claire and I are about to go to my worst nightmare of a store to find Matthew and Benjamin a present. This year we have combined the kids so they can get each other something they would really like and not just something to say that they got each other something. So Matthew and Benjamin bought one present for Jacob and one for Claire. That trip took us about 4 hours, so I don't expect to be back anytime soon. I did tell Claire and Jacob if they fussed at all, that we would come straight home. We might be home early.
Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of advent. Then Christmas Eve is Monday night. We get to light the big white candle. Happy Birthday, Jesus. Thank you for loving us enough to come here for us. We don't deserve it in any way, but are grateful for it anyway.
Here is a really cool video I got from a friend:
The Watchmaker.

Nutcracker Ballet at Fulton Chapel on the Ole Miss Campus

2007-12-07T23:20:00.001-06:00

Nutcracker Ballet at Fulton Chapel on Ole Miss Campus
Originally uploaded by jonesrestoration

There is so much to tell about this week that I will save most of it for another time.
Tonight I took Jacob and Claire to see the Nutcracker Ballet at Ole Miss. The house was packed so we had to sit on the floor towards the front. The kids could see great.
What a way to get us in the Christmas spirit! Have a great weekend. Thanks Brandy and Jason for the precious Christmas card of your sweet people. They are precious!

2007-11-29T08:04:00.001-06:00

Originally uploaded by //bwr

I love this picture.
I am taking a couple of minutes out of my day to look at beautiful pictures. I guess I am trying to escape momentarily.
This time of the year is a little nuts. I love it, but I always have to just take a deep breath and jump in. I often am thinking, "Why did I become a Music teacher again?"
Tonight Matt and I are singing for the Senior banquet at church. We stayed home this morning to practice, etc. I am going to go back to school for choir, though. The choir is singing Sunday at a church in Potts Camp. Every time we even begin to go somewhere like this, my heart starts pounding. I can handle my own performing....if I mess up, I can handle it. I can control the way I think about the performance...how excited I get about it. Getting these kids to care about what we are doing is something entirely different. Please pray that all of our work will come together. Pray that I will know how to lead them. (This is only my second year with high school.)
I think a lot of the kids are getting discouraged because I have to stop so often for discipline problems. We have a tough time learning many songs. Getting all the way through songs, etc. I know so much of this is my lack of experience. Matt is really encouraging me, though. He is reminding me of his year at Morton.
He makes me feel a little better.
On a fun note, the Oxford Civic Chorus sang Tuesday night at the Powerhouse in Oxford. I got to sing the solo on Shenandoah. It was a lot of fun.
This time of year is so wonderful. I am going to try to remember what it is all about and love it even in the midst of craziness.
This week my principal is leaving to go be the Superintendent in another school district. Tomorrow we are having a big shindig for him. I am supposed to re-write "Lucille" to sound like "Basil". We are trying to get all teachers to sing with us.
Should be fun. Well, have a great rest of the week. Shoot us an email....we would love to hear what you all are doing?

Thanksgiving Holidays at last.....

2007-11-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning. I thought this was going to be a much crazier week than it has actually been.

Last weekend was filled with Oxford Civic Chorus practices, parties and then concert. The concert was great. So much fun to sing with that big group and then the ensemble. What a thrill to be singing under the direction of an awesome conductor. My college professor is our conductor now. I have never seen another like him.

Sunday, at church before the concert, the staff was honored by the church at the end of the service. It was so nice. They gave us a nice gift certificate to Chili's which we enjoyed this week. After the concert, Matt rushed back to church for children's choir. He was still wearing his tux. :) He led worship at church in his tux. I matched him on the first pew by wearing my long black skirt and black top. :) I guess you gotta do what you gotta do when you have no time.

The week became more exciting when one of my students stole the SIM card out of my phone. We attempted to get some info, but in the end I just cut off my phone and went on. I guess I learned my lesson. (I hope.) I don't want to be totally distrusting of all of my students, but I am a little more careful now. I did see where I am eligible for a new phone with a 2 year contract. So, I guess in a way this student has made me upgrade to a nicer phone for myself. I may even get one with a camera. What he/she meant for bad has turned out good for me. Reminds me of a story I know.....mine is to a much lesser degree, though. I mean, how important are cell phones? Not very.

