Mosquitos

Heard this on the radio this morning:

God did not create anything without a purpose... but mosquitos come close!

I would say I have to agree. Does anyone know of a purpose for the little things? We had a 1/2 bd party for Kali at the pool on Friday night and my legs are all kinds of eaten up! I want them to go away!

I am trying to upload some bd pics, but blogger doesn't like me this morning! Kali is our Christmas baby, but we have decided to 'move' her birthday to June. We of course still acknowledge the real date, but the party comes later. I guess someday she may choose to move it back, but for now I'm thinking a party in June is way cooler!

I really, really, want my hand back!

Well, the stitches came out yesterday, and the dr gave me 10 days to regain movement of my fingers or I will be attending daily physical therapy sessions. So... in order to not have physical therapy I was good and really worked at making a fist. Well, um... this morning I looked down at my finger and the entire cut has reopened. It hasn't opened as far down as they cut originally, but it is opened enough that my cousin who is a nurse handed me the phone and said call the dr... I called the dr and will be sitting in his office in the morn. What I would like to know is if I should be expecting stitches again or what? I mean, what can they really do about it? I have to bend my finger, right? The scar goes across my finger. So... in a nutshell, every time I bend my finger I will be opening the cut. Hmmm... any suggestions here? Here is a pic of it (sorry if it grosses you out). The cut goes across the finger (this way the scar is not visible was the original logic)... the holes below are from the stitches. And no, my knuckle isn't normally that big... hubs says it is swollen. I would just like to mention again that THIS IS RIDICULOUS! It was a thorn for crying out loud! The most frustrating thing for me is that a stupid little thorn has caused havoc in my life and all around me people are suffering from potentially life threatening things... I mean, Jack has a brain tumor and is in the hospital, Alyssa is having open heart surgery in a week, and my Aunt Diana has a wound in her back from a post-surgery spine infection that is requiring her to live in a hospital for a couple of months (I'll explain in a minute). All of these seem way more important than my stupid finger...

On to my Aunt... Aunt Diana had back surgery about a month ago... something about a nerve. Anyway, she went in to have the stitches removed and apparently it hurt like nothing she had ever felt. She left the office and went home only to wake up in the middle of the night with her would open and oozing. It oozed allllllll night and into the next day and she finally went back to the dr. Well, her back was infected and she was rushed into surgery. The dr's cleaned out what they could but the infection was so bad that they left the wound open to be cleaned out and packed several times a day. The wound is deep enough that when the nurse cleans it her hand and wrist disappear inside. (It is pretty wide as well.) The nurse walked in yesterday and opened the wound to repack it... she looked at my aunt and said "Wow... I can see your stomach!" Aunt Diana is on some pretty strong antibiotics and pain bills. Her spirits seem high (or maybe it's just that she is high). Yesterday she joked that she would need drug rehab from all the Oxycontin they have been giving her. We really have no clue what the future holds... I mean, an infection that deep and large could easily cause sepsis and she could die. (Not that we couldn't all die at any point in the near future... but who wants to go that way?)

Anyway, with all that said, I do know that the future is totally in God's hands and there are some massive prayers coming from our house for the people mentioned above. Please do the same in yours.

jess

I want my hand!

Ok... I supposed to go to the dr on Wednesday to get my stitches removed... I know it is only two days away, but this is getting ridiculous! I am just about sick of being without my left hand. I am also tired of flipping off the world (it's the middle finger that's all taped and splinted out straight). Not to mention how ridiculous I feel every time I have to tell someone the story behind my injury!

For those who have been reading my blog for a while... my niece Alyssa is having some serious issues. She was born in Sept with lots of problems (cleft palate, skull prematurely fused, heart not functioning right, blind in one eye, etc). My brother and his girlfriend went to the dr last week to schedule the skull surgery. They took sweet Alyssa in for a sonogram of her heart, just to make sure nothing had changed, and they realized that her heart was way more serious than her skull. In fact, the sweet baby is due to have open heart surgery on the 28th of June and my the family has pretty much been told that she may not make it. Basically, the left side of her heart is not functioning... putting all the stress on the right side. If they had done the skull surgery, the stress would have made her heart explode. I really struggle with the questions of quantity of life vs. quality, and the longer baby Alyssa is with us, the more we learn about how difficult things are going to be for her. Please keep my family in your prayers... specifically my brother and his girlfriend.

jess

Left hand

for all of you who have a difficult time reading things with poor editing, i'm sorry, but typing w/one hand is hard. Cap letters are the most difficult.

I had surgery on Friday to remove the stupid thorn. surgery took about 25 min, and the dr said I would be quite irritated if i saw the size of the thorn. They did let me stay awake, so I got to chat with an old friend who was my nurse anethesist. all in all the surgery was no biggie and i thought all would go back to normal by today. Can I just say how difficult it is to do things with one hand? I can't get dressed, take a shower, type, spank my kids

;) (they are not complaining about that), and I cannot drive. I like to be waited on, but I know the family is getting tired of it. I did have a most embarrassing moment yesterday. We decided to come to town for dinner, so I took my pain pill before we left the house. Bad idea. We got around winter's freeway, exited southwest drive, and Rt pulled over in the parking lot of a car dealership so I could puke my guts up. Now, that is not one of my favorite things to do to begin with, but to have to puke in front of the cars that were speeding by... ugh! I just keep waiting to get a phone call from someone I know saying they saw me.

