Familiar Eyes

This morning during the meet and greet portion of church, I saw a little two-year old girl with very familiar eyes. I leaned over, tweaked her nose, and said hi, and in return I got a sweet little grin from her. When I returned to my seat, mom told me who her mother is, and I was surprised. During the praise and worship service, she kept peaking over the pew at me. Every time that she did, I would get tears as I remembered those eyes.

The eyes that looked so familiar belonged to my friend, Cynthia, and the little girl was her niece, her youngest sister's daughter. After church, I talked to the lady that the baby was with and told the little girl, whose middle name was Cynthia's middle name, that I knew her momma when she was a little girl.

Cynthia's upper lip would disappear when she would smile; her niece's did the same thing. I got home and looked at pictures to make sure I remembered correctly. The eyes are very much alike and so was the smile.

How I miss my friend! I know she would have been a loving and caring aunt, just like she was a loving and caring friend to all of us!

Happy Holy Holidays!

I am so excited about Christmas! It could be just because I have two weeks off, but I think it is more than that. I will get to see my nephews and sister. I am excited to spend time with everyone. I had hoped Paul's mom would let me go pick her up for Christmas, but she is still not ready to be social yet. This will be a hard Christmas for her and Paul. My heart goes out to them.

I just feel so blessed to know that God loved me so much that He sent Jesus to be my Savior! The Christmas sermon on Sunday was about how God chose to use the lowliest people for the birth of Jesus. His parents were just common and humble people. The shepherds only owned the sheep and maybe a tent to sleep in. They were considered the lowest in society, yet they were chosen to be the ones to go and see the Savior. God can use anyone, even the lowly and humble. It was an excellent sermon.

I hope that everyone will remember the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior. And I wish you Merry Christmas

Snow days are great!!!

Monday came with a nice long evening, we were dismissed from school about two hours early. I went home to clean and make a special supper. I had to grade some papers and put them in the computer before Christmas break. I wanted to wait but was afraid we would have school the next day. Much to my delight, we were out until Friday!!!! It was great; thank you God for the snow and ice. I was able to: wrap presents, make candy, and finish the last minute shopping - early.

Today, Friday, was just a half of a day and I was home before noon. We had the worst Christmas music program in the history of programs. I don't know why we can not just sing Christmas songs, and be done with it. Our music teacher, bless her heart, wants to do elaborate programs with speaking parts and nontraditional Holiday songs. It was horrible and was done twice, once for grades: PK, 2, 3, and 5 and again for K, 1, and 4. I feel bad for the parents that had to watch that two times. In her defense, it is just so much for one person to do, in addition she is also the band director for 6-8 grades. They also had a concert that day, but in contrast it was exceptionally great!

As a result of the bad weather, the girls' Christmas party was canceled. We were just going to dinner and the movies. It was going to be a treat for all of us. Shiloh, who just had the baby, was also going to go. I was so excited about it, but we will do it sometime, maybe.

The Shack by William P. Young

I started reading this book because of the suggestion of a co - worker. I also go to church with him and his wife. He told me it would change my world and life. It was an excellent book, that provoked many spiritual thoughts.

I started reading it last Tuesday night. I got about a quarter of the way through, put it down, and vowed not to read anymore of it. I wanted to put it in the freezer, but I was scared to get out of bed in the dark! The book completely freaked me out. The book gave an image of God that was so different then what I am use to. I tried to be offended, and even consider it sacrilegious. I just could not conjure up those feelings. As I look back, I know I was feeling doubt, confusion, and fear.

I went to church Wednesday night, and saw the co-worker. I told him I was not going to finish the book. He ask me where I was in the book, and then told me I had to finish. I took his advice and woke up at 4 the next morning and finished the book!

I am so thankful I did. It is a must read for all!

My family was all home, except Jon and Ryan, my nephews. We enjoyed a day of games, food, and fun. The first game we played was IQ Battle of the Sexes, but the ladies got stomped. I was over thinking every question! We also played Cranium and got beat, which is a game we usually dominate in! It was not our day, we were to tired from cooking. We moved on to play a few rounds of Apples to Apples, and that is when the laughter started so hard that tears were flowing. My mom was hilarious!

Apples to Apples is a game where the judge takes a card that has adjectives, the players throws face down a noun card that will appeal to the judge, if your noun is picked you get the adjective card, and the first one with five adjective cards wins. We started adding our own rule of making up a category for every one to throw down a noun for.

