Long time no see

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

Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends?

My children, my children, my children......phew! I refer back to my earlier title of Calgon...take me away. I am in the throws of sibling life. Our sweet 4 people that live with us don't exactly feel the same way about each other as we feel about them or that, of course, God feels about them. How do I know this? It is painfully obvious at times. I know there must be some sort of feeling deep down, but it is a little tough to find. Jacob just burst in our front door saying that Claire should be thankful for what she gets. He was referring to her not wanting the tennis racket with what she thought was a "booger" on it. This is just one example...there are many others. I love 'em. I do think that one day they will really appreciate each other.

This week feels like it should be over already. Last night was Open House at my elementary school. The first graders sang one song with a CD and Matt played guitar for them to sing another song. They were a bit nervous during the first song. I was so glad that they had a second one to really sing out. They did great!

Tomorrow night we are listening to our Christmas musical in choir. We are bringing goodies and apple cider to get us in the Christmas spirit. We are doing One of Us. It is a great musical. Can't wait for everyone to hear it. Choir has been really full lately. It seems like God is blessing this group. There are so many good singers, but most of all, just people who want to worship. It is a blessing to go on Wednesday nights.

Some neat God things have been happening. One I think I will mention is that our neighbor across the street brought us a huge box of clothes that their son had grown out of. They were great and most of them fit. In the box was a nice size 10 suit. I wasn't sure when we would use it. Only one of our guys would have one unless we bought another, and we really don't wear clothes like that. Sadly, two of my kids at school lost their 35 year old dad this past week. There are many circumstances around this that made it sad even before he passed away. (custody battles, etc.) The little boy did not have a suit to wear to his dad's funeral. One of our teachers was getting this all together for them. The little girl was given some dresses by our principal that were her daughter's. I was so blessed to be able to drive the suit and some of the khakis, etc. up to Potts Camp on Saturday for him to wear. It is strange how God meets needs sometimes.

He always has a plan.

Hope you all have a blessed week!

In the Weeds

This was a term we used a lot to describe a time in the restaurant business when we were totally swamped with tables, etc.

School starts tomorrow and for Matt and me, in the weeds is how we feel most of the time once we are in school (planning and teaching, grading, etc. We are so blessed to have our jobs. We are so blessed to have our family. Both of our jobs are the type of jobs that take a lot of planning ahead. Planning ahead for concerts, field trips, etc. It is exciting most of the time. It is exciting seeing kids learn things about themselves, and teaching them things that, you believe, will benefit them in the future.

Nevertheless, it is very taxing on the energy. This year we are, again, going in separate directions. Matt will take all of our 4 kids with him to school, and I will drive 45 minutes to Potts Camp. This will be interesting. I have already had mixed feelings. On one hand, I had a little feeling in my stomach of missing my guys whom I drove to work with everyday last year. If I wanted to see them, all I had to do was to peek into their classroom. If I forgot lunch money, or snack, all I had to do was to bring it later in the day. Now I am passing the torch on to my sweet husband. I hope he will be able to get more done than I did in the afternoon. He is a little better at managing our kids than I am. I try my best, but I am still a little of a Pillsbury Dough Girl. They think I am very soft. I think Matt will do great.

I did enjoy my drive for the past two days going to staff development meetings. Part of me feels bad for enjoying time to myself, but I know it will be good for me to have time and then have more to give them when I get home. God knows best. I will trust Him that He knows that this is what we (the kids, Matt, and me) need.

I probably won't be blogging quite as much unless I am procrastinating (which may happen at times). I think when things slow down and we get into the swing of things, I want to continue our recording, etc. I don't want to give up on that.

We are beginning Financial Peace at our church in a couple of weeks. I think we may go through it again to get back on track. We really want to save for a car, pay cash, but it has been tough. It seems like with a family it is so hard to get the jump on saving money. After listening every Friday afternoon, I know people get out of debt. I think we need the refresher course.

I am asking that you please say a little prayer for us if you are reading this. Please pray that we will grow to be the people God wants us to be and that we will be the parents and teachers God wants us to be. I know we can do all things through Him who gives us strength. Please pray that we will know what to be involved in and what to say no to. I tend to do many things because of guilt instead of definitely feeling God calling me.

