Dreaming

Well, maybe it started that way, as a dream, but doesn’t everything? –James (James and the Giant Peach)



This quote really made me think about what I'm dreaming about. Lately, it's been weirdo dreams; gigantic waves, mewling kittens, and one with pickle chips. I don't normally remember any of my dreams, but the last few days, they have stuck with me. But those aren't the dreams I am talking about.

What am I dreaming of doing/being/seeing/creating/being involved in? As a non-dreamer, more of a do-er this is hard for me. My practical side almost always takes over and the dream is disassembled and rated before it can fully form. I think that's why I am attracted to dreamers, people who think new thoughts and don't let reality interfere. They have always provided my starting point.

But that's not happening right now. I am in a place in life where I want what I am doing to be about what I need to do, not what I need to do to help others achieve their dreams. It's one of the reasons I am going back to school this fall (assuming acceptance happens). But my dreams need to be more than getting a degree. They need to help me fulfill my life mission. That life vision, God given track that shapes me into His vessel for use in His great plan.

And health is huge in this. I have a dream to be healthy and active and sassy and fun and able to keep up with my kids. This is gonna require some lifestyle changes that no longer involve the couch and a bag of snack mix. It's going to require that I plan more and organize better and direct the household activities more efficiently. And it seems like more than I can handle. Most days it seems that way. But I think that God has planted a dream in my heart to be more for Him and do more for others. And I can only do this if I am healthy and have more stamina than a newborn. The thought of facing the mountains in Glorietta in 2 weeks has shaken me a bit. Last year I couldn't make it up the mountain and through tears, I vowed to do better next year. Well, it's next year and I am in no better shape than I was last year. But I'm still going to try and make it up the mountain. Both literally and figuratively.

And here are some thinking poses of people cuter than I am.

Summer Wife: Myth or Fact?

There is a legend around town about the elusive beast known as Summer Wife. I think I hear her sometimes, from far away, pacing the floor, gnawing her fingernails, and generally acting anxious. I think she wants to come out of hiding and meet the world, but is being held prisoner by a force beyond her control. When she has been seen previously, the rumor is she smiles a lot, cooks healthy and delicious meals, has great skin with no circles under her eyes, is available for fun anytime, and laughs a lot. I hope to see her sometime soon. I hope I can learn her secrets. Summer Wife sounds like someone I would like to be around.

Some Mom Days are Better Than Others

As I saw the ground rising to meet me, I knew that it was going to leave a mark.  I just hoped that my glasses wouldn't break!

6 hours earlier...
Getting ready for a field trip as a Mom is so different than preparing as a teacher. Moms get to waltz in sometime before you leave with  a large cup of coffee and makeup well done. Moms get to help kids unpeel nametags with a crazy sticky adhesive without getting frustrated that they don't already know how to do this. Moms get to observe the teacher interactions passively with no dog in the fight. Moms get to go along for the ride without concerns about lunch, timing, late buses, poorly scheduled events. But most importantly, Moms on field trip day get to be a hero in the eyes of their kids and hear that sweet voice say, "Mom, will you sit with me on the bus because I just want to be by you?"

2 hours earlier...
Taking your child out to lunch is a luxury. Getting one on one time with that special someone is a rare treat to be savored, even if they want to eat someplace that is not diet friendly.

15 minutes before...
While riding bikes to the park in 90 degrees with 95% humidity is not really my idea of a good time, it is the most favored thing of my little guy. It is a sacrifice I willingly make to make this field trip day with Mom special and happy.

As I saw the ground rising to meet me, I knew that it was going to leave a mark. I just hoped that my glasses wouldn't break! It did and they didn't. Falling off my bike so ungracefully in front of my boy was a great lesson. That lesson was: only face plant off your bike in the neighbor's yard when everyone else is still at work. And who knew that riding too slowly close to the drain was so dangerous?? Crazy SuperMoon must be the culprit because I know gravity isn't suppose to work like that.

So I assume the soreness I feel tonight is somehow related to something that happened today, but for the life of me I can't figure out what!

Can't Keep Him Down!

You know that the Young One has been sick for a week. I've whined about it enough, all of FB knows! Well, he is better, no longer contagious and back at school today for the first time in a week. I got the following message from one of the 2nd grade teachers today:

I was trying to get Josh to slow down a little on the playground this afternoon cuz I knew he had been sick. When I asked if he wanted to take a break and go get some water since he had just recovered, he said "No thanks, I don't really know how I got sick, but it wasn't from playing outside!!" He was so sweet and sincere and it took everything I had to keep a straight face. Gotta love little boys!!!


I love his perspective on the world!