I included a picture of my hand... who would've thought that two fingers stuck together could make a difference! I guess it wouldn't be so bad if it didn't hurt so much. I don't like pain pills, but I sure am taking them every 4 hrs... if I don't I can't handle it. I feel like such a wimp. My cousin tried to make me feel better by explaining the amount of nerves in my finger... but come on....

oh well... hope everyone is having a good weekend...

jess

Thorns...

A few weeks ago, while mowing the yard (which is one of my fave things to do, seriously, it is) I was attempting to mow under a bush and this big thorn stuck into my knuckle. I thought it just went in and came back out, but it actually left behind the tip. I went to the dr and was put on antibiotics and told that the situation was pretty serious. I then went back to the dr because it still hurt and was sent off to an orthopedic surgeon. The appt with the orthopedic surgeon was today, and as stupid as it sounds I am having surgery on Friday to remove a stinkin' thorn from my knuckle. This is one of those times that I want to say Really? The dr today told me that this was very serious, as I could lose my finger (I was joking about losing my finger and got a little lecture in return). When the injury first occurred Robert made fun of me and told me that I needed to "toughin' up," so I didn't go to the dr until about a week later. Guess there will be no laughing now as he has to wait on me all weekend. HAHAHA! I will say that my children are very sad about all of this, however, it has nothing to do with me actually being cut into but instead it has everything to do with the fact that the pool won't be happening for a few days! Can you feel the love?

I have another thorn causing me a problem, but he's a student. He has filed a grievance against me for being sexist and mean and cruel to him. I have responded to his claims, but I do not appreciate the fact that he has brought in my social life as a means to show what an awful teacher I am. I'm not sure what is going to happen, but keep all of this in your prayers, please.

jess

Summer... Day One

Well, summer break has definitely come in with a bang for us...(as in thunder and lightening)... these are pics of what my driveway has turned into from all the rain. I have to go to town at 2, but I'm not sure how I will get to my car. The girls would prefer not to be stuck in the house and are running around a tad crazy. We tried to watch High School Musical, but our power keeps going out, which then requires the satellite to upload programming again. They have asked when we get to go to the pool, but I don't have the heart to tell them that the forecast has tons of rain in it.

My children refuse to sleep in pj's, so this morning, in true Kali fashion, she was running around in panties and a t-shirt. I looked over at her and thought her legs were filthy... but when I kept looking I realized that she was bruised. Apparently, when we were at church last night they were playing outside on the playground during Mission Friends and a little girl pushed Kali. I'm not upset about that... the girls are best buds and there are a lot of times that I have to get on to them for playing like the boys... but I am upset that no one saw fit to tell me that she had fallen. We have had a lot of problems with the nursery workers not supervising the children... and one of the main people complaining is the person teaching Mission Friends. It is all very frustrating to me. I know that kids will be kids... I know that they need time to play... but I also know that there is a reason that adults are there to supervise. I know that adults cannot prevent all accidents, I mean, my kids injure themselves all the time under my watch... but I really don't like finding out the next morning about her fall. UGH! Ok... I'm done venting about that... and the bruises look tons worse in person than they do in this pic.

In my post yesterday I mentioned all the pics I developed... I am soooo proud of myself... I cropped all 356 pics last night and this morning. Which means on Saturday when I scrap all day I will actually get to finish pages... yippeeeeeeeee....

jess

Not really sure what is happening to my post... sorry it's so messed up!

Long & Random

Sorry for my lack of posting... things have been quite busy for the last couple of weeks.

The kids completed their last school day today. Kali's teacher cried as she hugged them all goodbye... I'm not sure where Megan's teacher was. I have filled out the paperwork and the girls will go to school "in town" at Jackson next year. It was such a relief to fill out the paperwork and know that they would be just down the road from me as opposed to 30 minutes away during the day. I mistakenly thought it would be more convenient for them to go to Clyde, but the convenience only worked when they rode the bus... once all of the drama started and there was no more bus the convenience factor flew out the window. So... to town it is.

Our house is still for sale... this lady has come to look 3 times and has asked about a million questions but hasn't made an offer yet. It is a very frustrating process. I want to just call her and ask what we would have to do to get her to buy our house... at this point I would do it. Instead, her realtor has to call my realtor who calls us etc. etc. The difficult thing about all of this is I am actually fine with staying here if it doesn't sale, but knowing that someone might want it and we could pay off our credit cards, Rt's truck, and one of my student loans makes me want the sale to happen. The part of me that has to pack and find a new place to live (the part that doesn't like change) is perfectly content with our small debt and truck payment and would just as soon stay here. Oh well... it isn't really in my hands so I don't know why I keep stressing about it.