Matt sang "Captured" this morning in church. This is a song that Chris Tomlin sang a while back. It made me have such a desire to sing with him more and more. I know that is not exactly what God is calling us to at the moment. I believe, while our kids are young, that we have a stable home....not a lot of travel or late nights. I am excited about the future, though. It is amazing how God has you in different seasons of life and they are all good.

Anyway, I know I am rambling. Happy Sunday!

Calgon take me away....

I know I am about to start school on Thursday, but I guess I am still trying to be in vacation mode. I had such a great time with my family and still want to hang around there in my thoughts for now. I sent letters to my choir today, so I am not totally in denial, but watching this video I made while we were at the Georgia Aquarium is something I can always go to when the school year gets tough. Like Calgon.........

I could have stared at these fish for days. (I think I may have already said that.)

Matt is playing finger style guitar now in the kitchen. I think we may be recording again soon. I am excited about maybe not doing things that will take lots of money to buy copyrights to. We are going to be putting our CD on CDBaby this time. It is a company that sells independent artists' CDs. That is a little dream of mine. I guess more and more now I am wanting to just get out and sing. Matt and I got to for the Golden Prospector group at our church. It was so great. We gave away CDs for the first time and it was so much fun. What a cool blessing that anyone would actually even want our music. I can't believe it when someone tells me that they listened to our CD when they were having a tough time and God comforted them. This is what I want to do.

Please pray for us in this. I love kids, and I love teaching and everything else that we get to do, but this is probably my biggest passion. I have had a passion for singing since I was a mere tot. It has never left me. I feel like I kind of have to suppress it when I am teaching because teaching and talking all day take a toll in my voice. ( I know that may sound silly.) Anyway, this is where God has me now.

Oh, for some reason I started thinking about my weight loss goals and overall fitness and need to comment on that. Eating wise, I did terribly today, except for eating lots of tomatoes. I did, however, stretch on the exercise ball that Matt bought for his back. I also did some push-ups on it. Later, I walked with my neighbor, Jennifer. So I guess I am moving in the right direction. I was feeling so old and stiff. It is amazing how just doing a little more makes a huge difference.

Take care.....

The End of School

Ok, I know the end of school is probably what I talk about most, but I guess it is almost all-consuming when you are a teacher. This year has taught me so much. I am very proud of a lot that has gone on. I am in a very rewarding job. My heart has grown a few sizes and has added a lot of new friends. The kids I teach at school have stolen my heart.

I am glad that I am going to be at the same school this next year. I am starting with a whole new group of kids which will be interesting, challenging, etc. I am listening to our first Spring concert. I am moved by the way the girls sound. Even where I hear bad vowels, wrong pitches...I can hear different voices coming through and I just think of them as my own kids. I am trying to think about what I can do to inspire them to work really hard for next year. The have come a long way.

One of my elementary kids broke my heart today when she told me that she has loved everything we have done this year...that this was the first year they had had music, etc. It made me so proud. Coincidentally, she just happens to be the one that won the music award. That might be why she loves music so much...or she won because she loves music...(was it the chicken or the egg) Ok, I am sorry for the goobiness.

Tomorrow is awards day and Nana is here to see the boys get awards. I love when things are different. A change from the daily grind. The kids get out of school at 1:00 everyday after Monday. So, I won't even have school at the high school. Am I sad or am I glad? Hmmmm......

A little of both.

I wonder how many we will have at the high school banquet. I am kind of in denial about all I have to do to get ready for it. Wow! Vote on awards....buy happies.....order food.....decorate....make CDs.....Ahhhhhhhh.....:)
Anyway, you all take care.

I have one too many houses and 1000 too many boxes of stuff

Well, the moving plan to get things all wrapped up in Holly Springs is taking me a little longer than I had expected. :) That is ok, though. I would love to just put everything left from the garage sale out to the curb..because there isn't a place to donate things in Holly Springs, but I can't bring myself to throw away good things.

Mamaw is coming today and I would have loved to have had the house all in order for her, with pictures on the walls. It is always so fun to have her around. I want to enjoy our time, and us not all be worried about getting things clean, etc. Anyway...we will be going to our choir retreat for church tomorrow, so not much organizing will happen then, anyway. It's all good.

I have got to make a list. My mind is about to explode. When am I going to learn this? :)
I have to find judges for our school talent show. Maybe Denny Terrio is still around. If you know who that is I am so proud of you, even though I misspelled his name probably.











Have a great weekend!!