OH. MY. GOSH.

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I just read through yesterday's post, and I must apologize. I was annoyed with the whiny-ness myself by the time I was finished. So, in order to bring this blog around to a happier tone, I thought I would share this:

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Kids in my class typed on the computer today. The assignment? Answer the following question:

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"How can the country be improved? Write a letter to the president to share
your ideas."

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This little gal's response rendered me speechless.

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Do I have a little Paris Hilton in training, on my hands?

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THOUGHTS

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I'm feeling...emotional tonight. I don't even know if that's the right word. Pensive maybe? Thoughtful? Sober? Solemn? Withdrawn? Contemplative? Take your pick.

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Not about anything in particular. More accurately, I am feeling this way about a whole lot of things all at once. I've mentioned before, that making lists helps my sanity, so here's one now to help you (and me) understand what I mean:

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1. I hate being shy. I've fought against it my entire life, and believe it or not, I've made significant progress. However, it continues to frustrate me on a a daily basis. For example, why can't I have a natural, casual conversation without being a big, awkward boob? I want to be smiley and flirtatious and funny and pleasant! How does everyone else do it so naturally? I don't want to be overlooked, considered incompetent, or considered a snob, just because I can't think of something to say at the spur of the moment! Some days are worse than others, of course. Tonight, however...was just one of those 'worse than others' is all.

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2. New callings suck. Of course, I'm happy to serve and all that jazz...but why can't I just skip the scary, confusing, trying-to-figure-out-what-the-heck-I'm supposed-to-be-doing part and get directly to the confidently-building-up-Zion-in-my-own-little-way? I like to think of myself as capable and clever, in general. But, I currently feel paralyzed by fear and inexperience...a stupid schmuck.

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3. I love Andrew. At the risk of sounding prosaic, why did the Lord see fit to bless me with such a fine companion? With so many marriages around me fraught with unhappiness and strife, distrust and selfishness, it just doesn't seem fair.

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4. We had the most horribly, depressing faculty meeting about safety and emergency preparedness. In small groups, we were forced to live through awful scenarios of disaster and violence, earthquakes and school shootings, all in hopes of preparing our little school for the possibility of such an event. The scenarios illustrated panic, terror, and students and teachers dieing in gruesome ways...and in many cases, without a thing in the world we could do to prevent it. I realize this was all make-believe. However, it really affected me. To sit there, imagining it happening to people I associate with everyday, made it personal in a way that I can't even explain. It just made me sick. Hours later, I had to sit on my bed, crying my heart out in order to feel normal again. Because quite honestly, if it came right down to it, I would sacrifice my life for those 22 snots of mine.

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That's all, I guess. Goodnight.

Hopefully this mood will be gone in the morning.

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9PM

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Tomorrow...

1. Report Cards are due

2. Ashmore family arrives from Arizona

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Right Now....
{What my dining room table looks like}

{What no-time-to-make-dinner looks like}

{What avoiding laundry for several weeks looks like}



{What the trash doesn't usually
look like--I promise}



{What our naked bed looks like}




{What I wish the guest room didn't look like at this hour}

{what my least favorite chore looks like}



{And what I look like, already--flattering, I know.}


And Tomorrow....
Nobody tell my in-laws what my immaculate
house looked like 12 hours ago. Thanks.
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CLASSROOM TALK

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I so enjoy overhearing kids talk all day. Usually, what makes what they say so darn funny is the fact that it is said with such serious sincerity...as if they were little adults. I especially love it when they don't know I'm listening in. At these times, they aren't trying to be silly or just "putting on a show"...their cute personalities are simply coming out in their purest, sweetest forms. A few recent examples:

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1. Two boys were busily working on a craft together. As I casually walked by, I heard one ask the other:
"Do you believe in Santa Claus?"

"Yes," was the confident reply.
"You do?"

(sounding surprised and even hopeful)

"Do you?" the other boy asked sheepishly.

"Yes... (hesitating) but I

don't believe in the Easter Bunny."

"Me either (very decidedly)."

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2. It is yet another inside recess before school, for below zero temperatures. Two boys are hanging up their coats and backpacks while I work at my desk.
"Do you know what frostbite is?"

(this kid is our constant stream of random trivia)

When his friend didn't answer, he proclaimed:

"It's when your skin is dead and it won't ever grow back. If that happens to your fingers you'd have to chop them off!"

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This last statement hooked the other boy's attention. He looked thoughtful for a moment before saying,

"Not if we drink hot chocolate. It will go through your nerves and to your fingers and make everything alright. It will warm them all up!"
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3. I walked by a boy, full of personality, who was deeply absorbed in his assignment. Sitting at his desk, he talked to himself as he worked. He suddenly stopped, stared at his paper, and exclaimed in a whisper, yet full of exasperation:

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"Dang flabbit!"

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I smiled as I walked by, his page ferociously being attacked by an eraser.

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*The silly things students say will have to become a regular installment of this blog. I have so many of them..

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LOOK WHAT I WON!

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A $60 dress from Shabby Apple!

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I had never heard of Shabby Apple, before I saw it on the blog, Love Actually. They were hosting a giveaway of one of the dresses, so I explored Shabby Apple's website to see if I was interested.

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It was love at first sight.

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An entire collection of super-classy, feminine, and {for the majority of them} modest dresses. When I saw the 500+ comments after this give away post, I had no real expectation of actually winning.

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You can imagine my surprise when I saw THIS. Thanks, Love, Actually! I never would have been able to justify this much money on a new dress.

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Here are a couple of my other favorites from the website. I know I sound like a commercial or something. But, just think of it as one friend, passing on something she loves, to another friend.

Andrew and I are supposed to go on a hot date when the dress arrives in the mail.

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I think that can be arranged. ;)

*Oh, how I pray that that dress is long enough on me!
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BUMMER.

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WACKY WEDNESDAY

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Probably my favorite day of the entire school year

I may or may not have spent an entire hour putting this outfit together.
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A student asked me if I was supposed to be Tocahanna.

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What do you mean? I asked him.

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Well, you're part Chinese, part Vampire, part Hawaiian was his response.

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I laughed heartily...

but I'm still not exactly sure what he meant.

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