Life...

A few updates...

My face is no longer swollen... but I can't seem to get rid of the upper respiratory infection... I'm so tired of being sick. I have gone to bed before 9pm two nights in a row... tonight I needed to blog so to bed before 10pm...

Creepy science guy hit on me again Saturday night... EWWWWW... gonna have to get someone to play intervention for me. He called tonight to ask if we were gonna go to buffalo wild wings, luckily I have this darn cough...

Sunday night was the night that our church went to lead the service at the 'black'' church... man, that is one group of worshiping' people... I was joking about needing to change churches until I found out that when the preacher gets happy service can last until 2... I jokingly told Ms. Bell (she works in the cafe at MCM) that I wasn't sure I could handle that... she went into a tirade about how when we have church on a schedule, we limit God... and you know what, to some extent I think she is right. Why is it that church has to be on such a schedule? Traditions... I know... but doesn't tradition limit God? Hmmm... just an idea... if my preacher got happy and preached an extra hour I bet all hell would break loose... either that or people would get up and leave...

My birthday is between Wednesday and Thursday... the joy of being a leap year baby... so if you wanna send a gift... JUST KIDDING... but I have noticed a few things that don't make sense. For example, myspace sends reminders to your friends about your birthday... unless you are a leap year baby... then they don't recognize it.... My driver's license is to renew next year... which is a year with a leap day... and yet, my license still expires on 2/28... what's that about? My insurance company sends birthday cards to its members every year... I have never gotten one... and its my policy... yet Rt, whose bd is 3/2 gets a card every year. Ok... enough whining... I think I'm going to just start telling people my leap age... so from now on I am 7 3/4. Here's the funniest part of it all... the year I turned 7, Megs turned 7... Kali will turn 7 this year and I'm still 7... Kali will turn 8 next year... I will turn 8 next year... fun, fun....

jessica

Parotitis...

On Monday, the side of my face started to hurt... I wasn't sure what I had done, but I didn't really pay it any mind. Yesterday, I woke up with the right side of my face painfully swollen. I went to the dr and he diagnosed me with parotitis... don't worry, I didn't know what it was either... it is an infection of the spit gland that runs down your jaw line... hence the swelling from my cheek bone to below my chin. It is viral... and he said I'm not contagious... but I'm not really convinced. Here's the freaky part... when I typed parotitis into the search engine mumps came up... so I guess they are synonymous...

so... I would just like to say... REALLY???? Pink eye and Mumps... all within a week... AUGH!!!!

I slept most of the day yesterday... and today I took Clorox wipes with me to class so my students could wipe down their desks... I know that I have been living under a huge amount of stress... and eating out every meal... and staying out late... so I guess my immune system has rebelled. I guess I will start working on taking care of myself...

On another note... for those who were confused about site meter... go to sitemeter.com and register your blog... it puts a counter at the bottom of your page... mine is a little rainbow box on the bottom of my screen... anyway, hope that helps!

--jessica

Site Meter & Other Happenings...

I know I'm behind the times... but I just checked out my site meter to see who reads my blog. It's a little weird to see that someone from Columbus, Ohio reads it religiously... I only know a couple of people up there and neither know of my blog... someone from Tye, TX reads it too... not sure who that is. If either of you would like to reveal yourselves....

The other interesting thing (to me) is that I have tons of visitors... and only 2-4 comments per post. What in the world?

On a completely different note... I went to the dr on Friday... and I had pink eye. I was a little irritated. I mean, how old am I? How in the world did I get pink eye? Dirty college kids...

After school today I was in the mood for some peanut butter (chunky of course) and crackers... I asked my oldest to grab my the jar... she looked at the top and told me it was one of the recalled jars. Not wanting to believe her, I checked online... and yep, it was. Irritating... that's what is was~ I wanted crackers and chunky peanut butter... I ended up eating the creamy kind.

On Tuesday nights, I go out with a couple of guys I teach with to Buffalo Wild Wings. One of them has a girlfriend who is moving here on Sunday... so I was joking with the other that there will be no more Tuesday night fun... and he totally hit on me! EWWWWWW! I mean, I have no problem with being flirted with... or being hit on... if the person is attractive... I can't handle being hit on by people who make me go EWWWWW! That definitely means the end of Tuesday night fun!

Ok... I think that is all I have...

jessica

Church Exchange

One of the things that the Baptist church has tried to do (at least in our town) in order to cross the racial divide that happens within churches, is create partnerships between black and white churches in town. Our partner church is Holiday Hills... and tonight was the night where they came over to our church to lead the service. Let me just say that those wonderful people put every single person I know to shame when it comes to worship. When the choir sang (all four of them) they had more enthusiasm and sound than all 30 of our choir members put together... they lifted their voices in praise that made me a tad envious... oh to have that power. When the preacher preached... WOW... what energy... and what a message. My oldest asked why the preacher sang while he preached... I'm guessing that she's never heard a preacher with such vocal intonations. When the choir sang, she asked why people were dancing in the choir loft. After the service, I told my music minister that I think I'm in the wrong church... his wife agreed with me... our preacher better be careful... he's gonna have a whole section of people deserting our church to head to our partner church...

jessica

Happy V-Day!

Happy V-Day... that's all I got. It's been a loooonnnngggg day! I ate lunch with the girls today... then we partied it up in the classrooms. Candy, Candy everywhere! Wow! The girls were on a sugar high when they got home...

Speaking of getting home... they ride the bus... and the bus was about 40 min late today. When it finally got to the stop Megs told me that the engine had blown.. while they were sitting on a railroad track! What??? The sat on a railroad track for 30 min... did you read that... they SAT ON A RAILROAD TRACK IN THE SCHOOL BUS FOR 30 MIN. I was sooo not happy about that.

Here's the most frustrating part... we got an extra cell phone because the house I am in doesn't have a phone and occasionally the girls will refuse to go to the store with me... and I leave them there... the extra phone gives them a way to reach me. Megs wanted to take it with her Tuesday night and then just keep it in her backpack... Robert and I both said no way... now we are both wishing she had taken it... because then she could have called me to let me know what was going on. I would have had no problem driving to Clyde to pick their bottoms up instead of letting them sit on the railroad tracks! Guess she's taking the phone from now on!

On a more chipper note, my cousin Misty is getting married in July in Austin, TX. She has asked Megs to be a jr. bridesmaid, Kali to be the flower girl, and me to sing in the wedding. (Guess I should get started on a song!) The girls are way excited that they get to be in a wedding.. they felt kind-of short changed when my little brother cheated on his fiance and the wedding was called off. Now they get to be in a BIG wedding... Misty is the only daughter of my Aunt and Uncle. .. so they are excited!

jessica

Cleaning poem!

So I saw this on my friend's myspace... it is sooooo true!

Cleaning Poem
I asked the Lord to tell me,
Why is my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer "yes."

He told me to get off my fanny
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work...
I didn't mean to 'click.

'But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into...
I was into it all night.

Nothings changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.

I complain daily about how I need to be more productive... between my myspace, and my blogs its no wonder I can't seem to get anything done!

--jess

Weight Loss

So I went to the dr for a med check on Friday and left with 2 new prescriptions... higher dose of happy pills and blood pressure meds. yippee... in the most sarcastic of ways! The bottom number on my blood pressure was 103. Dr. M seems to think my blood pressure is stress related... he suggested being still, exercising more, and not putting myself in stressful situations. I laughed out loud when he said I needed to "be still"... he doesn't know me very well, huh? I wasn't just referring to sitting on my butt watching TV... he was also referring to being still and listening to what the Lord has to say. I'm pretty sure that he is the first dr. I have ever had ask me how my prayer life was.

It was rather nice to step on the scale and realize that in the last 6 weeks I have lost 15 pounds. I'm not really sure how it has happened... but maybe I'll get motivated to work on it if my body is going to do it all on its own! :) I mean, imagine how much weight I would lose if I weren't drinking beer and eating chicken wings at 10pm at night twice a week!