Last night on the news the weather guy said that this summer was probably going to be a pretty cool one... What exactly does that mean? My kids are already begging to go to the pool, but it hasn't even reached 90 degrees outside. I have no complaints about the weather... I wish is stayed about 85 all year long... but it has to warm up a little for the swim club to be comfortable. (Not that I actually make it into the water very often, but warm water makes for less whiny kids.) Oh well, anyone got any other ideas of summer fun (that doesn't cost) until the weather warms up? So far, my ideas of reading and playing outside are being shot down (in all fairness the size of the mosquitoes is quite ridiculous out here, I don't know that I blame them for not wanting to be eaten alive).

My friend Holly got me into scrapbooking many moons ago, and I have stayed caught up until the last year. I am exactly one year behind right now. I had pictures developed yesterday and I had about 400 pics. It just dawned on me that I have a 35mm camera somewhere that I know I've used this month. UGH... more to develop. I have threatened to set my stuff up on the kitchen table and not move it until I'm done... but for some reason my family thinks they need to eat... what's that about! :) Brooke, Holly and I are set to scrapbook Saturday... wish me luck!

Here's a pic of Kali's kindergarten graduation last friday night! They sang some songs and all got a diploma. Her hair is so slick that her hat refused to stay on... we have some pretty hilarious pics of her adjusting her hat through the entire second half of the program. I got a little teary watching her walk across the stage... who knew she would grow up so quickly.

New Compt...

McM is starting a new thing on campus where all the freshman will be "given" HP tablets. In order for the teachers to be up to snuff on the tablets they have given them to us as well. I have spent the last two days in training from 8:30-4... that long in training made my head hurt, but those tablets are cool. My favorite part (and the part that did not require 2 days of training) is that you can use your stylus to write on your screen, so you can send emails that are hand written. I was quite amazed by that function and sent all kinds of interesting emails. I'm pretty sure that the instructor wasn't so entertained by my friend AM and I giggling every time we opened an email... what can I say? we had to do something entertaining!

Megan handed me her math TAKS scores this afternoon... can someone please tell me why is was that she was soooo stressed by the test and ended up missing NO questions? The tears seem so wasted now!

Kali graduates from Kindergarten tomorrow night... while we were in Wal-Mart tonight she asked me what I was going to buy her for graduation. She said that our babysitter was graduating and she is getting all kinds of good stuff. Silly kid!

jess

Seriously?

Three posts in one day... wow!

I just received this email from a student:

i just want to ask how i got a d in public relations

Now, maybe I'm just crazy... but I'm pretty sure that if I were emailing my professor with a question about a grade, I might be bothered to use capital letters and punctuation. Heck, I might even use a heading and signature. How 'bout you guys? Am I silly for being irritated? Oh, did I mention this kid is a junior?

jess

Teeth

Poor Megs has an abscessed tooth. The dentist cannot see her until tomorrow and I don't really know what to do. I have a call into Dr. Martin to see if there is anything he can do... like pain management. I've never had an abscessed tooth, so I don't know of any ways to make her feel better. She has been complaining for quite a while about this particular tooth, but every time I looked it seemed to be all in her head... guess there was something going on in there we just couldn't see. If you have any suggestions as to how to ease her pain, let me know!

jess

Fingers Crossed...

We put our house up for sale in Feb. but we haven't had a lot of bites. There is a woman who has come to look at it twice and has called numerous times with questions... so keep your fingers crossed that the woman will make an offer today! At this point, she could offer us just about anything and we would accept. I have tried to be very patient in this whole process, and I know that what is supposed to happen will happen on God's time! But patience has never been one of my strong suit.

Yesterday, I got online to look for rental properties and houses for sale in town to see what options we might have if the house sales. Can I just say how ridiculous it is that the market is so inflated? I mean, really, how can a house bought 10 yrs ago be worth double its asking price today? UGH! Our realtor seems to think there will be a correction in the market soon... so I really think we will just rent until that correction happens. I mean, we could qualify for one of those ridiculously priced homes... but then I would have to quit shopping! Hahahaha! Priorities... hahahaha!

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed...

Laundry...

I hate laundry. There I said it... doesn't change that I have like 10 loads to wash. Our washer died a few months ago, so I've been doing the laundrymat thing. We could've bought a washer, but I really, really, really wanted a front loading one, so I told hubs I would save money to buy what I wanted instead of buying something I didn't want. Yesterday, I reached my limit with the laundry mat (there are weird peps there and don't get me started on germs) and I decided I would just get the top loading washer and be done with it. I went to Lowe's and was about to write a check for a regular washer until the nice little salesman told me a secret... Did you know that Thursday is the day that Lowe's puts out the appliances that are clearanced because they are scratched or repaired? Anyway, he suggested I wait and although it was difficult I did. (Have I told you that I am one of those people who gets and idea and follows through immediately? Something about impulse control!) I went to Lowe's today and low and behold (where did that phrase come from?) there was a front loading washer that had been repaired... half price... still warrantied... YIPPEE! So... I'm sitting on my couch while my laundry washes in my own house! Never thought I'd get so excited over an appliance! Just in case you didn't know... a front loading washer save 68% in water and 67% in electricity compared to a toploading washer. The other benefit is that we can now build a shelf above the washer and dryer to fold laundry on... you know, since there is no laundry room in my house and Rt doesn't think the couch is an appropriate place for laundry! Do you think this counts as a mother's day present?

jess

Tears...

