In a Groove

It's been too long since my last update, and that one was rather rushed. Our lives are in kind of a groove at the moment, nothing momentious, but stuff happens everyday. Here's a snapshot of the crew:

Chris, back from Deutschland, but his suitcase is still downstairs, mostly unpacked. That should probably be a secret, but I do strive to be transparent with the reality that is our life. He is working like a crazy man and when not working, is decompressing. Just in time to do it all again.

Ryan is embracing the 12 year old preteen that is him. Everything is questioned and his attempts at sneakiness are regularly thwarted. Poor kid. He doesn't stand a chance in that respect. Both his parents were sneaky decades before him. And if not sneaky, we work with kids and teens everyday so we really have seen it all. Otherwise, he vascillates between super sweet and crazy stubborn argumentative. Oh, and he realized he is taller than me. Darn it!

Josh is 3 days from being 9 and would like everyone to know about it. His obsession with all things Dr Who and Spiderman continue. Please bear that in mind when considering gifts. He asked me to tell you that. He is growing taller and smarter and more observant. I think I am in trouble with that one. Oh, and his days of sitting in my lap are numbered. He tries to fit, but, well, we'll see how long it lasts. He is lingering in the kid mode and I am enjoying it. I know that he will be a very different kind of preteen than his brother, more willing to bend, but also less open.

As for me, well, I am doing what I always do, school, home, feed the masses, chores to keep it all happening, school, sleep. I find myself keeping the ship afloat, but just barely some days. I love my online class this semester. Somehow having just one seems easier than it should. Work is good. My classes are full of mostly sweet, kind, smart, kids. They make me laugh and want to give them my best every day. Also, my teaching partner got named Teacher of the Year on Friday, and well deserved. I realized that every teaching partner I've had, except the one who quit teaching, has gotten teacher of the year. I'd like to think I had something to do with that, but most likely, I just get to teach with the very best!

So there you have it. No great tales, but good life chugging along.

which tale to tell

Would you like to hear the story of the reluctant missionary? The day of family fun? A real life fairy tale which might or might not have a happy ending?

How about I give you the first few sentences and let you decide..

The Reluctant Missionary
Once upon a time, there was a man of God who took an amazing journey filled with planes, trains and automobiles. The trial of his journey occured before he arrived at his destination.

Family Fun
Bright blue skies and mild temperatures surrounded the mismatched crew of truants as they ambled toward the ocean. A sketchy plan of fun was in place, yet open to revision as needed.

Real Life Fairy Tale
In the land of humidity and bagpipes, a friendship was formed in the hand of God. Through the laughs and tears of years, they supported one another in their life endeavors. Then one day, the wild haired princess fell in love.

Those are the tales that have dominated my world for the last few weeks. I'm not sure how to end any of them.

Christmas/New Year photo onslaught

Family kitchen fun

We will pose, but we will not like it.

Yes, as a matter of fact we are autopsying an alien.

Cousins are cool!

Being taller than our older cousin is cooler.

A rite in Texas, first lesson with a .22

Good form!

Not bad for a lefty!

Christmas with the other side of the family is fun too!

Anything can be a bookmark!

Who is ready to Par-tay?

Missing 1, but we had fun. Can you tell?

It has been a busy couple of weeks around Willingham's World: back to school after the holidays, big weekend church event, start of a new semester of classes, and the impending trip to Germany that Hubby is taking. That last one isn't really time consuming for me, but it sure does color the mood of the house.

I also realized that I never shared any fun Christmas photos. Shame on me. So here are some of the good ones...

Well, it won't let me upload pics right now. Apparently I have forgotten something or maybe the website isn't working. That's kind of the way it rolls around here lately. Make a plan. Plan doesn't work due to some unforseen issue. Change plan. Pray for the best. I said lately, but it's the way things have always gone.

I'll work on the picture issue and see if I can upload some soon.

Dealing with SAD

It has been a sad few weeks in my world. People who I care about are hurting in intense and difficult ways. They are people of faith and hope. They will endure the current hell on this earth they are walking through. This post isn't about them. Their stories are as heart breaking as you can imagine. I just have so many strong feelings to process and so few outlets. Prayer is my outlet. But most days it doesn't conquer the sad. Sad doesn't get prayed away. Sad just is.

Broken relationships, death of one too young, life altering illnesses.. these are the things that can't be fixed with a quick word of wisdom or a dinner on a cold night. Those things are good and help, but these are the unfixable things that we dread in life. And my friends are going through it. And I am THAT friend who stands beside them (whether they are near or far in location) in Spirit and hurts for them and loves them and cannot help solve a life situation that is more than a problem.

Please pray for..

my friends going through critical marriage relationship devastation

my friend who has recently lost her spouse

my friends who are starting the battle with cancer in various forms when just 2 weeks ago all seemed well

Jan 1, 2013

What a day it has been! I have run the gamut gamet gammet whole range of emotions. In summary:

Welcomed in the new year with the Bacons!

Woke up.

Ate lunch at McAllisters.

Found out that a friend's husband has dies after a brief bout of panreatitis (sp?) that turned to sepsis.

Battled a major migraine level headache for 5 hours.

Counseled the eldest child about what is fair and unfair in life in the middle of the headache.

Chatted with a friend I haven't talked with in a while.

I am now tired and hoping that the rest of the days in 2013 are not as full.

Happy New Year everyone!

Taking a break to update

     I am taking a break from the "gotta get that tree up" whirlwind of clutter shuffle. It's time to blog something. Unfortunately, I'm lacking anything of substance to share. No recent "light bulb" moments, unless you count me shattering one when I tried to change it. Nothing radical is happening, unless trying to get 3 males to get the downstairs ready to accept the Christmas tree is radical. Ok, that is pretty radical. I am committed to making letting them help this year. No tree up until they make the hole for it. It is likely going to be a long afternoon. They are currently huddled around Chris's laptop watching youtube of a videogame. Yep, a long afternoon.
       I also recently facebooked that I am suspicious of the weather, but hopeful for the promised cooling. Then I realized that Suspicious, but Hopeful is my natural state of being. I usually am suspicious (ie, cautious, not betting on it, believe it when I see it) of anything predicted for the near future. But I am also hopeful that it will happen. I think I need that in a shirt.... "Suspicious, but Hopeful" (a V-necked T with ladies cut, sizes XXL if you are shopping for me).
    Alright, time to get back to the laundry, and remind the boys that they still have stuff to do if they want a tree this year.

Random thoughts

* I love the music from the video game Epic Mickey. I could just listen to it nonstop. Maybe it should be part of my life's soundtrack.

* It is so sweet to hear the preteen I-hate-to-reader say "Mom, you were right. That was a great book!" after weeks of fighting about it. And I didn't even say "I told you so".

*I need a new office chair.

*I only have 3 more major projects to turn in before the semester is over.

*I teach some great kids.

*Sharing my favorite read aloud with students who are interested is one of my favorite things to do as a classroom teacher.