--jessica

Weight Loss

So I went to the dr for a med check on Friday and left with 2 new prescriptions... higher dose of happy pills and blood pressure meds. yippee... in the most sarcastic of ways! The bottom number on my blood pressure was 103. Dr. M seems to think my blood pressure is stress related... he suggested being still, exercising more, and not putting myself in stressful situations. I laughed out loud when he said I needed to "be still"... he doesn't know me very well, huh? I wasn't just referring to sitting on my butt watching TV... he was also referring to being still and listening to what the Lord has to say. I'm pretty sure that he is the first dr. I have ever had ask me how my prayer life was.

It was rather nice to step on the scale and realize that in the last 6 weeks I have lost 15 pounds. I'm not really sure how it has happened... but maybe I'll get motivated to work on it if my body is going to do it all on its own! :) I mean, imagine how much weight I would lose if I weren't drinking beer and eating chicken wings at 10pm at night twice a week!

--jessica

Dance Lessons

The city of Abilene has a great recreation program... they offer tons of educational classes, kids classes, and dance lessons. I have wanted to take dance lessons for about 2 years... and even though there is all this drama... Robert and I decided that we would take lessons with a few couples from church. They have been a blast! Best $41 we have ever spent.

Tonight we learned to jitterbug... last week, the waltz... and the week before, the two-step! My arms are a little sore, but it was sooooo much fun to twirl around the dance floor. It is nice to have one evening of fun... not to mention exercise... a time to forget the drama... and just enjoy the company!

If you live in Abilene, you should take the next round of classes... all ages of people take the lessons... at all skill levels... check 'em out!

Transitions

Two weeks ago my husband and I separated. Things have gone pretty smoothly... until this morning... not that there was some crisis... it was more comical than anything.

On Friday, I gathered the girl's clothes for the weekend, including their church clothes. I made sure I grabbed Kali's boots too. Well, as we were getting ready this morning I looked everywhere for Kali's boots... they were no where to be found. I called Rt and asked him to bring Kali's boots to church and he said he would. When the girls and I got to church I went to the truck to get the boots... he had picked up Megan's boots. OOPS!

I dropped the kids off at Sunday School, Kali without shoes... her teacher said "oh it doesn't matter, she kicks them off the minute she walks in anyway." Then I ran home to figure out the shoe issues. As I dug through my shoe basket, guess what I found... yep, Kali's boots!

I'm beginning to think I wasn't supposed to be in Sunday School or something... since I made it back to church just in time for worship.

--jessica

Choices...

Every semester I get a new group of freshman. As the semester goes, I get a little preachy in the "how not to screw up your life department" and some of the students get it, some don't. Saturday night I was at a basketball game... I always sit with the students because they are much more interesting than boring faculty.
As I was climbing up the bleachers I saw a previous male student "A" (one that I liked) talking to a previous female student "K" (one that sooo wasn't my fave person). Being the nosy person that I am, when "A" sat down in front of me I asked what was up with that. He turned around and with a straight face told me how she was the love of his life and that she is carrying his child... needless to say I was floored.
Now... these students are both first generation college students... she works 3 jobs to be able to go to school... he struggled with coming back to MCM because of the cost of school... their parents do not help and I can't imagine either set being excited about this pregnancy... but both of the students were all giddy about it. Being the blunt person I am, I looked at "A" and questioned what he was thinking... why he didn't pay attention to any of my lectures... and he, again with a straight face, looked at me and said "but I love her... and when its love, its love." Seeing that it was too late to change their fate... I asked about school and he again straight faced told me that I had done school with two kids and a husband so he guessed they could do it. HUH? I wanted to go into a rant of how difficult it had been to do school with children, how I wished I had done things differently, and how I had a husband to pay the bills while I was going to school... but instead I decided to save it for another day...

I am an instructor at a school where more than half of the students are first generation college students... I hate to see things like this... I care about my students and I want them to succeed... I want them to learn from my mistakes and do better...

Brain Block

Well, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.. I have absolutely nothing to blog about. At least not on this blog. There have been no funny statements... funny classroom happenings... all I can think about are serious thoughts... and well, those have a place on the other blog!

So... I hope everyone has had a great week and maybe tomorrow I will have something to say!

Enough Already!

Can I just say I have had enough of the weather! I seriously could use some sunlight! How much longer is this going to last? Anyone know?

--jessica

The Tooth Fairy

Kali lost her first tooth! She has been sad for about 6 months because all of her friends have lost teeth... I kept telling her it would happen eventually... and look, I was right! She was so excited about losing it... she kept playing with it and she broke in half... hence the hands on either side of her mouth! I guess this is a sign that she is growing up, huh? It was hard enough sending her to kindergarten... and letting her pick her own clothes... now she's losing teeth... what's next? Just kidding... I love that she is growing up... and each stage is more interesting than the next. Kali is a bundle of energy... I mean her teacher at school told me that she "loves her personality"... not 'she's so smart', or 'so well-behaved'... but 'loves her personality'... is that a sign? I so enjoy her personality, though... except on days that we need to be somewhere 5 min ago, because she doesn't know what 'hurry up' means... she makes me laugh daily... she is so confident and will totally do the most random things because they were fun... for example, when I was at the church practicing for my duet in the Christmas program she did back flips all the way down the isle... I asked her why... she responded with "its more fun than walking!"... wonder what the future holds with this one!

--jessica

Country Living...

Last night when I was watching the news, I realized that the only school that had to post closing and late starts were the schools in the boonies... can someone explain to me why it is that little country towns don't feel that it is necessary to honor MLK day? Ok, Ok, I know too much conflict in that discussion to actually get any comments!

This icy weather has once again reminded me of why it is that I dislike country living.... Social Isolation. I mean, we have no neighbors, at least not any you can actually see. And the ones I have met were under not so great circumstances... you know, your dog just ate my chicken, calf, messed with my horses.... stuff like that doesn't make for friends. And since I slid off of the road twice this weekend... pretty sure I can't just call my friends up to come out... at least not with a clear conscience. Even the girls are going a bit bonkers... Megan asked if we could just go to Wal-Mart or something!

I figure I can't get away with just saying I slid off the road and leaving it at that... I will elaborate. I went to Ft. Worth on Friday for some time to think... I came home on Saturday around lunch... and did fine until I hit hwy 351... about a mile from my house my rear end started slipping... and a car was coming... so somehow I managed to hit the bar ditch without hitting the telephone pole, speed limit sign, or rolling over... but then I ended up in the middle of some guy's plowed field. I tried to drive out, but I was stuck. Luckily, country boys are very helpful and within a couple of minutes I was pulled out. Unsure of country etiquette, I called the sheriff to make sure I didn't need to find the land owner... I mean, I did mess up his pretty little field. The sheriff laughed at me... he was certain that the field was already messed up due to the freeze. The second time I slid off my options were to hit the guard rail and possibly end up in the creek bed or once again go for the bar ditch. I choose the ditch... but the next morning when we drove past the spot I realized how lucky we were that we didn't flip... that sucker was deep. I can hear my mother now "What was so important that you couldn't stay home?" No good answer there... other than I wasn't in the mood to cook.

Anyway, hope you enjoy your MLK day!

--jessica

What does it mean?

I've been having some of the weirdest dreams lately... but last night tops them all. I dreamed that I went to Sonic to get dinner for the family. I ordered a footlong chili cheese dog combo for myself, but when I tore it open to eat (you know, they come in those foil bags)... there was only like a 1/4 of the chili dog there. In my dream I was completely confused... and the alarm clock went off before I could figure it all out. Any dream analyzers out there? I mean, my friends from work and I theorized what it could mean... everything from I was in the mood to eat sonic... to maybe I should cut my portions in 1/4 to lose weight... there were a few others that had some creativity to them... but aren't so appropriate to post on a blog. :)

This is as good as it gets for a post today... I do my presentation for the faculty tomorrow... yippee (said with much sarcasm!). Wish me luck!

Oh and for those with bloglines... I updated my blog to google and because I have two I think things got crossed... so check your urls, please...

jessica

P.S. Spell check is smoking crack again... sorry...

I missed my workout for this?

Ok... so I have stressed out completely over this presentation I am doing on Wednesday. I have stayed up late and gotten up early... which means I've lots sleep. I have skipped my workout with Holly (sorry, holly!). I skipped church yesterday and spent an entire Sunday in my office. And guess what?! When I went to the meeting today the other presenters had no freaking clue what they were doing... and half of what I had been told I needed by my boss... wasn't exactly what I had needed. I have put more hours into this presentation than I think I ever did for any of my classes.... and I so could've gotten away with about half of the effort... and none of the stress! It's times like this that I wonder why it is they are cutting the COMMUNICATION department from the university....