Obviously I am the only one who thinks my children are funny (last post)...

When I was at Target earlier today, I bought Megan a couple of training bras... you know, the ones that look like sports bras. When she got in the car after school I handed them to her and she burst into tears. She asked me why it didn't have cups... in my oh so sensitive voice... I explained to her that she isn't quite there yet... more tears... and I don't mean little tears, I mean big tears streaming down the face. Her next words were "I want to be older!! I don't want to be 9!" Again, in my most sensitive voice I explained how that was impossible and that she was 9 and she was going to be treated like a 9 yr old and I don't really care what other people with older kids let their children do. She obviously didn't appreciate my answer as there were more tears. Why is it again that God felt like I needed two GIRLS????

jess

Random Thoughts...

Overheard from the living room:

Megan: What do you do before you have a party in outer space?
Kali: What?
Megan: Planet...
Kali: That's not funny

Megan: Why does dora talk like that? (referring to a v-smile game in which dora speaks in sentences that are missing some words)
Kali: Cuz she has a speech delay like me...

House news: A woman came to look at our house and she really, really liked it! So here's hoping that she calls with an offer later today!

Question: Why do they put almonds in my trailmix? And what am I supposed to do with the almonds after I take them out?

Question 2: Why is it that students expect to still pass a class when they fail to give their speeches in a speech class?

Question 3: Why does Megan get soooo angry when Kali doesn't play the v-smile the way she says? I mean, it is Kali's v-smile... and it is rated for 3-6 yr olds. UGH!

Dance Lessons: Robert and I started jitterbug lessons last Monday. The lessons are 4 weeks long... but I think we might have issues since he is a foot taller than I am. Oh well, it is good exercise! Maybe I'll post a video or something when we finish our lessons!

jess

Seriously?????

Megs woke up in the middle of the night with a stomach bug... which is why I'm posting while the rest of you are in church! :) I hate that I am unable to deal with puke. I had to wake Robert up so he could do the cleaning... otherwise I was going to make a mess as well... any suggestions here?
Onto why I am really posting...
Last night Robert and I went to Matt and Amy's to eat dinner and play some cards. The weather was nice, so we let the kids go outside to play. A neighbor had set a bike ramp up, so the guys went outside to watch the kids try to kill themselves. Not to be left out... Amy and I went outside as well. There were some people siting in a driveway a couple of houses down... women that I knew from a previous church. Well, apparently they had a lot to say as Amy and I walked out of the house... which I didn't hear until we all came back inside and my husband filled me in. When I stepped out of Amy's garage one of the women asked the other why I was there because she thought we had gotten a divorce... and she said it loud enough for Robert to hear... and in a not very nice tone. Had I been the one to hear it I might've clawed her eyes out... oh, did I mention that this one particular female has never been someone I would call a friend and although I have never been rude to her I would definitely never have a conversation with her about anything of significance in my life? Anyway, here's my issue... the only people from that church who know anything are the few of you who read my blog and one of my bestest friends. I know the women who read my blog pretty well, and I know that they are not the gossiping type and since they are readers they know I'm not divorced. I have known my friend for 9 years and since she's knows every detail of my life, I know she wouldn't have told anyone we were divorced. So... now my wheels are turning... I have some theories... but Robert is insisting I leave it alone. So... just to be clear now... ROBERT AND I ARE NOT DIVORCED... WE SEPARATED TO WORK ON OUR MANY ISSUES AND ALTHOUGH OUR MARRIAGE IS NOT PERFECT THINGS ARE MUCH BETTER NOW! Pass that on please...

Ok... off to mow now... gotta work on my tan somehow...

jess

Edit: While mowing the yard I tried to chop off my leg. We have a riding lawnmower and I had it in the highest gear...hit a big rock and got popped off the seat. I had one leg on the mower and one on the ground... and of course this particular mower has had some southern ingenuity so that it has no safety stop! I managed to right myself and finish the job... but maybe I should just go back to the pus mower...

Sad News

We received a campus wide email today to let us know that one of our students had been arrested on campus... no name... no details. When I got home at 5, I turned on the news and got to see a pic of the student as well as hear his story. This student was pretty quiet, but well-behaved. He hung out with a group of kids that I watch and give advice to... and he was at the bowling night that my PR class put on Tuesday night. My friend had him in a class last semester and said she never had any difficulties. I guess this just goes to show you can never know what is going on inside someone... or what their past holds. Please keep this guy in your prayers... from the new report I'm pretty sure he has a long road ahead of him. Also, keep his friends in your prayers... had the police waited one more week no one on campus would have even known this was happening... it's going to be one rough week!

jess

A Question for You...

