My granddaughter, Claire, has a song she likes to sing. It goes like this, "Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy." Repeat several times.
Happiness is...
Time with my grandbabies.
Playing, holding, cuddling,
Reading with them, playing more.
Time with friends.
Talking, walking for exercise, games,
Coffee and retail therapy.
Time with students.
Reading together, refining a writing piece,
Counting, and listening to each other.
Time with books.
Browsing and choosing,
Getting lost in the story.
Time with my husband.
Talking, dreaming, planning,
Riding the Harley.
Time with family.
Laughing, eating, hugging,
Catching up.
Time with God.
Reading, praying,
Listening for His voice.
How would you describe happiness?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Yeah, uh-huh
My hubby and I just spent a delightful weekend with family. Our older son and his wife came over Thursday and spent Friday with us. They left their 22 month old daughter with us as they had to work both days of the weekend. Nana and Papa were happy to babysit. Saturday morning Nana had a commitment so Papa had Claire all to himself. Claire fed our husky, Sable, treats. Sable very carefully accepted treats from Claire. Feeding Sable was fun in Claire's words "Yeah, uh-huh." Then Papa and Claire took rides around the yard on the 4 wheeler (very slowly and cautiously) and it was "fun-fun, yeah, uh-huh."
When Nana got home we left for Cousin Jack's first birthday party. The party was at his other grandparents home and included friends and family from both sides.
Claire slept during our two hour ride there and woke up refreshed and ready to play. The kids went "wheeee" down the hill in the wagon and played on the slide outside. Cousins on both sides of the family enjoyed a good time playing together. Jack loved riding in his new truck his mommy and daddy bought for him. He also enjoyed scooting the present boxes around and playing with his new tractors and trucks. Nana got him a new book, The Little Blue Truck. (I am the Reading Nana after all.)
Jack had a special cake that he ate and smeared all over himself in the precious way only one year old's have. We all sang happy birthday (Claire had been practicing most of the week.) All the children savored cupcakes and balloons and their "consolation prizes." The adults got a chance to chat and catch up on each others' lives. A golden afternoon. "Yeah, uh-huh."
Nana and Papa and Claire left for Claire's house. We stopped for dinner at Taco Bell. Claire announced "tummy happy, yeah, uh-huh." We made it to Claire's house by bedtime.
Today Nana and Papa played with Claire while Mommy and Daddy worked. Papa ate cereal for breakfast so Claire had to have cereal too. "Yeah, uh-huh." Papa and Nana walked Claire around the block on her bike and went out to lunch with Daddy and Claire before heading home.
We had a great weekend! "yeah, uh-huh!"
When Nana got home we left for Cousin Jack's first birthday party. The party was at his other grandparents home and included friends and family from both sides.
Claire slept during our two hour ride there and woke up refreshed and ready to play. The kids went "wheeee" down the hill in the wagon and played on the slide outside. Cousins on both sides of the family enjoyed a good time playing together. Jack loved riding in his new truck his mommy and daddy bought for him. He also enjoyed scooting the present boxes around and playing with his new tractors and trucks. Nana got him a new book, The Little Blue Truck. (I am the Reading Nana after all.)
Jack had a special cake that he ate and smeared all over himself in the precious way only one year old's have. We all sang happy birthday (Claire had been practicing most of the week.) All the children savored cupcakes and balloons and their "consolation prizes." The adults got a chance to chat and catch up on each others' lives. A golden afternoon. "Yeah, uh-huh."
Nana and Papa and Claire left for Claire's house. We stopped for dinner at Taco Bell. Claire announced "tummy happy, yeah, uh-huh." We made it to Claire's house by bedtime.
Today Nana and Papa played with Claire while Mommy and Daddy worked. Papa ate cereal for breakfast so Claire had to have cereal too. "Yeah, uh-huh." Papa and Nana walked Claire around the block on her bike and went out to lunch with Daddy and Claire before heading home.
We had a great weekend! "yeah, uh-huh!"
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Spring Cleaning
It's my Spring Break and I am on a Spring cleaning kick. Yesterday and today were mainly spent cleaning closets. I have found a few gems like pictures of my boys when they were in grade school and the shirt my mom bought me for my last birthday before she lost her battle with cancer. I found about a dozen items that I took to the local consignment shop hoping to get a few dollars out of them.
I have found a lot of junk too. Some things that made me wonder how they survived last year's spring cleaning purge. I am happy to report that my closets are cleaned out and once again appear spacious and organized. I also found time to clean out the bathroom cabinets and drawers.
