Sorry, Jason!

I goofed up! I have been trying to keep on top of everyone's birthdays this year. I thought I was doing pretty well when Hayley mentioned Jason's birthday that was last week!! I hate it when I mess up!

Anyway, I want to take this opportunity even if it is late to say a few things about Jason. He is relatively new to our wacky family and seems to be adjusting to us pretty well. Its a tough job and he seems to be on top of it! :)

It is obvious that he loves Kourtney and precious little Kline. Kline loves his daddy and they are cute to watch. Jason is also tall, handsome, well-spoken, polite, and much more. He makes a great addition to our family. We are glad to have him.

I hope you had a very happy day and will forgive me for being so late with this.

Happy Birthday, Dennis!

Happy Birthday, Dennis! A gorgeous guy then (1971) and a gorgeous guy now!

I can't begin to say how much my life has been richer because of you. You are my best friend, and I love you with all of my heart!

People that know you see exactly what kind of man you are. You live your life by your beliefs. A man of conviction you lead by example.

Thanks for putting up with me all of these years. I know that lately I have been putting you through some scary things. I appreciate your being by my side through it all. I couldn't have faced some of it without you.

Enjoy your birthday, Fritz. I'm so glad you finally caught up with me!

Love always, Your Wiff!

Country Western Music

Just about everyone who knows me could tell you I am not a fan of Country Western Music!! I love classical music, show tunes, 60's music, Christian music (especially hymns and "Agnus Dei" by Michael W. Smith), old songs from our history, well, just about everything except hiphop and CW. I have even been known to enjoy an occasional rap song (very few, though.)

However, once in a while my children have tricked me into liking a CW song. We have always had a rule in our family that whoever is driving gets to pick the radio station. When Dennis drives we always listen to classical music and sometimes play a game we made up that our children make fun of us about. It is called "Guess the Composer". When I don't have any idea I always guess Buxtehude. One time I was actually right. Dennis & I got a big laugh out of that one.

If Nicholas is driving we always have to listen to Country Western. That is how I found my first CW song I actually liked. It was about a little boy who was throwing a baseball up in the air and trying to hit it with a bat. He never could do it, but instead of getting discouraged, he said, "Even I didn't know I could pitch like that!" I'm sure most of you know it because it is an old one.

Hayley played me a CW video the other day that I had to admit I enjoyed. It is a song called "My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me" by Danny Gokey. I didn't have the name right, but Hayley straightened me out. It has a great message, and I am adopting it as my theme song for this year.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not being won over and still wonder where I went wrong with both of my children. I'm just saying you might enjoy those two songs, too.

Back To School!

This is my second year of being retired. It seems weird not reporting today with the other teachers. This inservice week was always one of my favorite weeks. I wasn't too fond of some of the meetings, but I loved getting my room ready and seeing everyone again. I'm wishing everyone a very successful year.

I loved school as a child. Yes, I loved summer and all of the breaks, but I have fond memories of all my friends, and Most of my teachers. :)

To celebrate my freedom I am planning something fun on August 20. It is partly to help me not be homesick for all the students and my coworkers, and mostly to rejoice that I am feeling well and enjoying retired life. I'm trying to think of something special that I have always wanted to do, but haven't gotten around to doing. I guess its kind of like a retirement bucket list! :)

Heat!

It is August, and it is wonderfully, beautifully HOT! I spend so many months of the year being too cold. I am glorying in this heat. I love to sit on my front porch and just soak it in. Yes, it does get too hot after a while, even for me, but I truly am enjoying it. Thank you, God, for this blessing to me. Sorry, all of you people that are struggling with it. I'll enjoy it for you. :)

Happy August!

Happy August, everyone! I used to get depressed when August came because school started so soon. I was weird, though, because I was depressed AND excited. Now I've discovered I still have the same emotions, but they are completely switched. I am depressed because school is going to start without me and excited that I don't have to go back. I know I'm crazy, but I get homesick for the routine and the children. I miss hearing them sing. I miss my room. I miss school supplies, which I do admit was and is an unhealthy obsession of mine! I miss filling out my grade book and trying not to make any mistakes! (I never succeeded in that!) I miss opening. I even miss doing the programs. I don't miss the stress. I don't miss being sick from November to March every year. Most of all I don't miss ALARM CLOCKS!

P.S. The colors of my blog right now remind me of Hayley's wedding. When she said pink & yellow I nearly died. Turned out to be beautiful!

P.S.S. Hayley just reminded me that the colors were actually strawberry & lemon. Either way she was right and the wedding was beautiful! Just shows that sometimes you have to trust people. :)