On one of the blogs I read, Iris had an ask me any question post, but then she got to ask us one back. So here's my question from her: Can you think of an event in your life that has completely shaped your life in a positive or negative way?
Oh were do I begin? I really could write a book. There have been so many events. I used to envy the people I met who had grown up in a loving home, whose lives seemed so normal. I wanted to claw the eyes out of the people who would say things like "all of these trials can be used as a witness later in your life." (I mean, seriously, how many examples does one person need?)
As I have aged (whatever, what that really means is in the last three months), I have come to realize that all of those 'events' (abuse, adoption, marriage, separation, children, etc.) really have made me into the person that I am... and I am pretty fond of that person. That person is loving, kind, transparent, and secure in the knowledge that although I have screwed up more times that I can count my God is a forgiving and loving God. It has taken me a long time to get there... but I do know that I am God's child and I can't wait to see what he has in store for me.

jess

Hope this answers your question well enough! :) It's hard to pick one specific event!

Did you know if your blog is black you shouldn't type your posts in black? Hmmm.... blonde moment!

Soap Operas

I swear I could write a book... and maybe I should. The last few weeks have brought nothing but drama in all aspects of my life.

At school, my two student workers who are best friends and roommates, and who graduate in less than a week have been on the outs. Let me tell you there is nothing worse than 22 yr old girl drama. They have managed to kiss and make up, but it was hard to sit and watch. The other issue at school is my boss (who is only my boss for about 2 more weeks) has procrastinated on his job and wants me to pick up the pieces... what that means is do his work... not like I don't have enough of my own work to get done!

At church, there has been all kinds of drama about people doing their jobs or not doing their jobs. It amazes me that churches are soooo unable to tell people that if they don't have time for their jobs then they should go find another! Our nursery has run amuck and no one seems in a hurry to correct the problem. It makes me sad, though, because I see people come and go because of the state of that side of the building. And let's not talk about the friends I have who just aren't coming so their kids don't get sick in the dirty nursery. Our pastor keeps saying "be patient," and really, in 3 months my youngest won't even be over there, but come on. Only in a church can you not really do your job and still have it. And don't even get me started on the secretary that is senile and still an employee.

Then there is home... After much begging we have put the girls in two rooms, but every night Kali ends up in Megan's room. Megan doesn't seem to mind. It's almost as if she just wanted to be able to say "my room," but can someone remind me why I had to rearrange an entire room for that? It really may have more to do with Megs inability to be mean to Kali. At bedtime every night Kali starts to cry and Megan gives in. I'm hoping this one will work itself out.

I guess that pretty much updates the soap opera areas... things are great otherwise. Robert and I are getting along pretty good, my semester is almost over, and the pool opens soon! What more could a girl want?

jess

PS. Did you know that if you moderate comments and don't fill it all out you don't realize you have messages until you decide to post! Sorry for those who think I was ignoring them!

Wedding Songs...

My cousin is getting married this summer and both of the girl's and I are in the wedding. Megan is a jr bridesmaid and Kali is the flower girl. I am to sing in the wedding. Misty emailed me and told me just to pick a song. So.... this is where all of you come in. The song has to be religious in nature (I assume that means it must mention God somewhere!) but that's the only requirement. Have any suggestions?????????

The Dentist...

So... I took the kids to the dentist today.... loads of fun, let me tell you! Kali got a clean bill of health. Megan has a cavity... ugh! Our dentist's name is Dr. Payne... what kind-of name is that for a dentist? Anyway, I asked her when we could expect braces for Megs and how much money I should plan for... apparently, my dear megs has more than one issue in her mouth... which means she has many, many years of braces ahead of her, starting at the end of this year... and it will cost us many thousands of dollars... ugh!

I called Rt when I left the dentist office and he reminded me that we truly are blessed... I mean, at least we know that we can come up with the money, all I have to do is teach an overload or three!

jess

I don't wanna grow up...

It's that time of year again... the time when we have to choose our insurance plans and other benefits. I HATE IT! I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm excited that I have health insurance for the first time since I got married, but I hate this process. We have FirstCare insurance... um, yeah, it blows in terms of prescriptions and mental health coverage... but is ok for everything else. Well, that would be all fine and good... except everyone in my family is in counseling and on one medication or another. UGH! Then there is the dental and vision coverage. The vision coverage is good... but the dental is way expensive when you add it all up. I'm not trying to sound all whiny, I know that there are many people without insurance (I was one of them for 12 yrs), but why does it have to be so blasted expensive and cover so little. I hate paying for something I might need. UGH! I wanna be a kid again!
jessica
P.S. Does anyone know how much it costs to put braces on a kid? This might be the determining factor in whether I keep the dental or not!

Out of the mouth of babes....

In the car on the way home this evening after listening to my 9 and 6 yr old daughters discuss the boys at school:

Me: Girl's you do realize that it doesn't matter if you don't have boyfriends. There are most def more impt things in life than boys.
Girls: yes mom
Me: Besides, you know you cannot get married until after college anyway (at least not if you want to go for free at the school mommy works for)
Girls: we know
Me: I just want ya'll to enjoy your college experience... not rush into marriage and start making babies...
Megan: R U crazy mom? I am nooootttt having children.
Me: Y not?
Megan: Do you see how we act? I don't want any of those!

Ok... on to bigger problems...

