Each day we walk...

I find that I do not turn on my computer as much as I used to.

I rarely stay up much past nine.

I used to blog after my kids were in bed to settle my thoughts before I turned in. Now, I talk to my husband, cuddle in and go to sleep.

My mind is still buzzing with ideas.

I still am daydreaming of summer,

I still am doing silly things with my Kindergarten kiddos...

But, heading into the last quarter of school,

I am thinking of all I must get done.

I have registered for the course I need for my teacher licensure recertification and as I plan my lessons for the week, I am working on incorporating final third quarter assessments into my activities.

Life goes on...

the adventure continues...

It was "Cookie Day"!

Friday I invented a holiday. I dubbed it "National Cookie Day". My students read, wrote and talked about cookies. We even made "monster cookies". Each of my students cracked an egg, mixed and munched the final creations.

(Though I must confess the "National" part of "Cookie Day" was just me being silly, no one at my school seemed to mind my exaggeration.

We watched the birds today...

This morning we watched the birds from our table as we ate. After breakfast we lingered and chatted. Our eldest and our youngest stayed as well. Cardinals, Robins, Finches and Woodpeckers all flitted in and out of our field of vision. Other critters came as well; it was peaceful.

Thinking things over...

Today I walked out my front door and into a cold dripping rain. I winced at the chill and shook my head. Then I looked over my shoulder at our babysitter and remarked that at least it wasn't snowing.

At lunch time my husband met me for lunch since he had the day off and I smiled. I didn't need to look for the silver lining... I was just happy.

Later, my students practiced saying "hello" in Spanish using a plastic echo microphone. In response to my "Como te llamas?", I had quite a few kiddos reply, "Me llamo... Captain Underpants!" I shook my head and remarked that they could "be" whoever they liked as long as they repeated the Spanish words to the best of their ability.

Later as we examined different citrus fruit and compared and contrasted their similarities and differences, I chuckled as they gleefully licked lemons. I smiled when they gasped at their first sight of a blood orange. After assuring the children that the orange could not really have blood since it was not an animal, all but two were willing to give it a try.

When our curriculum time was over, I saw someone get a ticket when they tried to go left of center to ditch the line into a nearby school pick up area and came bumper to bumper with an oncoming police cruiser. I saw the furious expression on the policeman's face and shook my head, very glad to sit and keep out of the way.

Tonight I came home to an amazing pasta dinner and my favorite people. The day seems so long and after helping my husband with some paper work and talking a bit, it was almost time for bed. It was my exercise dvd for me and a walk for my guy. We're trying to be healthy.

I am sure that you, like me, sometimes feel frustrated. Sometimes it's raining, or my students are unruly. Sometimes though I am really happy, like when I meet my husband for lunch or when my children tell me about their adventures at the dinner table.

Life is full of ups and downs. Rocks on the road... bodies that protest loudly in response to simple exercises that shouldn't hurt but do... In the end though, I am glad to be here. To have my family. To have this life. To be loved and to love.

This day and always...
I pray for sunshine for your path... or an umbrella...

Happiness for your travels... or someone to share your pain...
Good things... blessings... or strength for trials...

In short... I bid you peace... I pray you are blessed.

Boxes... family... blessings...

Today my family did what families are supposed to do, we helped one of our own. My younger brother has recently accepted a managerial position at a Ruby Tuesday's out of town and had to move. ( Ruby Tuesday's has very good food, including the best salad bar I've ever been to, you might want to check it out at http://www.rubytuesday.com/.)

Yesterday afternoon my sibling received his keys and the word went out that the move was on for today. Dad drove the U Haul, I carried little things, my aunt kept the doorway dry and my older brother and my husband carried all the heavy things.

My younger brother? (This would be me chuckling slightly... he had to work... yup... we moved him without his presence.) I'd like to tell you we didn't do anything silly but, I must confess that in addition to the boxes carefully carried in, his older sister did put two empty Diet Coke bottles in his refrigerator. I laughed when I found them in his old home and figured they needed to move with him.

While we worked, we all laughed and talked. Though moving is not amusing, it sure is a better way to gather family than a funeral. With all my heart, I am so glad to be blessed with kind people who love me. I am so happy to have people to love.

What a blessing it is to have family.

Life is good.

This day and always, I pray for you. That you are blessed. May you have peace in your heart and family to love you.

Out of shovels!

Looking for a second shovel in the Columbus, Ohio area today was futile.

Though Lowe's had flower seeds to buy
(I wouldn't know who has been dreaming of spring),

and Zettler's had salt
(to keep our crew from slipping on the porch),

neither had a shovel to buy.


The kind sales clerk at Zettler's said they had 300 yesterday.

We were talking at work today and someone said it is an "El Nino" year and that is why we are seeing so much seasonal precipitation.

(This would be me shaking my head in disbelief thinking about the mountains of snow...)

Whatever the reason for this "unOhiolike: weather, there is certainly a great deal of snow outside.

Though we've vetured out for work and to periodically attempt to keep our driveway passable, we've spent most of our hours inside together.