The turkeys were supposed to come on Wednesday, but the truck broke down. They came on Thursday. There was only one mistake with people getting what they ordered. A smoked turkey was missing and a sweet person agreed to take a Cajun turkey instead. I was so happy that they were not upset about it. So, all meat is given and most money is in. Yea! We made about $800 with one student making about $200 of that profit. We only had a few selling this year, so maybe more will sell next year. The meats are great, so maybe it will catch on and people will make us a tradition of where they get their Thanksgiving turkeys/hams. :)

I am so excited about seeing my family. It has been so long since we got to go home to our moms'. I hope I can keep from thinking about Christmas programs, casting speaking parts, etc. off of my mind to enjoy our time together.

After the OCC concert at the Powerhouse in Oxford on the 27th, Matt and I are singing at the Senior Banquet at church the 29th. I am so excited about singing Christmas music again. It always makes it great, too, when you are singing for some of the sweetest people in the world.

I wish that we could have recorded again this year, but other things took priority. We are needing a new computer really before we can do any of that. This one has been very faithful to us. Well....as faithful as any computer. It didn't blow up or anything. It is time, though, to move on to a younger cutie. Matt is recording a friend's church choir soon, and he really needs the computer soon so he can actually give his friend a CD instead of just having the audio on his recorder.

I am listening to Matt's mix of Nora Jones and Allison Krauss and Robert Plant. It is really interesting. I love Nora Jones' voice and style. The Allison and Robert is very eclectic. I think I like it, though.

I am rambling now, so I will end this post. Oh, have I mentioned how incredible beautiful the leaves have been this year? My breath is almost taken away and I almost wreck because I am staring at them as I drive to and home from school. Just FYI. God sure makes some beautiful things.

If I don't post again this week, have a great Thanksgiving.

Curls galore

2007-11-09T21:57:00.000-06:00

This week has been wild. Monday, I stayed home from OCC practice (with our concert this weekend) because of a sinus infection. Tuesday, we went to a choral director's workshop. It was really good. I just ate it up, being that I have so much to learn about being a choir director.

Wednesday, things were in gear for Matthew's surprise party at church. Matthew's youth director wanted everyone to have their hair like Matthew's in his honor. I looked on the Internet and found some wigs that were pretty close to his hair. His was not quite so curly, but it was similar.

They were Napoleon Dynamite wigs. While the kids were in youth we decorated downstairs. When youth group was over, the kids came down and put on their wigs. When he came down he was almost surprised. He kind of heard some people say...."He's coming, he's coming!"

It was a good night. I kind of forgot how wild it might get. The younger kids had just come out of their Bible drill classes and came running into the gym. When they saw the wigs, etc., they went nuts. That is one thing I will change the next time we have a 16th surprise birthday party for Matthew. Not to have the younger kids around the whole time. We love them, but some times the youth need their own thing.

Last night, Matt and I had another OCC practice getting ready for Sunday. Matt's choir sings in the morning at the Ole Miss Choral Festival, and then we have another practice then party with the OCC people. I guess I should just not be so surprised when we have a lot going on. Get used to it. Don't complain. Just do it. Sunday afternoon, concert, Sunday night, drama practice with the youth, Wednesday, turkeys coming in.......

Nana and I saw a great movie tonight. It is called "Dan in Real Life". Steve Carell is great in it.
It is also pretty wholesome. There where a couple of tricky places that you may call inappropriate, but I loved it. I told Matt that it was probably a chic movie because I would have felt very guilty about going to see a Steve Carell movie without him unless it was going to maybe be something he wouldn't like. Well, I may have to go see it with him. Not a movie only for chics.

Matthew is on a trip to Shannon tonight. Lafayette played them in the play-offs tonight. Haven't heard how it came out. It probably just ended. May have to call Matthew on his cell phone (this was his present). We added him to our plan. We, however, aren't cool parents who add unlimited texting to our plan. We remind him that every text he makes is $.10. This afternoon he texted me about missing my earlier call. I called him back and asked why he didn't just call me to tell me that he was sorry he missed my call. Help!

I hope we get to spend some good family time together tomorrow. I feel like I haven't seen my kids in so long. Funny thing is, when they are home and I am home, they still play outside for so long, that I have to make them come in for us to have family time. Punishment. You must spend time with your parents. Grrrrr......

Please pray for me Wednesday. The turkeys, etc. are going to be delivered and I need to make sure that right orders go to the right people, etc. I also have to deal with the money aspect of it, which is not my forte.

I have a good friend who left teaching after school started for different reasons. She is a great Christian friend of mine who now prays so much for us teachers because she knows the trenches we are in everyday. Please pray for us that we will be witnesses and not lose our tempers, etc. Please pray that we will make a difference with our students. Being in the public school, I get so concerned for our young people. Things have changed so much since I was in school. My kids didn't know "My Country Tis' Of Thee" and many had no clue about Christmas. It breaks my heart that I can't tell them the truth. Anyway....I know that was a little random. I guess I was on the thought of school.

