Monday, September 28, 2009

Fly By

Weekends go way to fast for my liking. Weekends are the only time that I get to spend with my husband and it is only 2 measly days. How come weekends can't be five days long and the week be the other 2 days? I could handle that!

Friday night Rick and Charlie dog came and picked me up from the church/daycare and then they took me to the Parent/Teacher Store where I was in heaven! I have so many ideas that I want to do with my Young School age class and I have found the store that can help me! It could be a VERY bad thing that the daycare has a account there. :0)

After we got some dinner at Taco Bell, some unusual events happened and the end results were that I had volunteered to babysit my husband's ex-girlfriends baby that she got pregnant with while she was still dating my husband. Can you say awkward? Expect that I love Jade(the baby who is really 3 years old now) with all my heart. She goes to the daycare and I work with her everyday and since the beginning (when I stated working at the daycare a year and half ago) she has been one of my favorites.

Jade ended up spending the night with us and not leaving until 11:30 the next morning. She hates taking a bath, she loves cartoons and sleeps really well. That is, until the great big old greyhound gets in bed with her. Then she wants him out. :0) She requested pancakes and chocolate milk for breakfast. I started to tell her no, how about a toaster struddle? But Rick, the nice guy that he is - made pancakes for us!
It was a peaceful and rainy day and after Jade was picked up by her mom, we just laid around the house until dinner time. We headed to the mall and got some starbucks, ate in the food court and bought some books at the Family christian book store.

Sunday was the church picnic. Rick and I were in charge of the corn hole tournament. It was all fun but really tiring.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Addiction?

I have counted up how many pairs of Chacos I now own. 5 different sandals from the wonderful company of Chaco. And there are still a few more sandals out there that I wouldn't mind owning one day. :0) I have never paid full price for any of these - I bought them on sale or they were gifts.

Z/2 - I own it in Black


"With a focus on forefoot control, the Z/2® features a wrap-around toe loop that keeps your feet locked to the footbed. Our easily adjusted pull-through strap system features soft polyester webbing that dries fast and maintains a consistent fit, making the Z/2® an ideal choice for the most demanding endeavors."

ZX/2 - mine look a little more pink than this


"The forefoot control of our classic Z/2® combined with the foot-cradling support of our double-strap design makes this style popular among long distance hikers and river runners. Equipped with the Chaco pull-through strap system and BioCentric™ footbed, this sandal is all about fit. From steep mountain hikes to deep river crossings, you would be hard pressed to find a performance sandal that sticks to your feet as well as the ZX/2®."

Zong - I have the blue pair


"If you define casual as a hike to the local farmers’ market or rock-hopping across a placid stream, the Zong calls your name. A thoughtful combination of free-heel convenience and our performance focused Z/2®, the Zong provides kick-on comfort while keeping your forefoot firmly engaged in the mission at hand (or foot). The EcoTread™ outsole is made from 25% recycled rubber, reducing our impact on the environment."

Leather Flip - 2 pairs of these - orange and black


"Buttery-soft leather wraps our supportive BioCentric™ footbed to create a stylish slip-on that not only feels great on your feet, but provides all-day Chaco comfort. The EcoTread™ outsole is made from 25% recycled rubber, reducing our impact on the environment."

Wish list:
Hipthong - I am thinking i might want a green or brown in these.


"The slip-on convenience of a flip combined with classic Chaco performance make the Hipthong a casual yet functional kick-on. With Chaco BioCentric™ support, fixed straps in the forefoot and pull-through adjustable straps over the instep, you'll be hard pressed to find a slip-on sandal that fits as well as this free-heel style. The EcoTread™ outsole is made from 25% recycled rubber, reducing our impact on the environment."

No, not an addiction. I just know a quality kind of shoe.

My Kids

I love working with the kids at daycare. It gives me so much joy to play with them and see them smile. Or just to hold them and comfort them as they cry. Each class or age group is so different. And each class has a never ending fight that goes on all day long and then starts up again the next day and the next day and the next day. :0)

Toddler class - bites when another kid takes a toy. Bites ALOT.

Two year old class - 'my mommy', 'no, my mommy', until you have the whole class crying because they feel like they are losing their mommy.

Three year old - 'I'm a girl', 'I am a boy', 'No, you are a girl!', 'No, I am a boy!' over and over again until they are crying cause they know that they are a boy but are being told they are a girl from another 3 year old.

Preschool Class - 'She won't play with me!' 'Yes I was, she wasn't sharing!'. They all just want friends and want to play, but even at 4 years old you know who gets on your nerves and who doesn't it.

School Age - Tattling on EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING! It gets very old very fast.

I have been put in nursery a lot lately. I like working in there in the mornings cause I can just sit and rock the babies as I feed them. In the afternoon I get stuck with the 'older' babies and just have to watch them play and keep them away from each other so there is no biting. Not quit as much fun as loving on a baby.