Anyway, all that said, I can officially say I am over the hump. All that I have left is to create some worksheets, which can be done in front of the TV tonight. So... here's to completing the largest project I've ever done... and getting the nerve to actually present it Wednesday~!

The Pressure is On....

I am an Instructor of Communication Studies at McM University... sounds so official, huh? Maybe it is a lack of confidence or something else, but I hear it come out of my mouth or see it in written form and think "really? I feel like such a fraud... how in the world did I make it here." Anyway, I have to do a presentation on Small Group Communication... in front of the entire faculty (or at least the ones that show up!). The presentation is slated to go for about an hour and a half... and I am completely stressing out. I am supposed to show what I have to the chair of my department (my boss) tomorrow... and guess what.... in true Jessica fashion... I haven't even begun. I mean, it is only 2 pm... I technically have 8 hrs before I go to bed.... that should be long enough to get it done right? Part of my procrastination is due to the fact that although I do not normally have communication apprehension... I am filled with it right now. I am one of the youngest faculty and one of the 9 new faculty for the year... what in the world are they doing asking me to present in front of all those professionals? OK... I should quit procrastinating... I should get started.... really... I should... get off the compt... really... ok... ok... I'm going...

--jessica

Update: 9:10pm... still haven't started my presentation...

Happy New Year

Just wanted to stop in and tell everyone Happy New Year! I would post my resolutions... that is if I made them. I'm not big on making resolutions... because I rarely keep them... and then I just feel like a failure. Instead I will post some pics from our evening out! We started our evening with dropping my children off at my mom's house... then we headed out to party with my friend Rachael's parents... then off to Buffalo Wild Wings... then to Guitar's and Cadillac's... then to Whataburger... home about 3am. It all sounds so rebellious, but it really was a good time without much trouble... unless you count the men at Whataburger who almost got into a fight!

We got to Guitar's to go dancing about 10:30pm... this is our first pic of the evening! Not sure who the guy is, he just kind-of decided he needed to be in our picture! Come to think of it... he and Rachael look awfully cute standing beside one another... hmmm....


This is my friend Shane. I haven't seen him in months. He was my prom date in high school... then he was my hairdresser... if you get my drift. I love him to death... and it doesn't hurt that the boy has some skills when it comes to dancing... he can twirl me all over that dance floor! He has a 10 yr old son that Kali (my youngest) has decided she is going to marry... Wouldn't that make for one interesting family...


This is my friend Jana... we were best buds from about 6th -10th grade... then I turned into a not so nice person and our friendship went away. A few years ago we reconnected and I live vicariously through her. She is a traveling nurse... she has gotten to live in Boston, Baltimore, Oakland, and Denver this year... and has gone on vacation to Costa Rica & Vegas! I'm a little green right now...
Pretty sure my grandmother would croak over this picture... her favorite grandchildren in a den of evil! In the blue is my husband and in the stripes is my cousin Seth! Seth tries so hard to dance... but he is def a white boy... we are all taking dance lessons starting at the end of January... our men need some instruction!
This is the ladies... me, Jana, and my friend Rachael. I will have a post later about Rachael... she is one of the sweetest people I know... single mom of three... and yet, she can't seem to find a man worth spending any time with... its depressing! Her last two attempts have been at church and even those have ended miserably!

Anywho... enjoy the pics from my evening... we really did have a great time as we all love dancing... even Robert (my husband) got out there and did a little booty shaking to some hip hop music! There's a first time for everything...

Hope you all had a great day! Happy New Year!

Six Flags

This is the second time I have attempted to post today!

I did something yesterday that I never thought I would do... I took the girls to Six Flags all by my lonesome. We had a great time.... and if blogger will cooperate I will post some pics! The first pic is the "this is what my kids were wearing" pic... one of my biggest fears is that I'll take em somewhere like that and some freakazoid will kidnap them. At least this way I have a picture of what they look like... I know, a little paranoid! The second pic was taken on the Mexican Hat... that ride has been around since I was a kiddo. A little scary if you think about it! The next picture is from the Judge Roy Scream... that was one of my faves as a kid... and my girls LOVE it! They got off the ride with smiles on their faces... pleased to inform me that they held their arms up high the entire ride. The final pic is of the girls with the Justice League... Kali was quite concerned that Wonder Woman might be cold!

Ok... so blogger has loaded the pics in whatever order it wanted to... I think it might be time to swith to beta...

On a completly different note... Megan had to see the dr on Christmas Eve with Strep throat... Kali went today... so I guess its that time of year again! Yippeee... wonder who is next!

--jessica

Coolest Present Ever...

Ok... I have a confession to make. My name is Jessica and I am addicted to Kali's Santa gift, the Fisher Price I Can Play Piano. This little present was a pain to obtain... meaning I (Santa) went to Wal-Mart, Target, KMart, Radio Shack, Penny's, Circuit City and Best Buy to find it... and left empty handed each time. I ended up ordering it off of Amazon.com, but it was soooo worth all the trouble! I've played with it for an hour this morning... and the girls have spent another hour playing it. While it doesn't teach correct technique, it is a great place to start. My favorite part is that you learn one hand, then the other, and then put them together... and it scores you. So for every missed note, you lose points... it's quite the challenge. But, for all of those without the fine motor skills to do it at tempo (me) you can slow it way down... it's awesome! Maybe I'll take it to my office when school starts back up... it could be another way to procrastinate!

--jessica

Merry Christmas

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas one and all. I hope that each of you have an amazing day tomorrow!

--jessica

P.S. Evie.... glad you finally left a comment, now when are you going to get one of these things? I miss you sooooo much!

Holiday Spirit

I cannot seem to get into the holiday spirit this year. I didn't start Christmas shopping until yesterday and I haven't even finished decorating my house... Christmas with my parents and brothers is this Saturday at my house! Guess I should get on that! AUGH! I'm trying to find some spirit... I even bought a new Christmas CD... but it doesn't seem to be working. Any suggestions... maybe eggnog would do the trick?

Yippee!

Finals are done... grades are posted... I now officially have one month off! YIPPEEEEEEE! I don't have any big plans... other than sleeping late, working out, and catching up on blogs... so be ready, here I come!

Oh yeah, I forgot to add shopping to that list... Megan asked me on Saturday if I was going to actually buy presents this year... gotta love when your kid's a smart alec!
So... I guess it's off to the mall I go...

--jessica

P.S. I resurrected the other blog.

Love ya'll...

I just had a chance to finally sit and read any comments that had been left... and ya'll's love and support got me all teary eyed. Thanks for the support... I love you guys!

One more week...

Oh my, what a week it has been. We have our choir program at church this weekend... so I have had rehearsal every night this week. I am singing a duet with Justin for this program. The song is "Come Home" and it means a lot to me that Bret choose me to sing it with Justin... the man has an amazing voice. I usually do not have difficulty learning songs... nor do I have difficulty singing my song... but Satan has gotten into my head and I am struggling with this one. I don't want to screw it up... I want to worship my Lord with the talent he gave me... and I want to sing the CORRECT harmony. So, I'm asking that ya'll pray for me this weekend... that all will go well... and that the people who need to be touched will be touched. Here are the lyrics for the song... for those of you that KNOW me... you'll understand why this song touches me so...

Have you hungered in the wilderness for a peace that your heart knew before? Have you wandered finding something less when inside you've been longing for more. If you remember how it used to be when you lived your life more abundantly... come home... come home.

If you're tired, and weary, come home. The Father is waiting to welcome his own, and you've been gone, so long. Come home.

You've been searching since you said good-bye, like a child with a lesson to learn. But there's mercy in your Father's eyes as He waits for the day you return. And it won't matter where your heart has been when He holds you close in His arms again... come home... come home.

If you're tired and weary, come home. The Father is waiting to welcome His own, and you've been gone so long.. come home... come home..

Oh why do you keep running from the one who loves you most, so far from where you know you want to be? Patiently He's waiting and He longs to hold you close...even now He's calling softly and tenderly; Come home...

come home... if you're tired and weary come home... the Father is waiting to welcome His own... and you've been gone so long... you've been gone so long.. Come home.

