Awesome!

For today: June 22nd

Outside my window... I am watching Brandon put a new hitch on the pickup so we can tow our trailer this weekend.

I am thinking... how nice it was for us to be outside together tonight, and water on grass in the evening smells so great.

I am thankful... for my husband, a job where I have summers off, and my sense of smell.

From the kitchen... I will reheat baked ziti and garlic bread for dinner.

I am wearing... a vintage Pilot Rock sweatshirt, running shorts and have bare feet.

I am reading... magazines and blogs.

I am hoping... to squeeze all of summer out before it is over.

I am creating... haven't started anything yet, but lots of projects in mind.

I am praying... for my job, for Erin and the babies, for this to be a wonderful summer!

Around the house... fresh cut grass, water on the grass, groceries from Costco, plants watered, trailer washed, piles of bills and 'stuff' to get to.

One of my favorite things...summer days.

A few plans for the rest of the week...get in the garden, check in at school, pay bills, get the trailer ready to leave, do something creative, buy the paint for our bedroom.

Baby Eliot

I saw this video on Oprah today, and it was the saddest thing I have seen all week! I cried and cried.
http://www.oprah.com/media/20081001_tows_99balloons

Summer is here!

Summer has begun! Friday I checked out of school, turned in my badge and keys and said my goodbyes. It was kinda sad, knowing that I might not be back in my room again in the fall... but I was tired and ready to start summer.
Thursday night Brandon's family came to visit and to celebrate Matt's OSU graduation. We had a great time, celebrating all weekend. Two BBQ's, a clean house, Chinese food, laughter, a quick trip to Florence for lunch and lots of visiting. It was great. Everyone left today, and it was so sad! After the family was gone, Brandon and I headed up to Woodburn with Matt and his girlfriend. We found some great clothes for the boys, and not too much for the girls. This evening Brandon and I spent some time in the yard and our garden. That is summer! The smell of freshly cut grass, basil in the garden, and a Kleenex to my nose! haha
Tomorrow I start some training at the District Office and Brandon is back to work. But summer is here, and I am excited!

Memorial Day 2009

This weekend was the 4th annual (5th annual???) CEM Memorial Day camping trip. We went up to Wikkiup Reservoir this year and we all had a great time. Most of us got there Friday, a couple of die-hards went up Thursday evening to save our spot though.
Here's what we did:
we relaxed and ate junk food.

We drank cheap beer.

We sat by the campfire.

We read books.

Some of us talked on our phones (only to tell others where we were....)

We drove through snow and mud and sunshine to see fun places.

All in all it was a great weekend with great friends. I'm so glad we were all able to make it, and I am already looking forward to next year! Maybe then we'll actually take our boat out and do some fishing! (Note: there was serious fishing going on, it just wasn't done by Brandon or I this time-bummer).

Here we are, the CEM crew!

sometimes...

even when life seems not so great....

there are still moments when we know life is great. These moments remind us of all the positives we have in our life. All the things that are going right, all of the treasures we have-including our family, our friends, our God, our love, and our health.

Yesterday I lost my job. As of now I do not have a teaching position for the 09/10 school year.

I cried. I wondered why?

However, I was also hugged and consoled, and told how important I am and how special I am to the South Shore community. I was hugged and loved by my family and my husband. I was hugged and loved by my students (even though they didn't know!ha ha). I have a wonderful family, I have my God, I have a wonderful house, good health, great friends and stability. I have the HOPE that I will be back next year, in my same classroom teaching the same grade level. Hope, and love, and lots of positives.

fresh air and sunshine

Have you ever washed and folded an entire load of construction orange t-shirts and sweatshirts? Have you ever emptied your husbands coat pockets and found about 200 .22 bullets and 10 zip ties???
Have you ever went in your backyard and found old construction road signs? (like the HUGE green ones?)
Is your garage filled to the brim with construction tools?
Do you see work boots in every corner?
Is your car filled with teacher stuff (and garbage?)?
Do you have kindergarten papers in your bag to look at?
Sometimes I feel like there is so much going on in my life... and I just need a break. And then I remember, thank the Lord, I remember that I am only given what I can handle. Brandon and I together are given what we can handle.
There are moments in the midst of all the craziness where I am home alone. I can take a walk. I can take a bath. I can take a deep breath.
I think I need to be busy to fully enjoy the evenings where I am home alone with Duke. Where I can open the windows wide open and crank my music and fold laundry, take a bath, walk the dog, wash clothes, wipe down the kitchen counters and water plants. Where I can think about my day(I don't usually think about it once I leave my room). I can make lists of what to do, who to call, who to write, where to go, projects to finish or start or work one. I can organize and rearrange.
The past couple of months have been crazy. We have gone home, I have gone home by myself, Brandon went to Central Oregon (Burns....), we have torn out our yard, replanted our yard. We have built garden beds, planted our garden beds, put in a patio around the garden beds, installed underground water systems, helped friends do all of the above, potted flowers, and fixed gates and fences. We have celebrated birthdays, marriages, engagements, and prayed through illness. We have spent time with family and friends and strangers. We have thanked friends for their generosity and been generous with our friends.
A few things are keeping us going. 1. Each other. Brandon and I talk and laugh and cry with each other and keep each other in check. 2. Our family. they listen to us as we 'complain' and celebrated with us when we succeed. 3. God. He has listened to me give thanks and ask for help and guidance. 4. Knowledge. I know I only have 1 month left of this craziness. Only 16 school days (I think???) of little fingers grabbing for my hands, chubby arms reaching around my legs for hugs, loud voices asking for help and asking for praise and discovering new things, piles of paperwork, hours of meetings, and lots of things to sort through. I know this too shall pass and I can do it. It will be sad to see it go, but it will be nice to recharge and {hopefully} return rested and ready in August.
We can do this, and it will be good.