Not always sunshine and rainbows around here

What a day it has been! Son # 2 is still sporting a mystery fever and cough (day 6). I am out of days to be out at work, so it is getting docked from my paycheck everytime from now on. Son # 1 randomly decided to slap his brother in the face for not doing something he wanted. The dog peed all over my entryway. And my husband has to go back to work in 5 minutes after being home for a total of 1 hour and 22 minutes today. I'm getting cabin fever from being with a sick kid all weekend. We are back to teaching full curriculum at work since the testing week is over. That means that it'll be a week getting students back into the learning routine.

In honor of the crap day it has been, I am SO getting dinner out tonight. Although that means I'll have to put clothes on that are appropriate for public viewing.... small price to pay.

Weather that makes me go "Whoa!"

The weather this beautiful day was perfection.. light breeze.. mid 70's.. clear skies.. I just know this is what heaven is like.

So, the family and I took a little walk around The Woods. We trekked along the Waterway and through Market Street with a stop at Kirklands to buy some stuff on clearance. Then we made it to THE bookstore to just read for a bit. I was researching Disney guides for our trip this summer. The boys were.. um.. I have no idea what they were interested in. Just walking and laughing and enjoying the family was blissful.

I am so thankful for a family that likes to be together.

And this week on "It's My Life"...

It has been a great week. I got to spend Easter with my parents! It has been years since we got to be together for this holiday. Just one of the prices of being a church staff family. Dad was supposed to pipe in the service, but a series of unfortunate music issues later, he didn't. I got to cook a big Easter dinner. I forgot all the hard work that goes into planning and prepping a meal like that. Whew!

By the time they headed home on Sun afternoon, I was pooped. The kids were hyped up on candy and I took a little nap on the couch.

School has been rough this week. Students are being naughty. Lots of fighting on the playground and talking in class at the totally wrong times. We are 2 weeks away from the big state test and we are reviewing and reading and hoping to activate their memories and build their vocabularies in time for others to see our hard work pay off. Because, let's face it, the goal is for the kids to learn stuff. But if they can do it where people can see it, even better.

And I'm tired. I find myself dreaming of the days of the cruise, with the wind blowing off the ocean and no one pestering me about losing their stuff. I find myself wanting to color, too. Yeah, color pictures. I have some amazing cool coloring pages that just came in and I can't wait to try them out. I just have to make master copies first.

But mostly I want a nap. And time to paint my nails. And someone to organize my closet. And someone to wash the laundry. And I want to find some really cute summer clothes because I really hate what I have to wear right now. And if they could be free, that would be great!

And on a happy note, today is the 100th day of my read through the Bible in a year plan and I am still all caught up! The psalms today were awesome. It was a great way to start my day.

I think I'm off to finish off that Easter dessert I made. MMMMM. It was yummy. I know you are jealous now. You can find the recipe on my Pinterest board and make it yourself. It was really easy.

And that's my life this week.

Monthly update?

It has been way too long since I shared anything. The rhythm of my life is just like that right now. The boys are getting all grown up and say less cute stuff and do a lot more eye rolling and arguing. So I could tell you about the time I told them to "talk it out and remember you will be best friends when you are older" or "stop fussing before I take away your video games." That was quickly followed by "So, I guess you are both ready to get grounded?Becuase that is what this argument sounds like to me. You say He made you mad. I heard "Mom, please make sure I have no fun for at least a week" Funny how that works.

Work is work. Everyday. And not the fun work kind of work with laughter and a sense of Job-Well-Done. More the It-Is Impossible-to-Teach-Children-Who-Don't-Try-To-Learn kind of work. Oh, and there will be a test in a month to prove that even though I am a great teacher, it is a student choice to learn or not.

I'm reading the book of Judges this week in my Bible reading, so maybe I'm a little pessimistic about things. If I could talk to the Israelites of history, I would sound just like my grandmother. With smoker's gravel in my throat, I would lecture, "Well, if you would just do it the right way, you wouldn't get dead, now would you?" (In her defense, she never actually said that to my knowledge, but I could see her thinking it.)

On a happy note, I've decided to become a student again! Yep, I filled out my online application to join the Master's Program at Sam Houston State for Library Science. Hopefully I will start this August. I forgot about the butt load of paper work it takes to get into school. And money.. wow! Application fee, GRE testing fee, transcript fee.. and I haven't even registered for classes!

You, both of you, might be wondering why, after all these years, I would want to go back to school. It's because I want options. I want to be able to do something other than teach that still works with kids. And I want to love what I do. I love books. I love sharing books with others. I love the beep of checking in books. I love seeing the smiles of anticipation when kids get the book they were looking and waiting for. I have always said that I would teach until I couldn't. Whether that was for age, health, or moral reasons, I knew the time would come. It's not here yet, but I need to be prepared. And I might just be ready for some new adventures. After 17 years in the classroom, I think I might be exhausting my limit of dealing with the day to day junk that comes with raising other people's kids.

So, that is the month in review. I hope I get back to you sooner next time.