I would upload the song, if I were feeling so industrious, but frankly, I'm too tired to even try it.

Just to catch you up on some of the happenings in our life....

1. Megan got a lead part in the 3rd grade program and she is EXCITED.
2. Kali has decided that it is ok to lay in the floor and make a fool of herself... so, she's been in bed by 7pm every night this week.
3. I am officially done with school... not because I finished... but because I withdrew from the university. I decided I would rather quit than fail... and let's face it... I have entirely too much on my plate to even pretend that I can do it all.
4. On the marriage front, things are going... not always easy ... not always hard... just going... I would love to be all chipper here and say that things are going to be ok... that we will be one of the couples that make it... but I believe in honesty... so my silence will say more.
5. I will be done with my own classes (the ones I teach) as of next Wednesday... and I think I will refuse to get out of bed for at least 3 days.

I am positive there is more I can post... but I must clean the house so the housecleaner can come in the morning (since she reads my blog I figure she'll get a kick out of that one)! If you do not have a housecleaner... I recommend that every person invest the $$$$. It is sooo worth the money I pay Holly every week to clean my house. I come home on Friday afternoons and the house is amazingly clean... and that means I can sleep late on Saturday and I don't have to spend the day fighting with my family about why they should help. I think I would give up sonic cokes before I would give up Holly!

love and miss you guys... jessica

(P.S. Shelly, I will get pics posted this weekend...)

Did you expect it to be different?

No, I'm not dead... just been really, really busy and tired of posting depressing thoughts!

I was looking on MSN.com just now, and there is a story about Pamela Anderson filing for divorce from Kid Rock... Did anyone really think it would be different for them? I mean, really? I love Kid Rock's music... one of those people I can't admit to liking with the kids around... but I have never envisioned him at the perfect man to marry!

Anyway, to each his own!

--jessica

Quick update...

Our preacher/marriage counselor has us doing homework this week that I have put off for 7 days now. The homework is to write down ALL of our significant thoughts for three days and share them with each other... then decide what we are focusing on that has no business in our minds... or that is taking away from us healing. So... here's the problem... I do not want to write down ever thought I have... several reasons for this: 1. who has time to write down every freakin' thought for 3 days? 2. If we are truthful about our thoughts someone is going to get hurt. 3. Why would I want to do something that is going to cause more drama?

Ok, Ok, I know it sounds like I'm having a bad attitude right now... and maybe I am... but every time I think of this assignment I want to scream. I mean, yesterday Robert and I had the worse fight we have had in a while... during the fight I had some pretty awful thoughts... most of them including murder... so if I tell him my thoughts, his feelings will be hurt and I will have to deal with that. Not to mention that Robert showed me his thoughts for one day and many of them included me... I'm not sure, but I am guessing that mine would not be such. I mean, I am a teacher, a mother, and a student... I'm pretty certain there is no time to just think about my spouse in a roses and rainbows way.

Anyway... this is where I am now! Thanks for the continued prayers!
--jessica

I haven't died...

Just a quick note to let you know I am still alive. Life is crazy right now with teaching, classes, and my kiddos... not to mention marriage counseling. I will admit, though, that it has been hard to know what to blog... I mean, half of my homework (from the counselor) has come with specific instructions about not asking for help... so I couldn't really post that!

Anywho... we bought a new to me vehicle today. Robert decided the camaro wasn't such a good family vehicle and went on a search. He finally settled on a trailblazer. I think he was getting irritated with me... he would suggest a vehicle and I would ask if it had a good sound system and cup holders. You know, a girl has to have priorities. ha ha... Anyway, the trailblazer has both... and it was the right price. You know how that goes!

Did anyone dress up today for halloween? I wore a halo... you know, to show what an angel I was... but everyone has smirked when they see me... what's that about?

--jessica

Another Day...

Another day... I've made it another day. A single day hasn't passed without tears since last Thursday... but I'm pluggin' along.

Although, I won't go into all the details of our screw ups... I have come to realize some TRUTHS about life and the most important one is that without God this marrige isn't going to happen. God is the only one who can repair the hurt that we have done to each other. Neither of us is innocent... we have both done things to the other... and God is the only one who can take that pain away.

So... here's to more prayin' that God will take this hurt and pain away... that God will clog my tear ducts... or better yet, I won't have a need to cry.

--jessica

The Morning After...

3 days... that is how long I have spent crying... 3 freakin' days. My eyes are swollen, my head hurts, and I can't keep my nose from running.

We went to see our preacher today and he had some great words of wisdom for us. He suggested that many of our problems started at the very beginning... and until we forgive each other for the things that happened back in 1994 we won't be able to move on. As much as I would like to shout a great big "whatever" to that idea... I think he is probably right. We have done things both purposely and accidentally to hurt each other. There is no trust in our marriage... and we have both let in crap that didn't need to be there. Basically, we have a lot farther to go then either of us ever guessed.

Our homework for the week is to read Psalms 51 to each other, out loud, every day. At some level that is soooo much better than the staring at each other bit the last counselor gave us as homework... but then again, we read it in preacher man's office and barely got through it because we were all teary.

So... that pretty much catches you up on things... at least to a certain level. I have gathered the women around me that Sarah suggested... but don't think you are off the hook if I haven't called you yet... I'm working on it still... there is still so much ground to cover I might need a rather large group of people praying for me. Thanks for your support and your prayers... they are much needed and appreciated... jessica

Where did I go?

Ok... I really haven't died or dropped off the face of the earth, but let me tell you how much I wish that were the case. There has been a lot going on... and I can't go into it in detail... but please keep me and my marriage in your prayers. I have found out some stuff I didn't know... that I don't like... and that I don't know what to do with... Let me just tell you how much Satan can attack when you feel like you've got it together. I just don't get it... why can't he leave me alone? Why can't the crap I've gone through in my life thus far be enough? One of my friends reminded me that God can use those struggles/trials/crap in our lives to reach out to someone else...but can I just say that I really do have enough "experiences" now with which to draw on... I mean, I was molested, physically abused, adopted, had my adopted dad kill himself all before the age of 7... then I managed to screw things up on my own plenty... I slept around and drank way too much in high school, I got married at 19, I had babies when I shouldn't have, etc. etc. etc. I could go on all day about the crap in my life that I could use to help others with. I can promise you that I do not have the stamina or strength to deal with what is going on right now... Anyway... just be in prayer... jess

I'm feelin' old...

So, is anyone watching Dancing with the Stars? My kids and I love it! Good family TV. Anyway, Mario Lopez... you know, the guy from Saved by the Bell, is one of the dancers. Yeah, and um tonight they celbrated his 21st birthday on the show. What?! Was he like 12 when I drooled over him on Saturday mornings? Anyway, I'm feeling a bit old right now... how 'bout you?

--jessica

Columbus Day

So... is there any reason that we celebrate Columbus Day? Didn't the powers that be decide that Columbus didn't discover America? If that is the case, then why do we celbrate... I mean, doesn't that make him just another explorer... shouldn't we have Lewis & Clark day then? So... I know some of ya'll are teachers... what gives?

--jessica

Our trip!

Can I just say how great it is to go on a trip without the kids? Oh my goodness... we had a blast! We ended up going to the comedy club I mentioned before... it was an improv club... and it was hilarious. Saturday we did a bit of shopping and then we headed back downtown. We ran into some friends that we hadn't seen in years... and they had extra tickets to go see Wynonna Judd at the Ft. Worth Symphony. So... we went... and it was awesome. I'm not big on orchestras, but Wynonna's got some pipes on her! After the symphony, we went to Pete's dueling Piano Bar! It was loud and smokey and they played songs from every genre and it was AWESOME! My kind of place. They even played Baby Got Back... on the piano! ha ha... Robert enjoyed it too... and only complained about being left deaf a couple of times... which is an improvement for him! ha ha

Anyway, we enjoyed each other and I think it was a great move for our marriage! I would have to say that I was a bit irritated when we walked into the hotel room and realized that the sheets and comforter were white--so much for the glow in the dark glitter paint! Ha ha....

