Happy Easter! Part 2

Happy Easter!

Love,

Margaret Anne

Lots of First Birthday fun!

Today was Emily's First Birthday party! Tomorrow is her actual birthday, but Amanda had a fun little celebration today! All of the babies (Emily, Ella Kate, and Margaret Anne) were able to get in on the party and even got some Puffs to take home as party favors! You can see that Emily wasn't too keen on her birthday hat, but as soon as it was off and the cake was in front of her, she went to town! She had so much fun eating the cake, and Margaret Anne and Ella Kate wanted in on the action too! Emily was so into it that she had icing ALL over her, and she had to go STRAIGHT into the bathtub. I snuck in there to take a picture of that too. The babies were definitely entertained by each other, and Emily got some very cute presents. It was a fun little party and I can't believe that Emily is already one! Time flies by too quickly. Happy Birthday Emily!

Blog Responsibilities!

Meredith insisted last night that I blog today, and her rationale was, "People will lose interest and stop reading if you don't write" to which I replied something along the lines of "Nobody cares to hear me ramble". OK, that's probably not even close to how the conversation went. Meredith has the uncanny ability to remember exact sentences from a conversation we had in 2004 while driving in the car, while I can't remember even being in the car at that point in time. I remember much more the feeling that I got during that conversation rather than what specifically was said. Was the mood tense? Did I feel warm and fuzzy? Was I quietly pissed? Was I even listening? I really wish I could remember exactly what was said, because that would make me much more effective arguer, but then again, effective arguers rarely have abundant friends! Meredith can also read at light speed, which makes me very jealous because I love to read and I love to learn, but I have never been a fast reader. It KILLED me on standardized tests. I would rock the math and science, but my reading comprehension score would just show a picture of a primate rather than an actual "score".

Holy Week is here, and this Lenten season has been a real eye opener for a couple of reasons. In a period that calls for self-examination, self-denial, and focused prayer, I have begun to realize the abundant blessings that God gives us. In a culture that gets their information from sensationalists in the media and is driven by self-preservation, it is refreshing to turn off the "noise" and listen to what is happening in your heart and in your soul. Wait, I'm pulling the plug on this thought process before it gets too "heavy"...

We have yet another busy weekend planned. I will be at the church at midnight tonight to keep the prayer vigil, and I am very excited about it! For some reason, I have always craved quiet time and solitude, and I really look forward to some time in silent prayer, and I wonder where my mind will take me! I often feel like the Family Circus comic, where the little boy wanders all over the place to get from Point A to Point B, when a straight line would have done just fine. I think the proper term for that is "scatter-brained" or "absent-minded professor". I am off for Good Friday, so I get a full day to play with MA! I am thrilled because I feel like I've worked late for a month straight, and we have some catching up to do. Alan & Sandi are headed up this way, and what seems like all of Meredith's family is going to church with us on Easter Sunday. Our poor little church won't know what hit 'em ;). Saturday, we have Emily's 1st birthday party, so Margaret Anne can get an idea of how she should be at her 1st birthday party. Happy Birthday Emily!! See you soon!!

P.S.- I have a major problem overusing the exclamation point. This blog post should not be yelled!

Palm Sunday

Today we went to church for Palm Sunday, which has always been one of my favorite services in the Episcopal Church. Margaret Anne wore her dress from Mitzi, and she wanted to show everyone!

Hays, I LOVE YOU.

Yesterday, at the last minute, I agreed to help give the ACT this morning. Which basically consisted of reading instructions out of a book and walking around for 4 hours. None of which was a big deal, especially since I got paid a little extra :). However, this put a little kink in our plans to get up early and get the house cleaned. Well, I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me when I got home. Sweet Hays had done much of the cleaning by himself. Including scrubbing the bathtubs, which is my least favorite job. So Hays, I thank God for you every day, because you are such a blessing in my life and you give me time to be "me." You will never know how much those things mean to me!

Oh, what a day.

Is it bad that its early in the morning and I am already saying this? I am frustrated beyond belief and I wish that it wasn't so! Besides all of the calling of parents that I had to do because their children are failing my class, I also am frustrated because some people just don't take their jobs seriously around here! I feel like we are teaching these kids a lot more than whatever our content area is, and if we are not all consistent with enforcing the rules, how can we expect these teenagers to understand that they are in place for a reason? Things are so different than when I was in high school. Now we are battling iPods, texting, etc. Kids have multiple ways to cheat on tests. Now they all have to wear ID's so that we know that they belong here. It is not easy. But the more consistent we ALL are, the easier it could be. I feel like I am fighting a losing battle sometimes, and I hate that so much of my energy goes into enforcing the rules. But they are important and are ultimately in place to make all of our lives better and easier. So why can't some people understand that and see the bigger picture? Are they trying to be "cool" with their students? Who knows. My students may not love me now, but when they get older they will understand. And my job isn't to be their friend, it is to help them prepare for the life that we all know is MUCH bigger than high school!