Tomorrow will be the day to wash windows (a much easier job since we have new tilt in replacement windows)
and then it is off the to kitchen to clean some more.
Thursday will be Goodwill day. A trip to Goodwill and a relaxing lunch with a good friend are on the agenda. I'll probably go shopping so I can begin to fill up those closets and drawers once again!
I have found a lot of junk too. Some things that made me wonder how they survived last year's spring cleaning purge. I am happy to report that my closets are cleaned out and once again appear spacious and organized. I also found time to clean out the bathroom cabinets and drawers.
Tomorrow will be the day to wash windows (a much easier job since we have new tilt in replacement windows)
and then it is off the to kitchen to clean some more.
Thursday will be Goodwill day. A trip to Goodwill and a relaxing lunch with a good friend are on the agenda. I'll probably go shopping so I can begin to fill up those closets and drawers once again!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
I made it!
31 days. I made it! The slice of life challenge was just that challenging. But I made it. Every day. And I learned a lot.
I learned that it takes persistence, determination, and resolve to write every day.
I learned that it is really not easy to think of something to write about day after day.
I learned that the idea you start with is not always the one you finish with.
I learned that it is easy to write narratives, but more challenging to try out other genres.
I learned that the encouragement of other writers is huge.
I learned that encouraging others writers is even more powerful.
But most of all I learned. Thanks!
I learned that it takes persistence, determination, and resolve to write every day.
I learned that it is really not easy to think of something to write about day after day.
I learned that the idea you start with is not always the one you finish with.
I learned that it is easy to write narratives, but more challenging to try out other genres.
I learned that the encouragement of other writers is huge.
I learned that encouraging others writers is even more powerful.
But most of all I learned. Thanks!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Maybe it's gout
My right foot has been bothering me for about two weeks. At first I thought I had jammed a toe. But it didn't get better. I quit walking for exercise thinking that I needed to rest it. That hasn't help. Soaking it in Epsom salts makes it hurt even more. Icing it down helped for awhile, but not so much. Tylenol wasn't cutting it. So I broke down and called the doctor's office and made an appointment with the nurse practitioner.
"Maybe it's gout," she said. "Now I really feel old!" I replied. My 80 something grandmother had gout. I have lots and lots of years until 80! But as we talked and she examined my foot she ruled out gout.
Off I went to the hospital for X-rays. A stress fracture was likely.
I received a call just an hour later. The nurse practitioner informed me that I have some unpronounceable lesion thingy near my little toe. Generally, people ages 15-30 get this type of lesion, but since I am "older" (evidently old enough for gout) and in pain they want to do an MRI on Tuesday. In the meantime I am to take my vicodine and rest my foot.
Maybe it would have been better to hear about gout!
"Maybe it's gout," she said. "Now I really feel old!" I replied. My 80 something grandmother had gout. I have lots and lots of years until 80! But as we talked and she examined my foot she ruled out gout.
Off I went to the hospital for X-rays. A stress fracture was likely.
I received a call just an hour later. The nurse practitioner informed me that I have some unpronounceable lesion thingy near my little toe. Generally, people ages 15-30 get this type of lesion, but since I am "older" (evidently old enough for gout) and in pain they want to do an MRI on Tuesday. In the meantime I am to take my vicodine and rest my foot.
Maybe it would have been better to hear about gout!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
2 days until Break
Just 2 days until Spring Break
I can hardly wait.
A chance to rest
To recharge
To take a mental change of pace.
Just 2 days until Spring Break
I can't get it all done.
Reports to write
Testing to finish
Agendas to prepare.
Just two days until Spring Break!
I can hardly wait.
A chance to rest
To recharge
To take a mental change of pace.
Just 2 days until Spring Break
I can't get it all done.
Reports to write
Testing to finish
Agendas to prepare.
Just two days until Spring Break!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
I never had an original idea in my life!
Years ago I went to an inservice session put on by our county reading council. The session was called "I never had an original idea in my life." I often think of that presenter and that session when I see someone else leading training or delivering instruction to students and I think "I want to steal that idea."
Today was one of those days. I am serving on a team which is observing teaching and training in another school. Today I learned a lot from other professionals. I have several new lessons to put in my toolbox and a few new ideas to share with the teachers at my school. So no original to me ideas today, but I sure plan to do some stealing!
Today was one of those days. I am serving on a team which is observing teaching and training in another school. Today I learned a lot from other professionals. I have several new lessons to put in my toolbox and a few new ideas to share with the teachers at my school. So no original to me ideas today, but I sure plan to do some stealing!
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