--jessica

Weekend was great... stomach bug I've had today... not so great! EWWWWWWWW!!!!!

Weekend Plans

Can I just say how giddy I am with excitement right now? Robert and I are leaving town in 4 hrs to go away without our children. We have been married for 10 years and have NEVER gone anywhere... too poor before we had kids... too poor after we had kids. I just bought tickets for some Improv club called "Four Day Weekend" and got info from my students about the best places to eat. We may do the Medievel Times thing tomorrow night, but we will just see! I am even being a good wife and going to Cabella's... I figure there is girly shopping in the area too... shhh don't tell. The only request Robert has made about the trip is that we find a Fredericks of Hollywood to go to... hmmm, wonder what his intentions are? Anyway, I hope you all have a good weekend! Talk to ya Monday!

--Jessica

Thoughtful reconsideration

On my way to church last night I started to feel a tinge of guilt over my venting on the blog. I would like to clarify that I do love my church... and part of my frustration was with my uncooperative family and the difficulties that come from having church on a Wednesday night.

My biggest issue with Wednesday service has more to do with what it isn't than what it is... and I have sat here and struggled with it. Most churches in today's age are very concerned with bringing in visitors... with bringing in membership... with bringing people to the Lord. This is done by having great choirs/praise teams, by having grand buildings, by having dynamic speakers, and by having services that attract people. Our Wednesday night service is none of those... it is in the fellowship hall... a room that has poor acoustics and no technology... our preacher is very nice, but not so dynamic... and the content for Wednesday's is a bit drab. None of these are meant to attract visitors. BUT... that is ok... and that is what I have realized today. Bro. Mike has called the people who are there on Wednesdays "the meat of the church" and he is right. We spend the first 30 min of our time together discussing prayer requests within our church family and prayer requests within our community. We discuss up and coming activities and we ask for the Lord's guidance in those. These things are all very important within a church... and while they may not be entertaining... and they may not be comfortable to sit through... they are necessary... and I think we forget that.

As for the many suggestions... I do appreciate them... there are no Bible studies on Wednesday night because the preacher wants us to attend prayer meeting... not sure it works... but I understand it. As for praying for God to talk to me... to touch me in some way... I do... everytime I turn on the radio, everytime I walk through the church doors, everytime I open my BIble, I pray for God to take my life and make me what I know He wants me to be. I pray for his word to touch my life and I pray for the knowledge that only He can give. I pray for patience with my children and I pray for the ability to focus even when the message isn't keeping my attention... I know that my Lord can do all of those things... and that is why I get sooooo frustrated when I don't get anything out of the service... because I am most definitely asking for it.

Anyway, this is probably more than you wanted to read so I guess I will sign off now...
--jessica

My life...

I HATE WEDNESDAYS! There, I said it! Do you feel my pain?
My kids are tired from a day of school... I am tired from a day of work... we have to come home, get cleaned up, and drive the 20 min to the church. Church lasts 1 hr on wednesday nights, at which point my husband comes and picks the children up, so he can take them home and fight with them about going to bed. I have choir practice, so I usually roll in about 9:30pm.
I know that I should be feeling all excited about the opportunity to worship/serve my Lord... but I'm not feeling it. Our church has "Prayer meeting" on wednesday nights for the adults... can I just say how very, very boring prayer meeting is? By the time we are done with the prayer meeting part and the preacher does his little speell I am done for... It is all I can do to sit through it. I get that church shouldn't be all about me... that I should be willing to serve... and it won't be all fun and games... BUT come on! I have not actually gone to prayer meeting in at least a month, because I physically cannot handle it. By the time I walk out of the fellowship hall my head hurts so bad I want to vomit. My solution to this problem has been to drop my children off at G.A.'s and either go run and errand until choir practice or to read my book for the lit class I am taking. I hate that I am not being fed on wednesday nights... I hate that I have such feelings of disgust about the entire process.

Ok... I'm done venting now... sorry if I offended anyone (not that anyone reads my blog anymore according to site meter)... just had to get it out!
--jessica

I need a little humor...

So... life is stressing me out so I think I need a bit of humor.. here goes... are you ready?

How do you make 5 pounds of fat interesting?????



Did you guess yet????



Put a nipple on it!

My friends livened this one up for me... they added saggy to it! Ain't that the truth!


Here's the other joke...

What did the ghost say to the bee?


Did you guess yet?

Boobee! Get it... booby! Ha ha... I know simple minds simple pleasures... but what can I say...

Ya'll got anymore for me???
--jessica

Alyssa Grace

Meet my niece... Alyssa Grace. In Alyssa's short time on earth (she was born yesterday about 2pm) she has been diagnosed with a cleft soft palate, a heart murmur, a kidney disorder, and her left eye did not develop.

Alyssa's parents, Ashley and Matt (my little brother), started dating about a year and a half ago... which means that Ashley got pregnant 9 mo into the relationship. They are not married and this is my brother's third child by the third woman. Ashley has a 4 yr old son from another relationship, as well.

As I held this prescious gift from God my heart ached... how in the world are Matt and Ashley going to be able to handle what the future holds if they can't even commit to each other... and on top of that... how are they going to handle what the future holds without a relationship with God?

So... keep my family in your prayers as we work through these times with baby Alyssa....
--jessica

How her brain works...

Yesterday afternoon I left my hubby with the kids and went out with a friend to celebrate her birthday. I called to check on things on the way home... Robert was watching SleepyHollow.. you know the one with Johnny Depp... the one that no child should watch.... so I ask "are the kids in there" his response... "no their fine." Hmmmm... at 1:00 this morning Kali comes crawling into bed with us... "Daddy's scary movie gave me nitemares"... huh? Anyway, so no more scary movies Daddy... got it? At about 3 I kicked her wiggly bottom out of my bed and randomly, as she was leaving my room, she says "I think my new name is Lollypop". I'm a bit concerned that might be her future stripper name....

Anyway, this morning while we were getting our shoes on Kali says "Remember my name is lollipop..." and then "I learned how to french kiss on the playground".... HUH????? She explained to her father and I exactly how to do it. I then explained to her that people have germs in their mouths and therefore we do not stick our tongues in other people's mouth.... AUGH! One of my students suggested I tell her that is how you get pregnant!

Gotta love kids!--jessica

Oh My Goodness....

Who knew that when you grew up and got a real job you would have absolutely nooooo time for the things you enjoy. I have not read a blog in a least a week... and as you know I haven't posted in 2. I miss you guys and I miss hearing about your lives. I will try to catch you up with the things that have been going on....

Kali has gotten in trouble on the bus about 3 out of 5 days for the last two weeks. So.... after much stressing and praying... I have found a high schooler whose mom works at CJC and that goes to Clyde and drives to Abilene everyday... so... she is going to pick my angels up at school and bring them to me at work. Yippee! I think... I can foresee many difficulties, but at least this way they are with me when I leave work and not riding a bus for over an hour. Now... what to do about snacks!

Because of the bus situation and the amount of driving that I am doing daily, we have been trying to figure out how to move back to town... anyone want to buy a trailer on 19 acres? Maybe someone will happen by and write me a check! ha ha... Another factor in this desire to move comes from a discussion that I had with my 8 yr old this last week. She asked me why her friends thought only black people could listen to hip hop music... that white people should listen to Christian or Country music. My response... huh?! What?! Are there really people out there who think like this? I am amazed. Here is my predicament... do I teach her to stand up for her beliefs? Or do I teach her that sometimes we keep our mouths shut if our response is going to be taken not so well? I have always been bothered by the lack of diversity in her school... but come on! Any ideas? I did tell her that as Christians we probably shouldn't listen to some of the hip hop music... but by no means was our ethnicity involved! AUGH......

Ok... I think that is all the news... at least all that I can remember... I did buy a palm pilot and my organization ability has been much better. Now... if I can only figure out how to check my email with it like it says I can!

Hope all is well with ya'll... I have a lot of reading to do! Jessica

Menu...

Ok... this is my second week on the job... and the second week in a row that my family has not had a single vegetable while under my watch. I really think someone ought to call CPS... Look at the things we have eaten this week for dinner...