When it was mom's turn, she said her tongue, which is freakishly long. Someone threw in honeymoon, and we all started making grossed out noises, which turned her red. Then the next card was tick, and she read it as trick. I thought we would have to perform CPR, she was so red and laughing so hard. Talk about a Freudian slip!

Jessica's first made-up card was things I like to touch. She couldn't even read the cards because she was laughing so hard. I can't remember them all, but some were: a man, a doctor, The Old Man and The Sea, Garth Brooks, roses - which is the only safe one and she picked it. (It was from G Pa.)

In another round mom had a card that said piranha. She asked Shannon what it said, and Shannon said peer - an - ha'. Paul was sitting next to Shannon, and corrected her. That was another explosion of laughter! (Now you see why we did not win the other games!) When it was Jimmy turn, he made up his category - words Aunt Shannon and Grandma can't pronounce.

I know that these are stories that are so much funnier if you are there, but I had to right about it to keep the memory! And let the record show that I did win one of the three rounds of Apples to Apples!

I was kinda down at the dinner table. I have several friend going through some tough times, and I couldn't help but to think of them. Stacy is celebrating her first holidays without either of her parents, Paul is missing his dad, the little boy I do home bound for is not able to be around extended family so they are celebrating alone, and there are many more, not even mentioning the trouble in the world and our troops and their families.

When you are a kid, nothing seems to get in the way of the festivities, as long as things are good in your area that is all you care about. As an adult, I tend to think of and remember all my friends, wondering if their day is going good and if they are enjoying or at least surviving it.

Last week was another busy week! It started with me having to go to the Dr. I have fluid in both of my ears, but in my right one the worse. It still hurts!

Work was hectic while we prepared for a fund raiser call Winter Wonder Land. Our hall looked great! Maybe I will post a picture of the igloo. Even with all the work, my grade only made about $100. I know myself I spent almost that. I guess next year I could just donate that money and not do the extra work.

I had to work Saturday in Trenton. It wasn't to bad. I only had 8 full tester and 3 re testers. I came home to an empty house. Paul is gone to his mom's until Monday. We miss him!

I was ready to curl up and read a book, but Jeff called. He wanted to play cards. We went to mom's and dad's to play Shanghai. It was fun, and I didn't lose!

Today, Jessica and I went to church, and then we all went to mom's and dad's to eat. We had taco soup and green chile chicken potato soup. It was good, as always!

I don't think anything great is to happen this week. I do go to the Dr. to get released from my foot surgery. That appointment is Monday, and I plan to walk as soon as I get home.

Hope everyone has a great week!!!!

The igloo-these were taken with a cell phone, so the quality of the pictures stink. The faces of the Eskimo are pictures of teachers that work on the red hall.

The kids' faces are on skiers.

Here I am as a giant Eskimo!

Paul and I went to Paducah last night. We had dinner at a steak house, and it was good! I hadn't had anything for lunch, so I was starving. I had steak, salad, and apples; that I ordered but didn't eat. I don't usually order steak, but they had a small one and it was what I was really wanting. Usually we go to Olive Garden, but I suggested a steak. I didn't have to twist Paul's arm to go. Next, we went to Sams to get laundry stuff. We also stopped at the grocery. We got home around 10. I really had fun.

I woke up this morning with a sore throat and stuffy nose. I had big plans to clean up the house today, and I have slowly finished.

Paul is working tonight, and he will be busy because the flea market is here this weekend. That always brings in more business. I have not been to the flea market since it reopened. I wonder if it is the same old stuff that it was years ago.

He was just home for an early supper. I made homemade chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese. Now I am ready for a nap, but it is to late in the afternoon.

I got all my things in for the grant that I received. I will hopefully teach electricity and magnets starting Monday. I am really excited about it and maybe it will help me be a better science teacher. I know it won't hurt!!!

I don't know why I even watch movies on regular channels. I was watching When Harry Met Sally. I just wanted to see my favorite scene which they cut. It was one of the best scenes, the one where they were eating at the diner.

There is an old man that lives behind us, and every evening he beats on a metal trash can lid to scare off all the birds. I wish it worked on the squirrels, they are taking all the pecans before they even fall to the ground!