Have a great weekend.

Numbers 6:24-26
24 The LORD bless you
and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '

Parties galore

2007-11-04T14:10:00.000-06:00

I had the fun of going to my friend Leslie's surprise birthday party Saturday afternoon. Her husband, Tommy, had made all of the plans. They boiled shrimp and it was goood!
Leslie's mom had a time getting her there, though. We waited a little longer for her to get home. I know how it is when you get to go shopping with your mom. She even wanted to go to a Sweet Potato Festival. Her mom finally had to act sick to get her home. She was floored that her husband would do that. Our other good friend from Pelahatchie was there with her kids. I couldn't believe how much they have all grown. The kids had fun being around the chiminea with their Uncle Paul. One child got a little too close and has a bit of a new hairdo. It was a good time.

When I got ready to leave around 9:30 to drive back to Oxford, my car didn't want to crank. I knew the car was running great and was wondering what it could have been. Finally it cranked, I got a little down the road and looked at my gas gauge. It was lower than it had ever been, so I drove to the first Grenada exit. When I got to the gas station, I realized that my billfold was by my computer at home and I didn't have a dime on me. I was thankful for cell phones and called Leslie, who sent her brother to give me some money. Humbling.....
Thank you, Paul.

Matt and the kids were in Jackson. Matt went down Saturday morning to see the high school choir sing in Pearl. They did pretty well. The kids went down Friday with my mom. Matthew got to shop with Mamaw for his birthday. He got a cool fender t-shirt like he likes. Cool clothes. He is much cooler than I ever was in high school. :) I will have more to say about his birthday after Wednesday night. (I hope he doesn't read this before then...)
We have many fun things in store. We need them because things are kind of strained between us right now. It burdens my heart, but he is going his own direction. It is just a little difficult for us to handle sometimes. I know they all have to be themselves, but what is that and what is rebellion? I have much praying to do. I know that God is in control of his life. I pray that I will just give him over to God and let the Holy Spirit work in his life.

It is tough for us to not have conflict with him. He brings up topics sometimes that make it seem like he wants conflict. ???????????????? I think we need to show him that he is so much more important to us than those little things about him. He is only almost 16. (His birthday is tomorrow.) Why do we let these little things separate us?

Matt and I have a lot going on in the next few weeks. The Oxford Civic Chorus concert is next weekend. We need to plan for the different musicals coming during Christmas. Please keep us in your prayers that we will glorify God as we plan and lead these, and don't neglect our family. I guess in a way, we are very blessed because people who are in Music get to hear, sing, think about this music and what Christmas means way before the holiday. So, yea.....

Have a great week!!

Parent Coach.....yeah! Just in time.......

2007-10-30T20:51:00.000-05:00

Don't have time to blog now, but check out this link of a guy I heard on Focus on the Family. He is right up our alley. Can't wait to get his book!

The Parent's Coach

Easy Like Saturday Night

2007-10-27T22:25:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are again. It is Saturday night. Just had a good time talking to my 15 year old after all had had showers, read stories and were tucked in bed. Now Matt is playing the song that Shannon, he and I are going to sing tomorrow. It is a great song by Billy and Cindy Foote.
"You Are God Alone (not a god). It is such a privilege to sing with Shannon. She has such a beautiful voice and such a sweet heart. Her husband needs your prayers. He was told that he needed his gallbladder removed, went through with the surgery, still had the same pain, had kidney stones, then after going for tests, was told that there is something on his liver. He finds out Monday, I think, what it is. Can you imagine?

This week has been good. God is really showing me things. How I can trust Him and know that He is there all the time as I work out my salvation with fear and trembling. There are many things that I can't talk about on the Internet that show how He good He is. Working out work related issues, personal issues. He has shown me more and more that it is not about anything I could do for Him. He blesses me because He is just that good.

Monday we had a massive OCC rehearsal. Then after over two hours of that, I tried out for the solos on "Deep River" and "Shenandoah". Just for fun. There were some very awesome singers who tried out as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if they get it. It was fun to try out, though. Then, Matt's choir had their Fall concert Tuesday. The kids did so great. Kim's choir (the high school choir) was great. They always are. I am so amazed at how much music she teaches and that they master. Wow! Matt is trying to produce a CD of all of their music. I am not sure our computer will make it, though. When we upgrade....someday.....should we get a Mac or a PC? What do you think? My technology desires are huge right now. I need to put the reigns on them. Well, I guess our bank account will do a good job of keeping us in check. Maybe.......