I have been officially placed in the younger school age class. Kindergarten and First Grade. I have about 16 kids a day. I have been trying to come up with different activities to keep them busy and to make little crafts to decorate the hallway with. Most of the time they all do pretty well with listening and following the rules. But then there are days that I just want to duck tape them to a chair.:0)
Yesterday, we were short 3 afternoon people so I worked with my mother. I also had a migraine and really didn't want to be around kids. So, I explained to my 5 and 6 year olds that I couldn't deal with lots of noise and I needed them to obey when I gave an instruction the first time - not after the 4 time. My kids did a great job! They were so well behaved and decently quiet! I was SO proud of them and told them that over and over again after my mother left. I went to Wal-mart last night and bought a few little treats for them - play-dough and we are going to play bingo today kinda as a reward.
When my family and I were getting ready for bed, my mom says, 'Julia, you have a really great bunch of kids in the afternoon.' I said thanks and left it at that. I didn't think that I needed to tell her that in the 4 weeks that I have worked with them - that was our best day yet!!! :0)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Halfway

Three weeks down . . . .only three more to go? I will believe it when I see it.

This past week was very long and hard for me. I am trying my best to have a good attitude and not complain about my circumstances, but sometimes, I just really need Rick in person.

I got lots of hours in this week at the daycare. People sick, lots of kids, shampooing carpets and the never ending office work. As for school - only one lesson complete. I am never going to be finished. And I don't really care anymore.

I am back into full swing with all of the church stuff. Monday night woman's bible study, Wednesday night woman's bible study, Saturday woman's luncheons, plus all the normal Sunday stuff. Never really happy about going to all the woman's stuff - it is always the same 3 people - 2 of them my mothers. Wish there were more young women my age in the church that weren't related to me.

I have been praying about a big decision. I feel like God has shown me that I need to 'Step Up' and Step out of my church pew. I just feel like I won't be taken seriously cause of my age, and also the whole situation has become a mess, so I am not exactly sure what I am getting into. But none of that matters expect that our church kids are getting cheated of knowing the love of God cause of stupid church drama and indecisions. I will let you know what happens after I talk to some elders on Sunday. Please pray for me!

Going to look at some houses today, praying that we find one soon.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Grandma Update

From my mom-in-law yesterday -

They have her off the ventilator now. Beth Ann and my dad met with the team of doctors today--they are not moving her to another facility in the near future. They said they had her sitting up on the bed today, and there is a physical therapist and a speech therapist working with her now. They also told Beth Ann some things we can do when we are there like tell her who we are, talk her about what is going on in the family, etc. They are not really sure what she recognizes or understands, but she does seem to respond some of the time.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball game

Finally! Here are some pictures from the Pirates game we went to back in August.

A view of the stadium from the parking garage.


The stairs in the parking garage


The town of Pitt


KC and his girls singing the National Antham


View of the stadium from my seat


Where my dinner came from


My sandwich - 15 points!


A real pirate right behind us!


Me and Rick at the game


We won against the Cincinnati Reds!


KC and the Sunshine band - the band was great - KC, not so much


The band


The fireworks from the bridge

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy



"Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore shows how individuals can live with integrity in today's self-absorbed society. Join Beth in a faith-building study of prophecy and learn how to shine for Christ in our modern culture. Just as the prophet Daniel faced unbelievable pressures—to compromise his faith, to live in a hostile culture, and to confront temptations and threats—today's believers face many of the same trials. This 12-session study falls in two parts and can be used as one or two separate studies. The first portion, from Daniel chapters 1-6, deals with Daniel's life as he faced the kind of pressures and temptations Christians encounter today. Daniel models how to develop enduring integrity in an enticing world. The second portion, chapters 7-12, explores thrilling prophecies from the time of Daniel through the second coming of Christ."

Our woman's Bible study at church started this bible study by Beth Moore last week. The theme of the first portion has been how to live out a life of integrity in the midst of a culture without any. Beth has done a great job of comparing Babylon during the time of Daniel to the current climate in our western culture.

Even though I have only watched one session - I am hooked. I want to learn how to live in today's Babylon without being seduced by it. It won't be easy - and I have already been challenged by it - but I am going to stick with it and see what God has in store for me!

Lots

I have lots that I want to blog about - my week last week, my weekend in Knoxville, Grandma Rodgers, new woman's bible study and uploading pictures.

But instead of spending all that time blogging on things that don't really matter, I am going to invest my time into homework and bible study. While doing laundry, re-packing my bag for the 9th month, and cleaning the hamster and turtle cage.

Maybe one day this week I will have time to do some 'me' stuff. Only 4 days without Rick this week. weekends are becoming my favorite time of the week cause I get to see Rick. Hate being long-distance!