Monday: Ate at TaMollys (tacos and burritos for the kids...)
Tuesday: Ramon Noodles (ewww... I ate oatmeal)
Wednesday: Pancakes (no meat, no veggies, just flour and water)
Thursday: Sausage hotdogs (sausage on a bun with potato chips)

What in the world? I am soooo tired by the time I get home I do not have the energy to think about food much less cook. We bought stuff that we could throw in the crock pot when we went to the grocery story... but someone forgot to tell me how difficult it would be to actually throw it into the crock pot before walking out the door at 7am.

How in the world do ya'll do it? How do you cook nutritious, delicious meals that the entire family will eat?

--jessica

Bookish Meme...

Ok... flip flop mamma tagged me... this one is a weird one...

Grab the book closest to you
Open to page 123
Scroll down to the 5th sentence
Post the text of next 3 sentences on your blog
Name of the book and the author
Tag 3 people

Goodness is active. As we learned in the preceding chaper, kindness means planning to do something good for others. And now goodness moves into total action. God in us and His presence with us produces His goodness in us.

A Woman's Walk With God: Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit Elizabeth George

Tag... your it... Holly, Liz, Roxanne....

And by the way... why are they called meme's? Anyone got an answer for that?

--jessica

AIn't life fuN!!!!!

What a week it has been! Thanks for all of the advice about ways to keep my memory functioning... I have started to use my outlook and will get a pda to synchronize and carry around with me... and I will be using billpay from the bank to help out as well. Maybe all of this will help... it better!

This week has been full of happenings that I haven't had a chance to share with ya'll yet... so here goes!

Monday I went to a free lunch at school... again SALAD... why do they powers that be think that every adult likes to eat salad? There are some 30 yr olds who barely eat green beans much less salad... I am thinking that I am going to have to grow to love salads if I want free food! I should note that when they say free what they really mean is that they are going to feed you while you sit and listen to the many different things they want you to do, be involved in, or give to.

On Wednesday night, I was cleaning out Robert's truck and the puppy went between my legs and (I thought) under the truck. I closed the door and went inside... no big deal. Thursday morning Robert went outside to take the girls to the bus and all of a sudden I heard "JESSSICAAAA" in a not very nice tone! I ran as quickly as my 5 inch adorable yet not functional wedge shoes would take me to the back door and guess what I saw. The puppy had not gone under the truck... instead she had jumped into the truck. She did look awfully cute standing on the dash, tongue out, wagging her tail. She did piddle on the dash and on one of my text books... but not in the seat or on anything important!

Last night I went to the mall to see a movie with a friend. We saw You, Me, and Dupree... which was very difficult to watch knowing that Kate Hudson had left her husband for Owen Wilson... or something like that! It was funny... and yet very stupid... Before the movie I sat outside waiting for my friend to show up... as I waited there were at least 30 kids dropped off who had to be 6th grade and below... WHAT IN THE WORLD? Last year, a police officer was assaulted by a mob of teenage girls... you would think the mall would make some rules about an age limit to be unsupervised at the mall! After the movie, my friend and I were standing outside talking while she smoked her cigarette and these kids walked by complaining very loudly about the smoke... mind you we were standing in front of my truck... no where near the isle and not in anyone's space. After that the kids walked over to Windy's black trans am and started touching and looking in the windows. Windy hit her key fob button to make the lights come on... the kids realized who did it and started talking smack. What in the world? Windy didn't say anything about her car, she just hit the button to make them realize they were being watched... when did it become ok for kids to behave in such a way? We jokingly laughed about how we must be too old to go to the mall on a weekend but come on... why can't parents just be responsible for their kids?

OK... I think I have exhausted my happenings for the week... I hope all is well for everyone... I am going to try and catch up on my reading today!!!!

--jessica
(I tried to download pics of my shoes and the puppy but blogger is smokin' crack agaiN!)

Scheduling!

I have found that another part of this whole grown-up thing that I am going to reluctantly conform to is scheduling and using a day planner. In the last three days I have forgotten two appointments as well as several other things that I need to do... like pay the phone bill so it didn't get disconnected... called my house yesterday to hear... do do doooo we're sorry this number... etc. etc.

The only solution that I can come up with is that I should use a day planner or something of the sort to keep myself organized. Here is the problem.... I rarely carry my purse with me so how am I supposed to write stuff down or look at it even if it isn't with me. My fried Holly leaves it on her counter at home and looks at it everyday. I guess I could leave it on my desk.. but again I can't carry my desk around with me. I am pretty sure that if I had one of those trendy pda phones my life would be a bit more organized... or would it? I would probably just leave it at home or in the pocket of the pants I wore the day before!

Anyone have some amazing way for me to make my memory actually work?

--jessica

WOW!

When I woke up this morning the first thing I did was look at my blog! Ain't she cute? A few weeks ago one of my chat buddies redid her blog so.... I asked if I could have her old template. She had a bit of work to do... and being that I am technologically deficient I think I added to her work. Anyway, she did an AWESOME job and I love it! Now, if I can only figure out how to link people I will be good! ha ha

If you like my new look give a shout out to looneybin4sure . She is thinking about going to school for this stuff... I think she would do great!!!!!

On a side note, can I just say that being an adult is highly overrated? Getting up at 6am to be at work by 7:30 and then not getting home until 5... who's idea was that? What person or intity decided that the work day had to start so dang early? Will I ever get used to this? And, when are you supposed to do laundry if you aren't ever home? Questions, Questions?

--jessica

What in the World?

You all remember my little red car, right? And you remember my sweet black dog and her puppies, right? Well, this morning after Robert left for work, he called me to tell me to look out the window. Can you guess what I saw? Yep, my stupid dogs were sitting on top of my car. I forcefully removed them from my car... but when I got ready to leave about 30 min later Boots (momma dog) was again perched on top again..

A few days ago, I mentioned to Robert that I was noticing some weird scratches on my car... I think I might know where they are coming from. We have considered putting it up for sale... but that can't be done until September. So... any suggestions of how to solve this problem? My hubby has some solutions, but they aren't very nice, so I need your help!

--jessica

LIfe's Challenges

Ok... I quit... Can I do that? Can I just say that if anything else that costs money or time happens my head will explode? In the last few weeks we have had our air conditioning unit go out... to the toon of 2100$, my slave pump on my camaro go out... to the toon of 45$, the kids started school and needed school clothes... afraid to admit how much that cost, lunch money... oh my goodness... dentist appts... can you say 7 cavities for the 8 yr old.... Anyway, we are now officially broke and have about 3 weeks until I have any money (other than Robert's paychecks) coming in. I know that the Lord is good... and I am impressed that we have actually had the money to take care of the things that have happened... but come on.... I am tired of this!

On a lighter note... We went to the drive-in last night and saw Barnyard: The Original Party Animals and The Ant Bully. Ant Bully was ok... if I had boys they probably would've loved it... but my girls slept through it. Barnyard, on the other hand, was hilarious. My hubby was concerned that the bulls and cows were all pictured with utters... Bulls do not have utters, but other than that it was great! At one point a cow is in labor and the pig says things like "Wow... I bet that hurts" and "What if it gets stuck?"... you could hear the laughter from the cars around us... it made me laugh.... As I type this I am struck with the idea that it might not have been that funny... it really could've been that fact that it was midnight and I was tired! Anyway, go see for yourself and let me know!

--jessica

Show Me Yours

Since I'm always one to play things like this here goes... O Mama Mia has a new challenge... it is to show our table... or the places that we eat... so here goes.

This is where we actually eat most of our meals... in front of the TV in fact... I know, I know, research shows... but what can I say... I'm a sucker! My living room is never actually this clean... I stayed up last night getting it done because I know that I am going to have to stay on top of things now that I am working!

This is the bar where I try to make the girls eat.... when it is cleaned off.... which actually happens more often than not! Look at the ugly bar stools that I bought with the intentions of repainting and recovering... a year ago... still not done!

And this is the dining room table that belong to my husband's great grandma's table... It is a little short so hubby doesn't actually like to eat at it... says it hurts his legs... It has become a hanging place for the kids school clothes... they put them there the night before and then they know where there clothes are when they get up at the butt-crack of dawn!

So... I've shown you mine... let's see yours... come on... play along!

--jessica

First Day of School!

