Gran

I just wanted to share with you a few pictures of Gran from our wedding.  This first one is a picture of her dancing.  I love that she always has fun and never cares what anyone thinks.  Unfortunately, I don't have this trait.  The next pictures is of her dancing with my brother.  And that last picture is of Anthony and I with Gran.

I talked to her tonight and she seemed to be thinking very positive.  (Another trait I wished I possessed, I am the worrier of the family.)  She went and bought her some new pajams for after the procedure.  (That's a trait I have!)  Please continue to pray!

Bad news

Unfortunately, we did not not get the news we had hoped for today.  If the weather permits, she will be having a mastectomy on Wednesday.  At that time, we will learn more about the stage and the treatment.  She is a very strong woman and seems to be handling well. It's times like these that I wish I still lived at home. 

Please keep Gran (Nancy) in your prayers. 

Random

Anthony checked my blog today and informed me that I needed to blog.  I kept trying to blog last week, but just couldn't get anything constructive out. 

Last week was another rough week with Anthony being gone.  Tuesday my grandmother (Gran) informed me that she was being sent for a biopsy on a lump in her breast.  She went for the biopsy on Thursday and goes tomorrow (Monday) to find out the results.  If you are reading this, PLEASE PRAY!  I am terrified.  I think I am more worried than she is.  You see, growing up I was very blessed to grow up with all my grandparents around and in the same town.  It was wonderful.  I have so many great memories.  I lost my maternal grandmother in July 2008, just months before our wedding.  I am very close to Gran.  We talk atleast 3-4 times a week, sometimes more.  During the summer, while Anthony was deployed, she kept Sam so I could stay at my parents.  While she's 72, she acts like she's 50 years younger.  When I was in hs, she took my friends to a big country bar to hear Pat Green.  She keeps beer hidden in the bottom drawer of her fridge.  She goes to the casino once a week.  Needless to say, my mind has been a bit consumed and I've been a bit grumpy.

Take that grumpy and throw in the 100th day of school Thursday and all that craziness and you really had one grumpy teacher. 

Thankfully, Anthony was home all weekend.  It was nice to be around him instead of alone.  It was nice to have someone to share the chores with.  It was nice to have him cook for me the whole weekend!  The weather was beautiful!  I'm recharged and ready to face a new week.  And some very cold temperatures and a "Winter Mix."  

Pick Me Up

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A Happy Me!

It's been a long day.  And a long week.  Tomorrow is the 100th day of school and so I've spent the afternoon running around and getting things ready.  While out and about I decided I needed a pick me up.  So, Wedny's it was!  I love the combination of the salt on the fries and the sweet and chocolatey Frosty.  And I absolutely LOVE their new fries.  I'm not sure it really picked me up, but it sure was good!

Being a Grown Up...

...is not as fun as I once thought it would be.

I used to love the idea of not having to go to school, owning my own car, being married, and being a grown up.  Now, I find it a bit stressful.

I hate all the decisions that Anthony and I have to make.  We thought we had a plan for the next year, only to find out that it may not all work out.  Now we are stuck trying to figure out what to do.  I sure miss when big decisions were made for me.

I hate having to worry about finances.  This past summer we were able to pay off our credit cards and begin saving.  We've been saving for the past several months and want to continue doing so.  And then I have to go to the much dread dentist.  Come to find out, even though I brushed and flossed and my teeth don't hurt, I have dumb ol' cavities.  Too many.  And I have to have them filled which costs a bunch of money.  I sure miss when Mom and Dad paid for those!

I hate having to take care of my car.  Thank goodness that it was only a bad battery last week and the dealership replaced it for free because it was under factory warranty.  But, still, I have to wash the car and have the oil changed and take care of that thing.  And gas is getting ridiculous!  I miss carpooling with friends in elementary school!

But, I guess it's not all that bad.  I do get to live with my  husband who is also my best friend.  I get go to a job that I absolutely love.  I get to cook whatever I want to cook (even though I don't always want to cook).  I get to go where ever I please.  And my allowance sure beats what it did when I was living with my parents!

I Don't Wanna

I just remembered I have a dentist appointment tomorrow and I am trying to come up with a way to bribe myself for going.  I am terrified of the dentist now.  I used to not mind at all.  Then when I started having cavities I started disliking it a bit more, but it wasn't a lot more. 

That was until a dentist was numbing my mouth for a filling and he hit a nerve.  This particular nerve was connected to my tongue, even though it was on the side of my mouth.  It was such an intense pain that tears immediately started flowing and I had no control over them.  He continued about his business filling the cavity.  When I got home, the numbness started wearing off.  Except, my tongue was still numb.  And it was still numb when I woke up the next morning.  And it continued to be numb for the next few weeks.  It was awful.

Now, I'm terrified.  So terrified I've put off going for two years.  Yeah, not good. 

Wish me luck! 

Murphy's Law

I absolutely, positively HATE Murphy.  Whoever he is.  And yes, I used the H word.  I don't say hate much, but I have had it!!!!

Anthony is away for a TDY.  It's very nice, he's not very far and is able to come home on weekends.  However, Murphy has taken this opportunity to make my life miserable!  It started last week, Wednesday to be exact.  I came home to NO heat.  It took the poor maintenance man 3 trips to my house to sort of get it working so I could make it through the night.  I survived, I was moving on.

Until this morning, when I went to get in my car.  I wasn't moving at all.  The car wasn't even starting.  Anthony had just said that I should take the car to get the battery checked sometime this week.  Perhaps we should have done it then.  Anyway, I had to call around and after 3 tries found a friend who sent her husband to pick me up while she covered my morning duty.  I hitched a ride home and currently waiting on the apartment maintenance staff to come jump start my car so I can take it to the dealer. 