I am seriously struggling with where my children should go to school next year. AISD vs. CLYDE. I have made pro con lists etc. and I have not exactly come to a conclusion. The people in Clyde think I'm crazy for wanting my kids to go to AISD... I mean, they might be exposed to drugs, crime, and God only knows what else. Well, after our experience with Kali learning about sex... not buying that.

Here's a brief list of reasons why I have issue with Clyde:
1. School is too far from Abilene to go eat lunch with my children
2. Kids have to get on bus at 7am so bedtime is ridiculously early
3. There is virtually no diversity in Clyde
4. The city seems to think that saying "I do" should come shortly after high school graduation
5. Most of the illegal things I did in high school happened in Clyde

When I talk to people in Clyde they act like I'm a crack head for wanting my kids to go back to a larger school district. They don't seem so aware of the fact that being culturally aware is good; or that waiting until after college to get married is the trend right now; or that kids are just as likely to smoke pot or have sex in Clyde as they are in Abilene.

Well, after typing all of this out I realize that my kids are soooo going back to AISD. That is unless some of you can convince me otherwise. haha!

jess

Parenting

The best part of being an instructor is the fun assignments. Fun for me... I should say... not so much my students. This week in Family Communication we are covering family change and stress, and research shows that of all the changes that happen in a marriage system... children are the most stressful. So... I gave my students children today. They will have their precious children for a week and can choose whatever family system they would like: single mom, divorced parents, separated parents, etc. Several have choosen to take the egg and just use their current partners... it will be interesting to see how the assignment differs for those people. Anyway, I'll let you know how many catastrophes we have.

jessica

This class is T TH... but I have many of the same students MWF morning. This morning, one of the students came to class without her egg. I asked where the kids was... she said still asleep... I told her that I wanted her to be serious about this assignment. I left school to go to the dentist (YUCK!) and when I came back there was a note on my office door "I took my child to preschool this morning. He was soooo happy that I care about his education, unlike some parents!" Huh? To me that reads, the egg is in the fridge, I hate this assignment... whatcha think?

Easter Pics

Look at my adorable children! Megan informed me that they might be getting a little old for the whole dressing the same... but as long as I can get them to do it... I will. I love how they are all hugging in this picture... the next scene would've had them slugging it out!

Just another pic... turn your computers sideways for a correct look... I couldn't figure out how to rotate it once I downloaded it! Sorry! I love that the cat just had to rub on their legs. Look closely at their bows... London Bridge of all places had the perfect bows... but apparently they are toooo old for bows and have informed it this will be the last one ever...

Oh, and look at the happy family. I am one of those moms... you know, the ones who dress their family in matching clothes... well, not exactly matching clothes, but I usually pic a color and we all have that color in our outfit. Last year it was teal... pink the year before... brown this year. I think we look adorable!

Seriously?

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that Gina was voted off of American Idol tonight???? Why couldn't Haley, Chris, or Phil get voted off? Or better yet, what about Sanjaya? I mean, come one. At this rate, this will be the last year I watch this show... I can't handle it.

And here is my other question... how in the world is Sanjaya still on? Who is it exactly who is voting for him? I don't buy the theory that it is a bunch of teenage girls... I mean, he's not all that cute. I read an article online that said it is because of Indian call centers... not sure I buy that theory... but you can't tell me that there are thousands of people who are tone deaf and voting. Even Megs realizes the boy cannot sing. If he wins they will definitely have to do some changes to the system or they will lose their audience.

Any thoughts?
jess

What do I put in the eggs?

Can I just say how much this healthy eating stuff from the school district is driving me crazy? Kali brought home a note that the Clyde kindergarteners were going to hunt eggs on Thursday... and that we needed to send 2 dozen eggs to school... here's the kicker... the eggs could not have any food that didn't meet the dietary guidelines of the school. So... their suggestions were stickers, crackers, etc. Huh? went to Wal-Mart last night on the hunt for small packages of something healthy to put in her eggs... no success... so, now I'm the bad mom who sent candy in the eggs. I'm hoping no one checks... or they just dump the eggs in a bucket and no one knows they were Kali's. With my luck she won't get to hunt eggs or something... or she'll just come home with her own eggs full of sixlets. Uh oh... just had a thought... won't the chocolate melt? Hmmm... ok, so it was 10pm and I was tired... I really am going to get the bad mom award!

Disappearing Act...

I haven't really disappeared... we have just been crazy busy! The closer it gets to the end of the year, the more I realize how there are not enough hours in the day! UGH!

I have posted quite a few times about my darling Kali... and her great ability to hear things that no 6 yr old should hear... oh, and her love of repeating them. Well, this weekend really just takes the cake. On Saturday, Megs tells me that Kali learned about sex at school... HUH??? So, then I ask Kali what Megs meant. Kali then tells me that two girls from her class told her that sex is... if you are easily offended skip down please... when you are naked and you kiss each other's privates, as she points to her girly parts. WHAT?!!!