Anyways, I am having a good time learning more about choral directing. My choir kids have started staying after school and working on songs, trying out for sextet, etc. They are getting more and more excited about what we are doing.

I am forgetting so much that has gone on this week. Jacob did a big Social Studies project that was great. He made a big Kroger. It was fun to help him with that. Mom and Ron were with us for Claire's party. May have mentioned that in the last blog...I can't remember.

As Happy Slip would say...."Anyways...."

Now we are trying to get ready for Matthew's 16th birthday. What should we do? He had big ideas. I would love to surprise him.

Oh, turkey fund raiser ends this week. One of my kids has been like super salesman. He seriously needs to go into sales when he graduates. Need some turkey and you live in Oxford, or somewhere close? Call us. Email us. They are yum.

Yesterday I discovered that we had been "BOOED". Someone had put a pumpkin full of candy with two letters in it. One had the word "BOO" on it with a little ghost, and the other told us that a neighborhood friend had booed us and now we were supposed to pass on the good cheer by booing three more people and to put the little ghost in our window so we wouldn't be booed again. Matt said it was a little like a chain letter. He would. :) He was also the one who went to Kroger and bought the pumpkins and candy. :) We couldn't be antisocial, could we? No. It was fun. I think I may start the gobbling next month. Gobble, gobble. Anyways....

Tomorrow is Sunday. Have a great day of worship. I feel sorry for those who think Sunday is just for going golfing, mowing their grass, washing their car, or skiing (not in this weather, but you know what I mean). Worshiping our Savior and friend meets a need deep down that can't be described. A long time ago, I was a person who kind of dreaded Sundays and wished I could have stayed home to do what I wanted to do. Now, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Was that preachy? Not meaning to be. That is just how it is for me. Try it....you never know :)

Take care.

Our week

2007-10-20T22:32:00.000-05:00

This week seemed so short. Not sure why. Last night Matt and I helped out with the youth group's Overtime. The kids had a great time. Matthew and the band played for a while and we had a great testimony. It was from a guy that goes to our church. I had no idea what all God had done in his life.

Today was Claire's 7th birthday. Happy Birthday, Claire. Our good friends let us have her party at their farm. They led the kids around on their horses. It was great. The kids were really tired from the night before and got a little upset toward the end. This is another story all together. It is amazing how being tired affects children....and adults. All in all it was really good.

Ron and Matthew went to an Ole Miss game. Not really the best one to go to. Ole Miss lost big time. He did get to see the classiness of the Ole Miss fans, though. Sorry for the sarcasm. I think it is really sad to see that whole culture. Kind of warped in my opinion.

Anyway....there is so much more to say, but it is late.

Gobble, Gobble

2007-10-12T18:57:00.000-05:00

Friday nights are so great! Nowhere to go tonight. The bubbles are calling me.

Our fund raiser actually starts Monday, but the kids took home their order forms today. I hope they will go after it. We are trying to go to Six Flags next April. This is my first big fund raiser like this one. So far everyone has acted interested in what we are selling. Food. :) Turkey, ham, bacon, pecan pie....all good southern food. Mmmmmmmm..............

This has been a really strange week. I was off Monday, had staff development on Tuesday and then classes for three days. Today Matt had staff development and the kids went with him. He tried to sweeten the deal by renting some good movies and taking lots of popcorn. He said his staff development was great. I will have to find out the guy's name to send to our district guy. I know our district teachers would love to hear him.

Monday Matt and the kids are off. Sunday Mamaw and Grandma are coming to see us. It will be the first time Grandma comes to our house. So...you know what we'll be doing tomorrow. Oh yeah. Grandma is so precious. It will be so good to see her. Matt and the kids will be able to hang out with them on Monday.

The Christmas musical that I toiled over picking has turned out to be really cute. "How the Penguins Saved Christmas" is the name of it. The kids are going to look so cute as penguins. Here is a link to another school that performed the musical. How the Penguins Saved Christmas

I think I have gotten OK with something. I was torn up because I wanted to go to Sunday School for my own age and wanted to find someone to teach my preschool Sunday school class. My good friend Martha actually came up and offered to teach it. I had prayed about this, but when it happened and right when the kids had started really warming up to me as their teacher, I had second thoughts. I am thankful now for it. I feel like I have gotten a tangible answer to my prayers.

OK, I have unloaded...now for the bubbles. :)

Ahhhhhhh.......................