So, you got me Murphy.  I have been completely flustered all day.  Please leave me alone!

The Small Things

It's the small things that make such a difference sometimes. 

I've questioned myself alot as a teacher lately.  I really haven't been the teacher I once was.  I used to get complimented for how I talked to my kids and then this year people have commented on how loud I am.  I don't like that one bit and I've been worried about how it's affected the kids in my class.

Well, today I noticed a little girl with pearl earrings.  I had never noticed her wearing them before and so I complemented her.  Here's how the conversation went:

Me:  I like your earrings A.
A:  Thanks.  I got them pierced yesterday.
Me:  That's really exciting.  Did you know those are like my earrings? (I wear pearl earrings all the time and had them in today)
A:  I know! (in a rather excited tone)
Me:  Is that why you got them?
A:  Yeah.

Just a little conversation, nothing impressive said.  But, the fact that she admires me enough to get earrings like mine, says that I haven't been as bad of a teacher as I thought.

Hello 2011

This year is in full swing now.  I started back to work today and the kids come back tomorrow.  I find (and I'm sure most of you do too) the beginning of a new year a time for reflection.  I've spent a lot of time reflecting on the past year and thinking about what is to come. 

2010...A year with ups and downs.  As the year started off, our first deployment loomed over our heads.  In March, we welcomed a new baby niece, a month and a half early.  God's goodness was so amazing to see in her.  There were no major complications and she was home within a few weeks.  In April, my grandfather (92 years old)  had a fall (on my birthday to be exact).  He spent several days in the ICU, then a regular room at the hospital and then was moved to the VA hosptial in my hometown.  In May, Anthony and I said goodbye and began our first deployment.  In August, our sweet 5 month old niece passed away unexpectantly.  In early September, the Air Force brought Anthony home a month early to be with family.  It was such a bittersweet homecoming.  It was so great to have Anthony home, but the circumstances were not what I would wish on anyone.  The rest of the year has been pretty eventless.  We were able to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families.  Needless to say, I am not the same person I was when this year began.  It has been a year of challenge and growth.  It has been a year of tears and celebrations.

2011...What will you hold?  I know some big changes are in store for us if everything goes as hoped.  I have set a few personal goals for myself as I get into this year.  Nothing major.  First, I want to continue to grow.  I want to grow in my relationship with God, I want to grow in my relationship with my husband, I want to grow as an individual and I want to grow as a teacher.  Second, I want to run a 5k.  Last year, I set a goal to work out, but I didn't have anything to truly work for.  Maybe this year I will do better. And third, I want to begin learning about photography.  I'm going to start off small, I want to begin learning to use a (yet to be purchased) DSLR and learn how to take good (I'll eventually work to great and amazing, but let's not get our hopes up this year) pictures. 

I'm looking forward to seeing what the year brings our way!

Christmas 2010

I still don't have my pictures from Mom yet, but wanted to blog about Christmas before I completely forgot about it.

Both my break and Anthony's leave started the Thursday before Christmas.  I woke up early and once he arrived home from arrived from work we started getting ready for our trip.  After fitting 4 days work of clothes, Christmas gifts for both families and two dogs, we hit the road.  We started out at my parents'.  It was so great to be home.  Friday morning, Mom picked up my brother from the airport and we were were all together.

Christmas Eve night, my dad's family all gets together at my grandmother's house.  There are 9 grandkids and Anthony.  My grandmother does the turkey and dressing and a few sides and the rest of us brought sides.  I wish I would have thought to take pictures, but I didn't even think about it.

(This is all my cousins, my brother and Anthony & I)

Christmas morning, we all wake up for Santa presents and stocking stuffers.  Both my brother and I are grown, but this is a tradition that we all enjoy.  To this day, I still wake up early and can't wait to go downstairs and see what Santa left.  After that, Mom and I (mostly Mom) start getting ready for Christmas lunch.  Her brother and his kids and grandkids all come over.  This was the first year that my granddfather was not able to join us due to his health.  This meal is a lot of work for Mom, but it is my favorite meal.  I love my mom's cooking!  That evening, we went to the movie with a friend and her mom to see Little Focker.

(Us at Mom and Dad's)

Sunday morning, we headed to see Anthony's family.  They had celebrated Christmas the day before, so instead of cooking again, we all went out for dinner and then spent some time hanging out.  Monday, we met up with my best friend and went to Gaylord Texan's ICE!  Kimmie and I had gone a few years back and wanted to check it out again.  Honestly, I was not as impressed this year due to how commericialized it is. 

Monday evening we headed home.  I had a really hard time with this (as I already blogged about).  Christmas was so amazing this year.  I love being surrounded by family and I can't wait to be closer to them again!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas time as well!

Happy New Year!

Sorry, I am a day late.  But, better late than never.  I know I still have Christmas updates that I need to do, but I need to get the pictures from Mom for that.  So, we'll start with New Years.

 I came home from my parents Friday.  It was much easier to leave this time as I felt I got to spend much more time with them and I missed Anthony.  When I left to go to my parents', we had plans for a New Years Eve party with a bunch of friends, but before returning, the party was canceled.  I was a little bummed as the past two New Years Eves we haven't done much of anything (last year we weren't even together).  But, our friends Aften and Beau decided to throw a party.  It was very low key and so much fun.  We played Taboo for atleast a couple hours.  It was guys against girls and everyone got really into it, some more than others, but that was the f un part.  I laughed so hard that night.  Just before midnight, we put on our hats and necklaces, got our horns and counted down to 2011.  I can't see what this year holds.

We had been laughing so much I couldn't even do a regualr smile!