What 6 yr old should have that knowledge???? My first thought was that the kid must be experiencing some molestation or something. When I got to school this morning, I emailed Kali's teacher and told her what was going on. She immediately took care of it... meaning she took the girl in the hall, found out what she had said, made the girl call her mother, and spoke with the mother herself. Now... here is the most disgusting part of it all... the girl is not being molested... she went to her MiMi's house and MiMi let her watch a movie that you and I would probably never even consider watching... XXX ring a bell? OHG! That is sooooo not ok!!!!!

The situation within the classroom has been taken care of... but what do I do about my 6 yr old who's mind has been corrupted? She's been hard enough to raise as it is... I mean, I never had to tell Megs that it wasn't ok to dance naked on the coffee table.. Kali on the other hand has had that lecture more than once. After the discussion with Kali, I told her that God made sex for men and women who are married and that when she is older we will discuss it more... but if she had anything to say about it she needed to talk to her father or I... not any other kids! AUGH!

Any other ideas here?

jess

Shopping...

Last week, when I went to Ft. Worth with my friends, I bought a navy polka-dotted dress. I searched all week for shoes here in the great town of Abilene... found nothing! I knew that when we went to Ft. Worth again this weekend that I would find something. Wrong again. So... if anyone knows where I can find some great navy shoes to go with my dress... let me know! Oh... and I tried these shoes on last night at Target... a random woman walking down the isle told me "they have the less hoochie version of those at Kohl's." Go take a look... are they hoochie shoes?

jess

Spring Break

We have had a pretty interesting spring break... but I'm hoping it is over soon! I love my kiddos... and we have gone to the movies, bowling, the zoo, Sonic, etc. etc. I have run out of ideas... and the girls are at each other's throats constantly. Can someone tell me who exactly spring break is for? I mean, I can't think that the disruption of a child's routine is healthy for them... just look at my kids! But then again... being a teacher... I could use the break! HAHA! Wish there was some way to take a teacher break without taking a kids break! Guess that is asking too much! :)

Hope everyone is having a blast... with much less conflict... hahahahaha

jess

Can I Move?

This weekend I headed to Dallas for a bit of R & R... which really means a bit of shopping and more shopping and fun places to eat! We even went to a comedy club! Fun stuff!

We got to eat at P.F. Chang's Saturday night... can I just say that the place is one of my favorites. If you are ever anywhere that has one you should check it out.... yum, yum! The food was awesome... but so was the service. After our server brought us our drinks and straws.. he came back and took the straw trash... now how many times have you had a server do that? I know, we a bunch of nerds, but it was nice to be served by a guy who actually acted like he wanted to be there!

I always enjoy myself when I go to the metroplex, and it is really difficult to make the drive home. I could soooo be a city girl... I mean, all the shopping and entertainment... all the people... even the traffic is fun to me. I wish that Abilene had more entertaining things to do. I mean, even though we have things like Macy's, Mervin's, Super Target, Kohl's, On The Border, and something else I can't remember headed our way... there doesn't seem to be any entertainment venues. I mean, not that shopping isn't great fun... but, if you want to go out on a Friday night your choices are limited to bars, movies, putt putt, bowling, skating, and occasionally a play or two... wish there was some way to make the powers that be understand that we need some fun stuff to do. Hmmm... wonder who you call for that...

Anywho.. it is spring break this week... let's hope I can come up with fun stuff to keep the kiddos occupied so they don't spend a week trying to kill each other. Any ideas?

jess

Out of Gas...

Watch me tie my title into this post in two ways... ok I'm a nerd...

Yesterday, I was sitting in my office and my cell phone rang. It was one of my favorite students of all time... Darshunda... or better known as Baby D. Let me tell you a little about her before I go on... She is a 6'4" black girl who is loud and outspoken and who will go to the mat for anyone she calls a friend. She comes from a family where there are no men... and where she is today is because the girl has some backbone. I have had the opportunity, over the last 2 semesters, to have long discussions with her about the company you keep and how they can affect your future... as well as to encourage her to follow her dreams. I absolutely love the girl... and she comes to me now whenever she needs advice or help or she just wants to chat. Ok... back to the story... Baby D was in the middle of I-30 in Ft. Worth and her car had died. Another tangent here... when she decided she wanted a car this semester I took her car shopping and helped her find this car from a guy Rt works with... so I feel slightly responsible if something happens to her in it. So... the car has died and she doesn't know what to do. I tell her to stay in the car and wait because I'm sure the cops will show and help her get to the side of the road. They did and then the police officer took her to a waffle house and dropped her off, because he didn't want to leave her on the side of the interstate. Problem: her family is in Dallas and she has no one to come get her. I start calling around trying to find someone to help her... finally found a friend... then the friend's car broke down. Finally, 3 hrs later her uncle picks her up (the only man she's related to... but one that doesn't see them ever). They go back to the car and we are trying to diagnose the problem... me on the phone and compt... her uncle in the car. Now, never once did I think, oh she ran out of gas. I was imagining disaster and it was stressing me out. But the more he messed with it, it dawned on me that was the problem... you know, seeing as how I've run out of gas more than a time or two. They go get a gas can... yep that was the problem. Praise God... but girl, you gotta read the gauge! :) I was exhausted by the time all of that was done! I don't think I have ever been sooo worried about someone.. .I just wanted to hop in my car and drive to Ft. Worth... which I probably would've beat the uncle thank you very much.