Look at my girls! Today was the first day of school! Kali started kindergarten... Megan started third grade! I have never seen soooo many crying moms in all my life. I mean come on... it's school... they come home in 8 hrs or less... why the tears? I had no tears... no sadness... only excitement about what the year was going to bring... and maybe a little dread about how Kali was going to handle all the rules and regulations of kindergarten. I called Robert when I left the school to check if I was a bad mom... I mean if soooo many moms were crying maybe I am insensitive or something... he assured me that it was ok to be ready for them to go back to school!

I did see the twins today... apparently CPS was called but conveniently every time they showed up the family was gone from the house. Hopefully they will show up now that school has started... especially since the girls are expected at school and CPS can see them there. I was relieved to see that the girls seemed to be fine... but I am a bit concerned about the efficiency of CPS if in the past 2 weeks they couldn't manage to track down some 9 year old twins.

Anyway... I know that school doesn't start until tomorrow for many of you... hope your kids have a great day!

--jessica

My Friend

Just wanted to update you on my friend... she went back to the doctor today and although her numbers had increased, when they did the sonogram the sac was starting to separate and blood was pooling.. which means that a miscarriage is imminent.

I spoke with her this afternoon... she said that she and her husband prayed for a healthy baby... so she feels like this is God's will and she is ok.... she is still crying for her loss... but at peace.

Thanks for the prayers and kind words...

--jessica

Praying for a Miracle

Ok ladies... start the prayers!! I have a friend, whom I love, who found out that she might've miscarried. I say might've because there is a chance that because of her tilted uterus the sonogram is wrong. So I am asking each of you to start praying...

Her sonogram was last Thursday... and they did bloodwork on that day and again on Monday... her numbers went up, which could be hopeful... but she has had almost a week of not knowing... a week of wondering and praying... and hoping while guarding her heart. She goes in for more blood work on Thursday and her prayer is that she will know something... she would like for her numbers to sky rocket and all would be well... but she is afraid to be hopeful.

So... I am asking each of you to pray. I am praying for a miracle for my dear friend... I want to be able to rejoice with her on Thursday afternoon...

--jessica

Runaways...

About a week ago... the morning after we got back from Six Flags, in fact... I was abruptly awoken by knocking on my door... I thought it was one of my kids at my bedroom door, but when I looked no one was there. I was exhausted after the day at Six Flags... and it took me a bit to figure out the pounding was coming from an outside door. I went to the back door... no one there... the pounding started again, obviously at the front door. At this point I was a bit ticked, because I wanted to be asleep. I yelled "hello" and heard giggles coming from the front yard.

Again... still extremely tired and getting grumpier by the second... my first thought was "that better not be my girls"... I quickly realized that the giggling was coming from the twins who live up the road... about a mile away from our house. Did I mention that it was 2:45 in the morning? You read it right... 2:45 AM... I asked what they needed and their response "We were wondering if you would let us sleep in your floor"... I was still not completely clear headed at this point... all I could say was "huh?" I let them in... asked a few questions about what the girls... who are all of 9 yrs old... are doing out of their house... and what about their parents.... and then I went to wake up Robert... this was definitely not something I could handle on my own.

Well, apparently the girls had decided that they needed to run away from home and that my home was a great place to run to. They had opened their window and climbed out without their parents hearing and walked to our house. Did I mention that there was no moon on this night? and that we live in the country? Where there are coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnakes.... etc? and we live a MILE from their home?

When Robert got up, he decided that we should call the sheriff who lives up the road... Robert didn't mention any names but the sheriff knew exactly who he was calling about... he said something about them doing this a couple of times before. Anyway, the sheriff showed up, not very happy about being awoken at 3am... and took the girls home. He said he was going to call the authorities (what was he?) and have it taken care of. So... if this has happened before why haven't the authorities been called before?

We haven't heard anything from the sheriff or the parents of the girls... and I am concerned... do I call and check on things? or do I wait for CPS to show up on my door to ask about it? Robert said he would see the sheriff this week and could ask what happened. Guess that will have to do....

--jessica

Blog makeover

I have a problem... I have blog envy... everywhere I look people have cool blogs with links and blogrolls and fun pictures... what do I have? I have dots.... dots that I am SICK of. So... if anyone feels sorry for me and would like to make my blog all cool lookin' please let me know!

--jessica

Emotional Breakdown

My children love the cartoon Lilo & Stitch... always have... but apparently they have an unnatural attachment to the little blue creature...

The kids were sitting in the playroom watching "Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch" and all of a sudden I hear sobs coming from both children... when I say sobs I mean heartwrenching my world is coming to an end sobs... Robert and I both started asking what was up... can anyone guess what it was??? Come on, guess!!! Well apparently Stitch dies in the movie (sorry if I ruined the storyline for ya)... but he comes back. The girls had only gotten to the stitch died part and were very upset over it.

What does it mean when your children cry over a dead cartoon character?

--jessica

Life's great questions?

Summer has exactly 11 days left... or at least it does for my kids, who start school in exactly 11 days. Where did the time go? I feel like the last 10 weeks has just flown by.

Sorry it has been a while since I posted... it seems that since finding out I had a job, life has been even more hectic... lots of meetings and a day trip to six flags to celebrate. That celebration made me wonder what I was thinking! hA HA

There is a couple at church whom I have had a difficult time relating too... they are very judgmental and legalistic... and I never know exactly what to say in response to some of their ideas (oh, and they are the facilitators of my class). In class on Sunday, a discussion occurred about drinking and going to clubs... as the couple made clear their views I sat quietly... not wanting to say anything, because I was afraid that it would become word vomit... for those not sure what I mean by that... it is when you start to speak and it just keeps coming... you cannot make it stop.
Anyway, there is a group of us... hubby and I included... who go out to a local dance hall/bar/club about once every other month for an evening of dancing. We do drink a couple... and we dance to all the music... but I have a difficult time finding error in our ways... although, this couple must have spent lots of time coming up with all the ways we are wrong. We are not there for the meat market... no one drinks excessively... so... I'm having a hard time with this idea that we are doing something awful.
I understand how people can look at clubs and not want to go... they are loud, smoky, and tend to be "meat markets"... but I do not see how going with my husband to dance for 3 hrs could be considered evil or wrong.
Now, I am not trying saying that I have never been in sin at the club... I have for a long time gone without my husband for an evening of dancing and drinking with friends... I have danced with people that I shouldn't have and I have probably danced in ways I should not have. But... that is not the argument here... I have seen the error in my ways... I have straightened up... I am not longer binge drinking and I only go out with my hubby... so how can what we do now be sooooo very wrong?
I know that I will probably never change their opinion... but I would like to know your opinions on the matter....

--jessica

Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A couple of posts ago I mentioned that there was a job possibility at MCM and I had interviews set up. I have now gone through the interviews and I officially have the job. Can you see my happy dance? This is such a blessing and it couldn't have happened without the Lord's intervention.

I have taught adjunct for 2 yrs now... this job means that I receive a real salary and instead of the 16 classes a year I have taught at 3 different school as an adjunct I will teach only 8 as a full-time employee. So not only do I get a huge raise... I get to work a heck of a lot less. The other benefit is that I will be driving tons less... I will go to MCM at 8am and stay there until 3pm... no more driving between 3 schools... any driving during the day now will be purely pleasure (can you say shopping?).

When I got home from receiving the great news about the job I walked in an realized that the air conditioner in my home wasn't working. Instead of getting all bummed out I prayed about it and call the air conditioner guy. We now have a new unit... and the guy was so nice he is letting us pay it out over two months... and since he is our neighbor and loves us he did it all for free... meaning he didn't charge labor.

So... needless to say I am singing songs of praise right now... isn't the Lord great?

--jessica

Tag your it!

I have been tagged by FlipFlopMamma... so here goes.

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.

1)In Our House
2)Rose DesRochers
3)So a Blonde Walks Into a Blog
4) flipflop mamma
5) rebelliouschild

Next select five people to tag:
1) Holly
2) Sarah
3) Denise
4) Tammy
5) Anne


What were you doing 10 years ago?
Robert and I were living in Laramie, Wy, so that he could go to school at Wyoming Tech.... I worked at Petro Truck Stop as a cashier.

