Colorful Nights of July

This is the time of year I love the most. For the next couple of weeks the night skies will light up in an abundance of color. Fireworks!

When I was a little girl my mama told me that I would throw it in my brothers faces that I had fireworks on my birthday and they didn't. This may have started my fascination with the bright explosions that help celebrate our nations birth.

Another reason for my fascination of fireworks is that I am extremely patriotic. This stems from being born on the Fourth of July and I truly feel the need to spread the word on patriotism. My students are expected to stand a little more straighter during the Pledge of Allegiance and when others do not stand during our national anthem I am offended.

Last night as I listened to sonic booms going off in my neighborhood I jumped into my car to find the amazing light show that was lighting up the night sky. Fireworks "bursting in air" takes me back in time and I visualize what Francis Scott Key saw in 1814 during the attack on Fort McHenry as he sat on his ship and wrote the "Star Spangled Banner." As he saw the flag flying in the sky with a background of cannons and guns going off he wrote that beautiful poem which became our anthem of freedom. Let Freedom Ring!

What Does 40 Look Like?

As my last week of being 39 passes by (very slowly) I ask myself what does 40 look like? Will I wake up on my birthday to find a few more gray hairs or wrinkles? Will I wake up with gravity pulling things down and find a few more aches and pains?

I mentioned this to a friend of mine who is 40 (soon to be 41) and she said back to me that I don't look like I am going to be 40. She's bias. However, even though my chronological age is going to be 40 I really feel more like 25. So what does 40 look like?

Impulse Buying...It's not just at the store.

Every time I go to the store I look at the items they place in the check out line. This is not always a good thing because in my head a conversation goes on much like the one below:

Impulse Buyer Brain: Oh wow! I saw that on TV. It looked cool.

Reasoning & Logical Brain: You don't need that. What would you use it for?

IBB: For my classroom or you never know when that might come in handy.

RLB: You don't need it. There are better things to use your money for.

Come on we all have this conversation. Well today, it was even worse. Instead of the store... I was helping my mother price her yard sale items.

Of course, I would look at each item wondering could I use it in my home or my classroom.

Maybe I might throw a party and need the four large martini glasses to hold chips or dip. Or I might need the three tier plant stand even though I have no plants because my thumb turns everything dead. How about the seasonal flags even though I have no flag pole to put them on but maybe I could nail them to the wall.

Now I'm not saying that I didn't put a few items aside (rain ponchos for car duty day and trivets to place hot food on) but as we continue on this yard sale journey I'm a little afraid for my pocketbook.

Bittersweet Sunday

This Sunday is bittersweet. Father's Day and my first anniversary fall on the same day, June 20th.

You see, my father passed away a few years ago and I miss him. He would have loved my husband, Todd. My family is headed to the cemetery to visit my fathers grave and reminisce about our times with him. This is how my husband will get to know my father.

As for our anniversary we are celebrating a day early. We have made it through our first year and I am truly blessed to have my wonderful loving husband.

So to my daddy who is in heaven looking down on us...Happy Father's Day.

To my husband, I am head over heels in love with you and I am looking forward to many more years of marriage. Happy Anniversary!

I Miss Mayberry...

Steamy, hot pizza; candy coated chocolate; rich, buttery popcorn, and a great family friendly movie. What more can I ask for.

Tonight was wonderful with my nieces and nephew, sister in law, long time friend, favorite aunt, stepson, and amazing husband all hunkered down in the living room eating movie food and watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeaqual.

Movie night with my family reminds me of the Rascal Flatts song "But I miss Mayberry sitting on the porch drinking ice cold cherry coke, where everything was black and white. Pickin on s six string, People pass by and you call them by their first name, watching the clouds roll by..."

This song takes you back to the simple things in life and that is exactly what we had tonight. This is my Mayberry and what movie nights are all about.

Countdown is on!

I actually meant to start this blog yesterday. Better late than never. In 29 days I turn"40". Yes, I actually said my age. I'm not ashamed of my age I am actually looking forward to turning "40". Besides your as young as you feel and I still have a lot of living to do.

So let's hear the jokes, the quotes, the sayings, and advice about turning 40 because I am ready for it all.

The Last Word...

For all of my fellow teachers I want to share an email I received from one of my parents on the last day of school. We as teachers need to remember even when we are at our wits end and feel like we have exhausted every possibility that we still can make a difference.

"Thanks again for everything this past year. I know how difficult things have been with my son and I know you never gave up and I cannot thank you enough. I really just wanted to tell you I think you are an amazing person and I appreciate more than you know all you did this year for my son and myself. My son was able to have successes and be proud as well as have reinforced by someone who cares that he needs to be responsible for his actions. It has meant so much to me to have you on Team "son" with me. I wish nothing but happiness and success for you and your family in the future. Take care and have a wonderful summer."

As I placed this child's cumulative file in a box (he was moving on to middle school) I said a silent prayer and blessing over him and he is the reason I teach.

Feeling like an option not a priority

Let me start by saying I stole my title from my friend Dawn's face book when I realized this is how I am feeling lately with my husband and stepson. Don't get me wrong I love them both but I am a second class citizen when it comes to this family. I am last in line. Now that may sound selfish to some people but I don't ask for much.
They constantly do things together but I feel that my husband would rather spend time with his son than with me (his 14 yr old son lives with us). When my husband goes to the convenience store he brings his son back a drink but not me. When my stepson wants me to buy him something he finally does his chores. I ask for my stepson to pay some of his golf tournament fees out of his allowance and my husband says that is what parents are for. Isn't it time to learn how to make good use of your money?
Most days I feel like all I am is a paycheck, an option. Not needed except for my financial contributions. Maybe I am having a hard time transitioning from single girl life where my money was my own to married life where my money belongs to everyone. Maybe I miss going out and getting pampered and feeling like a girl (my roots are a mile long and I sorely need a pedicure). I lose all this to baseball fees, golf fees, golf clubs, uniforms, something for the boat, etc...