We have a friend who had a miscarriage about 8 mths ago... her due date was this weekend... so there are 4 of us taking her away for a shopping trip to Ft. Worth. While I know this trip will be good for her... I also know that I am sooo out of steam (gas... whatever, told you I'd tie it in) that I am hoping this trip will renew me in some way... guess we will see... see ya Sunday!

Jess

Forgiveness...

I had a very interesting conversation today about forgiveness... mainly because I'm having some issues with forgiving some people in my life. Here's the theory: We in America have a very distorted idea of forgiveness.

If someone steps on your foot and they say 'I'm sorry' what do you say? Most of us say 'oh, that's ok'.... well, really? was it ok that they stepped on my foot? Heck, no... and what I really mean is 'your forgiven and I won't hold it against you.' Now if you keep stepping on my foot, I will probably still forgive, but I will choose not to be close to you... and that's ok...

Now, this story was told to me as a means to help me understand why I am feeling so bitter towards a particular person... why I am having difficulty forgiving. It's because I don't want to say 'what you did to me was ok' and to a certain extent by saying 'I forgive you' I feel like that is the message I am sending. So... rather than send that message... it's easier to stay emotionally detached... easier to not forgive.

So... I guess what I need to say to a couple of people is: I forgive you... but the way that you treated me was not ok... and although I can forgive you I will not be treated this way. Perhaps we all could learn a lesson from this...

jessica

Seriously now...

Megs principal called today after school to tell me that she and 3 other children had been sent to her office.... why? you might ask. Megs took her earrings off at gym, because they were hurting her ears... Isaac grabbed her earring, handed it to Coby and then took Becca's earring... at which point both boys decided to pierce their ears. Huh? So the 4 children got sent to the Principal's office. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that if some stupid little boy grabbed Megs earring... and she didn't hand it to him... and she was asking for it back... that she shouldn't have been in trouble... but I guess that's just me. The principal did tell me that Megs was very upset and that she understood Megs didn't give the boy the earring... so, um, why didn't she tell Megs she wasn't in trouble? Why did she yell at her like she did the other three? Cuz let me tell you how upset Megs was by the time she got home to me... oh my, you would've thought she had been suspended or something... and she's even saying she is never going to wear earrings again... now come on! Any thoughts here?

jessica

Flaky Moments

I'm not sure what my problem is, but I cannot seem to focus or remember anything... here are a few of the stupid things I have done lately...

This morning I took my class to a Professional Development seminar that isn't until the 20th of March. You might ask how I could mess that up... well, I had to RSVP by the 5th... and if I had read the paper better I would've realized it! UGH!

Yesterday I went to tan at a place I don't normally go... on a bed that I assumed was not as powerful as the high speed beds... and guess what? I burned my entire body... even my bottom... so I now look like a great big lobster.

The other sad part is that I keep using the wrong words and saying the wrong things etc... what is wrong with me?

Any ideas?

jess

Cell Phones and Other Drama...

After the sitting on the railroad tracks experience with the bus, Megs got a cell phone. I know, I know, she's only 9... she's way too young to have one... and if we lived in town it wouldn't have happened... but she has to ride the bus... and the cell phone was the best idea. (Besides, my cell phone was not cutting it anymore and by adding another phone I got the pretty pink razor and she got the old one until we can upgrade Rts phone in August.) Anywho... on the bus today her cell phone was stolen. (Insert dramatic music here.) When she told me, I got online to see what numbers the thief had dialed... and called them all myself. I narrowed it down to two options... Tara and Roger. I called Tara's foster parents at 7:30 to check things out, and Tara was already asleep and they weren't overly concerned about it. No big deal. I called Roger's parents and Roger did indeed have the phone... he says he found it on the bus floor... but he is grounded for life and will be bringing the phone to Megs in the morning. Being the responsible person I am, and not wanting Tara to get beat, I called her house again at 9:24 pm to tell them the phone had been found. The foster mother answered the phone with a 'hello we are trying to go to sleep' ... and hung up. Now, when I heard the hello I simply said "This is Jessica Wheeler again and I just wanted to let you know that we have found the phone"... I'm not sure if she heard any of it since she was soooo busy yelling at me and hanging up the phone. Jerk! Here's my question, though, was I wrong for calling at 9:24? Should I have just left the parents thinking the girl had the phone? Hmmm...

On another note, it is once again Dittos for Kiddos time. My friends and I got to the sale at 4:15 so we could be some of the first into the building. While we were spending our 45 min in line, we realized that some nerd had parked behind my friend's van, blocking her in. I guess the woman didn't realize that my friend was the second row... thereby sandwiching her in. Amy is not shy... so she went down the line a bit and just made an announcement that the maroon van needed to move... it moved. Well, when we came out of the sale, there was an entire third row of vehicles down much of that aisle... blocking not only Amy in, but about 6 other people. Now, I am a woman driver... and I know my husband would swear that men would never do that... but, come on, how can you pull into a parking place and not realize that there are two other vehicles in front of you?

jessica

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