Sand! Sun! Fun!

Here we come!

Happy belated 15th Anniversary to us!

Burial plans

Unfortunately Mother Nature isn't allowing for a proper burial of Hammy the hamster at this point in time.  Our funeral director (Ace) has told Carter it will be necessary to wait until the ground has thawed before a service can be held in Hammy's honor.

One down...

Hammy Carter Clayberg took his last breath peacefully this afternoon in a clean cage surrounded by his two nemesis Oreo and Scooter as well as his loving master, Carter and onlooker Austin.  Hammy was just shy of two years old and had a happy little life running on his hamster wheel and tumbling through the house in his big orange ball.  He enjoyed gnawing on wooden sticks, climbing up and down the sides of his cage, and toying with the cats as they batted at his cage.  He is survived by his brother, Bugsy Q.

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

but this snow day at home is BEYOND delightful!

Now typically I'm not a fan of having to make up school days at the end of the year, but these busy boys of ours and their schedules have prevented me from getting everything done that I need to before Christmas.  So, I am relishing this blustery day snuggled up at home with my family, listening to Christmas carols and crossing things off my to do list!

I'm not sure Ace is relishing taking care of two neighbors' driveways plus ours though!

It's the little things

Little things in life that make us smile #43~

HUGS

I'm not sure there's a parent in our world right now that would disagree that something as simple as a hug and/or kiss from a child is one of the sweetest things in the world.  For those parents whose hugs were cut short due to pure evil this past week, my eyes still fill easily with tears and my heart is beyond heavy and full of prayers.  I can not watch the news; I can only read it wishing the words on the page away.  My eyes and heart cannot take the images.  It hits way too close to home.  Right now, I can't get enough hugs and kisses from my boys.

There truly are not words to describe how I feel.  The unimaginable has happened, again.  As an educator, it's something that unfortunately is always somewhere on my mind.  Where are the escape routes?  Where's the best place in the room to protect and hide kids?  Can I lock the door fast enough? Is it safer to jump out a window from the second floor? What in the room can be used to defend us?  Can the tables quickly be turned over for a wall of protection? Will I be able to react quickly enough?  Will the teachers of my own children do enough to protect them?

Dear Lord...educators shouldn't have to worry about these things.  We should be worried about things like, are the students learning?  What do I need to reteach?  How can I extend this for those needing an extra challenge? Am I guiding them towards independent thinking? Am I equipping them with the best education to prepare them for their future?

Walking into school this morning will not be easy for many students and educators, myself included.  However, we must remember that we have a loving God who is with us every step of every day.  We may not be able to wrap our minds around the event that has happened, but we must rest assured in the words and plan of our God.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

It's the little things

Little things in life that make us smile #42~

Surviving an unbelievably busy week...without melting down

Aaahhhh...you have no idea how happy I am to see today!  Last week was a crazy busy mess with mock trial practice, basketball practice, confirmation, state mock trial for two days, church Christmas program plus practice, and a basketball tournament.  On top of all of that I was supposed to bake 4 dozen cookies for church.  YIKES!  Thankfully my amazing hubby stepped up to the plate and took care of that cookie baking for me.  I simply couldn't get it all done and was doing the best I could to keep up with a wickedly busy and very long week.

So, bring on the calmness of only three or four things this week after work.  That's something I can handle.

It's the little things

Little things in life that make you smile #41~

Karma baby, karma!

For the past week or so, I've been sitting back and watching karma come back to bite the hubster in the butt :)  You have no idea how this makes me giggle!  His two children are JUST. LIKE. HIM.  ...and the best part is he's starting to realize it!