What were you doing 1 year ago?
I was teaching Public Speaking at CJC and at the prison for WTC. We had just started going to the church that we are members of now.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1) Beef Jerky
2) Carrot Cake Cheesecake (not sure that is a snack... I've been known to eat it for a meal)
3) any kind of cereal
4) Chocolate anything
5) Carmal Corn

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1) Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice... forgive me it was the first song that popped in my head
2) I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me
3) Buttons by PussyCat Dolls
4) Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood
5) Sara Beth by Rascal Flatts

and I should say that I would venture to say that I know the words to most songs since I hear it once and it is stuck with me for an eternity.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1) Tithe
2) Pay off all of my debt (mostly student loans)
3) Help my friends pay off their debt
4) Travel to all the countries that I will never see
5) Go shopping!!!!!!!!!!

Five bad habits:
1) Procrastinating
2) Being lazy
3) Throwing my dirty clothes on the floor (guess that goes with lazy...)
4) Chewing my fingernails
5) Listening to ghetto music

Five things you like doing:
1) Laying out at the pool
2) Going to the drive in
3) Reading
4) BLOGGING!
5) Singing

Five things you would never wear again:
1) Stirrup pants
2) Leg warmers
3) Parachute pants
4) high-top tennis shoes
5) jeans with the hem tight rolled!
I will confess that this list is the same as FlipFlop Mamma but her's were soooo good that I couldn't change them.

Five favorite toys:
1) My laptop with which I read blogs on
2) My little red camaro
3) My papertrimmer
4) My corner rounder
5) and any other scrapping tool

Ok! Ya'll have fun and I hope this helped you learn more about me!

What does the future hold?

Over the last couple of weeks I have known that there is a HUGE possibility that I will have a job at McMurry this semester... but not being one to want to jinx things I have kept it to myself. Now that I have three appointments scheduled at McMurry next week I am thinking it is ok to share the possibility....

A couple of weeks ago I found out that Kris and Matt were moving to Amarillo... which left two open positions... Joel (the head of the Comm dept.) called me and said "I've been told to bring you on... but you still have to go through the interview process"... WHAT?!! So, I have a job or I don't? People have been out of town and there has been no rush on their part... I think because in their heads I have the job.. but in my head I still have no job. I have, however, felt a great amount of peace about this process. I am not worried about it... it will happen if it supposed to... and that is a new thing for me.... to be able to not worry about it.

I have three appointments set up for next week: Monday at 10, Tuesday at 10, and Wednesday at 10. I find it interesting that the first appointment is set up with the benefits guy and that everyone is calling them appointments and not interviews.

At the same time that these things were happening, I was trying to decide whether or not to finish the M.A. in English that I am one class and comps away from finishing. I opened the mail and there was a scholarship to ACU for half of the one class I still need to take.

This summer has been an interesting one for me. I have learned much about patience and even more about faith... but it took hitting rock bottom for me to learn those lessons... and I know I still have a long way to go. So... keep me in your prayers as I go through these "appointments."

--jessica

What in the World?

For those of you not from Abilene let me give you a bit of background before I completely vent about an issue.... Abilene is not known for it's ability to bring new businesses into town... something about the 'city fathers' not wanting growth... with that said here goes the vent...

When I went to Arkansas a couple of weeks ago I found a store that I absolutely loved... CATO fashions. I have heard that there is one in Lubbock and the metroplex...but no Abilene. The rumor is that we might be getting one... but there are also rumors that we will have a Kohl's and an Applebee's too. As I was driving home from teaching at the prison tonight, I passed through Sweetwater... which is a town with all of 11,000 people (according to city-data.com). As I was driving past their new Super Wal-Mart, I noticed a new shopping center... and low and behold there in the new shopping center is a CATO..... WHAT IN THE WORLD? Sweetwater... a town that is about 1/10th the size of Abilene gets the cool store... what is happening here?

I know that there are plenty of shopping centers around, so maybe our day is coming... and it isn't like Sweetwater is hours away... I can get there in 35 min on a hwy patrol free day... but come on, how in the world did that city rate and we don't? I have one more week at the prison... guess I am leaving early next week and going on a shopping spree before class!

--jessica

Summer Memories

Well, I am officially done with Summer I and have moved on to Summer II. I really thought that once Summer I was over I would have more time for this blogging hobby of mine... unfortunately, my children have had other ideas.

We have been to the pool all but one day this week... my skin is nice and golden... but the chlorine is doing awful things to my hair. Yesterday, at the pool, Kali decided she was a swimmer. She started with swimming from one person to another... by the end of the day she was jumping off the diving board and swimming to the ladder. She was great! Her only issue is that her hair gets in her face and she has to stop and swim with one hand to swipe her hair off of her face. Guess we will be going for the ponytail at the pool from now on!

Last week, Megan went to GA camp... for those who don't know what GA's is... it stands for Girls in Action and it is a class that teaches the girls about missions and missionaries... they do service projects and all kinds of good stuff. I did it as a child, my mom did it as a child, and I am pretty sure even my grandma did it as a child. GA's was the best part of going to church as a kid... and it is why I wanted to return to a baptist church (among other reasons)! Anyway, Megan was gone from Wednesday until Sunday... and she had a blast. Every evening at camp they had praise and worship time... the band was "Two Empty Chairs" and I have been informed that one of the guys was the cutest thing ever! Funny how an 8 yr old can determine that. I was completely worried about how she would do... I mean, this was her first time away from home like this... she did so well she didn't even call home! I was especially worried about what my very picky eater would eat... she came home from camp saying "camp food is great"... so maybe I need to get some recipes from the kitchen.

I do think things will settle down over the next couple of days... so I hope to catch up on all of the posts I've missed!

--jessica

Peek Inside Me Weekly

Sorry I haven't played the last couple of weeks... life has been more than stressful. But... this week I couldn't resist. The challenge for the week from CheerioButt is to tell your most embarrassing moment...

This assignment is a bit hard for me... only because there are sooooo many moments that have embarrassed me... but because there are soooo many I can't pick a most embarrassing. I tend to just get over them as quickly as they happen. So... I will list a few of them and you can pick.

1. I was walking down the hallway at Beltway Baptist Church and I just fell... nothing in the floor... no excuses... just fell flat on my face in front of a group of teenagers. They laughed... and then realized they were laughing, stopped and asked if I was ok. I told them that only my pride was hurt and moved on.
2. Started my period in the middle of one of my classes... realized it after it had gotten all over the back of my skirt. Luckily had a jacket to tie around my waist... but still had to figure out a way to tie without any students seeing. EWWWW
3. Hubbie just remembered this one... I was really sick with my first child... I had a gallstone with no gallbladder which led to acute pancreatitis and emergency surgery. With that said, I threw up a lot... and I could never predict when it might happen. One time, when we were in Wal-Mart, I got sick in the bathroom and being that I puked with such force... peed in my pants... I had to walk from the restroom in the back of the store all the way to the front door. I was quite embarrassed because it was more than obvious that I had peed on myself. I think this might be one of hubbie's most embarrassing moments as well. :)

Hope you enjoy this peek... let CheerioButt know if you wanna play too.

--jessica

Green Hair

My youngest daughter, Kali, has blonde hair... some of it is so blonde it is white. That said, today's activity during His Kids was a trip to a local pool. The pool has been having some chlorine probs so it was cloudy and green. The white part of Kali's hair sucked in the color and she now has streaks of green in her hair. She thinks it is funny.... I have washed it and conditioned it with the good stuff... still green. Any suggestions?

--jessica

Oops! I didn't mean to...

Yesterday, I bought the girls gum... each their own pack... aren't I just the sweetest mom ever? HA To show her appreciation, Kali decided to hold her chewed up gum over her sister's hair and say something like "if you don't play with me, I will put this gum in your hair"... of course big sister wasn't going to be coerced into playing. As Kali was trying to put the gum back in her mouth she dropped it... in her sister's hair. In her mind it was a complete accident... in Daddy's mind she shouldn't have had the gum out of her mouth in the first place. She lost her extra large pack of Juicy Fruit as Daddy took it to work to share with the guys. There were no tears when Daddy took the gum... but when I came to pick her up and she realized the gum really wasn't coming with us the waterworks started. Robert sat in his truck laughing, while I listened to very loud cries. Thanks a lot babe!

--jessica