With the ground completely buried, we've become a bit concerned about our feathered friends.

Our family has taken to watching and feeding the birds. Woodpeckers come to our suet feeder, Morning Doves to our picnic table covered in seed and finches to our finch feeder. We watch the grateful creatures through our sliding glass door.

Everyone has been enjoying the sights, even Andrew, who last night opened the door himself and threw out a cup full of seed with a laugh of delight.

I pray that wherever you are,
that you are safe and warm.

I pray that you have peace in your heart and knowledge that you are loved.

May you be blessed.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Now and always...
May the love in your heart be a reflection of the One who made you.
May the road you travel be made better by the ones you share your adventure with.
May you be blessed!

Giving thanks...

Perhaps I have been too vehement in my renunciation of winter. The past two "Snow Days" have been absolutely wonderful. One day of playing at school and one day to relax at home. The time off has been a blessing. Tomorrow I am sure my bitty charges will not want to be "educated" and I'll need to be on top of my game.

Tonight however,

I am counting my blessings.

I give thanks for so many things.

For shelter from the cold and snow.

For food to share with those I love.

For a job, that though challenging, is a blessing.

For the children who call me mom.

For my parents...

For my friends...

For my very life...

Each day is a gift.

I am grateful.

More than anything though,

I feel blessed to have taken care of a few pieces of business.

The outcome of the errands?

A piece of paper... two simple gold bands...

Daydreaming on a winter's day...

I sit inside, toasty and warm.
Outdoors it is cold.
Yup....
cold...
Piles of snow are everywhere to be seen.

Today was a "Play Day" at school as nearly every school in Central Ohio was out for the day. I can only imagine the outrage of the students at the one or two schools in session.

I had a friendly group of kiddos. A happy mix of my last year's students and this year's. We played together all day. It was a relaxing day. I think everyone needs a "fun" day every once in a while.

Despite the joy that the snow brought today, I must confess that I am ready for spring and dare I say it? I am ready for summer as well. Tonight we sat and talked about how we could camp with our Andrew. We talked over details about how we could make it safe. We talked about gardening and even mused about the future and how we dream to explore our country.

The Food Network had a count down showcasing amazing places to eat all over the United States and it made us grin. How I look forward to wandering down Route 66 someday or even heading downtown to try the "Dagwood" challenge that made it onto national television. Giant sandwiches, large balls of twine and friendly people selling postcards... yup! Please count me in!

So what am I to do about winter in the meantime? I will give thanks for the time to think happy thoughts... to plot... to dream... I will try to be patient... For every thing there is a season... Without winter... would the first spring flower have the same impact?

Sigh... every part of creation is here for a reason... There is value in it all...

I guess it's a good thing I am not in charge...

I'd be tempted for endless summer... tiny toads and peanut butter picnics at the top of Conkle's Hollow...

Now and always, I pray that you have the warmth of summer in your heart. That in the "cold" times you know you are loved.

May you be blessed!

The sun was setting...

We were out walking...


(I bet you're surprised.)


The sun began to set...

Our Katie turned around
as we walked down the hill
and she exclaimed at the lovely sight...

Trees were glistening
encased in ice...
sprinkled with glittering snow...

The scene...
almost magical
and yet,
such a natural and normal part of our lives.

=)

Looking out our back door, we laughed...

Perhaps it is a family tradition...
or just bored teenagers...
But regardless, this evening our family laughed in delight as we watched the neighbor's children throw sparklers, common to the Fourth of July and summertime, into the snow with glee.

Look at the shining spot to the right of the farthest door.

That "spot" of light... is a sparkler flying through the air!

=)
Happy thoughts to you.

Joy as bright as a sparkler.
Happiness...
Love...
Peace...

May you be blessed,
this day and always.

My first "badge"!

Last weekend at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, a smiling Ranger gave me my very first patch for hiking. With a grin I happily accepted it and took my kiddos over to the picnic tables to get some hot dogs, baked potatoes and hot chocolate.

It was a bitterly cold day, but the hike was beautiful. We walked our favorite trail counter clockwise as per the hike signs and mused that it seemed as if we were in a different park. We hiked up hills we usually walk down and walked down those we generally hike up. My younger daughter was a bit distressed about this "backwards" hike at first, but I convinced her to cooperate.

In the end, there was a patch for me and yummies for all. Everyone even agreed that the "backwards" hike wasn't horrible after all.

Heading for the top of the ridge...

Two children in front of me and one beside me, I steadly walked up the boardwalk under the towering trees that always inspire me to contemplate peaceful thoughts.

My younger daughter's gait is a bit unsteady and there were parts of the path where I gave her a "push" to help her make it up.

I smiled...
a lot...

I love to hike.
I am so grateful for my family.

On an errand...

With family night waiting, we drove across town to drop off a cake I had promised to make. The sun was setting and I simply couldn't wait to make it back. "Apples to Apples" was on the agenda and it was bound to make us all laugh. Board games and loved ones... a very good combination...